Chapter 80 Rivalry

Chapter 80: Conflict

Cheng Ge felt as if he were trapped in a furnace, his entire body on the verge of being melted down.

The mottled red marks, unhealed, crisscrossed his flesh like crushed crabapple blossoms scattered on the ground.

The imperial physician twisted the fine needles one by one, pulling them out. Cheng Ge furrowed his brows tightly, digging his nails into his palms in pain, unable to control himself.

His soaked lashes trembled, and his eyelids lifted to reveal pupils veiled in a watery mist.

He turned his head, rubbing it against the pillow, then, without any warning, vomited several mouthfuls of dark blood, instantly staining half the pillow red.

Zhou Mingqi stepped forward and used a handkerchief to catch the blood dripping from his mouth, his bright yellow sleeve stained a large red patch.

Cheng Ge coughed harshly, a gush of dark blood spraying out and landing on the dragon embroidered on Zhou Mingqi's chest.

"Your Majesty!" Fu Quan panicked and hurried forward.

The physician didn't dare look any more at this moment, bowing his head and focusing on removing the needles, his fingers trembling faintly.

"It's nothing," Zhou Mingqi said in a low voice.

Cheng Ge looked at Zhou Mingqi, his voice weak: "Daddy... your baby hurts so bad, I don't wanna die."

Zhou Mingqi: "..."

Cheng Ge let out an involuntary muffled groan, then turned his head and coughed heavily several times.

Zhou Mingqi snapped back to reality, immediately loosening his grip and lifting his arm slightly.

Cheng Ge's eyelids were reddened, and he kept mumbling, "Uncomfortable... want %&*#"

After finishing the acupuncture, the physician carefully stepped aside and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Master Cheng's internal heat toxins have been cleared. All that remains is rest and recuperation."

Zhou Mingqi nodded and gestured for the physician to withdraw.

He helped Cheng Ge up, leaning him against his chest, and took a fresh handkerchief to gently wipe away the blood at the corner of his mouth.

Zhou Mingqi didn't understand what he was asking for next. He took a deep breath, leaned in close to listen carefully. "What do you want?"

"Cui Ji, I want... roast lamb."

Zhou Mingqi: "..."

At that moment, if not for a shred of reason, Zhou Mingqi would have really wanted to throw the man out the window.

Just then, a guard's voice came from outside: "Your Highness, the Emperor has ordered that no one may enter."

"Ah!!!" A sudden scream rang out.

Just as Zhou Mingqi was about to get up, Cui Ji's figure burst in, kicking the door open.

Lin Nanshu followed closely, even his hairpiece having loosened from the hurry.

Seeing the scene before them, both their expressions darkened. The guards behind them drew their swords and surrounded the two.

Zhou Mingqi only glanced at them from the corner of his eye, saying nothing.

He took a fresh handkerchief from a eunuch and, as if no one else were there, carefully wiped Cheng Ge's neck clean bit by bit.

Without hesitation, Cui Ji strode forward to take Cheng Ge away.

Zhou Mingqi lifted his gaze, tightening his arm around Cheng Ge's waist. His eyes were cold as frost as he spoke in a deep voice: "Cui Ji, have you forgotten whose name this Great Zhou bears?"

Then he turned to Lin Nanshu. "Master Lin has just narrowly escaped death; you should be even more restrained in conduct and careful in speech."

The surrounding guards stepped forward, swords at their throats.

But because of their status and without Zhou Mingqi's command, they dared not act rashly.

"Though it is your Zhou family's empire now, our Cui family has guarded the realm for generations! Year after year, we have defended the borders, dying on the battlefield. The direct bloodline was poisoned and nearly wiped out by the Southern barbarians!

The Cuis do not contend for the empire with your Zhou family, but we are no pushovers to be easily handled."

Cui Ji's words were quite outrageous—if you wanted to, you wouldn't be wrong to exterminate his entire clan.

But at this moment, he cared nothing for that damned ruler-subject decorum. His fighting spirit was fully loaded.

Lin Nanshu heard this and immediately joined in: "Your Majesty is a wise ruler and should set an example for the realm.

Now that the Crown Prince is over sixteen, if the ruler has a preference, those below will imitate it excessively.

Do not follow the example of the former Gao dynasty, leaving a lifetime of infamy for nothing, inviting mockery."

