Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 374 - 371: Do Not Blame_1

Chapter 374: Chapter 371: Do Not Blame_1

For those without signed contracts, Mr. Gu would break their legs and throw them out of the ancestral home, making it known throughout Shuoyang City that anyone who dared to employ these people and their families would be opposing the Princess of Zhen’s mansion!

Additionally, for those maids and servants with signed contracts, Mr. Gu carried out a thorough purge, killing some and selling others, notifying all the brokers in Shuoyang City that the Bai Mansion was in need of new servants, causing quite a commotion and proceeding swiftly.

Mr. Gu was determined to clean up the ancestral home inside and out before Bai Qingyan and her party returned.

It just so happened that today was the day when all the brokers and human traffickers in the city would bring people to the ancestral home. Mr. Gu thought that since the eldest daughter had returned, if she were available, she could take a look.

Mr. Gu, along with the steward and loyal servants who had returned earlier from Dadu City with Lu Ping, stood waiting outside the imposing gates of the ancestral home for Bai Qingyan’s carriage.

From afar, they saw the commandery princess’s carriage approaching slowly. Mr. Gu, joyful, leaned on his cane and led the group of housekeepers and loyal servants down the high steps.

Many curious townspeople also gathered, watching the rare sight in Shuoyang City of a four-horse carriage.

As the carriage came to a stop, Mr. Gu, leaning on his cane, walked over and saw Chun Tao assisting Bai Qingyan out of the carriage. He quickly knelt down to pay his respects, stabilizing himself with his cane. "This old servant welcomes the Commandery Princess..."

Following Mr. Gu, the Bai housekeepers and loyal servants also stepped forward to pay their respects. "Welcome, Commandery Princess!"

Although Bai Qingyan had instructed everyone in the Bai Mansion to still call her the eldest daughter, with so many townspeople watching in Shuoyang, propriety could not be abandoned!

Otherwise, if even the loyal servants of the Bai family did not pay proper respects to Bai Qingyan outside, the clan members would have an excuse to disrespect and look down on their eldest daughter.

Bai Qingyan understood Mr. Gu’s intentions; he was helping her establish authority.

She walked up to Mr. Gu and helped him up. "Everyone, please rise. Mr. Gu, as an elder, performing such a grand ceremony... troubles me greatly."

Mr. Gu smiled warmly and asked in a low voice, "Did the eldest daughter have a safe journey?"

With bandit attacks becoming frequent lately, Mr. Gu had been worried for days upon hearing that Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi were returning alone.

"Do not worry, Mr. Gu. With two teams of guards from the Crown Prince’s residence accompanying us, the journey was very safe." Bai Qingyan turned her head and looked at the imposing vermilion gate of the Shuoyang ancestral home.

Six large gates, vermilion pillars, two stone lions taller than a person standing on both sides, red walls, and green tiles adorned with intricate carvings.

Over the generations, the Bai Clan had repaired and expanded their ancestral home, making it more grand and impressive. Although it could not compare with the residences of nobles in Dadu City, it was quite rare to find such elegance in Shuoyang City.

"Is the eldest daughter returning this time to handle clan affairs?" Despite his age, Mr. Gu was very perceptive. Originally, Bai Qingyan was set to return from Dadu to Shuoyang at the beginning of May, but she had come back now, indicating she was here to deal with clan matters.

"To be honest, Mr. Gu, I am here to open the ancestral hall and change the Clan Leader." Bai Qingyan said.

Mr. Gu paused for a moment before nodding. The current Clan Leader indeed had become increasingly unfit. His demeanor and temper were just like that of his deceased mother.

Mr. Gu had grown up with Bai Weiting and was quite familiar with the Clan Leader’s mother, who had acquired many bad habits as an illegitimate daughter of a prominent family. If it were not for her arranged engagement from a young age and being later recognized as the legitimate daughter by the late Clan Leader’s mother, the Bai family would never have allowed her to be the Clan Leader’s wife.

"Does the eldest daughter intend to make a big move?" Mr. Gu, leaning on his cane, followed Bai Qingyan, asking in detail.

"Following the Bai family’s ancestral teachings, clan rules, and regulations, we will act according to the rules. Today, half of the clan will likely be expelled, including the Clan Leader’s family..." Bai Qingyan paused in her steps, standing in the courtyard, and said, "If the clan members do not agree, I will lead the Bai family in leaving the clan to minimize losses promptly."

"What the clan members rely on is nothing more than the Bai family in Dadu. Previously, it was the King of Zhen, now it is you, the Princess of Zhen!" Mr. Gu chuckled, knowing full well the nature of the clan members. "They certainly will not abandon you, the princess, for the Clan Leader! Besides, I heard that the Crown Prince has sent someone to support you this time, so being under such a big tree, the clan members would neither want to nor dare to lose you."

Speaking of this, Mr. Gu bowed respectfully to Bai Qingyan. "This old servant has managed the Bai family’s accounts for a lifetime, carefully preserving each year’s records sent from Dadu to Shuoyang. If you need this for this matter, do not hesitate to ask."

What Mr. Gu implied was that he could present the accounts if needed.

In the past, whenever the Clan Leader privately embezzled the money sent from Dadu, the Bai family had turned a blind eye, thinking that the Clan Leader’s care for the clan was exhausting.

Mr. Gu, however, saw this as a huge leverage. He believed that for the position of Clan Leader to go to the rightful heir in the future, a good reason to depose the current Clan Leader was necessary.

After the demise of the King of Zhen’s grandsons, Mr. Gu thought these accounts would no longer be useful. Unexpectedly, as the eldest daughter sought to depose the Clan Leader today, he would use these accounts to aid her.

"Then later, I would have to trouble Mr. Gu." Bai Qingyan smiled.

Looking at the composed and gentle Bai Qingyan before him, Mr. Gu’s eyes could not help but redden. Everyone said that with all the men of the Bai family in Dadu dead, the Bai family was doomed!

Yet, their eldest daughter took up the mantle of the Bai family’s burden, passionately declaring the Bai family’s loyalty at the state banquet, borrowing coffins for the deceased King of Zhen and the Bai family during New Year’s Eve, risking her life to seek justice for them, and confronting the Emperor at the Wude Gate to demand punishment for King Xin.

Who else could display such valor in this world?!

Only their Bai family’s daughter in Dadu!

During the days and nights when the eldest daughter was in the Southern Frontier, Mr. Gu was sleepless, praying for the King of Zhen, the Duke of Zhen, and the various Bai family generals to protect Bai Qingyan in heaven.

Not only did their eldest daughter return safely, but she also returned with honor, defeating Xiliang and repelling Nanyan. She accomplished what the entire Bai family of men could not achieve in the Southern Frontier.

Mr. Gu felt immensely proud.

If anyone ever claimed that women were inferior to men, Mr. Gu would be the first to disagree.

"Not troublesome at all! It is a great joy for me, an old man, to be able to contribute to the Bai family and the eldest daughter." Mr. Gu, with tearful eyes, gazed at Bai Qingyan. "If the King of Zhen were still alive to see such an eldest daughter, he certainly... certainly would be delighted!"

Speaking of this, Mr. Gu could not hold back his tears. He quickly turned away and used his sleeve to wipe them, laughing softly to cover it up. "Getting old... comes with this problem of tearing up in the wind. I hope the eldest daughter does not mind."