The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 34

Bai Qingyan looked at Dong-shi’s happy expression and did not want to make Dong-shi sad by saying she would never marry. Instead, she said, “I just saw that the Second Aunt had red eyes, she must have cried before coming here. Second Aunt cares for me because I’m her niece, but can she really like a daughter-in-law who can’t bear children? Grandmother and Uncle are doing this for my own good, but you can’t force someone to do something against their will. After all, we’ll still have to live at mother-in-law’s backyard, right, Mother?”

Dong-shi remained silent, pondering carefully.

“Mother, Grandmother and Uncle have treated you and me so well. Are you willing to create discord between Grandmother and her daughter-in-law for the sake of my marriage? Life isn’t just about getting married, isn’t that what Mother used to tell me to comfort me?”

Dong-shi’s words were meant to comfort her daughter when she had been injured. She was reluctant to let go of this marriage proposal. She pursed her lip, “How about… Let’s meet Yuan’er first? What if… Yuan’er is willing?”

Bai Qingyan did not argue with Dong-shi.

Her mother said that her grandmother had been planning her marriage with Dong Zhangyuan since she was injured, but she had never heard of it in her past life.

Bai Qingyan closed her eyes and thought for a while, and quickly understood the situation.

In her past life, when Grandmother, Second Uncle and Second Aunt came to the capital for the New Year, they had indeed brought their second son, Dong Zhangyuan, from Dengzhou. However, it had not been long since Bai Jinxiu had died unexpectedly on her wedding day, so Grandmother probably had not wanted to mention marriage matters. Later, news came back on New Year’s Eve that all the men in the Bai family had been killed in Nanjiang…

She knew her grandmother loved her, so she was even more unwilling to cause a rift between her grandmother and Second Aunt.

Before the carriage arrived, the elderly Grand Madam Dong, with her grey hair, was already standing at the gate of the Dong residence, accompanied by her eldest daughter-in-law, Song-shi, and her four grandsons and two granddaughters, to welcome her daughter and granddaughter.

Grand Madam Dong was wearing a chestnut-coloured squirrel fur coat embroidered with gold, with Buddhist beads wrapped around her hand, constantly looking towards the right side of the street.

Dong Zhangyuan stood beside Grand Madam Dong with his hands behind his back. He was wearing an azure straight robe, with an ink black jade pendant hanging from his waist. The handsome young man was very attractive, but there was hardly any emotion on his clear and refined face.

“They’re here, they’re here!” a maid shouted, “I see Second Master’s carriage!”

Grand Madam Dong lifted the hem of her skirts with her hands wrapped in Buddhist beads and took a few steps forward with the support of her daughter-in-law, Song-shi.

“Mother, don’t worry, Sister Wanjun and Ah Bao won’t fly away!” joked Song-shi, the Eldest Madam Dong, with Grand Madam Dong.

Eldest Madam Dong’s second daughter, Dong Tingzhen, also smiled and supported Grand Madam Dong, “Grandmother, don’t worry. If you bump or fall, Aunt and Eldest Cousin will be worried!”

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Dong residence. Dong-shi got off the carriage first and saw her mother, whose hair was grey, and tears welled up in her eyes, “Mother!”

“Wanjun!” Grand Madam Dong’s eyes also welled up with tears, forgetting everything else as she hurried down the steps.

Chuntao and Chunyan, who had been following on either side of the carriage, helped Bai Qingyan down from the carriage. She curtseyed respectfully, “Grandmother, Aunt.”

“My Wanjun, my Ah Bao!” Grand Madam Dong hugged her daughter with one hand and her granddaughter with the other, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably, causing Bai Qingyan’s eyes to turn red as well.

Several cousins came forward to pay their respects. Only Dong Zhangyuan remained standing on the high steps, tightly gripping the jade pendant at his waist. With his eyes lowered, he was unwilling to look at anyone.

Seeing Dong Qingyue standing beside the carriage with a solemn expression, staring at Dong Zhangyuan, who was standing frozen in place, Cui-shi quickly called out to Dong Zhangyuan. Only then did Dong Zhangyuan reluctantly walk down the high steps and bow deeply, “Zhangyuan greets Aunt and Cousin.”

