When the carriage finally stopped and Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan bend down to emerge from the exquisite elm wood carriage compartment, Old Madam Dong could no longer contain her joy. She hurried down from the high steps, calling out with extreme happiness: “A’Bao…”

“Mother, please slow down!” Cui Shi also wore a smile across her face, and together with Young Cui Shi on either side, they carefully supported Old Madam Dong as she descended the high steps.

Ever since learning that Bai Qingyan was unwilling to marry Dong Changyuan, Cui Shi’s heart had relaxed somewhat. As an aunt rather than a mother-in-law… Cui Shi still liked Bai Qingyan very much.

Moreover, when Cui Shi and Dong Qingyue had quarreled severely later, affecting Dong Changyuan’s mood and causing him to perform poorly on his exams, it was Bai Qingyan who intervened to mediate, allowing Dong Changyuan to gain the Emperor’s favor in the palace examination.

Later still, successive letters from Dong Changyuan and Dong Shi had prevented the outcome of divorce or repudiation between Dong Qingyue and Cui Shi.

Cui Shi felt even more affection for the reasonable and sensible Bai Qingyan.

“Maternal grandmother!” Upon seeing Old Madam Dong in good health and fine spirits, Bai Qingyan smiled like a child. After stepping down from the carriage, Old Madam Dong immediately grasped her hands.

“How is it you didn’t even bring a nanny? Isn’t Nanny Tong quite capable?” Old Madam Dong frowned and asked.

“Nanny Tong is getting old. Originally, I intended to leave Chun Tao at home too, to help train the newly assigned maids in the courtyard. I’m accustomed to traveling alone, and our carriages travel fast. I was afraid that bringing Chun Tao and Nanny Tong would be too much for them physically and would slow our progress. But Chun Tao insisted on coming, so I brought her along!”

After answering Old Madam Dong’s question, Bai Qingyan curtsied and greeted everyone in turn: “Uncle, Aunt!”

Old Madam Dong smiled as she looked at Chun Tao, her eyes brightening with pleasure: “This girl is a good one!”

Chun Tao blushed from Old Madam Dong’s praise and quickly bowed: “Greetings to Old Madam!”

“Cousin!” Dong Changmao, Dong Qingyue’s concubine’s son, who was half a year younger than Dong Changlian, stepped forward and respectfully bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan.

Dong Changmao’s features were far less refined than those of Dong Changyuan and Dong Changlian, but he could still be considered a handsome young man. Wearing an ink-gray robe embroidered with bamboo patterns, he appeared steady but somewhat overly mature.

The two concubine daughters, Dong Qingyun and Dong Qingzhi, also hurried forward to pay their respects.

Dong Qingzhi wore an apricot-colored dress with her hair in a round chignon, adorned only with a jade hairpin, appearing somewhat timid.

Dong Qingyun, who had always been raised at Old Madam Dong’s side, was dressed quite grandly today. She wore water-red light silk over a goose-yellow middle garment with gold cloud trim, and a water-red gauze skirt embroidered with golden butterflies. Her hair was adorned with a gilt twisted-branch hairpin inset with rubies that swayed as she moved. After bowing, she straightened up and smiled at Bai Qingyan: “Cousin has finally come! Grandmother has been mentioning you daily these past few days!”

Young Cui Shi also stepped forward, smiling as she asked Bai Qingyan: “Was the cousin’s journey smooth? Why didn’t you bring more guards?”

“Don’t all stand outside talking!” Old Madam Dong’s eyes were full of joy, the wrinkles on her face deepening with her smile as she focused on grasping Bai Qingyan’s hand and looking her up and down. “Come! Let’s go inside to talk!”

Old Madam Dong practically embraced Bai Qingyan without letting go, walking toward the hanging flower gate while instructing servants to quickly bring the food prepared for Bai Qingyan to the table.

Dong Qingyue followed alongside with a constant smile. Seeing that Bai Qingyan’s complexion was much better than when she was in the capital, he knew that his sister’s letters saying Bai Qingyan’s health improved daily were not merely comforting words.

