Upon leaving the Earl's estate, the servant Xing Lai made directly for the yamen prison. After a quick bribe to the jailers, he was soon face-to-face with Yao Qian.
Yao Qian sat on the straw in his cell, lost in thought. He had never imagined he would find himself imprisoned. Why had this happened?
As he was absorbed in his musings, he heard a voice call out, "Cousin! Cousin!"
Yao Qian looked up to see an unfamiliar servant. Puzzled, he asked, "Are you calling me? Who are you…?"
Xing Lai cautiously glanced left and right, and seeing no one paying attention, he whispered, "Cousin, I'm a servant at the Earl's mansion. I heard the fifth young master filed a complaint against you and Fifth Miss with the yamen. Now, Old Lady Fu and Fourth Madam Wu are worried about Fifth Miss's reputation, so they plan to make you take the fall alone!"
"What?" Yao Qian was furious. "How can a mere bastard son wield such power? Is there nothing the Earl's mansion can do?"
Besides, he hadn't intentionally pushed Meng Shuping into the water. If anyone had acted deliberately, it was Meng Ziyun. So why was he the one being blamed now, while Meng Ziyun was unscathed?
Xing Lai sighed. "Cousin, you don't know—the fifth young master now has Prince Zhao backing him. Prince Zhao insists on pursuing this matter, and even Old Lady Fu can't do anything! In any case, someone has to take responsibility—it's either you or Fifth Miss!"
Yao Qian immediately grew anxious. Though he didn't want to believe it, compared to Meng Ziyun, he was indeed more expendable. Would they truly make him the scapegoat?
After delivering Meng Shuping's message, Xing Lai feigned urgency. "Cousin, I must return now. Please don't tell anyone I came to see you. If Old Lady Fu finds out I secretly warned you, she'll have my hide!"
Watching Xing Lai depart, Yao Qian frowned. He didn't even know this servant—why would he come to see him in secret? He still clung to a sliver of hope, wondering if the servant was perhaps lying.
Old Lady Fu and Madam Wu waited and waited in their room, but Yao Qian remained unreleased. Old Lady Fu grew agitated. "Didn't they say they were going to see Prince Zhao? Why hasn't this been resolved yet?"
Madam Wu couldn't help but voice her suspicion, "Old Lady, have we been misled? Perhaps he never intended to resolve this at all?"
Old Lady Fu's face darkened. "Bring Jinzhan to me!"
She had initially placed Jinzhan in Meng Shuping's household on a whim, but now she was grateful for her foresight.
Soon, Jinzhan was summoned. Old Lady Fu asked her, "Jinzhan, tell me—did Meng Shuping truly send someone to see Prince Zhao?"
Jinzhan quickly replied, "He did!"
Old Lady Fu frowned. "If he did, why hasn't Yao Qian been released yet? What exactly did he say?"
Jinzhan had been briefed by Meng Shuping beforehand. She answered truthfully, "The fifth young master said he never intended to pursue the matter seriously, but Fourth Madam and Second Master kept disturbing his rest, which made him very unhappy. So he's going to ask the prince to have Cousin Yao Qian beaten."
"What?" Madam Wu exclaimed in panic. "How could he be so vicious?"
Seeing that Meng Shuping had completely disregarded her words, Old Lady Fu grew furious. She rose abruptly from her couch. "This time, I'll go see him myself! Let's see what else he has to say!"
Jinzhan quickly interjected, "Old Lady, you mustn't! The fifth young master has already gone to bed!"
Old Lady Fu shot her a displeased look. "What? After spending so little time with him, you're already taking his side?"
Jinzhan hurriedly denied it. "How can you say that, Old Lady? It's just that the fifth young master said before he went to sleep that if anyone wakes him up, he'll drag them down with him. I'm only worried for your safety!"
Old Lady Fu's face turned livid. "I refuse to believe he'd actually dare to lay a hand on me!"
But despite her words, she didn't take a single step forward. Though she claimed Meng Shuping wouldn't dare, deep down, she wasn't so sure.
When Madam Yao Wu heard that Yao Qian couldn't be released for the time being, she nearly collapsed. Hadn't her sister assured her that she would find a way to get Qian'er out?
Recalling Meng Shuping's earlier words, Madam Yao Wu grew even more anxious. Were they really planning to make Qian'er take the blame for Meng Ziyun?
The thought filled her with resentment. Why should their family's internal conflict cause her Qian'er to suffer? What had Qian'er ever done to deserve this?
She quickly packed some things and hurried to the yamen prison. Since Qian'er couldn't be released immediately, she at least wanted to bring him some necessities.
When Yao Qian saw his mother arriving with supplies, he was stunned. He rushed to the front of his cell. "Mother, what are you doing here...?"
Madam Yao Wu said sympathetically, "Qian'er, just wait a little longer. I'll get you out soon!"
"Soon?" Remembering what the servant Xing Lai had told him, Yao Qian demanded, "Mother, tell me the truth—is Aunt planning to make me take the blame for Meng Ziyun?"
Madam Yao Wu's expression stiffened briefly before returning to normal. "...How could that be? Qian'er, don't overthink it."
But her reaction only confirmed Yao Qian's suspicions. They really were planning to throw him under the bus.
His face darkened instantly. If they weren't going to save him, then he had no reason to protect Meng Ziyun. He refused to believe they would let Meng Ziyun be arrested instead.
...
With no one else to disturb him this time, Meng Shuping finally managed to get some proper rest. The thought of Meng Wenxiu being forced to kneel in the ancestral hall again made him so happy he nearly laughed in his sleep.
However, his good mood didn't last long. The next afternoon, Old Lady Fu and Fourth Madam Wu marched into his courtyard in a rage.
As soon as they entered the room, Old Lady Fu angrily exclaimed, "Meng Shuping! Haven't you caused enough trouble? Do you want our Earl's mansion to become the laughingstock of the entire capital?"
Hearing that the consequences could be so severe, Meng Shuping pretended to be worried. "Really? How did you know?"
"Then why haven't you—" Old Lady Fu stopped mid-sentence, realizing Meng Shuping wasn't responding as she'd expected. She paused, then exploded in anger. "What did you say?"
Meng Shuping glanced at her. [Oh no, oh no. Does she really think guilt-tripping me will work?]
[Please, none of them care about me, so why should I care about them? Expecting me to suffer for their sake—do they really think life is that easy? If I'm going to be miserable, they're not going to have it easy either.]
Old Lady Fu hadn't expected Meng Shuping to defy her so blatantly. Stunned for a moment, she finally managed to say, "Even if you don't care about the Earl's mansion's reputation, what about your grandfather? Aren't you afraid he'll be accused of failing to manage his household properly?"
Meng Shuping was speechless. [Oh? Using Grandfather to pressure me now? Does she really think I'll capitulate to the perpetrators? She has some nerve!]
He lowered his head slightly and said earnestly, "Old Lady, there's a saying: 'A virtuous wife saves her husband from trouble.' If Grandfather is criticized, it should be your fault. How can you blame me?"
Then he added seriously, "Maybe you should reflect on why you've made such a mess of managing the household."
[If you're incompetent, what right does she have to blame others? No wonder they say marrying the wrong woman ruins three generations. Grandfather marrying such a woman must mean he lacked virtue in his past life.]
[Besides, if she's so worried about Grandfather, why doesn't she hush this up? How dare she accuse others of harming Grandfather? She's utterly shameless.]
Old Lady Fu was so angry her face turned pale. Clutching her chest, she closed her eyes and passed out.
"Old Lady! What's wrong?" The others hurriedly rushed to support her, calling for a doctor and trying to wake her. After helping her into a chair, Fourth Madam Wu turned to Meng Shuping, fuming. "Meng Shuping! You're utterly unfilial! How could you drive Old Lady to this state?"
Seeing Old Lady Fu pass out, Meng Shuping also freaked out. He urgently instructed Miao Bi, "Quick, quick, quick! Bring the needles from your room. I've heard that jabbing needles under the fingernails hurts the most. Jab one in each of her fingers—I'm sure she'll wake up!"
Miao Bi immediately replied, "Yes!"
Old Lady Fu's eyelids twitched. Would Meng Shuping really do such a thing to her?
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she heard Meng Shuping's voice again. [I'm seriously so vicious, huh? Hahaha, such big needles, one in each finger—just thinking about it hurts. Tsk, I can hardly bear to watch.]
[But if she still doesn't wake up, then we'll have to slap her. Wow, the thought of openly slapping her to let off steam is getting me a little excited!]
A moment later, Miao Bi returned with the needles. Fourth Madam Wu's eyes widened at the sight of them. "They're this thick?"
