The kitchen of the Fan Lou was busy until late into the night before the stoves were extinguished. The tired workers, after a day of toil, had already fallen asleep. Meanwhile, Yang Ruo Ning, seizing the opportunity while the surroundings were deserted, took some leftover food she had secretly saved from the kitchen and sat down in the courtyard garden.
After the dead of night, few guests and servants passed through this area. The small guest room remained stiflingly hot. For the past few nights, she had been sneaking out here to sit, and when she was tired, she would simply lean on the stone table and sleep.
Before long, she heard the rustling of a skirt, and a young girl appeared before her. The girl, without any pretense, immediately sat on the stone stool beside Yang Ruo Ning, picked up the pastries on the table without ceremony, and began to eat heartily.
Watching the little girl devour the food, Yang Ruo Ning couldn't help but laugh, "Eat slowly, these are all yours."
"Sister, how have you been getting such delicious food lately?" the little girl asked, her mouth full of food, her words indistinct.
"I got it from Hui Niang's courtyard."
"Hui Niang? Doesn't she not receive guests?"
"There's a guest recently."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Oh, oh~ Hui Niang's guests are all distinguished guests, no wonder the food is so good."
Yang Ruo Ning was very fond of this little girl named Su Su. Su Su was one of the girls in the establishment. As she was not yet of age, she was still learning musical arts within the building and had not yet begun to entertain guests. She was a bit plump and was often told to lose weight. She was also very gluttonous, so she would always sneak to the kitchen for food in the dead of night when no one was around. Through these encounters, she and Yang Ruo Ning became acquainted. They had an agreement: every night, Yang Ruo Ning would leave food for her, and in return, Su Su would bring her some paper and ink.
In this era, paper and ink were quite expensive, affordable only to the nobility and scholars. Yang Ruo Ning's entire wages were used to cover her room and board, so she naturally had no money to buy them. However, the Fan Lou was wealthy and, in order to cater to its guests, taught the girls in the establishment to read and write. This was why she had asked Su Su to bring her some paper and ink.
Yang Ruo Ning wanted to make some flyers, similar to lost and found notices, to paste in crowded places throughout the capital, hoping to find that girl.
Of course, she wouldn't put the girl's portrait on the flyer. She could only sketch a rough drawing of a camera. Those who recognized a camera would surely understand.
She drew several sheets and then pushed the paper in front of Su Su. Su Su, still chewing on a bun, picked up a brush and wrote the address of the Fan Lou on it.
"Sister, have you had any news about this thing you're looking for recently?" she asked, pointing at the drawing.
Yang Ruo Ning shook her head. "I'll go to a few more places tomorrow morning."
"Sister, I don't think your method is good. Look at this drawing of yours, I really don't know what you're drawing." Su Su always spoke very directly.
"Well, those who recognize it will know what it is," she replied, blowing on the ink on the paper.
At that moment, Su Su suddenly nudged Yang Ruo Ning with her hand and whispered, "Sister."
Yang Ruo Ning didn't look up. "What is it?" Su Su didn't answer. Only then did Yang Ruo Ning look up, following Su Su's gaze. In the shadows of the corridor ahead, there seemed to be a person. The figure was hidden in the darkness, and their features were unclear, but their build suggested a tall man. Yang Ruo Ning hadn't heard his footsteps; she didn't know how long he had been standing there.
Yang Ruo Ning stood up somewhat cautiously. "May I ask if you need something?" she asked.
The man then emerged from the shadows. The lantern in the corridor illuminated his face.
It was him. The man from Hui Niang's room.
Yang Ruo Ning was a little surprised, wondering why he was here so late.
Su Su bowed in a gesture of courtesy. "General Luo."
So, he was the renowned General Luo. Yang Ruo Ning gazed at him, lost in thought for a moment. Seeing Yang Ruo Ning's lack of reaction, Su Su, fearing she might have been rude, quickly tugged at her sleeve, urging her to bow. Yang Ruo Ning, imitating Su Su, bowed and greeted him.
"Miss, there's no need for such formality." His voice was deep and resonant.
Both Yang Ruo Ning and Su Su knew that the courtyard in the front hall was exclusively for guests. Maids like them were strictly forbidden from coming here. To be caught by such a distinguished guest now, if the manager found out, they would undoubtedly receive a scolding.
Yang Ruo Ning, while frantically tidying the messy paper and ink on the stone table, mumbled apologies. Su Su, meanwhile, still managed to stuff the remaining pastries from her bowl into her mouth.
Suddenly, she heard him ask, "May I ask the young lady's name?"
She certainly felt that the general wouldn't be asking the name of a dishwasher in rough cotton clothes with messy hair. He was asking Su Su. Yang Ruo Ning didn't look up, quickening her movements.
"This humble one... is named Su Su..." beside her, Su Su, still with food in her mouth, replied indistinctly.
"And you?"
Hearing him ask her, Yang Ruo Ning looked up, meeting a pair of clear black and white eyes.
Yang Ruo Ning gazed into those beautiful eyes, feeling that behind their depth, there seemed to be something inexplicable hidden. She blurted out, "Oh, hi, my name is Yang Ruo Ning, it's nice to meet you... What's your name?"
"Luo Yuan," he replied, a fleeting, unnoticed smile crossing his lips.
On the side, Su Su was startled by this exchange. She haphazardly scooped up the items from the table and stuffed them into Yang Ruo Ning's arms, then pulled Yang Ruo Ning towards the back courtyard. As they walked, she apologized, "General, this elder sister is foolish and doesn't know the rules..."
Yang Ruo Ning also realized what had happened. She followed Su Su, fleeing as if from danger.
Had she lost her mind, captivated by a handsome man? When she first entered the establishment, the madam, Hua Ma, had instructed her on the rules. The first was that she must not ask for a guest's name and must use respectful language. Yet, she had just spoken out of turn. Now, this guest even knew her name. Yang Ruo Ning regretted it so much she wanted to bang her head against the wall.