Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 577 - 574: Bylaws_1

Bai Qingyan gently stroked Madam Dong’s arm. "Grandmother, I have already sent someone to invite Uncle. This matter... is not without room for maneuver. It depends on how Uncle wants to handle it."

Dong Qingyue rushed in upon hearing the news. As soon as he entered, his sharp gaze fell on Dong Tingzhi. Dong Tingzhi hurriedly lowered her head, too scared to even breathe, let alone plead for herself.

"Take her out first!" Dong Qingyue ordered Nanny Wang.

Nanny Wang nodded in agreement and had Dong Tingzhi taken out.

After bypassing the screen, Dong Qingyue first greeted Madam Dong and then sat down. "I have already heard about the situation. The solution is simple. Send Dong Tingzhi away tonight and claim she died suddenly in the night. The Crown Prince would not 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 was like she never existed.

"Uncle, if you act like this, the Crown Prince will be suspicious. Why would you rather see Tingzhi dead than let her enter the Crown Prince’s residence? Once the Crown Prince becomes wary of you, he might set traps for you at the court, especially now when the Emperor is obsessed with alchemy and has entrusted the state affairs to the Crown Prince. You should be extremely cautious with the Crown Prince," Bai Qingyan said.

Dong Qingyue closed his eyes. "This is her own sin to bear. If she wants to enter the Crown Prince’s residence, then let her go! From this moment on, she is no longer a daughter of the Dong family!"

"Will the Crown Prince think the same? Will the Emperor? As long as Dong Tingzhi leaves the Dong Mansion as your daughter, she will always be associated with the Dong family. Others will see her as your daughter and associate her with the Dengzhou Army!" Madam Dong slammed the Buddha Beads on the table. "The hateful thing is that this girl understands this very well. It is precisely because she understands that she wants to step on you and the Dengzhou Army to pave her own future. With such a mindset, entering the Crown Prince’s residence... she will become a major threat to the Dong family."

Madam Dong spoke anxiously and began to cough. "Changlan sacrificed his life for the survival of the Dong family. Under no circumstances can we let it be destroyed by a girl who only seeks personal gain!"

"Mother... it is my fault for not teaching Tingzhi well. Please do not worry!" Dong Qingyue immediately stood up and handed a teacup to Madam Dong. However, the breathless Madam Dong pushed it away. Dong Qingyue had no choice but to pass the tea to Bai Qingyan, signaling his granddaughter to comfort Madam Dong. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

"Grandmother, please have some tea." Bai Qingyan gently stroked Madam Dong’s back and handed her the tea.

"Don’t expect Kid to stand up for you!" Madam Dong glared at her son and took the teacup. "Let me make this very clear. Dong Tingzhi is short-sighted and solely focused on her own fame and fortune. She has a narrow mind... incapable of true familial love and honor. If she enters the Crown Prince’s residence, everyone in the Dong family will become her stepping stone. Think about your sons who would sacrifice their lives for the Dong family!"

Dong Qingyue clenched his fist tightly at his side. After a moment, he seemed to make up his mind and relaxed. "Mother, do you have a plan?"

Madam Dong set her teacup on the square table. Under the bright lamp, her eyes were dark and deep, yet burning brightly. "Tomorrow morning, send that Aunt Liu and Dong Tingzhi out of the Dong Mansion. Just say that there have been rumors that Dong Tingzhi is not your biological daughter, and I, as an old woman, have investigated and confirmed it. With Changlan just gone and the family needing peace, I decided to send this mother and daughter away!"

Madam Dong’s meaning was clear. By driving them out, they would be left to fend for themselves. If the Crown Prince still wishes to bring her into the Eastern Palace, she would no longer have any ties to Dong Qingyue!

Even if in the future Dong Tingzhi harbored ill intentions, it could be justified as a grudge, preventing her from framing the family out of spite.

"Fortunately, you have never been fond of Aunt Liu. It was only because of a drunken night that Tingzhi was conceived, and you brought her into the mansion. Since then, everyone knows you only kept Aunt Liu around, never stepping into her courtyard! Even if the Crown Prince investigates, it can be explained!" Madam Dong calmly said.

Years ago, Aunt Liu was forced upon Dong Qingyue by his third uncle after getting him drunk. Since then, Dong Qingyue never got drunk again, fearing mistakes from intoxication.

This incident was considered an extreme humiliation for a man.

But the safety of the Dong family was far more important than Dong Qingyue’s pride. Dong Qingyue nodded gladly. "It is also a way to leave her a path. How she walks it in the future is her own business."

Bai Qingyan rubbed the iron sandbag on her wrist, worried that the Crown Prince might become interested in another concubine’s daughter from the Dong family. She said, "Grandmother, I’m afraid we also need to have Tingyun fall ill. After all, sisters who have lived together for years turn out not to be real sisters, and with the eldest brother gone, it is natural she cannot withstand it."

"Since Aunt Liu’s deceit has been uncovered, we must put on a show!" Madam Dong, always decisive, shouted, "Nanny Wang, go and bind Aunt Liu loudly and clearly! Strictly order everyone in the Dong Mansion to keep their mouths shut. Whoever leaks a word, their family will be beaten to death with sticks!"

Having said that, Madam Dong looked at Bai Qingyan. She probably did not want her granddaughter to witness such sordid affairs and said, "You staying here tonight will likely leave you sleepless. I’ll have someone take you to Tingyun’s place, where you can get by for one night."

The Dong family’s scandal was none of Bai Qingyan’s business as she bore the surname Bai. She bowed in agreement.

Indeed, the Dong Mansion was bustling that night. When Dong Tingzhi learned that they were going to get Aunt Liu, she knew she might have implicated her and turned pale, slouching in tears, no longer as spirited as before.

Bai Qingyan went to Dong Tingyun’s courtyard. Seeing that Dong Tingyun’s hair was still wet, she smiled and invited Bai Qingyan inside.

"All the bedding has been changed to new ones. Don’t worry, cousin! Tonight, you rest here, and I’ll stay in the side room..." Dong Tingyun smiled.

"Sorry to trouble you. Your hair is still wet; go dry it quickly." Bai Qingyan saw Dong Tingyun’s pale lips and reached out to touch her hand. Dong Tingyun, scared, pulled back and awkwardly greeted and apologized to Bai Qingyan.

Dong Tingyun’s hand was as cold as ice.

Bai Qingyan turned to order Chun Tao and the others to leave and then asked, "What is going on?"

Dong Tingyun bit her lip. She never expected her grandmother to arrange for her cousin to come here. Just before she got the news, she had been soaking in ice water to make herself sick.

After bowing, she said, "I was just soaking in ice water, planning to claim illness tomorrow..."

Bai Qingyan realized. "You are worried the Crown Prince might become interested in the Dong family’s daughters?"