Chapter 131

Chapter 131

Just as the two were about to proceed, they unexpectedly encountered the Minister of Works. Upon seeing Meng Shuping and Jiang Cihe, the Minister of Works offered a strained, insincere smile. "Your Highness Prince Zhao, Vice Director Meng, may I inquire about the purpose of your visit?"

Noticing the Minister of Works' hurried and slightly breathless demeanor, Meng Shuping couldn't help but muse inwardly, "Did he rush over as soon as he heard we were here? Seriously? Why is he acting like such a shadow?"

The Minister of Works shot Meng Shuping a displeased glare. *Who* was a shadow? He hadn't even asked what these two were doing at his Ministry of Works for no good reason!

Jiang Cihe replied coolly, "Nothing much, just some personal business."

"Personal business?" The Minister of Works glanced at Meng Shuping. "Your Highness, if there's anything, a simple message would suffice. Why trouble yourself to come in person?"

A smile touched Jiang Cihe's lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. "It's quite alright, merely a small matter. I was simply passing by. Does Lord Shi have other engagements? If not, I shall take my leave."

The Minister of Works responded with feigned politeness, "Then, Your Highness, please do."

After Meng Shuping and Jiang Cihe departed, the Minister of Works questioned the official in charge of the workshop, "Do you know what those two came for?"

The official cast a wary glance at the Minister of Works. "Reporting, sir, His Highness requested the craftsmen to produce a type of transparent glass."

Transparent glass? The Minister of Works pondered. What would they want with that?

Upon hearing that Meng Shuping and Jiang Cihe had actually gone to the Ministry of Works, Jiang Cian sneered. In the past, his seventh brother always presented himself as impartial and selfless, yet it seemed he too would exploit his position for personal gain. However, it was likely Meng Shuping who instigated this, wasn't it?

After all, Meng Shuping had seen that glass cup not long ago. Perhaps he had feigned disdain but secretly coveted it?

A few days later, it was again time for the grand court assembly. Meng Shuping, as usual, was lost in thought in his customary corner by the door when a familiar voice suddenly captured his attention.

Cai Feng, who had impeached him several times before, stepped forward once more, declaring, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I heard that Vice Director Meng visited the Ministry of Works a few days ago, intending to have the glass workshop produce glass for his personal use."

"Therefore, I impeach Vice Director Meng for abusing public resources for private gain and seeking personal profit. Such conduct is utterly unworthy of an imperial official. I implore Your Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation!"

Meng Shuping felt a surge of impatience. "Why him again? Is there no end to it? Just because I once rebuffed him? Does he have to cling to me like this? And he has the audacity to accuse others of abusing public resources—I haven't even accused him of settling a personal vendetta under the guise of public duty!"

He thought with a resigned shrug, "Let him impeach me, then. Anyway, if the sky falls, Jiang Cihe will bear the brunt. What could possibly happen to me? Is such a trivial matter truly worth bringing up in morning court? How idle must he be?"

"But how did this news get out? That day when we left, we ran into Lord Shi. Could it have been him? He has such a loose tongue!"

Emperor Qianyou was also displeased. Was it not simply asking the workshop to create something? Was it necessary to make such a fuss? He refused to believe others hadn't done the same. Usually, he would turn a blind eye, but did they truly think he was oblivious?

He said coldly, "It's merely the creation of an item. How much silver could it possibly cost? Is such a minor matter truly worth discussing in court?" He mused, "At most, Meng Shuping can simply cover the expense."

Meng Shuping also felt that Cai Feng was making a mountain out of a molehill. "Exactly, exactly! Your Majesty is burdened with countless state affairs every day. Why bother him with such trivialities? Can we not discuss something of actual importance?"

Cai Feng tried to ignore Emperor Qianyou's cold expression and continued, "Your Majesty, you may not be aware, but the glass Vice Director Meng requested the craftsmen to produce is colorless and transparent. This type of glass, imported from foreign lands, can fetch a thousand taels. If everyone were to act like Vice Director Meng, wouldn't the court suffer immense losses? Furthermore, only foreign lands possess the ability to produce this glass. If Vice Director Meng instructs the craftsmen to produce it, it will inevitably require substantial funds for research. In my humble opinion, Vice Director Meng is nothing short of a parasite on the court!"

The Minister of Works also stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I too have something to say. If all the court officials were to act like Vice Director Meng, arbitrarily requesting the Ministry of Works to create items for them, what am I to do? If I refuse, I will inevitably offend people. But if I agree, I would feel I have failed the court. I implore Your Majesty to decide this matter for me."

As soon as the Minister of Works finished speaking, several officials from the Ministry of Works also stepped forward. "Your Majesty, Lord Shi speaks truly. We too find ourselves in a difficult position."

"Your Majesty, my rank is low and my position insignificant. There are some individuals I truly cannot afford to displease! When they ask me to grant them special favors, it is difficult for me to refuse!"

"We implore Your Majesty to severely punish Vice Director Meng and resolutely put an end to such behavior."

Jiang Ciyi looked at Meng Shuping with a smug expression. "Vice Director Meng, if you desired glass cups, you merely needed to say so. I could have presented you with a set. Why go to such lengths?"

This Meng Shuping—hadn't he initially feigned disdain for the glass cup? It turns out it was all an act. Finally, he could savor his triumph!

Meng Shuping was speechless. "Good heavens, anyone would think I'd committed some grave offense! It's merely making an item. And they're leveling such a serious accusation against me! And that old fox, Lord Shi—when he encountered us that day, he said nothing, but now he's playing tricks. How two-faced can he be?"

