Chapter 14 The Floor’s a Bit Slippery

Chapter 14: The Floor Is a Bit Slippery

"Ah!!!" Zhang Qinghang let out a scream, clutching his nose in both hands.

Blood gushed from between Zhang Qinghang's fingers, tears streaming down his face from the pain as he glared at Cheng Ge with venom: "Cheng Muyu, how dare you hurt me!"

The moment he said that, he lunged forward, fists clenched, swinging a punch straight at Cheng Ge.

Seeing this, Cheng Ge's eyes went cold. He quickly reached out, grabbed a dish from the table, and slammed it right into Zhang Qinghang's face.

Soup went flying everywhere, with food and broken porcelain scattered across the floor.

The guy, stunned by the sudden attack, was covered in soup and food scraps, a total mess.

But before he could react, Cheng Ge suddenly grabbed him by the hair, quickly lifted his leg, bent his knee, and drove it forward hard.

This strike, like a freight train, carried immense power and slammed hard into the guy's stomach.

"Ah!" He let out a cry of pain, hitting the ground hard, curled up in pain.

Cheng Ge looked down, like a god looking down on mere mortals, staring coldly at Zhang Qinghang on the floor.

Zhang Qinghang clutched his stomach in pain, his eyes inadvertently meeting Cheng Ge's, sending a chill down his spine as he instinctively pulled back.

"You... you can't do this to me..."

Just then, the door burst open, and two roommates rushed in. They saw the mess and Zhang Qinghang on the ground, his face covered in blood, and they were shocked.

"What happened here?" one roommate asked.

Cheng Ge calmly fixed his clothes, glancing at Zhang Qinghang, who was still on the floor.

"I was eating, and he accidentally slipped, his face landing right in my meal."

Everyone: "..."

Hearing such a ridiculous explanation, they all turned to look at Zhang Qinghang at the same time.

Cheng Ge said nothing, leaning back against the table, tilting his head to glance at Zhang Qinghang, a mocking smirk on his lips.

Zhang Qinghang was gripping a sharp piece of white porcelain in his palm, staring at Cheng Ge with pure venom.

No one had ever treated him like this—except Cheng Ge!

Under everyone's weird stares, it was like his face had been stomped into the dirt, how could he not be pissed?

Anyone else would be scared of Zhang Qinghang, but Cheng Ge didn't give a damn.

Besides being spoiled rotten by his family since he was a kid, the bigger reason was that Cheng Ge felt he had nothing left to lose—he'd already died once, right?

But giving in to this scumbag was like being forced to eat shit. Shattered bones and ashes be damned—he'd keep his honor.

How could Master Cheng take this kind of humiliation? If he didn't fight back today, he'd be letting his ancestors down.

Besides, Zhang Qinghang, as a scholar, cared about his reputation. What he just did was no different from a thug.

With other people around, he wouldn't dare let anyone know what happened.

No matter what came later, for now, he had to swallow his pride.

"It's nothing, the floor is a bit slippery." Zhang Qinghang gritted his teeth, forcing the words out.

Hearing that, the others were suspicious but didn't ask more.

They thought about helping him up, but seeing the greasy mess, they quickly pulled their hands back.

Though these men weren't descendants of high officials, their families were well-off—they weren't used to getting dirty like that.

Cheng Ge let out a soft laugh. Zhang Qinghang, disheveled, scrambled to his feet, his eyes dark with venom as he turned and left the dormitory.

The two others felt something was off, their gazes shifting from Zhang Qinghang to Cheng Ge.

Cheng Ge acted as if nothing had happened, grinning at them like a naive, innocent little bunny—how could he harbor any ill intentions?

"Have you eaten? I have some snacks here. Want some?" Better to build good relations with the roommates first.

The two roommates exchanged a glance, and one smiled, saying, "No thanks, we've already eaten."

Cheng Ge smiled and pushed the snacks toward them. "Come on, give them a try—they're amazing, I tell you." The two didn't refuse again, picking up the snacks and eating.

...

Inside the Imperial Study

Zhou Mingqi stared at the memorial in his hands, his brow furrowed, dark circles under his eyes, with a large pile of unapproved documents beside him.

From the Chief Commissioner of the Provincial Administration Office, Minister Yang Pangui, kowtowing:

Humbly wishing Your Majesty a healthy and blessed reign, long life and prosperity, and eternal prosperity under heaven.

Your servant, far away in Yuzhou, gazes day and night toward the imperial palace, with endless longing.

Your servant, with the utmost loyalty of a dog or horse, respectfully submits this memorial to inquire after Your Majesty's health.

"Tsk..." Zhou Mingqi took the tea offered by Fu Quan, took a sip, and barely suppressed his irritation and fatigue.

Picking up the vermilion brush to approve, he looked like a resentful workhorse.

I am well; you need not worry from afar.

Fu Quan glanced at the sky outside, stepped forward, and said, "Your Majesty, the night is deep. It would be wise to rest early."

Zhou Mingqi rubbed his temples, set down the brush, and slowly rose. Fu Quan hurried to assist.

"Your Majesty, Consort Shu is feeling unwell..."

But before Fu Quan could finish, Zhou Mingqi interrupted, "If she's unwell, see the imperial physician. I'm not a panacea."

These words left no room for sentiment. Fu Quan, terrified, knelt and prostrated himself, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

Zhou Mingqi snorted coldly, turned, and walked out. Fu Quan quickly got up and scurried after him.

He thought the emperor would head straight to his bedchamber, but instead, he took a detour toward the Eastern Palace.

At this hour, the Eastern Palace was still brightly lit. Zhou Zhan was still studying by lamplight, his dark circles even worse than his father's.

The black characters before him began to blur, while Xiao Guizi, waiting nearby, was also drowsy. Suddenly, a thud sounded in his ears.

Zhou Zhan's forehead slammed onto the desk. Startled awake by the noise, Xiao Guizi jolted and quickly stepped forward to check: "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Zhou Zhan rubbed his forehead, his eyes bloodshot from staying up, struggling to stay awake. "It's fine, keep reading."

"Your Highness, perhaps you should rest first? Your health comes first."

Hearing this, Zhou Zhan felt a slight temptation, as these days had indeed been hard to endure.

He even felt a twinge of regret—if he hadn't gone to see that fortune-teller back then, he could have pretended not to know anything and avoided all this suffering.

For a moment, that lazy feeling washed over him again. "How come Emperor Taizu conquered the empire on horseback, yet here I am, forced to study useless things every day?"

Xiao Guizi had served Zhou Zhan for many years and naturally knew that his master was not one to sit still.

As a servant, one must not go against the master; the most important thing was to please him.

"Your Highness, I've got something good here." Xiao Guizi said, glancing left and right like a thief.

Zhou Zhan's interest was instantly piqued; his head no longer ached, and his body no longer felt weary. "What good thing? Well, hurry up and bring it here."