"Miss, do you want me to go to Cixin Academy and inquire what the lady and the old lady discussed?" Ming Yang asked.
Yun Jinnian pondered for a moment, "No need to inquire now. I don't have any cash on hand, and those beaded hairpins are too eye-catching. We can talk about this in a few days!"
"Yes!"
Just as things settled down here, Nanny Tian from Cixin Academy came with Ming Liu, who was holding a brocade box in her hands.
"This servant has seen Fourth Miss!" Nanny Tian's eyes and brows were all smiles, her enthusiasm and caution unlike anything Yun Jinnian had ever seen from her before.
"Why has Nanny Tian come?"
"The old lady heard that Fourth Miss has returned and ordered this servant to deliver this year's monthly allowance, totaling one thousand taels!"
Yun Jinnian's eyebrows slightly knit together, "Monthly allowance? One thousand taels?"
"It's the monthly allowance for Fourth Miss, as well as Mrs. Yuan, Ming Yang, and Ru Yue, all included!" Nanny Tian laughed dryly.
"Oh!" Yun Jinnian responded indifferently, letting Ming Yang take the brocade box, "Please thank Grandmother for me, Nanny."
No matter the reason for the silver being sent over, Yun Jinnian wouldn't refuse it.
She stood up and went into the bedroom. After a short while, she came out holding two silver hairpins, one given to Nanny Tian, and the other to Ming Liu.
"Thank you, Fourth Miss!"
Nanny Tian and Ming Liu quickly bowed in thanks, feeling gleeful inside.
The silver hairpins didn't look expensive, but they were this year's new style.
Yun Jinnian smiled without saying a word.
Nanny Tian couldn't quite figure out Yun Jinnian, especially since Yun Jinnian had given a reward but asked about nothing. Without intending to stay longer, she said, "Well, then this servant will take her leave first!"
"Ming Yang, see Nanny Tian out!" Yun Jinnian glanced at Ming Yang.
Ming Yang complied and escorted Nanny Tian and Ming Liu out.
Outside Niannian Garden, Ming Liu looked at Ming Yang with mixed emotions.
She had once proudly thought she was doing better than Ming Yang, but seeing what Ming Yang wore and used today, Ming Liu knew she wasn't doing as well as Ming Yang.
She wanted to ask Ming Yang a few things, but seeing Ming Yang's gentle smile, she eventually said nothing and returned to Cixin Academy to report back.
The Head Maid of the Yun Family received five taels of silver per month, Yun Jinnian gave one hundred taels to each, and the rest was saved by Mrs. Yuan.
For lunch, food was sent over from the main kitchen, four vegetarian dishes, two meat dishes, and one soup.
Yun Jinnian stared blankly for a moment, then chewed and swallowed her lunch slowly.
The old lady had already ordered that dinner be eaten together in the dining hall. That afternoon, Yun Jinnian wasn't idle either; she had Ming Yang and Ru Yue take gifts ahead to Yun Muyou's courtyard, where Yun Musi, Yun Mulan, and Xu Xinmo happened to be present.
They exchanged greetings, clearly not fond of each other, yet none showed it outwardly.
Yun Jinnian handed over gold hairpins to Yun Muyou, Yun Musi, and Yun Mulan, and the three sisters happily accepted them.
When she handed one to Xu Xinmo, Xu Xinmo huffed arrogantly, "I don't fancy it!"
"Then Cousin may use it to reward someone at will!" Yun Jinnian said, placing the gold hairpin on the table and rising leisurely, "I'll go visit Second Sister. You all chat among yourselves!"
She left with Ming Yang and Ru Yue.
Xu Xinmo looked at the gold hairpin on the table.
She liked the hairpin, which was rather pricey. She had pestered the old lady for a long time but hadn't managed to get it, yet here was Yun Jinnian giving it away as a gift.
"Showing off for what!" Xu Xinmo said discontentedly, taking the hairpin and handing it to Daidai, "It's yours now!"
Daidai happily accepted, "Thank you, miss!"
That hairpin was worth several hundred taels of silver!
As if she expected Yun Jinnian's arrival, Yun Zihan was already eagerly waiting at the entrance of the courtyard. Upon seeing Yun Jinnian, she joyfully called out, "Fourth Sister!"
"Second Sister!"
The two sisters held each other's hands and entered Yun Zihan's room together.
The room was heated from below, warm and cozy.
They sat down and drank tea. It was only then that Yun Zihan spoke, "It's good that you're back, good that you've returned. You know my status in the mansion, so even if I wanted to give something to Fourth Sister, I couldn't!"
Primarily because she had no silver on hand.
"Why would Second Sister talk like that? I was quite content at the nunnery, there was no worry about food or clothing!"