“The dishes at Sanju Tower in the capital are the most novel. Their pastries are no worse than those from the imperial kitchen, and the business is extremely good.”
Madam Shi held the well-behaved Ning Zhiyi in her arms and said to Bai Lian, “I had someone reserve a place several days ago. Otherwise, if we came normally, we might not even get a seat.”
Zhiyi sat on Madam Shi’s lap, fascinated by everything in the capital. Hearing the adults talking, he hugged Madam Shi’s arm and asked, “Does Sanju Tower have yam cakes and crab-roe pastries?”
Madam Shi tapped the tip of his nose. Hearing his soft, sweet voice delighted her beyond measure. “Of course they do!”
Zhiyi said happily, “Then can Zhiyi eat two yam cakes that Little Daddy likes and two crab-roe pastries that Big Daddy likes?”
Madam Shi laughed at his words. “Of course you can. Later we will also bring some crab-roe pastries back for Big Daddy. When Daddy comes home, he can eat them.”
Zhiyi clapped his hands. “Okay!”
The carriage stopped beside a restaurant on the busiest street in the outer city of the capital. The three of them entered together.
“Xiahe Pavilion. Reserved in advance.”
A servant went ahead to speak with the attendants, and soon a waiter enthusiastically came to lead the guests upstairs.
Bai Lian looked at Madam Shi holding Zhiyi. The little fellow quietly wrapped one arm around her shoulder, his eyes already wandering curiously around the elegant and luxurious restaurant.
“Mother, let me hold Zhiyi. This little one has grown heavier.”
He was worried because Madam Shi’s health was not very good, and the child might be too heavy.
But Madam Shi said, “Zhiyi has gained a little weight, but he is not heavy. Holding him is just right, and besides, it is only a few steps upstairs.”
Bai Lian could only smile helplessly. Once someone held this child in their arms, it was very hard for them to bear putting him down again.
Madam Shi and Master Shi both doted on him terribly.
Thinking that Madam Shi had not seen Zhiyi for a long time, Bai Lian did not insist further.
Walking behind them, Bai Lian looked around at the restaurant’s furnishings.
“Young Master, these are the salted egg yolk pastries you like most. Try them—they are still warm.”
“I have no appetite.”
Hearing the arrogant voice, Bai Lian felt it sounded somewhat familiar. He thought to himself that if the person had no appetite, why come here at all?
Just as he followed the sound and looked over, the person on the other side happened to look at him as well.
Their eyes met, and Bai Lian paused in surprise.
“Bai Lian, what is it? Come over quickly.”
“Daddy.”
Seeing that Bai Lian had not followed, Madam Shi turned around and glanced at him. Noticing that he was looking at someone across the hall, she asked, “An old acquaintance?”
The person seated opposite, upon seeing Madam Shi, set aside his arrogance, stood up, and bowed. “Greetings, Madam Shi.”
Madam Shi smiled and nodded. Then she said to Zhiyi in her arms, “Your Little Daddy has something to discuss. Shall we go in first?”
“Okay.” Zhiyi obediently answered, then looked at Bai Lian. “Daddy, come quickly, or all the yam cakes will belong to me.”
Bai Lian laughed. “Alright. Go on ahead.”
Watching the two leave, Bai Lian looked across again. The man who had stood to greet him was also looking over.
Though no invitation had been given and no words exchanged, Bai Lian walked over with silent understanding.
“I never expected to see Young Master Bian again.”
Bian Daiyun looked at the young man before him. Only a few years had passed, yet it felt like another lifetime. Bai Lian’s appearance had not changed, but he now carried a much greater air of wealth and status.
If one did not know that he had once been merely a small physician, no one would connect such a graceful and composed young man—who seemed like he came from a noble family—with that past.
From the first time Bian Daiyun met Bai Lian, he had felt that although they were about the same age, Bai Lian possessed a calmness he himself did not have.
“I also never thought I would see Doctor Jiang again in this lifetime.”
Hearing that title, Bai Lian suddenly laughed. No one had called him that for two years, and hearing it again now felt strangely warm.
“The one just now was your child?”
Bai Lian nodded.
Bian Daiyun sincerely said, “A very lovely child.”
“Is he your child with Ning Muyan?”
Bai Lian gave a soft acknowledgment.
Bian Daiyun had not heard the news from others. It was simply because the child looked very much like Ning Muyan.
He suddenly laughed, recalling what Bai Lian had said the last time they met in the prefectural city years ago.
Afterward he had thought it absurd. Jiang Bai Lian had clearly been joking and flattering himself, yet he had foolishly listened to those nonsensical words at the time.
Now, years later, meeting again, Bian Daiyun suddenly found himself almost believing those words.
“Yes. We have been married for several years.”
These years, Bai Lian and Ning Muyan had lived very well. He had naturally stopped paying attention to news about people from the past. Now that he encountered Bian Daiyun in the capital, he asked politely, “And you, Young Master Bian? Have you achieved your wish?”
“I once thought it was impossible. But meeting you today makes me feel there might still be a turning point.”
Bai Lian smiled slightly. “Then I wish that your wish will come true.”
“Daddy!”
Hearing little Zhiyi’s voice, Bai Lian stood and nodded to Bian Daiyun in farewell before heading into the private room.
On the low table were more than ten plates of pastries and snacks. Little Zhiyi knelt on a soft cushion, crawling about, tasting each dish and even feeding some to his grandmother.
“Daddy, come sit! Everything is delicious.”
Bai Lian rubbed the little fellow’s soft hair. “Alright.”
“You know Bian Daiyun?” Madam Shi asked.
“Yes. Back when we were in the prefectural city, I treated Young Master Bian.”
