She secretly prepared some interesting storybooks for her Eldest Young Lady, hoping that she could read them occasionally to refresh her mind.
This might also help her Eldest Young Lady become more open-minded, making it easier for Mr. Xiao to join the Bai family.
Bai Jinzhi had already reported back to her Eldest Young Lady that the gift had been delivered. She got up and bowed to Bai Qingyan: "Eldest Sister, the gift has been delivered. I need to go back and copy books. My mother is still angry with me for leaving without notice. I need to go back and appease her..."
Bai Qingyan was left both amused and helpless. She could only nod: "Go on, go on then..."
"Eldest Sister, please rest well! If you need anything, have Sister Chun Tao call me!" Bai Jinzhi bowed with a bright smile and then left Boyun Courtyard to go back and pretend to be copying books to placate her mother.
Just as Bai Jinzhi left, Chun Tao brought a cup of hot tea to Bai Qingyan: "Eldest Young Lady, you must be tired from the journey. Nanny Tong instructed me to warm the bed before she went to check on Yingshuang. She insisted that you get some rest. Would you like to nap for a while?"
"Keep the box that Xiao Si brought here safe." Bai Qingyan sipped her tea. "Go and see if Zeng Shanru and Steward Liu have arrived. I guess Nanny Tong might have stopped them outside. If they have arrived, invite them in."
As Bai Qingyan suspected, both Zeng Shanru and Steward Liu had hurried back when they heard that the Eldest Young Lady had returned.
But Nanny Tong, worried about Bai Qingyan’s injuries from the journey, had stopped them as a matter of course.
Before Nanny Tong had left with pastries to check on Yingshuang, she had also reminded Chun Tao and the others to ensure that the Eldest Young Lady took a nap once she left.
"Eldest Young Lady, please take a nap. I’ll send for them. It might take a while." Chun Tao coaxed Bai Qingyan like a child.
"No, I’ll just doze off here for a bit. Go call them!" Bai Qingyan rubbed her temples.
Chun Tao responded and left.
Perhaps it was the comfort of being home. Bai Qingyan felt much more relaxed, propped her head up with one hand, and leaned back... soon she fell asleep.
When Chun Tao sent someone to call for Steward Liu and Zeng Shanru and they came in to report, they saw their Eldest Young Lady sleeping soundly against her pillow. Chun Tao quietly approached Bai Qingyan, tucked her in with a soft woolen blanket, and then quietly left.
Seeing the bright sun shining, Chun Tao ordered the hanging bamboo curtains under the corridor to be brought down to block the sunlight. She then respectfully greeted Steward Liu and Zeng Shanru who were standing in the courtyard: "Eldest Young Lady fell asleep leaning against her pillow. Please trouble yourselves to have tea in the side room and wait for a while. The Eldest Young Lady is injured and exhausted from the journey."
Steward Liu and Zeng Shanru were aware of Bai Qingyan’s wounds from saving the emperor. Hearing that their Eldest Young Lady had fallen asleep from exhaustion, they nodded repeatedly. Steward Liu quickly said: "Do not disturb the Eldest Young Lady. Shanru and I will have tea in the side room."
"Thank you both for your understanding." Chun Tao bowed.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress