Xiao Jinyu rested his only conscious head against Chu Chu's warm embrace, lingering as he breathed in her faint herbal scent. After a long moment, he whispered softly, "Be good... go back..."
He expected her to cling to him and burst into tears, but instead, Chu Chu pursed her lips and smiled. "Wang Ye, I have something to tell you. Once you hear it, you won't want me to leave."
Xiao Jinyu froze, struggling to lift his gaze to look at her.
Chu Chu took one of Xiao Jinyu's hands and gently placed it on her soft, warm abdomen. "Wang Ye, we're going to have a child."
Xiao Jinyu stared at her blankly, not processing her words immediately.
"When I heard you were thrown into the Heavenly Prison, I was so distraught I fainted. When I woke up, Grand Tutor Xue said I was pregnant." Chu Chu gazed delightedly at the stunned Xiao Jinyu. "Grand Tutor Xue said it's only been a month... It might have happened on our wedding night!"
Xiao Jinyu stared dazedly at Chu Chu's still-flat stomach until sensation returned to his fingers and he felt the warmth beneath his palm. His voice trembled slightly as he said, "Chu Chu..."
"Hmm?"
"You... bite me..."
"Ah?" Chu Chu blinked in confusion. "Where?"
"Anywhere..."
Chu Chu's eyes roamed over Xiao Jinyu's body from head to toe before settling on a particular area below his waist. She licked her lips.
"Never mind..."
Seeing Xiao Jinyu's sudden panic, Chu Chu burst out laughing, her merriment bringing color to his deathly pale face. She gently bit his lips. "Do you believe me now?"
Xiao Jinyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Chu Chu..."
"Wang Ye," Chu Chu looked at him with red-rimmed eyes and a smiling mouth, "are you happy?"
Xiao Jinyu nodded vigorously, gazing at her raptly. "Thank you..."
Chu Chu smiled sweetly. "I should thank you too!"
Xiao Jinyu stroked Chu Chu's abdomen with his still-stiff fingers for a long while before frowning slightly. "Chu Chu, you should go back... This place... isn't good..."
Chu Chu stubbornly burrowed into Xiao Jinyu's embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'll only leave if you can throw me out."
Xiao Jinyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, gently rubbing his stubbled chin against the top of her head. "Be good..."
"Your voice is too soft, I can't hear you!"
"Chu Chu..."
"There's a fly buzzing around... how annoying!"
Xiao Jinyu was both exasperated and amused. "If I'm so annoying, why are you holding me so tightly?"
"You said you couldn't feel anything!"
"I can now..."
"Then I'll hold you even tighter!"
"..."
Just as Xiao Jinyu raised his arm to stroke Chu Chu's back, two dry coughs came from the cell entrance. Xiao Jinyu's body stiffened, and he used all his strength to pull Chu Chu tightly against his chest before turning to glare coldly at the grim iron-barred door.
If Tan Zhang dared to touch even a single hair on her head, he would make sure Tan Zhang didn't live through the day, even if it cost him his own life.
When he saw the face behind the iron bars, Xiao Jinyu froze.
Xue Rucheng stood at the entrance, leisurely stroking his beard. "Wang Ye, Imperial Concubine... shall I let you embrace a while longer, or will you come out now and make room for this old man?"
The moment Chu Chu heard "come out," she scrambled up. "Wang Ye, we can leave!"
But Xiao Jinyu had caught the latter part of the sentence and stared in astonishment at Xue Rucheng outside the door. "Teacher..."A prison warden of unfamiliar appearance opened the door. Xue Rucheng walked in unhurriedly, examining the cell with keen interest. "Wang Ye, if you're truly counting on that little lecher from the Jing family to overturn your case for you, you'd better prepare to deliver the Imperial Concubine's baby in this very room... I don't believe I've ever taught you how to assist in childbirth."
Xiao Jin Yu's face flushed then paled, supported by Chu Chu as he struggled to sit up. "Teacher... I cannot let you bear the punishment in my place."
"A teacher's negligence reflects poor instruction—this was originally my failing..." Xue Rucheng frowned while casually tracing the aged bloodstains on the wall with his fingers. "Besides, counting on you to get me out is far more realistic than counting on Jing Yi to rescue you... His Majesty has treated me well, permitting me to reside in the finest cell here. This is a rare opportunity—won't you grant me this, Wang Ye?"
Xiao Jin Yu was rendered speechless by Xue Rucheng's words. Before he could form a rebuttal, Xue Rucheng added, "The Imperial Examination Hall matters rest entirely with you now. The examination papers must be graded promptly to avoid delaying the palace examination. Otherwise, you'll be back here before I even get out... and I'll have to relocate again."
"Yes... Thank you, Teacher."
☆ Chapter 101: Crystal Sugar Pork Knuckle (Part 15)
Xue Rucheng's carriage was noticeably countless sizes smaller than Prince An Manor's large carriage—inside, one could only sit upright. The Grand Tutor's coachman helped Chu Chu assist Xiao Jin Yu into the vehicle. Initially, Xiao Jin Yu could barely support himself, but before the carriage had traveled far, he had to lean against Chu Chu's shoulder, his pallid face tinged with hints of blue.
Chu Chu knew his back must be hurting severely. She tried to help him lie against her, but Xiao Jin Yu refused, straining to straighten up as he offered a pale, half-serious smile. "It's nothing... I'm just hungry..."
Chu Chu touched his sunken stomach. "You've barely eaten for three days—of course you're hungry... I'll make you something delicious as soon as we return to the Imperial Examination Hall!"
Xiao Jin Yu suddenly remembered something and lifted his head with effort to look at Chu Chu, noting the faint shadows under her eyes. "Chu Chu... what did you eat in the prison yesterday?"
Chu Chu pressed her lips together and shook her head.
Yesterday morning, upon entering, she had found him wrapped in tattered prison garments lying under the bed, his body so cold he seemed lifeless. Every joint was horrifically swollen, his breathing faint and intermittent. Terrified, Chu Chu had spent the time forcing medicine down his throat and massaging him with medicated wine, working frantically until this morning. Only when his breathing steadied and his pulse grew distinct did she finally relax—the thought of food never once crossing her mind.
At Xiao Jin Yu's question, Chu Chu's stomach answered for her with a loud, rumbling growl.
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