This night, Yun Jinnian slept rather peacefully, but Chu Yu had it rough.
He foolishly made his way back, freshened himself up, changed into clean clothes, and almost stuffed his food into his nostrils during his meal.
This prompted frequent glances from Yuwen Ya.
"It’s nothing, nothing!" Chu Yu feigned calmness.
But in his dreams, the enchanting visions made his body tense, and waking up to see his wet underpants, Chu Yu’s mouth twitched as he hastily got out of bed to look for trousers to change into.
He couldn’t remember how many times it had happened, but that captivating dream remained vividly clear, and he was more than willing to have such dreams.
"If only it wasn’t a dream!" Chu Yu muttered, unable to fall back asleep in bed.
With nine days until the New Year, Chu Yu thought he might as well celebrate it in Licheng.
But Yun Jinnian needed to recover from her injuries, and the Commandery Prince’s body was probably not fit for long journeys; it would be best to detoxify in Nanjiang and recuperate for some time before heading back to the capital.
Now without the Blood Lotus, this detoxification...
Dawn had already broken, and Yun Jinnian was still asleep, so Nanny Qian, after getting the news, also came back with her people. They had arrived just before the break of day and, not wanting to disturb Yun Jinnian, went back to freshen up and eat something.
Only when the day was well advanced did Yun Jinnian weakly open her eyes.
After waiting for quite a while without anyone attending to her, Yun Jinnian’s brow furrowed slightly.
At this moment, outside the courtyard, three groups of people were glaring at each other, refusing to back down.
Hemei, Henuan, and Shi Jiayu were the old servants and naturally thought they should be the ones attending to her.
Nanny Qian and her group felt that they had failed in their duties before and caused Yun Jinnian harm, and now wanted to perform well.
The four from Telan believed that since they were ordered to serve the Saintess, the care of her food and daily life should fall to them by right.
After Han Tianci had freshened up, he prepared to join Yun Jinnian for breakfast, and upon seeing them blocking the doorway, he barked, "What are you all doing?"
Noticing the basins and towels in their hands, he exhaled sharply, "Hemei, Henuan, go in and help sister dress and wash!"
Delighted by the command, Hemei and Henuan entered the courtyard quickly, with Shi Jiayu hurrying after them.
It was then that Han Tianci turned to Nanny Qian’s group and the four from Telan, "If you’ve come to serve my sister, you should do your duty. Each of you reeks of pettiness. You’re not even worthy of carrying her shoes, let alone attending to her closely!"
Without waiting to see their reactions, he turned and walked toward the courtyard. After a few steps, he stopped and continued, "Why are you still standing there? Go back, the lot of you, you were never close to my sister, and she’s not used to you anyway!"
Han Tianci was truly not mincing his words.
Though Nanny Qian and the others were angered, they dared not confront Han Tianci and turned to leave.
Telan and the three others from Liuka exchanged glances, faces flushed with embarrassment.
Originally candidates for Saintess, they were used to being doted upon, but now they were deemed unworthy even to carry Yun Jinnian’s shoes, which stirred anger in their hearts.
"Let’s go. We should leave. It’s not that we refuse to serve, it’s that they outright disdain our service!" having said this, Liuka turned and walked away.
Telan looked at Liuka, then glanced back at the courtyard.
Not hearing Yun Jinnian beckoning them inside, she left with furrowed brows.
Inside the house, Han Tianci was talking with Yun Jinnian.
He brought up the earlier incident.
After hearing about it, Yun Jinnian fell silent for a moment, "You did the right thing. They were bound to leave eventually; it’s better to have everything out in the open!"
They didn’t want to serve her; they were compelled by circumstances. There was no real sincerity.
None of them could compare to the attentiveness of Hemei and Henuan.
"As long as you’re not upset with me, sister!"