"……"
The first thing Chu Chu did upon returning to her room was to dump both bags of copper coins she'd received onto the bed, counting them meticulously one by one.
The Prince was truly generous - six hundred coins just for a corpse examination! It felt like a dream!
If only he were the head of Six Doors!
He certainly had the imposing aura for it, and his fair, handsome features lived up to the title "Jade-Faced Judge." But he was confined to a wheelchair, appearing frail and delicate, always frowning over official documents wherever he went. He didn't even personally examine the body when investigating a murder case. At best, he could be considered a kind-hearted official, far from the keen-eyed, sharp-minded leader of Six Doors!
After counting the money - exactly six hundred coins, not one more or less - Chu Chu asked As Returning Pavilion's staff for some hemp string and carefully strung the coins in sets of ten. She then stored them back in the two money pouches and tucked them securely under her pillow.
By the time she finished all this, night had completely fallen.
There was half a bundle of hemp string left. Though not valuable, she had promised to return any unused portion and couldn't go back on her word. Just as she picked up the remaining string to leave, Xiao Jin Yu's guard came looking for her.
"Miss Chu, Wang Ye requests your presence."
"Another corpse examination?"
"You'll know when you get there, Miss Chu."
Chu Chu thought whatever Xiao Jin Yu wanted must either be a corpse examination or at least related to the case investigation. She never expected it to be something completely unrelated.
Chu Chu looked at Xiao Jin Yu with skepticism, "Just a meal?"
Xiao Jin Yu corrected her, "Not just eating. You'll be acting as my maid, accompanying me for a meal."
Chu Chu didn't see the difference, "Isn't it still eating then?"
Xiao Jin Yu frowned slightly, "As a maid, serving during the meal. Don't you understand?"
Chu Chu's face suddenly showed understanding, "Oh, you mean feeding someone!"
"No..." Before she could speculate further and potentially cause trouble tonight, Xiao Jin Yu coughed twice with a stern expression, saying gravely, "You only need to stand by my side. Remember - don't touch any food or drink on the table later. If I signal you to move, just go through the motions but never actually consume anything, or you'll be in danger."
Seeing Chu Chu's frightened expression, Xiao Jin Yu's expression softened slightly. He took out a small bottle from his robe, "Keep this for me. Remind me to take medicine as soon as we're seated - two pills. Otherwise, I'll be in great danger."
Instead of taking the bottle, Chu Chu took a step back.
"Is... someone trying to harm you?"
"Not clear yet."
"Why... why don't you have the guard go with you?"
"He's handling other matters."
"Then... what about Brother Jing?"
"Also handling matters."
Chu Chu bit her lip, looking down at her fingertips.
Xiao Jin Yu said calmly, "It's fine if you don't want to go. You'll still be paid."
Hearing this, Chu Chu frowned at Xiao Jin Yu, "If I don't go, will you go alone?"
Xiao Jin Yu nodded.
Clenching her teeth, Chu Chu took the bottle from Xiao Jin Yu's hand, "Then I'd better go with you. I may not know martial arts, but if something really happens, it's better than you going alone."
Xiao Jin Yu smiled faintly, "Thank you."
Xu Ru Gui paused slightly when he saw Xiao Jin Yu being wheeled in by Chu Chu.
"Wang Ye."Xiao Jinyu leaned back in his chair and coughed twice. "A minor ailment, but the physician at my residence made a fuss, insisting someone must stay by my side... Just a little maid. If Manager Xu finds it inconvenient..."
"Not at all, not at all... Your Highness, please take the seat of honor."
As soon as Chu Chu pushed Xiao Jinyu's wheelchair to the table, she quickly retrieved a small bottle from her person, shaking two pills into her palm. "Your Highness, it's time for your medicine."
Xiao Jinyu's brow furrowed slightly. "What medicine..."
Chu Chu was taken aback—what kind of memory did this man have? "Didn't you say you needed to take medicine now?"
Instead of accepting it, Xiao Jinyu darkened his expression and chided in a low voice, "How can I drink after taking medicine? Such impropriety..."
Chu Chu grew anxious. "You said it yourself—it's dangerous if you don't take your medicine!"
"Enough..." Only then did Xiao Jinyu take the medicine from Chu Chu's hand with a stern face and swallow it. He looked up at Xu Rugui with a faint, wry smile. "My maid is unruly. I apologize for the embarrassment, Manager Xu."
Xu Rugui quietly pushed the two freshly poured cups of wine to an inconspicuous corner. As he poured a cup of tea and presented it to Xiao Jinyu, he responded with polite courtesy, "You flatter me, Your Highness. It is no trouble at all..."
Xiao Jinyu turned to Chu Chu, who wore a visibly aggrieved expression, and said sternly, "Manager Xu has spent half the day running around to help you exchange money. Shouldn't you offer him a toast to express your gratitude?"
This man changed his tune every moment. Chu Chu initially wanted to ignore him, but suddenly recalling his earlier warning, she remembered the lurking dangers. Hastily, she grabbed the cup of wine that Xu Rugui had just pushed aside. "Chu Chu thanks Manager Xu!"
Without delay, Xu Rugui picked up the other cup. "It is merely my duty. You are too kind, Miss Chu."
While Xu Rugui raised his sleeve to cover his face and tilted his head back to drink, Chu Chu deftly poured her wine under the table. She mimicked the motion of drinking from the empty cup, even wiping her mouth afterward, and imitated the elders in her town by showing Xu Rugui the empty cup. "Manager Xu, you have a remarkable capacity for drink!"
Xu Rugui was taken aback and silently glanced down at the small cup in his hand, which held only a sip.
This girl must have never seen the sea...
Xiao Jinyu covered his mouth and coughed lightly a few times, then lifted the celadon teacup before him and took a small sip. He spoke unhurriedly, "Rumor has it that Manager Xu never hosts or accompanies guests. Breaking precedent today—is there a particular reason?"
Xu Rugui shifted his gaze from the wine cup to Xiao Jinyu's face with a trace of astonishment. Seeing Xiao Jinyu watching him impassively, Xu Rugui quickly composed himself and offered a humble smile. "I have also heard that the Seventh Prince rarely accepts invitations to banquets. May I ask why Your Highness has graced us with your presence today?"
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