There were also clan members who glanced toward the interior of the Bai mansion and lowered their voices: “What do you think… if, what if Princess Zhenguo has some mishap and doesn’t have time to speak for our clan before the Crown Prince, what will happen to the prospects of the children in our Bai clan? Our illustrious noble family that has been prominent for a hundred years would just decline like this!”
After several clan members finished speaking these words, others chimed in with agreement. They all wanted to show their faces before Princess Zhenguo and ask her to help speak to the Crown Prince about clan members’ prospects, so that the glory of the Bai clan would surely be…
“Clan Leader… You are the clan leader. Think of a way to at least let us meet Princess Zhenguo once!”
Bai Qihe, dressed in a slate blue robe, stood under the swaying lanterns of the Bai mansion. Illuminated by today’s brilliant sunlight, his entire figure appeared very composed and upright. His gaze swept over the crowd of clan members who wanted Princess Zhenguo to speak to the Crown Prince on their behalf, and he began to speak…
“Princess Zhenguo is now seriously injured from saving the Crown Prince, and you, as Bai clan members – most of you standing here are Princess Zhenguo’s elders – yet you don’t worry about Princess Zhenguo’s health. Instead, you fear that if Princess Zhenguo has some mishap… it would delay your own descendants’ prospects!”
Bai Qihe took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, then slowly began to speak, his voice cold as if soaked in ice water: “You didn’t come to visit Princess Zhenguo, nor did you come to celebrate Princess Zhenguo’s birthday. You came for your own family’s prospects, wanting to use clan prosperity to coerce Princess Zhenguo! You want to exploit the bond between Princess Zhenguo and His Highness the Crown Prince, built when she risked her life to save him, to pave the way for your own sons’ futures! Simply… shameless and heartless!”
“It’s just a matter of one sentence. Clan Leader, your words are a bit too harsh!” Someone rolled their eyes at Bai Qihe.
Bai Qihe’s expression remained calm and composed, but his heart was extremely angry. He took a deep breath: “I thought that when Princess Zhenguo took action to clean up the clan, you would have understood that our Bai clan’s century of glory depended on the Bai family of the capital. Now that all the men of Duke Zhenguo’s mansion have perished in Nan Jiang, our Bai clan depends on Princess Zhenguo! But you… How long were you well-behaved before your old habits resurfaced? It’s truly extremely disappointing.”
“Clan Leader, you’re wrong to say that. Precisely because Duke Zhenguo’s mansion has no men left, Princess Zhenguo needs us, clan members, to help in court. Only with the entire clan working together with one heart can our Bai clan maintain its former glory!” another clan member said.
Bai Qihe shook his head: “Don’t you understand yet? Princess Zhenguo cares more about Bai clan honor than any of you, which is exactly why she’s unwilling to recommend you before the Crown Prince! Every single one of you who came today, who dares to honestly say… that in the future you won’t engage in favoritism and corruption in court, won’t tarnish the honor that the capital Bai family… risked their lives to earn for the Bai clan?”
“If there were truly someone among you who could shoulder the Bai clan banner, without needing to plead… Princess Zhenguo would recommend them before the Crown Prince! But these years, the clan descendants only know how to eat, drink, and make merry. Setting aside everything else… our Bai clan is so large, yet has anyone ever achieved first place in the spring examinations and palace examinations? No! You only think of relying on the capital Bai family, only think of relying on Princess Zhenguo, seeking connections, and using personal relationships. Who… has truly sacrificed everything and risked their life for the honor of this Bai clan? Only the capital Bai family!”
Bai Qihe spoke with righteous indignation, his chest rising and falling violently, yet he saw that each clan member looked at him coldly, showing no signs of recognizing their errors. He suppressed his chest full of resentment and said powerlessly, “If you want to see Princess Zhenguo, then find your way. I, Bai Qihe, will not request an audience with Princess Zhenguo for you.”
After speaking, Bai Qihe flicked his sleeves and left.
Seeing Bai Qihe board his carriage, the clan members all pursed their lips. Someone spat at Bai Qihe’s retreating figure: “Bah! What kind of thing is he? Nothing but a dog beside Princess Zhenguo! Thinks he’s somebody important!”
“Exactly, he can’t even sort out his family affairs – his wife is almost gone! Yet he comes here to lecture us!”
“That Bai Qihe is just worried about offending Princess Zhenguo and losing that temporarily obtained clan leader position!”
Behind Bai Qihe’s back, the clan members gave him a thorough scolding, and their mood finally improved considerably. Seeing that they truly couldn’t enter the high gates of the Bai mansion and that their gifts had been taken away, the Bai clan members left in a depressed mood, afraid that the Bai mansion servants would go find County Magistrate Zhou, and they would all suffer for it.
·
In Shaohua Hall, Bai Qingyan listened to Steward Hao’s account of what happened at the main gate of the Bai mansion. She didn’t take it to heart, but Steward Hao felt a knot of anger in his chest that couldn’t be released. It was because the capital Bai family had been too good to the clan over the years, spoiling them until they became presumptuous.
After telling Bai Qingyan about the events at the mansion gates, Steward Hao continued: “Eldest Miss, today is Eldest Miss’s birthday. Old Gu, Steward Liu, and we old servants of the Bai family have all prepared a congratulatory gift for Eldest Miss. Please accept it with a smile!”
As he spoke, Steward Hao turned and took from a servant behind him a large, square rosewood treasure box with double doors. The doors were carved with floral and bird patterns, and the carving work was extremely exquisite. Opening it revealed a set of ruby jewelry. Though the rubies weren’t particularly large, they excelled in fine craftsmanship, using the gold-exploding technique where gold and red complemented each other beautifully.
“What beautiful jewelry!” Dong Qingzhen couldn’t help but exclaim.
Steward Hao stood to the side, seeing Bai Qingyan pick up the peony hairpin with an expression of great fondness, and the smile in his eyes deepened.
“This treasure box alone is already quite valuable, and this set of jewelry has such rare craftsmanship. You truly put thought into this!” Bai Jinzhi touched the tassels of the hairpin and smiled at Steward Hao.
That afternoon, Dong Shi announced that for Bai Qingyan’s birthday, all servants in the mansion would receive an extra two months’ allowance. She also specially sent valuable gifts to loyal servants like Old Gu, Steward Liu, and Steward Hao, saying it was for their hard work during this period, using Bai Qingyan’s birthday as an excuse to reward everyone.
When Old Gu, Steward Hao, and Steward Liu saw what Dong Shi had sent, the value far exceeded the treasure box they had given Bai Qingyan. They were immediately torn between laughter and tears, yet couldn’t refuse, as Nanny Qin had said that refusing would be looking down on Dong Shi.
That day, Bai Jinzhi accompanied Li Shi for the entire afternoon, then came to Boyun Courtyard in the evening.
Tomorrow they would depart for Anping Military Camp. Beyond her excitement, Bai Jinzhi felt her heart full of apprehension about the uncertain future. Though she wanted to sleep early, she couldn’t help but come to Boyun Courtyard, wanting to see her eldest sister.
The lights were on in the main room of Boyun Courtyard. Standing at the door, Bai Jinzhi saw the silhouette of her eldest sister leaning against the window alcove, reading a book. She felt somewhat hesitant, worried that if she went in and told her eldest sister about her apprehension, her eldest sister might think she wasn’t ready yet.