“Could it be that before… the Capital City Bai family truly didn’t know what the Shouyang Bai clan was doing?”

Previously, when Shouyang’s common people heard outsiders speak of how Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting was upright and towering, how honest and loyal he was, how he possessed such a righteous spirit, most of the Shouyang people would purse their lips dismissively.

Later, when news of Bai Qingyan punishing her illegitimate brother on the main street of the capital, and her enumeration of the Bai family’s achievements at the palace banquet reached Shouyang, only a small portion of people in Shouyang City praised the Bai family’s generations of inherited love for the people. But the common people who had been oppressed by the Bai clan… most had already developed deep hatred for both the Bai clan and the Bai family, convinced it was all just an act performed by the Bai family!

When news of the complete annihilation of Duke Zhenguo’s mansion’s men arrived, some even secretly cheered behind closed doors.

But now, seeing that Zhenguo County Princess’s complete integrity and straightforwardness, they could imagine Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting’s character. Perhaps the Capital City Bai family truly didn’t know what the Shouyang Bai clan had been doing.

“Whether the Capital City Bai family was deceived depends on whether that dog official surnamed Zhou will handle things impartially, and whether that Zhenguo County Princess will make the Bai clan return other people’s property!”

After Bai Qingyan left, the situation in Shouyang City changed dramatically. Magistrate Zhou seemed like a completely different person – not only did he arrest all the Bai clan young masters who had caused trouble at Tianxiang Restaurant today, he also sent bailiffs to the Bai family to arrest several… young masters and stewards who had committed murder and forcibly seized civilian women.

The entire Shouyang Bai clan fell into chaos, with several women crying as they sought out the clan leader with their husbands.

“Clan Leader! Clan Leader, something terrible has happened! People from the magistrate’s office came and arrested my Ajin!”

“Those bailiffs charged into our mansion and arrested our Arong without a word! Clan Leader… please help us get our children back!”

At this time, the clan leader was also overwhelmed. Bai Qiyun had personally taken generous gifts to Magistrate Zhou’s place, begging Magistrate Zhou to release Bai Qingjie and the others, but he couldn’t even see Magistrate Zhou.

Magistrate Zhou had someone relay a message to Bai Qiyun, saying that Bai Qiyun had deceived him for years, and it was time to settle the total account.

At first, Bai Qiyun was baffled. When he returned and told the clan leader, the clan leader collapsed into his chair, somehow suddenly remembering what Bai Jinzhi had said before leaving – that he should maintain his dignity and preferably not have to beg before Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan had made good on her threat!

But as they say, one brush cannot write two different “Bai” characters. The Shouyang Bai clan and the Capital City Bai family were connected by blood – when one prospered, all prospered; when one suffered, all suffered. How dare Bai Qingyan do this?!

Even Bai Qingyan’s grandfather, Bai Weiting, wouldn’t dare do something so disgraceful to the clan. She, a mere young woman… dared to be so bold.

Didn’t she consider her future? Didn’t she think about who would care for her in old age besides the clan? After her death, didn’t she want to receive the clan’s ancestral offerings?

But… what the clan could use to control Bai Qingyan was only these two points, yet the clan relied on Bai Qingyan’s County Princess authority to run rampant in Shouyang City.

“Elder Brother! Elder Brother!”

The clan leader’s younger brother, Fifth Master Bai, also rushed in from outside with his weeping wife: “Elder Brother! Chuan’er was arrested by government officials!”

Seeing Bai Qiyun, Fifth Master became anxious: “It was that Magistrate Zhou, who’s friendly with Qiyun, who sent people to arrest Chuan’er! Qiyun… did you offend Magistrate Zhou? Is that why he’s taking it out on my Chuan’er?”

When the clan leader saw his younger brother, Fifth Master, inexplicable anger arose in his heart: “You still have the nerve to say that! If you hadn’t shamelessly occupied the main branch’s ancestral residence, would things have come to this point? You still have the nerve to ask if Qiyun offended Magistrate Zhou! It’s you who offended Bai Qingyan – all the clan’s descendants are being implicated because of you, you bastard!”

Fifth Master’s face alternated between green and white: “But Elder Brother, my occupying the ancestral residence… You approved it!”

The clan leader glared in Fifth Master’s direction. Fifth Master looked away uncomfortably and sat down in a chair, angrily pounding the table: “That Bai Qingyan is no good!”

Fifth Master said huffily, “Last time when Qiyun was captured by bandits, they didn’t care! This time, they even caused our clan’s younger generation to be arrested! Their Capital City Bai family, has no male heirs left – by rights, all their family property should be incorporated into the clan. I even left them half to live in, yet they repay kindness with enmity!”

“Fifth Uncle, since you think the ancestral residence should be incorporated into the clan, why didn’t you speak up in the clan earlier? Why wait until they had repaired the ancestral residence before quietly moving in without anyone in the clan knowing? So, incorporating into the clan just means your family gets the benefit? Now look… your family gets the benefit, but our children have to bear the consequences! Why?!” A sharp-tongued woman shouted at the Fifth Master.

Hearing the woman’s shrill, raised voice, the clan leader’s head buzzed as he gripped his walking stick and pounded the floor forcefully.

“Stop arguing! Now is not the time to determine who’s right or wrong – we need to figure out how to quickly rescue the children!”

“Yes! The clan leader speaks truly – we must quickly find a way to get the children out!” The clan leader’s daughter-in-law covered her mouth with a handkerchief and sobbed aloud. “Our Bai clan children have never suffered like this! What sins have we committed!”

“Exactly! Clan Leader, the Capital City Bai family must give us an explanation and get our people released! And they must compensate for the suffering our children endured in prison, otherwise… don’t blame me for being impolite to them!” Fifth Master said through gritted teeth.

Bai Qingping, who had been standing by the door, clenched his teeth, completely disheartened by his grandfather and family relatives.

He lifted the curtain, supporting himself on the door frame as he entered: “The Capital City Bai family’s children go to battle for training at age ten. You cousins spend your days eating, drinking, and making merry, oppressing the local people. Now you’re merely in prison atoning for your wrongdoings – how is that unacceptable?! Instead of reflecting on yourselves, you elders are here discussing how to threaten the Zhenguo County Princess to rescue people… and compensate you?!”

Bai Qingping’s chest rose and fell violently. When had his clansmen become so greedy, selfish, arrogantly conceited, and stupidly maddening that it made his scalp tingle with painful grief?

Bai Qingping’s gaze swept over the room full of elders who had momentarily frozen at his outburst: “Grandfather and fellow clan elders, don’t you still understand where the clan went wrong?!”

“The reason the Shouyang Bai clan could run rampant in Shouyang was entirely because the Capital City Bai family was in power! This incident is a warning! The Zhenguo County Princess asked her grandfather for the property deed that rightfully belonged to the Capital City Bai family, but her grandfather refused to give it, so… the Zhenguo County Princess won’t let the Shouyang Bai clan continue borrowing the Capital City Bai family’s influence! This is the Zhenguo County Princess’s warning to the clan – if the clan members still don’t know their place, the Zhenguo County Princess will completely abandon the clan. Then… let’s see what becomes of our clan!”