"Miss?" Xiao Mei widened her eyes, as her sight fell over the luminescent pearl. Its glow almost entrancing her senses for a brief second.
"Miss, isn't this the pearl the third madam had gifted you on your last birthday? Why are you pawning this off? You can just ask madam for anything you want to purchase." Xiao Mei asked again, befuddled at why her miss would even consider pawning off a gift now.
No way they were this poor right? Or did Miss think she was falling out of favour? No way, she was the only one in the youngest generation in the entire household, who would dare not dote on her?
"Just do as I said. I will grant you a leave for a few days in the excuse of you going back to visit your family. On your way pawn it off in a pawn shop. Ensure that it's not too famous, but must be trustworthy. No one must know."
Xiao Mei dumbly nodded. She felt a sense of fear rise in her heart.
Boohoo ...What happened to her cute carefree young miss? Are they really so poor now? Will Miss sell her off too?
"Miss, Xiao Mei promises to do as Miss asks. Don't sell Xiao Mei off!" she knelt down hugging Jiao Qingxiao's legs, looking as if she was about to break down in tears.
"Aye, aye, rise, rise. What's wrong with you Xiao Mei? Who is selling you?" Jiao Qingxiao blinked a few times, clearly amused, before forcefully dragging her hand to make her stand.
"Why would you have such an idea?"
"Miss, are we so poor that we now have to pawn off miss's gifts for money?"
Realization dawned over Jiao Qingxiao. So that was what she was thinking. No wonder…She couldn't help but chuckle looking at her maid's confused and worried face.
"Xiao Mei, I am thinking of opening a teahouse in the eastern part of the province."
"But why is that so? If we are not in need of money then why does Miss need to open a teahouse all of a sudden?"
"Because more money isn't bad Xiao Mei. Now go go, keep this carefully with you, and here, take this stamp and show it to the gatekeeper. I have already told him in advance. Hide the pearl inside the fruit basket., here." Jiao Qingxiao spoke in one breath hurriedly as she handed over both the stamp and the carefully prepared basket to Xiao Mei.
Xiao Mei hesitantly accepted, nodding her head. Why was her miss sounding like those money minded merchant daughters? No no, she won't think of young miss like that. Miss must have her reasons. As a maid she just needed to comply obediently.
"Don't worry, miss, Xiao Mei will make sure to go to the best pawn shop she can find."
"Mhm, that's good." Jiao Qingxiao flashed a reassuring smile patting her head. Xiao Mei, just a year older than her, had been with her since she had turned five. Coupled with their last life together it has already been over two decades that she had accompanied her.
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By the time Xiao Mei reached the street it was relatively quiet and desolate. Thankfully due to Miss's earlier words to the gatekeeper, they didn't thoroughly check the basket. She was panicking in her heart wondering how she was going to save Miss's reputation if word got out of her pawning off personal gifts.
She was aware of the top pawn houses in the province, however those were too risky to go to. If the owner became even the slightest bit suspicious it might cause Miss's identity to be revealed. Worst case scenario, the entire Jiao residence will face the emperor's wrath."
She shook her head in a vain attempt to shake away the negative thoughts quickly. She finally noticed a relatively large building for a pawn shop in the middle of the street. Maybe because it was already mid afternoon, when most were having their much needed rest after lunch, it was also fairly quiet.
"Miss, how may I help you?" The middle aged shopkeeper politely welcomed her.
Xiao Mei was still hesitant. What if they didn't offer a fair price for such a high quality pearl? Worse yet, would she even know if she was conned. Moreover the pawn slip, could she trust it?
"Miss? Are you here to pawn or sell?" The shopkeeper asked again as he kindly looked at her."
"Pawn, pawn." Xiao Mei gathered all the courage in her heart and discreetly took out the pearl placing it on top of the counter.
The shopkeeper carefully scrutinized the pearl for a while. Without much change in his expression, he spoke, "This is a fine pearl miss. You are quite lucky to have come to my shop. I will offer you 5 silver taels for this. Here's the pawn slip."
Xiao Mei widened her eyes, taking a few steps back, barely supporting herself in time.
Although she was aware that Miss was pawning off a fairly expensive jewel she didn't expect the pawn shop to offer such a high price. It's not even as if she was selling the pearl.
She nodded dumbly, accepting the pouch and slip from the man before leaving the shop. She couldn't return back to the mansion now as the gatekeeper would surely grow suspicious if she came back from visiting her family within a single day.
Nevermind, she would just stay the night in a cheap inn. No matter what happens she couldn't get miss into trouble.