The Marchioness was also delighted, "Mother, your daughter-in-law knows, she will definitely set her mind on Mimi!"
Mimi won’t do, she still has a younger son, Bobo.
"Good, good, with you handling matters, Mother rests assured!" The elder matriarch said, feeling very comfortable in her heart.
Yun Jinnian came every few days to administer acupuncture treatment, and each session made the elder matriarch feel particularly refreshed; she became especially fond of Yun Jinnian.
The Marchioness, shaking with mirth all over, gave the instructions for Dai Hanmi, who was quivering like a branch in the breeze, to take Yun Jinnian down to eat something. Yun Jinnian stood up to bow, but Dai Hanmi pulled her away, running.
The elder matriarch and the Marchioness began to laugh.
"Children should indeed be eager!" The elder matriarch watched, her whole being lighting up with a smile.
"Do you really think I’ve become senile? I might have been a bit forgetful these past days, but since Jinnian’s treatments, I’ve started to remember things. Speaking of which, our Bobo is eighteen already, isn’t he?"
The Marchioness was startled, "Mother knows all this?"
"How could I not know? Otherwise, what do you think I was doing, teasing Mimi like that? It’s to make her feel that our family likes her, so she’ll willingly marry into our household. You have to put in more effort as well. Don’t let another household snap her up. She’s young; we can set the arrangement first!"
The Marchioness chuckled.
Ginger is indeed the spiciest!
"I’ll follow Mother’s instructions!"
Dai Hanmi, pulling Yun Jinnian, left the elder matriarch’s courtyard, when a maid serving the second lady came to invite them.
"Greetings to the second miss and Yun Jinnian!"
"Is the sister-in-law inviting us over for desserts?" Dai Hanmi asked excitedly.
"Yes, the Crown Princess and she are waiting at the Lake Pavilion!"
Dai Hanmi became even more ecstatic, "That’s wonderful, Jinnian, let’s hurry over!"
The Lake Pavilion, as the name suggests, was a house built in the middle of a pond, offering different charms and delights in the summer and winter alike.
When Yun Jinnian and Dai Hanmi arrived, the Crown Princess and the second lady got up to greet them.
"We’ve been looking forward to your arrival, seeing all these desserts laid out on the table, and your sister-in-law not letting me eat them has been almost unbearable!"
The Crown Princess, Mrs. Lu, was quite a witty person, swift with her words.
Dai Hanmi called out "sister-in-law", and Yun Jinnian curtsied, which the Crown Princess quickly reciprocated, taking Yun Jinnian’s hand, "Sister, there’s no need for formalities. Look how cold your hands are; come inside quickly, we’ve warmed the place with a kang bed-stove!"
"Sister-in-law doesn’t care for Mimi anymore!" Dai Hanmi whined as they entered, and saw Mrs. Qu setting out the cakes, "Second sister-in-law, the big sister-in-law only cares about Jinnian and not me, you pamper me!"
"You little monkey!" Mrs. Qu handed a cake to Dai Hanmi, "Try this, it’s made with lotus seed flour—let’s see how it tastes!"
Dai Hanmi took it, eating with a cheerful grin.
Mrs. Qu, smiling warmly, watched Yun Jinnian enter, her smile as warm as fire.
Because of a prescription Yun Jinnian had provided, Mrs. Qu’s health had improved significantly.
"Sister Jinnian, come try the lotus seed cakes I made!"
Yun Jinnian, smiling lightly, curtsied to Mrs. Qu, who quickly returned the gesture, "I’m telling you, Sister Jinnian, when it’s just us few, let’s not bother with formalities!"
"Exactly, we’re all family here after all. Just now, Grandmother even said she wants me to marry you, Jinnian, so you don’t end up in someone else’s family!" Dai Hanmi said jokingly as she took another piece of cake to eat.
Yun Jinnian’s face turned red with shyness.
The Crown Princess, Mrs. Lu, and the second lady, Mrs. Qu, were keenly aware of why the elder matriarch had said that.
"Then you should marry her!" Mrs. Qu teased.
"I would love to, but we’re both maidens, how could that be done!" Dai Hanmi said, continuing to munch on cakes.
Yun Jinnian smiled without saying a word.
Still young, she didn’t make guesses in certain directions.
She took a piece of the lotus seed cake and ate it in small bites.
The Crown Princess brewed tea while Dai Hanmi, ever sprightly, said she wanted to play the zither to add to the fun.
Mrs. Qu urged, "Go play, so Jinnian and I can refine our sentiments!"