The day after, Lu Jiaxue left Jinling with his men. He seemed to have made preparations in advance, as an official named Ye Yan arrived at the mansion the following day.
Ye Yan was a civil official from the Five Guards Command Post. Luo Yining had seen him before at the Ningyuan Marquis’s mansion and knew he was one of Lu Jiaxue’s trusted men.
Ye Yan was rather plump and wore a round-collared robe with floral patterns. He had a pleasant demeanor and a good temper, always smiling. When he met with Yining, they spoke through a screen. If she needed anything, she only had to tell him. Yining rarely had any reason to seek him out.
During her month-long confinement after childbirth, Yining couldn’t bathe or be exposed to wind. She spent her days lying in bed, only able to hold and play with her little bundle. The baby, not yet a month old, was at his softest and most delicate stage. After being fed, he would sleep in Yining’s arms, spending most of the day asleep. When Yining woke from occasional naps, she would feel the warm little body next to her and always turn to kiss his face before settling back down.
Xuezhi, watching from the side, smiled and said, “My lady wasn’t nearly so well-behaved as a child. You would wake the madam three or four times every night. You only wanted the madam to comfort you and wouldn’t let the wet nurse hold you. Though the madam said you were clingy, she adored you beyond measure. She would personally get up every night to care for you…”
Yining listened thoughtfully, looking up at Xuezhi.
“You should give the young master a milk name. That way, he’ll know when you’re calling him,” Xuezhi said softly.
Yining had been thinking about giving him a milk name, which was usually casual and easy to say. She gently pinched his soft little fist and said, “I’ll call you Bao’er!”
From then on, she always called him Bao’er.
Fortunately, they had found a wet nurse, as Yining’s milk supply was insufficient. Sometimes when the child woke in the middle of the night, his little head would nuzzle against her chest, but he could only get a little. Yining had to call the wet nurse to take him out to sleep.
Even after he was taken out, she would still worry about whether he was crying, listening carefully for any sounds from the eastern warm room next door. It would take her a long time to fall asleep.
Sometimes when Yining played with his little hands and feet, calling him “Bao’er,” he would turn his head to look, as if trying to see who she was.
On the day of his full month, Yining was finally able to bathe and wash her hair. She carried Bao’er, wrapped in a small blanket, for a walk in the back garden. Bao’er seemed to be getting sleepy and tucked his head into the blanket to sleep.
Yining sat for a while in the pavilion before returning. The next day, she discovered that her gold hairpin was missing. Ye Yan, who was with her at the time, said, “Madam, you lost it in the grass by the pavilion when you were in the garden with the Deputy Prefect’s wife the other day. I’ve already had someone return it to your jewelry box.”
Luo Yining said, “Mr. Ye, your attention to detail is truly admirable.”
Ye Yan was indeed formidable.
“You flatter me, madam,” Ye Yan said with a smile. “Those who can work for the Marquis are no ordinary people. This is just a small skill I have.”
Yining held the recovered gold hairpin, thinking slowly. It was indeed left in the pavilion, and she had tested to see just how thorough Ye Yan’s surveillance could be. This man was truly frightening. Moreover, with the child so young, how could she possibly travel thousands of miles with an infant? It would be better to wait until they reached Xinzhou to think of a plan.
Perhaps, those in the capital thought she was already dead. There had been no news for over a year. She wondered how Luo Shen Yuan would react upon seeing his child, a tiny Luo San. His temperament seemed somewhat similar to his father’s. Yining imagined how wonderful it would be if he could hold his son’s hand, one big and one small.
Yining didn’t set out immediately after her confinement month, fearing the child couldn’t handle the journey. They waited until October to depart, when the child was already three months old.
The entourage of guards escorted the carriage along the road, accompanied by maids and servants. It was the travel party of a wealthy family, and other vehicles on the road would give them a wide berth. The journey from Jinling to Xinzhou required passing through Anhui and Henan provinces, switching from water routes to carriages. After half a month, Yining and her group had just reached the border of Shanxi province.
