Ten Thousand Thoughts
The moment warm lips were about to touch hers, Bai Jinchi's cheerful voice rang out alongside Shen Qingzhu's.
"I've told the kitchen to prepare some refreshments for Eldest Sister and Teacher Xiao. She hasn't been able to eat a thing all day."
Bai Jingyan jerked back in alarm and swiftly withdrew her hand. Then, as though nothing had happened, she smoothed down her clothes and folded the parchment she had been holding. Her ears burned as if set aflame.
Xiao Rongyan cleared his throat, straightened the hem of his robes and his gold sash, and steadied his breath. Then, returning effortlessly to his courteous manner, he clasped his hands behind his back and looked toward Bai Jinchi, Yue Shi, and Shen Qingzhu, who were approaching the pavilion with maids in tow.
"Eldest Sister, Teacher Xiao!"
Bai Jinchi called out with a smile.
"We've come to bring you and Teacher Xiao some refreshments."
Bai Jinchi had assumed their conversation would be winding down about now, and thought that bringing food out at this moment might keep her sister and Xiao Rongyan together all the longer. She was eager for Xiao Rongyan to enter the Bai household as a son-in-law and become her brother-in-law as soon as possible.
The maids filed in one after another on quick, hushed steps, each holding a black lacquered box traced with gilt, bowing slightly at the waist. Then, with great care, they opened the boxes and arranged the delicacies in a beautiful spread.
Before Xiao Rongyan could speak, Bai Jingyan got in first.
"I'm finished talking with Teacher Xiao. He has business to attend to shortly, so he won't be staying at the estate."
With that, Bai Jingyan turned to Xiao Rongyan once more, her expression serious again.
"Qingzhu. See Teacher Xiao out."
Xiao Rongyan looked at Bai Jingyan — her ears had flushed crimson, yet her composure remained perfectly intact — and smiled before addressing Bai Jinchi.
"Thank you for the thought, Fourth Young Miss. But I'm afraid I must be going today, as other matters call. I'll arrange a proper invitation for another day, by way of apology."
Bai Jinchi nodded with a hint of disappointment.
"Then don't forget — you'd better actually send that invitation."
"Of course."
Xiao Rongyan bowed his head.
Shen Qingzhu respectfully escorted Xiao Rongyan out.
"This way, Teacher Xiao."
Xiao Rongyan offered Bai Jingyan a cupped-hand salute.
"Eldest Young Miss, if I might ask you to walk with me a short way. There is something I should tell you regarding Anang."
Bai Jingyan nodded, her fists clenched tight.
Every corner of the Bai ancestral estate was a picture of beauty; painstaking care was evident in every arrangement of garden and stone. Even the bronzes displayed in the courtyard were treasures at least a century old, plainly revealing the deep stores of a prosperous family.
Light rain dripped from the leaves overhead as the two walked slowly along the corridor toward the gates of the Bai estate.
"Anang has already gained a father figure, so I don't think we need press her to come to the Bai estate. Let her do as she wishes."
Bai Jingyan thought of the mute girl the madam of the brothel had sold to her today.
"If Anang ever grows lonely, we could send her the mute girl the madam brought over today."
"That would be a fine idea."
Xiao Rongyan said with a smile.
"Anang has no companions. Since neither of them can speak, they would get along wonderfully."
Bai Jingyan had bought the mute girl for Anang's sake in the first place.
"Then let's settle Anang's matter thus. This is where I'll leave you. Take care on your way."
Bai Jingyan called to Shen Qingzhu, who was leading the way ahead.
"Qingzhu, finish seeing Teacher Xiao out."
"Yes, my lady!"
Shen Qingzhu bowed her head.
"Then I shall take my leave."
Xiao Rongyan offered Bai Jingyan a farewell bow.
Shen Qingzhu took up the umbrella and lamp, walking at the very front as she respectfully escorted Xiao Rongyan and Yue Shi all the way to the gate, then gave the order to close the main doors of the Bai estate.
Yue Shi murmured to Xiao Rongyan.
