Reluctance

Linlang Pavilion not only sold various jade articles, gold items, and rare objects, but it also had skilled craftsmen who could repair precious items. Of course, repairing something once might be more expensive than buying a new one.

Xie Wan got off the carriage and just entered Linlang Pavilion when a shop assistant greeted her, “Miss, what would you like to buy?”

Xie Wan looked at him and said, “I’m not here to buy anything. I just want to ask the master of your shop to repair a jade pendant. This pendant is quite valuable, and I would like to meet the shopkeeper.”

The shop assistant glanced at her, then glanced at the carriage outside the door, hesitated for a moment, and said, “Miss, please come to the second floor.”

Linlang Pavilion had three floors. The first floor displayed delicate objects, while the second floor was for distinguished guests and had separate private rooms. The third floor was not open to the public, rumored to hold the most exquisite items of Linlang Pavilion.

The shop assistant led Xie Wan to a private room on the second floor, offered her tea, and then left.

Xie Wan took off her hat and placed it aside, quietly savoring the tea. Although it was her first time in such a splendid place, she didn’t feel much discomfort and stood quietly by the side.

After a while, the shopkeeper of Linlang Pavilion arrived. Seeing Xie Wan’s appearance, he was momentarily stunned before regaining his composure. He bowed and apologized, “Miss, your celestial beauty has caught me off guard. My surname is Mu, and I am the shopkeeper of Linlang Pavilion. May I ask what jade pendant you want to repair?”

“So you’re Shopkeeper Mu.”

Xie Wan took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and carefully placed it on the table, then slowly unfolded it. “This jade pendant was given to me by an esteemed person, and I cherish it greatly.”

At this point, she sighed and looked somewhat disappointed. “Unfortunately, my maid is clumsy and accidentally broke it. I wanted to see if your shop could repair it.”

On the side, Rushi observed with a calm demeanor. Well, it’s true that she is not only clumsy but also slippery.

Shopkeeper Mu stepped forward, carefully picked up the broken jade pendant, and when he saw the inscription on it, his hand trembled and almost dropped it again.

He looked up at Xie Wan in astonishment. “This...”

Xie Wan nodded at him. “Just as Shopkeeper Mu thought.”

Shopkeeper Mu looked at the broken jade pendant in his hand and then at Xie Wan. After hesitating for a while, he said, “This jade pendant is truly precious. I’m not sure if we can repair it. Let me find a few masters later to take a look. If the miss trusts us, you can leave the jade pendant here, and you can come back tomorrow.”

Xie Wan didn’t hesitate at all and immediately nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll come back tomorrow. But...”

Shopkeeper Mu looked at her. “But what?”

Xie Wan smiled at him, feeling a bit embarrassed. “To be honest, I haven’t been back to the capital for long, and I haven’t gone out much. I’m a bit cautious. It’s not that I don’t trust Shopkeeper Mu, but this jade pendant is too important to me. I would like to leave it in your care and trouble Shopkeeper Mu to provide me with a written receipt.”

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Mu was momentarily stunned, but then he quickly said, “Of course, of course. It’s my oversight. Even for ordinary items left in Linlang Pavilion, a receipt should be provided. Miss Xie, please wait a moment.”

Shopkeeper Mu wrote a receipt and handed it to Xie Wan. She glanced at it, confirmed that it stated it was the personal jade pendant of Prince Ning, and then carefully kept the receipt, put on her hat, and said to Shopkeeper Mu, “Thank you for your trouble.”

Shopkeeper Mu carefully placed the jade pendant back on the handkerchief, personally saw her off the floor, and watched her board the carriage before hastily turning back to the shop assistant. “Quick, prepare the carriage. I have urgent matters to attend to.”

After leaving Linlang Pavilion and getting on the carriage, Xie Wan looked at the receipt in her hand, feeling extremely pleased. The corners of her lips never stopped curling upwards.

Rushi couldn’t figure out why she would break the jade and then repair it. But seeing Xie Wan’s happiness, she couldn’t help but feel happy as well. “Miss looks beautiful when she smiles.”

Xie Wan looked at her and said, “Today’s events turned out better than I imagined, so naturally, I am happy.”

Rushi couldn’t understand, but she didn’t ask further. After all, there were many things she didn’t understand from childhood to now. Anyway, as long as Miss was happy, she would be happy too。

Xie Wan was indeed very happy. She deliberately broke the jade pendant and brought it to Linlang Pavilion, intending to use it as a means to let Princess Royal know about the subtle relationship between her and Li Yu.

The Princess Royal had a favorable impression of her. If she found out about this incident, she would surely invite Xie Wan to the palace for questioning. In this way, Xie Wan could openly and boldly let the influential figures in the capital know that she had gained the favor of Princess Royal, thereby increasing her own value.

However, when the shopkeeper Mu mentioned leaving the jade pendant, Xie Wan suddenly realized that Linlang Pavilion didn’t belong to Princess Royal at all but to Li Yu!

Because if Linlang Pavilion belonged to Princess Royal, the shopkeeper wouldn’t dare to accept the broken jade pendant without being certain of her relationship with Li Yu. After all, if he recklessly presented the jade pendant to Princess Royal, he would easily offend Li Yu and cause unnecessary trouble.

The shopkeeper Mu conducted business by welcoming and sending off customers; he couldn’t be ignorant of this logic. Therefore, the only possibility for him to keep the jade pendant was if he could directly deliver it to Li Yu, the party involved.

Xie Wan carefully kept the note, a smile appearing on her face. What would he think when he saw the broken jade? Would he be annoyed with her? Disgusted? Or would he feel that his momentary kindness had been trampled upon?

Regardless of what he thought, it was better than being forgotten by him. Moreover, the ownership of the jade pendant now belonged to her. There was no reason to give it away for nothing.

As usual, Li Yu was working in his study, with Littel Quan serving him inside. Suddenly, a eunuch rushed in from outside and reported, “Master, the shopkeeper from Linlang Pavilion requests an audience, saying that there is an important matter to discuss.”

Li Yu put down his pen and said calmly, “Let him in.”

The shopkeeper quickly arrived and entered the study, bowing to Li Yu. “This humble servant pays respects to Master.”

Li Yu nodded. “No need for formalities. What brings you here?”

The shopkeeper glanced at him and took out a handkerchief from his sleeve. He approached cautiously and unfolded the handkerchief, revealing the broken jade pendant inside. He bowed and said, “Earlier, a beautiful lady came to Linlang Pavilion and asked this humble servant to repair this jade pendant.”

Little Quan took a glance and exclaimed, “Isn’t this Master’s personal jade pendant?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he covered his mouth in shock.

Oh no! When they were at the Princess Royal’s residence earlier, he overheard the conversation between Master and Miss Xie about the jade pendant. The beautiful lady mentioned by the shopkeeper should be Miss Xie. Besides her, Master’s jade pendant has never fallen into anyone else’s hands.

How could this jade pendant suddenly break?!

Li Yu looked at the jade plaque inside the handkerchief, his handsome face turning cold. He still remembered that day when she was harassed by Wang Deshui, and he asked her why she didn’t use the jade pendant. Her answer was, “I’m reluctant.”

Li Yu sneered, “What a ‘reluctant’ indeed.”