Seeing that the rumored reincarnation of Bai Suqiu was in the room... Lu Ninghuan acted as though she hadn’t seen Fu Ruoxi or heard their conversation. Only then did the Empress suppress her intent to kill.
Lu Ninghuan was not an ordinary palace maid. If this so-called reincarnation of Bai Suqiu died in the palace, who knew if the Emperor would launch a thorough investigation in his madness.
The Empress, fearing that Fu Ruoxi might be discovered, claimed that the palace maid had been assigned elsewhere. She instructed her trusted subordinate to personally escort Lu Ninghuan back to the Bai family, with orders to ensure everything seemed normal. If there was anything unusual, they were to kill rather than let her go.
Having returned from the brink of death, the first thing on Lu Ninghuan’s mind was to get this news to Bai Qingyan.
She first went to Bai Jinzhi’s courtyard. Bai Jinzhi had just come out from a medicinal bath and was sitting in front of an ornate bronze mirror, wringing her hair. As soon as Lu Ninghuan entered, Bai Jinse dismissed the surrounding people and asked Lu Ninghuan to explain what had happened in detail.
Once inside, without saying a word, Lu Ninghuan started writing a letter to Bai Qingyan. While writing, she said, "Fourth Miss, please send this letter to Elder Miss in Shuoyang, but don’t rush to leave now! If possible... arrange to meet a few friends today. Then, buy some pastries and visit the Eldest Princess at the Qing Temple before returning to Shuoyang! I suspect there are people watching outside Bai Mansion at the moment."
" Aunt Lu, is there something you can’t tell us directly?" Bai Jinzhi asked Lu Ninghuan.
"In the Capital, the less you two know, the better!" Lu Ninghuan wrote furiously. "Fourth Miss will understand once she returns to Shuoyang and meets Elder Miss. Tomorrow, when Seventh Miss returns to Qing Temple with Langhua, Ninghuan will speak without reserve."
Not only did Bai Jinzhi need to meet friends and then leave the Capital as usual, but also Lu Ninghuan needed to go out normally to Yushan Hall to treat those orphans, buy some herbs at a pharmacy, and purchase some pastries for the Eldest Princess.
Bai Jinzhi and Bai Jinse were not unaware of the gravity of the situation. Seeing Lu Ninghuan still writing the letter, Bai Jinzhi went outside to instruct a servant to invite Doctor Huang’s granddaughter, Arong, for tea at Yanque Tower.
Lu Ninghuan finished writing the letter, sealed it, handed it to Bai Jinzhi, then went back to change clothes, calmed herself, and left with Bai Jinse, chatting and laughing, heading to Yushan Hall.
Not long after, Bai Jinzhi rode a horse to Yanque Tower. Just as she arrived, Doctor Huang’s carriage also stopped in front of Yanque Tower. Arong called out to Bai Jinzhi, and the two young girls joyfully held hands and went upstairs.
In the Capital, the Bai family carried on as usual.
The news reached the Empress, who finally breathed a sigh of relief. Otherwise... killing Lu Ninghuan would have left too many loose ends, and she had few trustworthy people left. Fu Ruoxi refused to help her and even advised her to abandon the idea of seizing the throne.
The Empress stood under the palace eaves, looking up at the dazzling midday sun. A colorful halo seemed to shimmer above her head in a trance.
She never accepted fate. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have sat in the chief position of the Central Palace!
Her son was legitimate, destined to inherit the throne. Otherwise, why had she abandoned her beloved, used all means to climb to this position, nearly died giving birth to her son? What was it all for? To merely be an Empress in name only?
In Shuoyang, the Bai family received news in the afternoon that Dong Changlan of the Dengzhou Dong family had entered the city.
Bai Qingping knew Dong Changlan was coming and had waited at Bai Mansion all day to help receive him.
It seemed that Bai Qingping had been tormented by Mrs. Fang these past two days, unable to sleep at night. Dark circles under his eyes made him look quite unwell.