Yining didn’t mind much, but she worried about Bao’er’s comfort. Fortunately, the weather wasn’t too cold yet.
The three-month-old Bao’er, held in the wet nurse’s arms, was as delicate as a porcelain doll. His round eyes, like longan seeds, followed Ye Yan’s movements, fixating on his quivering little mustache, completely captivated. Ye Yan was always cheerful, and Bao’er loved watching his mustache.
Yining took Bao’er into her arms, preparing to put him down for his afternoon nap.
Xuezhi had already prepared the bed, and the wet nurse had dressed Bao’er in a little red kesi silk jacket. He lay on the bed sucking his thumb. Yining placed a rattle in front of him, and Bao’er reached out with his little hand to pat it, making it clatter. Then he looked up at her curiously. Yining found him utterly adorable and kissed his face again.
At three months old, the child could already recognize people. He was always clinging to Yining, wanting only her to hold him. At night, he would only be returned to Yining’s side after the wet nurse had fed him. Sometimes Yining would feed him herself, and he would bury his head against her chest, nuzzling with his little nose, being very clingy before falling asleep against her.
When Yining would get up, she would look at him leaning against her, the soft, downy hair on his head, and his long eyelashes. He was truly beautiful.
When the carriage passed through Wutai County, Yining called for a stop. Mount Wutai in Wutai County was the foremost of the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism, and she wanted to get a safety amulet for the child.
Naturally, Ye Yan wouldn’t agree to go up the mountain. He bowed and said, “If madam wishes, I can obtain one for you.”
Yining half-opened the curtain and said calmly, “They say sincerity is what makes it effective. How can it be truly effective if I don’t go to pray for it myself?”
Ye Yan just smiled, “If madam is truly sincere, the Buddha will know whether you go or not. I still need to deliver newly made maps to the Commander, and I’m afraid your visit might delay our journey.”
Indeed, he was worthy of being a confidant; his words were impeccable. Yining couldn’t say much more.
Ye Yan had the carriage stop at a post station to rest, and then sent two men on horseback to Mount Wutai.
Yining overheard Ye Yan discussing military matters with one of his companions. Throughout the journey, she had heard much about the military situation on the Datong border. After arriving in Datong with his troops, Lu Jiaxue launched a strong counterattack, forcing the Oirat out of Yanmen Pass and suppressing Datong. The forces led by Wei Ling in Xuanfu had joined with Lu Jiaxue to form a united military force, temporarily stabilizing the border.
The Oirat had suffered heavy losses in their previous encounter, and this time they had joined forces with the Tatars in a furious counterattack. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to push to Yanmen Pass so quickly. Although they had been temporarily driven back, the two tribes were fierce, and it was feared they wouldn’t give up easily.
Bao’er let out a small hiccup in her arms. Luo Yining held him upright to pat his back. Bao’er’s soft little head rested on her shoulder, making tiny cooing sounds.
Xuezhi, sitting nearby and listening to the infant’s sounds, draped a cloak over the child’s body.
“Xuezhi,” Luo Yining said quietly as she patted Bao’er’s back, “I’ve been wanting to ask you, did your child go missing?”
Xuezhi was stunned, her heart skipping a beat. Then she smiled bitterly. Of course, her young mistress, though seemingly harmless, was very perceptive. How could she not be suspicious?
She looked at Luo Yining’s face, hesitating. “I did lie, but it wasn’t entirely a lie. Xing’er was indeed taken by a child trafficker, but when the Commander found me, he had already returned Xing’er to me. When he brought me to take care of you, he told me to say that I had lost my child, so that I could focus on caring for you without distractions. Don’t worry, when I learned that you were pregnant far away in Jinling, I was willing to come and take care of you.”
“Your child, he’s already been found?” Yining repeated the question.
