Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 457 - 454: Proposing Marriage_1

Chapter 457: Chapter 454: Proposing Marriage_1

Dong Tingzhen, Dong Tingyu, and Dong Tingfang knew that Bai Qingyan was going to depart for Shuoyang the next day. They talked with Mrs. Song and came to visit the Princess of Zhen’s mansion. As the sun was about to set, the three reluctantly got up to leave.

Bai Qingyan personally escorted the three Dong sisters to the door. Before they left, Eunuch Gao Demao, who served by the Emperor’s side, came with attendants to deliver an imperial decree.

The three Dong sisters hurriedly kneeled behind Bai Qingyan, listening to the decree together. They saw that the Emperor had ennobled Bai Qingyan as Princess and Bai Jinzhi as Commandery Princess. Then, an endless stream of rewards was carried into the mansion of the Princess of Zhen, which made the two illegitimate daughters of the Dong family green with envy.

Bai Jinzhi was quite happy. Listening to the eunuch announce the rewards, she couldn’t stop winking at Bai Qingyan, indicating that she had worked hard to win this for them, and her elder sister should praise her.

After receiving the decree, Bai Qingyan said, "Your Majesty’s grace is boundless. Bai Qingyan and my fourth sister are deeply grateful. All the rewards bestowed by Your Majesty will be used for the extermination of bandits in Shuoyang. Not a single coin will be kept privately, as a repayment for Your Majesty’s grace!"

Mrs. Liu hastily had her personal maid distribute red envelopes to the attendants who had come to deliver the decree and gave Eunuch Gao an extra purse filled with silver notes.

"Eunuch Gao, thank you for your hard work!"

"Mrs. Liu, there’s no need for this. The Princess of Zhen and Commandery Princess Gaoyi earned their titles and rewards through their meritorious service in the Northern Frontier. I am merely a messenger!" Gao Demao said courteously, clasping his hands as he took his leave.

"Cousin, the Emperor has gifted so many good things. Are you really going to use them all for the extermination of bandits?" Dong Tingfang looked at the glittering, precious jade and treasures with envy.

With just a glance, she saw the invaluable golden box in the shape of Haitang flowers adorned with embedded jewels, and the complete set of ruby headpieces with fine gold branches. The rubies were as large as pigeon eggs, luxurious and dazzling.

Almost instinctively, Dong Tingfang said, "These were earned by you and Jinzhi putting your lives on the line on the battlefield. Why not keep them for your mar..."

Before Dong Tingfang could finish, Dong Tingyu tugged at her sleeve.

Realizing her faux pas, Dong Tingfang shrank back two steps and bowed to Bai Qingyan in apology.

Dong Tingfang meant well, but she forgot that Bai Qingyan had sworn before the late King of Zhen never to marry.

"Cousin, Tingfang didn’t mean any harm!" Dong Tingyu explained to Bai Qingyan.

"No matter, I understand!" Bai Qingyan smiled.

After sending off the three Dong sisters, Mrs. Liu busied herself with sending someone to inform the Eldest Princess. She also arranged to prepare a family feast, saying that even if they didn’t celebrate publicly, they should enjoy themselves behind closed doors.

Previously, Mrs. Dong handled all affairs in the residence. Mrs. Liu had no experience, so she inevitably made some joyful mistakes. Fortunately, Bai Jinxiu was there to give instructions, and the servants carried out the orders accordingly.

Nanny Luo, seeing Mrs. Liu so delighted, couldn’t help but laugh and say, "Madam, you are so happy that you’ve forgotten the lotus seed pigeon soup still on the stove!"

"Oh dear!" Mrs. Liu patted her forehead, laughing happily. "Quick, quick, send someone to take it off. It should be ready by now!"

The lotus seed pigeon soup was something Mrs. Liu had personally cooked for Bai Qingyan. Earlier that day, before Bai Qingyan went to the palace, her face was pale, which frightened Mrs. Liu. She remembered that when Bai Qingyan had a poor appetite in the past, Mrs. Dong always made lotus seed pigeon soup for her. Since there was nothing else to do today, she had gone to the kitchen herself.

·

Two carriages from the Dong mansion slowly turned the corner of the street. Dong Tingzhen leaned against a round pillow, gently stroking the bracelet on her wrist, listening to the sound of horse hooves and the gentle clinking of lanterns hanging from the carriage eaves hitting the carriage. She asked softly, "What time is it?"

The maid accompanying the carriage responded, "Miss, it is about the end of the hour of Shen..."

The end of the hour of Shen. He probably won’t be waiting anymore, will he?

Dong Tingzhen bit her lip, holding the bracelet on her wrist tightly.

As the carriage turned from the end of the street, Dong Tingzhen’s fair and jade-like hand lifted the silk curtain of the carriage’s small window. She told her personal maid, "Go and tell the two sisters that I am going to Shifang Pavilion to buy pastries for mother. Let them head back to the mansion first!"

"Yes!" Dong Tingzhen’s personal maid replied and ran to the other carriage.

After the carriages turned the corner, they separated, one heading back to the Dong mansion, the other moving towards Changming Alley.

The carriage stopped in front of Shifang Pavilion. Dong Tingzhen’s maid ran inside and shortly after, came out again. She approached the small window of the carriage and whispered, "Miss, His Highness is still waiting for you."

Dong Tingzhen felt her heart skip a beat. She bit her lip, hesitating to move.

"Miss! His Highness has been waiting for you for more than two hours!" The maid whispered anxiously.

Dong Tingzhen steeled herself, adjusted her veil, and stepped down from the carriage with the maid’s support, walking directly to the private room on the second floor.

Dong Tingzhen’s personal maid nodded to the servant guarding outside the private room. The servant immediately opened the door.

Standing outside, Dong Tingzhen saw a tall figure by the window through the thin veil of her hat. Her eyes grew hot, and she stepped into the private room. The maid quickly closed the door and stood outside with the servant.

King Liang stood by the window. Seeing Dong Tingzhen froze upon seeing him with her veil removed, her eyes reddened. "I heard that Minister Chen has requested Madam Tan to come to your mansion with a marriage proposal for Chen Zhaolu?"

Dong Tingzhen stood at the door, her hands tightly clutching her veil, and nodded.

"No! I can’t wait any longer! I will go to your mansion now and propose. Even if I have to kneel until my legs break, I will ask Lord Dong to marry you to me!" King Liang, visibly emotional, took two steps forward, bumping into the table leg and stumbled forward.

"Your Highness!" Dong Tingzhen, frightened, quickly stepped forward to support him.

"Tingzhen..." King Liang, looking at Dong Tingzhen who supported him, started to cry out loud, "I know I’m foolish... and clumsy! I’m not worthy of you! I almost endangered the entire Zhen Kingdom while trying to save my brother Xingwang because I believed slanders! I know I was wrong! I have been punished! Since childhood... everyone bullied me. Only you... you were different! Only you were good to me! If even you leave, I will have nothing! Tingzhen... I can’t live without you!"

Dong Tingzhen’s heart was shaken deeply, her eyes reddened uncontrollably.

She never expected that from the time she attended a banquet in the palace at the age of six, just by pulling King Liang from being bullied by King Xingwang and giving him a handkerchief to wipe his face, he would remember it to this day, saying that no one had ever treated him so kindly.

She didn’t know how King Liang had lived all these years. Such a small act of kindness had been remembered for more than ten years, and he said it was the only kindness he had ever received...

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