Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 537 - 534: Means_1

Chapter 537: Chapter 534: Means_1

Dong Tingzhen sat properly before speaking, "My aunt unintentionally heard that Aunt Luo’s brother mentioned to Aunt Luo that the girl Chun Tao, who serves Cousin, seems to have an interest in him. It seems they want Aunt Luo to ask Father if Cousin could grant them the kindness of giving Chun Tao to Aunt Luo’s brother as a concubine."

Bai Qingyan squinted and looked at Dong Tingyun. Her indifferent, deep eyes were calm as water, yet inexplicably gave Dong Tingyun an intense sense of oppression.

She sat down, somewhat nervously tugging at her handkerchief. "My aunt’s intention is actually to remind Cousin that Aunt Luo’s brother is not a good person. He is addicted to brothels and gambling. My aunt secretly heard about it and dared not make it public because she is not favored. Fearing that it would bring harm to Chun Tao and create a rift between Cousin and Father, she asked me to come and speak."

"Uncle would never be so muddled. You worry too much."

Dong Tingyun, with her eyes downcast, heard Bai Qingyan’s words and seemed afraid that Bai Qingyan wouldn’t believe her. She looked up and earnestly said to Bai Qingyan, "Cousin, I am not trying to sow discord by saying this today or use Cousin’s hand for anything. I know Father might not agree, but what if Aunt Luo uses some underhanded means? Cousin must not be unprepared!"

She bit her lip. "I am an illegitimate daughter, and the status of an illegitimate daughter is different from that of a legitimate daughter. Although we have the same father, others don’t regard illegitimate daughters the same way. For illegitimate daughters, the future either means becoming someone else’s concubine or paving the way for legitimate sons and daughters. We are mere ornaments in the eyes of the matriarch, subject to beatings and scoldings at will except for not being able to be sold. I am fortunate enough to be born into the Dong family. Mother is kind, and Grandmother, pitying my aunt for being weak, raised me by her side. I am deeply grateful to Grandmother and Mother from the bottom of my heart. I don’t want Grandmother, Father, and Mother to be saddened by Aunt Luo’s audacity. That is why I dared to say so much to Cousin today. I hope Cousin won’t blame me for being too meddlesome."

Dong Tingyun never forgot her identity. Though raised by Madam Dong, she seemed more lively than her sister Dong Tingzhi, but her deep-seated sense of inferiority could not be changed.

Especially in their great-grandfather’s generation, two illegitimate daughters of the same concubine caused a scandal that nearly resulted in the death of their pregnant grandmother, who was then six months pregnant, causing her to give birth to two stillborns and injuring her body so she could no longer conceive.

When their grandfather was still alive, when the illegitimate daughter Dong Tingfang of the first uncle’s family was born, their grandfather did not even allow the announcement of her birth, saying to wait until she had passed her first month, and then send her to be raised at the Qing Temple. It was only due to Grandmother’s insistence, claiming after all, she was their own bloodline.

Since then, not announcing the birth of illegitimate children in the Dong family had become an unwritten rule. This was also one of the reasons behind Mrs. Cui’s family’s effort to marry her into the family.

She remembered when she was little, every year when Aunt Dong sent gifts for the New Year, there were never any for the illegitimate children. She was sad about it for a long time, only to later hear from her aunt that Aunt Dong had not returned to Dengzhou for many years and was unaware of her niece’s existence.

"I don’t doubt your filial piety. It’s because of you being there to serve and amuse Grandmother that she finds joy. Nanny Wang has spoken about this. As for the matter today, I will remember it. Your feelings and efforts are acknowledged and appreciated."

Dong Tingyun quickly waved her hands. "I only did this for the sake of our family’s harmony. How dare I accept Cousin’s gratitude? Cousin saying so is humbling me! As long as Cousin believes I am not trying to sow discord, that’s all that matters!"

Bai Qingyan glanced at Chun Tao, who was standing under the rockery, and then spoke to Dong Tingyun, "I believe you. Even if I didn’t, I trust Grandmother’s judgment. Grandmother is wise and would never keep a cunning, heartless person by her side."

Dong Tingyun’s eyes reddened at those words.

The reason Dong Tingyun didn’t dare speak to her father about this matter but came to her cousin instead was that she believed even if she said it, her father might not believe her and might even suspect she had learned to use the underhanded methods of an illegitimate daughter, intending to frame others. She hadn’t expected that her cousin would believe her.

She nodded quickly. "Cousin is right. If I were such a lowly person, Grandmother would certainly not keep me by her side. I admit I am cautious, but that is due to years of defending against Aunt Luo’s schemes against my aunt. I have never had any ill intentions. Father is busy with official duties and knows nothing about the inner chambers. Mother, fearing chaos in the inner chambers might cause Father to scold her, suppresses everything and does not report it to him, afraid to upset him. Aunt Luo is also adept at pleasing Mother. I..."

Dong Tingyun, once she started speaking, seemed unstoppable, but suddenly her voice cut off. She dabbed her tears with a handkerchief and bowed to Bai Qingyan. "I apologize, Cousin. I tend to talk too much and can’t help myself once I start."

"It’s fine." Bai Qingyan felt a bit more tolerance toward Dong Tingyun, who served Madam Dong and showed filial piety. Firstly, she pitied the difficult position of the Dong family’s illegitimate daughters. Secondly, she appreciated Dong Tingyun’s ability to bring joy to Madam Dong.

Leaving the Shanshui Pavilion, Bai Qingyan, supported by Chun Tao, walked back and asked her, "Yesterday at the entrance to Uncle’s study courtyard, did you see any men?"

Chun Tao did not hide anything from Bai Qingyan. "Yesterday, it seemed to be an aunt from the Dong Mansion, bringing her brother to visit Lord Dong."

Bai Qingyan looked at Chun Tao and asked, "Did you see what that person looked like?"

Chun Tao, thinking of Luo Fugui’s lewd and wanton gaze, felt inexplicably disgusted and frowned. "He was thin and dark with a short stature, but his gaze didn’t seem like that of a good person."

Bai Qingyan nodded, "From now on, keep your distance from Aunt Luo’s people. Remember you are the personal maid of the Princess of Zhen. In this mansion, except for Grandmother, Uncle, Aunt, Changlan, Sister Rong, and the personal nannies and maids by their side, you can ignore everyone else. Show the demeanor of the Princess of Zhen’s personal maid! Do you understand?"

Chun Tao didn’t understand why Bai Qingyan suddenly said this, but thinking about her position as the personal maid of the eldest young lady, she couldn’t afford to lose their stature. She straightened her back and assured, "Rest assured, Miss. I will remember!"

Bai Qingyan was amused by Chun Tao’s chest-puffing gesture.

Just after the hour of Shen, Mrs. Cui, Mrs. Cui Jr., Bai Qingyan, and Dong Changlan were accompanying Madam Dong in conversation when an old servant woman rushed in and said Dong Qingyue invited the eldest young master and cousin to the study.