Bai Qingyan rose and went inside to check on Fourth Madam Wang Shi, who was still sleeping soundly. She sat by the bedside and tucked the blanket corners around Wang Shi.
Physician Hong had examined her – fortunately, Fang Shi had only given Fourth Aunt a little knockout drug and no other medicines. She would be fine after sleeping it off.
After Bai Qingyan had stayed with Fourth Madam Wang Shi for a while, Wei Zhong came in with small steps. Through the screen, he spoke quietly to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty… that Fang Shi couldn’t endure it and fainted after about ten strokes. Her brother said he was willing to take the remaining strokes for Fang Shi. The punishment officer didn’t know what to do, so this old servant came to ask Your Majesty’s intention.”
“Everyone takes their strokes. Life and death depend on Heaven’s will,” Bai Qingyan said lightly.
“Yes!” Wei Zhong acknowledged.
Hearing these words, Nanny Guan ground her teeth in hatred, wishing she could devour Fang Shi’s flesh and blood. A mere common woman dared to scheme against their family’s madam.
“There’s another matter. Physician Hong says Fourth Madam probably won’t wake until tomorrow. I wonder… Your Majesty had planned to invite the maternal relatives of all the madams to enter the palace tonight for a banquet together. Should this still proceed?” Wei Zhong asked quietly.
Originally, Bai Qingyan had sent people to notify the maternal relatives of all the madams – family members who hadn’t gathered in years – to bring their families into the palace tonight to reunite with the various Bai family madams. This was meant as a surprise for Mother and all the aunts. But if Fourth Aunt was unconscious and didn’t attend, it might invite speculation from others. If they told the truth… who knew whether some might have loose tongues.
Bai Qingyan glanced at Fourth Aunt, who was still sleeping soundly, and said: “Proceed as planned!”
Otherwise, canceling at the last minute would arouse even more suspicion.
When the time came, they could simply say Fourth Aunt suddenly felt unwell, and arrange for Fourth Aunt to separately invite her maternal family into the palace another day.
The excitement from Grand Princess Gaoyi’s birthday had already spread among the common people. They said that the servant of Second Miss Qin had attempted to assassinate His Majesty, but His Majesty, considering the face of the Duke Auxiliary, didn’t immediately kill Second Miss Qin but instead imprisoned her.
They also said… when someone advised His Majesty to return, His Majesty instead said having a clear conscience meant no fear, and remained there to celebrate with the people, never returning.
The festivities of that day continued until the Female Emperor’s carriage was slowly escorted away by the Imperial Guards in the twilight purple, and only then did the excitement outside Jinhui Mountain gradually disperse.
Today, Nanny Tong hadn’t come along, as she was staying in the palace to oversee tonight’s arrangements for the maternal families of the various madams entering the palace.
Before leaving, Dong Shi had arranged for tonight’s banquet to be held at the Bishui Pavilion in the palace. This was the coolest place in the palace during summer. Nanny Tong led the palace maids and eunuchs to clean the place thoroughly, replaced all the mosquito netting on the corridors and second-floor terraces, and lit the bronze bird lamps arranged on both sides, each over half a person’s height. The entire Bishui Pavilion was illuminated like daylight.
Nanny Tong stood at the front, watching the maids arranging flower vases and fresh flowers on the high tables. She glanced at the water clock, estimating that the First Miss and various madams, along with their maternal relatives, would arrive soon. She instructed Chun Zhi to check with the imperial kitchen to see if the cold dishes to be served first were ready, then lifted her skirts and went downstairs to prepare to greet them at the entrance.
Outside Bishui Pavilion, pavilion lamps were placed every five steps, illuminating the cleaned azure stone slabs that gleamed darkly.
With autumn’s arrival, all flowers had withered except chrysanthemums, which bloomed magnificently.
Precious chrysanthemums were planted on both sides of these stone slabs, lush and orderly, clearly visible under the pavilion lights. When the wind passed… their fragrance was rich and sweet.
