Chapter 164 Tea

Chapter 164: Tea

Cheng Ge turned his gaze to another direction.

Wuya still had a seductive look in her eyes, completely unruffled by Zhou Mingqi’s words just now.

Her fingertips tapped idly on the wine glass in her hand, when out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the handsome young man looking over at her again.

The corners of her mouth instantly curled into a slight arc. She lifted her chin and gently shook the bell on the back of her hand toward Cheng Ge.

Cheng Ge felt a jolt. This princess seemed vaguely familiar.

He instinctively wanted to look away, but his gaze inadvertently swept diagonally forward.

Of all the bad luck, he met a pair of bottomless eyes.

Yun Xunyu was lounging lazily in his seat, one hand propping up his sharp jawline.

He had clearly caught every bit of Cheng Ge sneaking glances at the princess and then glancing at himself.

The faint smile that had barely been there suddenly rippled outward like a stone dropped in a pond the moment it caught Cheng Ge's gaze.

Yun Xunyu slowly moved his fingertip upward, lightly pressing it against the center of his soft lower lip.

A tap, a press—the motion was gentle, leaving a small dent in his lip.

But his eyes never left Cheng Ge, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

His lips parted silently, forming a clear, slow phrase toward Cheng Ge.

“To—night——” His fingertip tapped lightly on his lip.

“Don’t—want——” Another tap of the finger.

“To—sleep—in—the—woodshed——” One final tap, with a playful, whiny press.

Cheng Ge: “…”

Cheng Ge finally understood where that familiarity came from. Turns out that Princess Wuya and Yun Xunyu were cut from the same exact damn breed.

Cheng Ge couldn’t help rolling his eyes at him, then made a chopping motion across his throat.

“Don’t sleep—go die——”

Cheng Ge stopped looking at that scumbag, quickly averted his gaze, and decided not to think about it anymore.

After all, even if the sky fell, there were taller people to hold it up. He was just a mere Fourth-Rank official—why should he bother his head with that?

What was in front of him—food and drink—was what mattered. His eyes swept over Zhao Ming’s table.

Cheng Ge leaned in close to Zhao Ming, their two heads together, and spoke in a low voice.

“Brother Zhao, are your grapes sweet?” He reached over and picked up the reunion cake, handing it to Zhao Ming. “Try this, it’s really fragrant.”

Zhao Ming, being quick on the uptake, immediately handed the grapes over to Cheng Ge, completing their little trade.

Cheng Ge munched on the grapes as he kept whispering in Zhao Ming’s ear: “Brother Zhao, you look young—you must already be married, right?”

Zhao Ming nodded, a hint of shyness on his face. “Mm, I got married just last year.”

Cheng Ge’s eyes lit up, and he perked up immediately, leaning even closer to Zhao Ming.

“Then how much bride price did you give back then? What did you prepare?”

Zhao Ming thought for a moment and said in a low voice: “Well… all that was arranged by the elders at home. I don’t know the exact figures.

I only remember that during the betrothal gift ceremony, there were sixty-four loads—gold and silver jewelry, silk fabrics, and land deeds…”

“Oh…” Cheng Ge nodded thoughtfully. It seemed that when a capital official got married, it was quite a grand affair.

He patted Zhao Ming on the shoulder and invited him very warmly.

“I’m about to get married too—I’m taking the daughter of the Scribe. Be sure to drop by for a drink then, alright?”

“Of course! Of course!” Zhao Ming quickly agreed. “Where will the banquet be held?”

“In Yuanzhou,” Cheng Ge replied with an unfazed expression.

Zhao Ming: “……”

Cheng Ge’s face bore a bright smile, a full grin showing all eight teeth.

“Brother Zhao, if you really can’t get away, you don’t have to bother with the congratulatory gift. We’re friends—no need for that stuff.”

Zhao Ming: “……” You’ve made it that obvious—do I still dare not to give it?

Cheng Ge was chatting animatedly with Zhao Ming, their heads together, whispering in the corner of the last seat, voices barely audible.

“Your Excellency, let me add some hot tea.” The voice was faint and weak.

Cheng Ge instinctively moved aside to make way. In that split second, the eunuch’s wrist suddenly jerked!

The entire pot of scalding tea, without missing a beat, splashed all over Cheng Ge’s chest!

“Hiss—!” Cheng Ge, caught off guard, sucked in a breath from the searing heat and jumped to his feet!

The front of his official robe was instantly drenched, a large dark stain spreading rapidly, plastered to his skin as a burning sensation hit him.

Zhao Ming beside him was also startled.

The terrified eunuch was even more terrified, his face drained of color. He quickly wiped at Cheng Ge’s robe,

then fell to his knees with a thud, shaking like a leaf.

“Spare me, Your Excellency! Spare me! Your servant deserves to die! Your servant… deserves to die!

My… my wrist slipped! Please show mercy! Please show mercy!”

He pressed his forehead hard against the cold floor tiles, his shoulders shaking with sobs.

Cheng Ge had been somewhat annoyed at first, but seeing the eunuch like this, the words died in his throat.

He gritted his teeth against the searing pain on his chest, wincing and hissing.

He reached out and dabbed helplessly at the water stain on his robe, but the dark mark only made it worse.

This wouldn’t do—what if someone reported him for improper conduct in court?

My lord... there are clean spare clothes in the side hall. Would you like to come with me to change quickly?

His voice carried genuine fear, as if he'd be dragged out and beaten to death the moment Cheng Ge refused.

With no other choice, he could only nod at him and say, "Lead the way."

The young eunuch, as if granted a reprieve, scrambled to his feet, hunched over, and led the way with faltering steps.

Cheng Ge, clutching his burning chest, followed the young eunuch, using the cover of the music and dancing from the hall, and slipped out through a side door.

Away from the noise and lights of the main hall, the palace corridor seemed especially dark and quiet.

After a few twists and turns, the young eunuch led Cheng Ge to the side room door of a remote hall and pushed open the heavy carved door.

"My lord, please wait here for a moment! I will fetch clean clothes right away."

Having said that, without waiting for Cheng Ge's response, he quickly backed out and pulled the door shut behind him.