Chapter 528 - 528 525 Understanding Reason_1

Chapter 528: Chapter 525: Understanding Reason_1 Chapter 528: Chapter 525: Understanding Reason_1 When the carriage came to a stop, Chun Tao helped Bai Qingyan bow and step out of the exquisitely crafted elm wood carriage. Finally, Madam Dong couldn’t hold back her joy and hurried down the steps, calling out in delight: “Kid…”

“Mother, please take it slow!” Mrs. Cui also wore a smile, carefully supporting Madam Dong with Dong Qingyu on either side.

Ever since knowing that Bai Qingyan didn’t want to marry Dong Changyuan, Mrs. Cui had felt a bit relieved. She’d rather be an aunt than a mother-in-law. Mrs. Cui still liked Bai Qingyan very much.

Moreover, when Mrs. Cui and Dong Qingyue had a severe argument, affecting Dong Changyuan’s mood, it was Bai Qingyan who intervened, helping Dong Changyuan to perform well in the imperial examination and earn the Emperor’s favor.

Later, Dong Changyuan and Mrs. Dong wrote letters back, preventing Dong Qingyue and Mrs. Cui from divorcing or separating.

Mrs. Cui felt an even greater fondness for Bai Qingyan, who was sensible and understanding.

“Grandmother!” Bai Qingyan smiled like a child when she saw Madam Dong looking healthy and in good spirits. As soon as she got off the carriage, Madam Dong grabbed her hand.

“Why didn’t you bring a nanny? Didn’t Nanny Tong manage things well?” Madam Dong frowned and asked.

“Nanny Tong is getting old. My original plan was to keep Chun Tao at home to help train the recently appointed maidens. I’m used to traveling alone, and with the carriages moving fast, I was afraid that bringing Chun Tao and Nanny Tong would be too much for them and slow us down. But Chun Tao insisted on coming, so I brought her along!”

Bai Qingyan answered Madam Dong’s question, then bowed and greeted everyone: “Uncle, Aunt!”

Madam Dong smiled, looking at Chun Tao with even more joy in her eyes: “This girl is wonderful!”

Chun Tao blushed at Madam Dong’s praise and quickly greeted: “Greetings to you, Madam Dong!”

“Dear Cousin!” Dong Changmao, the son born a half-year apart from Dong Qingyue and Dong Changlan, stepped forward and respectfully saluted Bai Qingyan.

Dong Changmao’s appearance wasn’t as refined as Dong Changyuan’s or Dong Changlan’s, but he was still a handsome young man. He wore a dark gray robe with bamboo patterns which gave him a mature, yet somewhat old-fashioned look.

The two daughters, Dong Tingyun and Dong Tingzhi, also hurried forward to greet her.

Dong Tingzhi wore an apricot-colored dress, her hair done up in a round bun, adorned with only a jade hairpin, looking somewhat timid.

However, Dong Tingyun, who stayed by Madam Dong’s side, dressed quite elaborately today. She wore a rose-colored gauze dress with an inner garment trimmed in golden clouds. Her hair was adorned with a hairpin embedded with rubies. After greeting, she smiled and said to Bai Qingyan: “Dear Cousin, you’ve finally come. Grandmother has been thinking about you every day these days!”

Mrs. Cui’s daughter, Sister Rong, also came forward and smiled at Bai Qingyan: “Dear Cousin, was your journey safe? How come you didn’t bring more guards?”

“Everyone, don’t stand outside talking!” Madam Dong’s eyes were full of joy, the wrinkles on her face deepened with her smile. She held Bai Qingyan’s hand, looking her over and said, “Let’s go inside and talk!”

Madam Dong almost clung to Bai Qingyan, heading towards the Chuihua gate, while instructing someone to bring out the prepared food for Bai Qingyan.

Dong Qingyue followed beside them, grinning. He couldn’t help but notice that Bai Qingyan’s health looked much better than when she was in Dadu City. He realized that the letters his sister had sent, saying Bai Qingyan was improving day by day, were not mere comfort.

Dong Tingyun, being bold, walked beside Mrs. Cui, continuously asking Bai Qingyan about the battles in the Southern and Northern Frontiers. Madam Dong, holding Bai Qingyan’s hand, turned her head and scolded: “Your cousin just arrived, hasn’t even caught her breath yet. Why are you asking so many questions?”

Dong Tingyun smiled, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, jesting with Madam Dong: “Cousin just arrived, and Grandmother already thinks I talk too much! Cousin, you judge… Grandmother always says I am lively with my chatter! Could it be that Grandmother thinks you are prettier and wants to ignore me?”

Bai Qingyan smiled slightly but said nothing.

Mrs. Cui laughed, reaching out to tap Dong Tingyun’s forehead, recognizing that only Dong Tingyun, who grew up by Madam Dong’s side, dared to say such things.

The Dong family in Dengzhou was well-established, with exquisite pavilions, painted roofs, and intricately carved beams, all possessing a classical beauty and dignified elegance.

Madam Dong scorned Dong Tingyun for talking too much. During their walk through the corridor, she constantly asked Bai Qingyan about her journey until they entered Madam Dong’s yard. Only then did Bai Qingyan go to the warm pavilion prepared for her to change and freshen up.

Madam Dong loved Bai Qingyan dearly. Mrs. Cui and Mrs. Cui’s daughter suggested preparing a separate courtyard for Bai Qingyan, but Madam Dong couldn’t bear to have her stay elsewhere and wanted her close under her eyes.

Bai Qingyan, after washing away the dust of travel, changed into a frost-colored robe and dress and, with Chun Tao’s assistance, arrived at Madam Dong’s main room, just as the room bustled with activity. Someone had brought chilled sour plum soup. Madam Dong ordered it to be taken away, instructing that iced drinks were not to be served. Instead, she had silver cups of milk brought in and told her daughters-in-law, granddaughters, and granddaughters-in-law to ensure that Bai Qingyan wasn’t given anything cold.

Knowing that Bai Qingyan couldn’t handle chilled items due to her illness, Madam Dong always remembered, warming Bai Qingyan’s heart.

“Dear Cousin!” Nanny Wang, near Madam Dong, greeted and lifted the curtain for Bai Qingyan to enter. Nanny Wang was neatly dressed, with a round face, looking very amiable.

As the bamboo curtain stirred, everyone inside looked towards the door. Passing the screen and beaded curtain, Bai Qingyan approached the inner room.

Mrs. Cui rose to welcome her: “Dear Cousin, come sit by Grandmother…”

Bai Qingyan nodded with a smile, walked to Madam Dong’s side, held her hand, and exchanged many words. Then, at Madam Dong’s instruction, the maidservant presented the gifts Bai Qingyan brought for the Dong family. After dining together, Bai Qingyan didn’t get a proper chance to speak with her uncle, Dong Qingyue.

Madam Dong kept Bai Qingyan in the room to chat, while Nanny Wang, under the pretense of admiring Chun Tao’s embroidered clothes, took Chun Tao out of the main house.

A glowing golden incense burner sat at the center of the main house, its smoke curling like clouds, dispersing into the room.

As the sound of the swaying pearl curtain ceased, Bai Qingyan voiced her intention of bringing Madam Dong to Shuoyang.

Madam Dong, seated on a rosewood soft couch with her elbow resting on a black lacquered table inlaid with gold, put down her tea cup and smiled: “Grandmother is old and can’t handle such a long journey. Perhaps when our Kid marries, I will go to Dengzhou. Since Kid is here now, stay with your grandmother for a while. Who knows how many days your grandmother has left.”