The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 37

“Miss…” Chuntao set down the white jade comb and solemnly knelt beside Bai Qingyan, her eyes reddened as she choked up, “Chuntao knows that if Chunyan betrays her mistress, it would not be enough even if she is beaten to death. This servant only begs Miss to spare Chunyan’s life. It’s not that this servant is softhearted, but this servant just wants to repay the kindness Chunyan once showed in saving this servant’s life.”

She looked at the innocent and gentle Chuntao. After a while, she sighed and helped Chuntao up, “Enough. As long as she doesn’t bring harm to my Bai family, I’ll spare her life for your sake. I hope she won’t betray your plea for her mercy. Wipe your tears and go tell Uncle Ping to quietly deal with the servant Yinshuang brought back, and make sure no word slips out.”

Chuntao looked at Bai Qingyan with teary eyes, “Yes! Thank you, Eldest Miss!”

Meanwhile, Prince Liang who was still recovering from his injuries in his residence received the news. With his eyes closed, he sat propped up on soft cushions and clutching his chest. His handsome face, with prominent cheekbones, was pale and devoid of any colour and his voice as cold as an icy tomb, “Has Dong Zhangyuan been investigated thoroughly?”

“Dong Zhangyuan was a disciple of the great scholar, Master Lu, and had become a top scholar at a young age. Some even claimed that Dong Zhangyuan could have achieved the top scholar position three times in a row. In recent years, almost everyone in the matchmaking circle has tried to enter the Dong family’s door, but Grand Madam Dong seems determined to keep her grandson for her granddaughter and hasn’t accepted anyone else. Also, this top scholar has never had even a single maid in his rooms, it’s all very clean,” the subordinate reported truthfully to Prince Liang.

Prince Liang opened his eyes, his deep phoenix-like gaze exuding an intense coldness. Feeling a sense of urgency, he could not help but cough lightly and pain tore through his chest. After a long pause, he called out, “Tong Ji…”

Tong Ji hurriedly entered with a steaming bowl of bitter medicine, “Master!”

“Tomorrow morning, take this jade pendant bestowed upon this prince by the Emperor to the Zhenguo Duke’s residence and find Chunyan. Tell her that she must hand over this jade pendant to Bai Qingyan! Tell Bai Qingyan that this prince intends to propose marriage to her with her becoming my main princess. Ask her to wait for this prince.”

Prince Liang’s calculations were clear. By doing this, firstly he would be exerting pressure on the Dong family with his royal status, preventing them from proposing marriage. Secondly, as long as Chunyan received the jade pendant, it would prove there was something personal between Bai Qingyan and himself. With Bai Qingyan’s reputation tarnished and with her difficulties in producing heirs, who would dare marry her?!

Tongji’s brows twisted into knots, “But wasn’t Your Highness planning on making her a side concubine? The position of main princess is so prestigious, and heirs from Eldest Miss Bai…”

“You dare defy this prince’s orders? Cough cough…”

Under Prince Liang’s intimidating gaze, Tongji trembled with fear, nodding repeatedly in acknowledgment.

Early the next day, Dong Zhangyuan accompanied Grand Madam Dong as they visited with generous gifts. Their purpose was twofold. The first was to visit the Princess Dowager. As for the second, after their conversation from the previous night, Dong Zhangyuan was deeply regretful. So he had begged Grand Madam Dong to visit the Zhenguo Duke’s residence again to see if there was still room for negotiation regarding the marriage with Bai Qingyan.

Dong Zhangyuan was not a lecherous man. Rather, he admired his cousin Bai Qingyan’s exceptional beauty and purity, like a picturesque scene of the autumn moon, sparkling and flawless. The thought of Bai Qingyan being rejected by her in-laws after marriage due to her inability to bear offspring was like casting pearls before swine and it pained him deeply.

After a lively conversation between the Princess Dowager and Grand Madam Dong, Aunty Jiang was sent to invite Bai Qingyan from the Qinghui Courtyard.

Seeing Jiang-shi off, Chunyan stood at the door with a droopy face, muttering while twisting her handkerchief as if someone owed her, “They just met at the Dong residence yesterday, why has that Young Master Dong from Dengzhou come today?”

Yesterday, Chunyan had sent someone to inform His Highness Prince Liang of the news, but she did not know if Prince Liang had received the message or if there was any plan of action.

