Meng Shuping nodded rapidly, "Yes, yes!"
[Darn it! I've been slacking off enough! Why is everything still going so smoothly? Is the universe out to get me?]
Seeing that Emperor Qianyou still seemed unconvinced, Meng Shuping's eyes darted around guiltily. His voice trembling, he said, "Your Majesty! This confession wasn't due to my competence; it's simply that Lord Cao's team was so inept! How could I have known it would be so easy to get a confession? I barely even asked a few questions!"
[Better them than me! Lord Cao, since you've set me up like this, don't blame me for throwing you under the bus!]
Jiang Cihe's lips curled into a smile. He could attest that this really was a coincidence—just like the last time. But he had to admit, Meng Shuping possessed a uniquely sharp perspective, which was why he managed to extract the confession. Perhaps it was precisely this unconventional approach that yielded such unexpected results.
But no sooner had he spoken than Cao Jie interjected. He quickly stepped forward and declared, "Your Majesty! Don't listen to his nonsense! I believe he's simply being lazy and trying to shirk responsibility! I've heard from others that Junior Guard Meng is truly a prodigy—after just two rounds of questioning, the criminal confessed voluntarily! And the confession matched his predictions perfectly! Could an ordinary person achieve such a feat? Junior Guard Meng is a true genius!"
If the Emperor truly believed Meng Shuping was incompetent, wouldn't that make their Ministry of Justice appear even more so? Therefore, for the sake of their ministry's reputation, this young man absolutely had to be capable!
Meng Shuping shot Cao Jie an angry glare. [You sly old fox! I knew you were deliberately causing trouble, and you still deny it! Are you trying to elevate me only to set me up for a fall?]
[So what if I made you lose face? Is it really necessary to hold such a grudge against me? And you call yourself the Minister of Justice? How petty can you be?]
"Oh?" Cao Jie's words thoroughly piqued Emperor Qianyou's curiosity. He asked with interest, "Then, Beloved Minister Cao, tell me, how did Junior Guard Meng conduct the interrogation?"
Upon hearing Emperor Qianyou's question, Cao Jie immediately launched into a vivid description, naturally emphasizing Meng Shuping's brilliant deductions and how he skillfully provoked the criminal into confessing with just a few clever tactics.
The story was so thrilling and the process so dramatic that Emperor Qianyou burst out laughing. "Hahaha, if I'd known it would be like this, I should've gone to see it myself!"
Meng Shuping's eyes widened in shock. [No way! Seriously? If he weren't talking about me, I'd almost believe it! How come I didn't know I was so amazing?]
[And who was it that said I'd mess things up? Where's your shame? Where is it? Is it really okay to change your tune so quickly?]
Cao Jie's expression remained unchanged. Would it be any less embarrassing if people said the Ministry of Justice was incompetent? That would be even more humiliating! So, if he had to choose, he'd rather go with the less embarrassing option.
Seeing that Emperor Qianyou not only hadn't changed his opinion but now held him in even higher regard, Meng Shuping gulped and mustered his courage again. "Your Majesty, I'll be blunt! I wasn't there to interrogate anyone—I was just there for the drama! The task you assigned me, I never intended to take seriously! I simply blatantly ignored your orders! I've been disrespectful!"
[Hahaha! Are you angry? Good! I refuse to believe that even after I've said all this, you'd still have the nerve to assign me another task. If everyone acted like me, wouldn't everything fall into chaos?]
The surrounding ministers broke out in a cold sweat. This young guard was incredibly bold—truly a newborn calf unafraid of tigers!
Minister of Justice Cao Jie was also startled by Meng Shuping's outburst, but he quickly said, "Your Majesty, if he could accomplish the task so well without even trying, imagine how much better he'd do if he put his mind to it!"
The higher they praised Meng Shuping, the better—it would prove to everyone that their Ministry of Justice wasn't as incompetent as people thought!
Meng Shuping looked at him in disbelief. [What's wrong with him? Why's he praising me so much today? Did he take the wrong medicine? Is he trying to set me up?]
Minister of Revenue Chen also stepped forward. "Lord Cao is absolutely right, Your Majesty. With Junior Guard Meng's talent, isn't it normal for him to have some pride? I believe it's precisely because of his exceptional abilities that he managed to extract a confession so effortlessly! Such skill is far beyond what any of us could achieve!"
