He extended a finger, pressing it against her forehead, pushing her increasingly flushed face further away. "Yang Ruoning, from now on, if I'm not around, you're not allowed to drink!"
Unexpectedly, after his finger pushed her head back, it felt as if she was no longer bearing any weight, and her head drooped down with a thud, hitting the table. The sound alone made one wince in pain, yet Yang Ruoning seemed not to feel anything, simply collapsing onto the table and falling asleep.
He smiled helplessly, about to reach out and rub the red mark on her forehead, when the door was pushed open and someone entered.
A male courtesan walked in with a basin of water. He glanced at Luo Yuan, then sat beside Ruoning. He placed the copper basin down, picked up a clean white cloth, dipped it in the water, wrung it out slightly, and raised his hand to wipe Ruoning's cheek.
He quickly stood up, snatching the white cloth from the courtesan's hand. "I'll do it."
The courtesan did not get angry or show any surprise. He merely tilted his head, examining the insensible Ruoning on the table, and then said softly, "After all these years, she hasn't changed a bit. Still the same as I remember."
A cold glint immediately appeared in Luo Yuan's eyes. His long sword beneath the table was poised to strike. He remained silent, staring intently at the person opposite him.
The courtesan seemed oblivious to Luo Yuan's tension. He moved closer, gently pushing aside a stray strand of hair from Yang Ruoning's forehead. "General Luo, there's no need to be nervous. I bear no ill will towards the lady or towards you."
"How do you know my identity? Who are you?" He was wearing a mask at the time, having come to the courtesan house under the guise of Su Jingren. He believed his disguise could deceive everyone, but clearly, this courtesan was an exception.
The person actually smiled slightly, his peach blossom eyes cast a charming glance at Luo Yuan, and said, "General Luo, if you truly don't want to be recognized, you should mask your scent as well. That faint scent of Linghua, I recognized it immediately."
As soon as the words fell, a cold gleam flashed, and the sword was at the courtesan's throat. "Who exactly are you?"
"'Together it is love, opened it is the universe.' That morning when she exchanged that ring for you, I remember her saying that."
The sword at his neck seemed to loosen its pressure slightly. The courtesan looked at him and chuckled, covering his mouth. "Sir, have you truly forgotten me? I was also brought by that Old San Hu, arriving only two days before you."
Luo Yuan retracted his sword and sat down again.
The courtesan lowered his head, gazing at Yang Ruoning sleeping soundly on the table. "General probably didn't notice me. I arrived two days before you. Back then, all the slaves hung their heads in despair, sitting there like lambs awaiting slaughter, but you were different. Although you were the youngest and covered in dirt, your eyes were exceptionally bright, possessing an irrepressible spirit. The pimp from the courtesan house had taken a liking to you and wanted to buy you. But that morning, this woman came and took you away. So, I was bought by the pimp to replace you at this Nanfeng Pavilion. A few years later, I chanced upon you on the street. You were about eleven or twelve then, riding a horse, truly a dragon amongst men and a phoenix in the making, with an extraordinary bearing, a far cry from that little slave, yet I recognized you at a glance. It was then I learned you were adopted by Old General Luo. Over the years, you've risen through the ranks, achieved many military merits, and gone to the capital to become a high official. Others say you were lucky to have met Old General Luo, but I knew from the first moment that your destiny was extraordinary."
Hearing this, Luo Yuan asked in a low voice, "You've always been at this Nanfeng Pavilion?"
"I am merely a small slave. Where else can I go but to earn a living here at Nanfeng Pavilion?"
"I mean, how did you recognize the scent on me?"
The courtesan ignored Luo Yuan's question and continued speaking to himself, "Heh heh, I stayed at Nanfeng Pavilion, helping it become the most renowned place of entertainment in Youzhou City, drawing all the officials and dignitaries, thinking that one day, you might come here, even for a brief moment, to have a cup of tea, but you've never set foot here. They all say you already have your childhood sweetheart, but I never believed it. No one can resist me, no one would not be captivated by my regal presence. But now, as I see her, I finally understand." As he spoke, he raised his hand and wiped away some saliva from Yang Ruoning's lips with the corner of his sleeve. "She is no ordinary woman, is she?"
"You still haven't answered my question."
