Words Left Unsaid
"Eldest Miss, do not worry. I understand perfectly."
Chun Tao nodded.
"On the day the coffin departs, on the tenth, Chunyan will likely bring us something remarkable. Watch her closely," Bai Jingyan said to her two younger sisters.
Whether it was King Yang or Chunyan, if either intended to make a move, they would surely strike at the moment the Bureau of Funeral Affairs was at its busiest and most chaotic.
If word spread that the coffin would depart on the tenth, King Yang would send for Chunyan beforehand, waiting to act while everyone at the bureau was too preoccupied with the departure to notice anything amiss.
It was even possible he would tell Chunyan to come slip a letter into her grandfather's study.
Either way, on the day of the tenth, those two would certainly move.
Inside the funeral hall, the gilt spirit tablets coated in black lacquer stood out ever more starkly against the flickering candlelight.
Bai Jingyan gazed at the tablets of her grandfather and father. If their souls had truly returned, she prayed that on the tenth they would grant her the chance to seize that wretch King Yang in a single stroke. Only then could she leave for the Southern Border with her heart at ease.
On the ninth day, before dawn had even broken, the Grand Princess summoned all her daughters-in-law to discuss the matter of Bai Jingxian.
Candles set high in glass shades swayed gently, casting bright light across the room — and laying bare the Grand Princess's worn, haggard countenance.
She had not slept a wink all night. However she turned it over in her mind, it seemed this matter demanded a decision.
The coffin would depart tomorrow, and someone would have to see it off properly.
"I know none of you think well of that concubine-born son. I, too, have no fondness for the wretch. But he is undoubtedly the Second Madam's own flesh and blood, and he is the only man left to the Bai family."
The Grand Princess's voice went on, slow and measured.
"We will take the boy in, but his mother need not return. I will keep her by my side and instruct her myself. Second daughter-in-law, if you are willing, let him be entered under your name. If you would rather not — one of them will be in Suyang and the other at my side, so you would have little cause to cross paths with either."
The daughters-in-law all looked at the Grand Princess in silence. She spoke again.
"After tomorrow's departure, I intend to stop at the palace and surrender the Bai family's title. I will not pass it on to that concubine-born son, either. We will make it abundantly clear that we are withdrawing in earnest. If Heaven takes pity on our Bai family and lets the child in Fifth daughter-in-law's womb be born a son, then the reputation we build in this retreat will surely be a great aid to that child's path to office."
"If you have already made your decision, Mother, then we will bring him in," Lady Dong said.
Having served as the Grand Princess's daughter-in-law for so many years, she understood her better than anyone. When the Grand Princess spoke this way, the decision had already been made; no amount of dissuading would change it.
Besides, Bai Jingyan had warned her as well — that the concubine-born son had fled when calamity struck the Bai family, but would return the moment the imperial edict came down punishing King Xin. Lady Dong had long since steeled herself for it.
"Then so be it. I will have Nanny Zhang prepare a carriage and send it. Endure just one more day, and once tomorrow has passed, all of you rest well with your children."
The Grand Princess gripped her prayer beads tightly with her chilled hands, her face as kindly as ever.
"You have all suffered so much these past days."
Bai Jinchi brought the three youngest siblings to the funeral hall, telling Bai Jingyan, Bai Jinxiu, and Bai Jindong that they would stand the watch, and sending them off to rest.
Back at Qinghui Courtyard, Bai Jingyan washed, then instead of lying down at once, asked after Qi Zhengyu. He had already regained consciousness, but the loss of blood had left his body dangerously weak. Even so, she felt somewhat relieved.
"Eldest Miss, you stood guard at the funeral hall all night — please rest now."
Chun Tao's heart ached as she looked at the bloodshot whites of Bai Jingyan's eyes.
Bai Jingyan shook her head and went to stand beside the table. She had to write the memorial eulogies for her grandfather, her father, and her uncles. She dipped her brush in the ink and pondered for a long while — but could not write a single word.
There was so much, so very much, she wanted to say to her grandfather and father. Yet none of it could be spoken aloud. These were words that could only be said within her heart.
