“Why should you fear that bird of a prefect?! Who doesn’t know that Shouyang City is under our Bai family’s control? No matter how capable Bai Weiting was… didn’t he still have to obediently listen to my grandfather’s words! My grandfather is the clan leader! Whatever he tells him to do, he does without question!”
“Although Bai Weiting is dead now, there’s still Bai Qingyan who was enfeoffed as a Princess. Who in the world doesn’t know that Bai Qingyan has already joined the Crown Prince’s faction? As long as we wait for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne… our Bai family will still stand firm! Those surnamed Bai will still be the undisputed masters of Shouyang City!”
Bai Qingyan’s steps paused, her eyebrows lifting slightly as she turned to look at Steward Liu following behind her.
Steward Liu understood and nodded, stepping aside with a smile to let the others go upstairs first.
Bai Jinzhi forcibly suppressed her anger, pretending not to have heard, and followed Bai Qingyan upstairs.
This time, Elder Sister had returned specifically to handle clan affairs. Since Elder Sister heard but chose not to intervene, there must be Elder Sister’s reasoning – she couldn’t act impulsively.
The waiter leading the way, however, sighed almost imperceptibly upon hearing these words.
Bai Jinzhi’s ears twitched, and she asked with a smile: “Young brother, why do you sigh?”
The waiter’s back stiffened as if startled, and he smiled: “It’s nothing much, just that in a few days… our Tianxiang Tower will change ownership, and we don’t know if we can continue working here. Forgive the disturbance to the honored guests!”
With Bai Qingyan’s signal, Bai Jinzhi continued asking: “Change ownership? Tianxiang Tower’s business has always been good, hasn’t it?”
The waiter pushed open the private room door, respectfully inviting Bai Qingyan’s group inside while pouring tea and lamenting: “The honored guests must not be locals, unaware of the Bai family’s power. The Bai family has always been undisputed in our Shouyang City, doing many wicked deeds over the years. Previously, they had Duke Zhenguo’s backing, and just when Duke Zhenguo finally died, along came Princess Zhenguo. I hear this Princess Zhenguo has an extraordinary relationship with the Crown Prince – they say when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, Princess Zhenguo will either be Empress or Noble Consort! This Bai family… will probably become even more arrogant!”
Bai Jinzhi nearly burst out cursing, grinding her teeth with an ugly expression.
“This is all what the Bai family people said?” Bai Qingyan sat down at the Eight Immortals table, her jade-like fingers picking up a teacup, gently blowing air into it.
“Not just the Bai family – our boss is the county magistrate’s brother-in-law, and the magistrate told our boss the same thing!” The waiter wore a bitter expression. “The Bai family has already forcibly seized several shops, and suddenly set their sights on our Tianxiang Tower. The magistrate said our boss can’t afford to offend the Bai family, so he should just give it up! Princess Zhenguo will return to Shouyang soon – if we don’t comply… should any trouble arise, it won’t end well, and our boss will be the one to suffer.”
“Sigh, every time the Bai family takes over a shop, they cut the workers’ monthly wages in half! The day before yesterday… the manager of Yulu Rouge Shop said he had the elderly above and the young below, and couldn’t survive on half wages… The Bai family immediately found an excuse to beat him half to death. The old manager couldn’t catch his breath and died that very night! The old manager’s son didn’t say a word, quietly went to the prefect to report the Bai family, but I suspect even the prefect might not dare interfere.”
Bai Jinzhi clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking audibly. She was so angry she didn’t even look at Tuling Temple’s night scenery, barely ate dinner, and returned to the inn with Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingyan practiced with her red-tasseled silver spear in the inn’s small courtyard while Steward Liu stood nearby, reporting the day’s events.
“It appears the Bai clan’s younger generation did these things privately, behind the backs of the Bai family elders. Just now, the clan leader’s youngest grandson has summoned Tianxiang Tower’s head manager, saying he wants the Tower’s owner to come tomorrow at noon – they’re probably planning to forcibly buy Tianxiang Tower.”
