"What's the use of being good-looking? Her temper is really unbearable."
After arriving at Furongyuan, Caixue, who had been holding back her anger, finally dared to vent.
"Silly girl, we just need to avoid provoking him. Why bother about him so much?"
Caixue nodded and asked.
"You're right. It's cold outside. Miss, you'd better not go out for now. Caixue will go and get you a cape."
Since she had just gotten married, Zhao Luoning's things hadn't been sorted out yet and were stored in the warehouse. Caixue was going to the warehouse to find the cape.
Seeing that it was still early, Zhao Luoning nodded and let Caixue go.
In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Caixue came back, but she didn't bring back the breakfast.
Zhao Luoning was just wondering when she heard Caixue gasping for breath and saying,
"Miss, something bad has happened."
Luoning was just about to ask what had happened when she heard Caixue say that it was too complicated to explain for the moment and was about to drag her out. Helpless, she had to put down the book in her hand and follow Caixue to the main hall.
In the ancestral hall, a young maid was kneeling on the ground, crying her eyes out.
Madam Ji was sitting on the upper seat, looking serious. Everyone held their breath, and the atmosphere was extremely solemn.
In the main hall, there was also a delicate and frail young lady sitting. Zhao Luoning knew her because there was only one young lady in the Ji Mansion - Ji Shihan.
"Hongshao, our Ji family has treated you well. Is this how you repay us?"
On the way here, Zhao Luoning had briefly learned about what had happened.
Hongshao was a maid in Mingyu Xuan where Ji Shihan lived. She had sticky fingers. Today, she was caught red - handed by Madam Ji.
"Grandmother."
Zhao Luoning stepped into the main hall and stood beside the young maid.
"Ning'er, you're new here. Just watch from the side."
But the concubine wasn't so easy - going. She was afraid that the world wouldn't be in chaos and sneered,
"This Hongshao doesn't even pick a good day to steal. The second young mistress has just taken over the Ji family, and you've just offended her."
"Concubine, you're overreacting. Luoning acts uprightly and isn't afraid of bad luck."
This concubine always liked to make things difficult for her.
After silencing the concubine, Zhao Luoning began to plead for Hongshao.
"Grandmother, why not hand Hongshao over to Luoning for training? Luoning assures you that after one month, I'll definitely return a obedient and loyal maid to you."
Madam Ji also hated to part with such a smart maid as Hongshao. She decided to give Zhao Luoning a try and agreed.
"Since Ning'er has said so, I'll follow your suggestion for now."
"But what if Hongshao still has sticky fingers after one month?"
The concubine set a condition.
"Luoning is willing to be punished together with Hongshao."
Seeing that Zhao Luoning had made such a firm statement, Madam Ji waved her hand and let Zhao Luoning take Hongshao away.
Back in Furongyuan, Zhao Luoning was both tired and hungry. She told Caixue to prepare breakfast for her, and only Hongshao, who was still sobbing, was left in the room.
"You're Hongshao, right? Don't be so formal. Sit down."
Hongshao was so shocked by Zhao Luoning's action that she knelt in front of her instead.
"Please forgive Hongshao, Second Young Mistress. Hongshao will never dare to do it again."
"Whether you dare or not isn't up to you. You should know very well that being a maid in the Ji family is a good job. I guess your family depends on your monthly salary to live, right?"
Zhao Luoning had obviously hit the nail on the head. Hongshao bit her lip and nodded.
"Then why did you do such a thing?"
"Second Young Mistress, please understand. My mother is critically ill and in urgent need of silver. Hongshao had no choice but to resort to this."
"Did you tell Madam about this?"
"Madam was busy preparing for your and the Second Young Master's wedding before. Since I couldn't see her, I went to the Second Madam. The Second Madam scolded me severely and said that if everyone borrowed money just because someone in the family was sick, the Ji Mansion would be in chaos."
It was that concubine again. She was clearly a trouble - maker.
"Okay, I understand your situation. Now go and find Caixue. Ask her to arrange a place for you to live. You can stay with me for this month."
"Second Young Mistress, aren't you going to punish me?"
Hongshao asked timidly, still sniffling.
"I will punish you, but I have to solve the root cause first."
Zhao Luoning didn't say how she would punish Hongshao. She just told her to go down and rest. Secretly, she sent someone to Hongshao's home to inquire and confirmed that Hongshao wasn't lying. Then she took out some silver from her dowry to buy medicine and hire a doctor.
Hongshao found out about this when someone from her family came to thank her in the evening. She was immediately so touched that she burst into tears.
"Second Young Mistress, Hongshao will never forget your kindness for saving my family."
"I won't give this money for free. Consider it a loan from me." Zhao Luoning added seriously, "You've borrowed this money cleanly from me. I hope you can pay it back to me honestly."
Hongshao was both ashamed and regretful. She wasn't a thief by nature. If she hadn't been forced into a corner, she wouldn't have resorted to such a thing.
Moreover, the Second Young Mistress had even vouched for her with her own reputation.
"Second Young Mistress, please rest assured. You're the savior of my whole family. Hongshao will protect your reputation even if it costs her life."
Seeing that the effect had been achieved, Zhao Luoning nodded and told someone to take Hongshao down to settle her.
After Hongshao left, Caixue asked Zhao Luoning puzzledly,
"Miss, why did you save this woman with sticky fingers and even vouch for her? Aren't you afraid that she's a habitual thief?"
"If she were a habitual thief, she wouldn't have come up with an excuse like someone in the family being sick, which can be easily verified." Zhao Luoning smiled meaningfully. "Besides, we're new here. We need someone to introduce the Ji Mansion to us, don't we?"
Saving a maid who had grown up in the Ji Mansion could quickly help them get to know the situation of the Ji Mansion.
This deal seemed to be a good one.
...
Night belonged to Tianxiang Tower.
The smell of perfume filled Tianxiang Tower, and vulgar and amorous words could be heard everywhere.
Tianxiang Tower was a money - burning den for men.
Today was the night when Lianxiang, the top courtesan of Tianxiang Tower, was getting "married". The man who bought her would become her lover.
After all, it was the top courtesan's "wedding" night. Tianxiang Tower attached great importance to it. They not only specially hung red silk ribbons, but also decorated Lianxiang's room like a bridal chamber.
"Hey, how is Miss Lianxiang dressed up?"
The madam came in swaying, fanning herself with a palm - leaf fan.
As soon as she opened the door, she saw a very charming picture of a beauty.
"You're really brave. This is Tianxiang Tower, and you even take a bath without closing the door?"
"Madam, we're in this business. I'm only afraid that the customers won't give enough silver."
Lianxiang was a girl picked up by the madam. She had been a beauty since childhood, and the madam had raised her like her own daughter. Lianxiang was naturally charming. One glance from her could steal a man's soul.
The madam sat down beside Lianxiang's bathtub and personally threw flower petals into the water for her.
"Lianxiang, I've raised you like my own daughter since you were a child. If you can keep that customer today, you'll enjoy endless wealth and glory."