He did not even glance in Bai Qingyan’s direction.

“Yuan’er has grown so big! Truly a handsome young man!” Dong-shi wiped her tears with a handkerchief and praised him.

Eldest Aunt Song-shi hurriedly said, “There’s no need to stand outside the gate and talk. Ah Bao’s health is frail and sensitive to the cold! Mother… Let’s bring Wanjun and Ah Bao inside to talk!”

“Yes, yes, let’s talk inside the house!” Grand Madam Dong held her daughter and granddaughter’s hands tightly as they walked into the house, unwilling to let go of them. Her eyes held nothing but love for her daughter and granddaughter.

Once inside, Grand Madam Dong held Bai Qingyan in her arms, showering her with affection. Tears kept flowing, wetting the new clothes Bai Qingyan had changed into before leaving.

Dong Zhangyuan sat on a stool at the back, drinking tea on his own, not looking at anyone, not showing any interest. Even Grand Madam Dong noticed his resistance, let alone Dong-shi and Bai Qingyan.

While she was genuinely concerned about her daughter’s lifelong happiness, Dong-shi did not want to marry her daughter to a husband who would not cherish her. Seeing Cui-shi, who was looking dejected and had clearly cried on the carriage, then looking at her daughter with red eyes, Dong-shi did not want to force the issue. She decided to talk to her mother about it later and let go of the marriage proposal.

“Yuan’er, it’s been a few years since I last saw you, and you’ve grown into an adult,” Dong-shi put down her teacup and smiled, mentioning Dong Zhangyuan’s name. Then she signalled Tingzhu to bring out the gifts they had brought for Dong Zhangyuan.

Dong Zhangyuan stood up and stepped forward, bowing to Dong-shi.

Grand Madam Dong held Bai Qingyan in her arms and looked at her eldest grandson, who was talented and outstanding in every way. She felt that he was a perfect match made in heaven for her granddaughter.

“Last year, your grandmother wrote to me, saying that you topped the provincial examination and gained fame as the first-placed candidate in the provincial imperial examinations! Aunt is also happy for you!” Dong-shi gestured for Tingzhu to come forward and present the gift to Dong Zhangyuan, “These are two pieces of Shoushan stone, it’s a waste for them to stay with Aunt. Giving them to Yuan’er to carve two seals would be more appropriate.”

Dong Zhangyuan quickly bowed and declined. Shoushan stone was too valuable and he did not dare to accept it.

“Elders’ gifts cannot be declined! Your Aunt is giving them to you, so you should accept them properly. Don’t let your Aunt’s kindness go to waste in the future!” Grand Madam Dong’s words carried a hidden meaning.

Dong Zhangyuan’s face became even more unsightly as he bowed his head and he did not want to accept this lavish gift even more.

Eldest Madam Dong, Song-shi, covered her lips with a handkerchief and chuckled softly, “Look, Sister’s gift is too precious. It’s scared Yuan’er!”

Bai Qingyan, who was still being held in Grand Madam Dong’s arms, saw Cui-shi’s eyes turning even redder. She did not want her Second Aunt and Dong Zhangyuan to have any disputes over her marriage. She said, “Mother also hopes that Cousin Zhangyuan can achieve more success in the future and bring glory to the Dong family. Mother’s face will also shine from this.”

Hearing a clear and gentle voice, Dong Zhangyuan lowered his head even further, although he did not feel repulsed.

Bai Qingyan stood beside Grand Madam Dong and smiled, “Today, I’m meeting Cousin Zhangyuan for the first time, so I also prepared a gift for Cousin.”

Hearing this, Chuntao quickly and respectfully presented the top-quality ink and inkstone from Anhui province that Bai Qingyan had instructed her to prepare.

Dong Zhangyuan was amazed when he saw the ink and inkstone. He was someone who was fond of calligraphy and painting, so he immediately fell in love with these items. However, when he thought that they were gifts from the person his grandmother was forcing him to marry, his joy dissipated as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. Feeling uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly, he kept his head lowered and said, “Cousin’s gift is too precious. Zhangyuan is undeserving… and dares not accept it.”