The Bai Family Bloodline
The moment she turned her head, Bai Jingyan met Xiao Rongyan's smiling, deep-set eyes, paused for a brief heartbeat, then shifted her gaze back to Murong Li, the hostage prince of Great Yan.
Murong Li, looking for all the world like a well-mannered young master from an ordinary but prosperous household, beamed and offered a courteous bow toward where Bai Jingyan stood.
To Murong Li, Xiao Baishui of the Bai family army was no longer simply someone he admired—she was also his future aunt by marriage. And so respect demanded a proper greeting.
Bai Jingyan and Bai Jinchi returned his bow and started up the stairs to Baoxiang Tower.
"Zhenguo Commandery Princess. Gaoyi County Princess," Xiao Rongyan greeted.
"Have the Commandery Princess and County Princess also come to enjoy the Baoxiang duck?" Murong Li, though still a child, stood with the steady bearing of an adult and invited them with practiced grace.
"Master Xiao mentioned he had reserved a quiet room. If it pleases you, would the Commandery Princess and County Princess care to join us? It seems His Father caused the two of you some offense the other day, so today I should like to spend another man's money buying your goodwill—an apology on his behalf, if you will."
With that, Murong Li bowed once more.
Bai Jinchi glanced at Xiao Rongyan, then said with a grin, "Sister, we came in such a hurry we didn't reserve a room at all. All the good ones are probably taken by now. Surely you're not suggesting we eat downstairs?"
"Commandery Princess. Since fate has thrown us together, and I happen to have a matter I'd like to ask of you, why don't we continue this conversation in the room?"
Xiao Rongyan's expression was serious. Bai Jingyan nodded.
"Then we'll be owing the Crown Prince and Master Xiao a favor."
Xiao Rongyan had reserved the finest room in Baoxiang Tower—the one whose windows looked straight out over the bustling temple fair.
Murong Li, deeply curious about anything touching on the Bai family army, let his childish nature show entirely as he leaned against the windowsill beside Bai Jinchi, gazing out at the fair while they chatted about the army.
Bai Jinchi, spinning her tale like a born storyteller, recounted the events of the Southern Border campaign she had undertaken alongside Bai Jingyan—far more vivid and thrilling than any telling she'd given back at the manor. Murong Li's eyes sparkled as he listened, and every so often he gasped and whooped in astonishment.
Xiao Rongyan and Bai Jingyan sat before a rosewood round table. After pouring tea for her, he spoke in a low, subdued voice.
"Regarding the other day, on the pleasure barge—it seems the Emperor of Yan gave offense to the Commandery Princess. I would beg your generous forgiveness on his behalf."
"Think nothing of it. So long as the Emperor of Yan has no designs on the daughters of our Bai family, there was no offense."
Bai Jingyan lifted her teacup.
"Everyone has their reverse scale. The Commandery Princess is the eldest sister, and the Emperor of Yan the eldest brother—thinking it over, I believe I understand why she was angered."
Xiao Rongyan raised his cup, then turned to look at Bai Jingyan and continued slowly, "There is something I wish to ask of Eldest Miss Bai. I hope you will not refuse me."
Bai Jingyan had never seen Xiao Rongyan wear so formal an expression. She set down the teacup in her hand.
"My elder brother has been suffering from poison for a long time now, and his body has grown terribly frail. Lately he has also begun coughing up blood with alarming frequency. I would like to ask Physician Hong of your manor to examine his symptoms."
His elder brother...
The Emperor of Yan.
Bai Jingyan deliberated for a moment. Her fingers tapped an irregular rhythm on the table—then stopped. She did not think long.
"This matter need hardly be kept from prying eyes."
Her gaze shifted to Murong Li, who was watching Jinchi with undisguised envy. Jinchi was chattering away with wildly exaggerated expressions, her words lost in the din.
"Then let us say this: the Crown Prince heard a rumor that Physician Hong of divine skill resides at the Bai manor, and came to engage him on behalf of the Emperor of Yan. You must make certain the Emperor of Jin takes notice. Act openly and boldly, and no one will suspect a thing. Just as Master Xiao took the Emperor of Yan out onto the lake, just as the Crown Prince brings you to the temple fair—the bolder, the better."
Xiao Rongyan, watching Bai Jingyan fall into thought without answering, had assumed she was weighing the implications—only to realize she was already working out the method.
"We shall do as the Commandery Princess says."
Xiao Rongyan smiled, his deep eyes fixed steadily on her.
"Then when would be a suitable time for the Crown Prince to visit?"
"My fifth aunt is due to give birth soon. What if the Crown Prince spent a few days making the rounds, inquiring after famous physicians? Then, once my fifth aunt has delivered, a return visit would seem all the more natural. What do you think, Master Xiao?"
Xiao Rongyan was profoundly grateful to her.
"Thank you, Commandery Princess."
Thoroughly satisfied after eating her fill of Baoxiang duck, Bai Jinchi had two more packed up to take home, and then she and Bai Jingyan parted ways with Xiao Rongyan and Murong Li.
Whatever Bai Jinchi had said to the boy, when the time came to leave, Murong Li's eyes were shining as he looked at Bai Jingyan.
The moment they climbed into the carriage, Bai Jingyan asked her, "What on earth did you talk about with the Crown Prince of Great Yan?"
"Nothing much. I told him how you deployed the troops at Ongsan and Jiuqu Peak. That boy is remarkably sharp, you know. I was outside the tent back then, so I never got to see the map—no matter how you explained it, I couldn't quite follow. But the moment he heard it, he understood right away!"
