Fang Shi’s brother also kowtowed to Bai Qihe: “Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law, I beg you to consider… consider that my sister bore children for you, and plead with His Majesty for us! Of the children my sister bore for you, I won’t speak of the eldest son… but surely such a good child as Ping’er was taught by my sister, wasn’t he? Brother-in-law, I beg you… I beg you to plead with His Majesty to spare her life!”

Bai Qihe held himself back from pleading, instead saying: “The wrongs Fang Shi has committed – this is not the only one… Adding them all together, dying a hundred times would be enough!”

Hearing these words, Fang Shi felt as if the sky had collapsed: “You…”

“Brother-in-law! A day as husband and wife means a hundred days of affection!” Fang Shi’s brother, a grown man, began to cry aloud. “I beg you to consider… consider Ah Ping’s face and plead for us!”

Bai Qihe straightened his spine. It wasn’t that he wanted to abandon ship when disaster struck – he had given Fang Shi too many chances, but she didn’t know restraint… each time she became more audacious.

“If she truly had Ah Ping in her heart, she shouldn’t have done such things!” Bai Qihe was so angry that his voice trembled. He desperately closed his eyes and said, “Fang Shi is doing these outrageous things – this isn’t the first or second time! Why was she sent back to her maiden family… brother-in-law, you’re not unaware!”

Bai Qihe took a deep breath: “Whatever bit of marital affection I had with her has long been completely worn away by her.”

After Bai Qingyan finished the tea in her cup, she casually set the teacup aside and spoke: “Since the Clan Leader says he no longer has marital affection with Fang Shi, then give Fang Shi a divorce letter and let her brother take her back! In this way… considering the Clan Leader’s and Bai Qingping’s face, I can spare Fang Shi and her brother the death penalty. But while the death penalty can be avoided, punishment for their crimes cannot be escaped! Each of you Fang siblings will receive fifty strokes of the rod, and this matter will be considered settled.”

Hearing these words, Fang Shi’s brother realized they had at least preserved their lives and quickly kowtowed: “Thank Your Majesty! Thank Your Majesty!”

Fang Shi was deeply wounded by Bai Qihe’s words – he said their marital affection had been completely worn away. Why did she do these things… besides helping her maiden family, wasn’t it also for Bai Qihe and Bai Qingping? Yet Bai Qihe treated her this way.

Her heart went cold almost instantly. Fang Shi suddenly straightened up and laughed lowly: “You want to divorce me? I won’t let you have your way! Even if I die… I’ll still occupy the position of your legitimate wife!”

With that, Fang Shi suddenly broke free from the eunuchs restraining her and was about to crash into the wooden post supporting the tent. But just as she rushed out, Wei Zhong grabbed her by the back collar.

Bai Qihe was shocked into a cold sweat. Though he hated Fang Shi, he didn’t want her to die. They had been a young couple… they had once been loving, and Bai Qihe couldn’t bear it!

However, Fang Shi couldn’t allow herself to become a divorced woman.

If she were divorced… how could Bai Qingping hold his head up in the future? Bai Qingping was already of marriageable age, and because of Bai Qingyan’s favor in Shouyang, many good families wanted their daughters to marry him. But Fang Shi had not agreed to any, hoping her son could settle down in the capital and marry a legitimate daughter from a noble family in the capital.

But if his mother were divorced, could Bai Qingping still marry a legitimate daughter from a noble family?

She was Bai Qingping’s mother! How could she not think of Bai Qingping!

“Let me go! Let me die! Let me die!” Fang Shi cried and shouted. “I cannot let Ah Ping have a divorced mother! He’s already of marriageable age – Bai Qihe… how can you bear to let Ah Ping have a divorced mother! And our daughter… she hasn’t been betrothed yet. Are you trying to force our daughter to death?! With a divorced mother, what good family could she marry into?”

Fang Shi cried heartbrokenly and hysterically. Thinking of his son and daughters, Bai Qihe’s eyes also reddened. He turned and roared: “Now you know to think of the son and daughters? When you did these beastly things, why didn’t you think of the children? You always say… everything you do is for me, for the children! When you’re wrong… It’s also for me, for the children! Don’t you have any selfish motives yourself?! Rather than let Ah Ping have a mother like you who would scheme against noble daughters to be our family’s daughter-in-law, it’s better to send you away early to avoid disgracing our Bai family!”

Bai Qingyan simply drank her tea impassively, letting the couple argue it out themselves.

In any case, this Fang Shi could no longer remain in the Bai family. Setting aside whether her character and conduct were proper, she was foolish without self-awareness – as the clan leader’s wife, this was unacceptable.

Currently, among the entire Bai clan, only Bai Qihe is suitable for the clan leader position. Though Bai Qingping was still young and needed several more years of experience and some achievements before he could hold the clan leader position steady and secure.

Bai Qingyan understood this, and Bai Qihe surely understood the reasoning as well.

“If the Clan Leader wants to handle family affairs, wait until after the punishment is carried out to deal with it slowly… I won’t keep the Clan Leader here any longer!” Bai Qingyan didn’t want them quarreling here and disturbing Fourth Aunt.

Seeing this, Wei Zhong responded by gagging Fang Shi’s mouth and led both Fang Shi and her brother out of the tent.

Bai Qihe kowtowed heavily to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty, since becoming clan leader, I have never shared Your Majesty’s burdens, and my inner quarters have repeatedly caused trouble for Your Majesty. Bai Qihe truly cannot bear the heavy responsibility of clan leader. According to Bai family rules, the clan leader should be held by the legitimate second son of the main branch. Your Majesty’s brothers have already returned, so please, Your Majesty…”

“Rise first!” Bai Qingyan interrupted Bai Qihe’s words. “I have you serve as clan leader now because currently, only you are suitable. I think very highly of Bai Qingping. When Bai Qingping is older in the future, I’ll have him lead the entire clan. Before then… please, Clan Leader, for my sake and Bai Qingping’s sake, watch over the Bai clan!”

Hearing these words, Bai Qihe looked up at Bai Qingyan in disbelief.

“Don’t tell Bai Qingping first – let him maintain a calm mindset while gaining experience!” Bai Qingyan said.

Bai Qihe kowtowed to Bai Qingyan, finally understanding in his heart that Bai Qingyan did have this clan brother, Bai Qingping, in her heart.

After Bai Qihe left the tent, Bai Qingyan instructed: “Today’s events must not be told to Fourth Aunt. Fourth Aunt is naturally timid – she shouldn’t know…”

The personal nanny by Fourth Madam Wang Shi’s side wiped her tears with a handkerchief and quickly bowed in acknowledgment: “First Miss, rest assured! This old servant, Lingyun, and Lingxiu will keep our mouths sealed!”

Nanny Guan was still terrified even now. She had been too careless – because there were no schemes among the Bai family sisters-in-law, having followed Wang Shi for so many years, she had lost her sense of caution.

“Nanny Guan need not blame yourself. Take good care of Fourth Aunt in the future!” Bai Qingyan said with a smile.

Nanny Guan nodded vigorously: “First Miss, rest assured. In the future, unless this old servant dies, I will never leave Fourth Madam’s side for even a moment!”