Upon hearing that Jiang Cihe and Minister of Justice, Lord Cao, had arrived together at the Earl of Anyang's residence, Meng Houliang was quite surprised. Why had these two suddenly appeared?
He quickly tidied his appearance and hurried to the main hall. As soon as he saw Jiang Cihe and Cao Jie, he greeted them warmly, "Your Highness Prince Zhao, Lord Cao, please forgive me for keeping you waiting."
Jiang Cihe and Cao Jie immediately rose from their seats. Jiang Cihe politely replied, "No trouble at all, we've only just arrived."
Seeing that their expressions didn't suggest anything amiss, Meng Houliang felt a slight sense of relief and finally had the chance to voice his confusion, "May I ask what important matter brings you both here so suddenly?"
Jiang Cihe smiled, "Not at all. Lord Cao heard that Fifth Young Master Meng was ill and specifically invited me to accompany him on a visit."
Visit their Ping Ge'er? Meng Houliang was even more astonished. He subtly glanced behind Jiang Cihe, then looked questioningly at Cao Jie, "Does Lord Cao also know our Ping Ge'er?"
Regardless of whether Cao Jie and Ping Ge'er had any prior acquaintance, Lord Cao arriving empty-handed certainly didn't look like a visit to a sick person.
Although Meng Houliang remained silent, Cao Jie felt his face flush with embarrassment. He forced a dry laugh, "We met by chance. Earl, may I inquire where Fifth Young Master Meng is at present?"
This Prince Zhao, knowing they were coming to the Earl's residence, didn't inform him beforehand—was he deliberately trying to make a fool of him?
Hearing Cao Jie's question, Meng Houliang didn't have time to overthink it. He said uncertainly, "He should be in his courtyard. Shall I have him come here?"
Jiang Cihe quickly interjected, "That won't be necessary. He's still unwell, so it would be better if we went to him."
Meng Houliang wasn't entirely clear on Meng Shuping's exact condition. Seeing Jiang Cihe's suggestion, he readily agreed, "Then I shall accompany you."
So the group proceeded towards Meng Shuping's courtyard. Along the way, Meng Houliang learned that the Emperor had summoned Meng Shuping a few days prior and even intended to assign him a task. Meng Houliang's mind reeled—was his grandson truly this extraordinary?
If Jiang Cihe had recognized his talent and recommended him to the Emperor, that would be somewhat plausible. But to capture Emperor Qianyou's attention in such a short time was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary person.
Meng Shuping, having nothing much to do these past two days, had borrowed a few storybooks from Meng Shuchun. Just as he was engrossed in a particularly exciting passage, he heard someone outside announce the arrival of Meng Houliang and the others.
His back stiffened, and he quickly put away the book, then hastily straightened his clothes before nervously stepping out.
Just as he emerged from the inner room, Meng Houliang and the others entered from outside. Meng Shuping paused, then formally greeted them, "Grandfather, Your Highness."
"Why is that Cao fellow here too? Did he come to my home to pressure me just because I didn't show up? Seriously? As the Minister of Justice, does he have nothing better to do?"
Cao Jie's eyes widened. Don't think that just because you pretend not to see me, I won't recognize your voice.
Meng Houliang paused for a moment and said gently, "We heard you were ill, so His Highness and Lord Cao specially came to visit. How are you feeling? Any better?"
Meng Shuping was about to answer when he suddenly remembered Cao Jie's presence. He immediately coughed twice and said weakly, "Much better, much better. I even had the strength to get up today."
"I'm already this sick—he wouldn't actually still have the nerve to pressure me into working, right? I mean, is there really no one capable in the Ministry of Justice? Why does he keep targeting me?"
Jiang Cihe's lips curved into a smile, and he immediately went to support Meng Shuping, "Then you shouldn't stand. Sit down quickly. Since you've just started feeling better, don't push yourself."
Meng Houliang hurriedly added, "Your Highness and Lord Cao, please have a seat as well."
Once everyone was seated, Jiang Cihe instructed his attendants to place the gifts he had brought on the table, "I brought you some things on the way. Have someone put them away for now."
Meng Houliang said politely, "You didn't have to bring anything, Your Highness."
Jiang Cihe smiled, "It's nothing valuable, just a token of goodwill. However, Lord Cao came on the Emperor's orders, representing the Emperor. I suppose His Majesty has other instructions."
