Xiao Jin Yu was utterly exasperated.
Chu Chu contentedly withdrew the towel, smiling sweetly, "Don’t be afraid, I’ll be gentle and won’t hurt you."
Xiao Jin Yu had no words to describe his current state of frenzy. What on earth was going on in that head of hers...
He couldn’t bring himself to scold her, words would be useless, and he lacked the strength to move. With an almost despairing heart, Xiao Jin Yu closed his eyes. To think he would come to such a day...
Seeing that Xiao Jin Yu was no longer causing trouble, Chu Chu turned to wash the towel in the warm water basin, then carefully began wiping him down again, starting from his neck. She wiped from his slender neck to his delicate collarbones, his clearly defined ribs, the softly curved lines of his waist, his flat abdomen, and then continued downward... still meticulously.
Xiao Jin Yu was going insane. Yes, his legs were useless, his body was terribly weak, but he was still a man—a normal young man just past twenty. How could he endure this? Xiao Jin Yu clearly felt every part of his body that still had sensation burning up. Even with his eyes tightly shut, he knew his face must be flushed crimson. The more he thought about it, the hotter he felt, until he dared not think at all.
Noticing Xiao Jin Yu’s physical reaction, Chu Chu pressed her lips together and smiled at him. "Wang Ye, you’ve deceived me again."
Xiao Jin Yu’s mind was in complete disarray. He couldn’t recall when he had deceived her again, nor did he dare open his eyes to look at her...
Chu Chu continued wiping him gently, giggling as she said, "This is clearly within your capabilities!"
Xiao Jin Yu’s overwhelmed heart nearly stopped.
Only when she finally spared his most vulnerable part and began wiping his numb legs did Xiao Jin Yu slowly let out a breath, slightly opening his eyes to steal a glance at her.
Her movements were light, as if afraid she might break him. The gaze she cast upon his naked body was filled with reverence, like a serene young monk beholding a white jade Buddha statue. Xiao Jin Yu’s nearly halted heart gradually calmed. His weak, exhausted body, treated with such tenderness, was enveloped in a heavy drowsiness mingled with refreshing comfort. With a deep blush on his face, Xiao Jin Yu smiled bitterly to himself and sank back into unconsciousness.
Never mind... sooner or later, everything would be hers...
When he woke again, it was already night. The room was dimly lit by candlelight, and a person sat upright by the tea table across from the bed.
Xiao Jin Yu instinctively touched his body—he was wearing his underwear and covered with a blanket. He let out a soft sigh of relief, but the memory of what had happened earlier still made his heart race and his face flush.
He never knew he could be so easily embarrassed...
The person by the tea table noticed Xiao Jin Yu was awake and quickly stood up. "Wang Ye."
Xiao Jin Yu was slightly startled—it was Wu Jiang’s voice.
His arrival meant something major had happened in the capital.
Xiao Jin Yu struggled several times before managing to sit up on the bed. Wu Jiang stood bowed across from him, waiting until Xiao Jin Yu had settled himself and regulated his breathing before approaching the bedside. "Wang Ye, Xu Ru Gui is dead."
Xiao Jin Yu was slightly taken aback and frowned lightly. "Did he take his own life in prison?"
Wu Jiang nodded.
Xiao Jin Yu shook his head. "If he wanted to kill himself, he would have done it earlier. There was no reason to wait these extra days..."
"I have already tasked trusted individuals to investigate discreetly."
Xiao Jin Yu nodded gently, lost in thought."Wang Ye..." Wu Jiang retrieved a small cloth bundle from his person and presented it with both hands to Xiao Jin Yu, "This humble official has another important matter."
Xiao Jin Yu frowned as he unfolded the cloth bundle, then froze momentarily before his expression softened into a warm smile.
The bundle contained twenty to thirty neatly stacked crimson cards, each bearing a large gilded character for longevity.
"This humble official represents all officers of Prince An Manor in offering birthday wishes to Wang Ye, praying for your happiness, longevity, and good health."
Today was the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month. Tomorrow would be the fifth - his birthday. He had forgotten it himself...
A warmth spread through Xiao Jin Yu's heart. "Please rise quickly..."
As Wu Jiang stood up, he looked at the stack of cards and smiled. "These were all delivered by fast horse from various regions along with birthday gifts. Considering the excessive number of gifts would be inconvenient for Wang Ye to carry, I brought only the cards first."
"You've all been so thoughtful..."
Xiao Jin Yu carefully held these tokens of regard from his subordinates, opening each one to read the congratulatory messages written in familiar handwriting. The expression on his face gradually shifted from a gentle smile to one of bemused exasperation.
While these were birthday cards, not all the messages contained birthday wishes.
As he opened them one by one, his eyes were filled with wishes for "eternal marital bliss" and "early arrival of heirs."
Jing Yi had taken the easiest approach - he hadn't written a single word, instead pasting a vividly explicit spring palace painting inside.
In just a few days, even those handling cases in the northern deserts and southern regions had found out. These rascals certainly didn't waste Prince An Manor's intelligence network...
Noticing Xiao Jin Yu was nearly finished reading the cards, Wu Jiang murmured in complaint, "Of all these people, only Tang Yan is missing."
Remembering the Jianghu swordsman he had persuaded to join his ranks years ago to handle confidential cases, Xiao Jin Yu smiled faintly. That was a man of the martial world who couldn't even remember his own birthday - why would he bother remembering anyone else's? Just as he was about to offer some excuses for Tang Yan, a hoarse, displeased voice sounded from outside the door.
"Speaking ill of others behind their backs - aren't you afraid of twisting your tongue?"
Wu Jiang smiled wryly and made a hurried bow to Xiao Jin Yu. "Last time we sparred, I knocked his belt off. He's still holding a grudge. This humble official must flee for his life... Wang Ye, take care." With that, his figure flashed as he leaped out through the window.
Almost simultaneously, the person outside the door flashed into the room, holding an ancient sword in one hand and an exquisite food box in the other. He floated to the front of Xiao Jin Yu's bed and knelt. "Tang Yan pays respects to Wang Ye."
☆、24 Sweet and Sour Ribs (Four)
Just as Xiao Jin Yu was about to send Tang Yan to find her, Chu Chu arrived at his door carrying a small bowl.
"This is Tang Yan, who handles cases for Prince An Manor. There's a corpse that requires your assistance in examination."
Tang Yan's eyebrows lifted slightly. This was his first time seeing the Prince with flushed cheeks, and directed at a young girl who resembled an unopened flower bud. How interesting.
"Greetings, Lord Tang!"
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