A Timely Reminder
Bai Jingyan turned her head for one last look outside the barracks. Ji Nanghua, head bowed, was wiping her tears as she hugged the fur cloak tightly to her chest.
"This cloak..."
Ji Nanghua stroked it with obvious reluctance. Then, tears brimming, she held it out to Bai Jingyan and said, her voice thick with weeping, "It belonged to General Bai Jingming. When the Xiliang soldiers were humiliating me, the General saved my life. I meant to keep this cloak, but now I want to return it to you, Xiao Baixiu."
Bai Jingyan ran her hand lightly over the fur cloak in Ji Nanghua's arms. It had been washed clean, and even the places where it had been pierced through were stitched shut with care. The rims of her eyes reddened. So it was A-Ming's. No wonder it had looked so familiar.
She looked at Ji Nanghua. "You meant to keep it, so keep holding onto it. And live well."
Hot tears spilled over her lashes. Ji Nanghua bit her lip, crushed the cloak to her chest with all her strength, and poured out her thanks. "Thank you, Xiao Baixiu! I will live well—I swear I'll live a life that never shames the debt I owe General Bai Jingming and the soldiers of the Bai Family Army, who risked their lives to save me."
Bai Jingyan nodded. "You're leaving?"
"The two nations have sealed their pact and the war is over, so I ought to be going home as well."
"Setting out this late is dangerous. What would you do if you crossed a pack of wolves? Go back and rest well tonight, and leave with the main army tomorrow. Once we reach Tianmenguan, I'll send someone to see you home."
When Ji Nanghua seemed about to refuse, Bai Jingyan went on. "Besides, my wound still needs its salve changed. I believe I'll be imposing on you."
Gazing up at Bai Jingyan's finely wrought features, Ji Nanghua hugged the cloak tight and nodded through her gratitude.
Xiao Ruogang was awake. A military physician sat at the window applying salve where he waited. At Bai Jingyan's entrance he hastily covered himself with his clothes; the sudden movement pulled at his wound, and he winced. Then, having hurriedly straightened his dress, he offered her a cupped-fist salute.
"Eldest Miss!"
"How are you feeling today?"
"Much better."
"Tomorrow I return to Dadu with the Crown Prince, and the road will be punishing. You're injured—stay and recuperate a while longer, and once you've mended properly, then make your way back to Dadu."
Xiao Ruogang raised his head and looked at her. Meeting those deep, limpid eyes, he swept a glance around the tent once more, then drew close.
"Eldest Miss, speak."
"Before I return to Dadu—if Qingyun's condition permits—I'd like to see him, just briefly."
Bai Qingjue was at Xiao Rongyan's side; there had been no chance of seeing him this time. Bai Qingyun, though, was staying in Xiaoyang, which meant a meeting was possible—if only someone arranged it. And no one was better suited to that than Xiao Ruogang.
Xiao Ruogang nodded.
"You are my operative. If you stay here to recover, the Crown Prince will certainly set eyes upon you, so you must be careful. Even if the meeting can't be managed this time, it doesn't matter. Move carefully—that above all."
"Eldest Miss, have no fear!"
"I'll tell the Crown Prince that on the way back I intend to hold memorial rites where Grandfather, Father, my uncles, and my brothers fell. If it can be managed then, let me know with the bone whistle."
"Eunuch Zhan, what brings you here?" Bai Jingyan had scarcely finished speaking when Bai Jinchi's voice sounded from outside the barracks.
Zhan Yu turned at the entrance. Seeing the dashing Bai Jinchi approaching with her hands clasped behind her back, he greeted her with a smile and answered, "His Highness the Crown Prince is asking for General Bai. I've come to escort her to him."
Bai Jinchi came up on light steps and, hands still behind her back, asked in a low voice, "Don't tell me His Highness found out Eldest Sister flew into a temper with him here? He isn't going to hold it against her, is he?"
Zhan Yu answered with a smile. "Fourth Young Miss, set your mind at ease. Nothing of the sort."
