Chapter 292: Moved

In fact, Lou Shuyuan had already seen Ning Yi when he first entered from outside.

Fang La's rebellion used the slogan "All laws are equal, there are no superior or inferior ones." While this slogan remained just a slogan and few extended its meaning to gender equality, Fang La's sister, Fang Baihua, was a prominent general in the rebel army and commanded many female soldiers and officers. Consequently, it was not unusual for the newly established Yongle court to appoint some capable and well-connected female officials.

Of course, more than half of the women serving in Fang La's administration at that time had held their positions from the beginning. Some assisted their husbands with affairs in the mountain strongholds, others followed Fang Baihua's command, and a few were women taken in by the Manichaean sect. Given the low status of women, their official ranks were rather vague, even if they managed affairs. They were either nominally under Fang Baihua's command or held titles as female palace officials.

Women attending the banquet were naturally not seated with men; they were arranged in a separate hall to the side. It was still early, and the Empress, who was expected to greet everyone, had not yet appeared. Lou Shuyuan was chatting with a female acquaintance when she inadvertently saw a figure pass by outside the window.

At first, she thought she had seen incorrectly.

Over the past two months, from the earthquake to the chaos of war, the Lou family had experienced considerable disruption when the rebel army entered the city. They went from initial panic to adjusting their mindset to reality. During that period, few had the inclination to care about what happened to those around them. Once things had largely settled, she looked back and realized that many people she had known had either left, disappeared, or were occasionally seen on the street, having been unable to escape.

Ning Yi and Su Tan'er were not truly part of Lou Shuyuan's immediate circle. Their relationship had always been somewhat ambiguous. While Lou Shuyuan and Su Tan'er had conversed well in Hangzhou, it was less a deep friendship and more due to their shared experience of having a live-in husband. Their relationship wasn't cold, but neither truly confided in the other. Later, the dispute on West Lake complicated matters. It was hard to say what would have happened if things had continued, but the subsequent military conflict overshadowed everything. She was first startled, then managed family affairs, and now held the position of a female official. Her surroundings had completely changed, and occasionally, thinking back felt like an age ago.

All the people and events from two months prior now felt distant. If she thought of Ning Yi and Su Tan'er, she assumed they had likely left Hangzhou. She hadn't investigated and felt no need to. The figure she saw now must have been a mistake. She continued chatting in the room, but eventually came out for some fresh air. After walking around, she saw the man talking with Long Boyuan.

With emotions she herself didn't quite understand, she smiled and greeted him.

"So you didn't manage to leave either. Where is Sister Tan'er?" she asked naturally, smoothing her hair as she approached.

Ning Yi looked at her for a few seconds, then cupped his hands and smiled, "Tan'er went back; I couldn't leave... Miss Lou, you look well. We meet again."

"Ah... we meet again."

"...These past few months have been a complete mess... I went to Taiping Lane earlier, intending to inquire about you and Sister Tan'er, but... that area, well..."

The night breeze after the rain was pleasant. Large red lanterns stretched out one after another, illuminating noisy courtyards. Occasionally, rough and unrestrained conversations could be heard, along with boisterous greetings, while serving maids hurried by in small groups. Lou Shuyuan and Ning Yi walked under the eaves. Time and environment often conveniently alter and create many things; at least in the current atmosphere, the two had a reason to converse. Lou Shuyuan naturally brought up her visit to Taiping Lane, and Ning Yi, of course, showed no aversion.

"Taiping Lane... what's it like now?"

"It seems there were some issues; it was bombed beyond recognition. I'm not entirely sure..."

"Tsk, a failed investment."

"What?"

"Nothing. How is the Lou family... are they well?"

Lou Shuyuan had gone to Taiping Lane simply because it was on her way that day. She saw what remained of Ning Yi and Su Tan'er's former residence, which was now in ruins. Lou Shuyuan didn't inquire much about it from those around her; she had no interest or need to, largely confirming that they had left. As for Ning Yi, he had originally chosen Taiping Lane as his residence, believing that if the Wu Dynasty moved its capital south, the area around Taiping Lane would greatly appreciate in value. Who knew that his knowledge and experience from a thousand years later would fail him so spectacularly in his overconfidence? At this moment, he couldn't help but sigh and joke. When Ning Yi asked about the Lou family, Lou Shuyuan smiled noncommittally.

"Father is well... When Hangzhou fell, there was chaos. They said... Fang Qifo, the Buddhist Marshal, sent Wang Yin to our home to threaten Father into staying and having the Lou family's assets contribute to the Yongle court. It was impossible to leave then, so Father had no choice but to agree. We haven't suffered too much impact since; everything is fine, just a bit busy."

