Chapter 76 Hiding Someone

Chapter 76: Concealing Someone

"Actually, the original scene went like this...

The imperial physician slowly shook his head and said gravely, 'Tutor Cheng has old ailments piling up, and now his heart meridian damage got worse. I'm afraid he doesn't have long.'

The Crown Prince, standing nearby, staggered like he'd been struck by lightning upon hearing these words.

His eyes widened, staring at the physician in disbelief, his lips trembling, but he couldn't make a sound.

After a long moment, the Crown Prince snapped out of it, his voice hoarse and full of despair: 'He... it's that serious?'

The physician sighed and stroked his beard, and said with certainty, 'Yes, in my opinion, Tutor Cheng's condition really doesn't look good. I figure he's got maybe...'

Before the physician could finish, a blur disappeared right in front of him.

He looked up, stunned, glancing around, but the Crown Prince was gone.

The physician: '...only three years to live.'"

"Exactly! One hundred percent! But now it looks like he's just a quack!"

Zhou Zhan's eyes were dark, and he muttered between gritted teeth, "When I get back, I'll have Father fire him."

Cheng Ge: "..."

However, seeing that his boss cared so much about him, Cheng Ge was a little touched.

He reached out and took the Crown Prince's hand, asking, "Your Highness, did you bring me any ginseng or what? The last batch worked great for me..."

Zhou Zhan held his hand back, pulling him to sit beside him, and explained, "I was in such a hurry this time I forgot. I'll have someone bring it to you tomorrow."

As he spoke, he glanced at the table and asked, "You just ate? Why so late? Has that bastard been mistreating you?"

Cheng Ge's eyes went wide, and he nervously glanced at the inner room, and quickly said, "Your Highness, don't say that. The Prince has been really good to me."

Zhou Zhan felt a bit jealous seeing his reaction. "I was just kidding. Why are you so jumpy? Scared he'll hear? Besides, what I said isn't wrong. You don't know how awful that bastard used to be. Even my father says he... mmph..."

Before Zhou Zhan could finish, a piece of dried venison got stuffed into his mouth.

Zhou Zhan shut up and stared blankly at Cheng Ge.

Cheng Ge quickly gave an apologetic smile, "Your Highness, this dried venison is great. Please try it."

Zhou Zhan's face got a little red, and he chewed the venison without thinking, mumbling, "Mm, it's really good. Give me another piece. I didn't even eat dinner to rush over here."

Just then, a faint sound came from the inner room.

"Who's that?" Zhou Zhan looked on alert and was about to get up to check.

Cheng Ge's heart dropped, and his toes curled. He really wished the earth would just explode right then.

He quickly stood up and blocked Zhou Zhan. "No, there's no sound. You must have misheard."

"I clearly heard something..." Zhou Zhan was about to continue, but Cheng Ge interrupted him.

"Your Highness, you came so suddenly I wasn't ready. I'll have someone bring more wine and dishes."

Zhou Zhan quickly turned back and grabbed him. "No need to trouble yourself. There's still food here. I'll just eat a bit, so as not to be discovered."

Cheng Ge nodded and slowly sat down opposite him.

Zhou Zhan glanced at the table and asked, "Why are there two sets of bowls and chopsticks?"

Cheng Ge scratched his head, thinking, Why do these people always notice this?

"No... it's just that this way I can eat faster."

Zhou Zhan: "??? What do you mean?"

Cheng Ge, a bit helpless, picked up a pair of chopsticks in each hand and, using both, picked up a peanut with each and put them in his mouth.

Zhou Zhan: "..." Can you do that?

Zhou Zhan didn't believe it and tried it himself. The result was predictable.

He threw down the chopsticks in frustration, grabbed a spoon, and in front of Cheng Ge, scooped up a large spoonful of peanuts and stuffed them into his mouth.

"What a waste of effort!"

Cheng Ge: "..."

Fine, fine! Every single one of them is an ancestor. I can't afford to mess with them.

He sighed helplessly and instinctively glanced back toward the inner room.

Zhou Zhan seemed to sense something. His gaze went past Cheng Ge to look behind him.

"Why do you keep looking back? Have you secretly hidden someone?"

Cheng Ge: Damn! How does he know?

Seeing his expression, Zhou Zhan's face immediately darkened. "Oh, so it's true, Cheng Muyu! You really have hidden someone? Is it still back there? Let me see which shameless little slut it is!" With that, he was about to get up and go past Cheng Ge.

Cheng Ge's heart instantly jumped into his throat. He stepped forward and grabbed Zhou Zhan to explain, "No, Your Highness, don't misunderstand."

"Don't stop me!" Zhou Zhan inexplicably flared up and shoved Cheng Ge aside.

Cheng Ge felt a dull pain, frowned deeply, and supported himself with one hand on the round table while clutching his chest with the other.

"What's wrong with you!" Zhou Zhan, frightened by his appearance, quickly stepped forward to support him.

Cheng Ge pushed him back, making him stagger, and his anger flared up. He cursed at Zhou Zhan, "I told you I didn't hide anyone, but you wouldn't listen! If Your Highness truly dislikes me, why not just ask the Emperor to issue an edict and have me dragged to the market to be beheaded tomorrow! Why bother coming here to interrogate me repeatedly!"

Zhou Zhan, who was already hot-tempered, couldn't bear this reprimand.

"What nonsense is this! I came all the way here out of concern for you, and I don't even get a single good word! At your age, you should have married long ago. I'm just afraid some little slut who doesn't know better will seduce you into doing that kind of thing every day, and you'll ruin your health and suffer! And you're so ungrateful, giving me attitude!"

With that, he kicked the round stool beside him, clearly furious.

Cheng Ge said nothing, unwilling to placate this spoiled brat. He turned his head away and coughed hard a few times.

Meanwhile, the two people in the inner room were like two people worlds apart—one at the head of the river, the other at its tail.

Each occupied a corner of the room, and they naturally loathed the sight of each other, as incompatible as oil and water. Yet on the surface, they remained relatively calm.

Lin Nanshu was leaning by the window, his fingertips gently brushing the pot of flourishing scallions.

Cui Ji, on the other hand, leaned against the bedpost with his arms crossed, pretending to take a nap.

However, when they suddenly heard an argument from the outer room, their faces immediately hardened.

The two rushed to the door, ready to burst out.

"I've told you there's no one hidden, but you just won't listen!" Cheng Ge's voice came abruptly.

Upon hearing this, they stopped dead in their tracks, and for once, they exchanged a glance.