HomeDestined to be a PhoenixChapter 545: Refined and Courteous

Chapter 545: Refined and Courteous

“Is there anything inconvenient about staying with your grandmother? If you find it inconvenient, I’ll have your aunt arrange for someone to prepare a separate courtyard.”

Dong Qingyue had heard from Lu Ping that Bai Qingyan had a habit of morning practice. Since coming to Dengzhou and staying in Old Madam Dong’s courtyard, Bai Qingyan worried that getting up early to practice martial arts would disturb Old Madam Dong’s rest, so she hadn’t practiced for several days.

“No… staying with Grandmother allows me to properly fulfill filial duties on Mother’s behalf. A’Bao is very happy.” Bai Qingyan sat down beside Dong Qingyue, looking at the small tuft of silver hair at his temples. “Uncle, now that Changlan is proving useful, Uncle needn’t handle everything personally. You should also rest well.”

Dong Qingyue shook his head: “Changlan is still somewhat inexperienced. He needs a few more years of training by my side! Let’s not discuss that… Today I have some rare leisure time, and Uncle has something he wants to ask you about. That Master Xiao… what do you think of him?”

Bai Qingyan looked at Dong Qingyue, her hands hidden in her sleeves, quietly tightening: “What do I think?”

“As Changlan said, this Master Xiao appearing in the chaotic battle where Nanrong ambushed the Great Yan marriage alliance procession is too coincidental. If we say he was there to rescue the Yan princess to gain advantage with Beirong and Great Yan, isn’t relying on the guards he brought somewhat far-fetched?” Dong Qingyue had repeatedly pondered Xiao Rongyan’s explanation to Dong Changlan.

Until now, Xiao Rongyan was ostensibly… staying at the Dong residence to recover from injuries, but in reality was confined to that small courtyard and couldn’t leave at all. However, Xiao Rongyan probably also knew his appearance was abrupt, so he obediently stayed in the courtyard, properly recovering from his injuries, and didn’t deliberately try to curry favor or seek an audience with Dong Qingyue.

Moreover, Dong Qingyue had heard from his subordinates that while residing at the Dong residence, Xiao Rongyan conducted himself with proper measure and was never arrogant toward the servants—he was very refined and courteous.

“If Uncle wants to investigate thoroughly, the best method… would be to personally meet with this Master Xiao.” Bai Qingyan didn’t blindly protect Xiao Rongyan.

“After all, he is a benefactor of the Bai family, so it wouldn’t be proper to confine him in the residence too long…” After consideration, Dong Qingyue said: “This afternoon, then—I’ll host a banquet to meet with this Master Xiao.”

When Bai Qingyan emerged from Dong Qingyue’s study, she didn’t see Chun Tao at the courtyard gate. Her heart tightened as she asked: “Where is Chun Tao?”

“Nanny Wang sent Qiu Huan to request Miss Chun Tao’s presence. Xia Yu and Dong Mei accompanied Miss Chun Tao back to Old Madam’s courtyard.” After bowing, the Dong residence maidservant at the gate replied.

Hearing that someone had accompanied her, Bai Qingyan’s heart eased somewhat. Looking up, she saw Chun Tao hurrying back.

“Did you go to Old Madam’s place?” Bai Qingyan asked.

Chun Tao supported Bai Qingyan’s arm and shook her head: “It was Qiu Huan… she borrowed Nanny Wang’s name to call this servant aside to apologize, wanting to return to serve Miss. This servant declined!”

Chun Tao didn’t tell Bai Qingyan that Qiu Huan’s knees seemed utterly worthless—she had called Chun Tao to a secluded spot and immediately knelt down to plead, leaving Chun Tao at a loss. After trying for quite a while to pull Qiu Huan up unsuccessfully, and worrying that Bai Qingyan might need her service, Chun Tao had hurried back.

“Didn’t you say two maidservants accompanied you? Where are they?” Bai Qingyan frowned and asked again.

