Jiang Cihe smiled, "If you can extract more useful information, you'll be rewarded even more handsomely."
Meng Shuping stared at him in disbelief, [That scoundrel! Does he think I'm getting paid too easily? It's only my first day, and he's already eager to exploit me?]
[Damn it! I really don't want to work, but he's offering so much! Seriously, how can I refuse such a sweet deal?]
After only three seconds of hesitation, Meng Shuping readily agreed, "Alright!"
A nearby clerk looked at Meng Shuping with envy. Just a few questions, and he'd already earned five hundred coins, with more to come—what a lucrative gig! Why couldn't he ever stumble upon such good fortune?
But after the initial envy, all that remained was admiration. Who knew where the Prince had found such a master? Without even resorting to torture, he had made the spy confess with just a few words.
If he possessed such skill, wouldn't he be guaranteed a prominent position?
Meng Shuping was completely unaware that he was being imagined as an incredibly shrewd and profound individual. After the interrogation, he left the room with Jiang Cihe.
As they emerged, Fan Yu rushed over anxiously to explain, "Your Highness, I truly did not collude with them. You must believe me!"
Jiang Cihe, shedding his amiable demeanor from earlier, replied with a cold expression, "Whether Lord Fan is in league with Beixiang or not is not for me to say. Everything depends on the outcome of the investigation."
Hearing this, Fan Yu grew even more flustered. Had that Lu Namu really implicated him?
Furious and resentful, he hastily defended himself, "Your Highness, that Lu Namu must bear a grudge because I struck him. Please do not believe a word he says…"
Jiang Cihe impatiently cut him off, "Enough. Whether it is true or not, I will make my own judgment. You may return now!"
Not bothering to listen to another word from Fan Yu, Jiang Cihe walked away without even glancing at him.
As Fan Yu stood there, filled with trepidation, Meng Shuping stopped in front of him. Remembering that his current predicament was all thanks to this greenhorn, Fan Yu snapped, "What do you want?"
Meng Shuping, with a hint of schadenfreude, reminded him, "Lord Fan, don't forget the two-thousand-word self-reflection letter you promised! And also, Lord Fan, you can resign when you get back. Didn't you say you'd give your position to me?"
Fan Yu's face flushed with anger at these words. Just as he was about to erupt, he noticed Jiang Cihe turning back to look at him. He forced a dry chuckle and, swallowing his anger, said, "Come now, I was just joking with you. How could you take it seriously?"
Meng Shuping scoffed, [Oh, wow, that smile is truly hideous! Seriously, if you can't smile properly, don't bother. I knew he couldn't take a joke.]
Despite Meng Shuping's sarcasm, Fan Yu's expression remained unchanged. So what if he was mocked a few times? It couldn't actually harm him. In the world of officialdom, if your skin isn't thick, how can you survive?
However, just as he thought he could brush it off, he heard Jiang Cihe say, "The two-thousand-word self-reflection letter is due in three days."
Fan Yu's expression stiffened, but he dared not say anything else, so he swallowed his resentment and replied, "Yes."
Only after Jiang Cihe and Meng Shuping had completely departed did his furious expression return. He kicked the wall hard. Hmph, that little rookie! What kind of dumb luck did he have? How did he manage to stumble into this?
After venting his frustration, Fan Yu finally felt a little better. Then, he suddenly realized that this situation might not be entirely bad. So what if that rookie got the confession? Could the credit really fall to him?
Come to think of it, for Lu Namu to confess, he actually had him to thank. If he hadn't recommended the rookie, and if he hadn't provoked Lu Namu during the interrogation, would Lu Namu have confessed?
If he looked at it that way, wasn't Lu Namu's confession actually his achievement?
At this thought, Fan Yu's mood brightened considerably. He immediately decided that once the matter was resolved, he would promptly submit a memorial to the Emperor. Since such significant progress was due to him, the Emperor ought to be made aware of his contribution.
After returning, Jiang Cihe ordered someone to bring the official from the Ministry of Revenue. About half an hour later, someone reported that the person had been apprehended and was currently being held in the interrogation room.
Meng Shuping followed Jiang Cihe as he rose to leave, but noticed that some officials had already begun to leave for the day. He immediately turned to Jiang Cihe, "Your Highness, you can handle the interrogation yourself. It's time to clock out!"
