The Jingzhao Prefecture office was simple and dignified, with the main hall particularly bright. In the center stood a large, wide desk, fully equipped with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
Xiao Jinyu pushed the case files aside and extended his slender fingers to gently press against his throbbing temples.
Sunlight slanted through the window, illuminating his sharp jawline.
"Young Master."
Chang'an lightly knocked on the door, paused for a moment, then pushed it open and entered, carrying the newly retrieved case files. He placed them on the other side of the desk.
They now stood opposite the previous pile of documents.
"These are the documents sent by the Ministry of Personnel," he reported truthfully and in detail. "They said all the official records of the Jingzhao Prefecture officials are here. The rest are old archives that still need to be sorted before they can be delivered."
"Who did Yuan Ziyou send?" Xiao Jinyu glanced lightly at the pile of documents and asked softly.
"Minister Chen Siwen from the Ministry of Personnel came to deliver them."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyu tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the desk a few times.
Seeing this, Chang'an did not interrupt his thoughts. He walked directly to the window, closed the half-open window, and then went to light the incense burner that had been prepared earlier.
A thin wisp of smoke slowly rose.
The main hall assigned to the newly appointed Prefect for handling official duties had just been vacated. Perhaps because it had been unused for a long time, the hall felt somewhat cold.
Xiao Jinyu snapped out of his thoughts and said to him, "Have someone prepare an invitation for the former Prefect." Yuan Ziyou's actions were so thorough; he must have some ulterior motive.
As for why Yuan Ziyou specifically wanted an invitation rather than something else, he neither knew nor needed to know.
It was just an invitation, after all.
Chang'an nodded in acknowledgment and prepared to withdraw. However, as he passed by something, his footsteps paused.
Xiao Jinyu noticed his movement and shifted his gaze to look.
That was—a Jianbing Guazi.
Perhaps it had been left for too long; the outer oil paper had turned dark, appearing greasy and stained.
Seeing this, Xiao Jinyu suddenly recalled what had happened when they passed through the East Gate market.
He frowned slightly, pointed at the Jianbing Guazi, and said softly, "Bring it here."
Hearing this, Chang'an's eyes brightened, and he hurriedly handed it over.
Xiao Jinyu took it. As his fingertips touched the oil paper, he felt that the remaining warmth of the Jianbing Guazi had completely dissipated.
Tearing open the oil paper, he saw that the edges of the wrapper had slightly hardened and become tough.
He lowered his head and took a bite, chewing as usual, but his gaze suddenly froze.
There was no pungent aroma of scallions, no savory scent of sauce, let alone any crispy texture.
Sure enough, the sensation he had felt at the market was merely an illusion.
Xiao Jinyu's brow relaxed. He completely chewed and swallowed the bite in his mouth, masticating it in a numb state before setting down the oil paper.
"Take it away," he said coldly.
Chang'an paused at the sound, his eyes instantly shifting from bright to dim. He asked, "Young Master, won't you have a few more bites?"
Wasn't it said that the appetizing soup was effective?
Moreover, he had tasted it himself; the Jianbing Guazi they brought back indeed had a good flavor.
Thinking of this, he looked at the pancake again, his eyes holding an expectation he himself hadn't noticed.
Xiao Jinyu swallowed the entire bite, but his face turned paler than rice paper. He picked up a cup of tea and took a small sip.
The rich aroma of the tea barely suppressed the unpleasant taste.
"No need," Xiao Jinyu waved his hand, his voice devoid of emotion, and pushed the Jianbing Guazi back again. "Put it away."
Chang'an looked at his pale face, his Adam's apple moving slightly, but in the end, he did not continue speaking further. He picked up the jianbing and turned to leave.
Just as he reached the halfway point, Xiao Jinyu's voice sounded again.
"Have someone prepare the horses. We're going to the Three Judicial Offices."
Chang'an turned around and nodded.
He bowed and exited, his steps light, trying his best not to make a sound. After leaving, he closed the door once more.
Only when the person was completely out of sight did he look at the jianbing guozi in his hand and let out a soft sigh.
But before he could even finish that sigh, the jianbing guozi in his hand was snatched away by a large hand.
Chang'an turned to look and saw Chang Yue with a stern face already taking big bites of the jianbing.
He was somewhat speechless.
"Chang Yue, what are you doing?"
Hearing his question, Chang Yue didn't even look up and replied directly, "Waiting for the jianbing guozi that the young master didn't want. I saw you and Chang Fu eating it with great relish."
Whether to say it or not, this person had seen a bit too much.
Chang'an cleared his throat tactically, then turned around, flicked his sleeve, and hurriedly left after saying he needed to have someone prepare the horses.
When Chang Fu from the front courtyard rushed over, all he saw was Chang Yue burying his head in eating.
He asked, "Where's Chang'an?"
"Preparing the horses," Chang Yue replied.
"Preparing the horses? Is the young master going out?" Chang Fu asked in confusion.
Chang Yue remained silent, only turning around, shielding himself with his hand, and speeding up his eating of the jianbing guozi.
Chang Fu:…
He wasn't trying to snatch the jianbing guozi, so what was this person's reaction??
What happened inside the Jingzhao Prefecture offices was unknown to anyone.
However, everything happening outside was seen clearly by Su Xi.
The three gilded characters "Jingzhao Prefecture" gleamed coldly under the sunlight, and the majestic, solemn vermilion-lacquered gate slowly swung open.
Seeing this, Su Ting immediately stepped back, while Su Xi took a step forward, moving even closer.
"Elder sister, that's the Jingzhao Prefecture," Su Ting hurriedly pulled her back, lowering his voice.
People from such a place were of such high status—one should avoid them, not approach them!
Su Xi paused.
She had forgotten that this was a strictly hierarchical ancient era, not modern times.
Su Xi awkwardly touched her ear and quickly stepped back, though her eyes remained fixed on the vermilion-lacquered gate.
At that moment, she saw a person dressed in dark-colored casual attire, with a sharply defined side profile and an upright posture, walking out slowly.
Without even thinking, this person must be very handsome!
Just from seeing the lines of his side profile, Su Xi had this realization.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jinyu, who had just stepped out of the prefectural yamen, suddenly halted his steps, his brows furrowing. His pace slowed, and he glanced around with the corner of his eye. Those following him did not notice this movement.
But inexplicably, Su Xi sensed the gaze he cast out, and even had a feeling that this gaze was directed toward them.
Almost instinctively, Su Xi silently pulled back her head, which had been leaning out.
"Elder sister?" Su Ting, who hadn't noticed the situation over there, asked softly when he saw her like this.
Su Xi shook her head, indicating that nothing was wrong.
Su Ting didn't think too much about it and continued covering Su Cheng's mouth, squatting with him in the corner.
The other few people from the Jingzhao Prefecture noticed that his steps had completely slowed down, their expressions changing slightly as they exchanged glances.
Chang'an also noticed Xiao Jinyu's expression at this moment and stepped forward to ask by his ear, "Young master?"
Xiao Jinyu's brows were tightly furrowed, but he did not speak.
Had he smelled the scent of jianbing again?
"Young master?" Chang'an asked again.
Only then did Xiao Jinyu shake his head, indicating that nothing was wrong, and continued forward.
The carriage set off.
Su Xi relaxed her body and let out a soft sigh only after seeing the person get into the car.
Strange!
Could that person have eyes in the back of their head to see her?