Chapter 60
It was already dark when they returned to the manor. As soon as they got off the carriage, the maids from Luoshuang Courtyard were already waiting at the gate. Upon seeing their mistress return, they stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Miss, Young Master." As they spoke, they secretly glanced at Xiao Yu, as if they wanted to say something but then stopped themselves.
Song Luoning frowned and said in a deep voice, "Why are you hesitating?"
The young maid was startled and hurriedly knelt on the ground, not daring to hide anything: "It was...it was Miss Yuan who sent me to invite the young master over..." Her voice grew softer and softer.
"What did she say?" Song Luoning asked.
“She…” The maid glanced at Xiao Yu again.
Song Luoning's face darkened: "Have you forgotten who your master is?"
The young maidservant knelt down, saying, "This servant wouldn't dare, but..."
"explain!"
"Yes, Miss Yuan said she was bestowed upon him by the Emperor..." The maid glanced at Xiao Yu and gritted her teeth, "She said she was given to the young master by the Emperor and asked me to invite him over."
The air froze instantly.
"Please forgive me, Miss. Everything I said is true."
Song Luoning tightened her jade-like fingers, which were half-hidden under her sleeves, and said coldly without even glancing at Xiao Yu, "Cuizhu, help me back."
"Yes." Cuizhu glared at Xiao Yu as she helped her young mistress step over the threshold.
What a mess! Just when the young lady had stopped arguing with me, that maid Yuan came out to cause trouble again so quickly. She's really ruined my life.
Xiao Yu was anxious and didn't care about the kneeling maid on the ground. She hurriedly caught up with the young lady: "Madam, don't listen to her nonsense. I already explained it very clearly at the Prime Minister's residence. I really have nothing to do with her, you know that..."
Song Luoning suddenly stopped and turned around to look at her.
“My lady…” Xiao Yu wanted to take her hand, but hesitated. He blinked his peach blossom eyes and looked at her with a wronged expression.
After a while, Song Luoning's expression softened, and she pondered for a moment before saying, "Husband, you should go and see her. Just in case something really happened. After all, she helped you when you were in the palace."
“But…” Xiao Yu opened her mouth, but obediently shut it under Song Luoning’s cold gaze, looking at her expectantly: “I know, I’ll be right back.”
Song Luoning didn't speak, lowered her eyes, turned around and slowly walked away with Cuizhu's help.
They're leaving already?
Xiao Yu gazed at Song Luoning's figure with a mournful expression until she completely disappeared from sight. Feeling a little dejected, he asked irritably, "Where is she now?"
The maidservant reported, "Young master, Miss Yuan is in Luoshuang Courtyard."
"You lead the way."
"yes."
A moment later, they arrived at Luoshuang Courtyard with the little maid.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Yuan Niang came out to greet him, swaying her hips. She was still wearing the revealing exotic dance costume from the palace, her figure graceful and alluring, the thin fabric barely concealing her curves. If a man saw her, he would surely be aroused, but unfortunately, she was not a man. Xiao Yu glanced at her indifferently: "Speak, what do you want with me?"
Yuan Niang smiled charmingly: "Look at what you're saying, young master. I invited you here because I missed you. I wonder if you've had your meal yet? I've had my maid prepare dinner."
Already harboring resentment, it would have been better if she hadn't asked. But now that she had been asked, Xiao Yu's temper flared up instantly. If it weren't for her, she would definitely be having dinner with the young lady right now.
She said irritably, "I'm not hungry. What do you want?"
Yuan Niang was not annoyed. She took Xiao Yu's arm, her eyes sparkling, and chuckled softly, her voice extremely seductive as she said, "Yuan Niang is now yours, young master, so of course I want to stay with you." Her slender, boneless hands rested on Xiao Yu's arm.
Xiao Yu brushed her hand away with disdain: "Speak properly, I have nothing to do with you."
"How could that be? We faced life and death together today."
"..."
"How could Young Master Xiao have forgotten what happened in the palace?" Seeing that she didn't speak, Yuan Niang pressed herself against him, her nose instantly filled with the strong scent of perfume. Xiao Yu pushed her away in disgust and took a step back: "Why are you getting so close when you're just talking? Haven't you made my wife misunderstand me enough?"
Yuan Niang staggered and leaned against the table, her voice filled with grievance: "Young master, how can you wrong Yuan Niang like this? Everything Yuan Niang said is the truth, it's just that Madam doesn't believe it."
Hearing the resentment in her voice, Xiao Yu couldn't help but sneer inwardly. If he didn't know her purpose, he probably would have believed it himself.
Now was not the time to lose her temper, so she cleared her throat and softened her tone: "What exactly did you want to see me about?"
Yuan Niang smiled and said, "Yuan Niang just wanted to talk to the young master."
"..." Xiao Yu choked, finally unable to bear it any longer: "Can you please stop making things worse?" He turned and left.
After Xiao Yu left, a cold smile slowly spread across her beautiful face. Her red lips were extremely alluring in the candlelight. She murmured, "Looks like I didn't manage to appease her. This young lady's temper is really something else. She's nowhere near as good as me."
It seemed like a regret.
Xiao Yu left Luoshuang Courtyard and headed straight for the eldest young lady's courtyard. Just as she was about to enter, she was stopped by a maid outside.
"Why are you blocking my way? Get out of my way." Xiao Yu frowned. Did these clueless maids realize she was in a hurry? They were standing there like wooden blocks. She would definitely teach them a lesson when she had time.
