Chu Chu saw the old man crying so hard he could barely catch his breath, his frail body trembling with each sob. She hurried over to support him, anxiously saying, "Don't cry, please don't cry! How much does this door cost? My... my Wang Ye will compensate you. He's rich, very rich!"
The old man was so taken aback by her words that he stopped crying. Sniffling, he straightened up from his kneeling position and looked at Chu Chu's worried face through tear-filled eyes. "You... who are you?"
Chu Chu smiled sweetly. "I'm your aunt who hasn't officially married into the family yet!"
The old man nearly fainted from shock, choking so hard his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
Xiao Jin Yu's face darkened. "Chu Chu... help Steward Tian up."
"Ah?" Chu Chu stared wide-eyed at the despairing Steward Tian. "Aren't you Wang Ye's eldest nephew from his third brother's family?"
"I wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare..." Steward Tian hurriedly pointed toward the small building behind them. "My Wang Ye is resting inside..."
As Chu Chu helped Steward Tian up, the guards carried Xiao Jin Yu's wheelchair inside. Chu Chu quickly hid beside Xiao Jin Yu, her face flushed, whispering, "Wang Ye, you said there was no one else in his family! Why do you always lie to me!"
He had assumed she meant immediate family members—how was he to know she'd include everyone in her question...
To think she'd imagine such a grown nephew...
Xiao Jin Yu gently pushed her behind him and looked at the terrified Steward Tian. "I came here on personal business and thought I'd visit him."
Steward Tian wiped his tears and sighed, shaking his head. "You've come at the right time..."
Xiao Jin Yu's brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"
Steward Tian shook his head again, sobbing. "What else could it be? Illness, inside and out... Wang Ye has suffered so much. A perfectly healthy man, thrown into the Heavenly Prison just like that... If not for your efforts in clearing his name, he would have lost what little life he had left in there... Since coming to Zizhu County, he's had the main gate locked. The few servants here use the back door, and no one answers no matter who knocks. He just stays indoors all day, staring blankly at the chessboard, doing nothing. It breaks my heart to see... He's been running a fever these past few days but refuses medicine. Keeps saying he should depart soon, that he needs to figure out this chess game quickly..."
When Steward Tian became too choked up to continue, Xiao Jin Yu nodded slightly with a frown. "I'll go see him... Chu Chu, come with me."
"Okay."
When Xiao Jin Yu and Chu Chu entered the room, Xiao Jue was wrapped in a fox fur cloak, leaning against the couch and staring fixedly at the chessboard on the low table beside him. Even when they stood directly in front of him, his gaze never wavered.
Standing beside Xiao Jin Yu, Chu Chu curiously observed this young man who appeared no older than twenty. It wasn't that he was particularly handsome—she had just never seen a living person who could feel so much like a corpse.
Xiao Jin Yu didn't look at the man but instead frowned slightly at the chessboard. This endgame had followed Xiao Jue since his days of triumphant military campaigns north and south. No one had ever solved it, including Xiao Jin Yu.
Xiao Jin Yu said gravely, "There are Imperial Surveillance Agency personnel in Zizhu County."
Xiao Jue showed no reaction.
"Only you would warrant their presence in Zizhu County."
Still no response from Xiao Jue.
"That Surveillance Agency agent has gone missing."
Xiao Jue's eyes remained fixed on the chessboard.
"Let her try."Xiao Jue's gaze shifted, slowly settling on Chu Chu beside Xiao Jin Yu.
Chu Chu had been utterly confused by Xiao Jin Yu's words when suddenly confronted with Xiao Jue's unfathomable stare. She hastily retreated a step behind Xiao Jin Yu.
Xiao Jin Yu calmly watched Xiao Jue. "Since you can't solve it for now, letting her try won't hurt... She might even stumble upon something by chance."
Xiao Jue gave a slight nod.
Chu Chu anxiously tugged at Xiao Jin Yu's sleeve - she had no idea how to play these games!
Xiao Jin Yu replied with detached ease, "No matter. Just play however you like... Just rescue the surrounded white stones."
"So I just need to stop the black stones from surrounding the white ones?"
"Mhm."
Chu Chu glanced at the board densely covered in black and white stones, then at Xiao Jue's ice-cold expression. Gritting her teeth, she stepped forward and lifted her chin. "If I save the white stones, you have to listen properly to Wang Ye."
Xiao Jue nodded again.
Chu Chu blinked. "Just get the white stones out?"
Xiao Jue kept nodding.
Watching Chu Chu scan the board and raise her hand,
Xiao Jue leaned forward slightly, frowning as he focused on the board. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chu Chu's hand not reaching for the stones but grabbing the corner of the board. Before he could react, Chu Chu had flipped it upward with a flourish, sending stones scattering across the floor with a clatter.
Setting down the board, Chu Chu dusted her hands and said cheerfully, "There! All the white stones are out!"
Xiao Jue stood frozen in stunned silence, staring blankly at the scattered stones.
Xiao Jin Yu's lips curved slightly - he'd known this would happen... He'd wanted to flip this board years ago.
After a long daze, Xiao Jue finally managed to stare at Chu Chu and ask, "Who are you..."
His voice was weak, terribly hoarse, ethereal as if drifting from the underworld. Combined with his pale, sunken face, Chu Chu nervously hid behind Xiao Jin Yu again.
"She's your future aunt. I came to marry her, and by the way, to see you..." Xiao Jin Yu glanced at the scattered stones with some satisfaction. "Now that your mind is at ease, focus on recovering... Don't bother with trivial matters." With that, he wheeled himself out.
Chu Chu hurried after him. "Wang Ye, I didn't embarrass you, did I?"
"No."
By the time they returned to the Chu residence, dusk had fallen. The house was brightly lit, and even before entering the courtyard, they could hear the family's animated chatter, with the aroma of dinner wafting into the yard.
Xiao Jin Yu felt an unwarranted warmth in his heart. The cold, heavy gloom brought from the deathly quiet Royal Mansion melted away completely. It was as if he had suddenly shed a suit of iron armor - exhausted yet remarkably light.
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