The Abyss in the Dead of Night
Bai Jinchi said nothing, only clenched her jaw tight, then rose and walked out of Qinghui Courtyard to find Nuo Ping.
“Jindong, go tell Nuo Ping that the Bai family has great matters to carry out now, and ask him to go easy on her.”
Bai Jingyan spoke in a low voice.
Bai Jindong nodded and swiftly followed after Bai Jinchi.
“Eldest sister……”
Bai Jinxiu gripped her hand with all her strength.
“Jinchi will have understood. The reason you spoke to her so fiercely is because you place such great hope in her.”
All the men of the Bai family were gone. Only the women remained, and raising the family back up would be anything but easy.
Bai Jinxiu had married into the Jin family, and before long Bai Jindong would leave home to pursue trade. In truth, Bai Jingyan had no intention of withholding everything from Bai Jinchi just because she was still young. Once the Bai family's great affairs were settled, she had wanted to keep her at her side and teach her slowly for a year or two, then let Jinchi take the battlefield as she wished and put her strengths to use.
But Bai Jingyan had momentarily forgotten that the Bai family was walking on thin ice. The road ahead was arduous and perilous. There was no time to let this impulsive girl run wild as she pleased.
Having suffered the immense grief and pain of losing family, Bai Jinchi had to grow quickly and become someone who could shoulder responsibility. She had to possess the strength of heart to bear part of the Bai family's burden.
As Bai Jingyan gazed up at the clear, lofty sky, her eyes brimmed with killing intent. The King Xin's subordinates had plotted in the shadows, maneuvering pieces to ride the momentum and drag the Bai family down. Perhaps they hoped to quietly withdraw and pretend nothing had happened—but now that their scheme had been exposed, she would never grant them that chance.
If all her martial prowess was gone, then she would use the mouths of the people as her blade.
If they had likewise sought to ride the tide using the people's words as their weapon, then very well—let them try. Let us see just who prevails!
At the entrance to Qinghui Courtyard, Bai Jingyan looked at the servants huddled anxiously, too frightened to step inside, and spoke.
“Chun Tao……”
At the sound of her voice, Chun Tao hurried in. Seeing Bai Jingyan about to help Bai Jinxiu into the inner room, she quickly raised the screen.
“Bring my cousin's husband here. I have words for him.”
“Yes! This servant will go at once!”
Chun Tao nodded.
Inside the inner room, Bai Jingyan sat with Bai Jinxiu by the brazier, kneading her arm for her.
At the gates of the Duke's estate, Bai Jinxiu had been trying in vain to hold Bai Jinchi back when the girl shoved her, and she had struck her body against the doorframe. The blow had landed squarely on an old wound, and the pain was such that she could not even lift her arm.
Perhaps it was the quiet of the room. Perhaps it was the comfort of her eldest sister's side. Before she knew it, Bai Jinxiu had let her heart spill out.
“Eldest sister……”
Bai Jinxiu lowered her head and continued in a thick, congested voice.
“This morning, Nanny Ma, who attends my mother, came to deliver a message from my maternal family. With every man of the Bai family gone—my father and brothers all departed this world—and with me already married off, and no telling how the Emperor will treat the Bai family, she told my mother to prepare herself. She said to ask Grandmother for a letter of severance. So that our family would not be implicated with the Bais.”
A thin thread of smoke drifted from the censer crowned with a beast of pure gold, and an exceedingly faint fragrance lingered through the room.
“Second Aunt will not go.”
It was very soft, but it was a voice brimming with certainty.
Because in my past life…… she never did.
Her aunts had all married into the family at the very height of the Duke of Zhenguo's glory. Yet when calamity struck, not a single one of them had shown weakness. Not one had abandoned the Bai family and fled—some had even threatened the Emperor with their own lives, demanding justice for the Bais.
“I know.”
Bai Jinxiu said in a low voice.
