Chapter 10: Saving the Bai Family, The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

Imperial Physician Zheng hurriedly arrived, following the anxious maid from Zhaohua Hall, and was startled by the chaos he encountered. Zhi Yuan, seeing the physician, quickly said, “Miss Bai, Imperial Physician Zheng is here. Please leave the palace now and be sure to return on time.”

Bai Huan got up, wiping her tears. “Thank you, Aunt Zhi.”

Turning to Dong Yi, she sobbed, “Sir, for Her Ladyship’s health, could you perhaps ride a horse instead of your goat-drawn carriage?”

Dong Yi paused, waving his feather fan.

He hadn’t intended to go with her anyway!

The Emperor, seeing Dong Yi caught off guard by a young girl for the first time, couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, yes, that goat carriage of yours is just for show to impress the ladies. There’s important business tonight; ride a horse.”

“Your Majesty!” Dong Yi protested, tossing his fan aside.

Bai Huan immediately turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty rules the realm with filial piety, your virtue matches Heaven and Earth, and your benevolence blesses generations!”

The Emperor was just beginning to savor the flattery when the girl’s tone changed, “I beg Your Majesty to bestow a horse.”

“Ha!”

“Ha?” Dong Yi and the Emperor exclaimed in unison.

Dong Yi smiled slyly at the Emperor. “Your Majesty, it must be a steed worthy of a thousand miles. I recall the Great Park just sent an Akhal-Teke horse. Only such a horse, swift as the wind, would suffice, or else we’ll delay the young lady’s errand for Her Ladyship.”

The Emperor glared at him, “You rascal!”

Dong Yi feigned innocence. “How am I being mischievous? Clearly, it’s the Bai family’s girl pleading for Your Majesty’s cherished favorite.”

“Hmph, don’t I know you? Always climbing the ladder.”

“Well, monkeys do climb, after all.”

The two exchanged banter as they made their way outside.

Bai Huan trailed behind, wondering just how close these two were.

Dong Yi referred to himself as ‘nephew’ before the Emperor?

As they exited Zhaohua Hall, they saw two guards from the Golden Cavalry standing with horses. Three more guards led three fine steeds forward. One was a tall, robust chestnut horse, spiritedly stamping and tossing its head, eager to break free—a horse that clearly considered itself extraordinary. Bai Huan guessed this was the Akhal-Teke Dong Yi had mentioned. She’d heard of it during her travels with her father, but never thought she’d see one in person.

Another horse was slightly shorter, with powerful legs and a mane trimmed into five distinct petals. Bai Huan instantly recognized it as a prized Qing Cong, also called the Five-Flower Horse—a breed of great stamina, ridden only by the nobility in Chang’an.

The last horse was rather ordinary, an old, reliable animal.

The Bai ancestral home was in Zhaoying County, thirty li outside Chang’an. She would need a good horse to make the journey in an hour.

Her eyes grew hot—her first objective was accomplished. She could make it home in time.

She strode forward and went straight for the Five-Flower Horse. The cavalryman knelt to help her mount, but Bai Huan quickly said, “No need, I can ride.”

She grasped the saddle, stepped firmly into the stirrup, and vaulted onto the horse. Leaning forward, she gently stroked the horse’s face and whispered into its ear.

The Five-Flower Horse shifted excitedly, flicked its tail, but showed no impatience with the girl on its back.

The Emperor’s expression was full of meaning.

Dong Yi raised an eyebrow, fanning himself lazily. “Safe travels, I won’t see you off.”

Bai Huan couldn’t control whether the powerful official followed, but she intended to use him thoroughly.

She bowed respectfully. “May I trouble you, Lord Dong, to send a guard to the Gu residence to inform them that His Majesty has pardoned me of all charges, and you are a witness.”

Dong Yi’s fan paused, then fluttered rapidly. He was about to scold her when the girl loudly called, “Imperial Physician Zheng, mount up quickly! I must hurry home to ask my father to prepare incense for Her Ladyship. If we’re delayed, even Lord Dong will be held responsible.”

“Oh dear, I’m nearly fifty, not much of a horseman,” Imperial Physician Zheng muttered, trembling as the cavalrymen hoisted him onto a horse.

Bai Huan, urgent and unable to wait, gripped her whip. “Imperial Physician, I’ll go ahead, you come along at your pace.”

She turned to the leading cavalryman. “Please guide the way.”

She cracked her whip, the Five-Flower Horse surged forward. The leading cavalryman scrambled to mount and galloped ahead of her.

