Sensing something was amiss, Meng Shuping immediately called out, "Miao Bi!"
Hearing his call, Miao Bi promptly entered from the outer room. Upon seeing Meng Shuping, she exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, Fifth Young Master, why is your face so flushed? Are you running a fever?"
Meng Shuping nodded weakly, "Have someone fetch a doctor for me."
Miao Bi hurried out to relay the order. A moment later, she returned with a damp cloth and placed it on Meng Shuping's forehead to cool him down. With the cloth applied, Meng Shuping felt a little more comfortable. However, after a considerable wait, the doctor still hadn't appeared. Miao Bi couldn't help but say anxiously, "Fifth Young Master, I'll go check."
Feverish and uncomfortable, Meng Shuping nodded weakly, "Go ahead."
Miao Bi left for a while and then returned to Meng Shuping's side. Yet, after another long wait, there was still no sign of the doctor. Meng Shuping said irritably, "Hasn't the doctor arrived yet? Why is it taking so long?"
Miao Bi also felt the doctor was unusually slow today. She stood up and said, "I'll send someone to urge them again."
Meng Shuping pondered for a moment, "Never mind. Have someone fetch a doctor through the back gate instead. Don't use the household staff."
Perhaps it was too late, and everyone else was too lazy to stir?
However, before Miao Bi could leave, the doctor they had initially summoned arrived. Miao Bi quickly ushered him in to examine Meng Shuping. After a thorough diagnosis and treatment, Meng Shuping took his medicine and fell asleep.
As the medicine contained sedatives, Meng Shuping slept deeply. When he regained consciousness, he felt a slightly cool hand on his forehead. Then, he heard someone softly ask, "How did he end up in the water?"
He sleepily opened his eyes and discovered it was actually Jiang Cihe. He quickly closed them again, *Strange, why is the Prince here? I must be dreaming.*
But as soon as he closed his eyes, Jiang Cihe's amused voice came through, "Two-Fifty, you're awake?"
Meng Shuping's eyes snapped open in surprise again, confirming it was indeed Jiang Cihe. He struggled to sit up in bed, "Your Highness? Why are you here?"
*So I wasn't dreaming after all? No wonder I could hear his voice even at home.*
Jiang Cihe quickly supported his back, helping him sit up, "I had something to discuss with you. When I heard you were ill, I came to check on you. How are you feeling now?"
Hearing this, Meng Shuping immediately leaned weakly against the backrest, his voice barely a whisper, "Your Highness, I feel terrible all over. I think I'm on the verge of death."
Just as Jiang Cihe's face showed concern, he heard Meng Shuping's thought, *He wouldn't still try to give me tasks on my day off, would he? How inhumane! Hah, if I make it sound serious enough, he won't have the nerve to exploit me!*
Jiang Cihe was both worried and amused. Even at a time like this, he couldn't resist such thoughts, indicating he wasn't as gravely ill as he claimed. Seeing Meng Shuping still so lively, Jiang Cihe felt much relieved.
He smiled and said, "It's alright. Rest well at home. You'll be better in a couple of days. Don't worry about your duties—they'll still be waiting for you when you recover. No one will snatch them away."
He had only casually mentioned having something to discuss. Since Meng Shuping had said that, how could he resist a little teasing?
Meng Shuping widened his eyes in disbelief, *Damn it! He really plans to exploit me? Not even sparing a sick person—how cold-hearted! That scoundrel!*
*Waaah, I'm truly miserable. Finally got a couple of days off, only to spend them in bed. And once I recover, I'll be exploited again. My life is so hard!*
He murmured weakly, "Oh."
After confirming Meng Shuping was out of danger, Jiang Cihe finally had time to inquire about other matters. He asked Meng Shuping curiously, "How did you end up in the water out of nowhere? When I asked them, they couldn't explain it clearly."
Hearing Jiang Cihe's question, Meng Shuping suddenly perked up. He grabbed Jiang Cihe's hand, "Your Highness! Can you help me with something?"
