Meng Shuping let out a sound of understanding. "He's still trying to get at me, isn't he? Bring it on! I'm just looking for an excuse to blow off some steam! If he dares to upset me, I'll flip this table!"
"Honestly, I can't stand this rotten official job for another day! If he's got the guts, let the Emperor dismiss me!"
Cao Jie choked. So, he had to coddle this kid, did he? He'd never encountered such an insubordinate subordinate. Every other newcomer was cautious, spoke carefully, and eagerly curried favor with their superiors.
Even if they didn't flatter, they at least avoided offending. But this kid? He seemed afraid of *not* offending!
He snorted in displeasure. "Let's go. I'll introduce you to the others."
The two soon arrived at a courtyard. Hearing of Cao Jie's arrival, Kang Miao, the Director of the Ministry of Justice, quickly came out to greet him. "What brings the Minister to our humble department?"
Cao Jie replied, "Kang Miao, gather everyone from your left hall. Have them all meet the newly appointed Vice Director Meng."
Kang Miao promptly said, "Yes, sir."
After dispatching someone to carry out the order, he began subtly scrutinizing Meng Shuping. Up close, he realized this Vice Director Meng seemed quite young.
Unfortunately, he wore a mask, so his exact appearance was hidden, but from the visible parts, he appeared to be rather handsome.
A moment later, other officials gradually arrived. Noticing a stranger, they all began to discreetly observe him. Meng Shuping stiffened. So many people!
Just then, Cao Jie began his introduction. "Gentlemen, this is Vice Director Meng, personally appointed by His Majesty. Starting today, he will be joining us. From now on, you are all to follow Vice Director Meng's instructions. Do not underestimate him simply because of his youth. Let me tell you, he has outshone every single one of us in the Ministry of Justice."
Hearing this, the officials all glared angrily at Meng Shuping. What arrogance! They had served in the Ministry of Justice for so long; how could some greenhorn possibly surpass them?
Meng Shuping was utterly speechless. "See? What did I tell you? He's definitely targeting me now! He even knows how to use others to achieve his ends!"
"But it's completely unnecessary, truly. Even if he didn't stir up trouble for me, I'd still manage to offend people thoroughly on my own!"
Cao Jie was taken aback. He had expected Meng Shuping to be furious at his words, but this kid's reaction was entirely unexpected. Was this really something to be so proud of?
He snorted coldly. "Does Vice Director Meng have anything to say?"
Being stared at by so many people at once, Meng Shuping grew very nervous. His panicked eyes darted around, avoiding meeting anyone's gaze. "Yes, yes, Lord Cao is absolutely right."
"You people in the Ministry of Justice really are useless. And I think it's all because that Cao fellow hasn't set a good example. Isn't there a saying—'a weak soldier is just one, but a weak general ruins the whole army'?"
"I'm not trying to criticize him, but how can he have the nerve to say anything after leading the Ministry of Justice to such a state? Doesn't he feel the slightest bit ashamed?"
Cao Jie's face flushed crimson with anger. Was this kid truly so unconventional? Wouldn't a normal person offer a humble denial? I dared to say it, but you actually dared to agree!
And if you're going to praise yourself, do you really have to insult me in the process?
He said coldly, "Alright, now that Vice Director Meng has been introduced, I shall take my leave."
Kang Miao quickly offered, "This humble official will see Lord Cao out."
"No need!" Cao Jie, having been thoroughly vexed by Meng Shuping, was in a foul mood. He instructed the others, "All of you, disperse now!"
Everyone hurriedly replied, "Yes, sir."
After Cao Jie departed, Kang Miao's expression immediately shifted. He said impassively, "Vice Director Meng, come with me."
Meng Shuping couldn't help but marvel, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. That's an impressive speed of mood change! Truly a man of the official circles!"
Kang Miao glared at Meng Shuping with displeasure. With this kid being so arrogant, did he expect a pleasant reception? Not outright scolding him was already a testament to his remarkable patience!
Meng Shuping found it baffling. "Why is he glaring at me? If he's incompetent, can't I say it? That Cao fellow criticized him earlier—why didn't he dare to vent his anger at him? Is he planning to bully me in the workplace?"
Kang Miao grew even more incensed. I merely glared at you, and you immediately have so much to say? And you still have the nerve to accuse me of bullying you? Don't be so absurd!
After leading Meng Shuping to a desk, Kang Miao said impatiently, "Vice Director Meng, you will work here from now on. Later, I will have someone bring over all the laws and regulations of our Great Chu. Master them as soon as possible."
Meng Shuping nodded. "Oh."
"Not doing it. Just thinking about it gives me a headache. Anyway, I don't plan to stay here long—why bother reading?"
