Chapter 135

Chapter 135

With Emperor Qianyou's approval secured, Meng Shuping's first order of business was to withdraw silver from the Emperor's private treasury. After ascertaining its location, he proceeded there with his authorization.

He was met by a young eunuch, who then led him to an older eunuch, a man in his fifties or sixties. Upon seeing Meng Shuping, the old eunuch scrutinized him from head to toe. Noticing Meng Shuping's seventh-rank official robe, he asked dismissively, "What brings you here?"

Meng Shuping found the old eunuch's demeanor quite off-putting, but as the man hadn't yet shown overt disrespect, he politely presented the authorization slip. "I am here to withdraw silver."

The old eunuch cast a perfunctory glance at the slip and said in a condescending tone, "My apologies, sir. We've had quite a few people withdrawing silver these past few days, and we're rather swamped. Perhaps you could return another day?"

Meng Shuping was taken aback. He looked around, then boldly ventured, "But there doesn't seem to be anyone else here, does there?"

[*He's blatantly lying! He looks perfectly idle to me!*]

Hearing Meng Shuping's internal thought, the old eunuch was startled. He hadn't seen Meng Shuping open his mouth. Nevertheless, seeing Meng Shuping's apparent lack of tact, he snapped, "I said I'm busy, so I'm busy. Are you questioning me?"

Where did this greenhorn come from? Didn't he understand the unwritten rules? Without a proper "offering," why should he be allowed to withdraw silver?

Meng Shuping was equally displeased. With a cold expression, he retorted stiffly, "I fail to see what exactly you are busy with."

[*Is he taking me for a fool? There's literally no one else here, and he claims he's busy. Is he just trying to give me a hard time? And why the attitude? He's just a eunuch! Does he think I won't report him to the Emperor?*]

Seeing Meng Shuping's bluntness, the old eunuch grew even angrier. "I said I'm busy, so I'm busy. The silver will not be issued to you today. You may return and wait, sir. Farewell!"

What if he was a eunuch? Even as a eunuch, every official who came here had to treat him with respect!

This wet-behind-the-ears brat actually thought about reporting him to the Emperor? Let him try! Let's see if the Emperor would even bother with him! Hmph! Everyone who came here seeking favors started off defiant, but they all ended up obediently handing over their silver.

Meng Shuping's temper flared. With a stern face, he said, "This is by the Emperor's command. If you refuse to cooperate, are you not afraid of the Emperor's displeasure?"

[*And he's managing the Emperor's private treasury? With this kind of behavior? Does the Emperor have poor judgment, picking an old eunuch like this?*]

The old eunuch was so enraged he gritted his teeth. Who was "mentally twisted"? He smirked arrogantly and said, "Then go report me to the Emperor. Have him issue an imperial decree for me to cooperate with you. Let me tell you, even if you report me to the Emperor, I'm not afraid. There's an order to things—first come, first served. There's no reason to prioritize you. If everyone cut in line, wouldn't it be chaos?"

He didn't believe this brat would report such a trivial matter to the Emperor. The Emperor was busy with countless imperial duties—how could he just see anyone on a whim?

Realizing he wouldn't be able to withdraw the silver today, Meng Shuping said nothing more and turned to leave. [*No wonder they say eunuchs are all warped. Look at him—I've never even met him before, and he's already giving me a hard time. Does he feel uncomfortable if he's not picking on someone?*]

[*Report him! Make sure to embellish it when reporting him! He's just an old eunuch! Not only does he have his nose in the air, but he's also this arrogant? I'll make sure he pays for this!*]

Hearing this, the old eunuch's eyebrows shot up, and he nearly made a move to strike. However, since Meng Shuping was an imperial official, no matter how arrogant he was, he could only make things difficult for Meng Shuping in other ways. If he resorted to violence, it would inevitably escalate, and if the censors took notice, he would be in trouble.

After leaving the old eunuch, Meng Shuping thought for a moment and decided to head back to Emperor Qianyou. If he weren't in a hurry for the silver, he could slowly find another way, but every day delayed meant a later start. Who had time to waste like this?

Hearing that Meng Shuping had returned, Emperor Qianyou was puzzled. *What does that rascal want now?* He instructed the eunuch beside him, "Show him in."

Soon, Meng Shuping was brought in by a young eunuch. Emperor Qianyou asked curiously, "Beloved Minister Meng, didn't I approve your memorial? Why aren't you handling your affairs? What brings you back?"

Meng Shuping grumbled, "Your Majesty, I went to the private treasury to withdraw silver, but that old eunuch refused to issue it. He even said..."

Emperor Qianyou asked, "Said what?"

Meng Shuping exclaimed indignantly, "He said even if Your Majesty issued an order, it wouldn't matter. As long as he didn't allow it, no one could withdraw silver from there!"

[*Seriously, he's just an old eunuch! Where does he get the gall to be so arrogant? He even said he wasn't afraid even if I came to find you! Is he Your Majesty's confidant? Does he know you won't replace him, so he acts without fear?*]

Emperor Qianyou was somewhat displeased. "Is this accurate?"

Meng Shuping nodded emphatically. "Of course it's true! If I had managed to withdraw the silver, why would I come back to you?"

[*Sigh, I don't know why he's giving me such a hard time. I've never even met him before! Could it be that he's one of Jiang Ciyi's people? Since Jiang Ciyi and I don't get along, he's following suit and picking on me?*]

[*Hmm...*]

[*He's managing the Emperor's private treasury! If he skimmed a little off the top, it might not be enough to rebel, but it could certainly go a long way in winning over court officials or buying provisions and weapons, right?*]

Emperor Qianyou's expression darkened. Although he thought the eunuch in charge of the private treasury wouldn't easily collude with others, he also believed Meng Shuping wouldn't falsely accuse someone without reason. After all, every time Meng Shuping came to complain, it was always because someone had provoked him.