Xuezhi nodded, “The Commander is very thorough in his actions…”
Yining made a sound of acknowledgment, her emotions mixed.
“Xuezhi, do you want to go back? Since your child can be safely left in Baoding, I suppose you haven’t had a falling out with your husband’s family? If you want to reunite with your family, then go.” Yining continued. No one doesn’t want to be reunited with their family, and the master-servant bond between Xuezhi and her has already been fulfilled. Now, family should be more important to her. Lu Jiaxue sending her to serve Yining must have involved some coercion.
Xuezhi felt a lump in her throat, “My lady, I came willingly… Please don’t say such things.”
Luo Yining waved her hand, “I understand everything. In a moment, I’ll have Ye Yan send someone to escort you back.”
This time, Xuezhi didn’t say anything more, her lips pressed tightly together.
Yining called Ye Yan in and told him to send Xuezhi back to Baoding.
Ye Yan was stunned. He thought Xuezhi must have committed some grave error and was about to speak. But Luo Yining shook her head, “Just send her back. I’ll explain to Lu Jiaxue myself!”
Ye Yan told Xuezhi to follow him. Xuezhi had just packed a small bundle and was about to leave when she turned back at the door. Suddenly, she walked up to Yining, kowtowed, and then left with Ye Yan.
Luo Yining sighed softly.
Seeing this, Ye Yan realized that this personal maid wasn’t being sent away for making a mistake. He silently instructed someone to give Xuezhi ten taels of silver for travel expenses and had a guard escort her.
He wondered what the Marquis was thinking. With the border in crisis, yet he had Ye Yan watching over a woman. When she was at the Marquis’s mansion, he and the vice commander had thought she was just a courtesan. They never imagined she would one day become the Marchioness. Still, it was strange; the Marquis’s actions seemed very much like keeping her under house arrest. Ye Yan walked back slowly, but when he saw that the room was empty, his face immediately darkened.
He grabbed a nearby person and demanded, “Where is the madam? Weren’t you supposed to be watching her?”
The guard he grabbed stammered, “The madam said you had agreed to let her go to Mount Wutai. She took that maid out to prepare. I saw the wet nurse was still with the madam…”
Ye Yan was furious. These people were such idiots! That wet nurse must have been bought off by Luo Yining long ago!
He led his men in pursuit, but suddenly saw a cloud of dust on the official road as horses galloped towards them, red tassels fluttering from their necks. He immediately ordered everyone to stop.
At this point, Yining hadn’t gone far, as she was carrying Bao’er. She had indeed bought off the wet nurse in advance. The wet nurse was a country woman who, after being frightened by harsh words and a pitiful story, had agreed to help her. They were now sitting in a simple cart. Yining’s heart was pounding; she felt this plan was too risky and that they probably wouldn’t be able to escape. She hadn’t expected their luck to hold out, with the guard not becoming suspicious.
But if Ye Yan realized what had happened and came after them, there would be no way out. Luo Yining told the cart driver to take remote, less-traveled paths. The cart seemed to be used for delivering goods and was empty inside.
They had just reached a farmhouse where only a village woman lived, raising some chickens. The sky was growing dark. Yining had the cart driver stop so they could rest there for a while.
Yining and the wet nurse went to ask for lodging. As the wet nurse was talking with the village woman, Yining heard the sound of approaching hoofbeats. She had expected this, so she remained calm, turning to face Ye Yan and his men as they arrived. He had brought many people, some even wearing armor.
Ye Yan knelt before her, still catching his breath. He saluted and said, “Forgive me, madam. I’ve come to find you, but not to take you back. The Commander had instructed earlier that if his situation became dire, I was to send you to the Duke of Ying’s place!”
He looked up, his expression grave and his tone heavy, “The Commander led his troops out of Datong in pursuit, deep into Oirat territory, and then there was no trace of him… It’s been five days without any news.”
Luo Yining frowned and asked, “Has something happened to Lu Jiaxue?”
