Just as he was in a panic and at a loss, Zhao Luoning, who had heard his repeated calls, pushed the door open and walked in.
She lifted the green gauze curtain and found that he was covered in cold sweat.
She wondered what nightmare he had had early in the morning to scare this man who was usually fearless like this.
"What's wrong?"
Before Zhao Luoning could regain her senses, Ji Shisu almost forcefully pulled her into his arms.
That kind of hug that seemed to melt her into his very bones was a sign of his fear.
Zhao Luoning didn't reject him. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
She acted just as she used to.
But only Zhao Luoning herself knew.
Everything was different now.
In her palm, she was holding the reply letter that had come from the Budda Kingdom that morning.
Her letter had reached Caixue safely the previous day.
Caixue had written a reply overnight.
It was a long, rambling letter.
Fortunately, the carrier pigeon used for delivering the letter was a special one from the army, or it really couldn't have carried such a thick reply.
Caixue seemed very excited in the reply. She said she already knew about the matter of the Sima Villa.
Caixue also told Zhao Luoning to wait for her. As soon as she found an opportunity, she and Feixing would come back to see her.
Of course, what Zhao Luoning had asked for was Caixue's business, and Caixue naturally agreed without hesitation.
Caixue also said in the letter.
She would immediately arrange for someone to handle what Zhao Luoning had requested.
Caixue would take care of the matter properly.
Zhao Luoning didn't doubt this.
Even if Caixue was unreliable, with Feixing around, the matter would surely be accomplished.
But regarding the latter part of her words, Zhao Luoning was still skeptical.
Although Zhao Luoning had never been to the Budda Kingdom, she knew that the royal palace wasn't a place one could enter and leave as they pleased.
Maybe after everything settled down, Zhao Luoning could go and visit Caixue.
But waiting for her to come back was really wishful thinking.
Zhao Luoning never had as much expectation for this news as Caixue did.
But another thing stirred up a storm in her heart.
Caixue mentioned it inadvertently.
That day when she was chatting with Ning Huainan in the south courtyard of the Ji Mansion, the figure that had escaped after eavesdropping in the corner looked a bit like Ji Shihan's.
If Caixue hadn't mentioned Ji Shihan again after so many days, she wouldn't have remembered this incident.
Although Caixue said in the letter that she wasn't sure, Zhao Luoning was already convinced.
If Ji Shihan hadn't heard what Ning Huainan said, she wouldn't have lost the confidence to live and become unrecognizable in one day.
If she hadn't heard what Ning Huainan said, she wouldn't have said some inexplicable words during their last meeting.
That silly girl.
Zhao Luoning felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
Ji Shihan must have wanted to fulfill her and Ning Huainan.
Ji Shihan didn't want to force Ning Huainan, nor did she want Zhao Luoning to help matchmake them when she already knew Ning Huainan's feelings.
So she took the stupid path of swallowing gold to commit suicide.
Zhao Luoning, who had just learned the truth, regretted it deeply.
Why didn't Ji Shihan tell her earlier? Why did she make the decision on her own?
Didn't Shihan know that she would feel guilty and painful after hearing this news?!
Shihan was fine. She was dead and got rid of all her troubles.
But what about her, Zhao Luoning?
She had no face to face Big Brother Ning, nor Red Peony.
Nor could she face those who cared about Shihan and whole - heartedly thought she could help Shihan get better.
There had been too many bad news these two days.
It caught Zhao Luoning off guard.
Zhao Luoning always thought she was helping Ji Shihan. After knowing Ji Shihan's feelings, she even couldn't wait to matchmake the two of them. She never thought that she was the executioner who had pushed her into the abyss.
She was actually the main cause of Shihan's death.
Zhao Luoning thought that she was even more hateful than the two mothers - in - law and the old matriarch who had been whole - heartedly forcing Ji Shihan to get married.
On the surface, she was caring about Ji Shihan.
But when Ji Shihan was at her most vulnerable, she had hurt her deeply without even realizing it.
Her slender hand almost crumpled the letter paper in her hand.
Her fingernails dug into her flesh, and it hurt.
But Zhao Luoning knew very well that this pain was nothing compared to what Shihan had suffered that day.
Ji Shihan had been extremely cruel in this matter. She didn't even give her a chance to regret.
She was really a sinner.
Ji Shisu thought Zhao Luoning was acting strange.
She seemed the same as before, but at the same time, she seemed very different.
The biggest change in Zhao Luoning was that she had become gentle.
And incredibly gentle at that.
She no longer had a cold face and rarely threw tantrums.
This change made Ji Shisu both happy and worried.
He was happy because her unreserved expression of her inner feelings made him deeply feel the satisfaction and happiness of being needed and loved.
He was worried for no specific reason, just feeling that Zhao Luoning's transformation was too strange.
Mainly because he didn't know the reason for her change, so there was a faint sense of panic in his heart.
The appointed day arrived as scheduled.
General Lian led his troops back to Shiguan.
Ji Shisu and Zhao Luoning, as hosts, let the soldiers eat and drink their fill and have a good carnival for a night.
The next day was the appointed day to leave.
The army split into two directions.
Zhao Luoning, together with Ghost Constellation and Well Constellation, was going in the direction of Phoenix City.
Ji Shisu, Shu Danqing, and Yu Chi would follow the army and head towards the capital to report their mission.
As for Ji Shijian.
He was already "dead".
"Dead" from poisoning and incurable.
Lüqu also couldn't adapt to the climate in Shiguan. She had contracted a strange illness as soon as she arrived in Shiguan and passed away after a few days.
These were the explanations Ji Shisu had prepared for the Ji family.
After General Lian led the "three young generals of the Bai family" out of the city with the people seeing them off on both sides of the road.
Ji Shijian in plain clothes, with Lüqu, walked out of Shiguan City.
From then on, there was one less young General Bai in the Chen Kingdom.
And in the border areas, there was an otherworldly couple who herded sheep and raced horses.
When it was almost time to part with Zhao Luoning.
Ji Shisu pulled Ghost Constellation and Well Constellation aside and talked for half an hour.
Don't let her get cold, hungry, or frozen.
Protect the safety of the madam.
The two maids were bored to death.
Finally, it was Zhao Luoning who spoke up to rescue them.
"Okay, don't keep General Lian waiting too long."
Ji Shisu lifted the curtain and looked at Zhao Luoning lovingly.
"What should I do? I've already started missing you even before I've left you."
If it had been before, Zhao Luoning would surely have blushed.
But at this moment, her expression and tone were cold.
"Okay, go quickly. The whole army is waiting for you."
Ji Shisu nodded.
He promised Zhao Luoning, "I'll be back soon. Wait for me."
Zhao Luoning nodded with a smile but didn't say anything.