Meng Shuping's eyes lit up, and he looked at Cao Jie expectantly, "Wow, so the Emperor sent him? Then he must have brought the Emperor's gifts for me, right? Hmm, should I make a show of being overwhelmingly grateful to the Emperor?"
Hearing this, Jinzhan and the others also glanced curiously at Cao Jie. If the Emperor sent him, surely the gifts couldn't be worse than what the Prince brought, right?
Cao Jie lifted his head proudly and said, "His Majesty instructed you to focus on getting better!"
What did presents matter? Only those who had never seen the world would fixate on such trivial gains.
He gave Meng Shuping a disdainful look. Wasn't the Emperor's favor more important than mere worldly possessions? If he were sick at home and received such attention from the Emperor, he'd be so happy he'd jump for joy. Did this young man not understand?
Seeing that Cao Jie had only uttered one sentence and nothing more, Meng Shuping couldn't help but ask, "That's it?"
"He came to visit me, and that's all? Just one sentence and that's it? Is that how he brushes me off?"
Thinking that Meng Shuping felt the single sentence showed the Emperor didn't value him enough, Cao Jie, believing he was being kind, added encouragingly, "Once you're better, you can serve the Emperor well."
Although those weren't the Emperor's exact words, sometimes a little white lie was necessary! Cao Jie felt he was being really thoughtful today, very attentive to Meng Shuping's feelings. Anyone else hearing this would surely be so moved they'd be willing to give their life for the Emperor, right?
But just as he began to look pleased with himself, he heard Meng Shuping's voice, "No way, no way—does he really think saying that makes him seem less stingy?"
Cao Jie was taken aback, his smug expression instantly fading. Before he could react, Meng Shuping's thoughts came in a rush, "Making me work for free is one thing, but I'm sick and he's still pushing me to work? Are they all this good at exploitation?"
"I may not care about the gifts, but for the Emperor and the Minister of Justice to visit me and not even offer a little something—do they not see me as human?"
Seeing Meng Shuping so unable to distinguish what was important, Cao Jie couldn't help saying, "Fifth Young Master Meng, His Majesty shows you such concern. Most people don't have such an honor."
Meng Shuping said coolly, "Oh."
"But that doesn't change the fact that he's stingy, does it? Even a donkey gets a carrot dangled in front of it to make it work. Am I worth less than a donkey?"
"I can't do it. I'm done! Whoever wants this job can have it!"
He clutched his chest and began coughing his lungs out, "Cough, cough, cough! Your Highness, I feel like this illness… cough… won't be better anytime soon. Perhaps… cough… His Majesty should assign the task to someone else!"
Seeing Meng Shuping so resistant to the task assigned by the Emperor, Cao Jie said suspiciously, "Fifth Young Master Meng, you didn't make yourself sick deliberately to avoid your duties, did you?"
Meng Shuping gave him an exasperated look, "Is he crazy? Who would willingly suffer like this?"
Jiang Cihe said, "Lord Cao may not be aware, but Fifth Young Master Meng was deliberately pushed into the water, which is why he fell ill."
"What?" Meng Houliang said furiously, "Who pushed Ping Ge'er into the water?"
Jiang Cihe pretended to hesitate, "Earl, it might be better to ask Fifth Young Master Meng about this later in private."
But his demeanor made Cao Jie think he was lying. Cao Jie said disbelievingly, "Your Highness, you're not covering for Fifth Young Master Meng, are you? I doubt such a thing even happened."
Jiang Cihe retorted, "How can Lord Cao be so sure it didn't? Is this how you handle court cases too—so arbitrarily?"
Meng Shuping inwardly agreed, "Exactly, and he calls himself Minister of Justice? No wonder the Emperor thinks he's useless. He really is this unskilled!"
Cao Jie's face darkened. Who was unskilled? He was the one who was just lucky!
He demanded of Jiang Cihe, "If Fifth Young Master Meng isn't lying, then tell us who pushed you into the water. If you can't say, can you blame me for suspecting? After all, even in front of His Majesty, Fifth Young Master Meng refused repeatedly."
Although Meng Houliang didn't know why Cao Jie seemed to have a grudge against Meng Shuping, the fact that Meng Shuping had been deliberately pushed into the water angered him greatly. He said displeased, "Ping Ge'er, who did this to you? No matter what, you are my grandson. If someone has bullied you, just say it."
