Yun Jinnian suddenly learned another lesson.
She also served Mrs. Han some dishes, "Mother, I will remember!"
"As long as you remember, there is no need to be sincere with just anyone, but for those who are sincere with you, you need to reciprocate. Relationships are built on give and take, understand?"
After having dinner together with her mother, Yun Qi was absent, but no one asked about him.
Mrs. Han no longer cared, and Yun Jinnian had never cared, not since that time in Cixin Academy when Yun Qi stood in the snow, coldly watching her without a word or inquiry. Yun Jinnian’s heart had turned cold.
In her heart, Yun Qi was just like the old lady of the family; he was nothing more than a title, just two characters.
After dinner, Yun Jinnian kept Mrs. Han company for a while, joining her in needlework.
Over the years, following Mrs. Yuan, Yun Jinnian’s needlework had actually become quite good.
"I originally wanted to keep you in Qiyue Academy, but I was afraid your father would return, so you should go back to Niannian Garden!"
Whether it was for the old lady to see, or for the servants in the house, it was best for Yun Qi to stay in Qiyue Academy.
Yun Jinnian nodded and returned to Niannian Garden.
She remembered the Yunyan Brocade that Dai Hanmi had given her and cut off a piece.
"Miss, is this Yunyan Brocade?" asked Nurse An.
"Then why are you cutting such a small piece? Are you making a sachet?"
"Why not use it for clothes? There’s enough fabric here for an outfit!" Nurse An asked, puzzled.
"The fabric is too expensive, I can’t pull it off at my age, and I can’t carry it off. Better to make sachets, and when my sisters come, it will be just right to give one to each!"
As Yun Jinnian spoke, she quickly drew a pattern. For Princess Jinfeng’s, Yun Jinnian drew a phoenix.
Nurse An glanced at it, her eyes deepening.
Yun Jinnian was good at needlework, and the patterns she drew were also unique, featuring several kinds of flowering herbs.
She made quick progress with her needlework.
Nurse An watched in silence, while Hemei and Henuan exclaimed, "Miss embroiders so quickly!"
"If I didn’t embroider quickly in the past, I wouldn’t have been able to finish the work fast enough to make money, and would have starved!" Yun Jinnian paused and then laughed, "But I haven’t done much this past year; my hands have gotten rather clumsy!"
Hemei and Henuan paused.
Nurse An laughed as well.
This young lady was indeed not as gentle and naive as she appeared to be.
She was a person with great thoughtfulness!
Take this Yunyan Brocade, for example; who would have the heart to use it for a sachet? One might even hesitate to use it at all, but Yun Jinnian was willing to use it to make sachets.
But the recipients of these sachets must be important to her, right?
The night had grown deep.
Hemei and Henuan were dozing off, and Mrs. Yuan kept Yun Jinnian company while doing needlework, threading needles and dividing the thread for her. Mrs. Yuan did not know why Yun Jinnian wanted to finish the work overnight, but if Yun Jinnian wanted to, she would stay with her.
After cutting the thread with scissors, Yun Jinnian quickly knotted the ends, and a beautiful, exquisite sachet lay quietly in her hands.
"Miss, this sachet is really beautiful!" Mrs. Yuan praised.
"I think so too, Nurse, thank you for staying up with me!"
Mrs. Yuan smiled, "I’ll stay as long as I can now, but when I’m old, I won’t be able to. It’s late; you should sleep, Miss!"
"Yes, Nurse, you should sleep early too!"
Mrs. Yuan nodded and told Hemei and Henuan to go to sleep as well.
When Yun Qi came back, it was very late.
Entering Mrs. Han’s room, Yun Qi sat in the small hall for a long time before going to the bedroom, standing beside the bed. Seeing that Mrs. Han was sleeping peacefully, Yun Qi sat on the footrest, just staring at her.
Mrs. Han opened her eyes, "You’re back!"
"Yes," Yun Qi responded softly.
Mrs. Han sat up, got out of bed, lit a lamp, put on a jacket, and sat on the chaise longue, silently looking at Yun Qi, who was sitting on the footrest.