Almost instinctively, Chu Yin lowered his head toward her.
Yu Jiao grabbed his sleeve with one hand, the other forming a trumpet shape in front of her mouth, her voice tiny and delicate. “Your Highness, please spare them. How about I, I’ll give a share of one to Your Highness, alright?”
She pressed closely against him. The scent of oranges on her drifted freely to his nose. Her voice was soft and warm, brushing against his ear, but Chu Yin couldn’t catch the words clearly—he only heard the thumping of his own heart.
A hoarse voice muttered an agreement.
Yu Jiao revealed two small dimples, looping her arm around his, and looked at the two people on the ground. “Your Highness is generous and doesn’t hold grudges. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes.” Chu Yin looked at her profile, still caught off guard.
The two on the ground suddenly raised their heads, disbelief written on their faces. Just one word from her, and the Prince of Yan, who killed without a second thought, agreed without hesitation?
Yu Jiao immediately released Chu Yin, bouncing over toward the pile of treasures.
Chu Yin’s arms felt empty; he withdrew them indifferently, letting out a soft snort.
Ungrateful little thing.
He then watched her flit about, picking one thing here and another there, her small figure busy as could be.
Just moments ago, she had bounced around like a little rabbit, so obedient by his side?
Chu Yin strode over and, without reason, scooped her up into his arms.
Yu Jiao, holding a box of jewelry, froze, staring at him in confusion.
Their eyes met; Yu Jiao blinked.
Chu Yin paused almost imperceptibly, lowering his gaze to glance at her.
She’d rather hold onto that box of trinkets than him?
Truly blind.
“You’re foolish. Why bother picking things yourself? Just let Ying Jue move them for you.”
Yu Jiao’s eyes lit up. She set down the box, hugged his waist, and on tiptoe kissed his chin. “Your Highness is truly clever!”
“You’re the foolish one.” He turned his head slightly, lips curling faintly.
Madam Liu and Yu Ning’er, who had just gotten to their feet, wobbled and nearly collapsed again.
Yu Jiao rubbed affectionately against Chu Yin’s chest, then suddenly popped her head out, looking at the two and asking, “Second Aunt, may I?”
Madam Liu and Yu Ning’er: “….”
“Madam! Madam, something’s wrong!” a voice shouted from afar.
Madam Liu nearly cursed. Of course something was wrong—the entire warehouse was about to be emptied!
Several people in the White Jade Tower, unable to find Yu Ning’er and fearing Yu Lin and Madam Liu’s blame, had informed the gate guards.
Yu Lin, just returning, hadn’t even entered the house when the guards reported it. Hearing that Madam Liu was in the warehouse, he rushed over.
“Madam, something’s wrong! That wretched girl Yu Jiao has taken all the jewelry from White Jade Tower and even killed the shopkeeper!” Yu Lin stopped at the doorway, bent over, hands on his knees, panting.
“Second Uncle,” Yu Jiao called softly.
Yu Lin was her timid Second Uncle—outwardly impressive, but in reality, Madam Liu ran the household. He hadn’t harbored ill intentions toward Yu Jiao, but under Madam Liu’s influence, he had taken away her belongings.
But after what happened to her Father and Mother…
Yu Lin abruptly looked up, seeing his Madam and daughter trembling beside him—and standing there…
He squinted. Oh, it was the Prince of Yan.
Prince of Yan… Prince of Yan?!
Yu Lin staggered and fell to his knees, repeatedly kowtowing. “Your Highness, I know nothing! It has nothing to do with me!”
Chu Yin withdrew his gaze calmly, feeling a twinge of pity.
He didn’t protect his own Madam, yet knelt on the ground.
If it were him, the trembling little rabbit would be beside him instead—he wouldn’t kneel. He would have scooped her into his arms, and anyone who dared to bully her would be killed.
Chu Yin suddenly realized—why was he thinking this way? Today, he truly felt bewitched.
Yu Jiao tugged at his sleeve. Reluctantly, Chu Yin spoke: “Noisy.”
