Setting Her Heart at Ease
“Grandfather! Grandfather…….”
Her grandfather bent down and gently stroked her head, then took her hand in his. His voice, worn smooth by the traces of long years, brimmed with a quiet power that soothed the heart.
“Ayan, you protected your sisters, and you protected the Bai family as well……. Your grandfather could not be more content. I am so very proud of you, Ayan.”
Bai Jingyan clenched her teeth and shook her head.
“No. I didn't do well enough! I could never be worthy of your pride. If I had come to my senses sooner—if I hadn't gone on regarding myself as nothing but an invalid while idling away each day—if I had worked to recover my martial strength sooner, I could have gone with you to the Southern Border……. With my one death, I could have bought peace for one or two members of my family!”
Her grandfather's smile grew gentler and warmer still.
“Ayan, do you know what your grandfather wished for his whole life?”
“A golden age of peace. Peace throughout the realm…….”
Her grandfather nodded. Nothing remained in his voice but the boundless tenderness of a man who had weathered every storm life could offer.
“I once said I would rather be born a dog in an age of peace than a man in an age of chaos. What the people born into chaos long for is nothing more, nothing less…… than peace itself. Ayan, will you inherit your grandfather's last wish and lend your strength to all the living souls of this world?”
“The Bai family were loyal ministers for generations, and brilliant generals. We were always honest and upright, our hearts loyal to a fault, thinking of nothing but the people. We sacrificed ourselves for this country without a single selfish thought—and yet the Emperor grew suspicious of us, and our family was driven to ruin. Grandfather……. Then why is it that you ask me to protect the realm of Great Jin?”
“Ayan, what do you believe people live for?”
Her grandfather asked in a soft voice.
Before she could answer, his form dissolved into a gentle glow and scattered away. Her throat seized tight. She reached out to grasp him, but there was nothing in her hands but empty air.
“Grandfather! Grandfather!”
Panicked, Bai Jingyan cried out after him—but all that echoed back through the empty valley was the sound of her own voice.
“Eldest Sister! Eldest Sister…….”
Bai Jindong's voice at her ear snapped Bai Jingyan's eyes open.
“Eldest Sister!”
Bai Jinchi, who had been slumped over her sickbed, shot upright.
“She's awake!”
Bai Jinxiu's eyes reddened at the sight of her eldest sister opening her eyes, and then the tears spilled over. She turned her head toward the door and called out.
“Auntie! Eldest Sister has woken up! Eldest Sister has woken up!”
Lady Dong, who had been speaking with Physician Hong outside the folding screen, lifted the hem of her skirt and hurried inside the moment she heard Bai Jinxiu's words.
Bai Jinxiu quickly wiped her tears and pulled Bai Jindong and Bai Jinchi away from the bedside. Lady Dong sank down onto the edge of the sickbed, her throat too tight for words, and pressed her hand to Bai Jingyan's forehead.
“The fever's gone! Good heavens, it's finally broken! Heaven above, I thank you.”
“Mother…….”
At the sound of Bai Jingyan's hoarse voice, Lady Dong's tears burst free. She clasped her daughter's hand tight and bit down on her lower lip.
“You woke up, and that's all that matters. It's over now!”
“Eldest Sister, you slept for two whole days!”
Two days……. No wonder her whole body felt frail, without a single ounce of strength in it.
“She really did!”
Only now setting her worry down, Bai Jindong's voice had grown noticeably lighter.
“When Eldest Sister's fever spiked without warning, even Imperial Physician Huang and Physician Hong were helpless. It was Master Su's method that did it. His elder brother had the very same symptoms after their mother's funeral, you see. So Physician Hong applied the needles just as Master Su described. Who would have thought it would work so well? Barely half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed before she woke up.”
“The family worried themselves sick over you, you know. Grandmother kept vigil here for two whole days, and it took Auntie a long while of pleading before she finally went home.”
Bai Jinxiu said with a soft smile.