"Eldest Young Miss Bai has gained another female rakshasa at her side, hasn't she? A face I've never seen before..."
"There is no shortage of talent around Eldest Young Miss Bai."
Xiao Rongyan's spirits were high. Mounting his horse, he lifted the five-tasseled riding whip and gave it a vigorous flourish.
"My lord!"
Yue Shi called after Xiao Rongyan, hurriedly raising the umbrella and giving chase.
Xiao Rongyan returned to the residence he had recently acquired in Shanyang. Seeing that his clothes were damp, the steward ordered ginger tea and hot water prepared and then personally assisted Xiao Rongyan with his bath.
Once he had bathed, Xiao Rongyan changed into clean robes and spread open a bamboo scroll beneath the lamp. Yet his mind was filled entirely with what had happened at the lakeside pavilion.
Today had been a coincidence, but knowing Bai Jingyan's character, if he had not boldly pressed close to her, she would never have granted either herself or him a chance.
Bai Jinchi's sudden appearance had spoiled the moment midway, but there was no denying that the two of them had grown closer.
Even though he had crossed a line, Bai Jingyan had not pushed him away — which meant it was likely she carried feelings for him. But it seemed that with both of their roads still long, neither of them thought this the time to nurture affection between a man and a woman.
Xiao Rongyan bore the weight of the State of Yan upon his shoulders and had never once spared a thought for private emotion. And then, quite against his will, he had met a woman named Bai Jingyan. A heart shaken once knew no restraint, and it had swelled beyond all control. He even caught himself thinking that he wanted to settle the war as quickly as possible, unify the realm, and show her the peaceful golden age she longed for.
Outside the study, Yue Shi knocked at the door.
"My lord, news from Wei."
Xiao Rongyan surfaced from his reverie.
"Come in."
Yue Shi led in a man dressed in black. Soaked to the bone and radiating cold, the man bowed to Xiao Rongyan and presented a bamboo scroll with both hands.
"My lord, Wei is attacking our Great Yan."
The palms of the man holding the scroll bore bloodstains from gripping the reins for days on end. His eyes were rimmed red, the skin beneath them hollow, his lips parched and cracked, his cheeks dark with grime — any observer could see he had ridden day and night without rest.
"Bring Zhang Yan some water and something to eat."
Xiao Rongyan said as he unrolled the scroll.
Zhang Yan accepted the water Yue Shi handed him and gulped it down as if pouring it straight down his throat. After several bowls, with no leisure left for etiquette, he shoveled food into his mouth in great fistfuls. He choked more than once in his haste, and the sight of him was pitiful indeed.
Inside the scroll was a single thin sheet of paper. Xiao Rongyan read swiftly through it.
The Rongdi were now split into Southern Rong and Northern Rong. Upon receiving word that Great Yan would send troops to aid Northern Rong, Southern Rong had dispatched envoys to the State of Wei to beg for assistance.
Wei, having obtained intelligence that Great Yan had committed all its forces to the Rongdi, pocketed the lavish gifts Southern Rong had sent. Then it led its troops across the border. In the interval while Great Yan's main army was entirely in Rongdi territory, Wei intended to invade the fertile lands of Southern Yan — territory that had only just fallen to Great Yan.
The matter was so urgent that not a moment could be spared. Xiao Rongyan burned the paper over the flame, rose to his feet, and called for Wang Qiuzhou.
He calmly changed his clothes as he gave his orders.
"Have horses prepared, and ready the men who will cross into Wei with me. Let Zhang Yan rest well today; bring him along later when we discuss the Bai family and the mine. Once you've handed that matter over to him, you are to cross into Wei immediately after me."
Wang Qiuzhou nodded repeatedly, then draped a fur cloak over Xiao Rongyan's shoulders.
"My lord, you must take every care in Wei."
Wang Qiuzhou had always accompanied Xiao Rongyan on his journeys to Wei, and this was the first time he would see his lord travel there alone — his worry was boundless. But since the mine also had to be entrusted to someone reliable, he had no choice but to remain behind.
Clad in his fur cloak, Xiao Rongyan turned to look at Wang Qiuzhou, lips pressed inward.
"If Eldest Young Miss Bai asks after my whereabouts, tell her I crossed into Wei on urgent business."
Wang Qiuzhou nodded.
"Understood. My lord, do not worry."
Bai Jingyan tossed and turned all night, a thousand and one thoughts crowding her mind.
Mining ore while dodging the eyes and ears of others was no easy feat. But smelting weapons on the spot was not especially difficult.
Then to whom should she entrust this work?
Shen Qingzhu was trustworthy — but she was young, and keeping discipline among the workers would not come easily. Moreover, she knew nothing of mines. Once her mother and aunts arrived, Nuo Ping would have to guard the Bai estate and could not leave it. The clansmen could be given the task of training soldiers, but nothing else could safely be placed in their hands.
The steward Xue's family had served as stewards of the Bai clan for generations, so anyone would recognize them at a glance as Bai household people — they were not suitable either.
Wei Zhong was highly capable, but not someone Bai Jingyan could trust completely.
The only dependable person at present was Liu Wang'an, a loyal retainer of the Bai family — but Liu Wang'an was far too old.
Now that she actually went looking for someone to use, their flaws leapt out all the more glaringly. This was precisely why she had ordered Nuo Ping to begin cultivating capable people after he returned to Shanyang.
If even she, at the heart of the Bai household, felt the lack of hands, what must things be like for Jindong and the others right now?
Best to entrust the work to Liu Wang'an for the time being, and replace him with someone more fitting later.
Her decision made, Bai Jingyan turned over and closed her eyes. Yet listening to the rain striking the window, Xiao Rongyan's features, strangely enough, grew ever more vivid in her mind. Her heart began to pound as it had the moment his lips had touched her forehead.
Chun Tao, keeping watch outside, heard Bai Jingyan tossing and turning endlessly and asked in a small voice.
"My lady, is the bed troubling you?"
"What time would it be now?"
Bai Jingyan spoke in a low, drowsy voice.
"My lady, it has just turned the hour of the Tiger — somewhere around three to five by the western clock."
Chun Tao answered, then asked softly,
"Shall I pour you a cup of warm tea?"
Unable to sleep at all, Bai Jingyan sat up.
Hearing the rustle of movement, Chun Tao drew back the bed curtain, and upon seeing Bai Jingyan sitting up, hung the curtain at once on its hook.
Bayun Courtyard was vast and spacious. Bai Jingyan had ordered a separate chamber set aside in its western wing for the training of her martial arts.
Chun Tao came in carrying warm tea and bound the sandbags around Bai Jingyan's body. Then, standing off to one side with a sorrowful look, she watched her lady practice with the Red-Tasseled Spear. It pained her to see Eldest Young Miss driving herself to the very limit in order to raise the Bai family back to its former glory.
By the time dawn broke, Bai Jingyan was dripping with sweat as she leaned the silver spear against the wall. Having spent every last ounce of her strength, her whole body ached dully. Undoing the sandbags with trembling hands, she spoke to Chun Tao.
"Add more weight."
Receiving the sandbags — so packed they seemed as though water might squeeze out of them — Chun Tao swallowed the words she had been about to say. Her eyes grew red. To ask for more weight added to sandbags already heavy enough to strain the arms just to lift.
"I've told the servants to heat water. How about bathing, taking your breakfast, then resting a short while at the Fire-Watching Terrace before departing for Dadu in the afternoon?"
Chun Tao asked in a gentle voice.
"I can rest in the carriage."
The rain that had fallen all night had ceased without her noticing. The bluestone ground was blanketed with fallen leaves, and raindrops still clung in beaded strings to the broad leaves of the great trees.
The Bai family's carriage procession and the hundred-odd guards sent by the Crown Prince stood in a line along one side, waiting outside the gates of the ancestral estate. Only when Bai Jingyan climbed into the finely crafted carriage of elmwood did the procession set off at last in majestic array, heading out of Shanyang City.