Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 510 - 507: The Dignity of a Great Power_1

Chapter 510: Chapter 507: The Dignity of a Great Power_1

Dong Changlan looked at Xiao Rongyan with great surprise that Xiao Rongyan would think of mutual trade. He smiled and shook his head, saying, "Mr. Xiao, what you said, my late father had also suggested to the Imperial Court years ago. However, the Emperor believed that if the Jin Kingdom proposed mutual trade first, it would be seen as bowing to the Rong, which would harm the prestige of the Jin Kingdom. Moreover, he was also afraid that the Rong spies might infiltrate."

Later, Dong Qingyue wanted to secretly send someone to the Rong to negotiate and make them propose mutual trade first. But Dong Qingping persuaded him against it, fearing that his brother’s goodwill might lead to charges of treason.

Upon hearing this, Bai Jinzhi couldn’t help but roll her eyes. As if the suffering of the border people being looted every year didn’t harm the country’s prestige.

The nation’s prestige, isn’t it about not letting the people suffer from wars, not letting them be looted by foreign countries, and not letting them go hungry?

If Bai Jinzhi had her way, she would have the Emperor live in Dengzhou for a few years to experience the suffering of the border people. Then he would understand what true prestige was!

Xiao Rongyan nodded without saying more.

The maids of the Bai Mansion filed in, carrying food boxes painted in black lacquer with gold inlay, and set up lunch on the third floor before leaving through another staircase.

When lunch was ready, Nanny Qin came down to invite everyone upstairs.

Today’s lunch featured a dish personally cooked by Dong Tingzhen: Dengzhou-style baked cakes. Though not as good as those in Dengzhou, the gesture of letting Mrs. Dong taste the famous Dengzhou baked cakes from her hometown was very thoughtful of Dong Tingzhen.

"This baked cake, Miss Dong started preparing it before dawn. After several tries, this batch tastes the closest," Dong Tingzhen’s personal maid said with a smile.

"Tingzhen has been very thoughtful!" Mrs. Dong said, holding Dong Tingzhen’s small hand.

The male and female guests were still separated by a screen. Perhaps because Xiao Rongyan brought up mutual trade today, Dong Changlan kept discussing it with him at the table, humbly seeking Xiao Rongyan’s insights on what mutual trade in Mengcheng was like.

Xiao Rongyan had been to Mengcheng. Coincidentally, during the days of mutual trade, he was in Mengcheng. He shared everything he saw and heard with Dong Changlan without holding back.

Dong Changlan listened attentively, seemingly very interested in mutual trade.

The discussion continued from the table to the floor until nightfall. When the lamps of the Bai Mansion slowly lit up, Xiao Rongyan got up to take his leave. Dong Changlan seemed still interested, so he accompanied Bai Qingyan to see Xiao Rongyan off at the door.

Outside the door, Dong Changlan formally invited Xiao Rongyan, "Mr. Xiao, if you have the time someday, you must come to Dengzhou for a visit! My father would definitely be interested in what you have to say."

Xiao Rongyan cupped his hands to Dong Changlan, "Dengzhou, I must go there! When that time comes, I will definitely visit."

As they watched Xiao Rongyan leave, Dong Changlan, walking back with Bai Qingyan, said, "Cousin, I think this Mr. Xiao seems to have feelings for you."

He hesitated for a moment but couldn’t help but remind Bai Qingyan.

Being a man, Dong Changlan understood what a man’s gaze toward a woman represented. Although Mr. Xiao hid it well, every time his cousin spoke, Mr. Xiao would always look at her with undisguisable joy and smile in his eyes.

Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened as she looked at Dong Changlan, "Why do you say that, Changlan?"

Dong Changlan thought Bai Qingyan had no interest in Xiao Rongyan. He pursed his lips and said in a low voice, "Cousin, originally, Grandmother and my father intended for you to marry Chang Yuan. This way, you wouldn’t have to worry about being mistreated by your mother-in-law. But you had no interest in Chang Yuan, and the Bai family needed your support, so Grandmother and Father didn’t insist. However, they still worry about your lifelong happiness, even if they don’t say it."

Dong Changlan sneaked a glance at Bai Qingyan, who was walking down the corridor with him. Seeing she didn’t show signs of anger, he continued, "If you don’t mind Mr. Xiao’s background, you might consider having him marry into the Bai family. This Mr. Xiao has a broad mind and unique vision. If he truly cares for you, he would make an excellent match."

Bai Qingyan pressed her lips without speaking. Her hands behind her back tightened slightly as she half-lowered her gaze. After a long pause, she said, "Let’s wait until this chaos is over."

When would this chaotic time end...

Having said what he needed to, Dong Changlan stopped persuading. As they neared the Junzi Pavilion’s entrance, Dong Changlan bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan, "Tomorrow morning, we will depart for Dengzhou. I will relay every word you said to Father exactly."

Bai Qingyan nodded, "Tomorrow, I need to leave the city to suppress bandits. I won’t be able to see you off. Be careful on the road, and don’t forget to send a letter to let us know you’re safe."

"Don’t worry, Cousin!" At this moment, Dong Changlan was eager to return and relay his cousin’s words to his father, preparing early for the Rong’s autumn raids.

·

At night, Bai Qingyan quietly visited Mrs. Dong’s Qinghe Courtyard without informing the maids.

Nanny Qin guarded the door of the main room, her eyes red, signaling Bai Qingyan that Mrs. Dong was feeling very sad.

In the past years, A Yu always had many ideas for their mother’s birthday. She remembered a few years ago when A Yu led his brothers in a lion dance in the courtyard to celebrate their mother’s birthday.

Seventeen handsome young men, dressed in lion dance costumes, kneeled on one knee with lion heads in their arms, wishing Mrs. Dong good health. The scene was still vivid in her mind.

A Yu stood in the front, full of spirit and pride, holding a lion head with one hand, his eyes filled with the brilliant sunlight as he smiled.

But this year...none of the Bai family’s seventeen sons were here.

Early this morning, she remembered how her father used to wake up early every year on her mother’s birthday to make a long-life noodle for her. So she took her sisters to the Qinghe Courtyard’s small kitchen to celebrate.

Standing at the door of the room, Bai Qingyan faintly heard her mother’s suppressed sobs. Her eyes reddened, tears silently streaming down as she wiped them away, her face showing no trace of sorrow.

Actually, the best birthday gift for her mother should be...that safe return home from her father and A Yu!

She gritted her teeth firmly. She couldn’t resent the heavens for their unfairness. The heavens had given her a chance to come back, a chance to protect her mother, aunts, and sisters. She was grateful.

What she hated was herself, for wasting those years and being pampered.

"Nanny Qin, I won’t go in..." Bai Qingyan said in a muffled voice, "Please take good care of my mother."

Nanny Qin had served Mrs. Dong for many years and understood that Mrs. Dong wouldn’t want the eldest girl to see her like this. She nodded, "Miss, don’t worry. This old servant will take good care of the madam."

·

The next morning, before dawn, the sky over Shuoyang was filled with stars shining brightly, and the moon gleamed clearly.

The high fire basins around the training field illuminated the area like daylight.

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