The more the mistress and her maid thought about it, the creepier it got. Zhao Luoning sent Caixue to make some inquiries.
After asking around, they learned that the eldest mistress was fine, but someone had indeed died.
"Miss Luqu had a miscarriage," Caixue reported.
Although Caixue was still an unmarried girl, she knew what a miscarriage meant.
No wonder white lanterns were hung outside Luqu's residence. They were for the unborn child. And because it was a miscarriage, the people in the mansion considered it inauspicious and dared not mention it.
"Alas, Miss Luqu is really pitiful," sighed one of the maids.
Just then, two maids carrying hot water passed by behind the rockery. Their conversation fell word - for - word into Zhao Luoning's ears.
"Yes, it's so unfair. Miss Luqu is such a kind person, yet she had to suffer this disaster. Fortunately, the Second Master is so affectionate. You don't know, he rushed back in the middle of the night yesterday and stayed by Miss Luqu's bedside all night."
"Yes, the Second Master and Miss Luqu are such a perfect match. If the Second Master hadn't been betrothed to the Second Mistress since childhood, he would never have let Miss Luqu be a concubine."
"Yes..."
Hearing this, Caixue couldn't hold back anymore. She was about to rush out and teach those gossiping maids a lesson, but Zhao Luoning stopped her.
"Miss, I'm so angry for you. How dare they talk about you like that!"
Zhao Luoning seemed more relaxed. She let go of Caixue and comforted her.
"People can say whatever they want. It doesn't matter to us. We don't lose anything."
"Miss, aren't you angry?"
"It's fine. It's all good."
It was a blessing that she had married Ji Shisu. The more promiscuous Ji Shisu was, the easier it would be for her to leave the Ji family.
This Ji Shisu seemed to really care about his concubine.
It seemed that she could make a deal with him.
It was three days later when Zhao Luoning saw Ji Shisu again.
When Ji Shisu left Luqu's residence, he was a far cry from the suave and charming Second Young Master Ji.
Dragging his haggard body, he freshened up in Furongyuan, changed into clean clothes, and then told his servant to move his things to Luqu's residence.
Coincidentally, Zhao Luoning was coming back from the accounting room with the ledger in her arms and bumped right into Ji Shisu.
"You're back," Ji Shisu said.
Zhao Luoning was a bit startled and didn't reply. She was about to go to Caixue's room to put away the ledger.
"You don't have to keep going to the maids' room. Since I'm not living here, you can move back."
Zhao Luoning simply responded with a grunt, which made Ji Shisu a bit embarrassed.
"That day, I didn't mean to leave you alone. It's just that Luqu's situation was so sudden that I had to rush back. Later, I sent someone to pick you up, but the person told me you had already returned. I..."
"Ji Shisu, our relationship isn't close enough for you to explain so much to me. But since you've brought it up, let's make a deal."
Although Zhao Luoning's tone made Ji Shisu a bit angry, he still wanted to hear her proposal. So he told the maids and servants in the room to leave.
"I know you're not satisfied with this marriage. I'll help you find a reason to divorce me, but you have to promise me one condition."
Hearing that Zhao Luoning was scheming to leave him, Ji Shisu was suddenly at a loss.
He didn't understand what was wrong with himself. Ever since he married Zhao Luoning, he had been trying to divorce her. Logically, he should be happy that she was the one who brought it up.
But at this moment, his heart started to act against his reason, and he felt a sense of reluctance towards Zhao Luoning.
Ji Shisu put on a cold face and asked stiffly,
"What condition?"
"Help me find Caixue's biological parents."
Yes, this was the real reason why Zhao Luoning was willing to marry into the Ji family.
Only the Ji family, which had connections in both the black and white worlds and had business all over the country and even in foreign lands, could help her find the people.
Ji Shisu didn't understand Zhao Luoning. Caixue was just a maid, yet she was willing to give up being the Second Mistress of the Ji family for a maid?
What Ji Shisu didn't know was that in Zhao Luoning's heart, Caixue was far more than just a maid.
Caixue was picked up by her on the street.
But Caixue had a priceless jade pendant on her, and the dirty clothes she wore were actually made of expensive silk.
Zhao Luoning had always suspected that Caixue's identity was not simple.
"This is the jade pendant Caixue had on her the day I found her. I've been keeping it for her. Take a look."
Ji Shisu took the jade pendant from Zhao Luoning's hand. It felt cold and was of excellent quality.
It was indeed a high - grade jade that an ordinary family couldn't afford.
"You're so sure I'll help you?"
"I know, because in this marriage, we have the same goal, which is to get rid of this shackle."
Zhao Luoning's words made Ji Shisu's heart sink to the bottom.
Seeing that Ji Shisu didn't say a word, Zhao Luoning sweetened the deal.
"I know Miss Luqu has been through a tough time, and I know you have feelings for her. If you want to give Miss Luqu the title of Second Mistress, I'm willing to help you."
Ji Shisu was stunned.
What did Zhao Luoning mean? Did she think so little of her position as his main wife that she was willing to discard it like an old shoe?
Ji Shisu was extremely angry and said harshly,
"I don't need to agree to you. I can still divorce you. You'd better keep this jade pendant well."
Zhao Luoning stared blankly at Ji Shisu as he stormed off. She didn't understand what she had done to anger him.
Wasn't he the biggest beneficiary of her proposal? He could get rid of her, whom he disliked, and give his concubine a proper status.
Wasn't she the most generous main wife in the world? She had no idea what Ji Shisu was so angry about.
Zhao Luoning and Ji Shisu's first negotiation ended on a sour note. Ji Shisu moved to Luqu's residence, and Zhao Luoning saw him less and less.
Zhao Luoning didn't have time to worry about the moody Second Young Master Ji. If he didn't agree, she would find another way.
For now, she still had to play the role of the Second Mistress of the Ji family well. There were too many things to do in the Ji Mansion every day.
She still hadn't dealt with those people she wanted to get rid of last time.
One day, on a whim, when Zhao Luoning went to pay respects to the old matriarch, she suddenly proposed going to Pingle Garden to listen to music.
These days, Luqu's incident had cast a shadow over everyone. The old matriarch was really suffocated. Without prior notice, she took Zhao Luoning and Mrs. Ji, who had also come to pay respects, and walked towards Pingle Garden.
In Pingle Garden,
After Luqu's accident, the masters had no mood for music. The idle maids gathered together and started gossiping again.
"Miss Luqu is really pitiful. She's been married for so many years, and just when she finally had a child, it was gone like that for no reason."
"You'd think a careful person like Miss Luqu wouldn't be so careless. How could she not even know she was pregnant?"
"It's hard to say."
"What do you mean?"