Dong Qingyun, being bold, followed beside Young Cui Shi and persistently asked Bai Qingyan about the battles in the southern and northern frontiers. Old Madam Dong, grasping Bai Qingyan’s hand, turned her head and scolded: “Your cousin has just entered the gate and hasn’t even caught her breath yet, where do you get so many questions?”

Dong Qingyun smiled as she covered her lips with a handkerchief, bantering with Old Madam Dong: “Cousin has barely arrived, and Grandmother is already saying Yun’er talks too much! Cousin, you judge for yourself… normally, Grandmother says I’m lively and entertaining with my chatter! Could it be that seeing cousin is prettier than Yun’er, Grandmother is casting Yun’er aside?”

Bai Qingyan’s brows carried a light smile, but she said nothing.

Young Cui Shi smiled and tapped Dong Qingyun’s forehead with her finger, understanding that only Dong Qingyun, who was raised at Old Madam Dong’s side, dared speak this way.

The Dong family of Dengzhou was also a deeply rooted noble clan. Their pavilions, towers, carved corridors, and painted buildings were arranged with considerable ancient elegance, refined yet displaying restrained nobility.

Though Old Madam Dong complained about Dong Qingyun’s chattiness, she questioned Bai Qingyan all along the way until they passed through the covered walkways and entered Old Madam Dong’s courtyard. Only then did Bai Qingyan go to the warm chamber that Old Madam Dong had arranged for her to change clothes and wash.

Old Madam Dong cherished Bai Qingyan dearly. Originally, Cui Shi and Young Cui Shi had intended to arrange a separate courtyard for Bai Qingyan, but Old Madam Dong couldn’t bear to place her elsewhere and wanted to keep her under her watchful eye, so she had her settle in her quarters.

Bai Qingyan washed away the dust of travel and changed into a frost-colored simple dress. Supported by Chun Tao’s hand, she came to Old Madam Dong’s main room, just in time to hear the lively chatter inside. Someone had brought cold sour plum soup, but Old Madam Dong had it removed and ordered cheese soup served in silver cups instead. She also instructed her daughters-in-law, granddaughters, and grandson’s wife that if Bai Qingyan visited them, they must remove all ice and not use it.

Old Madam Dong always kept in mind that Bai Qingyan’s cold ailment meant she couldn’t consume icy foods. Bai Qingyan’s heart warmed.

“Young Miss!” Nanny Wang, who served at Old Madam Dong’s side, hurried out to lift the door curtain and invite Bai Qingyan in. Nanny Wang was neatly dressed with a round face that looked very amiable.

The bamboo curtain rustled, and everyone inside turned toward the doorway. They saw her pass the screen, walk through the pearl curtain, and approach the inner chamber.

Young Cui Shi quickly rose to greet her: “Cousin, come sit beside Grandmother…”

Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded, walking to Old Madam Dong’s side. Old Madam Dong grasped her hand and spoke at length, then had the maidservants assigned to serve Bai Qingyan present the gifts she had brought for the Dong family members. After they had eaten and everyone had dispersed, Bai Qingyan hadn’t managed to have a proper conversation with her uncle Dong Qingyue.

Old Madam Dong kept Bai Qingyan in the room to talk. Nanny Wang, using the excuse that the embroidered flowers on Chun Tao’s clothes were beautiful and asking Chun Tao to sketch the pattern for her, also led Chun Tao out of the main room.

In the center of the main room stood a gilt auspicious beast incense burner, with wisps of fragrant smoke dissipating like clouds throughout the room.

Only after the swaying of the pearl curtain stopped did Bai Qingyan mention her intention of bringing Old Madam Dong to Shouyang.

Old Madam Dong sat on a purple sandalwood soft couch, her elbow resting on a black lacquered and gold-painted small square table. She set down her teacup and smiled: “Grandmother is old and can’t endure such a long journey anymore. When the time comes… when our A’Bao marries, Grandmother will go to Shouyang then! Since A’Bao has come this time, stay and keep Grandmother company for some days. Grandmother doesn’t know how many days she has left to live.”