Meng Shuping was at a loss for words. [I really don't have any pride! I'm just lazy! Don't make me sound so noble, okay?]
"Exactly," Cao Jie said, brushing off Meng Shuping's inner thoughts. "Your Majesty, look—Junior Guard Meng was handpicked by Prince Zhao to serve by his side, praised by Lord Chen, and even managed to deceive Prince Cheng so thoroughly. Could an ordinary person do that?"
"Most importantly, even Your Majesty finds him quick-witted and highly capable! With your vast experience in judging people, how could you possibly be mistaken?"
With the two of them singing his praises one after another, Meng Shuping felt so embarrassed his face turned red. [Ahhh! Stop praising me! Aren't you embarrassed? Can you please stop making fun of me like this?]
Emperor Qianyou was delighted. He smiled and asked Cao Jie, "Weren't you the one who looked down on him before? Have you changed your mind so quickly?"
Cao Jie replied humbly, "I am ashamed, Your Majesty. Your discerning eye saw at once that Junior Guard Meng was a talent—I am far inferior to you! With a wise ruler like you, how could Great Chu not prosper?"
Hearing this, Emperor Qianyou grew even happier. Of course, he was the Emperor—if he didn't have such abilities, how could he govern the country?
Meng Shuping was amazed. [Tsk, tsk, tsk. He can spout such cheap flattery without batting an eye? Are all you officials this skilled?]
[Hah, someone as honest and straightforward as me doesn't know how to sweet-talk. I only know how to work diligently. I've always said I'm not cut out for officialdom—I could never learn to suck up to people like that!]
Emperor Qianyou's smile faded, and he suddenly felt less pleased.
Cao Jie's face also darkened. If you want to praise yourself, go ahead, but why put others down? By comparison, it made him seem like he only knew how to flatter!
At that moment, Minister of Revenue Chen stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I may not be as eloquent as Lord Cao, but I will faithfully fulfill my duties and help make Great Chu more prosperous!"
Hearing this, the other ministers quickly followed suit, each declaring, "Your Majesty, I am the same!"
Emperor Qianyou's smile returned. Good, good. Aside from that brat, the others were quite enthusiastic! Of course, as the Emperor, he wouldn't stoop to argue with the young man.
Meng Shuping was totally amazed. [Wow, they're all so cunning! By putting Lord Cao down like that, doesn't it make him seem incompetent?]
Cao Jie's face indeed grew darker. If you want to show your loyalty, fine, but why throw me under the bus to climb up? We're colleagues—is it necessary to be so ruthless?
The other ministers remained calm. They didn't believe for a second that Cao would've acted any differently if given the chance—he might've been even worse!
Emperor Qianyou, loving the attention, glanced at Meng Shuping. "Since Junior Guard Meng did a good job, it would be remiss of me not to reward him. Very well, I hereby appoint you as Vice Director of the Ministry of Justice, responsible for criminal law and reviewing judicial cases."
The other ministers present looked at Meng Shuping with envy. To leave such a deep impression on the Emperor at such a young age, and to be pursued with an official appointment—his future's set!
If their own sons could be this successful, they'd be over the moon!
Of course, they had considered objecting, but seeing the Emperor in such high spirits, they weren't foolish enough to kill the mood.
Noticing everyone looking at him, Meng Shuping stiffened and frantically refused. "No, no, I really can't handle this job, Your Majesty! I'm barely literate! How could I possibly understand the legal codes?"
[I can't endure the hardships of being an official! The benefits are few, but the troubles are endless!]
[What would someone like me—a clueless loudmouth who can't read the room or flatter—do there? Just go there to stir up trouble?]
Emperor Qianyou, already aware that Meng Shuping was faking ignorance, remained unmoved. "No matter. I'll have others teach you."
Meng Shuping's mouth felt dry. He braced himself and said, "And that 'reviewing' you mentioned—I don't understand that either! What if I cause wrongful convictions? Wouldn't that just create trouble for the court?"
[And getting up early in the morning? I can't do that! I think you're just trying to make things difficult for me! Admit it—you're jealous I can sleep in!]
The more resentful Meng Shuping's thoughts grew, the more pleased Emperor Qianyou felt. He feigned comfort, "What's there to worry about? The cases you handle will still be reviewed by the Grand Court of Judicial Review. You needn't fear wrongful convictions."