The former Gao dynasty had chaotic royal family relations—killing sons and fathers, brothers taking brothers' wives, the ruler abusing ministers' children, and torturing people for sport. Later generations mockingly called it the "Beast Dynasty."

Zhou Mingqi, provoked like this by the two men, could no longer hold back his temper, no matter how good it was—especially since he was the Emperor.

"Guards! Arrest these two!"

"I'd like to see who dares touch me!" Cui Ji's gaze was like a blade as he roared.

The atmosphere instantly froze, tense and ready to explode.

But just then, Cheng Ge seemed frightened, his body suddenly shuddering as he opened his eyes wearily.

Everyone stiffened at the sight. Zhou Mingqi signaled the guards with his eyes to withdraw.

Cheng Ge looked around dazedly, his gaze landing on Zhou Mingqi.

He immediately shifted his butt away in disgust and rolled off the bed in one smooth motion.

Cui Ji, quick as a flash, caught him, half-encircling his waist to support him.

He didn't forget to glance at the dark-faced Zhou Mingqi, with a hint of mockery curling his lips.

Lin Nanshu reached out and brushed away the stray strands of hair on Cheng Ge's cheek, his face full of concern: "How are you feeling? Still in pain?"

Cheng Ge shook his head and coughed lightly a few times.

Zhou Mingqi stood empty-handed, frowning deeply, unhappy with Cui Ji's closeness. But seeing Cheng Ge's condition, he held back.

Cheng Ge rubbed his itchy nose and said in a muffled voice, "Cui Ji, I'm hungry."

Cui Ji quickly responded, "Mm, I'll have the kitchen prepare some food."

Cheng Ge grinned foolishly at Cui Ji and said blankly, "Make it two servings."

"Mm, two portions."

"Yuli hasn't eaten yet. We'll eat together later." Cheng Ge was still thinking about his little friend.

Cui Ji: "..." Is it still too late to strangle him now?

With a cold face, Cui Ji raised his hand and turned Cheng Ge's head away from Lin Nanshu.

"He won't starve from missing one meal. There's only one portion left in the kitchen. You could give yours to him."

Cheng Ge shook his head wildly and sniffled. "No way, I'll eat first."

With that, he turned to look at Zhou Mingqi, whose robes were stained red with vomit. He steadied himself and made a bow.

"Your subject begs leave."

Cui Ji and Lin Nanshu snapped out of it and turned around to bow and take their leave.

Zhou Mingqi didn't want to look at this annoying bunch either, so he waved his hand and sent them away.

And Cheng Ge finally got to eat dinner as he wanted. Probably starving, he nearly buried his face in the bowl.

Whenever he had an episode, his insides felt hollowed out, and he would become ravenously hungry.

His stomach was like a bottomless pit; no matter how much he ate, he couldn't fill it.

After finishing all the food on the table, he elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief.

Having done all that, he looked up at Cui Ji in front of him and suddenly remembered that the other man hadn't eaten much dinner either.

"Your Highness, are you hungry?"

Cui Ji glanced at the plates, which were cleaner than his own face, and sneered, "I'm made of iron; I don't need to eat."

Cheng Ge: "..." That sounded oddly passive-aggressive.

"I'll grill lamb skewers for you tomorrow." As he said this, he broke into a wide, eight-tooth smile.

Cui Ji still felt a lump of anger in his chest, but hearing these words from Cheng Ge, it vanished instantly.

He turned his face toward the window and answered flatly, "Mm."

"You have to go to work tomorrow, right? Get some sleep early." Cheng Ge yawned.

Cui Ji said nothing. He nodded, turned around, left the room, and closed the door behind him.

After waiting a moment, Cheng Ge got up, approached the window, stuck his head out, and called softly, "Yuli."

Soon after, Lin Nanshu appeared from a corner and walked quietly to the window.

Cheng Ge grinned and pulled out two pieces of chestnut cake from inside his robe. "I kept these for you. Hurry and eat."

Lin Nanshu was taken aback for a moment, then took them, his eyes tender. "Thanks, Muyu, that's thoughtful."

Cheng Ge waved his hand. "No big deal. Quick, eat before anyone else finds out."

Lin Nanshu had just taken a bite when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.

The two turned around simultaneously and saw Cui Ji standing not far away, holding the glass lamp Cheng Ge always used.