To Bear the Consequences
After sending Nanny Zhang off, Chun Tao stood marveling at the splendid garments, tracing the embroidery stitched in dark, subtle threads.
"Eldest Young Lady, clothes from the Tianshou Workshop truly are in a class of their own. Just look at this—how exquisitely it's made! My lady, which of these will you wear when you visit the palace?"
Bai Jingyan skimmed her gaze over the five garments the workshop had delivered and pointed to the white one. Then, picking up a go stone and turning it idly between her fingers, she asked, "How many days has it been since Shen Qingzhu left?"
"Eldest Young Lady, it has been nine days since Miss Shen set out on the road," Chun Tao replied.
Bai Jingyan gave a small nod.
Then she must have reached Zhangcheng by now, at the latest.
In her past life, the news that every man of the Bai family had perished in the Southern Border had arrived on the evening of the last day of the twelfth month. Today was the fourteenth. No matter how she turned the numbers over, it seemed impossible that she could save the men of the Bai family—and yet she had sent Shen Qingzhu all the same.
It was the desperate hope that Heaven might take pity on the Bai family, and let Shen Qingzhu save even a single one of them.
Weariness pressed in on Bai Jingyan, and she closed her eyes. She steadied the hot, damp, churning breath in her chest, then—eyes still brimming with tears—placed the go stone back into its bowl. It was not yet time to grieve. The year's end was almost upon them; there was so little time left.
Chun Tao passed word to the maid in charge of the young lady's wardrobe to store the garments with care, then came back into the room. Chunyan stood there with her lips stuck out in a sulk.
"What is it? Why the long face first thing in the morning?"
Frowning, Chunyan lowered her voice and murmured to Chun Tao, "A little while ago, I saw Crown Prince Jin from far off—and he bowed in the direction of our courtyard before going on his way. Isn't that strange?"
Bai Jingyan, who had been wrapping sandbags around her wrists and practicing her calligraphy, felt her mood lighten considerably. The corners of her lips even curved into a faint smile. Jin Lang had not disappointed her. He was a man who understood propriety.
Only yesterday, Jin Lang had already moved out of the Zhongyong Marquis Estate and into the residence granted him by the Emperor. A kind-hearted man with a clever mind, once Bai Jinxiu recovered and moved into the new house, he would be able to live out his days in peace and comfort.
"Why would that concern you?"
Chun Tao fiddled with her sleeves and, looking exasperated, added, "It's not as though he came here to bother the Eldest Young Lady."
Chunyan was about to say something more when she caught sight of an old servant standing at the gate of the Qinghui Court, craning his neck. Delight bloomed across her face. Quick as a flash, she signaled to Chun Tao.
"Never mind, Chun Tao! I just remembered something Eunju said to me yesterday. She told me to come collect some embroidery patterns. I'll be right back!"
With that, Chunyan hurried out of the Qinghui Court at a run. Yin Shuang, who had been inside munching on pine nut candies, saw her go and hastily stuffed the candies into the front of her robe before scrambling after her.
The moment the old gatekeeper spotted Chunyan emerging, he greeted her with a face full of fawning obsequiousness.
"Miss Chunyan!"
Chunyan took hold of the old servant's arm and drew him into a secluded corner. Only after glancing around and confirming that no one was near did she ask, "Has His Highness given any orders?"
"According to the servants, His Highness came in person! He's had his carriage stopped at the side gate and is waiting there. He says he wishes to see the Eldest Young Lady just once. Miss Chunyan, please speak to her on his behalf—tell her His Highness wants to see her."
Chunyan's heart hammered wildly; impatience flushed her cheeks crimson.
"Didn't they say His Highness was injured? Why would he come here in person? What if he catches a chill?"
"His Highness's feelings for the Eldest Young Lady are utterly sincere. Go quickly and tell her so she can come to the side gate. If anything were to happen to His Highness standing outside our estate gate in this bitter cold, we wouldn't be able to bear the consequences!"
"All right."
Chunyan's heart was entirely with the Liang King—and then irritation at Bai Jingyan welled up. If only the Eldest Young Lady had not returned the jade token to His Highness, he would never have dragged his wounded body here in person.
If anything happens to His Highness, the Eldest Young Lady couldn't pay for it even if she died ten thousand deaths.
Angry and aggrieved at once, Chunyan wrung her handkerchief nearly to shreds, then dashed off toward the inner chamber.
The instant Chunyan disappeared, Yin Shuang vaulted back over the wall. The old servant, who had just delivered his message, jumped in fright. Clutching his chest, he shot Yin Shuang a glare and turned to leave—only for Yin Shuang to knock him cold with a single blow of her fist.
She stared down at the servant sprawled at her feet for a moment, then hoisted him over her shoulder and carried him back to the Qinghui Court.
* * *
"Eldest Young Lady! Eldest Young Lady!"
Chunyan scrambled into the inner chamber, circled around the folding screen, and dropped heavily to her knees before Bai Jingyan, who was practicing her calligraphy with sandbags strapped to her wrists.
"Eldest Young Lady, I know you dislike any mention of Prince Liang. But yesterday you told him to return his jade token, and so His Highness has come here in person today! Despite grave injuries that put his very life in danger, he has come to our estate for your sake! My lady... I beg you this once. Out of regard for His Highness's devotion to you, please grant him an audience!"
Chunyan knocked her forehead against the floor so hard it resounded through the room. Tear-streaked and trembling, she looked the very picture of earnest desperation.
Counting both her past life and this one, Chunyan had never once shown Bai Jingyan such devotion. Seeing it now, sorrow rose in Bai Jingyan more powerfully than anger.