Mrs. Dong, accompanied by Dong Tingzhen and Bai Qingyan, welcomed Dong Changlan and his wife at the door. From afar, they saw the most handsome young man in the group, riding a white horse.
"Brother Changlan! It’s Brother Changlan!" Dong Tingzhen whispered to Mrs. Dong, pointing to the distance.
Though Dong Changlan did not have the refined features of his younger brother, Dong Changyuan, he had a tall nose and deep-set eyes and was extremely handsome.
He wore a jade crown, a left-lapelled long robe of bamboo green with hidden cloud patterns, his left hand grasping the reins, while his right hand, holding an ebony whip, hung by his side. He seemed both steady and impressive, drawing much attention.
Mrs. Dong, seeing her nephew, was naturally overjoyed. The last time she saw him was on the third of March the previous year when Changlan got married. Over a year had passed; the Bai family had changed dramatically, from an aristocratic family with many descendants flourishing in the Capital to a solitary family forced back to Shuoyang.
From afar, Dong Changlan saw Mrs. Dong, Dong Tingzhen, and the slender and tall Bai Qingyan, and smiled. He turned his head to urge the caravan to speed up, then galloped ahead alone. Dismounting with a leap, he lifted the hem of his garment and knelt on one knee: "Changlan... greets Aunt!"
Dong Changlan, like his uncle Dong Qingyue, had two tiger teeth. When he smiled, showing them slightly diminished his dignified demeanor.
Mrs. Dong lifted her skirt hem and walked quickly down the steps to help Dong Changlan up, smiling as she looked him over: "Brother Lan looks taller than last year and a bit tanned!"
"Brother Changlan!" Dong Tingzhen smiled and saluted Dong Changlan.
"Cousin..." Dong Changlan made a deep bow to Bai Qingyan.
Dong Changlan was only a month younger than Bai Qingyan. As the eldest son, he appeared reserved and warm.
Bai Qingyan smiled and nodded, introducing Bai Qingping to Dong Changlan: "This is my cousin, Bai Qingping..."
Bai Qingping quickly bowed deeply to Dong Changlan: "Cousin!"
Dong Changlan had heard of the unscrupulous deeds done by the Bai Clan, but since Bai Qingping was personally introduced by Bai Qingyan, he must be different from the rest.
"Cousin!" Dong Changlan smiled warmly, reciprocating the bow.
The carriage carrying Dong Changlan’s wife, Mrs. Cui, slowly stopped in front of Bai Mansion. A maid from the Dong family opened the carriage door, lifting the curtain. Mrs. Cui, dressed in a pale single robe with silver-threaded bamboo-patterned edges and a lush skirt, gracefully alighted from the carriage and saluted Mrs. Dong, Bai Qingyan, and Dong Tingzhen: "Aunt, Cousin, Sister Tingzhen."
This was Bai Qingyan’s first time meeting Mrs. Cui. She was an outstanding beauty, fair and tall. In the sunlight, her skin had a pearly sheen. She wore a cool-colored garment, like a mountain spring in the blazing summer, making people feel extremely comfortable just looking at her.
"Sister Rong is getting prettier!" Mrs. Dong held Cui’s hand. "Come! Let’s go inside and talk!"
Bai Qingping smiled and gestured to Dong Changlan: "Cousin, please!"
Dong Changlan did not stand on ceremony, nodding as he followed Mrs. Dong into the Bai Mansion.
After the masters entered the main door, Nanny Qin and Steward Hao quickly descended the steps to arrange for the Dong family’s guards, who had arrived after a long journey. They also instructed the Bai family servants to carry Dong Changlan and Mrs. Cui’s belongings inside and chatted warmly with the nannies who had come with them to Shuoyang.
Mrs. Dong, holding Mrs. Cui’s hand, led the way. Mrs. Cui, with a sweet tongue, chatted with Mrs. Dong about how Madam Dong had joked about moving Dengzhou on their way, making Mrs. Dong laugh continuously.