Chapter 710
Mrs. Dong turned to look at Bai Qihe, who sat pale and powerless in the Clan Leader’s seat, and said, “Today, I, Mrs. Dong, will say this here. If anyone dares to target my daughter again and disturb her recovery, then I, Mrs. Dong, will apologize to the ancestors and take the orphans and widows of the Bai family out of the clan! The evil name of the Shuoyang Bai Clan is already known throughout the world. Even if I leave the clan with the women of the Bai family in the capital, others will only think that we, orphans and widows, have suffered great injustice. By then… I want to see how you plan to continue the Bai Clan’s honor! Will this Shuoyang City still be yours to lord over!”
“Mrs. Dong! Don’t get too arrogant. You are just a daughter-in-law of the Bai family, not a descendant of the Bai family! Your surname is not Bai! What right do you have to talk about staying or leaving the clan!” an elder said indignantly, smashing his cane on the bluestone floor with a loud bang.
“Just because my sister-in-law is the mother of the Princess of Zhen. Just because the Princess of Zhen has never disobeyed my sister-in-law in the slightest!” Mrs. Li, trembling with anger, thought of how Bai Qingyan and her daughter used to face such a clan and such vile people, and truly wanted to leave the clan immediately. “If you don’t believe me, let’s try! We, the daughters-in-law of the Bai family in the capital, dare to… do you, a group of cowards, dare?”
Upon hearing these words, someone immediately pulled at their elder, preventing them from saying anything further, for fear that words might escalate, and the Princess of Zhen would really leave the clan in the end.
Mrs. Dong said coldly, “There is humanity among beasts; those who look different are shunned. Among people with beastly hearts, how many can truly recognize it. Ancient people resembled beasts but had great virtues.”
Mrs. Dong’s gaze swept over those elders of the clan who abused their age and status, “Modern people appear human, but how can one measure a beastly heart.”
The ancestral hall erupted like a boiling pot because of Mrs. Dong’s words. The elders all stood up and accused her of being a selfish daughter-in-law who did not consider the future of the Bai Clan.
Mrs. Dong turned to look at the Fourth Madam, Mrs. Wang, who was tightly protecting her two daughters in her arms, and signaled for her to leave first. Mrs. Wang hurriedly took her two daughters out of the ancestral hall.
Mrs. Dong also called out to the Third Madam, Mrs. Li, and the Fifth Madam, Mrs. Qi, and the sisters-in-law left the hall together.
Before leaving, the Fifth Madam, Mrs. Qi, looked back at the startled and surprised Bai Clan members in the ancestral hall and calmly said, “The mouse has skin; humans have no decorum! Humans without decorum, why not die? The mouse has teeth; humans have no restraint! Humans without restraint, why not die? The mouse has a body; humans have no propriety, humans without propriety! Why not die sooner?”
The elders were so furious that they almost couldn’t catch their breath.
Before boarding the carriage, the ladies of the Bai family in the capital heard the chaotic noise in the ancestral hall asking for a doctor.
After recounting the events in the ancestral hall, Bai Jinhua frowned at Bai Qingyan, “Eldest Young Lady… why don’t the clan members learn their lesson?”
“It’s not that they don’t learn, but someone is instigating them from behind.” Bai Qingyan was not angered after hearing this. The former Clan Leader, Bai Weimei, having lost his son Bai Qiyun, naturally harbored hatred in his heart and wished for the Bai family in the capital to fall out with the clan, preferring Bai Qingyan to have no one to use.
Having dealt with the former clan leader, Bai Qingyan believed that he understood her temperament well, knowing that she would never seek favors from the Crown Prince for the Bai family’s good-for-nothing descendants. This was why he devised this plan, hoping to estrange Bai Qingyan from the clan so that she could not employ the clan members currently in use.
When Bai Qingyan returned gravely injured recently, she had already learned of this and didn’t act immediately, wanting to see how Bai Qihe would handle the situation. If Bai Qihe could establish his authority, this wouldn’t be a bad opportunity for him.
“It doesn’t matter. Let them cause a commotion. Someone will handle it. If no one can handle it, then our Bai Mansion will intervene.” Bai Qingyan clearly didn’t take this matter to heart. Seeing Chun Tao bring in some steaming snacks and curd, she smiled and told her two younger sisters to have some first.
Although the matter wasn’t urgent, Bai Qingyan still felt the need to comfort her mother tonight, thinking that her mother must have been angered by the clan members.
Just as Bai Qingyan watched her two sisters enjoy their snacks, Nanny Tong pulled aside the cotton curtain and entered. After greeting Bai Qingyan, she said, “Eldest Young Lady, Lu Ping is back. He said everything is fine at the treatment center. After delivering the meat and vegetables, the refugees were very grateful for your kindness, kneeling and bowing to thank you!”
Bai Qingyan nodded, feeling relieved.
“Lu Ping also said that when he returned, he saw the Clan Leader outside the Bai Mansion’s gate, saying he wanted to bear the rod and beg for forgiveness.”
Bai Qihe came quickly. Holding the book in hand, Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and said calmly, “Nanny, tell the Clan Leader that as the Clan Leader, it is his responsibility to balance the relationships among the clan members, to unite them rather than causing internal strife. His goal now is not to bear the rod to beg for forgiveness, but to quell the discontent among the clan members and the Bai family in the capital, to establish his authority so the clan members will no longer dare to overstep their boundaries.”
Nanny Tong responded affirmatively, “I’ll send Lu Ping to deliver the message.”
“Nanny, please go in person and tell the Clan Leader… this is my intention.” Bai Qingyan looked up and smiled gently at Nanny Tong.
Nanny Tong, being the most trusted nanny by Bai Qingyan’s side, would make Bai Qihe understand that Bai Qingyan was letting him handle the matter freely. He would also realize that if he failed, Bai Qingyan would intervene.
“All right!” Nanny Tong instructed Chun Tao to take good care of Bai Qingyan before stepping out, holding an umbrella as she and Lu Ping went to the front yard in the snow.
“Take it easy with the snacks. Dinner will be served soon. Tonight is Little New Year’s Eve, and I’ve heard the kitchen has prepared a sumptuous feast.” Bai Qingyan smiled as she spoke to her two sisters.
The dinner for Little New Year’s Eve was scheduled to be held at Meixiang Pavilion, and since Bai Qingyan had nothing to do at home, she came early to prepare.
The round table in the outer room had already been set. Bai Qingyan also had Chun Tao fold some red plum branches and place them in a white jade high-neck vase on a tall stand. The bright red flowers were exceptionally beautiful.
Before long, Mrs. Dong, the Third Madam Mrs. Li, the Fourth Madam Mrs. Wang, and the Fifth Madam Mrs. Qi, holding the eighth girl, Bai Wanqing, all changed into their regular attire and arrived at Meixiang Pavilion.
As the Fifth Madam Mrs. Qi, holding Bai Wanqing, stepped into the courtyard, she saw a dense row of hexagonal sheepskin lanterns hanging around the eaves, casting a warm yellow glow that illuminated the red plums and white snow in the garden of Meixiang Pavilion.
Standing under the warmly lit eaves were maids holding lacquered food boxes, chatting and laughing as they pointed at the plum blossoms. This scene inexplicably brought a sense of the New Year’s atmosphere.
Mrs. Qi heard the merry laughter of Bai Jinhua and Bai Jinzhao teasing Mrs. Dong, the Third Madam Mrs. Li, and the Fourth Madam Mrs. Wang, which floated out from the room. She looked at the shadows on the window grilles, and her brows and eyes were tinged with warmth.