As she spoke, she glanced slightly at Ning Yi. One reason—though perhaps not the main one—that had made Lou Jinlin decide to stay was the Lou family's perceived antagonism with Qian Xiwen during the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering. This was also one of the reasons Fang Qifo approached the Lou family. And at the time, Ning Yi seemed to have been a major participant in the conflict between Qian Xiwen and the Lou family.

Once she confirmed that Ning Yi showed no unusual emotions, she said, "I've always wanted to apologize to you about my second brother's actions during the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering. He isn't a bad person... but so much has happened since then, and it was delayed. Now..."

Ning Yi smiled, "In the current circumstances, there's no need to dwell on such minor past incidents."

"True," Lou Shuyuan said, nodding with a smile. She then asked Ning Yi about his life since the city's fall and his current whereabouts. She learned that he hadn't managed to escape and, after being captured, was now doing clerical work in the Tyrant Blade Camp.

This situation was not surprising; she knew Ning Yi was educated, so finding work wouldn't be difficult. However, Hangzhou's power structure was now divided into three tiers. Officials who had initially joined Fang La's rebellion, possessing seniority and connections, were naturally in the first tier. Families like the Lous, who only pledged allegiance when the city fell, were in the second tier. But those who were captured after the city's fall and then agreed to serve, no matter how talented, usually did not hold high positions.

After they had said most of what needed to be said, she subtly inquired about Ning Yi staying and Su Tan'er leaving. Ning Yi merely said it was a long story, so she didn't press further. While Lou Shuyuan found it unlikely that Su Tan'er would abandon him and flee alone, she had witnessed too many distorted events unfold during the war; nothing seemed impossible in such chaos. Nevertheless, it was not appropriate to ask more questions at that moment.

After bidding each other farewell, Lou Shuyuan returned to the side hall. Although windows were open, this area was still connected to the main venue. She chatted with a female acquaintance for a few moments, then looked out the window. Soon after, she saw Ning Yi sitting in a corner on the other side. The scholar chatted and laughed with those around him, and the atmosphere seemed harmonious. He was neither aloof nor ostentatious; the scene simply blended into the festive red lantern light.

Looking around, the diverse men and women seemed utterly out of place with her former life. The women lacked the refined grace of noble ladies or the delicate charm of village beauties. The women around her were straightforward and tall, and their speech carried a distinct country girl air.

The men she observed were also imbued with an air of bloodlust and brazenness. They had lived by the sword, rebelled, and killed. Some were burly, resembling laborers from the docks, only more ostentatious. Others looked like the combative martial artists or gang leaders she had encountered before, but they possessed an added composure and ferocity. While gang leaders merely collected protection money and caused trouble, these men were truly professionals in killing.

In the past, she might have occasionally admired and longed for such people, but entertainment was separate from real life. When she saw her elder brother, Lou Shuwang, accompany Lou Jingzhi, the Left Chancellor's son, pass through the crowd nearby, she suddenly realized a dullness she hadn't consciously acknowledged for over a month. Ning Yi's sudden appearance made her aware of it, and at that moment, it was alleviated.

It was as if she had woken up. She had stopped thinking about her old life, knowing it was futile, but now, even though she knew it was pointless, she remembered it anyway.

She was no longer the kind of woman who would be upset by such matters; she pondered this in her mind.

Her relationship with Ning Yi and Su Tan'er was not particularly close. They had met during their journey south and traveled together to Hangzhou. Initially, some interactions seemed warm, but she hadn't confided in them, and they likely didn't consider her a close friend either. Relationships between women could be simple yet complex. However, it was undeniable that their initial interactions were based on similar experiences, but later, her curiosity and attention towards Ning Yi surpassed that for Su Tan'er.

What should have been an exchange of experiences about having a useless husband ultimately led her to unconsciously believe that the other person was happier than her. Her curiosity about Ning Yi didn't last long; it ceased abruptly after the surprising impression she received at the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering. She didn't revere Ning Yi as a god or consider him a flawless, unattainable being, but his conversation and demeanor felt as natural to her as his presence at that banquet. It made her wonder if, given such an opportunity, with a live-in husband like him, she might feel content and live a natural life like an ordinary couple. It wasn't necessarily "good," but perhaps... "appropriate."

She glanced out the window and sat down in a chair. Having clarified these thoughts, everything else became simple.

Su Tan'er had left—no matter how—and he couldn't escape. Her own life was already ruined. Regardless, the chaos of war had changed so many people and things. The world was now in disarray, and she genuinely desired to have a man like him.

She wanted him to be her man.

Having settled this matter in her mind, Lou Shuyuan took a sip of tea and resumed her conversation with the woman beside her.

At the same time, Lou Shuwang saw Ning Yi in the main hall.