Chapter 320
“You people are afraid of what governor, huh?! Everyone knows that Shuoyang City is under our Bai family’s control. No matter how powerful Bai Weiting is, he still has to obediently listen to my grandfather! My grandfather is the clan leader! Whatever he tells him to do, he does it without any objections!”
“Even though Bai Weiting is dead now, there is still Bai Qingyan who has been conferred as the Commandery Princess. Who doesn’t know that Bai Qingyan has already joined the Crown Prince’s faction? As soon as the Crown Prince ascends the throne, our Bai family will still stand firm! The Bai family will continue to be the masters of Shuoyang City!”
Bai Qingyan’s steps halted, she raised her eyebrows slightly, then turned to look at Steward Liu who followed behind her.
Steward Liu nodded knowingly, took a few steps aside, and smiled while letting the others go upstairs first.
Bai Jinzhi suppressed her anger, pretended not to hear, and followed Bai Qingyan upstairs.
This time, Eldest Young Lady returned specifically to handle clan affairs. Since Eldest Young Lady heard and didn’t react, there must be a reason, she couldn’t act impulsively.
The shop assistant leading the way barely noticeably sighed at these words.
Bai Jinzhi’s ears twitched slightly, and she smiled, asking, “Why did you sigh, little brother?”
The shop assistant straightened his back as if frightened, and smiled, “It’s nothing really. It’s just that in a few days… our Tianxiang Tower is about to change ownership. We don’t even know if we can keep our jobs. Sorry to bother you!”
Bai Jinzhi, following Bai Qingyan’s cue, continued to ask, “Change ownership? Tianxiang Tower has always had good business, hasn’t it?”
The shop assistant opened the door of a private room, respectfully inviting Bai Qingyan and her people in, and while pouring tea, he complained, “You must not be local, you don’t know how fierce the Bai family is. The Bai family has always been the rulers of Shuoyang City. They have done many despicable things over the years. Previously, they had the Duke of Zhen backing them. Now that the Duke of Zhen has died, we have a new Princess of Zhen. It is said that the Princess of Zhen has an extraordinary relationship with the Crown Prince. In the future when the Crown Prince becomes emperor, the Princess of Zhen will likely become the Empress or an imperial consort! The Bai family… will be even more arrogant!”
Bai Jinzhi almost cursed out loud. She gritted her teeth and her expression turned grim.
“Did you hear this from the Bai family?” Bai Qingyan sat down at the Eight Immortals Table, her jade-like fingers picked up the tea cup, and she blew gently into it.
“Not just the Bai family. Our master is the brother-in-law of the Magistrate, and the Magistrate told our master the same thing!” The shop assistant looked pained, “The Bai family has already forcibly taken over several shops. Now they suddenly set their sights on our Tianxiang Tower. The Magistrate said our master cannot afford to offend the Bai family, so it’s better to give it up! The Princess of Zhen will be returning to Shuoyang in a few days. If we don’t comply and it leads to trouble, it will still be our master who suffers.”
“Every time the Bai family takes over a shop, they reduce the employees’ monthly wages by half! Just the other day… the shopkeeper of Yulu Rouge Shop, who had an old parent and young children to support, couldn’t sustain himself on half the salary… the Bai family found an excuse to beat him half to death. The old shopkeeper couldn’t breathe and died that night! His son didn’t make a fuss and quietly reported the Bai family to the governor, but I doubt the governor would dare to handle it.”
Bai Jinzhi clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking, and she was so angry that she didn’t even enjoy the scenery of Tuling Temple at night. She barely ate before following Bai Qingyan back to the inn.
Seeing Bai Jinzhi seething, Bai Qingyan assigned her some tasks, asking her to arrange a meeting with Ji Tingyu for the next day. Meanwhile, she practiced with her red-tasseled silver spear in the courtyard of the inn, while Steward Liu stood beside her reporting the day’s events.
