CHAPTER 642: CHAPTER 644: REUNION WITH RELATIVES (1)

Yun Jinnian hurriedly performed a curtsey, "The gifts from the Empress Dowager are all exceedingly fine, your servant daughter dares not be greedy!"

"You, always so properly mannered, have done so many times, in front of me, there’s no need to be so restrained, go have a wash, ah!"

"Yes!"

Yun Jinnian withdrew and returned to her living quarters in the Cining Palace.

Looking at the dozen or so large boxes, she asked in surprise, "Where did these come from?"

"Reporting to miss, these are gifts bestowed by the Empress Dowager!" Shi Jiayu said.

Since entering the palace, Shi Jiayu had become much more disciplined, had seen and learned a lot, and carried herself with a deportment unlike before.

"..."

Yun Jinnian handed the brocade box in her hand to Shi Jiayu, "Keep this brocade box!"

"Yes!"

As for what was in those boxes, Yun Jinnian was not very concerned.

The Empress Dowager’s gifts were certainly of great value, not to be casually sold once out of the palace, they could only be kept.

Of course, giving away one or two items occasionally was also harmless.

"Fourth miss, the Emperor summons you to the Imperial Study!"

The Imperial Study?

Yun Jinnian slightly furrowed her brow.

Because that day outside the Yangxin Hall, she saw many Noble Consorts, Princes, and Princesses, her complexion had been poor, and the Emperor afterward did not allow anyone to visit the Yangxin Hall, and also exempted everyone from visiting.

And it seemed that the concubines and princes and princesses also intended to avoid her, even if they went to the Yangxin Hall, they couldn’t run into the imperial concubines or the princes and princesses.

But the Imperial Study was different.

That was where the Emperor dealt with state affairs, not only could she encounter the Princes, but she could also meet the former dynasty’s ministers.

But not to go was not an option.

Yun Jinnian had no choice but to follow the announcing eunuch to the Imperial Study.

At the entrance of the Imperial Study, Yun Jinnian had just arrived when Eunuch Hai came out to greet her.

"This servant has seen the fourth miss, a great joy to the fourth miss, please enter quickly, the Emperor summons the fourth miss for an audience!"

Yun Jinnian nodded slightly and stepped into the Imperial Study.

She saw two silhouettes and felt they were familiar, and when those two heard the footsteps, they also turned their heads to look back.

She also saw clearly, one was her father, and the other was her uncle.

What were they doing here?

Yun Jinnian thought quickly, her expression unchanged, and stepped forward to salute the Emperor with a curtsy, "Your servant daughter pays respects to the Emperor!"

"No need for such formality, Fourth Girl!" the Emperor laughed heartily.

Perhaps because he was recently recovered from a serious illness, he was in a very good mood and laughed with warmth and affection.

Yun Jinnian got up and turned to salute Yun Chen and Yun Qi with a curtsy, "Greets uncle, greets father!"

Yun Qi nodded.

He was very conflicted inside.

This was his daughter, who should have been the treasure he held in his palm, but due to his foolishness, she had become a stranger, she despised him and did not want to be close to him.

Even if she didn’t show it, it was a real feeling.

Yun Chen also had complicated feelings.

This niece of his, whose condition in the family home in earlier years, he initially did not know about, he never meddled in household matters, but after he found out, he did intervene a bit, yet he just skimmed the surface, never truly managing the situation.

The year she was at the temple, he did not inquire at all.

Now that she had soared high, he could not shamelessly seek to gain any advantage from her, and he knew, she had long been disheartened with the Yun family, whether the Yun family was in the future, she would not lift a finger to help.

"Jinnian..." Yun Chen spoke out but didn’t know what else to say.

Yun Jinnian raised her eyebrows slightly, "Uncle?"

Once indifferent, knowing she had a hard time but only superficially managed the situation, how she thought he was upright, yet in reality, he played down the issues, truly hypocritical.

Yun Chen opened his mouth, in the end, said softly, "Congratulations to you!"