Chapter 8: The Palace Directly Demands People
One day, Bai Lian had just returned from martial arts practice at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Her forehead was still covered in sweat, and she hadn't changed out of her neat and tidy outfit when Qingmei, who was waiting in the courtyard, gently called out to her.
“Miss,” Qingmei curtsied, her expression somewhat solemn, “Madam requests your presence.”
Bai Lian's heart skipped a beat. Upon seeing Qing Mei's expression, the exhilaration she felt in the training ground vanished instantly, and her steps became heavy.
She followed Qingmei silently toward the main courtyard, her brows furrowing unconsciously.
The breeze under the corridor carried the warmth of early summer, brushing against her cheeks, which were slightly flushed from practicing martial arts, but it could not dispel the gloom in her heart.
The number of guests coming and going in the mansion has increased significantly in the past few days, and even she, a young lady from a secluded family, has noticed the unusual situation.
She had sent Cuizhu to investigate, and the glances Cuizhu gave her, whether overt or covert, and the hesitant expressions, were probably all related to what she was speculating about...
The eldest granddaughter, Rao'er, had been waiting in the room for a long time. When she saw her daughter push the door open and enter, she quickly smoothed her hair, tried her best to put on a gentle smile, and hid a hint of worry.
"Mother!" Bai Lian hurriedly sat down on the embroidered stool beside her mother, grabbing her arm tightly, her voice unusually anxious, "Lian'er doesn't want to get married! Your daughter wants to spend more time with you, Father and Mother!"
Changsun Rao'er was taken aback by her daughter's blunt words, and her forced smile instantly crumbled. She gently patted Bailian's hand, her voice choked with sobs, "Mother... Mother also can't bear to let you marry..." Before she could finish speaking, her eyes were already brimming with tears.
"Mother, please don't cry," Bai Lian's heart softened upon seeing this, and she quickly softened her voice, "I wanted to ask..."
She carefully chose her words, trying to make the topic less heavy, "Which young master has come to propose marriage this time?"
She knew that ever since that serious illness, her mother had been constantly worried about her safety and had become exceptionally sensitive. She had to be careful with her words so as not to hurt her mother's feelings.
Qingmei, who was standing nearby, handed over a handkerchief. Changsun Rao'er wiped away her tears and sighed, "It's not just one family... This time, three families came in total."
Seeing her daughter's bewildered expression, she continued, "Don't worry about which family it is. Because of your illness, the marriage was delayed for two years. But now, among all the eligible young ladies in the capital, you're the only one still unmarried." She paused, took her daughter's hand, and her tone became exceptionally serious: "But Lian'er, you know, your father and I have always respected your own choices."
"But Mother, I really... I really haven't met anyone I like." Bai Lian's voice carried a hint of grievance. She spent her days practicing martial arts and reading; how could she have time to get to know any young masters?
"How could your mother bear to see you marry..." Changsun Rao'er gently stroked her daughter's hair, finally voicing her deepest worry, "But after His Highness the Crown Prince's coming-of-age ceremony in six days, he'll be taking a concubine. Originally, your father wanted to avoid it if possible, but unexpectedly, the palace has come directly to demand her..."
Bai Lian was startled. Oh, right, how could she have forgotten this detail?
Seeing Bai Lian's dazed expression, Changsun Rao'er continued, "Your father hasn't agreed yet, so he's thinking that if you're willing to marry a young master from a certain family, we should probably avoid going to Fengwu City."
Bai Lian was overwhelmed with mixed feelings upon hearing this. Nowadays, there were many officials in the court who tried every means to send their daughters into the palace, all for the power and influence of being related to the imperial family. But her parents only wished for her peace and happiness, and cared nothing for the wealth and glory that were within their grasp.
No matter how high her hopes, the imperial decree could not be disobeyed. As the daughter of the prime minister, could she escape for a time, or hide forever?
-
Inside the Qinglin Pavilion in the Bai Mansion Garden, Bai Moyuan was playing chess with his eldest son, Bai Ziyuan.
"Yuan'er, this is the second time you've lost to your father today." Bai Moyuan held his son's hand, deep in thought, his gaze fixed on his son's distracted face. "There's a limit to being absent-minded."
Bai Ziyuan paused, his hand holding the chess piece he had been holding. After much deliberation, he finally couldn't help but ask, "Father, that matter... are you really going to never tell Lian'er about it?"
"...Just say what you want to say, why beat around the bush?" Bai Moyuan frowned.
"Just now, the Song and Rong families sent matchmakers again, and together with the Chen family this morning, three families have come to visit today." Bai Ziyuan's voice was low. "A few days ago, when Prince Xuanyu was chatting with me, he kept inquiring about Lian'er, seemingly unintentionally. I'm worried..."
Seeing his eldest son's hesitant manner, Bai Moyuan's anger flared. Marrying off his daughter was already troublesome enough! He interrupted sharply, "Lian'er will have to marry sooner or later. What? You, as her older brother, are you so reluctant to let her go?"
"...The son just didn't want his sister to get married in a daze and never know who she was..." Bai Ziyuan's voice grew softer and softer, and he couldn't bring himself to say the last few words.