“It's only that the ways of the world feel so desolate. My grandmother used to tell my mother she must always keep a respectful and kind heart—that she must serve her parents-in-law devotedly. So how is it that the moment disaster strikes the Bai family, before my father's body has even gone cold, she tells my mother to secure a letter of severance first? It leaves such a bitter taste.”
“It is only a mother's heart, thinking of her daughter. Every mother wishes for her children's remaining years to pass smoothly. No matter how grown the child, a parent's worry never ends. So do not blame your grandmother.”
At Bai Jingyan's words, the anger and shame that had weighed on Bai Jinxiu's heart melted away. She turned her head to look at Bai Jingyan, who was kneading her shoulder, tears streaming down her face.
“I don't know about the maternal families of my other aunts. I only pray none of them choose to leave the Bai family at this critical hour.”
“Your aunts will not leave.”
Bai Jingyan took Bai Jinxiu's hand and spoke with quiet meaning.
“And that is why we must help Mother and our aunts raise the Bai family back up. We must show the whole world that even with our grandfather, our father, and every man of the Bai family gone, the women of our house can never be dismissed. No one will dare look down on our mother and aunts!”
Bai Jinxiu nodded.
“We can only wait for Fifth Aunt to bear a son! At the very least, that would continue the Bai line!”
Even as she spoke of a son, the thought of the concubine-born son of Qingming Courtyard rose in Bai Jinxiu's mind, and her throat ached.
“That concubine's son of my father's…… I've already heard what happened at the wedding. That wretched creature! He is not one to be relied upon.”
Bai Jingyan did not even wish to mention the concubine's son.
“He is not worth a moment's thought. He will never amount to anything! Whether Fifth Aunt bears a son or a daughter, it is all heaven's will—it cannot be forced. What we must do is prepare countermeasures for the worst outcome first.”
“Then what will become of the Bai family from here?”
Bai Jinxiu's voice trembled with tears.
“Grandfather…… and when the family returns, Grandmother said she will petition the Emperor to let us return to our ancestral home in Suyang. Under the pretext of praying for the great campaign, she will hold Buddhist rites at Qing'an Temple. With Jindong at her side. Grandmother has given Jindong leave to dress as a man and conduct trade. Jindong will multiply the family fortune for our sake.”
As Bai Jingyan spoke the plain truth, Bai Jinxiu's heart nearly stopped.
The hand that held Bai Jingyan's tightened further. Bai Jinxiu's mind was in turmoil, and her words tumbled out carelessly.
The whole family returning to Suyang? Then she was going too! Jin Lang had already left the Zhongyong Marquis's household…… and Suyang was the land that had produced illustrious figures—fitting for study!
It struck Bai Jinxiu that staying with her sisters would be far more secure and warm than remaining in the capital.
Bai Jingyan patted Bai Jinxiu's hand to soothe her, then slowly shook her head.
“Setting aside that you have already married into the Jin family—looking at our Bai family alone, there is no telling yet whether we can return to Suyang unscathed. And even if we return safely, you must never be ignorant of anything concerning the capital. Do you understand what I mean?”
Bai Jinxiu faltered. She had a dim sense that Bai Jingyan had some plan in motion.
“Eldest sister……”
Bai Jingyan gripped Bai Jinxiu's hand tight.
“If our Bai family is to return to Suyang whole this time, someone must remain in the capital. You are steady and deep of thought—it is only with you staying in Dadu that I can set my heart at ease.”
Bai Jinxiu bit the inside of her lip. She understood what Bai Jingyan meant. Her eldest sister was plotting something for the Bai family's future even now. Their stay in Suyang would be but a brief respite. Bai Jingyan had surely laid plans to lead the Bai family back again.
Now that she knew Bai Jingyan had a plan, Bai Jinxiu resolved never to do anything that would hinder it. She lifted her head and nodded, her face solemn.
“Don't worry, sister. I will not disappoint you. I will remain here in the capital, awaiting your return.”