The Minister of Works' face flushed with anger. *You're* the old schemer!

Jiang Cihe swept his gaze across everyone, then said mockingly, "Have you all perhaps made a mistake? It was *I* who requested the glass be produced. Why do you not seek me out, but instead relentlessly pursue a seventh-rank petty official?"

Meng Shuping also wanted to complain about this point. "Exactly, exactly! Clearly, we went together. How is it that, in the end, they only focus on me? Are they just picking on the weak? If you have the courage, confront the prince. Don't make me look down on you!"

The Minister of Works said with a pained expression, "Your Highness Prince Zhao, who is unaware of the exceptionally close relationship between you and Vice Director Meng? Please do not shield him."

Jiang Cihe sneered. "Lord Shi's memory is truly deficient. That day at the Ministry of Works, it was clearly both Vice Director Meng and I who encountered Lord Shi. How is it that Lord Shi has now forgotten?"

The Minister of Works remained impassive. "It is precisely because *you* accompanied Vice Director Meng that our Ministry of Works dared not refuse. However, doing so indeed incurs significant expense."

Seeing them arguing so vehemently, Emperor Qianyou waved his hand. "Enough, all of you cease at once."

After everyone below had quieted, he turned to Meng Shuping. "Beloved Minister Meng, why did you have them create this colorless transparent glass?"

Could it truly be for his personal use?

Meng Shuping had no choice but to step forward, replying with a hint of guilt in his voice, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I, I believed it could increase the national treasury's revenue!"

"Honestly, while I did want to make something for myself, it's not as if there's no benefit to the court, right? Can't they even grasp this small point? Are they all just useless?"

The Minister of Works cast a disdainful glance at Meng Shuping. Don't flatter yourself! Increase the national treasury's revenue? Clearly, it's for personal gain!

Emperor Qianyou asked doubtfully, "Increase the national treasury's revenue?"

Meng Shuping lowered his head slightly, not daring to meet Emperor Qianyou's eyes. "Just now, Lord Cai stated that this colorless transparent glass cup, imported from foreign lands, can sell for a thousand taels of silver. If they import a thousand sets annually, that amounts to a million taels. But if we can produce it ourselves, wouldn't that million taels be ours to earn? And if we were to sell these glass cups to other countries, wouldn't we earn even more?"

"I truly don't understand. This is clearly a beneficial endeavor that could generate revenue for the country, yet they are all trying to obstruct it? And they are high court officials—did not a single one of them consider this? They utterly lack a broader perspective."

Hearing this, the Minister of Revenue was delighted. "Your Majesty, Vice Director Meng speaks wisely! Those foreign merchants have undoubtedly profited greatly from Great Chu through these colorless transparent glass cups. If we can produce them, wouldn't that indeed increase the national treasury's revenue?"

The Minister of Works had not anticipated Meng Shuping's ability to argue so persuasively at this juncture. He immediately retorted, "Even if that were the case, could Vice Director Meng not have discussed it with our Ministry of Works? His actions, as such, raise suspicions of interfering with our Ministry of Works' affairs."

Seeing the Minister of Works remain stubborn, Meng Shuping couldn't help but mutter sarcastically, "Isn't it because you're too incompetent? How can you blame me? If you were more capable, would I need to interfere?"

"The method to increase the national treasury's revenue is laid out before them, yet they still fail to grasp it. They quibble over trivial matters every day—how do they have the nerve to blame others for interfering?"

"No wonder they're all so foolish. When faced with a problem, they never reflect on themselves; they only know how to find fault with others. If I were the emperor, they would infuriate me to no end."

Meng Shuping thought darkly, "And they even have the audacity to suggest that people should approach them. Who knows—if we did, they'd probably claim the credit for themselves. Their intentions are so transparent, do they think no one can see through them? They're useless at generating revenue, but first-rate at stealing credit, aren't they?"

The Minister of Works angrily declared, "Such boastful talk! Then, Vice Director Meng, pray tell, how is our Ministry of Works incompetent?"

Meng Shuping was speechless. "Didn't I just say? They don't understand revenue generation, only petty gains. Is he hard of hearing?"

He paused, then said, "Then why did you not consider researching how to produce the foreign colorless transparent glass?"

The Minister of Works was momentarily stumped. "It is merely an item that can be used or not. This colorless transparent glass is not without alternatives. Producing it would not hold much significance."

Meng Shuping looked at him mockingly. "Tsk tsk tsk, how shortsighted! That's the extent of his understanding! This item has numerous uses. Forget it, he wouldn't comprehend even if I explained!"

The Minister of Works' face turned livid. What was this young man pretending to be so profound for? He doesn't understand, but this young man does?

Meng Shuping glanced at Emperor Qianyou. "Your Majesty, do you not think that if this colorless transparent glass were installed in windows, it would make them much brighter?"

Emperor Qianyou's eyes lit up. That made sense.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, he heard the Minister of Works say, "Hmph, this glass is so expensive, and you actually suggest His Majesty install it in windows? Are you trying to mislead His Majesty into becoming an extravagant ruler?"

Emperor Qianyou immediately felt a pang of disappointment. That was true. If he were to replace all the windows in his palace, it would indeed be excessively costly.

However, the next moment, he heard Meng Shuping say, "Then Lord Shi should focus on reducing the cost of this glass, rather than advising Your Majesty against it."

"No wonder he's incompetent. He only thinks about making Your Majesty compromise, instead of solving the problem, right?"