One Command, a Hundred Answers
Bai Jindong knew perfectly well that what her eldest sister wanted was to protect the Bai family. Yet she could also read the breadth of Bai Jingyan's ambition — that if her strength allowed, she wished to reach not only beyond the Bai family but beyond the Jin Dynasty itself, into other nations altogether.
The Bai family had not yet escaped danger, and already her eldest sister was paving the way to unfold the great aspiration the family had carried through generations — and would have to carry into the future. Her sister's vision was vast. Which meant Bai Jindong, too, would have to change her strategy. Only then could she keep pace with her sister's stride.
"I understand, Sister. So don't worry. I will never betray your trust, or the faith of the Bai family and our ancestors."
Bai Jindong raised her fist in a martial salute.
"This is as far as you should see me off. I'll head down the mountain now."
That Bai Jindong had read the truth in her heart left Bai Jingyan deeply satisfied.
"Always be careful. Your heart is too kind. But out there, you must never let a woman's petty emotions govern you."
"Understood!"
From this day forward, Bai Jindong would live under another's identity.
The hidden guards trailed silently behind Bai Jindong as her figure receded into the distance.
A cold wind stirred the bamboo grove with a soft rustling, and through that sound Bai Jingyan's low voice carried to Wei Zhong's ears.
"Hand the remaining hidden guards over to Second Young Lady Bai Jinxiu once the siege around the Zhongyong Marquis Estate withdraws — they are to follow only her commands. You are getting on in years, so from today, serve at Grandmother's side and see that her remaining years pass in peace. There is no need to follow me."
Hearing this, Wei Zhong bowed his head without a moment's hesitation and offered his gratitude.
With every change on the throne, the ministers changed as well. Wei Zhong had witnessed countless such affairs within the palace. For a servant to end well when a master changed was, for those born into servitude, a blessing beyond measure.
The expeditionary army departed at the close of the hour of the Dragon, as the hour of the Snake began. Bai Jingyan was to meet the Crown Prince ten li beyond the city walls.
Because she had to see her grandmother and third younger sister off that morning, she had instructed Xiao Ruohai to take the escorts and baggage ahead and wait at the appointed place.
Bai Jingyan rode down the mountain in the same carriage as Lady Dong, who wrapped her arms around her daughter's shoulders, weeping as she urged caution upon her again and again.
"Do not ever imagine, as you once did, that you can command the whole battlefield. And do not go anywhere dangerous. This mother has only you left. Do you understand me?"
"Mother, don't worry. I know. I'll stay close at the Crown Prince's side and keep myself safe the whole way. With Xiao Ruohai and the others helping, I will come home unharmed. You must guard the Bai family in Father's place — and since I must guard you in his place, I have no choice but to return alive."
Lady Dong tried to hold back her tears, but she could not, and she pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. Her heart ached unbearably.
She had promised, hadn't she? Promised that when her daughter was born she would teach her letters and raise her into a composed woman of learning and grace — and that if it were a son, her husband would teach him the martial arts so he could protect the nation and the family.
But her son had died on the battlefield. Why, then, must her daughter drag her frail body to that same place?
After seeing Lady Dong and the aunts safely back to the estate, Bai Jingyan paid her respects with full formality — then slipped out of the manor, away from every watching eye.
Nanny Jin reported to Lady Dong that Bai Jingyan had departed. Her tears still would not stop. After a long while, Lady Dong drew a deep, heavy breath and spoke through her sobs.
"From today, spread word that the Eldest Young Lady is ill and cannot receive visitors."
"Yes, Madam."
Nanny Jin answered, the rims of her eyes red.
"Sister! Sister!"
Third Madame Li's flustered voice rang out from beyond the courtyard. Lady Dong lifted her swollen eyes, turned her head, glanced once out the window, and gave Nanny Jin her instructions.
"Go and receive Third Madame."
Third Madame Li hurried in, clutching Wu Jun by the hand, a letter crumpled in her grip. She was so distressed that only tears came.
"Sister! Jinchi… Jinchi has…"
At the sight of Third Madame's state, Nanny Jin withdrew, taking the maids who served in the outer quarters with her. Only then did Third Madame rush forward and press the letter into Lady Dong's hands.
"Jinchi left nothing but a letter and vanished! She says she's gone to the Southern Border after Ayan! No wonder she's been so strangely docile lately — not a single scrape, coming to see me every day and telling me to take care of my health… only to pull a stunt this enormous! This morning she said she was feeling unwell and couldn't come see Grandmother off, and I truly believed she was sick! Sister… what am I supposed to do now?"
"First, don't panic."
Lady Dong took the letter and read it carefully before asking,
"When did you learn Jinchi was gone? Did you question all the servants who attend her?"
"I asked the old servants and the maids — the moment we set out to escort Mother home this morning, that girl packed her bags, mounted a horse, and fled!"
Li Shi was so shaken she hardly knew what to do. Her son and her husband had both gone to the heavens — if anything happened to her daughter too, she could not imagine going on living.
Lady Dong finished reading the letter quickly and spoke.
"Don't panic. If she's gone after Ayan, we need only send someone right away to bring her back. Nanny Jin."
Nanny Jin answered and stepped inside.
"Tell Nuo Ping to take men and ride south. Go quickly, and by any means necessary, bring Jinchi back."
"Yes!"
Li Shi started in alarm. Send Nuo Ping himself?