"Ha!" Bai Moyuan sneered. "Lian'er is the apple of your mother's and my eye, and we've always respected her choices. Tell me, how could she be so confused?" He changed the subject: "But you, you're past twenty, yet I've never heard you mention marriage. It's good to establish yourself first before starting a family, but as the only son of the Bai family, this matter shouldn't be delayed any longer!"
"I understand, son," Bai Ziyuan replied, head bowed, but he remained fixated on the previous topic, "So, did they still refuse the matchmakers from the three prefectures as usual?"
"No rush, let's hear what Lian'er has to say tomorrow." Bai Moyuan placed a piece on the board, his tone softening. "You don't need to overthink it."
At this point, the game had become utterly boring.
Bai Moyuan gazed at his son's worried face for a long time, finally shook his head, sighed deeply, and was filled with mixed feelings.
-
Since returning to Qinglian Pavilion, Bai Lian has remained silent.
Cuizhu watched with heartache, quietly prepared warm tea and snacks, and then tiptoed out, carefully closing the door behind her.
Sometimes, she truly wished that her mistress could always be this carefree and happy, but she also understood that her mistress was ultimately not an ordinary family's daughter...
The pavilion was quiet, with only the rustling of bamboo leaves outside the window.
Bai Lian sat alone by the window, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. She knew perfectly well why she had become the "target of everyone's criticism."
Besides her illustrious family background, she knew she possessed qualities that would make countless people envious.
Ever since that one glance at Chuanyin Temple, her reputation as "the most beautiful woman in Luoyang" has spread like wildfire.
Which of those families who came to propose marriage wasn't after his good looks?
But little did they know that beneath this outward appearance lay a photographic memory. She could memorize obscure and difficult classics after only a few readings; she could execute complex etiquette and rules flawlessly after just one glance.
But how important are these talents in the eyes of those aristocratic families who want to bring glory to their lineage?
Perhaps it can't compare to her status as the only granddaughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
After all, the support of the Changsun clan carries significant weight in the imperial court. Marrying her would be equivalent to gaining the support of both the Bai and Changsun families, two major powers.
Such a marriage alliance would be an irresistible temptation for any family aspiring to make a mark in the imperial court.
Thinking of this, Bai Lian gave a bitter smile. She felt like a precious gem waiting to be sold, with everyone calculating how much profit she could bring. Even those who claimed to admire her talent and character were only harboring ambitions for power.
Whether it was high-ranking officials or members of the royal family, Bai Lian pondered the question with great difficulty.
On one hand, she understood her parents' concerns. When Empress Shangguan Yun was young, she had longed for her father, but when her love was unrequited, she harbored resentment towards the Bai family. She had heard that Empress Shangguan Yun was arrogant and ruthless even before she was married... If she were to enter the palace, her parents would surely worry day and night.
On the other hand, the Bai family is not particularly large now and has never been fond of currying favor with the powerful. The family has maintained its current prestige and status entirely because of the father's power in the court and the support of his maternal grandfather's Changsun family.
The rise and fall of a family depends on every member. And what do her own girlish thoughts matter in the face of such a momentous event?
She had long understood that men like her father, who devoted their entire lives to only one person and never took concubines, were extremely rare. She did not force herself to pursue such matters of love and affection, and she had long since given up on that idea.
Since she is going to get married eventually, as a daughter of the Bai family, why not choose the path that can best protect the family rather than marrying into an ordinary official's family?
At least, she can use this marriage to solidify her family's position and allow her parents to enjoy their later years in peace.
Thinking of this, Bai Lian couldn't help but sigh. It seemed that these carefree days of being able to do whatever she wanted and live only for herself... were finally coming to an end.
-
The next day, when the whole family gathered in the flower hall, Bai Lian calmly announced her decision: "Father, Mother, your daughter is willing to enter the palace to participate in the selection."
After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
The teacup in Changsun Rao'er's hand shattered on the ground with a "crash," shards of porcelain scattering everywhere. She stared at her daughter in disbelief, her voice trembling, "Lian'er, do you know what you're saying? That deep palace…"
"I know," Bai Lian interrupted her mother, her gaze resolute. "Precisely because I know, that's why I must do this."
Bai Moyuan looked deeply at his daughter for a long time before saying, "Lian'er, you don't need to force yourself. I have cultivated my position in the court for many years and can still protect you."
"Father," Bai Lian smiled slightly, a smile that held a maturity beyond her years, "precisely because you have cultivated your influence in the court for so many years, I cannot bear to trouble you. Besides..." Her gaze swept over her parents' worried faces, "I also want to do something for this family."
She saw reluctance in her mother's eyes and read deep helplessness on her father's face.
However, when she looked at Bai Ziyuan, she couldn't understand the expression on his face. Bai Lian didn't understand why her brother had such a heartbroken look on his face.
"Lian'er," Bai Ziyuan finally spoke, "have you thought this through? Once you step through the palace gates, there's no turning back."
"Don't worry, brother," Bai Lian said softly, "Lian'er never does anything she'll regret."
A note from the author:
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