Chu Chu brought him a cup of warm water. Xiao Jin Yu didn’t even bother lifting his hand, taking a sip directly from her hand before shaking his head slightly and closing his eyes.
Having narrowly escaped death in the Heavenly Prison just yesterday, he had been busy all morning today. Though he hadn’t engaged in any strenuous labor, sitting upright for extended periods was pure torment for his lower body, which couldn’t bear weight.
Chu Chu untied his belt, slipped her hand inside his robes, and began gently kneading warmth into his icy, stiff lower back. "Wang Ye, why don’t you lie down on the bed for a while?"
If he lay down now, getting up would be difficult.
Xiao Jin Yu shook his head and managed a faint smile. "It’s alright... Let’s finish organizing things quickly, and I’ll just go to bed early tonight."
Chu Chu pursed her lips, her delicate brows furrowing. "If only our child could solve cases as soon as they’re born..."
Xiao Jin Yu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "That would make them a monster..."
Pouting her rosy lips, her eyes filled with heartache, Chu Chu retorted, "Monster or not, at least they could let you rest... Look how exhausted you are."
Xiao Jin Yu chuckled and gently stroked Chu Chu’s belly. "Once this case is closed... as soon as it’s resolved, I’ll delegate my duties and stay in the residence to help you recuperate."
"I don’t believe you..."
With utmost sincerity, Xiao Jin Yu declared, "I swear to our child."
"If you break your promise, I’ll tell them their father is a big liar... a hundred times a day!"
"Alright..."
Though he had intended to finish work early and rest, Xiao Jin Yu remained buried in stacks of case files until dusk. Just as he finished organizing the documents, a batch of urgent official reports arrived, keeping him busy until late into the night. When he finally lay down, severe stomach pain soon struck. Unwilling to disturb his recently asleep bedmate and lacking the strength to fetch medicine himself, he endured the agony until nearly dawn before drifting into a fitful sleep. When Chu Chu woke him, weariness still clung heavily to his face.
If it weren’t for an extremely urgent matter, Chu Chu would never have had the heart to wake him.
"What’s wrong..."
"Wang Ye, Brother Jing just sent word that the public trial will begin at noon."
Xiao Jin Yu was momentarily stunned. He glanced toward the brightly lit window. "What time is it now?"
"A quarter to noon."
Xiao Jin Yu hurried to sit up, but as he pressed his hand against the bed and exerted force, a sharp pain shot through his wrist, instantly twisting his brows into a knot.
"Wang Ye, what’s wrong?"
Xiao Jin Yu shook his head slightly. His rheumatism hadn’t yet subsided, and he had spent half the day writing—today, he probably wouldn’t even be able to hold a spoon steadily. As for the court record he had mentioned earlier...
"Chu Chu, help me get dressed..."
"Alright."
By the time Xiao Jin Yu had washed up, tidied himself, and changed into his official robes, Wu Jiang was already waiting outside the inner chamber. They proceeded all the way to the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall’s main hall, where ten examiners stood waiting on both sides, before Xiao Jin Yu finally turned to Wu Jiang and said, "For today’s public trial, you will be responsible for recording the proceedings."
Wu Jiang nearly dropped the sword in his hand. "Wang Ye..."
Xiao Jin Yu replied with an air of nonchalance, "It’s been a while since you’ve practiced calligraphy. Don’t let that skilled hand of yours go to waste."
Wu Jiang felt like kneeling and kowtowing three times. "Wang Ye, how could my writing speed possibly keep up with Jing Yi’s mouth...?"
"If your record is satisfactory, it may offset your dereliction of duty."
With a pained expression, Wu Jiang pleaded, "Wang Ye, I’d rather you whip me three hundred times..."Xiao Jinyu cast a meaningful glance. "Your dereliction of duty is the least of your offenses. You have many more transgressions deserving punishment... Better save your strength."
Wu Jiang froze, then followed Xiao Jinyu's deceptively smiling gaze to the sachet hanging from his waist. His face flushed crimson instantly. "Your Highness, it's not... I'll remember! I'll remember!"
"Hmm..."
Chu Chu stared curiously at the small object that had thrown Wu Jiang into such disarray and immediate compliance. "Brother, what is that?"
Blushing furiously, Wu Jiang snatched it off and hastily tucked it into his robe with careful urgency. "It's... nothing..."
Upon entering, Xiao Jinyu discovered ten exam supervisors standing in two rows of five on either side of the judge's bench. Each held a staff, staring blankly ahead without glancing sideways.
Wu Jiang obediently took his seat behind a small desk beside the main bench. Chu Chu wheeled Xiao Jinyu to the premier seat on the left side of the bench, handed him the teacup from the side table, then turned and properly positioned herself by the main door. No sooner had she taken her place than the ten supervisors simultaneously thumped their staffs against the blue stone floor tiles and bellowed in unison, "Awe—Inspiring—!"
Xiao Jinyu's hand jerked, nearly sending the teacup flying.
Before the echoes faded, Jing Yi emerged leisurely from the back hall with hands clasped behind his back. His dark blue official robe embroidered with silver threads lost all dignity against his beaming face.
Sweeping his gaze across the hall, Jing Yi's smile deepened upon seeing Wu Jiang seated at the clerk's position, pen poised and ready for action. "Everyone's present, I see..."
Struggling to avoid looking at Xiao Jinyu's thunderous expression, Jing Yi cleared his throat and narrowed his fox-like eyes, his face wreathed in smiles. "First, this official wishes to thank Prince An for selflessly providing crucial case-solving clues, thank the Imperial Concubine for personally conducting the corpse examination of the deceased in this case, thank General Wu for taking precious time from his busy schedule to record this public trial, and of course thank all supervising officials for willingly overcoming various difficulties to serve as bailiffs in today's court session..." He then turned to Wu Jiang, who was scribbling furiously, and said with utmost courtesy, "General Wu, this official hasn't declared the court in session yet. No need to record these preliminaries."
From across the room, Chu Chu saw Wu Jiang's rapidly moving hand abruptly halt, followed by the sound of a page being torn out and crumpled into a ball.
"Ahem... Well then, it's getting late. Court is now in session!" Jing Yi settled behind the judge's bench, snatched the gavel and slammed it down with a bang. "All corpses present yourselves in court!"
The ten supervisors suddenly felt an eerie chill sweep through the hall.
"Wait... I mean, all corpses are summoned to court!" Jing Yi leaned toward Wu Jiang and whispered, "Cross out the previous sentence. Write this one instead."
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