Chapter 722: 719: Unyielding_1

Chapter 722: Chapter 719: Unyielding_1

Bai Qingyan felt a slight warmth in her heart and said to Mrs. Song, “Thank you, Aunt, for hiding this from Grandmother for me.”

Fearing Bai Qingyan might be too exhausted, Mrs. Song spoke briefly with her and then, with her three daughters, followed Mrs. Liu and Bai Jinxiu to the front hall.

Mrs. Liu, unaware of Dong Tingfang’s wish to break off the engagement with the main branch disciple of the Fu Family, chatted in the front hall, “The wedding date for the Fu Family and Dong Family is set for after the spring examination. The Fu Family’s main branch child will also participate this year. I heard last year his mother fell ill before his spring exam. He didn’t change clothes and stayed by her bedside, which is why he didn’t perform well. But I think he’s smart and will surely do well this year!”

Though the spring examination was retaken this year due to an exam cheating case, the Fu Family had many troubles last year. Who knows if the main branch child will do well this year. Mrs. Liu’s words were merely to comfort Dong Tingfang.

Then Mrs. Liu inquired about how Dong Tingfang’s dowry was coming along…

Dong Tingfang glanced at Mrs. Song, who drank tea, and could only lower her head timidly and answer, “It’s not finished yet. If I hadn’t come to see my cousin today, I wouldn’t have been able to go out.”

Mrs. Liu sensed something was off and raised her eyebrows at Mrs. Song, smiling, “A soon-to-be-married girl should stay home. When Jinxiu was about to get married, I kept her at home for half a year without going out.”

Dong Tingfang mumbled and respectfully agreed, with nothing more to say.

In front of Mrs. Liu, Mrs. Song couldn’t lose her temper, but she felt that nowadays, Dong Tingfang was less restrained and filled with jealousy.

Speaking of the dowry prepared for Dong Tingfang, Mrs. Song felt she had given her more than several times what other households gave their illegitimate daughters. It wasn’t to make Dong Tingfang feel grateful but to let her know she wasn’t mistreated by her stepmother.

Yet, Dong Tingfang went behind her back, saying, “I’m an illegitimate daughter. It’s only natural my dowry is less than others!”

This angered Mrs. Song greatly; she just didn’t bother dealing with Dong Tingfang anymore.

Mrs. Song knew Dong Tingfang now didn’t want to marry but she had willingly accepted this marriage arranged by others. Even if she regretted it now, she had to go through with it. The path was chosen by herself; there’s no medicine for regret in this world.

After visiting Bai Qingyan and drinking tea, Mrs. Song bid farewell.

But Dong Tingzhen said, “Mother, I have nothing else to do at home. I’d like to stay and take care of my cousin…”

Mrs. Song knew her daughter was always close to Bai Qingyan. Since Bai Qingyan resolved her trouble with King Liang, Mrs. Song naturally hoped her daughter would maintain close ties with Bai Qingyan. She smiled and nodded, “Very well… I will have the nanny bring your change of clothes. Take good care of your cousin since your aunt is not here.”

“Don’t worry, Mother!” Dong Tingzhen bowed to Mrs. Song.

“Mother…” Dong Tingfang stepped forward too, “I wish to stay and take care of my cousin as well! Please allow me!”

Bai Jinxiu, aware that Dong Tingfang wanted to ask for Bai Qingyan’s help to break off her engagement with the Fu Family, smiled, “Cousin Tingfang still needs to go back and finish her dowry. Besides… Our Bai Mansion isn’t lacking in people. How could I, the younger sister, let my cousin put aside her own dowry to take care of my eldest sister? If word got out… Who knows what people might say!”

Hearing this, Dong Tingfang directly kneeled to Mrs. Song, “Mother, I am about to get married. Things are different from staying at my own home. Besides, my cousin will be far in Shuoyang… This is a rare opportunity. Please, Mother, allow me!”

Dong Tingfang kowtowed to Mrs. Song.

Mrs. Song glanced at Mrs. Liu and didn’t hide her intention, “Mrs. Liu is not an outsider. Since you insist on staying, some things must be said!”

“Tingfang, as your stepmother, I’ve treated you well. Considering you are to join the Fu Family’s main branch and marry the eldest son, your dowry is prepared several times more than what others give their illegitimate daughters! This marriage was willingly accepted by you at the beginning. Now that the Fu Family is in trouble and has no chance of recovery, you want to break the engagement. It is impossible! Our Dong Family values trust and promises!”

Mrs. Song wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, “Your cousin is seriously injured. If you dare disturb her recovery with your personal matters, I, as your stepmother, will break the engagement for you. Then, I’ll send your concubine mother and you to a family monastery. You will spend the rest of your life there, reflecting. This will show the Dong Family’s daughter’s integrity!”

Dong Tingfang trembled, kneeling unsteadily on the ground.

“Try if you think I’m bluffing! You know the status of an illegitimate daughter in the Dong Family…” Mrs. Song glared at her.

As another illegitimate daughter, Dong Tingyu stood aside, twisting her handkerchief with a pale face.

Taking care of family matters at someone else’s house was undesirable for Mrs. Song, but what could she do when the illegitimate daughter was so ungrateful, selfishly thinking only of her own interests?

If she did not make things clear now, this ungrateful illegitimate daughter might kneel and force Bai Qingyan to help break off the engagement. Given Bai Qing’s condition earlier, she couldn’t bear to trouble her… no way would she allow this shameless girl to burden her!

Daughters raised by concubines often cared little for face and were willing to throw away dignity.

“I’ll ask one more time: will you come back with me, or stay at the Bai family?” Mrs. Song asked again.

“Sister, you…” Dong Tingzhen frowned, “Since it’s like this, I won’t stay at the Bai Mansion to trouble them. I’ll go back with you, Mother. Sister, let’s go home!”

Dong Tingfang hurriedly kowtowed to Mrs. Song, “Mother… I genuinely just want to take care of my cousin, nothing more. Please allow me to show my affection towards my cousin!”

Mrs. Song’s cold gaze lingered on Dong Tingfang before she turned to Mrs. Liu, bowing, “I apologize for the trouble caused. These two children will stay to take care of Kid; I will send someone to pick them up tomorrow morning. I am sorry for any inconvenience…”

“We’re all family, no need to be so formal!” Mrs. Liu knew Mrs. Song truly cared for Bai Qingyan. Glancing at Dong Tingfang kneeling, she reassured, “I will take care of them. Don’t worry!”

After sending Mrs. Song out, Mrs. Liu said to Dong Tingzhen, “Kid is asleep now. Why don’t you and Tingfang come to my place?”

Mrs. Liu decided not to let Dong Tingfang go to Bai Qingyan’s Qinghui Courtyard.