As Zhao Luoning spoke, she looked up at the woman. Only then did she see the woman's appearance.
There were plenty of handsome men and beautiful women in the Zhao family. In Zhao Luoning's eyes, this woman was only passably good - looking at most. But true to her name, she exuded an air of liveliness and haughtiness all over.
"Get lost? Well, rich people just like to build their yards in a winding way. They're clearly not meant for people to live in comfortably."
The things this woman said were quite astonishing.
"Since you're already here, I'm just bored. Come and have a cup of tea with me."
Hearing this, Caixue was about to flare up, but was held back by Zhao Luoning.
Zhao Luoning calmly sat down at the small table in the yard and said generously, "I'd better accept your kind invitation then."
Liu Qingyun nodded, glanced at Caixue behind Zhao Luoning, and said, "Well, you're more discerning than your maid."
She had a haughty look as if it was an honor for Zhao Luoning to be invited for tea.
Caixue was fuming with anger. If it weren't for Zhao Luoning constantly tugging at her sleeve to control her temper, she would have rushed forward long ago. Her young lady was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhao family and the mistress of the Ji family. How could a concubine look down on her!
So while Liu Qingyun went into the room to get the teacups, Caixue bent down and whispered in Zhao Luoning's ear.
"Miss, this Liu Qingyun is notoriously unapproachable. We'd better leave earlier."
Zhao Luoning shook her head and replied, "She has invited us to sit down and have tea. If we just leave like this, it'll seem like we're the unapproachable ones."
As she was speaking, Liu Qingyun had already come out with the teacups. While making tea, she said, "You're really stupid. How can you get lost in such a small place as the Ji Mansion? You've never seen the world."
"You... Do you know who our miss is?"
"Who is your miss?" Liu Qingyun looked up, with an expression of complete indifference. "Just another lost person."
Zhao Luoning clapped her hands and laughed. "Right, right, a lost person."
Liu Qingyun handed the brewed tea to Zhao Luoning. Caixue was a bit worried. Liu Qingyun seemed to notice it and still said in her cold tone, "Don't worry. It's not poisoned."
Zhao Luoning calmly took the teacup and took a sip. It was just ordinary Pu - er tea, nothing special.
"How's the taste?"
Seeing the woman staring directly at her, due to face, Zhao Luoning couldn't say it was bad, so she had to say, "Not bad, not bad."
Unexpectedly, Liu Qingyun didn't appreciate it at all. "What do you mean not bad? If you think it's ordinary, just say so."
Zhao Luoning: "..."
At this time, Liu Qingyun brought over a plate of pickled plums. Zhao Luoning took them without hesitation and took a bite.
Just one bite made Zhao Luoning widen her eyes in surprise. "These plums are sweet?"
Liu Qingyun lifted the plate and offered it to Caixue. "If you're not afraid of being poisoned by me, you can also have one."
Seeing that Zhao Luoning said the plums were sweet after trying one, Caixue was already curious. So she reached out and took one. As soon as she took a bite, her face scrunched up from the sourness. She quickly threw away the half - bitten plum and complained, "Miss, how could you team up with an outsider to deceive Caixue? These plums are clearly sour, extremely sour."
Zhao Luoning looked at Caixue suspiciously, then at the proud - looking Liu Qingyun, and realized. "The problem lies with the tea?"
"So, Second Young Mistress, do you still think my tea is ordinary?"
"You know me?"
"You've caused so much stir in the mansion. You're already a well - known figure in the mansion. How could I not know you?"
Zhao Luoning instantly took a liking to this smart and proud woman. At least compared to those women in the mansion who were constantly scheming against others and living a dull life, Liu Qingyun in front of her was sharp - edged and proudly real.
Now, even without Liu Qingyun's invitation, Zhao Luoning wasn't in a hurry to go back.
"Your tea is quite interesting. It's bitter at first and then sweet, just like life."
"There's no such profound meaning. This kind of tea is very common in my hometown. Since no one wants to eat sour things, we just use this tea to deceive our taste buds." "You've planted orchids all over the yard. I suppose you're a person of high moral integrity."
"All that talk about comparing people to flowers is nonsense. Flowers can't talk. How can they have integrity or grace? I just think orchids are beautiful, so I planted them. It's not as complicated as you think."
Zhao Luoning: "..."
Having been rebuffed twice in a row, Zhao Luoning didn't know how to respond.
Liu Qingyun said to herself, "Do you think I'm really hard to get along with?"
Zhao Luoning: "..." Well, you said it yourself.
"Then don't put on that Second Young Mistress act. Just drink the tea. Why do you have to attach some meaning to it? Isn't it tiring?"
Zhao Luoning thought for a while and suddenly had an epiphany. "You're right. I was being too pedantic."
"You were indeed pedantic." Liu Qingyun glanced at Zhao Luoning and commented, "But you're not completely hopeless."
Zhao Luoning laughed more heartily. "Thank you for the compliment."
Zhao Luoning always thought that Ji Shijian was a very boring person, even more boring than his second brother, Ji Shisu. She never expected that this annoying man actually had such an interesting confidante.
Zhao Luoning hadn't had such an open - hearted chat for a long time. As they talked, she gradually forgot the time.
Caixue couldn't understand what they were talking about and dozed off on the table.
Just as they were chatting vigorously, suddenly a bright light flashed, and then a large, noisy crowd came from afar.
"The Second Young Mistress is missing. Everyone, be extra vigilant and find her. Otherwise, not only will the Second Young Master not spare us, but we'll also have a hard time explaining it to the Madam."
Zhao Luoning was shocked when she heard this and exclaimed, "Oh no!"
Zhao Luoning's exclamation woke up Caixue, who was sleeping soundly. Caixue rubbed her sleepy eyes. Before she could figure out what was going on, she heard Ji Shisu's angry roar coming from the Chenxiang Hall not far away.
"If you don't find Ning'er, you don't need to stay in the Ji Mansion anymore."
Caixue was also shocked. She looked at Zhao Luoning and knew the situation was serious.
"Miss, we'd better go out quickly. Otherwise, there's going to be chaos."
Caixue said and was about to get up, dragging Zhao Luoning away. But Zhao Luoning remained motionless and had no intention of leaving at all.
"Miss, look at how chaotic it is outside because of you."
"You know, that's his mother. Why would Ji Shisu..."
"Oh, miss, you don't know that master. He's never been an ordinary person. This isn't the time to be confused about this. We'd better leave quickly."
Caixue was extremely anxious, but Zhao Luoning was twiddling her fingers and saying nothing. Unable to figure out the situation, Liu Qingyun couldn't help but interrupt.
"What's going on?"
Caixue pulled at Zhao Luoning's sleeve, almost crying in anxiety.
"What should we do? The Second Master is getting angry in the Chenxiang Hall and making such a big fuss. My miss will surely be scolded by the Madam."
Liu Qingyun grabbed Caixue and said, "If you just go out like this, your miss will definitely be scolded."
Liu Qingyun looked at Zhao Luoning, who still hadn't moved, and asked, "Do you have an idea?"