"Caixue's identity is extraordinary. Do you really want to investigate to the end?"
Although he knew very well that Zhao Luoning would never have stayed in the Ji Mansion if it weren't for helping Caixue investigate her background.
But after some thought, Ji Shisu laid out all the potential drawbacks.
"Now you also know that Caixue's background is quite significant. Neither of us can be sure what consequences will follow if you continue the investigation."
Zhao Luoning only paused for a few seconds before nodding.
Regardless of the consequences, no matter how big the secret hidden in Caixue's background was, she would dig it out.
Since Luo Yu came back, she had a stronger obsession with helping Caixue find out her background.
She believed in the bond of blood. She believed that Caixue's mother or sisters must be waiting for her to return, just as she missed Luo Yu.
Zhao Luoning said seriously, word by word, "No matter what the consequences are, I'm willing to bear them for Caixue."
Ji Shisu nodded and said, "Don't worry too much. Maybe you'll even be credited for saving Caixue."
Actually, Ji Shisu was just trying to comfort Zhao Luoning.
The fact that a foreign royal relative had been left unnoticed in the remote town of Huangcheng seemed extremely dangerous.
Thinking of this, Ji Shisu felt a headache. Just having a princess from a fallen kingdom in the family had already made everyone on tenterhooks.
He never expected there would be another one.
However, looking at Zhao Luoning, he just couldn't bear to refuse.
Well, no matter what the consequences were.
If she was willing to shoulder it, he would accompany her.
---
Zhao Luoning returned to the Ji Mansion, and Caixue recovered from her injury soon.
The old matriarch showed concern for Zhao Luoning's illness and didn't let Madam Ji harass her anymore. The backyard became much more peaceful.
In a blink of an eye, it was approaching the Chinese New Year.
By the time Zhao Luoning finished purchasing the New - Year goods, it was already the day of the Minor New Year.
The people in the Ji Mansion had a meal together and then returned to their own courtyards to prepare for the New Year.
It was no different from the situation in the Zhao Mansion.
However, a little girl sitting quietly in the corner caught Zhao Luoning's attention.
If it weren't for the old matriarch's introduction, she wouldn't have believed that this little girl, who was more mature and quiet than her age suggested, was the child of Ji Shisu and Nan Shuang.
Zhao Luoning was bound to spend some time getting to know this child.
She wasn't the only one who wanted to know about Ji Jianxue.
Ji Shihuan, the fourth young master of the Ji family, also cared a great deal about her.
At first, Ji Shihuan was very happy that there was finally a niece whose age was close to his. But after just a few days, he found it boring.
Because of the New Year, the shops were closed, and his playmates all stayed at home. Bored, he went to Furongyuan every day. Only when he was with Zhao Luoning did he not have to worry about so many formalities.
The day after the Minor New Year.
Ji Shihuan got rebuffed by Ji Jianxue and didn't want to go back to his room to read those boring ancient texts. So he went straight to Furongyuan as if he knew the way by heart.
Zhao Luoning had just finished giving instructions to the servants about ancestor worship and setting off fireworks and was taking a nap in the room when Ji Shihuan rushed in.
Since he came there often and was just a child, the servants didn't stop him and just let him go.
Ji Shihuan came in and saw that Zhao Luoning was sleeping. Feeling bored, he was about to leave when Zhao Luoning heard his movement.
Although Ji Shihuan was the child of Madam Ji the Second, because of his young age and his innocent and lively nature, Zhao Luoning liked him very much. When she saw him coming, she greeted him.
"Shihuan, since you're here, sit down for a while."
Only then did Ji Shihuan pout and sit on a chair not far from the couch, silent and sulky.
Every time he got angry with Ji Jianxue and came here, he would be like this. But Zhao Luoning still pretended not to know and asked,
"Who made you angry? You've been pulling a long face ever since you came in."
"It's that Ji Jianxue. If it weren't for the fact that she's my niece, I wouldn't even bother to care about her. Second sister - in - law, do you think she doesn't like me?"
If she didn't dislike him, Ji Jianxue wouldn't have been so cold to him. No matter how much he tried to make a fuss, she ignored him and just meditated and chanted scriptures.
He had encountered many rejections from Ji Jianxue, and even his mother had advised him not to go to the Buddhist hall so often.
Ji Shihuan wasn't just idle. He knew that Ji Jianxue had a pitiful background.
Still full of childishness and with a child's innocence, seeing this little niece so pitiful, he felt compassion. He was afraid that she would be bored living alone in the Buddhist hall, so he went there often to play with her and relieve her boredom.
Who would have thought that she was so ungrateful!
Thinking of Ji Jianxue, Ji Shihuan was filled with anger. He even wished he could rush up and crack open her wooden head to see what was going on in her mind.
How could she be like this? She was really like the one who bit the kind - hearted Lu Dongbin and didn't recognize his good intentions.
Zhao Luoning smiled and sat up straight. Looking at Ji Shihuan's angry face, she found it funny.
"If you want to make friends with someone, you need to be a bit more patient. Look at yourself. You haven't even done much yet, and you've come here in a huff. A real man should be more magnanimous."
Zhao Luoning pitied Ji Jianxue for her background but was annoyed by her birth.
If she were just an ordinary child, Zhao Luoning would have readily accepted her. But unfortunately, she was Ji Shisu's child.
In the past, Zhao Luoning wouldn't have cared much about Ji Shisu's child. But now with Ning Ruonian and Ji Jianhui around, she couldn't open her heart to Ji Jianxue.
However, after all, she was just a child, and Zhao Luoning couldn't bear it. Every time, she couldn't help but ask Caixue or Ji Shihuan to accompany her.
After all, she could also be considered a victim of this situation.
Ji Shisu didn't seem to care much about this daughter.
After Ji Jianxue moved back, Ji Shisu just sent Yu Chi to check on her once, gave a few simple instructions, and never asked about her again.
Nan Shuang was even more excessive. She didn't even consider Ji Jianxue as her daughter, as if there was no such person in the mansion.
After observing for some time, Zhao Luoning had a little understanding of this nominal daughter.
After living in the nunnery for many years, Ji Jianxue's personality had been smoothed out.
She didn't know how to act coquettishly, nor did she jump around like Ji Shihuan. She was cold to everyone, so naturally, she couldn't win the favor of the old people in the family.
This girl seemed to have seen through the world. She watched coldly as her parents were indifferent to her and looked down upon the ridiculous joys and sorrows of the world.
Zhao Luoning had never seen her smile or cry.
The maid beside Ji Jianxue was a new girl that Zhao Luoning had specially bought from outside. She hadn't received any etiquette training and was directly sent to serve Ji Jianxue.
Zhao Luoning's original intention was to let the little maid help Ji Jianxue open her heart and let her laugh and play like a normal child.
The little maid, like Caixue, was very playful. But after just a few days by Ji Jianxue's side, she had become much quieter.
Zhao Luoning was at a loss about what to do with this child for the moment.