Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 479 - 476: Never Break a Promise_1

Chapter 479: Chapter 476: Never Break a Promise_1

Dong Tingzhen came back and still wanted to hold Bai Wanqing. Bai Wanqing blew bubbles, her grape-like big eyes fixated on the tassel hairpin on Dong Tingzhen’s head. Dong Tingzhen immediately took it down and gave it to Bai Wanqing to play with, her joy evident.

It was probably because Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi had both returned. Rare laughter and cheerful voices filled the Bai Mansion. The maids and servants of the whole house walked around with smiles on their faces. When the maids met face to face at Shaohua Hall, they greeted each other with bright smiles, discussing why the masters inside were laughing so heartily. It was bustling.

Translucent curtains and bamboo blinds hung down to keep insects out, swaying in the wind. The bells on the gilded copper hooks jingled lightly.

The maids of the Bai Mansion, led by the nanny, carried pots and plates, entering Shaohua Hall in a line. They tiptoed lightly up the right staircase and down the left staircase, sending trays of fresh seasonal fruits and cold snacks upstairs.

Today Mrs. Dong was happy, and she had someone warm a pot of rose sweet wine. She asked Dong Tingzhen to taste it for fun.

Seeing meat dishes on the table, Dong Tingzhen felt a bit uneasy. After all, the Bai family was still in mourning and couldn’t accommodate her just because she was a guest.

Fifth Lady Mrs. Qi patted Dong Tingzhen’s hand and said, "The Eldest Princess said mourning without tasting meat is just for show to outsiders. If we really didn’t eat meat for three years, the children’s health would suffer! It’s enough to put on appearances for outsiders. You are not an outsider... Let’s eat well and stay healthy. Only then will our ancestors be truly happy!"

Hearing this, Dong Tingzhen felt slightly relieved in her heart.

She watched the Bai Sisters sitting together talking about the Northern Frontier battlefield. She felt quite envious in her heart. Although many noble families in Dadu City said that the Bai family treated illegitimate sons and daughters too well, they did not know the Bai family was so lively.

Take Dong Tingzhen herself, for example. Although she had a good relationship with her two illegitimate sisters, as the legitimate daughter, she understood the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children and inevitably held herself slightly higher.

But in the Bai family, legitimate and illegitimate children were as one family. It was evident... that the sisters were genuinely close, without any deception in their eyes.

Dong Tingzhen envied them for a moment but then felt relieved. Each family had its own way of life. The Bai family, as a generational military family, needed the relationships between legitimate and illegitimate children to be harmonious for cohesion and unity on the battlefield.

Their father, being a scholar, naturally valued the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children.

Surrounded by the Bai family’s laughter and joy, Dong Tingzhen gradually pushed King Liang out of her mind and felt much happier.

During the meal, Fifth Lady Mrs. Qi left early to take her child to rest. Dong Tingzhen, who had drunk a few more cups of rose sweet wine, blushed, and her eyes became somewhat hazy.

Mrs. Dong chuckled, stood up, and prepared to send Dong Tingzhen back to rest. Bai Qingyan also accompanied Mrs. Dong and left the table.

After sending Dong Tingzhen back to the courtyard, Mrs. Dong watched the maids serve Dong Tingzhen as she washed up and lay on the bed before getting up and leaving with Bai Qingyan.

Dong Tingzhen may have recognized the bed. She couldn’t keep her eyes open after drinking a few glasses of sweet wine. Now she found herself quite awake.

She got up and lifted the pale-colored brocade curtain. Looking at the room’s furnishings, she saw the coral screen inlaid with jade emeralds from her mother’s dowry, and in the gilded copper incense burner... the agarwood incense she loved was burning. The scent was rich yet elegant and lingering, clearly a high-quality item.

Not only did her parents treat her like a precious treasure, but even her aunt and cousin treated her so well. Why should she be heartbroken over a man who used her?

Bai Qingyan walked with Mrs. Dong’s arm along the brightly lit corridor adorned with bamboo blinds. Behind them, Nanny Qin led the maidservants a few steps away, giving Bai Qingyan and her mother space to talk.

"Mother hasn’t had a chance to ask you properly today, why did you suddenly bring Tingzhen to Shuoyang? Is something wrong?" Mrs. Dong held Bai Qingyan’s hand as they stepped onto the corridor.

"Nothing’s wrong. It’s just that mother’s birthday is coming up, and Kid brought Tingzhen to celebrate for mother." Bai Qingyan supported Mrs. Dong as they stepped onto the platform.

"Don’t fool Mother! When you wrote saying you would bring Tingzhen back, Mother already felt something was off. If it weren’t a last-minute decision... knowing your first aunt’s character, she would have sent a message early! Besides, this time Tingzhen came to Shuoyang without even bringing Haitang who serves her closely. Do you think you can hide this from Mother?" Mrs. Dong glared at Bai Qingyan. "You’d better tell the truth!"

"Mother, it’s not a big deal. The Minister Chen’s family asked the Dong family to be matchmakers for Chen Zhaolu. Tingzhen didn’t like it and felt unhappy. So, I brought her to Shuoyang to relax!" Bai Qingyan squeezed Mrs. Dong’s hand with a smile. "Mother knows, Tingzhen has always been thin-skinned. Please don’t mention or hint at anything. Let Tingzhen think it over herself in time."

"I remember that Chen Zhaolu from Minister Chen’s family is a very talented young man!" Mrs. Dong pondered. "Does Tingzhen have someone she likes?"

Bai Qingyan nodded. "Mother, please don’t ask Tingzhen. Otherwise, Tingzhen might think Kid likes to talk behind people’s backs!"

Mrs. Dong, amused by Bai Qingyan, laughed and lightly tapped Bai Qingyan’s forehead with her hand. Softly, she asked, "Did you suffer any hardship in the Northern Frontier? I heard from Nanny Tong’s report that you weren’t injured. Is that true or just instructions?"

"I wasn’t injured!" Bai Qingyan didn’t want Mrs. Dong to worry, so she said, "In this Northern Frontier battle, Kid only offered strategies to General Liu Hong. Kid promised to bring the fourth child back safely and would never break that promise to Mother."

Mrs. Dong squeezed Bai Qingyan’s hand tightly and smiled in relief. Her daughter’s safety was most important to her.

Bai Qingyan sent Mrs. Dong back to Qinghe Courtyard. Just as she stepped out, Chun Zhi from Boyun Courtyard rushed over, saluted Bai Qingyan, and said, "Eldest Miss... Second Miss sent another letter. Nanny Tong instructed me to fetch you."

Chun Tao’s heart skipped a beat. The Eldest Miss had just returned today, and the Second Miss’s letter had already come once. How come there’s another letter now? Could something have happened in Dadu City?

Bai Qingyan was slightly startled and hurried with Chun Zhi to Boyun Courtyard. As soon as she entered, she saw Nanny Tong standing under the eaves, holding the letter. Nanny Tong took a few steps forward to support Bai Qingyan and said to Chun Zhi, "You may leave. Chun Tao will serve."

Chun Zhi bowed and left.

Nanny Tong took out the letter from her bosom and handed it to Bai Qingyan. "Eldest Miss, the messenger rushed day and night to deliver this letter. Lu Ping wasn’t here. With Spring Zhi by my side, I couldn’t hide it from her!"

"No matter. It’s also an opportunity to test Chun Zhi. If she’s useful, she can be kept close!" Bai Qingyan took the letter inside, sat under the lamp, and opened it.

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