Furong Courtyard
Ji Shisu had been staying in Furong Courtyard all this time, sipping the tea she used to love and reading the poems she used to read.
She had been gone for three days, and for him, it felt as long as a lifetime.
The spy he sent to the farmstead came back with the news that she had woken up.
He had ruined her identity. Letting her leave without a clear explanation like this, she must harbor a lot of resentment in her heart.
Lianxiang's fire had burned down Lengxiang Courtyard and the attached Buddhist hall.
That woman whom he rarely cared about had left this world in the most heroic way.
He had people spread the rumor that it was the evil spirits in the Buddhist hall that caused the trouble, and ordered four coffins to be prepared.
He asked Zhao Luoning to lie in the coffin with the seriously ill Jianxue and Jianwen, and leave with the funeral procession.
If he had a choice, he would never let her leave in such a sorry state.
No, he would never let her leave his side. He would cherish this woman for a lifetime.
"My lord, the second young mistress..."
Yu Chi pushed open the door and walked in. As soon as he opened his mouth to mention Zhao Luoning, he was stopped by Ji Shisu.
"Luoning has passed away. From the moment the coffin was carried out of the Ji Mansion's gate, there has been no second young mistress in the Ji Mansion. Yu Chi, watch your words in the future."
Yu Chi nodded and then said,
"Lord Ye sent a message asking you to visit his mansion."
Lord Ye had helped a great deal in Ji Shisu's plan to send them out of the mansion this time. Otherwise, if the officers and soldiers had simply stopped them, this plan would never have succeeded.
The Ji family members couldn't accept the news that Zhao Luoning and the Ji family's two descendants had passed away.
Especially Ning Ruonian. She cried and insisted on seeing them for the last time. If it hadn't been for Lord Ye's mediation and the order to send the coffins up the mountain as soon as possible, Ji Shisu would still be in a dilemma.
Although he had hurt his family's feelings, this matter involved Luoning's life, and he had no other choice.
He knew that the emperor was suspicious. Unless a person was dead, the emperor would never let go of anyone who threatened his throne.
When Liu Qingyun got married into the family, he had already anticipated this day.
As a court official, he should be dedicated to his duties until his death. But as a husband, he had to at least ensure her safety.
It was difficult to balance the family and the country. He could only try his best to minimize the harm.
"I went to Canglang Garden again. The guards are even more strict. I'm afraid they'll take action soon."
Yu Chi whispered. He hadn't forgotten the reason for such strict guard.
Anyone with a bit of sense would think of Canglang Garden.
Was it really necessary for the court to go to such great lengths for a case that couldn't even be determined as a murder case?!
The death of the eldest miss just happened to provide the court with a good opportunity.
Moreover, the Sima family, whom the emperor had always regarded as a thorn in his side, was staying in the guest rooms of the Ji Mansion.
Thinking of the guest rooms, Yu Chi couldn't help muttering,
"Second master, the eldest miss of the Ning family staying in the guest room has been shouting that she wants to go home. How do you want to deal with this?"
Ning Huaichu's behavior was well within his expectation.
It was good to let her make a fuss. There had to be someone to be the target of public criticism.
"How are Ning Huainan and Sima Yi?"
At the moment, he was more concerned about these two love rivals.
These two definitely had feelings for Luoning.
The grief they showed when they heard the news of Luoning's death couldn't be faked.
"Master Ning is still in a daze. Although Master Sima still doesn't talk much, he seems to have noticed something. He's obviously not as shocked as when he first heard the news."
Damn it! How could he have underestimated Sima Yi's ability?
He wasn't the kind of person who could be easily fooled. If he became suspicious, he might even order someone to dig up the graves.
Ye's Mansion
Caixue didn't come back until evening.
When Caixue walked into the room with the dinner, seeing her young mistress dressed formally, she knew she couldn't escape.
She tried hard to hide her uneasiness.
"Miss, have dinner first and have a good rest."
Zhao Luoning stared directly at Caixue, her tone firm and with an undeniable authority.
"Caixue, you really disappointed me today. In the past, you never hid anything from me. What's wrong? Do you think I'm not good enough for you and want to change your master?"
Although Caixue knew that Zhao Luoning was just saying angry words, she was still greatly shocked.
She put the tray on the table and knelt directly in front of Zhao Luoning.
"Caixue will only have you as my master in this lifetime. Please don't drive Caixue away, miss."
Caixue cried and begged on the ground, which had already softened Zhao Luoning's heart.
But if she didn't scare Caixue, she wouldn't tell the truth.
Zhao Luoning simply hardened her heart and said in the coldest tone she had ever used on the people around her,
"It's not difficult for me to change my mind. Tell me what happened in the Ji Mansion."
The girl kneeling on the ground, crying like a tearful mess, seemed a bit embarrassed. She sobbed softly and didn't dare to say a word.
Seeing this, Zhao Luoning coughed coldly a few times, scaring the little maid so much that she trembled a few times and blurted out everything,
"The fourth aunt set a fire in Lengxiang Courtyard. The fire spread to the Buddhist hall. Master Ji took the opportunity to create the fact that we were dead. Then he used... used that... to send us out. Master Ji did this for your own good, miss. You should know that."
She spoke quickly and anxiously. Only when she mentioned the coffin did she change her words and hesitated for a moment. But she said extremely firmly that everything Ji Shisu did was for the miss's good.
"I don't know. All I know is that he never cared about me."
Zhao Luoning's words successfully stunned Caixue.
She raised her tear-stained little face, trying to find a trace of joking on Zhao Luoning's face.
But the result disappointed her.
Apart from determination and anger, Zhao Luoning had no other expressions.
Even a simple girl like Caixue knew that staying in the Ji Mansion wouldn't end well.
Master Ji, for the sake of the miss's safety, was willing to be seen as a heartless and evil person just to send the miss out of the mansion.
This incident had completely changed Caixue's view of this master. How could such a reasonable person like the miss not appreciate his efforts?
Although she liked the miss very much, the words she said now were a bit too heartless. If master Ji were here, how disappointed he would be.
Oh right, Caixue suddenly thought of something.
"Right, there's also a letter."
Caixue got up and ran into the inner room. She took out a letter from the drawer and respectfully handed it to Zhao Luoning.
"Ji Shisu's letter?"
After sending her out of the mansion without a word, did he just want to get rid of her with a letter?
Caixue shook her head and replied, "It's not from master Ji. It's from the eldest young mistress. She asked me to give it to you."
Luo Yu! Right, Luo Yu was still in there.
Since Ji Shisu had sent her, Caixue, and even the two children, Jianwen and Jianxue, out of the mansion, why didn't he send Luo Yu out too?