"Nanny Jin, wait!"
She caught Nanny Jin just as the woman was about to hurry out, then seized Lady Dong's hand.
"Sister, Nuo Ping is the finest martial artist in the whole estate right now. If you send him away and… heaven forbid, something happens to our estate, what then?"
"Who else but Nuo Ping could bring Jinchi back? Don't worry. She can't have gotten far."
Lady Dong turned to Nanny Jin.
"Go! Tell Nuo Ping to move carefully and not be seen by anyone."
But Li Shi stopped Nanny Jin once more.
"Nanny Jin!"
Her throat burned, and the rims of her eyes went red. Then tears fell, one after another, from Li Shi's eyes.
"You can't send Nuo Ping! It's fine if no one goes after her — she'll only have gone to find Ayan anyway. Jinchi knows martial arts, so even if danger finds her, she won't be a burden to Ayan. Let her stay at Ayan's side this time and learn properly — really!"
Truthfully, Li Shi's heart resisted, and her worry was beyond measure. But she hardened her resolve.
She was not as wise or as quick-witted as Lady Dong. Even so, she could guess that Bai Jingyan was going to the Southern Border for the sake of protecting the Bai family.
Her sister Lady Dong had only one frail daughter left to her. And for the Bai family's sake, she had no choice but to send Bai Jingyan away. Her own daughter was healthy in body — and had run off on her own will besides. If she sent the Bai family's guards to retrieve her daughter, then should disaster strike, her sister would be left without a single guard to rely on!
Li Shi steeled herself. Swallowing her tears, she spoke with careful formality.
"Sister, please send just one person after that thoughtless girl. Tell her she must bring Ayan back safely — or else I'll break her legs myself."
Lady Dong's eyes grew hot, and she took Li Shi's hand.
"Jindong has gone to tend to Mother. If we send Jinchi away too…"
Before Lady Dong could finish, Li Shi shook her head and cut her off.
"Jinchi has done whatever she pleased all her life. Now that her father and elder brother are gone, she needs to truly experience the world and learn. It's time that child grew up. Besides — even if we dragged that girl home bound hand and foot, with the temper she has, she'd only run away again."
After a long moment, Lady Dong nodded. Then she spoke to Nanny Jin, who stood at the doorway with reddened eyes.
"Send someone to see that Fourth Young Lady is sent on to the Eldest Young Lady. Tell her to look after her younger sister well."
By the time Bai Jingyan's carriage reached Shilipai, south of the city, the expeditionary army had not yet arrived.
Before Bai Jingyan, dressed in men's attire, could even step down from the carriage, Xiao Ruohai came swiftly alongside and delivered his report through the curtain.
"Eldest Young Lady, Second Young Lady has come to see you off."
Jinxiu?
Bai Jingyan lifted the curtain, bent her waist, and stepped down from the carriage. Beside the escort column that would ride with her to the Southern Border stood a single carriage, and Bai Jinxiu, draped in a wind cloak, waited beside it, her eyes fixed on her sister.
At the sight of Bai Jingyan in her clean, trim men's garb, Bai Jinxiu was reminded of the sight of her eldest sister in years past, looking splendid in her silver armor. A smile formed at the corners of Bai Jinxiu's moistening eyes, and she quickened her pace toward her.
"Why have you come here?"
Bai Jingyan asked, as though surprised.
Bai Jinxiu took her sister's arm and guided her toward the escort column.
"It was the Crown Prince's own instruction — he said I should see you off. Hardly trying to win your favor, is he? Ever since the Xin King and the Liang King were thrown into prison one after the other, the Crown Prince seems to have grown rather shrewd. Take this, for instance: that first-rank imperial guardian Madam Hugu — it was you who had her replaced when you went to war, and yet the Crown Prince and the Emperor walked away with all the credit and good repute."
"The Crown Prince keeps capable people at his side. So it's no wonder he's grown shrewd."
Bai Jingyan clasped the hand Bai Jinxiu had wrapped around her arm.
"With capable men now gathered around the Crown Prince, your journey to the Southern Border will face all the more danger."
Bai Jinxiu stopped walking. With reddened eyes she looked up at her sister, gripping Bai Jingyan's hand tight in her cold fingers, her gaze brimming over with worry.
"Eldest Sister… must you really go?"
Bai Jinxiu could not shake the thought that on this journey to the Southern Border, the Emperor would never simply allow Bai Jingyan to come home alive.
Bai Jingyan knew exactly what Bai Jinxiu feared. She answered with calm.
"The Bai Family Army has tasted defeat — but as they say, a centipede dies with its hundred legs intact, never stiffening at once. The true root of the Bai family lies not in Dadu, but in the army. To answer a single command as one — any great house can manage that. What I must do is tell the remaining soldiers of the Bai Family Army that our family's flesh and blood will stand with them. That even in a sea of fire where blades lie in wait, we will share life and death together. That army is the very thing our family must labor to command."
Bai Jingyan gripped Bai Jinxiu's hand tight.
"In times of upheaval, command of an army is the root from which we rise again."
Bai Jinxiu could hold back her tears no longer, and hurriedly wiped them away with the back of her hand.
In the distance, the departing army was drawing slowly nearer. Cradling her helpless ache, Bai Jinxiu spoke through her tears.
"Sister, take the utmost care of yourself. I will be waiting until the day you come home safe."