The weeping willows by Bishui Lake were already mixed with gold and azure. Though not as verdantly charming as in spring and summer… their branches graceful and varied, they were now adorned in gold and azure, reflected by these pavilion lights… creating a unique, beautiful scene.
Before long, Nanny Tong saw palace maids and eunuchs carrying palace lanterns, bowing as they led the way. She first spotted First Madam Dong Shi supporting the arm of the Dong family’s Old Madam, and quickly approached with a smile. After greeting everyone, she said, “Everything has been arranged properly. Please, all the Old Madams, Madams, and young ladies, enter.”
Since Bai Qingyan had invited the female relatives of all families into the palace, the various madams inevitably brought their daughters-in-law and daughters along. Being able to enter the palace once was a tremendous honor, especially for unmarried young ladies – it could be mentioned when discussing marriage prospects to enhance their standing.
More importantly, if their family’s aunt took a liking to them and invited them to stay briefly in the palace, their prospects would surely be limitless.
Naturally, though everyone had their calculations, missing their daughters was certainly genuine, and they wanted their daughters to grow closer to their nieces.
While Dong Shi attended to her mother, she turned and smiled: “All Old Madams and Madams… please!”
Bai Qingyan first returned to her sleeping quarters to change clothes. After all, when outside, she had to maintain imperial dignity, wearing imperial robes made movement truly inconvenient. Since today was a family banquet, Bai Qingyan wanted to change into ordinary clothes to avoid giving the various Old Madams and Madams from her aunts’ maternal families a sense of being looked down upon from on high.
On the way to Bishui Pavilion after changing, Bai Qingyan adjusted her sleeves while asking Wei Zhong: “Did Fang Shi’s brother really know nothing?”
Wei Zhong nodded: “This old servant has had people watching the carriage area. When the servant woman by Fang Shi’s side brought Fang Shi’s brother to the carriage, he kept asking how Fang Shi was injured, seemingly sensing something was wrong. He immediately refused to go, saying he wanted to call the Bai clan leader to come along, but was stopped by the people the servant woman brought.”
Bai Qingyan nodded, then raised her eyes with a cold gaze toward Wei Zhong: “Send someone to watch. If Fang Shi can’t recover from those fifty strokes, so be it. But if she recovers… and within three days the clan leader still hasn’t divorced Fang Shi, then treat her as she intended to treat others. But don’t make it a big affair – we must preserve some dignity for Bai Qingping.”
Wei Zhong understood Bai Qingyan’s meaning and acknowledged with “Yes.”
If Fang Shi found ways to soften Bai Qihe’s heart and he couldn’t bear to divorce her, then… whatever Fang Shi had originally intended to do to Bai Qingyan’s Fourth Aunt, Bai Qingyan would return in kind. But considering that Fang Shi was Bai Qingping’s birth mother, she would just force Bai Qihe to have no choice but to divorce Fang Shi – no need for others to know.
Previously, no matter how Fang Shi acted up, Bai Qingyan had never paid attention. But now her audacity was growing bigger and bigger!
Since she dared to splash dirty water on her Fourth Aunt’s head, she shouldn’t fear having that basin of dirty water fall on her head.
“Also, Yue Shi…” Bai Qingyan instructed Wei Zhong further, “Send someone to settle him properly. He rode hard to get here and probably hasn’t rested well. Send someone to tell him I’ll see him after tomorrow morning’s court.”
“Yes!” Wei Zhong acknowledged.
When Bai Qingyan arrived, Old Madam Dong, Old Madam Liu, Old Madam Li, Old Madam Wang, and Old Madam Qi had already brought their female relatives and were seated.
Eighth Miss Bai Wanqing was being held lovingly in Old Madam Qi’s arms, the little girl sitting obediently in her grandmother’s embrace eating sweets. Her chubby little hands held sweets to feed the Old Madam, making the Old Madam laugh heartily.