Mumian took Lianxiang to meet the grand matriarch.
Not long after, Lianxiang came out of the grand matriarch's room. With the help of Mumian and Mujin, she put on a cloak and left the mansion.
Ji Shisu and Zhao Luoning knew nothing about this. They were on their way to the Zhao Family's tea - house at the moment.
They didn't say a word on the way.
When they arrived at the tea - house, Zhao Luoming was greeting guests at the entrance. Seeing the Ji Family's carriage, he stepped forward and called out affectionately.
"Sister, brother - in - law."
Ji Shisu jumped out of the carriage first and turned back to help Zhao Luoning. But just like usual, she had already jumped out from the other side.
Ji Shisu's outstretched hand was left hanging. He could only withdraw it awkwardly.
Today's tea - tasting banquet was extremely lively.
There were many merchants coming and going. Zhao Luoming was quite creative. He set up a long table on the way into the tea garden, displaying the tea leaves from various shops.
At the end of the long "tea corridor" was a pavilion. Originally, it was a place for tea farmers to rest. Zhao Luoming hung bamboo curtains and gauze around the pavilion and transformed it into a tea - tasting pavilion.
At this moment, the area outside the tea - tasting pavilion was crowded with people.
"What activities have you prepared? Why is it so lively over there?"
Zhao Luoming smiled.
"I didn't prepare any activities. I don't know where this fairy has come from. She really helps to make my tea - tasting banquet impressive."
Zhao Luoming led Ji Shisu and Zhao Luoning closer.
There sat a girl in white on the bamboo chair. Wearing a white - veiled straw hat, her face couldn't be seen clearly, but her voice was extremely crisp and pleasant.
Opposite the girl in white sat a merchant surnamed Liu who had been doing business with the Zhao Family for more than a decade.
The two were playing the blind - tea - tasting game.
The so - called blind - tea - tasting game meant tasting the tea and guessing the name of the tea without knowing which tea was used. If one was more skilled, they could even guess the production time of the tea.
"Boss Liu is addicted to tea. Can this girl win?" Zhao Luoning asked.
"This girl is the reigning champion. She has defeated many experienced tea connoisseurs."
Zhao Luoning didn't notice that when she spoke, the girl in white turned her head and glanced in her direction. When she saw Zhao Luoning, her hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.
The maid brewed new tea for them.
The girl in white sat there in a daze for a long time and didn't reach for the cup. It was only after the maid called out to her that she came back to her senses and took the cup from the maid's hand.
After just one sip, she named the tea.
"Bird's Tongue."
The maid nodded with a smile. Boss Liu was a step too late and had to admit defeat.
With this girl around, the tea - tasting banquet became much more interesting.
After several rounds of competition, she remained the champion. It was not until she caught a glimpse that Zhao Luoning seemed about to leave that she bowed to her opponent, saying that she was tired and was willing to yield the position to others.
Then she jumped off the pavilion and followed behind Zhao Luoning.
Caixue noticed the girl with extremely strange behavior. She whispered a reminder.
"Miss, that girl is following us."
Zhao Luoning turned around. Unexpectedly, when the girl in white saw her turn around, she took a step back and didn't dare to come forward.
Zhao Luoning walked up with a smile and greeted her actively.
"I see that you are young, but your tea - making skills are quite excellent. You're really amazing. It's an honor for our Zhao Family that you've come to the tea - tasting banquet today. I still don't know your name. Maybe I can visit you some other day."
"My name is Ning Ruonian."
"The Ning Family? The Ning Family in Phoenix City? Are you Ning Huainan's sister?" Zhao Luoning remembered that Ning Huainan did have a sister, but her name was Ning Huaichu. And everyone in the world knew that Ning Huaichu was a pampered and arrogant woman, comparable to Zhao Luoyue. How could she be this gentle and generous girl in front of her?
"I... I'm not..."
"Oh, then are you from out of town?"
The girl seemed very timid. When Zhao Luoning asked her questions, she kept wringing her fingers nervously.
"Sort of... sort of."
Zhao Luoning smiled and reached out her hand to pat the girl on the shoulder to comfort her. Unexpectedly, when the girl saw her hand reaching out, her body stiffened immediately.
Seeing that she had scared the girl like this, Zhao Luoning quickly withdrew her hand.
"Miss Ruonian, don't be afraid. I mean you no harm."
Ning Ruonian nodded, and her voice inexplicably choked up.
"I know."
Why was this girl about to cry?
Zhao Luoning felt that the girl in front of her was like a porcelain doll, fragile enough to break at the slightest breeze.
Wasn't she so powerful and invincible in the tea - tasting pavilion just now?
Just when Zhao Luoning didn't know what to do, Yuchi came over and said that Ji Shisu was looking for her.
Zhao Luoning felt as if she had been granted amnesty. She gave Ning Ruonian her visiting card, said a few polite words, and then left.
Ning Ruonian held the visiting card, and her eyes were always fixed on the direction where Zhao Luoning had left.
She gently stroked the name "Zhao Luoning" on the visiting card and whispered softly.
"Zhao Luoning, Zhao Luoning..."
"That person is so strange." Caixue muttered as she walked.
"Maybe she's from out of town. She's not familiar with the place, so she's nervous." Zhao Luoning also thought the girl was a bit strange, but for some reason, she inexplicably felt a desire to get closer to this girl.
Shaking off the strange feeling in her heart, Zhao Luoning walked towards Ji Shisu.
At this moment, Ji Shisu and Zhao Luoming were discussing something.
Zhao Luoning walked closer and heard Zhao Luoming say, "Brother - in - law, if you're interested, our two families can jointly host the tea - tasting banquet next year. This will not only introduce our new tea but also be a good opportunity for our tea - houses to communicate and compete."
Ji Shisu nodded with a smile. Thinking of something, he asked, "Where's Luojing? Why haven't I seen him?"
"Alas, my second brother is in poor health. Something happened in our family some time ago. He came forward to handle it. Staying up late took a toll on his body, and his old illness recurred. Now he's recuperating again."
"That's really a pity." Ji Shisu murmured. "I heard that he and Luoning are triplets. I've always wanted to meet him."
When the topic of triplets was mentioned, Zhao Luoming's face changed. He whispered a reminder to Ji Shisu.
"Please don't mention this in front of my father. He doesn't like others to talk about the triplets."
"Ah? Why?"
Actually, Ji Shisu was also confused. When he investigated Zhao Luoning, he clearly found out that Mrs. Ji had given birth to triplets, a boy and two girls, which had caused a sensation in the whole city at that time. Everyone was amazed.
But for some unknown reason, these triplets had gradually been forgotten.
Moreover, aren't the only young ladies in the Zhao Mansion now Zhao Luoning and Zhao Luoyue? Zhao Luoyue was the daughter of the second wife of the Zhao Family. So where was the other girl? How could she disappear out of thin air?
Zhao Luoming looked embarrassed and could only prevaricate.
"Come on, don't ask. Anyway, just remember that this person can't be mentioned in our family."
The more Zhao Luoming said this, the more curious Ji Shisu became.
"Why?"
Zhao Luoming opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he was interrupted.