Xiao Jin Yu’s body felt like it was about to melt from the heat, yet he vividly remembered the tasks he had assigned just before returning. He had specifically instructed that once they were completed, the reports should be delivered directly to his tent without any prior announcement. Now, with the last shred of his rationality, he forced himself not to embrace her, fearing that even the slightest touch of her lovely form would ignite an insatiable greed for more...
“Chu Chu… we can’t… not now…”
To make matters worse, Chu Chu’s soft, warm hand slipped under the covers, reaching for the burning heat between his legs. Xiao Jin Yu shuddered violently, nearly crying out in shock.
Chu Chu released the bright red fruit she had been teasing and lifted her head, grinning playfully at Xiao Jin Yu, who was now as flushed as Braised Prawns in Brown Sauce. “Liar, it’s already ready…”
Xiao Jin Yu was on the verge of tears, frozen in place, utterly helpless. He could only gaze at her pitifully, hoping to evoke her sympathy so she might mercifully spare him. “Chu Chu…”
But Xiao Jin Yu was completely unaware that his dazed, pleading eyes, slightly parted lips, and ragged breaths painted a perfect picture of someone utterly captivated and intoxicated with desire.
Encouraged by his expression, Chu Chu naturally lifted the blanket and reached to strip off his clothes. Startled, Xiao Jin Yu grabbed her hand. “If you keep messing around…”
The first half of his sentence was full of authority, but it trailed off abruptly. Even with his mind clouded by fever, he couldn’t bring himself to speak harshly to her.
Chu Chu, however, blinked her sparkling eyes fearlessly, melting away any trace of his temper. His voice softened involuntarily. “Stop fooling around…”
Xiao Jin Yu immediately regretted his words. Framed by his ragged, uneven breaths, what was meant as a simple warning sounded more like a coquettish plea, even to his own ears, dripping with reluctant desire… He was so embarrassed he wished he could bite his tongue off.
“Chu Chu…” Xiao Jin Yu thought quickly in his panic. “My… my stomach hurts…”
“Huh?”
“Stomach… it really hurts…”
Chu Chu licked her lips. “Then lie down, and I’ll rub it for you.”
The moment Xiao Jin Yu lay down, he regretted it again. Her small hand slipped under his clothes, pressing against his feverish skin with a gentle, rhythmic massage. It was bad enough without the rubbing—now, with her touch, the last remnants of his rationality shattered completely. Resigned, he pulled Chu Chu into his arms and greedily captured her soft, red lips in a desperate kiss.
As Xiao Jin Yu eagerly sought more of her, Chu Chu giggled. “Wang Ye, is your stomach better now?”
“Shut up…”
“Mmm…”
Only when both were exhausted, wrapped in the blankets, did Chu Chu nestle softly into Xiao Jin Yu’s sweat-dampened embrace. She gently nibbled and kissed his lips, which still carried a faint trace of wine, imagining the slight frown he had worn while downing those three cups. Her heart ached with tenderness, and she held him tighter.
“Wang Ye… I believe in you.”
Xiao Jin Yu stroked her slender back gently. “Hmm?”
“Don’t be sad. I’m sure you’ll catch the murderer and avenge Grand Tutor Xue’s son.”
Xiao Jin Yu offered a faint, bitter smile. “Hmm…”Before anyone could speak, the tent flap suddenly swung open. A livid young man strode in with two middle-aged men in tow. "Catching the murderer? I must say, I'm truly getting an education. So the renowned Prince An catches criminals while lying in bed embracing a woman!" He sat down at the table opposite the bed, fiery eyes fixed on the two figures wrapped in blankets. "Go on then! Catch the murderer! I'll watch!"
Chu Chu was startled by the sudden intrusion and instinctively shrank closer to Xiao Jin Yu's embrace. But upon hearing these barbed words, she immediately grew restless. Held firmly around the waist by Xiao Jin Yu, she couldn't move. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, she heard Xiao Jin Yu's calm, steady voice: "Lord Xue, please wait outside the tent. I shall discuss matters with you after changing clothes."
The young man sneered, "Change clothes? What exactly is left for Prince An to change?"
"Lord Xue..."
The young man cast a cold glance at Chu Chu, who was glaring fiercely back at him. "Prince An, has this wild girl addled your brains?"
Xiao Jin Yu's expression darkened. "Guards." The guards outside immediately entered. Xiao Jin Yu looked sharply at the man, his tone cool and detached. "Escort Lord Xue outside to wait."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Before the guards could approach, the young man snorted coldly, stood up, and stormed out with the two middle-aged men, sleeves fluttering in anger.
"Dismissed..."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Xiao Jin Yu closed his eyes with a slight frown. Chu Chu watched his pale face anxiously, gently stroking his slightly heaving chest. "Your Highness, don't be angry..."
"I'm sorry, I won't let people barge in like that again..."
"Your Highness... that Lord Xue, is he the Grand Tutor Xue's son who serves as a prefect?"
Xiao Jin Yu nodded faintly. "Yes... Liangzhou Prefect, Xue Ming."
"You're a prince, higher ranked than a prefect. Since he spoke to you like that, can't he be punished?"
Xiao Jin Yu sighed silently, propping himself up slowly to sit. "He's just drunk... I have business to attend to. Please help me complete the corpse manifest in the tent."
Remembering Xue Ming's earlier ferocious expression, Chu Chu wrapped her arms around Xiao Jin Yu's waist. "Your Highness, can I go with you?"
"No... this is official business."
"I'm your coroner! I can help with official matters!"
Xiao Jin Yu smiled faintly and kissed the top of her head. "You're my wife... Please make me a bowl of congee. I didn't get to eat earlier and I'm hungry now."
Chu Chu pressed her lips together. "Alright... How about pumpkin and millet congee? It's good for the stomach."
"Good."
"It's still snowing outside. Wear more layers."
"Mmm..."
By the time the guards brought Xiao Jin Yu back, the sky had darkened and the snowstorm had eased. The world outside was blanketed in white, but not as pale as Xiao Jin Yu's face.
"Your Highness, you're back!"
Xiao Jin Yu seemed utterly exhausted, leaning weakly in his wheelchair, managing only a faint upward twitch of his lips.
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