Jiang Cihe was taken aback. "Huh?"
Meng Shuping fumed, "It's that Prince Ning! Do you know why he kidnapped me? He wanted me to work for him! If that's not poaching, what is?"
"And the worst part? He didn't even want to pay me! Am I the kind of person who works for free? Ugh! Shameless!"
Jiang Cihe couldn't help but chuckle. Before coming, he'd imagined countless scenarios, even worrying that Meng Shuping might have met with some misfortune. But he never expected to walk into this situation right away.
The little moneygrubber never disappoints—still as lively as ever.
After his rant, Meng Shuping saw Jiang Cihe still smiling and grew even angrier. He demanded, annoyed, "He's poaching from you, and you're not even mad?"
Jiang Cihe immediately put on an indignant face. "Mad! Of course I'm mad! How could Prince Ning do such a thing?"
"Exactly! Exactly!" Meng Shuping exclaimed, outraged. "Don't you think he's too stingy? He's the one who kidnapped me—shouldn't he pay for my trip back? But when I asked him, he had me thrown out!"
"Don't I have any dignity?"
"Pfft!" Though sympathetic, Jiang Cihe couldn't help but let out a laugh. Seeing Meng Shuping glare at him, he quickly added, "Exactly, exactly, too stingy. I want to make fun of him too!"
Meng Shuping nodded vigorously. "Right? I really find it baffling. How can someone as cheap and petty as him be your brother?"
Jiang Cihe sighed. "Tell me about it!"
After venting, Meng Shuping still felt unsatisfied. He couldn't help but complain bitterly, "This is too much! When I get back, I'm going to file an impeachment against him!"
Jiang Cihe felt it might not be appropriate. "That might not be the best move."
Seeing Jiang Cihe not taking his side, Meng Shuping was crushed. "You're actually defending him? Whose side are you on, anyway?"
"Of course, I'm on your side," Jiang Cihe said casually. "But what I mean is, if you submit a memorial, only the Emperor will see it. Even if he finds out, at most, Prince Ning will just get a scolding. But if you report him publicly, that's a different story."
Meng Shuping immediately lit up. "Tell me more! Tell me more!"
Jiang Cihe, loving to stir up drama, suggested, "I have the addresses of all the imperial censors in the court. Why not write each of them a report? Wouldn't that ensure someone impeaches him during court sessions?"
Meng Shuping looked at him in shock. "I never expected this! You, looking all innocent, are quite cunning! Hahahaha! This is a great idea!"
"I'll start writing as soon as I get back: 'The esteemed Prince Ning snatched a handsome young man on the street, not only being incredibly stingy and unwilling to pay but also attempting to use his charms to recruit people!'"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. In terms of social suicide, if this doesn't rank first in the court, it'll at least be second!"
Jiang Cihe bit back a smile. Well, well, this idea was truly devious. But then again, his fourth brother had brought it upon himself.
He thought with glee, "Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, now that you've crossed paths with Meng Shuping, you'd better watch out! This little moneygrubber has some tricks up his sleeve."
Jiang Cihe then gave Meng Shuping a once-over and asked, "He didn't do anything else to you, did he?"
Meng Shuping hesitated. "Probably not?"
"Does scarring a poor young man's fragile heart count? How awful! Absolutely awful!"
Only then did Jiang Cihe feel completely relieved. He said, "Let's go, I'll take you back."
Meng Shuping had been worrying about how to get back when he ran into Jiang Cihe, so he was more than happy to save the trouble. But he glanced behind Jiang Cihe and frowned, "Just one horse?"
"Huh? No way? Two grown men riding one horse is weird, and it's too conspicuous. I don't want to draw that much attention!"
Jiang Cihe said helplessly, "I was in a hurry when I came, so I rode here directly. Can you make do for now?"
It wasn't like he could lead an extra horse while urgently searching for someone, could he?
Meng Shuping exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness, did you come specifically to find me?"
"Aww, I'm actually touched! I knew working for you was the right choice! You're so much more reliable than that Prince Ning!"
"Not really," Jiang Cihe teased him deliberately. "I just happened to pass by after finishing some business."
Meng Shuping's face went flat. "Ugh! And I actually thanked him! That jerk!"
Jiang Cihe's lips curved into a smile as he urged Meng Shuping, "Alright, hop on. It's getting late, and it'll be dark soon if we don't head back."
Meng Shuping glanced at Jiang Cihe and said modestly, "Your Highness, you should get on first."
"If I get on first, wouldn't I end up sitting in his lap? Ah, no, no. That would make me seem too delicate, and I don't want everyone staring at me."
Jiang Cihe was at a loss for words but didn't press the issue. He swiftly swung up onto the horse and reached out his hand to Meng Shuping, "Come on up!"
Meng Shuping grabbed Jiang Cihe's hand and clambered up awkwardly. Seeing him struggle, Jiang Cihe simply yanked him up onto the horse with a firm tug. Meng Shuping felt his body lift lightly and found himself seated on the horse. He couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "Whoa! Check those guns! How does a royal who's had it easy like him have so much strength?"
