“The Bai family’s entire household consists of loyal bones – upright, straightforward, whether men or women, each stands tall and upright with a body full of righteous spirit!”
Occasionally, drunk men would speak of how women without talent are virtuous and should focus on serving husbands and educating children in the inner quarters, but these voices were all drowned out by the resounding praise for the Duke’s mansion.
Duke’s Mansion.
On the third day of Second Miss Bai Jinxiu’s marriage, her life hung in the balance as she was carried back to the mansion horizontally. Under the heavy snow that shrouded the Duke’s mansion, everyone was on edge like a taut string. Servants and maids moved in and out through side gates in an orderly fashion, lighting lanterns without daring to speak loudly.
Second Madam Liu Shi sat by Bai Jinxiu’s bedside, holding her daughter’s cold fingers as tears fell like broken pearls, softly calling her daughter’s name.
Imperial Academy’s Chief Physician Huang and his senior brother, Physician Hong, discussed how to medicate Bai Jinxiu in the outer chamber.
The Grand Princess and the various madams of the Bai mansion waited outside Bai Jinxiu’s chambers with heavy expressions, waiting for the two physicians to conclude.
Third Miss Bai Jintong looked at the deathly pale Bai Jinxiu on the bed, feeling oppressed by the heavy atmosphere in the room. She had just lifted the curtain to step out for some air when she saw Chun Tao’s cousin Chen Qingsheng respectfully bowing and speaking in low tones to Bai Qingyan, who stood under the corridor.
Chen Qingsheng noticed someone coming out of the room and immediately fell silent, standing respectfully beside Bai Qingyan and bowing to Bai Jintong: “Third Miss, your safety.”
“You may go!” Bai Qingyan said to Chen Qingsheng.
Bai Jintong watched Chen Qingsheng’s hurriedly departing figure after his bow and walked to Bai Qingyan’s side, asking in a low voice: “That looked like Chun Tao’s cousin. Did the eldest sister assign him some task?”
Bai Qingyan pulled her fox fur closer and walked a few steps along the corridor toward the warm pavilion with Bai Jintong. Bai Qingyan intended to have Chen Qingsheng follow Bai Jintong in the future.
She spoke gently: “Chen Qingsheng is extremely skilled at dealing with people. In the capital… whether it’s people from all walks of life, workers and shopkeepers from teahouses and taverns, or stewards and servants from officials’ and nobles’ mansions, he can befriend anyone he wants to, and he has channels to gather any information. After the fifteenth day of the first month, when you go out, take Chen Qingsheng with you – he will surely be of assistance.”
“Eldest sister…” Bai Jintong’s throat tightened as she remembered how Bai Qingyan had spoken to her that day, analyzing the Bai family’s situation so thoroughly. She suddenly felt the burden on her shoulders weigh a thousand catties.
Just now, Bai Qingyan had instructed Chen Qingsheng to spread word of today’s events at Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion gates in various teahouses, taverns, and pleasure quarters, intending to elevate the Duke mansion’s reputation for uprightness, straightforwardness, and noble character to an even higher level.
This was her test of Chen Qingsheng. If he handled this matter well, she would dare to place him by Bai Jintong’s side. Unexpectedly, Chen Qingsheng handled the matter even better than she had anticipated.
Without having a single person from the Duke’s mansion appear, he used his connections to spread the story, keeping himself completely uninvolved with skillful and efficient methods.
As she was speaking with Bai Jintong, they saw the gatekeeper hurriedly enter the Qingzhu Courtyard gates and quickly approach the corridor to speak to the door-watching maid: “Please inform Nanny Jiang that Marquis Zhongyong’s heir is outside our Duke’s mansion bearing thorns on his back, saying he wants to plead guilty. He refuses to enter and just kneels outside the mansion. The Right Chancellor’s young legitimate grandson came with several other young masters – they all seemed to have been drinking. We old servants don’t know what to do.”
