Speaking with Yun Zihan, Yun Jinnian noticed that she seemed somewhat distracted. "Second sister, what's wrong?"
Yun Zihan shook her head, "Nothing!"
Since Yun Zihan didn't elaborate, Yun Jinnian didn't pursue the matter further.
She sat down alone, bored, for lunch.
Because it was all immediate family, there was no separation of men and women; they were all placed in a spacious large room, although men and women still sat separately.
The dishes before her, Yun Jinnian didn't taste much enjoyment from them, and with a poor appetite, she couldn't eat much. Towards the end, Yun Jinnian just sipped the soup in small sips.
After lunch, having played at the Yun Family home for a while, everyone started to take their leave one after another.
It was inevitable that they took quite a few things with them; Yun Jinnian was indifferent about how much was taken, but Mrs. He and the old madam may not have said anything, but it certainly pained their hearts.
Dinner was still at the dining hall. After the meal, everyone returned to their respective courtyards.
Of course, the sisters could arrange to play leaf card games together, but since no one invited Yun Jinnian, and she didn't care, she went back to Niannian Garden.
She had Mrs. Yuan close the door.
With Ru Yue and Ming Yang, she began searching the room, and finally found a cloth doll full of needles under the bed. There was also a name on the cloth doll.
It wasn't Gu Wanruo, but Xu Xinmo.
"Miss!" Ming Yang knew what was going on and felt a chill in her heart.
Why was the heart of Xu Xinmo, an eleven-year-old girl, so cruel?
This was to frame Yun Jinnian; when the time came for her to feign illness, and someone found the cloth doll, Yun Jinnian wouldn't be able to clear her name even with ten mouths.
The old madam would punish Yun Jinnian, and Yun Jinnian's reputation would be damaged.
"Burn it!" commanded Yun Jinnian indifferently.
Before the new year, Niannian Garden was thoroughly cleaned, and it definitely wouldn't be cleaned extensively for a while; this object under the bed wouldn't be discovered for some time.
Xu Xinmo...
Ming Yang discreetly went to the kitchen to burn the cloth doll, sitting behind the stove alone for a long time.
Mrs. Yuan remained silent, and so did Ru Yue.
Waiting for Yun Jinnian's orders.
Looking at the two of them, Yun Jinnian couldn't help but laugh, "I won't do anything!"
At least, she wouldn't let her wet nurses take action.
First, Xu Xinmo had protectors around her, something she came to know later on in her dreams.
It was Xu Xinmo's father's people.
The wet nurses, Ru Yue, and Ming Yang didn't know martial arts; it was impossible for them to plant something in Xu Xinmo's courtyard.
"But..."
Mrs. Yuan hesitated.
Would they just let Xu Xinmo frame them like this?
"There's no 'but,' Wet Nurse. We must swallow this matter and not mention it to anyone!"
Mrs. Yuan wanted to say more, but seeing Gu Wanruo starting to read a book, she was left with a thousand words stuck in her throat.
Yun Jinnian suddenly thought of something and asked Ru Yue to call Ming Yang, taking Mrs. Yuan's hand, "Wet Nurse, please, don't do anything foolish, I have my own plans for this!"
"Miss, do you have a plan?" asked Mrs. Yuan excitedly.
"If Xu Xinmo has set up such a plot, she will definitely put on a show, and when she does, we will counter each move; let her get a taste of her own medicine!"
Seeing Yun Jinnian had her own plans, Mrs. Yuan restrained herself from confronting Xu Xinmo.
In reality, she wasn't skilled in much else, at most she could make a cloth doll and toss it into Xu Xinmo's courtyard.
Thinking of visiting her maternal grandfather's home the next day, Yun Jinnian decided to go to bed early.
Fearing that Mrs. Yuan hadn't taken her seriously, Yun Jinnian repeated her instructions, and only after receiving the wet nurse's repeated assurances did she go to sleep peacefully.
The second day of the first lunar month.
Mrs. Han and Yun Qi took Yun Jinnian back to the Han Family home.
Yun Jinnian went to Qiyue Academy for breakfast, held Mrs. Han's hand as they left the Yun Family's residence, and rode away in the warm carriage, her heart leaping with joy.
The joy was clearly reflected on her face.