Chapter 100 Birthday Congratulations

Chapter 100: Birthday Celebration

Cheng Ge looked up at Cui Ji and said in disbelief, "You could tell?"

Cui Ji stared at the ginseng for a long while, then asked, "Did the Crown Prince give this to you?"

"No, it was a freebie with the wolfberries I bought," Cheng Ge said innocently.

Cui Ji's temple twitched; he became even more certain there was definitely something off about this ginseng.

"What is this?"

"Platycodon root," Cheng Ge stated bluntly.

In two days, he was going to Liu Xianyue's birthday to pay his respects; he definitely couldn't go empty-handed.

But asking Cheng Ge to spend money on expensive gifts—well, sorry, I just can't do it...

That's why he thought of passing off platycodon as ginseng. He hadn't expected Cui Ji to see through it at a glance.

So the jig was up? Was it that obvious?

Cui Ji looked at the cowlick on Cheng Ge's head, silent for a long time.

A moment later, with a clang, a key landed right in front of Cheng Ge.

"Here's the key to the storeroom. Grab what you want—just don't eat anything that'll make you sick."

Cheng Ge jumped at the gesture. He looked up at Cui Ji: "Huh?"

He just handed me the key to the storeroom? Cheng Ge was stunned, staring at Cui Ji, totally confused.

Then, the image of himself bravely shielding Cui Ji flashed through his mind, and it suddenly clicked.

A bit embarrassed, he hooked the key with his finger, cheeks flushing slightly as he murmured, "This feels kinda wrong, right?"

As he spoke, he still glanced at Cui Ji, then quietly clenched the key in his palm.

"Even though we're close, this is, after all, your wedding fund. It's a bit inappropriate..."

But despite saying that, his hand holding the key did not loosen at all.

"And besides, this ginseng of mine isn't for me to eat."

Cui Ji was somewhat surprised. Looking at the ginseng, his expression unreadable, "You're not planning to give it to someone, are you?"

"Yeah, how did you know?" Cheng Ge was a bit shocked. "Can it pass for real?

I had it specially processed! Look, the head, the root fibers, and these leaf marks—they're glued on so well!"

Cui Ji: "..." Sometimes he really wanted to pry open Cheng Ge's skull and see just how much mischief was stored in there.

"Who do you want to give it to? Lin Nanshu?"

Cheng Ge glanced at him. "Of course not. I'm going to Liu Xianyue's birthday celebration in two days."

Cui Ji gave a cold laugh. "Liu Xianyue? Then don't waste the platycodon. Use pokeweed instead—it's more toxic."

Cheng Ge: "..."

Two days later, Cheng Ge took the invitation and went directly to the Liu residence.

On the long street in front of the Liu residence, carriages came and went endlessly, the bluestone road polished shiny by wheels.

Official sedan chairs and carriages formed a massive line like a dragon. The two stone lions in front of the vermilion gate were draped in red and adorned.

A very inconspicuous carriage stopped by the roadside. Cheng Ge hunched over and crawled out of the carriage; a servant helped him down.

He looked around, straightened his indigo satin robe, and then walked toward the Liu residence.

Just as he reached the gate, he was stopped by the gatekeeper. "Please show your invitation."

Cheng Ge handed over the invitation. The gatekeeper looked at it, then sized up Cheng Ge with contempt.

At such birthday banquets, there were always plenty of scholars and students trying to curry favor—all small-time nobodies.

But Cheng Ge had an invitation, so the gatekeeper couldn't say much; he simply moved aside to let him in.

Cheng Ge walked to the middle gate. Looking up, he spotted a gleaming gold plaque hanging above the hall reading "Pillar of the Nation."

Below, servants carrying gift boxes bustled back and forth; the sound of music drifted from inside.

The steward, wearing a crisp new lake-blue silk robe, stood at the steps holding a gilt-bound register.

Cheng Ge stepped forward, and the servant beside him handed over the gift box.

