Chapter 55 Would you rather be dead, or alone? [20]
The study in the Eastern Palace was a restricted area, and ordinary palace servants were not allowed to enter or leave.
Even Granny Hua only escorted A-Chu to the study door, then smiled and spoke softly:
"Miss, His Highness is inside. Please go in by yourself."
Achu was a little nervous, her face turned slightly pale, and she twisted her fingers.
She glanced at Granny Hua, making sure she really wouldn't come in with her, before taking a deep breath and stepping inside.
Si Jinye's study is very large.
As soon as Achu entered, she saw Si Jinye sitting behind his desk.
His brows were furrowed, his face was grim, and he seemed to be on the verge of exploding.
There was a torn book on the ground.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his sharp, gloomy eyes staring straight at him.
A Chu seemed frightened by Si Jinye's gaze; her face turned even paler, and her eyes reddened.
"Greetings..."
Her voice trembled as she prepared to bow to Si Jinye.
Before they could even get started, Si Jinye's deep, displeased voice rang out: "Come here."
Achu was halfway through her bow, unsure whether to kneel or not.
After a pause, she stood up and walked towards Si Jinye.
Ah Chu was criticized for walking too slowly.
"Hurry up, I don't want to see you stepping on ants!"
Ah Chu lowered her eyes and walked faster.
When she was an arm's length away from Si Jinye, her wrist was grabbed and pulled forward.
Achu opened her eyes wide and gasped softly.
"ah!"
The next moment, she was sitting on Si Jinye's lap, being held in his arms.
At first, Achu was a little confused, but after she came to her senses, her pale face instantly turned red.
"Your Majesty... Your Highness...?"
She struggled instinctively.
Si Jinye said coldly, "Don't move."
Ah Chu dared not move; her whole body stiffened.
She lowered her eyes, not daring to look at Si Jinye, but her eyelashes trembled and tears slid down her cheeks.
The moment Si Jinye touched A Chu, his headache and tinnitus disappeared.
The urge to kill that I had just felt instantly subsided.
His furrowed brows relaxed, and the dark aura surrounding Si Jinye seemed to dissipate considerably.
Even the hidden guards felt the air that had been frozen suddenly begin to circulate again.
Si Jinye felt better and looked down to find that A Chu was crying again.
She must have been scared, because she cried silently, only tears falling one by one.
They are so pitiful.
Si Jinye found it somewhat amusing.
"Why are you crying so much? Are you made of water?"
Achu accidentally sobbed, shook her head, and answered in a muffled voice, "No."
Seeing her like this, Si Jinye wanted to tease her, so he deliberately put on a cold face: "Don't cry, or I'll kill your maid!"
Achu was indeed frightened. She stared at Si Jinye with wide eyes, then hurriedly wiped the tears from her face.
She sniffed: "This humble woman...this humble woman didn't cry!"
Si Jinye raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice: "Really not crying? Look up and let me see."
Achu obediently raised her head, her eyes still wet and red at the corners.
Her eyes reminded Si Jinye of a little deer he had encountered during a hunting trip.
It stood beside the shot mother deer, looking up at him with wet, confused, and helpless eyes.
At that time, Si Jinye did not know what it meant to be soft-hearted.
But now, when Si Jinye sees A Chu's wet eyes, he feels inexplicably soft-hearted.
Although that moment of tenderness was fleeting.
Si Jinye raised his hand and lightly flicked A Chu's forehead: "Alright, as long as you behave, I won't kill your maid."
"Sit still and don't move, understand?"
Achu nodded obediently, then hesitated for a moment before snuggling closer to Si Jinye.
She was petite and slender, only about 1.6 meters tall.
Si Jinye is estimated to be 1.9 meters tall, with a large build.
Ah Chu nestled in his arms, as if she were hugging a doll.
Si Jinye was very satisfied with A Chu's obedience.
He picked up the folded document on the table and continued reading.
After watching for a while, Si Jinye called out, "Mingyi."
Ah Chu was still a little confused when suddenly a person appeared in front of the table.
She looked startled and shrank even closer into Si Jinye's arms.
Si Jinye glanced down at her before speaking, "How's the investigation into the smuggled salt in Annan going?"
Ming Yi: "Your subordinates have discovered that Salt Commissioner Su Fengsheng has been in close contact with salt merchants who smuggle salt. Five days ago, Su Fengsheng secretly entered the capital, where the Fifth Prince met with him at his villa in the suburbs..."
Ah Chu nestled in Si Jinye's arms and heard things she shouldn't have heard.
Although Si Jinye was listening to Mingyi's report, he was also paying attention to A Chu's reaction.
At first she was a little confused, but after she came to her senses, she seemed to realize that she had heard something she shouldn't have.
She raised her hand to cover her ears, then wondered if it was too late.
The hand was left hanging there, unsure whether to let go or not.
This reaction truly amused Si Jinye.
A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
After Mingyi finished reporting, he didn't receive any instructions from his master. He looked up and happened to see Si Jinye's smile.
That smile was not the usual cold, sarcastic, or murderous laugh.
It's a smile that comes from a happy heart!
This is even rarer than seeing a ghost in broad daylight!
Mingyi quickly lowered his eyes, not daring to look any longer.
But she couldn't help but wonder, was her master so happy to hear that the Fifth Prince was colluding with the Salt Commissioner to sell smuggled salt?
Si Jinye had no idea what his subordinate was thinking. He said, "Continue the investigation. I'd like to see what else my good fifth brother has done."
Mingyi immediately replied, "Yes!"
Si Jinye waved his hand lightly.
Just as suddenly as he had appeared, Mingyi vanished just as suddenly.
Si Jinye lowered his eyes to look at A Chu again.
She had already lowered her hands, but her head was lowered even further, so much so that Si Jinye could see the back of her head.
With a mischievous urge to tease, Si Jinye decided to scare A Chu.
He coughed lightly and spoke in a deep voice, "You heard everything just now?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Si Jinye felt the person in his arms tremble.
He tried to suppress a laugh, but couldn't hide the upturned corners of his lips.
But Ah Chu had her head down and couldn't see it.
A weak, trembling voice came from her arms: "I heard you."
Si Jinye: "This is my secret. Now that you know it, what do you think I should do?"
Achu raised her head and unconsciously grabbed Si Jinye's sleeve.
She hurriedly assured him, "Your Highness, rest assured! I will absolutely not tell anyone! Not even my parents!"
Si Jinye glanced down at his sleeve, then looked up at A Chu.
He smirked coldly, leaned closer to her, and deliberately lowered his voice: "But in my eyes, there are only dead people..."
Upon hearing this, Achu's eyes welled up with tears, filled with terror.
Si Jinye paused: "Don't cry. If you cry, I'll kill you immediately."
Ah Chu pouted, trying hard to hold back her tears.
Si Jinye suppressed a laugh and continued, "In my opinion, only the dead and my people can keep secrets."
Would you rather be dead, or alone?
Without hesitation, Achu replied, "I am willing to be Your Highness's person!"
Si Jinye smiled with satisfaction: "Very good."
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