The Bai Family's Legacy
By the time the three sisters arrived at Shouyuan Courtyard, Lady Dong and Fifth Aunt Lady Je had not yet appeared.
Nanny Zhang instructed the servants to prepare fresh milk and light refreshments for the young ladies. Before long, Lady Dong and Fifth Aunt entered the hall together.
The brazier in the room blazed cheerfully. Knowing that Bai Jingyan suffered from a chill in her lungs, Nanny Zhang directed the maids to add several pieces of silver charcoal with the tongs. She then covered the brazier with its pierced bronze lid, pushed it close to Bai Jingyan's side, and withdrew from the hall with the servants in tow.
The Grand Princess, seated upon a cushion embroidered with lotus motifs and eight blessings, leaned against a pillow stitched with auspicious clouds and spoke in a low voice.
"The Bai family's funeral is finished, and I have told His Majesty that I will step down from my title. The remaining members of the Bai household will return to Suyang, and on the fifteenth I will enter the imperial temple and remain there for good. I will take Jindong with me so she can lend me a hand.
Tomorrow, the eldest daughter-in-law is to send several capable stewards to repair the ancestral home in Suyang. Once the repairs are made and the house has properly aired out, it will likely be the fifth or sixth month before we can move in. By then, the fifth's child will have been born, and her postpartum recovery will be over as well. At that point, follow the eldest daughter-in-law back to Suyang."
This matter had been discussed long before, so Lady Dong, Second Madam Lady Yu, Third Madam Lady Li, Fourth Madam Lady Wang, and Fifth Madam Lady Je all raised no objection.
Besides, if the Bai family remained in Dadu, they would continue to be the target of someone's schemes.
Fortunately, the Liang King's plot to smear the Bai clan as collaborators with the enemy had come to nothing. Had matters unfolded according to his designs, not a single member of the Bai family would have survived.
"Is there... anyone among you who wishes to return to her maiden home?"
The Grand Princess opened her eyes and asked in a gentle voice. There was not a trace of reproach in her manner.
Only family members were in the room; even Nanny Zhang waited outside the door. The Grand Princess wished to preserve the dignity of any Bai daughter-in-law who longed to leave.
"Mother..."
Second Madam Lady Yu spoke, her eyes rimmed with red, her voice trembling with tears.
"I have no thought of ever leaving the Bai family. But Jinshui is here in Dadu, and so I have no wish to return to Suyang either. Might I accompany you, Mother, down to the temple?"
Lady Yu's husband, her own sons, and even her adopted son had all perished in the Southern Border. Bai Jinxiu was the only child she had left, and she could neither see her often nor even learn whether she was faring well — her worry was beyond words.
Bai Jinxiu took her mother's hand and murmured soothingly.
"Mother, the reason His Majesty posthumously elevated Grandfather to Duke of Zhenguo is that we showed signs of withdrawing from Dadu. Grandmother holds the title of Grand Princess, so of course she must remain in the capital, and I have become the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo's heir, so I naturally cannot leave Dadu. But you are different, Mother. For now, at least, it would be best to follow Great Aunt. Thankfully there are still several months to spare — no one is asking you to go this very moment."
"Second Aunt, don't be so anxious! No one can know what the future holds. The Bai family might rise again!"
Bai Jindong, who knew her eldest sister's plans, comforted Lady Yu as well.
Lady Yu clutched her daughter's hand tightly and said nothing. If she returned to Suyang, coming back to Dadu would never be easy again.
"Second daughter, return to Suyang with the eldest daughter-in-law. If your heart cannot be at ease over Jinshui and you wish to come back to Dadu, then once the three-year mourning period has ended, I will discuss the matter with her in-laws and grant a letter of repudiation. How would it be to return to your maiden home then?"
The Grand Princess asked Lady Yu with the gentlest possible bearing and the kindest possible words.
For her mother-in-law to lower herself so far moved Lady Yu to aching sorrow. She swallowed her tears and opened her mouth.
