Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 460

Chapter 460: Chapter 457: A Peaceful and Good End_1

Dong Changsheng had been waiting for his three younger sisters to return, wanting to take them together. Who knew Dong Tingzhen would say she wasn’t going today as soon as she came back?

Dong Changsheng thought she was embarrassed due to discussing marriage with Chen Zhaolu and was afraid of running into him, so he didn’t press her.

Dong Changyuan looked down at the chessboard in front of him but felt there was nothing to celebrate. He believed his aunt would rather his cousin not have this princess title than have her risking her life on the battlefield.

Dong Tingzhen sat before her dressing table, clutching the jade bracelet given to her by King Liang, and smiled foolishly.

"Miss! Miss... Cousin is here!" Dong Tingzhen’s maid Haitang ran in, bowing as she said, "Cousin has entered the courtyard!"

"Cousin?" Dong Tingzhen hurriedly put the jade bracelet into a redwood box and got up to greet her. She saw Bai Qingyan, dressed in casual clothes and looking sharp, enter the courtyard.

"Cousin?!" Dong Tingzhen, radiant with joy, went to meet Bai Qingyan, hooking her arm. "We just met, why have you come?"

"Dismiss the servants. I have something to say to you!" Bai Qingyan said softly, looking at Dong Tingzhen.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s serious expression, Dong Tingzhen nodded and instructed Haitang to dismiss the servants and close the doors and windows. She and Bai Qingyan then sat on the luohan bed near the window.

"Cousin, what’s the matter?" Dong Tingzhen asked gently.

"The one you love... is it King Liang?"

The secret Dong Tingzhen had been keeping in her heart was suddenly exposed. She retracted her hand from the small table and clenched it tightly in front of her abdomen. "Cousin, since you know, I won’t hide it from you. King Liang and I do have mutual feelings. Before, King Liang mistook you for me when we were children and wanted to marry you. I thought... if I accepted King Liang, would it embarrass you? But I..."

"Tingzhen, I didn’t come today because I felt embarrassed by the idea of you and King Liang being together, nor to stop you. I came to lay things out and discuss them with you. With your intelligence, I trust you can judge how to handle this relationship. I won’t interfere, all right?" Bai Qingyan said slowly.

Dong Tingzhen had always been the gentlest and most intelligent among her sisters and the least worrisome.

Besides, although Bai Qingyan and Dong Tingzhen were cousins, they hadn’t grown up together. She couldn’t address King Liang as she would her own sister.

Seeing that Bai Qingyan was not being forceful and was only reasoning with her, Dong Tingzhen nodded as she clutched her handkerchief. "Cousin, please speak."

Dong Tingzhen lowered her eyes and didn’t lift her head. That thought—why Bai Qingyan followed the Crown Prince if she thought so—was swallowed back.

"I understand your concerns, cousin. But King Liang may not have the intention to fight for the throne!" Dong Tingzhen looked at Bai Qingyan. "Besides, cousin, once the heart is moved, there’s no turning back! I already gave my personal safety charm to King Liang. He entered the palace to ask for a betrothal decree from His Majesty!"

As she spoke, Dong Tingzhen’s tears began to fall.

Bai Qingyan clenched her fist. How could Dong Tingzhen be so foolish, giving her personal item to an outsider?!

Bai Qingyan closed her eyes briefly to calm herself before saying, "If you can understand, I will handle the rest!"

Dong Tingzhen shook her head. "Cousin, I know you mean well! You have always been straightforward and upright. I know you are advising me because you fear I’ll end up with the wrong person, not because King Liang once admired you! But... King Liang is my choice. Women have few choices in this world; this time, I am deciding for myself, and I am happy!"

Bai Qingyan tightly pursed her lips.

"I have always envied you, cousin!" Dong Tingzhen’s eyes were sincere. "Born into the Bai family, taught personally by the Eldest Princess and King of Zhen, you can do what you want, practice martial arts, ride horses, compete with men, train your own guards..."