Kang Miao suppressed his anger repeatedly, barely managing to hold back his words. What was wrong with this kid? Everyone else who came here was eager and ambitious. But you? You want to leave as soon as you arrive?
Never mind. He hadn't planned to assign any tasks to Meng Shuping anyway. Once this kid had been left on the cold seat long enough, they'd see if he still dared to be so arrogant!
Not long after, a few people brought over the books. Meng Shuping's eyes widened. "This many?"
This could probably fill an entire bookshelf behind him! And they expected him to master all this? By the time he finished, years would have passed!
Kang Miao looked at him disdainfully. "Vice Director Meng, you're not scared, are you? Who was it that claimed to be better than all of us in the Ministry of Justice?"
Meng Shuping said earnestly, "Lord Cao said that."
"His memory isn't so great, is it? It hasn't been that long—how could he forget?"
Kang Miao was so choked by these words he could barely speak. He snorted, "Let me tell you, the first thing we do when we come to the Ministry of Justice is master these laws and regulations. If you can't even manage that, then you shouldn't be an official at all!"
Meng Shuping immediately said excitedly, "Really? Then can you get the Emperor to dismiss me?"
"I never wanted this job in the first place. If the Emperor hadn't forced me, did you really think I'd be willing to come?"
"Who would've thought? I might have misjudged Kang Miao—he might actually be a great guy!"
Kang Miao was left utterly speechless by Meng Shuping's words. How could he possibly make decisions for the Emperor? This kid was definitely provoking him, right? So what if the Emperor favors you?
The more he thought about it, the more sour Kang Miao felt. What was so good about this kid? Why did the Emperor show him such special treatment?
Seeing that Kang Miao remained silent, Meng Shuping gradually grew disappointed. "So you can't do it after all!"
"If you can't do it, then stop blabbering and getting people's hopes up for nothing!"
Kang Miao took a deep breath and forcefully restrained his urge to strike him—otherwise, he feared a serious brawl might erupt in the Ministry of Justice.
He said coldly, "Since Vice Director Meng is so eager to be dismissed, then even if I am reprimanded by the Emperor, I will advise him to remove you from office."
"Someone like you, who is unlearned and relies on cheap tricks to flatter superiors, does not belong in the Ministry of Justice. If you want to have fun, go somewhere else!"
Hearing this, Meng Shuping's hopes were rekindled. "Then I'll leave this matter to you, Lord Kang! If you succeed, I will certainly prepare a generous thank-you gift for you!"
"What a turn of events! Lord Kang is simply too thoughtful! I believe that as long as Lord Kang perseveres, success will surely come one day!"
Unexpectedly, his sincere words made Kang Miao even angrier. Kang Miao said furiously, "Don't get too cocky!"
With that, Kang Miao turned and left. Hmph! Even if he couldn't make Meng Shuping leave right now, as long as he kept him on the cold seat, he'd eventually force him out.
He refused to believe that once Meng Shuping realized he couldn't gain importance or make any achievements in the Ministry of Justice, he wouldn't leave on his own.
Watching him leave in anger, Meng Shuping was baffled. "What's he so angry about all of a sudden?"
"Hmm..."
"I get it! He was just bragging about something he couldn't actually do, and now that he sees I'm taking it seriously, he's running away!"
"Tsk, what a waste of my enthusiasm. I shouldn't have trusted him from the start!"
Kang Miao's retreating figure paused for a moment before quickly resuming his pace. Fuming with anger, he quickened his steps. That kid, that kid—just you wait!
Meng Shuping had no idea Kang Miao was so angry his face had turned green. He sat down behind his desk and idly flipped through a book, but after just two pages, he closed it completely. Sigh, he couldn't understand it—really couldn't.
For a modern person like him, reading such profound material was just too exhausting.
Among the pile of legal texts, he also noticed a thick stack of case files. Meng Shuping casually opened one and saw that the dates recorded were all from earlier times. Since he had nothing better to do, he decided to treat the case files as gossip to read.
A few days later, Kang Miao felt he had left Meng Shuping idle long enough and that Meng Shuping should have learned his lesson. So he called over the clerk from Meng Shuping's office and asked, "What has Vice Director Meng been doing these past few days?"
Was he so idle that he was starting to feel anxious?
The clerk glanced at Kang Miao and replied, "Lord Meng has been bringing melon seeds, tea, and snacks every day. He arrives punctually, reads the case files, and when he gets tired, he takes a nap. After waking up, he continues reading until it's time to leave."
In all his years at the Ministry of Justice, this was the first time he had seen someone so relaxed at the Ministry. Anyone who didn't know better would think this was a teahouse!
"What?" Kang Miao was instantly enraged. "What does he think this place is?"
Looking at the huge pile of case files in front of him, he felt like a complete fool!
