Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 575 - 572: Paving the Way_1

The Crown Prince assumed that Madam Dong, Mrs. Dong, and Mrs. Dong’s daughter-in-law had all fallen ill and were certainly unable to arrange his accommodations. However, when Dong Qingyue led him into an elegant and tranquil courtyard, he was quite pleased. The meticulous details demonstrated the effort put into the arrangement.

After Dong Qingyue and his group left, the Crown Prince stood by a large water vat adorned with lotus lanterns and fed the fish from a container. He remarked with a smile, "A water vat with koi fish and lotus lanterns, Lord Dong does not seem like someone with such refined tastes..."

The Crown Prince’s smiling reflection was seen on the rippling water surface. The ancient tree branches rustled in the wind, accompanied by the faint and sorrowful sound of a zither.

The Crown Prince looked up and listened attentively.

Quan Yu, who stood beside him, quickly said, "Your Highness, this servant sent someone to inquire. They said since Madam Dong, Mrs. Dong, and Mrs. Dong’s daughter-in-law were bedridden, the accommodation was arranged by two of Lord Dong’s concubine-born daughters..."

"Shh!" The Crown Prince gestured for silence before Quan Yu could finish, handing him the fish food and following the sound of the zither out of the courtyard.

Quan Yu, holding the fish food, turned and gestured to the guards stationed under the eaves. The group followed the Crown Prince, maintaining a respectful distance behind him.

The zither music grew nearer and nearer until the Crown Prince stopped by the lake.

In the octagonal pavilion on the lake, white silk curtains fluttered, and candle flames flickered. Under the golden light, a slim woman in plain clothes played the zither with tears in her eyes. The music was filled with indescribable sorrow, bringing tears to those who heard it.

A maid carrying a black lacquered tray was about to deliver hot tea to the Huxin Pavilion. Seeing the Crown Prince’s group standing by the lake, she was so frightened that she nearly dropped the teapot. Trembling, she knelt and saluted, "This servant deserves to die! This servant did not know His Highness was here, please forgive me!"

The Crown Prince gazed at the woman playing the zither in the pavilion and asked, "Who is playing the zither in the pavilion?"

"Reply... replying to Your Highness, it is our young lady! Our young lady misses her elder brother and found this secluded spot to play the zither," the maid replied.

"What is your young lady’s name?" the Crown Prince asked again.

"Replying to Your Highness, our young lady... is named Dong Tingzhi."

The Crown Prince nodded and took a deep look at the woman in the pavilion before turning to leave.

The maid became even more fearful, keeping her head down and not daring to make a sound. Only when the Crown Prince’s group had gone far did she dare to raise her head. Her legs were so weak she could barely stand. She wondered if her young lady’s plan would succeed, for if it didn’t... Madam Dong would never tolerate her young lady after today’s events!

The Crown Prince’s face was full of smiles. He paused his steps without turning his head, thought for a moment, then raised his hand and beckoned to the cautious Quan Yu behind him.

Quan Yu hurriedly took small steps forward, "Your Highness, your orders!"

"What did you just say? My courtyard... was arranged by two of Dong Mansion’s concubine-born daughters? Lord Dong... has concubine-born daughters?" the Crown Prince asked.

"Replying to Your Highness, yes, I heard that an illegitimate daughter of the Dong family’s ancestor once used despicable means against Madam Dong. So, when Master Dong was alive, he established the rule that concubine-born daughters had a very low status. When they were born, no joy was announced! It was fine for concubine-born sons... but for concubine-born daughters, they rarely went out, and people outside didn’t even know the Dong family had concubine-born daughters!" Quan Yu replied.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince remembered Dong Qingping, the Minister of Judicial Review. If it wasn’t for his position in Dadu, others wouldn’t have known he had concubine-born daughters.

The Crown Prince had been worrying that Dong Qingyue had no daughters and could only rely on Bai Qingyan. He hadn’t expected that as soon as he arrived at Dong Mansion, he would be met with such a surprise.

Since the concubine-born daughters had arranged his accommodation, they naturally knew he could hear the zither music from the octagonal Huxin Pavilion...

The Crown Prince smiled. Even if concubine-born daughters were not valued in the Dong family, they were still Dong Qingyue’s daughters. They had some usefulness. He took the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Quan Yu, "Go... give this to the concubine-born daughter of the Dong family."

Quan Yu was momentarily stunned, then accepted the jade pendant and nodded in agreement.

Bai Qingyan had just finished bathing. Chun Tao was carefully changing the medicine on Bai Qingyan’s ear when they heard Nanny Wang leading a group of strong women, escorting someone directly into Madam Dong’s upper room.

Chun Tao also heard the commotion. After finishing the medicine, she picked up the water basin to go out and asked, "Miss, should I ask Nanny Wang if she needs any help?"

Bai Qingyan used her fingers to comb through her long hair in front of a yellowwood dresser, answering leisurely, "If Grandmother needs help, she will have Nanny Wang call for us. Since she hasn’t informed us, we should not inquire casually. This is not the Bai family, and Grandmother knows what she is doing."

"Yes!" Chun Tao did not intend to pry into the Dong family’s privacy. She was merely willing to help, knowing that Madam Dong had fallen ill from grief over the death of her eldest grandson, Dong Changlan.

In Madam Dong’s upper room.

Madam Dong sat under a flickering glass lamp, coldly watching the terrified Dong Tingzhi, who had her mouth gagged. She fiddled with the agarwood Buddha beads on her wrist and said icily, "Remember that year when Grandmother had to choose one person between you and Tingyun to raise by her side. You angered Tingyun, causing her to push you into the lake. What did Grandmother tell you then?"

Dong Tingzhi could only whimper through her gag. She tried to kneel and plead but was firmly held in place by the strong nannies.

"Grandmother told you that although your Grandfather established strict rules for concubine-born daughters, you are still part of the family. So Grandmother never intentionally kept you in the back courtyard all these years, forbidding you from going out!" Madam Dong fiddled with the Buddha beads in her hand, "Grandmother also made it clear to your aunt and you, no matter what... she would marry you well in the future. Not seeking great wealth, but a man of good character and a decent family, allowing you to become a proper wife. She would never use you to pave the way for the family’s future and degrade you for life."

Dong Tingzhi nodded with tears streaming down her face.

"You are smart, but this intelligence should be used correctly." Madam Dong’s expression remained stern, "You played the zither in the octagonal pavilion today to attract the Crown Prince. You didn’t think your beauty could captivate him at first sight. Instead, you wanted the Crown Prince to know... that Dong Qingyue’s daughter had thoughts about him. If the Crown Prince wanted to win over your father, he could keep you by his side, is it not so?"

Dong Tingzhi cried silently with her head bowed, unable to defend herself with her mouth gagged.

She admitted that Madam Dong was right. She was unwilling to be a regular wife of a common family. If she could gain the Crown Prince’s favor, and as long as she was cherished, once the Crown Prince ascended the throne... she would rise to prominence.

She thought that by relying on the Dong family and clinging to the Crown Prince, she could repay the Dong family in the future. Would she not become a pillar of support for the Dong family?

Thinking it over, she believed this was a chance worth taking.