Prince Yang
Emerging from the Grand Princess's courtyard, Bai Jingyan caught sight of the Fourth Miss returning on horseback, leading the Fifth and Sixth Misses behind her.
The young misses rode through the pristine white snowfield in dark crimson riding attire, their faces bright with laughter as they chatted gaily among themselves. Their carefree laughter, clear as silver bells, seemed to wash away every trace of the darkness weighing on Bai Jingyan's heart.
The Bai family's daughters were unlike the sheltered young ladies of other houses. They were not the sort of women to confine themselves to needlework or to the four refined arts of the scholar — the zither, the game of go, calligraphy, and painting. Every daughter of the Zhenguo Duke Estate rode out in splendid dress, proud and unafraid, and there was not a soul in the capital of Dadu who did not know it.
When Bai Jinchi, the Fourth Miss, spotted Bai Jingyan standing beneath the corridor draped in crimson silk, her eyes lit up and she darted toward her at once.
"Eldest Sister!"
The Fifth and Sixth Misses came running after her with shining eyes, calling out in their girlish voices.
"Eldest Sister...!"
Chun Tao smiled, wiped down the railing of the corridor, and helped Bai Jingyan to a seat.
"Eldest Sister, are you feeling better now? You shouldn't be out in the snow like this!"
Bai Jinchi settled at her side, worry brimming in her eyes as she asked.
"Does that mean you'll take us riding when spring comes? Our riding master is so dreadfully dull. He never lets us ride on our own!"
The Fifth and Sixth Misses were twins. Though barely past ten years of age, their faces were as white and soft as dusted powder, their skin smooth as polished jade. Their hair was parted on both sides and coiled up like little silk pouches — a style that suited them perfectly, and looked darling on them both.
Gazing at the three little misses of the Zhenguo Duke Estate, still whole and unbroken, Bai Jingyan remembered her past life. Her third sister, Bai Jindong, and her fourth, Bai Jinchi — forced to hide their names — had thrown in their lot with an enemy state to avenge the Bai family and drag the Great Jin Dynasty into ruin. Her fifth sister, Bai Jinshao, had honed her martial arts to a brutal edge in an attempt to kill Prince Yang, only to fall beneath his blade. And her sixth sister, Bai Jinhua, and seventh, Bai Jinse, had been forcibly sent to the government brothels by Prince Yang's order.
But now her sisters stood before her, alive and unharmed. It was a blessing beyond measure.
Her nose stung with sudden emotion. Bai Jingyan looked at her lively sisters and smiled.
"Eldest Sister, aren't the plum blossoms Jinshao sent you yesterday just lovely?"
The Fifth Miss, Bai Jinshao, leaned forward with a proud little face.
"Mother says you can't bear the cold, Eldest Sister, that you mustn't go anywhere too chilly. So the red plum blossoms opened so beautifully, and I picked the best ones and put them in a white jade vase to send to you. Do you like them?"
"Of course I do. The flowers you picked were the loveliest of all. I saw them the moment I opened my eyes this morning."
Bai Jingyan soothed the girl in a soft whisper.
"Me too! I cut paper window-flowers for you! They look so pretty pasted on the window when it snows! I sent some to Fifth Auntie as well. Mother told me and Sister that Fifth Auntie has a baby on the way, and since Fifth Uncle and our brothers have all gone off to war, she might be lonely and anxious — so we must cheer her up!"
Bai Jingyan nodded with a smile.
"Mm, I love those two chubby little baby window-flowers you cut. I'm sure Fifth Auntie will adore them too."
She turned her head toward Bai Jinchi.
"Tomorrow is Jinxiu's wedding day, and there's something I need to ask of you."
Bai Jinchi thumped her chest with the hand that held her reins.
"Just leave it to me, Sister. I'll give it my all!"
"Tomorrow, the wedding procession will come to fetch the bride from the Zhongyong Marquis Estate. If no one is holding the gate, you must take the maids and servants and line them up to block the bridal procession. We cannot let the Zhongyong Marquis's heir think he can simply carry off your second sister because our house has no men. That would be a stain upon the honor of the Zhenguo Duke Estate."
"Don't you worry, Eldest Sister! There's no one in all of Dadu better at making things difficult for people than I am!"
Bai Jinchi declared, pounding her chest for emphasis.
Catching sight of Nuo Ping approaching from a distance, Bai Jingyan spoke to the girls with a warm smile.
"Yes, well — go and get dressed and ready. Grandmother has summoned the palace painter. Since your second sister is marrying off tomorrow, he will paint a portrait of us sisters before she goes. Make yourselves pretty."
The three girls paid Bai Jingyan a respectful farewell and rode off.
Nuo Ping was not yet forty, but his face was weathered and grave beyond his years. He offered Bai Jingyan a clasped-fist salute.
"Eldest Miss. Did you summon me?"
"Let's talk as we walk, Nuo Ping."
Bai Jingyan rose and started down the corridor.
Seeing the rather grave look on her face, Nuo Ping collected himself, took the umbrella from Chun Tao's hands, and held it open above Bai Jingyan's head. Then he followed at her side with careful formality.
Clutching her hand warmer, Bai Jingyan walked slowly past a servant sweeping snow in the courtyard before speaking in a leisurely tone.
"Someone sent me word anonymously last night, asking to meet tomorrow at the third quarter — the hour of the serpent — at Zui'an House on Chang'an Street. They claim to have news from the Southern Border."
