In fact, Lou Shuwan had already seen Ning Yi when he entered from outside. Search:\(¨Complete¨ Book¨ God¨ Station¨) to read high-quality literature for free.

Fang La's rebellion used the slogan "All laws are equal, without high or low." Although the slogan was just a slogan, and no one would extend it to gender equality, his younger sister, Fang Baihua, was one of the most important generals in the rebel army, and she also had many female soldiers and generals under her command. Therefore, it was not surprising that the Yongle Dynasty employed some capable and well-connected female officials at the beginning of its establishment.

Of course, more than half of the women who were able to hold positions in Fang La's system at this time were actually in those positions from the beginning. Some helped their husbands manage affairs in the mountain stronghold, some followed Fang Baihua all the way, and some were women recruited by the Manichean sect. After all, women's status was not high at this time. Although they were in charge, their official positions were rather vague, either nominally under Fang Baihua or nominally as female officials in the palace.

It was naturally impossible to arrange for women to sit with men at the banquet, so they were arranged in a separate hall on the side. It was still early, and the Empress, who was said to be coming out to greet everyone, had not yet appeared. Lou Shuwan was chatting with a woman she had known earlier when she inadvertently saw the figure passing by outside the window.

At first, she thought she was mistaken.

In the past two months, from the earthquake to the chaos of war, the Lou family was also affected by the rebel army's entry into the city. From initial panic to adjusting her mood to face reality, few people were in the mood to pay attention to what happened to the people around them during that time. When everything was basically settled and she looked back, she realized that many of the people she used to know had left or disappeared, or she occasionally met them on the street and realized that they hadn't been able to leave either.

Ning Yi and Su Tan'er were not really people around Lou Shuwan. Originally, the relationship between the two parties was somewhat ambiguous. When Lou Shuwan was able to talk with Su Tan'er in Hangzhou, it was not so much friendship as it was because both of them had live-in husbands. At that time, it was not cold, but to really say they were close, neither party believed it. Later, there was the dispute on West Lake, and everything became complicated. It was hard to say what would happen if things continued, but the ensuing war diluted everything. She was first frightened, and then she managed affairs for her family. Now she had the status of a female official, and the surrounding environment had also changed. Occasionally, she felt like it was a lifetime ago.

All kinds of people and things two months ago had become distant. If she thought of the couple Ning Yi and Su Tan'er, they had probably left Hangzhou. She had not investigated this matter, and naturally there was no need to investigate it. The figure she saw at this time was naturally a mistake. She continued to chat in the room, but in the end, she still came out to get some air. After walking around, she saw the man talking with Long Boyuan.

With emotions that even she herself was not very clear about, she greeted him with a smile.

"You didn't leave either. Where is Tan'er, my sister?" After approaching, she smoothed her hair and asked quite naturally.

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

"Uh... we meet again."

**********************

"...Things have been a mess these past few months... I went to Taiping Lane before, wanting to inquire about you and Tan'er, but... there... ha..."

The night breeze after the rain was pleasant. Red lanterns stretched one after another, and the courtyards were noisy and chaotic. Occasionally, one could hear rough and unrestrained talk, and loud greetings. The maids responsible for entertaining were in groups of twos and threes, hurrying past. Lou Shuwan and Ning Yi walked under the eaves. Time and environment can often conveniently change and create many things. At least in the current atmosphere, the two of them did have a reason to talk. Lou Shuwan naturally talked about her previous visit to Taiping Lane, and Ning Yi certainly did not show any rejection.

"How is Taiping Lane... now?"

"It seems there were some problems. It was bombed beyond recognition. I'm not very clear..."

"Tsk, a failed investment."

"What?"

"Nothing. How is the Lou family...?"

Lou Shuwan went to Taiping Lane just because it was on the way that day. She looked at the house where Ning Yi and Su Tan'er used to live, which had now been reduced to rubble. Lou Shuwan did not ask the people around her about this, as she had no interest or need to. She could probably be sure that they had left. As for Ning Yi, he originally chose to live in Taiping Lane because he thought that if the Wu Dynasty moved its capital, the Taiping Lane area would have a lot of room for appreciation after moving south. Who knew that the experience and knowledge of a thousand years later would capsize in a confident situation? At this time, he couldn't help but sigh and make a joke. When Ning Yi mentioned the Lou family, Lou Shuwan smiled noncommittally.

"My father is still healthy... When Hangzhou fell, it was a mess. They said... Fang Qifo, Buddha Commander, sent Wang Yin to my home and threatened my father to stay and use the Lou family's foundation to share some of the burdens for the Yongle Dynasty. It was not easy to leave at the time, so my father had to agree. Now, it hasn't suffered too much impact. Everything is fine, just a little busy."

As she said this, she glanced at Ning Yi slightly. One of the reasons—even if not the main reason—that made Lou Jinlin decide to stay was the Lou family's feeling of opposition to Qian Xiwen at the Liqiu Poetry Society. This was also one of the reasons why Fang Qifo approached the Lou family. And Ning Yi seemed to be the main participant in the opposition between Qian Xiwen and the Lou family at the time.

