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Forgot to take the clothes?

Shen Chuwei’s gaze swept through the room and finally came to rest on the bed, where neatly folded clothes lay on the clean bedding.

Xiao Jinyan always remembered to take his clothes after a bath, so why had he forgotten this time?

She approached the bed and picked up the clothes, feeling the fine, smooth fabric. It felt luxurious to the touch, clearly made from high-quality materials.

Even though she wasn’t knowledgeable about fabrics, she could still tell.

Shen Chuwei, puzzled, came to the screen and went straight through, hearing the "splash" as she saw Xiao Jinyan standing up from the tub.

She froze on the spot; though she knew she should look away, she stared straight at Xiao Jinyan.

The abdominal muscles she hadn’t been able to see before were now clearly visible—firm, with perfect lines. Not exaggerated but very pleasing to the eye.

The sexy V-line... completely unobstructed...

She couldn’t help but sigh internally at Xiao Jinyan’s excellent physique, even...

Her gaze involuntarily drifted lower... Xiao Jinyan was already wiping the water off his body with a towel.

Naturally covering the essential parts.

Xiao Jinyan lifted his eyes to see Shen Chuwei standing motionless, her eyes fixated on him as if she saw something incredible.

Her fair cheeks flushed at an obviously rapid pace, turning as red as a ripe apple.

He called out softly, "Xiao Jiu."

Shen Chuwei snapped out of it, awkwardly replying, "Your Highness, I’ve brought your clothes."

She placed the clothes on a stool and then turned to run, so quick that Xiao Jinyan couldn’t even call out to her.

Blushing like this now, how would she handle attending bed later?

Shen Chuwei hugged Xuetuan, stroking it while she calmed herself from seeing what she shouldn’t have seen.

She genuinely hadn’t intended to look, but who would have expected him to stand up from the bath just then?

With such a good physique, she couldn’t resist admiring it for a moment.

Xiao Jinyan dressed while listening to Shen Chuwei’s inner turmoil; he glanced down at his own body, indifferent.

Once clothed, he stepped out from behind the screen and saw Shen Chuwei holding Xuetuan, sitting on a small stool like a child who had done something wrong.

Shen Chuwei had bathed before Xiao Jinyan’s return. Seeing him come out, she felt too embarrassed to even look at him, so she hugged Xuetuan and headed for the bed.

Xuetuan’s deep blue eyes looked at them with confusion, as if wondering what had just happened behind the screen?

Xiao Jinyan walked over, picked up Xuetuan by the scruff of the neck, and tossed him onto a chair nearby.

Xuetuan let out a woeful sound as it landed steadily on the chair, its eyes pitifully fixed on Xiao Jinyan. If it could speak, it would surely ask: Why did you throw me?

Shen Chuwei watched as Xuetuan was tossed aside and felt a twinge of pity for it.

Xiao Jinyan said, "Go to sleep. Don’t hug the cat."

"I understand," she replied. She hadn’t planned on sleeping with Xuetuan; she just needed some comfort.

After slipping into bed, Shen Chuwei usually slept on her side. But remembering how Xiao Jinyan had been holding her in bed for the past few nights, making it hard for her to fall asleep, she turned to face him.

Just then, Xiao Jinyan had put out the light and slipped under the covers.

Shen Chuwei asked, "Your Highness, have you been feeling a bit overheated these days?"

Xiao Jinyan replied indifferently, "No, there’s just a difficult case I need to investigate."

"Oh," she said, still planning to prepare a prescription to ease his heat to prevent harm to his health.

Xiao Jinyan stretched out his arm to embrace her. Her body was soft, and it felt comfortable to hold her.

Her scent was also very pleasant.

Shen Chuwei fell asleep amidst the tension.

The next day, the Yongxing Restaurant was suddenly visited by a group of soldiers led by the magistrate of Yongqian City, Luozhi County, in his official attire.

Weichi barked, "Who goes there?"

Luo Cheng gave a glance over the few people in front of him and asked, "This humble officer is the magistrate of Yongqian City, Luo Cheng. May I know where the governor is?"

Xiao Jinyan recognized the magistrate of Yongqian City, Luo Cheng, at a glance and replied, "I am the official in question."

Xiao Jinyan was using the identity of a governor for this trip, conveniently masking his true status to avoid unnecessary complications.

Luo Cheng, along with his subordinates, bowed to formally greet the governor, their knees hitting the ground with a ’whoosh.’

"This humble officer was unaware of the governor’s personal visit and failed to welcome you from afar. It is my negligence," Luo Cheng said.

Xiao Jinyan responded, "Rise."

After Laozi County stood up, he offered a fawning smile, "Governor, I’ve arranged accommodations. May I know if it pleases you?"

Xiao Jinyan indeed intended to do just that, so he nodded in agreement, "It suits me just fine."

Thus, Shen Chuwei followed Xiao Jinyan to reside at the residence of Luozhi County.

The residence of Luozhi County seemed desolate and quiet, not what one would expect of a magistrate’s home.

Rumors had it that Luozhi County lived an uncorrupted life, and now people were inclined to believe them.

Xiao Jinyan instructed, "Luozhi County, take me to see the body of Wei Shuli."

Luozhi County gestured invitingly, "Please follow this humble officer."

Xiao Jinyan stood and followed Luozhi County.

"Wei Shuli was old and in poor health; I just didn’t expect him to suddenly fall ill," Luozhi County shook his head with a sense of helplessness.

Wei Shuli’s body was placed in the philanthropic hall.

As the weather was not too hot, the body hadn’t begun to decompose.

Xiao Jinyan ordered, "Weichi, perform another examination of the body."

"As you command, Master." Weichi acknowledged and unveiling the white cloth, conducted a new examination.

Luozhi County watched from the side, occasionally saying, "Wei Shuli had always been in poor health, taking medicines over the years."

He sighed after finishing his explanation.

After Weichi finished his examination, he reported, "Master, I found no issues."

Xiao Jinyan pondered for a moment, "Let’s return."

Back at the magistrate’s residence, Luozhi County warmly invited, "Governor, the food and drinks have been prepared in your honor, to offer you a welcome and cleanse the dust of travel."

Xiao Jinyan spoke, "Hmm, bring the account books to me."

Not long after Luozhi County left, he sent over a stack of account books.

Xiao Jinyan sat down at the table and began to review them.

Shen Chuwei lifted the teapot and poured him a cup of tea.

Xiao Jinyu couldn’t help but ask, "Brother, could it be that Wei Shuli really just died of illness?"

Xiao Jinyan took a sip of tea, "The Emperor just sent me to examine the account books, and the man dies? It’s too suspicious."

Xiao Jinyu replied uncertainly, "But Weichi didn’t find anything wrong when he checked the body just now. If someone had harmed him, there would surely be a flaw."

Shen Chuwei listened to their conversation and, perhaps due to her brief experience as a forensic investigator, asked curiously, "How did he die?"

Xiao Jinyu explained, "He died of illness. He was taking medicine continuously before his death, but ultimately he couldn’t hold on and passed away."

Shen Chuwei inquired further, "What illness did he suffer from?"

Xiao Jinyan answered, "Tuberculosis."

Seeing Shen Chuwei’s continuous questions, Xiao Jinyu teased, "Sister-in-law, you seem so interested; don’t tell me you understand this too?"

Xiao Jinyan paused in his review of the account books and turned to look at Shen Chuwei, suddenly recalling how she had examined the body when Chun Tao had died, and had concluded that Chun Tao had been abused and died under suspicious circumstances.

"Can you examine a body?"