Ji Shihan's hesitation was not without reason.
She was neither qualified nor capable of helping Zhao Luoning. Moreover, if Zhao Luoning heard those rumors, she would surely be heart - broken. And if the madam found out that it was Ji Shihan who spread them, she herself would also be implicated.
Ji Shihan and Ji Shijian were both born to the second madam. Her mother had always only cared about her own status in the Ji Mansion. She never showed any concern for either Ji Shihan or her third brother, Ji Shijian.
Although the old matriarch still treated her fairly well, she was already in her seventies and didn't have the energy to take care of Ji Shihan.
As a young lady of the Ji family, Ji Shihan had always lived alone in the Pingshui Tower. She was like an outsider. Even though her second and third brothers had many female dependents, she could hardly find a few who were truly kind to her.
Seeing that Ji Shihan didn't say a word, Zhao Luoning didn't press further. She put down the comb and gently patted Ji Shihan on the shoulder. "Come on, stop overthinking. Just enjoy the day in peace."
After Zhao Luoning's skillful dressing, Ji Shihan's spirit was completely different from before.
Ji Shihan stole a glance at Zhao Luoning, but finally swallowed the words in her heart and silently said in her mind, "Sister - in - law, I'm sorry."
"Alright, prepare the carriage. Let's go," Zhao Luoning said as she ordered the servants, but was stopped by Ji Shihan.
"Sister - in - law, are you going out like this?"
Zhao Luoning looked at her own clothes. There was nothing improper about them.
"Sister - in - law, I'm talking about your makeup. Why haven't you removed it?"
"Ah?"
Before Zhao Luoning could figure out what was going on, Caixue came out to smooth things over.
"Our young lady just came from the old matriarch's place and didn't have time to go back and remove her makeup."
Only then did Ji Shihan understand. She then ordered Hongshao to prepare some clean water.
"What are you all standing around in this room for? Hurry up and carry the things for the young lady's worship onto the carriage."
Hongshao had served Zhao Luoning before and knew that Zhao Luoning didn't like others to see her without makeup. She brought the water and also managed to send everyone out of the room.
While helping Zhao Luoning wet the towel, Caixue whispered in her ear, "One must not wear makeup when worshiping the Seventh Sister. Otherwise, it's disrespectful to the gods."
Zhao Luoning didn't know there was such a reason for this custom.
Every Qixi Festival was also the peak season for the wine shop. Zhao Luoning, disguised as a young man, was always busy in the shop. How could she have the time to care about the worship of the Seventh Sister?
Zhao Luoning nodded and secretly remembered this custom that she had missed.
When Zhao Luoning showed her natural face, Ji Shihan was as surprised as expected.
"They say Zhao Luoyue is the most beautiful woman in the town. It must be a false rumor. Your younger sister is not half as beautiful as you, Second Sister - in - law."
Ji Shihan meant every word.
She had met Zhao Luoyue once.
She still remembered that when she saw Zhao Luoyue that time, she was scared by her arrogant and unreasonable attitude.
How could there be such a young lady from a noble family? No matter how good - looking she was, her temper was enough to be intimidating.
That was why when Zhao Luoning entered the mansion, Ji Shihan couldn't help but be on guard against her.
She thought that with a younger sister like Zhao Luoyue, the elder sister couldn't be much better.
Unexpectedly, after getting in touch with her, she found that Zhao Luoning and Zhao Luoyue were two completely different people.
One was well - educated and polite, while the other was domineering and willful. They were like heaven and earth.
Ji Shihan still couldn't figure out how two people from the same family could be so different.
Zhao Luoning didn't take Ji Shihan's words to heart.
She never thought that beauty was something to be proud of.
After all, it was just a gift from her parents, not something she achieved by her own efforts.
Moreover, if she were to be regarded as the most beautiful woman, she would be too prominent, and it would be hard for her to keep the secret of pretending to be Zhao Luojing.
Her experiences over the past decade or more had made her clearly understand one thing.
If you want to get something, you must pay a price.
"Miss, please give our young lady a veil," Caixue had been with Zhao Luoning for many years and knew that every time Zhao Luoning showed her natural face, it would cause a stir.
Since she couldn't wear makeup, it was okay to wear a veil.
Ji Shihan thought it made sense.
Zhao Luoning's beauty was so overwhelming that even she, a woman, couldn't resist it. How could the bustling crowd on the street be able to resist?
Ji Shihan quickly told Hongshao to find a clean, unused veil for Zhao Luoning.
At this time, Zhao Luoning seemed to remember something and quickly told Ji Shihan, "Can you keep the secret that you've seen my face?"
Zhao Luoning's request puzzled Ji Shihan.
It was understandable that Zhao Luoning covered her face with thick makeup to avoid unnecessary trouble. But asking her to keep it a secret was a bit hard to explain.
"After all, it's better to avoid trouble. I don't want to be scolded by mother - in - law for being impolite."
Ji Shihan, who had grown up in the Ji Mansion, of course knew the rules of the mansion. Not only the old matriarch but also the master and madam attached great importance to the makeup of the female dependents in the family.
As the mistress, Zhao Luoning naturally had to pay special attention to these etiquette rules.
Fortunately, she had always been very cautious. Many female dependents in the family had been scolded by the old matriarch for improper makeup.
However, since Zhao Luoning entered the Ji Mansion, she had never been criticized for her makeup.
Come to think of it, in the Ji Mansion, Zhao Luoning rarely showed her natural face.
Ji Shihan looked at Zhao Luoning, a beauty with fair skin and delicate features, and thought of the recent rumors that the second brother and the second sister - in - law were on bad terms. She couldn't help but feel a bit sorry.
Had the second brother ever seen the second sister - in - law's real face?
Even she, a woman, couldn't help but be attracted to the second sister - in - law. None of the concubines in the second brother's backyard could match Zhao Luoning's beauty. How could the second brother bear to neglect her and let such a beauty be alone in the boudoir?
The more Ji Shihan thought about it, the more something seemed off. Although the second brother was not a lecherous man, he knew how to cherish beautiful women. The second sister - in - law was outstanding in both appearance and character. There was no reason for the second brother not to like her.
Maybe the second brother didn't often visit the second sister - in - law's room and had never seen her without makeup?
The more Ji Shihan thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
As she was thinking, she suddenly had an idea.
Maybe she could help this pair of lovers. She could let the second brother see the second sister - in - law without makeup.
She believed that the second brother would surely fall in love with the second sister - in - law.
She would be truly happy if such a sister - in - law could accompany the second brother.
Moreover, the second sister - in - law didn't show her natural face because of the rules of etiquette, but it would be different in front of the second brother.
The second sister - in - law must not know that the second brother was actually very easy to get along with and not rigid about etiquette.
Yes, she would be the matchmaker and try to bring them together.