Win or lose, the jade pendant would be hers either way?

San Niang was surprised!

Others could never dream of getting any advantage from her, and she never took advantage from others either.

But now, Muruo had given her such a great advantage. To be honest, she really didn’t dare accept it.

Perhaps seeing her hesitation, Muruo said, “What? Worried this jade pendant is poisoned?”

“That’s not it.” San Niang smiled, leaning her body forward slightly, lifting the corners of her rosy lips as she said, “Recently, I heard that the court lost a batch of treasures. You’re giving me this jade pendant so generously? Could it be… stolen goods?”

Stolen goods?

This statement thoroughly amused Muruo.

He removed the cup he had placed over it, revealing the translucent jade beneath, then poked at it with his finger.

“Take a good look and see whether this jade is stolen goods or not.”

San Niang paused briefly, then extended her slender fingers, hooked up the jade pendant, and examined it by rolling it between her fingertips for a few moments.

Then—

She tucked it into her bosom, letting it slide down inside her clothing.

The next moment, she thrust her chest forward even more, saying with extreme charm, “Whether it’s stolen goods or not, since this thing was given by you, sir, it’s now mine. If you regret it, sir, you can still take it back now… there’s still time.”

The thing had already gone inside the clothing at her chest—how could he take it back?

Muruo didn’t even glance at it, saying, “Things given to women—there’s no reason to take them back.”

“Then… shall we still drink?”

“Of course we must drink.”

With that, he picked up a bowl of wine and drained it in one gulp.

Premium Daughter’s Red wine—it truly was satisfying to drink.

Still savoring it, he licked his lips, closed his eyes slightly, and sighed while shaking his head. “To be able to drink such good wine at this mountain inn—what great fortune.”

Then he drank another bowl.

San Niang propped her elbow on the table, half her body tilted to the side, her tender gaze fixed intently on Muruo.

“If you like it, sir, you can stay. I’ll give you premium Daughter’s Red to drink every day.”

What a thirsty appearance!

Muruo didn’t respond to her words, but his wine craving came up, and he drank five bowls in succession.

One gulp per bowl!

Only when he felt somewhat uncomfortable from San Niang’s staring did he finally push a bowl of wine in front of her.

“Drinking alone, this wine doesn’t smell quite as fragrant.”

San Niang’s gaze became even more tender. “Alright, then tonight I’ll drink my fill with you, sir.”

With that, she lifted her bare arm, picked up the wine, and downed it in one gulp.

Several bowls in succession!

The two wine lovers drank an entire jar of Daughter’s Red, bowl after bowl.

But neither showed the slightest sign of intoxication.

It was as if they had drunk an entire jar of water.

San Niang also swayed her slender waist as she stood up, walked behind Muruo, and naturally draped her hand over his shoulder, then—

It traveled downward, reaching his chest.

Seeing that Muruo didn’t resist, San Niang brazenly slipped her hand inside his clothing at his chest.

Her fingers curled, just about to pull out whatever was inside—

Her wrist was suddenly twisted.

Muruo applied force with his knuckles, bent San Niang’s hand, and pulled it out from his clothing.

A fling!

San Niang’s body froze, her hands clenched into tight fists.

Muruo glanced at her sideways. He wasn’t angry, but simply said flatly, “If San Niang wants my silver, you can say so openly and honestly, and I’ll definitely give it to you.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, sir.”

A look of complete innocence!

Muruo simply pulled out what was in his chest and tossed it onto the table.

It landed with a thud!

But it wasn’t silver—it was a stone.

“I’m a poor man, thoroughly and completely poor. The only valuable thing on me is that piece of jade you took. As for this stone… I just picked it up by the creek today. Because I thought it looked nice, I stuffed it in my pocket. If San Niang likes it, take it.”

San Niang’s mouth twitched.

She rubbed her wrist that had been twisted red by Muruo.

She didn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed though. Instead, she smiled ingratiatingly, twisted her body, and sat down beside him again.

“Sir, please don’t misunderstand me. I, Du San Niang, am not the type who likes to get her hands dirty with gold.”

“That’s best then.” Muruo smiled dismissively.

Then—

He drained the last bowl of wine in one gulp.

Picking up the empty bowl, he tapped it downward.

“Didn’t you say there was enough? This wine is all gone.”

San Niang sprang to her feet. “Alright, I’ll bring you more wine right away, sir.”

And she swayed her body as she went out!

Just as she stepped outside, she heard a slightly tearful female voice.

“Sister Zhanmo, what’s wrong? Please don’t scare me.”

A woman lay collapsed on the ground, her face pale, while the young girl beside her was so anxious that tears streamed down.

“Oh my, what happened?” San Niang walked over to ask.

The young girl said, “My sister suddenly fainted.”

San Niang looked carefully—could she be dead?

If someone died in her inn, that would be disastrous!

Hearing the commotion, Muruo followed out immediately. Squinting, he glanced at Zhanmo lying unconscious on the ground, let out a heavy breath, stepped forward and crouched down, then said coldly to the girl, “Move aside.”

Then he picked up Zhanmo.

“Which room?” he asked.

The young girl was stunned for a moment, frozen in place.

Muruo asked again, “Which room?”

“Oh, it’s… that one.”

The young girl pointed in a direction.

Muruo then carried Zhanmo to her room and laid her on the bed.

Soon, the troupe master and the people from the opera troupe learned of it and came over.

The commotion was quite loud, disturbing Jingrong. He asked his guard, “What happened?”

The guard answered, “Just now a woman fainted. Young Master Muruo carried her to a room. He’s probably treating her.”

“Who?”

“One of the young ladies from that group by the creek today.”

Hmm?

Jingrong was curious.

After thinking for a moment, he went over to see what was happening.

When he reached the doorway, he saw Muruo competently taking the young lady’s pulse.

His face was flushed red—he’d obviously drunk quite a bit of wine. The room was also permeated with the fragrance of wine.

Jingrong shook his head. If this man ever went a day without drinking, the sun would probably rise from the west.

Inside the room, the troupe master anxiously stamped his feet, constantly saying, “If something happens, what will we do?”

Others said, “Master, don’t worry. Sister Zhanmo will be fine.”

“If something happens to her, that would be disastrous. We already agreed to perform at the Zhang residence for the birthday celebration. They specifically requested Zhanmo to sing. If something happens to her, what will I tell them? I’ll have to compensate them with silver!”

He pressed the back of one hand against the palm of the other and slapped them together several times.

The so-called penalty fee.

It would probably be a devastating loss.

And the young girl who had been crying all along said, “Master, at a time like this, Sister Zhanmo’s health is most important. All these years, Sister Zhanmo has performed in so many shows without ever resting. If it weren’t for that, she wouldn’t have collapsed from exhaustion.”

“What? So this is my fault? You ungrateful wretches, I provide food and clothing for you, and now you turn around and criticize me? If not for me, you’d all starve to death. Zhanmo works so hard precisely so you can all have a full meal!”

“…”

“In our troupe, Zhanmo is the pillar. If something happens to her, you can all go drink the northwest wind, and I’ll have to compensate Master Zhang with silver—several hundred taels!”

The troupe master calculated in his mind—if something happened to Zhanmo, the performance at the wealthy merchant Master Zhang’s residence in Anfu would fall through, and the silver he’d already received would have to be paid back double.