Chapter 49 Ambiguity
This young master Li was stubborn and single-minded, focusing all his attention on the eldest daughter of the Song family. Despite being rejected several times, he still pursued her relentlessly. When he heard that the eldest daughter of the Song family had left the capital to get married, he was depressed for a long time and thought he would never see her again. But when Song Luo Ning returned to the capital, he couldn't wait to come looking for her.
Song Luoning nodded calmly. Jiang Wanrou and the others behind her, seeing that there were guests, made an excuse to return to their courtyard.
Xiao Yu helped Song Luoning walk slowly to the round chair and sit down, holding her hand tightly. He didn't sit down but stood beside her. Song Luoning was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Young Master Li, please sit down." She then instructed, "Serve Young Master Li some tea."
"Yes." The maid stepped forward to pour tea.
Seeing Song Luoning sit down, Young Master Li sat down to her left. In between glances, he looked at Song Luoning, then at Xiao Yu, secretly calculating his options. After a while, he finally turned his gaze back to Song Luoning. Once the maid had poured tea, he cleared his throat and said, "I recently traveled and obtained a thousand-year-old ginseng, perfect for nourishing my body." His words were brimming with an innate sense of superiority.
After speaking, he waved to the servant behind him, who carried a square wooden box to Song Luoning. He opened the box and saw a ginseng with thick roots tied with a red ribbon. One glance was enough to tell how precious it was.
Xiao Yu glanced at it, curled his lips, and sneered inwardly, "The young lady doesn't care about your stuff."
Song Luo Ning didn't speak. Her gaze swept over the ginseng, and she picked up her teacup, lowered her eyes, and took a sip, naturally concealing the disgust in her eyes. She said calmly, "Such a precious gift, Young Master Li should take it back. How can Luo Ning accept it?"
Upon hearing the refusal, Young Master Li panicked and hurriedly said, "Miss Song, I actually found this for you on special occasion. The imperial physician said that this thousand-year-old ginseng is very beneficial to your illness."
Song Luoning frowned, clearly displeased that the other party had inquired about her illness. She coldly refused, "Luoning's illness is no longer a problem. I appreciate Young Master Li's kindness."
To everyone's surprise, Young Master Li seemed not to understand and continued, "It's nothing valuable, Miss Song can keep it. Besides, I told Young Master Song about this yesterday, and he even gave me a wolfhound. Miss Song wouldn't want me to be seen as a dishonest person, would she?"
Why are you trying to use moral blackmail?
Just as Xiao Yu was about to speak, the young lady pinched her palm. She blinked and heard Song Luoning smile and say, "In that case, Luoning will accept it on behalf of Third Brother."
What? !
Song Luoning actually accepted it!!!
Xiao Yu was stunned and stared at Song Luoning in disbelief. That Young Master Li clearly had designs on her, so why did Song Luoning accept his gift?
Is it simply because ginseng is beneficial to her illness?
Xiao Yu pulled her hand back, her fingers clenching tightly under her long robe. Her chest felt tight. That ginseng looked very valuable, something she couldn't afford at all. The young lady wanted to take it, and she didn't even have the right to stop her. She lowered her head, a slight sourness in her heart.
Young Master Li continued, "I'm glad Miss Song likes it; it's all worth the long search. Speaking of which, it's been quite a while since we last met since Miss Song left the capital. I wonder if Miss Song would do me the honor of joining me? I've had a banquet prepared at Mingpin Restaurant tomorrow, and then..."
At this point, he glanced at Xiao Yu, who was standing silently with his head down. Ever since Miss Song left the capital, he had inquired with the third son of the Song family and learned that the marriage was not Miss Song's original wish. If the two had not been engaged, Miss Song would not have married this person.
In retrospect, he was nothing more than a poor boy who had never seen the world, nothing to be afraid of.
Furthermore, since Miss Song came in without even a simple introduction, and he accepted my gift in front of her, it's clear that Miss Song isn't very satisfied with her husband. But thinking about it, it's understandable. If a young lady like Song Luoning weren't engaged, why would she look down on a country bumpkin?
Judging from the situation, I still have a good chance. Right now, the best thing to do is to let her know the difference between us, so that she will back down and take the initiative to divorce.
So, Young Master Li concealed his smugness, pretended to be completely unaware, and said with a smile, "This gentleman is Miss Song's friend, right? How about we go together tomorrow?"
They even invited me to go?
Xiao Yu understood the boastful tone and subconsciously looked at Song Luoning's reaction. In her heart, she hoped that Song Luoning would refuse, preferably by making her stance clear.
Song Luoning put down her teacup, looked up to meet Xiao Yuxi's gaze, smiled, and said slowly, "What does my husband think?"
Is this asking for my opinion? How could the young lady possibly be bribed by a ginseng root?
Xiao Yu grinned: "I'll listen to my wife."
Having witnessed her quick change of expression, Song Luoning sighed inwardly. This lecherous man really couldn't hold his temper at all. She curled her lips and said with a smile, "My husband has things to take care of tomorrow, so Luoning will naturally accompany him."
Um?
Xiao Yu was taken aback, but immediately understood that this was the young lady's excuse to avoid Mr. Li. He felt a warmth in his heart: "Well, as long as my wife doesn't find it boring."
"I'm sorry, Young Master Li, it's really unfortunate that my wife and I may not be able to keep our appointment tomorrow," Xiao Yu said regretfully.