An hour later, Chun Tao wiped the ink stains from Bai Jingyan's hands and helped her into bed. Only after her mistress had fallen asleep did she carefully slip from the room.
Meanwhile, Chunyan had returned to Qinghui Courtyard and exchanged greetings with Nanny Dong. The moment she spotted Chun Tao coming out, she broke into a broad smile and hurried over.
"Sister Chun Tao, I'm back! We get to be together again now!"
"Shh."
Chun Tao held a finger to her lips. Then, remembering the eldest miss's instruction to let Chunyan stay close, she took Chunyan by the arm, led her aside, and said in a low voice, "The Eldest Miss stood vigil at the funeral hall all night and has only just fallen asleep. Keep your voice down. Now that you're back, never again do anything to wound her. If you slip up one more time, I will not forgive you."
Chunyan linked her arm through Chun Tao's and answered, "You spoke up for me to the Eldest Miss, didn't you? I remember it all. I've wanted to thank you a dozen times, but you always seemed so busy."
Chun Tao's stomach turned, but she swallowed it down and said, "The estate will be terribly busy tomorrow. If you're feeling unwell, stay out of your room. Don't go getting underfoot for no reason. And above all, stay out of the Eldest Miss's sight!"
Had this been before, Chunyan would have brushed such words off without so much as pretending to listen. But today she answered with a smiling face, "All right. Nanny Dong told me to keep company with Yin Shuang, that dolt, but I'd rather be with you, sister. Once the big affairs of the estate are settled, couldn't you put in a word for me with Chunxing? Ask her to swap posts with me."
Chun Tao sneered inwardly. The place Chunyan herself lodged in was the head maid's quarters.
Does she take me for a fool? All this talk of wanting to be together — what she really covets is the head maid's position.
"We'll see."
Chun Tao pried Chunyan's fingers from her arm.
"I have the Eldest Miss's affairs to see to. Go unpack your things."
With that, Chun Tao left Qinghui Courtyard.
Chunyan could not have cared less. When she recalled the stunned looks on the faces of the servants who had once torn her down — the moment they learned she had returned to Qinghui Courtyard with the eldest miss's blessing — a delicious satisfaction spread through her.
How clever could that fool Chun Tao possibly be, compared to me? Once the Eldest Miss's anger cools, I'll be her first-rank head maid again.
Though Chunyan had returned to Qinghui Courtyard, Nanny Dong, thinking of the wounds on her body, assigned her no real duties and instead told Yin Shuang to teach her the rules of the household. Yin Shuang, docile and obedient, paid her respects to Chunyan as instructed.
But merely looking at the simple-minded Yin Shuang irritated Chunyan. She lounged on the bed at her leisure and ordered Yin Shuang about — pour the water, peel the fruit, knead her legs — foisting one menial chore after another upon her.
In the afternoon, Nanny Dong came by and asked Yin Shuang whether she had been learning the rules well. Yin Shuang answered with perfect honesty.
"I learned to pour water for that person, and peel fruit for her, and things like that."
After a moment's thought, she added one more thing.
"Oh — and I learned to knead her legs, too!"
Chunyan flushed scarlet. Seeing Nanny Dong's face darken, she snapped with something like guilt, "What nonsense is that? I asked her to pour water once, and she's going to blather on about it like this? Nanny Dong, with her like this, who would dare teach her anything!"
Yin Shuang may not have been very bright, but she was no pushover. Eyes wide, she hurried over to Chunyan in quick strides and shoved her — wounds not yet fully healed — hard.
"I poured the water eight times! Eight, not one!"
Yin Shuang remembered it all. First Chunyan had said the water was too cold and demanded fresh; the second time, too hot. Only on the eighth pour was Chunyan finally satisfied.
Chunyan glared at her, then turned to Nanny Dong with reddened eyes. "Nanny, look at her!"
Nanny Dong nearly burst out laughing. She had wondered what Yin Shuang could possibly say after shoving Chunyan — and it turned out to be that the water had been poured not once but eight times.
