Chapter 32: Jiu Focuses on Researching the Regent's Belt
Chu Xuanyi had just sent someone to deliver the detailed report on Qingxu Temple to the palace when he saw Ajiu holding the "Chouchou Bird" (actually a magic bird) that he had fished out of the koi pond. He said to it seriously, "Chouchou Bird, your master doesn't want you anymore. He's gone to sleep somewhere far, far away. Can I play with you from now on? I'll tell you the story of the little bunny Guaiguai!"
Chu Xuanyi: "..." He now seriously suspected that this girl was deliberately pretending to be stupid in front of him, but actually knew everything in her heart!
He resisted the urge to hold his forehead, walked over, and tried to dig out some clues from Jiu's innocent words.
"Ah Jiu, that... that bad guy in black, besides the fact that he had his face covered, his eyes were like ice, and he smelled like medicine and ink, did you... did you notice anything else that was special? For example, did he wear a ring on his hand? Or... did he walk in a strange way?"
Jiu tilted his head, trying to recall, and then his eyes lit up:
"Ah! I remember now! That bad guy in black, he... he seems to like eating candy beans too! But the candy beans he eats are different from the old man's! The old man's candy beans are sweet osmanthus cakes, while the bad guy's candy beans are... the kind that are covered with a layer of white, snowflake-like powder on the outside, and black inside, a little bitter, but also a little fragrant... Hmm... like the blackest ink stick in Master's study, which has been eaten away by insects and then stuffed with mint leaves!"
Chu Xuanyi: “???”
It is covered with white frost on the outside and black on the inside, bitter but fragrant, like an ink stick that has been eaten by insects and has a mint leaf stuck in its center?
This...what the hell is this?
Chu Xuanyi felt that his imagination was challenged like never before.
Just as he was at a loss for words, the butler hurried in with a report: "Sir, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent... has arrived at the Imperial Master's residence! He said... he came to visit you, sir, and wanted to... 'by the way' meet Miss Jiu."
Chu Xuanyi's heart trembled. Xiao Yu came so soon? And specifically asked to see Ah Jiu?
Chu Xuanyi felt a chill running down the back of his neck. His Royal Highness the Regent had come in person, specifically requesting to see Ah Jiu! If this girl were to say something like, "Your Highness, your forehead is dark today, it's not suitable for you to go out," or "Your Highness, there's dog hair from Wang Ermaizi's house next door on your trouser legs," right in front of the Regent, his Imperial Master's Mansion would probably explode!
"Ajiu! Ajiu!" Chu Xuanyi quickly pulled Ajiu back from her endless fantasies about the "Ink Ink Mint Candy Beans" and warned her with a serious (but actually terrified) face: "His Royal Highness the Regent will be here later. You, you, you... just stand beside me and talk less! No, it's best not to say anything! Whatever His Highness asks you, just... just look at me. You only speak when I tell you to. Do you understand?"
Ah Jiu blinked his big eyes and nodded, not quite understanding. "Oh! His Royal Highness the Regent? That... fierce... big brother with the little flower on his head."
Chu Xuanyi was so exhausted that he almost fainted.
Fierce... small flowers on the head...
"Don't talk nonsense!" Chu Xuanyi lowered his voice, practically squeezing out these words through gritted teeth. "Your Highness is a royal descendant, majestic and solemn. Don't use these... these messed-up words to describe him!"
"But...Ajiu is telling the truth..." Ajiu muttered softly, feeling a little aggrieved.
Chu Xuanyi was about to give it another try when he heard the butler announce loudly, "His Royal Highness the Regent has arrived!"
Chu Xuanyi shuddered, quickly straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and tried to force out an expression that was "calm and respectful as a national teacher should be", and led Ajiu out to greet them.
Xiao Yu, dressed in a dark-colored casual suit, stood with his hands behind his back, his posture as straight as a pine tree. His face was handsome and cold, and he exuded an oppressive aura. His deep gaze swept over Chu Xuanyi, finally landing on the little girl who was peeking behind Chu Xuanyi.