The maidservant curtsied and said, "Miss instructed that if the young master returns, I should take you to the study."
study?
Xiao Yu asked in surprise, "What is your young lady doing in the study so late?"
Why can't we talk about this in the house? Why do we have to go to the study?
Maid: "Miss is not in the study. Instead, I have asked you to go there."
? !
Now Xiao Yu understood. It turned out that after all that fuss, he had been kicked out by the young lady.
Why would she sleep in the study when she's perfectly fine?
Xiao Yu pushed aside the maids blocking her way and opened the door. Just then, Cui Zhu lifted the curtain and came out of the inner room. Seeing Xiao Yu barging in without regard for her safety, she made a shushing gesture, lowered her voice, and whispered, "Miss has already gone to bed. Young Master, you should go to the study. Please don't make Miss angry anymore."
What did she mean by telling her not to make Song Luoning angry anymore? Xiao Yu felt wronged; she was the one who felt most wronged in this whole affair.
Song Luoning knew perfectly well that she had no choice but to do everything, and that she almost couldn't make it back today. No one could be as wronged as her.
She asked, "What else did you say, my lady?"
She was already angry with her, but the young lady had instructed her not to make things difficult for the young master and to let her sleep in the study.
Cuizhu glanced into the inner room. She had already displeased the young lady today, and she couldn't afford to make things go wrong again.
She paused for a moment, then said, "Young master, we're just following orders. Miss is already asleep. Would it be better to discuss this tomorrow?"
Xiao Yu choked and reluctantly followed the maid to the study. A soft couch had been placed in the study, which hadn't been there before; it must have been brought in by the young lady.
The maid brought the person over, curtsied to her, and withdrew.
Xiao Yu was left alone in the study. He lay on the soft couch, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. He didn't know how much time had passed before the sound of the night watchman's drum came from outside.
It was already past midnight. In ancient times, there was no entertainment at night, and Baisheng also had a curfew. At this time, most people were already asleep.
Xiao Yu climbed up from the soft couch and secretly returned to Song Luoning's courtyard, sneaking in through the window to avoid the night watch maid.
The room was brightly lit by candlelight, and the calming fragrance of incense wafted through the air, somewhat similar to the scent on the young lady.
Xiao Yu tiptoed and lifted the bed curtains. The beauty lay on her side beside him, her delicate, palm-sized face buried in the pillow, and wisps of hair falling down her forehead to cover the tip of her nose. She had shed her usual gentleness and looked very obedient.
Xiao Yu stared blankly for a long time, then sighed. What a heartless woman! He couldn't sleep because he was thinking about her in the study, but she was sleeping soundly without a care in the world.
Xiao Yu took a deep breath, rolled onto the bed, and lay down against the outer side.
"Mmm~" In a daze, Song Luoning felt herself fall into a warm embrace.
Um?
Song Luoning suddenly opened her eyes. Candlelight shone through the bed curtains, revealing a fair and handsome profile. She instantly woke up, sat up in bed, and said in a hoarse voice, "Why are you back?"
She had clearly instructed someone to kick her out, and there was a maid on night duty outside the door. Without her permission, the maid would never have let her in. So there was only one possibility: she climbed in through the window.
This lecherous fellow is truly audacious and reckless.
Xiao Yu blinked, took her hand, and kissed it: "Sleeping on the soft couch isn't comfortable at all, so I came over."
Song Luoning looked down at her hands clasped together, her heart trembled, and she whispered, "Go back at dawn, and have someone change your bed tomorrow."
no!
Hearing her say that, Xiao Yu became anxious. Even if it was just an act for Yuan Niang, she could have sneaked back at night when everyone was asleep and gone back in the morning, right? Why did she have to stay in the study?
"I won't sleep in the study," Xiao Yu said firmly, then pulled the blanket up to cover himself completely, acting like a rogue.
That lecherous scoundrel.
Song Luoning's breath hitched. She was becoming more and more disobedient. Not only was she bold and lecherous, but now she wouldn't even listen to her. After a while, she didn't see her come out and worried that she would get bored. Song Luoning curled her fingers: "Come out and talk first."
"You agree first." A muffled sound came from under the blanket, as if it was determined to wear her down.
Song Luoning sighed softly, all her eighteen years of restraint ruined by this lecherous man: "If you're not going to come out, then stay inside."
"......"
Xiao Yu lifted the corner of the blanket, revealing a pair of eyes, and said aggrievedly, "Don't you really care about me anymore?"
How could she say such shameless things? Song Luoning took a deep breath. She was angry. This person had brought another woman back from outside without even offering an explanation, and now he was blaming her instead.
What kind of logic is this? You shouldn't be so soft-hearted.
Seeing her pitiful look, he couldn't bring himself to be harsh, and all his grievances turned into a sigh.
"Now that you know why I sent you to the study, you shouldn't be so willful."
"That's exactly why I don't want to. You can tell outsiders that you've sent me to sleep on the ground, since she won't come to see me anyway."
How do you know she won't come?
"I......"
The sound of a maid moving around came from outside the door, followed by a hushed inquiry: "Is there anything you need, Miss?"
Xiao Yu blinked innocently.
Song Luoning pursed her lips.
The maid listened to the door for a while, and when she was sure there was no sound inside, she shook her head, looking puzzled. Could it be that she had misheard?
She yawned and lay back down.
After a while, once he was sure the maid was asleep, Xiao Yu lowered his voice and said, "My lady."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com