After confirming that Ning Yi did not have any unusual emotions, she said, "I have always wanted to find an opportunity to apologize to you for my second brother's affairs on the day of the Liqiu Poetry Society. My second brother is not a bad person... But so many things happened later, so it was delayed. Now..."

Ning Yi laughed, "In this situation now, what is there to say about the little things of the past?"

"That's right." Lou Shuwan nodded with a smile, and then asked about Ning Yi's affairs since the city fell, and where he was now. She also roughly knew that Ning Yi had not been able to escape, and was now doing some copying and writing work in the Badao Camp.

This kind of thing was not surprising. She knew that Ning Yi was talented and learned, and it was not difficult for him to have something to do. However, the power hierarchy in Hangzhou was now divided into three levels. Those officials who had rebelled with Fang La in the first place, had qualifications, and knew many people were naturally the first level. Those like the Lou family who only surrendered when the city fell were the second level. But those who were arrested after the city fell and then agreed to take office, even if they were talented, usually did not have a high status.

Having said what should be said, she also inquired about the matter of Ning Yi staying and Su Tan'er leaving, and Ning Yi only said that it was a long story, so she didn't ask any further. If Su Tan'er had abandoned him and run away alone, Lou Shuwan thought it was unlikely, but in these days, she had seen too many distorted things happening before her eyes. In the chaos of war, nothing was impossible. But in any case, it was always not good to ask any further at this time.

After that, they said goodbye to each other, and Lou Shuwan returned to the side hall. After opening the windows here, it was still connected to the main venue. She talked a few words with a woman she knew, and looked out of the window. Soon after, she also saw Ning Yi sitting in a corner on the other side. The scholar was chatting and laughing with the people around him, and the atmosphere seemed harmonious. He neither seemed aloof and isolated, nor did he deliberately publicize himself. The scene just melted into a red, festive light.

Looking around, the various men and women were incompatible with the life she used to have in her heart. The women did not have the elegance of a lady from a prominent family, nor the freshness of a girl from a small family. The woman beside her had a straightforward personality and a tall stature, but she only spoke with a country bumpkin accent.

The men in sight were also full of a bloody and reckless aura. They licked blood from the knife's edge, rebelled, and killed people. Some were burly and looked like coolies who moved things at the docks, but these people were more flamboyant. Some looked like the Jianghu people and gang bosses she had seen before who fought bravely, but they did have a bit more composure and ferocity. Gang bosses only collected protection fees and made trouble, but they were people who truly made killing a profession.

If it had been in the past, she would occasionally appreciate and yearn for this kind of person, but life is life, and that kind of adjustment is different from life. When she saw her brother, Lou Shuwang, accompanying Lou Jingzhi, the son of the Left Prime Minister, passing through the crowd, she suddenly realized that a kind of dullness that she had not carefully thought about for more than a month was realized by her due to Ning Yi's sudden appearance, and at this time, it was diluted.

It was like waking up. She had originally stopped thinking about the lives of the past because she knew it was useless to think about them, but now, even knowing it was useless, she still remembered them.

She was not the kind of little woman who would be upset about this kind of thing anymore, she thought in her heart at this time.

The relationship with the Ning Yi couple was not very good. They met on their way south and came to Hangzhou together. Some things seemed warm at first, but she did not confide in the other party, and the other party probably did not regard her as a confidante. The relationship between women is sometimes very simple and sometimes very complicated, but one thing that cannot be denied is that the reason why everyone came and went at first was because they had similar experiences, but later, her curiosity and attention to Ning Yi was more than that to Su Tan'er.

Originally, they should have been exchanging experiences about having a useless husband, but in the end, she subconsciously thought that the other party was happier than herself. Her curiosity about Ning Yi did not last long, and it came to an abrupt end after the stunning performance on the day of the Liqiu Poetry Society. She did not regard Ning Yi as a god, or regard him as some kind of lofty and perfect existence, but the feeling he gave her, whether in his conversation or his behavior, was perhaps as natural as he was at that banquet, making her unable to resist thinking that if she could have such an opportunity, to have such a live-in husband, she might be satisfied, and she could live a natural life like an ordinary couple. That should not be said to be the best, perhaps it was... the most appropriate.

She looked out of the window and sat down in the chair. After thinking clearly about these things, the rest was very simple.

Su Tan'er left—no matter how she left—and he couldn't escape. Her own life had also been destroyed. In any case, the war had changed many people and things, and the world was now chaotic and unbearable, and she did want to have such a man.

She wanted him to be her man.

Lou Shuwan figured this out in her heart, then took a sip of tea and continued chatting with the woman next to her.

At the same time, Lou Shuwang saw Ning Yi in the venue over there. (To be continued.) Vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

Support (Complete Book God Station) to share this site with those little friends who need it! Please leave a message if you can't find the book!