Jiang Cihe said in surprise, "Leaving right on time? The interrogation isn't finished yet."
Meng Shuping replied earnestly, "Well, you wouldn't let me leave before time either!"
[Does he seriously expect me to work overtime? Come on, he only pays me ten taels a month, and he wants me to work for free? Doesn't he know that you get what you pay for?]
Jiang Cihe paused, "If I recall correctly, you are my personal guard, aren't you?"
Meng Shuping, confused, said, "So what?"
A faint smile tugged at Jiang Cihe's lips, "So your clock-out time isn't the same as theirs. It's whenever I say you can clock out."
Meng Shuping's eyes widened in shock, [That scoundrel! He's such a rip-off! Why didn't he tell me about this before?]
[What a raw deal, a total rip-off! Does he plan to stay here until midnight, and I have to stay with him until midnight? No way! Whoever wants to be such a sucker can do it themselves!]
Unexpectedly, just as he was about to throw a tantrum, Jiang Cihe sighed and said, "Never mind, we can continue tomorrow. Let's go back together."
Meng Shuping choked back his words, fuming inwardly, [Fine, he knows better. I'll let him off the hook today! Next time he tries to exploit me, I'll have a proper discussion with him!]
Jiang Cihe turned around in a good mood. Seeing that Meng Shuping hadn't moved, he looked back, "Aren't you coming? Or do you want to stay here and conduct the interrogation?"
Meng Shuping quickly followed, "Who would want to stay here?"
The two of them walked out of the Military Hall Department. Not far from the entrance, they ran into Meng Wenxiu and Meng Shuqi. Meng Shuping scowled. Running into these two at home was bad enough, but why did he always have to see them outside too?
By then, Meng Wenxiu and Meng Shuqi had already approached. They greeted Jiang Cihe enthusiastically, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Jiang Cihe nodded casually. Seeing that Meng Shuping remained silent, he said nothing more.
Meng Wenxiu glanced around Jiang Cihe but didn't see Meng Shuping. Puzzled, he asked, "Your Highness, where is my son? Isn't he with you?"
Jiang Cihe glanced at him and said seriously, "No, I already sent him back."
"You let him go back first?" Meng Wenxiu frowned, "Your Highness, did he do something to displease you?"
Meng Shuqi also sighed beside him, "Your Highness, my younger brother grew up in the countryside and has always been rather unruly. If he has offended you in any way, please consider his lack of proper upbringing and do not hold it against him."
Meng Shuping rolled his eyes, [Oh, wow! Are they trying to slander me or what? Do they think the Prince can't see through their little schemes? Do they take the Prince for a complete fool?]
[Seriously, do they not realize how ridiculous their little tricks look to outsiders?]
Meng Wenxiu and Meng Shuqi were stunned. Why were they hearing Meng Shuping's voice again? Wasn't he not here?
Before they could react, they heard Meng Shuping continue, [I'm not one to criticize, but two grown men—can't they just be direct and upfront? Why do they have to talk in such a catty, roundabout way, like some women in the mansion? Don't they find themselves particularly petty?]
Meng Wenxiu and Meng Shuqi's faces turned green with anger. They furiously looked around. Where was that little brat hiding?
Jiang Cihe couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, though he maintained a stern expression, "What, are you doubting my judgment?"
Meng Shuqi, too busy to search for Meng Shuping, hurriedly said, "Of course not, Your Highness misunderstands. It's just that my brother, since returning, has beaten his cousin from another branch of the family and made the tutor so angry he wanted to leave. His temper is truly quite volatile. It's only natural for me to worry."
Meng Shuping couldn't hold back his exasperation, [Worry? Worry about what? As if we're so close. Stop being so hypocritical. Who was it that deliberately tripped me and framed me on my first day here?]
[Besides, what's wrong with having a temper? I even feel like hitting you. Who wants to put up with injustice in life? If you're so mild-mannered, don't you dare retaliate if I punch you!]
[Wait, isn't this the perfect opportunity?]
Meng Shuping took a large stride forward to Meng Shuqi and slapped him right across the face.
Before Meng Shuqi could react, he was struck. Clutching his face in fury, he yelled, "What are you doing?"
Meng Shuping immediately ducked behind Jiang Cihe, then peeked out and said, "Why are you so angry? I just slapped you—is it really worth throwing such a fit?"
