Creak-
In the alley behind the mansion, Luo Ning emerged from the new residence's back gate and hurried toward the Pei Family mansion.
For convenience, the two residences were less than two hundred meters apart, and most of those passing between them were maids and servants.
Luo Ning entered through the Pei Family's back gate with practiced familiarity. She had intended to fetch a horse from the stables and ride to the Black Bureau to ask after the little scoundrel, but when she arrived, she found the big, fat black horse standing in its stall chewing fodder. At the sight of her, it even snorted a greeting:
"Pff-"
Luo Ning paused, looked around, then found a maid passing by.
"Is Ye Jingtang back?"
"Miss Luo, Young Master Ye has returned. He's in Third Madam's courtyard."
"Oh..."
Luo Ning was a little puzzled-the horse's condition suggested that the little scoundrel had been back for a while, but there had been nobody in Third Madam's courtyard. Had he gone off to offer incense again?
As these thoughts wandered through her mind, Luo Ning passed through the Hanging Flower Gate and headed toward Third Madam's courtyard. She had just rounded a corner of the covered gallery when she heard faint snatches of conversation:
"You learn fast."
"Hehe~ Of course. Am I much cleverer than the Female Prince?"
"Hm? How do you know about that?"
"I'm no little girl. I'm already sixteen. You're an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old lad spending all day circling the Female Prince. You think I can't guess what you're after?"
"Ah~ I meant, how do you know the Female Prince learns slowly?"
"I didn't say that. I was only asking. Is the Female Prince really not as clever as me?"
"You can't put it that way. Prince Jing is accomplished in