Ever since Zhao Luoning found out that Ji Shisu was the man from that night at the Tianxiang Tower,
her trust in him had completely crumbled.
What Chen Chuliu said cut into Zhao Luoning's heart like knives. Every single word was telling her:
Zhao Luoning, you've been living like a joke.
Yes, Chen Chuliu was right. She had indeed been deceived by Ji Shisu, and badly at that.
However, when Chen Chuliu said that she had been virtually divorced, Zhao Luoning didn't think so.
Not to mention that Ji Shisu had no need to look for her so eagerly if he really wanted to divorce her.
Even if Ji Shisu did intend to divorce her,
as long as she, Zhao Luoning, didn't agree, his little tricks wouldn't succeed.
When she first heard that General Lian was returning and realized that their return to Huang City was approaching,
Zhao Luoning was full of ambition.
She was determined that once they returned to Huang City, she would help Ji Shisu manage the inner household well. At least, she would rectify the unhealthy and strange atmosphere in the Ji Mansion.
Now, just thinking about it made her feel exhausted.
Without the support of her love for Ji Shisu, she didn't have the courage to face it.
Did she really have to go back to that man - eating Ji Mansion?
Did she really have to scheme and fight with her mother - in - law, the second mistress, and Ji Shisu's concubines every day?
Did she really have the courage to step into a place where Shi Han had withered away and where Luo Yu had lost a child?
Thinking carefully, she had been blinded by her love for Ji Shisu back then.
In fact, that place was really not worth going back to.
She had finally escaped from the cage of being the second young mistress of the Ji Family.
If she went back to the Ji Mansion, she would only end up like her mother - in - law or the old matriarch.
Sitting at the top of the power pyramid, forcing her descendants to give up their happiness for the so - called family interests.
Love could only make a woman's IQ drop.
Once the love was gone, the Ji Family was now worthless in Zhao Luoning's eyes.
She didn't want to go back, and she didn't want her children to grow up in such an environment.
She hoped that her children could live happily and care - free.
Even if they just became simple villagers, it would be better than scheming against others for their own gain.
Just like her elder brother, who had suffered for more than a decade and was now living a peaceful life.
Although there was no wealth and honor, at least the days were down - to - earth.
The sky was above and the earth was below.
There was no need to scheme against others deliberately, no need to worry about being schemed against all the time, and no need to face the despair of being deceived by the person closest to you.
"Sister? Sister?"
Chen Chuliu called out several times before pulling Zhao Luoning back to reality.
Knowing that her words had worked, Chen Chuliu pretended not to know and asked,
"What were you thinking about, sister? You seemed so absorbed."
Zhao Luoning came back to her senses.
Yes, there were people waiting to see her joke.
The problem between her and Ji Shisu was their own business.
It was not Chen Chuliu's turn to play the hypocrite here.
Wasn't Chen Chuliu just waiting for her and Ji Shisu to have a big fight so that she could benefit from it?
How could she let her evil plan succeed?
Just as Zhao Luoning was about to reply, there was a knock on the door. The door was gently pushed open. Looking up, she could see Guisu standing at the door with a large tray of new clothes in her hand.
"Guisu, what's going on?"
Guisu carried the clothes into the room, moved the teapot aside, and placed the tray on the table.
The tray was right in the middle of Zhao Luoning and Chen Chuliu, allowing both of them to clearly see the material and design of the clothes.
The clothes on the tray were truly top - notch.
Zhao Luoning, who at least owned a silk and satin shop, could tell at a glance whether the clothes were good or not.
The stitches were fine and the patterns were delicate.
Not to mention the superior fabric.
These clothes probably couldn't even be ordered in Shiguan.
Where did Guisu get these clothes?
Zhao Luoning casually flipped through them. Orange, yellow, pink, green, blue, and plain.
All were the light colors she liked.
Even the patterns and styles were to her liking.
"These are the clothes the general had custom - made for the madam a few days ago. They just arrived."
New clothes? Custom - made by Ji Shisu?
Zhao Luoning understood the reason.
She let out a cold snort.
Ji Shisu had been demanding her every night and was too impatient to untie the belts. He often just ripped them off with one big hand.
Zhao Luoning pretended to casually flip through the clothes and said, "What's the use of sending such good clothes? They'll just be ripped off by him. What a waste."
Guisu was very perceptive. She glanced at Chen Chuliu, who was sitting beside them with a livid face, and said,
"Madam, there's still a whole box of them in the main hall. I'll send someone to carry it in later. The boss of the cloth shop is still waiting outside. Madam, you'd better try them on first to see if they fit. If there are any that don't fit or are duplicates, he can take them back to be altered."
"Hmm? A whole box? How many does he plan to rip? Besides, we'll be leaving Shiguan soon. What if we can't wear all these clothes?"
Guisu bowed and said, "The master said that the madam changes clothes frequently, so he had to prepare more. If we can't take them all with us in the end, we can just throw them away and buy new ones."
Chen Chuliu was stunned when she heard this.
So many good materials. It would be such a pity to throw them away.
Chen Chuliu was extremely jealous.
While Zhao Luoning was talking to Guisu, she reached out and touched the clothes, and couldn't let go.
She had never worn such smooth and lightweight clothes in her life.
Not to mention the vivid patterns and the unique styles.
She would be satisfied if she could just get one of these clothes, let alone a whole box.
One of these clothes would cost at least dozens of taels of silver, which was her monthly allowance.
Ji Shisu really doted on Zhao Luoning. He was so generous that he didn't even frown.
She had been by his side for so many years. Not only had she never received anything from him, but he had also always been stingy with even a smile.
The only time she remembered him showing a good attitude was after she helped him repair the purple jade bracelets.
She had really liked those bracelets. Taking that opportunity, she had wanted Ji Shisu to give her one, but he had directly refused.
The second young master of the Ji Family was naturally not a stingy person, especially when it came to the purple jade bracelets that had been broken and were no longer as valuable as before.
He didn't want to give it to her because the bracelets represented the meaning of being together for a lifetime. Even though it was just a rumor and no one knew if it was true or not, he still didn't want to give it to her.
He was generous to Zhao Luoning but completely stingy with her. He was so stingy that he wouldn't even give her a free hope.
Looking at the clothes in the box, it was impossible for Chen Chuliu not to be tempted.
"What good materials. It's a pity to throw them away."
Zhao Luoning deliberately asked, "Do you like them, sister?"
Chen Chuliu nodded, unable to let go of her admiration.
Chen Chuliu was fantasizing that if Zhao Luoning could give her a couple of them, that would be great.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Luoning's tone suddenly turned cold.
"Sister, you don't need so many clothes."