Bab 166: The White Manor Under the Moon
The Bai residence in Yecheng was equally situated at the heart of the city. Instead of the imposing lions typically found at grand entrances, two intertwined trees graced the entrance. Yet, compared to the barracks, the opulence of this place was striking, albeit lacking the historic grandeur that commanded awe.
Xian Yue had not disclosed her intention to visit the Bai residence to anyone, not even to Bai Ping Ting. It had been ages since she had savored the scent of wine; merely thinking of it now sent a delightful itch through her. This time, she was determined to indulge, to make up for the losses incurred over the past few months. Her tolerance for alcohol had always been superior to that of ordinary folk. One incessantly talking Bai Zhan Feng was already more than sufficient; having another would undoubtedly overwhelm her.
Bai Zhan Feng had not informed Old Master Bai of Xian Yue's impending visit. Had the old man been aware of her arrival, he would surely have gone to great lengths to prepare, which might have felt overly formal. It was only when Xian Yue set out that he instructed those around him to convey the message. While he constantly measured the disparity between their statuses, he was determined to bridge the gap between them.
As Xian Yue approached the entrance of the Bai residence, she spotted Old Master Bai alongside the steward she had seen during her last visit to the barracks. Both men appeared to have lost considerable weight in their time apart. Although their smiles remained, they lacked the vigor that once characterized their expressions.
Upon seeing Xian Yue, Old Master Bai's face brightened, and he bent slightly in welcome, with others trailing closely behind him. Bai Ao's gaze was tinged with a hint of shame; after a period of absence, his once-straight posture had become more stooped. He was a man marked by the passage of time, and like every patriarch of the Bai family, he had devoted himself tirelessly to the service of the Chu Kingdom. Perhaps, in the eyes of their inherent mission, this was nothing more than a futile existence. Yet now, to safeguard the Chu Kingdom, they bore the ignominy of treason, becoming targets of public scorn. Such a broad-minded individual could rightly be deemed a sage.
Bai Ao parted his lips, uncertain how to address the woman before him: should he refer to her as the Feng Wang or the Queen of the Lan Kingdom?
Xian Yue saw through his thoughts instantly. "Today, I am neither the Queen of the Lan Kingdom nor the Queen of the Feng Kingdom. I simply wish to visit for a drink. Old Master Bai, please do not withhold your fine wine."
After her words, Xian Yue burst into a cheerful laugh, brushing past Bai Ao and entering the residence first. The others exchanged glances, unsure of what to do, while Bai Zhan Feng supported Bai Ao and followed closely behind.
The current Bai residence had been acquired from a merchant and featured expansive landscaping. The meticulous details infused throughout were absent in the previous Bai residence. Unlike the tranquil streams and quaint bridges of the Lan Kingdom, this place also embraced nature, with crystal-clear waters and charming pavilions creating a picturesque landscape. Especially in the summer, it was a veritable sanctuary for those seeking respite from the heat.
The group proceeded directly to the parlor, and with ample time before lunch, Xian Yue and Bai Ao took the seats of honor. No sooner had they settled than a servant arrived with freshly brewed tea and pastries.
"That child Feng Er is truly something. Knowing that Miss Xian Yue would visit, he could have at least informed me. As soon as I heard the news, I instructed the servants to prepare the meals, and they will be ready shortly."
Xian Yue did not indulge in pleasantries; instead, she nodded with a smile. "I woke up early today and am absolutely famished. Traveling every day, I have hardly had a decent meal. I hope you won't laugh at me, Old Master Bai, but it has been ages since I last tasted wine. Today, I intend to indulge to my heart's content. With such a vast residence, surely you have room for me to rest, don't you?"
The nearby servant could hardly contain a chuckle at Xian Yue's candidness.
"What kind of decorum is this?" Bai Ao barked, his sharp gaze sweeping over the servant, clearly displeased with their rudeness.
"I was wrong, I deserve punishment," the servant replied, trembling in fear as she fell to her knees.
"Grandfather, Xian Yue is still here," Bai Zhan Feng interjected, glancing at Bai Ao before waving his hand to the frightened servants. "You all may rise."
The servants stood, relieved, and returned to their places.
"Old Master Bai," Xian Yue said, glancing at Bai Ao and then at the servants, who stood at attention. Bai Ao immediately understood. "You may all leave."
With the servants dismissed, only Old Master Bai, Bai Zhan Feng, and Xian Yue remained in the parlor.
"Old Master Bai, please tell me the truth. Is the situation in Bai Chu truly as perilous as your letter suggested?"
In his letter, Bai Ao had stated that vast stretches of territory in the Chu Kingdom had been occupied, and that Bai Chu had fallen into grave danger. He urged her, given her bond with Bai Zhan Feng, to lend a helping hand. At the time, she had not allowed her people in green to investigate further, but had immediately shared Bai Ao's letter with Lan Yi Xuan. She needed a valid reason to leave the Lan Kingdom, a rationale for their separation. However, it seemed that the Chu Kingdom indeed had suffered significant losses, yet the claims regarding Xuan Yuan's actions toward Bai Chu appeared exaggerated.
Bai Ao smiled slightly. "I knew I couldn't hide anything from the keen eyes of Miss Xian Yue."