If Eldest Miss really married and went to Dengzhou, then in the future… How could she face His Highness Prince Liang?

Seeing Bai Qingyan had already changed clothes and was coming out, Chunyan hurried forward to assist, but Bai Qingyan said, “Only Chuntao needs to follow along.”

Hearing this, Chunyan withdrew her hand and stood aside with red eyes.

Without even looking at Chunyan, Bai Qingyan walked out of Qinghuo Courtyard, holding Chuntao’s hand.

Yinshuang, who was enjoying her pine nut candy with relish, saw Chunyan’s red eyes. She lowered her head and glanced at her cany. Rather painfully, she stepped forward and offered her some pine nut candy, “Have some candy.”

Chunyan glared at Yinshuang and knocked the candy out of her hand, “Who wants to eat candy from a fool like you?!”

Yinshuang looked at the pine nut candies scattered all over the floor and pushed Chunyan onto the ground. Chunyan turned her head to glare at Yinshuang, “You…”

Yinshuang tilted her chin up with a fearless expression. Chunyan knew she was no match for Yinshuang. She got up, brushed off the dirt from her clothes, and said angrily, “I won’t argue with a fool like you!”

Seeing Chunyan leave, Yinshuang bent down to pick up the pine nut candies that Sister Chuntao had given her, one by one. She blew off the dust, wrapped them up again, then sat under the eaves, happily eating them.

Inside the room, the Princess Dowager and Grand Madam Dong were talking, while Dong Zhangyuan could not resist standing under the eaves, constantly looking outside at the Changshou Courtyard.

In the radiant sunlight reflecting off the glistening snow, he saw a slender figure dressed in white approaching gracefully. Dong Zhangyuan’s heart raced as he could not help but walk down the steps to greet her, bowing deeply, “Cousin…”

She smiled and returned the greeting, “Why is Cousin standing outside? Is it stuffy inside the room?”

“I specifically waited here for Cousin,” Dong Zhangyuan’s ears turned red as he bowed again, “Firstly, to apologise for my negligence towards Cousin yesterday.”

“No need to worry about it,” she nodded lightly.

“Secondly… secondly…” Dong Zhangyuan hesitated to straighten up. His heart was pounding and his breath was hot, “Could Cousin spare a moment to speak with me privately?”

Bai Qingyan glanced at Chuntao, who immediately understood and stepped aside at a distance.

Fortunately, they were in the Changshou Courtyard and with all the servants watching, it was not considered inappropriate.

“Cousin, please speak.”

Only then did Dong Zhangyuan stand up straight with his face red, “I know Aunt has been worried about Cousin’s future marriage due to the issue of offspring. Cousin possesses both virtue and talent, and has a pure heart and spirit, and is comparable to the finest gems and autumn frost. How could…” How could it be like what his grandmother had said, that she should settle for a marriage out of necessity because of difficulties in bearing children?

Dong Zhangyuan clenched his teeth and solemnly declared, “I, Zhangyuan, do not wish to see Cousin’s brilliance obscured. If I may be so bold, please consider my proposal.”

Seeing Dong Zhangyuan’s earnest demeanour, she was momentarily taken aback. She laughed softly, “Thank you for your kind intentions, Cousin. However, in this life… I have no intention of marrying. My grandfather and father have already arranged an alternate path for me, so there is no need for Cousin to worry. Cousin Zhangyuan, with your open mind and honest demeanour like uncut jade and pure gold, Cousin should be matched with a flawless lady. How can Cousin give in because of sympathy? It’s just… If I were to say that I will never marry, it might break my mother’s heart. So, I hope Cousin Zhangyuan can help me keep this a secret from my mother.”

Dong Zhangyuan could tell that Bai Qingyan did not want to marry him, but he still took the risk to propose. Unexpectedly, Bai Qingyan had already made up her mind to never marry.

Inside the room, the Princess Dowager and Grand Madam Dong shook their heads and sighed. Grand Madam Dong said, “Judging from Zhangyuan’s expression, it seems Ah Bao is not willing. Yesterday, this child, Zhangyuan, knelt before me, begging me to sacrifice my face to give him another chance, saying he didn’t want to see Ah Bao, a woman as beautiful and flawless as autumn moonlight, face difficulties from her future husband’s family due to her inability to have offspring.”