Ye Yan shook his head, “We can’t be sure, but there’s been no word for five days now. Usually, this would mean the worst, but the Oirat side hasn’t announced any victory either… So no one knows exactly what has happened. The situation on the grasslands is complex. They might have fallen into an ambush or become trapped. Please get into the carriage, madam. I’ll escort you to the Duke of Ying’s place now! With the Commander unable to hold Datong, Wutai County is also dangerous. You’ll be safer in Xuanfu.”
If not for a genuine crisis, Ye Yan wouldn’t have sent her to the Duke of Ying’s residence. Lu Jiaxue might truly be in trouble.
Luo Yining’s gaze fell on the black Buddhist prayer beads in her hand. His life-saving beads were now with her, while he had vanished into the depths of the Gobi Desert.
Taking a deep breath, Luo Yining boarded the carriage with her child.
She had never been to Xuanfu before, which was close to Datong. After several hours of day and night travel, they arrived at dawn. Wei Ling’s emotions were palpable when he saw his daughter appear before him, travel-worn and carrying a child.
Lu Jiaxue had abducted her, and Wei Ling’s attempts to settle the score had been fruitless. Busy with military affairs this month, he had only discussed strategy when meeting Lu Jiaxue, who assured him his daughter was safe. Given that he was responsible for the lives of many civilians in Xuanfu, Wei Ling had temporarily set aside his grievances.
Thus, when he saw his daughter holding a baby, he was momentarily stunned.
Yining noticed her father’s armored appearance, his handsome face now sporting stubble. The border had tanned him darker than in the capital, giving him a weathered look. Seeing him in armor, disheveled, with thick bandages on his left arm after their long separation, her eyes welled up with tears.
Wei Ling was initially excited, but upon seeing the small bundle in her arms, he asked incredulously, “Yining… did you pick up this child on your journey?”
Yining smiled, cradling the baby in her arms and revealing his face. “This is your grandson.”
Wei Ling saw the tiny face, barely larger than a fist, incredibly soft. The small life nestled against its mother.
The child resembled Luo Shen Yuan somewhat, though still soft and small.
She had been pregnant and had already given birth!
Wei Ling called for someone to prepare rooms in the Protector-General’s mansion for his daughter and new grandson. He then turned his attention to Ye Yan and the others who had accompanied them to Xuanfu to discuss sending people into Tatar territory to see if Lu Jiaxue could be rescued alive. In truth, Wei Ling already suspected that Lu Jiaxue’s chances of survival were slim.
He had already organized some scouts to enter the grasslands and asked Ye Yan and the others to return to Datong while he devised a plan. Once news of Lu Jiaxue’s predicament reached the capital, the court would likely dispatch a commanding general immediately.
Ye Yan and the others, their faces grave, bowed and said, “Thank you, Your Grace. Now that we’ve delivered the madam to you, we’ll head back.”
Wei Ling nodded, “Inform me immediately if you receive any news.” Although he had conflicting interests with Lu Jiaxue, without him, border stability would be a joke. They had to find Lu Jiaxue, if not for personal reasons, then for the sake of the country.
After seeing Ye Yan and the others off, he changed clothes and washed his face before meeting his daughter. His grandson had been taken away to be fed, disappointing Wei Ling, who had hoped to hold him after cleaning up.
Seeing the Buddhist prayer beads in Yining’s hand, he felt a mix of emotions. Lu Jiaxue had even given her those.
Yining gently took her father’s arm to examine it. “Is your injury severe? Has it affected your tendons and bones?”
Wei Ling spoke gravely, “Lu Jiaxue and I advanced to the border, but the enemy forces suddenly increased. I suffered a flesh wound. Later, Lu Jiaxue gained the upper hand in command and told me to hold our position. As the Tatars tried to retreat, Lu Jiaxue pursued them into the grasslands. He disappeared in the hinterland, along with the 10,000 troops he led. My injury is minor, but he’s been missing in enemy territory for five days. I fear he’s been surrounded and eliminated by the Tatars. Otherwise, we would have had news by now…”
Lu Jiaxue, known for his tactical genius and feared like a demon, had finally met defeat.
