Union

Chapter 73 New Year’s Eve Dinner

The New Year finally arrived late, much to everyone's anticipation.

On New Year's Eve, Yunying gave all the servants whose homes were in Yungui County a holiday, allowing them to go home and spend the festival with their families.

Many of the maids and servants left, leaving only a dozen or twenty, and the once lively mansion suddenly became deserted.

But it doesn't matter, Yunying also had the kitchen prepare a feast and drinks for the servants, so they can gather in groups of three or five to celebrate the New Year tonight.

In this day and age, it's already a big deal to be able to eat a simple meal during the Lunar New Year, let alone have a feast with wine, meat, and vegetables.

Although the wine was just ordinary fruit wine, the meat was a real, substantial piece of meat.

The servants were filled with anticipation, and their faces beamed with joy all day long. Their smiles were so radiant, they were even more dazzling than the sun that day.

Finally, evening arrived. After arranging the household chores, Yunying went to the front courtyard.

She passed by Qiu Ning's courtyard, where Qiu Ning was walking out.

Seeing that Yunying had dressed up specially today, not only was she wearing a set of red gold jewelry, but she was also wearing a pomegranate red brocade jacket with gold thread and a white floor-length skirt with plum blossom patterns.

She was originally a cool and quiet beauty, usually dressed simply and modestly, yet she was still captivating to behold.

Now she is dressed up specially, with eyebrows like dark blue ink, eyes like stars, and a smile that sparkles like water. Her figure is graceful and slender. Standing there, she is like a fairy princess descending to earth.

This is no longer just a minor steward, Yunying; she would believe without a doubt if you said she was the lady of a prestigious family.

Qiu Ning felt a pang of sadness again.

She's going out now to have New Year's Eve dinner with Mu Jin at the flower hall.

Their social standing was neither particularly high nor low. They couldn't afford to attend the banquets hosted by the Second Master; yet, mingling with the maids and servants made them feel beneath their dignity. Their situation was truly awkward.
Qiu Ning felt frustrated and somewhat melancholy, unsure of what the future held.

She wanted to improve herself, but the Second Master had blocked all her paths forward, leaving her with no way to advance. Yet, she felt unwilling to retreat…

Qiu Ning felt depressed and didn't even feel like talking to Yun Ying.

The two chatted idly for a while. After passing the flower hall in the backyard, Qiu Ning went in to wait for Mu Jin, while Yun Ying continued forward to the flower hall in the front.

Second Master was already there, standing idly in front of the multi-treasure pavilion, looking at a root carving placed on it.

The root carving was found by Yunying; it wasn't particularly valuable, but its charm lay in its simple and natural style. The shape resembled an eagle soaring through the sky, with its beak and claws being especially lifelike. The sharp and powerful feel of it instilled fear in one's heart at first glance.

Yunying felt a little uneasy when she saw the Second Master.

These past few days, whether she was awake or asleep, she kept thinking about what the Second Master had said.

Even in her dreams, she could still see the way the Second Master looked when he said those words.

This caused Yunying to become very agitated, and she became increasingly restless and irritable when she saw the Second Master.

On the other hand, the Second Master remained as immovable as a mountain.

He noticed footsteps approaching behind him, so he turned around and looked over. Then, a rare look of amazement appeared in his usually sharp and deep phoenix eyes.

After a moment, the second master praised, "You look even better dressed like this. Keep dressing like this from now on."

Yunying's heart pounded even harder, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly. Anyone would be pleased to be praised for their beauty, especially since it was Second Master who was praising her looks today.

However, while it looks good, it's not advisable to wear it like that all the time.

Yunying said, "I only dress like this for the New Year. If I dressed like this at other times, people would say I'm arrogant."

"Who dares to say that? Come and complain to me, and I'll get revenge for you."

"Does the Second Master have to interfere with the gossip of the maids and servants in the backyard? Even if you want to, I don't want to tell you about these things, as it would only waste your energy and time."

Upon hearing this, the second master couldn't help but laugh, "You've got a nice way of speaking today."

Yunying turned her head away and muttered softly, "When have I ever spoken rudely?"

For a moment, the Second Master did not answer, and the flower hall fell silent.

Unable to bear the overwhelming feeling of excitement, Yunying finally looked up at the Second Master.

Unexpectedly, the Second Master was staring straight at her, his gaze both frank and intense, making Yun Ying blush and turn her head away again.

However, the Second Master only praised her for being beautiful. If she were to say it, the Second Master today truly deserves to be called elegant and charming.

The Second Master was unusually wearing a red outer robe today.

It was a bright red, round-necked, straight-cut robe with black trim, cinched at the waist with a jade belt about the width of a palm. The second master wore a golden crown on his head, cloud-patterned boots on his feet, and a folding fan in his hand, fittingly for the occasion. And you know what? He immediately exuded the air of a dashing, unrestrained young gentleman.

Today, she was wearing pomegranate red, and the Second Master was wearing bright red. At first glance, they looked like a newlywed couple about to get married.

Newcomer...

