One Step Ahead
By the time Bai Jingyan set down her brush, Nanny Dong had lifted the fragrant bamboo blinds, made her way around the folding screen into the room, and bowed to her in greeting.
"Eldest Miss, Bai Jingping and Shen Anzhong wish to pay their respects to you."
"Our Eldest Miss only just returned and hasn't even had a chance to rest yet…"
Chun Tao's heart ached at the sight of Bai Jingyan.
"It must be about the soldier training. With the Eldest Miss away for so long, the reports will have piled up like a mountain."
Nanny Dong, far from being annoyed, understood the situation perfectly. Her own son, Zeng Xianyu, had also wanted to report on the mining affairs the moment Bai Jingyan arrived — only Nanny Dong had stopped him and told him to come back the next day.
Bai Jingyan sealed the letter she had been writing, then spoke.
"Tell them to wait a moment in the main hall. I'll come out right away."
"Yes, Miss!"
As Nanny Dong turned to leave, Bai Jingyan added one more thing.
"Nanny, if Zeng Xianyu has the time, send word for him to come here as well. There's something I need to ask him."
"Yes, Miss!"
Nanny Dong answered again. Bai Jingyan changed her clothes and drew her hair up simply, then went to the main hall to meet Bai Jingping and Shen Anzhong.
The moment Bai Jingyan entered, Shen Anzhong hurriedly dropped to one knee and bowed.
"We pay our respects to the Zhenguo Commandery Princess!"
His movements were so abrupt that Bai Jingping, who had been sipping tea, startled and hastily set down his cup, kneeling to follow Shen Anzhong's example.
Bai Jingyan waved a hand at Bai Jingping, telling him there was no need to kneel.
"It was merely a temporary title. And Young Master Shen, get up quickly! Think of yourself as one of the family — from now on, there's no need to kneel. A proper bow of greeting will do."
At the words one of the family, Shen Anzhong felt his chest tighten with emotion.
Bai Jingyan took her seat and asked, "Is it about the soldier training?"
"Yes!"
Bai Jingping nodded.
Once seated, Shen Anzhong reported the matter from beginning to end.
"It concerns men of unknown identity who slipped over from the Southern Border. After Your Highness departed for the Northern Border, they attempted to flee several times, but my brother Ping and I caught them and have been holding them."
Bai Jingyan lowered her gaze. They were the men Li Tianfu had sent to kill her. She had left the estate, so naturally they would have tried to follow after her.
"Well done."
Bai Jingyan looked at Shen Anzhong and Bai Jingping. "Have you all been learning from them properly?"
"They're all men of extraordinary ability and talent, and their dueling techniques are practical! My brother Ping has already recorded their methods, and the other soldiers are following along and practicing!"
This time, Shen Anzhong did not steal Bai Jingping's credit. He glanced at Bai Jingping with a grin, then continued his report.
Bai Jingping hastily offered his own courtesies in return.
"It's only thanks to Anzhong's quick judgment that their techniques were exceptional. I would never have thought of it on my own."
A good tool, used for a good purpose. A smile touched Bai Jingyan's eyes. How utterly dumbfounded Li Tianfu would be if she ever learned that the assassins she sent were now helping train the soldiers at Suyang in Bai Jingyan's stead.
"Still, keep a close watch on them."
Having said that, Bai Jingyan asked about another matter.
"On my way back to Suyang from the capital, I heard that children have been vanishing one after another from the villages near here. Apparently someone even witnessed bandits coming down from the mountains and snatching a child away."
Bai Jingping nodded. "We heard the same rumors, so we've intensified the training. In about half a month, I believe we'll be able to carry out our first bandit suppression campaign."
Bai Jingyan nodded.
"His Majesty awarded a considerable amount of gold and silver as a reward. Have Young Master Shen go and verify it shortly, then put every bit of it toward training the soldiers for bandit suppression."
At the thought of personally inspecting a gift from the Emperor himself, Shen Anzhong's throat went dry. Believing that Bai Jingyan truly did not treat him as an outsider, he nodded repeatedly and accepted the command.
"Nanny Dong, take Young Master Shen and have him verify it. Create a proper ledger to record everything. Bai Jingping, stay a moment."
Bai Jingyan said. Shen Anzhong glanced at Bai Jingping with a hint of surprise, then bowed meekly, withdrew, and followed Nanny Dong off to inspect the imperial rewards.
"Sister, is it about my mother that you wished to ask?"
Bai Jingping looked somewhat helpless as he clenched his fists.
"I heard your mother has returned to her family home. I hear there was quite a commotion when she left?"
Bai Jingyan lifted her teacup, blew gently across it, and took a sip.
"Sister, I'll be honest with you. My mother did something foolish — she dared send people to track your movements. Father was so angry he threatened to divorce her, and at that, she packed her things and went back to her family."
Perhaps feeling guilty toward Bai Jingyan, Bai Jingping's expression turned distinctly awkward as soon as he brought up his mother.
"Looking into someone's whereabouts isn't such a grave offense. Your father had no need to go that far. Unless it's something truly beyond forgiveness, the dignity of the clan head's wife must be preserved."
Fingering the teacup in her hand, Bai Jingyan continued.
"You focus on training the soldiers on the drill grounds. You must never let your attention be pulled away by matters like this."
No matter what Bai Jingping's mother did, Bai Jingyan did not care in the least. She was only worried that the mother's actions might come to affect her son.
"Sister, don't worry. I know perfectly well which matters matter more. I won't let private affairs ruin the public ones."
Bai Jingping rose and offered a long, formal bow to Bai Jingyan.
"Sister, you've only just returned from the battlefields of the Northern Border — please rest well. Once everything from the camp has been compiled into ledgers, I'll bring them to you."
"There's no need. The work is yours to oversee, so I won't worry about it."
Bai Jingyan said with a smile.
"Go on. Go verify His Majesty's gifts together with Shen Anzhong. Once you know how much came in, you'll have a better sense of how many more soldiers we can recruit."
"Yes, Sister!"
Bai Jingping bowed to Bai Jingyan with great formality before taking his leave.
Before supper that evening, Bai Jingyan met with Zeng Xianyu. After receiving a brief report on the affairs at the mine, she summoned the two Bai family guards who had disguised themselves as escorts of the Yan King's envoy — the same two guards who had 'died' before the Liang King's eyes — and ordered them to shadow Zeng Xianyu from then on.
Zeng Xianyu thanked her repeatedly, and then, suddenly recalling something that had happened at the mine that day, spoke up.
"Ah, Eldest Miss! Yesterday the royal steward who oversees the mine came up to the site with a man in tow, and he was extremely deferential toward him. But he wouldn't tell me who the man was!"
For no particular reason, Xiao Rongyan came to Bai Jingyan's mind, and she asked, "Was there perhaps a rather dull-looking guard following him about?"
Zeng Xianyu nodded vigorously. "Yes, that's right! The guard's name was something like Xi, I believe. Do you know him, Eldest Miss?"
Bai Jingyan nodded. It was Xiao Rongyan. It was surprising that he had come to Suyang a step ahead of her.
"Eldest Miss."
Nanny Dong entered the pavilion, glanced once at her son, then addressed Bai Jingyan.
"Madam has sent Auntie Jin to fetch you, Miss. She's invited you to dine with her. With the Eldest Miss and the Fourth Young Miss back, and Miss Dong of the Dong family arrived as well, Madam has prepared the meal in Shaohua Garden, the most scenic courtyard in the estate."
"Very well."
Bai Jingyan nodded.
"Zeng Xianyu rushed here and probably hasn't eaten either. Nanny, have some food prepared and dine with him. Chun Tao alone can come along with me."
Giving mother and son a chance to spend time together, Bai Jingyan's offer made Nanny Dong answer with a smile.
"Yes, Miss!"
Shaohua Garden stood in the southeast corner of the estate, embraced by towering old trees. The trees had taken root there long before the Bai family arrived, and it was said that a Bai ancestor had built the additional compound beside them and drawn water from the lake. In the course of that work, the three-story Shaohua Hall was raised; on its topmost floor, eight vermilion pillars stood at the four corners with fragrant bamboo blinds hanging between them, and above those, gauze-thin silk curtains. They kept out the flying insects while still offering a hazy view of the garden below — a scene of exquisite charm.
The sunset gradually withdrew to the west, and within Shaohua Garden the lamps burned bright. Life-like bird-shaped lanterns of copper stood along both sides of the broad stone path. Their flames swayed in solemn rhythm, spilling light over rare and precious flowers — a picture worth ten thousand words.
It was Dong Zhengzhen's first visit to the Bai family's ancestral manor in Suyang. She thought that this, surely, was what true refinement meant. The Dong family manor was splendid in its own right, rare treasures displayed in every corner — but only after seeing this place did she understand how far the Dong family still had to go.
