Feeling Wronged
Seeing how earnest Dong Jangwon looked, Bai Jingyan seemed startled for a moment before she let out a low laugh.
"I'm truly grateful for the sentiment. But I have no intention of living out my life as someone's wife. Besides, my grandfather and father have long since paved the road I am to walk, so there is no need for you to worry over me. Jangwon, you strike me as a man of generous heart and open bearing — plain-spoken and honest, a true gentleman. A man like you ought to stand beside a lady as unblemished as flawless jade, so how could you think to bind yourself in marriage out of nothing more than pity? Only — if word spread that I never intend to marry, it would grieve my mother. So I must ask you, Jangwon, to keep that to yourself. She must never hear of it."
Dong Jangwon had known full well that Bai Jingyan did not wish for him to marry into her household, and yet he had brought the matter up honestly. But Bai Jingyan, it turned out, was resolved never to marry at all in this life.
Inside the room, the Grand Princess and Old Taijun Dong shook their heads and sighed. Old Taijun Dong was the first to speak.
"From the look on Jangwon's face, I'd say Ayun refused him. Yesterday the boy knelt before me and begged to be allowed to call on her one more time, even if it cost this old woman her dignity. He said that with a character as noble as Ayun's — with a woman so pure and clear-hearted — he could not simply stand by and watch her suffer her in-laws' mistreatment over nothing more than her inability to bear children."
Lady Dong clutched her handkerchief tight. Swept up in boundless emotion, she wanted to accept the match that very instant.
Old Taijun Dong sighed and turned to the Grand Princess.
"He is my grandson and she is my granddaughter in the end — what has face to do with any of it? But if Ayun will not have this match, then we can hardly force it upon her. Still, whenever I think of Ayun's marriage, my heart aches all the same."
"Mother!"
Lady Dong looked at Old Taijun Dong, her heart suddenly in a flutter.
"But..."
"Eldest daughter-in-law." The Grand Princess cut her off before she could finish. "She is your daughter, so no one knows that child's temperament better than you. If we send her off in marriage by force, what do you suppose it would do to her heart?"
As Bai Jingyan's grandmother, the Grand Princess worried for her no less than Old Taijun Dong did. But Bai Jingyan was a girl of iron will — not the sort of child to swallow her pride and submit to a marriage she felt wronged by.
Lady Dong dabbed her tears with her handkerchief.
"Yes, you are right. It is fine if Ayun never marries at all. So long as my Ayun can live in peace."
Dong Jangwon had entered the room together with Bai Jingyan, and now he stood in silence at Old Taijun Dong's side, his face fallen dark.
Old Taijun Dong lingered a while longer before taking Dong Jangwon and returning home.
Lady Dong and Bai Jingyan saw her to the gate, where mother and daughter lingered over the parting a long while before they finally managed to hand the old lady up into her carriage.
Nanny Zhang led Bai Jingyan — who had stood gazing after Old Taijun Dong's departing carriage — back to Changshou Courtyard.
The Grand Princess told her of Master Li's son, who would soon be brought to the residence.
"Set your mind at ease and look into the boy's character first. If his birth mother turns out to be an honest soul who keeps to her place, bring her along as well. But if she is one who acts boldly without fear of anything, you may send them both straight back."
"Don't worry, Grandmother. I will see to it properly."
Bai Jingyan nodded.
Nanny Zhang came in carrying a tray of eight-treasure tea, lifting the door curtain as she entered.
"Eldest Miss, that girl Chunyan from your courtyard keeps hovering outside Changshou Courtyard, craning her neck and pacing back and forth as if something were the matter. Her face has gone quite red with impatience, but when Cuier went out to ask, she would only say nothing was wrong. Shall I call her in, Eldest Miss?"
Bai Jingyan laughed inwardly in scorn. If Chunyan was this anxious, and over something she could not breathe a word of to anyone, what could it be but business concerning that most honorable Prince Liang?
Bai Jingyan turned the subject.
"I heard from Mother that Jin Lang came to see Jinxiu this morning. Since today was the day she moved out of the rear residence, he said he would wait quietly at home for Jinxiu to come back to him."