The steward took the box, gave it a quick dismissive glance, and set it aside.

"Distant relative of Prince Jing's mansion, Cheng Ge, one wild ginseng, twenty-year-old, presented in a silk brocade box."

Hearing this, Cheng Ge quickly lowered his head and stepped aside. The place was packed; nobody would even notice him.

After wandering around the mansion for a while, he sent the servant away.

The birthday banquet was arranged across three courtyards. The front hall had seventy-two square rosewood tables laid with fine wines, reserved for high-ranking officials and nobles to network and chat.

The second hall was reserved for women, with twelve colored-glass screens dividing it into private rooms, with all sorts of pastries arranged on sweet white-glazed plates.

Past that was the mansion's back garden, with waterside pavilions, rockeries, babbling streams, and flower shadows dancing in the pond.

Cheng Ge quietly sneaked over. Only a few female guests wandered over here; the place was nearly empty.

Just as Liu Yuanqian had told him, the goods were stashed in Liu Xianyue's bedroom.

The bedrooms were all in the rear courtyard, strictly off-limits to outsiders.

But as the saying goes, "You've got your tricks, and I've got mine."

Cheng Ge was already a pro at sneaking and climbing walls.

Taking advantage of the fact no one was watching, Cheng Ge crept along the courtyard wall until he spotted a gap in a fake mountain.

Cheng Ge looked left and right to make sure the coast was clear, then sucked in his gut and squeezed through the gap.

The gap didn't look big, but once inside, it opened up into a completely hidden world.

Like in that old story: the mountain had a small hole... at first it was so narrow only one person could squeeze through... then all of a sudden it opened up into a broad clearing.

Even Cheng Ge had to admit, this was the perfect spot for some illicit fun.

After walking about twenty steps,

the path suddenly narrowed, and light was faintly visible.

Cheng Ge turned sideways, took a deep breath, lifted his chin, straightened his back, and sucked in his gut.

Whoa, fits perfectly! See? That’s the advantage of a slim waist!

After squeezing through with difficulty, Cheng Ge emerged into a courtyard.

As far as the eye could see, winding paths led to quiet seclusion, views changed with every step, bamboo shadows varied in density, and the sound of water over stones soothed the ears.

The Zhenbei Prince’s Mansion was also nice, but because Cui Ji was a military general, the mansion’s décor was mostly grand and imposing, lacking such elegance.

Liu Xianyue came from a scholarly background, and in front of others, he always projected an image of blending in with the world.

Judging by the layout of this courtyard, it should be Liu Yuanqian’s bedroom.

Because guests were being entertained outside, only a few servants remained in the back courtyard.

Cheng Ge hunched over and silently crept to the bedroom door. He reached out and gently pushed it, only to find it locked.

Cheng Ge’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly composed himself.

He pulled a piece of wire from inside his shirt and began fiddling with the lock.

However, after patiently poking for a long time...

Oh no—the wire snapped...

Cheng Ge: "..."

Cheng Ge stared helplessly at the broken wire, then turned his gaze to the window.

He tiptoed to the window, tried tugging at it, and found it unlocked.

Delighted, Cheng Ge quickly slipped into the room.

The room was elegantly arranged, with unfinished calligraphy and a censer burning incense on the desk.

He began searching everywhere, but after a long time, he couldn’t find the item Liu Yuanqian had mentioned.

Just as he was growing anxious, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

Cheng Ge’s heart was in his throat. He looked around in panic and immediately dropped down and scrambled under the bed on all fours.

Fortunately, Cheng Ge was slender, and there was enough room under the bed for him.

Terrified of being discovered, he covered his head and rolled further in.

But his body suddenly bumped into a hard chest. Cheng Ge was so startled he almost wet himself, quickly covering his mouth.

Through the faint light filtering from the bed curtain, he saw a pair of almond-shaped eyes watching him with a knowing half-smile.

Cheng Ge: "!!!"