In recent days, there have been continuous upheavals in the mansion. The old matriarch felt restless, so she decided to go to the Prajna Temple for a few days of spiritual retreat, pleading with the Buddha to bless the Ji family.
After seeing off the old matriarch, Zhao Luoning suddenly had nothing much to do. She remembered the several old maids who had been transferred to Fengti Xuan a few days ago, so she took a detour and intended to go there to check the situation.
Before Zhao Luoning even stepped into the door, she heard Ji Shisu's furious voice.
Zhao Luoning waved at Hongshao and stood outside the door to listen carefully.
It turned out that Ji Shisu was scolding the gossiping old maids.
It was really a good idea to leave these old foxes to this devil-may-care young master.
After scolding the old maids, Ji Shisu looked out of the door and shouted.
"Come out. What are you sneaking around there for?"
Zhao Luoning thought Ji Shisu had discovered her. Just as she was about to step in, she saw a woman in a turquoise long dress emerge from the bamboo forest. After tidying up her clothes, she stepped into Fengti Xuan.
"Who is she?"
Hongshao quickly stepped forward and whispered in Zhao Luoning's ear.
"She is the third concubine of the second young master, surnamed Chen and named Chuliu. She is the granddaughter of Master Yuchi. Back then, Master Yuchi was seriously ill. As an unofficial disciple of Master Yuchi, the second young master went to the Chen family to take care of him. Unexpectedly, this Chen Chuliu drugged the second young master's food and wine and got into his bed. The second young master had no choice but to marry her."
Zhao Luoning looked at the woman. She was more coquettish than virtuous, and more gorgeous than innocent. She was a tough customer.
According to the convention, when Zhao Luoning entered the mansion, those concubines were supposed to offer tea to her.
It was just that as soon as she got married, the incident of returning to her natal family happened.
Later, she had a falling - out with Ji Shisu. Since Ji Shisu didn't mention this matter, and she thought she would leave sooner or later, she was too lazy to care.
At this time, Hongshao continued.
"She has a bad temper. She often beats and scolds the servants. But in front of the second young master and the other masters in the family, she seems very docile and ingratiating."
Hongshao told everything she knew. Having lived in the Ji Mansion for so many years, she knew which concubine was kind - hearted and which one was scheming.
Chen Chuliu.
Zhao Luoning secretly remembered this name.
Zhao Luoning gradually found that this maid Hongshao was really useful. With her by her side, she finally managed to sort out the complicated relationships in the mansion.
But good times didn't last long.
Hongshao's original mistress, Ji Shihan, the Ji family's young lady, came to the door.
Everyone only knew that Hongshao had been doing rough and heavy work in Furong Yuan. They didn't know that Furong Yuan implemented a system of more pay for more work. Ji Shihan had always felt sorry for this maid who had grown up with her. As soon as the one - month period was over, she wanted to take Hongshao back.
"Second sister - in - law, I'm very grateful to you for saving Hongshao. Now that the one - month period is over, can Hongshao..."
"Caixue, go and call Hongshao here."
Zhao Luoning whispered instructions to Caixue, and Caixue obediently retreated.
Soon, Caixue brought Hongshao back.
"Miss."
Not having seen Ji Shihan for a long time, Hongshao was a bit excited.
Ji Shihan gave Hongshao a pitying look. Zhao Luoning followed Ji Shihan's gaze and found that Hongshao's hands were still wet. Maybe she had just come from the laundry room.
Now, the charge of her abusing Hongshao must be confirmed.
Zhao Luoning smiled and said,
"Hongshao, I made a one - month agreement with the madam before. Now the one - month period is over. You pack up and go back with your miss. Just know in your heart what you should do and what you shouldn't do in the future."
At this moment, Hongshao's face darkened. Obviously, she didn't want to leave.
After all, Hongshao had been with her for a month. Zhao Luoning knew what was on this little girl's mind.
"Hongshao, just as objects should return to their rightful owners, people should too."
Although she liked Hongshao very much, she wasn't so fond of her that she would fall out with her younger sister - in - law for a maid.
Hongshao naturally understood what Zhao Luoning meant. No matter how reluctant she was, she had to endure it and showed a smiling face in front of Ji Shihan.
Naturally, Hongshao was taken back by Ji Shihan.
"Hongshao, you've suffered in Furong Yuan these days. I had no choice at that time..."
Ji Shihan thought Hongshao had suffered in Furong Yuan and wanted to comfort her.
Hongshao quickly defended Zhao Luoning.
"Miss, the second young mistress is very kind. She didn't..."
"Hongshao, I know you've suffered. You don't have to speak well of her in front of me."
Hongshao blushed anxiously and quickly辩解,
"I took the money because my mother was very ill. The second young mistress gave me the money and saved my mother's life."
Now it was Ji Shihan's turn to be puzzled.
"Why didn't you tell me if you were short of money? And besides, the servants were all saying that you were doing all the dirty and tiring work in Furong Yuan."
"The second young mistress said that more pay for more work. I volunteered to do those jobs in order to pay back the second young mistress for saving my mother's life. The second young mistress never made me feel wronged. I didn't ask you for money because I knew that you also had a hard time in the mansion."
Unexpectedly, she had misjudged a kind person. Ji Shihan was speechless for a moment.
"The second young mistress uses her own dowry to help us servants. So no one in Furong Yuan is not convinced by her."
Seeing Hongshao getting more and more excited, the nanny beside Ji Shihan couldn't help reminding.
"Hongshao, how can you talk like this in front of the miss."
Actually, the nanny just simply reminded her, but Hongshao's tears welled up.
"Miss, Hongshao didn't mean to disobey you. It's just that Hongshao doesn't want you to misunderstand the second young mistress. The second young mistress is just like you. She is the person Hongshao cares about most and the best person to Hongshao in the world. Hongshao doesn't want you to misunderstand the second young mistress."
Saying that, Hongshao ran away crying. The old nanny was startled and said blankly,
"It's only been a month. Why, is she under a spell?"
"Yes, the spell cast by the second sister - in - law is really powerful."
Ji Shihan smiled and walked towards her own courtyard. She didn't take Hongshao's words as disrespect at all.
It was really the first time that Hongshao protected someone like this.
It was a blessing for the Ji family to have such a capable second young mistress in charge of the mansion.
...
After Hongshao left, Furong Yuan became much quieter. Without a maid to tell her the gossips in the mansion, Zhao Luoning even felt a bit bored.
But she didn't feel bored for long before trouble came knocking on the door.
"Miss, it's not good. Just now, someone from the madam's side came to pass on a message, saying that the madam is waiting for you in the ancestral shrine."
The ancestral shrine?!
"Just calling me?"
"Yes. The maid who came to pass on the message didn't look very good. She said that the miss should be mentally prepared. The madam seems very angry."
Zhao Luoning put down the book in her hand. While asking Caixue to help her change clothes, she wondered what she had done wrong and left a handle in the madam's hands.
Zhao Luoning rushed to the ancestral shrine in a hurry and found that there was also a woman beside the madam who loved to stir up trouble - the concubine.
With her around, even good things would turn bad.