Watching Chu Chu run out, Jing Yi approached the bedside with an innocent smile plastered on his face, sat cross-legged on the floor, and pulled a stack of papers from his robe, presenting them with both hands to Xiao Jin Yu. "Wang Ye, if I hadn’t served in the Ministry of Rites for half a year, how could I have so easily... quietly borrowed these?"
Xiao Jin Yu closed his eyes. "Leave them on the bedside..."
Jing Yi placed the papers by his pillow, then caught sight of the ghastly marks on his neck and raised an eyebrow. "Wang Ye, did things get physical?"
Xiao Jin Yu frowned and opened his eyes. "...?"
Jing Yi pointed at Xiao Jin Yu’s neck, his expression full of sympathy. "Did the Imperial Concubine scratch you?"
Xiao Jin Yu’s forehead darkened as he shot Jing Yi an unsparing glare.
Jing Yi smiled meaningfully. "I have experience with this—just coax her a bit, and it’ll be fine..."
Xiao Jin Yu glared at him, and Jing Yi immediately switched to a businesslike expression. "Wang Ye, in matters like this, if you’ve done it, you’ve done it; if not, you haven’t. You oversee the nation’s judiciary—you must balance internal and external affairs and remain consistent to earn respect. Besides, our Imperial Concubine is reasonable and good-tempered. If something makes you happy, she’ll surely share your joy. It’s better to lay everything out to avoid misunderstandings. Otherwise, you’ll end up alienated and lose your authority."
Xiao Jin Yu grew increasingly bewildered by his words, a throbbing pain pulsing at his temples. "Speak plainly..."
Jing Yi adopted a grave tone. "Wang Ye, it’s not that I want to meddle in your household affairs... but the woman has brought your son to the Imperial Examination Hall’s entrance. Hiding it any longer isn’t a sustainable solution..."
Not only did Xiao Jin Yu fail to understand, but he grew even more confused. "What woman... son?"
Jing Yi shook his head and sighed. "Wang Ye, there’s really no shame in this—you just need to adjust your mindset... Having a delicate woman and a seven- or eight-year-old boy curse you back and forth at the Imperial Examination Hall’s entrance only worsens the impact..."
"They’re cursing me?"
Jing Yi spread his hands, eyeing Xiao Jin Yu’s pitiful neck. "If Grand Tutor Xue weren’t blocking the way outside, more than one Imperial Concubine might be scratching you by now."
"Who is that woman?"
Jing Yi’s fox-like eyes widened, gazing at Xiao Jin Yu with admiration. "Wang Ye, the boy’s already that old... and you still don’t know who his mother is?"
Only then did Xiao Jin Yu piece together Jing Yi’s convoluted hints, his face instantly turning ashen, veins throbbing prominently on his forehead.
Seeing Xiao Jin Yu’s stormy expression, Jing Yi scrambled up and ducked into the nearest corner, hugging his head. "I-I was just speaking offhand! Of course, whether to acknowledge it is up to you to decide!"
Xiao Jin Yu took a deep breath; in his current state, it was entirely unsuitable to take this person seriously. "I’m asking you... what did the woman curse me for?"
"I only caught a few phrases... ‘heartless,’ ‘cruel,’ ‘deserves to be hacked to pieces,’ ‘how can she and her orphaned child survive’... She said it, not me!"
"What about the boy..."
"He was calling for his father, crying so pitifully..."
"What else did the woman say?""He didn't say much... but he did bring a coffin. Seems he's determined to either succeed or have you become a martyr." Jing Yi looked up, his face full of sympathy as he gazed at Xiao Jin Yu. "Wang Ye, you know your health is poor, yet you still attract attention from such hot-tempered people..."
"Jing Yi...!"
"Here!"
"Get out..."
"Yes!"
"Get out rolling."
"Wang Ye..."
"Make sure no one sees you when you roll out."
"Yes..."
☆ 99 Crystal Sugar Pork Knuckle (Thirteen)
After Chu Chu had settled Granny Qin and Li Rusheng's bodies in the firewood room and returned to take a quick bath, she heard a series of unhurried knocks at the door before she could even reach the inner chamber. Opening the door, she found Xue Rucheng standing there, his aged face so stern that even his wrinkles seemed stretched taut.
Regardless of Xue Rucheng's expression, with the case in complete disarray and Xiao Jin Yu confined to bed rest, Chu Chu felt a surge of warmth at the sight of someone capable arriving. "Greetings, sir!"
"Imperial Concubine," Xue Rucheng inclined his head slightly, "I've come to have a few words with Wang Ye."
"Wang Ye is resting in the inner chamber!"
When Xue Rucheng entered, Xiao Jin Yu was lying with closed eyes, his brow furrowed. Chu Chu called his name twice, but received no response.
Just as Chu Chu leaned closer to check, Xue Rucheng waved her aside and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached under the blanket to check Xiao Jin Yu's pulse when he saw Xiao Jin Yu's lips part slightly, uttering something faint yet urgent.
Xue Rucheng's eyebrows drew together, the space between them darkening slightly. "Wang Ye, this matter requires careful deliberation."
Chu Chu hadn't caught what Xiao Jin Yu said. Seeing Xue Rucheng's grave expression, she quickly asked, "Sir, what did Wang Ye say?"
"Wang Ye said... he only wants to have children with me."
Chu Chu froze for a moment before leaning in to touch Xiao Jin Yu's forehead. The moment her hand met the burning skin, she exclaimed, "Sir, Wang Ye is delirious with fever... please don't take it seriously!"
Xue Rucheng nodded slightly. "One shouldn't interfere in matters outside their jurisdiction."
Though Chu Chu didn't understand the meaning of these words, seeing Xue Rucheng nod, she knew it wasn't anything bad and quickly nodded along repeatedly.
Xue Rucheng carefully withdrew his hand and meticulously tucked the blanket back in place. When he noticed the stack of papers by Xiao Jin Yu's pillow, his brow tightened. Just as he reached for them, Chu Chu snatched them into her own hands, her cheeks slightly flushed as she stuck out her tongue. "I haven't cleaned Wang Ye's room today... When he gets busy, he always throws things everywhere!"
"You work hard, Imperial Concubine..."
Chu Chu hugged the stack of papers to her chest, smiling sweetly. "You work hard too, sir!"
Xue Rucheng rose slowly. "Wang Ye should continue taking the previous prescription. I'll return later to disturb you again... If Wang Ye wakes, please convey that he must resolve this case quickly at all costs, or complications will surely arise."
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