"..." Young Master Li's face flushed red and then turned pale. How could things be so different from what he had imagined? How could this be? He looked at Song Luoning, then at Xiao Yu, their eyes almost glued together.
How is that possible?
How could Miss Song possibly be interested in this poor boy?
Yes! Miss Song must have been deceived to be like this. He tried to comfort himself, thinking that once he exposed the poor boy's true colors and rescued Miss Song from her predicament, who else but him would want her, a divorced woman in poor health? He could do whatever he wanted with her.
"Miss Song, we..." Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Yu said, "My wife must be tired after shopping all morning. I'll help her back to her room to rest. As for that Mr. Li, you know my wife isn't feeling well, so we won't entertain him." Xiao Yu helped Song Luo Ning to her feet.
"Steward Zhang, see the guests out," Song Luoning instructed.
Young Master Li: "......"
Butler Zhang had already made the gesture of inviting someone, leaving Young Master Li with no choice but to leave resentfully and unwillingly.
That poor kid infuriated him!
I will never forgive her again!
After Young Master Li left, Xiao Yu glanced at the ginseng on the coffee table, pouted, and said, "My wife really likes this? It just looks a little bigger than usual, nothing special." His tone was rather sour.
Song Luoning naturally sensed the jealousy in her tone, chuckled, and her gaze fell on the ginseng. She followed up on her words, saying, "Husband is right. I don't see any difference."
"If you don't like it, why accept it?" Xiao Yu said, dissatisfied.
Song Luoning looked up at her, and after a long while, slowly said, "Didn't he say that Third Brother gave him a wolf hair brush?"
"......" So the young lady didn't want to suffer a loss, which is why she reluctantly accepted it!
Xiao Yu was shocked!
Countless possibilities flashed through her mind, but she never expected it to be because of this. She realized she knew too little about the young lady and needed to learn more about her in the future.
Song Luoning glanced at him indifferently: "Actually, that's not the whole reason. After all, the Minister of Rites and Father are officials in the same court, so they have to maintain appearances."
Xiao Yu: "..."
It would have been better if he hadn't explained. The explanation only made Xiao Yu feel worse. He looked at Song Luoning with a shocked expression, opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.
Just then, Steward Zhang returned after seeing off Young Master Li.
Song Luoning: "Uncle Zhang, could you please make another trip and deliver this ginseng to Third Brother? Tell him it's a return gift from Young Master Li."
"Yes." Butler Zhang picked up the wooden box and hurriedly left.
"My lady... what is this...?" Xiao Yu was taken aback, her mood instantly brightening. Her eyes lit up as she stared intently at Song Luo Ning.
"What are you doing, aren't you going to help me back to rest?" Song Luoning looked up, her eyes smiling as she met her gaze.
Spring breeze and warm sunshine are present together.
Xiao Yu froze, then said blankly, "Okay."
Song Luoning's lips curled up: "Then why don't you hurry up?"
"Okay." Xiao Yu grinned foolishly.
Song Luoning glanced at her. How did this lecherous woman turn into a fool, constantly grinning like an idiot?
Xiao Yu snapped out of his daze, his throat tightening. He took Song Luoning's hand, stroking it with his fingertips, and leaned forward slightly, saying, "My wife..."
Song Luoning's breath hitched. She tried to pull her hand away, but Xiao Yu held it tightly. Her expression was flustered. She turned her face slightly away, but when she caught a glimpse of Cui Zhu behind her, she was stunned. She stepped on Xiao Yu's foot and quickly left.
"Ouch~" Xiao Yu jumped up in pain. What happened? He was perfectly fine just now.
By the time she realized what was happening, Song Luoning had already passed through the hall and disappeared from sight.
Xiao Yu hurriedly chased after her, entering the house one after the other. At this moment, Song Luoning was already sitting upright on the soft couch, holding a book in her hands. When she saw Xiao Yu come in, she didn't even raise her eyes.
Cuizhu, however, stepped forward and bowed when she saw her follow. She secretly glanced at her young mistress and then at her husband. Thinking of the scene she had just witnessed in the front hall, she realized that her young mistress and husband had a very good relationship. She smiled secretly, picked up the teapot, and prepared to leave.
Song Luoning was embarrassed and annoyed, and called out to her, "Lunch will be eaten in the room. Have someone prepare some hot water later. I want to take a bath."
"Yes," Cuizhu replied and withdrew.
The room fell silent. Xiao Yu glanced at Song Luoning, hesitated for two seconds, then walked to the soft couch, leaned in, and wrapped his hands around her, trapping her in his arms. He called out in a hoarse voice, "My wife~"
Song Luoning was slightly taken aback, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson. "Husband..." Her cheeks burned, and she lowered her eyes, her fingers slowly curling at her sides. The young man's face loomed larger before her, his warm breath seeming to scorch her skin. Their breaths mingled, their nostrils filled with a faint fragrance. Just as he was about to press against her, Song Luoning snapped back to reality, placing her hands on Xiao Yu's chest and whispering, "No..."
"My wife..." How could he refuse at this moment? Xiao Yu's breathing was heavy.
"It's still daytime." Song Luoning turned her face away, trying to avoid the unsettling sound of her breathing.
Xiao Yu was taken aback for a moment, then his eyes lit up instantly: "Does my wife mean it can be done tonight?"
"..." Was that what she meant? Song Luoning remained silent.
Knowing she was shy again, Xiao Yu didn't press her. He paused, sat down beside her, and took her hand, playing with it: "Did that Young Master Li used to visit you often?"
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