"The plum blossoms in the garden bloomed beautifully, so I picked some for Grandmother’s vase!" Yun Jinnian said, neither humbly nor arrogantly.
Previously, she was very afraid of Xu Xinmo.
But for some reason, after those dreams, she was not afraid at all.
"Grandmother likes plum blossoms, and I will pick them myself. There’s no need for your pretense. Take these plum blossoms and scram, back to Niannian Garden. Cixin Academy does not welcome you. Also, do not step into Cixin Academy ever again!"
Yun Jinnian looked at Xu Xinmo and asked indifferently, "Is this what you want? Or is it Grandmother’s wish?"
"Of course it is..." Xu Xinmo began to speak.
From inside the house, the old lady’s voice called out, "Wanwan, it’s cold outside, come into the house. You, come in too!"
Wanwan is his granddaughter.
And you are her granddaughter!
"Hmph!" Xu Xinmo scoffed and turned to enter the house.
Yun Jinnian’s eyes darkened.
Was it truly an accident when she fell into the Lotus Pond that day, or was she pushed?
No matter who this person was, she would uncover them.
Feeling Mrs. Yuan’s worried gaze, Yun Jinnian nodded slightly and stepped into the house.
A ground heater was burning inside the house, making it much warmer than usual.
The Yun Family’s old Lady sat upright on an Arhat bed, with Xu Xinmo fawning and giggling in her lap.
The Lady glanced at Yun Jinnian, her eyes flickering with disgust.
Yun Jinnian saw it, but she pretended not to notice and bowed slightly, "Granddaughter greets Grandmother!"
"Grandmother, look at her, coming over to greet you and not even kneeling, showing no sincerity at all!" Xu Xinmo exclaimed loudly.
The old lady pinched Xu Xinmo’s nose, fully indulgent, and then turned coldly to Yun Jinnian, "Since Wanwan has spoken, you should perform a full kowtow!"
To perform a full kowtow meant to bow her head to the ground.
Yun Jinnian lowered her gaze.
Standing straight, she then held the plum blossoms and gently knelt down. "Granddaughter greets Grandmother!"
Although she kneeled on a stone slab, because of the ground heater, it was much warmer than in Niannian Garden.
The old Lady did not tell Yun Jinnian to rise.
Thus, Yun Jinnian could not stand.
Xu Xinmo kept on amusing the old Lady.
When Lady and Mrs. He came to pay respects, seeing Yun Jinnian kneeling, sympathy flashed in her eyes, yet she said nothing.
When Miss Yun Muyou came, seeing Yun Jinnian on the ground, her eyes too showed pity, but she remained silent.
Second Miss Yun Zihan came to greet and, seeing Yun Jinnian kneeling, pain flickered in her eyes. Her mind turned slightly as she knelt beside Yun Jinnian, "Granddaughter greets Grandmother!"
Xu Xinmo’s face changed slightly upon seeing this.
The old Lady, immensely heartbroken, said, "Ah, Zihan is obedient. Go back to your room and copy the filial piety scriptures three hundred times. Don’t leave your room until you finish!"
Yun Zihan turned pale, looked apologetically at Yun Jinnian for a moment, then rose and retreated.
Other sisters of lesser status glanced over, each pretending not to see, amusing the old Lady in the room and forgetting about Yun Jinnian still kneeling.
Yun Jinnian continued to kneel, back straight.
Patiently, for she knew kneeling now would only make her great-uncle pity her more later, and she would gain more from it.
She did not want to suffer like in her dreams, so bitter and tragic; she wanted to study, so what were these troubles compared to that?
A half-hour later, Lady and Mrs. He left.
Yun Muyou also left with Xu Xinmo and the other half-sisters for their kneeling lesson, while Yun Jinnian was still kneeling.
The old Lady was then assisted by Ming Liu to go and rest.
Two hours later, Yun Jinnian was nearly at her limit.
Two and a half hours later, Yun Jinnian’s body began to tremble.
After three hours, Yun Jinnian completely passed out...