Chapter 182 Enough

Chapter 182: Forget It

At the top of the steps, Zhou Mingqi stood with his hands behind his back, his golden dragon robe seeming to give off a cold shimmer under the blazing sun.

His heavy gaze landed on the solitary figure on the steps below.

Cheng Ge, wearing only a thin inner robe, with that absurd broom strapped to his back, knelt on the burning stone floor.

Though he had treated the Third Prince of Nanling's poison that day, word was he'd been bedridden for days, and he looked even more worn out now.

Zhou Mingqi finally forced himself to speak, his voice betraying no emotion but carrying an unspoken weight: "What do you think you're doing?"

Hearing the emperor's voice coming from above, Cheng Ge lowered his head even further, keeping his forehead pressed hard to the ground.

He answered in a muffled, somewhat indistinct voice: "Your subject… begs for your punishment!"

Zhou Mingqi naturally knew what he was referring to; his facial muscles tightened almost imperceptibly—getting slapped by his own subject wasn't exactly a proud moment for the Son of Heaven.

His voice dropped a few degrees colder: "Then how would you like me to deal with you?"

Cheng Ge hadn't expected the comeback, so he nervously licked his lips.

"Your subject Cheng Ge has committed an unforgivable crime and doesn't dare beg for your forgiveness.

Today I brought this broom with me, placing myself at Your Majesty's disposal. Kill me, skin me, I'll take it without a word!

But I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and not drag my family into this… cough, cough, cough!!!"

Cheng Ge spoke too hastily, and some sesame candy crumbs he hadn't quite swallowed got stuck in his throat—

"Cough! Cough, cough, cough… mmph…!" He immediately broke into a violent, gut-wrenching coughing fit.

He curled up completely, shaking all over from the coughing, as if he was about to cough his lungs out.

Seeing this, Zhou Mingqi unconsciously stepped forward two paces, his brows tightly furrowed.

Lin Nanshu, even more alarmed, quickly dropped to one knee, one hand steadying Cheng Ge's shaking arm while the other frantically patted his thin back, worry written all over his face.

When Zhou Mingqi saw Lin Nanshu almost pulling the man into a half-embrace, his steps halted at once.

He had… never really planned on holding Cheng Ge accountable. Now, seeing him cough so violently he could hardly breathe,

the anger from being slighted had long been buried under a flood of complicated feelings, leaving only an uneasy pity.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were calm and deep as still water.

He waved his hand, a hint of weariness barely showing in his tone: "Forget it. Go on back."

With that, he turned around and left without a backward glance, not looking back at the chaotic scene below the steps.

Lin Nanshu, seeing Zhou Mingqi's figure completely disappear behind the palace gate, finally let out a sigh of relief.

He quickly reached out, wrapped an arm around Cheng Ge's waist and hoisted him up. Cheng Ge steadied himself with his help and couldn't help but cough lightly a couple more times.

The corners of his eyes were red from all the coughing, glistening with tears.

"How are you? Does it hurt?" Lin Nanshu gently patted his back again.

Cheng Ge looked up at Lin Nanshu, then suddenly broke into a grin.

"Yuli, you want some?" he asked, spreading out a piece of sesame candy held in his palm.

Lin Nanshu: "……..."

Lin Nanshu had been too anxious to notice earlier, but now he saw the sesame seeds stuck to the corner of his mouth—it all clicked.

"Go ahead and eat it, but take your time." With that, he took out a clean, plain silk handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped away the conspicuous candy crumbs for Cheng Ge.

Through the soft cloth, the tips of his fingers could almost feel the other's lip warmth.

Cheng Ge instinctively flinched at first, then realized his intention and, unexpectedly, held still.

He stood still, just tilting his head back, looking up at Lin Nanshu with damp eyes.

Just as the handkerchief was about to touch the corner of his mouth, he suddenly called out very softly:

"Yuli…"

The way he said his name—soft and light like a feather brushing his heart. Lin Nanshu's wiping motion paused almost imperceptibly.

Uttered in Cheng Ge's somewhat hoarse voice, it carried an indescribable intimacy and… tenderness.

Lin Nanshu's long eyelashes lowered slightly, hiding the complex emotions flickering in his eyes.

Yet his movements remained gentle and meticulous as he carefully wiped away the last sesame crumbs.

He withdrew the handkerchief, his voice as warm as always, but maybe a little softer and more tender than usual: "All done."

"Let's go. I'll see you back." Lin Nanshu adjusted Cheng Ge's slightly disheveled inner robe,

then pulled the outer robe he had draped over him tighter. "Lü Rou has been sending people to the palace gate asking after you. She must be worried."

Cheng Ge nodded and obediently followed him toward the palace gate, munching on the last of his sesame candy as they walked.

Lin Nanshu glanced sidelong at his still-pale complexion and thin frame, paused briefly, then gently suggested.

"Your constitution took quite a blow this time. If you don't have anyone at home to look after you… why not come stay at my place for a while?

I have a villa with a hot spring—great for recovering your strength." His tone was sincere, clearly considering Cheng Ge's health.

Cheng Ge paused mid-bite, his eyes lighting up instantly! A villa with a hot spring!

That sounded amazing! He almost blurted out "Yes, yes!"

But just as the words reached his lips, he swallowed the words back down.

Damn! He almost forgot—Lin Zhufeng, that old queen, still lived at the Lin residence.

Cheng Ge quickly waved his hand, forcing a dry laugh: "N-no, no need! It's too much trouble for you, Yuli!

I'll just go home and crash, honest! I'm tough as nails—I'll be right as rain after a couple days in bed!"

Seeing his resolute refusal, Lin Nanshu did not insist further, just said softly: "Since that's the case, make sure you rest up when you get home, and don't push yourself."

Then he carefully arranged the collar of the outer robe again to keep out the drafts.

Cheng Ge looked up, letting Lin Nanshu attend to him.

Sunlight streamed over the palace eaves, casting onto the side of Lin Nanshu's downturned face and bathing his long lashes in a pale gold light.

As he moved gently, his lashes trembled slightly, casting a small, quiet shadow.

His expression was focused and tender, as if doing something extremely important.

Cheng Ge watched, and his heart suddenly gave a jolt.

A ridiculous and horrifying thought sprang into his mind without warning.

People say you're influenced by the company you keep—Lin Nanshu spends day and night with that grandfather of his...

Could it be... that he's already been led astray by Lin Zhufeng?!

His gaze fell back on Lin Nanshu. Well, he didn't look like it, though!

But once this thought appeared, it spread like a wild vine.

Cheng Ge immediately felt uneasy all over. No, he had to test him!