Zhao Luoning nodded and gave instructions.
"You stay here and guard her. Once she's changed her clothes, take her to the guest room to rest. Then go and report to the matriarch that Luojing is tired."
Zhao Luoning felt sorry for her and deliberately lowered her voice to disguise her concern.
She didn't want to see her torturing herself like this.
Caixue nodded. She always felt that her young lady cared too much about this fake 'Zhao Luojing'.
It felt as if her young lady was caring for a younger brother.
But her young lady told her nothing.
These days, Caixue had been very depressed.
Her young lady was hiding more and more things from her.
Zhao Luoning walked out of the courtyard when suddenly she heard the sound of hurried footsteps. It was Caixue chasing after her.
Caixue reached out and grabbed Zhao Luoning's sleeve.
"Miss, are you... investigating my background?"
Zhao Luoning frowned.
"Did Feixing tell you?"
Feixing was good in every way, but he told Caixue everything he knew.
Several times, Zhao Luoning had the illusion that it seemed Caixue was his master.
Caixue didn't answer her question directly.
"Miss, I know you're doing this for Caixue's good, but Caixue doesn't want to know her background. She doesn't want to leave you."
Caixue's tears fell one by one.
Zhao Luoning no longer had the mind to pursue the matter of Feixing. She comforted Caixue.
"Silly girl, I'm doing this not only for you but also for your relatives. I lost Luoyu and know what it's like to lose a loved one. You don't remember the past, so you don't have to suffer from the memories. But what about your relatives?"
Caixue turned around with red eyes, looked at Zhao Luoning, and asked softly.
"Miss, am I being selfish?"
She knew that her young lady was doing everything for her good, but she still resented her.
She knew that her relatives were waiting for her to go back, but she still didn't want to leave her young lady.
Zhao Luoning shook her head with a gentle smile. She stroked Caixue's soft hair and said,
"Silly girl, you just haven't grown up yet. Besides, who says we have to separate when we find your family? I won't break off with you after you find your relatives."
Zhao Luoning knew that Caixue had always been wavering between choosing her and choosing her past.
Although she knew that it was very likely that Caixue would stay with her family after finding them.
But in the current situation, she didn't mind giving Caixue a little hope.
She only hoped that Caixue would be happy every day when she was by her side.
After Zhao Luoning's guidance, Caixue finally stopped crying and smiled.
"Oh, yes. Caixue is so silly. Miss won't leave. Hehe, no matter whether I can find my relatives or not, Caixue will stick to Miss for a lifetime."
Zhao Luoning watched Caixue happily run out to get busy again with a gentle smile. It wasn't until Caixue's figure faded away that the smile on Zhao Luoning's face gradually disappeared.
The world is full of uncertainties. Who knows what will happen the next moment? How could she be willing to part with Caixue, who was like her own younger sister?
But she clearly knew what Caixue really needed, and she clearly knew which path was the best for Caixue.
She would be Caixue's strongest backing and protect her forever.
Zhao Luoning walked alone to the back yard of Furong Garden. On a peach tree, she found Feixing sitting there, hugging his sword with his arms crossed and in a daze.
"What do you want from me?"
Zhao Luoning didn't get closer. She stopped a few steps away.
"Second Young Master Ji found out that Aunt Luo's surname is Luogua'erjia. She's from a foreign land, and her origin is unknown. She was already a wanted criminal of the court seven years ago. She was just captured recently and is now imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. She will be executed in three days. Aunt Lu managed to get into the prison to question her, but she refused to answer a single word. She only said that she didn't know Caixue."
The situation was urgent. As soon as Feixing received the news from Aunt Lu, he came to find Zhao Luoning. It would take him a day and a night to rush to the capital without rest.
Hearing the news, Zhao Luoning panicked.
Seven years ago? Wasn't that exactly the year when Luoyu had an accident and she picked up Caixue?!
No, she had been searching painstakingly for so many years. She finally waited for this Luogua'erjia woman to appear. She couldn't give up so easily.
"Feixing, go to the capital as fast as you can with this jade pendant. You must find out the owner of the jade pendant before this 'Aunt Luo' is executed. Also, find out what heinous crime she committed seven years ago."
A strong gust of wind blew. In a split second, the jade pendant in Zhao Luoning's hand had disappeared, and Feixing on the tree had left.
Feixing's martial arts skills were truly superb.
Zhao Luoning let out a gasp of admiration. She got up and walked back.
After a busy day, she finally managed to settle all the guests by the second watch. After a whole day of hard work, Zhao Luoning was exhausted. She massaged her sore back and walked through the garden, planning to return to Furong Garden.
"Where's Second Master?"
Since she separated from Ji Shisu at the drinking game because of Lin Ruonian, she hadn't seen Ji Shisu.
Not only Ji Shisu, but also Ji Shijian, Ji Shihuan, and even the figure of the master hadn't been seen.
The matriarch was said to be tired and had already gone back to her room. Only the mistress was in charge of the overall situation.
On the matriarch's seventieth birthday, none of the elders in the family were present. This would inevitably arouse suspicion.
Caixue tilted her head and thought for a while before answering.
"Oh, yes. Sister Mian told me that the master took the eldest young master, the second young master, and the third young master to the ancestral shrine. It's about time for them to come out of the ancestral shrine. Oh, the matriarch sent Sister Mian to say that she wants you to go to Cihua Courtyard after you're done."
"Go to Cihua Courtyard? What for so late?"
Caixue shook her head, indicating that she didn't know.
Zhao Luoning calmed down and thought carefully. At this time, it should only be the matter of Ji Shijun that would make the matriarch so concerned.
Cihua Courtyard
"Matriarch, the second young mistress is here."
After being announced by the maid, Zhao Luoning lifted the curtain and walked in. Someone had already been waiting to help her take off her cloak. After she was properly sorted out, she walked into the inner chamber.
"Ning'er, you've had a hard day."
Seeing that she came so late, the matriarch thought that there were too many affairs in the mansion that had delayed her. She didn't blame her at all.
Zhao Luoning looked around and found that all the people of the Ji family were there.
The matriarch, Master Ji, Mistress Ji, Second Mistress Ji, Ji Shijun, Ji Shisu, Ji Shijian, Ji Shihan, Ji Shihuan... plus their respective maids and servants.
The room was full of people.
The matriarch smiled and asked Zhao Luoning to sit in the seat beside Ji Shisu. She cleared her throat and showed the dignity of the head of the family.
"Although Jun'er has been missing for so long, he's still the eldest grandson of the Ji family. Jun'er has just come back and is not familiar with everything. Shisu, in a few days, you take your elder brother to the shops to get familiar with the operation."
Ji Shisu nodded and said,
"As long as elder brother has had enough rest, he can come to me at any time."
Ji Shijun also nodded. Although so much time had passed, the brothers still had the tacit understanding that they could understand each other's minds with just a glance.
"I know that what everyone is most concerned about is who should be the head of the family and the mistress of the house. I can't decide who can be the prospective head of the family. Let your father make the decision."
Master Ji nodded, looked at his children, and said,
"Don't worry, mother. I have a plan in mind."
The matriarch nodded and continued,
"As for the mistress of the house..."