In the thirty-second year of the Chengde era, on the twenty-eighth day of the third month.
The news that Bai Fei Wan was to become a concubine at Jin Wang Manor had reached the residence of the Qingyang County Magistrate.
Mother Bai embraced Bai Fei Wan, weeping into her hands. “My poor daughter. Even when we were impoverished, I never let you suffer. And now, you have to go be a concubine.”
Father Bai stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Mother Bai’s shoulders, saying resentfully, “I thought that with the Emperor being so old, there wouldn’t be another large-scale Imperial Harem Draft. Who knew… Sigh, if we had known it would come to this, we should have arranged a marriage for our daughter sooner. Then it wouldn’t have…”
Letting his daughter become someone’s concubine, even a royal one, was something he found hard to accept.
Her third brother, Bai Jinfeng, came forward and grabbed Bai Fei Wan’s arm. “Sister, you can’t go be a concubine. I’ll take you away. We can fake our deaths, change our names, and leave this place.”
“I agree with Third Brother. Let’s take Sister away from here. I’ll go with you both,” her fourth brother, Bai Jinhao, said, looking at his third brother.
Her eldest brother, Bai Jinhang, addressed their parents, “I also agree with sending Sister away. Let’s send her to Jiangnan. It’s far away and safer.”
Father Bai and Mother Bai looked at their children, then exchanged a glance. Father Bai slammed his hand on the table. “Alright, then we’ll send Ruanruan away. We must plan this carefully so we are not discovered.”
Bai Fei Wan was deeply moved, seeing how her family was thinking of her. She was truly fortunate to have been born into such a family.
She recalled how she had been an orphan in the 25th century, fortunate enough to be adopted by Grandpa and Grandma Bai, who named her Bai Fei Wan.
Grandpa was an old traditional Chinese doctor, and Grandma was an inheritor of Su Embroidery. They were both very good to her, but before she had a chance to repay their kindness, they passed away one after another two years after she graduated from university.
She, on the other hand, had excelled academically since childhood, gaining early admission to Qingbei University at the age of twelve. After earning her doctorate at twenty-one, she chose to stay and teach at the university, using her free time to travel all over the country.
At twenty-six, she went to Tibet to see the snow-capped mountains, only to be caught in an avalanche. She was then reborn from birth into a fictional historical era that never existed.
In the Bai family, the father of Father Bai, Bai Zhou, had passed away early. His mother had raised her son and sent him to school by selling tofu and embroidery.
Mother Bai, Yu Ge, was the daughter of a small merchant from the south. At fourteen, her parents were beaten to death after offending a wealthy local merchant. She was lucky to escape and later met Father Bai.
The two got together and had twin sons, Bai Jinhang and Bai Jinyi. Two years later, after Father Bai passed the Xiucai examination, they had another pair of twins, Bai Jinfeng and Bai Jinhao.
After becoming a Xiucai, Father Bai failed to pass the Juren examination for four years. Finally, while his wife was pregnant with Bai Fei Wan, he succeeded. He was then appointed as the County Vice-Magistrate of Qingyang County.
The Bai family thus considered Bai Fei Wan their lucky star. The moment she arrived, her father became a Juren. Moreover, the Bai family had always desperately wanted a girl, so from the moment she was born, Bai Fei Wan was the family’s darling.
Seeing her family so concerned for her, a warmth spread through her heart.
She couldn’t bring danger upon her family because of herself. She couldn’t ruin their futures, especially her eldest and second brothers. Her eldest brother had now passed the examination to become a Gongshi and would participate in the Imperial Examination next year. Her second brother had joined the army three years ago. She couldn’t ruin her family for her own sake.
If a faked death were discovered, the entire family would be finished.
She took Mother Bai’s hand and said in a steady voice, “I’m not leaving. I am willing to go to the Prince’s mansion.”
“Ruanruan, what are you saying? The Prince’s mansion is not as simple as you think,” Mother Bai said, squeezing her daughter’s hand tightly.
Bai Fei Wan hugged Mother Bai’s arm coaxingly. “I know, Mother. I won’t seek glory or riches when I go. I just want to live a good life. If I leave, I’ll have to live in hiding for the rest of my life, unable to see you all again. I don’t want that. I don’t want to leave you. Besides, all land under heaven belongs to the king. If a faked death is discovered, what awaits our family will be something we cannot bear. I can’t do that. And your daughter is so beautiful. An ordinary family wouldn’t be able to protect me. I haven’t even dared to go out, for fear of attracting unnecessary trouble. But who can guarantee I won’t be seen for a lifetime? I know you’re doing this for my own good, but I’m not willing to let you take such a risk for me. Besides, Jin Wang is still young. Choosing him is better than the other princes.”