“Qiu Huan sent them away. As soon as those two maidservants left, Qiu Huan knelt to this servant, giving me quite a fright.” Chun Tao’s ears reddened. “If not for thinking that Qiu Huan is Nanny Wang’s niece, this servant wouldn’t have gone at all. When she suddenly knelt like that, this servant didn’t know where to put my hands.”

Bai Qingyan’s expression carried a slight smile: “Later I’ll speak with Nanny Wang. During our stay at the Dong family, we’ll have this Qiu Huan assigned elsewhere…”

At noon, Dong Qingyue hosted a banquet in the Elegant Pavilion to meet with Xiao Rongyan.

Xiao Rongyan maintained his neither humble nor arrogant demeanor, providing Dong Qingyue with detailed accounts of his recent journey.

Having prepared his explanation, Xiao Rongyan spoke unhurriedly and clearly, explaining how he had become unintentionally involved and could only steel himself to rescue the Great Yan marriage alliance princess. Xiao Rongyan also inquired about Princess Mingcheng’s condition.

Learning that the Great Yan forces stationed in the barbarian lands and the Beirong court had already sent people to escort her, Xiao Rongyan shared some information with Dong Qingyue: “During this journey to Beirong, I heard that the Great Yan army stationed in Beirong seems to have cases of typhoid fever, affecting quite a few people! Is it appropriate to send the Great Yan marriage alliance princess there?”

“Typhoid fever?” Dong Qingyue was quite surprised.

“This is only hearsay. I never visited the Yan army encampment, so the truth of this information is uncertain.” Xiao Rongyan spoke very sincerely.

“After all, she is Great Yan’s princess. Jin has no reason to forcibly detain the Yan princess in Dengzhou. If this princess truly doesn’t survive… and dies in Jin territory, then Jin would make enemies of both Great Yan and Beirong.” Dong Qingyue pressed his lips together. “However, we could send a physician along. Whether Great Yan and Beirong use the physician’s services will be up to them!”

Dong Qingyue felt the gesture was largely meaningless. Almost all physicians said the Great Yan princess probably wouldn’t survive—they were only keeping her alive until they could hand her over, living, to Great Yan and Beirong.

Xiao Rongyan’s hands on his knees tightened imperceptibly as he smiled warmly: “Master Dong’s benevolent heart—surely Great Yan and Beirong will appreciate your kind intentions.”

Now that Xie Xun was afflicted with typhoid fever, the person coming to escort Princess Mingcheng surely wouldn’t be Xie Xun. If Princess Mingcheng truly didn’t survive… who knew if she would be able to see Xie Xun one last time?

From separately interrogating Xiao Rongyan’s guards and hearing Xiao Rongyan’s account, Dong Qingyue found that although there were slight discrepancies, the stories were largely consistent and shouldn’t be false.

If their testimonies had been perfectly aligned, Dong Qingyue would have suspected they had coordinated their stories in advance.

Thus, that afternoon, Dong Qingyue released all of Xiao Rongyan’s guards.

Yue Shi, having already tended to his wounds, hurriedly came to the Dong residence to stay by Xiao Rongyan’s side.

On the twenty-second day of the eighth month, just past noon, the Beirong king’s sister and brother-in-law arrived at Dengzhou with Beirong forces, along with General Pei from the Great Yan garrison in the barbarian lands.

Dong Changlan was ordered to meet them outside the city, having the barbarian and Great Yan armies remain outside while allowing only twenty people each from Great Yan and Beirong to enter the city to escort Princess Mingcheng.

Princess Mingcheng was crucial to the stability of the alliance between the barbarians and Great Yan—neither Great Yan nor the barbarians wanted anything to happen to her.

Hearing that the Beirong king’s sister and General Pei had come to Dengzhou to escort Princess Mingcheng, Xiao Rongyan pressed his lips together and called Yue Shi aside, whispering instructions: “Find a way to send word to General Pei that Princess Mingcheng must remain in Dengzhou for treatment! If she’s moved… her life may be in danger.”

Yue Shi cupped his hands: “Master, rest assured. Yue Shi will handle it properly!”

“Be careful. This is the Dong residence—don’t reveal anything that could be used against us!” Xiao Rongyan cautioned.

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