Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 489 - 486: Left Prime Minister Li Mansion_1

Chapter 489: Chapter 486: Left Prime Minister Li Mansion_1

Half a moment passed without hearing Bai Qingyan speak. Steward Wu was about to sneak a glance at Bai Qingyan, but as his gaze lifted to Bai Qingyan’s deerskin boots, he heard Bai Qingyan clear her throat, instantly frightening him into not daring to raise his head further. His eyes fixed on the floor, motionless.

Steward Wu had previously entered the Bai ancestral home, naturally knowing the splendor of the blue bricks, green tiles, carved beams, and painted rafters. The ebony-gilded nanmu pillars, every item were of exquisite quality, each possessing a history and age. Even the entwined bronze lamps were several hundred years old, showcasing the profound heritage of the Bai family.

However, whether it was because the rightful owner had returned or it had been refurbished, as he stepped into the main hall, Steward Wu’s palms began to sweat. Without raising his head, he was already overwhelmed by its grandeur, his back stiffened.

Bai Qingyan tidied the cuffs of her plain blue patterned sleeves with silver edges, her voice as calm as ever, "What important matter does Steward Wu have?"

With just this simple sentence, Steward Wu discerned a sense of superiority, completely different from the former King’s benevolence.

Now, Steward Wu understood. This Princess of Zhen of the Bai family would not grant the clan the same dignity the former King gave. The former King spoke of familial bonds, while this Princess spoke of hierarchy. If she were displeased, there was a chance one might be dragged away and beaten to death.

Steward Wu quickly kowtowed, his attitude becoming increasingly respectful, "In reply to Princess of Zhen, this humble servant has come because before Your Highness moved to Shuoyang, there was someone from Dadu City seeking leverage against you in front of the previous clan leader. It seems they heard about Your Highness deposing the former clan leader and expelling many clan members. Thus, they have been contacting those expelled to conspire against you!"

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyelids slightly, showing no reaction. Chun Tao stepped forward, taking the tea cup from the maid’s black lacquered tray and handed it to Bai Qingyan.

She held the tea cup, sipping it intermittently.

As Bai Qingyan did not prompt him, Steward Wu’s forehead began to sweat profusely. His eyes darted around as he continued, "Initially, that person sought Bai Qiyun, the former clan leader’s eldest son, who was greatly tempted. Bai Qiyun brought them to discuss this with the former clan leader, but the former clan leader scolded him, stating... Now the legitimate second son is the clan leader, and the Bai family rises and falls together."

Bai Qingyan’s gaze rested on Steward Wu, kneeling in the main hall. She wondered if Steward Wu was sent by the former clan leader to seek reconciliation or had other intentions. She continued drinking tea, waiting for Steward Wu to finish.

Seeing Bai Qingyan remain silent, Steward Wu lost his confidence, his voice faltering, "Later on, I retained some vigilance and reminded those seeking cooperation that it was insincere to not introduce themselves. After Your Highness and the Bai family women returned to Shuoyang, those people visited again, identifying themselves as being from Left Prime Minister Li Mansion!"

Hearing the slight knock of Bai Qingyan’s tea cup on the redwood table, Steward Wu shivered in fright, hastily kowtowing, his head hitting the floor hard, making him dizzy.

"Announcing themselves from Left Prime Minister Li Mansion, do you have any evidence?" Bai Qingyan lowered her gaze at the trembling Steward Wu.

"In response to Princess of Zhen, that person showed the clan leader the Left Prime Minister’s token and said... Your Highness broke the Left Prime Minister’s youngest son’s leg, so there should be no doubt about their sincerity in cooperating. Those people were in Dadu City yesterday, having rented a courtyard in Fenxiang, seemingly planning to remain in Shuoyang City to gather leverage against Your Highness," Steward Wu kowtowed again, "If Your Highness doesn’t believe, you can send someone to check it out!"

Bai Qingyan gently rubbed the white-glazed tea cup in her hand. After a moment of silence, she asked again, "Steward Wu, having come to me with this matter, are you seeking a reward?"

Steward Wu lowered his head even further, "In response to Princess of Zhen, this humble servant’s ancestors served the Bai family for generations. My grandfather stayed in Shuoyang with the previous clan leader. I’ve always followed the former clan leader. If I could serve Your Highness, I would not hesitate to sacrifice everything for the honor of the Bai family."

Bai Qingyan looked at Steward Wu with a faint smile, slowly blowing on the tea in her cup, "If that’s the case, would you be willing to stay by Bai Qiyun’s side, spying on him for me, and reporting back whenever necessary?"

Steward Wu was taken aback. This was not what he had expected. He thought Bai Qingyan would place him in Bai Mansion no matter what.

But, if he missed this chance, meeting Bai Qingyan again would be difficult.

Steward Wu made up his mind, kowtowing towards Bai Qingyan, "This humble servant will not disappoint Your Highness!"

"Chun Tao, escort Steward Wu out! Do not let anyone know about Steward Wu’s visit today!" Bai Qingyan said, standing and walking out.

Steward Wu dared not rise. He continued to kowtow, glimpsing Bai Qingyan’s elongating shadow in the sunset, turning half a circle towards Bai Qingyan, respectfully seeing her out of the main hall before daring to lift his head.

Although Bai Qingyan said not to let anyone know about his visit, the Bai Mansion’s entrance was on the bustling Yangming Street in Shuoyang City. With so many people coming and going daily, many must have seen the commotion when he knelt at the Bai Mansion gate, startling the Bai family’s armed guards.

If he were truly to return to Bai Qiyun’s side, Steward Wu would need a very prudent explanation for today’s visit.

Seeing that Bai Qiyun, the "future clan leader," would not be reinstated, Steward Wu could only plan for his own future. Before coming, he realized Bai Qingyan might not use him easily. Now, being asked to stay by Bai Qiyun’s side, perhaps it was a test of his abilities by Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan stepped out of the main hall, her dark eyes calm as water. She turned to Chun Tao, instructing Steward Hao to check whether the people who rented a courtyard in Fenxiang yesterday were from Left Prime Minister’s Mansion.

If Li Mao had extended his reach to Shuoyang, breaking his son’s leg had not taught him a lesson. Bai Qingyan would need more severe means to ensure Li Mao behaved.

As dusk fell, within Bai Mansion, maids in green dresses held incense to repel insects, driving away mosquitoes in the corridors. They lowered the light gauze curtains and the bamboo screens hung on copper hooks.

The lamp-lighting maids lit the six-sided sheepskin lanterns hanging under the corridor eaves, the flickering light cast golden hues on the green stone floor and faintly illuminated through the bamboo screens. Moths fluttered outside the screens.

Willows, Chinese scholar trees, fragrant flowers, and the sound of flowing water lined both sides of the corridor.