Since all the men of the Bai family perished in the southern border, conspiracies and disasters arose one after another. The Bai family was on the brink of collapse. If it weren’t for the daughter’s painstaking efforts, the Bai family might not even exist today. She did not expect the clan to share their burdens but certainly could not let these greedy and insatiable people hinder her, sully her reputation.
The clan leader stood up in shock. "Wife of Qishan! What do you mean by this?! Do you still want to return to Shuoyang?! Do you still recognize the clan?!"
"Such a clan is not worth recognizing!" Bai Qingyan’s voice was steady and slow. She stood up, smoothing the wrinkles on her clothes, ready to leave.
"Stop right there!" The clan leader trembled with rage. "The clan merely needs you to say a word to help, yet this is your attitude? Since you have sworn not to marry again, do you not wish to receive the clan’s incense offerings after death?"
"Incense offerings? My grandfather and father did not dare to accept them. How could I?" Bai Qingyan turned around. Her cold, clear eyes deeply looked at the clan leader. "Clan leader, you should remember, I am not an ordinary girl. I am a descendant of the Bai family’s Duke of Zhen in Dadu City, following my grandfather’s will. In times of war and difficulty, I lead by example, protecting the people, living on the taxes they pay, and accepting their incense offerings after death. What need is there for the clan?"
The elders looked at each other with a sense of agitation, gazing at the proud and resolute Bai Qingyan. The Princess of Zhen, although she had rank and stipend, was known for her prowess in battle, having garnered high regard among the people during the Shu conquest.
"Clan leader, we came here to ask the Commandery Princess for help. How can we let things turn ugly?" An elder stepped forward to mediate. "Commandery Princess, the clan leader is just like that, but he doesn’t mean it. The Bai Clan has always been united. We are only asking you to speak to Magistrate Zhou, as other noble families would do for their clan!"
"In Shuoyang, I believe I have made myself clear. Since all the elders are here today, let me repeat. I have pledged to the people of Shuoyang that no matter who, among the Bai Clan in Shuoyang, has bullied the people under the guise of the Bai family’s power in Dadu City, once verified, I will request the clan leader to expel them and compensate the wronged people. If the clan leader does not agree and refuses to expel the unfit members of the Bai family, my entire family in Dadu will sever ties with the Bai Clan in Shuoyang and have no further association!"
Bai Qingyan’s cold gaze swept across the terrified elders. "I have already spoken to Magistrate Zhou. Debts must be repaid; murderers must compensate with their lives. The punishment must follow the law, without leniency!"
"You...You..." The clan leader pointed at Bai Qingyan with a trembling hand.
The elders, who had their children imprisoned, were enraged upon hearing this.
"Princess of Zhen, you, a descendant of the Bai family, instead of helping the clan, are harming it! Have you no conscience?!"
"Conscience?!" Mrs. Dong’s eyes were icy and stern. "You should first ask if the clan has a conscience! The Bai family in Dadu has already done its best for the clan, yet the clan’s greed knows no bounds! They bullied the people under the Bai family’s name, sullying my daughter’s reputation. Now they want my daughter’s help and dare to speak insolently! I have never seen such shameless and despicable people! Such a clan is a disgrace to the Bai family in Dadu!"
As Mrs. Dong finished speaking, Lu Ping arrived with a contingent of guards.
With a stern face, Lu Ping saluted at the door. "Madam! Commandery Princess!"
"Mother, don’t upset yourself." Bai Qingyan held Mrs. Dong’s arm and addressed the elders. "I have made myself clear. On the first day of May, the Bai family in Dadu will return to Shuoyang. If the clan leader has not expelled those who commit crimes and violate laws, I will apologize to the ancestors and declare that the Bai family in Dadu will sever ties with the Bai Clan in Shuoyang!"
Bai Qingyan’s gaze was calm and unwavering. "At that time, if any oppressed people want revenge, the clan should not seek humiliation by begging before the Bai family."
With that, Bai Qingyan helped Mrs. Dong walk out, speaking softly with a faint smile. "Mother, it’s not worth getting angry."
"Shameless! Utterly bullying!" Mrs. Dong’s chest heaved violently. Stepping over the threshold, she cursed, "They are heartless beasts! Lu Ping, drive them out! Do not leave them any face!"
To dare to tarnish Bai Qingyan’s reputation, falsely claiming a scandal with the Crown Prince to justify their misdeeds—this not only touched Mrs. Dong’s bottom line!
Reflecting on the clan’s actions over the years, it was restraint on Mrs. Dong’s part not to have Lu Ping decompose them.
"Ridiculous! Ridiculous! Mrs. Dong is too much! Too much!" The clan leader’s cane struck the stone floor sharply, his face red with anger.
Lu Ping gripped the hilt of his blade, leading the guards into the hall with a stern expression. "Throw them out!"
"Yes!" The guards responded in unison, forming a line as they entered.
The elders were startled, eyes wide open, huddling together, shouting angrily, "What are you doing?!"
Amidst the clan leader and elders’ exclamations, the Bai family’s guards indeed lifted them off the ground and carried them a few steps towards the gate of the Duke of Zhen’s residence.
"What are you doing?! I am the clan leader of the Bai Clan!"
"Bai Qingyan, you leave yourself no way out. Do you not fear seeking us in need one day?!"
"Mrs. Dong! How dare you treat the elders of the clan ! Are you not afraid of being despised by the world?"
"By dishonoring the clan, the people of Dadu City and the world will know that you are traitors to the clan! Do you still want to live as humans?!"
Bai Qingyan was accompanying Mrs. Dong, who was trembling with anger, back along the corridor. Hearing the clan members’ curses, she paused and called, "Nanny Tong."
Nanny Tong quickly stepped forward.
"Please inform Steward Liu to promptly spread the word in Dadu City about the Bai Clan’s actions in Shuoyang, including the false accusations of me and the Crown Prince to cover up their crimes."
"Tell Steward Hao to stir up a public commotion with the Shuoyang clan elders outside. The bigger, the better! Tell them that Bai Qingyan stated she would rather apologize to the ancestors and remove the entire Bai family from the clan than use her status as Commandery Princess to pressure the officials in Shuoyang into releasing the law-breaking Bai Clan members!"
"When the Emperor commits a crime, he is punished the same as commoners. Why should the Bai Clan in Shuoyang be an exception? Debts must be repaid; murderers must compensate with their lives! Punishment must follow the law! If the local officials show leniency, I, Bai Qingyan, will report to the throne to ensure justice for the people!"