Chapter 138: The Decision of Guoxia

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The brother mentioned here was certainly not Gao Li but Guo Yuan. It was clear that upon learning he had been detained at the Prime Minister’s residence, he became deeply worried. So, taking advantage of his sister’s visit to the residence, he sent her to inquire discreetly.

Meng Di glanced back subtly and saw the two women sent by Gao Zhang standing watchfully in the distance. Then, speaking softly and quickly, he said, “Tell your brother not to worry. I am safe here for the time being. As long as he can find a way to accomplish what I told him before, I will come through this unharmed.”

Upon hearing this, Zi Su nodded slightly, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she exclaimed loudly, “Then, Mengzi, since you’ve agreed, I’ll come to learn swordsmanship from you tomorrow, right on time!”

Without waiting for Meng Di’s reaction, she turned and entered the room. It seemed she had been pushed into this role unwillingly; clearly, Zi Su was someone who thrived on stirring up trouble.

Yet, this was beneficial in a way, as at least someone could relay messages outward. The most pressing matter now was to understand Gao Zhang’s intentions. There was considerable hope that by meeting the Marquis of Qi, Meng Di could find a way to escape.

However, this did not align with Meng Di’s original plan. Though he had outwardly promised Lady Tian, he knew well that if she were allowed to gain more power, it would not bode well for him.

Most importantly, it was uncertain when Lady Tian would make her move, so it was necessary to warn Gao Zhang—of course, this would have to be on the basis of equal dialogue.

One troublesome problem now stood before him: it was time to bathe, but the two women showed no sign of leaving. Under the present circumstances, Meng Di did not want to engage with them, so he said plainly, “You may leave. I prefer to bathe alone.”

Neither woman moved. One stepped forward, bowed, and replied, “The Prime Minister has commanded that we attend to Mengzi’s daily needs.”

Meng Di sighed helplessly, grabbed his clothes, and tossed them to them. “In that case, one of you wash my clothes, and the other fetch me a new set of garments.”

He needed some space to think carefully and plan his next move.

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The Guo family residence.

After Zi Su returned and recounted her encounter, Guo Yuan nodded.

“I didn’t expect my little sister to have grown up enough to take action.”

“I’ve heard that Mengzi is very brave. Is your matter with him true? Today Gao Li deliberately provoked him to duel, but Mengzi remained unmoved, all just evasions. It doesn’t seem like the actions of a true hero.”

Hearing this, Guo Yuan was somewhat helpless but thought for a moment before countering, “Then what do you think? Are those who constantly boast of their martial prowess truly heroes of this world?”

Zi Su tilted her head, pondered for a while, then shook her head.

“They only know how to brag. Such people can hardly be called heroes.”

“That’s exactly it. Mengzi is the sort who disdain private duels but can defeat opponents many times stronger with a small force on the battlefield. That is a true hero. That’s why I hold a good impression of him.”

Guo Yuan’s words made Zi Su look thoughtful; she nodded unconsciously and then replaced her expression with a smile.

“Since you say so, brother, I’ll learn swordsmanship from Mengzi tomorrow and see if he’s really as formidable as you say. By the way, Mengzi is always accompanied by two beautiful maidens. I wonder if this hero can withstand the charms of women.”

She said this with a playful smile, then turned and left. Guo Yuan shook his head helplessly before hurrying toward his father’s study.

He found Guo Xia reading documents and did not disturb him. Instead, he touched the teacup, noticed it had cooled, and replaced it with a fresh cup before setting it on the table.

Only then did Guo Xia raise his head and ask, “How is Meng Di faring at the Prime Minister’s residence?”

“According to my sister, the Prime Minister has effectively placed Meng Di under house arrest. If this matter becomes public, it won’t be good for Qi. More importantly, it will thoroughly offend Lu.”

Upon hearing this, Guo Xia shook his head and glanced at him.

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“There is no lasting affection among the various lords; it’s all a matter of time and circumstance. I know you have a good relationship with Meng Di, but there’s no need to be so worried.”

“The Prime Minister is not reckless. His treatment of Meng Di is to gauge Lu’s stance. If Lu lodges a stern protest now, it means they value Meng Di highly.”

“In that case, Qi’s attitude toward Meng Di would naturally change. Otherwise, it means Meng Di is dispensable to Lu. If so, even a prolonged detention won’t be a significant issue.”

In truth, Guo Xia hadn’t voiced all his thoughts. Qi was currently negotiating with Zheng to ally with Wei against Lu. Under these circumstances, holding Meng Di in Qi would be advantageous for the war effort.

Naturally, if Meng Di could leverage his influence to sway Lu toward Qi, that would be ideal.

Guo Yuan’s expression flickered slightly upon hearing this, but he knew his father spoke the truth. After a moment’s reflection, he recalled Meng Di’s request to meet the Marquis of Qi and asked cautiously, “Father, do you think Meng Di should be allowed to meet the Marquis of Qi?”

Guo Xia was uncertain himself. Though Meng Di had the capability, Guo Xia, perceptive as he was, sensed that Meng Di’s intentions in meeting the Marquis went beyond mere formality.

This was partly because Meng Yi was developing too rapidly, surpassing his expectations. In a short time, its population had multiplied several times, and according to Guo Xia’s intelligence, the people of Meng Yi were very supportive of Meng Di.

Such achievements were impossible without exceptional skill, which made Guo Xia somewhat wary. He feared Meng Di might become a formidable figure in the future.

Seeing his son’s eager eyes, Guo Xia sighed helplessly.

“You still haven’t fully understood Meng Di. He has been painstakingly cultivating Meng Yi for some time, maintaining the voluntary enlistment of its people into the army, and demonstrating considerable battlefield acumen. So far, his two battles have both been victories.”

(The End of this Chapter)