Because Meng Shuping was idle, the work that should have been his had to be done by someone else. But since Kang Miao was determined to ignore Meng Shuping, he and the chief clerk had to split the workload. These past few days, he had been so busy he was going crazy—not once had he returned home on time. And yet, Meng Shuping was having it easy! Who's punishing who here?
Kang Miao's face darkened as an idea struck him. Wasn't there a tricky case they were dealing with right now? Why not assign it to Meng Shuping? That would keep him from being too comfortable!
Meng Shuping felt that life at the Ministry of Justice was quite pleasant. Although having to wake up early every day to report in was a bit of a pain, his days were leisurely, and he didn't have to socialize. It was much better than he had imagined.
One day, as he was comfortably lounging in his chair reading case files, he suddenly noticed someone standing in front of his desk. He looked up and saw that it was Kang Miao. He nervously stood up. "Lord Kang."
Seeing Meng Shuping, Kang Miao was taken aback. In all the time Meng Shuping had been at the Ministry, this was the first time he had seen him without his mask. He looked even younger than Kang Miao had imagined, and even a bit handsome—nothing like the annoying person he'd imagined!
But immediately after, Kang Miao grew furious. "This is too much! Absolutely too much!" He had thought the clerk's description was already excessive, but Meng Shuping had managed to take it even further. He sneered coldly, "You've made it so comfortable here—why don't you just bring a bed?"
Without his mask to hide behind, Meng Shuping suddenly seemed much less confident. He said softly, "Is that allowed? Is the Ministry of Justice really that considerate?"
"I was just thinking that sitting in a chair all day is a bit uncomfortable!"
Kang Miao was furious. "No!"
Was this kid really that clueless, or was he pretending? Could he not detect sarcasm at all?
Meng Shuping said disappointedly, "Alright."
"Why is he always like this? If he can't do it, why say it? Is it fun to mess with people?"
Worried that if he didn't get to the point, Meng Shuping would drive him to an early grave, Kang Miao said sternly, "I have a case here. I'm assigning it to you to handle."
Meng Shuping was surprised. "You want me to handle a case?"
"I knew there had to be a reason he came over suddenly. Sure enough, nothing brings him here unless there's work to assign. Oh well, I'll handle it. I was getting a bit bored reading gossip these past couple of days anyway. A change of pace might be nice."
Kang Miao's temples throbbed with anger. You were brought to the Ministry of Justice to work, not to relax! He angrily tossed a case file at Meng Shuping. "Take a look. Once you've read it, start the trial!"
Seeing that Kang Miao had left immediately after speaking, Meng Shuping had no choice but to open the case file and read it. As he read, he grew increasingly furious.
The case was about a local tyrant in a county outside the capital who had forcibly seized fertile farmland from many villagers. When someone went to reason with him, the tyrant killed the person on the spot. The victim's family reported the incident to the county magistrate, but because the tyrant had powerful backing, the magistrate didn't dare handle the case and passed it up to the Ministry of Justice.
After reading the file, Meng Shuping shot to his feet. This case must go to trial! It has to! How could such a person be let off?
He put his mask back on and decisively ordered the clerk, "Escort me to the interrogation hall!"
The clerk quickly replied, "Yes, sir."
This official was finally starting to work!
However, once he arrived at the interrogation hall, Meng Shuping started having second thoughts. Previously, interrogations had taken place in a small room near the prison, with Jiang Cihe sitting in the middle drawing most of the attention away. Meng Shuping hadn't felt much pressure then.
But this time, he was in a very formal setting, sitting in a prominent position and looking down. He couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
Soon, the prisoner was brought in. Even though he was already a captive, he showed no fear. As soon as he entered, he held his chin high and said arrogantly, "What's this? You dare to convict me? If you know what's good for you, release me now! Let me tell you—even the Minister of Justice would have to treat me with respect!"
Speechless, Meng Shuping said, "You're already a prisoner, and you're still this arrogant? Do you believe I could sentence you to death right now?"
"Besides, if you're going to brag, at least prepare a script! With that deadpan expression of his, do you really think he'd be respectful to you? Don't make me laugh!"
Lu Sheng was taken aback. Did the person up there just speak? Then he grew angry. Who was bragging?
Meng Shuping imitated the manner of ancient officials conducting trials and slammed the gavel. "Speak! Did you kill that person or not?"
Lu Sheng gave him a disdainful look. Your voice is shaking so badly, and you still have the nerve to interrogate? Was he too scared to speak?
He snorted defiantly, "No!"
Meng Shuping sighed. "Alright, then I sentence you to immediate execution!"
"The audacity! So arrogant! If he's this defiant in front of me, he must be the one who killed that person! There's no need for further interrogation!"