Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 458 - 455: Execute Command_1

Chapter 458: Chapter 455: Execute Command_1

She heard King Liang say that the reason he had previously sought to marry her cousin, Bai Qingyan, was because he mistook her cousin for the young girl who had given him a handkerchief at a palace banquet.

He knew her cousin was seriously injured and could not have children. He feared she would be heartbroken, so he had painstakingly sought to marry her.

But seeing her cousin so heartless toward him made him feel as if his heart was being twisted by a knife. He could not understand why the girl who had been so kind to him as a child had changed so much when she grew up!

He also thought the girl who used to smile sweeter than honey must have despised him for being useless.

Dong Tingzhen was moved by King Liang. She pitied King Liang because despite being a prince, he lived such a pitiful life. She wanted to be good to King Liang and make him happy.

After all, King Liang was easily satisfied. When Dong Tingzhen saw him waiting at the side gate of the Dong Mansion for a long time, she had someone bring him a plate of pastries. He cherished it so much that he carried it with him to Yanwo and then brought it back, saying that carrying the pastries she gave him made him feel like she was with him.

How could Dong Tingzhen not be moved by such a man who cherished her kindness so much?

"I am a useless coward! I know I can’t compare to Chen Zhaolu. Chen Zhaolu is a top scholar, but I am nothing! I am timid and cowardly, ignorant and incompetent! Tingzhen, you are so good, but I..." King Liang cried so hard that he could barely breathe.

"No! No, Your Highness!" Dong Tingzhen’s heart melted at King Liang’s tears. She lightly stroked King Liang’s back and softly said, "You are a prince... No one can compare to you!"

"Then... then what must I do to marry you?!" King Liang looked at Dong Tingzhen with tearful eyes full of hope. "Tingzhen... I know I am dumb! Teach me! Just tell me what to do... I am not afraid of anything!"

Dong Tingzhen pulled out her handkerchief to wipe King Liang’s tears. She knew King Liang’s reputation for being timid and incompetent was widespread, but she felt sorry for this man who should have been exalted but was bullied by everyone in Dadu City. She wanted to protect King Liang.

Previously, King Liang had mistaken her cousin for her. Knowing her cousin could not bear children, he still sought to marry her. This showed his sincerity. Dong Tingzhen did not want to hesitate any longer.

"Would you dare... to ask the Emperor for me? As long as the Emperor grants the marriage, once the imperial edict is issued... not even my mother and father can prevent us from being together!" Dong Tingzhen made up her mind and said.

King Liang grasped Dong Tingzhen’s hand, his eyes determined, without any hesitation: "But, after I mistook the Princess of Zhen for you and made a fool of myself before my father last time, I fear... my father will not agree if I ask for your hand!"

Dong Tingzhen helped King Liang sit properly and took off the peace-lock pendant from her neck, handing it to King Liang: "This is the peace-lock pendant I have worn since birth. It was made by my maternal grandmother, Madam Shoushan, when I was born. I have never taken it off! I wear the bracelet you gave me, and even before the Emperor... I would acknowledge our love!"

"Tingzhen!" King Liang lowered his head again, his shoulders shaking with sobs. He rubbed Dong Tingzhen’s hand vigorously. "This will damage your reputation! It’s my fault I have to use this method to marry you. I cannot live without you. If I had any other way, I would not harm your reputation in the slightest!"

"It’s okay! It’s okay!" Dong Tingzhen gently stroked King Liang. "This is my willing choice! I do not blame you! In the future... we will just live well together!"

King Liang nodded vigorously: "Tingzhen, I treasure you more... more than my own life. If I do not have you, I do not want to live! Right now, that Chen Zhaolu is too outstanding, a top scholar. I am afraid of losing you to him. This is the only way. I will compensate you doubly in the future. I will also work hard to live a respectable life, so that no one will look down on you... and think you married a useless man! I swear, in this life, I will only have you and never take a concubine!"

Dong Tingzhen was moved to tears.

"I know I almost caused the downfall of the entire King of Zhen’s family. Lord Dong must despise me! For you... I will go to the Princess of Zhen’s manor and apologize to Bai Qingyan! Beg for her forgiveness! This way... you will not be so troubled before your parents."

Dong Tingzhen nodded, grateful for King Liang’s sincerity toward her.

When Dong Tingzhen came out of the private room, her eyes were still red. After boarding the carriage and taking off her hood, she lowered her eyes, fiddling with the handkerchief dampened by her tears, unable to suppress a shy, low laugh.

Though King Liang was weak, he genuinely cared for her. Her mother and father had a great relationship... Yet, her father still took two concubines. She knew that every time her father spent the night in a concubine’s room, the light in her mother’s room stayed on all night.

She dreamed of the enduring love described in storybooks, a lifetime of devotion between two people.

Therefore, even if King Liang was like mud that could not hold up a wall, as long as he was willing to be faithful to her alone for life, she would gladly be satisfied.

Dong Tingzhen wiped her tears with a handkerchief, laughed again, and touched the missing peace-lock pendant on her chest with full anticipation of a young girl’s future.

King Liang moved swiftly. As soon as he left Shifang Pavilion, he headed directly to the Imperial Palace, holding Dong Tingzhen’s peace-lock pendant.

Knowing he could no longer rely on Bai Qingyan for support, King Liang thought of Dengzhou Governor Dong Qingyue. Unfortunately, Dong Qingyue had no daughters, but Dong Qingyue’s brother, Lord Dong, who worked at the Honglu Temple, did!

King Liang intended to take it step by step. If he married Lord Dong’s daughter, it would be much easier to win the Dong family’s support in the power struggle.

After all... Dong Tingzhen was Dong Qingyue’s niece, while Bai Qingyan was merely a cousin!

In the future fight for the throne, he could promise Dong Qingyue and Lord Dong significant power, employing their sons. If they believed... he would be an easily controlled puppet emperor, they would naturally follow him and persuade Bai Qingyan to serve him.

Once he took the throne, wouldn’t dealing with the Bai family be a piece of cake?

Previously, he had been wrong to focus on destroying the Bai family. He had overlooked the simplest path... to seize the throne first. Once he firmly grasped the throne, the Bai family would be at his mercy.

·

The sun moved westward, casting a golden hue over the entire Dadu City.

As the sun was about to set, the weather cooled down, and it was no longer as irritating as it was at noon, with cicadas and birds chirping.

In the Qinghui Courtyard of the Princess of Zhen’s manor, tall trees lined the west side. At this time, the shadows of the trees lengthened, enveloping the courtyard in their shade, making it cool.

Bai Qingyan was gravely injured and suffered from chills. The summer in Dadu City was extremely hot... Bai Qingyan couldn’t use ice. Bai Weiting had low trees planted on the south side of Qinghui Courtyard and tall trees on the west. This way, it wouldn’t block the view and could provide coolness in the summer.

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