Quick Transmigration: The Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character's Revenge

"Brother Shaoqing!"

Meng Shaoqing looked in the direction of the sound and saw two men walking towards him.

Those two were students who took the imperial examination in the same batch as Meng Shaoqing. One was named Yang Zhongqin, and the other was named Huang Xiuping. They were both from Cuizhou. They had even sat at the same table at the banquet last night.

The reason Meng Shaoqing came to this tavern today was because he knew that these people often drank here, and he waited for them here on purpose.

As soon as Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping came upstairs, they saw Meng Shaoqing sitting alone by the window drinking, and naturally walked over to him.

"Brother Shaoqing, why are you here all alone?" Huang Xiuping asked Meng Shaoqing, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Meng Shaoqing put down his wine cup, stood up, and cupped his hands in a smile: "Brother Zhongqin, Brother Xiuping, I originally made an appointment with someone, but that person stood me up, so I am here alone."

"I see." Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping nodded slightly.

Meng Shaoqing glanced at the food and wine on the table and said, "It's a pity that I've already ordered food and wine, but I was stood up. It just so happens that Brother Zhongqin and Brother Xiuping have arrived at the right time. Why don't you sit down here and join me? That way, we won't waste this food and wine."

Since he had said that, Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping certainly wouldn't refuse a free meal and drinks, and they laughed heartily.

"Hahaha, then it's better to be respectful than to obey."

"Exactly."

Little did they know, this was all specially arranged by Meng Shaoqing, who was just waiting for them to arrive.

Meng Shaoqing raised his hand: "No need to be polite, please sit down."

As soon as Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping lifted their robes and sat down, Yang Zhongqin remembered Meng Shaoqing's sudden departure from the banquet the previous night.

He asked, "Brother Shaoqing, you left in such a hurry last night, was there something urgent?"

“That’s right,” Huang Xiuping said. “You left in such a hurry that we couldn’t stop you. We thought something terrible had happened.”

Meng Shaoqing stared at the food and wine on the table and replied with a faint smile, "Last night, something came up at my home, so I had to leave early. I hope you two gentlemen won't mind."

His words did not arouse suspicion from Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping; they even asked Meng Shaoqing if the matter had been resolved.

After exchanging a few pleasantries and drinking a few cups of wine, Meng Shaoqing casually asked, "By the way, I'd like to ask you two gentlemen about someone. I wonder if you know him?"

"Whom does Brother Shaoqing wish to inquire about?"

“He’s from the same hometown as me in Yuanzhou City, and his name is Meng Jiyang,” he said, looking at the two men in front of him.

Meng Shaoqing knew that Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping had participated in the imperial examination before. After all, the triennial spring examination was not something everyone could pass on their first try; some people never even passed it in their entire lives.

They had spent much longer in the capital than he had, so they must know Meng Jiyang, which is why Meng Shaoqing asked them about him.

Last night, Meng Shaoqing suddenly saw Meng Jiyang, who had "come back to life." He was extremely surprised at the sight of him, and because he was worried that Qi Ning would find out that Meng Jiyang was still alive, he was in a state of confusion and overlooked some things.

After Meng Jiyang left in a hurry, Meng Shaoqing realized that he hadn't had time to ask Meng Jiyang about his situation in the capital over the past three years, or why his attire looked so unusual.

He left the mansion today to find out the truth and decide how to handle the matter.

However, Meng Jiyang and Meng Shaoqing were from the same village, lived very close to each other, and were about the same age. They could almost be said to have grown up together since childhood.

Meng Jiyang understood Meng Shaoqing's temperament, and Meng Shaoqing also understood Meng Jiyang's temperament.

He knew that Meng Jiyang was always good with words, and could easily use sweet talk to turn white into black. Whether what he said yesterday was true or false remained to be verified.

For example, the idea that a letter took two years to arrive or that someone could be miraculously cured of an epidemic is simply illogical upon closer examination.

Furthermore, he sent all his money back home, and he was already seriously ill and struggling to survive. How did he end up living such a pampered life?

Unless... unless he meets some benefactor, someone helps him?

Meng Shaoqing had many questions in his mind. Rather than asking Meng Jiyang himself, he thought it would be more reliable to ask other people in the know.

Sure enough, Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping reacted strongly when Meng Shaoqing mentioned Meng Jiyang's name.

“Meng Jiyang? Of course I know him,” Huang Xiuping said, raising an eyebrow.

“That’s right.” Yang Zhongqin said with a smile, holding his wine glass. “Among us, who doesn’t know Meng Jiyang? It’s just that Brother Shaoqing, you haven’t been in the capital for long and are not very familiar with these people in the capital yet.”

Seeing their reaction, Meng Shaoqing knew he had asked the right person.

"What do you two mean by that?"

Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping exchanged a glance, their smiles carrying a hint of mockery.

Huang Xiuping lowered his voice and told Meng Shaoqing in a slightly mysterious tone, "Brother Shaoqing, you may not know this, but this young master Meng Jiyang is the prospective son-in-law of Minister Wu, the current Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel!"

Meng Shaoqing's eyes changed slightly: "What? Meng Jiyang is the prospective son-in-law of the current Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel?"

“That’s right.” Yang Zhongqin leaned over as well. “The youngest daughter of Lord Wu, Miss Wu, who is most beloved by the family, has an extraordinary relationship with Meng Jiyang. They might soon be getting married. Wouldn’t that make him a live-in son-in-law?”

Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping's words and expressions subtly conveyed a sense of contempt for Meng Jiyang.

Most scholars are aloof and always think about making a name for themselves through their knowledge and abilities. In their eyes, becoming a son-in-law of a powerful or wealthy family is something that is simply beneath them and is considered a waste of their talents.

But within this contempt lies a hint of jealousy. Although being a live-in son-in-law is not honorable, it is also a shortcut. It would be impossible not to envy him at all.

Upon hearing their words, Meng Shaoqing felt as if his heart was in turmoil.

He knew Meng Jiyang was hiding a secret from him, but he never expected it to be like this.

Meng Shaoqing controlled his expression, raised his wine glass and toasted Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping: "Could you two brothers elaborate?"

"It's easy to talk about."

……

Meng Shaoqing went out for a while, and returned to the mansion in a hurry after about an hour.

When he left, his steps were heavy and his face was full of worry, but when he returned, his steps were light and his face was clearly smiling.

Meng Shaoqing gained a lot from this trip. Yesterday he was worried that Qi Ning would leave him if she found out that Meng Jiyang was still alive, but today he hardly had that concern anymore.

Now Meng Shaoqing is eager to tell Qi Ning the whole story, so that she can see Meng Jiyang's ugly and hypocritical true colors.

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