Pushing the door open, I entered the small hall and tiptoed into the bedroom, where an odd smell lingered briefly before disappearing.
Yun Jinnian was sound asleep on the bed.
With affection, I tucked the blanket around Yun Jinnian, closed the window, and was about to leave the bedroom when Yun Jinnian woke up.
"Nurse, what time is it?"
"It’s still early, Miss. Sleep a little longer!"
Yun Jinnian shook her head, "No more sleep, Nurse. There’s a pair of men’s cloth socks in the cleaning room, please quietly take care of them later!"
The nurse was so shocked she couldn’t speak.
Men’s cloth socks—had a man been here last night? Was it that man who had opened the window?
Thinking of this, the nurse felt both alarmed and scared.
"Miss, are you all right?"
"Nurse, I’m fine. It was Prince Rui who came last night!" Yun Jinnian explained softly, then added after a moment of thought, "Nurse, Prince Rui and I...we care for each other..."
Yun Jinnian spoke, her cheeks blushing slightly.
Mrs. Yuan looked at her, feeling bittersweet yet happy.
She stepped forward and took Yun Jinnian’s hand, "The Miss has grown up. It’s wonderful to have someone you cherish, I’m happy for you!"
"It’s just that Prince Rui, he..."
Mrs. Yuan wanted to ask, how sincere is Prince Rui?
If he is truly sincere, then Prince Rui would indeed be a fine young man.
He’s handsome and has a manly fortitude. That day in front of Huiquan Tower, he spoke so righteously, standing up for the common people; it warmed her heart.
"Are you serious?" Mrs. Yuan asked Yun Jinnian softly.
Yun Jinnian nodded shyly with a blush.
Mrs. Yuan suddenly smiled, "Well, that’s great. I can start preparing the dowry!"
"Nurse!" Yun Jinnian called out shyly.
"My dear Miss, every girl has her time to blush, there’s no need to be shy. But in the future, you can’t let Prince Rui come here anymore, especially not in the dead of night—it wouldn’t look good if people found out!"
"I didn’t let him in; he sneaked in. I don’t even know where he went this time. Last night, when we were on the bed, he was so tired he had no strength left, his feet were covered in blisters, and his hands were wounded. I couldn’t let him go back!" Yun Jinnian said, lowering her head slightly.
Mrs. Yuan, hearing this, wanted to say something, but didn’t know what to say.
She wanted to ask something, but felt it was inappropriate.
All she could really do was offer her sincere blessings. No matter who Yun Jinnian cherished, she would wholeheartedly bless and support her.
With this thought, Mrs. Yuan stood up, "I’ll go tidy things up first to avoid being seen. Miss, you get some more rest!"
Yun Jinnian nodded slightly.
She hadn’t expected to discuss Chu Yu with her nurse.
When she first mentioned him to her mother, she had deliberately avoided the subject.
Yun Jinnian leaned against the headboard, closed her eyes, and soon fell asleep again.
Mrs. Yuan quickly finished tidying up, even washed Chu Yu’s pair of cloth socks and hung them out to dry, then sat on the chair in the small hall, feeling somewhat sad.
Her tenderly nurtured Miss was now taking care of others.
Even though it might be her future husband, she hadn’t married him yet. After marriage, it could be considered a joy of the bridal chambers, but now...
To put it bluntly, Mrs. Yuan was reluctant.
Ru Yue and Shi Jiayu came together.
They called out softly and glanced toward the bedroom, "Has the Miss woken up?"
Mrs. Yuan shook her head, not very willing to speak.
Firstly, Aunt Cui had left, and it wasn’t proper for them to go out happily. Secondly, Prince Rui had stayed the night, and Yun Jinnian had taken care of him all night.
"Mrs. Yuan, what’s wrong?" Shi Jiayu asked.
Having spent a few days in the palace, Shi Jiayu felt she had learned a lot.
She once thought her family had some silver, but upon arriving in the Capital City and seeing what truly wealthy families were like, she realized that the little silver her family had wouldn’t even buy a decent house in the Capital. The gap was that large.