Chapter 566
She softly said, “Sister Rong, Changlan did not mistrust you. It is precisely because he trusted you that you can understand him at this moment… So, rest assured about his fake death and departure. At that time, things were urgent… Changlan had no time to explain everything to you in detail. When he wanted to explain, Uncle had already arranged for him to fake his death in battle.”
Mrs. Cui used Bai Qingyan’s handkerchief to wipe her tears. Even though she had already understood Dong Changlan in her heart, she still pouted, “He didn’t tell me. I have something I won’t tell him either!”
Mrs. Cui gently caressed her abdomen with her hand, then stood up and gratefully bowed to Bai Qingyan, “Thank you, cousin, for telling me this. Otherwise, I would have worried myself sick and sleepless at night!”
Inside Mrs. Cui’s room, Dong Qingyue also told Mrs. Cui about Dong Changlan’s fake death.
“Next, we still have to hold a funeral for Changlan. I originally planned to hide it from you and tell you after the funeral… But I was afraid that you would be so heartbroken and fall ill, which would worry Changlan and prevent him from focusing on his tasks! So starting tomorrow, you should claim to be sick and avoid seeing guests. Otherwise, the truth might come out!” Dong Qingyue picked up the handkerchief to wipe Mrs. Cui’s tears.
Mrs. Cui snatched the handkerchief from Dong Qingyue’s hand, “As a father, how could you bear to let your son fake his death! And even handle his funeral…”
“If not for this, the fate of the Bai family’s men being annihilated would be our Dong family’s future!” Dong Qingyue, uncharacteristically patient, spoke to Mrs. Cui. He pressed her shoulders and whispered, “Our Dong family must leave a way out for ourselves. Changlan is the eldest son and grandson. These things must be done by him for me to be at ease because Changlan is our way out!”
Dong Qingyue could talk to Mrs. Cui, but not tell her everything.
If he told Mrs. Cui they were preparing to overthrow the Lin dynasty, she would likely faint from fear.
·
On September 18, General Fu Ruoxi at Anping Camp received the imperial edict to swiftly assist Dengzhou. Upon arrival, he found out that Dong Qingyue and Bai Qingyan had already recaptured Dengzhou City on the seventeenth. Thus, General Fu Ruoxi ordered the Anping Army to camp outside the city while he entered alone.
As soon as he arrived, he saw two large white lanterns with the word “Memorial” hanging at the gate of Dong Mansion, and a name banner was erected. A funeral was being held.
It was said that Dong family’s eldest son, Dong Changlan, died in the battle against Nanrong. The funeral had been delayed until Princess Bai Qingyan helped recapture Dengzhou City, allowing Dong Qingyue to finally hold the funeral for his son.
Rumors spread that Madam Dong and Dong Changlan’s mother, Mrs. Cui, fell ill upon hearing the news of Dong Changlan’s death and couldn’t get out of bed.
Dong Changlan’s wife, Mrs. Cui, fainted upon hearing the news and was diagnosed as pregnant by the doctor. The child in her womb is now Dong Changlan’s only bloodline, so she was resting in the inner chambers and was not seen in the main hall.
The sudden loss of a husband was unbearable for anyone, let alone a newly pregnant woman. Naturally, the Dong family prioritized the child in Mrs. Cui’s womb, keeping her away from the main hall.
Meanwhile, Dong Changlan’s younger half-brother, despite his injuries, knelt by his older brother’s spirit tablet, bowing to the guests who came to pay their respects.
General Fu Ruoxi, feeling guilty upon seeing the tragic state of the Dong family, offered incense to Dong Changlan and, exiting the hall, clasped his hands and said to Dong Qingyue, “I apologize, Lord Dong. When Dengzhou sought aid, we couldn’t move without orders…”
Dong Qingyue waved his hand without a word… Neither expressing understanding nor blame, making General Fu Ruoxi feel even worse.
General Fu Ruoxi stood awkwardly aside and saw Bai Qingyan, dressed in plain clothes, approach with her maid. He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed deeply, “Greetings, Princess of Zhen!”
Bai Qingyan nodded at General Fu Ruoxi, “General Fu!”
“This time, it is thanks to Princess of Zhen for assisting Lord Dong in recapturing Dengzhou.” General Fu Ruoxi held onto the sword at his side, “I feel deeply ashamed and restless for not daring to move the troops without orders during Dengzhou’s plea for aid.”
These words were meant for both Bai Qingyan and Dong Qingyue to hear.
Bai Qingyan did not reply, so General Fu Ruoxi continued, “I’ve heard that His Majesty has ordered the Crown Prince to escort provisions and supplies to Dengzhou.”
At this, Bai Qingyan finally turned around and seriously looked at General Fu Ruoxi, “I have fought alongside General Fu and understand that the commander in the field does not necessarily follow orders to the letter. Was it truly because General Fu had no orders and dared not move, or was there another reason for not sending troops? The Dong family has no intention of pursuing this further…”
General Fu Ruoxi gripped his sword tighter, “Princess of Zhen misunderstood!”
“No matter if it’s a misunderstanding or not, my cousin lies there…” Bai Qingyan’s gaze shifted towards the spirit hall, “General Fu, the Anping Army is still outside the city. Since Dengzhou is no longer at war, I ask that General Fu return the Anping Army to camp quickly to avoid His Majesty’s blame for any delay!”
General Fu Ruoxi had left the Anping Army outside the city and brought only a deputy to Dengzhou City to endure the Dong family’s wrath. The Bai family and the Dong family had always been close, so Bai Qingyan’s harsh words were to be expected.
General Fu Ruoxi bowed to Bai Qingyan, “Whether Princess of Zhen and Lord Dong believe it or not, I swear by the heavens that it was truly due to the lack of orders. I dare not move troops without permission. The death of the eldest son of the Dong family… deeply grieves and shames me. If the Dong family needs my assistance in the future, I will give my all! I ask Princess of Zhen and Lord Dong to mourn. Goodbye!”
After saying this, General Fu Ruoxi led his deputy out of Dong Mansion and, mounting his horse, swiftly rode toward the city outskirts.
As General Fu Ruoxi left, a message from Dadu City arrived.
Bai Qingyan and Dong Qingyue opened the letter in the study. Bai Jinxiu wrote that the marriage between the Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu, and King Liang was moved up and set for October 15. After investigating, Bai Jinxiu discovered that Liu Ruofu seemed to be pregnant, which explained the sudden rush for the October wedding.
Bai Qingyan remembered meeting Xiao Rongyan, who mentioned that the Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu, had been defiled. Xiao Rongyan hoped to further disrupt the Jin Kingdom’s court. Therefore, he orchestrated the Crown Prince’s hidden guards to take advantage of Liu Ruofu under the guise of King Liang.
The child in Liu Ruofu’s belly was likely not King Liang’s. King Liang must be aware of it.
However, knowing King Liang as Bai Qingyan did, he was interested not in Liu Ruofu, but in the military power held by King Xian of Nandu. He would surely claim Liu Ruofu’s child as his own.
But what of Liu Ruofu? Proud and haughty as she was, could she really marry the inept and outwardly luckless King Liang?
After burning the letter, Bai Qingyan told Dong Qingyue, “The Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu, is pregnant. Her marriage to King Liang is set for next month on the fifteenth.”
“King Liang…” Dong Qingyue narrowed his eyes, fingers rubbing the armrest of his chair, “That King Liang, ever since he falsely accused your grandfather of treason, I’ve felt he wasn’t entirely as incompetent as rumored! If that’s true, such a person is incredibly patient… quite deeply cunning!”