Pushed for answers, Meng Shuping pretended to be troubled, "Alright, it was Fifth Sister and her cousin."
"What?" Meng Houliang was shocked, "Are you serious?"
Meng Shuping didn't speak aloud, but he complained inwardly, "Of course! If it weren't for them, would I have suffered like this? Being sick is bad enough, but having people come to cause trouble one after another—how am I supposed to recover?"
Cao Jie's expression turned grim. So Meng Shuping really had been pushed into the water? What made it worse was that he seemed to have stumbled upon the Earl of Anyang's family affairs. Would the Earl of Anyang hold a grudge against him?
Meng Houliang's face turned livid; he never expected such a thing to happen in his own home. When he wasn't around, had the others become too arrogant?
He said coldly, "Ping Geer, don't worry. I will make this right for you."
Since Meng Shuping was still sick, the group didn't stay long. Just as Jiang Cihe was about to leave, Meng Shuping called out to him, "Your Highness!"
Jiang Cihe turned back, "What is it?"
Noticing that Meng Houliang and Cao Jie were also looking at him, Meng Shuping ducked his head slightly, not daring to meet their eyes. "Could you please inform the Emperor for me? I really can't handle that assignment."
Hearing this, Cao Jie immediately asked, "Why?"
Hadn't he agreed just fine earlier? Why did he change his mind after my visit?
Meng Shuping shot him an exasperated look and said softly, "Because I'm not as capable as a donkey."
"How dare he ask why? Does he expect me to say outright that the Emperor is really cheap? I don't lack food or necessities—why should I put up with this treatment?"
Cao Jie hadn't expected his words to cause such a misunderstanding. He quickly explained, "Fifth Young Master Meng, that's not what the Emperor meant. It's—"
Jiang Cihe glared at him coldly, "Lord Cao, you'd better explain that to His Majesty yourself."
Only then did Cao Jie begin to panic. He hurriedly turned to Meng Houliang, "Earl, please persuade your grandson. If he does well with the task assigned by the Emperor, won't his future be secure?"
By now, Meng Houliang had already realized that Cao Jie's visit was far from well-intentioned. He had no intention of speaking up for Cao Jie and replied politely but firmly, "If he doesn't want to do it, then so be it. My household can certainly support him."
Meng Shuping thought righteously, "Exactly! At worst, I'll just mooch off my family. Wouldn't it be more comfortable to laze around and do nothing?"
Meng Houliang: "..."
Although he said that, why did this child have no ambition at all?
Unable to persuade Meng Shuping, Cao Jie left the estate deeply troubled. How was he going to explain this to the Emperor?
...
After leaving the estate, Jiang Cihe went straight to the palace. Seeing him arrive, Emperor Qianyou was surprised, "Seventh, what brings you here at this hour?"
Recalling Meng Shuping's words, Jiang Cihe couldn't help but smile. He curled his lips and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Cao and I just visited my young guard. He asked me to relay a message to you: he can't handle the assignment."
Emperor Qianyou was puzzled, "Why?"
Jiang Cihe chuckled, "Because Lord Cao urged him to work while he was still ill. He said he's not as capable as a donkey."
"Pfft—hahaha!" Emperor Qianyou burst into laughter but then caught himself. "Wasn't it said that he was feigning illness to delay the task?"
Jiang Cihe sighed helplessly, "Your Majesty, Lord Cao misunderstood. Why would you believe that too? Meng Shuping is genuinely ill. Lord Cao saw it with his own eyes today. If you don't believe me, ask him tomorrow."
After clarifying the matter, Jiang Cihe subtly threw Cao Jie under the bus, "Moreover, because Lord Cao claimed to be visiting on your behalf but showed up empty-handed, my young guard even complained that you were stingy and exploiting him!"
Emperor Qianyou's face twitched. Although he had previously said he wouldn't reward Meng Shuping, he wasn't that stingy, was he? Besides, hadn't he already instructed Seventh to compensate the boy? Was Seventh's money not from him?
He snorted, "Fine, I'm not that petty. It's just some trivial matters—would I shortchange him?"
Not long after, while still recuperating at home, Meng Shuping received gifts sent by Emperor Qianyou, along with a verbal decree: once he recovered, he was to resume his duties.