“He did live in the prefectural city for a time. But later, because Consort Ling entered the capital, Madam Bian has been quite active these past few years. I fear there may be changes in the capital. In the future, you should have less contact with him.”
Hearing this, Bai Lian’s brows furrowed slightly. “We only met by chance to begin with. We are not close.”
“That is good then.”
When they returned home, Ning Muyan had already come back to the residence.
Zhiyi was very happy to see his father. He ran over first, hugged Ning Muyan’s leg, and was promptly lifted into his arms.
“We brought crab-roe pastries back for Daddy. Zhiyi suggested it!”
Ning Muyan kissed the child’s cheek. “Then Daddy will go inside and eat them.”
Watching the family of three, Madam Shi smiled. “I am tired after going out for a while. I will go rest. The three of you enjoy yourselves.”
Seeing his grandmother returning to her courtyard, Zhiyi quickly waved his chubby little hand.
Ning Muyan carried the child back to their own courtyard. Zhiyi fed his father several bites of pastry and then some tea. After bustling about for a while, he climbed into Ning Muyan’s arms, rubbed against his chest, and soon fell asleep.
“This child woke up early this morning. After playing all morning, it is no wonder he is tired.”
Ning Muyan gently patted the child’s back. After holding him for a while and waiting until he was deeply asleep, he carefully laid him on the bed.
Bai Lian tucked the blanket around Zhiyi and also kissed the soft little cheek.
“He has been pampered so much. What will happen if he gets a younger brother or sister?”
As he spoke, Bai Lian unconsciously touched his flat abdomen.
Seeing the gesture, Ning Muyan’s expression shifted slightly. He took Bai Lian’s hand. “You are pregnant?”
Bai Lian nodded.
Recently he had been unusually lethargic. Even when the child woke this morning, he had still been sleeping. That was when he realized something was different with his body.
There was no need to summon a physician. He understood his own body well enough, especially after having already given birth to Zhiyi.
When Ning Muyan received the confirmation, he could not hide his smile. Suddenly he lifted Bai Lian into his arms, startling him.
Bai Lian widened his eyes. “What are you doing? Put me down! What kind of behavior is this?”
“With such happy news, you will not even let me celebrate once?”
Seeing Ning Muyan in such high spirits, Bai Lian also curved his lips into a smile.
“Alright, it is not the first time you have become a father.” Bai Lian patted Ning Muyan’s shoulder. “What exactly did you discuss when you went to see His Majesty today?”
At the mention of this, Ning Muyan set him down, though he did not release him and still held him close.
“It was roughly what my teacher wrote in his letter. Years ago I requested permission to establish the academy, and now it has produced results. His Majesty is very pleased. His meaning is that since the students have already begun to serve the court, when will I return to official service? If this was meant as training, these years should be enough.”
Bai Lian raised his eyebrows. “What position does His Majesty want you to take?”
“The Imperial Academy first.”
“Did you agree?”
Ning Muyan shook his head. “If I leave, what will happen to the academy?”
“This time I did not agree, but His Majesty did not force the matter. Besides granting rewards, he also mentioned that the Seventh Prince had been stationed at the frontier since childhood and had not studied proper rites. So he wishes to send the Seventh Prince to study at the academy.”
Ning Muyan sighed. “It seems the court may be changing.”
“But do not worry. Affairs at court will not affect us. You only need to focus on nurturing the pregnancy.”
Bai Lian nodded.
“After resting a few days, we will return to the prefectural city.”
As expected, three months after Ning Muyan and Bai Lian returned with Zhiyi, news came from the capital that the Bian family had fallen from power.
After Madam Bian entered the capital, she and Consort Ling had been searching for a son-in-law. Several attempts failed to produce a suitable match. Consort Ling, favored by the emperor, boldly set her sights on the Zhen’guo General’s mansion, hoping to arrange a marriage for the young general who already had military merit.
However, the legitimate son of the general’s household already had someone he loved—the daughter of a duke’s family. The two were mutually devoted and intended to marry. Consort Ling tried to seize the match by relying on imperial favor, but the duke’s family was not easy to bully.
Schemes and struggles followed. Soon rumors spread through the capital that the Bian family intended to support a young prince in seizing power. Perhaps those rumors also reached the emperor’s ears.
The emperor said nothing. Rewards and favor remained unchanged, but he never approved Consort Ling’s marriage proposal.
The Bian family had long been careless, leaving many weaknesses for others to grasp. Within a few months, the emperor—who had appeared calm all along—finally acted and dealt with them all at once.
Consort Ling was stripped of her title and was never summoned again. Lord Bian was demoted three times and sent back to a provincial post. Families that rose and fell this quickly were common in the capital. People talked about it for a short time, and then it passed.
From then on, no one mentioned it again. The once-powerful Bian family had truly declined.
Bai Lian sighed.
The entire Bian household had already returned to their hometown.
“Bian Daiyun was delayed for so many years. Now he is no longer young. He failed to secure a prestigious marriage and has returned to a small place.”
Ning Muyan only smiled and said nothing.
Bai Lian thought that perhaps this was not bad. Though they had lost wealth and power, at least their lives were spared. Perhaps this was the turning point for Bian Daiyun and Yi Lingxiao.
“In the end, none of it matters.” Ning Muyan wrapped an arm around Bai Lian’s waist and gently touched his already visible belly. “The most important thing now is that you nurture the pregnancy well.”
Bai Lian leaned against Ning Muyan’s chest. Outside the window, little Zhiyi was kicking a shuttlecock together with a maid.
The late summer wind was cool, stirring the lush greenery throughout the courtyard.
The child’s laughter rang bright and carefree.
Perhaps this was what peaceful years and a stable life truly meant.