Yun Jinnian shook his head, "It’s tasty, just not quite my favorite flavor!"
Yun Jinnian picked up some food with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth, chewing carefully to dilute the flavor.
Dai Hanmi said nothing and continued to sip her soup.
After the meal, everyone’s belly was round and full.
Since no adults were present and no one was restraining them, they were all very comfortable.
The maids were so satisfied that they didn’t even want to leave after eating.
In the Yun Residence, where else could they have the opportunity to eat so well, and of such freshly untouched dishes by the masters?
"Sister Jinnian," Ruan Wanrong called softly.
Yun Jinnian looked up to Ruan Wanrong, "Sister Ruan!"
"Let’s go watch a play. I heard that Pear Garden recently released a new one; it’s said to be very good!"
Yun Jinnian looked around at everyone, "What do the sisters think?"
Yun Muyou thought for a moment before saying, "Let’s go then, but we should send someone to inform our family first!"
It wasn’t just the Yun family that had to be notified, but all four families.
Dai Hanmi also nodded.
Thus, it was decided they would go to the Pear Garden to watch the play.
Now, everyone squeezed into one carriage.
When the carriage stopped in front of the Pear Garden, one young lady after another emerged from within. Counting them, there were more than ten, leaving onlookers dumbfounded, marveling at how such a small carriage could hold so many.
They booked a private room on the second floor, where the girls sat and watched seriously, while the maids either stood or sat, absorbed in the performance as well.
It was a play about a scholar and a beauty.
In the play, a noble girl from a prestigious family elopes with a scholar, taking gold, silver, and other valuables with her. But after a few years, the money was gone, and the noble girl was abandoned.
The noble girl returned to her family with her child, only to find that her parents, ashamed by her elopement, had moved away without a trace.
She was left to struggle through life with her child, who as an illegitimate offspring with no registered hometown, grew up crooked and became a ruffian. The noble girl suffered greatly because of him, eventually dying a miserable death without anyone to care for her in her last moments.
"Boo hoo, how pitiful!"
The maids cried their eyes out, and even Dai Hanmi and the others wept with blurry eyes, but Yun Jinnian just looked on impassively.
The fate of the noble girl in the play was different from the experience in her dreams, but the ending was the same—neither ended well nor died peacefully.
To be taken as a wife, to run off as a concubine, if he truly loves you, why would he elope with you!
After crying, they understood better and would open their eyes wider, lest they end up like the noble girl in the play, meeting such a grim fate.
It was also decided that once they returned, they would definitely read the women’s precepts thoroughly once more.
Yun Jinnian had Hemei pay the silver, then personally escorted Dai Hanmi and the others back. This time Yun Muyou first took Yun Zihan and the others back to the Yun Residence, and Yun Jinnian personally escorted them back. After making a round in the Capital City and sending everyone back home, the sky was almost dark.
Mrs. Han, worried, had someone wait by the door.
Yun Jinnian first went to Qiyue Academy to pay his respects to Mrs. Han, then had dinner in her courtyard before returning to Niannian Garden to freshen up and rest, lying down on the bed.
Yun Jinnian opened his eyes, glanced at Ru Yue, then closed them again, "Hmm!"
"Miss Daidai from cousin’s side ran into this maid in the garden today and pulled this maid aside to talk for a while!"
Yun Jinnian immediately sat up straight, staring at Ru Yue, "What did she say?"
"She insinuated things to make this maid cautious of you, saying that you would be like ’when the hare is dead, the hound is cooked.’ She also asked about your time at Yingci’an!" Ru Yue reported, stealing glances at Yun Jinnian.
She hadn’t expected Daidai to stop her and ask such questions.
She had mentioned some things about Yun Jinnian’s time at Yingci’an, like how she went there in the mornings to chant scriptures and then studied medicine and literacy with the preceptress Hui Ling.
Yun Jinnian started to smile, "So Xu Xinmo is planning to stir up trouble, huh!"