When the Bai family had fallen into ruin back then, every illustrious house in the capital had turned its back on them and even scrambled to avoid them — yet the footsteps of the Dong family alone had never ceased. Such loyalty could not be forgotten, and so Bai Jingyan's aunts doted on Dong Zhengzhen as if she were their own niece.
During the meal, Dong Zhengzhen caught sight of Bai Wanjing — so white and plump and adorable — and could hardly bear it, gathering the little girl into her arms and refusing to put her down. But when Bai Wanjing had a little accident on her hands, Dong Zhengzhen, unable to laugh or cry, had no choice but to go change her clothes, blushing with embarrassment.
When she returned, she tried to pick Bai Wanjing up again. The child blew a tiny bubble with her lips and stared with eyes like great grapes at the hairpin trembling in Dong Zhengzhen's hair. So Dong Zhengzhen drew the pin from her hair and placed it in Bai Wanjing's little hand, utterly helpless before such cuteness.
With Bai Jingyan and Bai Jinchi returned, the Bai manor brimmed with life. The household servants went about their work wearing smiles, and the maids trailing after Nanny Dong in and out of Shaohua Hall would exchange bright, laughing greetings whenever their eyes met. The whole atmosphere was warm and full of joy.
The thin silk curtains and bamboo blinds hung to keep out the night insects swayed in the breeze, and the bells dangling from copper hooks chimed softly with every gust of wind.
Following Nanny Dong's instructions, the manor's maids lined up with teapots and serving dishes, ascending into Shaohua Hall by the right-hand stairs and descending again by the left. Seasonal fruits and delectable delicacies flowed to the table without end.
Lady Dong, evidently in fine spirits that day, had rose wine warmed and urged Dong Zhengzhen to try a cup as well.
Looking at the meat dishes being brought to the table, Dong Zhengzhen felt her heart grow complicated. She worried that the Bai family, still in mourning, might have broken their observances specially for her sake.
Fifth Aunt Ji patted her hand soothingly.
"It's with the Grand Princess's blessing. She said the abstention from meat during mourning is only for show before outsiders. If the children went three years without meat while still growing, their bodies would be ruined. When we're among strangers we must keep up appearances, but you're no stranger. If we eat well and grow strong, our ancestors will be pleased!"
At those words, Dong Zhengzhen let out a breath of relief.
Surrounded by the Bai sisters, listening to the family trade stories of the Northern Border war, Dong Zhengzhen felt a wave of envy. The Bai family treated even the children of secondary wives with kindness and warmth. Every noble house in the capital surely knew this much — but they could not know that the atmosphere within the Bai household was this loving and harmonious.
It was no different for Dong Zhengzhen herself. Though she got along well enough with her two half-sisters, she had always believed there was a clear line between herself, the legitimate daughter, and her sisters born of concubines. Somewhere beneath her conscious thought lay the quiet certainty that she stood on higher ground.
But in the Bai family, the boundary between legitimate and secondary blood was faint. More than that, the Bai sisters genuinely, sincerely kept no distance between one another. One look in their eyes was enough to see there was no pretense, no hollow ritual at all.
After gazing upon them with such envy for a long while, Dong Zhengzhen quietly comforted herself. Every household simply lived differently, that was all. The Bai clan had been a military house for generations; for legitimate and secondary sons to stand as one on the battlefield, they had to be close at home.
Whereas her own father was the son of a house that had risen through scholarship — and so, quite naturally, he weighed the distinction of birth.
Intoxicated by the ceaseless laughter of the Bai family, Dong Zhengzhen forgot all about the Liang King, and her heart grew light.
Fifth Aunt Ji left early, saying she had to put the little ones to bed, while Dong Zhengzhen — who had coveted the wine and drunk cup after cup of rose wine — now had her cheeks flushed pink and her gaze grown hazy.
Lady Dong rose with a smile to escort Dong Zhengzhen to her room, and Bai Jingyan stood from her seat to follow her mother.
After seeing Dong Zhengzhen settled and watching until the maids had washed her and laid her upon the bed, Lady Dong came out with Bai Jingyan.
Perhaps because the bed was unfamiliar, Dong Zhengzhen — who only moments ago could not even open her eyes for the wine — seemed suddenly quite sober.
Rising, she lifted the thin indigo curtain and looked around the room. There stood the camphor-wood screen inlaid with jade and coral, the dowry Lady Dong had prepared for her. From a golden censer drifted the faint scent of chenxiang incense, her favorite — subtle yet rich, unmistakably of the finest grade at a single breath.
Her father, her aunt, her cousin — they all cherished her and treated her so well. What reason was there to grieve over a man who had only ever meant to use her?