When the time came and something happened under everyone’s watchful eyes, even for the sake of her aunts-in-law and her mother’s reputation, Bai Qingyan would have no way to prevent her mother and aunts-in-law from remarrying!

Lady Fang calculated well – when the time came, she would spend more silver, and even if she couldn’t get Bai Qingyan’s mother, she could still get one of Bai Qingyan’s several aunts-in-law, lest all the benefits be snatched up by the Bai clan members.

Seeing that Lady Fang was unwilling to speak, Pu Liu didn’t press further and bowed to Lady Fang: “This servant will go back and change clothes first, then return to serve Madam.”

Seeing the sweat at Pu Liu’s temples, Lady Fang nodded: “You go back and rest! Thank you for your hard work.”

Just as the news Bai Qihe had received, the Bai clan’s schemes had already targeted Bai Qingyan’s several aunts-in-law and the Empress Dowager Dong Shi.

Just like Lady Fang, they had heard that on Princess Gaoyi’s birthday, several ladies of the Bai family would also attend the kite competition. They were thinking about how to set up a trap, catching whoever they could…

Some people, like Lady Fang, had the idea of using dirty methods, but naturally, such dishonorable tactics were discussed behind closed doors among family members. Some had already sent people to make advance arrangements.

Inside the imperial palace.

After hearing Bai Qihe finish describing the Bai clan’s schemes, Bai Jinzhi was so angry she almost couldn’t resist taking a whip to properly teach those Bai clan members a lesson.

“The reason I haven’t taken any action yet is because I’m worried about disrupting Your Majesty’s arrangements and ruining Your Majesty’s affairs, so I came to the palace to discuss with Your Majesty. If it doesn’t affect the grand plan, after returning… I will use my authority as clan leader to deal with these clan members!” Bai Qihe said.

“What’s there to discuss? Deal with them all according to clan law, every single one!” Bai Jinzhi’s chest heaved violently, her voice rising uncontrollably.

“On Xiao Si’s birthday, I don’t want the Bai clan members to cause trouble. I’ll trouble the clan leader to go back and deal with them all! Otherwise, who knows what filthy methods those clan members with improper thoughts will use? We can’t let the common people see the Bai clan as a mass of filth in such a setting.” Bai Qingyan spoke deliberately and methodically. “The clan leader can tell these clan members that they’d better behave themselves, otherwise don’t blame me for not remembering our shared ancestry – I’ll not only deal with them according to clan rules, but also prosecute them according to national law!”

“Yes!” Bai Qihe bowed to Bai Qingyan and took his leave.

But Bai Qingyan fell into deep thought…

Since ancient times, the dirty methods used against women were nothing more than ruining women’s reputations!

She encouraged widows to remarry, but if widows were unwilling and someone coveted a widow’s beauty or family wealth and used foul means, they could force the widow to have no choice but to marry.

In this case, Bai Qingyan would only need to increase the punishment for rape in the new law, just as written in Empress Ji’s scrolls – to enlighten the people… especially to enlighten women who had been oppressed by male superiority and female inferiority for hundreds of years, teaching them to fight for themselves.

This matter… couldn’t be rushed.

“I’m so angry!” Bai Jinzhi sat down beside Bai Qingyan. “These clan members can’t do anything right, but they’re first-rate at scheming! And they always use such messy methods. Elder sister… are we really of the same clan as these people?”

“The previous clan leader led the clan for decades, and his character was improper, so the clan members naturally couldn’t be upright. The older generation was most deeply influenced, and their formed nature is probably hard to change! Now with Bai Qihe in charge… the younger generation can still be straightened out, just have more patience.” Bai Qingyan said.

Bai Jinzhi nodded, her gaze falling on Bai Qingyan’s belly: “The baby in elder sister’s belly is considerate! I remember when Fifth Aunt was pregnant with Xiao Ba, she vomited so much in the first few months that she couldn’t get out of bed.”

Mentioning the child, Bai Qingyan’s eyes filled with smiles. She lowered her gaze and gently caressed her abdomen, smiling: “Yes, even Physician Hong said this child knows how to be considerate, and will surely be understanding in the future!”

Bai Jinzhi looked at her elder sister’s smiling expression and pressed her lips together…

Since returning, Bai Jinzhi had never mentioned Xiao Rongyan in front of Bai Qingyan, fearing it would cause her elder sister sadness. But seeing that Bai Qingyan seemed truly not sad, Bai Jinzhi worried that her elder sister was hiding her sorrow too well in her heart, which might hurt her instead.

“Elder sister, about Master Xiao…” Bai Jinzhi looked at Bai Qingyan. “If the elder sister wants to cry, Xiao Si will accompany her. When the little nephew or niece is born, Xiao Si will love them dearly! I definitely won’t let the child feel lonely without a father’s companionship!”

Bai Qingyan looked up at Bai Jinzhi’s worried expression and chuckled softly: “Silly girl! It’s fine, Xiao Rongyan… he’s not dead.”

“It’s fine?!” Bai Jinzhi’s eyes widened. “Then he…”

“This matter is rather complex, elder sister will tell you in detail later.” Bai Qingyan said.

Seeing that Bai Qingyan didn’t seem to be pretending, she finally felt relieved.

“Oh right, elder sister!” Bai Jinzhi moved closer to Bai Qingyan and asked in a lowered voice: “Has eldest aunt seen Fifth Brother?”

When Bai Jinzhi was in Han City, she had thought that Fifth Brother would come for the elder sister’s coronation ceremony…

Later when Bai Jinxiu arrived in Han City, Bai Jinzhi heard from her that the Ghost-Faced Prince of Rongdi had indeed come to attend elder sister’s coronation ceremony. Bai Jinzhi was overjoyed – if eldest aunt saw that Fifth Brother was alive and well, she must be so happy.

Bai Qingyan nodded.

Bai Jinzhi’s lips curved into a smile: “Although Fifth Brother is far away in Rongdi now, but… one day our family will be reunited!”

She looked at her fourth sister, whose eyes were reddening with a smile: “That’s natural! Family should be together! This day won’t be too far away…”

Bai Jinzhi nodded.

“Regarding what the Bai clan leader just reported, please trouble you to go tell our several aunts-in-law, have them be extremely careful that day. Although there will be imperial guards nearby for protection, they must still be on guard and not fall into traps. Don’t have contact with clan members that day.”

“Alright, I’ll go right now!” Bai Jinzhi rose and gave Bai Qingyan a deep bow before hurrying away.

·

On October seventeenth, the first year of Yuanhe, Princess Gaoyi’s birthday, a kite competition was held on the outskirts of the capital. Luxurious elm wood carriages and blue brocade painted ox carts continuously streamed out from the south gate, heading toward Jinhui Mountain.

Jinhui Mountain was covered with ginkgo trees, and when golden autumn arrived, it was a brilliant golden expanse, very beautiful to behold.

Along the way were vendors in azure short clothes carrying shoulder poles and hawking their wares, and young children with topknots chasing and playing, pursuing cloth-clad old men pushing carts selling sugar cakes, waiting for the old men to stop so they could buy sugar cakes to satisfy their cravings.

In the golden autumn season, the sky was clear and cloudless for ten thousand li – perfect weather for flying kites.

Noble families competed to participate, arriving early to test their kites or greet Liu Rushi, one of the judges. The remarried widows who had been invited to participate in the kite competition had originally been eager and ready, but seeing the imposing manner of those nobles, they felt somewhat intimidated.

“I heard His Majesty will come today too!” someone whispered.

“Indeed! I heard that today someone plans to question the Female Emperor here about why she only encourages widows among the common people to remarry, but the imperial family doesn’t lead by example.”