"My father passed away half a month ago. I sold myself to Lingxiang Lou, and Yu-daniang bought me for one hundred taels of silver." Hongxiu's eyes became red-rimmed, which made several guests feel discomforted and in succession, they lamented that her filial piety was rare.
"Then you sold into Lingxiang Lou voluntarily?"
Hongxiu nodded, and quickly added: "I couldn't think of any other way."
Yu-daniang's face was full of anger: "Xiaojie, seeing as she was somewhat good-looking, and wasn't too bad at playing the erhu, I then spent a hundred taels to buy her. Neither did I force her to sell herself, nor did I treat her harshly. This little wench really bites the hand that feeds her!"
Ren Anle waved her hand and continued to speak, "Did Yu-daniang bury your father?"
Hongxiu felt a little uneasy, but still nodded, and looked at Ren Anle anxiously: "Xiaojie, you are a person with a good heart, please help me."
Who would've guessed that Ren Anle had already turned around and never looked at her again.
"Hongxiu, selling yourself into the Lingxiang Lou was your own will. Yu-daniang bought you for a hundred taels and buried your father for you. She has done her best to be kind and can count as your benefactor in times of crisis. If you want to leave, you can just show your skills here and earn a hundred taels to redeem yourself."
After the words had settled, Ren Anle had already stepped out of the gates of Lingxiang Lou. An Ning shook her head, smiling wryly, and followed.
Everyone had thought that the matter was a foregone conclusion, but they didn't expect the outcome to be like this. Looking at Hongxiu's flushed expression, all the guests also felt that what the woman had said was not wrong, and left in succession after a few words of lamentation.
In the middle of the night, the streets of the imperial capital were empty and serene. Ren Anle and An Ning walked side by side along the roads, and not far behind them, a row of soldiers followed.
"If you don't return to the palace, they won't give up. Seems that your royal brother is very worried about you," Ren Anle said teasingly.
An Ning raised her eyebrows, pretending to be surprised and said: "I thought you knew…"
"Knew what?"
"My reputation is not the greatest known in the capital, and it's not the first time I've visited a brothel, my royal brother has never once mobilized soldiers of the western suburbs camp to capture me back! Ai, I'm afraid that the young ladies in the capital are probably going to cry their hearts out!"
Facing An Ning's particularly meaningful gaze, Ren Anle shrugged, as if she had received her obscured compliment.
At the end of the dark street was a small wine shop, and the aroma of wine was overflowing.
The two's eyes met, and in a tacit understanding, they walked towards the wine shop.
Simple tables and chairs, rough utensils, old married couples; everything made the hustle and bustle of the capital go away, leaving only good wine and tranquility.
An Ning lifted up the small wine pot, pouring a sip into her mouth. She raised her eyes, looking at the woman in dark clothes with light eyebrows hidden in the moonlight across from her, with a reminiscent expression full of disappointment and frustration. Without any warning, suddenly, she opened her mouth.
"Ren Anle, you… are a lot like an old friend of mine that I used to know."
Not far behind them, Han Yue's figure of pale yellow guanfu stood quietly with deep and thoughtful eyes.
( clothing typically made of a hat and robes, based on the official's title and ranking.)