“As for the mistress of the family, not to mention that Jun'er isn't married yet. Even if he were, the mistress would still be Ning'er.”
Lord Ji and Lady Ji didn't have any objections. Lady Ji looked at Zhao Luoning and showed a cold smile.
However, Lady Ji the Second, who had been eager to see her niece marry into the Ji family as the mistress, was dissatisfied.
“Mother-in-law, as the saying goes, one should establish the eldest legitimate son. Since the eldest young master wasn't here before, it was a different matter. But now that he's back, it's neither reasonable nor appropriate for the second young mistress to continue being the mistress of the family, right?”
The Grandmatriarch, who was now very fond of Zhao Luoning, interrupted Lady Ji the Second.
“During the past half year, everyone has witnessed Ning'er's capabilities. Our Ji family has always appointed people on the basis of merit.”
Lady Ji the Second seized on the loophole in the Grandmatriarch's words and quickly replied,
“But Rong'er is also a young lady from a prominent family, gentle and well-mannered...”
Meeting the Grandmatriarch's stern gaze, Lady Ji the Second had no choice but to swallow her dissatisfaction.
“Grandmatriarch, you should at least consider the long-standing friendship between our family and the Wu family,” said Ji Shijian.
Actually, Zhao Luoning hadn't seen this third young master of the Ji family for a long time. After he said this, he deliberately glanced at Zhao Luoning, as if showing off.
Zhao Luoning wasn't afraid. She actually wished she could unload the burden on her shoulders.
Since she took on the position of the mistress of the family, she had been extremely cautious at all times, fearing that she might do something wrong or say something wrong and be caught with a handle.
If it were before, she would surely take the opportunity to nod in agreement and throw the responsibility of the mistress of the family out.
But now it was different.
She had to keep this position of the mistress of the family for Luoyu and then hand it over to her when she left.
Zhao Luoning pinched the corner of her clothes and pretended to be aggrieved.
“Luoning doesn't want to make the Grandmatriarch embarrassed. If it's difficult to explain to the Wu family, I can invite my father over. Maybe my father will be more reasonable.”
Thinking of Lord Zhao who had caused a ruckus in Cihua Courtyard before, everyone gasped.
Reasonable?
That time he almost tore off the roof of Cihua Courtyard!
Thanks to Zhao Luoning's reminder, everyone then remembered that they not only had to explain to the Wu family but also to the Zhao family.
Moreover, the Zhao family was not easy to deal with. The Grandmatriarch had to step forward to interrupt Ji Shijian's words.
“Alright, I understand what you mean. Since that's the case, let Ning'er continue to be the mistress before Jiarong comes into the family. After Rong'er marries in, it will depend on each person's ability.”
Everyone thought this proposal was very good, and this matter was finally settled.
When they were leaving, Zhao Luoning left with Ji Shisu. She saw that Ji Shijun still wanted to stay and talk to the Grandmatriarch, but the Grandmatriarch fobbed him off with a “I'm tired”.
If the lady of the house was the most unpredictable person in this deep mansion, then the Grandmatriarch was the most insightful person in the mansion.
With her years of experience and keen insight, she could see through everyone's thoughts. In her own way, she was protecting the stability and prosperity of the Ji family.
Sure enough, the older the ginger, the spicier it was.
Zhao Luoning and Ji Shisu returned to Furong Courtyard. Zhao Luoning originally wanted to find someone to serve Ji Shisu for washing up, but Ji Shisu stopped her.
“I won't stay here tonight. Don't bother.”
“Where does Master Second want to go?” This was the first time Zhao Luoning cared about Ji Shisu's whereabouts.
Ji Shisu couldn't help but feel very surprised.
This Zhao Luoning was also a very strange person. Deep down, she was more cynical and unconstrained by etiquette than anyone else.
But when getting along with him, she would always be respectful and abide by the rules of a second young mistress. She would never overstep the line.
This often gave him the illusion that she was keeping him at arm's length.
So, when Zhao Luoning asked about his whereabouts, Ji Shisu was almost moved to tears.
“Luoning, are you concerned about me?”
“Not really. I just want to say that since Ning Ruonian entered the mansion, Master Second, you seem to have never gone to see her. It's really heartbreaking.”
Ji Shisu: “...”
“I thought the child was really cute at that time. Even if you don't consider Ruonian's feelings, you should go and see her for the sake of the child!”
Ji Shisu: “...”
“Ruinian entered the mansion for Master Second. She's really pitiful alone. Master Second should spread his favors equally.”
Ji Shisu: “...”
Until Ji Shisu left angrily without saying a word, Zhao Luoning still couldn't figure it out.
She just advised him to go to Ning Ruonian's room. Why was he so angry?
This also made Zhao Luoning have to reconsider Luoyu's future.
Ji Shisu was fickle and clearly unreliable. Although there was already a child, how could her younger sister be tied down by a child?
No, she still had to find an opportunity to ask Luoyu what she thought.
Alas, Caixue was not worry-free, and Luoyu had placed her trust in the wrong person.
One was an adopted younger sister, and the other was a younger sister by blood.
Why were they both so worrying?
Ji Shisu rushed out of Furong Courtyard angrily. Yu Chi quickly chased after him.
“My lord, don't go. Aren't you going to stay with the second young mistress?”
Only then did Ji Shisu regain his senses and stop.
Actually, Ji Shisu didn't intend to leave Furong Courtyard at first.
He saw Zhao Luojing at the birthday banquet. When he found that the fairy he had been longing for was actually a man, he was very devastated at first.
But then he thought about it and found hope.
It was said that Zhao Luoning and Zhao Luojing were siblings and looked quite similar.
And Ji Shisu was sure that the enchanting fairy he saw that night was definitely not a man.
Did it mean that Zhao Luoning was the woman that night?!
This thought startled Ji Shisu.
This thought was very bold, but it connected all the strange things about Zhao Luoning.
She always wore thick makeup, maybe because of the rules in the mansion, or maybe because she was afraid that he would see her true face.
She wanted to cut her wrist to prove her innocence when others questioned it. Maybe it was to maintain the dignity of the mistress of the family, or maybe her innocence was really gone as Nanny Xu said.
She shared the same bed with him but nothing had ever happened. Maybe it was because she didn't like him, or maybe it was because she knew she wasn't a virgin and was afraid of being discovered when sharing the same bed.
...
All these things made Ji Shisu think that Zhao Luoning must be the woman that night.
This thought made him excited and even a little surprised.
Yes, surprised.
He had even made up his mind to regard the fairy in Pingle Garden as a dream that could never come true and live a good life with Zhao Luoning.
Even if one day the fairy appeared, he would still choose Zhao Luoning.
Now, unexpectedly, he found that Zhao Luoning might be his dream goddess!
The person he fell in love with at first sight was his beloved.
How could this discovery not be exciting?
However, all this was just his speculation. He had to verify it with his own eyes.