“Elder Sister, shall we return to the inn to rest now?” Bai Jinzhi asked.

“Naturally… we should walk around among the common people, inquire about what ordinary citizens think of the Shouyang Bai family, and ask what good deeds the Shouyang Bai clan has done over these years. The more people who know I’m investigating this matter, the better. It would be best if Magistrate Zhou also finds out that Magistrate Zhou is quite an interesting character.” Bai Qingyan’s lips curved upward.

The Shouyang Bai clan still thought… that after their Bai family returned, they would need to rely on the main clan for support.

Then she would let the clan know that, without her, the County Princess, standing behind the Shouyang Bai clan, what exactly did the Shouyang Bai clan amount to in Shouyang City?

Since the Shouyang Bai clan had acted unrighteously of their own accord, this time she would use them to clear her grandfather’s and the Bai family’s name of the stain of covering for them all these years. This would also mean her grandfather’s care for the Shouyang Bai clan over the years hadn’t been in vain.

When Magistrate Zhou received news that the Zhenguo County Princess and Gaoyi County Master had parted with the clan leader on bad terms after returning to their ancestral clan, even breaking a cup, his heart became restless and uneasy.

Later, he learned that the Zhenguo County Princess and Gaoyi County Master’s party had abandoned their horses to travel on foot, actually inquiring along the way about the deeds of oppressing common people that the Shouyang Bai clan had committed over the years.

Magistrate Zhou felt his heart pounding wildly. Could it be that… the former Duke Zhenguo, like the current Zhenguo County Princess, didn’t know about those things the Shouyang Bai clan had done over the years? Was the Zhenguo County Princess returning this time to settle accounts after autumn?

Magistrate Zhou anxiously paced back and forth in his study.

Soon after, another servant came to report that the Zhenguo County Princess’s party had gone to the home of the shopkeeper who had previously been beaten to death by the Bai family clan leader’s grandson.

Magistrate Zhou collapsed into his chair.

This… she had returned to settle accounts after autumn!

Magistrate Zhou thought of Bai Qiyun and immediately felt his teeth itch with hatred. He stood up abruptly to confront Bai Qiyun, but just as he stepped out the door, he pulled his leg back.

What he should be thinking about now wasn’t settling accounts with Bai Qiyun, but hurrying to clear his name.

Magistrate Zhou paced around the room, then suddenly stopped and called out loudly: “Come here! Quickly have Secretary Li organize all the case files we’ve covered up for the Bai family over the years! Be quick!”

After shouting, Magistrate Zhou hurried around to his desk and searched through the complaint documents he had previously suppressed.

After Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi walked this circuit through Shouyang City, many common people knew that someone was investigating the evil deeds the Shouyang Bai family had committed over the years.

At first, the people spoke hesitantly and cautiously, but later, seeing that Bai Qingyan’s party had actually gone to the home of the shopkeeper beaten to death by the Bai family clan leader’s grandson, and had even given that family silver…

Only then did the people become filled with righteous indignation, pouring out everything the Bai family had done in Shouyang over the years like beans tumbling from a bamboo tube.

Bai Qingyan sat with the people under the willow tree at the village entrance, and roughly understood the situation.

Over these years, the Shouyang Bai clan’s first perpetrators of evil were the clan leader’s lineage. As the clan leader’s lineage became increasingly unscrupulous, the Shouyang Bai clan’s branch families saw how the clan leader’s lineage was becoming increasingly wealthy by leveraging Bai Qingyan’s grandfather’s authority. The bolder ones began to follow their example.

Later, more branch families began learning the clan leader’s lineage’s ways, also starting to oppress common people for their own benefit, completely ruining the Shouyang Bai clan’s reputation.

Moreover, the common people all believed this was with Bai Qingyan’s grandfather’s tacit permission and indulgence of the Shouyang Bai clan.

