Xiao Jin Yu gave a slight nod.
Chu Chu’s face flushed even hotter. "That was all just luck, not real skill."
The Emperor laughed aloud. Jing Yi was right—this girl was no ordinary person. "I don’t care about that. You’ve done a service, so I must reward you. Tell me what you want."
This time, it was Chu Chu’s turn to be taken aback. "Anything I want?"
The Emperor nodded readily. "Anything."
Given her bold feat of exchanging a five hundred tael silver note for copper coins, he had no reason to hesitate.
Chu Chu pursed her lips, her eyes darting around before finally settling on Xiao Jin Yu. "Then... can I have Wang Ye reward me instead?"
The Emperor was startled and glanced at Xiao Jin Yu, who nodded. "As long as it’s within my capabilities."
The Emperor quickly added, "If the Seventh Imperial Uncle can’t grant it, I will reward you myself."
A girl as pure and innocent as her—so rare even in the entire capital, let alone the palace—rewarding her was no longer just a request from Xiao Jin Yu. It was purely because he wanted to.
Not only did he want to, but he was also curious. What exactly did she want, and why did she insist on having Xiao Jin Yu reward her?
Chu Chu continued to look at Xiao Jin Yu. "Can I ask a few questions first?"
Xiao Jin Yu nodded. "Go ahead."
"When is your birthday?"
Xiao Jin Yu was taken aback, unsure why she was asking, but he answered earnestly nonetheless. "The fifth day of the twelfth month... in the twenty-sixth year of the Zhidao era."
Chu Chu counted on her fingers. "So you’re twenty-two now?"
Xiao Jin Yu nodded.
"Have you ever done anything wicked or against your conscience?"
Xiao Jin Yu frowned, lost in thought for a long moment before shaking his head. "Probably... not."
The Emperor couldn’t resist adding, "Truly, he hasn’t."
"Then... have you ever slept with a woman?" She quickly clarified, "I mean, the way a married couple sleeps."
Xiao Jin Yu’s face turned pale, then green, then red. He silently tightened his grip on the armrests of his wheelchair.
He had just returned from the brink of death, and even the strongest mental fortitude was being pushed to its limits by her. What kind of random, nonsensical questions were these? What on earth did she want?!
Xiao Jin Yu remained silent, so the Emperor impatiently answered for him, stating firmly, "I guarantee you, he absolutely has not."
He had been paying attention to this matter for years—more closely than he monitored the border wars...
Ignoring the icy, murderous glare Xiao Jin Yu shot his way, the Emperor urged Chu Chu, "Just tell us, what do you want?"
Chu Chu bit her lip, her sparkling eyes fixed on Xiao Jin Yu. "I want Wang Ye..."
☆、20 Jujube Ginger Soup (Twenty)
She wanted Wang Ye... to do what?
Xiao Jin Yu and the Emperor waited quietly for her to continue. After a long silence, the Emperor couldn’t resist asking, "What do you want Wang Ye to do?"
"He doesn’t need to do anything..." Chu Chu lowered her head, fiddling with her fingertips. "Just... whatever other men do, he can do too..."
The two men realized almost simultaneously that they had overthought it.
She didn’t want Wang Ye to do anything—she wanted Wang Ye himself!
The Emperor, afraid he might still be misunderstanding, asked, "Do you want to marry Wang Ye?"
Chu Chu answered clearly and precisely, "Your Majesty, that is correct."
Xiao Jin Yu nearly fainted. He had assumed she would ask for money or a position—both of which would have been simple matters for him, and he would have given her as much as she wanted.He would never have imagined that this little girl would actually open her mouth and ask for him—him!
Xiao Jin Yu stared at her for a long time, and finally, from her earnest and sincere expression, confirmed that she genuinely wanted him...
The Emperor wanted to laugh, to lean over the table and roar with laughter while slapping it, but looking at Xiao Jin Yu's face and his expression, he thought it better not to laugh. To avoid bursting into laughter the moment he opened his mouth, he gritted his teeth and remained silent.
At this point, Xiao Jin Yu could no longer care about imperial dignity or keeping his word. He steeled himself and turned his face ashen. "This is not acceptable."
Chu Chu pouted, staring at this man who went back on his word.
Didn't he say anything within his capabilities would be fine?
Her gaze traveled from Xiao Jin Yu's tense upper body down to his legs, which rested uselessly in the wheelchair. Suddenly seeming to understand something, she stared at a certain area below him and bit her fingernail. "Is this... not within your capabilities?"
Xiao Jin Yu's face turned a kaleidoscope of colors while ten thousand horses galloped through his heart.
Chu Chu hurriedly added, "That's alright, I don't mind."
Xiao Jin Yu's face darkened completely.
The Emperor covered a coughing fit to hide the fact that he was about to laugh hysterically. In all these years, this was the first time he had seen the Seventh Imperial Uncle being cornered like this—and by a little girl at that. This was too much, if he held it in any longer he'd need to summon the imperial physician...
To ensure he could still attend court alive tomorrow morning, the Emperor decided he couldn't let Chu Chu continue speaking. Clearing his throat and struggling to maintain a straight face, he said seriously to Xiao Jin Yu, "Seventh Imperial Uncle, I know you have no intention of taking a consort, which is why I've never pressed you on this matter. But for years, you and the other ministers have taught me that an emperor must keep his word. You see, both you and I have already agreed... Moreover, Miss Chu has spoken to this extent..."
The Emperor nearly lost his composure, quickly turning away from Xiao Jin Yu's inhuman expression to smile at Chu Chu. "I will have someone calculate an auspicious date upon returning to the palace and immediately issue an edict for the marriage. Miss Chu, would that be acceptable?"
"Thank you for Your Majesty's reward!"
Xiao Jin Yu, his face dark, closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily. His dear nephew had just given him away as a reward... given him away...
While Xiao Jin Yu was still wondering why he had bothered returning from the underworld earlier, he heard Chu Chu's clear, bright voice say, "No need to trouble Your Majesty to find someone to calculate the date! Before I came to the capital, I heard from Shen Ban Xian in our town that next year is a leap year, and the eighth day of the second month is the most auspicious day. Many families in our county have chosen this day for weddings—it can't be wrong!"
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