The Grand Princess nodded.
"Jin Lang is a man of resolve. Paving that road for them was worth your while."
Bai Jingyan attended the Grand Princess through her Buddhist devotions at Changshou Courtyard, took her midday meal, and then went out.
Chunyan, who had waited half the day in the snow, hurried over the moment Bai Jingyan emerged. Her face chapped red with cold, she spoke.
"Eldest Miss."
Bai Jingyan looked at her with icy eyes.
"We will talk back at the courtyard."
Both of Chunyan's legs had gone numb. Gritting her teeth, she followed at Bai Jingyan's heels, and the moment they stepped into the courtyard she drew out the jade token she had been warming against her breast — handling it as delicately as though uncovering some priceless treasure — and held it out to her.
"Eldest Miss, this is the jade token Prince Liang sent by Donggil's hand. His Highness has said that one day he will take you as his principal consort."
For an instant Bai Jingyan felt the blood rush to her head, and she fixed Chunyan with a savage gaze sharp enough to pierce bone. Never had she imagined this maid who had betrayed her own mistress would have the gall — the sheer audacity — to accept on her behalf the very jade token Prince Liang carried on his person.
Chun Tao's eyes flew wide with shock, her flushed face heaving with ragged breaths.
"Chunyan! What in the world do you think you're doing? Have you truly gone mad?"
Wrath swept over Bai Jingyan. She pressed her fingers hard against the edge of the table and glared at Chunyan, eyes blazing.
"Chunyan, you truly are remarkable. Deciding my marriage to suit yourself and packing me off to Prince Liang? You must have felt dreadfully wronged that you couldn't be mistress of the Zhenguo Duke Estate!"
Chunyan dropped to her knees in desperation.
"No, Eldest Miss! Chunyan did it only out of concern for you! Eldest Miss, please think it over. How exalted a position is that of a prince's consort! The young lord of Dengzhou is nothing more than the Duke of Haewon — what is he, that he should dare cast his eyes upon our young lady!"
Bai Jingyan very nearly lost her grip and slapped the cheeks of this maid who had sold out her mistress. But the thought that she had to keep Chunyan close to net the household servants who were in league with Prince Liang stayed her hand at the last moment. Even so, the whole business turned her stomach.
She closed her eyes, yet her temples went on throbbing.
"I will give you one day. Send that thing back where it came from. If you do not, I will break both your legs. If you understand me, get out of my sight this instant!"
Chunyan fled the inner room in tears. Chun Tao, too, was so furious that tears nearly spilled from her eyes.
To think I pleaded with the Eldest Miss on behalf of a girl like that — I must truly have lost my mind.
Even with her eyes shut, Bai Jingyan could not smother her anger, and her breathing came uneven. Watching her, Chun Tao was swamped with guilt. She hurriedly poured a cup of water and offered it to her mistress.
"Eldest Miss, allow this servant to give Chunyan a proper scolding."
A long while later, having steadied herself, Bai Jingyan spoke with her eyes still closed.
"Find out who it was that lured Chunyan out of the residence. Invent some pretext for the steward and have him lock that person up as well. Others may grow suspicious, so if anyone asks, tell them the steward sent the man out of the estate on an errand."
"Yes, Eldest Miss! This servant will go and see to it at once."
Chun Tao answered quickly.
Before the sun had set, a single carriage from the Zhenguo Duke Estate rolled to a stop at the entrance of Manjiang Tower.
Chen Gengsheng, who had been riding up front with the driver, climbed down, exchanged a few words with Bai Jingyan inside the carriage, and went into Manjiang Tower ahead of her to make preparations.
The moment the tower's hands spied Chen Gengsheng coming in, they hurried off to fetch Zhang Gui.
"Boss Zhang! Master Chen has arrived!"
At the sight of Chen Gengsheng, Boss Zhang broke into a broad smile and hurried out from behind the counter.
"Master Chen, you've come! Just as you instructed, I kept the finest room in the house, and I've had people at it since morning until it was spotless. The brazier is heaped full of firewood, and we've turned customers away all day — that room has been waiting for the Eldest Miss and no one else!"
Chen Gengsheng stepped forward at a brisk pace and gave Zhang Gui a deft half-kneeling bow, then respectfully presented a silver ingot.
"My thanks. If you had not lent the tower's kitchen to Miss Luo of Luo Family Wontons, our Eldest Miss would never have gotten to eat Luo wontons fresh from the pot. When the Eldest Miss's rewards come down, I'll stand you a drink — I've already put the word in, so don't you dare refuse me when the time comes!"
"Master Chen, what are you saying! Your business is my business!"
So declaring, Boss Zhang cheerfully pressed the silver back into his hand and gave his thanks.
"How could I not know how thoughtful you are, Master Chen? I know perfectly well you brought the Bai Eldest Miss here so she might sample our kitchen's cooking as well. If the Bai Eldest Miss of the Zhenguo Duke Estate says but one word of praise, every noble house in the capital will learn what a fine establishment our Manjiang Tower is! I understand your sincerity, so worry no more. We will serve the Eldest Miss well today."
When Bai Jingyan stepped down from the carriage, supported on either side by Chun Tao and Chunyan, the waiter standing at the entrance momentarily lost his wits. It was not as if he had never seen daughters of wealthy houses while working in the capital — but never had he laid eyes on a woman of such extraordinary beauty. She looked like an immortal maiden descended into the mortal world.
"Ah — that is another matter entirely!"
Chen Gengsheng hastily pushed the silver into Zhang Gui's hand. Then he fell back a quick step or two and went forward to welcome Bai Jingyan in person, Boss Zhang trailing after him, silver clutched in his fist, bowing and beaming all the while.
With the two men shouldering their way in on either side, Chunyan found herself pushed to the rear. She had already been given a proper dressing-down by the Eldest Miss, and though she'd had someone return the jade token Prince Liang had given her, the Eldest Miss still did not seem ready to forgive her. Why else would she say nothing while Chen Gengsheng and Zhang Gui slid into the place that should have been hers?
Feeling sorely wronged, Chunyan thrust out her lips and trailed along behind them. Her pout jutted far enough to hang a kettle from.
Watching how Chen Gengsheng had handled his bargaining with Zhang Gui just now, Bai Jingyan found herself liking him better and better. If Jindong was to walk the merchant's road in the years to come, Chen Gengsheng was exactly the man to be a great strength at her third sister's side.
She turned her head and spoke to Nuo Ping and the escorting guards.
"Nuo Ping, wait here and on no account act rashly. Move only when I give the word."
Nuo Ping answered with a fist-and-palm salute that it would be as she ordered.
"Eldest Miss, Zhang Gui has prepared a private room of refined elegance for you! Manjiang Tower is newly opened — not so famous as the Yanque Tower right next door, but far quieter than that place."
Chen Gengsheng guided Bai Jingyan to the foot of the stairs.
"Mind your step, Eldest Miss."
"Yes, yes, quite so! The finest private room in the house has been cleaned since early this morning! Come sundown, have the partition opened and see for yourself. There is no better seat for taking in the river's dazzling night view from the veranda. The outlook will beat any private room at Yanque Tower!"
Zhang Gui followed at Bai Jingyan's heels, grinning from ear to ear.
"Thank you for your trouble, Zhang Gui. Now hurry back to your work. We will attend the Eldest Miss ourselves."
Chun Tao answered with a smile.
"Very well! As you say!"
Zhang Gui bowed repeatedly at the foot of the stairs.
Chen Gengsheng had just opened the door of the private room when he remembered that Bai Jingyan was suffering from a chill, and he hurriedly shut the window that stood open.
"Eldest Miss, this room has an excellent position, but if the window stands open, the window of Yanque Tower's private room is directly in view — so I will keep it closed for now."
Chen Gengsheng had prepared everything with meticulous care. Fearing the Eldest Miss might grow bored shut up in the room, he had laid out a go board beneath the flower-carved lattice window, and a game record lay waiting on the table.
Bai Jingyan shed her outer robe and went straight to the go board, skimming through the record once at a glance. Wherever had they dug up such an endgame? It was a position she had never once set eyes on, and her interest stirred.