In fact, in households where sisters are harmonious, dignitaries often share their gifts, aside from a few items that cannot be casually given away, with the sisters in the family, uniting them in solidarity.
The Yun Family should have been the same, but because the dowager didn’t make things clear, there was disharmony among the Yun sisters, sometimes even failing to maintain a façade of unity.
Yun Muyou, Yun Musi, and Yun Mulan were overjoyed, while Yun Zihan looked somewhat troubled as she glanced at Yun Jinnian.
"Second Sister, you pick as well," said Yun Jinnian softly and gently.
Accustomed to this kind of indifference, she couldn’t adopt an overly enthusiastic demeanor.
Yun Zihan also knew Yun Jinnian’s personality, nodded slightly, and made her choices very quickly, unlike Yun Muyou and her sisters, who were indecisive, liking this one moment and that one the next.
Yun Jinnian wasn’t concerned, because, in the end, there wouldn’t be many of these items that she would actually wear.
For one, they had been worn by others, and secondly, how many items from the palace were untainted by blood?
She would just save them to give away in the future.
She didn’t care for them, but others certainly did!
Only then did Yun Jinnian remember that she had been back for several days, and aside from Dai Hanmi, she had yet to see Ruan Wanrong, Hu Shuiling, and Chen Danyan, nor had she delivered the gifts she had prepared for them!
She quickly said to Mrs. Han, "Mother, would it be alright for me to host dinner for Sister Wanrong and the others at Huiquan Tower tonight?"
"Mhm, you should write a letter and send it over now, then wait for them at Huiquan Tower," said Mrs. Han, knowing that Yun Jinnian was going to Nanjiang and it was uncertain when she would return. She added, "Miss Ruan and Miss Hu seem to have reached marriageable age, and you haven’t given them their hairpinning gifts yet; you should also prepare a gift for them to bring over!"
"Mhm," Yun Jinnian nodded, went to the study, quickly wrote a letter, and had Hemei deliver it. She personally picked out two jade hairpins, two gold inlaid jade bracelets, and for each person, a cool piece of snow silk brocade. The Empress had bestowed a total of ten pieces of this fabric, each a different color. Yun Muyou and her sisters knew good material when they saw it and each took one piece, as did Ruan Wanrong and Hu Shuiling, leaving only five pieces remaining.
After thinking it over, Yun Jinnian took one of the pieces and gave it to Yun Zihan, "Second Sister, this is for you!"
Yun Zihan joyfully accepted it.
Aunt Cui had not been feeling well these past few days, and even though the weather had not yet warmed, she would be drenched in sweat with any movement.
Yun Zihan thought about it and decided to take this Toona tree brocade to make a set of clothes for Aunt Cui.
Four pieces remained.
Yun Jinnian intended to give one to Mrs. Yuan; the remainder would go to Mrs. Han, for her to make clothes. This snow silk brocade was very comfortable to wear in the summer, but it was unfortunately only available within the palace and unobtainable by the common folk.
Even among the nobles within the palace, one could not acquire many pieces in a summer.
The Empress had bestowed ten pieces, but was it for the sake of the dowager of the Zhuangyong Marquis Residence, or for the Emperor?
Yun Jinnian didn’t delve too deeply into these thoughts.
She gathered her things to head to Huiquan Tower and wait for Dai Hanmi, Ruan Wanrong, and the others.
Yun Muyou, holding onto Yun Jinnian, said, "Little Sister, can we come too?"
She was now fifteen years old and would turn sixteen after the new year, but as for marriage...
Yun Muyou didn’t even know what kind of man she wanted to marry, but faced with her current situation, she was afraid.
Her mother had issued several invites, all of which had been declined.
And, the families of Dai Hanmi, Ruan Wanrong, Hu Shuiling, and Chen Danyan each had brothers of marriageable age. If she could win their favor, they would speak to their mothers at home...
Yun Jinnian hadn’t wanted to bring Yun Muyou and the others along, but looking towards Yun Zihan and thinking for a moment, she relented, "Alright, you guys quickly get ready and inform Auntie, we’ll leave in a while!"