Zhao Luoning's appearance was an unexpected twist.
It was beyond Chen Chuliu's anticipation that Ji Shisu, a man who had always flitted through the blossoms without getting a single petal on him, would accept this marriage arranged by his parents and matchmaker, and take in Zhao Luoning, a woman who "seemed so listless".
Ji Shisu falling in love with Zhao Luoning was an accident.
Chen Chuliu wasn't blind. As early as in Huangcheng, she could tell that Ji Shisu had developed feelings for Zhao Luoning.
Zhao Luoning's supposed death was also an unexpected event.
Just when Chen Chuliu was on the verge of despair and about to give up on Ji Shisu, Zhao Luoning suddenly "died".
Hope rekindled within her.
In Ji Shisu's backyard, Lüqu had an ambiguous relationship with Ji Shijian, and it was only a matter of time before they got caught; Lianxiang was already dead, and the little imbecile had disappeared during the chaos.
She believed that she would eventually become the second young mistress of the Ji Mansion.
But she never expected that Zhao Luoning would still manage to surprise her this time.
Not only was Zhao Luoning not dead, but she had been by Ji Shisu's side all along?
This wasn't even the most despairing thing for Chen Chuliu.
The most despairing part was that Zhao Luoning knew everything about Ji Shisu, while she was kept in the dark.
Ji Shisu was so cold - hearted.
He was even stingy with giving her a chance to get closer to him.
Back then, she only found out that Ji Shisu was actually Bai Shaoqing from the eunuch who read out the imperial edict.
The emperor was sending her and Lüqu to Shiguan to serve Ji Shisu.
Chen Chuliu was quite surprised when she suddenly received such an imperial edict.
She knew that since Ji Shisu had disappeared for a year without saying a word about where he was going or what he was doing, he definitely didn't miss them or want them to accompany the army.
This time, Chen Chuliu was more cautious. Before setting off, she sent a letter to her mother, asking her to help analyze the situation.
Her mother replied, "The emperor is wary of the Zhao family."
At that time, Chen Chuliu couldn't understand.
What did sending them to Shiguan have to do with the Zhao family?
When she saw Zhao Luoning, she finally understood why the emperor had specifically sent her and Lüqu to Shiguan.
It was rumored that General Qing's wife was both talented and wealthy.
She had not only come up with many brilliant strategies but also funded the army.
She had now become a role - model for women across the country, and her prestige was no less than that of Bai Shaoqing.
No wonder the emperor was wary of her.
Having stayed in the Ji family for a long time, Chen Chuliu had learned a thing or two about the power - balancing tactics often used by the old mistress and the mistress of the Ji family.
By then, she finally understood.
But she didn't know if she still had a chance.
She remembered that back in the capital, when she heard the story of Bai Shaoqing and the general's wife from the storybooks, she was deeply touched, thinking that there could be such a perfect couple in the world.
Chen Chuliu never expected that Ji Shisu was actually the popular Bai Shaoqing.
She also never expected that Zhao Luoning, who had never shown any good attitude towards Ji Shisu in the Ji Mansion, would travel all the way to this desolate borderland for him.
Seeing the affectionate look between the two, Chen Chuliu thought to herself: During this year without any interference, their relationship must have advanced by leaps and bounds.
The man was in love, and the woman reciprocated.
Did she still have a chance?
No, she couldn't lose heart!
She must have a chance.
Thinking of her mother's instructions before she left, Chen Chuliu secretly encouraged herself.
Ji Shisu now was no longer the playboy and the second young master of the Ji family.
He was also the famous General Qing known throughout the world.
In the future, there would be rewards, wealth, vast fortunes, and great power.
These were things she had never dared to dream of before.
Being a concubine of General Qing would be even more glorious than being the second young mistress of the Ji family back then.
While Chen Chuliu was lost in thought, Ji Shisu had already finished talking with Ye Hua.
During their conversation, Ji Shisu learned about Ye Hua's purpose.
The emperor was getting anxious and had sent Lord Ye to check on the situation.
It was just that Ye Hua had only just arrived in Shicheng when he heard the news of the great victory.
General Lian had already led his troops out of the city to recover the lost territory.
Although Ye Hua had missed General Lian's swift action, since he had come all the way here, he didn't want to just turn back.
It would be better for him to return to the capital with the generals.
Moreover, his visit to Shiguan wasn't just about military matters.
There were also Ji Shisu's family affairs.
Ye Hua knew a thing or two about the emperor's thoughts.
The matter between Ji Shisu and Zhao Luoning as a couple naturally couldn't be hidden from the emperor.
If there were complaints or dissatisfaction towards Zhao Luoning among the military men, the emperor wouldn't have specifically chosen two concubines, who were rumored to be favored, from Ji Shisu's backyard and sent them all the way here.
In the memorials from the front line that the emperor had read over the past year, there were nothing but praises for Zhao Luoning's magnanimity and her bearing that was no less than that of a man.
Even General Lian, who was strict in military discipline, turned a blind eye to the fact that Ji Shisu and his wife were both in the military camp. It showed how good she was at "winning people's hearts".
So, on one hand, the emperor wanted to praise Zhao Luoning, and on the other hand, he had to guard against her.
The emperor was also quite conflicted.
If it were someone else, the emperor might not have been so fussy.
It was just because the other party was Zhao Luoning, who had once dared to defy the powerful, that the emperor was displeased.
Sending Chen Chuliu and Lüqu here was just because the emperor thought that Zhao Luoning's life was too comfortable. He had to create some twists and turns to make her suffer a bit so that he could feel better.
Although Ye Hua was reluctant to do this task, it was an imperial edict after all. Even if he had the courage of a lion, he didn't dare to disobey it.
On the other hand, Ye Hua also had a bit of a malicious curiosity to watch the drama.
Like the emperor, he was somewhat looking forward to Zhao Luoning's reaction.
Especially when he saw the affectionate couple walking hand in hand, he knew that what was about to happen here would be more interesting than the plays on the stage.
Of course, Ye Hua couldn't let this loving couple from the Ji family know about his intention of watching the show.
He just pretended to be ignorant. After delivering the emperor's consoling edict, he started chatting about all sorts of things.
Since Ye Hua had come, he couldn't be neglected.
Ji Shisu made the decision to arrange a side room for Ye Hua in the guest house.
Accommodations also needed to be arranged for Lüqu and Chen Chuliu.
This matter needed to be handled by Zhao Luoning.
Right in front of the two of them, Zhao Luoning threw this task to Jingsu and Guisu.
She was still fuming inside.
What did the emperor mean by sending these two people all the way here?
Was he afraid that Ji Shisu couldn't relieve his desires without a woman?
And Ji Shisu even had the nerve to ask her to arrange side rooms for them?
Sorry, this wasn't the Ji Mansion, and she was no longer the second young mistress.
Seeing that Zhao Luoning was angry, Ji Shisu quickly followed her to persuade her.
Zhao Luoning was irritated, and her tone was also very unhappy.
"Sorry, Zhao Luoning, the second young mistress of the Ji family, is already dead. I'm Zhao Luoyu now. I have no obligation to take care of your flirts."
When angry, Zhao Luoning pouted, and her cheeks were red.
Ji Shisu looked at her and couldn't help but burst out laughing. Unable to resist, he reached out and pinched her cheek.
Zhao Luoning impatiently slapped his hand away.
"What are you doing!"
"You're just too cute."
"I'm really angry!"
"I know, but I just can't control my hands."
As Ji Shisu was speaking, he suddenly leaned closer.