Dong Shi looked at the children in her mother’s arms, her eyes filled with affection: “Yes, speaking of which, we must thank Imperial Physician Huang. During this time, Imperial Physician Huang has barely left their side, constantly caring for both children!”
“Speaking of Imperial Physician Huang, I’m reminded of something…” Old Madam Dong smiled as she gently rocked and patted the child in her arms, who was about to fall asleep. “Imperial Physician Huang has a young daughter named A’Rong who has already reached the age of fifteen. I’ve inquired and learned she’s not yet betrothed. I happened to encounter her once on the street—she’s quick-witted and warm-hearted. What do you think of her as a match for Changyuan?”
Dong Shi was somewhat startled as she looked at her mother, immediately understanding her mother’s intention.
Dong Shi understood her mother well. Dong Changyuan was among the best scholars in the Dong family and currently the most promising of the younger generation. If A’Bao hadn’t become emperor, her mother would certainly still choose a daughter from an established family for her grandson’s wife.
But now that A’Bao had become emperor, if they chose a father-in-law who was both an official at court and capable of Dong Changyuan, given A’Bao’s nature, she would certainly look after him somewhat. Moreover, if he had a capable father-in-law… when Dong Changyuan handled affairs for Bai Qingyan, involving various court relationships, it would inevitably constrain Dong Changyuan.
Though Old Madam Dong was elderly, her mind remained very clear. It wasn’t that she loved her granddaughter more than her grandson, but rather… though Old Madam Dong was a woman, she also had grand ambitions and wanted to see the day Bai Qingyan spoke of—when the realm would be unified and the world at peace.
Moreover, back in Dengzhou… when Old Madam Dong and Dong Qingyue learned of Bai Qingyan’s ambition to reach the summit, they had told Bai Qingyan that the entire Dong family would spare no effort to assist her.
Since the Dong family had made this oath, they would spare no effort and never be false.
“If mother thinks well of her, why don’t I find a pretext to host some kind of flower viewing banquet, inviting daughters from various families who are of marriageable age, and mother can bring Dingzhen and the others too!” Dong Shi thought of the Bai family children. “Just right, aside from A’Yun… the others are also not yet betrothed. Let my sisters-in-law also take a look to see if there are any suitable daughters-in-law they fancy.”
“Good, good, good!” Old Madam Dong said “good” several times in succession.
“What good news is there that grandmother so readily agrees with mother?”
Bai Qingyan’s voice arrived before she did, as she lifted her skirts and stepped into the main hall.
Old Madam Dong, who was sitting with Dong Shi on the soft couch by the window, wearing a golden grape-purple blessing-patterned jacket and ink-colored lower garment, her silver hair combed meticulously, held a child in her arms and turned to look outside.
She saw Bai Qingyan in casual narrow-sleeved plain clothes, walking through the light-colored golden curtains that were hooked with golden clasps on the round pillars on both sides of the great hall, heading toward the inner chamber.
“I was just telling your grandmother about hosting a flower viewing banquet, inviting all the unmarried young ladies of the capital to let your brothers see if there are any suitable wives.” Dong Shi said with a smile.
This was the first time Old Madam Dong had seen her granddaughter since Bai Qingyan “returned to the capital.” Seeing that her granddaughter, aside from being even thinner than when she last saw her, had good color in her face, her heart finally relaxed. She quickly handed the child Xile in her arms to the wet nurse and rose to pay her respects.
“Grandmother!” Bai Qingyan quickly stepped forward to support Old Madam Dong, who was about to kneel. “Grandmother, what are you doing?”
“Your Majesty’s kindness, this old woman understands, but propriety must still be observed!” Old Madam Dong patted Bai Qingyan’s hand with kind eyes and brows, indicating for Bai Qingyan to let go.
“Grandmother, if you kneel, it will shorten A’Bao’s lifespan!” Bai Qingyan said to Old Madam Dong with a stern face. “Moreover, if you kneel, A’Bao must also kneel. With us both kneeling here and kowtowing together, don’t you think… what a ridiculous scene that would be.”
Old Madam Dong was amused by Bai Qingyan’s words and held back her laughter, glancing at the wet nurses and nannies around them: “Since this old woman frequently enters the palace, there are already many people gossiping outside. If even propriety is dispensed with, it will inevitably invite criticism…”
“Grandmother, rest assured. Mother’s attendants here are all loyal servants of the Bai family, and this matter won’t spread outside!” Bai Qingyan helped Old Madam Dong sit down on the soft couch. “You just sit comfortably, old lady.”
Bai Qingyan’s mother Dong Shi and several aunts, as well as those around Bai Qingyan, including even the wet nurses, were all selected from among the Bai family’s loyal servants, so they could all be trusted.
Only then did Old Madam Dong nod with relief. She took Xile from the wet nurse’s hands again and held him in her arms, her eyes filled with kind smiles: “Previously, we said our A’Bao would have difficulty with offspring, but Heaven suddenly sent our A’Bao two at once. Our A’Bao truly has deep blessings and Heaven’s protection.”
Bai Qingyan took Kangle from Dong Shi’s arms. The little girl, whose face had gained some flesh, showed two shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth when she smacked her little lips—very lovely indeed. Seeing her daughter sleeping with rosy cheeks, as if sensing her mother’s arrival, the little one snuggled into Bai Qingyan’s embrace, melting Bai Qingyan’s heart.
Old Madam Dong’s smile deepened, warmth filling the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes: “This little Kangle resembles A’Bao when she was small. When she grows up, she’ll surely be a great beauty.”
Old Madam Dong deliberately avoided mentioning Xiao Rongyan, fearing it would make Bai Qingyan sad.
“Whether she’s beautiful or not isn’t important—as long as she’s healthy…” Bai Qingyan said with a smile.
She had given the children the pet names Kangle and Xile because she hoped they could live lives of health and happiness. Beyond this, Bai Qingyan demanded nothing else.
This was perhaps every mother’s greatest wish for her children.
“Since grandmother has entered the palace, stay in the palace for a few days as company for mother!” Bai Qingyan looked up at Old Madam Dong. “Grandmother must not feel there’s anything improper about it—such small matters… I can still make decisions about.”
Old Madam Dong glanced at her daughter, then at the little one in her arms, and nodded: “Good, good, good. I’ll stay a few days to hold my two little great-grandchildren more.”
“As for the flower viewing banquet, mother can entrust it to Third Aunt and Fourth Aunt to organize. Now mother has two children by her side, Second Aunt has Brother Wang, Fifth Aunt has Little Eight, and Fourth Aunt has a quiet disposition—she spends almost half her days in the Buddhist hall! Third Aunt has always been unable to stay idle, and now she must feel lonely without children at her knees. Having Third Aunt manage the flower viewing banquet with Fourth Aunt’s help would also give both aunts something to occupy their minds.”
“Good, what you say makes sense. Let’s do it this way!” Dong Shi nodded in agreement.
That night, Yan Kingdom’s envoy Wang Hanbing and Pingyi, the personal guard who had served beside Yan Kingdom’s late emperor, quietly arrived at the capital under the protection of Great Zhou’s Pingyang Army.
Originally, Xiao Rongyan had sent Murong Li to dispatch Wang Hanbing to Great Zhou first, then later had Pingyi carry his letter, pretending to pursue Wang Hanbing, when in reality he was having Pingyi escort Wang Hanbing to the capital first.
Wang Hanbing knew that the Regent would also be sent as an envoy to the capital afterward, so he quietly entered the capital under cover of night without revealing his identity as a Yan envoy.