In no time at all, the entire field was filled with young ladies flying kites, with joyful laughter echoing everywhere, as if the commotion caused by the two Qin family daughters earlier had never existed.

Since Bai Qingyan was pregnant, she needed to rest in the tent. After Bai Qingyan left, these noble ladies played even more freely, their laughter becoming more carefree and delightfully pleasant to hear.

Some newly married widowed women had skillful hands, weaving grasshoppers or small birds from grass leaves, which delighted these noble ladies immensely. Since these common women from ordinary families were cautious and humble when facing the nobility, yet not obsequiously flattering, the noble ladies were very willing to interact with these women, even if only to show respect for the new policies.

While Bai Qingyan claimed to be going to rest, at this moment, Fourth Madam Wang of the Bai family was lying in the tent. Through the hanging gauze curtains and the eight-treasure screen, Fang Shi and her elder brother were being pressed to their knees by eunuchs, trembling all over. Wang Shi’s mind raced as she calculated quickly – it seemed Bai Qingyan had been prepared all along but hadn’t made a big scene of it.

It was good that she hadn’t made it big. Not making it big meant Bai Qingyan was considering her Fourth Aunt’s reputation. As they say, one hesitates to throw stones at rats near precious vessels – Bai Qingyan surely wouldn’t dare kill her, otherwise… if the matter were blown up, she wouldn’t be able to explain herself properly to others and would implicate her Fourth Aunt as well.

At most, she would just let Bai Qihe divorce her to vent his anger. But now both Bai Qingping brothers were at the age of discussing marriage, and their daughter was gradually growing up. Though the eldest son was disappointing, Bai Qihe would surely ask Bai Qingyan to delay this matter for the sake of Bai Qingping and their daughter…

As long as Bai Qingyan agreed to delay, she could always find a way to win back Bai Qihe’s heart. If she could conceive a child by then, Bai Qingyan surely wouldn’t disregard even the bloodline of the Bai clan!

After all, her Fourth Aunt hadn’t suffered even a scratch, and her Fourth Aunt didn’t bear the Bai surname… But if she bore a child, that would be legitimate Bai clan bloodline.

Fang Shi’s mind worked rapidly while Bai Qihe stood there rigidly, fists clenched tight, face deathly pale.

Seeing Bai Qingyan enter, Bai Qihe was already too ashamed to face her. He quickly knelt before Bai Qingyan and kowtowed, unable to utter a single word.

He had guarded against the Bai clan members but failed to guard against his pillow companion. He had thought that Fang Shi hadn’t caused trouble recently because she had learned to behave and knew fear… So Bai Qihe, considering his capable and filial son Bai Qingping, was willing to tolerate Fang Shi for his son’s sake.

He truly hadn’t expected Fang Shi to dare be so audaciously reckless as to scheme against even the Fourth Madam of the Bai family!

It was his fault. He shouldn’t have been soft-hearted, shouldn’t have feared that divorcing this vile woman would shame him before his son and daughter. After this incident, His Majesty, who already had little affection for the Bai clan, would probably detest the Bai clan members even more!

And his dear Ah Ping, such a good child – his relationship with His Majesty… and his prospects had all been ruined by this vile woman!

“Husband! Husband, save me…” Seeing Bai Qingyan’s pearl-adorned shoes, Fang Shi finally became truly afraid, calling out to Bai Qihe with a tearful voice, crawling forward on her knees, trying to grab the hem of Bai Qihe’s clothes, but was held firmly by the eunuchs, unable to move.

“Husband…” Fang Shi wept in low tones.

“Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law, for Ah Ping’s sake, please save us… Please plead with His Majesty for us. Sister was just momentarily confused!” Fang Shi’s brother also pleaded urgently.

Hearing these siblings’ words, Bai Qihe…

“Bai Qihe has failed, Your Majesty! I managed to restrain the clan members but failed to properly control my wife. Not only could I not share Your Majesty’s burdens, but I nearly let this vile woman cause a catastrophic disaster. I am unworthy of being the Bai clan leader!” Bai Qihe kowtowed heavily.

Bai Qingyan looked at the trembling Fang siblings. The brother was already terrified beyond measure, his arms supporting him on the ground, shaking uncontrollably.

She glanced at Bai Qihe and said softly, “Clan Leader, please rise first!”

As she spoke, Bai Qingyan knelt and sat at the low table. Bai Qihe claimed he dared not rise, crawling on his knees to turn his body, always facing Bai Qingyan while kneeling.

Fang Shi trembled like chaff in a sieve. Hearing Bai Qingyan tell Bai Qihe to rise, thinking that Bai Qingyan still considered Bai Qihe’s status as clan leader, she quickly cried and begged Bai Qihe: “Husband, for Ah Ping and our daughter’s sake… please plead for me too. I was momentarily blinded by greed, it’s all because… It’s all because… the Bai clan members first had this idea, and I became possessed like a demon!”

“The Fang siblings conspired to harm my Fourth Aunt, wanting to sully my Fourth Aunt’s purity… forcing my Fourth Aunt into marriage. This is already a capital offense – no one’s pleading will be of use!” Bai Qingyan’s tone was calm but inexplicably carried a murderous intent. “Or do you think that because the matter didn’t blow up, I plan to let you siblings off lightly?”

Fang Shi was suddenly seen through, her whole body trembling even more violently.

“If I want you dead, there are countless methods… I could make you disappear from this world silently, or have you die of illness in this world – it would be extremely easy…”

Fang Shi didn’t doubt that Bai Qingyan’s words were just intimidation. Imperial power and authority… as long as the Emperor had such thoughts, there would be countless people willing to handle the matter. Even if she had a hundred… a thousand lives, it wouldn’t be enough to die.

In that instant, Fang Shi’s mind raced through countless thoughts, and she immediately burst into tears.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty… my brother knows nothing!” Fang Shi quickly kowtowed to Bai Qingyan, tears streaming down her face. “When I discussed this matter with my brother before, he disagreed and advised me to behave properly. Today I also had someone trick my brother into the carriage. It has nothing to do with my brother! Please see clearly, Your Majesty!”

The deed was done by Fang Shi herself. She knew that as long as she could preserve her life, using Bai Qingping and their daughter as leverage… even if Bai Qihe was unwilling, he would have to temporarily keep her in the Bai family!

But if she implicated her brother in this, her brother would surely die!

Moreover, if Bai Qingyan truly insisted on killing her, and she also implicated her brother, then after her death… when Bai Qihe married a second wife and the second wife bore children, there would be no one left to support Bai Qingping!

Besides, her brother’s family had a whole bunch of nephews and nieces – she couldn’t let them all die because of her! Whether it was death… or divorce, it should end with her.

Chun Tao gritted her teeth and glared at Fang Shi, bringing Bai Qingyan a cup of honeysuckle tea to help cool her anger.

She reached out to accept the teacup and spoke deliberately: “Your brother doesn’t dare, but your courage is quite large, and your heart is quite ambitious – you even dared to scheme against members of the imperial family…”

“Your Majesty, spare my life!” Fang Shi kowtowed repeatedly to Bai Qingyan.

Seeing his sister’s state, Fang Shi’s brother knew his sister was also thinking of the Fang family, and quickly joined in kowtowing: “Your Majesty… please spare my sister! My sister has had no ill intentions since childhood. She just heard that the Bai clan members wanted to use the new laws to marry the Bai family madams, and was momentarily confused!”