"You're quite certain His Highness knows nothing of it?" Bai Jinchi's face was tight with worry.
Zhan Yu looked up, saw Bai Jingyan walking out, and bowed hastily. "General Bai, His Highness summons you and the loyal retainers of the Bai family."
Bai Jingyan's hand closed hard around the hilt of her sword. Loyal retainers of the Bai family—he can't mean Xiao Ruogang.
"Loyal retainers of the Bai family?" she asked, feigning ignorance. "Do you mean my operative?"
"That is so."
Lowering his posture, Zhan Yu walked respectfully toward her and said in a small voice, "His Highness received the generals of the Bai Family Army, and he seemed a little displeased. You had best go to him at once."
Zhan Yu had just handed her a timely warning.
Bai Jingyan nodded her thanks. "I'm obliged to you. Jinchi, tell Xiao Ruogang that His Highness calls for him. He's to change quickly and go along with Eunuch Zhan—the two of you together."
With a courteous gesture Bai Jingyan indicated the way ahead, and Zhan Yu led the road directly before her. Bai Jinchi read the glance her eldest sister sent her way and gave a small nod. The moment Bai Jingyan departed with Zhan Yu, she hurried into the barracks.
All the while she followed Zhan Yu, Bai Jingyan pressed her pace and her thoughts alike, refusing to let either rest.
Zhan Yu had said the Crown Prince's mood soured after he met the generals of the Bai Family Army. Had they asked to see her and the people at her side? Or was there another reason? If the matter concerned the Bai Family Army, why call for Xiao Ruogang? Were there more questions about the affair at Chuishanguan?
Or had the Crown Prince noticed that Xiao Ruohai, who had stood at her side, had been exchanged for Xiao Ruogang—and grown curious as to why she had changed the man? Had Zhang Danyue and the others reported it to him? And if so, why ask only now?
Bai Jingyan entered the Crown Prince's barracks.
"I pay my respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Having offered her salutation with due courtesy, she saw Advisor Fang seated at the Crown Prince's side and favored him with a smiling bow as well.
The Crown Prince sat before a Go board, and did not appear to be in poor humor. Eyes still on the board, he said, "That servant of yours—the one who attends you?"
"Your Highness, that man is my operative. He is no servant of the Bai family."
Bai Jingyan answered with a bearing neither servile nor proud.
Standing to one side, Zhan Yu glanced up at the Crown Prince and Bai Jingyan in turn, his heart wringing itself on her behalf. His Highness hinted his mood was foul before I even went to fetch her—so why must she speak so bluntly? Could she not wind around it and put it prettily, just this once!
The Crown Prince dropped the Go stones back into their bowl and turned to face Bai Jingyan. "Bai Jingyan, I have taken you as my own, so I will not speak in circles. The Liang King once forged correspondence claiming the Zhenguo King was in secret collusion with the Prince of Nanyan, and used it to slander him. The whole truth has since come to light, of course—but one must still be careful. Oughtn't you too to keep your distance from Nanyan? Why, then, did you send your operative there? Or did he go of his own accord, without your knowledge?"
Only then did Bai Jingyan understand what this was about.
"Your Highness—do you suspect me?"
She asked it in a tranquil tone, neither anxious nor angered.
As if her failure to grasp him offended him, the Crown Prince raised his voice. "If I suspected you, do you think you'd be standing here trading words with me? Will you give Father the same answer when he asks you later? Keeping it from me, of all people?"
Just then a eunuch came hurrying into the barracks, saluted, and announced, "Your Highness, General Bai's operative has arrived."
"Send him in."
When Xiao Ruogang heard that the Crown Prince was asking for Bai Jingyan and himself alike, he knew there must be questions to answer. Bai Jingyan had come ahead of him, wary of stirring needless suspicion—but that was no reason for him to dawdle either. If, when the Crown Prince questioned them, his answers did not match hers, it would be disaster. So he had run the whole way, dressing as he went.
