Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 375 - 372: Dispelling the Clouds to See the Sun_1

Chapter 375: Chapter 372: Dispelling the Clouds to See the Sun_1

She did not expose Mr. Gu, and hearing him mention her grandfather, she felt a mixture of bitterness and sadness. "Let’s not stand here in the wind. Mr. Gu, accompany me around the ancestral home and tell me where my mother and aunts have been arranged to stay."

Mr. Gu nodded, leaning on his cane and lagging a step behind Bai Qingyan. He tidied his appearance and caught up, speaking to Bai Qingyan, who was carefully surveying the ancestral home, about everything he had accomplished since their return and what tasks they had planned to complete by the end of April.

"The matters of the ancestral home have been arranged very well by you, Mr. Gu. Thank you for your hard work."

"Later, the brothel madams and human traffickers in Shuoyang City will bring people over. Does Miss Bai want to personally inspect them?" Mr. Gu asked.

"The ancestral hall ceremony is at noon. I’m afraid there’s not enough time. Let the subordinates handle it. We mainly use the people brought from the Bai family in Dadu City. These new people can be arranged in the outer courtyard, so there’s no need to worry too much." Bai Qingyan said.

"Of course. The old servant has it under control. The newly bought ones will first do some rough work in the outer courtyard, and we’ll gradually pick and choose later." Mr. Gu replied.

It was not easy for the entire Bai family to return to Shuoyang. Not only did the masters need various items, but even the servants with their families had things to transport. This required several trips of escorting.

"There’s another matter. Originally, Madam intended for Miss Bai to stay at Jinfeng Courtyard, but I thought... although Jinfeng Courtyard is large, it’s too remote. It would be better to move to Baozhu Courtyard next to Madam. What does Miss Bai think?" Mr. Gu discussed with Bai Qingyan.

"I will stay at Jinfeng Courtyard. I practice martial arts daily, which might disturb Mother’s rest and cause her worry. A more secluded place is better." Bai Qingyan replied.

Bai Qingyan had once sworn to the Bai family soldiers that in three years, she would lead them to avenge the fallen brothers of the Bai family army, her grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers.

With that vow, she dared not slack off for a moment.

But she also did not want her mother to see her practicing martial arts, fearing her mother would be heartbroken.

After coming out of her mother’s Qinghe Courtyard, Bai Qingyan said to Mr. Gu, "Rename Jinfeng Courtyard to... Boyun Courtyard."

Dispersing the clouds, one would eventually see the clear sky.

"Alright! Everything will be as Miss Bai wishes." Mr. Gu nodded.

The gatekeeping woman hurriedly ran out of Chuihua Gate toward Bai Qingyan and Mr. Gu, bowing and saying, "Miss Bai, a gentleman named Xiao is at the door requesting an audience. He said he brought a mute girl."

Xiao? Xiao Rongyan?

"Please bring him in..."

"Yes!" The woman quickly ran off.

When Bai Qingyan arrived in the front hall, she saw Xiao Rongyan had been invited into the main hall, sitting on a chair and offering snacks to the mute girl brought by the Bai family’s servant.

The mute girl, dressed in mourning clothes, shook her head. Her peripheral vision caught sight of Bai Qingyan, and she gently nudged Xiao Rongyan’s arm, signaling him to look outside.

Xiao Rongyan turned and saw Bai Qingyan instructing Mr. Gu not to follow. He stepped into the main hall, set down the snacks, and saluted Bai Qingyan. "Miss Bai!"

"Mr. Xiao!" Bai Qingyan returned the salute. Seeing the mute girl beside Xiao Rongyan, she felt a sense of relief. "Why has Mr. Xiao come to Shuoyang?"

"I happened to have business nearby and remembered the Commandery Princess mentioned returning to handle clan affairs. So I stayed an extra day to discuss a very important business matter with Miss Bai."

Xiao Rongyan unhurriedly finished speaking, glanced at the mute girl, and continued. "As it happens, Yue Shi encountered someone trying to harm the mute girl and rescued her. I then placed her in a newly opened shop, where the shopkeeper took her in as an adopted daughter. Just now, I heard the Commandery Princess was looking for the mute girl, so I brought her here. When Miss Bai finishes dealing with the Bai Clan matters, I will discuss the business matter."

What important business could not be discussed in Dadu but warranted staying in Shuoyang specifically? She did not ask in front of the mute girl, just nodded.

The mute girl looked at Bai Qingyan, tears streaming down her face. She thought no one other than her mother would ever seek her again, yet this beautiful sister and brother had only met her once, and one was searching for her while the other had saved her.

Bai Qingyan did not expect Xiao Rongyan to have already made proper arrangements for the mute girl. She looked at the mute girl, knowing that the one who caused her mother’s death was a descendant of the Bai Clan in Dadu who relied on the Bai family’s power. She felt guilt toward the mute girl.

Bai Qingyan said to the mute girl, "Later, at the Bai family’s ancestral hall, Sister will ensure your mother gets justice."

The mute girl nodded and gestured that she wanted to go too. She wanted to see with her own eyes the fate of the person who pushed her into the river and caused her to lose her mother.

Bai Qingyan was silent for a long time and then nodded. "Alright!"

·

The Commandery Princess of Zhen returned to Shuoyang, intending to open the ancestral hall. She planned to first deal with the Bai Clan members who had wronged people and then hand them over to Magistrate Zhou for severe punishment. This news had already spread throughout Shuoyang City.

The people of Shuoyang, oppressed by the Bai Clan, were talking amongst themselves, planning to wait outside the Bai family’s ancestral hall to see if the Commandery Princess would truly give them justice.

Following this, it was said that the Commandery Princess sought the mute girl who had been thrown into the river by a Bai Clan member, resulting in the girl’s mother’s drowning.

Hearing that, the Commandery Princess first went to the mute girl’s neighbor’s house to look for her, only to learn that the mute girl was missing.

The aunts and uncles who had once set up stalls with the mute girl’s mother also spontaneously searched for her, making the matter a huge uproar.

Brothel Madams sent their people to check if there were any mute girls among the newly bought ones, afraid of offending the Commandery Princess of Zhen, whose return to Shuoyang could ruin their future business.

The Commandery Princess of Zhen was known for burning ten thousand Xiliang captives alive in the southern border.

Furthermore, who in Shuoyang City did not know that even the Crown Prince had sent personal guards to support the Commandery Princess? With such ruthless methods and formidable backing, who would dare to offend her?

As it turned out, one of the newly bought girls in a brothel was indeed mute. The Brothel Madam, not willing to take any chances, quickly prepared and personally brought the girl to the Bai family ancestral hall by carriage.

Before noon, the Bai family’s ancestral hall was already surrounded by several layers of townspeople. Bold young men had even climbed high trees in front of the ancestral hall, craning their necks to peer inside.

The Bai family’s ancestral hall was perhaps the most prominent building in Shuoyang City, with its green tiles and red eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters, both magnificent and solemnly impressive.

Outside the Bai family’s ancestral hall stood ancient trees, symbolizing the flourishing and prosperity of the Bai Clan.

The Clan Leader, leaning on his cane, sat in the Clan Leader’s position with a livid face. The elders in their respective seats looked equally grave.

The descendants of each branch of the Bai family stood behind their elders, looking worried and anxious.

The Clan Leader’s brother, Fifth Lord, sat to the right of the Clan Leader. His elbow rested on the chair’s armrest, playing with a string of bodhi beads in his hand, his gaze fixed on the seat next to the Clan Leader.