Zhao Luojing got out of bed. Now his body was so weak that he needed someone's support to walk.
It took him at least the time to burn an incense stick to walk the short distance from the bedside to the desk.
Zhu Sheng was usually impetuous, but at this moment she was extremely patient, accompanying Zhao Luojing step by step.
When Zhao Luojing shuffled to the desk and just stretched out his hand, Zhu Sheng pressed down on the ledger.
"Don't look."
Zhao Luojing shook his head with a smile. He bypassed the ledger and picked up the writing brush on the table.
Seeing this, Zhu Sheng knew he was going to write a letter. She quickly walked to the other end of the desk, took out the inkstone and started to grind the ink.
Zhu Sheng was very self - disciplined. She never read Zhao Luojing's letters. She just focused on grinding the ink.
After Zhao Luojing finished writing, he folded the letter, stuffed it into an envelope, sealed it with wax, and handed it to Zhu Sheng.
"Go and deliver this letter to the Zhao family."
Zhu Sheng looked at the signature and asked, "Young master, it's so late. What urgent matter do you have to call the eldest miss here for?"
Under normal circumstances, Zhu Sheng definitely wouldn't have asked.
But tonight was strange. Zhao Luojing had been bedridden for many days and suddenly got up. It was already quite suspicious. And now, in the middle of the night, he wanted to call the eldest miss here. It was really hard to understand.
"I just suddenly remembered some things about the shop and want eldest sister to help."
Hearing this, the stone in Zhu Sheng's heart inexplicably dropped.
"Young master, I don't know what to say about you. Really, even in this state, you still can't change."
Zhao Luojing waved his hand at her with a smile.
Zhu Sheng didn't say any more. She took the letter, led a horse from the stable and went down the mountain.
Zhao Luojing stood by the window, watching her figure being surrounded by the thick night. There was both tenderness and envy in his eyes.
Zhu Sheng's original name was Zhu Sun. She changed her name to Zhu Sheng after she followed Zhao Luojing.
She was just like her name, full of vitality and more energetic than anyone else.
What a wonderful girl.
Zhao Luojing sighed.
He had no such good fortune in this life.
...
Zhao Luoning was dug out of her quilt by Hua Ci. In a daze, Zhao Luojing's letter was stuffed in front of her.
Seeing the letter, Zhao Luoning was greatly shocked and immediately lost all her drowsiness.
"Hua Ci, prepare my clothes."
"Could something have happened to the second young master?"
Hua Ci asked while helping to tidy up.
"Don't ask for now. By the way, go to mother's room and get something."
Zhao Luoning whispered a few words in Hua Ci's ear. Hua Ci took the order and retreated.
After Zhao Luoning finished tidying up and went out, the carriage was already waiting at the door.
Waiting with the carriage was also Zhu Sheng.
Zhu Sheng was eager to go back to serve Zhao Luojing. Seeing Zhao Luoning come out, she kept urging.
"Oh, eldest miss, please hurry up. The young master is still waiting for you."
Hearing this, Hua Ci just shook her head.
She wondered how the second young master could let such an impatient girl stay by his side.
Zhao Luoning didn't get on the carriage in a hurry. She walked up to Zhu Sheng.
Hua Ci understood and took out a letter from her sleeve.
This was the letter she had just got from Mrs. Zhao's room.
Zhao Luoning handed the letter to Zhu Sheng.
"Zhu Sheng, you don't need to go back with us."
"Why?" Zhu Sheng panicked when she heard this.
Zhao Luoning didn't answer her in a hurry. She signaled with her eyes for Zhu Sheng to open the letter and take a look.
Zhu Sheng opened the letter and understood it at a glance.
"This is..."
"You've taken care of Luojing for so many years. You've worked hard. Now you're a free person."
This was Zhu Sheng's deed of sale.
What Zhao Luojing asked for in the letter was exactly this.
