Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 724

Chapter 724: Chapter 721: Punishment_1

"Later, Wen Juan transferred her affections... She deceived me by saying she wanted me to accompany her to clarify things with Fu Anze, but she set me up with him. I... had the intention to act according to circumstances, going along with her plan! I thought I was winning a good marriage for myself, fulfilling my wish to admire Fu Anze..."

Dong Tingfang choked up, starting to cry softly: "Who knew Wen Juan was so deceitful, entangling with others while telling Fu Anze that I was the one scheming against them, just to give herself a virtuous reputation! And that Fu Anze, appearing wise but actually blind-hearted, wholly believed Wen Juan, thinking I was a despicable concubine daughter trying to climb his family tree, ruining his marriage prospects, never seeing me favorably!"

In this marriage matter, as a mere concubine daughter, she originally didn’t match the legitimate eldest son of the Fu family. But because her father was the Minister of Judicial Review, and due to a familial connection with the Bai family in Dadu City, the Fu family reluctantly accepted her. Later, when Bai Qingyan was titled the Princess of Zhen, the Fu family finally found this marriage agreeable.

"Fu Anze’s mother, thinking that cousin was the Princess of Zhen... always wanted me to help arrange good futures for the Fu family’s eldest son’s children. I, Dong Tingfang, am just a concubine daughter of the Dong family. Besides, I am not as close to cousin as Tingzhen is, even if I were as close, I would not want to be manipulated like this by my mother-in-law! I feared even more that after marrying into the family... once the eldest son’s wife discovered I couldn’t secure futures for her children, my life would become hard! If Tingfang were to live this way all her life, I’d rather marry a farmer!"

Dong Tingfang spoke with heartfelt sincerity today. These words had been bottled up inside her. She couldn’t tell her tearful mother-in-law, nor her chastising father; naturally... not her authoritative stepmother either.

In fact, she knew... the life of concubine daughters in other households under their stepmothers’ watch might be even harder than under her mother, Mrs. Song!

But if she hadn’t seen how the concubine sons and daughters of the Bai family were cherished, it might have been different. Having seen it, how could she not feel envious?

Bai Qingyan nodded: "You may rise, I understand! But, to dissolve this marriage without damaging the Dong family’s reputation, you might have to endure some grievances."

Dong Tingfang did not expect Bai Qingyan to be willing to help her. In the Dong family, no one wanted to listen to what she had to say, let alone care for a concubine daughter like her.

She couldn’t help but kowtow to Bai Qingyan: "It’s fine to endure some temporary grievance, but Tingfang fears a lifetime of grievance! Initially... I was indeed blinded by love, willingly used as a pawn. Now enlightened, this grievance is what I deserve!"

"Good, knowing one’s mistake and correcting it is a virtue. You are still a good daughter of the Dong family!" Bai Qingyan smiled slightly. "I will invite my aunt to discuss it, then ask Mrs. Fu here to talk about calling off the engagement. No worries, if the engagement is called off and you don’t wish to stay in Dadu City, you can come with me to Shuoyang. I’ll have my mother find a match for you there."

"Cousin..." Dong Tingfang’s face was suddenly filled with tears. She thought this cousin, always close to Tingzhen, would also look down on her, a concubine daughter of the Dong family. To her surprise... her cousin felt the same for her. She had even considered forcing her cousin by long kneeling, not expecting her cousin to offer help first.

From now on, she would never think this way about her cousin again.

"I was of small heart! I originally thought I would have to kneel long to persuade cousin to save me, but cousin... Tingfang is not worthy of such kindness from you!" Dong Tingfang choked up.

"Alright, get up!" Bai Qingyan said with a smile, "This soup is getting cold."

"Let me feed you, cousin!" Dong Tingfang quickly got up.

"No need to be so delicate, just help me place a cushion behind my back so I can be more comfortable."

Dong Tingfang quickly wiped her tears, responded and put a cushion behind Bai Qingyan. She then handed a spoon to Bai Qingyan: "If cousin likes it, Tingfang will make you medicinal diets every day!"