The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 35

A voice sounded, clear and gentle with a hint of a smile, “Cousin Zhangyuan, there’s no need to be so polite. When my 17 younger brothers in my family began learning calligraphy, I also gifted them with ink and inkstones from Anhui province. Uncle and Aunt have treated me like their own, so I naturally regard Cousin Zhangyuan as my own younger brother! However, Zhangyuan Cousin has already become the first-placed candidate in the provincial imperial examinations, so I took greater care in considering the quality of the ink and inkstone from Anhui province. If Cousin will recognise me as his sister, then please don’t refuse.”

Hearing Bai Qingyan’s words, Cui-shi suddenly looked towards Bai Qingyan and Dong-shi. In her heart, she did not know whether to feel happy or sad at that moment.

Although Dong-shi had not expected Bai Qingyan to speak up like this in front of everyone, she had already guessed this would happen. Unlike Grand Madam Dong and the others who had more emotional responses, she simply lifted her teacup and took a sip.

Dong Zhangyuan was stunned for a moment. He suddenly raised his head, looking at his cousin in earnest for the first time.

He saw Bai Qingyan who was wearing a simple moon-white dress, with clear eyes and a smile that was both distant and intimate, not pretentious at all. Her jet-black hair was neatly arranged into a bun, adorned with a white jade hairpin. Such an elegant and simple outfit could not conceal her stunning beauty. Despite being extremely stunning and eye-catching, she still gave people a feeling of elegance and tranquillity, calm and indifferent.

Dong Zhangyuan’s heart inexplicably beat faster and he hurriedly lowered his head. His ears turned red with a hint of embarrassment.

Previously, he had resented his grandmother for forcing him to marry this cousin. He had felt nothing but anger and unwillingness. Hence, he had felt disgusted with this cousin before he even met her and today, he had not even looked at Bai Qingyan properly at all.

Who would have thought that his cousin had no intention of marrying him at all? Her dignified and graceful demeanour only served to highlight his own pettiness and narrow-mindedness.

After having lunch at the Dong residence, Dong-shi and Grand Madam Dong had a private conversation as mother and daughter before she returned home.

Absentmindedly, Chunyan helped Bai Qingyan change into her casual clothes and casually remarked, “Second Master Uncle’s second son is just a first-placed candidate in the provincial imperial examinations, but he acted as if he was above everyone else. This servant saw him at the gate of the Dong residence, he didn’t even spare a glance at Eldest Miss. He was obviously disrespecting Eldest Miss!”

Bai Qingyan was leaning against the window on the embroidered cloud cushion, reading a book. She heard this but did not even lift her eyelids, “What are you trying to achieve by badmouthing Cousin Zhangyuan in front of me?”

Chunyan was caught off guard and blushed.

Learning from her previous mistake, Chunyan did not dare mention Prince Liang this time. Instead, she simply said, “This servant just thinks Second Master Uncle is like a toad wanting to eat swan meat. With Eldest Miss’ family background and beauty, she could marry into any prestigious family. But they seem to have other ideas!”

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s expression did not change much, Chunyan could not help but take another step forward. She went out of the way to speak more favourably of Prince Liang, “A dragon like Prince Liang doesn’t dislike Miss, it’s a great blessing for Miss that he has sincere affections! Miss shouldn’t overlook such great fortune!”

Hah… it was her great fortune?! Bai Qingyan felt like a fool from the previous life. Chunyan’s disloyalty was so obvious. Yet, every time she heard Chunyan praise Prince Liang for being affectionate to her, she had believed it.

She closed her book and carelessly threw it on the small table, knocking over a begonia shaped tea cup with banana leaves etched on the sides, “Chunyan, how dare you have such audacity, trying to dictate my marriage? Who gave you the courage and the face?”

Chunyan’s legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground, “Eldest Miss, this servant does not dare! This servant did not mean that! This servant just feels… Just feels that it is unfair for Eldest Miss to marry into Uncle’s family as the second son’s wife! This servant is just doing this for Eldest Miss’ sake!”

Chunyan trembled like a sieve, tears streaming down her face from fear, “This servant is just unwilling for Eldest Miss. A prince like His Highness Prince Liang treats Eldest Miss with such humility, but why won’t he, a mere top scholar, even look at Eldest Miss seriously?!”

Chuntao was coming in to tell Bai Qingyan that the capital mayor’s office had sent someone to interrogate the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence. Who would have thought that as soon she entered through the door, she would see this scene? She quickly used a rag to clean up the spilled tea on the table.

Bai Qingyan was seething with anger, “Get out!”

Chunyan left the room in tears and Chuntao called someone to serve the eight treasures tea again. She coaxed with a smile, “It’s no matter if Eldest Miss is angry at Chunyan, but if this begonia shaped tea cup with banana leaves etched on the sides is dropped then your favourite tea set would be ruined.”

Bai Qingyan suppressed her anger and picked up her book again, turning a page, “Have someone secretly keep an eye on Chunyan. Report her movements…”

Chuntao looked reluctant, but after a moment, she regained her composure and said, “Eldest Miss, early this morning, the parents of Second Miss’ five dowry maids went to the capital mayor’s office to claim their daughters’ bodies. Before noon, the capital mayor’s office sent people to the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence to inquire about which family the maids were sold to. The Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam couldn’t come up with a plausible explanation for a long time and had to admit that those maids didn’t take good care of Second Miss, so she ordered them to be beaten to death. Right now, the guards from the capital mayor’s office are blocking the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence, and they are at a standstill.”

“The matter about the Zhongyong Marquis’ Madam is a headache for the capital mayor’s office. Let’s just observe,” Bai Qingyan said, “But I wonder if this matter will delay Qin Lang’s move out of the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence tomorrow?”

Since Qin Lang had been ordered to move out of the Zhongyong Marquis’ residence, the Marquis could not help feeling frustrated.

The Zhongyong Marquis, Qin Dezhao, had taken great pains to secure a position as an assistant in the Ministry of Revenue. It had not been easy for him to gain this foothold among the nobility of the capital. Now, everyone was talking about the quarrel between his second wife and his legitimate son. He was really embarrassed.

Fortunately, Prince Liang had sent an envoy to personally reassure him, promising that once the situation in Nanjiang was resolved, he would definitely advise His Majesty to promote him to becoming the Minister of Revenue. Once he held a prestigious position, who in the capital would dare to look down on him?!

In a private room in a restaurant, a drunk Zhongyong Marquis Qin Dezhao was thinking of the Zhenguo Duke and his sons who were all far away in Nanjiang. He poured a cup of wine and raised it to the sky, “To the Duke and his sons! Don’t blame me… The merits of your Duke’s palace are so mighty that they shock the Emperor. There’s no room for you now, the entire court can’t tolerate you! I’m just following orders. As for the debts I owe you in terms of food and supplies, I’ll repay them in my next life… hic…”

Qin Dezhao burped, then suddenly laughed foolishly, “In the next life, maybe I still won’t be able to repay you back!”

With that, Qin Dezhao tilted his head back and downed the strong liquor in his cup.

“Marquis! Marquis! Something’s happened at the residence…” Qin Dezhao’s steward burst into the room, speaking in a panic.

“Why are you in such a rush, and what’s with the chaos?” Qin Dezhao was very angry. He slammed down his cup and gave the steward a sharp look, “Isn’t it just Qin Lang moving out of the Marquis’ residence? What’s the big deal?”

“No, Marquis! The guards from the capital mayor’s office are blocking the entrance to our Marquis’ residence. They want to take Madam!”