It seemed there was no need for Steward Liu to go through the trouble of setting up a scheme – tomorrow at noon would be the perfect opportunity.
Bai Qingyan’s ears twitched, her eyes darkening as she turned and fiercely hurled the cold-gleaming long spear.
Xiao Rongyan stood in place without retreating an inch, tilting his head to dodge the sharp spearhead while steadily catching the spear shaft with one hand.
Steward Liu quickly lowered his head and respectfully stepped back two paces, greatly alarmed. Xiao Rongyan’s martial skills seemed exceptionally good, to get so close to the young miss without him noticing at all.
Seeing it was Xiao Rongyan, Bai Qingyan’s breathing was heavy, the murderous aura between her brows dissipating: “Does Master Xiao enjoy appearing so silently?”
Xiao Rongyan held a black lacquered large tray in one hand, tossing the silver spear to Steward Liu while standing at the doorway without advancing further: “Seeing that First Miss Bai had a poor appetite today, I specially had someone stew red date bird’s nest soup to bring to First Miss Bai.”
“How could I trouble Master Xiao so?”
“First Miss Bai has shown kindness to me – this is all as it should be.” Xiao Rongyan smiled as he looked toward Steward Liu.
Steward Liu leaned the silver spear against the wall and stepped forward to receive the red date bird’s nest soup Xiao Rongyan had brought, smiling: “Thank you, Master Xiao. It’s getting late – Master Xiao should rest early.”
Bai Qingyan remembered Xiao Rongyan’s jade cicada, untying the pouch from her waist and calling: “Master Xiao…”
“What does First Miss Bai command?” Hearing her voice, Xiao Rongyan took advantage of the opening and walked toward Bai Qingyan with a smile.
Steward Liu quickly followed.
Bai Qingyan took the jade cicada from her pouch and handed it to Xiao Rongyan: “This object is Master Xiao’s treasured possession – it’s better returned to its rightful owner.”
Xiao Rongyan looked at the pouch in Bai Qingyan’s hand, recognizing it as one Bai Qingyan wore close to her body, his eyes growing more amused: “Has the young miss been keeping it close to her body?”
Bai Qingyan avoided Xiao Rongyan’s overly intense and profound gaze: “Not knowing when I might encounter Master Xiao, I kept it with me for convenient return.”
Steward Liu felt his heart skip a beat – the phrase “close to her body” was far too ambiguous, no different from being improper!
From Xiao Rongyan’s invitation for the young miss and Fourth Miss to stay at the Premium Inn, he could see that Xiao Rongyan harbored ulterior motives toward their Bai family’s young lady. But he never imagined Xiao Rongyan would act so boldly!
Taking such verbal advantage of their young miss, yet their young miss seemed oblivious.
Steward Liu heavily set the soup bowl on the stone table, smiling: “Young miss, please drink it while it’s warm – don’t waste Master Xiao’s kind intentions.”
“The jade cicada was given to First Miss Bai as a token of goodwill from me and my elder brother. Please don’t refuse our kindness, First Miss Bai.” Xiao Rongyan smiled.
Steward Liu: “…”
This Master Xiao was quite good at seizing opportunities!
Bai Qingyan gazed into Xiao Rongyan’s eyes and spoke: “Steward Liu, you may withdraw first.”
Steward Liu reluctantly replied: “Yes…”
After Steward Liu left, Bai Qingyan finally said, “What is Master Xiao’s intention in giving me the jade cicada? If it’s merely simple gratitude…”
“You understand my meaning.” Xiao Rongyan’s rich, gentle voice was particularly enchanting in the night.
The moon was bright and stars sparse, a gentle breeze stirring. Under the clear moonlight, tree shadows swayed gracefully, and occasionally the faint chirping of insects in the flower beds reached their ears.