"Miss?" Ru Yue called softly.
"It’s nothing, let Hemei and Henuan discreetly check the whole Niannian Garden, don’t miss any corner!" Yun Jinnian spoke faintly as she crawled into her bedding.
It was cold, yet exceptionally clear-headed.
Ru Yue obeyed and withdrew.
On the morning of the seventeenth day of the first month, after getting up, Yun Jinnian washed, had breakfast, paid her respects to Mrs. Han and the elderly Lady, then returned to Niannian Garden. Lady Mrs. He sent over quite a few items, which Yun Jinnian instructed Mrs. Yuan to store in the small warehouse.
Yun Muyou also personally came by, bringing Yun Jinnian two sets of jewelry and two fine rolls of Shu Brocade.
Yun Jinnian still accepted them with a faint smile and chatted with Yun Muyou for a while before Yun Muyou went back to prepare for tomorrow’s banquet.
Because Dai Hanmi, Ruan Wanrong, and a few others had brought friends, many had sent RSVPs indicating they would come the next day, which naturally delighted Yun Muyou.
As Yun Jinnian read, she couldn’t help but worry about the injured and poisoned Chu Yu.
It seemed that every time, he would end up hurt, poisoned.
He is the astute prince, why can’t he take good care of himself?
Unable to concentrate on the book, Yun Jinnian sent Hemei and Henuan to fetch Mrs. Han with some silver.
Yun Jinnian approached and took Mrs. Han’s arm, "Mother, I’d like to go to the Bookstore to buy some books!"
Mrs. Han began to smile, "Do you need mother to accompany you?"
"It’s so cold, mother should rest at home, I will go by myself!"
Seeing her daughter say so, Mrs. Han did not insist, "Take Hemei and Henuan with you, and bring more silver. If it’s not enough, feel free to buy the books you like and let someone come back for more silver!"
With Mrs. Han’s approval, Yun Jinnian also said a few words to Lady Mrs. He, who wouldn’t make things difficult for Yun Jinnian because she had helped invite Dai Hanmi and others, "Go early and return early, it’s cold outside, wear more clothes!"
They were all pleasantries, Yun Jinnian knew not to take Mrs. He’s words as genuine concern.
After leaving the Yun Residence, she got into the carriage and headed straight for the Bookstore.
The spring day in the Capital City was cold due to the snowfall.
But it didn’t hinder the people who were diligently making a living.
The streets were bustling with people coming and going, stalls by the roadside were selling all kinds of items, and patrons were entering and leaving the stores.
Capital City of the Great Chu Country was very prosperous.
Having arrived at the Bookstore, Yun Jinnian got off the carriage, greeted the shopkeeper, and went to select books.
Yun Jinnian had read many books in her dreams, and this time she only came out to buy some strange tales. She wanted to see if there were others like her who had dreamed a dream both real and illusory.
She quickly picked out forty or fifty books, which weren’t expensive at all—just a thousand taels of silver. Hemei immediately handed over the silver, and had the bookstore’s clerks move the books into the carriage.
"Miss, shall we go back now?" Hemei inquired.
Looking at the bustling street, Yun Jinnian shook her head slightly, "Let’s walk around a bit first!"
Hemei and Henuan stayed close to protect Yun Jinnian, while the coachman followed them with the carriage.
Things on the roadside stalls weren’t expensive, but there were many varieties. Yun Jinnian saw some exquisite ones, looked them over twice, and then bought them.
"Buns! Delicious and tasty buns!"
Yun Jinnian followed the voice and saw several shabbily dressed children standing in front of a bun shop, where the seller was shouting, trying to attract customers.
"Go, use some silver to buy some buns for those children!"
Watching them, Yun Jinnian thought of Momo from her dreams.
She felt the urge to provide for them.
With a sum of silver in her possession, although she couldn’t give them an extravagant feast or luxurious clothes, she could at least offer them a shelter from the wind and rain and prevent them from starving to death.
Hemei went up and purchased twenty-one buns, distributed them among the seven kids—three each.
The children grabbed the warm buns, not minding the heat as they bit into them hungrily.
Then, looking at Hemei as she returned to Yun Jinnian’s side, they stared at Yun Jinnian with wide eyes.