The Ning family finally moved out.
Hearing this news, Ji Shisu was so happy that he ate several extra bowls of rice.
However, all good things must come to an end. That night, he suffered from indigestion and had to be supported by Zhao Luoning to walk around the yard to digest the food.
Zhao Luoning was both angry and amused.
"Tell me, why did you eat so much?"
Ji Shisu puffed out his belly and still looked cheerful.
"I'm happy!"
How could Zhao Luoning not know what he was happy about? She could only say with a mix of laughter and exasperation, "You're so childish. There's nothing between me and Brother Ning. Yet you've been obsessing over it every day."
"You two grew up together. You have a past that I don't share with you. How can I not care about it?" Ji Shisu pouted and said, "But now it's all over. I can finally rest easy."
Just as Ji Shisu finished speaking, Yu Chi came to report, "My lord, an old acquaintance is here to visit."
"An old acquaintance?"
The last time he heard such a mysterious report was when Zhao Ruyue came.
Ji Shisu glanced at Zhao Luoning and asked, "Could it be another relative of your family?"
Zhao Luoning spread her hands.
Bai Shaoqing was now a free man, retired to the mountains without any troubles.
But she was different.
She was a titled lady.
Fame attracts trouble. What could she do?
After all, she got this troublesome title back then to protect him from disasters.
But now, he was like someone who kicked away the ladder after crossing the river. Now he was complaining about too many visitors.
Seeing that the young couple was about to start bickering again, Yu Chi quickly said, "My lord, my lady, it's not a distant cousin. You both know this person."
"Who is it? So mysterious."
Zhao Luoning became interested.
Yu Chi looked extremely embarrassed.
"You'll know once you see."
As Yu Chi said, he led Zhao Luoning and Ji Shisu to the Furong Pavilion.
This place was close to the back mountain. The scenery was just so - so, but it was very secluded. It was usually only used to receive guests who were inconvenient to entertain.
Ji Shisu and Zhao Luoning looked at each other in surprise.
Yu Chi stood in front of them and pushed open the door of the attic.
Seeing the person inside, both Yu Chi and Zhao Luoning were stunned.
They never thought in their lives that they would see him again.
"Si Ma Yi?!"
Zhao Luoning exclaimed in disbelief.
Si Ma Yi hadn't changed much. He was just the same as before. It seemed that time had left few traces on him.
Seeing the two of them, Si Ma Yi clasped his fists in greeting.
"Brother Zhao, Brother Ji."
Ji Shisu swallowed hard.
His stomach started to feel bloated again.
Si Ma Yi had come from afar. Zhao Luoning couldn't very well turn him away, so she decided to let him stay in the Bai Mansion.
Si Ma Yi seemed not to notice Ji Shisu's hint that he shouldn't stay and readily agreed.
As soon as they got back to their room, Ji Shisu couldn't suppress his anxiety.
"Luoning, why did you let him stay? You know very well that he's a wanted criminal of the court."
"You're not afraid of the emperor, but you're afraid of a wanted criminal of the court? Besides, if he weren't a wanted criminal, I wouldn't have let him stay. Do you want him to be captured if he stays in a strange place alone?"
"It would be better if he were captured! Just when Ning Huainan left, Si Ma Yi comes. It's so annoying."
Zhao Luoning sighed and voiced her concerns.
"Husband, I owe Si Ma Yi my life."
Ji Shisu had heard about this from Zhao Luoning.
If Si Ma Yi hadn't let her go back then, if Zhao Luoning had fallen into Si Ma Feng's hands, who knew how badly she would have been tortured.
This was also the reason why although Ji Shisu hated Si Ma Yi, he hadn't sent people to arrest him.
"Repaying a debt of gratitude is one thing, but don't marry him to repay it."
This jealous man.
Zhao Luoning was both amused and helpless.
"I'm already the mother of five children. How can I marry him?"
"So what if you're the mother of five children? No girl can compare to your beauty."
Ji Shisu's sweet talk came easily. Coupled with the faint sourness in the air, the atmosphere became a bit ambiguous.
Ji Shisu hadn't had a good time with Zhao Luoning for a long time.
Zhao Luoning always had a lot of things to do.
"Zhao Mo went to school today, Luoning, we can..."
Ji Shisu hugged Zhao Luoning. Before he could kiss her, there was a soft knock on the door. "Mother."
The voice was so sweet. Who else could it be but Zhao Shu?
Ji Shisu was completely speechless. Like a child, he hugged Zhao Luoning and refused to let go.
"Don't answer her. You're mine."
"You're just like the sixth child in the family. Why are you jealous of your own child?"
"If I knew these little devils would be born to snatch you away from me, I wouldn't have had them."
"You have the nerve to say that!"
Zhao Luoning gave him a disdainful look.
Since Ji Shisu retired from office, he had nothing to do every day but try to stick to her.
At first, he still paid attention to the impact and only flirted with her in the room. But later, he became bolder, even doing it in the pavilion and on the corridor.
Fortunately, after Zhao Luoning noticed this trend, she told the servants that unless it was necessary, they were not allowed to go up the mountain easily.
He had been so diligent every day, and they only had five children. It was already a blessing from heaven.
It took Zhao Luoning a great deal of effort to pry Ji Shisu, who was sticking to her like soft mud, off her. After tidying up her clothes and hair, she went to open the door for little Zhao Shu.
Little Zhao Shu was standing outside the door, holding a pillow. Her little face looked so pitiful.
"Mother, Shu'er is scared. Shu'er doesn't want to sleep alone."
Jun Zhaoshu stood at the door, coquettishly pleading.
Although she was asking Zhao Luoning for help, her eyes unconsciously glanced at Ji Shisu.
Sure enough, as soon as Ji Shisu heard that she wanted to sleep with her mother, his face darkened.
"How old are you and still clinging to your mother?"
Jun Zhaoshu replied weakly, "Three years old."
Ji Shisu: "..." It seemed that it was okay for a three - year - old child to cling to her mother.
Ji Shisu coughed and found an excuse.
"You used to sleep well alone, didn't you?"
"That's because Big Brother told stories to Shu'er. Without stories, Shu'er can't fall asleep."
"Stories are easy. Come on, I'll tell you stories."
Jun Zhaoshu was so scared that she quickly grabbed Zhao Luoning's sleeve.
"Don't want Daddy to tell stories. I want Mother to tell stories."
The rejected Ji Shisu: "..."
"Alright, don't scare Shu'er. Come on, Shu'er, Mother will accompany you to sleep."
Zhao Luoning held Jun Zhaoshu's hand and walked towards Zhao Shu's room. The "sixth child" in the family, Ji Shisu, shouted anxiously behind her.
"Lady, remember to come back!"
Zhao Luoning smiled impatiently.
This man was even jealous of his own daughter.
"Got it!"
As soon as Zhao Luoning left, the room felt empty.
He just couldn't fall asleep without his lady in his arms.
Ji Shisu thought for a while and then rushed out of the door.
He had to go and talk to that Si Ma Yi.
On the other side, Zhao Luoning was holding Jun Zhaoshu's hand and slowly walking through the corridor.
Suddenly, little Zhao Shu pointed to the dark figure on the eaves.
"Mother, look. There's someone in the moon."
Someone dared to break into the Bai Mansion at night?
Zhao Luoning nervously grabbed Jun Zhaoshu's hand and asked the person, "May I ask who you are and what business you have in my mansion?"
Fortunately, the place where Zhao Luoning was standing had a wide view. She had spoken so loudly that Ji Shisu should be able to hear her.
The person under the moon turned around, looked at the two of them, and spoke.
"Luoning, it's me."