Quick Transmigration: Survive to the End

Chapter 145 World 317

Compared to the Zhao Mama of her memory, this woman was clearly much older and thinner, with a hint of numbness in her eyes. As for the woman beside her, aside from a few similarities, Yin Yin mostly guessed her age based on her height and build.

After the incident with Master Qin, Granny Zhao and Liuli's family were sent to the estate. They went from wearing gold and silver in the mansion to wearing coarse linen clothes and being supervised to do hard labor every day.

It was because the matter involved those families in the capital that Yu Miaoqi had to maintain order in the capital, so she let them off the hook. However, it was through this known connection that she gained nearly ten years of peace.

However, this time, Zhan Zheng is about to go to the capital, so why did Yu Miaoqi suddenly mention Zhao Mama and Liuli?

Yinyin pondered this in her heart as she returned to Youhuang Pavilion, where Qiurui also brought her a letter.

“Miss,” Qiu Rui said with a smile, “a letter from the Pan family has arrived.”

Upon hearing that it was a letter from the Pan family, Yin Yin immediately forgot about Granny Zhao and the other woman and started reading the letter.

The letter stated that the Pan family had now firmly established themselves in the south. In addition to managing the Zhan family's businesses, with Yu Miaoqi's tacit approval, they had also acquired private properties under their own and their younger brother's names. Under their own names were an embroidery workshop and a jewelry store, while their younger brother owned farmland.

It's not that they don't want to put a shop under their younger brother's name, but rather that their younger brother is now of formal schooling and has become a student of a local scholar who is said to be very talented. The Pan family has high hopes for him, so naturally they wouldn't put a shop under his name to avoid people saying he's doing business.

The letter reached its last page, where the handwriting had changed. It was neat and square, with fairly even ink application, clearly showing that effort had been put into it.

Qiu Rui brought over the tea and happened to see it, so she softly exclaimed, "This doesn't look like Uncle Pan's handwriting."

“It’s from my younger brother,” Yinyin said, carefully putting the letter away. “He said that my younger brother has started school and wrote me a letter to show him.”

"That's great news! In another ten years or so, I'm afraid the younger brother of the Pan family will also pass the imperial examination with flying colors!"

"I hope so, but who can predict the future?" Yin Yin thought of what she had seen when she was observing the fortunes of her younger brother, and she knew that her brother could not become a powerful minister like Zhan Zheng in this life.

They hadn't seen each other for years, and they didn't know if anything had changed.

Qiu Rui thought for a moment and said, "Miss, you are so intelligent, the younger brother of the Pan family must be no less so."

As she spoke, she lowered her voice again: "Besides, both the madam and the young master value Miss. Would they really be willing to deny Pan's younger brother a future?"

Yin Yin's eyes sharpened, and she immediately said, "Of course, one must earn their own future. How can one just wait for Mother and Brother to give it to them? Even if they had mentioned it, I would not have allowed it."

Qiu Rui opened her mouth, wanting to offer some advice, but seeing that she looked exhausted, she stopped talking and simply helped her to rest.

After the curtains were lowered, Qiu Rui went out and a young maid named Dong Xin came in to keep her company.

Dongxin stood at the door for a moment before stepping outside the tent to reply, "Miss, Sister Qiurui has gone out."

"I understand, you should rest too."

Yinyin closed her eyes, her hand gently resting on the quilt, but her thoughts were on Qiurui.

When she was younger, she needed someone to relay messages to Yu Miaoqi so she wouldn't hide anything from her. But now that she's older, Qiu Rui hasn't changed her mind and reports everything to Yu Miaoqi. She even pretends to be considering her needs and has repeatedly tried to get her to say things that might cause people to misunderstand, which makes it difficult to keep her around.

Just now, he said it was for his own benefit, that he could let the Pan family take advantage of the Zhan family's influence. But if these words were to reach Yu Miaoqi's ears in the blink of an eye, who knows what she would think?

But asking her to leave directly would be somewhat cold-hearted and would make Yu Miaoqi overthink things, so a suitable reason would have to be found.

Yinyin rested for a while, then got up and changed her clothes.

Dongxin stepped forward to comb her hair again and whispered, "Sister Qiurui hasn't come back yet."

Yinyin knew without a doubt that it was Zhao Mama and Liuli's matter that had kept Yu Miaoqi busy; otherwise, Qiu Rui would have returned by now.

She rolled her eyes and said, "I made a few sachets and fan covers for my elder brother a while ago. Go find them and I want to deliver them to him personally so I can see how he's packed them up."

Dongxin responded and quickly went to find the things before following Yinyin out the door.

As soon as she stepped out the door and walked behind the artificial hill, Yinyin saw Qiurui slowly returning from the main courtyard.

Dongxin saw everything, but simply stood behind Yinyin, waiting for her instructions.

“Let’s go,” Yin Yin turned and continued forward, saying confidently, “She will catch up.”

When Yinyin was almost at Zhanzheng's courtyard, Qiurui hurriedly came up from behind, her face full of concern, and said, "Miss, why did you get up so early today? Did you not sleep well? Should we call the family doctor to take a look?"

"Getting up early?" Yin Yin asked, feigning confusion. "Dong Xin, am I getting up earlier than usual?"

Dongxin feigned ignorance: "Isn't Miss usually the same as usual?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Qiu Rui's face: "Perhaps I misread the time."

“Yes,” Yin Yin glanced at her with a half-smile, “the time in the main courtyard and the time in Youhuang Pavilion are not quite the same, are they?”

Qiu Rui's expression changed, and she forced a smile, saying, "Miss, this... this servant..."

"Alright," Yin Yin glanced at her, "Just because I don't point things out doesn't mean I don't know them."

Seeing that Qiu Rui was about to kneel down, Yin Yin gave Dong Xin a wink: "Hurry up and help your sister Qiu Rui up. With people coming and going, people who don't know better will think I did something to her."

Although Dongxin was a few years younger than Qiurui, she was quite strong. With one hand holding the things and the other hand supporting Qiurui, she made it impossible for Qiurui to bow down any further.

“Sister Qiu Rui, I know you as well as I know you. If you’re not scared to this extent, why put on this act? After all, when you deliberately guided me to say certain things earlier, weren’t you quite bold?”

This time, Qiu Rui's face turned truly pale, and she retorted, "Miss, I'm innocent! Although I did tell Madam about what I reported to you, I truly didn't do anything like guiding you. I've served you for so long, so naturally my heart is with you!"

"You know how much of what you're saying is true, and I know it too," Yinyin continued walking forward, a perfectly timed smile on her face. "I won't stop you from reporting to your mother, but when you go back today, you should hand over the plaque and key to Youhuang Pavilion to Dongxin."

“I can tolerate a servant who has both me and my mother as masters in her heart, but I cannot tolerate a servant who is audacious.”

"Or, Sister Qiu Rui, you could go back and think about it carefully. Who taught you to be so 'loyal' in front of me?"