Before Xiao Jin Yu could even open his mouth, Chu Chu had already dashed off with the food box, disappearing from sight.
By the time Chu Chu emerged from the morgue, the sky had already brightened. As she was trying to recall which direction led to Lord Ji’s residence, she spotted the grand carriage of Prince An Manor parked right outside the entrance of the Prefect Magistrate's Office, with one of the two guards standing beside it.
The guard let out a deep sigh of relief upon seeing Chu Chu. "Miss Chu, you’ve finally come out."
Chu Chu stuck out her tongue sheepishly. Had she known the guard was waiting outside to pick her up, she wouldn’t have deliberately lingered inside for so long. "Lord Ji’s wife died tragically. I had to tidy up her body properly—otherwise, how heartbroken would Lord Ji be when he comes to take her home?"
The guard gave a wry smile and lowered his voice slightly. "Miss Chu, have some pity on Wang Ye as well. He’s been waiting for you in the carriage all night."
"Ah?!"
Hadn’t she told him she still had work to finish and that he could go back if he wanted? Why had he waited for her?
Could it be… that she had done something wrong?
The guard opened the carriage door a crack for her. "Please, Miss Chu."
Anxiously, Chu Chu slipped into the carriage and immediately saw Xiao Jin Yu lying half-dressed on the couch. She halted at the doorway, not daring to approach, and silently fidgeted with her fingertips, her head bowed.
Xiao Jin Yu looked terrible—his face was deathly pale, his eyes streaked with crimson threads, and his brow slightly furrowed as he watched Chu Chu quietly. His voice was hoarse and low. "Come here."
"I… I was just tidying up Lord Ji’s wife’s body. I didn’t do anything else…"
"Come here."
Though there was no trace of anger in Xiao Jin Yu’s tone, Chu Chu felt as if she had been caught red-handed in some grave mistake. Reluctantly but obediently, she walked over to him.
"I really didn’t do anything bad! You can ask Lord Tan—I was in the morgue the whole time!"
Xiao Jin Yu had indeed been seething with anger earlier. In a place like this, at such a time, he couldn’t even sleep without feeling the need to stay alert, and this girl had the audacity to run off alone in the dead of night after leaving him with a vague explanation. What if something had happened to her…
But now, seeing her pitiful, aggrieved expression, he couldn’t bring himself to utter a single harsh word. He coughed lightly a few times, his gaze fixed intently on her as he said gravely, "Remember this… from now on, wherever you go or whatever you do, you must explain it to me clearly first."
Seeing that he didn’t seem angry anymore, Chu Chu’s courage returned. Pouting, she asked, "Why?"
"For the sake of your own life."
Chu Chu blinked at Xiao Jin Yu’s stern expression, then pursed her lips. "If I listen to you this once, you have to listen to me once too."
Xiao Jin Yu’s brow furrowed slightly. How dare she try to bargain with him? "Listen to what?"
Chu Chu pointed directly at his belt, speaking earnestly and clearly, "Take off all your clothes."
Xiao Jin Yu froze in shock, instinctively shielding the clasp of his belt. "You… what are you trying to do?"
"I want to dress you."
Xiao Jin Yu felt as if his head had been struck hard—dizzy and aching. "Why?"
Chin raised defiantly, Chu Chu declared, "I’m your wife, so I should be the one to dress you."
Xiao Jin Yu’s face darkened slightly. "That’s unnecessary… I can dress myself."Chu Chu pouted so hard you could hang an oil bottle from her lips. "You were bestowed to me by the Emperor! It's His Majesty who ordered me to serve you! If you won't let me dress you, you're defying the imperial decree! You're a treacherous official!"
For the first time in his life being accused of such a crime, and because of... Xiao Jin Yu couldn't even cry "unjust!" "No..." Watching Chu Chu's lips tremble and her eyes redden, Xiao Jin Yu sighed silently. "Not now..."
Chu Chu kept pouting. "Then tell me, when will it be okay?"
"Tomorrow... when we get up tomorrow morning."
Based on his observations these past days, she usually wouldn't wake up earlier than him.
"Deal!"
Once Xiao Jin Yu agreed, Chu Chu felt the sour, awkward feeling in her heart vanish completely. The moment she entered the Ji residence, she dashed into her room, climbed onto the bed, and fell fast asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.
Xiao Jin Yu was also extremely weary. His fever hadn't subsided, and the pain in his spine remained severe. Sleep was impossible, though he very much wanted to lie down. But when he pushed the door open, he found Ji Dong He in his room. The moment Ji Dong He, who had been sitting at the table, saw him, he rushed forward and knelt before Xiao Jin Yu with a thud.
"I beg Wang Ye to grant me justice!"
Xiao Jin Yu had been escorted in by his guards. Waiting until they withdrew and closed the door, he then said, "Lord Ji, rise and speak..."
Ji Dong He remained kneeling with his head lowered, his back trembling with an intensity that couldn't be ignored. His usually humble voice carried a sob. "Wang Ye, my wife died unjustly... died tragically!"
Xiao Jin Yu frowned slightly and didn't repeat the instruction to rise, instead watching him with detached coolness. "Who does Lord Ji believe is responsible?"
Ji Dong He's body visibly stiffened. He looked up, face full of astonishment. "Hasn't Wang Ye... already captured all the culprits?"
Xiao Jin Yu's eyebrow lifted slightly. "Who said that?"
"Those five butchers... weren't they already arrested by Wang Ye and taken to the Prefect Magistrate's Office? It's spread throughout Shangyuan County..."
Xiao Jin Yu fixed a cold, sharp gaze on Ji Dong He without courtesy. "After years of trying cases, can Lord Ji not distinguish between suspects and convicted murderers?"
Ji Dong He hurriedly bowed his head. "Wang Ye... Wang Ye, please forgive this offense! This official is distraught, confused for a moment..."
Xiao Jin Yu's voice softened slightly. "Rise."
"This official dare not..."
"Rise... If you wish to seek justice for your wife, then take me to see her belongings."
"Yes... yes! This official thanks Wang Ye!"
As Ji Dong He stood up and moved to push the wheelchair, Xiao Jin Yu had already turned it himself, clearing the doorway. "Please lead the way."
"Yes... Wang Ye, please."
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