This time when Cui Shi came, she had not only prepared gifts for Dong Shi and Bai Qingyan, but also gifts for all the Bai family sisters and madams. Although not extremely valuable, one could see from the subtle details that they had been carefully selected and prepared, without any perfunctory treatment. She should be someone capable of shouldering the responsibilities of a clan matron.
“Grandmother is just worried about cousin. I think only by keeping cousin under her watchful eye can grandmother feel at ease…” Cui Shi looked toward Bai Qingyan, “If cousin has time, you could come to Dengzhou for a few months’ stay, which would also put grandmother’s mind at ease!”
Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded: “Good…”
Noon was the hottest time, but the wind in Shaohua Courtyard carried coolness. The courtyard had tall ancient trees and lush vegetation providing shade throughout the garden, with flowing water gurgling. Shaohua Hall was built amidst layers of green foliage, with occasional light filtering down through the dense high tree leaves like beautiful golden ribbons. White hanging curtains and gauze bed hangings swayed in the cool breeze, bronze hook bells chiming, making Shaohua Hall appear even more dreamlike from afar.
After the noon meal, everyone had some tea and snacks on the second floor of Shaohua Courtyard. When servants came to report that Junzi Pavilion was prepared for Dong Changlan and Cui Shi was ready, Xiao Rongyan rose to take his leave.
Dong Changlan and Bai Qingping escorted Xiao Rongyan to the gate, and after watching him leave, Bai Qingping returned to bid farewell to Bai Qingyan.
Seeing Bai Qingping looking listless with severe dark circles under his eyes, Bai Qingyan asked him: “The matter between your father and mother… has it affected you?”
Bai Qingping’s hands at his sides tightened, hesitating to speak. He didn’t have the face to tell Bai Qingyan that his mother had cursed him loudly at the training ground gate, saying he was ungrateful and didn’t repay his mother’s kindness, and even his uncle said he was unfilial.
But as a son, could he tie up his father and drag him to his uncle’s house to fetch his mother back to the Bai family? His mother still hadn’t figured out why father was angry… why he wanted to divorce her, only knowing how to complain that father and son were heartless and ungrateful.
Bai Qingping had gone to see his father last night. Father said… mother really couldn’t see the bigger picture. Now Duke Zhenguo could still give mother face for his and father’s sake, but if they continued to indulge mother until she became even more reckless, what great disaster might she cause in the future?
Now his mother dared to fantasize about having her nephew marry into the Bai family. In the future, who knew what underhanded methods she might use? If Mother did such things, it would sever the relationship between the Bai clan and Duke Zhenguo. When the Bai clan had no one to rely on, the fate of those expelled clan members would be their family’s fate.
How could Bai Qingping not understand these words? The one who didn’t understand was Bai Qingping’s mother.
Bai Qingping was even wondering whether having mother return to continue staying with the Bai family was good or bad. If mother stayed at her natal family… without backing, she would have neither opportunity nor courage to do those irreversible things.
But as a son, he naturally hoped for his parents to be harmonious.
“I don’t think your father would divorce your mother – at most, he’d have her return to her natal family to think things through! This would also be good for your mother.” Bai Qingyan advised Bai Qingping.
He nodded: “I think so too.”
“Go back and rest well. Take a day off. I still need you to work hard at the training ground – without our own Bai family people watching, I’m still somewhat uneasy.” Bai Qingyan said.
After Bai Qingping nodded, he added, “Sister, I think there are still usable people among the Bai clan. Would sister consider using them?”
“Handle this matter yourself. If you think anyone in the clan should be used, you don’t need to inform me – you decide.” Bai Qingyan was gradually delegating authority to Bai Qingping. “As for how you want to use Shen Yancong, you need to have appropriate reasoning. Consider it yourself.”
Bai Qingping deeply felt that the burden on his shoulders had grown heavier, but he was also pleased by Bai Qingyan’s trust. He bowed deeply: “Sister, rest assured. Qingping knows what’s important.”
Just as Bai Qingping finished speaking, Steward Hao hurried forward and stood behind Bai Qingping, seeming to have something to say but hesitating because of Bai Qingping’s presence. Bai Qingping very tactfully bid farewell to Bai Qingyan.
“Those people in Powder Lane are indeed from the capital direction. This old servant has been having them watched. Today, someone rode off quickly toward the capital. This old servant had someone carefully follow – we’ll find out if these people are from the Left Chancellor’s mansion.” Steward Hao was quite worried. “Miss, when we were in the capital, our Bai family offended the Left Chancellor’s mansion severely. Now these people are colluding with the expelled Bai clan members – I fear they mean harm to our Bai mansion!”
“Keep watching first, see who they associate with. This is Shouyang territory… dealing with them won’t be difficult. If we truly confirm these people are connected to the Left Chancellor’s mansion, it will be time to send the Left Chancellor a great gift.” Bai Qingyan wasn’t afraid of Li Mao joining forces with the expelled Bai clan members to stir up any trouble.
As Bai Qingping left along the nine-curved corridor, he looked back and saw Steward Hao standing beside Bai Qingyan with a furrowed brow, reporting something in a low voice, his expression full of worry.
In contrast, Bai Qingyan still maintained that calm-as-mirror demeanor, as if nothing was worth mentioning to her.
Bai Qingping didn’t dare look further and followed the servants toward the outside of the Bai mansion.
Bai Qingping truly admired this clan sister from the bottom of his heart. Seven months ago, although he was in Shouyang, every piece of news from the capital made his heart tremble with fear.
All the Bai family men in the capital had perished, yet this clan sister did better than any man. She borrowed coffins from the world to stir public sentiment, beat the Dengwen Drum to arouse public anger, used popular support to protect the Bai family, was invincible on the southern and northern battlefields, single-handedly upholding the Bai family’s honor and glory. She seemed invincible – looking across Jin nation, even the most outstanding young men… probably couldn’t achieve what his clan sister had done so magnificently.
Yet he, being a man, couldn’t even… manage his household.
He admired Bai Qingyan and envied her determination, hoping that someday he too could become such a person as Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingping looked back at the black lacquered gold-decorated plaque of the Bai mansion, clenched his fists, mounted his horse, and headed toward the training ground.
·
Early on the twenty-second, Lu Ninghuan and Bai Jinse returned to the Imperial Qing Convent by carriage and immediately informed the Grand Princess about encountering the Empress’s secret meeting with General Fu in the palace.
After hearing this, the Grand Princess didn’t even pause in fingering her prayer beads, only laughing coldly: “It seems the Empress has exhausted her tricks.”
Lu Ninghuan and Bai Jinse didn’t understand.
“Ninghuan, you did very well!” The Grand Princess smiled at Lu Ninghuan. “Go rest!”
After Lu Ninghuan and Bai Jinse left, the Grand Princess had Nanny Jiang summon Wei Zhong and asked him: “The matter A’Bao had you investigate – how is your investigation going?”
“In response to the Grand Princess, this old servant found that the one who defiled Princess Nandu’s purity was a hidden guard from the Crown Prince’s mansion. However, this hidden guard was also bewitched by someone before he became lustful. As for who bewitched him, this old servant is investigating in detail. Because Miss instructed a secret investigation, this old servant is somewhat constrained.” Wei Zhong said.