Xiao Jin Yu's brow furrowed imperceptibly.
"Very well, very well..." Doctor Qin deftly slung his medicine chest over his shoulder and cupped his hands toward Xiao Jin Yu. "My apologies, Master An."
"Please carry on."
Steward Tian followed Doctor Qin out, pausing briefly to bow hastily toward Xiao Jin Yu. With a nod from Xiao Jin Yu, the steward stumbled out the door in pursuit.
When Chu Chu entered from the rear carrying two jars of wine, she found only Xiao Jin Yu in the hall, lightly frowning.
Chu Chu glanced around - the small room offered no hiding places. "Where's Uncle Qin?"
"He went out on a house call," Xiao Jin Yu said casually, taking out some silver fragments and placing them beside the inkstone on the desk. "We'll leave the payment here for him. Let's go to the county office."
"I can go to the county office by myself! You should go home and rest properly."
"I need to discuss some matters with Jing Yi."
"Well... the county office is quite far. You hold the wine jars, and I'll push your wheelchair."
"Alright."
Jing Yi rushed into the main hall with a sleep-deprived scowl, silently cursing whoever had been endlessly beating the drum early on New Year's Eve morning and disturbing his peaceful dreams. But one glance at the figure below the dais wiped all sleepiness from his eyes.
"Ahem... court dismissed!"
The clerk froze, then cautiously approached to whisper, "Lord Jing, we're supposed to be opening court..."
"Open court!"
"Main... tain order..."
"Court dismissed!"
"..."
Only after all the bailiffs had retreated in confusion did Jing Yi look down at Xiao Jin Yu's completely unruffled expression below. His smile resembled a grimace. "Your Highness, what's all this about now...?"
Xiao Jin Yu carefully surveyed the hall. "Nothing much... I originally wanted to see how Zheng Youde conducts trials. Why are you here?"
Jing Yi slumped over the judge's bench, yawning. "Zheng Youde took his wife back to his hometown to worship his ancestors... I thought it was another case of two old women fighting over a rooster. Figured I'd handle the court session for him since he'd just have the cook stew the bird anyway. Starting earlier would mean it's cooked sooner, won't delay the New Year's Eve feast..."
Xiao Jin Yu only understood the first part clearly, frowning slightly. "Worshipping ancestors on the thirtieth of the twelfth month?"
"Local custom - must worship ancestors before the New Year's Eve feast. Zheng Youde's family graves are in the neighboring county, so they left early."
Xiao Jin Yu nodded thoughtfully. "Let's pause this case for now..."
Jing Yi started, propping his chin on the desk to look at Xiao Jin Yu. "Found something?"
Xiao Jin Yu nodded gently. "Some clues, still need verification... Since it's New Year's Eve tonight, tell Zheng Youde's staff that the office will close after noon today. Everyone should go home for the New Year and return on the third day."
Jing Yi immediately perked up, springing upright from the desk. "Excellent!"
"You should return to the capital too, spend New Year with your family. I'll send word to Wu Jiang..."
Just as Jing Yi was thinking this sounded too good to be coming from Xiao Jin Yu, he heard him add another sentence.
"While you're there, gather all the case records related to the Prince of Wu Commandery's old case. Make sure to bring everything before the third day."
"Your Highness..."
"Give my regards to the Chief Councillor."
"Let me thank you on his behalf first..."
"No need for courtesy."
☆、49 Four Happiness Meatballs (VIII)Xiao Jin Yu returned to the Chu residence in the afternoon. From a distance, he spotted Chu Chu standing at the gate, scanning her surroundings. The moment her gaze landed on him, she immediately rushed over and anxiously exclaimed, "Where have you been? I couldn’t find you after leaving the morgue and thought you’d already come home. But you weren’t here either… I was worried you’d gotten lost and was just about to go look for you!"
Xiao Jin Yu felt slightly embarrassed. For the first half-hour after leaving the yamen, he had indeed been lost.
Accustomed to the straight, orderly roads of the capital, the winding alleys of the water town had left his head spinning. The moment he lost focus, he had no idea where he’d wandered. To make matters worse, every household had closed their doors to prepare for the New Year, leaving no one around to ask for directions.
Considering how much face he had already lost at the Chu residence over the past two days—enough to shame even the founding emperor—knocking on someone’s door during the New Year season to say he was lost was simply out of the question.
Fortunately, a guard sent to investigate the Prince of Wu’s Estate urgently needed to report something and managed to track Xiao Jin Yu down in the labyrinth of alleys.
Xiao Jin Yu calmly skipped over this part and said, "I went to buy some things."
Only then did Chu Chu notice the guard behind him carrying a shoulder pole with two large bamboo baskets hanging from either end, so heavy that the pole was bent under the weight.
Hearing the commotion outside, Chu He came out to greet them. Seeing Xiao Jin Yu, he grinned widely and said, "See? I told you—a grown man, sane and sensible, how could he possibly get lost!"
Xiao Jin Yu’s lips twitched slightly, but he forced himself to reply, "Yes… It only occurred to me today that I hadn’t prepared any New Year gifts. Since all the shops in town were closed, I went to the county seat to get some things. I didn’t have time to let the family know and made you worry."
Chu He peeked into the baskets, chuckled, and scratched his head. "No one’s ever given our family New Year gifts before… You high-ranking officials are really particular!"
"It’s only proper…"
If he were any less particular, he’d have even less face to show his ancestors…
Chu He led the guard away to store the items. Chu Chu stared at the two heavy baskets, which barely swayed under their weight, bit her lip, and turned to whisper, "Wang Ye, you don’t have to… be so good."
Xiao Jin Yu was slightly taken aback. "Hmm?"
Chu Chu lowered her head, her delicate brows furrowed into a charming knot. Xiao Jin Yu tilted his head slightly to look at her, seeing her expression clearly.
"You’re too good. I can’t compare to you."
Xiao Jin Yu felt both amused and exasperated. He took her hand, which was lightly clutching the hem of her clothes, and said, "Are you afraid I’ll steal your grandparents’ affection?"
Chu Chu quickly shook her head. "No!"
"Then what is it?"
She lowered her head, biting her lip, her fair cheeks flushing slightly. "If you keep being this good, I won’t know how to be even better to you…"
Xiao Jin Yu paused, then his smile deepened. He lifted her warm, soft hand and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it. "You’ve always been better than me. It’s me who’s trying to catch up to you."
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