“Elder Sister is the most amazing!” Fifth Miss ran up to Bai Qingyan in a flash, tugging at her sleeves coquettishly, her eyes full of admiration. “When I grow up, I want to be as amazing as Elder Sister.”

Bai Qingyan raised her hand to touch the small blessing pouch on Fifth Miss’s head. Looking at her sister’s carefree, sweet smile, warmth flowed through her heart, dispelling the cold from her body and warming her entire being.

“Elder Sister, please sit quickly!” Bai Jintong seated Bai Qingyan on a stool, then shooed away Fourth Miss Bai Jinzhi and Fifth and Sixth Misses, sending them to the kitchen to fetch pastries for Bai Qingyan.

Early this morning, Bai Jinxiu had heard from Bai Jintong about what Bai Qingyan had said to Qin Lang last night. Her eyes reddened slightly as she choked up: “Elder Sister…”

Knowing what Bai Jinxiu wanted to say, Bai Qingyan held Bai Jinxiu’s hand and patted it gently, smiling warmly at her as she spoke softly: “This morning, Qin Lang came to our door and asked grandmother to take him to the palace to voluntarily relinquish his heir apparent position. Although Qin Lang will no longer have the heir apparent position in the future, it lets the world know that Jiang Shi is an unkind mother, so you’ll have a good excuse to move out of Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion and live your own lives behind closed doors.”

Bai Qingyan’s words made Bai Jinxiu’s eyes burn with emotion, making her feel even more ashamed of failing to live up to Elder Sister’s instructions when she gave her the ancestral sword. She nodded through her tears: “I understand, Elder Sister! That’s what I told the heir apparent last night, too.”

Seeing Bai Jinxiu crying continuously, Bai Qingyan felt heartbroken, and her own eyes reddened. She used a handkerchief to wipe away Bai Jinxiu’s tears: “When the time comes, I’ll have my mother and second aunt select some capable women servants for you. Without a mother-in-law controlling you, everything will get better! Don’t be afraid… our Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion and grandmother will always be behind you. No one in this capital can bully a daughter of our Bai family.”

“I never expected Qin Lang to truly have such courage to make this decision.” Bai Jintong sat down beside Bai Qingyan, her eyes grave. “I hope those two venomous snakes at Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion who hurt Second Sister will understand how formidable our Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion is and never dare provoke Second Sister again.”

“One fragrant item and one foul can leave a stench for ten years. Evil by nature – can it be changed? Difficult as ascending to heaven.” Bai Qingyan stretched her hands toward the fire to warm them, then looked up at Bai Jinxiu with a slight smile. “If you want them to behave, you must strike once and break their spines, crush their backbone! Let them know what pain is, what fear is, so that in the future they’ll tremble just hearing your Second Sister’s name. Only then… can your Second Sister have peace.”

“Backing?! Elder Sister means Marquis Zhongyong’s wife, Jiang Shi?” Bai Jintong’s eyes lit up.

Since Bai Qingyan was taking action, it would not be some child’s play of merely frightening Marquis Zhongyong’s wife and daughter. Marquis Zhongyong’s wife and daughter were the type who excelled at rear courtyard scheming – most annoying, like fleas. If not crushed to death, they would eventually become arrogant and create even bigger troubles for Bai Jinxiu.

She didn’t want to leave future troubles for Bai Jinxiu, nor did she want Bai Jinxiu’s hands stained with such filth, so she planned to deal with this Marquis Zhongyong’s wife thoroughly this time.

Bai Qingyan asked: “Where are the indenture contracts for your dowry maids?”

“In the bottom layer of my makeup box…” Bai Jinxiu knew Bai Qingyan must need them and gestured for Bai Jintong to fetch them. “The land deeds for the dowry estates, grandmother and mother gave me, and the indenture contracts for the maids – I kept them all here, planning to retrieve them when I returned home for my first visit.”