Jiang Cihe glanced down at the hand holding his but didn't pull away. He said nonchalantly, "What do you need my help with?"
Meng Shuping said angrily, "Your Highness, please send someone to report to the authorities! Someone tried to murder me!"
"What?" Jiang Cihe's expression instantly turned grave. He said coldly, "Who tried to murder you?"
Could it be that Meng Shuping's inner thoughts were overheard, making him hated? Or because he uncovered spies, and the people of Beixiang found out? That seemed unlikely.
Many schemes and conspiracies flashed through Jiang Cihe's mind. He even thought of several ways to arrange protection for Meng Shuping. But the next moment, he heard Meng Shuping say, "It was Meng Ziyun and her cousin!"
Hearing this unfamiliar name, Jiang Cihe was momentarily stunned, "Meng Ziyun? Who is she? From your Earl's mansion?"
Meng Shuping nodded repeatedly and began to complain, "They were the ones who pushed me into the water! They tried to drown me! If I weren't so lucky, Your Highness, you'd be looking at my corpse right now!"
He held Jiang Cihe's hand tightly, speaking righteously, "Your Highness, in broad daylight, under the clear sky, they dare to be so reckless with human life, so arrogant! If this isn't stopped, what good is the law? What good is royal authority? Your Highness, you must uphold justice for me, or I won't even dare to leave my room!"
*It would be best to throw them into prison! Let them taste a few days of jail food! Hmph, I'm under the Prince's protection now, how can I let them bully me? Today, I'll show them what it means to be a dog that bites with its master's backing... no, what it means to bully others with power!*
"Pfft!" Jiang Cihe found Meng Shuping's eager tattling utterly adorable. Of course, Meng Ziyun and her cousin were indeed despicable.
Seeing that he wasn't angry but laughing instead, Meng Shuping let go of his hand and frowned, "What, is it funny?"
Jiang Cihe quickly said, "Not at all. I'm just relieved you're okay and feeling happy. But don't worry, this is the capital city. I absolutely won't allow anyone to disregard the law."
Meng Shuping grabbed Jiang Cihe's hand again, "I knew it! Your Highness will uphold justice! When I recover, I will serve you well! I will go through fire and water for you!"
Jiang Cihe's lips curved upward, "Then I'll hold you to that."
Meng Shuping immediately froze, *Ah, this... I was just saying. He wouldn't take it seriously, would he? Oh, no, no! If I'd known, I wouldn't have said anything extra. My big mouth!*
Jiang Cihe's smile deepened. Seeing Meng Shuping still somewhat uncomfortable, he patted his hand, "Alright, I'll handle this matter. You rest now. I won't disturb you any longer."
After talking for so long, Meng Shuping was also tired. He quickly sat up, "Then let me see you out, Your Highness!"
Jiang Cihe immediately gently pushed him back down, "Don't get up. Rest properly. I'll take my leave."
Meng Shuping immediately leaned back against the headrest, following Jiang Cihe's gentle push, *Wow, that was close. I spoke too quickly again. Good thing he didn't take it seriously. I really have no energy and don't feel like getting up.*
Despite Meng Shuping's dismissiveness, Jiang Cihe wasn't angry at all. Instead, he felt quite pleased. He smiled as he walked out of the room, but once outside, his smile faded.
If he hadn't come, he wouldn't have known the little moneygrubber had such a close call this time. It was fortunate that the little moneygrubber was so optimistic.
But if they thought the little moneygrubber had no one to back him up, they were mistaken. After all, the little moneygrubber was now under his command. Only he had the right to bully him—if anyone else wanted to, they'd have to ask for his permission first.
He turned to Ling Feng, "Ling Feng, go find out who Meng Ziyun's cousin is, and also make a trip to Lord Peng."
"Yes."
In the afternoon, Fourth Madam Wu Shi received news that Yao Qian had been arrested by the government officials. She was very surprised and asked her sister, Yao Wu-shi, who came crying, "Why did the authorities arrest him?"
