Only after seeing Master Zhao leave did the maid Caixue quickly come forward and say, "Miss, you mustn't agree!"
Caixue leaned close to Zhao Luoning's ear and whispered, "I heard that the second young master of the Ji family is a philanderer. He has a room full of concubines, not to mention over a dozen mistresses."
Over... a dozen?
It was like a thunderbolt striking. Zhao Luoning could hardly stand steadily.
"Caixue, let's go find Father."
Caixue quickly stepped forward to support Zhao Luoning. Only when she took hold of her hand did Caixue realize that the eldest miss's hand was trembling slightly.
Caixue's heart skipped a beat. She exerted a bit more strength with her hand to steady Zhao Luoning, who was a bit wobbly on her feet.
Zhao Luoning led Caixue to the outside of her father's courtyard.
The gatekeeper woman kindly reminded them, "Master is talking to the second mistress."
Why is the second mistress here too?
This second mistress was the birth mother of Zhao Luoyue. Since she entered the family, she had constantly caused trouble for Zhao Luoning and her mother.
Zhao Luoning followed the maid who passed on messages and walked in.
The maid led the mistress and the maid into the porch, lifted the heavy curtain, and walked in.
The curtain was half - open, and the voices of the people inside came out.
"What? You're serious? Did Luoning really do such a disgraceful thing!"
"She's the eldest miss of our Zhao family. How dare I make up such things about her! I just found out this news. Master, Luoning is no longer a virgin."
"I knew it, I knew it! I can't control this daughter of mine!" Master Zhao was so angry that his voice trembled. "Who is the adulterer?"
"I noticed that Luoning didn't return all night. In the morning, I wanted to go and ask a few concerned words. But I saw the eldest miss come back in disheveled clothes. It was obvious that she..."
"Rebellious, completely rebellious. I told her not to show herself in public, but she insisted on going out! I should have burned her to death back then if I had known this."
"Master, the most urgent thing now is the marriage contract with the Ji family! I'm also thinking about Luoning.
Think about it. If she marries someone else, this matter will surely be exposed. The second young master of the Ji family is a philanderer. It's rumored that he even flirts with widows. Presumably, he won't care.
Moreover, Luoning is so capable. With a little trickery, she should be able to hide this from the second young master of the Ji family, that good - for - nothing.
But our Luoyue is different. She's so naive. If she marries there, she'll surely be devoured."
A girl's coquettish voice came from inside, echoing Mrs. Xu's words. "Father, I don't want to marry that philanderer! Daughter still wants to accompany Father for a few more years."
"Alright, alright. Father won't let you marry there." Only when facing this youngest daughter did Master Zhao show a bit of a kind - father look.
At this moment, a voice interrupted the conversation inside. "Master, Second Mistress, the eldest miss is here."
Master Zhao was in a fit of anger. Hearing this news, his anger flared up even more.
"Call that unfilial daughter in for me."
The maid who passed on messages lifted the curtain and walked out in response. But the porch was already empty. There was no sign of the mistress and the maid.
Zhao Luoning and Caixue ran all the way out of Furong Pavilion. They didn't know how long they had run. Only when they were sure they had run far enough did Zhao Luoning stop. Because she had run too fast, her stomach churned. She leaned against a pillar and retched.
Caixue quickly handed her a handkerchief and looked at her with distress.
"E... Eldest Miss. It's all my fault... I shouldn't have listened to the second mistress and returned to the mansion early last night." If she had chosen to accompany the miss, the miss wouldn't have... wouldn't have...
Caixue didn't even dare to think about those scenes.
Her stomach was uncomfortable, and her heart was even more painful. Tears welled up in Zhao Luoning's eyes as she retched. A sneer tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"Caixue, I feel sick!"
Yes, her father made her feel sick.
She had suffered such great humiliation, but her father didn't care how much humiliation his daughter had endured. Instead, he said it was all because she was disobedient and promiscuous, that she deserved it. All he could think about was that his daughter couldn't be sold for a good price.
And the second mistress who had pushed her into the fire pit.
How cruel!
After all, they had been a family for over a decade.
She actually resorted to such despicable means to push her into the fire pit just to protect her own daughter?!
Her heart and lungs were shattered, with many cracks. The cold wind whistled through the cracks, making it painful to breathe.
However, Zhao Luoning didn't even have time to despair.
She knew that she had to save herself.
"Caixue, let's go and reply."
"Miss, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to marry myself off!"
...
Inside the Zhao Mansion, it was now in a complete uproar. Outside the Zhao Mansion, a carriage was passing by the gate.
The carriage moved forward along the street and finally stopped in front of Tianxiang Tower.
The coachman parked the carriage steadily, jumped off, and walked into Tianxiang Tower.
Not long after, he came out, stood outside the carriage, and reported to the man inside.
"Sir, we still haven't found the person."
"Hmm?" A deep voice came from inside the carriage, imposing even without anger.
"The madam said that her people have searched every corner of Huang City. They really can't find the person. Could it be that the girl has left the city?"
The man coldly ordered, "Keep searching."
"But sir, if the girl has left the city, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack..."
"No matter the cost, find her!"
"Yes."
On the other hand, Master Zhao rushed into Yuzhu Courtyard angrily. He didn't even bother to knock on the door and kicked it open.
The door banged open. Master Zhao rushed into the room angrily and shouted, "Luoning!"
After shouting a few times and getting no response, Master Zhao grabbed the trembling woman standing at the door and angrily asked, "Where is that unfilial daughter Luoning!"
"E... Eldest Miss... left... early this morning."
"That disgraceful thing still dares to go out? She's shamed our Zhao family! Go, find her for me. If you can't find her, don't come and see me!"
Everyone was so scared that they scattered like birds and beasts. Suddenly, someone shouted, "Eldest Miss."
From afar, Zhao Luoning's voice came. "I wonder what important matter Father is looking for me about?"
Master Zhao turned around. Just as he opened his mouth to scold, he was stunned when he saw the two soldiers following Zhao Luoning. He forced himself to suppress his anger and tried to put on a kind - looking face.
"Luoning, it's not appropriate for you to invite these two gentlemen into the inner room, isn't it?"
"The eldest miss has already promised to marry our second young master. She is the prospective second young mistress of our Ji Mansion. We are ordered to ensure the safety of the young mistress. Before the eldest miss gets married, we will take over this Yuzhu Courtyard." The soldiers replied in a matter - of - fact manner.
"This... Who said I'm going to marry Luoning to your second young master of the Ji family?"
"Do you want to go back on your word?" As they spoke, the two of them drew out their weapons.
Master Zhao had no choice but to back down. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." Then he looked at Zhao Luoning and asked, "What's going on?"
Zhao Luoning pretended to look pitiful. "I know Father is reluctant to part with me, but I'm a member of the Zhao family. How can I watch the Zhao family fall into trouble? So I had to make my own decision to avoid putting Father in a difficult situation."
"You..." Master Zhao reached out his hand, but was blocked by the soldiers. He knew that he couldn't discipline this daughter anymore, so he had to withdraw his hand.
"You're really a good daughter to me!"
"Thank you for Father's compliment!"
"..."