Ji Shisu was not the kind of person who acted on impulse. His disgust for the Ji family had been building up for a long time. Even without Zhao Luoning, he didn't like staying at home much.
Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
Others might envy the huge family business and boundless wealth of the Ji family, but he only felt a headache.
All of this was originally meant for his elder brother, Ji Shijun.
But his elder brother had been missing for many years, with no news at all.
Ji Shisu couldn't help but sigh. "If only elder brother could come back."
"Second master, why did you suddenly mention the eldest master? The eldest master has been missing for many years."
This was a pain in the Ji family. Ji Shisu shook his head, trying to drive away the unrealistic thoughts in his mind.
"It's okay. Let's go."
Let's tell two stories at the same time.
Zhao Luoning took Caixue back to their room.
Zhao Luoning could be said to have achieved a great victory this time. She had also established her authority in the mansion.
As soon as they returned to Furong Courtyard, the maids and servants had received the news and were waiting at the door to welcome them.
It was like welcoming a hero who had returned victorious.
They truly liked Zhao Luoning. You know, working in Furong Courtyard, as long as you were diligent, you could earn two or three times as much as in other courtyards.
Moreover, the second young mistress didn't care about seniority but only about ability. Newcomers didn't have to be bullied by the old servants, and everyone had a chance to stand out.
It was a happy place to work, and the pay was good. They wished they could follow Zhao Luoning for the rest of their lives.
Zhao Luoning was really tired. The servants were very considerate and didn't bother her too much. After arranging hot water for her to take a bath, they all dispersed.
Zhao Luoning lay in bed, staring at the curtain. Although her body was very tired, her mind was extremely clear.
She couldn't fall asleep.
The sound of the night watchman's clapper came into the room one after another. The night was cold and desolate. Even in the sky, there was only a crescent moon hanging, making it seem even more lonely and desolate.
Zhao Luoning only put on a thin cloak and got up. She walked to the desk, took out a fire starter, and lit the candle.
Ji Shisu wouldn't come tonight. Caixue was sleeping in the outer room to keep watch. Maybe the noise in the room had woken her up. She turned over, mumbled a few words, and then fell asleep again.
Zhao Luoning walked over, picked up the quilt that Caixue had kicked off the ground, and looked at Caixue who was still drooling in her sleep.
Zhao Luoning couldn't help but smile. "You're still like a child."
Caixue still didn't know that Zhao Luoning was staying in the Ji Mansion for her.
Zhao Luoning wouldn't let her know either.
Caixue just needed to stay by her side happily and carefree.
She would take care of the rest.
The fate between her and Caixue was quite wonderful.
When she picked up Caixue, she was just a six - or seven - year - old little girl. She had forgotten her past and only murmured "Aunt Luo, don't leave me."
Zhao Luoning told the butler to pick her up from the snow and send her to an inn to find a doctor. After knowing that the little girl was in good health, she gave the innkeeper a few taels of silver and was about to go about her business.
Unexpectedly, Caixue followed her.
She chased after the carriage, her little face frozen red. Zhao Luoning told the carriage to stop. She thought the little girl wanted more money from her. Thinking that the girl was really pitiful, she decided to be kind.
Unexpectedly, Caixue walked up. Instead of asking for money, she took out a sesame cake wrapped in oil paper from her bosom. It was so cold, but the sesame cake was still warm. During the whole process of chasing Zhao Luoning, the little girl had protected the sesame cake very well.
Zhao Luoning patiently advised her. "Little sister, I'm not hungry. You can take this sesame cake and eat it."
Caixue shook her head. "Sister, eat."
The words "Sister, eat" instantly broke down Zhao Luoning's defense.
She seemed to see Zhao Luoyu, seeing Luoyu holding the bun she had stolen with great difficulty for her. Although she was beaten all over by the bun shop owner, she still tried to smile at her and said, "Sister, eat."
She wasn't the kind of person who liked to meddle in other people's business, but at that moment, she was shocked and made the boldest decision in her life:
To keep this little girl of unknown origin as her personal maid. Because she had forgotten her past and came in the snow.
So Zhao Luoning named her Caixue.
Thinking of Zhao Luoyu, Zhao Luoning couldn't help feeling sad. She wiped away her tears. Just as she was about to get up, Caixue had already woken up in a daze.
"Miss?"
Zhao Luoning asked softly. "Did I wake you up?"
Caixue shook her head. Even half - asleep, seeing Zhao Luoning secretly wiping her tears, she immediately hugged Zhao Luoning nervously.
"Miss, are you thinking of the second miss? It's okay, it's okay. Caixue is here with you."
The second miss Caixue mentioned was Zhao Luoyu. Although Luoyu had been removed from the Zhao family register, after Caixue heard about Luoyu from Zhao Luoning, she would privately call Luoyu the second miss.
Caixue knew that Zhao Luoning would be sad for a long time every time she thought of Zhao Luoyu. Every time this happened, Caixue would be very nervous.
"Miss, don't be afraid. Things like that won't happen again. From now on, Caixue will protect you."
Zhao Luoning was tightly held in her arms, and tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably.
"Okay, I'm not afraid."
The mistress and the maid hugged each other tightly. They were the only warmth for each other in this long and cold night.
The next day, as usual, Zhao Luoning got up and went to Cihua Courtyard to pay respects to the old matriarch. She met Mumian at the door.
"The old matriarch is not feeling well. Second young mistress, please come again tomorrow."
This was to shut the door in her face.
Zhao Luoning glanced at the maid standing beside Mumian.
This maid looked a bit familiar. If she remembered correctly, she should be the personal maid of the second concubine, Chen Chuliu.
So, Chen Chuliu was inside?
Zhao Luoning smiled and wasn't angry at all.
After such a ruckus yesterday, she didn't expect everyone to get along well.
Zhao Luoning said, "Since grandma is not feeling well, I won't bother her. To avoid making grandma upset when she sees me and worsening her condition, when grandma gets better, please ask Miss Mumian to inform me. Then I'll come to pay my respects."
Mumian had been instructed to teach Zhao Luoning a lesson.
Unexpectedly, now she was the one being taught a lesson by Zhao Luoning.
Zhao Luoning didn't care about Mumian at all. She took Caixue and turned away.
It was more comfortable now. Anyway, everyone had fallen out, so there was no need to pretend to be in harmony.
It was good.
The news that Zhao Luoning had been disrespectful to the old matriarch soon reached Ji Shisu's ears.
After hearing this, Ji Shisu just said indifferently.
"Grandma is such an old person. Is she still into this kind of complaining?"
Mumian, who came to complain: "… Second master, are you just going to let the second young mistress run rampant in the mansion?"
"Is this considered running rampant?" Ji Shisu smiled. "Lianxiang is much more powerful than Zhao Luoning, isn't she?"
Mentioning Lianxiang, Mumian fell silent.
That woman was indeed a restless person. She didn't know how such a temper could make her become a top courtesan.
Just as they were talking about Lianxiang, Mujin rushed over in a hurry.
"Second master, Miss Lianxiang said she has a stomachache and asked me to come and find you."
"Stomachache?"