Zhu Xiuxiu walked towards the entrance of the courtyard, holding Xiaosuisui in her arms.
Huo Xing’Er turned and followed her. What couldn’t be helped, couldn’t be helped. Since Xie Pan’Er and Xiaosuisui were destined to be connected, if this couldn’t be resolved now, it meant the opportune moment hadn’t arrived. It seemed she could only head back for today.
「On the rooftop, Ji Youzhi and Ji Youze perceived the gloomy atmosphere of the young Emperor.」
"This might well be the most uncomfortable performance I’ve ever witnessed!" Ji Youzhi whispered.
"It seems that Suisui was right—the Luo Family likely knows her husband and child were poisoned. The child must be the Luo Family’s eldest son with Xie Wulang. She likely acted in an attempt to protect them," Ji Youze surmised.
"As if only you understand!" retorted Ji Youzhi. As a Divine Hunter, wasn’t he expected to possess analytic skills to deduce such a scenario?
Ignoring Ji Youzhi, Ji Youze turned to the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, shall we help Miss Xie with this matter?"
The young Emperor thought for a moment and responded, "Youzhi, investigate the background of the Lin Family. Ideally, determine what poison they administered to Xie Wulang."
"Yes!" Ji Youzhi obeyed and turned to leave.
Ji Youze said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, it’s time to return to the Palace."
The Emperor stood up at these words, glanced at Huo Xing’Er and the others leaving the Xie Family courtyard, and declared, "I rarely get time to leave the Palace. I’ll stroll around with my daughter."
Just as he was about to join his group, he heard a young man’s voice calling for "Pan’Er," and he abruptly halted.
"Pan’Er... I’m back. Pan’Er, your brother is back! Are you at home? Come out and see what I’ve brought you!"
At the entrance of the courtyard stood a young man, around fifteen or sixteen, holding two grease-paper packages. He was tall and gaunt. He wore the white robes exclusive to Luming Academy students, his hair bound with a white cloth wrap.
Zhu Xiuxiu and Huo Xing’Er halted upon seeing him.
Xiaosuisui sniffed the air, detecting the aroma emanating from the grease-paper packages in the scholar’s hands.
"It smells so good! What does this big brother have? Why does it smell so nice?"
Seeing that Xiaosuisui’s gaze was fixed on the grease-paper packages, Zhu Xiuxiu patted her head helplessly.
"You little foodie, that’s likely the signature Roasted Duck from the Luming Academy; you can’t buy it anywhere else. Do you want to try it?"
Xiaosuisui licked her lips and said to Zhu Xiuxiu in a soft, sweet voice, "Yes!"
Zhu Xiuxiu said with a helpless sigh, "You’re putting me in quite a predicament, young one. I could manage if it were any other food, but this Roasted Duck can only be cooked by the chef at Luming Academy. It’s simply not purchasable outside."
Considering this, Zhu Xiuxiu turned to the scholar and said, "Young man, it seems you’re carrying two packages that look like a whole Roasted Duck. Could you spare us half? I’ll pay for it!"
Hearing this, the scholar hesitated. He glanced towards the courtyard and replied, "This is a gift for my little sister. I haven’t seen her for years, and this duck is all I have for her. If I were to give away half, I would feel I’d let her down!"
"Did you only bring it for your sister to eat? She surely can’t finish a whole duck by herself, right? She likely wouldn’t mind if you shared half, especially since I’ll pay you. Simply bringing a duck is hardly a proper gift. With this money, you could buy your sister something else—perhaps a pearl flower pin. Isn’t that better? A gift with something to eat and something to wear would surely make your sister even happier."