Chapter 39 How Dare You Arrest Me

Chapter 39: You’re Not Worthy to Arrest Me

"The Crown Prince is the heir apparent and should not go to the border." Zhou Mingqi, unsure how Zhou Zhan had offended Cui Ji, shot it down without a second thought.

"What’s the problem with him going? Emperor Taizu himself led a campaign in person; why should the Crown Prince be any different?" Cui Ji sneered, his eyes steady.

Zhou Mingqi frowned deeply. "The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation. If anything were to happen to him, how would I explain it to the whole country?"

Cui Ji stepped forward, cupping his hands in a bow. "Things are rough at the border, and we need someone brave and clever like the Crown Prince to lift spirits.

Moreover, the Crown Prince has studied military texts since childhood. Going there will definitely get results."

Zhou Mingqi: If it weren’t his own son, he might’ve bought it.

Remembering what Zhou Zhan was really like, he was at best half-decent—all guts, no brains. As for studying military texts since childhood, if reading without understanding counted, then it wasn’t a total lie.

Zhou Mingqi figured it out: Cui Ji likely wanted the Crown Prince dead, and this was going to be a tough one.

Even if the Crown Prince was utterly flawed, a lost cause, he didn’t deserve to die.

Zhou Mingqi kept his cool on the surface. "The Crown Prince is still young. Let’s discuss this another day. I am truly exhausted. Prince Zhenbei, you can leave now."

But Cui Ji wasn’t about to let the father and son off that easy.

On the surface, as a loyal subject, he couldn’t be too obvious, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t stir up trouble for the Crown Prince on the down-low.

"You’re right, Your Majesty. I didn’t think it through," Cui Ji said.

Zhou Mingqi let out a sigh of relief and was about to leave, but Cui Ji switched gears.

"Since I’m stuck in the capital recovering with nothing to do, how about I personally teach the Crown Prince martial arts? That way, I can help you out and take some weight off your shoulders."

Logically, Cui Ji came from a military family and, as Prince Zhenbei with a killer track record, was the perfect pick.

Zhou Mingqi felt there was something fishy about this, but he had no reason to refuse. "Prince Zhenbei is thoughtful. For now, I’ll leave the Crown Prince in your hands."

Turning, he instructed Fu Quan beside him, "Send the Fangshan Dew Bud tea and mountain ginseng from the palace to Prince Zhenbei’s residence."

"Hmph, thank you for Your Majesty’s kindness, but no need. My estate has too many of these items; I fear I can’t use them all. If Your Majesty insists on giving gifts, the Crown Prince would surely love them." After that jab at Zhou Mingqi, Cui Ji walked off without another word.

…

Cheng Ge slept well. This time, he didn’t linger in bed and got up early.

He thought to himself that he couldn’t be late again, or else even the Heavenly King couldn’t save his cushy job.

Breakfast was shared with Cui Ji in the dining hall. Cheng Ge ate faster, eager to get to the palace.

"The Crown Prince is stubborn and hard to manage. If you find this job difficult, I can help you find another," Cui Ji said.

Cheng Ge finished his last spoonful of red date and lotus seed porridge, wiped his mouth, and replied, "No need, this job is fine. Once I make it big, I’ll treat you to the finest food and drink every day."

Cui Ji: Am I not already rich enough?

Cheng Ge sat in the carriage, dozing off as it swayed gently, lulling him to sleep.

Suddenly, with a loud "bang," the carriage jolted violently, and Cheng Ge was thrown forward.

His head was ringing as he quickly grabbed the carriage wall to brace himself.

Before he could figure out what had happened, he heard the unfamiliar coachman’s voice outside: "Sir... sir, we just crashed into another carriage!"

Cheng Ge steadied himself and pulled back the curtain to see. The curtain of the opposing carriage was also being pushed aside.

The guy looked about fifty, still in his court robes—a third-rank official's crimson robe with a peacock badge—suggesting he had just returned from the morning court session.

Cheng Ge quickly jumped down from the carriage and strode over to the official, clasping his hands in apology: "Sir, my deepest apologies. My driver wasn’t paying attention and crashed into you."

Zhang Hong snorted coldly, looking Cheng Ge up and down. He noticed the man's plain navy scholar's robe, without any ornaments, and a flicker of disdain in his eyes.

Seeing this, the coachman immediately stepped forward and snapped at Cheng Ge, "You blind idiot! How dare you crash into my master's carriage!"

Cheng Ge furrowed his brow. He'd just taken a look at the situation and saw clearly that the other guy was driving on the wrong side. By all rights, his driver was completely innocent.

He'd only been polite because the other man seemed respectable, and he wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.

But now they were pushing it—how could he take that?

Just as he was about to curse out the guy's whole family, Zhang Hong waved the coachman off dismissively, looking impatient.

The coachman, though, wasn't done scolding: "Next time, keep your driver in line. It's only 'cause my master's generous that he's letting this go.

Better stay out of trouble and don't go running around, or you'll bump into some noble again. Look at your shabby state—you wouldn't even know how you died."

With that, he flicked his whip and turned to climb back onto the carriage to leave.

But before he could settle in, a powerful force suddenly yanked him by the back of his collar.

In an instant, the coachman was lifted off the ground, and with a deafening crash, his body was slammed against the side of the carriage.

Cheng Ge grabbed him by the back of the neck, pinning him against the carriage door, and stared at him coldly.

"Ha... what noble? I don't see any nobles around here. But plenty of lowlifes, that's for sure.

Watch your filthy mouth. Who crashed into who? Don't you have a clue?

I was just being polite, and you think you're hot stuff!"

The coachman, pale with pain, stammered, "You... you dare lay a hand on me? Do you know who my master is?"

"What? Is your master the Jade Emperor or something?" Cheng Ge grabbed the man's hair and slammed him against the carriage again.

"Then you'd better kowtow to him properly, so he can bless you with a spot among the immortals!"

Zhang Hong hadn't expected Cheng Ge to resort to violence. The sudden commotion startled him.

Seeing his own coachman being ground into the dirt by Cheng Ge, his face turned an ugly shade of red.

This was a public slap in the face! How dare this brat! His face flushed with rage.

He barked at the stunned servants nearby, "What are you standing around for? Seize this madman for this official!"

At his command, the servants snapped to attention and rushed at Cheng Ge.

"Who dares to seize me!" Cheng Ge grabbed the coachman and hurled him at Zhang Hong, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Holding the imperial token in his hand, Cheng Ge rebuked, "I am the Crown Prince's Tutor, appointed by His Majesty as the Left Spring Palace Adviser, a fifth-rank official. How dare you presume to arrest me!"

The crowd, upon seeing Cheng Ge's token, halted instantly, their faces showing hesitation.

Zhang Hong, taken aback that Cheng Ge held an official position, his face darkened.

"Hmph, even if you are the Crown Prince's Tutor, what of it? You committed assault on the street, beating this official's coachman—a grave crime. How can we arrest you then!"

Cheng Ge sneered, "If I am guilty, let the Shuntian Prefecture handle this. It is not for you to meddle here.

With Imperial Authority above, beneath the emperor's very feet, are you, as a third-rank official, trying to overstep your bounds, defy His Majesty, and commit treason?"