Bai Peilan

Biodata

Background / History

Bai Peilan descends from military founders who helped the late emperor conquer the realm. The family’s hereditary title gradually declined to an earldom, with no outstanding talent emerging in later generations. In recognition of the family’s ancestral loyalty, the reigning empress appointed Bai Peilan Chancellor of the Imperial Academy 2.

Her first husband died while their daughter, Bai Mo, was young. Bai Peilan subsequently married Madam Chen, a man from a modest family, and entrusted Bai Mo’s upbringing to him. Madam Chen deliberately warped the girl’s character, while his own daughter, Bai Yuanshuang, acquired a favorable reputation in the Capital 2.

Despite holding an academic office, Bai Peilan struggled to persuade Bai Mo to study. Her beloved eldest daughter’s illiteracy embarrassed her, and earlier tutors had reportedly been beaten and driven away 7 10.

Personality

Bai Peilan is openly affectionate and strongly partial to Bai Mo. She readily defends her daughter against criticism, praises her intelligence despite her reputation as a wastrel, and abandons intended reprimands when faced with her smiling or affectionate behavior. Bai Mo, accustomed to cruelty during the apocalypse, finds this genuine concern unusually precious 3 6 15 22.

Her affection often exceeds her judgment. She repeatedly interprets Bai Mo’s dealings with Shen Qing as courtship and initially values his tutoring chiefly as an opportunity to secure him as a son-in-law. She also underestimates Madam Chen’s malice, asking Bai Mo to overlook his conduct and failing to recognize the barbs concealed in his congratulations 18 37.

Although indulgent about her daughter’s romantic life, she retains strict prejudices about family status and lineage. She is willing to accommodate a courtesan as Bai Mo’s bedchamber attendant but insists that he must never have children. Conversely, when Xiao Muzhi appears pressured into marriage after public intimacy, she explicitly offers to protect his reputation without requiring him to marry 15 44.

Abilities & Skills

Scholarship and Examination Guidance

Bai Peilan holds the jinshi qualification and understands the dynasty’s examination system, though she describes her own abilities as ordinary 15.

• Explains the academy, provincial, metropolitan, and palace examinations, including special provisions for noblewomen 15.
• Agrees to recommend Bai Mo for the academy examination 19.
• Hires Teacher Zhang to teach Bai Mo, although Madam Chen drives the tutor away before lessons begin 17.

Noble Authority and Connections

Her title and official position give her access to court and resources for arranging her daughter’s education and marriage 2 3.

• Secures an invitation for Shen Qing through her elder brother, the principal husband of the vice minister of war 3.
• Controls household rewards, granting every servant two months’ wages after Bai Mo places first in the academy examination 37.
• Lacks close connections to officials of the Grand Preceptor’s rank or to imperial relatives, prompting her to seek help from her brother and sister-in-law 22.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Imperial iron certificate — A Bai family heirloom bestowed by the founding emperor. Bai Peilan offers to present it to the empress in exchange for an imperial decree granting Bai Mo’s marriage to Shen Qing; Bai Mo initially declines 6. Bai Peilan later reiterates this as a fallback if an ordinary proposal cannot be arranged 22.

Relationships

• Bai Mo — Eldest daughter and the chief object of her indulgence. Bai Peilan supports her studies, celebrates her examination success, and takes responsibility for arranging her marriage 3 22 37 45.
• Bai Yuanshuang — Younger daughter, whose welfare she also discusses with affection. She questions Yuanshuang when the girl’s resentment toward Bai Mo becomes apparent during a family meeting 15 24.
• Madam Chen — Second husband. She trusts his outward gentleness and remains reluctant to humiliate him, even after learning that he interfered with Bai Mo’s tutor 18 22 24.
• Late first husband — Remembered with enduring affection. Bai Mo’s examination success makes her reflect that he would have been comforted by their daughter’s achievement 3 37.
• Bai Jingyao — Elder brother and an active supporter of Bai Mo. He repeatedly scolds Bai Peilan for her poor judgment and directs practical matters such as dowry recovery and betrothal preparations 25 38 43 44.
• Tang Xin — Sister-in-law and vice minister of war. She helps advance Bai Mo’s proposed marriage by bringing Elder Xiao to act as proposal envoy 24.
• Shen Qing — Bai Mo’s teacher and intended husband. Bai Peilan admires his talent and suitability, then reacts angrily when told he threatened his life rather than marry her daughter 18 43.
• Xiao Muzhi — Bai Mo’s eventual fiancé. After first checking that he is not being coerced, Bai Peilan supports the match and helps arrange the betrothal and wedding residence 44 45 49.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Supporting Bai Mo’s New Direction

• Gives Bai Mo two hundred taels and arranges her requested meeting with Shen Qing, mistakenly assuming she intends to pursue him romantically 3.
• Confronts Bai Mo over a court accusation that she redeemed and brought home a courtesan; Bai Mo explains that she was helping Yun Wu obtain ginseng for his adoptive mother 14.
• Supports Bai Mo’s plan to study and sit the academy examination, while privately doubting that one month’s preparation will be enough 15 19 22.

Examination and Shen Family Proposal

• Prepares Bai Mo’s examination supplies and promises to escort her, but oversleeps after Madam Chen keeps her awake until the fifth watch. Bai Mo leaves with her servants instead 22.
• Works with Bai Jingyao and Tang Xin to arrange a prestigious proposal envoy for the Shen family match 24.
• Rushes home from court upon hearing that Bai Mo ranked first, rewards the announcement messengers, and orders a household-wide celebration 36 37.

Xiao Family Betrothal

• Witnesses Bai Mo’s drunken intimacy with Xiao Muzhi and learns that the Shen family match has failed. She blames her own inadequacy for her daughter’s rejection 43.
• Offers Xiao Muzhi a way out of marriage without damage to his reputation, then supports the match once the families agree to consider it 44.
• Begins betrothal preparations after Bai Mo accepts Xiao Muzhi. Later, she joins the arrangements to prepare their residence, exchange birth records, consult the temple for an auspicious date, and hold the wedding in the ninth month 45 49.

Notable Quotes

“If it can secure a happy marriage for my child, that would make a fine story.” 6

“Young Master Xiao, do you think that because you've had intimate contact, you can only marry my unfilial daughter? If you're unwilling, please don't force yourself. We can act as though today never happened, and we certainly won't damage your reputation.” 44