Xiao Anning froze. Then he remembered that his mother had asked Ji Liruo and her mother to join her at the nunnery that day. The person who’d spoken was Ji Liruo’s mother, right? This was Xiao Anning’s first time meeting her.
“This is Mrs. Ji, Miss Ji’s mother. Mrs. Ji, this is my son, Anning.” Princess Yong An introduced them with a smile. It was apparent that Mrs. Ji was very satisfied with this marriage. From the way she’d spoken just now, it sounded as though there was nothing she wished for more than for the two children to hold their wedding ceremony right away.
“My greetings to you, Mrs. Ji.” Xiao Anning bowed. In that case, Ji Liruo was also here?
“Young Marquis, you rushed all the way here because you were worried about the princess, so you must not have taken lunch. How about you sit down and have your meal first before anything else?” The more Mrs. Ji looked at him, the more satisfied she was. If someone as prestigious as the Young Marquis were to become her son-in-law in the future, then she would gain an even firmer foothold in the prime minister’s family. Some time ago, because of Tan Weizhi’s deed, her father-in-law and husband hadn’t been very kind to her. Her husband had even given her the cold shoulder at night by refusing to go to her room. It was only after the flower appreciation banquet, which Ji Liruo had returned to attend, that her husband had started going to her room again.
Ji Liruo stood beside Mrs. Ji with her head lowered, but the annoyance and helplessness that flashed in her eyes were unconcealable. Her mother was always like this. In her heart, there was only one person she cared about, and that was Ji Liruo’s father. She kept waiting in her own little world for Ji Liruo’s father to go to her and take pity on her. Why was it that after so long, she hadn’t changed at all?
Her mother was acting so sycophantic toward Xiao Anning because of her father’s orders, right? Why was her mother always so considerate toward her father? Was she really not the least concerned about her daughter’s feelings at all?
She’d always behaved like this, then and now!
Had it ever crossed her mind that she also had a daughter? Had she ever cared about her daughter? Had she ever thought about protecting her?
Maybe not. No, never before…
Ji Liruo had her hands hidden under her sleeves. They were so tightly clenched that her nails were practically cutting into the skin of her palms.
But soon afterward, Ji Liruo slowly relaxed her hands, which were so tightly balled into fists.
Yes, this woman had never cared about Ji Liruo’s feelings, but Ji Liruo still couldn’t give up on her. She was her mother. The woman who had given birth to her. That fact hadn’t changed.
Her anger dissolved into deep helplessness.
Princess Yong An had felt contented and reassured when Xiao Anning had rushed over to her so anxiously. But now, when she saw the beads of perspiration forming on his forehead, she was filled with agony instead.
“You, child. All right. Quickly go and eat. Come back after you’ve finished eating,” Princess Yong An said in feigned anger and got Xiao Anning to have his meal before anything else. Then she took another look at Ji Liruo. She hadn’t yet found a chance to ask Ji Liruo the question. But since Ning’er had come, she could take the chance to observe exactly what Ji Liruo’s attitude was toward Ning’er.
“All right, Mother. Mrs. Ji, I will excuse myself for now.” Xiao Anning bowed respectfully before turning around to take his leave. As for Ji Liruo, who had kept her head down this whole time, not making a single utterance, Xiao Anning didn’t dare to recklessly strike up a conversation with her, lest he surprise her with his abruptness.
It was only after Xiao Anning left that Mrs. Ji turned around with a smile and said to Princess Yong An, “Princess, the Young Marquis is really very filial to you. Even I feel a little envious seeing how he behaves with you.”
Of course, Princess Yong An would smile in response when she heard someone else praise her son. She reciprocated by complimenting the other party’s daughter. “Not at all. Miss Ji is also very filial to you.”
“This is certainly true. Princess, I never dare to boast about anything. But when it comes to filial piety, I have to say my praises for our Liruo. Since young, she’s always been this sensible and capable. Don’t make fun of me, but I really have to say, even though I’m her mother, Liruo takes care of me more than I take care of her.” Mrs. Ji was obeying the Prime Minister’s order. His instructions were to boast about nothing else other than how filial Ji Liruo was, if and when Princess Yong An happened to praise her child during their conversation.