Later, after discussion, they had the concubine’s son recorded under great-grandmother’s name continue to hold the clan leader position, and later passed the clan leader position to his son.

But regarding the property deeds, neither great-grandfather nor grandfather ever thought to reclaim them – they were always kept with the clan.

Having land contracts but no property deeds was quite troublesome.

Previously, the Shouyang Bai family clan had the protection of Duke Zhenguo’s mansion. Now that Miss has been enfeoffed as a County Princess, their ability to run rampant in Shouyang still relies on the fortune of our Duke mansion and Miss. Yet now they bully us like this! Miss doesn’t know – the Shouyang clan Bai family has done countless evil deeds over the years, but others all think the Shouyang clan relies on Duke Zhenguo’s mansion’s power. I accidentally overheard people complaining that Heaven is unfair, saying that just when Duke Zhenguo’s mansion finally fell, the Bai family produced another female killing god and was granted a County Princess title, so the Bai family would continue to be arrogant.”

Steward Liu felt increasingly angry thinking about these matters.

He didn’t dare tell Dong Shi and Bai Qingyan that recently, someone in Shouyang had been widely publicizing Bai Qingyan’s burning and killing of one hundred thousand Xiliang surrendered prisoners. Because the Shouyang Bai family clan had committed evil deeds before, everyone in Shouyang now thought Bai Qingyan was a cold-blooded, ruthless, violent, and cruel person.

It was precisely because Bai Qingyan’s reputation was already ruined that the Shouyang clan members dared to so brazenly forcibly occupy the ancestral residence.

“Uncle Liu, you still have something unsaid?” She looked at Steward Liu’s hesitant appearance and asked.

Steward Liu glanced at Dong Shi, and after hesitating, frowned and said: “When the news of Miss being enfeoffed as County Princess reached Shouyang, someone also widely publicized Miss’s killing of one hundred thousand surrendered prisoners in Shouyang. Combined with the clan’s previous tyrannical behavior in Shouyang, hearing that the men of our mansion died in battle, quite a few common people who had been harmed by the clan…”

Steward Liu couldn’t bring himself to say it, only saying: “In short… after the news of Miss being enfeoffed as County Princess spread back, government officials even hosted banquets for the Shouyang clan members. Among the Shouyang common people, what’s said about Miss isn’t very good.”

Hearing this, Bai Qingyan wasn’t angry, but Dong Shi stood up abruptly: “When father was alive, the Shouyang clan relied on father’s power to commit evil and act lawlessly in Shouyang. The government, giving face to fathers, covered up for them countless times, causing widespread resentment! How many Shouyang common people hate the Duke mansion to the bone! Now it’s perfect… on one hand they bully us orphans and widows, on the other hand they wave my daughter’s banner to cause trouble! Going too far! Going too far!”

“Mother…” She stood up to support Dong Shi, gently patting her back. “Mother, don’t worry. Leave the clan matters to me to handle – I’ll definitely make mother satisfied.”

“I didn’t say it earlier because I was afraid Madam would worry! Since Miss says she can handle it, Miss definitely can. Madam, please don’t be angry,” Steward Liu advised.

Dong Shi was helped by Bai Qingyan to sit in the chair, gritting her teeth tightly as she spoke: “This can’t continue. This clan… gives them an inch and they take a mile. Your grandmother is still alive, and you’re of County Princess status, yet they dare bully us as orphans and widows with no men in the family. If we return to Shouyang… who knows how we’ll be bullied! We need to think of a way…”

“I’ll think of the way. Mother, just think about how to settle our large household after returning!” She squeezed Dong Shi’s hand. “Mother, trust me!”

“You already have a plan in mind?” Dong Shi looked up at her daughter and asked.

“This matter, when you think about it, is just the clan thinking that we orphans and widows returning to Shouyang must swallow our anger and rely on the clan’s care.” Bai Qingyan turned and walked back to sit beside Bai Jinxiu. “But the reason the clan has been able to act tyrannically and bring disaster to Shouyang all these years is first by relying on the grandfather’s power, and now by relying on my County Princess title.”

“To deal with these clan members, the method of removing the source is to not give them this power to rely on!” She looked at Steward Liu. “The Shouyang Bai family has flourishing descendants, but those who are beautiful on the outside but rotten within are numerous. Those who’ve caused lawsuits are probably not few either, and the utterly shameless ones are countless, right?”

Steward Liu nodded.

“Then it’s easy to handle. I’ll personally return to Shouyang once, ask the clan leader for the property deeds, and inquire about the Fifth Master’s matter. If the clan leader gives them… and has Fifth Master move out of our ancestral residence, considering our shared bloodline, we’ll have peace in all matters. If he doesn’t give them…” Her eyes were cold and indifferent. “Uncle Liu, you’ve been back in Shouyang for several months. You should have figured out the temperament of each branch’s descendants. Use what you’re best at… set up a scheme, implicating all the shameless ones from various clan families. When the time comes, the clan members will bring the property deeds to us themselves.”

Steward Liu nodded repeatedly. With someone making decisions, people have a backbone. He responded: “I’ll listen to Miss!”

Bai Qingyan, with her County Princess status, going to the clan leader to request the property deeds – if the clan leader doesn’t give them, then don’t blame her for stepping on the clan… to clear the Bai family’s infamy in the hearts of Shouyang’s common people.

“When will elder sister depart for Shouyang?” Bai Jinxiu asked.

“Tomorrow morning.” Bai Qingyan looked at Dong Shi. “Mother, I’ll go quickly and return quickly.”

“Then let Nanny Qin go with you!” Dong Shi was still not entirely at ease.

“I’ll ride there and ride back – it’ll be faster! Nanny Qin should stay by her mother’s side!” She thought for a moment and didn’t hide it from Dong Shi, saying: “General Zhang Duanrui has already led troops to Chun Mushan, and Great Liang has stationed troops at Hong Queshan, watching like tigers. I need to go and return quickly in case border conflicts arise. It won’t take many days. Nanny Qin is old – mother shouldn’t have her accompany me in this ordeal.”

Dong Shi nodded and didn’t try to persuade further: “Then I’ll have someone prepare fast horses. Go early and return early.”

After speaking, Dong Shi looked at Bai Jinxiu again: “Since you’re back today, stay home and accompany your grandmother and mother for a meal.”

“I’ll listen to Aunt,” Bai Jinxiu smiled and said.

Grand Princess learned that Bai Jinxiu would also accompany her for dinner today and happily had Nanny Jiang order the small kitchen to add several dishes that Bai Jinxiu liked.

Regarding the news Steward Liu brought back from Shouyang, Dong Shi didn’t tell Grand Princess about the Shouyang clan matters, fearing it would upset her.

The Bai family had too many troubles, always one after another, leaving no room to breathe. Dong Shi just wanted the whole family to have a lively, good meal together.

Just after the You hour, the Bai mansion’s servants were chatting and laughing softly as they lit the lanterns hanging in the corridors one by one. The dim yellow light of the lanterns cast hazy shadows on the window frames and blue brick floors, swaying in the gentle spring night breeze.

Changshou Courtyard was very lively today. Perhaps because everyone had gathered and the atmosphere was warm, even the candlelight seemed more vigorous than usual, illuminating the screen embroidered with a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix in the main room… the birds seemed to come alive.

In the main room, several children were laughing and talking about the newly born Eighth Miss, trying to amuse Grand Princess.

During this period, Grand Princess had been at the Pure Nunnery, her elder sister had been in Nan Jiang, and the household had been too quiet. Now that everyone had finally returned, the children were naturally happy.