Chương 396: Dong Bai Arrives in Hejian

Hejian Prefecture, the residence of the Marquis of Jiedu Pavilion.

The house wasn't big, but it was kept clean and tidy.

There is an old locust tree in the courtyard, which was planted by Empress Dowager Dong and Liu Chang, the father of the late Emperor Liu Hong.

Now it has grown into a towering tree, its canopy blocking out the sun and casting a dense shade over the ground.

Besides copying scriptures in the Buddhist hall every day, Empress Dowager Dong would sit under this old locust tree, watching the fallen leaves accumulate layer upon layer on the blue brick ground.

She was accompanied by her old maid who had followed her back here years ago, as well as several loyal old servants.

Life was leisurely, but also lonely.

That afternoon, she was dozing under a tree, and the prayer beads in her hand were about to slip off.

The gatekeeper suddenly rushed in, his voice low and menacing: "Empress Dowager, two people have arrived outside the residence, a carriage driver and a young woman. They say... they say they're from Luoyang, carrying a token from the Prince of Yan, and request an audience with you."

Empress Dowager Dong paused abruptly in her hand holding the Buddhist prayer beads.

Empress Dowager Dong paused abruptly, her hands holding Buddhist prayer beads, and she snapped back to reality.

She sat up straight, her voice flat, revealing neither joy nor anger: "Let them in."

Before long, the two were led into the courtyard.

The man in front was dressed in ordinary short brown clothes, looking like a coachman, but he stood up straight and had sharp eyes, clearly not an ordinary person.

He bowed to Empress Dowager Dong and said respectfully:

"Greetings, Empress Dowager. I have come here on the orders of the Prince of Yan to escort Dong Zhuo's granddaughter, Dong Bai! His Highness the Prince of Yan has instructed the Empress Dowager to take care of Dong Bai."

Dong Zhuo.

She had heard this name countless times over the years.

Back then, he entered Luoyang under the banner of "avenging Empress Dowager Dong," deposed Liu Bian, installed Liu Xie, and turned the entire Han Dynasty upside down. He also bound her, the Empress Dowager who had already lost power, tightly to his war chariot, making her "the paternal aunt of the traitor Dong" in the mouths of the people.

She hated him for using her name to commit treason, but she also had to admit that Dong Zhuo had done her a good thing by deposing Liu Bian and installing Liu Xie in his place.

She didn't like Liu Bian; Liu Xie was someone she had raised herself, and he was clever and quick-witted, winning her heart.

But what good did it do? Dong Zhuo ultimately brought chaos to the country and harmed the people.

Empress Dowager Dong's gaze passed over the man and landed on the little girl behind him.

She looked no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, thin and small, dressed in plain clothes, with her hair simply tied in a bun.

Her hands gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning bluish-white.

Upon seeing Empress Dowager Dong sitting upright in the corridor, she trembled almost imperceptibly, and then knelt down respectfully.

With his forehead pressed against the cold bluestone slab, he held his breath very softly and dared not utter a single word.

Empress Dowager Dong scrutinized her for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"What's your name?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried the oppressive aura of someone who had long held a superior position, striking the little girl's back.

Dong Bai's body trembled again, and she spoke softly, her voice trembling with tears, yet her words were clear:

"Dong Bai greets the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Dong remained silent.

She just stared at Dong Bai kneeling on the ground.

This child doesn't look much like her lawless grandfather.

Her features bore a resemblance to the daughter of the Dong family she had seen in her youth—gentle and kind, making one's heart soften at first glance.

Empress Dowager Dong recalled her entire life.

He spent his whole life fighting for power and battling with people.

From Hejian to Luoyang, from the Lady to the Empress Dowager, and from the Empress Dowager to the Grand Empress Dowager.

I've experienced glory, despair, triumph, and disappointment.

In the end, his son died, his grandson was crippled, and he was all alone in this old house, with no one to confide in.

What difference does it make whether one is alive or dead, living in this empty mansion?

She slowly raised her hand, her voice tinged with weariness, yet carrying an undeniable authority:

"Clean up the west wing and make sure it's spotless. It'll be for my grandniece to live in."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Dong Bai, and said, word by word:

"From this day forward, there is no granddaughter of Dong Zhuo in this mansion. There is only a distant grandniece of my Hejian Dong clan."

Dong Bai suddenly raised his head.

It took me several breaths to realize what was happening.

She kowtowed three times to Empress Dowager Dong, her forehead striking the bluestone slab with a loud thud.

"Niece... niece will remember! Thank you, Grandmother!"

Empress Dowager Dong waved her hand, signaling someone to take her to rest.

Dong Bai stood up and followed the maid toward the west courtyard.

As she reached the courtyard gate, she glanced back and saw Empress Dowager Dong still sitting under the old locust tree, the afterglow of the setting sun casting a golden glow on her white hair.

She suddenly realized that this seemingly cold old woman might not be so scary after all.

...

Dong Bai thus remained at the residence of the Marquis of Jieduting.

She was extremely sensible and also extremely careful.

Every day before dawn, she would get up, wash and dress neatly, and go to Empress Dowager Dong's courtyard to pay her respects.

Standing at the door, she bowed respectfully and said softly, "Good morning, Grandmother."

She was always busy, helping the old maid clean the courtyard and tidy up the Buddhist hall.

Empress Dowager Dong was initially very cold towards her.

She didn't ask much about Dong Bai's past, nor did she talk to her much. She simply had her follow her to read, write, and learn needlework.

She watched Dong Bai do everything, neither praising nor scolding him, occasionally offering a few pointers in a calm tone.

Dong Bai dared not be lazy and studied diligently, writing characters stroke by stroke and embroidering flowers stitch by stitch.

Her handwriting was neat and her embroidery was quite good. When Empress Dowager Dong looked at it, she simply nodded and said, "Not bad."

The days passed by.

Gradually, Empress Dowager Dong discovered that this child was truly well-behaved.

It's not the kind of obedience that's feigned; it's gentleness in one's bones.

She was the complete opposite of her headstrong grandfather.

One day, Dong Bai was watering flowers in the courtyard when he accidentally spilled water on Empress Dowager Dong's Buddhist scriptures.

She was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she kept apologizing.

Seeing her panicked state, Empress Dowager Dong suddenly softened.

"It's alright." Empress Dowager Dong's voice was unusually gentle.

"It's just a book of scriptures; it can be dried in the sun."

Dong Bai raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes, but she held them back and whispered, "Thank you, Grandmother."

From that day on, the two of them gradually grew closer.

Empress Dowager Dong would teach Dong Bai to read the Book of Poetry in the afternoon, her voice low and deep, reciting each word slowly.

......

She would teach her to play the piano in the evening.

That was the tune Liu Hong taught her years ago; the melody was simple, yet it carried a faint sadness.

Dong Bai studied diligently, and Empress Dowager Dong taught her patiently, occasionally praising her for being "quick-witted."

She would tell her stories of Hejian, about the days she and Liu Chang spent in this house, living a simple but peaceful life.

When she first went to Luoyang, Liu Hong was still a child. He clung to her every day, afraid that she would be mistreated in the palace.

As she spoke, her eyes would redden, but she never let the tears fall.