Chapter 122 Masterful Tactics

Chapter 122: Impressive Moves

The guard, seeing Cheng Ge smiling at him so radiantly, felt his heart flutter.

He had just been transferred to this post only two days ago, and this young gentleman came right after him.

What did he mean by "what a coincidence"? Was he implying something... Could it be...

Cheng Ge, seeing a familiar face and feeling triumphant, couldn't hide his eagerness to show off.

"Look! Doesn't this outfit of mine look particularly impressive today?" He puffed out his chest, the cloud geese on his rank badge spreading their wings, looking super proud.

The guard's gaze involuntarily swept over him—tall and slim, with a tiny waist, and a face like polished jade.

He had never seen anyone wear an official robe so flamboyantly; it was indeed different from the other beasts in official clothes.

When their eyes met, his breath quickened, and he couldn't help tightening his grip on the jade token.

Why did this young guy keep trying to seduce him every time?

Could it be... he was deliberately trying to catch his attention? These scholars really know their moves!

He can't take the bait that easy! He had to play it cool and not let him win too fast.

"I-it's okay." He hung his head a little and handed the jade token back.

Cheng Ge clipped on the token, gave the guard a couple of pats on the shoulder, and said casually, "Good work. Next time you're free, drinks are on me."

Hearing this, the guard's face turned bright red.

His heart pounded wildly as he nodded repeatedly, his head dropping even lower: "Sure, sure."

Cheng Ge didn't pay much attention to the guard's reaction, waved his hand, and joined the line and went inside.

"When will you be free? I can come find you after my shift ends..."

The guard was about to ask further, but when he looked up, Cheng Ge had already disappeared.

Instead, he saw a wrinkly-faced official holding out his jade token.

Guard: "..."

After the inspection, civil and military officials stood in two lines—east and west—in silent respect.

In the morning light, the sky gradually brightened, and three whip cracks rang out.

After the eunuch cracked his whip, the officials slowly moved forward across the bridge, heading toward the main hall.

Cheng Ge held his hu tablet low, bowing his head, his gaze fixed on his toes.

Music began, and the emperor arrived. The officials performed the four-bow ritual, standing in solemn reverence.

The herald from the Court of State Ceremonial chanted: "Long live the Emperor!" The officials echoed "Long live the Emperor," shaking the whole hall.

After completing the ritual, Cheng Ge stepped aside with the rest.

During the court session, ministers took turns presenting matters, while Cheng Ge stood there bored out of his mind.

This morning assembly was indeed boring; after a bit, he started to doze off. He used his tablet to hide his face,

he looked left and right, and when no one was looking, he sneaked a date from his sleeve and quickly popped it in his mouth.

Standing for hours during the assembly—his lame original body would pass out if he didn't eat something.

He had to eat—survival first!

But by the time Cheng Ge had polished off all the dates in his sleeve pouch, the assembly was still not over.

Big or small matters—everything dragged on for half a day. Cheng Ge started to get irritated.

He should have stuck with getting an external post instead; this "work" was way too tiring.

He stifled a yawn and instinctively looked up at Zhou Mingqi on the throne.

The emperor's face was as deep as an abyss, his brows like ink swords that slanted into his temples, his eyes glinting like cold stars, his jaw chiseled—imposing without even trying.

Cheng Ge felt a pull in his heart. He stared at Zhou Mingqi for several moments, lightly scratching his tablet with his fingernail.

Just then, Zhou Mingqi was looking right at him. Their eyes met, and Cheng Ge got such a shock he almost dropped his tablet.

He quickly lowered his head, his heart hammering like crazy, praying Zhou Mingqi hadn't noticed his little stunt.

Zhou Mingqi saw Cheng Ge's flustered face and sneered to himself.

Finally, the assembly ended. After the whip crack, the officials filed out in order. Cheng Ge hurriedly followed the crowd out of the hall.

But no sooner had he stepped out than he was summoned by Fu Quan.

Cheng Ge's heart sank, and he reluctantly followed Fu Quan to the imperial study.

Entering the room, he saw Zhou Mingqi sitting behind the desk, holding a memorial.

"Your servant greets Your Majesty..." Before Cheng Ge could finish, Zhou Mingqi raised a hand to cut him off.

Without looking up, he said, "Come help me grind the ink."

Cheng Ge was thrilled. He hated such formalities anyway, so not having to kneel was a huge relief.

He quickly replied, then trotted over to the imperial desk, ready to grind the ink.

He lightly held the inkstone with his left hand, took the inkstick in his right, and began circling it rhythmically on the inkstone.

But he wasn't really paying attention; his mind was wandering.

Just then, his stomach suddenly growled loudly several times.

The sound was especially conspicuous in the otherwise quiet study, impossible to ignore.

Cheng Ge's face went beet red with embarrassment.

Cheng Ge: "..." He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

Without thinking, he pinched his stomach and cautiously glanced sideways at Zhou Mingqi.

Zhou Mingqi paused in his movements and said flatly, "Didn't you just eat a bunch of dates? How are you still hungry?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Ge's mind went blank. Panicked, he was about to beg forgiveness: "Your Majesty, this servant... this servant..."

Zhou Mingqi waved his hand and said, "I never said I was going to punish you. No need to kneel yet."

"Oh... okay." Cheng Ge quickly gripped the Imperial Desk, acting as if nothing was wrong, and resumed grinding ink as if nothing had happened.

Zhou Mingqi slowly set down the object he was holding and quietly instructed the attendant beside him, "Bring the meal."

The attendant respectfully replied, "Yes," and turned to leave.

This morning audience was actually quite similar to being in class—the classmates around you probably don't know you were slacking off.

But the teacher standing at the podium could see every little move clearly.

"Did you not have breakfast?" Zhou Mingqi suddenly asked.

Cheng Ge quickly nodded his head and replied, "I ate."

Zhou Mingqi frowned slightly. "Then why are you hungry so quickly?"

Cheng Ge scratched the back of his head, thinking, *You ask me, but who the hell am I supposed to ask?*

He didn't understand this original body's condition—all he knew was that he ate a lot and got hungry quickly!

"Your servant is not sure either. It might have been like this since childhood—if I don't eat enough, I get really hungry." Cheng Ge said helplessly.

"Have you seen a doctor for this?"

"Do I really need to see a doctor for this?" Having a big appetite isn't a crime, right?

Just as Zhou Mingqi was about to say something more, an ivory hu tablet fell from Cheng Ge's sleeve, landing right at Zhou Mingqi's feet.

Before Cheng Ge could react, Zhou Mingqi started to bend down as if to pick up the hu tablet.

Cheng Ge: "Holy shit!!!"

However, just as Zhou Mingqi's hand touched the tablet, he suddenly felt a weight on his hand.

A foot wearing a black boot had stomped straight down onto the back of his hand.