Hah, as the Emperor, he had to rise early—why should this brat get to laze around in bed?
Left with no choice, Meng Shuping turned his hopeful gaze to the other ministers. [Seriously, I've said I'm illiterate—is no one going to object? Are we just letting the court become the Emperor's one-man rule? At least offer some advice!]
As he looked around, the ministers variously studied the ceiling or the floor. What a joke—the Emperor had spoken directly. Junior Guard Meng, you might as well accept it. You can't fight City Hall!
Then, Meng Shuping's eyes fell on Jiang Cihe. He glared at him angrily. [You jerk! Can't you help me instead of just sitting back and watching? Whose fault is this anyway?]
Jiang Cihe coughed. "Father, he has no experience, after all…"
Emperor Qianyou waved a hand. "Who has experience from the start? You gain it by doing! Since no one objects, this matter is settled!"
"Beloved Minister Cao, I leave this matter to you!"
Seeing that Emperor Qianyou had actually assigned Meng Shuping to the Ministry of Justice, Cao Jie couldn't quite describe his feelings. He replied respectfully, "Yes."
Realizing the matter was settled, Meng Shuping fumed inwardly. [That damn emperor!!!]
Emperor Qianyou took a deep breath, telling himself, "Don't be angry, don't be angry." He had promised not to blame Meng Shuping—was he really the kind of man to be so petty and go back on his word?
Dammit! He was still so angry!
It's just giving him an official post, isn't it? And a rather powerful, lucrative one at that. Anyone else would be falling over themselves with gratitude if they'd encountered such good fortune, yet this kid actually had the nerve to be dissatisfied?
Don't be so ungrateful!
Cao Jie and the others gasped, a cold sweat nearly breaking out on their brows. They knew Meng Shuping was bold, but they never expected him to be this audacious. Even in their hearts, they wouldn't dare think such disrespectful thoughts about the Emperor!
Before their anxious hearts could settle, they heard Meng Shuping continue, [Are you really determined to force me to do the impossible?]
[If you keep pressuring me to become an official, believe it or not, I'll give you a piece of my mind right now!!!]
[Wahhh, why must someone as young as me have to suffer the misery of being an official? Can't I endure this a few years later? Wahhh!]
Minister of Revenue Chen was so amused he could barely keep from laughing, amused by Meng Shuping. This young man changed his tune so quickly—wasn't he just playing the unyielding hero ready to die rather than yield earlier? Now he's whining and full of misery?
Emperor Qianyou coughed guiltily. Ahem, had he bullied the boy too harshly? As a grown man, how could he stoop to bickering with a child?
Fine, he'd find another opportunity to reward him later!
Unaware of Emperor Qianyou's intention to make it up to him, Meng Shuping shot Jiang Cihe an angry glare as soon as he left the Emperor's presence, then turned and walked away. "Hmph!"
[You dog! Now that I'm an official, you must be thrilled, aren't you?]
[If only I hadn't become his personal guard back then. If I hadn't, the Emperor wouldn't have noticed me. If he hadn't noticed me, I wouldn't have ended up as an official!]
[Wahhh, my fate is so bitter!]
Jiang Cihe smiled helplessly and caught up to Meng Shuping. "Do you still want the reward for this assignment or not?"
Meng Shuping immediately turned back as if nothing had happened. "Yes, yes, yes!"
[It's money I earned through my own efforts—why wouldn't I take it?]
Jiang Cihe handed him the silver. "His Majesty is riding high right now. Opposing him would be pointless. Perhaps, after some time, when he calms down, he'll regret appointing you as an official."
Meng Shuping asked doubtfully, "Really?"
Jiang Cihe replied earnestly, "Of course."
Provided Meng Shuping didn't continue to make himself so intriguing.
Hearing this, Meng Shuping suddenly felt a renewed sense of purpose. Excelling at his duties might be difficult, but messing up? That should be easy!
As long as he made the Emperor believe he was unfit for the role, sooner or later, he'd be dismissed!
The next morning, Meng Shuping dragged himself listlessly to the Ministry of Punishments. When Cao Jie saw him, he snorted mockingly. "Xiao Meng, from now on, you must work hard and live up to the Emperor's trust."
Now that Meng Shuping was under his command, just you wait! There were plenty of days ahead!