Union

Chapter 72 Love and Devotion
Yunying returned to the manor late that morning, and surprisingly, Qiuning had not yet come looking for her.

While tidying up the things Yunying had bought, Sui'er said, "I guess she's exhausted from the past two days. I just asked the maid who was sweeping, and she said that Miss Qiu Ning's courtyard hasn't opened yet, so she must not have gotten up yet. However, such a big thing as Miss going out with Second Master can't be kept from Miss Qiu Ning. You'll see, at most, Miss Qiu Ning will come to you for an explanation around lunchtime."

Sui'er was right. Just as Yunying was about to have lunch, Qiu Ning stormed over.

As soon as he entered the door, he questioned Yunying, "You went out shopping without calling me."

It's not that you went out shopping without calling me, but that you actually went shopping with Second Master.

Yunying pondered the difference between the two sentences, but her face remained calm.

She didn't offer much explanation, but simply took out the things she had bought on the way out and let Qiu Ning choose.

Qiu Ning saw that they were all very ordinary things: combs, wooden hairpins, sachets, and some miscellaneous snacks. These were barely acceptable, but what on earth was that tea dust?

Qiu Ning's breakdown was obvious. "You went out with Second Master, couldn't you have brought back something nice? Let alone gold hairpins and jewels, even two silver hairpins would be better than this pile of junk, right?"

He continued nagging, "You've been busy for so many days, helping Second Master a lot. He wouldn't be so stingy as to not spend this little bit of money on you. But you're so short-sighted. Do you think buying these things is respectable?"

Yun Ying said with a stern face, "Speak properly. If you make any more personal attacks, I'll kick you out."

Qiu Ning had never heard of the term "personal attack," but she could roughly guess its meaning. She immediately shut her mouth, not daring to utter a word in front of Yun Ying.

Despite her apparent disdain, Qiu Ning ended up taking a peach wood comb and the magnolia hairpin that Yun Ying liked. She also picked out some snacks and even mooched lunch from Yun Ying.

Yunying was too lazy to pay attention to her, and didn't want to waste her breath talking to Qiuning about anything else, so she let her eat and take like a robber.

The day passed peacefully and uneventfully.

The day was the 25th, and by the 26th, the New Year was even closer.

In the days that followed, Yunying mobilized all the maids and servants in the mansion, and everyone got busy.

Whether it's dusting, washing bedding, preparing for the New Year, or pasting Spring Festival couplets, cutting paper-cuts, and hanging lanterns.

To please everyone, Yunying even had the Second Master write dozens of "Fu" (福, meaning good fortune) characters, which were then pasted up inside and outside the mansion, including at the entrance of the county government office.

After that came hanging peach wood charms and lanterns, giving new clothes and bonuses to the maids and servants.

This year, Yunying gave each of the servants in the manor a new set of clothes, and also gave them two extra months' allowance. One month's allowance was a reward for their hard work at the Hundred Elders Banquet, and the other month's allowance was New Year's money from the master.

The reward was quite generous, and the maids and servants, clutching their purses, were all beaming with joy, saying they would work even harder next year.

Yunying also received a "reward".

This reward was given by the Second Master.

Yes, the Second Master gave Yunying two more sets of jewelry.

One of the sets is made of pearls. The set consists of four pieces: a cloud-shaped pearl hairpin, a pearl-tasseled gold and jade hair ornament, a pair of pearl earrings, and a long necklace strung with 108 pearls.

The other set is made of pure gold and inlaid with rubies. Although the rubies are not very pure, they are very large. In addition, the design is unique and exquisite, making it quite valuable.

This set only has three pieces: a hair comb, a butterfly hairpin, and a pair of pomegranate flower earrings.

Although the set was small, it was the most valuable of the jewelry sets that the Second Master had given to Yunying.

Yunying was a young woman, and at that age, she loved to dress up. How could she not like such jewelry?

But liking something is one thing, but taking one set and then another, and another, and another is just too greedy.

Even though the item was given to her by the Second Master, and not something she asked for, Yunying still couldn't accept it.

Yunying personally delivered the items back.

Second Master is writing a reply in his study.

It was unclear who the reply was for, but the Second Master's expression was anything but pleasant. He wrote with great force, the words on the paper seeming as if they were about to tear through it and fly off.

Looking at the Second Master's expression, it was extremely cold and indifferent.

It's been a long time since we've seen the Second Master so aloof and stern.

Yunying was immediately curious about which deity had offended the Second Master.

If this person were in front of the Second Master, he would probably be tortured to death by the Second Master's gaze.

Yunying didn't dare to speak, patiently waiting for the Second Master to finish writing his reply.

Even after the Second Master finished writing the letter and handed it to Suiyun to send out, his expression didn't improve much.

He was clearly still angry, but he had toned it down considerably and wasn't showing it too obviously in front of her.

But this also put a lot of pressure on Yunying.

Yunying held the box in her hands, at a loss for words.

The second master saw right through her thoughts and said, "Give these back to me?"

