Zhao Luoning recalled Feixing's words about raising a tiger to court disaster.
She hoped it wouldn't turn out to be a prophecy.
If there had been any other way, Zhao Luoning wouldn't have turned to Zhao Luoming.
If the Second Branch were to rise in power, it wouldn't matter much to her, but it would be a disaster for her elder brother and mother.
She had originally planned to gradually move her mother and elder brother out of the mansion, but her elder brother had presented her with a difficult problem.
Zhao Luoning remembered Ji Shisu's promise to return to the Zhao Mansion to accompany her.
She might as well go back and stay for a few days.
This would be a good opportunity to persuade her mother.
Yes, if only Lady Zhao hadn't still harbored some lingering hope for Lord Zhao and was reluctant to leave the Zhao Mansion.
With Zhao Luoning's current capabilities, she would have long since helped them break away from the Zhao family.
Over the years, Zhao Luoning had tried every means but failed to persuade her mother.
Now, she couldn't let her be so willful anymore.
There was only one day left until Ji Shisu came up the mountain to pick her up.
After all the hard work, the long - awaited tea - tasting banquet was finally about to start.
Due to the time constraint, Zhao Luoning couldn't be present. Originally, Zhao Luochun, the planned person in charge, had announced her withdrawal in front of the whole city, so this tea - tasting banquet would be fully hosted by Zhao Luoming.
On the carriage back to Zhaoming Temple, Caixue said indignantly,
"Miss, you've worked your fingers to the bone only to make a wedding dress for others."
"Do you think I made a wrong decision?"
Caixue was taken aback.
"Actually... among the Second Branch, only the Third Young Master is somewhat decent. Over the years, the Second Young Lady and the Second Lady have gone to great lengths to bully us. Especially the Second Young Lady, who is not ashamed but rather proud of it. The Third Young Master, on the other hand, has stood up for us a few times."
This was also the reason why Caixue was still willing to talk to Zhao Luoming. When it came to Lady Zhao of the Second Branch and Zhao Luoyue, she would keep her mouth shut as much as possible and roll her eyes at them behind their backs.
Caixue thought for a while and added, "But all crows are equally black. There can't be any good people in the Second Branch. Miss, you still need to be on your guard."
Zhao Luoning smiled.
She wasn't stupid. What she was doing now was just fulfilling her promise to the old master back then.
Now that the heir had been found, she could completely let go and focus on her own affairs.
For example, separating her business from the Zhao family's business.
Seeing that Zhao Luoning was not at all worried, Caixue leaned over, opened her big eyes, and asked, "Miss, tell me the truth. Did you leave a trump card? Are you going to teach the Third Young Master a good lesson after he takes over?"
"The Zhao family may not welcome me, but after all, it's my maternal family. If the Zhao family declines, do you think I can live comfortably in the Ji family?"
Caixue nodded half - understanding. "That's true. We're all in the same boat."
Zhao Luoning was both amused and annoyed by her. "Can you use a better adjective?"
"Alas, I just feel it's a pity that we can't teach the Second Branch a good lesson. It's really frustrating."
"Caixue, don't worry. We'll have our chance." Zhao Luoning looked at Caixue and silently swore in her heart.
She wouldn't let the Second Branch off easily.
Back then, the concubine had killed Luoyu and forced Luojing to death. She hadn't settled this score yet. And Nanny Xu had even dared to attack her, causing her to lose her virginity in the brothel.
How could she forget these new and old grudges?
After she took her mother and elder brother away from the Zhao family, after she found out Caixue's background and cut off her relationship with the Ji family.
After all the people she wanted to protect had found good endings, she would have no more constraints or weaknesses.
She would seek out those who had hurt her and settle these blood debts one by one.
Thinking of Luoyu and Luojing, Zhao Luoning's mood became extremely low, and Caixue noticed it.
Zhao Luoning then rushed back to Zhaoming Temple.
Just as she had changed back into women's clothing, Ji Shisu sent someone to pass on a message.
Something had happened at home, and he wouldn't be able to pick her up tonight. He asked her to rest patiently and wait for one more night.
No one would be happy to be stood up.
Caixue mumbled, "Sure enough, he's unreliable."
Zhao Luoning was a little calmer than Caixue. She ordered, "Tell Feixing to find out what exactly happened."
Feixing was very efficient. Caixue came back soon.
"Second Young Mistress, something really did happen. I heard that the dragon - and - phoenix jade bracelets in Nuanyu Zhai were broken."
"Ah!"
Hearing this news, Zhao Luoning couldn't help but exclaim.
Caixue didn't know the seriousness of the matter and asked, "Miss, are these bracelets very important?"
"They're the shop's treasure. How can they not be important!"
Nuanyu Zhai was an important industry of the Ji family. The Ji family had made their fortune from this shop. And these dragon - and - phoenix jade bracelets had been worn by the former emperor and the empress on their wedding day, so they were like a royal endorsement.
After that, the Ji family had stopped producing bracelets of this style. After all, no commoner would dare to use something that the royal family had used.
The Ji family had only made a new pair in that style and put them in the shop as the shop's treasure.
Later, the former emperor and empress had passed away one after another, and those bracelets had been buried with them in the imperial mausoleum.
That meant that the only pair left in the world was the one in Nuanyu Zhai.
And now, this pair was broken.
Zhao Luoning thought for a while and felt a little uneasy.
"We don't have to wait for Ji Shisu. Let's go back first."
Hearing the words "shop's treasure", Caixue also realized the seriousness of the matter. She quickly helped Zhao Luoning get dressed.
Fortunately, Zhao Luoning had thought Ji Shisu would come to pick her up and had already done her makeup. Now, she just needed to put on her cloak and she could go out.
After saying goodbye to the abbot, Zhao Luoning took Caixue and rushed towards the Ji Mansion.
On the other side, Ji Shisu had just returned from the interrogation room.
Behind him, two badly - beaten and blood - covered shop assistants were dragged out.
Yu Chi couldn't bear to look at their miserable state and quickly handed a wet handkerchief to Ji Shisu.
The Second Master looked gentle, but after all, he had come through a life of danger. His methods of torture were terrifying.
These two deserved it. They had broken the dragon - and - phoenix jade bracelets but refused to admit it. They only confessed the whereabouts of the bracelets after the master had used his methods.
Soon, the servants dug out the broken bracelets that the two shop assistants had hidden from a flower pot and presented them in front of Ji Shisu.
Ji Shisu looked at the broken bracelets and felt extremely annoyed.
These bracelets were made of natural purple jade by the famous jade master known as the "Jade Fanatic".
Now, the jade master had been dead for several years.
Looking around the world, it would be very difficult to find someone as skilled as Master Chen. There was probably no hope of restoring these bracelets to their original state.
Yu Chi also sighed, but he had to remind Ji Shisu.
"Second Master, the old matriarch has sent a message asking you to go over."
There was no need to guess what the old matriarch wanted to talk to him about. He put the broken jade in a brocade box. Just as he was about to get up and go to Cihua Courtyard, the butler reported,
"Master, someone is here to see you."
It was already late at night. Who would come at this time?
Led by the butler, a woman in a cloak walked in.