Bai Jinchi spoke with undisguised fondness for the boy.
"You're still a child yourself."
Bai Jingyan replied with a laugh.
Bai Jingyan's carriage drew up before the entrance of the Zhenguo Commandery Princess residence. Two great lanterns and four smaller ones at the gate were lit, casting a warm glow over the residence's six red wooden doors.
Seeing the carriage arrive, the servants inside the outer wall hurried out to relay the news.
"Eldest Miss, Fourth Miss—Fifth Madam's labor has begun."
Bai Jinchi nearly leapt out of the carriage in her haste, but Bai Jingyan caught her.
"No need to rush. Your fifth aunt has already borne two children—she's well practiced at this."
"Sister, will it be a boy or a girl?"
Bai Jinchi was growing visibly tense.
Being a woman herself, she bore no prejudice against the birth of a daughter. She was simply afraid—afraid that if the fifth aunt bore a son, the Emperor would not leave the Bai family in peace.
"Boy or girl, it will be Bai family blood all the same. I will protect it, whatever it is."
Bai Jingyan knew exactly what Jinchi feared, and she clasped her sister's hand tightly as she spoke.
"I'll protect the child too."
Bai Jinchi answered.
Bai Jingyan looked at her sister, who had somehow grown into an adult before her eyes, and nodded. Then, hand in hand, the two stepped down from the carriage and headed toward the fifth aunt's courtyard.
When word came that Fifth Madam Je's labor had begun, Bai Jinxiu, who was in the outer quarters, could not sit still either and came by carriage.
Second Madam Yu, worried that her daughter might be frightened by the sounds of childbirth, sent Nanny Ma to escort Bai Jinxiu to Green Bamboo Pavilion, where she could wait for news.
By the time Bai Jingyan and Bai Jinchi arrived, Lady Dong was instructing the birthing attendants to bring in a bowl of chicken congee. Je was to be fed whenever her labor eased between contractions—she would need the strength to deliver the child.
Bai Jingyan took Lady Dong's hand.
"Your fifth aunt has delivered two children already. This birth will go smoothly too."
Third Madam Li beside her nodded in agreement.
Night had fallen in full, and every lantern beneath the eaves had been lit.
Inside the birthing room, all was frantic. The midwife shouted for hot water, and the maids standing beneath the kitchen eaves with copper basins in hand filed inside in orderly succession at her command.
Two old servants tending the great cauldron in the kitchen heaved it up and poured water into the basins. The moment the maids received the hot water, they hurried back to the birthing room at a brisk pace.
Before long, Nanny Zhang, who had heard the news, arrived.
Several of the younger children stayed with Bai Jinxiu at Green Bamboo Pavilion, while Fourth Madam Wang chanted prayers, beseeching the Buddha for a safe delivery. Everyone else was gathered at the fifth aunt's courtyard, waiting.
It was late March, and the night wind still carried a hint of chill.
From within the birthing room came the occasional call of the midwife urging Madam Je to push. When the midwife announced in a loud voice that the baby's head was showing, Bai Jingyan could no longer sit still and sprang to her feet.
"Good! Good! Once the head shows, it's all over quickly! This is her third, so it's far faster than the last ones!"
The attendant inside the birthing room raised the curtain and called out, "Hot water!"
The maids delivered another round of steaming water.
"Push, Madam Je! Now! It's coming!"
The midwife called out at the top of her voice.
Came a sound as though the fifth madam's throat were tearing apart—and then the resounding cry of a newborn rang out from within the room.
"It's here! It's here!"
Nanny Zhai, sleeves rolled to her elbows, broke into a wide smile, bustled forward, and bowed with utmost respect before announcing, "She's born! A beautiful little miss!"
As it turned out, the fifth madam had indeed given birth to a daughter.
Lady Dong let out a long sigh and pressed her handkerchief to her chest. Then she breathed out deeply once more and said with a smile, "Childbirth is as good as a round trip to the gates of the underworld. To think mother and daughter are both safe—what a blessing! Quickly! Nanny Zhai, send someone to the fifth madam's family at once! Tell them she has delivered safely, and that mother and child are both well!"
Nanny Zhai was the maidservant who had come with Je as her dowry when she married into the family. In high spirits, she bowed deeply before replying, "I have already ordered a carriage readied. I shall carry the news to her family home this very moment. Only when Old Madam Je has been told will her heart be at ease."
Lady Dong turned to Nanny Zhang, who stood to one side sighing softly.
"Nanny Zhang, you must go and tell my mother as well. That mother and child are safe—so she need not worry any longer."
Nanny Zhang answered with a smile. At last she could breathe easy. And yet... a young master would have been better still.
"Quite so! What a relief that mother and daughter are both safe!"
Second Madam Yu too let out a breath of relief. Her spirits were light, yet a trace of regret lingered still. How fine it would have been had her fifth sister-in-law borne a son.
Every soul in the Bai household would feel that same small pang of disappointment. But nothing mattered more than that mother and daughter had both come through safely.
Lady Dong turned to Bai Jingyan and Bai Jinchi.
"Now then, you and Jinchi should go change out of your clothes first. I'll go look in on your fifth aunt with your aunts."
In Nanny Zhang's smile, Bai Jingyan caught a faint flicker of disappointment.
"Nanny Zhang, on my grandmother's behalf, go have a look at your eighth little miss first."
Nanny Zhang nodded.
"Yes, Eldest Miss!"