Qin Shangzhi had once told the Bai family’s eldest daughter that to preserve Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion, she needed to retreat. But observing the Bai family eldest daughter’s words and actions over these past two days, it seemed as though she had been momentarily blinded by rage over the Bai family second daughter’s injury, adopting a stance of preferring to shatter like jade rather than remain whole like tile against Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion, completely putting Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion on the fire to roast as well.
Qin Shangzhi had originally wanted to remind her that when the moon is full it wanes, when water is full it overflows. But observing Bai Qingyan’s clear and bright expression, she likely had other plans. He decided not to say more, only hoping that this Miss Bai could truly preserve the loyal bones of the entire Bai family.
“Elder sister, that person was…”
“A guest staying at our mansion!” she said.
Returning to Qinghui Courtyard, she dismissed everyone around her, closed her eyes, and stood before the brazier, repeatedly thinking over Marquis Zhongyong’s wife Jiang Shi’s parting words.
Marquis Zhongyong’s wife, being a woman of the inner quarters, naturally couldn’t stir up much trouble. But what about Marquis Zhongyong Qin Dezhao? Qin Dezhao currently serves as a department director in the Ministry of Revenue. Later, when news from Nanjiang returned and the Bai family fell into misfortune, with Nanyan and Xiliang armies jointly pressing toward Sanling Pass, Grandfather’s lieutenant Liu Huanzhang requested to go into battle, and Qin Dezhao was promoted to Minister of Revenue in charge of military provisions.
She suddenly opened her eyes, remembering the batch of military grain and supplies sent to the Nanjiang front lines two months ago, and her entire body went numb.
Second Madam Liu Shi heard that today, for the sake of Bai Jinxiu, Dong Shi had already torn apart all pretenses with Marquis Zhongyong’s wife. Her heart filled with indescribable gratitude, only now remembering that when Dong Shi had originally advised her to carefully consider this marriage, it was truly for their family’s good. She had been ungrateful, thinking Dong Shi harbored some resentment and was deliberately sowing discord.
That very evening, Second Madam Liu Shi settled Bai Jinxiu properly, then brought generous gifts to Dong Shi’s quarters. The two sisters-in-law chatted until deep into the night before Second Madam Liu Shi emerged from Dong Shi’s place with reddened eyes. Having received Dong Shi’s guidance, Second Madam Liu Shi no longer focused solely on being angry and was already thinking about how to arrange matters for Qin Lang’s new residence.
She let out a long breath and said to the managing nanny Nanny Luo beside her: “Nanny Luo, tomorrow you tell Nanny Pang to select some reliable, hardworking, and honest maids and servant women from among the house-born servants, and send them first to the new residence His Majesty granted to our son-in-law to manage things. Also, have Nanny Wan go find a people broker to select some good ones to send to the new residence as well!”
“Second Madam, rest assured, this old servant will handle everything properly!” Nanny Luo supported Second Madam Liu Shi as they walked toward her courtyard.
“Nanny Luo, there’s something I need to discuss with you. I know you’ve served by my side for many years, and your husband and children are all at Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion, but Jinxiu… I’m truly worried. You know that as a mother-in-law, I can’t just throw myself into my son-in-law’s new residence, so I want you to stay by Jinxiu’s side in the future and help that child! Besides you… I trust no one else! Only you can properly manage the dowry servants and managers previously given to Jinxiu.” Second Madam Liu Shi stopped walking and patted Nanny Luo’s hand.
Nanny Luo’s eyes grew warm from Second Madam Liu Shi’s words, and she nodded repeatedly: “Second Madam, rest assured, I watched Second Miss grow up! I will help Madam guard Second Miss well! Besides, you see how Grand Princess, the eldest son’s wife, and our First Miss and Third Miss will all fight to the death to protect our Second Miss!”
Second Madam Liu Shi gripped Nanny Luo’s hand tightly, and the master and servant walked back through the snow, their steps deep and shallow.
Snow fell all night, dense snowflakes covering the Duke’s Mansion’s ancient azure bricks and emerald tiles.
Before dawn broke, the main kitchen was already sending up wisps of cooking smoke, with servant women and old women bustling about busily.
