Chapter 709
Knowing this information, Bai Qingyan felt both irritated and reminded of the great epidemic in Jiaozhou back in those days.
During the great epidemic in Jiaozhou, the Emperor first sealed off the city. When the epidemic became uncontrollable, those court officials, who lived off the people’s taxes, also came up with the idea to kill all the infected people in Jiaozhou, cutting off the epidemic completely.
If it weren’t for her aunt, Bai Suqiu, feeling compassionate and volunteering to enter Jiaozhou, and her father personally leading the Bai family army to escort her aunt into the city, the people of Jiaozhou would have been killed and burned to the ground long ago.
Though the people of Jiaozhou were saved, her aunt never made it out alive.
Bai Qingyan closed her eyes, just hoping that an official would come up with a prescription to cure the epidemic soon.
“On this ancestral worship day, have Mother and Aunt returned?” Bai Qingyan asked again.
“No, Eldest Young Lady, they haven’t.”
Bai Qingyan had been claiming to be ill and refrained from seeing any guests. Given her severe injuries, attending the ancestral worship was naturally out of the question.
The ritual of ancestral worship was complex. Mother and Aunt must be weary upon their return.
“Have the kitchen prepare food so that Mother, Aunt, and the Fifth and Sixth Young Ladies can eat as soon as they get back.” Bai Qingyan closed the book in her hand, picked up the medicine bowl, and drank it all with a frown.
Chun Tao took the medicine bowl with a smile and said to Bai Qingyan, “Don’t worry, Eldest Young Lady, the kitchen is already prepared.”
“Since Mr. Min Qianqiu is staying in our Bai Mansion and today is Little New Year, let the kitchen prepare more Wei Kingdom dishes for him and his disciples.” Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Nanny Tong. “Nanny Tong, please go personally and apologize to Mr. Min for me. Grandfather, Father, Uncle, and my brothers just passed away last year. We are still in mourning and cannot host banquets! My health is poor, and I cannot entertain him myself. It’s unfair to Mr. Min.”
“Oh! This old servant will go right away!” Nanny Tong said with a smile.
Now that Grandfather, Father, Uncle, and my brothers had passed the small mourning period, Mother decided to have bright garments made for the family. This kept the Bai Mansion lively, as it had been a year, and those who were alive still needed to move forward.
Mother knew A Yu was still alive, Fourth Aunt found out Ah Jue was alive, and for the rest of their lives, they only wished for their children to be healthy and meet again someday, with no other desires.
As Bai Qingyan rinsed her mouth with honey water, Bai Jinzhao and Bai Jinhua, who had returned from the ancestral worship, entered Meixiang Pavilion. They quickly ran under the veranda, brushing the snow off their heads and clothes.
“Oh dear, Fifth Young Lady and Sixth Young Lady!” Nanny Tong hurriedly put down her work and greeted them from the warm pavilion. She brushed the snow off Bai Jinzhao and Bai Jinhua’s clothes. “How could you not bring a maid or at least an umbrella?”
“No worries, Nanny! We went to Boyun Courtyard first upon returning. When we heard Eldest Sister was here admiring the plum blossoms, we didn’t want to walk slowly with the maids and rushed over…” Bai Jinzhao said with a smile, brushing aside the curtain as she entered.
Bai Jinhua followed behind Bai Jinzhao and, seeing the screen inlaid with jade and delicate bird patterns, they called out “Eldest Sister” loudly before standing by the firepot to warm up, fearing that they might bring cold air to their eldest sister. This ritual to avoid bringing cold air to their eldest sister was their long-held habit during winter.
Bai Qingyan smiled and instructed Chun Tao, “Bring some yogurt and snacks for the two.”
Chun Tao responded obediently and, upon stepping out, saw Nanny Tong leading a maid carrying washing utensils.
Bai Jinzhao and Bai Jinhua washed their hands with warm water and warmed themselves by the fire before coming in. One sat on a soft couch, the other on a small embroidered stool handed by the maid, smiling and telling Bai Qingyan about the ancestral worship. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
“Eldest Sister, you don’t know, Eldest Aunt and Third Aunt, Fifth Aunt were incredible today…”
Bai Jinhua had just opened her mouth to excitedly talk about the ancestor worship but was interrupted by Bai Jinzhao: “Don’t upset Eldest Sister with the clan’s troublesome matters. Aunts already handled it. Why make Eldest Sister angry for nothing?”
Bai Jinhua worried about Bai Qingyan’s not yet fully recovered injuries and didn’t want to stress her out.
“It’s okay, let Little Six speak…” Bai Qingyan smiled at Bai Jinhua.
Hearing this, Bai Jinhua couldn’t hold back and started recounting today’s events.
Just as Bai Qingyan predicted, the clan members used the ancestral worship to seek benefits from the Bai Mansion.
Clan members had already planned in the morning, sending someone with a list directly to Mother and Aunt. The list included all the young members of the clan, requesting Bai Qingyan to present it to the Crown Prince, pleading for the Crown Prince to promote these descendants and thus continue the Bai Clan’s honor.
As the clan leader, Bai Qihe should have handled such matters. Yet, the clan members bypassed him, privately finalized the list, and handed it directly to Mrs. Dong, alleging that since now there was no one in the court from the Bai family, and despite Bai Jinzhi’s prowess, she couldn’t carry on the family’s honor as a woman.
The clan members were smart this time, subtle in their words and humble in their attitude. They implied Bai Qingyan was gravely injured and could die at any moment. While she was still alive and had the Crown Prince’s life-saving favor, if she was willing to promote the clan members, the Crown Prince would surely favor them. This way, the Bai Clan would have people in the court, maintaining the family’s century-old reputation.
Mrs. Dong was so angered she almost fainted. Fifth Madam Mrs. Qi tore the list into pieces. Third Madam Mrs. Li loudly scolded the clan members, emphasizing that while Bai Qingyan was severely injured, even unrelated outsiders constantly sent supplements, hoping for her recovery. Yet, the clan members could only think of squeezing the last bit of value out of her before she died.
Clan leader Bai Qihe’s face turned dark, hastily apologizing to the Bai family ladies, promising to control the clan members.
Some elders disagreed, claiming that all being of the same clan, they had dedicated themselves to the Bai Clan in Shuoyang while the Bai family prospered in the capital. Now, with no one in the court representing them, Bai Qingyan, as a Bai Clan member, should consider the clan’s future and endorse the younger generation.
Fifth Madam Mrs. Qi sneered, pointing out that the Bai family’s honor was earned at the cost of the men’s lives. If the clan’s descendants truly intended to uphold this honor, they should strive for official ranks or join the military, fighting and sacrificing like the men of the Bai family. Simply wanting to sit back and enjoy the benefits while making Bai Qingyan a person exploiting her favor was absurd.
Third Madam Mrs. Li, relentless, bluntly stated: “If the Bai Clan’s glory relies on our Bai family’s eldest daughter to coerce the Crown Prince, that would disgrace our ancestors!”
The clan members were shocked, accusing Mrs. Li of being outrageous.