Chapter 608
Madam Luo, the second wife of the Fu Family, genuinely grieved over the death of her mother-in-law.
Yet she didn’t know how to be as strong as her mother-in-law and support the family; she was filled with sorrow. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
At this moment, Madam Luo could still kneel in the mourning hall, purely for the sake of her two children, mustering up her strength.
Bai Qingyan wondered if Madam Fu had a spirit in heaven, seeing such a scene, how heartbroken she would be.
She also felt fortunate that after the incident with the Bai family, they stayed united, which allowed them to overcome the crisis together.
Mrs. Song had been instructed by her husband, Dong Qingping, to make sure Bai Qingyan visited the Dong Mansion today. Just after leaving the Fu family, Mrs. Song invited the second wife, Mrs. Liu, Bai Qingyan, and the seventh young lady, Bai Jinse, to visit Dong Mansion together.
Mrs. Liu thought it had been long since Bai Qingyan last saw her uncle, so she agreed with a smile and said she would trouble them by visiting.
Mrs. Song held Bai Qingyan’s hand while boarding a carriage and mentioned that Dong Qingping wanted her to come to the mansion for some important matters. She also inquired about Dong Changlan’s funeral, the battle in Dengzhou, and Madam Dong’s health. Lastly, she asked if her biological daughter in Shuoyang, Dong Tingzhen, had caused any trouble for Bai Qingyan.
“Aunt, don’t worry. Tingzhen is always sensible. My mother’s mood has been good every day with Tingzhen accompanying her, so I would like to ask you and Uncle if Tingzhen can stay a few more days,” Bai Qingyan said with a smile.
“Good! It’s all good! With Tingzhen by your mother’s side, I am very relieved! As long as she doesn’t trouble you…” Mrs. Song lightly stroked Bai Qingyan’s delicate hand, feeling the calluses on her palm, and couldn’t help but feel pained.
But Mrs. Song knew that the Bai family now relied on Bai Qingyan. Telling her to take a rest would be useless, so she didn’t say it, just gently patted Bai Qingyan’s hand.
“Aunt, is there any misunderstanding about Tingfang?” Bai Qingyan asked cautiously.
“It’s said that the concubine-born daughters of the Dong family are deeply scheming. Though Tingfang didn’t grow up under my knees, she is indeed deep-minded but would never dare to do such a thing. The niece of the first lady of the Fu family didn’t want to marry the legitimate son of the main Fu Family, which resulted in this!” Mrs. Song felt displeased, “Now it’s our family’s daughter being criticized as shameless! Recently, Tingfang attended a Chrysanthemum Banquet and was ridiculed, and even Tinglan was cold-shouldered. Fortunately, Tinglan is still young. She cried on the first day and forgot it the next day…”
Dong Tingfang wasn’t born to Mrs. Song, but as a legitimate mother, Mrs. Song had always been kind, never using any shady means to torment concubine-born daughters.
What truly made Mrs. Song angry and pained was that her daughters, Dong Tingzhen and Dong Tinglan, were implicated. When it came to future marriages, this matter would be brought up, making Mrs. Song tear several handkerchiefs in anger. Yet she had to refrain from punishing Dong Tingfang harshly, as she kept seeking death.
“Aunt, did Tingfang never want to marry from the beginning or was it after the incident with the Fu family?” Bai Qingyan asked.
Bai Qingyan pondered if Dong Tingfang and the legitimate son of the main Fu family were set up, or if Dong Tingfang went along with it…
One had to understand what was in Dong Tingfang’s mind to know how to handle this matter appropriately.
Now, from Madam Dong to Changlan and Changmao, the Dong family in Dengzhou was all planning for the future. Bai Qingyan was willing to do her best to help relieve the Dong family’s worries.
If Dong Tingfang really insisted on marrying the legitimate son of the main Fu family, Bai Qingyan was willing to appeal to the Crown Prince to give enough face to the main Fu family, so that when Dong Tingfang married there, she would be more dignified, and her uncle could be more at ease.
Mrs. Song understood Bai Qingyan’s intention and squeezed her hand, shaking her head. “If Tingfang wanted to marry him, she wouldn’t consistently refuse. If the Dong family doesn’t want people talking behind their backs, Tingfang must not want to marry him.”
Bai Qingyan nodded. She realized that her aunt understood everything but was just trying to preserve the Dong family’s reputation even if it meant convincing herself to believe that Tingfang was set up.
So now, with the Fu family in trouble… perhaps Dong Tingfang didn’t want to marry into the main Fu family.
“If you and Uncle have a plan, I won’t say more,” Bai Qingyan smiled at Mrs. Song.
Mrs. Song nodded. “Your uncle’s opinion is that since Tingfang has already been engaged to the main Fu family, they can’t withdraw the engagement in their time of troubles. This way, it can redeem the reputation of the Dong family’s daughters. When it comes to Tingzhen’s and Tinglan’s future marriage talks, they won’t be affected. Naturally… if the main Fu family is also implicated and survives, then the engagement remains. If not, it will be annulled, and no one can blame the Dong family. It all depends on the main Fu family’s fate!”
This was Mrs. Song’s way of mystically telling Bai Qingyan that Dong Qingping and herself had long had countermeasures and hinting that Bai Qingyan needn’t really plead for the Dong family with the Crown Prince.
The path Dong Tingfang chose, she had to walk it herself. Just like Dong Tingzhen at the time… if she really had wanted to be with King Liang, the Dong family would have acted as if she were no longer their daughter. The same applied to concubine-born daughters.
Regarding Dengzhou matters, since Uncle Dong Qingyue and Grandmother Madam Dong hadn’t mentioned in their letters to Uncle Dong Qingping that Changlan survived, Bai Qingyan didn’t bring it up.
Once at Dong Mansion, Dong Qingping invited Bai Qingyan to the study to play chess and asked about Dengzhou.
Because of his nephew Dong Changlan’s sudden death, there were more gray hairs near Dong Qingping’s temples. After placing a chess piece, he said, “When I received news of Changlan’s accident, your grandmother instructed in her letter not to return. She feared it would affect Changyuan’s preparation for next year’s spring exam.”
After the Dengzhou battle report arrived, Dong Qingping confined Dong Changyuan at home to focus on his studies and silenced all servants. No one was allowed to tell Dong Changyuan about Dengzhou, so he remained ignorant.
“Uncle, Changlan’s wife, Sister Rong, is already pregnant. Don’t be too sad,” Bai Qingyan said, lowering her eyes as she placed her chess piece.
Dong Qingping’s gaze fell on the long attendant by the door and ordered him to replace a pot of hot tea.
After the attendant left, Dong Qingping lowered his voice and said to Bai Qingyan, “I heard from the Chief of Staff that before the Emperor fell from his horse and became unconscious, he had a secret talk with him. The Emperor intended to use the matter of the Left Prime Minister Li Mao conspiring with the Second Prince to revoke the positions of the Left and Right Prime Ministers, promote Prime Minister Lu to Crown Prince’s Tutor, emulate Wei Kingdom, establish a cabinet, and strengthen central and imperial power. Later, it was proven that Li Mao’s letter was forged, but… the Emperor never reinstated Li Mao. Afterward, the Emperor’s accident happened.”
Bai Qingyan raised her eyebrows. She hadn’t expected the Emperor, who was indulged in elixirs and women, to still have the mind for serious matters.