Bai Zhi responded and placed the items on the dressing table as Song Nanxin instructed. Then she began to remove the hairpins and other jewelry from Song Nanxin's hair.
Actually, the hairpin in Song Nanxin's hair was never a gift from Ji Lingchuan. She just wanted to show Song Yihuan that the young master valued her. But the jade pendant was truly something she wanted to give to Ji Lingchuan.
Ji Lingchuan had been back in the capital for nearly two months, but the relationship between the couple had made no progress. They were still as cold and distant as ever.
The mistress of the Jewelry Pavilion was right. She should give him something that he could carry with him all the time, so that every time he saw it, he would think of her. In time, she was sure he would fall for her.
Thinking of this, Song Nanxin's heart fluttered. She turned to Bai Zhi and said, "Go and have someone prepare some dishes the young master likes. Invite the young master to come to Shulan Courtyard for dinner tonight."
Bai Zhi replied, "Yes, miss."
In Shulan Courtyard, a table full of delicious dishes was prepared according to Ji Lingchuan's taste. When the time was right, Song Nanxin sent someone to Jingtao Courtyard to invite him. Before long, Ji Lingchuan arrived.
The man's eyebrows were frosted. When he saw her, his gaze just swept over her face briefly without lingering.
Even though his attitude was not enthusiastic, Song Nanxin was overjoyed that he had graciously accepted her invitation.
She stepped forward to remove his outer robe, but when her fingers were about to touch his right shoulder, he dodged. He said calmly, "Sit down."
Song Nanxin had prepared a lot of dishes according to Ji Lingchuan's taste, filling the table to the brim.
Ji Lingchuan glanced at them, frowned slightly, but said nothing. He sat down and started to eat.
Song Nanxin intended to serve him, but he stopped her again, saying, "There's no need. Just eat in peace."
Being rejected twice in a row, Song Nanxin felt aggrieved. Before she got married, her mother had taught her that in her husband's family, she should always put her husband first and take good care of his daily life.
She had done exactly as her mother said, but Ji Lingchuan not only didn't let her serve him, but also seemed to think she was being over - zealous.
People like him were the most difficult to serve because you could never guess what was on his mind.
Remembering that Ji Lingchuan had once said not to talk during meals, Song Nanxin sat down opposite him and ate in silence.
The meal was as silent as ever, and Ji Lingchuan ate very quickly. Song Nanxin had just taken a few bites when Ji Lingchuan put down his chopsticks.
He actually had no appetite. He had agreed to come because he wanted to ask Song Nanxin in person about the rumors in the Marquis's Mansion.
While waiting, his eyebrows furrowed deeper and deeper.
Song Nanxin had prepared many dishes, but she only took one chopstick - full of each and didn't touch them again after tasting. Some dishes she didn't even touch at all.
Song Nanxin put down her chopsticks and looked up to meet Ji Lingchuan's cold and stern eyes.
There was no trace of affection for his wife in those eyes, only dissatisfaction.
Startled by Ji Lingchuan's gaze, Song Nanxin asked softly, "Young master, why are you looking at me like this?"
Ji Lingchuan asked, "Do you usually eat like this?"
Song Nanxin looked at herself, not understanding what the problem was, and replied, "Of course."
Ji Lingchuan took a deep breath. He wanted to say something, but then thought it was meaningless.
She was a noble lady from a prominent family in the capital. She had been doted on in the Marquis's Mansion since childhood. She had never seen the hardships at the border or the miserable sight of starving refugees all over the mountains. Naturally, she didn't understand the meaning of cherishing things.
He said without any emotion, "Since you have a small appetite, don't prepare so many dishes next time. Prepare only as much as you can eat. Don't be wasteful."
Song Nanxin's breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened slightly.
Wasteful? It was just a few dishes. Was he really going to be so nit - picky with her?!
A surge of anger welled up in Song Nanxin's chest. She clenched the cuffs of her sleeves and forced a smile, saying, "Yes, I understand."
Ji Lingchuan originally wanted to ask Song Nanxin about the rumors in the Marquis's Mansion, but after this conversation, he lost the desire. He got up and was about to leave.
Song Nanxin remembered the jade pendant and quickly said, "Young master, please wait. I have something for you. Please come with me."
Hearing this, Ji Lingchuan followed Song Nanxin into the main room.
Song Nanxin took the brocade box from the dressing table. Blushing shyly, she walked up to Ji Lingchuan, opened the box, took out the white jade pendant, and held it out to him.
"The day after tomorrow we're going to the Duke Jiang's Mansion for a banquet. I thought you usually don't wear any ornaments, so I went to the Jewelry Pavilion today and picked out a gift for you."
Ji Lingchuan's gaze fell on the flawless jade pendant in her hand. Remembering the precious antiques on the walls of Yixiang Pavilion, he asked, "How much did this jade pendant cost?"
Song Nanxin smiled and said, "Only eighty taels of silver."
She thought Ji Lingchuan would happily take the jade pendant, but instead, the frost on his eyebrows deepened.
He said coldly, "I'm not used to wearing jade. These external things will only restrict my movements. Remember, I'm different from those young masters in the capital. Don't lump me in with them. Don't buy such things for me in the future."
After saying that, he didn't look at Song Nanxin again. He turned around and strode out, leaving Song Nanxin standing there in shock, holding the jade pendant.
So, she had been rejected again?!
And what did he mean by that? Did he think she was being over - zealous?
Bai Zhi stepped forward to comfort her, "Don't be discouraged, miss. If the young master doesn't like the jade pendant, we can choose another gift—Miss!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Song Nanxin threw the jade pendant to the ground and smashed it into pieces. She roared angrily, "It's not that he doesn't like the jade pendant. He just doesn't like me!"
"Miss, you're overthinking. How could the young master not like you? If he didn't like you, why would he come to have dinner with you?" Bai Zhi tried to persuade her.
"In my opinion, maybe the young master encountered something today and is in a bad mood, which is why he behaved like this. Aren't you going to the banquet with the young master the day after tomorrow? Surely he won't ignore you then."
"Really?"
Song Nanxin calmed down and nodded, saying, "Yes, you're right."
On the day of the banquet, for the sake of the Prince Ning's Mansion, he couldn't ignore her.
When Ji Lingchuan left Shulan Courtyard, night had fallen.
There were only a few thin clouds in the sky, and the stars filled the sky. It was quiet all around, and the chirping of insects could be heard in his ears.
When he came to his senses, he found that he had unconsciously walked into the pavilion in the garden. His heart was filled with complex emotions.
He used to come to this pavilion often, but recently, all his memories related to this pavilion were about Song Yihuan.
He took a step and walked into the pavilion. His robe brushed against the branches and leaves, startling a cluster of tiny insects.
Suddenly, a voice like the tinkling of a clear spring came from his ear:
"Young master?"
He turned around. In the fireflies like stars, Song Yihuan looked at him in surprise.