Chapter 37

The woman did not turn around, her gaze shifting to the guests below, and her cherry lips parted, "If even the garden owner doesn't know, how could Yanran know?"

In the private room, a figure in a white dress sat upright, her face veiled, exuding a cold and distant aura. Her eyes were icy, like a thousand-year-old glacier, giving people a chill. Behind her, two maidservants stood respectfully.

"Everyone says Xie Yanran has a heart of wisdom and grace, but it turns out there are things Xie Yanran doesn't know. Xiao Huan, send a jar of hundred-year-old Daughter Red to the four below."

"Yes, Garden Owner."

The maidservant turned and left.

Xie Yanran turned, came to the table, and sat down with a slight smile, "So there's wine the Garden Owner needs to give away."

"Wine is meant to be drunk. What's the harm in giving a few jars? But you, you've given away your heart, and you don't even care about me anymore."

Xie Yanran smiled, her face like that of a celestial being, even the maidservant was entranced.

"What do you mean, Garden Owner? If Yanran wants to leave, the Garden Owner can't stop her. Why not part ways amicably? Your actions are making it difficult for Yanran."

"Hmph!" The woman in the white dress snorted coldly. The maidservant, who had been entranced, quickly begged for mercy. The woman in the white dress didn't look at her, her icy eyes fixed on Xie Yanran, "The Evil King wants to take you away, but he must prove his worth. Go, if he can take you out of here, then go, and never come back."

"Yanran thanks the Garden Owner!" Xie Yanran stood up, bowed to the woman in the white dress, took a deep breath, her eyes filled with determination, and pushed open the door, walking out.

The sound of the guzheng stopped. On the red platform, the dancing women all retreated, and all the guests focused their attention.

Ding... ding... ding...

The sound of a bell rang out. Red curtains suddenly descended from the four sides of the building, and a red silk ribbon slowly fell. On the red silk, a seductive woman in a red dress began to dance, her body swaying, her movements graceful, like a fiery red spirit.

Ning Wuxie, who was drinking, was also drawn to the figure. The woman in the red dress wore a red Hu-style outfit, similar to Indian dance attire from his previous life. Her hair, like a waterfall, fell to her waist, gently swaying, her movements graceful and light. Her neck, smooth and white, was adorned with a small golden bell. Her waist, slender and supple, performed difficult movements. Her long, white, delicate hands, either holding a flower or resembling a crane, revealed her snow-white belly, and her bare, white, tender feet.

Every part of the woman's body exuded allure.

The sound of the bell rose with her dance, and the entire building fell silent. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the red spirit, entranced.

As the red-clad woman landed, a drumbeat echoed, followed by a rousing drum and music. Her gentle movements became wild, each move bold and expansive, exuding a sense of grandeur. The drum and music, fast-paced and rhythmic, were both sexy and seductive, like a fire burning, stirring the blood of every guest.

Thump... thump...

The music ended, and the red-clad woman twisted her waist, grabbing the red silk, her body spinning in the air. The sound of the bell and the drum, the beautiful dance, brought the atmosphere to a climax.

Applause, a wave of applause, echoed throughout the building.

The red-clad woman landed, bowed to all sides, her bright eyes and red lips inviting, like a flame that could instantly ignite a man's desire. She was the top courtesan of Yixiang Garden, Jin Ling'er.

"Thank you, gentlemen, for your support. I am deeply grateful. Here, I will first offer you a cup of wine!"

Jin Ling'er smiled, picked up a cup of wine, and drank it in one go.

"Good... Miss Jin is so bold, we can't be outdone. I, Li Gongtai, will also offer you a cup of wine." A voice rang out, and Li Gongtai raised his cup and drank it in one go.

"Again, Li Gongtai. This guy is no good, always trying to outshine everyone, toasting Miss Jin!" Another young master spoke up.

Laughter erupted around them. These were the sons of officials from Jiangnan, regulars at Yixiang Garden, all familiar with each other, joking and entertaining themselves.

"Unfortunately, today, gentlemen are not here for Ling'er."

Jin Ling'er, who had been smiling a moment ago, suddenly looked on the verge of tears. Her melancholic voice was truly heart-wrenching, instantly awakening the softness in men's hearts.

Suddenly, Jin Ling'er's face lit up again, "Today, the top courtesan of Jiangnan, Xie Yanran, is a guest at Yixiang Garden."

The crowd parted, and a woman in white gracefully approached, as if stepping out of a painting. It was hard to describe her beauty; all words seemed to lose their color before her. She was a transcendent, ethereal fairy, untouched by the world.

Jin Ling'er exuded a fiery passion, stirring desire, while Xie Yanran exuded a serene, otherworldly calm, untouchable and pure.

Xie Yanran walked onto the platform, smiled at Jin Ling'er, bowed to the guests, and then spread her sleeves, sitting before the guzheng.

Xie Yanran's eyebrows were like emerald feathers, her teeth like pearls, her skin like snow, her waist slender. Her hands moved gracefully over the guzheng, her body hidden in the red curtains, like a fairy, incomparably beautiful.

The music began, soft and gentle, like a lover's whisper, sweet and resolute. The guests alternated between smiles and frowns, between sweetness and sorrow, entranced and immersed in the music.

Ning Wuxie closed his eyes, lost in the music, recalling the past. Then, he and she were like this, sweet with a hint of shyness, the gentlest part of his heart, now awakened by the music, two clear tears streaming down his face.

The music had long stopped, but the building remained silent. A scholar, who had been playing with his wine cup, had tears in his eyes. He stood up, picked up his sword, and with a flick of his wrist, the scabbard shattered. He picked up a bottle of wine and drank it in one go.

The sword drawn, the red curtains turned into a shower of red. The scholar, sword in hand, slowly landed beside Xie Yanran, his eyes filled with indescribable emotion, and softly called, "Yanran, I'll take you away!"

Xie Yanran, like a celestial being, stood up, her eyes filled with infinite tenderness, tears in her eyes, and threw herself into the scholar's arms.

In the private room, the woman in the white dress watched the two, who looked like a divine couple, and sighed, "Why go through this?"

The red curtains fell, blocking everyone's view. The guards of Yixiang Garden entered, "Sorry, there has been an unexpected incident in the garden. Please leave now, and today's expenses will be waived."

The guests, unsure of what had happened, saw a scholar with a sword enter. However, in a place like Yixiang Garden, such incidents were not uncommon, so they left with regret.

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