“Miss…” Chun Tao put down the white jade comb in her hands and knelt solemnly beside Bai Qingyan, her eyes red with tears as she choked out, “Chun Tao knows that Chun Yan’s betrayal of her master deserves death. This servant only begs Miss to spare Chun Yan’s life. It’s not that this servant is soft-hearted, but I only wish to honor the fact that Chun Yan once saved my life.”

Looking at the pure and gentle Chun Tao, she sighed after a long moment and helped her to her feet: “Fine. As long as she doesn’t do anything to harm my Bai family, I’ll spare her from death for your sake. I hope she won’t disappoint your plea for mercy on her behalf. Wipe your tears and go tell Uncle Ping to quietly detain the young servant who captured by Yin Shuang, and don’t let word of this leak out.”

Chun Tao looked at Bai Qingyan with tearful eyes: “Yes! Thank you, First Miss!”

Prince Liang, who was still recovering from his injuries in the mansion, received the news. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the soft pillows, covering his chest. His handsome face with its sharp features was pale as paper without a trace of color, his voice cold as an ice cellar for storing corpses: “Has this Dong Changyuan been thoroughly investigated?”

“Dong Changyuan studied under the great scholar Master Lu. He became a county-level graduate at a young age, and some predicted he would achieve the highest honors in all three imperial examinations. Over the years, matchmakers have nearly worn down the threshold of the Dong family home in Dengzhou, but Old Madam Dong seems determined to reserve her legitimate second grandson for her granddaughter, refusing all proposals. Moreover, this county graduate has never even arranged for a single chambermaid in his quarters – he keeps himself completely pure.” Prince Liang’s subordinate reported truthfully.

Prince Liang opened his eyes, his deep phoenix eyes revealing intense coldness. Attacked by urgent fire, he couldn’t help but cough lightly, his chest tearing with pain. After catching his breath for a long while, he called out: “Tong Ji…”

Tong Ji hurried in carrying steaming bitter medicine: “Master!”

“Tomorrow morning, take this prince’s imperially bestowed jade pendant to Duke Zhenguo’s mansion to find Chun Yan. Instruct her to deliver the jade pendant to Bai Qingyan! Tell Bai Qingyan that this prince wishes to marry her as his princess consort and asks her to wait for me.”

Prince Liang calculated clearly. Acting this way served two purposes: first, using his status as an imperial prince to pressure the Dong family and prevent them from proposing marriage. Second, once Chun Yan accepted the jade pendant, it would prove Bai Qingyan had a private relationship with him, tarnishing her reputation and making childbearing difficult – who would dare marry her then?!

Tong Ji frowned deeply: “But Your Highness, didn’t you originally say she would be a side consort? The position of princess consort is so noble, and that Bai family’s eldest daughter’s childbearing…”

“Do you dare disobey this prince’s words? cough cough…”

Tong Ji was frightened by Prince Liang’s gaze and quickly nodded in agreement.

The next day, Dong Changyuan accompanied Old Madam Dong early in the morning, bringing generous gifts to the door. First, to visit Grand Princess, and second, because after a long conversation with Old Madam Dong the previous night, Dong Changyuan regretted his actions and begged Old Madam Dong to visit the Duke’s mansion once more to see if there was still room for negotiation regarding his marriage to Bai Qingyan.

It wasn’t that Dong Changyuan was a lustful man greedy for beauty, but when he saw his cousin Bai Qingyan’s pure and bright demeanor, like an ice vessel in autumn moonlight, flawless and transparent, he couldn’t bear the thought of her marrying another and being despised by her in-laws for her childbearing difficulties – it would be like casting pearls before swine, causing him unbearable heartache.

Grand Princess and Old Madam Dong chatted warmly for a while before Nanny Jiang came to Qinghui Courtyard on orders to request Bai Qingyan’s presence.

After seeing off Nanny Jiang, Chun Yan’s face drooped terribly, looking as though someone owed her money as she stood at the door, wringing her handkerchief and muttering: “We just saw that Dengzhou cousin yesterday at the Dong mansion. What’s that young master doing coming to our mansion again?”

Yesterday, Chun Yan had sent someone to report to Prince Liang, but she didn’t know if Prince Liang had received the message or had any countermeasures.