"Mother, I truly do not want a letter of repudiation. It is only that Jinshui weighs on my heart. If I return to Suyang, I must live far away from her. No — forgive me. I will return to Suyang. Jindong is right. It is not as though there will never be another chance to come back to Dadu!"
Scarcely had Lady Yu's words fallen when Nanny Zhang lifted the screen and entered. Standing behind the eight-treasured folding screen inlaid with kingfisher jade and coral, she did not come further inside and asked in a low voice.
"Grand Princess, Lord Bai Qiyun of the Bai clan in Suyang was robbed on his way back and has returned to his residence for now. He was injured all over his body, and he claims the silver gifted by the Ducal Estate to the clan was stolen entirely — he demands that the Ducal Estate resolve this matter."
Bai Jindong, knowing this was her eldest sister's doing, merely lifted her teacup and drank in silence.
"Robbed? Hahaha! Even Heaven can no longer bear to watch that spectacle!"
Bai Jinchi burst out laughing at the sheer absurdity of it, then rose to her feet and asked.
"Injured all over his body? Did he end up crippled?"
Standing outside the folding screen, Nanny Zhang could neither laugh nor cry at Bai Jinchi's words.
"A report came in from the countryside. No one has gone to see for themselves yet."
Bai Jingyan lowered her gaze, gave a soft snort, and spoke slowly.
"Nothing but women are left in our Bai family. Even when we still held the title, the Suyang clan could not be relied upon to safeguard the Bai family's legacy. Now that only women and children remain — without even a title to our name — how could such a household possibly settle the clan's affairs on their behalf? Besides, I said clearly before Grandfather's spirit tablet: the Fifth Branch must carry four hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver back to Suyang, and I stated plainly that once the funeral concluded, I would escort them there myself. Yet he insisted on going alone, and now he claims he was robbed. If you are robbed, you go to the local authorities — why come to our Bai family? Is he coveting my mother's and aunts' dowries yet again?"
Impatient as ever, Lady Yu dabbed the tears at the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief and said briskly.
"Ayan is right! He should be going to the local authorities — why come looking for us? We have no title now, and with nothing but women left in this house, there is no way we could help him. When he was rushing off with all that silver, didn't Ayan clearly try to stop him? Don't tell me he truly means to seize our dowries? Is he trying to drive the rest of us to our deaths as well? Tell him to get out!"
Lady Dong, by contrast, spoke with perfect calm.
"By now... that clan lord has surely already been to the authorities. In my judgment, he hopes that our mother, the Grand Princess, will lean upon the local officials on his behalf — that he is looking to recover the silver that way."
Did the clan think that having a Grand Princess among them gave them license to do as they pleased? Did they truly believe the Grand Princess existed to serve as their beast of burden, to be used at their whim?
A shadow fell over the Grand Princess's eyes. She let the strength drain from her body and leaned back against the pillow, her tone calm and serene.
"I am old. Once the fifteenth passes, I will spend my days quietly at the imperial temple. Whatever concerns the people of the Ducal Estate, I will help in any way I can — but I have neither the intention nor the strength to concern myself with anything else."
The meaning of these words was clear: she had no intention of meddling in the clan's affairs, but if the clan dared bring harm to her granddaughters over this matter, she would never let it pass. It was a warning to the Bai clan of Suyang — do not think that because the daughters-in-law and granddaughters have returned to Suyang, you may torment them.
"The Bai family's legacy..."
Bai Jingyan turned her head to look at Lady Dong.
"Xiao Rongyan is a man who keeps faith and honor. He still has not pressed us about the ledgers and the contract. But our Bai family cannot delay this matter. Now that the Bai family's funeral is complete, Mother — send a steward with the ledgers to reconcile the accounts, and set a date for the transfer of the property and shops."
"Ayan is right. The sooner this is settled, the better."
replied the Grand Princess.
Lady Dong rose and bowed to the Grand Princess.
"Mother, I will see to this matter and guide the clansmen through it myself."
"You have worked hard."
The Grand Princess was sincerely grateful to Lady Dong.
