After a long while without hearing Bai Qingyan speak, Manager Wu was about to quietly steal a glance at her when his gaze lifted to the level of Bai Qingyan’s deer-hide boots. He heard the sound of Bai Qingyan clearing her throat, and was immediately frightened into not daring to raise his head further, keeping his eyes fixed motionlessly on the floor.

Manager Wu had entered the Bai family ancestral residence before, so he naturally knew how magnificent this ancestral home was with its azure bricks and slate tiles, carved beams, and painted rafters. The uniform black lacquered golden-decorated nanmu pillars and all the furnishings were extraordinary items. Every piece on display had its history and age; even the dozen or so twining-branch bronze lamps were several hundred years old, everywhere displaying the unfathomable depth of the Bai family’s foundation.

Whether it was because the true master had returned or because it had been renovated and restored anew, when Manager Wu stepped into this main hall again, his palms were sweating. Without even lifting his head, he was already breathless under the imposing atmosphere of this main hall, his spine rigidly straight.

Bai Qingyan adjusted the cuffs of her plain azure dark-patterned, silver-trimmed sleeves, her voice as calm as always as she asked, “What urgent matter does Manager Wu have?”

With just this light sentence, Manager Wu heard the condescending tone, completely different from the Duke’s previous amiable manner.

Now, Manager Wu understood – this Princess Zhenguo of the Bai family would not give the clan the same face that the Duke had given them before. The Duke had once spoken of blood kinship and affection, but this Princess Zhenguo spoke of hierarchical superiority and inferiority. If this Princess Zhenguo was displeased, being dragged away and beaten to death was entirely possible.

Manager Wu hastily kowtowed, his attitude becoming even more solemn and respectful: “In response to the Princess Zhenguo, this humble one has come because before the Princess Zhenguo returned to Shouyang with the entire family, people from the capital came to inquire about the Princess’s weaknesses before the clan leader… the former clan leader! Those people seemed to have heard that the Princess had dealt with the former clan leader and expelled many clan members from the clan, so they contacted various parties… intending to join forces with the expelled Bai clan members to oppose you!”

Bai Qingyan half-lowered her eyes, showing no reaction whatsoever. Chun Tao stepped forward to receive the teacup from the black lacquered, golden-decorated square tray in the maid’s hands and passed it to Bai Qingyan.

She held the teacup, sipping it leisurely.

Not receiving any follow-up questions from Bai Qingyan for a long time, Manager Wu’s forehead broke out in fine beads of sweat. His eyes darted around before he continued: “Initially, those people went to find the former clan leader’s eldest son, Bai Qiyun. Bai Qiyun was quite tempted and brought those people to discuss the matter with the former clan leader, but was severely scolded by the former clan leader. The former clan leader said… Now the legitimate second son is the clan leader, and the Bai clan prospers together and suffers together.”

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell upon Manager Wu kneeling in the center of the main hall. Not knowing whether this Manager Wu was sent by the former clan leader to seek reconciliation or had other plans, she simply continued drinking her tea, quietly waiting for Manager Wu to finish speaking.

Seeing that Bai Qingyan didn’t respond, Manager Wu felt increasingly uncertain, his voice losing confidence: “Later, this humble one kept an eye on things. When escorting those people seeking cooperation out the door, I said… since you’ve come to cooperate, not revealing your identities shows too little sincerity! After the Princess brought the capital’s Bai family women back to Shouyang, those people came again and identified themselves as being from the Left Chancellor Li Mansion!”

Hearing the slight clinking sound of Bai Qingyan’s teacup being placed on the redwood table, Manager Wu was startled into trembling, hurriedly kowtowing with his head solidly hitting the ground, making himself dizzy and seeing stars.

“They identified themselves as being from the Left Chancellor Li Mansion – is there any concrete evidence?” Bai Qingyan looked down at Manager Wu, who wished he could shrink into a ball and was trembling continuously.