Luo Yining disliked him, finding him stubborn and domineering, but couldn’t hate him. His disappearance even made her feel slightly guilty, a sentiment she never thought she’d experience towards Lu Jiaxue.
Wei Ling sighed, his voice low and tinged with cold laughter, “No matter how brilliant his tactics, they’re no match for someone’s scheming from behind.”
“Do you know who plotted to put Lu Jiaxue in danger?”
Wei Ling said slowly, “It was your husband, Luo Shen Yuan.”
Third Brother!
How could he possibly outmaneuver Lu Jiaxue?
Realizing it had been a year since she’d last seen him, Yining considered how his influence at court must have changed dramatically. Perhaps he was no longer the person she once knew.
Luo Yining looked up at her father, surprised. “What do you mean? How could it be him?”
“Since joining the inner cabinet, Luo Shen Yuan has been secretly working against Wang Yuan,” Wei Ling explained. “Of course, no one knows this. I only know because of Ming Zhu. With his support, she’s now achieved the rank of Zhao Yi in the palace. Luo Shen Yuan’s communication with me has become increasingly infrequent.”
Yining knew this, of course. Luo Shen Yuan had endured humiliation, but would eventually turn against Wang Yuan. Whether for a higher position or to avenge his teacher, it didn’t matter. What struck Yining as odd was her father’s distant and cold attitude when speaking of Luo Shen Yuan.
Wei Ling gestured for his daughter not to interrupt and continued, “You haven’t seen him in a year. Apart from initially searching for you in Datong, I haven’t seen him look for you again. Instead, he’s focused on political maneuvering, deceiving the Emperor. He’s introduced several so-called Taoist masters to the Emperor, causing chaos in the court. But the Emperor trusts him more and more. To eliminate Wang Yuan, he must first eliminate Lu Jiaxue—Lu Jiaxue and Wang Yuan are essentially one entity, maintaining a secret relationship to protect each other. Luo Shen Yuan once worked with Zeng Heng, the son of the Datong General, doing business with the Oirat tribe. I suspect he’s maintained these connections.”
“During Lu Jiaxue’s last campaign, the Oirats’ tactics were strangely sophisticated, as if guided by an expert. This time, they even used firearms. How could these barbarians use firearms without someone’s secret assistance? And firearms are Luo Shen Yuan’s responsibility. Even more strange, they didn’t attack the border but lured Lu Jiaxue into their territory, likely to annihilate him! As a member of the inner cabinet, Luo Shen Yuan knows all about our military strength and firepower. Scheming behind the scenes would be child’s play for him.”
“Isn’t this just speculation?” Yining felt a chill throughout her body as if plunged into an ice cellar. If he hadn’t sought her out, her efforts to return would be… would be laughable. Her voice lowered, “If there’s concrete evidence…”
Wei Ling sighed, “Meimei, my secret interactions with him are far more numerous than you imagine. I’m very familiar with his style of operation. The alliance between the two tribes might even be due to his behind-the-scenes instigation… He’s even included me in his calculations for the entire scheme. It’s indeed well-planned! I didn’t believe what Lu Jiaxue said about him before, but it seems I misjudged him.”
Luo Yining didn’t know what to say. She had always known what kind of person Luo Shen Yuan was. But she hoped she meant something different to him, that he cared for her. She knew how important political maneuvering was to Luo Shen Yuan. Her mind was in turmoil, to the point where she still couldn’t believe it.
“Father, let me go back and ask him directly,” Luo Yining said, still clinging to a thread of trust. “If it’s truly not the case, don’t wrongly accuse him.”
