The Emperor glanced at him briefly, then asked, "Are Courtier Zhou and Courtier Wang on bad terms?"
Doesn't the entire court know about their discord?
Zhou Man's brief delay entering the palace gate was due to Wang Ji's impeachment. Later, when Wang Ji beat his nephew leading to an incident, it was Zhou Man who saved him. Because of Wang Rong's scandal, Wang Ji not only was estranged from his family, but his reputation also suffered significantly. How could they possibly get along?
However, such matters known to all are silently acknowledged and never spoken aloud. Wang Ji, upon being questioned, realized he had made a misstep. Cold sweat broke on his forehead, yet he insisted, "Your Majesty, traditionally, physicians begin as apprentices. During their apprenticeship, we have never heard them needing to pay any fees. It shows that the training costs are not as high as Zhou Man claims."
