Bai Qingyan gently stroked Old Matriarch Dong’s arm: “Grandmother, I’ve already sent someone to fetch Uncle. This matter… isn’t without room for turning around. It depends on how Uncle wishes to handle it.”

Upon hearing the news, Dong Qingyue hurried over. As soon as he entered, his sharp gaze fell upon Dong Tingzhi. Dong Tingzhi quickly lowered her head, so frightened she didn’t dare breathe, let alone plead for mercy.

“Take her out first!” Dong Qingyue said to Nanny Wang.

Nanny Wang nodded in acknowledgment and had people escort Dong Tingzhi out.

After coming around the screen, Dong Qingyue first paid his respects to Old Matriarch Dong, then, after taking his seat, said: “I’ve already heard about the matter. Dealing with it is simple – send Dong Tingzhi away overnight… and tell the Crown Prince she died suddenly in the night. The Crown Prince surely wouldn’t want a dead person!”

After all, she was his flesh and blood. How could Dong Qingyue bear to truly take Dong Tingzhi’s life? Sending her away would be like never having had this daughter.

“If Uncle acts this way, I’m afraid the Crown Prince will become suspicious. Why would Uncle prefer Tingzhi to die rather than enter the Crown Prince’s household? Once the Crown Prince develops wariness toward Uncle, he might cause trouble for Uncle in court, especially now when the Emperor is obsessed with alchemy and has handed state affairs to the Crown Prince. Uncle should be extremely cautious in dealing with the Crown Prince.”

Dong Qingyue closed his eyes: “One must bear the consequences of one’s evil deeds. If Dong Tingzhi wants to enter the Crown Prince’s household, then let her go! From now on, she is no longer a daughter of our Dong family!”

“But will the Crown Prince think so? Will the Emperor see it that way? As long as Dong Tingzhi leaves our Dong household, as long as she is your daughter Dong Qingyue, she will have inseparable ties to the Dong family. When others look at her… they will only think she has you, the Dengzhou Prefecture Governor, behind her, and the Dengzhou military!” Old Matriarch Dong slammed the prayer beads in her hand heavily on the table. “What’s hateful is that this girl isn’t ignorant of this principle – she understands it all too well… which is precisely why she wants to step on you, step on the Dengzhou military to advance her prospects! With Dong Tingzhi’s character, if she enters the Crown Prince’s household… she will surely become a great threat to the Dong family.”

Old Matriarch Dong spoke very urgently, so urgently she began coughing: “Changlan risked his life to secure opportunities for the Dong family. We must not let it be ruined by Dong Tingzhi, who only knows how to scheme for private gain!”

“Mother… It’s this son who failed to teach Tingzhi properly. Mother, please don’t be anxious!”

Dong Qingyue quickly stood and picked up a teacup to hand to Old Matriarch Dong, but she pushed it away with her labored breathing. Dong Qingyue could only hand the tea to Bai Qingyan, indicating that his granddaughter should try to calm Old Matriarch Dong.

“Grandmother, please drink some tea first!” Bai Qingyan gently rubbed Old Matriarch Dong’s back and handed her the tea.

“Don’t even think about having A’Bao stand up for you!” Old Matriarch Dong looked up and glared at her son, accepting the teacup. “I’m laying it out for you here, Mother is – Dong Tingzhi is short-sighted, single-mindedly focused on personal fame and profit, narrow-minded… she decidedly lacks that devoted and harmonious heart to bring glory to the family. If she enters the Crown Prince’s household, everyone in the Dong family will only become her stepping stones. Think carefully about your son, the son who would even sacrifice his life for the Dong family!”

Dong Qingyue’s fists clenched tightly at his sides. After a long moment, as if making a firm decision, he relaxed them: “Does Mother have a plan in mind?”

Old Matriarch Dong placed the teacup on the square table. Under the bright lamp, her pupils were dark and deep, yet burning brightly: “Tomorrow morning, send that Concubine Liu and Dong Tingzhi out of the Dong household. Say, there have long been rumors that this Dong Tingzhi is not your biological daughter. I, this old woman, investigated secretly and have confirmed it. With Changlan just gone… my grandson’s wife is pregnant and doesn’t want to take life, so we’re driving this mother and daughter pair out of the Dong family!”