Still, a reprimand was owed. Stiffening her face, Nanny Dong scolded Yin Shuang. "If you have words, use words! Why shove a person? Is this how you'll behave even in front of a miss? Enough. We're done learning the rules. Chun Tao tells me you're strong. As it happens, I could use help with something. Come with me."
Chunyan watched Nanny Dong lead Yin Shuang away. Being given no task of her own made her strangely anxious.
I've returned to Qinghui Courtyard, and yet they leave me idle like this — what is the meaning of it?
She wanted to chase after them, but Yin Shuang had shoved her so hard that her old wounds had reopened, and the pain left her unable to so much as straighten her back.
"Miss Chunyan, someone is outside asking for you. They say you left something behind this morning when you returned, and have come specially to bring it."
A maid who shared the large room with her came back in and said this with a smile.
Chunyan's face went rigid. Clutching her waist, she hurried outside without so much as a word of thanks. The maid who had delivered the message felt her expression harden for an instant, snorted, set down her basket of embroidery supplies, and spat in the direction Chunyan had gone.
Pah. Still thinks she's the Eldest Miss's head maid, does she?
Outside, an unfamiliar old woman stood at the entrance. Instantly wary, Chunyan spoke.
"What thing did I leave behind?"
"Miss Chunyan."
The old woman greeted her with a smiling face.
"I was sent at someone's behest. A guard of the King Yang Estate is looking for you — he has something to say."
Chunyan flinched. The memory of the beating shot through her still-unhealed body — but it was her heart that hurt more. She bit her lower lip, her eyes reddening. How anxious she had been, with not a word from His Highness King Yang all this while.
Yet if she was caught meeting one of King Yang's men the very day she returned to Qinghui Courtyard, Nanny Dong would surely beat her to death.
"I... while I've been convalescing, the work of Qinghui Courtyard has piled up terribly. I'm afraid I can't possibly leave the premises. Just pass on whatever he has to say to me. I can't go out."
Chunyan hurriedly drew a few pieces of silver from her sleeve and pressed them into the old woman's hand.
The old woman weighed the silver in her palm, then said with a smile, "Very well, then. This old servant will go in your place."
The tall guard waiting outside the gate did not see Chunyan. The old woman spoke up. "Miss Chunyan says that while she has been convalescing, the affairs of Qinghui Courtyard have piled up so badly that she cannot be away from her post. She cannot come out at all — so if you will tell me what he has to say, I will pass the message along. She cannot read or write, but delivering a message on the young miss's behalf will be no trouble."
Hearing this, the guard rolled his lips inward, said nothing, and returned to the King Yang Estate — where he reported the matter to King Yang himself.
"There are hidden guard masters within the Bureau of Funeral Affairs, Your Highness. I feared that acting rashly would ruin Your Highness's plans, so I did not force my way in."
Though the guard had failed to meet Chunyan, the trip to the bureau had not been wasted — he had learned that Bai Jingyan, moved by old sentiment, had brought Chunyan back into Qinghui Courtyard. With her inside those walls, Chunyan would be able to conduct her business all the more conveniently.
Seeing King Yang's stiffened face blanch white, the guard spoke in a low voice.
"Your Highness, this matter can brook no further delay. Yu Huanzhang, having heard that his family was thrown into prison, paced the city outskirts in an agony of indecision — and has finally disguised himself and slipped inside the walls. If he is captured, everything will come to nothing before the letter is ever sent to the bureau."
King Yang, clad in a deep violet official robe, sat beside the table. He crushed with his fist the paper bearing his botched writing and flung it aside. He was furious at Yu Huanzhang for acting on his own initiative. A sudden fit of coughing seized him, and the wound in his chest tore at him as though it were splitting open.
"Your Highness?"
The guard's face darkened.
"I will go and fetch a physician at once!"
King Yang raised a hand to stop him. Sweeping a hand across his chest, he took a long while to steady himself before fixing the guard with a ferocious gaze and speaking in a low, gravelly voice.
"Whoever was charged with watching Yu Huanzhang — have them come and beg punishment themselves."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The guard answered with a cupped-fist salute.