Chapter 337 - 334: No Tolerance_1
Since all the men of the Bai family perished in the southern border, conspiracies and disasters arose one after another. The Bai family was on the brink of collapse. If it weren’t for the daughter’s painstaking efforts, the Bai family might not even exist today. She did not expect the clan to share their burdens but certainly could not let these greedy and insatiable people hinder her, sully her reputation.
The clan leader stood up in shock. "Wife of Qishan! What do you mean by this?! Do you still want to return to Shuoyang?! Do you still recognize the clan?!"
"Such a clan is not worth recognizing!" Bai Qingyan’s voice was steady and slow. She stood up, smoothing the wrinkles on her clothes, ready to leave.
"Stop right there!" The clan leader trembled with rage. "The clan merely needs you to say a word to help, yet this is your attitude? Since you have sworn not to marry again, do you not wish to receive the clan’s incense offerings after death?"
"Incense offerings? My grandfather and father did not dare to accept them. How could I?" Bai Qingyan turned around. Her cold, clear eyes deeply looked at the clan leader. "Clan leader, you should remember, I am not an ordinary girl. I am a descendant of the Bai family’s Duke of Zhen in Dadu City, following my grandfather’s will. In times of war and difficulty, I lead by example, protecting the people, living on the taxes they pay, and accepting their incense offerings after death. What need is there for the clan?"
The elders looked at each other with a sense of agitation, gazing at the proud and resolute Bai Qingyan. The Princess of Zhen, although she had rank and stipend, was known for her prowess in battle, having garnered high regard among the people during the Shu conquest.
"Clan leader, we came here to ask the Commandery Princess for help. How can we let things turn ugly?" An elder stepped forward to mediate. "Commandery Princess, the clan leader is just like that, but he doesn’t mean it. The Bai Clan has always been united. We are only asking you to speak to Magistrate Zhou, as other noble families would do for their clan!"
"In Shuoyang, I believe I have made myself clear. Since all the elders are here today, let me repeat. I have pledged to the people of Shuoyang that no matter who, among the Bai Clan in Shuoyang, has bullied the people under the guise of the Bai family’s power in Dadu City, once verified, I will request the clan leader to expel them and compensate the wronged people. If the clan leader does not agree and refuses to expel the unfit members of the Bai family, my entire family in Dadu will sever ties with the Bai Clan in Shuoyang and have no further association!"