Could it be, as the rumors suggested, that the Crown Prince truly favored County Princess Zhenguo and planned to make her his future empress?

Seeing the Prefect already stepping forward, County Magistrate Zhou dared not think further and hurriedly came to his senses, following suit. The clan leader also led his people forward.

The Prefect and County Magistrate Zhou saw Bai Qingyan descend from her carriage and quickly stepped forward to bow: “We greet County Princess Zhenguo.”

“You gentlemen need not be so formal.” Bai Qingyan introduced Quan Yu to the Prefect and County Magistrate Zhou: “This… is Eunuch Quan Yu from beside His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The Prefect and County Magistrate Zhou hastily bowed in greeting.

“You gentlemen are too kind. I’m merely a servant attending the Crown Prince,” Quan Yu said with a smile to the two officials. “When His Highness the Crown Prince heard that the Bai clan elders had forced His Highness’s imperial aunt grandmother to vomit blood, he worried that County Princess Zhenguo—whom he regards as a dear sister—might lack sufficient personnel when dealing with Bai clan affairs and be bullied by those who rely on their age and seniority. He specially sent me and two squads of Crown Prince’s mansion guards to accompany her and await her commands.”

Hearing these words, the clan leader’s legs nearly gave out. His gaze fell on the over one hundred tall, imposing guards from the Crown Prince’s mansion, and his face turned deathly pale.

County Magistrate Zhou’s eyebrow twitched—”regards as a dear sister”…

This meant His Highness the Crown Prince’s feelings toward County Princess Zhenguo were not romantic.

If it wasn’t romantic affection, yet he was willing to help so extensively, it meant he either relied heavily on this person or trusted her greatly.

Either way, County Magistrate Zhou could not afford to slight Bai Qingyan.

“We’re wronged!” One clan elder quickly cried out. “We didn’t force Grand Princess to vomit blood! It was Grand Princess who…”

The clan leader quickly grabbed that elder’s hand, stopping him from continuing.

To continue would be to slander Grand Princess—after all, no one would believe that Grand Princess would put on an act of vomiting blood for a mere clan.

“We greet the County Princess and the honored sir!” The clan leader quickly bowed to Bai Qingyan and Quan Yu, smiling obsequiously. “County Princess returning home—why didn’t you notify us in advance? This old man could have had the clan members prepare properly and come early to welcome the County Princess and this distinguished sir from the Crown Prince’s mansion…”

Bai Qingyan didn’t respond, only looking at County Magistrate Zhou to ask: “I heard that after I left last time, Bai clan descendants caused trouble, throwing a young girl into the river and causing her mother’s death, then clamoring for County Magistrate Zhou to arrest them all. Did County Magistrate Zhou arrest them?”

“Arrested, arrested! County Princess, rest assured. What you instructed—to punish strictly according to law—this subordinate dares not forget!” County Magistrate Zhou said hastily.

Bai Qingyan nodded, her cold and indifferent gaze sweeping over the Bai clan members as she asked the clan leader: “Bai Qingping, who went to the prefecture office to inform County Magistrate Zhou and helped settle the young girl—is he here today?”

The clan leader didn’t dare say that Bai Qingping had been confined to the ancestral hall and was still kneeling there even now.

The clan leader had no choice—Bai Qingping was his own grandson, but without confining him, there was no way to appease the clan members’ anger.

“At home, at home…” the clan leader said with lowered head, not daring to meet Bai Qingyan’s dark, profound gaze.

Bai Qingyan looked deeply at the clan leader, then asked County Magistrate Zhou: “Which Bai clan descendants… committed what crimes against the people? Over these days… has County Magistrate Zhou investigated everything thoroughly with solid evidence?”

County Magistrate Zhou broke out in a cold sweat: “Reporting to County Princess, everything was just fully investigated yesterday. I was planning to handle all the cases together today!”

“Good. Today at noon… please have the clan leader summon the clan members to open the ancestral hall.” Bai Qingyan looked at County Magistrate Zhou. “I trouble County Magistrate Zhou to send people to escort all the Bai clan descendants from prison to the Bai family ancestral hall, and inform all the victims… to come to the Bai clan ancestral hall.”