He instructed Eunuch Yang beside him, "Go with him and see what's going on!"

"Yes."

Before long, the old eunuch in charge of the private treasury noticed that Meng Shuping had returned, accompanied by Emperor Qianyou's chief eunuch, Eunuch Yang. Startled, he hurried out with an obsequious grin. "Oh my, Eunuch Yang! What brings you here? Does the Emperor have any instructions?"

Meng Shuping glanced at him disdainfully. [*Well, well, look at him fawning! He might as well wag his tail! That's not the expression he had when facing me earlier. What a two-faced hypocrite!*]

The old eunuch was annoyed. How dare he speak like that? But he was also somewhat alarmed. Had this brat really gone to the Emperor? And even the Emperor's chief eunuch had come? How did this brat have such influence?

Eunuch Yang wore a diplomatic smile. "Eunuch Huang, I heard Vice Director Meng came to withdraw silver, and you refused to handle it?"

Hearing that Eunuch Yang had really come for this matter, the old eunuch froze for a moment before quickly recovering. "Eunuch Yang, there's been a misunderstanding! When did I say I wouldn't handle it? It's just that when Vice Director Meng came to withdraw silver, I was busy and asked him to wait. Who knew Vice Director Meng would misunderstand? See what confusion this has caused! How about I handle it for Vice Director Meng right now?"

Meng Shuping was speechless. [*Oho, he's really good at brazenly lying! Just now he told me to come back in a few days, and now he's saying I was too impatient? He deserves an award for this performance!*]

He said stiffly, "But that's not what you said earlier! I wonder who said that even if I brought Eunuch Yang here, it wouldn't matter? That Eunuch Yang is just a servant, nowhere near as important as you, who manages the private treasury and doesn't have to bow and scrape every day?"

The old eunuch flew into a rage and lunged at Meng Shuping. "That's a lie! When did I ever say that?"

Meng Shuping seemed frightened by his fierce expression. He darted behind Eunuch Yang and said in a trembling voice, "Eunuch Yang, look! He even tried to attack me in front of you! He has no respect for your authority!"

Eunuch Yang had seen Meng Shuping many times and, in his eyes, Meng Shuping was not a sly person. With mock concern, he said, "Eunuch Huang, what are you trying to do? I'm still here! Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the Emperor?"

The old eunuch stiffened and immediately put on a smile. But before he could speak, he heard Meng Shuping's voice: "He—he isn't afraid! I threatened to report him to the Emperor earlier, and he told me to go ahead."

[*Now that I've done as he said and reported him, why is he panicking? Can't he take what he dishes out?*]

Eunuch Yang snorted. "Eunuch Huang, you certainly have quite the air about you! I'll go report back to the Emperor now. You'd better watch yourself, Eunuch Huang!"

With that, he turned to leave. The old eunuch quickly stopped him, putting on a servile smile. "Eunuch Yang, Eunuch Yang, please don't be angry! I really didn't say that. Perhaps Vice Director Meng misunderstood. How about this: I'll have someone handle Vice Director Meng's silver withdrawal right away!"

Meng Shuping keenly noticed the old eunuch slipping a weighty little bag into Eunuch Yang's sleeve. He exclaimed in amazement, [*Well, well, is that a bribe? No wonder he's so fearless! Look, he even dares to bribe the Emperor's chief eunuch! Even if the Emperor holds him accountable, a few sweet words would turn guilt into innocence, right?*]

[*But does he think I'm powerless against this? Does he think I won't report his bribery to the Emperor? After all, if he weren't guilty, why would he part with money so easily?*]

The old eunuch clenched his fists. This brat! Was it really necessary to wreck his scheme over a little neglect?

However, since the old eunuch was being compliant, Eunuch Yang decided not to pursue the matter. After discreetly checking the pouch's weight in his sleeve, he said contentedly, "Then hurry up and handle it, Eunuch Huang. If we delay the Emperor's important matters, none of us can bear the responsibility."

The old eunuch breathed a sigh of relief and said quickly, "Yes, yes! I'll handle it right away."

After placating Eunuch Yang, he turned to Meng Shuping. "Vice Director Meng, please follow me."

Meng Shuping followed him into another room. But as soon as they entered, the old eunuch grabbed his arm. Startled, Meng Shuping quickly pulled away. "What are you doing? If you lay another hand on me, I'll raise the alarm!"

[*Is he serious? Did he bring me here just to attack me? Eunuch Yang is right outside! How dare he be so arrogant?*]

The old eunuch was also startled by Meng Shuping. With an exasperated expression, he took another pouch from his sleeve and handed it to Meng Shuping. Then, suppressing his anger, he said, "Vice Director Meng, I apologize for earlier. This is a small token of my sincerity—please have a cup of tea on me. I hope you won't refuse."

He had thought this young official was just an ordinary minor official, but he never expected him to summon the Emperor's chief eunuch. Besides, it was better to offend a gentleman than a villain. A petty man like Vice Director Meng was not someone he could afford to offend. Rather than be ruined by this brat, it was better to bow his head and apologize now to avoid a bigger disaster.

Meng Shuping was astonished. [*So I get a bribe too? Should I take it or not? It feels weird... I'm an honest official!*]

Seeing Meng Shuping still playing hard to get, the old eunuch took a deep breath and put on a full smile. "I sincerely apologize to Vice Director Meng. It was too rushed to buy anything, so please accept this as a token of my apology."

After hesitating for a moment, Meng Shuping accepted it. [*Whatever, it'd be a waste not to take it. Serves him right for being so rude earlier! Consider it a lesson bought with silver. As long as he doesn't cause trouble in the future, I can't be bothered to hold a grudge!*]