Dong Shi’s tone was flat, not taking a mere Fang Shi seriously. Seeing that Bai Qingyan had finished the honey-steamed cloud ham, she served her daughter some Shouyang-style pickled vegetables: “As soon as Mother summons her to ask about social relationships, she’ll immediately take advantage and act like the mistress of the house, receiving guests on behalf of the Bai mansion.”

Dong Shi took a sip of porridge and chuckled softly as she said to Bai Qingyan: “Mother guesses… this Fang Shi might even push further, using the excuse that Mother doesn’t know Shouyang’s social relationships and would find it troublesome, to write invitations for our Bai mansion.”

When it came to inner courtyard matters, Dong Shi was truly an expert. No demons or monsters could make waves in front of her.

“Though Fang Shi isn’t much, her son is quite decent,” Bai Qingyan said, lowering her eyes as she drank porridge.

“So you’re not giving this clan leader position to Bai Qingping’s father, but to Bai Qingping himself?” Dong Shi looked at her daughter with smiling eyes.

“Since our capital Bai family, has returned, whether the clan leader has talent doesn’t matter. Being useful and obedient is key.”

Bai Qingyan didn’t want to be too ruthless. At least letting the previous clan leader see that, though he was removed from the position, it was his son who took over, so he wouldn’t resort to mutual destruction.

“Mother needn’t waste energy on this Fang Shi. No need to send someone to reply to her – she’ll understand the Bai mansion’s meaning. Right now, her husband’s clan leader position is only temporary and not secure, so she won’t dare cause too much trouble,” Bai Qingyan said.

After receiving the task of training troops and recruiting from Bai Qingyan, Bai Qingping returned home that same day to discuss with his father.

Bai Qihe, who had originally been devoted only to collecting rare ancient books, listened to his son’s account of the day’s events at the Bai mansion and seriously considered how to properly handle this recruitment matter for Bai Qingyan.

“Bai clan children who are fourteen or older can also join, to set an example for Shouyang’s people, so they know our Bai clan is sincere in seeking redemption and remembering the Bai ancestral teachings,” Bai Qihe said.

Previously, everything had been decided by Bai Qihe’s father. Now that Bai Qihe temporarily held the clan leader position, he wanted to do something to make amends to Shouyang’s people, not out of greed for the position.

Bai Qihe hoped that after Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan returned to reform the Bai clan, the clan members would truly understand their wrongs and genuinely repent.

“Father speaks truly!” Bai Qingping nodded.

Bai Qihe’s gaze fell on his son with his steady demeanor. They say the eldest son bears the family burden while the second son enjoys life, but his elder brother Bai Qiyun had been spoiled by their parents, and his eldest son had also been indulged, while fortunately his second son hadn’t gone astray and faintly showed the Bai clan’s character.

Bai Qihe’s expression carried a gentle smile: “Though you’re the second son, you’re steadier than your elder brother. Father is very reassured! The Princess rarely values you, you must serve her well. Right now, our Bai clan can only depend on Princess Zhenguo, this great tree. Of course… Father doesn’t mean you should flatter and curry favor, just remember that now the Bai family should follow Princess Zhenguo as head, working together to bring glory to our lineage. Never learn from your grandfather, only fussing over this small patch of land, competing for immediate petty gains while losing the long-term view!”

Truly prestigious aristocratic families emphasized working together with one heart. Bai Qihe understood this deeply, even willing to point out his father’s mistakes to his son as a warning.

Without the pressure of a clan leader father above him, and suddenly receiving the clan leader position, after several sleepless nights of reflection, Bai Qihe began to develop some ambition to restore the Bai clan’s glory.

“Father, rest assured, your son understands!” Bai Qingping said solemnly.

After Fang Shi sent word to the Bai mansion that day, she received no reply for two consecutive days, making her as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.

Finally, early one morning, when the Bai mansion sent an invitation to Bai Qihe, Fang Shi could no longer contain herself. She summoned the servant woman who had delivered the message to ask whether it had been delivered.

The servant woman was quite certain the message had been delivered, but whether it reached Dong Shi’s ears was unknown.

Fang Shi was silent for a long time, then had someone help her dress and prepare a carriage to personally visit the Bai mansion.

But when Fang Shi arrived at the Bai mansion gates, the person who announced her returned saying: “Our Madam is feeling unwell today and is too busy preparing for tomorrow’s banquet to receive visitors. Please forgive us.”

“What about the Princess? Is the Princess available?” Fang Shi’s maid quickly asked.

Fang Shi tugged at her maid. If she couldn’t even see Dong Shi, asking for the Princess would be inviting humiliation.

The Bai mansion servant showed no contemptuous expression, maintaining the same neither servile nor arrogant manner.

“Two days ago, I had someone deliver a message to Madam, thinking that if there was anything I could help with for tomorrow’s banquet, being family after all, I could assist. But I’ve received no reply and don’t know if Madam received the message,” Fang Shi smiled.

The servant smiled and said, “The Bai mansion has its rules. It’s not my place as a servant to inquire about such things – doing so would be a transgression worthy of beating. Please don’t make things difficult for me.”

Fang Shi forced a smile and glanced at her maid.

The maid quickly offered a purse, but the Bai mansion servant’s expression changed as he declined: “Madam, our Bai mansion has strict rules. If I accepted your purse, I’d likely be sold off by the steward.”

Fang Shi clutched her handkerchief tightly. Was this Bai mansion truly as impregnable as iron?

Returning home defeated, Fang Shi went back to her courtyard and smashed two tea sets, but her anger still wouldn’t subside.

All these years, relying on her father-in-law being clan leader, Fang Shi had never been turned away at anyone’s door. Now that her husband was clan leader… Dong Shi still wouldn’t give her face.

Even though she knew the Shouyang Bai clan now depended on the capital Bai family, having grown accustomed to her mother-in-law’s and sister-in-law’s ways of doing things, she always felt her time had come, and it should be her turn to show off. But everything was going against her wishes.

Did this mean that now that her husband was clan leader, she had to tuck her tail between her legs?

“Madam, don’t be angry. If the clan leader found out, he’d surely be upset!” Fang Shi’s maid Pu Liu entered while cleaning up the porcelain shards on the floor, saying, “Yesterday, the clan leader already told Madam to be cautious when dealing with the capital Bai family members. If he knew Madam returned from the Bai mansion gates in a temper, he’d surely be angry.”

Fang Shi clutched her handkerchief, full of complaints: “I swallowed my pride to go to the Bai mansion, wasn’t it to let others know the Bai family treats our household differently, so no one would dare compete for the clan leader position!”

Remembering how the already expelled Bai Qiyun still put on elder brother airs to scold her, saying that even if Bai Qihe temporarily held the clan leader position it wouldn’t last long, that they’d have to live dependent on the capital Bai family’s favor, Fang Shi’s heart felt like it was being fried in oil!

The more others looked down on them, the more she wanted everyone to see that the capital Bai family depended on her to properly host their first banquet upon returning to Shouyang.