Mother Bai hesitated. “But…”
“Oh, no buts, Mother. I want to go to the Prince’s mansion. As long as I don’t vie for favor, with your daughter’s intelligence, I won’t be in any danger. Don’t worry.”
Then she turned to her father and brothers. “Father, Eldest Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, I know you’re worried about me, but leaving isn’t necessarily safe either. I am truly willing to go to Jin Wang Manor. Although I won’t be the official wife, with my intelligence, my life won’t be difficult. And I still have you, my brothers, to become my backing when you achieve success.”
Her younger sister had always been clever and had her own opinions. Once she made up her mind, she wouldn’t easily change it. “Mm, alright. Next year, Eldest Brother will definitely pass the imperial exam, become an official, and be your backing.”
“Me too, Sister, me too! I’ll earn money and give it all to you to spend. Don’t be afraid to spend money after you enter the manor. Third Brother has plenty of money. I’ve earned a lot over the years, and it’s all for you. I’ll work even harder to earn more in the future.”
Fourth brother Bai Jinhao scratched his head and said blankly, “Sister, Fourth Brother… doesn’t seem like he can be a big backer for you. I only know medicine. I’ll make lots of beauty remedies for you, to make you the most beautiful girl.”
“Who says? Fourth Brother is a great backer too! I love being beautiful the most.”
“Okay, then Fourth Brother will research some more pills and give them all to you.”
Bai Fei Wan nodded happily. “Okay, okay!”
Seeing that the matter was settled, Mother Bai felt a little sad. “Tonight, our family will have a nice dinner together. Ruanruan is leaving tomorrow. Who knows when we’ll see each other again after this.”
Father Bai and the brothers said in unison, “Okay.”
Hearing their reply, Mother Bai turned to Bai Fei Wan. “Ruanruan, I’ll take you to pack the things you need for tomorrow.”
With that, she paid no mind to the men and led Bai Fei Wan toward her small courtyard.
Once they arrived at Feiyuan Courtyard, Mother Bai went into her daughter’s room to help her pack.
“Ruanruan, take Zi Zhu with you to the manor. She’s grown up with you, she’s clever and quick-witted, and she knows some simple pharmacology and dietary principles. It’s always more reassuring to have one of our own with you.”
“Okay, Mother. That’s what I was thinking too.”
She looked up at her daughter, hesitating for a moment before saying, “Once you’re in the Prince’s mansion, don’t trust others too easily. You must protect yourself. Mother doesn’t ask for glory or riches for you, only that you are safe. And don’t fall in love with the prince. The imperial family has always been heartless. Don’t invest too much emotion. Men are unreliable, especially royal men. It would be best to have a child, so you have something to rely on. But it’s alright if you don’t. As long as you are well.”
Bai Fei Wan pulled Mother Bai to sit on her bed, hugging her arm and leaning against her. “I know, Mother. I won’t fall in love with him. I will live well, for myself.”
Then she tilted her head, looked at her mother, and said with a smile, “But Mother, you said all men are unreliable, but Father is quite good. He’s only ever had you.”
Mother Bai patted her daughter’s hand, amused. “He is quite good. Men like your father are rare. I hope he stays this way and never changes.”
“He won’t. I believe in Father.”
Mother Bai gently tapped her daughter’s forehead. “Yes, yes, your father is the best. Hurry up and pack. It’ll be time for dinner soon.”
“Mhm, okay.”
After packing, they saw it was about time and went hand-in-hand to the dining hall. Father Bai and the three brothers were already at the table. The two of them took their seats and began to eat. All the dishes were Bai Fei Wan’s favorites. The family ate their meal, talking and laughing.
After dinner, they returned to their respective courtyards. Mother Bai told Father Bai that she wanted to sleep with their daughter tonight, and Father Bai agreed. “Alright.”
In Feiyuan Courtyard, Bai Fei Wan held Zi Zhu’s hand. “I’m going to the Prince’s mansion tomorrow. I don’t know what the future holds. Are you willing to come with me? If you don’t want to go, I can give you your deed of sale and another 100 taels. You can go and do your own thing.”
Zi Zhu gripped Bai Fei Wan’s hand tightly in return. “Miss, I don’t want to leave. Meeting you is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me. I want to follow you.”
“Alright, I will protect us both. Go pack your things and get some rest. We leave tomorrow morning.”
A short while later, Mother Bai arrived, holding a box. The two went into the room together. Mother Bai opened the box, revealing a stack of silver notes, some loose silver, and some jewelry. “Take these. Don’t refuse. There will be many places to grease palms in the Prince’s mansion. Money makes things easier. Inside, there is a Fire Prevention Diagram and some medicine for treating injuries. Take a look at it when you have time after entering the manor. You must protect yourself.”
“Okay, I understand,” Bai Fei Wan nodded obediently.
My mother is amazing, she thought.
The two of them shared some more intimate words before slowly drifting off to sleep.