Chapter 35: 35章:Cherish Blessings_1

He only heard that clear and laughter-filled voice, unhurriedly saying, “Cousin Chang Yuan, there’s no need to be so polite. When my seventeen younger brothers were beginning their studies, I gifted them with Hui ink and She inkstones. Uncle and Aunt treat me like their own child, so I naturally see you as my own brother! It is only because you have won the title of Jieyuan that I carefully selected the quality of the ink and inkstone. If you acknowledge me as your sister, then don’t refuse this gift.”

Upon hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, Mrs. Cui suddenly looked at Bai Qingyan and Mrs. Dong, her heart torn between joy and sorrow.

Although Mrs. Dong did not expect Bai Qingyan to say such things in front of everyone, she had already mentally prepared herself and was not as flustered as Madam Dong and others. She simply sipped her tea calmly.

Dong Changyuan was dazed for a moment before he finally looked up, gazing seriously at his cousin for the first time.

He saw Bai Qingyan dressed in a moon-white plain gauze dress, her eyes clear and her smile both distant and intimate, perfectly balanced without any pretense. Her black hair, as smooth as crow feathers, was partially tied into a neat bun with a white jade hairpin. Despite such a simple and elegant appearance, it couldn’t hide her breathtaking beauty. Her sophisticated and serene demeanor imparted a sense of calm and ease.

Dong Changyuan’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat. He quickly lowered his head, his ears turning red, feeling a faint sense of shame.

Previously, he resented his grandmother for forcing him to marry this cousin under threat and was filled with indignation and reluctance. Therefore, he had harbored ill will against this cousin even before meeting her. Today, he had not given Bai Qingyan a proper look at all.

Who would have thought that his cousin had no intention of marrying him? Her dignified and brilliant demeanor made him feel petty and narrow-minded in comparison.

After having lunch at Dong Mansion, Mrs. Dong and Madam Dong spoke privately for a while before returning home.

Chun Yan, who was feeling distracted, helped Bai Qingyan change into her regular clothes and casually remarked, “Second Uncle’s legitimate second son, his eyes were raised to the skies after merely winning the title of Jieyuan. I saw with my own eyes at the entrance of Dong Mansion that he didn’t even look at you, Miss. It’s clearly a sign of disrespect!”

Bai Qingyan was leaning against the window, propped up by a brocaded cloud pillow, reading a book. She didn’t raise an eyelid as she responded, “And why are you trying to make trouble for Cousin Chang Yuan in front of me?”

Chun Yan’s face turned red from being exposed.

Having learned her lesson from last time, Chun Yan refrained from mentioning King Liang again this time. Instead, she said, “I just think Second Uncle has lofty ambitions. With Miss’s family background and beauty, what kind of noble family wouldn’t want you as their daughter-in-law? How dare they covet you!”

Seeing that Bai Qingyan’s expression had not changed, Chun Yan couldn’t control herself and stepped closer, daring to speak well of King Liang: “Prince Liang doesn’t mind Miss’s status and is truly sincere towards you. That is Miss’s great fortune! You must not waste such luck.”

Ha… Was it really her good fortune?! Bai Qingyan thought to herself how foolish she had been in her past life. Chun Yan’s disloyalty had been so obvious, yet every time Chun Yan praised King Liang’s affections for her, she had believed it.

She closed her book and casually tossed it onto the small table made of chicken-wing wood, toppling the tea cup made of Haitang frozen stone leaf shape: “Chun Yan, you have the audacity to think you can decide my marriage? Who gave you such courage and face?”

Chun Yan’s legs went soft, and she knelt down: “Miss, I wouldn’t dare! That’s not what I meant! I just think… I just think that Miss marrying Second Uncle’s legitimate second son is too unfair! I am doing this for Miss!”

Chun Yan trembled like a sieve, tears streaming down in big drops: “I am just not resigned on behalf of Miss. Prince Liang, a Prince, is so humble towards you, but this Jieyuan doesn’t even give you a proper look!”

Chun Tao came in, originally to tell Bai Qingyan that the Jing Zhaoyin Mansion had sent someone to summon the wife of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage for questioning. However, upon entering and seeing the situation, she hurriedly used a cloth to clean up the spilt tea on the small table.

Bai Qingyan’s chest was heaving with anger: “Get out!”

Chun Yan left the room crying. Chun Tao replaced her tea with Babao tea, smiling and comforting her: “It doesn’t matter if Miss is angry with Chun Yan. Just don’t break your favorite Haitang frozen stone leaf-shaped tea set.”

She suppressed her anger, picked up her book again, and turned a page: “Have someone secretly keep an eye on Chun Yan. Report her movements at all times…”

Chun Tao’s face showed reluctance, but she acknowledged the order and then gathered her composure to say, “Miss, early this morning, the parents of the five accompanying maids of Second Miss went to the Jing Zhaoyin Mansion to claim the bodies. By noon, the Jing Zhaoyin Mansion had sent someone to the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion to question the wife about which human trafficker she sold the five maids to. Unable to evade, the wife had to admit that the five maids were beaten to death for not taking good care of the Second Miss. Right now, the officers from Jing Zhaoyin Mansion are blocking the entrance, and there is a standoff with the mansion guards.”

“The matter with the wife of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage will be dealt with by Jing Zhaoyin Mansion. We’ll just watch.” Bai Qingyan said, “I’m just not sure if this will delay Qin Lang’s move out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion tomorrow.”

Because Qin Lang had an imperial decree to move out of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage Mansion, the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage couldn’t stop him and was very troubled.

The Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Dezhao, went through great effort to secure the position of doctor at the Ministry of Revenue. Finally finding stability among the nobility in Dadu, now anyone could bring up the disputes between his stepmother and legitimate son and talk about it. It was truly embarrassing.

Fortunately, King Liang sent his advisor to personally comfort him and promised that once the situation in the southern frontier was resolved, he would recommend him to the Emperor for the position of Minister of Revenue. Holding a high position, no one in the entire Dadu’s nobility would dare to look down on him then!

In a private room in a restaurant, the drunken Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Qin Dezhao, remembered the Duke of Zhen and the Princely Heir far away in the southern frontier, poured a cup of wine and raised it to the sky: “Duke, Princely Heir! Don’t blame me… The Duke’s House’s merits make the Emperor feel threatened. The entire court cannot tolerate you! I’m merely following orders; the provisions and supplies I owe you, I’ll repay you in the next life… hic…”@@novelbin@@

Qin Dezhao hiccupped and suddenly laughed foolishly: “In the next life, I’m afraid I still won’t be able to repay!”

With that, Qin Dezhao raised his head and downed the strong wine in one gulp.

“Marquis! Marquis! There’s trouble at the mansion…” Qin Dezhao’s long-time attendant hurriedly pushed the door open.

“What kind of behavior is this?! Qin Dezhao, seething with anger, heavily placed his wine cup down, his sharp gaze directed at the attendant, “Isn’t it just Qin Lang moving out of the mansion? What other big trouble could there be?”

“No, Marquis! The officers from Jing Zhaoyin Mansion are blocking our mansion’s entrance to arrest the wife!”