If First Miss married off to Dengzhou, how would she… ever see Prince Liang again?

Seeing that Bai Qingyan had already changed clothes and come out, Chun Yan quickly stepped forward to help, but heard Bai Qingyan say, “Chun Tao can accompany me.”

Upon hearing this, Chun Yan withdrew her hand and stood aside with reddened eyes.

Without even glancing at Chun Yan, she left Qinghui Courtyard, supported by Chun Tao’s hand.

Yin Shuang, who was holding pine nut candy and eating it with great relish, saw Chun Yan’s red-rimmed eyes. She looked down at her candy, frowned with some reluctance, then stepped forward and offered the pine nut candy to her: “Eat candy.”

Chun Yan glared at Yin Shuang and knocked the candy from her hands: “Who wants to eat candy from an idiot like you?”

Yin Shuang looked at the pine nut candy scattered all over the ground, then casually pushed Chun Yan, sending her sprawling. Chun Yan turned around and glared at Yin Shuang: “You…”

Yin Shuang looked completely fearless, chin raised defiantly. Chun Yan knew she was no match for Yin Shuang, so she got up and dusted herself off, saying resentfully: “I won’t stoop to arguing with an idiot!”

After Chun Yan left, Yin Shuang bent down to pick up the pine nut candy Sister Chun Tao had given her, piece by piece, blew off the dust, wrapped it back up, and sat under the eaves happily eating it again.

Grand Princess and Old Madam Dong were talking inside while Dong Changyuan waited restlessly under the eaves, constantly looking toward the entrance of Changshou Courtyard.

In the brilliant golden morning light reflecting off the snow, he saw that slender white figure approaching gracefully. Dong Changyuan’s heart grew warm, and he couldn’t help but walk down the steps to meet her partway, bowing deeply: “Cousin…”

She smiled and returned the courtesy: “Why is your cousin standing in the corridor? Is it too stuffy inside?”

“I was waiting here specifically for my cousin.” Dong Changyuan’s ears turned red as he bowed again. “First, to apologize for my rudeness to my cousin yesterday.”

“It’s nothing.” She nodded slightly.

“Second… second…” Dong Changyuan refused to straighten up, his heart pounding like drums, his breathing hot: “Might I ask cousin to speak privately?”

Bai Qingyan looked back at Chun Tao, who immediately stepped away tactfully.

Fortunately, this was in Changshou Courtyard with servants throughout the courtyard watching, so it wasn’t improper.

“Please speak, cousin.”

Only then did Dong Changyuan straighten up, face red: “Changyuan knows that cousin’s marriage has caused aunt much worry due to the matter of childbearing. Cousin possesses such noble character and talent, with a heart pure as an orchid and quality like fine silk – she could compare in quality to fine jade and autumn frost. How could…” How could she, as her grandmother said, have to settle for marriage due to childbearing difficulties and marry beneath her station?

Dong Changyuan gritted his teeth and declared earnestly: “Changyuan cannot bear to see cousin’s pearl covered in dust. Though lacking in talent, I dare to boldly ask my cousin to consider this.”

Looking at Dong Changyuan’s earnest expression, she was momentarily stunned, then laughed softly: “Thank you for your cousin’s good intentions, but I have no plans to marry in this lifetime. Moreover, grandfather and father have already arranged my path forward, so my cousin need not worry about me. Cousin Changyuan has an open heart and is an upright gentleman like uncarved jade and pure gold – you should be matched with a lady as flawless as beautiful jade. How could you settle out of sympathy? However… speaking of never marrying might hurt my mother’s feelings, so I hope Cousin Changyuan will keep this secret and not let my mother know.”

Dong Changyuan could see that Bai Qingyan didn’t want to marry him, yet he had still taken the risk to speak. He hadn’t expected that Bai Qingyan had never planned to marry.

Inside the room, Grand Princess and Old Madam Dong shook their heads and sighed. Old Madam Dong said, “Looking at Changyuan’s expression, A’Bao must be unwilling. Yesterday this child knelt before me, begging me to set aside my old face and come once more, saying he couldn’t bear to see A’Bao – a woman pure as an ice vessel in autumn moonlight, flawless and transparent – forced into a marriage of compromise only to be mistreated by her in-laws later.”