"Your servant Chu Xuanyi (Ajiu pays homage), pays homage to His Royal Highness the Regent!" Chu Xuanyi bowed and glimpsed Ajiu imitating him, bowing crookedly and mumbling incoherently.
"My dear Lord Chu, please excuse me." Xiao Yu's voice was calm and steady. He nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on Ah Jiu. "Miss Ah Jiu, I heard that you can 'see' many things that others cannot."
Chu Xuanyi's heart suddenly jumped into his throat! Here it comes! Here comes the main topic!
Hearing this, Jiu nodded vigorously and answered clearly, "Yes! Jiu can see that the ugly bird is unhappy, and he can also see that the old man who raises birds has fallen asleep, and that bad guy in black clothes is secretly eating candy beans!"
A gleam of light flashed in Xiao Yu's eyes: "Oh? What kind of candy beans does the man in black eat?"
"That's it..." Ah Jiu gestured hard, "There's a layer of white frost on the outside, like the icicles on the windows in winter, and the inside is black, like the blackest ink stick that Master uses to write, with a hole bitten by a bug and then a cool mint leaf stuffed in it. It smells bitter, but also a little fragrant!"
Chu Xuanyi was sweating profusely as he listened to this, fearing that Ah Jiu would say something like "Your Highness, you also ate candy beans today."
Xiao Yu listened quietly, pondering for a moment before slowly speaking, "White frost for a coating, inky black for a core, bitter with a hint of fragrance, and a minty coolness... It's like a refreshing pill." He looked at Chu Xuanyi, "My dear Chu, are there any pharmacies or private workshops in the capital that specialize in making these kinds of unique pills?"
Chu Xuanyi immediately bowed and said, "Your Highness, I will immediately send people to thoroughly investigate all the major pharmacies in the capital, especially those that specialize in preparing rare and secret medicines. In addition, some quack doctors or people who are reclusive may also have such formulas."
Xiao Yu nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Ajiu again, his tone softening a bit: "Miss Ajiu, besides the sugar beans, did you see anything else special about the man in black?"
Ah Jiu thought for a moment, then suddenly pointed at Xiao Yu's waist and said in surprise, "Oh! Big brother, the belt around your waist is a little bit like the rope tied on the sleeve of that bad guy in black! They're both black, with tiny silver patterns on them that look like little snakes crawling across them! But big brother's belt is prettier and sparkles!"
Chu Xuanyi: “!!!”
He wanted to die on the spot!
The sash around the Regent's waist is a royal gift from the palace, a black jade dragon sash with cloud patterns. It's incredibly precious! And this girl actually says it bears a resemblance to the murderer's sleeve sash? Doesn't this imply a connection between the Regent and the murderer?
"Ajiu! Stop talking nonsense!" Chu Xuanyi was so scared that he quickly scolded.
Xiao Yu waved his hand, signaling Chu Xuanyi not to panic. He glanced down at his own belt, then looked at Ah Jiu with a deep gaze. "Oh? Is there a similar silver pattern on the black-clothed man's sleeve?"
"Yeah!" Jiu nodded vigorously, "But his rope looks old, not as shiny as big brother's!"
Xiao Yu nodded thoughtfully, not asking further questions. He seemed to have just casually chatted with Ah Jiu for a few words before saying to Chu Xuanyi, "The matter of Qingxu Temple must be thoroughly investigated. Since the man in black dared to kill and silence witnesses in the capital, the power behind him should not be underestimated. Miss Ah Jiu's side must also be protected to ensure that nothing goes wrong."
"I obey your order!" Chu Xuanyi responded respectfully.
Xiao Yu took one last look at Ajiu, and without saying anything more, he turned and left the Imperial Master's Mansion.
It was not until the Regent's procession had gone away that Chu Xuanyi breathed a sigh of relief. He felt as if he had just been pulled out of the water, his whole body drenched in cold sweat.
He held onto the door frame, looking at Ajiu who was feeling a little happy because "big brother's belt is beautiful", and he felt like crying but had no tears.
Is this girl his lucky star or his nemesis?
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