Meng Shuping grinned innocently. "Fourth Aunt, you don't understand—the thicker the needle, the more effective it is. You want Old Lady to wake up quickly too, don't you?"
After saying this, he looked at Miao Bi, "Quick, Miao Bi, start the acupuncture now!"
[Ah, such a bloody scene, I can't stand to watch.]
Miao Bi sounded excited as she loudly replied, "Yes!"
Seeing that Miao Bi was really about to prick her finger, Madam Wu quickly intervened, "I think it's probably not necessary, right? Maybe we should wait for the doctor..."
Meng Shuping secretly glanced at Madam Wu, "Fourth Aunt, why aren't you worried at all? Could it be that the old lady is faking it?"
[I knew it! Fainting is such an old trick! Hahaha, and she calls herself the Earl's matriarch—how old-fashioned!]
Madam Wu stiffened and gave a dry chuckle, "How could that be? The old lady is really unconscious."
Meng Shuping frowned and whispered, "Then Fourth Aunt is being unfilial? Knowing how critical the old lady's condition is, yet still trying to stop it—what are you trying to do?"
[Maybe she really wants the old lady dead? After all, without the old lady, there'd be no mother-in-law above her anymore. Just thinking about that kind of life must be amazing, right?]
[Hiss...]
[I only dared to make the old lady feel a little pain, but she actually wants her dead—what vicious intentions!]
Hearing this, Madam Wu was stuck: to stop or not to stop? And given how furious the old lady had been earlier, maybe she really had fainted? So Madam Wu didn't dare say another word.
Seeing that no one was stopping them now, Meng Shuping quickly instructed Miao Bi, "Quick, do it! Anyone who delays the treatment is clearly wishing for the old lady's death!"
Worried that her fingers might actually be pricked, Old Lady Fu quickly flickered her eyes, pretending to wake up. But just as she moved, a needle quickly and precisely stabbed into her finger.
Old Lady Fu writhed in pain and sat up with a sharp cry.
Meng Shuping sighed in relief, "I told you this method works. Next time the old lady faints, we can use it again."
[Ah, too bad she didn't hold out a bit longer. We could've pricked her a few more times.]
Old Lady Fu was fuming internally, but on the surface, she could only pretend to be confused and ask, "What happened to me?"
Madam Wu glanced at Meng Shuping, "Old Lady, Ping'er angered you into fainting!"
Then she turned to Meng Shuping, "I say, Ping'er, you should quickly tell the prince to release Qian'er. If word gets out about your being unfilial, do you think you can keep your position? I bet the censors will report you too!"
Meng Shuping showed an angry expression and said furiously, "How could you do this?"
Seeing Meng Shuping afraid, Old Lady Fu and Madam Wu were very pleased. Did they really think they had no way to deal with Meng Shuping? With the label of unfiliality, anyone in the family would have to obey.
Just as they thought they had Meng Shuping under control, they heard his inner thoughts: [How helpful! I was just worrying about how to refuse the task assigned by the emperor, and they've given me the perfect excuse. This is great—why didn't I think of it earlier? There really is strength in numbers!]
Old Lady Fu choked, this time genuinely feeling a headache coming on. She painfully held her forehead, "Quick, help me up and get a doctor!"
Several maids hurriedly helped her up. Madam Wu, seeing she didn't seem to be faking, asked worriedly, "Old Lady, what's wrong?"
Old Lady Fu was in too much pain to speak, "Let's go, now!"
Meng Shuping watched Old Lady Fu leave in confusion, [Strange, her acting is so convincing this time, I can't tell at all.]
Old Lady Fu was furious—this time she really had a headache, she wasn't faking! But due to the intense pain, she couldn't muster the energy to scold Meng Shuping.
Not long after Old Lady Fu and Madam Wu returned, Meng Shuping heard that the old lady had fallen ill. He didn't buy it, thinking, "Does she think faking illness will make me obey? She overestimates herself!"
Since the old lady's side stopped causing trouble, the following period was peaceful, and soon it was the next day.
Minister of Justice Cao Jie arrived at the ministry early, waiting to see how Meng Shuping would embarrass himself. However, he waited left and right until nearly the end of the workday without seeing any sign of Meng Shuping. Finally, he couldn't hold back and rushed to the Military Hall Department.
"Prince Zhao, where is your little guard? Didn't you say he was coming to the ministry today? I've waited almost the whole day, and he hasn't shown up. Does he plan to keep delaying?"