Yu Lin immediately fell silent.
Chu Yin grew slightly impatient and tried to leave, pulling Yu Jiao’s hand along.
Seeing the irritation between his brows, Yu Jiao stood on tiptoe and kissed him, pleading, “Your Highness, just a little longer.”
Chu Yin frowned, neither moving nor agreeing. Yu Jiao, seeing this, kissed him again and gently shook his hand. “Your Highness, just a little longer, please?”
Her eyes sparkled like tiny stars as she looked at him. He murmured a faint acknowledgment.
Yu Jiao tried to release his hand but felt his slight displeasure, so she held it again.
“Second Uncle, Second Aunt, I remember Father and Mother left me a shop. Where’s the deed?”
Yu Lin smiled awkwardly, attempting to rise, but seeing Chu Yin’s gaze, he knelt again, grinning. “Jiaojiao, you’re still young. When you grow up, Second Uncle will hand it over to you.”
“But Second Uncle, I’m already married. Isn’t my Prince already grown too?”
Chu Yin frowned and glanced down at her.
Yu Lin opened his mouth without thinking: “Little…”
Only a single word escaped before Chu Yin shot him a deadly glare.
“I dare not.”
Half an hour later, Yu Jiao held the thick property deed in her hands, revealing her small tiger teeth.
Some rejoiced, some despaired; Yu Lin’s family’s faces fell at the sight of the stack of papers.
Yu Jiao was about to tuck the deed into her bosom when Chu Yin took it first. She didn’t mind—they could sort it out later; after all, he was one.
“Second Uncle, Second Aunt, you sign first.”
Yu Jiao pulled a paper from her bosom. Chu Yin glanced at it, raising an eyebrow.
This little rabbit—seems he raised her well.
Yu Lin and Madam Liu took it with both hands, eyes wide, hands trembling.
This… a blank IOU?
Pre-meditated! This had to be premeditated!
Yu Jiao smiled innocently. “When we get home, my Prince will tally it. If anything’s wrong, we’ll write it here. Please fill in the rest, Second Uncle and Second Aunt.”
Yu Lin’s pupils dilated. What was she saying? They were supposed to fill in the amounts themselves?
Yu Jiao tilted her head. “Don’t you trust my Prince’s arithmetic?”
Chu Yin glanced over, and the next second, the signed IOU returned to Yu Jiao’s hands.
She folded it and tucked it into her bosom, tilting her head to look at Chu Yin. “Your Highness, standing so long must be tiring. Shall we go sit in the front hall?”
Her eyes blinked rapidly, signaling him.
Chu Yin ruffled her hair, smiling, curious what tricks her little mind held, and replied, “Alright.”
In the front hall, before Chu Yin could sit, Yu Jiao pulled his hand, leading him around.
“Your Highness, look at this vase—it’s so unique! There isn’t one like this in the Prince’s Mansion.”
“Your Highness, this painting—obviously well-crafted.”
“Your Highness, these teacups—we don’t have anything like them either. They look cheap, but don’t you like collecting little things?”
Yu Lin’s lips twitched. He had paid five thousand taels for these! And there were only five!
Madam Liu and Yu Ning’er nearly fainted. These were things they had earned using Father and Mother’s legacy.
…
Outside the Yu residence, Ying Jue carried the last box from the warehouse. Yu Jiao was staring at the plaque of the Yu mansion.
“Second Uncle…”
Yu Lin immediately felt a bad premonition.
“This mansion… also seems to belong to my father?”
Yu Lin staggered.
“Second Uncle, you can stay for now.”
Yu Lin exhaled in relief. Watching Yu Jiao and Chu Yin finally climb into the carriage, he collapsed to the ground.
Yu Jiao voluntarily sat on Chu Yin’s lap, looking up at him with hope. “Your Highness, let’s start dividing the property.”
“Wait. this Prince, have a question first.” Chu Yin held her hand that had slipped into his embrace and brought it near his face. “I, the Prince—am I small?”