The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 564: trust me
Chapter 564 Trust Me
“Why are Changlan and Changmao gone? Are the two kids… still cleaning up the mess?” Cui suddenly asked.
Old Madam Dong knew the secret of Dong Changlan’s “death in battle”, but Dong Qingyue did not tell Cui about it. When he was stationed outside… Dong Qingyue told others that he was afraid that Old Madam Dong would not be able to bear it if she knew that his eldest grandson died in battle, so he asked everyone in the Dong family to keep it a secret.
Dong Tingyun and Dong Tingzhi had heard some rumors and did not dare to speak loudly these days. Especially Dong Tingyun did not dare to get close to Old Lady Dong, for fear that she would not be able to help but tell her grandmother about her eldest brother’s death in the battle. What if something happened to her grandmother at that time?
Moreover, she is a concubine’s daughter. If something happens to her grandmother… her father might send her directly to Qing’an and never allow her to set foot in the Dong family again.
Old Lady Dong also knew that this was not the place to talk. She looked back at Cui and the ignorant little Cui, and said, “Men should do serious things, so don’t ask too many questions!”
After saying that, Old Lady Dong winked at Dong Qingyue, suggesting that Dong Qingyue should at least go back and talk to Cui. Cui was not the kind of person who could hold on. If she thought her son was really gone and started crying, Chang Lan would not know how to blame himself in the future.
Dong Qingyue nodded to Old Lady Dong.
After sending Old Lady Dong back to the courtyard, Dong Qingyue still had a lot of things to do.
He wanted to submit a memorial to the imperial court, stating that Dengzhou had suffered heavy losses in this battle and requesting the imperial court to reduce or exempt taxes for the people and allocate grain for disaster relief.
In fact, half of Dengzhou’s grain had already been taken away by Dong Changlan, and this time he left a lot of it in the city for Bai Qingyu to rob. Although Dengzhou still had surplus grain, it might take this opportunity to ask the court for money. So why not ask the court for money?
In addition, Dong Qingyue also recommended merit for Bai Qingyan in his memorial. He said… if it were not for Bai Qingyan’s proper planning this time, it would be impossible to recapture Dengzhou for the time being. If so… the people of Dengzhou would lose their hometown and would have to become refugees, going to other cities and counties, causing trouble for local security.
After nightfall that day, Dong Changmao, who led 3,000 light cavalry to chase the defeated soldiers of Nanrong, pretended to be seriously injured and returned to the city, claiming that the 3,000 light cavalry were all strangled to death by the ambushes of Nanrong, and in order to protect his escape, none of the 3,000 light cavalry survived. In fact, Dong Changmao handed over the 3,000 light cavalry intact to Dong Changlan.
Dong Changmao was covered in blood and was carried into the Dong Mansion under the gaze of Dengzhou officials and people, where the mansion doctor was called in for treatment.
In order to make the play more realistic, Dong Changmao was so cruel to himself that he inflicted many injuries on his body. Fortunately, none of them hit his vital parts.
Dong Qingyue submitted another memorial overnight, in which he openly criticized and secretly praised the Southern Rong Ghost-faced General for his superb military skills. Unlike previous Southern Rong generals, he seemed to be well versed in military tactics, and the Dengzhou army was defeated.
When little Cui saw Dong Changmao returning home seriously injured but not Dong Changlan, she could not sit still and came to Cui, wanting to ask Cui for some news, but was stopped outside the door by Cui’s personal nanny, who said that Dong Qingyue was inside and had something to say to Cui.
When Xiao Cui heard this, her face turned pale and she almost fell down. Fortunately, the maid beside her supported her and said, “Young Madam!”
Dong Changmao returned home seriously injured, and his father-in-law came to talk to his mother-in-law… and also sent away the maid in the house. Could it be that… something happened to Changlan!
“Sister Rong…”
Suddenly, Xiao Cui heard Bai Qingyan calling her. She turned to look at Bai Qingyan, and hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects. Her voice trembled slightly, “Cousin… Changmao returned home seriously injured, and my father went to talk to my mother. Did something happen to Changlan? Cousin… If anything happens to Changlan, you must not hide it from me!”
It’s not that Xiao Cui was worried, but she knew Dong Changlan too well. If Dong Changlan and Dong Changmao were attacked in the same place, Dong Changlan would definitely fight to the death to protect his brother Dong Changmao and leave the chance of life to Dong Changmao.
Just because… he is the eldest son!
Bai Qingyan gently grasped Xiao Cui’s trembling hand and said, “I came here to talk to you about this matter. Come with me…”
When Xiao Cui heard this, it was as if the sky had fallen. Her face turned pale and she clutched Bai Qingyan’s hand. Her feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, unable to move at all: “Changlan… Changlan really had an accident?”
Seeing Xiao Cui’s look, Bai Qingyan turned his head and ordered Chuntao and the maids beside Xiao Cui to leave. He whispered to Xiao Cui, “Changlan is fine. Even the injuries on Changmao were caused by him for show!”
Xiao Cui looked at Bai Qingyan in confusion.
Bai Qingyan smiled at Xiao Cui, took her hand and walked to the corridor, helping her sit down: “You also know that the court owed Dengzhou army food and wages this time. If it continues like this, in the future… the Dong family will end up like the Bai family sooner or later! So uncle needs Changlan to do something. These things cannot be known to outsiders, and Changlan’s identity cannot be used. In order to prevent others from discovering clues, so… uncle let Changlan fake his death and let Changmao pretend to be seriously injured!”
Originally, Bai Qingyan did not agree to tell Xiao Cui about this. It was not because he did not trust her, but he felt that the fewer people who knew about this, the safer Dong Changlan would be.
But… my grandmother said that Xiao Cui could be trusted and that she must be told because she was already pregnant. If she was not told, what would happen if anything happened to the child?
Although Bai Qingyan didn’t know Xiao Cui well enough, she trusted her grandmother enough, so when she heard that Xiao Cui came to see Cui today, she followed her and personally answered Xiao Cui’s questions.
“Faked death?!” Mrs. Cui opened her eyes wide and stood up excitedly. She seemed to not believe that Bai Qingyan had lied to her, and tears flowed like a broken string.
“Sister Rong, I swear on the spirit of my Bai family that Chang Lan is safe and sound! If anything I said to you today is untrue, I will not have a good death!” Bai Qingyan held Xiao Cui’s hand and helped her sit down again, “Believe me!”
Bai Qingyan swore so solemnly, how could Xiao Cui not believe it? She hurriedly wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, tightly held Bai Qingyan’s hand and cried out: “No, cousin, it’s not that I don’t believe you! I’m just afraid…”
As she spoke, Xiao Cui carefully looked down at her belly, bit her lip tightly, looked up at Bai Qingyan standing under the lights in the corridor, and choked up, “I know that my father, Changlan and my cousin are all people who do great things. I am a woman in the back house. My cousin and Changlan will not tell me what they are going to do. It makes sense. I am not ignorant, but Changlan should tell me in person! We are husband and wife… Could it be that he doesn’t even trust me?”
Seeing that Xiao Cui’s handkerchief was almost torn, Bai Qingyan handed his handkerchief to Xiao Cui.
Second update, continue to ask for monthly tickets…