An Offer of Favor
Bai Jingyan knew Prince Liang's vicious methods all too well. She was equally familiar with the schemes of Du Zimei, the strategist who served at his side. If she cast Chunyan out now, Du Zimei and Prince Liang would simply lure in and exploit someone else from the Duke of Zhenguo Estate instead — for nothing in this world shifts more fickle than the human heart. At such a critical juncture, she could not afford to gamble on that kind of danger.
Bai Jingyan had always prided herself on her keen insight, yet in her past life she must have been utterly blind in both eyes. She had trusted Chunyan — a maid who betrayed her mistress and conspired with outsiders — without a shred of suspicion. The girl had even convinced herself that Chunyan acted out of devotion, risking her very life by siding with Prince Liang because she cared for her mistress.
She stood beneath the eaves, clutching her hand warmer, lost in thought for a long while. When she finally lifted her head, Bai Jingyan's eyes were filled with nothing but cold light.
"Since I'm not going to kill her, bring her to the front courtyard."
At those words, Chun Tao's eyes brimmed with tears. She believed it was her own fault — she was the one who had begged Bai Jingyan to spare Chunyan that day and put her mistress in this difficult position. Choking back sobs, she began to speak.
"Eldest Young Miss, I—"
A splitting headache seized Bai Jingyan, and an unbearable weariness washed over her. She had no desire to trouble herself over Chunyan any longer. Straightening her outer robe, she set her mind at rest and headed for the front courtyard.
Prince Liang had sent his jade token, declaring his intention to take Bai Jingyan as his primary consort. He had even come in person before her serious injuries had fully healed. Clearly, he had no intention of ever giving up on using her to claim military glory for himself.
'"Utter devotion" — to a sickly woman with nothing but a frail body to her name. How very pitiable he must find himself. But even if it means dashing my skull against the ground and dying, I will never again be that chess piece who gave her all for him!'
That shameless, venomous petty man, Prince Liang — when "affection" failed to move her, he had stooped to even baser methods, threatening Bai Jingyan's reputation to force her into his estate. Today, the world had to learn how Prince Liang had bribed the servants of the Duke of Zhenguo Estate and tried again and again to meet with her. Not a single soul in the capital could remain ignorant of it.
Only when the whole world knew how she despised that shameless wretch's schemes and tricks could Prince Liang's black-hearted designs be trampled into the dirt for good. Only then would he never dare act so recklessly again.
* * *
Outside the rear side gate of the Duke of Zhenguo Estate, an unremarkable carriage sat parked beside a tree. From within it came the intermittent sound of coughing.
Donggil, hands tucked into his sleeves, pressed his head against the estate's rear gate and peered intently through the crack. Seeing no sign of anyone approaching, he stamped his feet in the cold, growing impatient.
When a coughing fit like a chest being torn apart sounded from inside the carriage, Donggil hurried back at once. Stroking lightly down Prince Liang's back, he spoke with a reluctant expression.
"The Bai eldest young miss seems to regard Your Highness's favor as her due. You offer her the seat of primary consort — a woman who cannot even bear a child — and she dares refuse you like this! Your Highness, if you truly want Lady Bai, why not simply speak to Her Majesty the Empress and take her as a secondary consort? Your health is poor — why torment yourself by coming all this way in person? You shower her with kindness, and she doesn't know enough to be grateful."
Prince Liang clenched one fist as he coughed, then pulled his cotton quilt tighter and stretched out his hands toward the brazier to warm them.
"What would you know!"
Unless there was truly no other choice, he absolutely could not force Bai Jingyan into the Prince of Liang's estate. To make use of her abilities, he had to make her come to him willingly, obediently of her own accord.
Yesterday, thanks to Bai Jingyan having cleanly dispatched that baseborn son at the estate's banquet — a child not yet even entered into the family registry — word had spread far and wide that she possessed a backbone and mettle to rival any man's. All the more reason he could not afford to let her slip through his fingers.
Lately, since Bai Jingyan had suddenly begun keeping her distance, Prince Liang had sensed something was off. He could not rest easy without meeting her face to face.
