Zhao Luoning grew nervous at once upon hearing this.
"What's wrong? Did they bully you again?"
"No, no. Luoyue is getting married. She's very busy. Your mother is fine."
"Luoyue is getting married? Why so soon?"
Although she knew that Zhao Luoyue and Ning Huaizhi were deeply in love and must have made a private pledge of marriage long ago, based on her understanding of her stepmother, she shouldn't have let go so soon.
"Sigh, don't even mention it. Your father is almost driven crazy by this marriage."
"What's going on?"
"Chen Xiulian insists on preparing a set of top - grade dowries for Luoyue. The Zhao Family's tea house has just faced a crisis. Where can we get the money?"
Zhao Luoning knew that her mother generally didn't interfere in the affairs of the mansion. The fact that even her mother had complained could only mean one thing:
The mansion was in complete chaos. It was so noisy that even her mother couldn't stand it.
Hearing the two talk about the family's difficulties, Ji Shisu interrupted.
"I thought the second younger brother was in charge. How could such a situation occur?"
Second younger brother? Zhao Luojing!
Neither Zhao Luoning nor Mrs. Zhao expected him to suddenly mention Zhao Luojing. Both of them were stunned. Mrs. Zhao glanced at Zhao Luoning a few times. Seeing this, Zhao Luoning quickly took over the conversation.
"Sigh, Luojing has been in poor health. He moved to the other courtyard for recuperation long ago. I suppose our parents didn't want to disturb him, so they didn't let him know."
Looking at her well - behaved daughter, Mrs. Zhao felt a twinge of guilt. Looking at Zhao Luoning, she said meaningfully,
"Yes, Luojing has it tough. He has to support such a big family."
Zhao Luoning wasn't a sentimental person, but at this moment, her eyes still welled up with tears.
She didn't ask for much. As long as she could live with her mother and elder brother in a paradise, free from the strife between the big and second branches and the scheming, she would be content.
Since her mother understood her hardships, why couldn't she understand her and leave with her so that she could take good care of her?
Seeing the sad expressions on the mother - daughter pair, Ji Shisu thought they were worried about Zhao Luojing's illness.
"Mother - in - law and Ning'er don't need to be too worried. The second younger brother is a lucky man and will surely be fine."
Ji Shisu comforted them without knowing the inside story, leaving them not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Ji Shisu invited Mrs. Zhao here originally to make Zhao Luoning happy. He didn't want to see the mother and daughter crying together. He just said that it was time for the vegetarian meal to distract them.
The three of them walked hand in hand towards the vegetarian dining hall.
Ji Shisu had a strange feeling. Every time Zhao Luojing was mentioned, Zhao Luoning's expression would seem strange. But he couldn't tell exactly what was strange about it. He could only follow behind them, thinking that he would find an opportunity to ask Zhao Luoning for clarification later.
---
Zhao Luoning knew she couldn't leave and didn't plan to leave for the time being. Since the Ji Mansion had invited a Taoist priest to perform a ritual, she pretended to "wake up slowly".
This made everyone in the Ji Mansion give the Taoist priest a thumbs - up.
"What a highly - accomplished Taoist priest!"
Seeing that Zhao Luoning was safe and sound, Mrs. Zhao finally felt relieved. She went down the mountain early the next morning.
Not long after, someone from the Ji Mansion came to pass on a message, saying that all the affairs in the mansion had been settled and they were just waiting for Zhao Luoning to return to take charge.
Zhao Luoning returned to the Ji Mansion with Ji Shisu.
The most important thing after returning to the Ji Mansion was, of course, to prepare for the old matriarch's birthday banquet.
As soon as Zhao Luoning returned to the mansion, the madam sent someone to inform her that she was invited to the Chenxiang Hall to discuss the preparation for the old matriarch's birthday banquet. Ji Shisu followed without thinking.
"This is an affair of the inner courtyard. My lord, you'd better go and attend to your own business."
But Ji Shisu refused to leave.
"Every time you go to my mother's room, something bad happens. You may not be afraid, but I am. I'll feel at ease only if I keep an eye on you."
Zhao Luoning thought for a while and didn't try to stop him anymore.
Let him follow. With him around, she didn't have to be afraid of her mother - in - law's schemes.
