It wasn't that Zhao Luoyue had truly become mature and was able to let go of her arrogance.
It was simply that the impact of Zhao Luoning's beauty had dealt her a ton of damage.
Even someone as arrogant as Zhao Luoyue had to admit that she had lost.
Only then did Zhao Luoyue realize how ignorant she had been. She really rarely looked at Zhao Luoning directly before.
Why bother looking at a defeated opponent?
Moreover, when Zhao Luoning was in the Zhao Mansion, she not only dressed shabbily but also often stayed in seclusion.
To put it bluntly, if they were outside the Zhao Mansion and no one told her that it was Zhao Luoning, she might not even recognize her.
Now, with this dressing up, it was no exaggeration to say that she outshone everyone.
Madam Zhao often advised her that to know both the enemy and oneself was the key to victory in all battles, and that she shouldn't underestimate Zhao Luoning.
Back then, her mother had plotted against Zhao Luoning and even lost Nanny Xu. Zhao Luoyue had even complained to her mother about it.
It was such a big loss.
Now it seemed that her mother's words were truly golden rules.
It was just a pity that they hadn't struck the final blow back then, and instead, Zhao Luoning had made a comeback.
Madam Jiang rarely saw Zhao Luoning. Looking at the gorgeous woman who came out to receive the imperial edict, she asked, "Is this one of your sisters? Why haven't I seen her before?"
Before Madam Jiang's words faded away, Lord Ye had already unfurled the imperial edict.
Zhao Luoning led a large group of people to kneel down to listen to the edict.
"Jun Zhifou, receive the edict."
"Your servant is here."
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Madam Bai, Jun Zhifou, is intelligent, agile, dignified, and wise. She has assisted her husband well and made great contributions to quelling the war. Therefore, she is specially conferred the title of Lady Yongle."
After Lord Ye finished reading the imperial edict, Zhao Luoning was still in a daze.
Ji Shisu, who was kneeling beside her, urged her several times before she remembered to reach out to receive the edict, and she even forgot to express her gratitude.
It was Ji Shisu who helped her express her gratitude.
"Thank the Emperor for his kindness."
After reading the edict, Ye Hua quickly helped Zhao Luoning up and said, "My lady, I really can't bear your grand salute. In front of you, I can only call myself a low - ranking official now."
"This morning, when I heard Qiuling mention the matter of the imperial - conferred lady, I thought... What's going on?"
"My lady, for this, you have to thank General Qing."
Zhao Luoning looked at Ji Shisu on one side.
Ji Shisu was anxiously trying to stop Ye Hua from talking, but Ye Hua was too quick - tongued and had already blurted it out.
"General Qing exchanged a lifetime of military merits for an imperial - conferred title for you."
Exchange military merits for an imperial - conferred title?!
Military merits were what Ji Shisu had earned with his life!
Zhao Luoning suddenly remembered what Ji Shisu had said to her before: "I've already prepared to be with you for the rest of my life, just the two of us."
At first, she didn't understand the meaning.
Now, she understood the affection in those words.
Ji Shisu failed to stop Ye Hua. Seeing Zhao Luoning looking straight at him, he also bowed to Zhao Luoning like Ye Hua.
"I hope my lady won't dislike me for making the decision first and then informing you. For the rest of my life, I hope my lady won't dislike this low - ranking official."
Hearing Ji Shisu imitate her words, Ye Hua quickly corrected him.
"You have no official title now. How can you call yourself a low - ranking official?"
"Oh, look at my stupid head. I hope my lady won't dislike this humble person."
Ye Hua followed suit and joked, "The Emperor said that this General Qing just lacks discipline. The Emperor conferred the title on my lady just hoping that my lady can discipline this naughty monkey well. The Emperor said that if he doesn't behave, you can go to the palace to complain, and he will surely stand up for you."
Zhao Luoning was so excited that her eyes were filled with tears.
In front of so many people, she dared not lose her composure. She quickly asked someone to invite Lord Ye and the accompanying ceremony team into the house and treat them well.
Ji Shisu's surprise was really too big. In a hurry, Zhao Luoning was all thumbs.
She quickly directed Qiuling, "Qiuling, go to the fields and invite big brother back. Oh no, we need to prepare the banquet. No no, we need to prepare the red envelopes first."
Qiuling was confused by Zhao Luoning's successive orders.
At this time, Caixue stood up and said, "Miss, let Feixing help you. Feixing is familiar with these things."
After all, Feixing had been by Zhao Luoning's side for many years, and his ability had been well - trained by Zhao Luoning. No matter how many tasks Zhao Luoning assigned, he could handle them.
Zhao Luoning was extremely grateful and sincerely thanked her.
"Caixue, I'm so lucky to have you."
Thank goodness she had come back.
At this time, Ji Shisu walked over and advised, "Don't trouble Feixing."
Ji Shisu still remembered that he had once been jealous of Feixing and Luoning.
Although he knew that there was no possibility between Feixing and Luoning, he still didn't like an "outsider" interfering in their family affairs.
"Jingxiu and Guixiu will arrange everything properly. You don't have to worry about it."
At this time, Jingxiu walked over with the sealed red envelopes.
There were big and small ones, for Lord Ye who came to announce the edict, for the ceremony team, and for those who were watching outside. Everything was in order.
"My lady, my lord, please take a look."
And at this time, Guixiu also led the cooks and a large number of well - trained maids into the house.
They prepared the banquet and arranged the tea.
As soon as everyone entered the yard, they quickly found their positions, and everything soon got organized.
This was the first time that Zhao Luoning completely became a hands - off manager.
It seemed that Ji Shisu's words that Jingxiu and Guixiu would arrange everything properly were not just a comfort.
Seeing all this in front of her, Zhao Luoning couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
As soon as she shed tears, Ji Shisu felt heartache. As a big man, he didn't have a handkerchief on him. He could only pull up his sleeve to wipe her tears.
"Ning'er, why are you crying?"
Caixue understood Zhao Luoning. She stepped forward and sighed, "Miss is crying from joy. In the past, when did Miss ever have such an easy time?"
Even someone as picky as Caixue couldn't help but praise.
"My lord, you did a great job. Caixue admires you."
"It's good to cry from joy, but so many people are still waiting for you, the main character." Zhao Luoyu was also helping. She walked over and said, "Brother - in - law, you should quickly take sister into the room to tidy up."
Zhao Luoyu knew to give the two of them some private space. She found an excuse to send them back to the room.
As soon as they got back to the room and closed the door, the noise outside was blocked out.
Seeing Zhao Luoning sitting in front of the dressing table, still wiping her tears, Ji Shisu wanted to step forward and hug her, but he was worried that it would be too abrupt. He could only clutch his left hand with his right hand, looking like a young lad in love.
"Ning'er, I... I just wanted to give you a surprise, so I didn't tell you in advance. Did I scare you?"
"You exchanged your military merits for an imperial - conferred title for me?"
"Ah, that Ye Hua is just talking nonsense. Actually, I also have my own little plan. I'm too prominent. Even if I got a title, I wouldn't be happy. I'd still be controlled by the Emperor. So I might as well choose to be happy and be controlled by my lady."
"Will the Grand Matriarch and your mother agree to you doing this?"