“Madam, my cousin's husband has arrived!”
At that moment, Chun Tao called softly from outside the door.
Hearing this, Bai Jinxiu wiped her tears with her handkerchief, smoothed her clothing, and sat calmly beside the bronze brazier carved with flowers.
“Tell Chen Gengsheng to come in.”
Bai Jingyan answered.
The moment Chen Gengsheng entered and saw Bai Jinxiu inside, he hurried to bow. He stood with his head lowered in deference, and without raising it, he spoke.
“Madam. Second Young Miss.”
Bai Jingyan settled herself on the couch, and rather than dismissing Bai Jinxiu, asked,
“Have you learned what happened at the gates of the Duke's estate?”
Chen Gengsheng was an exceptionally perceptive man. If the Madam had summoned him without sending the Second Young Miss away, it meant the Second Young Miss could be trusted to hear. Reading her intent, he answered truthfully.
“I have heard, Madam. Do you have orders for me?”
Bai Jingyan bowed her head and lifted the pure-gold lid of the censer, stirring the ash inside with a silver rod. Suppressing the bone-chilling killing intent that threatened to pour from her eyes, she spoke slowly.
“The tale that Grandfather stubbornly forced his way to lead the army—that was leaked by the King Xin. The one behind him dared stretch a hand toward our Bai family because he intends to pin the blame for the King Xin's defeated return upon us. And then, under the charge that the Bais harmed the soldiers' families, he means to bring our house crashing down completely. Our enemy has moved, and failed to achieve their aim—so now it is our turn to show them something. They were the ones who first stirred these waters, and they must be made to understand that peace will not come easily again.”
“Do not worry, Madam. I know just what to do. They sought to strike our estate with rumors—then we shall repay them in kind, an eye for an eye. This is work I am good at, and well practiced in! I will not disappoint you, Madam.”
Bai Jingyan closed the censer's lid and regarded Chen Gengsheng with courteous gravity.
“You've worked hard. Go and see to it.”
Bai Jinchi had taken the rod. Nuo Ping had struck her lightly, yet even so, there was no doubt her skin had been left in tatters.
But Bai Jinchi was made of iron mettle after all. Knowing full well her own fault, she had clenched her teeth through the entire punishment without uttering a single cry, and when it was over she had refused all support and walked back to the courtyard on her own two feet.
Bai Jindong carried golden spear salve and went to see her. Bai Jinchi lay face down on the couch, secretly wiping away tears, but at the sound of the door opening she hastily turned her head and quietly dabbed her eyes against the pillow.
“Eldest sister told Nuo Ping to go easy on me, so it's only this much.”
Bai Jindong washed her hands clean and sat down beside the couch. She drew the brazier closer, drew back the covers, and applied the salve to Bai Jinchi's wounds.
“Eldest sister punished you—do you understand your mistake now?”
Bai Jindong asked, glancing once at Bai Jinchi lying face down, secretly weeping.
Perhaps it was the sting of the salve, but Bai Jinchi's whole body went rigid as she gave a heavy reply.
“Yes, I understand. I'll mend this impulsive temper of mine. And from now on, I'll think things through before I act.”
“What Eldest Sister said—that one must be brisk and open on the surface, yet fill what lies beneath with calm—do you understand what she meant by that?”
Bai Jindong asked as if deliberately trying to teach her sister something.
Bai Jinchi rested one arm on the pillow and turned her head to look at Bai Jindong.
Bai Jindong finished applying the salve and tucked the covers back over her. Then, wiping her hands with a handkerchief, she said,
“Eldest Sister never told you to change the way you deal with matters. There is no one in the whole of the capital who doesn't know you're blunt and without restraint. Even the way you handle affairs is always impulsive. But if you turn that weakness of yours to use, then you alone can do what no one else can. People rarely guard themselves against someone whose heart is laid bare and who speaks her mind without guile.”