Yun Zuomo and the other two responded obediently and sat next to Yun Jinnian.
It was mid-February, and although the weather had warmed up, it was still somewhat cold. A bowl of warm sweet soup made the whole body feel exceptionally comfortable.
Yun Zuomo let out a sigh.
She had been longing for such a moment for a very long time.
Sitting with her sisters, happily drinking a cup of hot tea and eating a few pieces of pastry.
Talking about the recent joys and sorrows.
"Have you thought about my proposal from that day?" Yun Jinnian asked.
"I have thought it through!" Yun Zuomo said, still feeling quite shy.
After all, she was only fourteen, and she would come of age next year.
"What are your plans?" Yun Jinnian asked softly.
She was not a good sister and had never intended to be one. Her treatment towards the three of them was purely to repay their past assistance in sending warnings.
Once she arranged their marriages, she would no longer be concerned with them.
As for their future paths, they would have to walk them themselves.
"I am willing to marry a scholar with an average family background!" Yun Zuomo said, her face turning even redder.
Yun Qingzhi also whispered, "So am I!"
Yun Jinnian looked at Yun Qingqing, "And you?"
Yun Jinnian smiled slightly, "That’s good!"
She turned around and asked Ru Yue to bring over three ornate boxes. Yun Jinnian took them and handed one to each of her three half-sisters. "This is your dowry from me!"
Their mother would definitely not care about the three half-sisters. All Yun Jinnian could do was ask Feng Wushuang or Liao Shijie for help in finding out which scholars had good character. Their family background did not have to be exceptional, but their character absolutely had to be!
Yun Zuomo and the other two were extremely surprised.
In their wildest dreams, they had not expected Yun Jinnian to give them a dowry.
Aunt Su and Aunt Hua never left their homes and had no way of earning money. Even if they scrimped and saved, they wouldn’t have much silver in hand.
It was even more impossible for them to provide a decent dowry for the three half-sisters.
Mrs. Han would never care; ignoring them and not suppressing them was already the kindest she could be.
Mrs. He was two-faced, daring to even alter the dowry of the half-daughters, let alone those of the second branch’s half-daughters.
As for Yun Qi, he was simply an inadequate father who would never think to prepare dowries for the three half-sisters.
The family matriarch was even less reliable, fully biased towards Xu Xinmo; her grandchildren, in total, were less valued than Xu Xinmo alone.
Yun Zuomo called out softly, and tears immediately fell.
But then she remembered that today was the happy occasion of Yun Jinnian’s coming-of-age ceremony. How could she cry and bring bad luck?
However, her heart suddenly felt full, and her eyes stung with emotion.
She couldn’t hold back.
Yun Jinnian smiled, holding her teacup and sipping her tea.
It took Yun Zuomo, Yun Qingzhi, and Yun Qingqing a while to compose themselves and accompany Yun Jinnian for tea.
All four sat in silence, yet there was a special understanding between them.
No matter what Yun Jinnian thought, Yun Zuomo, Yun Qingqing, and Yun Qingzhi truly had her in their hearts, respecting and honoring her as their eldest sister.
This bond would never change in their lifetimes.
The family matriarch sat in her chair, trembling all over, while Ming Liu and the maids searched everything inside and out, indeed finding a dudou missing.
The family matriarch’s face was cold, her body tense, her eyes filled with fury.
Trembling lips, she stammered, asking Ming Liu, "What did you find?"
"In response to the matriarch, indeed a dudou is missing..." Ming Liu’s voice grew increasingly softer, ending in a murmur.
The family matriarch did hear it clearly.
She slammed her hand heavily on the table. "Investigate, find out which thief stole something from Cixin Academy!"