“Is this asking County Magistrate Zhou to release our clan descendants? But why have the victims go to our Bai clan ancestral hall?” some Bai clan members whispered to those beside them.

“County Princess, except for important festivals and major events, the ancestral hall cannot be opened lightly,” the clan leader said cautiously, testing the waters.

Hearing this, Bai Qingyan let out a cold laugh, looking at the clan leader with a half-smile: “Today, either some Bai clan members will be expelled from the clan, or the capital Bai family will confess our sins to the ancestors and leave the clan. Doesn’t this count as a major event?”

The clan leader’s face turned deathly pale, and the clan members looked panicked.

“Could it be that the County Princess wants to enter the ancestral hall?” Bai Qiyun frowned, not daring to look at Bai Qingyan, only saying to the clan leader: “Father, women have never been allowed to enter the ancestral hall since ancient times.”

The clan leader looked up cautiously toward Bai Qingyan.

Bai Jinzhi gritted her teeth and was about to step forward, but was stopped by Bai Qingyan, whose expression remained calm as still water.

Unexpectedly, Bai Qingyan nodded without anger or annoyance, her tone peaceful but carrying a hint of condescension: “Very well. Since the capital Bai family now has only orphaned daughters and widowed mothers, and since we’re not permitted to enter the ancestral hall, I’ll trouble Eunuch Quan Yu, the Prefect, and County Magistrate Zhou to serve as witnesses. Today, Bai Qingyan can only offer a confession letter to the ancestors and lead the capital Bai family out of the clan to establish our household.”

“County Princess, please don’t be angry. Since ancient times, women have not entered the ancestral hall because our Jin state has always followed the principle of men managing external affairs and women managing internal affairs. The ancestral hall is where the clan discusses major matters, and women who only tend to their immediate concerns cannot make sacrifices for the greater good—this is why women are not permitted in the ancestral hall. But County Princess is a true descendant of the Bai surname and can lead troops and command. Anyone who can lead troops and command must be able to plan for the greater good. County Princess can naturally enter the ancestral hall.”

Hearing the clan leader’s unhurried explanation, Bai Jinzhi raised an eyebrow and sneered coldly. It was quite an effort for him to think of so many justifications for her elder sister to enter the ancestral hall.

With the clan leader saying this, what could the clan elders and other clan members dare to say?

“Since that’s the case, clan leader, go back and prepare. I have other matters to attend to and will go directly to the ancestral hall after finishing them.” Not giving the clan leader a chance to speak, Bai Qingyan called out: “Shen Qingzhu…”

“This subordinate is here!” Shen Qingzhu stepped forward and cupped his hands.

“Take some people and accompany Xiao Si and Eunuch Quan Yu to the prefecture office with County Magistrate Zhou first. Bring all the case files and arrive at the Bai clan ancestral hall by noon.” Bai Qingyan said.

Bai Jinzhi stepped forward and acknowledged: “Yes!”

The clan leader and clan members watched as Bai Qingyan boarded her carriage again, and Bai Jinzhi went to the prefecture office with County Magistrate Zhou’s group. All were extremely anxious as they crowded around the clan leader, speaking in a confused jumble.

“Clan leader, what does the County Princess mean? Is she still going to punish our clan descendants?”

“Is she going to expel all the children from the clan? But the children are the foundation of our clan! If all the children are expelled and only we old folks remain, what will happen to the clan’s future? Surely we can’t depend on those women from the capital Bai family?”

The clan members all nodded in agreement, and another clan elder stepped forward solemnly: “Clan leader, if a woman enters the ancestral hall, our entire clan will suffer great misfortune! We cannot let her enter the ancestral hall!”

The clan leader’s face was iron-blue as he struck the ground forcefully with his walking stick: “Enough! Stop arguing! If we don’t let her enter the ancestral hall… our clan will suffer great misfortune right now! Let’s hurry back and prepare first!”

Bai Qingyan took ten Bai family guards and ten Crown Prince’s mansion guards into the city, heading directly to fetch the mute woman.