* * *
While Prince Liang waited in his carriage by the side gate, every steward, servant, old retainer, and maid at the estate who was not on duty had been summoned to the front courtyard. Wooden paddles had even been laid out in readiness, and the assembled household cast uneasy glances at one another. None of them knew what was happening, and all felt as though they were sitting on a bed of thorns.
Some stewards tried to ask Steward Xue what was going on, but she stood on the high steps with her mouth pressed firmly shut, saying nothing.
Bai Jingyan had told Lady Dong everything — how Prince Liang had repeatedly ordered his servants to arrange meetings with her, and how he had gone so far as to send his jade token.
At first, Lady Dong had been quite pleased to hear it. But thinking it over more carefully, something felt wrong. If Prince Liang truly had feelings for Bai Jingyan, he should have come openly to the estate, sought the elders' blessing, confirmed that Bai Jingyan had no existing betrothal, and only then sent a matchmaker. That would have been the way to show her respect.
Instead, he had bribed the estate's servants to beg for meetings again and again — which could only mean he regarded her daughter as beneath him, something to be trifled with. And if this affair ever came to light, Bai Jingyan's reputation would surely be ruined. At that thought, a cold sweat broke out over Lady Dong in an instant.
Moreover, as the head lady of the household, Lady Dong understood better than anyone how vital the family's standing was. Disaster, as ever, had sprung from within the house. Though it was the year's end, there could be no escaping harsh punishment now.
Lady Dong made her decision on the spot, sending someone to summon several slave traders. Only after that did she set out for the front courtyard alongside Bai Jingyan.
Servants, maids, and attendant girls packed the spacious courtyard wall to wall. When Lady Dong, wife of the Crown Prince's household, came out supported by Nanny Jin, followed by the eldest young miss Bai Jingyan herself, everyone hastily offered their greetings.
Lady Dong swept a sharp gaze over the servants standing in the courtyard as she settled into a chair beneath the eaves.
"Are the slave traders here?"
Steward Xue stepped forward and bowed to Lady Dong.
"Madam, they are standing by."
Lady Dong gave a nod, then turned her head and issued her command to Steward Xue.
"Drag them out!"
Thereupon, three figures were led out, bound with rope: the servant who had carried word to the side gate of Prince Liang's estate, the old retainer who had delivered the jade token to Chunyan, and the old retainer who had been knocked unconscious by Yin Shuang's fist that very morning.
The servant glanced around, then collapsed to his knees, calves trembling. Weeping, he pleaded.
"Madam Crown Princess, spare me! This servant's eyes were blinded by money! But I only passed messages between the Prince of Liang's estate and Chunyan — I never once did anything to harm the Duke of Zhenguo Estate, truly!"
The old retainer who had been beaten unconscious that morning threw himself down, knocking his head against the ground again and again.
"This servant also merely accepted Prince Liang's silver. In place of the prince's servant, I only passed a word to Chunyan — nothing more."
"I too only called Chunyan out on behalf of a servant of Prince Liang's Highness! And only that once!"
The old retainer who had handed over the jade token shuffled forward two steps on his knees.
"Chunyan! Chunyan! Say something!"
Standing at Bai Jingyan's side, Chunyan remembered how Chun Tao had spoken up on Mingyu's behalf — and her legs gave out beneath her, dropping her to her knees. Sweat poured down her like rain.
"Madam, Eldest Young Miss! This servant... this servant..."
Lady Dong took the cup Nanny Jin handed her and cast Chunyan a single sidelong glance from beneath her phoenix eyes. Fury began to boil up inside her. She was holding back only because she had promised her daughter to spare Chunyan before she arrived — otherwise, she would have dragged that girl out and beaten her to death with the paddle right then and there.
"Every one of you will tell the truth — what messages were passed to Chunyan, and what Chunyan was told to deliver to Prince Liang's estate."
Showing not a trace of anger, Bai Jingyan seated herself unhurriedly and asked in a calm voice.
Terrified, the three poured out everything they knew in short order. But among all they knew there was nothing of importance. Anything truly significant would never have been entrusted to these three by Prince Liang or Chunyan. At best, they had pocketed a little silver and brought Chunyan to the side gate — that was all.
