22. The shrine for miss Bai

Xiaosi came in with complicate expression. ''Miss, Weiling wants to leave.''

Shu Ya rubbed her head and nodded. ''Xiosi, come in, please.'' As he entered her pointe at the mess. ''There are ten sets of female clothes. Please pack them swiftly. In the corner on her bed is her own clothes and personal items from before, pack that as well.''

Then she took poach from her sleeve and put it on the table. A thick sound could be heard from inside. ''Give this to her and tell her I am grateful she thaught em life lesson. From now on, she should not come back. Here is her contract as well. She should live free, as she always wanted.''

Xiaosi was actually fast in his work. Two big bags filled with clothes were prepared and he took the bag from the table. He was about to leave when he heard Shu Ya's words. ''You are good man Xiaosi and I do not wish to stop you as well. If you go with me to the north you might not have a chance to go home for a very long time and I can't do that to you. When you give her this come back and pack your things as well. I have a few things prepared for you.''

Xiaosi looked at her with a heavy expression. ''But miss, who will take care of you on your trip?''

She smiled. ''Mingli and Mingyu are amazing helpers. I am not scared. Don't worry. I will be fine. And after all, the other two that wanted to come will arrive in while as well.''

Xiaosi nodded. ''Ren and Chungli are good people. Please be kind to them.''

Shu Ya nodded. ''Don't worry, I am not a bad person.''

He smiled at her. ''I know. I will be right back, miss.''

When he left the room he could see Weiling peeking around the corner with fear on her face. He got closer and almost threw the bags at her. ''You have no idea what you did. Your wish came true, she let you go.'' He took the contact and bag filled with silver and gave her. ''This is from miss. She said she will remember the life lesson she learned from you.''

Weiling shrugged and opened the bag. She pursed her lips. ''She has so much money and gave me just a dozen big silver. Stingy.''

Xiaosi realized just then why Shu Ya didn't even wince when he said Weiling will leave. She expected it and hoped she would. ''With that money, you have here, you can buy a big farm on land or house in the city. You are good at embroidery and you can live comfortably with what you earn.'' Then he saw her just taking her things and leaving. He stood there and shook his head.

But a voice behind him almost shocked him. He turned around and saw one of those young gentlemen stood behind and stared ta Weiling's back. ''She is doomed to fail no matter what she starts. Miss Bai's decision to let her go was right, what is the point of having servants that are not faithful. Are you leaving her as well?''

Xiaosi sighed. ''I wanted to stay by her side until spring, but she is sending me back home. I am about to get married and that is the only reason I am leaving her side. No other. Miss Bai is a good mistress and if I didn't have old parents I would have stayed with her until the end of my days.''

The youth patted his shoulder. ''I am sure she knows that. Don't think too much about it.''

Xiaosi bowed towards him and rushed to his room. He calmly packed his bags and knocked on the door. As he heard her voice he entered and saw a box on the table.

Shu Ya motioned to him to get closer. ''Here is your contract and some dowry and trinkets for your mother and future wife. Please have a long and happy life.'' Her earnest smile brought tears to his eyes and he kneeled in front of her.

''Miss, I will remember you until the end of my life. Please be healthy and live a long long happy life. Please?'' He knew he couldn't deny her true thought so he picked a small package and contract from the table but was stopped by her.

She opened her hand and a simple necklace with a tube on it was in her hand. ''This is my real gift. Inside is something I am gifting you with my heart. Inside your papers will be my letter, keep it safe just in case. Read it later, when you get home. But only in front of your parents, no one else should know except in extreme cases. Ok?''

He nodded and gathered all the papers inside his clothes and necklace he put right on. He patted the necklace with his hand and in gratitude bowed deeply to the floor three times. ''Thank you miss.''

Later, much later when he came home he opened the letters in front of his parents and they were stunned. In the letter, she officially was gifting him a paper note on five hundred silver. She wrote a gifting certificate just in case someone points finger ta him and accused him of stealing.

His parents were so grateful they put up a shrine in their house and prayed for her heald every day. So did he and his astonished wife that had no idea why they are praying for someone's health.

Later on, he explained to her that the person they are praying to is the one that made him wealthy enough to start his own farm and with time they became the wealthiest people in the region.

Hearing his words she made everyone even her children and servants pray for Shu Ya until it became family shrine that they prayed for many many years to come. But that is another story.

On ship many things changed...