Chapter 271: Chapter 269: Private Meeting_1 Chapter 271: Chapter 269: Private Meeting_1 Bai Jinzhi’s mentioned two cousins and three female cousins from the Dong family were the children of Bai Qingyan’s eldest uncle, Dong Qingping.

Not long after, Nanny Qin, who served Mrs. Dong, came over to the carriage and whispered, “Eldest Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady, the young masters and young ladies of the Dong Mansion would like to invite both of you to join them for a boat ride. Madam asked me to inquire if the two young ladies would like to go and get some fresh air?”

Mrs. Dong thought that Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi, having returned from the battlefield of southern Xinjiang, needed to relax.

Moreover, letting her daughters get close to their maternal family was naturally a good thing in Mrs. Dong’s view. It was rare that her nephews and nieces did not hold any fear toward Bai Qingyan despite her deeds of burning and killing surrendered enemies in southern Xinjiang, and even invited her for a boat ride. How could Mrs. Dong not agree?

“Eldest Sister! Eldest Sister!” Bai Jinzhi called out more and more urgently, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Bai Qingyan, almost tugging at her sleeve to plead.

Bai Qingyan looked at Bai Jinzhi’s eager expression, smiled, and said, “Then please inform Mother that my fourth sister and I will return home a bit later…”

“Alright! I will inform Madam right away,” Nanny Qin replied joyfully, as she had been worried that the Eldest Young Lady would refuse.

Mrs. Dong did not feel at ease, so she had Nanny Qin follow them personally. The three young ladies of the Dong family, having heard that their eldest cousin was joining, happily crowded into Bai Qingyan’s carriage.

“My cousin! My cousin!” Dong Tingzhen, lifting her skirt, boarded the carriage. Seeing Bai Qingyan, she smiled and said, “We intended to visit you both yesterday. But Mother did not allow it, saying you would be exhausted after returning from southern Xinjiang and needed to rest well. Knowing that you would be attending the palace banquet today, we waited here all morning to catch you!”

Bai Qingyan was slightly taken aback, thinking it was a coincidence, but she realized they had been waiting here deliberately. She smiled at Dong Tingzhen, “You could have sent someone ahead to inform us. Why wait all morning?”

Dong Tingzhen’s eyes reddened slightly. She gripped Bai Qingyan’s hand and sized her up and down, asking, “Did you get injured when you went to southern Xinjiang? Father and Mother were terrified when they heard you were going, worrying all the time.”

She gently squeezed Dong Tingzhen’s hand and said, “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

In contrast to Dong Tingzhen’s familiarity and warmth as a legitimate daughter, Dong Tingyu and Dong Tingfang were happy but seemed somewhat reserved in Bai Qingyan’s presence. It was as if her presence carried an inexplicable sharpness that made them uneasy.

However, they played well with the childlike Bai Jinzhi.

The carriage swayed and wobbled out of town. Before they reached Taoyin Lake, they heard the excited chatter of children and young girls enjoying the spring outing.

Dong Changsheng, the eldest son of Dong Qingping, riding ahead, saw the lively scene, turned his horse around, and approached the carriage. He spoke softly, “Sisters, the spring scenery outside is beautiful. Would you like to come down and take a walk?”

Dong Tingzhen lifted the curtain and glanced outside. The vibrant spring scenery and lush greenery were captivating. She couldn’t help but smile, “The spring scenery is wonderful. The peach blossoms and green willows along the way are lovely. Let us get down and walk around! Cousin?”

“Eldest Sister, it’s so lively outside. The flowers are blooming beautifully!” Bai Jinzhi also turned her hopeful eyes to Bai Qingyan.

If it weren’t for Bai Jinzhi’s pleading, Bai Qingyan would have returned to the mansion long ago. Seeing her sister’s eager look again, she glanced outside through the curtain lifted by Bai Jinzhi. Seeing that the sun was shining and they had brought enough guards and nannies, she nodded, “Let’s get off and walk for a while.”

Bai Jinzhi, with her sister’s permission, joyfully asked the driver to stop, pulling Dong Tingyu and Dong Tingfang by the hand as they got off the carriage.

“Cousin…” Dong Tingzhen suddenly grabbed Bai Qingyan’s hand as she was getting off and moved closer, whispering, “Brother Chang Yuan asked Brother and me to arrange a private meeting with you. Please don’t be angry with me!”

Before Bai Qingyan could react, Dong Tingzhen had already helped her down from the carriage.

Dong Changsheng and Dong Changqing, who had already dismounted and stood to the side, greeted Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi.

“Greetings, cousins!”

“Greetings, cousin! Greetings, sister!”

Dong Changsheng, who was three months older than Bai Qingyan, was considered her elder cousin. Bai Qingyan had already heard from her mother that Dong Changsheng was set to marry Lord Shoushan’s eldest granddaughter on April 15.

After returning the greetings to Dong Changsheng and Dong Changqing, she smiled and said, “Mother mentioned that my cousin did well in the exams this year. Congratulations in advance on your double success.”

“Thank you, cousin. Please send a generous gift when the time comes,” Dong Changsheng, gentle and elegant, joked with Bai Qingyan, which shortened the distance between them.

Mrs. Dong had left quite a few maidservants and guards with Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi. Dong Changsheng and his siblings also brought many people with them. The scene of these noble young masters and ladies on an outing was quite grand, causing the common folk playing along the way to quickly move aside with their children.

Bai Jinzhi, holding Dong Tingyu and Dong Tingfang’s hands, happily picked flowers ahead, occasionally yelling that she had been titled a County Lord with little actual significance.

Dong Tingzhen, linking her arm with Bai Qingyan’s, spoke softly as a group of old maids and guards followed them from behind, “Cousin, please don’t be angry with me about Brother Chang Yuan. And don’t tell Auntie, or I’ll be severely punished!”

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“If you’re afraid of punishment, how dare you deceive my mother? Nanny Qin is still around. Do you think she’s easily fooled?” Bai Qingyan replied calmly, her expression impassive.

“You don’t know, cousin. Brother Chang Yuan has become so pitiful, losing a lot of weight!” Dong Tingzhen’s voice sounded distressed at the thought of her cousin, “Since you went to southern Xinjiang, he hasn’t had a moment of peace. Even the great scholar Mr. Lu said Brother Chang Yuan would secure the highest honors, but he nearly failed this time…”

She had also heard about Dong Changyuan almost failing from her mother. Her mother subtly mentioned that it was because Dong Changyuan was worried about her in southern Xinjiang. Chun Tao also told her that Dong Changyuan, after hearing news about Bai Qingyan, came to visit her several times when she was sick. Later, when he learned she had gone to southern Xinjiang, he confirmed it with her mother and then tried to ride to southern Xinjiang, but was stopped by Lu Ping.

As for Dong Changyuan, she regarded him as a younger brother, but had no other feelings.

“When my second uncle and second aunt left, they entrusted Brother Chang Yuan to my parents. Now that you’re back, Brother Chang Yuan said he wanted to meet you privately before the imperial exams. My brother and I couldn’t bear it, so we came up with this lousy idea. If you’re angry, be angry at me!” Dong Tingzhen’s eyes reddened as she continued, “But don’t worry, cousin. Besides my brother and me, no one knows the truth. Everyone thinks we’re just here for a lake outing!”