The next evening, just before work was about to begin, Susu secretly came to find Yang Ruoning. The little foodie was quite particular about food. She told Yang Ruoning to meet her at the usual time in the central garden.
Yang Ruoning asked her, "Aren't you afraid of being seen again? I don't want to work for free this month."
Susu leaned close to Yang Ruoning's ear and whispered, "I've found a nice, quiet spot."
"Where?" Yang Ruoning asked.
"Hui Niang's courtyard," she said with a hint of pride.
"Hui Niang's courtyard? Are you crazy?"
"No one is around her courtyard after dark. As long as we're careful and quiet, no one will ever know. Trust me, sister." She grinned confidently.
Yang Ruoning looked skeptical. "But doesn't Hui Niang have guests? If we go in the middle of the night, won't we... hear noises from inside the room..."
"Heh, the livelier it is in their room, the less they'll notice us in the courtyard." Susu was quite pleased with her cleverness.
Yang Ruoning was somewhat speechless. But unable to think of another good place, she reluctantly agreed.
When the bustle of Fan Lou had subsided and all was silent, Yang Ruoning followed Susu to Hui Niang's secluded courtyard. Before Susu pushed open the slightly ajar carved wooden door, Yang Ruoning hesitantly pulled her back. "Is... is this okay?"
"Sister, what are you afraid of? Don't tell me...?" She glanced at Yang Ruoning and said, "Sister, this is a brothel, do you still care about such things?"
Hearing this, Yang Ruoning's face immediately flushed red. Before she could explain that she didn't mean that, Susu pulled her along and pushed open the door, entering the courtyard.
The courtyard was quiet, Hui Niang's room had its door tightly shut, and candlelight shone brightly within. The two of them tiptoed to the stone table and sat down. Yang Ruoning gave Susu a meaningful look. She raised her eyebrows towards Hui Niang's room, asking if she wasn't saying it was in full swing now, why was there no sound. Susu patted her shoulder, as if to say, "Don't worry, sister."
Seemingly very confident in her judgment, Susu had already picked up something from the bowl and began to eat heartily. Yang Ruoning carefully laid out her paper and ink, afraid of making any noise.
However, Yang Ruoning felt that this place was not suitable for lingering. Acting on the principle of a swift conclusion, she hastily drew a few strokes and urged Susu to quickly write down the address. Susu, not yet finished eating, shook her hand, indicating that they should talk after she was done.
Perhaps because Susu's movements were a bit too large, her elbow accidentally knocked against the bowl. With a *crack*, the bowl fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. Yang Ruoning and Susu were also startled by the sudden accident, and the people in the room clearly heard the commotion. Yang Ruoning quickly grabbed the things on the table and pulled the still-stunned Susu to run outside, but unexpectedly collided head-on with someone at the doorway. Yang Ruoning's nose hit the person's chest, and it hurt. She covered her nose and looked up, only to meet a pair of bright eyes.
The eyes held a brilliant starlight, so bright that she could see her own reflection. Yang Ruoning stared, somewhat entranced. Susu, seeing her dazed expression, immediately nudged her. Only then did Yang Ruoning snap back to reality. Wait, this General Luo shouldn't be in that room?
Over there, the room door creaked open, and Hui Niang emerged. "Who's outside?" Hui Niang exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the three people in the courtyard. She hastily closed the door and then walked over. Seeing her approach, Yang Ruoning subconsciously shifted aside.
"General Luo... why are you here at this hour?" Hui Niang asked.
"...Just taking a walk around," Luo Yuan replied after a moment's hesitation.
Hmm? Such a strange habit. This General Luo seems to really like wandering around late at night, Yang Ruoning thought.
Hui Niang turned around and sternly whispered, "Susu, what are you doing in this courtyard in the middle of the night?"
Susu's face turned red, and she stammered, "N-nothing... Sister Ruoning wanted me to... teach her to write." Susu pointed at Yang Ruoning, a sudden inspiration striking her.
"Yes, yes, I came to learn calligraphy from Susu," Yang Ruoning added, pointing to the crumpled paper in her arms.
"Why specifically learn calligraphy in this courtyard? Didn't I tell you that there are distinguished guests here these days, and you shouldn't cause any trouble?" Hui Niang reprimanded.
Susu, realizing she had made a mistake, lowered her head.
"Hui Niang, there's no need to blame these two young ladies. They were originally in the central courtyard, and perhaps I suddenly intruded and disturbed them. That's why they came over," Luo Yuan said, unexpectedly explaining to Hui Niang.
Hui Niang said, "Since General Luo is interceding, I'll let you off for now. Do not trespass again."
Yang Ruoning immediately nodded. She gave Luo Yuan a slight nod and smiled, thanking him for speaking up for them. Luo Yuan paused slightly when he saw her smile at him, but then smiled back immediately.
As Yang Ruoning and Susu were about to leave, the room door creaked open. Someone emerged and called out, "Yang Ruoning!"
Yang Ruoning was startled and immediately turned to look at the person. It turned out to be the young man from the boat! A surge of anger rose in her heart, and she blurted out, "Why are you here, you brat!" Thinking about how this brat, as an emperor, had borrowed money and not repaid it, she became even more infuriated. She strode quickly to him, grabbed his collar, "You have money to play around here, but no money to pay me back?"
The young man looked helpless. "Xiao Guizi and I looked for you for days but couldn't find you. Who knew you'd be here."
"Hmph, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here washing dishes."
Hui Niang, seeing Yang Ruoning grab his collar, turned pale with fright. "Let go immediately!" she cried, rushing over and pulling Yang Ruoning away. Hui Niang berated, "How can you be so disrespectful of status! Apologize to the guest quickly!"
The young man surprisingly pulled Yang Ruoning to his side and said coldly to Hui Niang, "This doesn't concern you." Hui Niang froze, unable to believe what she had heard.
After the young man had ushered everyone else out of the courtyard, he said to Yang Ruoning, "Miss Yang, at first, I was delayed by some matters, but later I sent Xiao Guizi to find you. Xiao Guizi searched all over the capital and couldn't find you. Today I came... I came out to find you..."
"Ha! And you found your way to this brothel? Hmph, very good!" Yang Ruoning scoffed. "Stop the nonsense and give me my money!"
The young man scratched his head, looking somewhat troubled. "...I don't have any money on me right now..."
"If you don't have money, why are you visiting a brothel!"
"You can buy on credit! Besides..."
Yang Ruoning glared at the hesitant, ear-scratching young man. Thinking of his final fate in the prophecy, her heart softened by half. "Forget it. Next time, have Xiao Guizi look for me here."
Hearing her tone soften, he immediately said, "Of course, of course. Take this first, as my apology." He then unfastened a jade pendant tied to his belt and placed it in Yang Ruoning's hand.
Yang Ruoning didn't stand on ceremony. "Alright, consider this a pledge. I'll return it to you when you've paid me back. I won't delay your important business, I'm leaving now." Suddenly, she thought of something. "Oh, right, I haven't asked your name yet."
"You can call me Qing Ye," he said, flashing her a smile.