Old Lady Li cradled Li Yanyan in her arms, sneering.
"Don't mind her. She acts all high and mighty, trying to walk all over me all day. Pah!
Little Bun, Grandma is telling you, they need us now. That's why they brought us from the countryside to the Capital City. Look at her, with that stony face every day, acting as if she's so high and mighty.
At the Palace Banquet on the Double Ninth Festival, you performed 'Phoenix Heralding Auspiciousness.' The Empress Dowager rewarded us with so many fine things, yet that woman only gave you a few scraps of fabric and a couple of pearl-and-flower hairpins to wear.
Listen to me. Your Fourth Uncle is still studying at the Imperial College. We need them to support him for now so he can help us secure a position later.
We'll do as your father says. Once your Fourth Uncle becomes the Champion Scholar and an official, we can do whatever we please."
