For over a month, Yang Ruoning's surveillance and tracking yielded no results. Luo Yuan's daily life was predictable, save for that one peculiar "stroll." Yang Ruoning couldn't understand why he would take such a circuitous route to buy something when a more direct path was available.
Yang Ruoning had also discreetly planted a miniature listening device on Zhong Shu, the only servant in the manor. After listening for several days, she found nothing. Zhong Shu's every move seemed too conspicuous, drawing attention. The clue, she concluded, must still lie with Luo Yuan.
She installed a camera in a hidden spot in Luo Yuan's study. Due to the lack of a stable power source, it could only be charged by the battery pack Yang Ruoning brought, so it couldn't operate 24 hours a day. Yang Ruoning set the recording times to the hours between Luo Yuan's return from imperial court sessions in the morning and her own return from Jiangxian Pavilion in the afternoon.
Late at night, when even the owls were asleep, she would secretly retrieve the memory card and review the recorded surveillance footage. Tonight, she finally found something.
In the surveillance video, Luo Yuan was seen writing a few lines of text on a small piece of paper at his desk. After the ink dried, he carefully rolled up the small paper, stuffed it into a piece of broken silver, and then placed the broken silver into his money pouch before tucking it into his embrace.
Shortly after he completed this series of actions, Yang Ruoning saw herself enter from outside. She heard Luo Yuan say in the video, "Ruoning, I've booked a table at Fengle Tower for tonight. Rest for a while, and we'll head over soon."
Fengle Tower was rather unique among the countless restaurants and eateries in Bianliang City. It had a modest facade, only two stories, and a simple, unassuming, even slightly dilapidated appearance at first glance. Yet, every table was reserved, and it was often impossible to get a seat. The first time Luo Yuan brought Yang Ruoning there, she had been unimpressed, thinking it was just another one of those trendy "influencer" spots, popular for a while due to its exclusivity, but not necessarily outstanding in its food. That was until she tasted the fish stew, which she declared the best fish dish in Bianliang. From then on, Luo Yuan would occasionally take her to Fengle Tower.
That night, Yang Ruoning and Luo Yuan went there as usual. The waiter led them to a window seat on the second floor. Soon, a table full of dishes was laid out before them.
As she ate, Yang Ruoning asked Luo Yuan, "I'm quite curious, who is the chef here? Why does he cook such excellent food? I really want to meet him."
Luo Yuan replied, "He used to be from the imperial kitchen. He left the palace later and opened this small restaurant."
"Oh, so he was from the palace. No wonder it's so delicious." Yes, if he was originally from the palace, it made sense why Luo Yuan would choose this place.
After the meal, Luo Yuan took out the money pouch from his sleeve and presented a piece of broken silver to the waiter. The waiter respectfully accepted it, politely inquired if they had enjoyed their meal, and then left. Afterward, the waiter attended to the guests at the next table before heading downstairs. Yang Ruoning made an excuse about wanting to buy some red bean ice from next door and also hurried downstairs.
In the dark alley outside the building, Yang Ruoning stood in a hidden shadow by the window, observing the waiter. The waiter appeared unremarkable, shuttling back and forth between the first and second floors, serving dishes, refilling water, and attending to guests. She waited for about ten minutes before giving up and heading off to buy dessert.
When she returned, she casually glanced at the alley she had been hiding in and noticed what seemed to be two figures in the alley. She quietly approached and hid behind a corner not far away.
The two men in the alley did not seem to be communicating, or perhaps their conversation was drowned out by the surrounding hubbub. Yang Ruoning couldn't hear them. After a short while, the waiter emerged from the alley and headed straight back inside. The other man emerged about a minute later.
Yang Ruoning lowered her head, pretending to be engrossed in the two bowls of red bean ice she was holding. In reality, she gauged the direction and walked briskly towards the man, 'accidentally' colliding with him. The two bowls of red bean ice she was carrying 'inconveniently' spilled all over him.
"Ah, I'm so sorry, I was too careless! Are you alright? Oh dear, your clothes are all stained," Yang Ruoning apologized while attempting to wipe the red bean ice off him. "I'm truly sorry, your clothes... let me wash them for you. Tell me your address, and I'll return them after cleaning." As she spoke, she reached out to remove his outer robe.
He flinched, recoiling as if shocked, clearly taken aback by a woman attempting to undress him on the street. He looked down at his clothes and then up at Yang Ruoning.
Only then did Yang Ruoning get a clear look at his face. She felt as though she had seen him somewhere before, but couldn't recall where.
"It's nothing, no need," the man quickly lowered his head and departed.
In the days that followed, Yang Ruoning and Luo Yuan did not dine there again. Luo Yuan said that the shrimp and crabs from the East Sea were in season and particularly succulent, and Fanlou was renowned for its seafood. So, Luo Yuan took her to Fanlou instead.
Yang Ruoning was growing impatient. She knew she had seen that man somewhere before, but she just couldn't remember where.
Another reason Yang Ruoning was reluctant to go to Fanlou was Hui Niang. Perhaps for people of this era, love was not exclusive to one person. For someone as talented, high-ranking, and handsome as Luo Yuan, it was quite common to have several women around him. But for Yang Ruoning, from modern times, she couldn't tolerate such a crowded emotional landscape. Although she hadn't seen Hui Niang since that encounter at the tavern in the suburbs.
Fortunately, during their meals at Fanlou these past few days, they hadn't run into Hui Niang. She had learned from the other young ladies in the establishment that Hui Niang had been entertaining distinguished guests with exclusive bookings recently and was less visible.
When you like someone, you can spend a fortune on them; when you grow tired, you abandon them without a care. Seeing new faces while the old ones weep, Yang Ruoning felt a pang of pity and sympathy for Hui Niang.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Luo Yuan suddenly asked.
Yang Ruoning snapped back to attention, "Hmm? How was I looking at you?"
"As if I had committed some unforgivable sin."
"Hahaha," Yang Ruoning chuckled nervously, covering her embarrassment. Why did Luo Yuan always seem to see through people's thoughts? This was a flaw, a flaw indeed.
She picked up some food, ate a few mouthfuls, then put down her chopsticks and feigned casual conversation. "You don't go out at night anymore?"
"Mmm, where would I go at night?"
"You mean, dressing in black and leaping from rooftops?"
Luo Yuan shook his head and chuckled softly, "There's nothing that requires me to wear a night-suit and leap from rooftops anymore."
"Oh?" Hearing this, Yang Ruoning's eyebrows shot up. She glanced around, pretending to be mysterious, "Are all your affairs concluded?"
"Not yet concluded."
"You're always so secretive, not telling me. Are you doing something illicit?"
"What do you consider 'illicit'?"
"I don't know, I just said it casually. Perhaps you could tell me, but you never tell me anything."
Luo Yuan sighed softly, "Ruoning, I have been unwilling to tell you about this because it is extremely dangerous. I have little certainty of success. If it fails, I will surely lose my head and my entire clan will be implicated. I haven't told you because I don't want anyone to know that we are married. The Emperor, out of consideration for your relationship with him, will not implicate you."
"Ha, so it really is something illicit, something punishable by decapitation." Yang Ruoning met Luo Yuan's gaze. "I don't know if you will succeed, but I hope you do. But can you promise me one thing, my dear."
"What is it?"
"You promise me first."
Luo Yuan slowly put down his wine cup. "No. You must tell me first, so I can know if I can fulfill it."
Fuck! This cautious old fox!