Bai Jintong was greatly surprised and turned to look at the composed Bai Qingyan.
Generally, even if a married couple had the greatest conflicts, the man would choose a day to formally apologize to the elders, but noble families never had men bearing thorns to apologize for their wives. This would let the entire world know about family shame.
However, after thinking about it, Bai Jintong understood. Today’s incident had caused such a commotion that if Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion didn’t show some attitude, they probably couldn’t resolve the situation.
But thinking of Bai Jinxiu lying on the bed with more breath going out than coming in, Bai Jintong’s eyes reddened with anger as she gritted her teeth: “Second sister lies on the bed with uncertain life and death, yet he went drinking! Only after drinking did he come bearing thorns to plead guilty and seek forgiveness – this is too easy on him!”
Bai Qingyan remained silent. That Qin Lang could come showed there was still hope for redemption.
After half a cup of tea’s time, Nanny Jiang emerged from the room and walked out with the gatekeeper. Bai Qingyan knew that grandmother and second aunt had discussed it and sent Nanny Jiang to invite Qin Lang into the mansion.
After all, Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion had shown a humble and submissive attitude. Among all the noble families in the capital, there was no precedent for divorce. The elders, thinking of the second sister’s future, couldn’t allow Qin Lang to continue kneeling outside the mansion gates.
“Second Aunt! Have you lost your mind? My second sister is injured like this, lying on the bed – why should he be allowed to set foot in our Duke’s mansion!” Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi’s angry voice came from inside the room. “In my opinion, I should go out and whip him away! Why invite him in?”
“What else can we do?! Your second sister is already a Qin family woman. Our dynasty’s noble families have no precedent for divorce. Do you want your sister to spend her whole life with only temple lamps and ancient Buddhas?!” Second Madam Liu Shi was also full of indignant unwillingness. “My poor Jinxiu! Mother should never have agreed to let you marry into Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion! Such a mother-in-law, such sisters-in-law, such a husband! How will you live your days in the future?”
Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and gently stroked the hand warmer in her hands, hiding the slight redness in her eyes. Since she was fortunate enough to be reborn, she absolutely would not let Bai Jinxiu live a life of frustration. Bai Jinxiu was the sister she would protect even at the cost of her life – no one had the right to abuse or ruin her!
“I’ll go whip him away!” Bai Jinzhi’s angry voice nearly lifted the roof of Qingzhu Courtyard.
Bai Qingyan looked up to see her charging out angrily from the room.
Third Madam Li Shi feared her daughter would cause trouble and hurriedly followed, but couldn’t catch Bai Jinzhi. Anxiously waving her handkerchief, she quickly ordered the rough-work servants in the courtyard to tie up Bai Jinzhi and bring her back.
But Bai Jinzhi had been skilled in martial arts since childhood – how could these few rough servants be a match for her? They feared they wouldn’t be able to stop her and would end up taking a few lashes themselves.
Bai Qingyan stepped forward and bowed to Third Madam Li Shi: “Third Aunt, don’t worry. Jintong and I will go check on fourth sister and won’t let her cause trouble.”
“Yes, yes! A’Bao… usually Jinzhi listens to you most! Jintong, you protect your eldest sister and quickly chase that troublemaker back for me!” Third Madam Li Shi said urgently.
“Third Aunt, rest assured!” Bai Jintong supported Bai Qingyan as they walked down the steps, heading quickly toward the front courtyard.
When Nanny Jiang reached the mansion gates, she saw Qin Lang kneeling outside bearing thorns on his back. Many of the dissolute young men from the capital who had good relationships with Qin Lang had also come along, making it look like they were here to show support.
Right Chancellor’s young legitimate grandson, Lu Yuanpeng, smiled as he gave Nanny Jiang a half-bow: “Nanny, we’ve accompanied Qin Lang to bear thorns and plead guilty, and we also want to see Second Miss. How are Second Miss’s injuries?”