Dong Changlan looked at Xiao Rongyan, quite surprised that Xiao Rongyan would think of border markets. He smiled and shook his head, saying: “What Master Xiao speaks of – my father submitted memorials to the court about this in earlier years, but… His Majesty believed that if Jin were to propose border markets first, it would be bowing to the Rong and Di tribes, damaging Jin’s dignity as a great nation. Furthermore, he feared that Rong and Di spies would infiltrate.”

Later, Dong Qingyue had wanted to secretly send people to the Rong and Di to negotiate having the Rong and Di humble themselves and request border markets first, but was dissuaded by Dong Qingping, who feared his younger brother’s good intentions in sending people to the Rong and Di would result in charges of consorting with enemies and treason.

Hearing this, Bai Jinzhi couldn’t help but roll her eyes. The dignity of a great nation… could it be that border people suffering annual raids didn’t damage the dignity of a great nation?

The dignity of a great nation – shouldn’t it mean not letting the people suffer from war, not letting the people be raided by other nations, not letting the people go hungry?

If it were up to Bai Jinzhi, they should make the Emperor live in Dengzhou for a few years to experience the suffering of border people – then he would understand what truly constituted the dignity of a great nation!

Xiao Rongyan nodded and said no more.

The Bai mansion’s serving maids filed in carrying black lacquered gold-inlaid food boxes, went up to the third floor to set out the meal, then descended by another staircase.

Once the noon meal was prepared upstairs, Nanny Qin came down to invite the group up to the third floor.

Today’s noon meal included a dish that Dong Tingzhen had personally cooked – Dengzhou-style baked flatbread. Though the taste was somewhat inferior to that in Dengzhou, Dong Tingzhen had been thoughtful in allowing Dong Shi to taste her hometown’s famous Dengzhou baked flatbread.

“For this flatbread, Miss Cousin got up before dawn to work on it, trying several batches – only this batch tasted most authentic!” Dong Tingzhen’s maid said with a smile.

“Tingzhen is so thoughtful!” Dong Shi grasped Dong Tingzhen’s small hand.

The men’s and women’s seating areas were still separated by a screen. Perhaps because Xiao Rongyan had broached the topic of border markets today, throughout the meal, Dong Changlan discussed this matter with Xiao Rongyan, very humbly asking Xiao Rongyan about what the border market scene in Meng City was like.

Xiao Rongyan had been to Meng City and happened to be there during the days of the border market. He held nothing back, telling Dong Changlan everything he had seen and heard.

Dong Changlan listened extremely attentively, seeming very interested in this border market concept.

The two continued their discussion from the table to after the meal, until dusk gathered and the Bai mansion’s lamps were lit one by one. When Xiao Rongyan rose to take his leave, Dong Changlan still seemed unsatisfied, accompanying Bai Qingyan to see Xiao Rongyan to the door.

Outside the door, Dong Changlan solemnly extended an invitation to Xiao Rongyan: “Master Xiao, if you have leisure time in the future, you must come see Dengzhou! Changlan is very interested in what Master Xiao has said – I’m sure my father would be the same!”

Xiao Rongyan cupped his hands toward Dong Changlan: “Dengzhou is a place Yan must visit! When the time comes, I will certainly call upon you.”

Watching Xiao Rongyan depart and walking back with Bai Qingyan, he said: “Cousin Sister, I feel this Master Xiao seems to… have feelings for Cousin Sister.”

Dong Changlan hesitated for a moment, but couldn’t help voicing a reminder to Bai Qingyan.

Dong Changlan was also a man and well understood what a man’s gaze toward a woman represented. Though this Master Xiao concealed it extremely well, whenever Cousin Sister spoke, this Master Xiao’s gaze would invariably turn to Cousin Sister, and his delight and smile were things that couldn’t be hidden or feigned.

Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened as she glanced at Dong Changlan: “Why does Changlan say such things?”

Dong Changlan thought Bai Qingyan had no interest in Xiao Rongyan. He pursed his lips and said in a low voice: “Cousin Sister, originally, Grandmother and my father intended for Cousin Sister to marry Changyuan, so you wouldn’t have to fear being mistreated by a mother-in-law. But since Cousin Sister has no interest in Changyuan, and the Bai family also needs Cousin Sister to support it, Grandmother and Father didn’t force the matter. Though they don’t speak of it, they still worry about Cousin Sister’s lifelong prospects in their hearts.”

Dong Changlan stole a glance at Bai Qingyan walking alongside him down the corridor. Seeing no signs of anger from Bai Qingyan, he continued: “If you don’t mind this Master Xiao’s background, you could consider having him marry into the Bai family. This Master Xiao has a broad mind, and unique perspective, and vision. If he truly cares for Cousin Sister, he wouldn’t be a poor match.”

Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together without speaking, her hands clasped behind her back, tightening slightly. She lowered her eyes halfway, and only after a long while said: “Let’s wait… until after this chaotic era ends!”

When would the end of this chaotic era be…

Having said what needed to be said, Dong Changlan didn’t press further. Seeing they had nearly reached the entrance to Junzi Pavilion, Dong Changlan bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan: “Tomorrow morning, we depart for Dengzhou. What Cousin Sister has said, Changlan will convey to Father word for word!”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Tomorrow I must leave the city to suppress bandits and certainly won’t be able to see you off. Be careful on the road, and remember to send word when you arrive safely.”

“Cousin Sister, rest assured!” Dong Changlan’s heart was already racing toward home, wanting to quickly convey Cousin Sister’s words to his father and prepare early for the Rong and Di autumn raids.

·

That night, Bai Qingyan quietly went to Dong Shi’s Qinghe Courtyard without having the maids announce her.

Nanny Qin was keeping watch at the door of the main room, her eyes red-rimmed. She pointed toward the interior of the main room, indicating that Dong Shi was currently distressed.

In previous years, on Mother’s birthday, A’Yu always had the most ideas. She remembered that two years ago, A’Yu had led his brothers in a lion dance in the courtyard early in the morning to celebrate Mother’s birthday.

The scene of seventeen handsome young men in lion dance costumes, holding lion heads and kneeling on one knee to wish Dong Shi good health, was still before her eyes.

A’Yu stood at the front, so spirited and proudly aloof, holding a lion head with one hand, his smile filled with the scattered brilliant light of the blazing sun.

But this year… not one of the Bai family’s seventeen young men was present.

Early this morning, she had thought of how, when Father was still alive, every year on Mother’s birthday, Father would rise early to personally make longevity noodles for Mother, which was why she had brought her sisters to make a commotion in Qinghe Courtyard’s small kitchen.

Bai Qingyan stood at the door of the main room, faintly hearing Mother’s extremely suppressed crying from within. Her eyes reddened, tears coming silently. She turned her head and frowned, wiping away the tears without a trace.

Actually, for Mother, the best birthday gift should be… Father and A’Yu’s voices saying they had returned home safely!

She clenched her teeth tightly. She couldn’t resent Heaven’s unfairness – Heaven had given her the chance to return, given her the chance to protect Mother and the various aunts and sisters. She was grateful.

What she hated was herself – her years of decline and indulgence after that life.

“Nanny Qin, I won’t go in after all…” Bai Qingyan’s voice was very muffled. “Please take good care of Mother.”

Nanny Qin had served Dong Shi for so many years and naturally knew that at this time Dong Shi definitely wouldn’t want Miss to see her like this. She nodded: “Miss, rest assured. This old servant will take good care of Madam.”

·

The next day, before dawn, stars twinkled in the sky above Shouyang, the bright moon luminous.

Fire braziers erected high around the training ground illuminated the area like daylight.