She understood that human hearts were easily tempted by wealth and status. When originally upright and pure clan members saw that the clan leader could become filthy rich by leveraging her grandfather’s authority, they would naturally waver and test the waters by following suit. Seeing that nothing happened afterward, they became even bolder.

The people of Shouyang naturally suffered even more.

On the Bai clan’s estates, countless tenant farmers had been forced to sell their sons and daughters.

To file complaints, the magistrate’s office feared Bai Weiting’s authority and could only forcibly suppress the people. Even those who had earlier filed complaints against the Shouyang Bai clan were instead convicted of false accusation, and some died by their hand to prove their innocence.

The people could swallow their bitter suffering like mute people eating bitter herbs, only harboring resentment toward the Capital City Bai family in their hearts.

Hearing these matters, Bai Jinzhi was so angry her chest hurt. This was how her Bai family’s reputation had been trampled and ruined.

Bai Qingyan turned to look at the guard who had accompanied her and was diligently recording: “Record everything completely…”

“Yes!”

The guards answered in unison.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s impressive bearing, curious people couldn’t help asking: “Looking at this young lady’s bearing, which family’s daughter are you? How did you think to ask about the Shouyang Bai clan’s affairs? Aren’t you afraid of offending the Bai family? That Shouyang Bai clan has a terrifying killing god, Zhenguo County Princess, above them!”

“Nonsense! How is my elder sister terrifying?” Bai Jinzhi said with a spoiled expression.

“Elder sister?”

The people all looked toward the young lady sitting under the willow tree, patiently listening to their account of the Bai clan’s affairs.

That young lady was so beautiful she didn’t seem real, with an overall noble and dazzling temperament that was overwhelming. She was slender and graceful, appearing delicate but with eyes that were resilient and decisive, unlike daughters of ordinary families.

The people all fell silent, feeling somewhat afraid.

Bai Qingyan stood up and bowed solemnly to the people surrounding her: “All these years, I never knew the Bai family clan was using Duke Zhenguo’s authority to oppress the people of Shouyang like this. Duke Zhenguo’s mansion failed to be thoroughly investigated, causing you all to suffer!”

The people were greatly shocked: “This… this is… the Zhenguo County Princess?”

Who could connect this beautiful and patient young lady with the legendary killing god Zhenguo County Princess, who had burned and killed one hundred thousand Western Liang surrendered prisoners?

“You are… the Zhenguo County Princess?” A bold elder widened his eyes and asked.

Bai Qingyan bowed toward the elder, her expression full of apology.

The elder who had been sitting on a stone bench with his walking stick was so startled he stood up, then tremblingly knelt down: “County… County Princess!”

The people who had just been surrounding here, full of complaints, hurriedly followed the elder in bowing toward Bai Qingyan.

“No need for such a ceremony!” Bai Qingyan supported the elder, then said to the people, “Everyone, please rise! It was the grandfather, father, and Bai Qingyan’s oversight that we didn’t know the Bai clan ancestors were treating human life as grass, exploiting the Kingdomside, and committing evil deeds in Shouyang. Please rest assured, regarding everything you’ve said today… If investigation proves it true, Bai Qingyan will not show leniency!”

The people looked at each other, seeming not quite to believe Bai Qingyan’s words, their expressions evasive and uncertain.

Bai Qingyan didn’t have anyone explain further. After bowing to the Shouyang people, her party left the village and arrived at the entrance of Tianxiang Restaurant before the noon meal.

From inside the restaurant came the cries of a young child and the restaurant owner’s pleas for mercy: “I’ll sign! I’ll sign! Please spare my young son, young masters! The child is innocent! Please don’t cut off my son’s hand!”

Before Bai Qingyan and her party could even step into Tianxiang Restaurant, they were blocked by servants of the Shouyang Bai family, who arrogantly and dismissively said: “We’re from the Shouyang Bai family! Several of our young masters are discussing business with the Tianxiang Restaurant owner today. All idle persons are not allowed to enter!”