Chapter 143

The backyard of Xiangyun Tower was a place specifically for the ladies who came to listen to operas to rest. Entering through the moon gate, the view was even better. Willows lined the pond, and honeysuckle trellises grew outside the lattice windows. A gentle breeze rustled the silken branches, swaying the trees. Many women rested in the verandas, the faint sound of opera singing lingering in the distance. After Yining sat down, a maid from Xiangyun Tower brought her a plate of split pomegranates. Each pomegranate was a deep red, shimmering like agate, a truly beautiful sight. Yining instructed Daimao, "Tell the owner of Xiangyun Tower that we can buy some pomegranates."

I brought some back for my third brother and the others to try, and they were indeed very sweet and delicious.

Even though the women in the corridor didn't know each other, they smiled and nodded at each other. Yi Ning rarely appeared in public, so many people didn't recognize her. She was a beautiful young woman, wearing kesi silk and wearing her hair in a bun at only fourteen or fifteen. One might guess she was the mistress of some high-ranking official, but they weren't wary.

As Xu Yong approached, fanning himself, he saw the woman leaning against a porch pillar. He'd initially assumed she was an ordinary woman, prepared to tease her and embarrass her. But as he got closer, he was stunned. She was clearly a delicate young woman. Her delicate white hands lifted the pomegranates one by one, bringing them to her mouth. Her fingertips were gently encased in lips, soft as petals.

She seemed to have heard a voice and turned to look at Xu Yong.

Xu Yong secretly admired this young girl's extraordinary beauty. If Xie Yun were like the mountains and flowing water in a painting, to be admired from afar but not touched, this one would be like the apricot blossoms on a spring branch, tender and tender, inviting one to hold and play with them slowly, making one's heart itch at the sight. This was more direct than his admiration for Xie Yun; this was a kind of beauty that he wanted to possess. Since she was beautiful, he had to talk to her properly.

Xu Yong made up his mind, walked forward and said with a smile: "Madam is here, it was so hard to find me."

When Yi Ning first saw Xu Yong, it was when he was talking to Xie Yun. They had never met before. He suddenly spoke in a familiar tone, which was really puzzling.

"I don't recognize you, sir. I guess you've made a mistake." Yi Ning didn't have a good impression of him, so she turned around and said indifferently.

Seeing this, Xu Yong frowned and changed his tone: "Madam, we just met under the theater. You insisted that we were destined to be together and asked to borrow my jade pendant. I lent it to you because you looked innocent and pitiful, but how come you don't recognize me anymore? It's okay that you don't recognize me, but can you return my jade pendant? It's a piece of excellent black jade. If it were just an ordinary thing, I would give it to you. But the jade is a relic left by my great-grandmother, so I really can't give it to you."

His voice was quite loud, and the ladies around him were immediately drawn to him. They looked at Yining with suspicion.

Xu Yong was a well-known figure in the capital, not to mention being the youngest son of Duke Xu, whose family background was prominent. He could easily come and go in places frequented by women like Xiangyunshe, thanks to his close friendship with the owner of Xiangyunlou. Most of the ladies present recognized him.

Although Xu Yong was a bit of a gangster, he came from a wealthy family and would not blackmail anyone with a jade pendant, so what he said was probably true.

This little girl doesn't look like she comes from an ordinary family. Could she really be a scammer?

Yi Ning frowned. This Xu Yong was completely incomprehensible! She had no grudge against him, so what was he trying to say?

However...if the only connection between the two is Xie Yun, it is Xie Yun. Since this person is obsessed with Xie Yun, could it be that he listened to someone and came to embarrass her?

She stopped Zhenzhu from speaking and said thoughtfully, "Since you said I took your jade pendant, let me ask you, is there anyone who saw it and can testify?"

"My servants all saw it." Xu Yong's heart naturally tingled a little when he heard her voice, which was clear and soft. He smiled and said, "Madam, please don't try to quibble. My jade pendant has a Qilin pattern and my small words are engraved on one side. Everyone who knows me knows that I have such a jade pendant. If you have ever taken my jade pendant, come with me to the side room and let the maid check it out."

"A servant is nothing." Yi Ning smiled and said, "If you want to talk about a servant, my servant can testify that you have never given me any jade pendant."

A lady at the back said, "My lady, the man in front of you is the son of Duke Xu. I think you should just let him go and take a look. If he doesn't have anything to take, then forget it. But if he does, you still have to return it to him."

"Yeah, you're so young, don't lie. If you took something from someone else, just return it."

There were whispers of discussion coming from all around, most of which were in favor of Xu Yong.

Zhenzhu said to Yining secretly, "Miss, why don't you tell him that we are from the Duke of Ying's Mansion so that he won't bother her anymore."

Yi Ning was reluctant to bring up the Duke of Yingguo's residence. While that would have immediately calmed the situation, the crowd here was too crowded. Hearing she was from the Duke of Yingguo's residence, and seeing her entangled with Xu Yong, she didn't know how the news would spread. As the saying goes, gossip can be terrifying. "There's a lot of people here. Call him aside and talk alone," Yi Ning whispered to Zhenzhu.

"Since you want to investigate, allow me to talk to you for a moment." Yining stood up.

Xu Yong's heart moved secretly, and he smiled and held out his hand: "Madam, please come this way with me, and I will have a maid to check you out."

He didn't just want the jade pendant; he was simply itching to get closer to this young lady. If she weren't married, he could have immediately gone back and proposed marriage to her. But she was married. Normally, he wouldn't have taken any action after a marriage, no matter how much he liked her. But this one was so desirable. He had to find a good way to get her, preferably severing ties with her former husband's family.

He didn't know whose daughter-in-law she was... She looked unfamiliar, so she probably wasn't from a wealthy family. If she was just an ordinary wealthy woman, he could just go to her house and use both soft and hard tactics to win her over.

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