“In response to the Princess Zhenguo, those people showed the clan leader a token from the Left Chancellor’s mansion and also said… that the Princess had broken the Left Chancellor’s youngest son’s leg, so the clan leader need not doubt the Left Chancellor’s sincerity in cooperating with the clan leader. Those people were still in the capital yesterday, having rented a courtyard in Powder Lane, and it appears they plan to stay in Shouyang City long-term to investigate the Princess’s weaknesses.” Manager Wu finished speaking and kowtowed again, “If the Princess doesn’t believe it, you can send people to investigate!”

Bai Qingyan gently rubbed the sweet white glazed teacup in her hands, remaining silent for a moment before asking again: “Manager Wu has come to tell me about this matter – what reward are you seeking?”

Manager Wu kept his head extremely low: “In response to the Princess Zhenguo, this humble one’s… ancestors were also old retainers of the Bai family. My grandfather originally stayed in Shouyang following the Bai family’s legitimate branch clan leader, and later always followed the former clan leader. If I could serve the Princess, this humble one would spare no effort for the Bai family, even unto death!”

Bai Qingyan looked at Manager Wu with his rigid spine with a half-smile, slowly blowing into her teacup: “If that’s the case, would Manager Wu be willing to remain by Bai Qiyun’s side to watch him for me, and report immediately if anything happens?”

Manager Wu was stunned – this was different from what he had expected. He thought that no matter what, Bai Qingyan would arrange for him to enter the Bai mansion.

However, if he missed this opportunity, it would be difficult to see Bai Qingyan again in the future.

Manager Wu made up his mind and kowtowed to Bai Qingyan: “This humble one will certainly not fail the Princess’s trust!”

“Chun Tao, have someone escort Manager Wu out! Today’s matter of Manager Wu visiting… is not to be spread around!” As Bai Qingyan’s words fell, she rose and walked outside.

Manager Wu didn’t dare to rise, remaining kneeling and kowtowing. From the corner of his eye, he saw Bai Qingyan’s shadow, elongated by the setting sun’s afterglow, moving as he turned halfway toward Bai Qingyan’s direction, respectfully seeing her off before daring to raise his head.

Although Bai Qingyan had said not to spread word of his visit, the front of the Bai mansion faced Yangming Avenue, the liveliest street in Shouyang City, with countless people coming and going daily. His earlier kneeling at the Bai mansion’s entrance had alarmed the Bai family’s armed guards, and many people must have seen the commotion at the mansion’s front gate.

If he was truly to return to Bai Qiyun’s side, Manager Wu would need to think of an extremely appropriate explanation for today’s events.

Seeing that Bai Qiyun, this “future clan leader,” couldn’t be expelled from the clan after all, Manager Wu could only plan for his future. Before coming, he had also considered that Bai Qingyan wouldn’t easily employ him. Now that she wanted him to remain by Bai Qiyun’s side, perhaps this was Bai Qingyan’s way of testing his capabilities.

As Bai Qingyan stepped out of the main hall, her jet-black eyes were as calm as still water. She turned her head to instruct Chun Tao to have Manager Hao investigate whether the people who rented a courtyard in Powder Lane yesterday were indeed from the Left Chancellor’s mansion.

If Li Mao had truly extended his reach to Shouyang, then breaking his son’s leg hadn’t been enough to make him learn his lesson. Bai Qingyan would need more thunderous methods to make Li Mao behave himself.

As dusk fell, the maids in azure silk dresses within the Bai mansion held insect-repelling incense to drive away mosquitoes from the long corridors, then lowered the light gauze curtains and bamboo blinds that had been hooked up by copper hooks.

The lamp-lighting maids lit the hexagonal sheepskin lanterns hanging under the corridor eaves one by one. Swaying gently in the breeze, the lanterns cast their light on the azure stone floors of the corridor, with yellowish light faintly penetrating through the bamboo blinds in flickering brightness. Moths fluttered their wings outside the bamboo blinds, drawn to the light.

On both sides of the long corridor, weeping willows and tall sophora trees grew, with fragrant flowers and grasses, and the sound of flowing water gurgling softly.