How could she have such a thought?
Yunying felt a sudden surge of warmth followed by a sudden chill; her hands and feet trembled, and her mind became even more chaotic. Just then, she followed Yun into the flower hall and asked, "Second Master, shall we begin our New Year's Eve dinner now?"

"Serve the meal."

Second Master beckoned to Yunying, "What are you still doing standing at the door? Do you want me to invite you to sit down? That's not impossible."

"No need for you to invite me, I'll come right away." Yunying hurriedly went over and sat down opposite the Second Master.

There was still a large round table in the flower hall, which could easily seat seven or eight people. Yunying used to sit next to the Second Master, but today she sat in the seat furthest away from him.

The second master's brows furrowed deeply. "You want to sit there and eat?"

Yunying asked tentatively, "Is it not allowed?"

"That's really not possible. Where you sit, who will serve me my meals?"

Yunying stared in disbelief. "Didn't you always use everything yourself without needing anyone to serve you?"

"So I can't even be served today? Stop talking nonsense and come sit down."

Yunying didn't know if she was laughing out of anger or if she had thought of something that made her laugh. But in the end, she didn't refute the Second Master's words and slowly moved to sit down next to him.

There was a large round table, but only the two of them were there.

They had dined together before; in fact, ever since Yunying started helping the Second Master with the accounts, the frequency of their meals together had increased dramatically. And every time they ate together, Yunying sat next to the Second Master.

She had never felt anything special before, but today Yunying suddenly felt that this position made her feel a little suffocated.

She shifted restlessly and asked the Second Master, "Why don't we have Suiyun and the others have New Year's Eve dinner with us tonight?"

Just then, Suiyun arrived with his servants to deliver the meal. He overheard Yunying's words and saw that Suiyun refused without even considering it.

“Miss Yunying, we serve Second Master year-round, and we never get a break. Tonight, please take the trouble to serve Second Master well, so that we brothers can relax a bit.”

After putting down the dishes, Suiyun and the other maids bowed to the Second Master and left.

Yunying recalled Suiyun's words, "Take good care of Second Master," and suddenly felt her cheeks burning, and even her body slowly warming up. Even her breathing became heavy and disordered.

She couldn't help but pat her face to calm herself down.

Is it truly a case of the lewd seeing lewdness?

She actually started to have all sorts of wild thoughts just because of a casual remark from Sui Yun. Could it be that her desire for the Second Master has reached this point?

Yunying patted her cheeks, and when the Second Master saw this, he asked her, "What are you doing? I didn't know you had a habit of slapping yourself?"

"What do you mean by slapping me? I just felt my face was a little hot and wanted to cool it down."

The second master let out a drawn-out "Oh," his phoenix eyes brimming with undisguised amusement. "This is the first time I've ever heard of slapping your face to cool it down. After living for twenty years, I've certainly learned something new."

Yunying grew increasingly embarrassed and annoyed, and couldn't help but glare at the Second Master again, "There are many things you don't know. Since you don't know, don't make random comments."

"You're right. But... are you hot? The temperature in this flower hall is just right. Are you wearing something extra warm today?"

Yunying nodded repeatedly, "That should be it."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two began their meal.

Yunying used serving chopsticks to put food on Second Master's plate, and even stood up to pour him wine. Second Master smiled and said, "Sit down and use your own. Do you really expect me to serve you? No need to trouble you, I can do it myself."

Yunying wanted to say, if you don't really want me to serve you, why did you call me over here?
But in truth, she knew perfectly well the purpose behind the Second Master's actions. Yunying then pursed her lips, lowered her head to eat, and remained silent.

Perhaps because it was New Year's Eve dinner, or perhaps because he had drunk some wine, Second Master's expression became relaxed.

He broke the rule of not speaking while eating and started chatting with Yunying.

He asked Yunying how she usually celebrated the New Year.

Yunying thought about it carefully. Before, when she was at home, because her family was poor, she didn't have new clothes every year. Most of the time, she wore her mother's old clothes.

I don't remember the New Year's Eve dinner being particularly lavish, but it usually included two meat dishes. My mother would also give them two candies after the meal to sweeten their mouths.

She seemed to remember the taste of the candy; it was sweet and sour, somewhat like the candied hawthorn she had eaten that day.

When Yunying mentioned candied hawthorns, Second Master said, "If you really like them, I'll buy you some more later."

The candied hawthorn skewer had fallen to the ground while they were catching the thief, and it was covered in mud, so it was inedible. Yunying was about to pick it up and throw it somewhere out of the way when, before she could even move, a nimble child darted over, grabbed the candied hawthorn skewer, and ran off.

Thinking back to the candied hawthorn, Yunying said, "I don't particularly like sweets, but I was just a kid back then, and I thought those candies were especially delicious, like something a god would eat."

“I could never bear to eat them. I would secretly wrap them in leaves and put them under my bedding.”

This is something the original owner did. Back then, they were really poor, and the original owner was the eldest sister in her family. She was well-mannered by her parents, and she wanted to save the good things for both her parents and her younger siblings. She herself couldn't bear to eat them, and only when she was really craving them would she use a spatula to break the candy into pieces, pick out a crumb, and put it in her mouth to satisfy her craving.

(End of this chapter)