Chapter 112 Old Acquaintance

Chapter 112: An Old Acquaintance

Cheng Ge set down his wine bowl, cleared his throat, swept his gaze over the crowd's admiring eyes, and finally landed on the roast chicken in front of him.

"Well, this matter... it's a tiny bit complicated to explain. Let me break it down for you..."

As he spoke, he very naturally reached out a hand, ripped off a drumstick, and took a bite.

Hearing this, everyone grabbed a handful of peanuts and stared at Cheng Ge with eyes blazing.

Cheng Ge gnawed on the drumstick, his eyes darting back and forth, and began to spin a vivid tale.

"Mm... so that day, standing before the Meridian Gate, with a heart full of righteous indignation! Facing that bunch of corrupt officials, I was utterly fearless..."

The prison guards listened, their eyes went wide as they leaned in, afraid to miss any exciting detail, even forgetting to chew the peanuts they had in their mouths.

When Lü Rou brought Cheng Ge his lunch, this was the scene she saw.

There was Cheng Ge, his cheeks flushed red, one foot planted boldly on the bench.

In his left hand, he held a drumstick, and in his right, a wine bowl. With every bite of meat and sip of wine, his little mouth chattered nonstop.

"Scholar Cheng is truly a model for our generation, there's no one like him!" The crowd was flushed with excitement, unable to contain their enthusiasm.

Cheng Ge belched, waved his hand dismissively, his eyes a little glazed over.

"Just a small matter, a small matter. I would do my country's service at the cost of my life, regardless of fortune or misfortune. It's just what I ought to do..."

Seeing this, Lü Rou felt somewhat helpless. She immediately stepped forward and snatched the wine bowl away.

"Master, you only just recovered from your illness. How can you still be drinking?"

Cheng Ge turned his head to look at Lü Rou, giving her a goofy grin. He pressed his forehead against her shoulder and rubbed it twice.

"I only took a tiny sip. Sister Lvrou, don't be angry."

It was only later that Cheng Ge learned Lü Rou was actually two months older than him.

She too had come from a well-to-do family, but at the age of twelve, a sudden disaster struck her family when her father suddenly died.

Her stepmother took all the money and belongings and sold Lü Rou to human traffickers.

At first, she worked as a scullery maid in a modest household. But later, the master of that house wanted to take her as a concubine.

The mistress, thinking Lü Rou had seduced the over-fifty-year-old master, ordered her beaten within an inch of her life and sold off that very night.

After being passed from hand to hand, she was eventually brought to the capital, where she was sold to Zhang Hong, who had just been assigned to a post in the capital, and was sold into the Zhang mansion.

Things were relatively stable in the Zhang mansion, until she encountered Zhang Qingheng, after which her life turned into a living hell.

Fortunately, Cheng Ge rescued her by chance from that den of misery. Now that the Zhang family had been seized, and her indenture contract had been retrieved by Cheng Ge, who had someone cancel it at the yamen.

After more than a decade, she had regained her freedom, but she never forgot Cheng Ge's kindness.

The world is treacherous, and people's hearts are fickle.

She had no other thoughts now; her only wish was to stay by her savior's side and serve him.

But unfortunately, Cheng Ge was good in every way except for his utter lack of self-control when it came to food.

He had only just recovered from his illness for a few days and was already indulging again.

Lü Rou knew how fragile Cheng Ge's health was, and whenever she saw him like this, she grew deeply worried.

She had tried to persuade Lin Nanshu to advise Cheng Ge, but Lin Nanshu was even more spineless than him.

Cheng Ge was a master at coaxing people; with just a few words, he could wrap Lin Nanshu around his finger.

So, the role of the "bad guy" had to fall on her!

She strictly managed his diet every day, balancing meat and vegetables, ensuring nutritional equilibrium. No one was allowed to sneak him any forbidden snacks.

But despite all precautions, Cheng Ge had still found a way to slip through the cracks.

Lü Rou placed the food box on the table, not buying his bull for a second.

"Master, don't try to fool me. That whole jar of wine is empty."

Seeing Lü Rou angry, Cheng Ge knew he was in the wrong and felt a wave of guilt. He quickly shot a look at the others.

They immediately understood. One of them spoke up, "Miss Lü Rou, Scholar Cheng only touched his lips to it. We drank all the wine."

The others chimed in, "Haha, yeah! When we heard Scholar Cheng's heroic words, we got so pumped we started chugging."

With someone backing him up, Cheng Ge regained his confidence and puffed out his chest.

"Sister Lvrou, see? Everyone says so. I really didn't drink much.

What yummy food did you bring me today? I'm starving.

Let's stop hanging out with these drunks. Let's go back and eat now, before the food gets cold."

The drunks: "..."

Turns out, Lü Rou was only slightly more disciplined than Lin Nanshu.

Usually, Cheng Ge could handle Lin Nanshu with just a single breath, but dealing with Lü Rou required a full three sentences.

She was immediately distracted by him and lifted the food box lid to show him.

"The housekeeper made your favorites on purpose, but without any chili."

Cheng Ge carried the food box for Lü Rou and walked back with her.

The cells on both sides were packed with people, constant screams and moans filling the air. Both of them turned a deaf ear.

These people deserved their fate; if they hadn't gotten greedy, they wouldn't be in this mess today.

What goes around comes around; it's all karmic retribution.

Lü Rou pulled a sachet from her sleeve. "This sachet contains herbs specially prepared by a doctor to calm your mind and settle your nerves. Carry it with you."

Cheng Ge took the sachet and sniffed it. It had a faint medicinal scent. "Mm, smells nice."

Lü Rou looked at him, her eyes full of concern. "Master, you really can't drink like this anymore. You're weak; you need to take good care of it."

Cheng Ge put the sachet away and nodded with a smile. "I know, Sister Lvrou. I'll be good from now on."

But the moment Cheng Ge finished speaking, he heard Lü Rou scream, and she fell to the ground.

Cheng Ge was startled and immediately stepped forward to help Lü Rou up.

But he saw her trembling all over, her face pale as she stared at the cell in front of them. Cheng Ge turned his head to follow her gaze, and his gaze suddenly froze.

There, lying sprawled before the cell door, was a bloodied figure with bones grotesquely twisted. The person raised his head—it was actually Zhang Qinghang!

His face was stained with blood, his eyes were dark and vicious as he glared at Lü Rou.

"Bitch." Zhang Qinghang's voice was like fingernails scraping against an iron plate, grating and sickening.

Lü Rou trembled even more violently as she hid behind Cheng Ge, clutching his robe tightly with both hands.

"M-Master."

Cheng Ge stood in front of Lü Rou, looking down at Zhang Qinghang, and suddenly laughed. "Well, if it isn't an old acquaintance."

Zhang Qinghang struggled to get up, but due to his severe injuries, he fell back heavily, landing in a pool of blood.

His gaze shifted to Cheng Ge, first stunned, then a flicker of longing appeared in his eyes.

Trembling, he slowly extended his hand, dragging it across the ground, leaving a trail of blood.

His fingers, covered in grime and blood, gently tugged at the hem of Cheng Ge's robe. "Mu Yu..."

Cheng Ge just looked down at him, a faint smile on his lips, saying nothing.

Zhang Qinghang lifted his head with difficulty, blood seeping from between his teeth, as if in self-mockery. "You... you've really done a number on me."

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