At that moment, Meng Wenxiu and Meng Shuqi realized that the masked person was none other than Meng Shuping. Meng Wenxiu glared furiously at him and scolded, "Ping Ge'er, what are you doing? How could you hit your fourth brother? Do you even have any semblance of a younger brother? I think you are truly in dire need of discipline!"
Jiang Cihe's lips twitched upward briefly before he pressed them into a thin line. With a cold expression, he remarked sarcastically, "Second Lord Meng, what an imposing presence you have! Prince Zhao is right here, yet you dare reprimand his personal guard so boldly. Do you have some grievance against Prince Zhao?"
Meng Wenxiu stiffened and quickly replied, "Your Highness misunderstands! How could I possibly hold any grievance against you? But as you've witnessed, he even dares to strike his elder brother right in front of you—such audacity! If I don't discipline him properly, I fear he might disrespect you next."
Jiang Cihe responded impassively, "There's no need for Second Lord Meng to worry. Prince Zhao's personal guard is Prince Zhao's responsibility to train. Outsiders need not interfere. Besides, isn't Fourth Young Master Meng known for his mild temper? Surely a single slap is no great matter."
Meng Wenxiu and Meng Shuqi shook with barely suppressed rage, their hands trembling. Prince Zhao's favoritism toward Meng Shuping couldn't be more obvious! They simply couldn't understand what kind of bewitching potion Meng Shuping had given Prince Zhao!
Meanwhile, Meng Shuping couldn't help but praise Jiang Cihe inwardly: [Wow, Prince Zhao is so dashing today! Total boyfriend material! It's a shame I'm not a girl, or I'd definitely throw myself into his arms right now!]
Jiang Cihe's lips curled slightly, but the next moment, he heard Meng Shuping continue thinking, [Still, no matter what, he can't expect me to work for free! Don't think a little charm will make me lose my rationality. One thing at a time—I'm not about to do anything foolish!]
Jiang Cihe: "..." Typical Little Moneygrubber!
Recalling that Meng Shuping had been there all along, Meng Wenxiu asked indignantly, "Your Highness, didn't you say earlier that you'd sent him home? How is it that he's been behind you this whole time?"
Jiang Cihe feigned confusion, "Has he been behind Prince Zhao this entire time? Prince Zhao was unaware."
Meng Shuping muttered under his breath, "You don't have eyes in the back of your head."
Jiang Cihe nodded as if enlightened, "Well said. Any other questions, Second Lord Meng?"
Infuriated by Jiang Cihe's dismissive attitude but not daring to show it, Meng Wenxiu suppressed his anger and said, "It was my misunderstanding. In that case, Ping Ge'er shall come back with us."
Once they got back, he would definitely teach Meng Shuping a lesson!
Noticing Meng Wenxiu's resentful glare, Meng Shuping speculated inwardly, [He wouldn't be planning to pick a fight with me once we're back, would he? Tsk, tsk. Can't do anything to the Prince, so he's going to bully me behind his back?]
Jiang Cihe turned to Meng Shuping and said, "Since Second Lord Meng wishes for you to return with him, we shall part ways here. But remember—you are Prince Zhao's personal guard. No one but Prince Zhao has the right to make things hard for you. If anyone dares bully you, inform Prince Zhao, and Prince Zhao will stand up for you."
Meng Shuping replied cheerfully, "Yes!"
[Wow, Prince Zhao is being incredibly kind today! For this alone, if he ever asks me to accompany him again, I definitely won't refuse!]
Jiang Cihe gave him a meaningful look that said he'd better keep his word, because Jiang Cihe would remember it.
Meng Wenxiu grew even angrier. Was there really nothing he could do about Meng Shuping? After a moment, he consoled himself: Fine, let Meng Shuping have his moment of triumph. He refused to believe Prince Zhao could protect him forever.
Thanks to Jiang Cihe's assurance, Meng Shuping encountered little trouble upon returning home. He spent a comfortable night there and, the next day, went back to his duties with Jiang Cihe as usual.
A few days later, Lu Namu coughed up more information. Jiang Cihe drafted a memorial and submitted it to the palace. Not long after, he was summoned to the palace.
As soon as Jiang Cihe entered the hall, he noticed several ministers present. He bowed to the Emperor and said, "Your son pays respects to the Emperor!"