"How could that be?" Jiang Cihe glanced at him, "I forgot to tell you, Minister Cao, my little guard called in sick and asked for leave. He might not come until he's better."
"Sick and on leave?" Cao Jie snorted coldly, "Does he think such an excuse can fool me? Prince Zhao, if he delays further, it will be disobeying the imperial decree."
Jiang Cihe said, "He really is sick. Why would I lie to you, Minister Cao?"
Cao Jie still didn't believe it, "Since Prince Zhao says he's sick, then I must go see him."
Jiang Cihe refused, "No."
Cao Jie showed an expression of certainty and questioned Jiang Cihe, "Why not?"
Jiang Cihe explained, "When sick, one needs rest. If one person visits after another, how can he recover properly? So, for the sake of my little guard returning to duty quickly, let's wait until he's better and comes directly."
But Cao Jie felt Jiang Cihe was making excuses. He said sternly, "I think he just doesn't want to come and found an excuse. Prince Zhao, by not letting me visit, aren't you covering for him?"
Jiang Cihe looked at him puzzled, "Why would I cover for him? He really is sick."
No matter how Cao Jie argued, Jiang Cihe refused to take him to see Meng Shuping. Enraged, Cao Jie went to the palace.
"Your Majesty, please rein in Prince Zhao!"
Emperor Qianyou was confused, "What do you mean, Minister Cao?"
Cao Jie said angrily, "You assigned Young Guard Meng a task, but before even leaving the palace, he said he needed two days off. I thought he would come today, but Prince Zhao says he's sick. I think he's clearly dissatisfied with the task you gave him and wants to keep delaying. Your Majesty, if it weren't for Prince Zhao backing him, would he dare defy the decree like this?"
Hearing this, Emperor Qianyou was displeased, "Is he deliberately stalling?"
Cao Jie vowed, "How could it be false?"
Emperor Qianyou thought for a moment, "In that case, Minister Cao, go on my behalf to visit him. If he is truly defying the decree, arrest him and bring him here to work!"
He refused to believe he couldn't handle some inexperienced kid.
Cao Jie said triumphantly, "Yes."
So before long, Cao Jie returned to the Military Hall Department, "Prince Zhao, His Majesty has decreed that I visit Young Guard Meng on his behalf. Surely you can't refuse now?"
Jiang Cihe glanced at Cao Jie's hands, "Minister Cao, are you planning to go empty-handed?"
Cao Jie asked puzzled, "What should I bring?"
Jiang Cihe reminded him, "Isn't it rude to visit a patient without bringing anything?"
Cao Jie didn't care—he wasn't really there to visit a patient, so why bring anything? Besides, a mere guard, with whom he had no relationship, wasn't worth bringing a gift.
He casually made an excuse, "It's too rushed this time, no time to buy anything. Next time."
Seeing this, Jiang Cihe didn't press further. He had his men bring the things he prepared and set off with Cao Jie for the Anyang Earl's residence.
As they neared the Earl's residence, Cao Jie asked puzzled, "Prince Zhao, aren't we here to visit your little guard? Why are we at the Earl's residence?"
Jiang Cihe glanced at him, "He lives here."
"What? He lives at the Earl's residence?" Cao Jie was very surprised and tentatively asked Jiang Cihe, "What is his status then?"
[Is he a poor relative of the Earl's family? Or perhaps a relative of one of the servants? Judging by his awkward bow, he couldn't possibly be one of the Earl's sons.]
Just as he convinced himself, Jiang Cihe said, "Oh, he is the grandson of the Earl of Anyang."
"What?" Cao Jie said in disbelief. "He is the grandson of the Earl of Anyang?"
But then again, how had he never heard that the Earl of Anyang had such a grandson? But if that were the case, hadn't he been too disrespectful?
He glanced at the many gifts Jiang Cihe had brought, then at his own empty hands, and began to get a headache. If he ran into the Earl of Anyang, would the Earl think him impolite?
Just as he hesitated over whether to go buy some gifts elsewhere, the servants at the gate of the Earl of Anyang's residence came out to greet them. Since Jiang Cihe had visited before, they recognized him immediately and said warmly, "Greetings, Your Highness, and to you, Your Excellency. Please come in, Your Highness and Your Excellency."
Once seated in the main hall, Cao Jie grew restless. If he had come alone, it might have been fine, but compared to Jiang Cihe, why did he seem so cheap?