As soon as Zhao Luoning returned to the Ye Mansion, the person sent by Ji Shisu followed right behind.
It was still Guisu.
She was carrying a food box.
"Madam, my lord ordered me to bring you the crucian carp soup."
"Crucian carp soup?"
These days, Ji Shisu didn't show up in front of her, but his presence was quite prominent.
He sent Guisu here three or four times a day, always bringing all kinds of things.
"Guisu, go back and tell him not to send things anymore. I lack nothing here."
"Come on, Madam, just have a taste. You can't buy this crucian carp soup outside."
Guisu was quite thick - skinned.
She didn't care what Zhao Luoning said.
Right in front of Zhao Luoning, she opened the food box.
Ji Shisu really had Guisu travel such a long distance just to bring her a bowl of crucian carp soup.
Guisu reached out and touched the side of the bowl, smiling and saying,
"It's still warm. Perfect timing."
Zhao Luoning couldn't decline anymore. Besides, she also wanted to see what kind of delicacy this bowl of crucian carp soup was.
After all, a few days ago, Ji Shisu had exaggeratedly sent someone to bring her a bowl of Ten - Herb Tonic Soup.
Guisu was quite well - equipped. Seeing that Zhao Luoning was interested, she somehow produced a spoon.
"Madam, have a taste?"
Zhao Luoning picked up the spoon, took a sip, and frowned.
"Are you sure this is fish soup?"
"What's wrong?" Guisu leaned over to take a look. It was indeed a milky - white crucian carp soup. There was nothing wrong with it.
"I watched my lord cook it. How could it not be?" Guisu accidentally let the cat out of the bag. It was quite normal for her to do so, and she didn't even realize it.
Zhao Luoning: "..."
She should have guessed.
Only Ji Shisu could make such a salty crucian carp soup.
Ji Shisu preferred salty food.
Zhao Luoning only learned this after getting along with Ji Shisu in Shiguan.
Ji Shisu's taste was related to his living habits.
He either did business or led troops outside. Meat was not easy to preserve, so he would pickle and smoke it with salt and take it with him.
Of course.
It was also because Ji Shisu was rich that he could eat like this.
Ordinary families had to save a jar of salt for a year. They didn't dare to eat like this.
So, the soup that tasted fine to Ji Shisu was too salty for Zhao Luoning.
This time, Zhao Luoning was not as easy - going as when Ji Shisu made her the longevity noodles.
She put down the soup bowl in disgust and said,
"This cook should be fired. It's so salty, and there's not even a bit of fish meat. Who knows if it's authentic crucian carp soup."
Guisu quickly said, "If it's too salty, Madam, don't eat it. I'll take it back right away and convey Madam's opinion."
Guisu was completely obedient to Zhao Luoning.
After all, the task of bringing things to Zhao Luoning every day fell on her. She was very worried that if the madam was unhappy, she would be banned from entering the Ye Mansion.
Then her career would come to an end.
As she said, Guisu was about to pack up the soup bowl on the table.
Zhao Luoning stopped her.
"What do you need this soup bowl for? It'll spill on the way back. Leave it here. I'll have someone clean it up later."
Guisu didn't think much and retreated with the food box.
Not long after Guisu left, Caixue came in with Feixing.
When Caixue was in the Budda Kingdom, she learned everything that had happened in Huangcheng through Feixing's letters.
That was why she escaped from the Budda Kingdom.
The man in Tianxiang Tower was actually the young master!
She could hardly accept this news, let alone Miss Zhao, who was the person involved.
Caixue knew Zhao Luoning's temper. She was worried that Zhao Luoning might do something stupid, so she left everything behind and returned to Huangcheng.
Now, seeing the person beside the young master come to bring soup to Miss Zhao, Caixue was no longer the reckless girl she used to be.
In the palace of the Budda Kingdom these days, the etiquette tutors had taught her a lot. Even if she was a princess doted on by everyone, she had to pay attention to many taboos, learn to read people's expressions, and use her brain to live well in the palace.
Only then did Caixue realize how unrestrained she had been when she was by Zhao Luoning's side.
Only then did she realize how kind Miss Zhao had been to her.
Of course, the training back then was not completely useless.
At least, Caixue knew without asking that Miss Zhao didn't hate the young master that much anymore.
She was just teasing the young master now.
Caixue pretended not to see Guisu and pestered Zhao Luoning to tell her gossips.
Zhao Luoning responded with a smile while picking up the soup spoon on the table, scooping up a mouthful of crucian carp soup and putting it into her mouth.
It was still very salty.
Zhao Luoning grabbed the kettle on the table, added water to the soup to dilute it, and listened to Caixue's gossips.
"Miss, do you know? Zhao Luoyue is really capable. She's left her own mother in the manor for ten days or half a month without even visiting. You know the people in the manor. Originally, Lady Zhao the Second was a divorced woman. If Zhao Luoyue hadn't given them money, they wouldn't even want to take care of her. Seeing that Zhao Luoyue didn't care about Lady Zhao the Second, they got bolder and didn't care about her life or death. I only found out after inquiring that Lady Zhao the Second hadn't had a full meal in the manor."
The Zhao family's manor used to be managed by Lady Zhao the Second.
The people in the manor were all replaced by her own people.
Lady Zhao the Second thought she had cultivated her own power, but she didn't know that the people gathered by money and power were just a loose sand.
When Lady Zhao the Second lost power, it was natural that the tree fell and the monkeys scattered.
Moreover, there were quite a few people in the manor who had been sent to the manor by Lady Zhao the Second because they didn't meet her expectations when working in the Zhao family.
They had grudges against Lady Zhao the Second. Now that she was in their hands, they naturally tortured her severely.
Zhao Luoyue was also brainless.
She probably thought that all the people in the Zhao family's manor were "her own people" and could take good care of Lady Zhao the Second.
Of course, Zhao Luoyue was just like Lady Zhao the Second. They were both extremely selfish and only cared about themselves.
Even if she knew that there were some vicious servants in the Zhao family's manor, she would still send Lady Zhao the Second there just to get rid of her.
As long as it was convenient for her.
However, Zhao Luoning was still a bit curious: "It's okay if they just neglected her, but not even giving her food. Aren't those servants afraid of causing a human life?"
Mentioning those vicious servants, Caixue sneered.
"Now that both Zhao Luoyue and Lady Zhao the Second can't turn things around, what do they have to be afraid of? Besides, it's not entirely their fault. Lady Zhao the Second's mind is not right now. Maybe Zhao Luoyue can't afford Lady Zhao the Second's expenses either. She only paid on time the first time, and then she was in arrears. Naturally, the people below neglected her even more."
Hearing this, Zhao Luoning felt a chill in her heart.
After all, Lady Zhao the Second was her mother. How could Zhao Luoyue be so heartless!