Xiao Jinyu nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, then looked up and said with an air of nonchalance, "What would I want with your life?"
Ashina Suwu was taken aback, then spread his hands frankly. "I don't know. You Han people always say that."
"Your life is of no use to me... Just remember to pay a thousand taels of gold to Prince An Manor every year."
"...A thousand taels?!"
Xiao Jinyu nodded gently. "Raising a daughter among Han people isn't that simple. Haven't you heard of the term 'thousand-gold young lady'?"
Watching Ashina Suwu's wide-eyed, bristling reaction, Xiao Jinyu said calmly, "If you don't pay, it's fine..."
Ashina Suwu's Han tutor had clearly explained what often follows concessive sentences from well-read Han people—especially someone like Xiao Jinyu, who was both scholarly and official, and full of cunning schemes...
Ashina Suwu hurriedly said, "I'll pay, I'll pay!"
"Good."
Just as Ashina Suwu was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something else. Frowning, he turned back. "Prince An... that Xiao Yi in your mansion, who's as beautiful as a fairy—does she really like women?"
A slight smile touched Xiao Jinyu's lips. "Hmm... she's been married to the woman she loves for several years now."
Ashina Suwu's eyes widened in shock.
Xiao Jinyu continued as if casually, "Their eldest son is about five or six years old now..."
Ashina Suwu stood frozen at the doorway, his mouth agape for a long moment before he finally swallowed hard. "Prince An... Wulan is definitely marrying your son, right..."
Xiao Jinyu frowned slightly and said indifferently, "My son was born with a heart condition, weak and often ill..."
"No problem, no problem! As long as he's male and alive! It's settled then. I'll deliver all the dowry tomorrow—it's settled!"
"......!"
☆ 116 Manhan Banquet (8)
Manhan Banquet (8)...
Xiao Jinyu was genuinely taken aback, caught between laughter and exasperation. "She and Ping'er haven't even met yet..."
"They have! Before I took her to the kitchen, I brought her to see Ping'er. She liked him very much, said he was as beautiful as the moon over the grassland, and even hugged him. Ping'er wasn't scared at all—he even kissed her cheek! Wulan was so happy!"
Xiao Jinyu stared wide-eyed at his sickly son, but the boy's innocent gaze completely deflated his anger. He sighed silently and rubbed his throbbing temples. "Fine..."
This son of his was truly more capable than he had been...
"Chu Chu..." Xiao Jinyu set down the dossier in his hand and leaned weakly against his wheelchair back. "Tomorrow, leave Ping'er and Wulan in Mr. Gu's care for the day. Accompany me to the Xue residence."
"The Xue residence?"
Xiao Jinyu looked at her with a faint, wry smile—she had clearly forgotten the date in her excitement—and pulled out a large, gold-embossed red invitation from the cluttered table piled with document boxes. "Tomorrow is Shi Niang and Grand Tutor Xue's wedding."
"Ah! I almost forgot!"
Xiao Jinyu didn't see where the "almost" came from, but he managed a strained smile. "I've already had Steward Zhao prepare the congratulatory gifts. Just accompany me to deliver them tomorrow..."
"Alright," Chu Chu turned and placed Qing Ping in the cradle. "Then I'll find some nice clothes for Lord Xue. Since his father is getting married, he can't go wearing those dirty clothes."
"No need..." Xiao Jinyu sighed softly. "He might not be willing to go.""Why?" Chu Chu frowned. "How can a son not attend his own father's wedding!"
Hearing her speak so matter-of-factly about something he had never considered in his life, Xiao Jin Yu smiled wryly and nodded. "Then let's prepare first. I'll send someone to ask him tomorrow morning."
"No, tomorrow morning will be too late. He won't even have time to prepare a wedding gift." Chu Chu bent down to pull the blanket higher over Xiao Jin Yu's legs. "You should sleep early. After I find some clothes, I'll deliver them to Lord Xue and tell him about Grand Tutor Xue's wedding."
"Alright..."
Xiao Jin Yu knew exactly how strained the relationship between Xue Ming and Xue Rucheng was. In fact, Xue Ming was distant with everyone. Xiao Jin Yu had never heard of Xue Ming appearing at any joyous or sorrowful occasions. So the moment Chu Chu left, Xiao Jin Yu prepared himself to comfort her upon her return. Yet when she came back with a face full of triumphant smiles, he was at a loss for words for a long moment.
"You... you convinced Xue Ming?"
"Lord Xue isn't at all like you described!" After changing clothes, Chu Chu slipped into the icy cold bedding that Xiao Jin Yu had been trying to warm for hours. She nestled her warm, furnace-like body into his slightly chilly embrace. "When I told him, he agreed to go right away."
"How did you persuade him?"
Chu Chu took Xiao Jin Yu's cold hands and warmed them against her chest. "I didn't say much else. I just told him Grand Tutor Xue is getting married tomorrow to your tenth sister, and he agreed to go."
Xiao Jin Yu nodded gently. Xue Ming's willingness to attend was the best possible outcome for this long-separated father and son. "Thank you..."
"Why are you being so formal with me again!"
Xiao Jin Yu smiled faintly. "I'm thanking you on Xue Ming's behalf."
"He already thanked me."
"Xue Ming expressed gratitude to you?"
"Yes," Chu Chu watched Xiao Jin Yu's slightly furrowed brows. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing... let's sleep. The Xue family steward asked me to go over early tomorrow. There might be matters needing assistance."
"Alright."
Chu Chu was awakened early in the morning by the gentle sound of rain pattering against the eaves. She immediately sat up and looked at Xiao Jin Yu beside her - he was already covered in cold sweat from pain, yet still biting his lips in silence.
Xiao Jin Yu had woken from pain in the latter half of the night. After taking two pills, he had endured until now. Watching Chu Chu hurriedly get out of bed to fetch the medicated wine, he forced a smile. "Don't rush... it's not too painful..."
Every time the weather turned cloudy or rainy, Xiao Jin Yu's rheumatism would flare up without exception, each episode more severe than the last. Two years ago, he could still stand with the help of crutches, but now that was impossible. Chu Chu truly didn't understand how Leng Yan remained calm seeing Xiao Jue so severely injured. As for herself, every time she witnessed Xiao Jin Yu suffering like this, her heart ached so much she wanted to cry, wishing she could drag the person who caused him this torment out of the underworld and slice them to pieces a hundred times over.
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