Panting hard, head bowed low, Xiao Ruogang hastened in, dropped to his knees, and prostrated himself. Then, as if thoroughly flustered, he spoke in a small voice. "Th-this commoner pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"
Seeing Xiao Ruogang kneel and kowtow, trembling all over and cowed before the royal presence, the Crown Prince's heart eased a little. Had some fearless fellow come instead, he might never have gotten a single question answered.
Exuding majesty, the Crown Prince shot a glance at Xiao Ruogang, who was crouched so small he seemed about to vanish into the floor. "Why did you go to Nanyan a few days ago? On whose orders?"
At the thunder of the Crown Prince's voice, Xiao Ruogang shuddered, then lifted his head and looked at Bai Jingyan.
"The question is for you—why do you keep staring at General Bai?" the Crown Prince snapped.
Xiao Ruogang pressed his forehead to the floor at once and, not daring to raise it, stammered, "This commoner... this commoner..."
Bai Jingyan heaved a great sigh. "Your Highness, my operative is faint of heart, and this is his first time in your presence. I beg you to overlook any lapse in courtesy. If it is the truth you wish to hear..."
She paused, then offered the Crown Prince a fist-and-palm salute. "Since the matter touches on my honor, I must ask Your Highness to have everyone withdraw."
Prostrated so deep his head seemed buried in the ground, Xiao Ruogang stared at his own knees and turned her words over in his mind. She had said it concerned her honor—so the Eldest Miss meant to weave the whole story around her honor.
At that, the Crown Prince ordered everyone out, Advisor Fang and Zhan Yu included. Only Bai Jingyan, the Crown Prince, and Xiao Ruogang remained in the hall.
"Operative, don't be afraid. His Highness the Crown Prince means to protect me. If that were not so, you and I wouldn't be giving our testimony now—we'd likely already be in chains on the road back to Dadu City." Bai Jingyan murmured the comfort in a low voice.
Hearing it, the Crown Prince felt, strangely, his heart settle.
"Speak nothing but the truth."
"Your Highness, this commoner went to Nanyan on the Eldest Miss's orders. I went to find Xiao Rongyan, who was wounded." It was Xiao Ruogang's voice, thick with terror. Then he hurriedly raised his head and added, "But Your Highness, between our Eldest Miss and that Xiao Rongyan there is absolutely nothing untoward! Nothing whatsoever! So I beg Your Highness to make the wise choice—it is that Xiao Rongyan creature who keeps dangling after our Eldest Miss!"
Having blurted it all out in desperation, Xiao Ruogang dropped his head again, making a thorough show of his terror.
The Crown Prince's brow creased. Xiao Rongyan?
When they had parted at Wanping City, Xiao Rongyan had said he was bound for Pingyang City. Not a word of news had reached him since. And now Xiao Rongyan had gone to Nanyan? Harbored feelings for Bai Jingyan? Was making advances on her?
The Crown Prince studied Bai Jingyan where she stood beneath the lamp, and his expression eased. True, she was beautiful—dazzlingly so. And it had ever been said that heroes loved beauties... but the beauty he had fixed his heart upon was altogether too fierce. A beauty who, at the smallest provocation, would put a hundred thousand Xiliang soldiers to the sword. However did he mean to cope with that?
"That Xiao Rongyan is an utter lecher, Your Highness! Why, he even gifted our Eldest Miss a horse—the one called Ping'an. The Fourth Young Miss took such a liking to it that the Eldest Miss gave it to her. And then he sent the Eldest Miss letters—filthy things, absolutely beyond all sense and decency!"
Having said this much, Xiao Ruogang seemed suddenly to work himself into a fury, and his voice rose. "Our Eldest Miss burned that letter right in front of the very man who sent it! And then Xiao Rongyan sent yet another! So the Eldest Miss, complaining of the nuisance, sent me to Nanyan to find him and deliver her message: 'The Eldest Miss has sworn never to wed in this life—and were she ever to wed, it would never be to a lecher like you! Far less to a man of lowly merchant stock!'"
Ah. So it was a romance all along.