After Lady Dong departed, the Grand Princess kept only Bai Jingyan behind and sent the rest of the family off to rest. They had all spent so long resolving one matter after another that they were surely exhausted.
Bai Jinxiu wrapped her arm around Lady Yu's and left Shouyuan Courtyard, walking back with her. The maids followed at some distance behind mother and daughter, and Bai Jinxiu spoke to Lady Yu in a low voice.
"Mother, please don't worry about me staying alone in Dadu. Grandmother is here, after all. What's more, Marquis Zhongyong is already dead, and Lady Zhang has been commanded never to return to the Marquis Estate — no one can trouble me now."
Lady Yu, holding back tears, grasped her daughter's hand.
"But Jinlang has been passed over for the position of Crown Prince, and you are remaining here all alone — how could your mother not worry?"
"Mother..."
Bai Jinxiu's eyes reddened. She gripped Lady Yu's hand tightly.
"If not for your own sake, then for mine, you must return to Suyang with Great Aunt. You are impulsive and quick to flare up, Mother, so whatever happens, you must heed Great Aunt's words. Great Aunt is always composed, and she treasures this family dearly — she will surely look after you well. Mother, wait for me. I will wait here in Dadu for you and Great Aunt to come back."
"Jinshui, I... I don't quite follow what you're saying."
Lady Yu's face went blank. Her heart leapt into her throat.
"You... you're not planning to do something dangerous, are you?"
"Mother, the one taking the risk isn't me — it's Eldest Sister."
Bai Jinxiu squeezed her mother's hand tightly, then walked forward with firm steps as she continued.
"Eldest Sister is going to the Southern Border. Since it's a matter that cannot stay hidden anyway, I'll tell you first, Mother. But you must never breathe a word of it to anyone."
"What?"
Lady Yu's heart plummeted.
Bai Jinxiu lowered her voice still further.
"Grandfather always said Eldest Sister was a general born and bred! The Emperor demanded that Eldest Sister go to the Southern Border to see to the aftermath, and she agreed. And if Eldest Sister wins military distinction in the Southern Border, she has set a condition with His Majesty — that he appoint me a First-Rank Lady of High Command."
Lady Yu stopped in her tracks. Her reddened eyes flew wide open; she stood dazed for a moment, then shook her head.
"No! Why would your sister go there! Your Eldest Sister is no longer the master of martial arts she once was. She can no longer cut off the head of an enemy grand general as the Little White Marshal once did! Besides, only scattered remnants of soldiers remain in the Southern Border! If she goes there and — heaven forbid — heaven forbid she fails to come back, how could you ever accept a First-Rank title with an easy heart? And how could I, her mother, ever face your Great Aunt again? No! Absolutely not!"
The "Little White Marshal" had been the jesting name the generals of the Bai Family Army gave Bai Jingyan back when she cut off the head of Fang Pingguo, the grand general of Shu.
"Mother."
Bai Jinxiu gripped Lady Yu's hand so hard her fingers turned white.
"The Emperor's edict cannot be defied. Besides, going to the Southern Border to avenge Grandfather, our uncles, and our brothers is Eldest Sister's dearest wish. She may have lost all her martial skill, but she is a brilliant strategist, isn't she? I believe in Eldest Sister. You must believe in her too, Mother."
Lady Yu was flustered, and her heart ached. Before departing for the Southern Border, Bai Jingyan had secured a First-Rank Lady of High Command investiture for Bai Jinxiu. It must have been a decision made out of fear that Jinxiu might suffer hardship in Dadu — for the sake of her future.
"Mother, if you still feel uneasy, then pray to Heaven and Earth and the gods. Ask Heaven and Earth and the spirits of the Bai family to watch over Eldest Sister and bring her safely home. Even as she set off for the perilous Southern Border, Eldest Sister was still trying to protect me. Suyang won't be entirely peaceful either, so you must take good care of Great Aunt."
Bai Jinxiu knew her own mother better than anyone. Great Aunt was such a formidable woman that she needed no mothering — but Bai Jinxiu had to find her mother something, anything, that she could do.