Sima Yan’s wife suggested that Sima Yan find Xue Renyi and tell him everything honestly, since after all, the Sima family had wronged Xue Renyi first.
But that concubine daughter and her birth mother knelt on the ground crying and wailing, saying she had already been intimate with Xue Renyi, and if she couldn’t marry him, she would end her life with a white silk rope. This angered Sima Yan’s wife so much that she refused to manage the matter anymore, to avoid gaining a reputation for treating concubine daughters harshly and driving them to death, which would affect her three sons in the future.
Sima Yan’s mother lay on her soft couch, crying even more, saying… that Xue Renyi had a stubborn temperament – it was Xue Renyi who had beaten the petition drum during the imperial examination fraud case years ago. If Xue Renyi learned they had killed his fiancée and found someone to replace her, she feared that both she, the old woman, and the concubine daughter in the house would not survive. It would be better to call their concubine daughter an adopted daughter publicly, telling Xue Renyi that to give “Sima Ruodan” a good background, they claimed she was the Sima family’s adopted daughter.
Sima Yan was thoroughly annoyed by his mother and concubine, and angrily washed his hands of the matter. His mother then single-handedly arranged the marriage between Xue Renyi and their concubine daughter.
He never expected His Majesty to also pay attention to this matter and ask about it today… Sima Yan was forced into a corner and could only speak thus.
Originally, Bai Qingqi had wanted Sima Ruodan to follow Wei Zhong and return to the capital with Bai Qingyan’s carriage, but Sima Ruodan was unwilling to leave. First, it was convenient for her to stay by Aunt Lu Ning’e’s side to study medicine, and second… Bai Qingyan guessed that Sima Ruodan wanted to stay with A-Qi.
Her younger brother was also of age. If she could help arrange a good match, she would be very happy.
Bai Qingyan was unwilling to use her younger siblings’ marriages as chips in political games. She hoped that when her younger brothers and sisters were willing to marry, it would all be because their hearts were moved by love.
After morning court concluded, Bai Qingyan summoned Grand Commandant Lu, Minister of Works Shen, Grand Tutor Dong, and Lu Jin to her study to discuss details regarding the strategy for merging the two countries.
After all, once Yan’s envoys arrived, there would certainly be many details to finalize, such as… agreeing on how many years the period should be, how to judge which country’s national policy was superior, and so on. Detailed regulations needed to be established for everything.
Bai Qingyan wanted to ensure that before Yan’s envoys arrived, Great Zhou’s key ministers should have a clear understanding and plan out a general proposal. The rest could be discussed and coordinated between the two countries.
“Recently, Minister Lu has been idle at home. If you have time, summon Minister of Revenue Wei Bugong and plan this matter carefully…” Bai Qingyan said with a smile.
“Your Majesty means that Wei Bugong can be trusted?” Lu Jin asked.
Lu Jin had originally wanted to suggest to Bai Qingyan that Minister of Revenue Wei Bugong should be involved in advance, so that when Yan’s envoys arrived, the Minister of Revenue wouldn’t be caught off guard. He hadn’t expected Bai Qingyan to bring up Wei Bugong herself.
“Wei Bugong has ability and ruthless methods, but he’s just too straightforward. Many people below probably find him disagreeable!” Bai Qingyan accepted the hot tea Chun Tao handed her, used the lid to press down the tea leaves in the cup, and said: “You should give him appropriate guidance. I’m still counting on him… to properly manage the Ministry of Revenue for me. With him there, I feel at ease! Don’t let him be tripped up by others in the end, leaving us helpless, since our Great Zhou now governs according to law!”
Lu Jin bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty, rest assured. This subject will certainly remind Minister Wei frequently!”
Just as Lu Jin finished speaking, Wei Zhong entered with small steps and whispered in Bai Qingyan’s ear: “Your Majesty, the Bai clan leader Bai Qihe requests an audience outside.”
Grand Commandant Lu glanced at Lu Jin, understanding that Bai clan leader Bai Qihe was probably here about the Bai clan members. He smiled and said to Bai Qingyan: “If Your Majesty has no other instructions, we shall withdraw first and prepare according to Your Majesty’s orders, quietly awaiting the arrival of Yan’s envoys!”
Bai Qingyan casually placed the hot tea in her hand on the table and nodded: “Thank you for your hard work, four ministers! After Yan’s envoys arrive, there’s no need to be so secretive. The four ministers can then find capable assistants to help.”
The four ministers bowed to Bai Qingyan and took their leave, withdrawing from the hall.
Only then did Wei Zhong ask quietly: “Your Majesty, shall I summon the Bai clan leader into the hall?”
Bai Qingyan picked up her hot tea and drank a few sips, then turned to Chun Tao: “Chun Tao, did you put hawthorn in the tea?”
Chun Tao, kneeling beside Bai Qingyan with a black lacquered gold-decorated square tray in her arms, smiled: “Miss has such a sharp tongue! I picked out all the hawthorn pieces. I noticed Miss hasn’t been eating well these past few days. Thinking that hawthorn aids digestion and appetite, I took the liberty of adding a few pieces to the tea water. Knowing Miss dislikes sourness, I added some honey. Is it palatable?”
“Not bad…” Bai Qingyan placed the teacup aside and smiled: “Later, serve the clan leader a cup of tea like this, too. With clan troubles, I imagine our clan leader has an even worse appetite than mine.”
After speaking, Bai Qingyan straightened her robe hem and said to Wei Zhong, “Please invite the clan leader in!”
Chun Tao withdrew to prepare hot tea for Bai Qihe, just as she encountered Chun Zhi, who was about to bring refreshments to Bai Qingyan. Chun Tao stopped Chun Zhi and gestured for her to go to the rear hall.
“What’s wrong, Sister Chun Tao?” Chun Zhi was somewhat puzzled.
“Miss is about to see the clan leader. Bring the refreshments later, and prepare a serving for the Bai clan leader, too,” Chun Tao said.
Hearing this, Chun Zhi nodded and couldn’t help sighing: “Miss wasn’t this busy even when she was in Xiliang. Since returning to the palace, she’s had no moment to rest.”
Chun Tao knew Chun Zhi was feeling sorry for their Miss and smiled: “That’s why we servants should serve Miss as properly as possible. Tea should always be hot, and whether Miss drinks it or not, we must replace it promptly for Miss. Also, like now when Miss is about to see someone, don’t serve refreshments now, lest Miss inadvertently eat some and get crumbs on her lips, which would be impolite in front of others. We must think of all these things for our master! When the clan leader comes… serve two portions of refreshments together, so Miss can have some without being impolite.”
“Mm!” Chun Zhi nodded. “I will certainly work harder. If I do anything wrong, Sister Chun Tao must tell me!”
Chun Tao nodded. She was happy to teach Chun Zhi. If Chun Zhi could become capable, in the future, when she wasn’t around Miss or when she was inattentive, having another person to properly care for Miss would give her peace of mind.
·
Bai Qihe was now covered in sweat. He had been kneeling outside the great hall for half the day. Seeing Grand Commandant Lu, Minister of Works Shen, Grand Tutor Dong, and Minister of Justice Lu, he rose to bow and stepped aside to let the ministers pass, then knelt again, calculating in his mind how he should explain this matter when he met Bai Qingyan.
He was the leader of the Bai clan, yet he had failed to properly discipline his clan members…