Bai Jintong rose and took out the indenture contracts from the red wood mother-of-pearl makeup box, handing them to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan picked out Mingyu’s indenture contract and handed the others back to Bai Jintong to put away: “Keep these contracts safe – they’ll be useful in the future.”

“Mingyu, is she…” Bai Jinxiu gripped the brocade beneath her tightly. “She…”

Not wanting the injured Bai Jinxiu to waste energy, she gently held Bai Jinxiu’s hand and instructed: “Focus on recovering from your injuries. Don’t waste energy on these master-betraying things – just leave them to capable people to handle.”

With that, she turned and handed Mingyu’s indenture contract to Chun Tao, speaking meaningfully: “Tell your cousin that Mingyu betrayed her master and forgot kindness. Although Second Miss is kind-hearted, heavenly justice absolutely cannot tolerate this. Handle this matter well, and there will be great rewards.”

This would also let the servants of Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion open their eyes wide and see clearly what happens to those who betray their masters.

Chun Tao acknowledged and received the indenture contract with both hands before leaving Qingzhu Pavilion.

That very day, less than an hour after the Grand Princess returned from the palace with Qin Lang at noon, news that the heir apparent of Marquis Zhongyong had voluntarily requested to relinquish his heir apparent position spread throughout the capital.

When Marquis Zhongyong’s wife Jiang Shi received this news, her legs went weak as mud, and she collapsed into her chair, sweating profusely.

“Mother, this is good news! Why does mother’s complexion look so terrible?” Second Miss Qin grabbed Jiang Shi’s sleeves.

With Qin Lang voluntarily relinquishing his heir apparent position, their younger brother could become the heir apparent.

Jiang Shi didn’t even have the energy to scold her daughter. She pressed her hand firmly against her chest, knowing that her reputation was now completely ruined. Her reputation didn’t matter much, but her child was still young… who would dare marry a Qin family daughter in the future, who would dare wed a Qin family son!

In her rage, Jiang Shi slapped Second Miss Qin so hard she fell to the ground.

Second Miss Qin covered her burning face with one hand, staring wide-eyed at Jiang Shi with tears in her eyes: “Mother?! Why did you hit your daughter?!”

“Fool! If you hadn’t gotten into a big fight with Bai Jinxiu over a verbal dispute, how could things have gotten so serious?”

After scolding her daughter, Jiang Shi forced herself to gather her spirits. As long as His Majesty’s official decree hadn’t been issued, there was still room for maneuvering. It was too late to enter the palace today, but tomorrow she would enter the palace to petition the Empress to ask His Majesty for mercy, not to remove Qin Lang’s heir apparent. She would act like a good stepmother should, stating that Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion could only have Qin Lang as heir apparent – perhaps the situation could still be salvaged.

“Nanny Wu!” Jiang Shi called out. Seeing the sallow-faced Nanny Wu enter from outside, she hurriedly instructed: “Quickly submit a tablet to the palace – tomorrow I must enter the palace to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”

After Nanny Wu bowed to Jiang Shi, she said: “Madam, something has happened! Manager Xu from the estate just arrived, covered in injuries… saying that today, people from Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion, accompanied by a group of guards and thugs, stormed into your dowry estate… and took Mingyu away with her indenture contract!”

Jiang Shi couldn’t catch her breath and collapsed onto the soft couch, nearly fainting.

“Madam! Madam!” Nanny Wu hurried to support Jiang Shi.

“Does Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion know everything? Do they also know that our mansion drowned those maids?” Jiang Shi covered her chest, feeling unable to breathe.

“Although it’s no big deal for wealthy families to kill a few maids, that girl, Mingyu, knows the whole story. If she tells everything to Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion, it will be difficult to explain to the Grand Princess…” Nanny Wu looked worriedly at Second Miss Qin, who was crying continuously.

“Mother!” Just thinking of the Grand Princess’s imposing dignity made Second Miss Qin’s legs go weak. She cried as she clutched Jiang Shi’s clothes: “What should we do?! If the Grand Princess finds out, she definitely won’t spare my sister and me!”