Bai Qingyan raised her eyebrows and let out a cold laugh.

“As if you’re worthy of my elder sister’s attention?” Bai Jinzhi no longer regarded this Fifth Master with any respect. Just thinking about how this Fifth Master had disgustingly seized the ancestral residence made Bai Jinzhi want to give him a few lashes.

“You!” The Fifth Master wanted to lose his temper, but had to consider Bai Jinzhi’s status as a county princess.

The aggrieved party, whose hot spring estate had been forcibly seized by the Bai clan’s Fifth Master, upon hearing that accounts would be settled with Fifth Master, quickly stepped forward and knelt at the entrance of the six wide-open doors of the Bai ancestral hall, crying out loudly…

“Duchess of Zhenguo, you must seek justice for us, helpless common people! The Bai clan’s Fifth Master, to forcibly seize my family’s ancestral hot spring estate, conspired with Magistrate Zhou to frame my son for murder. To protect my son’s life… I had no choice but to hand over the hot spring estate, but my son… threw himself off the mountain out of guilt! I beg Your Highness to seek justice for me!”

The old man finished speaking through tears, kowtowing heavily to Bai Qingyan again and again until his forehead bled, showing the depth of his hatred.

“Bullshit!” Fifth Master glanced at Magistrate Zhou, thinking that since this old fool dared to accuse even Magistrate Zhou, the magistrate would certainly not admit it, so he shouted righteously, “You willingly sold that estate to me, with everything in black and white – and now you want to go back on it?!”

“Old man, don’t be anxious. I said that I will make them pay for all the evil deeds the Shouyang clan has committed over the years. Please rise, old man.”

As soon as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, the Bai family guards stepped forward to help the old man up.

“Magistrate Zhou…” Bai Qingyan looked toward Magistrate Zhou.

Magistrate Zhou was covered in cold sweat. Fortunately, when the Duchess of Zhenguo had asked him to prepare these materials, he had already guessed that she intended to purge the Bai clan, and naturally thought of the things he had done in the past to curry favor with the Bai clan…

He thought that he must admit to these things; otherwise, if he blocked the Duchess of Zhenguo’s path to cleaning up the Bai clan, his death would certainly be even more ugly!

This time, if he could show loyalty to the Duchess of Zhenguo and help her smoothly clean up the clan, the Duchess would surely remember his good deeds in the future, and he would still have a chance to make a comeback.

Especially since the Crown Prince’s most favored eunuch, Quan Yu, was here today – when Eunuch Quan Yu returned and told the Crown Prince about today’s events, at least he had helped the Duchess, which would leave an impression with the Crown Prince and benefit his future.

Magistrate Zhou had already weighed the pros and cons before coming. Without a word, he decisively knelt toward Bai Qingyan and said: “In response to the Duchess of Zhenguo, everything this old man Wang says is true, but at the time… this official was not willing to conspire with Fifth Master, but Fifth Master used the might of the Great Capital’s Bai family to force this official to comply…”

Magistrate Zhou’s eyes rolled, and he pinned another crime on Fifth Master: “The Bai clan’s Fifth Master threatened my wife and children’s lives, so this official… this official was forced to comply out of desperation!”

At this point, Magistrate Zhou began to sob: “This official, as a parent-official of Shouyang, should protect the people, but this official complied with coercion for the sake of his wife and children. This official has failed the Bai clansmen of Shouyang!”

“You’re spouting nonsense!” Fifth Master was so angry his mouth twisted, “When did I ever threaten your wife and children’s lives! It was clearly because you wanted to curry favor with me that you…”

The clan leader pressed Fifth Master’s hand forcefully, signaling him not to speak further. Fifth Master forcibly suppressed his anger, pressed his lips together, and glared at Magistrate Zhou.

“Your Highness, listen – this official knew this Fifth Master wouldn’t admit it! Just as he won’t admit… that he bought someone’s estate with hot springs for five taels of silver! And drove their son to death!” Magistrate Zhou turned to look at the old man making the accusation, “Isn’t that right, old man…”

The old man didn’t understand why Magistrate Zhou suddenly turned to bite the Bai clan’s Fifth Master, but he understood that Magistrate Zhou was testifying for him, so the old man nodded repeatedly: “What Magistrate Zhou says is correct!”

Bai Qingyan raised her eyebrows slightly. This Magistrate Zhou… truly had a silver tongue! Each time, he could extricate himself completely.

“Although Magistrate Zhou was forced due to threats to his wife and children’s lives, he indeed failed to fulfill his responsibilities as a parent-official! But today’s matter is about our Bai clan opening the ancestral hall to deal with clan members. After handling the Bai clan’s affairs, Magistrate Zhou should submit a confession memorial on his own, otherwise… I will submit one for Magistrate Zhou. Does Magistrate Zhou understand?” Bai Qingyan looked at Magistrate Zhou and spoke slowly.

“This official understands, Your Highness, can rest assured! This official can serve as witness to many things the Bai clan has done… this time I will not be lenient with those… scoundrels who used the Great Capital Bai family’s prestige to commit evil.”

Magistrate Zhou’s earnest appearance even convinced Bai Jinzhi.

“Send someone back to get the land deed and property deed for the hot spring estate!” the clan leader said to his younger brother.

Fifth Master, thinking about having to give up such a fine hot spring estate, inevitably felt the pain, furrowing his brow and remaining silent.

“Hurry up!” the clan leader scolded.

Since Bai Qingyan was using the clan leader’s younger brother as an example, the clan leader could only comply. The various clan elders also turned to ask their family members what they had forcibly taken from others, telling them to bring everything quickly, and those things that had been given away or couldn’t be brought back should be compensated in silver.

Seeing Bai Qingyan’s formation, unless the clan bled heavily today, there would be no way to settle this matter.

Those who were usually bullied by others, relying on their power, were now all tremendously worried.

Those who usually minded their own business behind closed doors could remain calm.

Magistrate Zhou had kept very detailed records of who in the Bai clan had forcibly seized what over the years and who had driven people to death, saving Bai Qingyan considerable effort.

However, the clan had committed too many unconscionable acts over the years. By the time everything was handled, the sky had turned completely dark, yet not a single person among the Bai clansmen surrounding the ancestral hall had left early.

The courtyard of the Bai ancestral hall was brightly lit.

Bai Qingyan slowly stood up from her chair and spoke: “The Bai family’s ancestral instructions: Loyalty first, righteousness second, personal honor, disgrace, and life last – these words still hang in the main hall of the ancestral hall. Bai descendants… must love the people like children, using their strengths and abilities to support the common people! This was the instruction our ancestors gave to the Bai family descendants when Emperor Gaozu granted our Bai family the Duke of Zhenguo title! But look at yourselves – what have you done in Shouyang all these years? Forcibly seizing young women, taking others’ ancestral homes and shops, driving people to death, committing every evil! You shame the Bai family ancestors above and disgrace the Bai family’s honor below – you are unworthy of being Bai descendants!”

Although what should be compensated has been compensated, as long as they remain Bai descendants, family law and clan rules cannot be abandoned! How they should be dealt with… let the clan leader give the order!” Bai Qingyan turned to look at the clan leader.

In the flickering firelight, Bai Qingyan’s eyes, with their sharpness completely restrained, gazed at the clan leader.

Having stood here for a whole day, the clan leader was already somewhat exhausted. His grip on his walking stick tightened. The Bai family’s laws and clan rules had always been several times stricter than the Great Jin’s national laws. If they truly settled accounts one by one, who could withstand the military rod punishment?