"Miss, are you so angry that you've lost your wits?" Caixue murmured, not daring to slacken her pace for a moment as she closely followed Zhao Luoning.
After Zhao Luoning went to visit the venerable matriarch, it was inevitable that she would stir up the matriarch's tears again.
The matriarch hugged her and tearfully poured out her heartache.
"My dear girl, why do you torture yourself like this? If you've been wronged, just tell your grandma. Why did you do something so foolish?"
Zhao Luoning knew she had to explain this matter. She withdrew from the matriarch's embrace and bowed respectfully.
"As the mistress of the Ji family, if I were to let the midwife check my virginity just because of some random remarks, it would bring shame to the Ji family if word got out. I had no choice but to take this drastic measure."
Hearing this, the matriarch couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
"Luoning, you did the right thing. It's your mother - in - law who was being muddle - headed. The mistress of the Ji family cannot be defiled by rumors."
The matriarch lovingly pulled Zhao Luoning into her arms and said, "From now on, no one is allowed to mention this matter again. You are the daughter - in - law of the Ji family, married through proper rites. Whoever dares to spread rumors will be beaten to death with sticks!"
It was only when the maid reminded them that it was time for dinner that the matriarch finally let go of Zhao Luoning.
After accompanying the matriarch for dinner and visiting the master and the mistress, when Zhao Luoning returned to Furongyuan, it was already getting dark.
"Miss, I was so worried at first that the mistress would make things difficult for you," Caixue said as she pushed open the courtyard door for Zhao Luoning, not keeping her mouth shut for a moment.
Zhao Luoning finally felt relieved. At least for now, no one would dare to mention that matter again.
As soon as Caixue opened the door, a maid rushed over and said that the Fourth Master had been waiting in the room for a long time.
The Fourth Master was Ji Shihuan.
Zhao Luoning didn't have a deep impression of this Fourth Master.
Ji Shihuan was still young. Rather than being her brother - in - law, he was more like her little nephew.
It was precisely because Ji Shihuan was young and easy to bully, and also a concubine - born son, that there were many lazy and slippery maids and servants in his room. It was only after Zhao Luoning became the mistress of the family that she took the opportunity to replace the servants in Ji Shihuan's room when she was rectifying the servants in the mansion.
It was only on that occasion that Ji Shihuan came to her room and called her sister - in - law. After that, they had little interaction.
What was Ji Shihuan doing here this time?
Before the maid could finish speaking, a purple figure rushed out. Although he seemed very excited, he stopped when he was only a few steps away from Zhao Luoning and put on a sulky face.
"You're so stupid! Do you think you're a cat demon? You try to kill yourself at every turn."
Ji Shihuan's words were really hurtful when he opened his mouth, but Zhao Luoning didn't mind. She walked up to Ji Shihuan and rolled up her sleeve.
"What are you showing me? The family - heirloom bracelet? I know. You're the mistress..."
But Zhao Luoning shook her head. She rolled the bracelet up further, revealing the still - shocking wound that had already scabbed over.
"The wound has already scabbed. You don't have to worry."
Ji Shihuan was embarrassed that Zhao Luoning had seen through his thoughts at once. His face turned red, and he slapped Zhao Luoning's hand away.
"I'm not worried. Don't be so self - indulgent."
Zhao Luoning smiled and put down her sleeve. She patted the little man on the shoulder and said with a smile,
"Okay, I know. Now it's time for dinner. Why don't you have dinner with me?"
Ji Shihuan just said, "No way," and then ran away. But after running a few steps, he stopped again. Blushing, he said, "Welcome home," and then ran out of Furongyuan without looking back.
Zhao Luoning smiled. Although Ji Shihuan was a bit awkward, he was truly kind to her. For her, this was such a precious thing.
...
The Nings' Villa
The Nings' old mansion was being renovated, so the two Ning brothers had to temporarily live in the villa.
The moonlight had been unusually bright in recent days. Ning Huainan was painting by the moonlight without using a lamp.
It was already deep into the night, and from time to time, the shrill cries of mountain birds would suddenly pierce the night sky. Ning Huainan showed no sign of tiredness. After finishing the last stroke, he gently lifted the drawing paper and carefully blew on the ink to dry it.
"Why don't you light a lamp when you're painting?"
Ning Huaizhi didn't know when he had come under Ning Huainan's window. Seeing that Ning Huainan was painting without a lamp, he couldn't help asking. But when he clearly saw the portrait in Ning Huainan's hand, he immediately understood.
"So you're painting this other - worldly fairy."
Ning Huainan was amused by Ning Huaizhi's playful teasing. He put down the drawing paper and carefully looked at the portrait of Zhao Luoning.
It had been a long time since he last painted her.
"This is the high - quality rice paper brought from the capital. Usually, you're so stingy when I ask you for a few sheets. But now you've used such a large piece without hesitation. Aren't you心疼? As Confucius said, 'Food and sex are innate desires.'..."
Ning Huainan unhesitatingly gave Ning Huaizhi a rap on the head.
"You're going too far. Ning Huainan and I are innocent. Don't talk nonsense. If you ruin Luoning's reputation, I won't spare you."
Ning Huaizhi obviously didn't learn his lesson. He simply climbed through the window and jumped into Ning Huainan's room.
"Come on! If you have no feelings for her, why do you paint her portrait for no reason? If it falls into the wrong hands, you'll be the one to blame."
Ning Huainan was in a dilemma. Ning Huaizhi was right, but he really couldn't bear to destroy this portrait that he had worked so hard to complete.
"Okay, I'm just joking. Who else would come into your room! Brother, do you want to have Zhao Luoning legitimately? I can help you."
Ning Huainan's face completely darkened at Ning Huaizhi's words.
"I'm warning you. Keep your bad ideas away from Luoning. If you do anything that's bad for Luoning, don't blame me for not showing brotherly affection."
Only then did Ning Huaizhi realize that he had gone too far. He quickly tried to persuade him gently.
"Brother, you can rest assured. Not to mention that I won't do anything to Zhao Luoning. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't have the ability. Not to mention anything else, just her merchant brother, Zhao Luojing, is beyond our reach."
Only then did Ning Huainan's expression show signs of softening.
In the portrait, the beauty was as gentle as jade and seemed to float like a celestial being. But unfortunately, he had come a step too late.
The shrill cries of the "night owl" echoed in the valley. Ning Huaizhi hugged his shoulders tightly.
"You don't even light a lamp here. The damned 'night owl' cries are really scary."
...
After returning to the Ji Mansion, Zhao Luoning's days were much more comfortable.
The only fly in the ointment was that Ji Shisu was stuffed into Zhao Luoning's room again by the venerable matriarch.
The matriarch had issued a strict order that Ji Shisu must stay in Zhao Luoning's room. Even if he wanted to go to the rooms of the other concubines, he still had to return to Furongyuan to spend the night.
After all, it would be a joke if the mistress of the Ji family was still being questioned about her virginity after being married for so long.
This was really a headache for Zhao Luoning, and she also thought that Ji Shisu must not be willing.
"Don't worry, my lord. This concubine will always remember your instructions and won't overstep the mark."