Chapter 145: Night Talk at Li Xiang Courtyard: Mother and Daughter

Zijuan smiled as she took it and said: "This return gift is well chosen. The younger female cousin praying for the elder male cousin's safety is filial duty; no one can find fault with it, and it also shows the young lady's concern for the marquis's well-being."

"This return gift is well chosen. The younger female cousin praying for the elder male cousin's safety is filial duty; no one can find fault with it, and it also shows the young lady's concern for the marquis's well-being."

"Moreover, this bracelet was hand-woven by the young lady; it is a token of her heart. If the marquis has any intention, he will surely understand."

Zijuan smiled as she put away the peace buckle tied to the bracelet, was about to go out, when Daiyu again said:

"Go fetch a copy of the Court Gazette and Capital Gazette from Third Brother's place, and tell him I want to take a look..."

Zijuan smiled and said:

"That's exactly right! The marquis rarely wishes to discuss such political matters with others; if the young lady reads them, she will surely have more insight than Baichai."

"Should I take the other books too? I recall Baichai saying there were also things like the Collected Memorials of Famous Ministers and such!"

Daiyu shook her head and said:

"No need! For the others, we can just send someone to the bookshop to buy them!"

Zijuan smiled, agreed, turned and walked out.

Upon reaching the door, she turned back and glanced once more.

Daiyu was already leaning on the Yin Pillow, her eyes fell again on that sheet of paper, the corners of her mouth slightly lifted, unknown what she was thinking.

Only her pallid complexion finally gained a hint of rosiness, her whole person seeming to have come back to life.

…………

Li Xiang Courtyard,

Night fell, the bright moon shone, the northwest wind howled outside the window, and the charcoal brazier inside glowed warmly.

Baichai sat at the desk, twisting a brush in her hand, as if writing something.

Beside the desk lay a thick stack of newspapers and periodicals, the topmost volume being precisely the Collected Memorials of Famous Ministers.

Ying Er leaned on a small stool beside it, facing the candlelight, weaving a bracelet.

At that moment, Xue's aunt pushed the door open, clutching a hand warmer, and entered with a smile, greeting:

"Dear girl, you haven't rested yet!"

Baichai first finished writing the poem in her hand, then gave a soft hum.

Xue's aunt, assisted by Ying Er, sat on the embroidered stool beside her, sighed, and said:

"I just came from your aunt's place; she's in a bad mood—Baoyu was beaten, Zhou Rui's family was driven out, and the stewardship was lost again—I went to console her."

Baichai continued to stare blankly at the paper in her hand, merely giving a soft hum in response to her aunt's words.

Xue's aunt lowered her voice and continued:

"Today Jing Ge'er really opened my eyes! Since we live near his residence, all afternoon we heard the sound of paddling and wailing coming from his side."

"I heard from your aunt that Lai Da, Lai Er and a few other stewards were beaten to death by him! He also had over a hundred people from their manor sold off at once."

Xue's aunt paused, then sighed again:

"Before, I only heard how formidable he was on the battlefield, how imposing in the camp; who would have thought he'd be this… this strict at home."

"I originally thought that no matter what, he would give his grandmother some face at home; who would have known that today his grandmother seems to have no way with him at all."

Baichai came to, lowered her eyes, and said:

"The servants in their household are outrageous, having done much wickedness behind their master's back; disciplining them is also a good thing! Third Brother… he has always been unable to tolerate even a speck of sand in his eye!"

Upon hearing this, Xue's aunt seemed to think of something, glanced at Baichai, and suddenly said:

"I don't even know how Jing Ge'er managed to uncover those servants' corruption! Dear girl, you say… could we ask him for a favor?"

Baichai's gaze sharpened, and she asked:

"What favor?"

"It's nothing other than the affairs of our family's business!" Xue's aunt frowned and said.

"Over the years, the lower-level managers and stewards have become increasingly outrageous, and the profit silver they remit has been dwindling."

"We are widows and orphans; there's nothing we can do about them."

"I had originally intended to let your brother look into the accounts, but who knew that after investigating for over two months, he found no trace of embezzlement anywhere."

"All the accounts look fine; it's as if those people down below are all honest folk with merit and no fault."

"Come to think of it, your brother is not much younger than Jing Ge'er either; this could be considered…"

Baichai fell silent for a moment, then hesitated and said:

"Mom, don't compare my brother with him. He is a heroic figure who was ennobled at a young age; there are hardly any like him in the whole world."

Xue's aunt thought Baichai was making excuses for Xue Pan, and she laughed as she said:

"What the dear girl says is true. Your brother is indeed still a bit young and unmarried; once he gets older, it'll be fine!"

"I just heard from your aunt that your uncle's side may have a big opportunity; then we could see if he can help promote your brother."

"We don't need him to be made a marquis and general like Jing Ge'er; even obtaining a substantive fifth- or sixth-rank military post would be fine."

"When Jing Ge'er first joined the army, his grandmother merely recommended him for an eighth-rank post; now, after over two years, he has become a prominent court official."

"You also know your brother doesn't like studying, but his physique is still decent…"

As Xue's aunt said this, she seemed to imagine Xue Pan's future official grandeur, and the smile on her face could not be contained.

Baichai's pretty face froze: "……"

"My brother going to become a military officer?"

She didn't know what to say for a moment.

Xue's aunt continued:

"Our family's business cannot rely solely on your brother; we must think of another way."

"Dear girl, you say, in a few days we could invite Jing Ge'er as a host and discuss this matter with him?"

"We won't let him help for nothing; when the time comes, we'll send him one or two fine items from our shop as a token of thanks."

Baichai, having just washed her hands under Ying Er's attendance, approached Aunt Xue and said seriously:

"Mom, this won't work; don't even think about it!"

Aunt Xue was startled and, somewhat puzzled, asked, "Why is it not possible?"

Baichai lightly parting her red lips, said slowly:

"Mom! We and Third Brother are neither kin nor close friends; merely staying as guests in the mansion already burdens them, and now you ask him to audit our accounts—what kind of talk is that!"

"Moreover, Third Brother is a high‑ranking court official, occupied daily with military and state affairs; how could we have the decency to trouble him with the petty matters of our trading house?"

"You see, he is so busy that he hasn't even had time to return home; in over two months this is his first return to the residence, and if we speak up now, it would seem terribly ill‑mannered…"

Baichai had originally considered asking Jia Jing to help audit the accounts, but after her encounter with Jia Jing in Daiyu's small courtyard, she realized it was inappropriate.

Earlier, Xiang Yun, invoking the name of all the sisters, pleaded several times to have Jia Jing attend one of their poetry gatherings, but Jia Jing's official duties kept him from fulfilling the request.

Even knowing that attending a poetry gathering would only take an hour or two, Jia Jing still said he might not have the time.

Let alone auditing accounts, which is time‑consuming, labor‑intensive, and unappreciated.

Moreover, the poem just now wrote, "With feeble strength bearing heavy responsibilities, the spirit grows weary over time; even if I exhaust my waning vigor, I cannot sustain it."

If we bother him now, doesn't that show how thoughtless we are!

Baichai thought, took that sheet of paper from the desk, handed it to Aunt Xue and said:

"Mom! Take a look at this!"