A Variable
Ji Nanghua clenched her fists.
"You say you're furious. If that's truly how you feel, then I've been burning with a rage a hundred times more searing than yours. But now is not the time. I need the Emperor to live at least three more years — perhaps five. Thanks to my aunt Lu Yinghua, that much is all but certain. I never imagined *you* would become the variable that threatens it."
Bai Jingyan looked at Ji Nanghua.
Only a thin veil separated them, but Ji Nanghua's lips were pressed tight, her eyes brimming with tears.
"I know you're clever. Clever enough that you must have thought to storm the Zhenguo Commandery Princess's estate and make the Emperor aware of your existence. But what you truly want is nothing more than the momentary thrill of a blade slicing across the Emperor's throat. You're not the kind of person who can see further than that. The way I see it, Fourth Miss Ji has less patience than my young fourth sister."
Her throat felt as though it were burning.
"I can do it too! I'll keep the Emperor alive for another three years — no, five — so please, just let Lu Yinghua leave this filthy place!"
Bai Jingyan shook her head.
"To the Emperor, Lu Yinghua is the one person who can replace my aunt Bai Shaoqiu. That fact alone means she can never leave Dadu again. And Lu Yinghua will never administer the medicines that must accompany the treatment of the Emperor's headaches. So even on the day the Emperor dies, she will slip free of that responsibility unharmed.
"You, however, are different. If your plot succeeds and the Emperor dies, you will not escape death either. And if it fails, you will have committed the crime of attempted regicide — either way, your end is death. Do you really believe the Bai Family Army and Bai Qingming saved your life only so you could die here in Dadu?"
Ji Nanghua's fists tightened further.
"If you want your revenge, then come with me to Suyang."
Bai Jingyan set down her teacup and extended the invitation with impeccable courtesy.
"I will show you that the day you long for will come at last."
Tears clinging to her lashes, Ji Nanghua stared into Bai Jingyan's deep, cold eyes. Her heart pounded.
Behind that tranquil gaze seemed to lurk a hatred as vast and fathomless as the sea. It was as if she were suppressing that fury with astonishing self-mastery, compressing it bit by bit into silence.
"Once you've made up your mind, tell the Emperor that a highly skilled master of alchemy from the jianghu advised you to draw blood from Bai Qingming and refine it into an elixir. In the Emperor's eyes, you'll simply look like a madwoman who was cheated by a charlatan while trying to repay a debt of gratitude — and then there will be no grounds to punish you.
"Before the Bai family returns to Suyang, the Emperor will surely summon you to the palace."
Bai Jingyan did not press further.
"Go on. Think over what I've said. And give some careful thought to what you'll tell the Emperor as well."
Ji Nanghua stood rooted to the spot, unmoving, while Bai Jingyan returned to the upper chamber to prepare for her bath.
When she paused briefly outside Qinghui Courtyard, she saw maids hurrying in and out in a stream, each carrying steaming kettles. Only then did Ji Nanghua finally leave Qinghui Courtyard, her face blank with bewilderment.
Lu Yinghua had been waiting for her at the gate, and the moment she saw her, her eyes grew moist. She forced a smile.
"Let's walk a while."
On the morning of the thirtieth of the fourth month, the Emperor summoned Lu Yinghua to the palace, and while she was on her way, ordered that Ji Nanghua be brought along as well — the woman said to possess an elixir capable of reviving even the dead.
Never in her life had Lu Yinghua trembled so at the prospect of entering the palace. In the end, Ji Nanghua had decided to return to Suyang with the Grand Princess. She had declared that she would follow the Grand Princess's command and lend her strength to the Bai family, believing it to be a way of repaying her debt to Bai Qingming. Yet Lu Yinghua could not stop fidgeting, terrified that some unforeseen variable might still arise.
Tomorrow, the entire Bai family would return to Suyang. The maids and servants had already finished their preparations, and the family was busy bidding farewell to their close friends.
The masters of the Bai household had gathered at Changshou Yuan, resolved to spend the entire day in the Grand Princess's company.
Bai Jinxiu had returned to the Bai estate with Jin Lang as well. Jin Lang thought that with the family all departing for Suyang tomorrow — leaving behind only the Grand Princess, the Third Miss, and the Seventh Miss — tomorrow's parting would dissolve into a sea of tears. Indeed, Bai Jinxiu's eyes had reddened again and again on the whole walk over to the Bai Manor.
Yet the moment she and Jin Lang crossed the threshold of Changshou Yuan, peals of laughter came ringing out from the upper chamber.
"Good heavens! We went to Grandmother's storeroom, and there they were — treasures of jade and gold piled up like small mountains, silks beyond mentioning, and right in the middle of it all, an aloeswood carving of a fierce beast standing a good three feet tall! An aloeswood trunk that massive is astonishing enough on its own, but the carving was so exquisite that the moment I laid eyes on it, I knew it could be nothing ordinary. Grandmother, you're testing our sisters' self-restraint, aren't you?"
The bright laughter of the Fourth Miss, Bai Jinchi, carried over the embroidered screen.
"Well, we can manage — but the eighth little sister too! Just look at her, so meek and docile, drooling in Eldest Sister's lap!"
Warm sunlight spilled gently down between drifting white clouds. A cool breeze swept over the dense canopy of leaves that seemed to blanket Changshou Yuan, brushing past the lowered blinds beneath the corridor and setting the golden bells on the eave hooks swaying. The rustle of leaves mingled with the chiming of the bells, soothing to the ear. It was a day that breathed the very essence of early summer.
Bai Jinxiu stopped in her tracks. She did not have the heart to cut short the laughter inside.
The Grand Princess answered with a soft chuckle.
"Jinchi, sharp as ever you are. Fine — the aloeswood auspicious beast is yours. Was there anything else in the storeroom that caught your eye? If so, speak up now. Tell your old grandmother today and it's all yours. You'll have to come collect it early tomorrow morning, though — before I change my mind."
Tomorrow was, after all, the day of parting — yet with Bai Jinchi's cheerful chatter, the atmosphere only lightened.
Early that morning, the Grand Princess had ordered Nanny Zhang to open the doors of the storeroom. She had long meant to bring out the treasures she had kept squirreled away and divide them among her granddaughters.
"You've arrived!"
Beaming, Nanny Zhang greeted Bai Jinxiu and Jin Lang and ushered them inside.
"Second Sister! You're finally here."
Bai Jinshao ran over and wrapped an arm around Bai Jinxiu's, then called out demurely to Jin Lang.
"Second Brother-in-law!"
Jin Lang smiled and nodded to Bai Jinshao, then paid his courteous respects in turn to the Grand Princess, Lady Dong, Lady Yu, Lady Li, Lady Wang, and Lady Ji of the Fifth Madame's branch, who had only just finished her postpartum confinement.
In that instant, Bai Jingyan felt her palm grow suddenly warm. The baby Bai Wanjing, nestled in her arms, abruptly burst into tears. Bai Jingyan — uncharacteristically flustered — rose to her feet and called out.
"Nanny!"
The child in the swaddling clothes had wet herself. It was the first time Bai Jingyan had ever experienced such a thing. The baby was her own little sister, so it wasn't awkward, exactly — but she was mortified all the same.
Bai Wanjing's nanny hurried over, took the child into her arms, and said with a smile.
"This servant will withdraw with the Eighth Miss."
Lady Ji covered her mouth with her handkerchief, laughing.
"Jingyan is usually the most composed of them all — I've never seen her so flustered."
With her ears tinged red, Bai Jingyan laughed, offered her greetings, and went to change her clothes. When she returned, she ran into Jin Lang, who had been about to head home, beneath the eaves.
"Commandery Princess!"
Jin Lang hastily turned and bowed to Bai Jingyan.
Bai Jingyan nodded.
"Jinxiu has only you at her side now, brother-in-law. I leave her in your care."
"Of course. Have no fear — I will cherish and protect Jinxiu all my life."
Jin Lang replied with grave sincerity.
Bai Jingyan nodded again. She had made the request lightly, yet he answered it with a vow. His love for Jinxiu seemed so genuine that she felt she could rest easy even after returning to Suyang.
Bai Jingyan lifted the curtain and the bamboo blinds and stepped inside. As she rounded the nanmu-and-jade screen, she caught Lady Ji teasing Bai Jinxiu.
"This pair of pomegranates your grandmother has given you symbolizes a flourishing line of descendants. So don't refuse them — take them and keep them well. They carry your grandmother's heart, so see her wish fulfilled."