Dong Yi eyed the Akhal-Teke, as tall as himself, looking pitiful as he tucked his fan into his belt and gingerly put his foot in the stirrup.

He grumbled, “Your Majesty, you know your nephew is delicate and not good on horseback, yet you give me such a giant horse. Is this your way of making me practice? Then I must accept graciously.”

The Emperor huffed, “That’s a brand new horse from the Great Park. Even the Crown Prince didn’t get it, but you, you rascal, snatched it up first.”

Dong Yi, seated with the cavalryman’s help, laughed. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for the generous gift.”

The cavalryman led the horse out of the palace. Dong Yi’s own guards took the reins at the gate, slipped the cavalryman a silver ingot in thanks, and helped Dong Yi down.

Once the palace guards had returned, Dong Yi quickly climbed into his carriage.

Inside, he spoke in a hushed, urgent tone, “Feiyu, follow Bai Huan, and make sure to protect Bai Chongyi. Xuanjia, go to the Gu residence and inform them that Bai Huan assisted the Imperial Consort and pleased His Majesty, gaining pardon for her offense.”

The two guards mounted up and sped off in opposite directions.

—

Once the Emperor and his retinue had left, Zhi Yuan dismissed everyone else and approached the bed curtains, speaking quietly so only those inside could hear. “Is Your Ladyship asleep?”

The Imperial Consort murmured, “I’m exhausted, just barely holding on. Are they all gone?”

Zhi Yuan sighed softly. “Yes, but Jing Qing and two nursemaids were taken away.”

The Consort’s eyes shot open. “Did Bai Huan report them?”

Zhi Yuan sat on the footstool, her eyes red. “She did, and she used the Lord Steward as her instrument. His Majesty punished them harshly. Jing Qing is your old nurse’s biological daughter; she’d never harm you, just afraid of another fraud hurting Your Ladyship’s health.”

The Imperial Consort’s expression turned cold. “Heh, Bai Huan is quite something for her age. Go make arrangements so Jing Qing won’t suffer. Let the two nursemaids take the blame, then bring her back after some time.”

“Yes.”

The Consort frowned. “Huaiyang has been spoiled, so pure and straightforward—no match for that girl.”

The Huaiyang Princess, who had her eye on Gu Yuanzhou, was the legitimate younger daughter of Prince An. Princess An was from the prestigious Cui clan of Boling, and the Consort’s mother was Prince An’s elder sister, Grand Princess Jing’an—the families were joined by marriage.

“Bai Huan is married to Gu’s fourth son now, so she shouldn’t trouble the princess anymore. That’s for the best, lest the princess be blamed in the future.”

The Consort snorted. “Bai Huan is not only clever but vindictive.”

“Jing Qing blocked her from seeing me, but she didn’t know Jing Qing’s importance to me, so she held back. But she knew to use the Lord Steward to report to His Majesty, which shows she’s calculating and knows what to say to whom. Would such a girl accept her husband being taken or being forced to marry a concubine-born fourth son? I fear the Marquis of Luyang’s household will know no peace.”

Zhi Yuan’s expression shifted. “So cunning at such a young age, she’s certainly not to be underestimated. Bai Huan is rushing to save her family—should we inform Master?”

“No need. The charge is falsifying military incense for the army; the Bai family cannot clear their name. With my token, Bai Huan can at best temporarily save Bai Chongyi. Once I recover and have what I want, he’ll be executed for his crimes. As for Bai Huan, if she obeys me, I can raise her up; if not, there’s no need to keep her.”

Zhi Yuan grew anxious. “But the Lord Steward went as well.”

“He’s clever—he won’t meddle in the Ministry of War’s business.”

The Consort yawned. “Ah, truly tired. At least tonight I can finally sleep in peace.”

Zhi Yuan tucked her in. “Your Ladyship has been sleepless for over half a month. It’s rare to feel drowsy—rest now.”

One hour earlier.

A squad of palace guards entered the Marquis of Luyang’s residence, gathering everyone in the main hall, making a token search of the study, and discovering the Bai family’s incense orders and ledger.

Gu Yuanzhou stepped forward, insisting the Bai family could not have done such a thing. To reassure Bai Huan and clear the Gu family’s name, he personally accompanied the guards to the Bai residence.

As soon as Gu Yuanzhou departed with the guards, Lady Chen of the Gu family glared at Gu Yuanhuai. “Where did Bai Huan go?”

The Marquis’s face was grim. “Speak up, where is she?”

Gu Yuanhuai, nervous and stammering, could barely answer.