“If you want to go back, wait a few months,” Wei Ling said. “With Lu Jiaxue missing, the situation around us is unstable. I’m not comfortable letting you return like this. Moreover, with the current political turmoil, I refuse to let you stay with such a cold-hearted person. When he married you, I thought he was helping you out of brotherly affection. But you’re barely fifteen and already have a three-month-old child. He didn’t truly cherish you in the Luo household. How could he bear to let you have a child at fourteen…”
Thinking about how his daughter was only fifteen now, when many young ladies weren’t even married yet, and she already had a child, Wei Ling couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.
Yining had thought about the child issue before but hadn’t dwelled on it. She feared she wouldn’t like the result if she thought too deeply about it.
“He never looked for me?” Luo Yining gradually calmed down. After all, she had experienced many such things before. She asked softly.
“I’ve been too busy with the war to spare any effort. He’s at odds with the Qingliu Party at court and secretly battling Wang Yuan. I haven’t seen him send anyone to look for you,” Wei Ling said. Just thinking about the border war filled him with cold suspicion toward Luo Shen Yuan. If not for him, there truly wasn’t anyone else who could have done it. This went too far.
“Is he now sailing smoothly at court?” Yining smiled again.
Wei Ling nodded, “With the help of Censor-in-Chief Ge Hongnian, he controls some of the court officials. He’s now almost on par with Wang Yuan. Wang Yuan never expected him to rise so quickly and now fears him.”
Ge Hongnian… Luo Yining’s heart sank when she heard this name. Ge Miaoyun’s grandfather! Also Luo Shen Yuan’s father-in-law in her previous life. He had eventually formed relationships with these people after all.
He had married Ge Miaoyun in his previous life.
“Enough! You must be tired from your journey. Let’s have lunch first,” Wei Ling called for food to be served. “We’ll discuss sending you back in a few months. My Protector-General’s mansion is safe. I’ll write to your Madame Xu first, asking her to prepare your quarters at the Ying Duke’s mansion. When you return, don’t go to Luo Shen Yuan immediately. Stay at the Ying Duke’s mansion. We’ll clarify these matters when I return.”
Luo Yining came back to her senses and picked up her chopsticks to eat. Noticing the prayer beads on her wrist, she paused and tucked them into her sleeve.
“Lu Jiaxue isn’t so easy to kill,” Luo Yining suddenly said. She truly had this intuition. At least Lu Jiaxue shouldn’t die at this time; in her previous life, he had lived on. “You should be able to find him.”
Wei Ling’s face looked weathered. Hearing his daughter’s words, the rough man felt emotional. After all, he and Lu Jiaxue had been through life and death together for many years, saving each other countless times on the battlefield. Perhaps this was the nature of his relationship with Lu Jiaxue—they could only share hardships, not prosperity. Prosperity would breed suspicion, but on the battlefield, they only trusted each other.
This was a rapport built over the years.
He sighed and patted her head as if she were still a little girl.
Yining laughed at his touch, “Father, I already have a child.” She was no longer a little girl, though her heart finally felt a warmth of affection.
“So what? You’re still my little girl!” Wei Ling said sheepishly but withdrew his hand.
The baby boy, having finished nursing, was ready to sleep but only with Yining. Unable to find her, he cried loudly. The wet nurse, at a loss, brought the child out, “Madam, the young master is looking for you!”
Seeing his little face red from crying, covered in tears, Yining quickly took him in her arms. The baby stopped crying once held by his mother, hiccuping slightly.
Wei Ling approached the child, bending down to look at his grandson. The baby immediately turned his head to lean against his mother, disliking strangers.
“He’ll want you to hold him once he’s familiar with you,” Yining said, waving the baby’s small hand at Wei Ling. “Bao’er, this is your grandfather. Your grandfather is the Duke of Ying. Later, he’ll teach you how to ride horses. Would you like to be a mighty general?”
Bao’er contentedly chewed on his hand, making babbling sounds.