"Because I'm still implicated in the arson case. Shi Jun was worried that if I revealed my identity, I'd be hunted down by the government, so he didn't allow me to say anything."
Actually, Ning Ruonian also had her own selfish motives. She had been yearning for her elder sister for so many years, and she really wanted to know if her sister missed her too.
Just as lovers always have some little schemes and tentative moves, sisters are the same.
Hiding the truth, she had her helplessness and some deliberate little schemes.
She missed her sister and hoped her sister felt the same way.
"Then what's the deal between you and Ji Shisu? Since you've always been with Ji Shijun, how did you become Ji Shisu's concubine?"
At this question, Ning Ruonian looked at Zhao Luoning with a mischievous look on her face.
"Sister, you actually have quite a deep connection with the Second Master."
"How are you bringing me into this again? I'm asking you a question!" Zhao Luoning immediately evaded.
She didn't really want to talk about Ji Shisu in front of her younger sister.
It always made her feel as if she was coveting her sister's man.
This feeling made her uncomfortable, and inexplicably, a lot of shame welled up in her.
"Sister, it's not convenient for me to explain more. If you want to know, go and ask the Second Master yourself."
"Me? Go and ask him?" Zhao Luoning was confused. Ning Ruonian had been so forthcoming before. Why was she being so mysterious about this matter? "At least tell me which one of the two brothers you've chosen. Sister can help you plan. Could it be that you've just been using Ji Shisu?"
"Oh, my dear sister. Even if you don't trust my character, you should trust the Second Master's intelligence. Stop overthinking. If you want to know something, it's best to ask the Second Master directly. I'm sure he'll tell you everything."
Zhao Luoning got stuck in her own thoughts and grabbed Ning Ruonian.
"But even so, you still haven't told me who you've chosen."
Ning Ruonian burst out laughing.
"Sister, do you still need to ask about my choice?"
Hearing this, Zhao Luoning sighed.
Right, did she still need to ask?
Her younger sister already had a child with Ji Shijun, and they had even appeared hand - in - hand in front of the Ji family elders. Her attitude was already very clear.
It wasn't that she was stupid and couldn't see her sister's choice.
She just felt unwilling.
Unwilling for Ji Shisu.
When Ruonian first entered the mansion, Ji Shisu had treated her well. Everyone was saying that Ji Shisu had once been crazy about Ruonian for a while. Just now, even Mrs. Ji had said that Ning Ruonian was the girl "whom Ji Shisu liked to the point of madness".
It was obvious that Ji Shisu had at least given his true heart to Ning Ruonian.
Forget it, Zhao Luoning murmured with a sigh, "Ji Shisu is a philanderer. He really doesn't deserve you. Your choice is good. Sister supports you."
Hearing this, Ning Ruonian shook her head.
"Sister, have you ever thought that you're too biased against the Second Master?"
"Biased? What bias do I have against him? Isn't his promiscuity known to the whole world?!"
"Sister, you're so smart. How could you be bothered by these rumors? Sister might as well try to have a good talk with the Second Master without any bias. I'm sure you'll like him."
"Me? Like him?" Zhao Luoning shook her head repeatedly. "No, no. If you don't like him yourself, there's no need to push him on me. I just want to muddle through for a while and then leave. I don't want to have anything to do with him."
Ning Ruonian looked at Zhao Luoning and silently sighed in her heart.
Sister, sister. If you really don't like him, why are you in such a hurry to distance yourself?
Sister is such a smart person. Why does she act so foolishly when it comes to love?
Zhao Luoning and Ning Ruonian didn't talk for long before they were interrupted. Someone from the Zhao family sent a letter.
Zhao Luoning didn't even need to read it to know what it was about - Zhao Luoyue was getting married, and Zhao Luoming had come to ask her to go back and take charge.
This was the idea she had come up with in the name of Zhao Luojing for Zhao Luoming.
If not, Zhao Luoming would have pestered Feixing every day to get "Luojing" to show up.
Seeing that Zhao Luoning had something to do, Ning Ruonian didn't bother her anymore. She got up to say goodbye and returned to her Huifeng Residence.
Along the way, many people pointed at her.
After all, suddenly changing from the Second Master's concubine to the eldest young master's wife, such a huge change in status left everyone stunned.
This was a result that Ning Ruonian had anticipated, so she had already prepared herself to face the rumors.
Ning Ruonian walked into Huifeng Residence. Seeing Ji Shijun playing shuttlecock with their son in the yard, a big smile instantly spread across her face.
When Ji Shijun saw Ning Ruonian coming, he told the wet - nurse to take Ji Jianhui away and then walked up to her. He supported her and led her into the room.
"How was it? Did your sister scold you?"
"Sister is the kindest person to me in the world. How could she scold me?"
Hearing this, Ji Shijun pouted unhappily. "Nonsense. Clearly, I'm the kindest person to you in the world."
"Why are you even jealous of this?"
"As soon as you see your sister, you only have eyes for her. How can I not be jealous?!"
It was really troublesome when a man got jealous. Ning Ruonian spent a long time soothing him.
Ji Shijun hugged Ning Ruonian and asked, "Nian'er, now everyone in the mansion is talking about you. Do you regret it?"
Ning Ruonian held Ji Shijun's hand tightly and said, "There's nothing to regret. You came up with this plan for my sake."
First, let Jianhui be recognized as a member of the family and become the eldest grandson in the family tree, and then let the Ji family accept Ning Ruonian.
If Ji Shijun had suddenly brought Ning Ruonian back, given the Ji family's temperament, they would definitely have kept the child and driven Ning Ruonian out of the house.
After all, this wasn't the first time they had done such a thing.
Fortunately, although Ji Shijun and Ji Shisu hadn't seen each other for many years, their understanding was still there. When Lin Ruonian showed Ji Shisu the jade pendant, Ji Shisu understood and cooperated with her in this play.
Actually, Lin Ruonian had taken advantage of a loophole this time.
She had never said that she was Ji Shisu's concubine, and Ji Shisu had never admitted it either.
Ji Shisu was not soft - hearted when it came to tricking his parents. When Ji Jianhui was added to the family tree, he had, on the grounds that the eldest brother had been missing for many years without an heir, registered Ji Jianhui under Ji Shijun's name.
So, they had pulled a fast one on everyone in the Ji family.
There was no such thing as the so - called scandal or incest.
Even so, thinking about the days to come, Ji Shijun rubbed Ning Ruonian's hand and said earnestly,
"Nian'er, I don't want you to suffer with me."
"Don't say such things about me suffering with you again. You saved my life. We're husband and wife, united as one."
Ning Ruonian wrapped her arm around Ji Shijun's and gave him a bright and warm smile.
With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for?
Ji Shijun hugged Lin Ruonian with emotion, wishing he could meld her into his very being.
And Ning Ruonian, leaning in Ji Shijun's arms, silently said in her heart, "I'm sorry."