"This... both physicians said they examine the living, matters concerning the dead..." Steward Zhao looked up with a pained expression at Chu Chu, "Wang Ye, should we summon a coroner, or trouble the Imperial Concubine to take a look?"
Only then did Chu Chu recall what Xiao Jin Yu had said in the study last night, suddenly understanding something. She rose from the bedside, "Wang Ye, I should go."
Xiao Jin Yu tightly grasped her hand, gazing deeply at this suddenly enlightened person, "Be extremely careful... If he died of some contagious disease, you must dispose of the body immediately. It absolutely cannot remain in the Royal Mansion."
Chu Chu winked at Xiao Jin Yu, "I've examined many plague victims before, you can rest assured!"
When Chu Chu returned, Xiao Jin Yu was leaning against the headboard as if resting with his eyes closed. Chu Chu tiptoed over and secretly kissed his cheek.
Opening his eyes to see Chu Chu looking fresh after bathing, Xiao Jin Yu was momentarily stunned. He reached up to touch her still-damp hair, "Mu Yao, he..."
Chu Chu smiled mysteriously, leaning close to whisper in Xiao Jin Yu's ear, "To deceive people, of course we must deceive from head to toe."
Xiao Jin Yu chuckled softly, "So you've truly grown more cunning..."
Chu Chu hadn't yet recovered from the thrill of putting on an act before so many people. Just mentioning it made her cheeks flush pink, "Wang Ye, you should have seen it - when I said it was the plague, the cooks' faces turned green, and Steward Zhao was so frightened he nearly collapsed... I had them take Mu Yao to the outskirts to be burned in the wilderness, along with his bedding and belongings. Is that acceptable?"
Xiao Jin Yu nodded with a smile, "Very good."
"But Wang Ye... why did you make Mu Yao pretend to be dead?"
Xiao Jin Yu was slightly taken aback, "You could tell he was pretending?"
Chu Chu looked indignant but shook her head, "I couldn't tell, but I know you would never let an innocent person die."
Xiao Jin Yu gave a faint, bitter smile, "He took medicine prepared by Master Ye... When the living are useless, we must rely on the dead."
"That's right!" Chu Chu suddenly sat upright, slapping her forehead, "I almost forgot! Steward Zhao asked me to tell you that Xue Ming has come and wishes to see you."
Xiao Jin Yu frowned slightly, "Alright... have someone inform Steward Zhao to have Xue Ming wait for me in the study."
"Okay."
As soon as Chu Chu accompanied Xiao Jin Yu to the study, she noticed Xue Ming's face was frighteningly pale and couldn't help asking, "Lord Xue, are you alright?"
Xue Ming replied coldly and stiffly, "I won't die."
Xiao Jin Yu moved to shield Chu Chu behind him, looking calmly at Xue Ming, "What is it?"
"I came to ask you - what did he mean by suddenly telling me to come visit your home?"
Chu Chu was momentarily confused, but Xiao Jin Yu understood immediately, his brow furrowing slightly, "On the way to the Xue residence, I asked you why you suddenly agreed to congratulate Grand Tutor Xue, and you said because he's your father... Now I ask you again, why did you agree to offer congratulations?""Because that's my father..." Xue Ming snorted coldly, silently clenching his fists behind his back. Gnashing his teeth, he forced out each word slowly, "I know how my mother was tormented to death by him. He's already tormented three women to death. I can't just watch him torment another one to death."
Xiao Jin Yu stiffened, staring at the furious Xue Ming in astonishment. However, Chu Chu was somewhat confused by the term Xue Ming used. "Tormented?"
"However the Imperial Concubine wishes to interpret it... Anyway, when my mother was still breathing, half her body had already rotted away... I accidentally witnessed it myself. He only found out yesterday that I've known about this all along, and had me tied up until this morning."
Chu Chu gasped sharply. Xiao Jin Yu secretly tightened his grip on the wheelchair's armrests, frowning deeply as he looked at Xue Ming, his voice remaining as steady as ever. "Your conflicts with officials in the capital, forcing him to petition to send you to Liangzhou - was that to escape from him?"
"What else could I do if I didn't escape? Serve him like Xue Qin does? If Third Brother knew how his mother died, he wouldn't be licking that person's stinky feet either!"
At the thought of Shi Niang falling into such a person's hands, Chu Chu's face turned pale. "Wang Ye..."
"Xue Ming," Xiao Jin Yu slowly released his tight grip on the armrests, "He sent you here precisely to tell me about your mother's story... I need you to return to the Xue residence to find someone."
"Who?"
"An eighteen-year-old girl, surnamed Qi, with the given name Lian. Others might call her Xiao Lian or similar."
Xue Ming nearly slammed the table and cursed. "Do you know how many girls of that age with that kind of name have been added to the household because of the wedding celebrations?"
"She should be mixed in with those temporarily hired maids, likely working in places where the Xue family members don't usually go, doing tasks that don't require conversation with others... If you find her, my chances of bringing Grand Tutor Xue to justice will increase by half."
Xue Ming raised an eyebrow. "Just half?"
Suddenly, a voice full of cold laughter came through the window. "Half is not insignificant." Before the voice faded, the window suddenly swung open and Ashina Suwu's wolf-like robust body landed as lightly as a swallow. He casually closed the window behind him, glanced at Xiao Jin Yu who clearly disapproved of his entrance method, and shrugged. "Since becoming the Great Khan, I've disliked waiting for announcements at the door... Does Prince An need something from me?"
"Yes..." Xiao Jin Yu looked toward Xue Ming, who had quickly retreated five steps away from Ashina Suwu. "After Xue Ming finds that girl, I'd like to ask the Great Khan to help bring her back from the Xue residence for me."
Ashina Suwu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Has your Royal Mansion run out of people?"
Xiao Jin Yu replied with casual ease, "There are people, but none are as useful as the Great Khan at this moment."
Ashina Suwu seriously contemplated Xiao Jin Yu's words for a moment. "Fine, I'm idle anyway. Consider it my way of helping my girl curry favor with her in-laws. I'll send a visiting card to Grand Tutor Xue right away and go to the Xue residence tonight to ask for some wedding candy."
"Thank you, Great Khan." Xiao Jin Yu glanced again at Xue Ming, who was staring at Ashina Suwu with a pale face. "Xue Ming is just a scholar - I entrust him to your care, Great Khan."
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