The deed of sale, something that some people couldn't get back even after working for a lifetime, but she got it back so easily.
Zhu Sheng stood there stunned.
By the time she came to her senses, Zhao Luoning's carriage had already gone far away.
...
By the time Zhao Luoning's carriage arrived at the tea - house, it was already the hour of midnight.
As soon as she got off the carriage, she heard the clattering sound of horse hooves coming from behind.
When the person came closer, it turned out to be Zhu Sheng.
"Zhu Sheng?"
Wasn't she already a free person? Why did she still follow?
Zhu Sheng was still as stubborn as ever.
She lowered her head and rushed into the room.
"I'm here to serve the young master. I'll serve even if I'm not paid."
Zhao Luoning watched her rush in with her head down and frowned.
"This silly girl."
By the time Zhao Luoning rushed into the room, she found Zhao Luojing lying on the couch.
Judging from his appearance, he didn't seem to be doing well.
Zhao Luoning's heart tightened.
Zhu Sheng was kneeling at Zhao Luojing's feet, already crying her eyes out.
"Lu... Luojing." Zhao Luoning's voice also choked.
Hearing Zhao Luoning's voice, Zhao Luojing opened his eyelids.
He reached out his hand to Zhao Luoning. Zhao Luoning took three steps in two and stepped forward to hold Zhao Luojing's hand.
"I'm here, Luojing. I'm here."
Zhao Luojing glanced at the maid kneeling at his feet. Zhao Luoning knew what he meant and quickly said, "Luojing, don't worry. Zhu Sheng is already a free person."
Zhao Luojing was such a smart person. He immediately guessed the reason why Zhu Sheng, who was already a free person, still showed up here.
He sighed helplessly.
"This silly girl."
However, at the moment, Zhao Luojing didn't have the time to worry about Zhu Sheng. He asked Zhao Luoning to dismiss the attendants and started to give his instructions.
"Eldest sister, I've just managed to gain a foothold in the family. If our branch of the family wants to survive, I can't 'die'. Do you understand what I mean, eldest sister?"
Zhao Luoning nodded with a choked voice.
If it had been before, she would have already acted recklessly, shouting that Zhao Luojing wasn't allowed to say discouraging words and wasn't allowed to mention the word "death".
But since Zhao Luojing fell seriously ill and she had been dressing up as a man to help Zhao Luojing do business these days, Zhao Luoning finally understood how difficult Zhao Luojing's situation was.
In order to prop up their branch of the family, his current achievements were basically achieved at the cost of his life!
Their branch of the family had long been on the verge of collapse. For the sake of their mother and elder brother, they didn't even have the time to feel sad.
Zhao Luoning finally understood that when Lu Yu had an accident back then, Luojing wasn't heartless.
It was just that the burden on his shoulders was too heavy. He didn't even have the time to cry.
When she was deeply grieved and couldn't let go because of Lu Yu, it was Luojing who was bearing the burden for her.
She owed this younger brother too much.
"Eldest sister, although the business of the tea - house is large, there's not much room for development. No matter how hard we try, it will only go downhill. Eldest sister should make plans early."
"Make plans early?"
"Eldest sister, relying on the Zhao family, we'll always have to be subservient. Only by relying on ourselves can we take mother and elder brother out of the sea of bitterness. It's a pity that I don't have much time left. Eldest sister, remember, once you seize the opportunity, you must... must have your own business. Eldest sister, you can start with the silk shop and the pharmacy."
The silk shop and the pharmacy? Weren't those two shops that the Zhao family was about to abandon?
However, Zhao Luojing always had his reasons for what he said.
Zhao Luoning nodded and remembered Zhao Luojing's words in her heart.
Zhao Luojing gave some more instructions. After he finished, he felt that he had talked too much.
Finally, he let out a bitter smile.
"Eldest sister, I'm sorry. Luojing is useless. Luojing didn't protect second sister well, nor did I protect you well. I've made you suffer."