The noblewoman was hell - bent on marrying her daughter to Zhao Luojing, so she tried every means to get in good with Zhao Luochun.
At first, the noblewoman thought that since Zhao Luoyue and Zhao Luojing were siblings, she could use Zhao Luoyue as a stepping - stone.
However, when Zhao Luochun bluntly said that his only younger sisters were Luoning and Luyu, and there was no such person as Zhao Luoyue, the noblewoman got the message. After that, she never mentioned Zhao Luoyue again.
As for Zhao Luoyue, she was still eagerly waiting for the noblewoman to introduce her into the circle of noble ladies.
After all, back then, Lady Zhao the Second had hooked up with Lord Zhao, a wealthy and eligible bachelor, in this very way.
Thinking of this, Zhao Luoning couldn't help but find it funny.
These two mother - daughter were really something. She didn't even need to lift a finger, and they were just rushing towards their own doom.
Just then, Guisu came in.
Seeing someone enter, Zhao Luoming got up voluntarily and said, "Elder sister, since you have something to do, I'll take my leave first."
Zhao Luoning asked in confusion, "Aren't you waiting for Caixue? She was exhausted yesterday. She probably hasn't woken up yet. Should I send someone to wake her up?"
Zhao Luoning knew Caixue's temper well. She didn't like to be woken up by others. Moreover, it was still early, so Zhao Luoning hadn't sent anyone to wake Caixue up.
Zhao Luoming shook his head with a bitter smile.
He was really happy when he learned that Caixue had returned yesterday.
But this happiness didn't last long. He soon learned the news about Lady Zhao the Second from A Shun.
He had thought that since Zhao Luoyue had taken her in, she would take good care of her.
But when Zhao Luoming saw Lady Zhao the Second's miserable end, he realized that he had thought too simply.
Lady Zhao the Second was originally his responsibility. Trying to shift it onto others was neither filial nor decent of him.
Moreover, Caixue was a princess. Given his current situation...
Zhao Luoming had to face the reality.
"Elder sister, it's good that Caixue is back and safe. I won't bother you anymore."
With that, ignoring Zhao Luoning's persuasion, he stood up and walked out.
Guisu brought the fish soup that Ji Shisu had finally managed to cook after trying several versions to Zhao Luoning.
As she was setting it up, she sighed with emotion.
"Master Zhao the Third is really quite pitiful." After saying this, Guisu added, "Of course, I don't feel sorry for his sister and mother at all."
"Really?" Zhao Luoning took the fish soup and waited for Guisu to continue.
"As the old saying goes, those who do evil will eventually reap what they sow. I won't even mention Lady Zhao the Second. Concubines like her who can't stay in their place, I want to punch them every time I see them."
Guisu didn't usually have such a strong opinion against concubines.
But Ji Shisu's concubines were just too troublesome.
Especially Chen Chuliu.
She had spread rumors in front of the lady back then, which had made the lady sad and go into hiding.
Guisu still didn't know that it was herself who had spread the rumors. She angrily voiced her opinion.
"As for Lady Zhao the Second's daughter not wanting to care about her, it's entirely Lady Zhao the Second's own fault. She didn't raise her daughter well. Instead of harming others, she ended up harming herself."
Although Guisu's words were straightforward, they made sense.
Like Guisu, Zhao Luoning felt a bit of sympathy for Zhao Luoming, but she couldn't muster any sympathy for Lady Zhao the Second and Zhao Luoyue.
It was all Lady Zhao the Second's own doing.
If Lady Zhao the Second had left a way out for her and Luyu back then, she wouldn't have ended up like this.
If Lady Zhao the Second had taught Zhao Luoyue the proper ways of being a daughter and a wife, Zhao Luoyue wouldn't have just left her to fend for herself.
As the saying goes, karma is real. It may be late, but it will come.
Guisu handed the spoon to Zhao Luoning.
"Madam, stop thinking about those annoying things. Come, drink the soup."
It was fish soup again.
This Ji Shisu really had a thing for fish soup, didn't he?
Zhao Luoning took the spoon. When she scooped a spoonful, she found there was still a lot of stuff at the bottom of the soup.
It was white fish meat.
Guisu spared no effort in criticizing Ji Shisu, but she also praised him whole - heartedly.
"Madam, all of this was carefully picked out by the Second Master himself. Now, it's real fish soup, isn't it?"
"Picked out by himself? But this is a crucian carp!" Crucian carp had such thin and small bones. How did Ji Shisu manage to pick them out?
"Yes. We wanted to help the Second Master, but he wouldn't let us. He didn't trust us and spent the whole night doing it by himself."
Looking at this small bowl of fish soup, Zhao Luoning thought of Ji Shisu, a grown man, carefully picking out the fish bones. She found it both funny and touching.
This was the first time Zhao Luoning had drunk fish soup like this. With one spoonful, she got half soup and half fish.
The fish was already very soft, and the soup wasn't as salty as last night. It had the fresh and sweet taste that fish soup should have.
Zhao Luoning was very satisfied. She nodded and said, "The cook who was fired last night can be invited back."
Seeing Zhao Luoning happy, Guisu was also happy. She readily agreed, "Sure thing."
Thinking of this, Guisu casually asked, "So, Madam, what would you like to eat tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? I'd like to have the Three - Layered Duck Dish."
Guisu misheard and nodded, saying, "Okay, the Three - Treasure Duck Dish."
She was familiar with this. It was a rather common dish in Huangcheng, where duck was stewed with radishes, potatoes, and cabbages.
In short, the key was to stew.
Zhao Luoning corrected her, saying, "It's the Three - Layered Duck Dish."
Guisu asked in confusion, "Oh, the Three - Layered Duck Dish?"
Guisu thought that it was just one character different. It shouldn't be too difficult.
Could it be more difficult than picking out the bones of a crucian carp?
As they were talking, the bowl of fish soup was already empty. While Guisu was clearing the dishes, she asked, "Madam, the Master asked me to pass on a message. He wants to know if you've thought of a new name yet."
"New name?"
"Yes, the Master wants to help you apply for a new identity at the county government."
Indeed, Zhao Luoning was still using Zhao Luojing's identity when going out. It was okay for doing business, but it was quite inconvenient when she dressed as a woman.
Just as Guisu was saying this, Lady Zhao came in from outside.
"Maybe, Luoning, you could take my maiden family's surname."
Lady Zhao's maiden family's surname was Jun, a rather rare surname.
Zhao Luoning thought for a while and nodded.
The Jun clan was once a well - known and respected family. Unfortunately, their population was sparse.
Zhao Luoning's grandparents had a very deep and loving relationship. It was a pity that they only had Lady Zhao as their daughter. Some people had advised her grandfather to take another concubine or at least a maid - concubine to continue the family line, but her grandfather had refused.
Later, her grandmother passed away due to illness, and her grandfather aged a great deal overnight. He passed away within half a year.
Before her grandfather's death, he had left a will saying that he wanted to leave all the Jun family's property to Lady Zhao.
However, the elders of the Jun clan had divided up her grandfather's property on the grounds that a married - off daughter couldn't inherit the family business.
Zhao Luoning understood what her mother meant.
It was time for the Jun clan to return what they had taken away.
Even if Zhao Luoning couldn't inherit it, there was still the baby in her belly.
"Mother, according to the generation, which character should I use?"
Lady Zhao thought for a while and said, "Your generation should use the character 'Zhi'."
"Jun Zhi... Jun Zhi..." Zhao Luoning thought for a while, and a character popped into her mind.
That's the one.