"With a little effort, it's not difficult. I merely inquired at the fabric shops where you usually have clothes made and bribed the errand runners with some silver, and I learned what kind of fragrance you prefer to scent your clothes with."
"How is it that she hasn't changed at all from sixteen years ago? Is she truly an immortal descended to earth..."
"That's none of your business," Luo Yuan replied coldly.
"It seems you care deeply for this woman, yet why," the courtesan actually made a clicking sound twice, "is she so heartbroken because of you..."
"This is..." Luo Yuan began, but was interrupted by the courtesan.
"General Luo, you have already chosen to marry Miss Luo and chosen your official career. Let this girl go. Lingering attachments only add to her sorrow."
Luo Yuan's face was grim. He no longer wished to listen to this strange man's rambling. He stood up, lifted Yang Ruoning into his arms, and prepared to leave.
Luo Yuan glanced at Handan Chun, who was sleeping soundly in a drunken stupor. "Please prepare a carriage for me. I need to take these two back." He then walked towards the door.
The courtesan called out to him, "General Luo, please wait."
The courtesan walked up to him and extended his hand, offering something to him.
Luo Yuan's gaze fell upon what was in the courtesan's palm, and he couldn't help but be stunned. He hadn't expected to find what he had been searching for for so long right here.
Seeing Luo Yuan's reaction, the courtesan smiled. He reached out and tucked the ring into an inner pocket on Luo Yuan's clothes. His movements were as practiced as if he had done it countless times. "'Together it is love, opened it is the universe.' Luo Yuan, I give you her ring."
Luo Yuan frowned slightly, staring at the alluring man before him. "...May I ask your name? I will send someone to thank you at a later date."
Instantly, a mist of tears welled up in the courtesan's eyes. "Menglin. My name is Jiang Menglin."
***********
As Luo Yuan carried Yang Ruoning downstairs, the innkeeper had already prepared a carriage. After he put Yang Ruoning and Handan Chun into the carriage, he asked the innkeeper beside him, "Have they settled their bill for tonight?"
The innkeeper replied, "Not yet."
He took out a silver note and handed it to the innkeeper. The innkeeper took it and saw it was a fifty-tael silver note. He immediately replied, "I'll go and settle the bill for you now."
"Wait," he stopped the innkeeper. "This silver note is for you, but you need to do something for me."
"What is it that the sir requires of me?"
"Tomorrow, when they come to settle the bill, charge them one hundred taels of silver."
"Ah?" The innkeeper was dumbfounded by this request. "This... I'm afraid..."
"Just do as I say." After giving his instructions, he drove the carriage away.
He drove the carriage to a secret residence he owned outside the city. He first carried the unconscious Handan Chun into a room. When he returned, Ruoning, who had been sleeping quietly all the way, had woken up.
She was still drunk and stubbornly pushed him away, mumbling about wanting to have a good spar with the "second most handsome man."
He finally managed to carry her back to the room and placed her on the bed. He felt that this woman's drinking etiquette was truly terrible and decided she must never get drunk again.
At this moment, she opened her eyes. She blinked, her drunken eyes staring at him as if he had suddenly appeared out of thin air.
After a pause, she asked, "Luo Yuan?"
"Yes, I am Luo Yuan. Sit here and don't move, I'll go fetch you some water." He turned to leave.
The moment he turned, his sleeve was quickly caught. He turned back, intending to ask her why, only to see a figure suddenly leap into his embrace and hold him tightly.
She buried her face deep in his chest and whispered, "Don't leave me, don't marry that woman."
He reached out, embracing her, and gently rested his cheek on her head, his voice filled with infinite tenderness. "I won't leave you, Ruoning. How could I leave you."
"Really? Even if... Luo Yuan, I think I'm drunk. I feel so sick, I'm sorry, I..." Then, she threw up with a loud sound.
The hands holding her froze. He could feel the vomit dripping down his body.
The woman took a step back, looking at the mess on him with a hint of apology. Then she picked up his sleeve and wiped her mouth. "Oops, I got your clothes dirty," she said, smacking her lips as if she weren't the one who caused the mess.
"Hey! Yang Ruoning!" He finally lost his temper. "Are you doing this on purpose?! You are forbidden to drink anymore!"