Xiao Jin Yu looked in slight astonishment at Chu Chu, who had appeared from nowhere at some unknown time. "How did you get here..."
Chu Chu swiftly picked up the brush, gathered the case files, and neatly arranged them on the table. She knelt before him and carefully stroked his knees over his clothing. "You haven't returned home so late... It's raining, and Grandfather said your rheumatism would surely act up, so I brought medicated wine to massage you..." As if afraid he would send her away, she quickly added, "I'll leave right after massaging you with the medicated wine—I won't delay your important work!"
A warmth spread through Xiao Jin Yu's heart, and his entire cold, stiff body seemed to gain a bit of warmth as well. Exhaustion washed over him all at once, making his eyelids feel heavy. "Alright..."
Chu Chu helped him to the bed in the inner room, removed his outer garments, and began massaging him with just the right pressure, starting from the nape of his neck.
Xiao Jin Yu lay quietly on his stomach. When Chu Chu reached his shoulder blades, he called her name softly, "Chu Chu..."
"Yes?"
"About what Xiao Jue said... don't take it too much to heart..."
"That person is a madman, spouting nothing but nonsense. I wouldn't listen to his wild talk!"
After a moment of silence, Xiao Jin Yu said, "The memorial requesting the Emperor to change our wedding date has already been sent to the capital by Jing Yi..."
"Good!"
"As long as the ceremony hasn't taken place, you can change your mind at any time..."
"I already regret it now."
Xiao Jin Yu's body visibly stiffened, the back under Chu Chu's massage tensing immediately. "You... you regret it?"
"Mmm... I should have told the Emperor that day to have you marry me right away!"
☆ Chapter 53: Four Happiness Meatballs (Part 12)
Chu Chu carefully massaged every joint where Xiao Jin Yu suffered pain. By the time she finished attentively rubbing his slightly swollen ankles, Xiao Jin Yu had fallen into a deep, drowsy sleep. Even dressing him and covering him with a quilt didn't wake him.
This was the first time since leaving Shangyuan County that she had seen Wang Ye so exhausted. He slept deeply yet with furrowed brows, his pale face full of weariness. Even his breathing was uneven—sometimes rapid, sometimes slow—as if he were pondering some weighty matter even in his dreams.
The cases he handled were more significant than those of the Divine Detectives Mr. Dong often spoke about. Chu Chu never dared disturb him when he was working on official business or deep in thought, not even when he was contemplating in his sleep. Afraid of startling him, she didn't curl up in his arms as usual but instead lay carefully beside him, clutching a corner of his sleeve as she fell asleep.
While sleeping in a daze, the sleeve in her hand suddenly shifted, leaving her fingers empty. Though the movement was gentle, Chu Chu immediately opened her eyes and vaguely saw that Xiao Jin Yu had already sat up in bed. She quickly scrambled up and rubbed her eyes.
"Wang Ye... what's wrong?"
Her eyelids were clearly too heavy to lift, yet she struggled to keep them open. Her adorable appearance made Xiao Jin Yu's heart ache. He hadn't meant to wake her at all, never expecting she would be sleeping so lightly this late.
Xiao Jin Yu supported her shoulders and laid her back down, pulling the quilt over her. He brushed away the stray hairs falling across her forehead, planted a kiss there, and gently patted her. "I have some matters to attend to... Sleep now, I'll be right outside."
"Mmm... It's cold outside, put on more clothes... Don't get sick..."
"Alright."Soothed by Xiao Jin Yu's gentle patting and stroking, Chu Chu quickly fell into a deep slumber. She didn't know how long she had slept when she turned over in her dreams, trying to nestle into that familiar embrace, only to find emptiness. The disappointment jolted her awake.
The lamp in the room had been extinguished, allowing her to clearly see a dim yellow light seeping through the crack under the door.
Dawn was already breaking—was he still outside?
After all this time, the charcoal outside must have burned out completely?
If he caught a chill, he'd fall seriously ill again...
With these thoughts, Chu Chu lost all desire to sleep. She swiftly got out of bed, dressed, and stepped outside. There she saw Xiao Jin Yu seated behind the desk in the outer chamber, his brow slightly furrowed as he focused intently and rapidly scanned the pages in his hand. After reading each small stack, he placed it neatly beside him, where three tall piles had already accumulated.
The charcoal brazier near him showed not a single spark; it had clearly gone cold long ago.
Chu Chu quietly approached, carrying a quilt, and knelt to wrap it around Xiao Jin Yu's legs. So absorbed was he in the case files that he only noticed her presence when she tucked the quilt around his waist.
She continued wrapping him up to his armpits, bundling him like a zongzi, then took his icy hands and tucked them into her own bosom to warm them. Pouting slightly, she scolded, "Grandfather said you mustn't catch a chill. Why won't you ever listen!"
A faint blush spread across Xiao Jin Yu's cheeks. "I'm sorry..."
Chu Chu freed one hand and tenderly touched the dark circles under his tired eyes. "You need to sleep."
Xiao Jin Yu offered a faint, bitter smile, gently withdrawing his hand from her embrace. He patted a chest placed beside his wheelchair. "I must finish reading these... It's still early. You should go back to sleep."
"There's still half left? How long will that take!"
In her agitation, Chu Chu glanced at the page spread open on the desk and caught sight of a familiar name. She froze.
"Wang Ye... this Xiao Jue—is he the Prince of Wu Commandery?"
Xiao Jin Yu didn't hide it from her, nodding gently.
"Then this entire chest... is all about him?"
Xiao Jin Yu nodded again.
Chu Chu stared at the densely written page in standard dossier format, biting her lip as she resentfully declared, "He must have done plenty of wicked things before! Wang Ye, this time you must punish him severely, convict him of a major crime, and send him to the King of Hell to spout his nonsense!"
Xiao Jin Yu flinched as if pricked, his body trembling slightly. Frowning lightly, he reached out and drew Chu Chu close, looking deeply into her eyes. "Chu Chu... he has never done anything wrong before."
Xiao Jin Yu spoke with unusual gravity and solemnity, his heavy tone alone compelling belief. Had it been any other matter, Chu Chu might have nodded immediately. But now she hesitated, staring at the papers on the desk as she pursed her lips. "Then why are there so many dossiers about him?"
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