Yun Jinnian let out a breath.
She didn’t pay attention to the dozen or so Vermilion Carriages following behind her, nor did she look at the people pointing and talking on both sides of the street, as the two pairs of Imperial Guards led the way in front of the Phoenix Carriage.
Her thoughts drifted far off.
Did her mother wait for her at home?
Had she returned from Huguo Temple?
Having experienced maternal love, Yun Jinnian especially longed for it.
Yun Jinnian came back to her senses slightly and lowered her head, a faint smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.
She raised her hand to stroke Tuanzi’s head, scratching the itchy spot for him.
Feasting on fish and fish soup porridge every day, Tuanzi indeed grew plump, truly living up to his name.
"Miss, are we going straight back to Yun Residence ?" Shi Jiayu asked.
"Yes, back to Yun Residence!" Yun Jinnian replied faintly, her thoughts drifting far away again.
"But, with so many things, won’t people covet them?" Shi Jiayu worried.
Especially the Yun Residence, she always felt it was a dragon’s den and tiger’s cave, not a good place to go.
"Even if they covet and want them, if I do not give them, can they rob me? They wouldn’t dare to steal, and if they dare, I will dare to report to Jingzhao Prefecture and make it known to all!" Yun Jinnian said faintly.
In the Imperial Palace these days, Yun Jinnian had seen plenty of Palace Maids and eunuchs plot and deceive each other. They would hold grudges over trivial matters and wait for the opportunity to seek revenge.
Especially the concubines contending for imperial favor and glory, they would haggle over every detail. They wouldn’t say it to the face, calling each other sisters, while harboring malice in their hearts and plotting traps behind their backs.
"But those are Miss’s relatives..."
"Can relatives force me to hand over the things bestowed by the palace?" Yun Jinnian retorted.
If the affection was deep, even if she gave them, what of it?
But there was not a shred of closeness between them, only the sight of each other being an eyesore.
And there was no kinship.
Seeing that Yun Jinnian was well prepared, Shi Jiayu did not ask further.
She sat quietly on the lower brocade stool.
Because they heard that Yun Jinnian would return home today and that the emperor had issued an Imperial Decree to confer her as Commandery Princess, Yun Qi, Yun Chen, and the others took leave to wait at home.
Yun Zhen, Yun Yi, and Yun Xuan didn’t go out either.
At this moment, the whole family, except for the ill Old Madame Yun and Mrs. Han, who had not returned from Huguo Temple, was waiting in the hall.
Mrs. He felt very uncomfortable in her heart.
Thinking that Yun Jinnian had become a Commandery Princess, while her own daughters—apart from Yun Muyou, Yun Musi, and Yun Mulan—didn’t receive any titles or rewards, and her three sons, although they held positions, none held any real power and were insignificant errand runners.
Her future daughter-in-law was to marry a county princess; she had felt proud for a few days. Before the excitement had passed, someone had become Commandery Princess in their residence, and it was Yun Jinnian who was distant from everyone in the Yun Family!
Now that Yun Jinnian was conferred as Commandery Princess, as her birth mother, Mrs. Han was not at the residence. Who knew what Yun Qi felt at this moment?
What would he feel when Yun Jinnian returned later?
With these thoughts, Mrs. He sneaked a glance at Yun Qi, who was sipping tea with a stern face, and suddenly felt a sense of schadenfreude.
Yun Zhen, Yun Yi, and Yun Xuan, the three brothers, sat on one side, each with their own thoughts.
Regarding their cousin Yun Jinnian, the three usually did not pay much attention, nor did they understand her, yet unexpectedly, her medical skills turned out to be exceptionally advanced.
Her reputation was on the rise.
When going out and mingling, many people inquired of them, trying to build a connection and hoping they could introduce them or invite their sisters to a banquet at home for fun.