Leaving aside the troubles and trifles at Xiao Manor.
Kanning Street in North City blazed with lights. Curfew had yet to begin, and talented young men and beautiful young women came and went in groups of three or five.
Some walked together; others lingered among flowers beneath the moon, taking advantage of the bright moonlit night to recite poems and compose couplets in refined language.
Outside the Mounting Shop.
On a carriage flying Xiao Manor's red flag, the groom leaned against the carriage with his arms folded, his eyes darting about.
He looked at this person, then that one, with rather more to see than his eyes could take in.
Just then, a hand landed on his shoulder. "Old Luo, ogling around here like that-you'd better watch out, or those young ladies won't like it."
The groom named Old Luo jumped. Once he saw that it was Liu Si'er, he immediately began grumbling:
"Fourth Brother, why are you creeping around like a ghost?"
"You've got the nerve to talk about me? The estate's been in a frenzy all day. How did you sneak out?"
Liu Si'er smiled and nudged his backside over, making him shift aside, then sat on the driver's seat and said:
"I had some private business to attend to."
"And you're talking about me? If the estate's really so busy, how did you get out?"
Old Luo pointed toward the nearby Mounting Shop. "I've got proper business to do. The second son-in-law wrote another piece of calligraphy to be mounted. Said he was giving it to..."
Before finishing, his eyes shifted, and he gave Liu Si'er a suggestive look. "Wait, that's not right. You didn't come here for a secret rendezvous with that girl who visited your room last time, did you?"
The girl from last time?