While there were indeed elements of exaggeration in the letter, the royal family of the Chu Kingdom had long been reduced to a vassal of Xuan Yuan. The Xuan Yuan army advanced relentlessly, and while the Bai family's forces were superior to the imperial troops, they had no real advantage against the well-trained Xuan Yuan soldiers. The morale of the Bai army was dismal, making it impossible for them to contend with their formidable foes.
The fate of the world has already been decided. With the current power of Bai Chu, it is utterly inadequate to compete with Feng Lan and Xuanyuan. The world will sooner or later fall into the hands of one of the two factions. Presently, it appears that Xuanyuan has annexed a significant portion of Yanjing, and half of Chu has also fallen under his control. Furthermore, he has wed a princess of the Zhou dynasty, garnering the support of the conservatives, thereby increasing his advantages. However, given his decades of experience in assessing others, he places greater trust in the young girl before him. Moreover, it is for the sake of Feng'er, a child devoted in love, who has sacrificed much for the Bai family. He cannot bear the thought of meeting his beloved on the battlefield, so he has chosen the kingdom of Lan. But if Xuan Yue remains indifferent to his plea for help, he would have no choice but to turn to Xuanyuan, for in his eyes, that would be the most pragmatic solution.
Regardless of who emerges victorious between Xuanyuan and the Kingdom of Lan, the Bai family can preserve itself, as he knows the girl beside him values loyalty and righteousness. Even if one day she were to gain dominion over the world, standing alongside Xuanyuan, she would never make things difficult for the Bai family.
"Have you not established a court?"
"Those who migrated with us to Yecheng are all members of the Bai family, loyal to the core, whether they are civil or military officials. They will unconditionally obey any directives or orders issued by the Bai family."
However, Bai Zhanfeng did not elaborate on the specifics of how this is enforced, and Xuan Yue refrained from probing further. The Bai family has stood resilient in Chu for centuries without any internal strife, which undoubtedly indicates a well-crafted governance strategy. It is only natural that they wish to keep it confidential, and in a way, this spares her considerable trouble.
Bai Ao regarded Xuan Yue with unspoken words, seemingly hesitant to speak in Bai Zhanfeng's presence.
"Old Master Bai, once we have feasted well, I would like to accompany you for a stroll."
Xuan Yue smiled, casually picking at some pastries to quell her hunger as she surveyed her surroundings. "Where is Madame Bai? I haven't seen her."
Logically, since Old Master Bai had personally come to greet her, as a daughter-in-law of the Bai family, she should have accompanied him. By all normal reasoning, she should have been curious about Xuan Yue. If the roles were reversed and someone had informed her that Lan Yi Xuan had cast a lingering gaze upon another, she would undoubtedly want to know who could capture his attention so. Yet, despite her time at the Bai Manor, she had yet to catch a glimpse of the lady of the house.
"Oh," Bai Ao suddenly recalled, as if awakening from a dream. "Ruo Xi just made a cloak for Feng'er and went to the barracks early this morning."
Xuan Yue found it difficult to believe that such a coincidence could occur—that as soon as she arrived in Yecheng, Ruo Xi's cloak would be completed. Moreover, on such a cold day, there was no need to rush to the barracks merely to deliver a cloak. Was she unable to contain her excitement, or was she simply overly concerned?
"Did we not advise her to avoid the barracks? A woman should not be wandering in and out, lest the soldiers witness such impropriety!"
Bai Zhanfeng's expression darkened, clearly perturbed by the sight of the young lady from the Chen family frequenting the military camp.
"Bai Zhanfeng, do you perceive me as a man?"
Bai Zhanfeng felt a surge of frustration, immediately regretting his words. Xuan Yue was a woman; not only did she enter and exit military establishments, but she was also a general herself. His irritation toward Chen Ruo Xi was palpable. He had made his expectations clear during his wedding—she would be the sole mistress of the Bai Manor, yet she must abide by her duties. Since that fateful night, she had grown increasingly restless over these past months.
In the presence of Xuan Yue, Bai Ao seemed unsure of what to say. He sighed, "Feng'er, she is your wife."
There is nothing inappropriate about a wife visiting her husband in the barracks. He had watched Ruo Xi grow up—she was knowledgeable, well-mannered, and a good spouse. Yet, for reasons unknown, Feng'er had little affection for her. He spent every day in the barracks; how could he ensure the continuation of the Bai family? Under his stewardship, the family name had suffered greatly, and without heirs, how could he face his ancestors in the afterlife?
Xuan Yue looked at Bai Ao, then at Bai Zhanfeng, feeling somewhat helpless. Given Bai Zhanfeng's temperament, it was commendable that he had come this far, but for Old Master Bai, it was likely far from sufficient.
"Master, Young Master, the meal is ready," came the timely announcement.
Xuan Yue smiled at Bai Zhanfeng and Bai Ao. "Old Master Bai, let us dine."
Bai Ao nodded and turned to Bai Zhanfeng. "Feng'er, go fetch the rose elixir I have preserved for twenty years."
Xuan Yue was unfamiliar with this rose elixir, but upon hearing it had been preserved for twenty years, she inferred it must be a valuable item. Remembering the rose garden from their last visit to the camp, she smiled brightly. "Old Master Bai, you truly are a wonderful person!"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone