Yun Jinnian returned to Niannian Garden, and Mrs. Yuan’s eyes narrowed with delighted laughter. Yun Jinnian gave her a peace charm, and both An Mama and Yaniang got one as well. Although An Mama and Yaniang didn’t say much, Yun Jinnian couldn’t tell what they were thinking, but she saw the slight moisture in their eyes.
After washing up and changing her clothes, Yun Jinnian took a Sutra she had handwritten herself and a peace charm to the Cixin Academy.
The old madam saw Yun Jinnian but remained cool and detached.
"Greetings to Great-Grandmother!"
Yun Jinnian didn’t mind, passing over her handwritten Sutra and peace charm, and the old madam gestured for Tian Mama to come forward and take them.
She then asked, "I heard you met the Princess of Zhenguojun in Huaixi County?"
"Yes! The Princess was very loving," Yun Jinnian replied indifferently.
She envied the Princess’s affectionate treatment of Yuwen Ming, which was not the kind of doting Mrs. Yuan showed to Xu Xinmo, but a slow guidance.
"Did the Princess say anything to you?"
"She said she would send someone to pick me up to go to the Princess Residence to play the day after tomorrow!"
Upon hearing this, the old madam’s mind spun, "Then take your cousin with you!"
Yun Jinnian looked at the old madam in astonishment.
"Is Great-Grandmother joking? The Princess didn’t say I could bring someone along. Or is Great-Grandmother trying to make decisions on behalf of the Princess?"
Yun Jinnian’s words were rather pointed.
Who dares to decide for the Princess? Even the current Emperor or the Empress Dowager wouldn’t dare, let alone her, a woman with no formal rank, unless she had a death wish.
The old madam abruptly stood up, "You’re talking nonsense! That’s not what I meant at all; why would you misinterpret it like that? So young, yet not learning what you should. Is this how your mother taught you manners? You simply..."
Yun Jinnian suddenly stood up and turned to walk out.
She wouldn’t play along if the old madam wanted to be unreasonable.
The old madam’s rage was stuck in her throat; she couldn’t utter a word, watching wide-eyed as Yun Jinnian walked out.
She grabbed the Sutra and peace charm from Tian Mama’s hands and threw them out.
They hit Yun Jinnian right in the back of the head. Hemei was shocked and turned her head in astonishment to look at the old madam.
But Yun Jinnian just bent down to pick up the Sutra and peace charm.
Her copied Sutra had been greatly appreciated by Abbot Wuxin, who said it held a sense of solid dignity. She couldn’t believe the old madam had thrown it away.
Looking at the peace charm, Yun Jinnian blew on it gently.
It was just as well not to have it—Master Micheng’s Sutras, chanted before his desk for decades, were coveted by many.
She walked out of Cixin Academy with Hemei, heads held high, chests out.
Inside the small hall, the old madam was furious, "Look at that arrogance, just like her mother!"
She was absolutely infuriating.
How could she be so unlucky to encounter such an unfilial person?
Tian Mama didn’t know what to say. Actually, the fourth miss had come with genuine sincerity, but the old madam hadn’t said a single reasonable thing from the start, and later on was being utterly unreasonable.
It was within reason for the fourth miss to leave after being insulted like that.
Seeing Tian Mama remain silent, the old madam glared at her, "Why aren’t you speaking, do you also think I’m wrong? Just a Sutra and a peace charm from who knows where; it’s no loss if they’re gone. What’s so precious about them!?"
"The old madam is right; the fourth miss is indeed too arrogant!"
Hearing someone agree with her made the old madam feel much better.
Thinking that the future of the Yun Family depended on Xu Xinmo, the old madam immediately had Tian Mama call Xu Xinmo over to strengthen their bond!