On the bustling street, Jing Su and Gui Su finally realized how difficult it was to chase a thief.
The street was filled with bearded men in navy blue undershirts and strong men with tattoos of a charging tiger on their bodies.
It seemed as if this look had become a sudden trend in Huang City overnight.
Moreover, it was the busiest time of the morning market.
With people coming and going, it was no easy feat for them to pursue anyone.
Jing Su and Gui Su chased for about half an hour until they turned into a dead - end alley. Connecting all the events, even the usually silent Jing Su couldn't help but cry out.
"Not good! It's a金蝉 - shell ruse. Gui Su, let's go back quickly."
Gui Su was simple - minded. She only knew that the task assigned by Zhao Luoning wasn't finished yet. She was just wondering why Jing Su was so eager to go back. Before she could ask, Jing Su gave her a rap on the head.
"Silly girl, we've been tricked by the mistress."
Tricked by the mistress?
The important Yun brocade in the silk store was snatched away. How could it be considered being tricked by the mistress?
However, Jing Su was always right. Gui Su obediently followed her back to the silk store. After they had almost ransacked the whole place but still couldn't find Zhao Luoning, she finally understood what Jing Su meant by being tricked.
The mistress had been back in Huang City for more than half a month and had shown no sign of anything unusual.
Although their master had told them to keep an eye on the mistress's every move, since she had been acting normally for the past half - month, Jing Su and Gui Su naturally let their guard down.
They never expected this mistress to be so cunning.
The strong man who caused a ruckus in the morning must have been pre - arranged by her.
Gui Su's guess was right. In a secluded back alley, Fei Xing was handing a large bag of silver to the strong man.
The strong man no longer looked as imposing as before. When he scratched his cheek and took the money bag, he even looked a bit shy.
"This job is really easy. If you hadn't told me in advance to put the silk on that small stall after stealing it and take advantage of the chaos, those two would have found me long ago."
Zhao Luoning knew that if she had found a person from the Central Plains, the meticulous Jing Su would surely be suspicious. She guessed that Jing Su never thought she could find a foreigner to help.
Of course, this was all thanks to Cai Xue and Fei Xing.
This plan had been in the works for a long time.
It started when she shook off Ji Shisu and returned to Huang City alone.
After her mother had settled the affairs of the Zhao family and was properly taken care of, she had been busy under the identity of Zhao Luojing. Meanwhile, Fei Xing's men had dealt with the guards secretly arranged by Ji Shisu.
Finally, she managed to shake off Jing Su and Gui Su.
Zhao Luoning had been planning this for a long time.
Of course, the success also owed much to the strong man's excellent acting skills.
The strong man was far from being as arrogant as he seemed. He was even a bit shy.
"That piece of cloth is so beautiful. Aren't you afraid someone will take it when it's on that stall?"
Fei Xing wasn't worried. She handed the package in her hand to him and replied with a smile.
"We've made our own arrangements. You don't need to worry about this. After you change your clothes, lie low for a while. When our young mistress gets away safely, there will surely be more rewards for you."
Nine out of ten street vendors on that street were Zhao Luoning's people.
How could the Yun brocade get lost?
Zhao Luoning was making money while putting on a show.
At the mention of rewards, the strong man's eyes lit up. He thanked her repeatedly.
While the strong man was expressing his gratitude again and again, Zhao Luoning's carriage was already bumping on the way to the farm.
"Miss, weren't you and the young master doing well in the military camp? Why do you still…"
The one who asked was Qiu Ling.
This time, when Zhao Luoning shook off Jing Su and Gui Su, there was no one to take care of her. Qiu Ling had a clean background and had been serving in the mansion for some time. They knew each other well.
Zhao Luoning didn't decline and took her along.
In response to Qiu Ling's question, Zhao Luoning sighed. It wasn't that she was heartless.
She made this decision, firstly because she was angry with Ji Shisu.
Secondly, it was out of fear.
She didn't dare and didn't want to return to the deep and grand mansion of the Ji family.
She couldn't even stay in the Ji Mansion for a single moment.
After Mrs. Zhao had dealt with the second wife of the Zhao family in the Zhao Mansion, on a gentle and breezy morning, she left the Zhao family as casually as if she were taking a stroll in the garden.
Seeing her mother so care - free, Zhao Luoning understood a lot.
In the Zhao Mansion, she had lived for her mother and the eldest branch of the family.
In the Ji Mansion, at first, she had lived for Cai Xue, and later for Ji Shisu.
She wanted to learn from her mother and live for herself once.
She wanted to let her over - burdened heart be weak once.
Maybe running away wasn't the best solution, but it worked.
So, Zhao Luoning said to Qiu Ling:
"Zhao Luoning is already a dead person. There is no second young mistress of the Ji family, and you have no young master either."
Qiu Ling seemed to understand but also seemed not to.
She didn't know that this was the famous second young mistress of the Ji family at first.
It was not until the day she saw the second young master of the Ji family break into the yard with his men that she found out.
There were also many of Ji Shisu's people guarding Ye's mansion. Through communicating with Ji Shisu's servants in the past year, Qiu Ling knew a lot about the second young master and the second young mistress.
So, seeing Zhao Luoning so eager to escape now, she really thought it was a pity that this relationship had ended in separation.
In a blink of an eye, the carriage stopped in front of a nunnery.
The nunnery was hidden in the mountains. The incense business wasn't booming, but there were quite a few nuns in the convent.
They didn't rely on the incense offerings for a living.
Supported by Qiu Ling, Zhao Luoning got off the carriage.
Since it was in a remote location, the path to the convent was covered with fallen leaves.
A young novice nun opened the door for Zhao Luoning. When she saw her, she was stunned for a moment but quickly regained her composure and invited her in.
"Miss Zhao."
When the abbess of the convent heard that Zhao Luoning had come, she came out to greet her in person.
The convent wasn't large, but there were about fifty people. When they heard that Zhao Luoning had come, they all gathered in the main hall.
For a moment, the main hall was crowded.
Among them, the youngest was the novice nun who had opened the door for Zhao Luoning. She was only about ten years old. Unable to hold back her tears, she cried.
"Sister Ning, you haven't come to see Dou'er for a long time. Dou'er thought you didn't want us anymore."
Facing this sentimental child, Zhao Luoning didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She called her to her side and took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.
"Silly girl, how could Sister Ning not want you? I heard that you also came up with an idea for the new peach - blossom rouge?"
At the mention of this, Dou'er's face lit up again.
"Yes. I know Sister Ning likes peach blossoms the most. Every time Sister Ning takes me to the peach orchard, I can smell that fragrance. I suggested to Sister Xin to make peach - blossom - scented rouge."
Zhao Luoning spared no praise for this little girl and said:
"Yes, our Dou'er is the best. Sister Ning likes Dou'er the most. From now on, Sister Ning will play with Dou'er."
The abbess sitting next to Zhao Luoning immediately chided gently:
"Dou'er, don't be naughty. Your Sister Ning is so busy…"
The abbess's words were interrupted by Zhao Luoning. She said with a smile:
"I'll be bothering everyone for a while."