Jiang Cihe glanced back at him with a raised eyebrow. "Hold onto me tightly. We're about to go."
Meng Shuping quickly declined, "No need, no need. Just go slowly."
Seeing this, Jiang Cihe had no choice but to say, "Then be careful not to fall off."
Meng Shuping hurriedly replied, "Okay."
Jiang Cihe tugged the reins, and the horse began to move. Meng Shuping glanced at the ground and stealthily reached out to grab Jiang Cihe's clothes. "Sigh, forget it. I'd better hold on. Falling off would be disastrous."
Besides, without something to hold onto, he really felt insecure.
After a while, Meng Shuping silently wrapped his arms around Jiang Cihe's waist. "Whew, this feels much more secure. We're both men—holding onto his waist isn't taking advantage, right? Besides, he's the one who told me to hold on!"
He subtly pressed his hand against Jiang Cihe's abdomen. "Wow, well, well. Even through his clothes, you can feel those abs. Tsk, tsk, tsk. How does he train them?"
Meng Shuping thought jealously, "Why does he bother training so hard? It's not like anyone gets to see them. Who's he showing off to?"
"How annoying! Why don't I have them?"
Jiang Cihe was utterly resigned. Did Meng Shuping think he wouldn't notice just because he didn't say anything? Besides, even if he couldn't feel it, he could still hear it.
Oh well, better not expose Little Bold. It would save him from blushing in embarrassment later.
Xing Lai and Jia Yue were pacing anxiously outside the Earl's mansion. If the fifth young master didn't return soon, they would have no choice but to seek help from the Earl of Anyang. If anything happened to the fifth young master, they couldn't bear the responsibility.
Just then, they suddenly saw Jiang Cihe riding slowly toward them. The two hurried forward to meet him. "Your Highness, our fifth young master—"
But before they could finish, they saw Meng Shuping clutching Jiang Cihe's clothes, trying to dismount. The two quickly helped Meng Shuping down. Once he was safely off the horse, they finally had a chance to ask, "Fifth young master, are you alright?"
Meng Shuping shook his head. "I'm fine."
Xing Lai and Jia Yue breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that he was safe. As expected, Prince Zhao was truly capable—he had found the fifth young master so quickly.
They gratefully said to Jiang Cihe, "Thank you, Your Highness, for bringing our fifth young master back!"
Meng Shuping widened his eyes. "Huh? Didn't he say he was just passing by? How could he lie to me?"
Jiang Cihe jumped off the horse and told the two attendants, "Don't mention it. Fortunately, nothing happened this time, but make sure to keep a better eye on him next time."
Xing Lai and Jia Yue quickly replied, "Yes."
Jiang Cihe then turned to Meng Shuping and invited him, "Tomorrow is a day off. Wanna go play polo?"
Meng Shuping immediately refused. "No, no. I don't know the first thing about polo, so I'd better not go."
"It's rare to have a day off. Wouldn't sleeping in be better? Why play polo? Doesn't that chafe your thighs?"
Jiang Cihe sighed, then said, holding back a laugh, "Alright, do you really want me to be honest? Actually, I just noticed you couldn't even get on the horse and thought I'd help you practice."
Meng Shuping grew flustered and defensive. "Who says I can't get on a horse? Weren't you the one on the horse throwing me off?"
"Ugh! So what if he can ride a horse? So what if he has long legs? What's wrong with me not knowing how to ride?"
Jiang Cihe smirked inwardly but feigned doubt. "Is that so?"
Meng Shuping insisted immediately, "Of course it is!"
Seeing Jiang Cihe staring at him with a teasing smile, he said angrily, "Fine, I'll go then."
"Can't pass up a free teacher. Once I master riding, I'll show him up! Hmph! Does he even know what 'the student surpasses the teacher' means?"
Jiang Cihe raised an eyebrow. If Meng Shuping could surpass him after just a few days of practice, wouldn't his own decade of training be in vain?
After agreeing on the meeting time for the next day, Jiang Cihe said goodbye to Meng Shuping and took off. As soon as Meng Shuping returned to the Earl's residence, he began furiously drafting complaint letters. But how many should he write? Dozens should be enough, right?
The next day, Meng Shuping slept in. After getting ready, he went to meet Jiang Cihe. He had thought it would be just the two of them at the equestrian ground, but upon arrival, he realized there were many young nobles and their ladies present.
However, Jiang Cihe did not take Meng Shuping to the crowded area but instead led him to a secluded, open space. "Alright, we'll practice here."
After explaining some riding techniques to Meng Shuping, Jiang Cihe asked him to try riding a short distance on his own while he stood by watching.
At that moment, a group of people spotted Jiang Cihe from afar and came over to greet him. "Seventh Brother, what brings you here today?"
Jiang Cihe replied politely, "Well, it's a day off, so I came out for some fun."
Fan Jianhui, who was among the group, casually glanced around and noticed Meng Shuping. Watching Meng Shuping's nervous and clumsy riding, he walked up to him and sneered, "Tsk, what a country bumpkin. You look ridiculous on that horse!"