Second Madam Yu turned the ruby-red jade pomegranates — each as large as a melon — over in her hands, examining them closely. Not only was their coloring rare, but the carving was so lifelike it might have been real. It was a treasure that an ordinary noble family would have enshrined as an heirloom and passed down for generations without any sense of inadequacy.
Bai Jinxiu, holding the black lacquered box edged in gold, flushed scarlet. She rose and bowed to the Grand Princess.
"Thank you, Grandmother."
"And you, Jingyan — is there nothing you'd like?"
The Grand Princess asked with a smile as Bai Jingyan came back in.
Bai Jingyan answered with a smile of her own.
"I wish for nothing but the safety and peace of our family."
That included Ajie and Ayun, who could not yet return to them. She hoped that everything they undertook would go smoothly, and that they would all live long, healthy lives.
The Grand Princess gazed at her granddaughter's kind, well-favored features and clenched her fists. For a moment, tears welled up and reddened the rims of her eyes.
Yes — what in this world could be more precious than the safety of the Bai family?
On the first day of the fifth month, before even the sky had brightened, the stars and the moon still hung in the heavens. Before the gates of the Zhenguo Commandery Princess's estate, servants stood in perfect posture beside the carriages, waiting for their masters to emerge.
As the faint grey light of dawn deepened, the sun rose in the east. The moon, caught on the border between light and darkness, faded until it was all but invisible.
At the gate, Nanny Zhang instructed the servants who would remain in Dadu to load the morning's steamed rice cakes, pastries, and seasonal fruits into the carriages.
The Grand Princess gripped the glossy black walnut cane tightly in one hand and took Bai Jingyan's hand with the other. Standing before the gate, she swallowed back the tears that threatened to spill over and gave her parting words.
"Be careful every step of the way. These are troubled times."
Bai Jingyan gazed for a long moment at the deeply wrinkled hand of the Grand Princess, then nodded.
"Don't worry, Grandmother. Once we arrive safely, I'll send someone back with word."
"Mother, don't worry."
Lady Dong rested a hand on Bai Jingyan's shoulder and smiled at the Grand Princess.
"The Crown Prince has assigned us an escort. Nothing will go wrong."
"Mother, Eldest Sister."
Bai Jinse bowed in farewell to Lady Dong and Bai Jingyan, tears streaming down her face without pause.
"Mother, Sister — be careful on the journey. I'll serve Grandmother well while you're gone. And I'll study hard under Aunt Lu's tutelage too."
Bai Jingyan bowed her head and stroked her little sister's hair, then looked over at Bai Jinxiu, who was still weeping.
Bai Jinxiu gave a small nod. She knew. One day, her eldest sister would return in triumph, bringing the whole family with her.
Her sister was weaving a great design even now. If she wished to help, she decided, then she too must prepare herself thoroughly.
"Go on, then. Quickly, now…"
The Grand Princess stroked Bai Jingyan's hand, her voice thick with tears.
Lady Dong, Lady Li, Lady Wang, Lady Ji, and Bai Jingyan, Bai Jinchi, Bai Jinshao, and Bai Jinhua each took their turns bidding farewell to the Grand Princess and Second Madam Yu.
Lady Yu wiped her eyes with her handkerchief.
"Sister. Once Jinxiu has given birth and finished her confinement, I'll come to you at once."
Lady Dong patted Lady Yu's hand and nodded with a smile. Then, supported by Nanny Jin, she climbed into her carriage.
"Eldest Miss…"
Seizing a lull in the farewells, Lu Yinghua did not let the chance slip by and spoke to Bai Jingyan.
"Please take good care of Nanghua."
Bai Jingyan nodded.
"And you, look after Grandmother and Jinse for me."
"Eldest Miss, have no fear."
Lu Yinghua answered with a nod of her head.
The day before, Ji Nanghua had told the Emperor exactly as Bai Jingyan had instructed. The Emperor summoned the imperial physicians to examine the elixir, and upon confirming that it was nothing but an ordinary tonic, he was bitterly disappointed. Ji Nanghua wailed that it could not be, that something must be wrong.
Watching her weep as though driven mad, the Emperor called her a pitiable creature and ordered Lu Yinghua to take her back home. And so Ji Nanghua escaped the palace unscathed.