Farmers delivering vegetables and meat to the Duke’s Mansion gathered at the brightly lit back gate, coming and going, exchanging pleasantries and laughter while wandering around inquiring about the gossip between the Duke’s Mansion and Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion.
At the hour of Mao, lights came on one by one in the servants’ quarters in each courtyard.
The rough-work women stepped out of their rooms, breathing visible puffs, immediately shivering from the harsh winter wind. Seeing Chun Tao accompanying Miss Bai practicing horse stance in the courtyard as usual, with the young lady’s entire body steaming with heat as if pulled from hot water, the women bowed habitually without daring to disturb her, then took their brooms out of the courtyard gate to sweep.
After Bai Qingyan finished her morning meal, she was leaning against the window on a gold-threaded, cloud-patterned, large, welcoming pillow, reading, when Tingzhu, from her mother, Dong Shi’s side, came to Qinghui Courtyard.
Hearing the women outside laughing and greeting Tingzhu, Chun Tao hurried out to welcome her. Seeing Tingzhu already standing under the eaves, she asked with a smile: “Sister Tingzhu looks so cheerful, is there some good news?!”
Tingzhu was truly happy. She rubbed her cold arms and said to Chun Tao with a smile, “This year, the old matriarch of the Dong family from Dengzhou and Second Master Dong came to the capital for the New Year. They entered the city yesterday evening. The old matriarch was afraid our madam would be anxious, so she didn’t send anyone over. This morning, the old matriarch had Second Master Dong and Second Madam Dong bring generous gifts to pay respects to Grand Princess. They’re currently talking in Changshou Courtyard, and specifically sent me to invite First Miss over.”
“That is good news! Our madam hasn’t seen Old Matriarch Dong for several years – she must be so happy now!” Chun Tao lifted the thick felt curtain for Tingzhu.
“Exactly!” Tingzhu entered with a smile.
Hearing Tingzhu’s words through the partition, Bai Qingyan closed her book and instructed Chun Yan to help her change clothes.
She remembered that in her previous life, Second Uncle Dong Qingyue had arrived in the capital with her grandmother on the nineteenth day of the twelfth month. But at that time, Bai Jinxiu had just died, and she had fallen gravely ill. She had been in a daze when Second Uncle came calling and had never seen him.
Later, when Duke’s Mansion met with disaster and other aunts’ maternal families avoided them like the plague, her Second Uncle, Dengzhou Prefect Dong Qingyue, risked his life to submit a memorial seeking justice for the Bai family. Her eldest uncle, Honglu Si Minister Dong Qingping, led his entire family in wearing mourning clothes to collect the bodies of the entire Bai family.
Countless memories from her previous life surged up, making Bai Qingyan’s eyes grow warm. Her entire being felt as if soaked in bitter sadness, and she was eager to go pay respects to the only uncle who had ever stood up for the Bai family.
Through the screen inlaid with mutton-fat jade and emerald, Tingzhu saw that Chun Yan had already draped the fox fur over Bai Qingyan. She smiled and stepped forward to bow: “First Miss, Dengzhou’s Second Master Dong and Second Madam Dong have come to pay respects to Grand Princess. Madam sent me to invite First Miss.”
Bai Qingyan smiled and took the hand warmer that a maid had just filled with charcoal, nodding: “I heard. Let’s go!”
Upon entering Changshou Courtyard, Bai Qingyan couldn’t be bothered to go to the warm alcove to change her shoes and socks, walking straight toward the main room. A woman in slate blue cotton jacket hurriedly lifted the curtain for Bai Qingyan and announced inside that First Miss had arrived.
Bai Qingyan stood at the doorway, handing the hand warmer to Chun Yan with one hand while unfastening her cloak with the other. Chun Tao had just stepped forward to help Bai Qingyan remove her white fox cloak when she saw Bai Qingyan lift her foot and enter the main room.
Chun Tao had never seen Bai Qingyan in such a hurry before. She quickly handed the cloak in her arms to Chun Yan and followed inside.
In the main room, Grand Princess leaned against a gold-threaded, cloud-patterned, large welcoming pillow, smiling as she said: “A’Bao came so quickly today – you must have missed your uncle and aunt!”