Dong Tingzhen, Dong Qingyu, and Dong Qingfang knew that Bai Qingyan would depart for Shouyang tomorrow, so they had spoken with Madam Song about coming to sit at the Duke’s mansion. Seeing the sun beginning to set in the west, the three reluctantly rose to take their leave.

Bai Qingyan personally escorted the three Dong sisters. Before they could leave the gate, Eunuch Gao Demao from the Emperor’s side arrived with palace attendants to announce an imperial decree.

The three Dong sisters also quickly knelt behind them, listening to the decree together. When they saw the Emperor enfeoff Bai Qingyan as Princess and Bai Jinzhi as County Princess, followed by a stream of rewards being carried into the Duke’s mansion, it truly made the two concubine daughters of the Dong family green with envy.

Bai Jinzhi was quite happy. Listening to the eunuch announce those rewards, she couldn’t stop winking at Bai Qingyan, indicating that she had worked hard to secure this and that Elder Sister should praise her.

After Bai Qingyan kowtowed to receive the decree, she said: “Your Majesty’s sacred grace – Bai Qingyan and Fourth Sister are deeply grateful. The wealth Your Majesty has bestowed, Bai Qingyan will use entirely for bandit suppression in Shouyang, keeping not a thread or penny for herself, to repay Your Majesty’s sacred grace!”

Second Madam Liu quickly had her maid distribute red envelopes to the palace attendants who came to announce the decree today, and separately gave Gao Demao a purse stuffed with bank notes.

“Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Gao!”

“What words are these, Second Madam! The Princess Zhenguo and County Princess Gaoyi achieved great merit through their hard work in the northern frontier war, earning this enfeoffment. This old slave is merely running errands!” Gao Demao spoke pleasant words and bowed farewell.

“Cousin, His Majesty rewarded so many good things – are you going to use them all for bandit suppression?” Dong Qingfang looked at those dazzling, precious jade artifacts and treasures with real envy.

At a rough glance, she could see the valuable gold-bodied cloisonné gem-inlaid begonia-shaped five blessings embracing longevity powder compact, not to mention that complete set of filigree gold-inlaid ruby headdress ornaments with gems large as pigeon eggs, magnificent and eye-catching.

Dong Qingfang almost instinctively spoke: “These were all earned with Cousin’s and Sister Jinzhi’s lives on the battlefield. Why not keep them for the dowry…”

Before Dong Qingfang could finish, Dong Qingyu tugged at her sleeve.

Realizing her slip of tongue, Dong Qingfang shrank back two steps and curtsied to bid farewell to Bai Qingyan.

Dong Qingfang meant well, but she had forgotten… Bai Qingyan had once sworn before Duke Zhenguo’s spirit, vowing never to marry in this life.

“Cousin, Qingfang meant no harm!” Dong Qingyu explained to Bai Qingyan.

“No matter, I know!” Bai Qingyan smiled.

After seeing off the three Dong sisters, Liu Shi was already busy arranging for someone to report to the Grand Princess and having the household prepare a feast, saying that even if they weren’t celebrating publicly, the family should rejoice behind closed doors.

Previously, Dong Shi had handled all household affairs alone. Liu Shi had no experience and inevitably created joyful chaos. Fortunately, Bai Jinxiu was there to give instructions, and the servants below followed orders.

Seeing Liu Shi’s extreme joy, Nanny Luo couldn’t help but smile and say: “Second Madam, in your happiness, you’ve forgotten about the lotus seed braised squab on the stove!”

“Oh my!” Liu Shi slapped her forehead, laughing with joy. “Quick, quick, quick! Send someone to take it off – it should be about done!”

The lotus seed braised squab was what Liu Shi had personally cooked for Bai Qingyan recently. Today before Bai Qingyan entered the palace, her little face was so pale it frightened Liu Shi. She remembered that when Bai Qingyan had poor appetite before, Dong Shi would always stew lotus seed squab for her. Having nothing else to do today, she personally went to the kitchen.

·

Two carriages from the Dong mansion slowly turned out from the street corner. Dong Tingzhen leaned against a round pillow, lowering her eyes to gently stroke the bracelet on her wrist. Listening to the sound of horse hooves and the lanterns hanging from the carriage’s eaves gently knocking against the carriage, she asked outside, “What time is it?”

The maid following the carriage heard Dong Tingzhen’s question and responded: “In reply to Miss, it’s about the end of the shen hour…”

The end of the shen hour – then he probably wouldn’t be waiting anymore, would he?

Dong Tingzhen bit her lip and forcefully covered the bracelet on her wrist with her hand.

Just as the carriage turned out from one end of the long street, Dong Tingzhen’s small hand, fine and white as jade, still lifted the brocade curtain of the carriage’s small window and said to her maid: “Go tell the two younger sisters that I need to go to Shi Fang Studio to buy pastries for Mother. Have them return to the mansion first!”

“Yes!” Dong Tingzhen’s maid responded and ran to the rear carriage.

After turning the street corner, the two carriages separated – one returning to the Dong mansion, one heading toward Changming Lane.

The carriage stopped in front of Shi Fang Studio. The maid beside Dong Tingzhen ran inside and soon came running out, approaching the carriage window and lowering her voice: “Miss… His Highness is still waiting for Miss!”

Dong Tingzhen felt her heartbeat quicken several beats. She bit her lip and hesitated to move.

“Miss! His Highness has been waiting for Miss for over two hours!” the maid whispered.

Dong Tingzhen steeled her heart, put on her veiled hat, and stepped down from the carriage with the maid’s support, being escorted directly to the second-floor private room.

Dong Tingzhen’s maid saw the young servant guarding outside the private room door, nodded to him, and he immediately pushed open the door.

Standing outside the door, Dong Tingzhen looked through her veiled hat’s thin gauze at the tall figure standing by the window. Her eyes grew hot as she stepped into the private room. The maid quickly closed the door and stood guard outside with the young servant.

Prince Liang stood by the window, watching Dong Tingzhen remove her veiled hat and stand motionless. His eyes were red and moist: “I heard… Grand Tutor Chen had Old Madam Tan go to your mansion to propose marriage for Chen Zhaolu?”

Dong Tingzhen stood at the door, tightly gripping her veiled hat, and nodded.

“No! I can’t wait any longer! I must… go to your mansion right now to seek marriage, even if I kneel until my legs break, I will beg Master Dong to marry you to me!” Prince Liang was emotionally agitated, taking two steps forward. His foot hit the table leg, and he staggered forward unsteadily.

“Your Highness!” Dong Tingzhen was frightened and quickly stepped forward to support Prince Liang.

“Qingzhen…” Prince Liang looked at Dong Tingzhen supporting him, and this grown man began to cry aloud. “I know I’m stupid… and foolish! I’m not worthy of you! Before… to save Brother Prince Xin, I listened to slander and nearly harmed the entire Duke Zhenguo’s mansion! I know I was wrong! I’ve been punished too! Since childhood, they have all bullied me. Only you… Only you were different! Only you were kind to me! If I lose even you, I’ll have nothing left! Qingzhen… I cannot be without you!”

Dong Tingzhen’s heart was greatly shaken, her eyes also becoming a complete mess of red.

She hadn’t expected that when she entered the palace for a banquet at age six… merely pulling Prince Liang when he was being bullied by Prince Xin and giving him a handkerchief to wipe his face, he would remember it until now, actually saying no one had ever treated him so well.

She didn’t know how Prince Liang had lived all these years. Such a small act of kindness, he had remembered for over ten years, actually calling it treating him well…