“Jinse, Jinhua, and Jinsuo held out for a while too, but they've only just gone back to their rooms. If they'd known Eldest Sister would wake up now, not one of them would have left.”
Physician Hong took Bai Jingyan's pulse and let out a long sigh of relief.
“She is well now! She's out of danger! Two days of rest should see her right. For the next few days she is to eat only plain, gentle foods—and I will write out a list of medicinal dishes for her.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Physician Hong.”
Chun Tao hastily pulled back the screen so Physician Hong could leave. Stepping out of the inner chamber, he bent over the prescription and began to write.
Chun Tao bathed Bai Jingyan and then served her a bowl of clear congee. After eating it, she felt a little strength return to her body.
Word that Bai Jingyan had woken spread through the entire estate. The Grand Princess, her aunts, and her younger sisters all came to see her in turn, one after another. At last, everyone could set their hearts at ease.
Bai Jinxiu, Bai Jindong, and Bai Jinchi sat around the brazier with Bai Jingyan, discussing the plans ahead.
“Now that the Liang Wang affair has been tied to the Southern Border grain scandal, the Zhongyong Marquis Estate can no longer escape its guilt. The Marquis is already dead, and Jin Lang has returned to the estate—so after we send Grandmother to the imperial temple on the fifteenth, I mean to go back there myself.”
Bai Jinxiu began.
“He is your husband, after all. The Bai family's funeral is over, so now it's time to prepare the estate's.”
Bai Jingyan's face was pale, without a trace of color. She lifted her warm cup of tea, warming her hands, and spoke in a low voice.
“If your body can bear it, go back to the estate today. Drag it out too long and the gossips will only multiply.”
Bai Jinxiu looked at her eldest sister, and Bai Jingyan went on.
“The estate must be in chaos right now, with no one to hold it in hand. This is the most opportune moment to move exactly as you see fit. Seize the power, win the hearts. I know how devoted you are to Grandmother—but she will be at the imperial temple for the foreseeable future, so there will be many more chances to see her.”
It wasn't that Bai Jinxiu was ignorant of this duty. She had originally intended to return home as soon as the Bai family's funeral procession departed on the tenth day of the month, but Eldest Sister had suddenly collapsed into a burning fever and unconsciousness, so she had stayed two extra days. And since she had stayed through today anyway, she thought she might as well wait two more, see Grandmother and her third sister off, and then leave.
“Yes!”
Bai Jinxiu nodded.
“Now that Eldest Sister is well again, I can go with an easy heart. My things are all packed—I can leave at once. I'll leave Yin Shuang here at the estate for now, and bring her over once the matters at the Zhongyong Marquis Estate are settled.”
With that, Bai Jinxiu rose and bowed.
“Be careful, always!”
Bai Jindong urged, unable to quite let go of her worry.
“It seems I won't be able to see you off on the fifteenth, sister. When you're out and about, take care—and take care again.”
Bai Jinxiu looked at Bai Jingyan with reddened eyes.
“Sister, I may not be able to see you off when you go to the Southern Border. You take good care of yourself too—and I'll be waiting here in Dadu for you to come home in triumph.”
“I'll go see Second Sister off and come back.”
Bai Jinchi said, rising to her feet.
“Jinchi, stop by Grandmother's place on the way and tell Nanny Zhang yourself to escort Jinxiu to the Zhongyong Marquis Estate. You go along too. The people of the estate need to see it. The people of the capital must all know that behind Jinxiu stands the Grand Princess and every member of our Bai family—only then will they never dare mistreat her again.”
Bai Jingyan said to Bai Jinchi.
“Eldest Sister, Grandmother already spoke of it yesterday. She said that when Second Sister returns to the estate, she'll send Nanny Zhang along with her, and send her own carriage besides. She said she would smooth Second Sister's road back to the Zhongyong Marquis Estate as flat as she possibly could.”
Bai Jindong said quietly.
In one way it was only natural—but even so, Bai Jingyan had not expected her grandmother to go this far. She nodded.
“I see. Then there's nothing to worry about.”
Once the three younger sisters had gone, Bai Jingyan gave Chun Tao her instructions.
“Chun Tao, I must change my clothes. Send someone to bring Xiao Ruohai to me.”
Seeing that Bai Jingyan's color was far from good, Chun Tao wanted to dissuade her—but Bai Jingyan was hardly the sort to listen, so she swallowed her tears and lifted the folding screen.
“Yes, Miss!”
It was hardly the time for deep sleep, and yet she had slept a full two days.
She needed to know whether Liang Wang had made any moves in prison these past two days, and how the interrogations of Gao Sheng, Dongji, and the Vanguard Army had gone.
Xiao Ruohai had been waiting since the moment he heard Bai Jingyan was awake, so he arrived at Qinghui Courtyard without delay.
“The moment the girl Chunyan was taken for punishment, she confessed everything truthfully—and she died of massive blood loss that very night. Gao Sheng is an uncommonly tough man. One of the Court of Judicial Review's subordinates who is skilled at interrogation could not pry a single thing out of him. Dongji endured every torture they had in that prison, but he insisted over and over that he knew nothing. The Vanguard Army men told all they knew, but nothing of importance. However, it seems there is no escape for Liang Wang when it comes to the Southern Border grain affair.”
Xiao Ruohai bowed courteously and relayed the news from the prison to Bai Jingyan in crisp, concise terms.
“And there is one more thing. The day after the Bai family's funeral procession departed…… the Crown Prince came to the manor dressed in plain commoner's clothes. He handed the spirit tablet to the Grand Princess and asked to see you. But since you had not yet woken, he spoke privately with Her Highness for roughly half a shichen, then slipped out of the estate unnoticed. Only the Grand Princess and the Lady Dowager know of this.”
Bai Jingyan was not particularly surprised. With Xin King gone, it was only natural for the Crown Prince to be formally elevated. But the campaign to the Southern Border would be something the Crown Prince had never anticipated—and wanting to hear her thoughts before he departed was perhaps only to be expected.
Whatever words had passed between her grandmother and the Crown Prince, she need not concern herself with them.
“Miss, Third Young Miss has come.”
Hardly had Chun Tao finished speaking before Bai Jindong pushed back the screen and hurried in, breathing hard.
“Eldest Sister.”
After bowing to Bai Jingyan, Bai Jindong pressed on.
“There were sacrifices at the palace—the Crown Prince has been formally invested as Crown Prince, and he is to depart for the Southern Border in person on the fifteenth of the first month. His Highness has ordered the Vice Minister of the Bureau of Military Affairs to prepare the army provisions.”
Bai Jindong had rushed over the moment she heard the news.
If the Crown Prince took the field, Eldest Sister would have to go with him—in other words, Eldest Sister too would have to leave Dadu on the fifteenth.
The fifteenth of the first month. So soon!
Bai Jingyan smoothed the hem of her garment lightly and nodded.
“Understood.”
Chun Tao, waiting outside in the courtyard, saw Nanny Jin hurrying in on quick little steps and bowed.
“Nanny Jin.”
“Has the Young Miss woken?”
“Yes, she is speaking with Third Young Miss now. I'll announce you right away.”
Just as Chun Tao lifted the screen to go in, Nanny Jin continued speaking.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived. He asked to meet the Young Miss in the front hall—and at this moment he is taking tea with the Lady Dowager.”
Chun Tao flinched in surprise, then hurried inside at once.
Having heard the news from within the room, Bai Jingyan rose to her feet and spoke to Chun Tao.
“Bring my traveling attire.”
She would have to depart on the fifteenth of the first month. It went without saying that the Crown Prince would want to ask Bai Jingyan for her strategy against the combined Nanyan–Xiliang forces. The military glory would be his—so no one on earth would hunger for victory in this war more than the Crown Prince himself. He would surely want to use this glory to cement his position, now and hereafter, beyond any rival's reach.