Chun Tao, who had been lifting the curtain to step into the inner chamber from outside, froze at the sight of Yin Shuang trudging in with the servant slung over her shoulder—then quickly realized that Chunyan had gone to meet another of the Liang King's people and been caught by Yin Shuang yet again.
Yin Shuang dumped the unconscious servant carelessly onto the floor, grinned, and held out her hand.
"Caught another one. Sister, candy."
Shame and fury surged through Chun Tao all at once. To make excuses for that low-born creature in front of the Eldest Young Lady! She was mortified beyond words. But she let none of it show—simply raised a hand and pressed a finger firmly against Yin Shuang's forehead.
"Glutton. Wait here!"
Chun Tao lifted the curtain and went inside. At the sight of Chunyan prostrate and kowtowing, she hastened to Bai Jingyan's side, covering her mouth with one hand as she whispered, "My lady, Yin Shuang knocked out another gatekeeper and came back carrying him over her shoulder."
Chunyan, unaware of what Chun Tao was whispering, simply stared fixedly at Bai Jingyan, yearning with all her heart for her to agree to see the Liang King.
"Eldest Young Lady..."
Not once—not from beginning to end—did Bai Jingyan look at Chunyan, who wept and pleaded without pause. She finished the final stroke of her last character, then set down her brush.
"Well, that's convenient. This is as good a time as any to sort out the household. Chun Tao, take Chunxing and go to my mother's courtyard and inform her. Tell Nanny Jin to bring the household rulebook. Then gather all the other stewards, and every servant and maid who isn't on duty, and have them assemble in the courtyard."
Chun Tao bowed her acknowledgment, hurried out, and gave Chunxing her instructions.
Before long, Chun Tao returned carrying a copper basin filled with water, and spoke as she wrung out a handkerchief.
"Eldest Young Lady, I've told Yin Shuang to carry the gatekeeper to the Crown Princess's courtyard with Chunxing. Will you be going as well?"
Bai Jingyan nodded. "Yes, of course I must."
At those words, Chunyan, still on her knees, scrambled forward in alarm, weeping and begging.
"Eldest Young Lady, I beg you! The household can be sorted out any day—but His Highness Prince Liang must be seen at once!"
"Chunyan! Have you lost your mind—!"
Chun Tao was stunned. She had assumed Chunyan was kneeling to beg forgiveness; instead, she was pleading with the Eldest Young Lady to receive the Liang King.
Bai Jingyan paid her no mind whatsoever, slowly untying the sandbags from her arms. As she flexed her wrists and looked over the calligraphy she had just written, Chunyan's anxiety burned hotter and her voice rose. Straightening her back, her face gone rigid, she began to rebuke Bai Jingyan outright.
"Eldest Young Lady! His Highness is standing at the back gate of this estate in this bitter cold. If anything were to happen to him, could you bear the consequences?"
At Chunyan's words—bear the consequences—a flash of rage shot straight to Bai Jingyan's head, and she turned a razor-sharp gaze upon her. An untouchable killing intent and pressure bore down suffocatingly, and Chunyan, terrified, broke into a cold sweat. Her spine went rigid; gooseflesh raced across her skin.
"Bear the consequences?"
Bai Jingyan flung the handkerchief Chun Tao had handed her onto the table. In that instant, it felt as though all the blood in her body had rushed to her head.
Chun Tao rounded on Chunyan. "Chunyan, are you possessed by a ghost, or have you simply gone mad? Did our lady ever tell Prince Liang to wait at the back gate of this estate in the snow? Why on earth should our lady bear the consequences for that? Is it the duty of an unmarried daughter of this house to run out and meet whoever happens to appear at the back gate unannounced? What in the world are you saying? Did all the rules Nanny Dong taught you go in one ear and out the other?"
"It's a different situation entirely! This is His Highness Prince Liang we're talking about!"
Chunyan stiffened her neck and shouted back at Chun Tao. At the memory of the Liang King lying injured, her chest felt as though it were being torn apart.
Bai Jingyan was bitterly disappointed. Forcing down the fury that boiled within her, she said, "A servant of this estate, fretting over the affairs of the Liang King's household! I have wronged you, haven't I, Chunyan. This estate will be putting its affairs in order today—so go to the Liang King and follow whatever path you choose!"
"That's not what I meant!"
Desperate, Chunyan kowtowed again.
"I... I was only worried about His Highness's condition! Eldest Young Lady, please, forgive me! I have followed only you since I was a child. I will follow you for the rest of my life!"
A cold smile crossed Bai Jingyan's lips.
"Follow me for the rest of your life? You may want that, but I'm afraid I haven't the courage to accept. Meddling in your mistress's marriage at every turn, threatening her to go meet a man outside the family—how could I possibly bear the likes of you?"
"My lady! My lady! Chunyan was wrong!"
Only then did Chunyan become truly afraid, breaking into loud sobs and begging for forgiveness as she trembled with dread.
"Our lady was always lenient with you because you were young. And yet you, shameless beyond all heavens, used our lady's name again and again to contact a man outside the family? And then dared to threaten her into meeting the Liang King? Have you truly resolved to ruin her?"
Choked with indignation, Chun Tao burst into tears. She wanted nothing more than to slap Chunyan across the face then and there and knock some sense into that foolish girl.
Bai Jingyan circled around the desk and instructed Chun Tao to fetch her cloak.
Chun Tao hastily wiped her tears and helped Bai Jingyan into the garment. Only after stepping out the door did she hesitate, then ask, "Eldest Young Lady, what shall we do with Chunyan? Should we... cast her out?"
Bai Jingyan let out a long, slow breath. She had barely managed to quell her anger. The time was not yet right. Chunyan still had her uses.