Chapter 723: Chapter 720: The Reason_1
“How about letting Tingzhen go with the Madam? Cousin shouldn’t be without soone by her side. I want to go take care of my cousin…” Dong Tingfang hurriedly said.
“Cousin Tingfang, don’t worry, my eldest sister has to take care of her. We sisters still have so private words that haven’t been said yet, so I must go over! You don’t need to trouble yourself, cousin Tingfang.” Bai Jinxiu smiled lightly and, not giving Dong Tingfang another chance to speak, saluted Mrs. Liu before saying, “Mother, cousin… I’m going to Qinghui Courtyard first!”
“Go ahead!” Mrs. Liu gently held Dong Tingzhen and Dong Tingfang’s hands. “I hear the girls of the Dong family are good cooks. I’m planning to make a blood-replenishing dicinal dish for Kid, but it always has a fishy taste that I can’t get rid of. You can help with this!”
As Bai Jinxiu walked away, Dong Tingfang’s face felt hot. Mrs. Liu and Bai Jinxiu were guarding against her… how could she not know?
She had indeed thought that her relationship with Bai Qingyan was usually good. Now that Bai Qingyan held the esteed position of a Princess, if Bai Qingyan could speak up, the arranged marriage could definitely be canceled.
Currently, the people of the Fu family’s main branch were watching her, hoping that after she married into the main branch, she could use her relationship with Bai Qingyan to help the main branch. So they eagerly wanted to marry her.
But if after she married, the Fu family’s main branch found out that no matter how well she got along with Bai Qingyan, Bai Qingyan would not help the main branch, what good could co to her?
Besides, the Fu family’s main branch heir didn’t even look at her. Last ti they were alone… she tried to win his heart, but he sternly told her to respect herself, scolding her for ruining the marriage between him and his cousin using despicable ans, causing his cousin to cry every day…
The heir of the Fu family’s main branch cared only about his cunning cousin. What happiness could she have if she married into that family?
Instead of facing endless tornt after marriage, it was better to resolve it now. But no one at ho listened to her. Her father already looked down on these concubine-born children. Her mother, Mrs. Song, not being her biological mother, naturally did not consider her feelings. She was afraid she would ruin the Dong family’s reputation, which would affect her two biological daughters’ marriages and insisted she must marry because she had been held!
When Tingzhen had an affair with King Liang, why didn’t Mrs. Song worry about Tingzhen ruining the Dong family’s reputation? Why did she ask Bai Qingyan to take her to Shuoyang… wasn’t it because Tingzhen was her biological daughter but she was not?
No one in the family was willing to listen to her. Also… when the nanny beside her aunt said her dowry was small, she remarked that as a concubine-born daughter, it was appropriate for her dowry to be less than others! This word reached Mrs. Song’s ears, and she flew into a rage. The whole family misunderstood her, making her unable to explain.
Dong Tingfang, filled with anger and dissatisfaction, could only follow Mrs. Liu to the kitchen.
In Qinghui Courtyard, after Bai Jinxiu told Bai Qingyan about Dong Tingfang’s situation, Bai Qingyan thought for a mont and said, “No worries. Let’s hear why Tingzhen wants to cancel the engagent.”
“Does eldest sister intend to help Dong Tingfang?” Bai Jinxiu asked.
“The concubine-born daughters of the Dong family have a very difficult ti at ho. It’s not entirely a fault for her to plan for herself. As long as she can tell the truth, I will help if I can… after all, she is still a family mber.” Bai Qingyan also disliked the airs of the Fu family’s main branch’s wife, “To prevent Tingfang from doing sothing irreparable to cancel the engagent.”
In Bai Qingyan’s mory, although Dong Tingfang was narrow-minded, she was not soone who disregarded family ties. Otherwise, in her previous life… she wouldn’t have worn mourning clothes and collected the bodies of the Bai family mbers with her uncle.
No one is perfect. After all, she was still a relative. Bai Qingyan rembered the good in Dong Tingfang and was willing to lend a helping hand.
Bai Qingyan looked out of the lattice window. The evening twilight filled the sky.
The lamps under the corridors of Qinghui Courtyard were already lit. The interplay of sunset and lamplight painted the gray walls of the eastern side room and the red pillars of the long corridor a warm color.
“I wonder if the Crown Princess Consort has given birth yet.” Bai Qingyan remarked.
When she left the Crown Prince’s Mansion earlier, it was said that the Crown Princess Consort had gone into labor.
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess Consort had been hoping this child would be a boy. It was unknown if their wish would be fulfilled.
During dinner, Dong Tingzhen and Dong Tingfang ca together to Qinghui Courtyard. Tingzhen repeatedly warned Tingfang not to ntion the cancellation of the engagent in front of Bai Qingyan. If their father found out, Tingfang would definitely be punished. After Tingfang agreed, Tingzhen dared to bring her along.
“Cousin, have a taste. This is prepared by the two of us and the Second Madam. It shouldn’t be fishy.” The maid behind Tingzhen opened the black lacquered and gold-painted food box, took out a soup bowl, and placed it on the bedside table in front of Bai Qingyan. “Cousin looks better than at noon. At noon, you were so pale… you scared !”
“After taking the dicine twice, I feel a bit better!” Bai Qingyan turned her head to Bai Jinxiu, who was standing by her bed. “Jinxiu, go back and take care of Brother Wang! Qin Lang’s exam is coming up, and he needs your help.”
“It’s okay. I’ve already talked to Qin Lang. I will stay with my eldest sister tonight and return early in the morning.” Bai Jinxiu gently lifted her sleeve with one hand and opened the soup bowl for Bai Qingyan. The rising steam, accompanied by its fragrance, greeted them. Bai Jinxiu smiled and said, “It’s really not fishy. The two cousins from the Dong family certainly have great culinary skills!”
Bai Jinxiu took the spoon, “Eldest sister, let feed you…”
“Let it cool down first; it’s too hot. You can help get so snacks for Tingzhen and Tingfang. Tingzhen makes good white tea, and I’d like to try it.” Bai Qingyan glanced at Dong Tingfang, “It would be kind of Tingfang to stay and take care of .”
Dong Tingfang was a bit surprised and looked at Bai Qingyan.
Bai Jinxiu knew Bai Qingyan wanted to ask about the whole story, so she took Tingzhen and left the main room.
After Bai Qingyan dismissed the others, Dong Tingfang nervously clutched the hem of her dress with both hands and timidly looked up at Bai Qingyan, who was leaning against the bedhead, her long crow-black hair draped over her shoulders, giving off a sense of frailty.
The glass lamp on the high table illuminated Bai Qingyan’s delicate and clear features. Perhaps because of her pale complexion, her eyes appeared even darker and deeper.
“Tingfang, tell the truth. Do you not want to marry the Fu family’s main branch heir because of their misfortune?” Bai Qingyan’s voice was exceptionally gentle.
Hearing this, Dong Tingfang’s tears imdiately welled up. She knew this is what others thought.
Dong Tingfang clutched her dress hem and knelt, kowtowing to Bai Qingyan: “Cousin, I swear to God, if I refuse to marry because of the Fu family’s misfortune, may my face rot, my heart rot, and my intestines rot, and may I die a horrible death!”
“I dare not deceive you, cousin. I have been friends with Wen Juan, the cousin of the Fu family’s main branch heir, Fu Anze. She told many things about him, and I did indeed admire him! But I have never overstepped my boundaries!”
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