Nuo Ping's face darkened.
"Who was it?"
Who could have slipped past the estate's guards to deliver word directly to the eldest miss of the inner household?
"I didn't see their face. And I've told no one yet."
Nuo Ping lowered his gaze to the tips of his own shoes, thinking hard. The sweat pooled in his palms was cold.
If an outsider had been able to carry word into the estate, then the guard detail deserved to die ten thousand deaths.
"I can't stop worrying about it. Why would someone carry news from the Southern Border to me, rather than to the elders of the family? And why — of all days — on the very day the Second Miss is wed?"
Bai Jingyan stopped walking and fixed Nuo Ping with an unwavering stare. Her face was as deep and still as water.
"So here is what I want: tomorrow, go to Zui'an House in my place, and watch for anything suspicious."
Bai Jingyan wished for Nuo Ping to go to Chang'an Street and determine the precise circumstances of Prince Yang's assassination. It would be best of all if he could learn who the assassin was; and even if Bai Jinxiu could not avoid witnessing the scene of Prince Yang's death, Nuo Ping would never stand by and let her lose her life.
Bai Jingyan could not tell Nuo Ping outright that Prince Yang was about to be assassinated — and so she had devised this stratagem.
"I shall carry out your orders, Eldest Miss."
Nuo Ping answered with full formality.
"Nuo Ping — caution, and caution again, above all else. Even if you spot someone suspicious, we can always investigate the details later. Never, ever let the Duke's Estate fall into another's trap."
Bai Jingyan cautioned him.
"Do not worry, Eldest Miss. I understand."
Nuo Ping handed the umbrella back to Chun Tao, paid Bai Jingyan his respects, and hurried away.
As Bai Jingyan stood gazing blankly after him, Chun Tao roused her in a low voice.
"Eldest Miss, please return to your chambers and change into something brightly colored. Since you're to sit for the portrait, colored clothing will show best."
Bai Jingyan withdrew her gaze. Her voice was light and thin, drained by her long illness.
"I'm too tired to bother with all that. Let's go back."
* * *
By the time Bai Jingyan returned to Qinghui Courtyard, Shen Qingzhu had been waiting for her beneath the corridor for quite some time.
At the sight of the young, vigorous Shen Qingzhu standing before her, Bai Jingyan's eyes grew moist.
Shen Qingzhu had grown up at Bai Jingyan's side since childhood. Maid and mistress in name — but in truth, they were as close as sisters.
The year Bai Jingyan turned ten, brimming with boldness, she had begged her grandfather to take her to the battlefield. He had promised her two years: if she could raise a female guard corps within two years, he would bring her to war. Shen Qingzhu had been one of those Bai Jingyan selected.
That guard corps had dragged her back from death's door again and again on the battlefield. At sixteen, dressed as a boy, Bai Jingyan had followed her grandfather to war for the second time — and there an enemy spear had torn through her belly, plunging her into a river raging with the depths of winter. The guard corps had been all but annihilated pulling her out of that river.
The army physicians said her very survival was a miracle, and that she would likely never conceive a child. Ashamed of failing to protect her, Shen Qingzhu had returned and demanded the harshest training the army could give. It was then that General Shen, who had marked her talent, took her in as his adopted daughter. Yet even after completing her training, Shen Qingzhu had sworn to return to the Bai Estate — and with single-hearted devotion, she had remained at Bai Jingyan's side ever since.
"Come in."
Bai Jingyan said.
Chun Tao lifted the curtain for Shen Qingzhu.
"Miss Shen, please enter."
Neatly dressed, Shen Qingzhu followed Bai Jingyan into the room and offered a clasped-fist salute.
"Miss, do you have orders for me?"
Bai Jingyan removed her wind cloak and handed it to Chun Tao, then set down her hand warmer, seated herself at the table, took up her brush, and began writing a letter. Watching her, Shen Qingzhu hung back, fearful that the cold of the outdoors still clung to her lady.
Bai Jingyan finished the letter swiftly, laid down her wolf-hair brush, and gave Chun Tao her instructions.
"Chun Tao, stand guard outside. Let no one enter."
"Yes, Miss."
Chun Tao went out.
Bai Jingyan took the carefully sealed letter and stepped up to Shen Qingzhu.
"Qingzhu, I need you to take a few trusted people and make a journey to the Southern Border. The sooner, the better. Deliver this letter to someone of our Bai family. The matter is so urgent that I trust no one but you."
"Yes, Miss!"
Without asking a single question further, Shen Qingzhu took the letter in both hands and turned to leave. But Bai Jingyan suddenly caught her wrist.
"Miss — is there anything else you would command?"
She could feel the strength in Bai Jingyan's fingers as they gripped her wrist. In her mistress's crimson-rimmed eyes burned a hatred sharp enough to pierce the heavens.
"If... if every last one of our Bai family people should vanish, you must retrieve the march records and the war records kept by the Bai army's official historian. And deliver this letter to your adopted mother, General Shen. And then find Yu Huanzhang, my grandfather's subordinate general... and kill him."
Shen Qingzhu stared at Bai Jingyan with wide, startled eyes. What could she possibly mean — that every last Bai family person would vanish?
But seeing how dark Bai Jingyan's face had become, Shen Qingzhu grasped the gravity of the matter and bowed her head with solemn respect.
"Qingzhu will carry out your orders!"