"Besides these three, who else carried messages?"
Bai Jingyan turned her head and asked Chunyan, who knelt trembling at her feet.
Chunyan bit down hard on her lower lip, tears dripping one by one.
Bai Jingyan set down her hand warmer, lifted a warm teacup, and blew gently on it.
"Here is your chance to redeem yourself. If you stay silent, then even if Chun Tao kneels and begs on your behalf again, I will never forgive you."
From where he knelt bound in the courtyard, one of the old retainers spoke up in desperation.
"Old Retainer Liu carried messages too! I saw it with my own eyes!"
Old Retainer Liu immediately dropped to his knees.
"Madam Crown Princess, Eldest Young Miss, spare me! This servant — this servant carried a message only once! Only once! Even then, it was only because I saw Old Retainer Wang taking the silver and my heart wavered!"
Pull up one weed and the dirt comes with it, as the saying goes. They had caught another.
Old Retainer Wang hurriedly fell to his knees, shaking like a leaf in the wind.
Lady Dong set her teacup down on the table with a heavy clack.
"Our estate has never once treated its servants harshly. And yet look how many have been blinded by money! Whoever comes forward on their own, I will spare their life. But if someone else drags them out, there will be no mercy!"
In managing the household, Lady Dong had always balanced grace and severity with a deft hand, keeping the estate in impeccable order. It was for this same reason that, when she had once issued a strict command that the affair of Second Young Miss Bai Jinxiu's return home must never be breathed outside the walls, not a whisper had ever escaped.
Prince Liang had racked his brains to obtain Bai Jingyan — and all he had managed was to bribe four people: a gate servant and a few gatekeeping old retainers.
Chunyan wept more bitterly still. In a burst of utter desperation, she crawled forward on her knees until she knelt before Lady Dong.
"Madam! Prince Liang's feelings for our young miss are sincere! This servant did it for the young miss's sake too! When word reached Prince Liang that the Old Dowager of Dengzhou meant to marry off our Eldest Young Miss to a man of the Southern Rong, he came to see her in person despite his grave injuries — if only to lay eyes on her once. Such is the depth of his devotion! Where in all of Dadu is there another man who loves our Eldest Young Miss with such a true heart!"
Nanny Jin folded her hands before her, her face gone rigid, and spoke.
"Chunyan, what nonsense is this! If Prince Liang truly cherishes our young miss so deeply, then he — or any lady acting on his behalf — ought to come to our estate openly, to plead his case or press his suit. Instead he secretly bribes the household servants and conducts himself in this sneaking, underhanded manner? Such treacherous conduct — is it not meant to ruin our young miss's good name! And you, her personal maid, growing close to the prince's servants!
"It is only by the grace of heaven that the Eldest Young Miss noticed and had Yin Shuang keep watch over you. If anyone had heard word of this, never mind your life or death as a mere maidservant — what of our young miss's honor? How could you!"
"Madam! Prince Liang truly does love our Eldest Young Miss."
"So Chunyan eats the bread of our estate while doing the work of Prince Liang's household."
Lady Dong lowered her head and laughed softly. Then she spoke again, leisurely, unhurried.
"Nanny Jin — later, send Chunyan's certificate of servitude over to the Prince of Liang's estate. If he refuses to take her, break both her legs at his gate and hand her to the slave traders to be sold as a singing girl."
Chunyan's face went rigid in an instant. Then, as though grasping for a lifeline, she crawled to the hem of Bai Jingyan's robe, weeping tears and snot without shame.
"Eldest Young Miss! Eldest Young Miss! Spare this servant, please! This servant won't go anywhere! This servant will serve only the Eldest Young Miss! This servant will never do it again!"
However foolish Chunyan might be, one thing she understood with perfect clarity: the only reason Prince Liang wanted to meet her was that she was a maid of the eldest young miss's inner circle, tending her day and night. If the eldest young miss cast her aside, there would not be a single reason left for Prince Liang to take her in. He would never accept her — and she would end up in exactly the same position as Mingyu.
At the thought of Mingyu, Chunyan shuddered from head to toe and wailed all the more wretchedly.