The Second Lady Zhao once inquired at the temple where Zhao Luojing recuperated and learned that Zhao Luojing had left. The time exactly coincided with when Zhao Luoning left.
Now, Zhao Luoning had just returned to Phoenix City a couple of days ago, and Zhao Luojing had also shown up, saying she wanted to see that slut from the eldest branch.
The timing was just too much of a coincidence.
Given this overly coincidental timing and recalling the strange things about Zhao Luoning and Zhao Luojing in the past, the Second Lady Zhao couldn't help but think there was something fishy going on.
Zhao Luoning was no simple character, but when she was a young lady in the Zhao Mansion, she never showed it. She lived like an outsider. Many times, the Second Lady Zhao almost forgot that there was such an eldest lady in the Zhao family.
Although Zhao Luojing and Zhao Luoning were sisters, they were just too similar. It wasn't strange that they looked alike, but it was really odd that their voices, mannerisms, and body builds were so similar.
Zhao Luojing always made excuses that she was in poor health and needed to recuperate in the temple. But every time she showed up, there was no sign that she was unwell. At least, she was extremely good at arguing and no one could match her.
It was rumored that Bai Shaoqing's wife had donated a great deal of money and made remarkable contributions in the previous dynasty.
If Ji Shisu was Bai Shaoqing, then his wife was... Zhao Luoning.
As a woman, where did Zhao Luoning get so much money to support the army?
All these doubts led the Second Lady Zhao to a bold speculation: Zhao Luoning and Zhao Luojing were the same person!
Zhao Luoyue had not inherited her mother's intelligence at all. While the Second Lady Zhao had already started to suspect Zhao Luoning's identity, she was still in shock that Zhao Luoning was still alive and had become a general's wife.
"Mother, General Bai Shaoqing is in the emperor's good graces now. Even if we expose the fact that Zhao Luoning is still alive, if Bai Shaoqing puts in a good word for her in front of the emperor, then..."
"No, you don't understand. It's precisely because her husband is General Bai Shaoqing that we can bring Zhao Luoning down."
A venomous smile played on the Second Lady Zhao's lips.
Now that Bai Shaoqing was at the height of his popularity, if people found out that he had tried to play tricks in front of the emperor, the emperor would surely lose face.
If the emperor was a man with a deep mind, the Second Lady Zhao's plan would kill two birds with one stone.
It would not only bring down Zhao Luoning but also the man behind her.
The conversation between the mother and daughter was overheard word - for - word by the old maid, who was standing outside with the tea tray.
This old maid was surnamed Cheng. After Nurse Xu had an accident, she was assigned to serve the Second Lady.
Nurse Cheng thought for a while and didn't push the door open to serve the tea. Instead, she turned around and left.
She handed the tea to a young maid and left the second branch herself.
She was going to the eldest branch to find the First Lady.
Although this was an act of betraying her master, Nurse Cheng didn't care about that at the moment.
Nurse Cheng had her reasons for making such a decision.
The fate of Nurse Xu had spread throughout the Zhao Mansion.
When the servants of the second branch thought of how glorious Nurse Xu had been but ended up dying a miserable death with no whole body left, they were all very scared.
They didn't know when they would become the Second Lady's scapegoat.
Moreover, it was obvious to everyone that the Zhao family was now just an empty shell. After Zhao Luojing announced her severance from the Zhao family, the family had declined rapidly.
Not only had the monthly salaries of the servants in the Zhao Mansion been continuously reduced, but even the masters of the Zhao family were living in straitened circumstances.
The servants served the masters closely, so they felt most clearly when the masters were short of money.
So now, even Lord Zhao had to curry favor with the First Lady, the wife he used to find annoying at a glance.
As Nurse Cheng was thinking, she walked quickly. In just a few steps, she arrived at the eldest branch.
After the First Lady Zhao returned, she still preferred to be in a quiet place. So she refused the new room that Lord Zhao had specially arranged for her and still lived in the remote Buddhist hall.
When Nurse Cheng pushed the door open, the First Lady Zhao was in front of the Buddhist hall, knocking on the wooden fish and praying to the Buddha.
The chanting sounds, accompanied by the strong smell of sandalwood, came from inside.
When she reached the door, Nurse Cheng knocked.
The chanting stopped.
A voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Nurse Cheng forced a smile and pushed the door open.
"Madam, you're praying to the Buddha. I hope I'm not disturbing you."
The First Lady Zhao smiled and was about to stand up. Nurse Cheng was very tactful. Seeing that the First Lady was about to get up, she immediately stepped forward to support her.
"It's just a daily pastime. How could you be disturbing me?" The First Lady Zhao didn't refuse her help and leaned on her, allowing the old maid to serve her.
Nurse Cheng supported the First Lady Zhao into the adjacent hall.
This hall was like a different world from the Buddhist hall.
The hall was not big, but it was filled with many things, such as precious rouge and powder, antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and snacks.
These were all things that Lord Zhao had searched for all over the country after the First Lady Zhao returned to the mansion.
Lord Zhao had gone all out to please the First Lady Zhao.
Even when the Second Lady Zhao was in favor, she never had such treatment.
The First Lady Zhao didn't care about these things at all. She casually grabbed a handful of fruits and stuffed them into Nurse Cheng's hands.
Nurse Cheng quickly took them, feeling flattered.
"I wonder what advice you have for me today, Nurse?"
"Look at what you're saying, Madam. You're the master. How dare I give you advice. I've been in this mansion for many years and always thought you were so pitiful. That woman from the second branch is just good at talking. How can she compare with your dignity and virtue?"
The First Lady Zhao had heard a lot of such words since she returned to the mansion, and naturally, she didn't believe a single word.
Now that they saw the second branch losing power, they were eager to curry favor with her?
The First Lady Zhao wasn't a fool. These opportunists were just like that. There couldn't be such a good thing.
The First Lady Zhao suppressed her disgust and said, "So you've been in the mansion for many years. I don't think I've seen you much before?"
The old maid was so embarrassed that she couldn't say a word.
Seeing this, the First Lady Zhao continued, "But it's not just you. I didn't like to socialize before, so there were many people I hadn't met. I've just started to get to know everyone recently."
Nurse Cheng was very shrewd. Hearing what the First Lady Zhao said, she immediately understood.
The First Lady Zhao meant that if she wanted to join her camp, she had to offer a token of loyalty.
Nurse Cheng despised her in her heart.
She thought the First Lady Zhao was so noble, but it turned out she was the same kind of person as the Second Lady.
But it was easier to deal with people with desires. If the First Lady Zhao was really a noble person, it would be difficult for her to approach.
Nurse Cheng immediately came to show her loyalty.
"Madam, I'm different from them. I've brought you a bombshell news."
"Oh?"
"Madam, the Second Lady is plotting to harm the eldest lady."
"Harm Ning'er?"
The First Lady Zhao was startled when she first heard this news, but she quickly regained her composure and said, "Ning'er has already left. Are you here to rub salt into my wound?"