Qingye initially intended to escort her back to the manor, but Yang Ruoning politely declined. She wanted to walk back alone.
It was a late autumn afternoon, the sunlight a little dim. A northerly wind blew, carrying a hint of winter’s chill.
Yang Ruoning tightened her coat.
She had finally found the girl, the one who had now attained the noble status of Empress Dowager. This should have been cause for happiness, yet Yang Ruoning felt no sense of relief.
Jiang Yuefeng's story sounded like a cliché romance novel, and Yang Ruoning found it hard to fully believe. She felt there were too many inexplicable aspects to the tale, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint what felt unreasonable. It was evident that Jiang Yuefeng already knew about Jason's death, even though Yang Ruoning hadn’t told her, and even though Jason had passed away in the hospital several days after returning from this world.
The sun was about to set, and the main road leading into the city was becoming more crowded with travelers. Her head ached terribly. Yang Ruoning spotted a tavern in the distance and decided to stop there for a while.
The tavern had many tables in its first-floor hall for guests to eat and rest, while the second floor offered lodging. Accommodation was expensive in the capital, so many people chose to stay in these taverns outside the city, resulting in a constant flow of people in the hall.
Yang Ruoning sat at a small table in a corner by the window. She ordered a pot of warm yellow wine.
The yellow wine was bitter and astringent; Yang Ruoning wasn’t entirely used to it, but she didn't mind.
After a few pots, she began to feel tipsy. The sky had turned completely dark. At that moment, a group of people rode up the main road from outside the window, their horses kicking up dust. They were clad in black martial attire and wore black veils. Yang Ruoning wondered if these people intended to be conspicuous or discreet. If their goal was to attract attention, they had certainly succeeded.
The group in black dismounted before the tavern. A tall man gently and carefully lifted a woman from the horse they shared. The woman appeared to be injured.
As they entered the tavern, they merely nodded slightly at the waiter and proceeded directly to the second floor, suggesting they were regular patrons.
They reminded Yang Ruoning of the group that had assassinated her that night. Luoyuan had said their identities were extremely mysterious, and even he had been unable to uncover anything. Now, Yang Ruoning had a creeping suspicion that those assassins might be connected to Jiang Yuefeng. Could it be her? Yang Ruoning tilted her head back and finished the last drop of wine in her pot, signaling for another.
It was dinnertime, and the hall was abuzz with noise. Waiters bustled between tables, serving food and tea. The waiter had already hinted to her several times that she, a guest occupying a table with only drinks and no food, should leave.
Yang Ruoning sighed and finally rose to pay at the counter. The innkeeper took Yang Ruoning's silver fragments, expertly worked his abacus, and then retrieved copper coins from a drawer for her change. While waiting for the bill to be settled, Yang Ruoning's gaze inadvertently swept towards the guest rooms on the second floor.
A door happened to open. Yang Ruoning saw a man in fine clothes emerge from the room. Behind him, a woman who seemed to have some difficulty walking followed.
The woman took the hand of the finely dressed man and kissed the back of his hand, then looked up to whisper something to him. The man said something, then put on a black bamboo hat.
Watching the pair bid an emotional farewell upstairs, Yang Ruoning felt her stomach churn violently, as if she were about to vomit. But she absolutely could not throw up here.
She turned and ran out quickly. She reached a deserted corner behind the tavern before she finally retched, expelling the contents of her stomach.
It was Luoyuan and Huiniang.
This tavern, which she had stumbled into by chance, was somehow theirs…
Heh. After the overwhelming anger, she found herself feeling a strange sense of amusement.
She thought that this wasn’t the first time she’d witnessed such a scene. Hadn't her ex-boyfriend cheated on her, only for her to discover him by chance while driving past, leading to a calm breakup? Yet, despite having experience, going through it again was still incredibly uncomfortable.
She said to herself with a hint of self-mockery, what was the big deal? Didn't all noblemen here have a multitude of wives and concubines, along with house prostitutes? Luoyuan was no exception; he was the Emperor, and all women were likely mere playthings to him.
What a day!
She glanced at her watch; the city gates were about to close, and she needed to hurry back.
The bell on the city wall rang, urging everyone to enter the city quickly. Yang Ruoning slipped through the gates just in time.
