Chapter 75 Newcomer Arrival

Chapter 75: Newcomer Arrives

Cheng Ge stood up, took the porcelain bowl, and carefully ladled a serving for Cui Ji, placing it in front of him. "It's a bit hot; let it cool for a while."

"Did the imperial physician come today? Is your recovery going well?" Cui Ji held the spoon and gently stirred it in the bowl.

"He came at noon and said the recovery was going quite well."

Cheng Ge picked up a piece of lotus root with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth—it was crisp and tasty—so he casually placed a piece into Cui Ji's bowl.

Cui Ji looked at the lotus root in his bowl, picked up the chopsticks beside him, took a bite, and felt it tasted better than usual.

His gaze inadvertently glanced over the chessboard nearby, and his movements paused slightly. He asked, feigning nonchalance.

"Were you playing chess just now?"

Cheng Ge put a bite of bamboo shoots with stir-fried pork into his mouth, his cheeks still a bit full, cool as a cucumber.

"Mm. Since you wouldn't let me go out, I was bored and played chess to pass the time."

Hearing this, Cui Ji's eyes flickered. After a moment, he spoke slowly.

"His Majesty sent a goat from Hexi today. I'll have someone roast it for you tomorrow."

"Really?" Cheng Ge's eyes lit up immediately, his voice rising significantly. "Then I'll personally see it off tomorrow."

Before college, his parents strictly controlled his diet, insisting on fresh, natural ingredients for fear it would affect his health. They hired top-tier chefs, but the dishes looked exquisite yet tasted pretty ordinary in his opinion.

Even when eating out, they only went to high-end restaurants—plates bigger than faces, portions the size of an eye, and meats smothered in all sorts of weird sauces.

That only started to change after he entered college.

Mainly because he used the excuse of wanting to be independent, strongly expressing his desire to live on campus. The Cheng family was so taken aback by his firm stance that they gave in.

That was how he finally got to enjoy malatang, snail noodles, jianbing guozi, stinky tofu, Shenyang chicken rack, and boboji chicken…

Every day, besides classes and training, Cheng Ge would eagerly frequent the night market food stalls near the school.

Back then, people at school joked that if a guy wanted to hit on Cheng Ge, sending ninety-nine roses would definitely get him rejected.

But if he swapped them for ninety-nine volcanic stone sausages, Cheng Ge might actually think it over for a full ten minutes before saying no.

Cui Ji picked up a piece of lotus root with his chopsticks and nodded. "Your wound isn't fully healed, so don't eat too much. I'll get off duty a little earlier tomorrow."

With that, he reached for the wild chicken soup, ladled a spoonful, and was about to take a sip.

But at that moment, a figure suddenly rolled in through the window, landed on one knee, and saluted. "Your Highness."

The movement was fluid, as if practiced thousands of times.

Without Cui Ji having to say a word, Cheng Ge knew exactly what kind of outfit this was.

"What's the matter?" Cui Ji put down his bowl and chopsticks, his voice low.

"Your Highness, someone snuck into the residence. From the looks of it, it's probably the Crown Prince..."

Cheng Ge: "???" What the hell?!

Cui Ji's gaze sharpened, and he said coldly, "What's he doing here?"

"I don't know, Your Highness. The Crown Prince brought five shadow guards and climbed over the side courtyard wall.

Looks like he's heading this way. Should we grab him?"

Cui Ji's face was unreadable. He turned to look at Cheng Ge, as if waiting for an explanation.

Cheng Ge was still wolfing down his rice when he suddenly felt a chilling stare directed at him.

As soon as he looked up, he saw Cui Ji staring at him inexplicably. Cheng Ge's hair stood up on end immediately.

His eyes darted around as he quickly racked his brain for all the mischief he'd done.

After a moment, he picked up a piece of silken tofu with his chopsticks and placed it into Cui Ji's bowl.

"Uh... this is also good. Try it. Could it be the Crown Prince is thinking of you, Your Highness, and came specially to visit?"

Cui Ji stabbed at the tofu in his bowl with his chopsticks and sneered, "On a dark, windy night, besides those petty thieves and scoundrels, who would climb over someone's wall?"

Cheng Ge: "..." What's wrong now?

Cui Ji glanced down at the tofu in the bowl, then tossed his chopsticks aside and looked up at Cheng Ge.

"Under faint moonlight and misty flowers, tonight's perfect for slipping away to my lover. The moon is hidden in deep clouds; besides petty theft and sneaking around...

Also good for a romantic rendezvous under moonlit blooms, lovers' nighttime meetings, and sharing a candlelit evening. Cheng Muyu... don't you think so?"

Cheng Ge's heart skipped a beat at these words. He shifted his seat and sneaked a glance at Cui Ji.

After a moment of silence...

He hesitated and then said, "You... are you saying the Crown Prince wants to cuckold you?"

Cui Ji: "..."

"Then which of your wives has he taken a fancy to? Hongxiao? Or Sister Ningxiang?"

Cui Ji didn't say a word. His face black as ink, and he slowly clenched his fists.

Cheng Ge looked at Cui Ji hesitantly and asked, "Then it's not Rongrong, is it?"

Cui Ji nearly choked on his own breath and couldn't help glaring at Cheng Ge.

Seeing those angry eyes, Cheng Ge finally understood at that moment.

He shot up from his seat and blurted out in shock, "Could it be?! The Crown Prince is actually in love with you!!!"

Cheng Ge felt he'd seen through the surface to the truth, and his sympathy for Cui Ji instantly hit its peak.

Cheng Ge grabbed Cui Ji's hands and said, "Bro, I feel you!"

Looking at Cheng Ge's round head, Cui Ji was momentarily speechless.

Sometimes he really wanted to lift Cheng Ge's skull to see if such a full-shaped head was actually hollow inside.

With his wrist held by the other, looking at those concerned eyes, he didn't know what to say for a moment.

He quickly turned his head and ordered, "Let him in. Let's see what he really wants."

As his voice trailed off, faint footsteps could be heard approaching from outside.

Cui Ji glanced at Cheng Ge and, without a second thought, turned and strode into the inner room.

Cheng Ge: "!!!"

"You can't go in..."

Cheng Ge reacted and instinctively reached out to grab him, but was too late, grabbing nothing but air.

Cheng Ge's head spun—he was screwed.

But before he could react, the door creaked open.

The Crown Prince, dressed in black, furtively appeared in the doorway with several secret guards.

Zhou Zhan saw Cheng Ge's pale face and rushed over, clearly anxious.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" he asked, already reaching out to examine Cheng Ge.

Cheng Ge quickly pushed Zhou Zhan's hand away, looking resigned. "Your Highness, I'm fine. What brings you here so suddenly? Are you looking for the Prince?"

Relieved to see Cheng Ge was fine, Zhou Zhan let out a sigh.

He plopped down onto a round stool and casually poured himself a cup of tea.

This time, Zhou Zhan had sneaked out of the palace behind Zhou Mingqi's back, walking the whole way.

The Prince's mansion was quite far from the imperial palace, and the walk had exhausted him.

His throat was parched, and only after gulping down a cup of tea did he feel revived.

"I'd have to be out of my mind to go looking for that living demon!

I noticed you hadn't come to the Eastern Palace for several days, so I sent someone to ask about you.

Then that imperial physician told me you were about to die, so I rushed over to see you for the last time."

Cheng Ge: "???" Are you sure that's what the physician said?