Second Master raised an eyebrow. "Then do you think I'll be able to use these things?"

You may not need it now, but who knows what the future holds?

Yunying dared not say this aloud; she only said tactfully, "I have already received two sets of your jewelry."

"That was a reward for helping me with the accounts. This time, you helped me organize the banquet for the centenarians. You put your heart and soul into it and did a good job. Second Master is satisfied, so naturally I will reward you again." Second Master said, "I have told you before that merits are rewarded and mistakes are punished. You have made contributions, so it is only right that you receive these things."

Yunying muttered, "If that's how you put it, you should also reward Qiu Ning and Mu Jin."

"What did you say?"

Yunying mustered her courage and said, "If we follow your logic, then you should also reward Qiuning and Mujin. After all, they haven't been idle either, and they've helped me a lot."

The second master said rather casually, "Then give each of them a sum of money. You decide how much."

Yunying: "..."

Yunying said weakly, "Second Master, this is not good for you."

Second Master looked up and tossed the book in his hand aside. "What's wrong with me? Tell me."

"This is discrimination on your part."

"I'm treating you differently?" Second Master chuckled, his gaze fixed on Yun Ying. "I've been treating you differently for more than just a day or two. Did you only just realize it now?"

Yunying eventually escaped from the Second Master's study in a disheveled state.

She walks so fast that it's almost like she's running.

Sui'er followed closely behind her and found it extremely strange.

She couldn't figure out if the Second Master had scolded the girl, otherwise why would the girl rush forward without looking at the road, as if she were being chased by a ghost?

She walked briskly all the way back to the small courtyard where Yunying lived. She breathed a sigh of relief and sat down in a chair to clear her mind.

Sui'er exclaimed in surprise.

Yunying asked her, "What's wrong?"

Sui'er said, "Miss, why is your face so red? Miss, could you be running a fever?"

Yunying belatedly felt the heat on her face. She touched her cheek with the back of her hand and found it was indeed extremely hot, as if she could fry an egg on it.

She couldn't help but recall the words the Second Master had said, and his dashing chuckle. Yunying's cheeks flushed even redder, all the way down to her clothes.

Her mind wandered, and she had no idea where her thoughts had gone.

It was only when Sui'er hurriedly went to get her some fever-reducing pills that Yunying quickly said, "I don't have a fever. Yes, yes, it's because I ran too fast and held my breath that my face turned red."

Is that the case?

Sui'er didn't believe it.

Because she had followed the girl all the way here, but her face wasn't red or hot; instead, it was cool and icy, as if she had just washed her face with cold water.

However, different people may have different constitutions, which is why they react differently.

Sui'er didn't pay much attention to this trivial matter. She could tell from the box that Yunying was still holding that the girl had returned empty-handed.

Sui'er said, "Miss, let me put this box away for you first. It's quite heavy to carry around like this."

Yunying responded and handed the box to Sui'er, asking her to place it where the jewelry box had been before.

She then drank some tea to calm her erratic breathing before asking Sui'er, "Second Master said I should reward Qiu Ning and Mu Jin with a sum of money. How much do you think is appropriate?"

Sui'er was surprised, "Didn't they already receive the reward? They also received two extra months' worth of monthly allowance."

Yunying couldn't answer, but Sui'er suddenly realized and said, "Could it be that Second Master gave you jewelry, but is worried that Qiu Ning and Mu Jin might be dissatisfied and cause trouble for you, so Second Master wants to give them money to appease them?"

Yunying gave a vague answer, "That could also be what it means."

Sui'er said, "But what are their statuses? They're not managers; they were just promoted by you to supervise the work. They're not masters, yet they receive such high monthly stipends and are served by maids every day. Isn't it only right that they do some work?"

Yunying: "..." What should I do if I suddenly feel that what Sui'er said makes a lot of sense?
Yunying: "So, according to you, we can forgo giving this reward?"

Sui'er said, "I'll say it again, it's already been given, girl. They received two extra months' allowance. One month's allowance is the New Year's bonus, and the other month's allowance is the bonus for the Hundred Elders Banquet."

"If that's the case, then I've received two extra months' worth of bonuses, so naturally I can't accept this jewelry from Second Master."

Sui'er laughed, "Miss, why are you still so stubborn? You deserve the reward money. As for the jewelry that the Second Master gave you, that's because he values ​​you and treats you well."

"Just look at those eldest sons and grandsons who are favored by their families. When the parents give one piece of candy to all the other children, they give an extra piece to the eldest son and grandson. Why is that? It's because they love and cherish them!"

The simple two words "love and respect" struck like a drum, making Yunying's already restless heartbeat even more active.

Doesn't this match what the Second Master said in the study?

He said, "I've been treating you differently for a long time now, did you only just realize it?"

Thinking of these words, Yunying felt even more passionate.

It felt as if a raging fire was burning in her chest, threatening to consume her in an instant.

Even though she knew it was dangerous and she should escape quickly, she became completely absorbed in it.

(End of this chapter)