She had already sent out quite a few invitations, asking the ladies to gather at the residence on the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, yet very few had promised to come. Moreover, the ones who did promise were from families whose fathers and elder brothers held positions lower than her father. They were from families without deep roots, seeking to ingratiate themselves with the Yun Family.
Not a single person from the truly prestigious families had replied.
How could Yun Muyou not be anxious?
And she had learned that Yun Jinnian was on good terms with Dai Hanmi, the second young miss of the Zhuangyong Marquis Residence. If Hanmi was willing to come, surely more people would want to come, right?
"Elder sister, please feel free to speak your mind!"
"That is, are you well-acquainted with the second young miss of the Zhuangyong Marquis Residence?"
Yun Jinnian raised an eyebrow, "Hanmi sister?"
Look, she even called her Hanmi sister, which surely meant they were very close. Yun Muyou quickly nodded, "Yes!"
"It’s , I invited everyone to our home on the eighteenth to be guests, but after the invitations went out, very few have agreed to come. Sister, can you help me invite people, perhaps ask the second young miss of the Zhuangyong Marquis Residence in your name...!"
Many invitations were like tiny stones tossed into the ocean, causing no ripples at all.
Yun Jinnian understood what Yun Muyou meant.
Yun Muyou wanted her to invite people, but why should she oblige Yun Muyou’s request? "I’m sorry, elder sister, but I cannot help you with this!"
She had thought that Yun Jinnian would agree, for Jinnian had always been kind-hearted.
She had never been particularly bad or particularly good to Jinnian, so why wouldn’t Jinnian help her?
"Why?" Yun Muyou asked softly.
She was already very displeased.
"Elder sister should know that over the years, except for my visit to the Zhuangyong Marquis Residence this year, I haven’t attended any banquets. The few times I managed to enter the Marquis Residence were because our maternal grandfather was treating the old lady’s illness, and I was running errands to deliver medicine, that’s all it took for me to become acquainted with Hanmi sister. To be honest, she is practically my only friend. Yet elder sister wants me to invite others, that is absolutely beyond me!"
Yun Jinnian’s voice was soft, yet impactful.
"Little sister doesn’t need to invite many, just inviting the second young miss of the Zhuangyong Marquis Residence will suffice!"
Yun Jinnian looked at Yun Muyou, her gaze indifferent, as if looking at a fool, a clown.
Wasn’t she clear enough?
Dai Hanmi was her only friend for twelve years, and the prospect of inviting her home had thrilled her for the entire night. She had risen early the next day, anxious lest any detail was less than perfect, lest she neglected her guest.
Yet Yun Muyou was asking her to invite Dai Hanmi, even to use her.
How could that be possible!
Yun Muyou suddenly stood up, her voice thundering with anger, "Yun Jinnian, I am your elder sister, you are a member of the Yun family, yet you’re unwilling to even do this small favor for me. How does it benefit you if I lose face? Don’t forget, your surname is Yun as well. When one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. Do you understand that?"
Yun Muyou’s scolding of Yun Jinnian provoked Hemei and Henuan to nearly step forward to strike her, waiting only for Yun Jinnian’s word—they truly dared to hit Yun Muyou.
Mrs. Yuan covered her face, overwhelmed with sadness.
It was as if it were a return to the past, to the days when Yun Jinnian had nothing, when everyone could trample on her without restraint.
Nanny An stood to the side, quietly minimizing her presence, yet closely observing both Yun Jinnian and Yun Muyou.
Yun Muyou was infuriated because Yun Jinnian had not agreed to send invitations to Dai Hanmi on her behalf.
Yun Jinnian remained seated, speaking indifferently, "What a phrase, ’when one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer.’ It’s a pity that elder sister came to understand this too late!"
Yun Muyou’s face flushed crimson with shame.