Bai Suihe left through the side door, walked through a narrow alley, and then, following her memory, arrived in front of a small courtyard.
She knocked on the door a few times rhythmically, the door creaked open from the inside, and an old woman with a wrinkled face saw Bai Suihe with her head down, "Miss Chunxiang, didn't you say the young lady was coming today?"
Bai Suihe slipped inside quickly, "Nanny Wu, it's me."
Wu Qingshui heard the familiar voice and hurriedly closed the door, "Miss, why are you dressed like this?"
"How could I come out without this disguise?" Bai Suihe said dismissively, "Yesterday, Chunxiang should have told you. Did you bring the people?"
This Wu Qingshui was Mrs. Bai's trusted confidante. Mrs. Bai adored this daughter, but facing family interests and among her other children, she had to make compromises.
On the day of exile, even though the Bai Family disowned her, Mrs. Bai asked Nanny Wu to bring her ten thousand in silver notes.
Unfortunately, on the road to exile, even with the silver notes, they couldn't be used openly, and she couldn't improve her life upon arrival. No one knows who ultimately benefited from those silver notes.
"Miss, this is improper," Wu Qingshui grew anxious, seeing the young lady's disguise, clearly indicating she had sneaked out. If the Gu Family found out, the young lady would be in trouble.
"Nanny, now is not the time for arguments. I really have an urgent matter.
My mother should have instructed you to listen to me in everything. Time is short, let's hurry."
Bai Suihe had to bring up Mrs. Bai because she had no manpower at hand. She originally planned to arrange some personnel to set things up on the road to exile, but plans changed now.
"Miss, don't worry, the people are already inside waiting. I'll take you in now," Wu Qingshui said helplessly. Mrs. Bai spoiled the young lady so much, who knows if it's for better or worse.
Bai Suihe entered the main room and found all familiar faces there. It seemed Mrs. Bai truly sent her trusted confidantes.
They were all people who served Mrs. Bai for years, and upon seeing someone half like Chunxiang, half like the young lady, the savvy ones immediately understood what was going on.
Their loyalty was steadfast, and they said nothing, only growing more curious about Bai Suihe's disguise, not knowing why the young lady summoned them here.
Bai Suihe said nothing more, directly pulling out a thick stack of silver notes from her bosom. This was after visiting the warehouse that morning, taking out all the reserve silver.
Seeing so many silver notes, Wu Qingshui's eyebrows furrowed even tighter, being familiar with these as Mrs. Bai's confidante, they amounted to fifty thousand in silver notes, who knows how much this made up.
"Here are fifty thousand in silver notes," as Bai Suihe finished speaking, Wu Qingshui nearly lost her footing, realizing the young lady intended to leave nothing behind.
"Miss?"
Bai Suihe gave her a reassuring glance, "I know you are all people my mother trusts, therefore I trust you as well.
I urgently need some supplies; I don't care what method you use, just buy everything on this list within seven days and put it at my dowry estate."
After saying this, Bai Suihe took out the list she prepared earlier, "Try to buy from outside shops, don't touch the stock from my dowry shops, I still need them."
Bai Suihe, fearing they might opt for convenience, added, "Act separately, so as not to draw attention."
With that, she handed the silver notes and the list to Nanny Wu.
Wu Qingshui wiped the sweat from her forehead, nervously taking them, "Miss, how should we explain this to Madam when we return?"
Bai Suihe, "…to see if Mother can come to the Gu Mansion in the next few days? If not, I'll find a way to go back in a while."
Wu Qingshui immediately understood this wasn't something just anyone should hear, and hastily agreed.
If it weren't for the young lady coming in person today, if it were Chunxiang bringing out the silver notes, she'd have dragged Chunxiang back to the mansion or reported her to the authorities.
"Miss, should I escort you back to the mansion?" After conveying the matters with the silver notes in Bai Suihe's presence, she inquired of Bai Suihe, who sat by sipping tea.
Bai Suihe stood up, straightening her clothes and smoothing her hair, "Accompany me to the street to buy a few things, then you can have the others escort me back."
Having come out, she couldn't return empty-handed, and Bai Suihe wanted to understand the current market prices.
She didn't go anywhere else, just buying some pastries and fresh fruits on the nearby street.
Although she had a large orchard in her space now, it couldn't be the source.
She wanted to stroll around more, but Nanny Wu was very nervous, afraid the ruse at the mansion would be uncovered, urging every now and then.
Bai Suihe knew she couldn't be willful, quickly bought some needles and threads, and headed back.
Nanny Wu led two sturdy men, carrying the load to the side door of the Gu Mansion's backyard.
The gatekeeper saw Chunxiang and immediately greeted her with smiles, only to have her way blocked by an old face, with a silver coin slipped into her palm, "My old aunt Chunxiang, thank you for looking after this child."
The two sturdy men squeezed through the middle, placing the load inside the courtyard, then retreated honestly. Bai Suihe slipped into the backyard.
Behind her came Wu Qingshui's voice, "Chunxiang, hurry and have someone carry the things back, don't delay the master's matters."
The old woman watched Chunxiang's retreating figure, quietly sliding the silver coin into her bosom, "Turns out we're all one family, taking care of each other is only right.
You folks are too kind, what did you buy?"
"Just some fruits, preserves, and snacks, you know, with the pregnancy, she might be picky, not knowing what the master likes, so I bought a bit more."
"You are really considerate of the master. With loyal people like you serving the Third Young Madam, life can be a bit easier."
Wu Qingshui felt a bit emotional; even the gatekeeper knew how tough it was for the young lady, showing how challenging life must be at the Gu Mansion.
Fine, if the young lady wishes to spend her silver, let her spend it. Worst-case, Madam will cover the difference.
Bai Suihe, with her head down, returned to the courtyard, knocking on the door. Dongmei immediately opened it, having been stationed there, secretly observing the outside. Seeing the familiar figure, she also felt relieved.
Bai Suihe sat in front of the dressing table, starting to remove her makeup, "Go to the side door to bring in the things."
Chunxiang, who had been lying in bed pretending, immediately sat up. Bai Suihe saw the sweat on her forehead and couldn't help but chuckle, "You didn't lie down with the blanket on all this time, did you?"
Chunxiang, "…Miss, I was nervous to death, and you're still in the mood to joke."
"It's my fault," Bai Suihe quickly apologized, "I know you're uncomfortable, let's switch back now.
Was there anything unusual while I was out?"
Chunxiang moved efficiently while responding, "No one came over, but my heart kept pounding the whole time."