Chapter 276: Chapter 274: Divorce Wife_1 Chapter 276: Chapter 274: Divorce Wife_1 Bai Jinzhi sat inside the painted boat, munching on snacks while watching Dong Changyuan, who was speaking with her eldest sister at the bow. She lowered her voice and asked Dong Tingzhen, “How did Cousin Changyuan become so thin? Is the pressure from the imperial exams too much for him?”

Dong Tingzhen nodded haphazardly, “Brother Changyuan didn’t do well in the exams this time. He must be feeling pressured! I hope Sister can help ease his worries!”

“My eldest sister can definitely help him! My eldest sister always speaks with reason!” Bai Jinzhi stuffed a snack into her mouth.

Dong Changyuan, standing at the bow, lowered his eyes to stare at the lake water and said, “Knowing that Cousin Sister has returned safely, Changyuan is relieved! However… now that envoys from various countries have arrived in Dadu City, it’s expected that at the Emperor’s birthday banquet tomorrow, there will be envoys proposing marriage to Cousin Sister. Changyuan fears the Emperor might hastily betroth Cousin Sister to someone else. So, he pleaded with Brother Changsheng to let me see Cousin Sister once. If Cousin Sister nods, I will go to my aunt. If the Emperor indeed decrees a marriage, Cousin Sister will have a reason to refuse! If Cousin Sister finds a favored man in the future, Changyuan will have the elders annul the engagement.”

Dong Changyuan harbored no romantic intentions towards Bai Qingyan. When he knew Bai Qingyan had achieved great success in the southern border, he realized the gap between them was insurmountable.

Bai Qingyan looked at Dong Changyuan, who didn’t raise his head. She asked softly, “Is it my marriage affairs that caused discord between Uncle and Aunt?”

Dong Changyuan didn’t expect Bai Qingyan to guess this. Stunned, he raised his head to look at Bai Qingyan, then frowned and avoided her gaze.

Indeed.

Although Bai Qingyan didn’t interact much with this cousin, she didn’t believe he would be troubled by matters of romance.

So, Bai Qingyan guessed it might be because of her that Uncle and Aunt quarreled, which distracted Dong Changyuan.

“Mother intended to betroth me to my cousin from the maternal family. My father disagreed, as did grandmother, thinking… to wait for Cousin Sister to return from the southern border! Later… news about the southern border spread back, and Mother…,” Dong Changyuan found it difficult to speak his mother’s words, pressed his lips, and continued, “Mother spoke harshly, feeling Father and Grandmother were biased, insisting on delaying my marriage to wait for you, stirring up a huge ruckus. Father, in his anger… wanted to divorce her.”

Dong Changyuan’s mother, Mrs. Cui, spoke harshly. She said Bai Qingyan’s actions of killing prisoners were inhumane, being ruthless and cruel. She also accused Madam Dong of being partial, forcing her legitimate grandson to wait for the cousin. Did they want to wait until Bai Qingyan decided not to take Dong Changyuan before allowing Dong Changyuan to marry? If Madam Dong and her husband insisted on treating her son like this, she would take her son and return to her family’s home.

In his rage, Dong Qingyue decided to divorce his wife.

In short, it was chaos.

Thus, Dong Changyuan performed poorly in the imperial exams, deeply affected and unable to lift himself from his despondency.

Bai Qingyan didn’t expect her affairs to cause such a commotion in her maternal family.

“So, Cousin Changyuan insisted on meeting… did he hear something from Uncle?”

Dong Changyuan nodded, “I heard envoys from Daliang asked Uncle about your engagement status.”

This time, a prince from Daliang had come. Dong Changyuan feared if Bai Qingyan were proposed to by the Daliang prince and the marriage didn’t suit her, Grandmother and Father would blame Mother in the future.

“Changyuan…” Bai Qingyan called Dong Changyuan softly, “I have already vowed to never marry and stay with the Bai family! Since this matter started because of me, I will write to Grandmother and Uncle to tell them my intentions! Uncle and Aunt are a couple who have been through hardships. You shouldn’t take their harsh words to heart. You should prepare well for the palace examination. Otherwise, if this matter affects your future, the rift between Uncle and Aunt will only grow wider.”

Dong Changyuan’s body trembled slightly. He straightened his back and looked at Bai Qingyan.

She gave a faint smile to Dong Changyuan, “If Cousin Changyuan can top the palace examination, it will be a joyous occasion. Aunt and Uncle will surely reconcile. Cousin Changyuan should take the opportunity to discuss this matter with them thoroughly. It will be fine once everything is spoken out.”

“But Cousin Sister, what about you? What if Daliang proposes? What if His Majesty decrees a marriage?”

“The Emperor would rather marry off a princess than let me marry into another country. Besides, my vow to never marry is known throughout Dadu City… the Emperor won’t force me.” Bai Qingyan reassured Dong Changyuan.

Dong Changyuan thought for a moment, then bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan, “I misunderstood earlier. Thank you, Cousin Sister, for your enlightenment.”

“Cousin Changyuan is well-read and talented. Although the imperial exam didn’t go well, I firmly believe you will excel in the palace examination.”

Dong Changyuan listened to Bai Qingyan’s gentle and warm voice. Raising his head, he saw Bai Qingyan’s faint smile and nodded, “I will not disappoint Cousin Sister.”

Today, the weather was fine with clear skies. Even the Fourth Prince of Daliang, Wei Qiheng, came to the lake, hoping to encounter a beautiful young lady from a noble family and perhaps start a brief romance. Who knew, as the dashing and handsome Fourth Prince rode over, he encountered several noble ladies… yet none caught Wei Qiheng’s eye.

Wei Qiheng, leaning idly on the boat railing, feeding fish felt especially bored. Restlessly lifting his gaze, the Dong family’s painted boat happened to pass by.

Wei Qiheng peered intently at the boat passing by. Before he could see clearly… the end of the boat passed in front of his eyes. Suddenly, an exquisitely beautiful figure standing with a young man caught his eye, stunning Wei Qiheng. His gaze followed the slender figure speaking with the young man.

On the lake, willow branches swayed, and ripples danced in the breeze. The wide sleeves of the woman inside the boat fluttered gently. From a distance, she looked like a fairy about to ascend to the heavens, as beautiful as a painting or a poem, not like a mortal.

“Is that… the Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu?” Wei Qiheng turned and shouted to the guards and boatmen, “Quick, quick! Follow that painted boat! Hurry!”

*
When Bai Qingyan returned to the Bai Mansion, the nameplate of the Princess of Zhen’s Mansion was already hung at the entrance.

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Her being conferred the title of Princess of Zhen had spread like wildfire, and people continuously came to congratulate her.

Inside Qinghui Courtyard, Nanny Tong was having the maids replace the curtains with lighter ones as the weather was gradually getting warmer, making the rooms feel fresher.

Mrs. Dong had already sent people to deliver gifts from various mansions to Qinghui Courtyard. While Nanny Qin helped Chun Tao catalog the gifts, they opened the gift box sent by King Yan, Li Zhijie. Inside the exquisite mahogany brocade box was a thumb ring and a letter.

Nanny Qin was stunned at the sight and hurriedly brought the mahogany brocade box to Bai Qingyan with Chun Tao.

Bai Qingyan put down her brush, “Bring it here, Nanny… let me see…”