Standing before the gates of the Luoyuan manor, Yang Ruoning hesitated. The place she had called home for the past few months now felt particularly unwelcoming. She considered going to Fan Lou to find Susu, but what if she encountered Huiniang…
Yang Ruoning realized that in this vast city of Bianliang, she truly had nowhere to go.
Night deepened, and the weather grew colder. She tightened her collar and sighed.
She wandered aimlessly through narrow alleys, crossed stone bridges, until the bluestone slabs were wet with night dew, until the streets were devoid of late-night travelers hurrying home, and even the red lanterns hung outside shops had dimmed. After being here for so long, she felt a weariness she hadn't experienced before.
Ultimately, she stood before Fan Lou and found Susu. Susu was surprised to see Yang Ruoning, but quickly regained her composure.
“Sister, why have you come at this hour?” Susu asked.
Yang Ruoning smiled wearily at her, “Can I stay overnight tonight?”
Susu studied her for a moment, as if trying to discern something from Yang Ruoning's expression.
Yang Ruoning understood her concern and said, “A lot has happened today, I'm just feeling a bit tired. But… there is one thing you could help me with.”
“What is it?”
“Come here,” Yang Ruoning beckoned her closer, then opened her arms and embraced the slender Susu, “Like this… can you just hold me like this? All I need right now is a warm hug.”
Susu asked no further questions. She held Yang Ruoning for a while, then tidied up her bed and slept in the living room outside, hugging a quilt. As she left, she closed the window for Yang Ruoning and blew out the candle.
Her headache made sleep impossible. Yang Ruoning lay on her side, staring at the patches of moonlight cast on the wall from outside the window.
After a while, she heard a soft knock at the door. She heard Susu get up and open it for the visitor. She heard Luoyuan ask if Ruoning was there. Susu replied yes, but that her sister was already asleep. She heard him softly ask if he could just take a look. Susu said, it would be better for the General to come tomorrow. Her sister had been busy helping her with work here all day and was already asleep, so the General should come tomorrow. Luoyuan sighed softly and whispered a few more words to Susu before leaving.
Yang Ruoning found tears unashamedly falling again. She longed to loudly question him, asking where his "late-night returns" were truly going. Was his spoken "mutual affection" truly meant for two people?
But then she thought, what would knowing achieve? Had she ever told him that from the first day they were together, she knew she would eventually leave?
The night was sleepless. The next morning, while having breakfast with Susu, Yang Ruoning asked if Susu, with her business doing well, would like to open a small shop. She told Susu that she would handle the finances. Susu considered it for a moment, then agreed.
The first thing to do was to buy Susu's freedom. She took out the box of jewelry Qingye had given her, removed all the pearls and gems, and sold them. After paying for Susu's freedom, there was some money left. She had been searching all over the capital for the past few days and had found a small shop she liked. However, the renovation, rent, and other expenses added up to a shortfall of ten taels.
Yang Ruoning thought of Luoyuan.
Since she had moved into the manor, Luoyuan had never paid her wages. She had asked him for them, but he had refused, infuriating Yang Ruoning. Luoyuan's explanation was that Steward Zhong was in charge of the manor's account books, and wages were paid only at the end of the year. Luoyuan offered to fund their small business, but Yang Ruoning refused, stating it was Susu's business and she needed to ask Susu.
Now, Yang Ruoning stood by the pond in the backyard, watching the school of koi swimming. A mischievous idea sparked in her mind. When she had delivered goods to customers previously, she had accidentally seen someone buying koi, and upon inquiring, learned that a single fish was not cheap, and those with good markings were even more expensive.
Yang Ruoning now gazed at Luoyuan's koi, contemplating which ones could be considered well-marked. She figured that Luoyuan was extremely picky; even small items like candle holders in the manor were considered superior quality, so the koi were likely no exception.
This wasn't stealing; it was merely reclaiming owed wages. Besides, these big fish have little fish, and Luoyuan surely wouldn't notice if a few were taken.
With this thought, Yang Ruoning extended her net, casually scooped out two fish from the pond, and took them to the market.
After two weeks of doing this, Yang Ruoning finally had enough money.