Yao Wu-shi wiped her tears and shook her head, "I don't know either. I only heard it involves murder, but how could our Qian-ge, who is so honest, do something so audacious?"
Fourth Madam Wu Shi quickly comforted her, "Sister, don't worry. I'll send someone to inquire. I believe the officials won't disregard our Earl's mansion's standing."
Yao Wu-shi wiped her tears again and said urgently, "Then I'll trouble you, sister."
Soon, the person sent to gather information returned and reported truthfully to Fourth Madam Wu Shi, "The people at the yamen said that the young master cousin is suspected of attempting to murder our Earl's mansion's Fifth Young Master. Someone reported it, so they've taken him in for investigation."
"What?" Wu Shi was furious, "He's behind this again? That little brat, has he no respect for the law?"
She sprang up and was about to go to Meng Shuping's place, but Yao Wu-shi quickly grabbed her, "Sister, getting Qian-ge out is more urgent."
Fourth Madam Wu Shi then remembered Yao Qian's matter. Suppressing her anger, she said, "Look at me, I was so upset I forgot about Qian-ge. Sister, don't worry, I'll have someone bring Qian-ge out right away."
She turned and ordered the messenger, "You go find the steward. Have him take our Earl's mansion's official card and bring the young master cousin out!"
"Understood."
After giving these instructions, Fourth Madam Wu Shi and Yao Wu-shi stormed into Meng Shuping's courtyard.
Having rested for a day, Meng Shuping was still feeling very unwell. He was leaning on the couch with his eyes closed to recuperate when Fourth Madam Wu Shi burst in, "Meng Shuping! You black-hearted scoundrel! What has Qian'er ever done to offend you that you would harm him so viciously?"
Meng Shuping was already suffering from a headache, and her shouting made him even more uncomfortable. He couldn't help but cover his ears with his hands, *Ugh, what a racket! Why is her voice so shrill? She's wasted talent not singing soprano!*
Seeing that Meng Shuping was ignoring her, Fourth Madam Wu Shi grew even angrier. She grabbed his wrist, "I'm asking you a question!"
Meng Shuping irritably yanked his wrist back, *Why are you getting physical? Is she trying to harass me? Tsk, at her age, she has no shame!*
He glanced at Fourth Madam Wu Shi and said impatiently, "Who is Qian'er?"
Infuriated by Meng Shuping's casual dismissal, Wu Shi's face flushed red with rage. She quickly took a step back and shouted, "Don't play dumb with me! You're the one who got him thrown into jail, and now you claim not to know who he is?"
"Oh, you mean him," Meng Shuping finally realized that the person Wu Shi was referring to must be Meng Ziyun's cousin. He frowned and said, "How is it my fault that he ended up in jail?"
Wu Shi thought he was refusing to admit what he had done and immediately challenged him, "If not you, then who? We already found out—he was taken in because you lodged a complaint!"
"That's not what I meant," Meng Shuping said sincerely. "What I'm trying to say is, he got what he deserved. He brought it on himself. Why blame me?"
*When something happens, you never look at your own faults first—you just blame others. How can they all be so shameless?*
"You!" Fourth Madam Wu Shi was so enraged that her chest heaved. She raised her arm, about to slap Meng Shuping, but he swiftly grabbed her wrist and snapped irritably, "Keep this up, and I'll make sure that guy never gets out of jail. Believe it?"
*What's wrong with this mother and daughter? Why are they both so savage? Like mother, like daughter, I guess. Tsk, and she calls herself the Fourth Madam of the Earl's household—no breeding whatsoever!*
Wu Shi paused, then sneered, "Do you think we are easily intimidated? Just by you?"
Jinzhan whispered from the side, "Fourth Madam, it's true. Cousin Qian was arrested on Prince Zhao's orders."
"What? Prince Zhao?" Yao Wu-shi exclaimed in shock. She quickly asked Jinzhan, "What happened?"