In the Chenxiang Hall
As soon as Zhao Luoning and Ji Shisu arrived in the courtyard of the Chenxiang Hall, they saw the madam scolding several head maids in the yard.
"Mother - in - law." Zhao Luoning stepped forward and greeted.
Madam Ji turned around. Seeing Zhao Luoning and Ji Shisu appear together, her face didn't look good, but she quickly adjusted herself.
"Luoning, come here."
Madam Ji introduced those maids to Zhao Luoning. Finally, she revealed her intention.
"These maids have experienced many important events and have a certain prestige in the mansion. I'll temporarily assign them to you. If you don't understand anything, you can come and ask me directly."
Did she want to dump everything on her?
The old matriarch's seventieth birthday banquet was no child's play. She had been married into the family for less than a year, and the madam was leaving the whole thing to her? She was really good at shirking responsibility.
Ji Shisu seemed to know what she was thinking. He immediately stood up and spoke on Zhao Luoning's behalf.
"Mother, Luoning has just entered the mansion. It's not very appropriate for you to let her handle such a big event alone, is it?"
"Although Luoning has just entered the mansion, her abilities are obvious to all. If I didn't trust her, I wouldn't have given her such an important task."
Although every word Madam Ji said seemed to be praising her, Zhao Luoning could sense the malicious intent behind them.
What Madam Ji really meant was: "You, Zhao Luoning, think you're so capable, don't you? Then try to prepare for the birthday banquet! I'm waiting to see you make a fool of yourself."
Zhao Luoning didn't interrupt. She looked up at Ji Shisu.
Ji Shisu was more anxious than her.
"Mother, you're making things too difficult for her."
"Is this difficult? I went through the same thing back then! She's the second young mistress of the Ji Family and the mistress in charge. If she shrinks back at the first sign of trouble and needs a man to speak up for her, she might as well step down earlier."
Since Madam Ji had said so, Zhao Luoning couldn't hide behind Ji Shisu and keep silent anymore.
She quietly tugged at Ji Shisu's sleeve, signaling him not to stand up for her anymore. She stepped forward and said, "Mother - in - law, don't be angry. I'll make the arrangements."
Hearing Zhao Luoning say this, Madam Ji's expression softened a little.
Zhao Luoning and Ji Shisu walked out of the Chenxiang Hall shoulder to shoulder.
Ji Shisu apologized to Zhao Luoning: "Luoning, my mother... Anyway, I'm sorry."
Zhao Luoning was stunned by his sudden apology. It took her a long time to come to her senses and smile. "Mother - in - law is right. This is my duty anyway."
After all, it was a deal. She couldn't just take advantage for free. She should do something for Ji Shisu.
"Luoning, don't worry. I'll help you."
"You? My lord, you'd better not get involved in the affairs of the inner courtyard." She was afraid that he would just make things worse.
Zhao Luoning underestimated him, but Ji Shisu wasn't angry at all. "Silly girl, I may not understand the affairs of the inner courtyard, but I'm more than capable of being a mascot to keep things in order."
Zhao Luoning's heart fluttered at his words "silly girl".
What was wrong with this man? Calling her so intimately made her blush, her ears burn, and her heart race.
Fortunately, Caixue caught up at this moment and asked, "Miss, what should we do with these people?"
"You take them back to the Furong Courtyard first. Find someone to clean the guest rooms for them to stay in. We'll talk about other things when I get back."
Although the old matriarch didn't like her now, she still had to go and pay her respects.
Ji Shisu didn't accompany her to the Cihua Courtyard. He was intercepted by Yuchi on the way and was said to discuss the birthday banquet invitation cards.
Zhao Luoning went to the Cihua Courtyard alone. As soon as she reached the door, she heard the old matriarch's laughter as she played with her grandson.
"Ouch, Hao'er, be careful not to fall."
It seemed that Ji Jianhui was really in the old matriarch's good graces.
When Zhao Luoning walked into the room, she found that Ning Ruonian was also there.
When Ning Ruonian saw her, her eyes immediately lit up, looking like the eyes of someone seeing their beloved.
Since the last time Ning Ruonian insisted on forcing her son on her, Zhao Luoning had avoided Ning Ruonian. Now, with Ning Ruonian looking at her with such eyes, Zhao Luoning instinctively wanted to run away again.
Could this woman be interested in her?
Please, she didn't have the strange hobby of liking women.