Adorned in bright, beautiful clothes, Yan Xue appeared at Tianshuang Courtyard with a smile on her face, "Servant Yan Xue pays her respects to Miss, may you be well!"
"What brings you to Tianshuang Courtyard?"
Ji Ruyan asked bluntly.
Maternal Aunt Qi never sends anyone to Tianshuang Courtyard. A sudden visit from someone definitely meant no good — a weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken, surely harboring ill intentions!
With a slight smile, Yan Xue said, "Since Madam Tianshuang has passed on and my mistress will soon be elevated to official wife, it seems somewhat improper for you to stay here in Tianshuang Courtyard. Out of consideration for you, our master is planning to arrange for your stay at an estate outside, and we hope the Miss will not refuse."
Ha!
They were quick, eager to send her away from the main house, were they?
Feigning innocence, Ji Ruyan asked, "Then to where does Maternal Aunt Qi wish to send us?"
"To an estate in Minqing Town. When Madam Tianshuang first married into the Ji Mansion, she had a few pharmacies at hand, though they have suffered losses over the years, leaving only one pharmacy there. Miss, if you take over the operations of that pharmacy, at least you and the second Miss won't go hungry."
In Yan Xue's words, there was an implicit threat that if they did not comply and move to Minqing Town, the second Miss would continue to starve.
Ji Ruyan clenched her fists, indeed ruthless!
They were actually threatening her with her sister's life!
As things stood, she was indeed unable to provide her sister with basic warmth and food, but staying here in Tianshuang Courtyard was nothing more than sitting in a stifling well. Rather than continue suffering here, it might be better to move to Minqing Town, where there might still be a ray of hope for survival!
Her mother had also said that if they really could not get by, they should seek help from Uncle Feng Tianyou in Minqing Town.
But, would her uncle help her and her sister?
In this era, a daughter married off was like water poured away!
Regardless of hardships or even death, she was no longer the concern of her maternal family.
Smartly, Ji Ruyan nodded, "Maternal Aunt Qi is really kind to me and my sister. When do you plan to send us to Minqing Town?"
"If Miss is ready, we can leave right now!"
Yan Xue secretly sighed with relief; she had thought the Miss would surely make a scene and refuse, but had not expected her to agree so readily!
Upon hearing this, Qing Wei exclaimed in surprise, "We still need to pack. We can't just leave all of a sudden without packing anything!"
Hearing this, Yan Xue reined in her smile, "Then I'll give you half a shichen to pack your belongings. The carriage is already waiting outside the main gate, and the coachman will escort you to Minqing Town. Don't dawdle and delay the time!"
"Very well, then thank you for the trouble."
Qing Wei quickly nodded and went in to pack.
Fortunately, it was summer now, and they didn't have many clothes to carry. Taking advantage of the wet nurse's inattention, Ji Ruyan quietly slipped the few silver notes and several deed documents for the shops left by her mother into her bosom.
The smallest amount on these silver notes was one hundred taels.
The deeds to the shops would be the future livelihood for herself and her sister; she absolutely couldn't let anyone else discover them!
She had always been reluctant to use these silver notes because she didn't want the kitchen maids to know how wealthy her mother was and pester her like vampires. Her mother had brought a considerable dowry with her when she married into the Ji Mansion, and most of it had long been taken over by Ji Dongming for management.
Extracting any of it from the tiger's mouth was, for now, impossible.
Now that she was leaving Tianshuang Courtyard and going to Minqing Town, they wouldn't be able to do anything if they didn't have money on them.
When they left Ji Mansion, it was just dusk. Maternal Aunt Qi, after hearing Yan Xue's report and filled with joy, stood dressed beautifully outside the mansion, putting on the guise of a loving mother for all the servants to see.
She gave Ji Ruyan and her sister a red packet, tears streaming down her face as she wished them a smooth journey.
Urged on by Maternal Aunt Qi, the coachman too didn't dare linger longer, whipping up the horses, eager to reach Minqing Town quickly to complete his task.
The carriage rolled down the official road, moving further and further away, leaving Capital City farther behind.