Old Matriarch Dong’s meaning was very clear – drive them out to fend for themselves. If the Crown Prince still wanted to bring this woman into the Eastern Palace, then this woman… would have no connection whatsoever to Dong Qingyue!

Even in the future, if Dong Tingzhi deliberately tried to frame them, they could claim she harbored resentment, cutting off Dong Tingzhi’s path to revenge and harm.

“It’s also fortunate that you never liked this Concubine Liu. It was only after getting drunk once and having Tingzhi that you brought her back to the household. From then on, everyone in the household knew you merely kept Concubine Liu fed, never stepping foot in her courtyard! Even if the Crown Prince investigates… this explanation will hold!” Old Matriarch Dong said calmly.

Back then, Concubine Liu was forced on Dong Qingyue by Old Master Dong’s third brother, who had gotten Dong Qingyue drunk. From that point on… Dong Qingyue never got drunk again. When he felt he’d had enough, no amount of urging would make him drink more, fearing he might make mistakes while intoxicated.

However, for a man, this matter could be considered a great humiliation.

But the Dong family’s safety was far more important than Dong Qingyue’s reputation. Dong Qingyue readily nodded: “This can be considered… leaving her a way to live. How she walks her future path will be her affair.”

Bai Qingyan fingered the iron sand pouch on her wrist. Fearing the Crown Prince might learn the Dong family had two concubine-born daughters and develop inappropriate thoughts, she said: “Grandmother, I’m afraid you’ll also need to have Tingyun fall ill. After all… sisters who have lived together for many years, suddenly discovering they’re not actually blood sisters, plus with her legitimate elder brother gone, naturally she couldn’t bear it.”

“Since we’ve discovered Concubine Liu has deceived us about such a major matter, we should make a proper show of it!” Old Matriarch Dong was always decisive and called out loudly: “Nanny Wang, go bind Concubine Liu and bring her here with great fanfare! Strictly order everyone in the Dong household to keep their mouths shut. Anyone who dares leak even half a word will have their entire family beaten to death with clubs!”

After speaking, Old Matriarch Dong turned back to look at Bai Qingyan. In her heart, she probably didn’t want her granddaughter to witness such sordid affairs, so she said: “Tonight, if you stay at your grandmother’s place, you probably won’t be able to sleep peacefully. I’ll have someone escort you to Tingyun’s place – you can make do there for one night.”

This was Dong family scandal, and Bai Qingyan bore the Bai surname – she shouldn’t get involved. She curtsied in agreement.

The Dong family indeed made quite a commotion that night. When Dong Tingzhi learned they were going to summon Concubine Liu, she knew she had probably implicated even her maternal aunt. Her face turned deathly pale, and she no longer had her earlier triumphant air, hunching over as she sobbed.

When Bai Qingyan arrived at Dong Tingyun’s courtyard, she saw Dong Tingyun come out to welcome her with her hair still damp, smiling as she invited Bai Qingyan into the main room.

“The bedding has all been changed to new sets. Cousin, please rest assured! Tonight, cousin can rest here, and I’ll go to the side room…” Dong Tingyun said with a smile.

“I’m sorry to trouble you. Your hair isn’t dry yet – go quickly and wring it out.” Bai Qingyan noticed Dong Tingyun’s lips were pale and reached out to touch Dong Tingyun’s hand. This startled Dong Tingyun, who quickly stepped back and then hurriedly offered an embarrassed bow of apology to Bai Qingyan.

Dong Tingyun’s hands were bone-chillingly cold.

Bai Qingyan turned and instructed Chun Tao and the others to go outside, then asked Dong Tingyun: “What’s going on?”

Dong Tingyun bit her lip. She truly hadn’t expected her grandmother to arrange for her cousin to come here. Just before receiving the news, Dong Tingyun had been soaking herself in ice water, trying to make herself fall ill.

She curtsied to Bai Qingyan and said: “I was just soaking in ice water, planning to claim illness tomorrow…”

Bai Qingyan suddenly understood: “You’re afraid the Crown Prince might develop feelings for Dong family daughters?”