“It seems that these matters were orchestrated by a few younger members of the Bai clan without the knowledge of the family elders. Just now, the clan leader’s younger grandson summoned Tianxiang Tower’s head shopkeeper for a meeting tomorrow at noon. It appears they plan to forcefully buy Tianxiang Tower.” Steward Liu said.
It seemed that there was no need for Steward Liu to set up a scheme. Tomorrow at noon would be the best opportunity.
Bai Qingyan’s ears twitched, her eyes darkened, and she abruptly hurled her shimmering spear.
Xiao Rongyan stood perfectly still and tilted his head to avoid the sharp spearhead, effortlessly catching the spear shaft with one hand.
Steward Liu quickly took two steps back, bowing respectfully, his heart pounding with alarm. Xiao Rongyan’s skills were exceedingly good, and he had approached so close to the Eldest Young Lady without anyone noticing.
Panting, Bai Qingyan recognized that it was Xiao Rongyan and her fierce expression softened, “Mr. Xiao, do you enjoy appearing without a sound?”
Xiao Rongyan, holding a large black lacquered tray in one hand, tossed the silver spear to Steward Liu, stood at the doorway, and did not advance any further, “Seeing that Miss Bai had a poor appetite today, I specially prepared red date bird’s nest soup for you.”
“How could I trouble you, Mr. Xiao.”
“You have been kind to me, Miss Bai. It’s the least I could do.” Xiao Rongyan smiled and looked at Steward Liu.
Steward Liu placed the silver spear against the wall and stepped forward to accept the tray from Xiao Rongyan, smiling, “Thank you, Mr. Xiao. It’s getting late, you should rest early.”
Bai Qingyan recalled Xiao Rongyan’s jade cicada, removed the pouch from her waist, and called out, “Mr. Xiao…”
“What’s your command, Miss Bai?” Xiao Rongyan responded and walked towards Bai Qingyan with a smile.
Steward Liu quickly followed.
Bai Qingyan took out the jade cicada from the pouch and handed it to Xiao Rongyan, “This is your cherished item, Mr. Xiao. It’s best to return it to its rightful owner.”
Xiao Rongyan looked at the pouch in Bai Qingyan’s hand and recognized it as one she wore close to her. His smile deepened, “Miss Bai has been wearing it close to her?”
Bai Qingyan avoided Xiao Rongyan’s overly heated and deep gaze, “I wasn’t sure when I would meet you, Mr. Xiao. So I kept it with me for convenience to return it.”
Steward Liu felt a jolt in his heart. The word “close” was too ambiguous, almost flirtatious.
From the moment Xiao Rongyan invited Eldest Young Lady and the Fourth Lady to the VIP inn, he realized that this Xiao Rongyan had ulterior motives towards their lady. But he never expected Xiao Rongyan’s behavior to be so presumptuous!
He took advantage of the Eldest Young Lady verbally, but the Eldest Young Lady seemed unaware.
Steward Liu heavily placed the soup bowl on the stone table and smiled, “Miss Bai, you should drink it while it’s hot and not waste Mr. Xiao’s good intentions.”
“The jade cicada was given to you as a token of goodwill from both me and my elder brother. Please don’t refuse it.” Xiao Rongyan smiled.
Steward Liu: “…”
This Mr. Xiao is really good at taking advantage!
Bai Qingyan gazed into Xiao Rongyan’s eyes and spoke, “Steward Liu, you may leave.”
Steward Liu reluctantly replied, “Yes…”
After Steward Liu left, Bai Qingyan said, “What is your intention in giving me the jade cicada, Mr. Xiao? If it’s merely out of gratitude…”
“You know my intention.” Xiao Rongyan’s rich and gentle voice sounded particularly seductive in the night.
The moon was bright and the stars sparse, with a gentle breeze. Under the bright moonlight, shadows of trees swayed, and occasionally the faint chirping of insects could be heard from the flower bushes.