Chapter 324: Chapter 321: Engaging in Villainy_1 Chapter 324: Chapter 321: Engaging in Villainy_1 “Eldest Young Lady, are we returning to the inn to rest now?” Bai Jinzhi asked.
“Of course not…we are going to walk among the commoners, ask them for their opinions on the Bai family of Shuoyang, and inquire about the good deeds the Bai Clan has done these past few years. The more people know I am investigating this, the better. It’s best if that Magistrate Zhou knows as well; he is quite an interesting man.” Bai Qingyan’s lips curled up.
The Bai Clan of Shuoyang still thought…that their Bai family would rely on the clan after their return.
She would let the clan know that without her, the Princess of Zhen, standing behind the Bai Clan of Shuoyang, just what they amounted to in Shuoyang City.
The Bai Clan of Shuoyang acted unrighteously by themselves; this ti, she would use them to clear the na of her grandfather and the Bai family for covering up for them over the years. This was proof that her grandfather’s care for the Bai Clan of Shuoyang had not been in vain.
When Magistrate Zhou heard that the Princess of Zhen and the Lord of Gaoyi had returned to the clan but parted unhappily from the clan leader, even breaking a cup, he beca anxious.
He then learned that the Princess of Zhen and the Lord of Gaoyi’s group had abandoned their horses and were walking to inquire about the Bai Clan of Shuoyang’s misdeeds against the commoners these past years.
Magistrate Zhou’s heart pounded. Could it be that…both the forr Duke of Zhen and the current Princess of Zhen were unaware of the Bai Clan of Shuoyang’s actions these years? Was the Princess of Zhen here for retribution?
Magistrate Zhou paced anxiously in his study.
Soon, another servant reported that the group of the Princess of Zhen had gone to the house of the shopkeeper who had been beaten to death by the Bai family clan leader’s grandson.
Magistrate Zhou collapsed into a chair.
This…had to be for retribution, right?
Magistrate Zhou thought of Bai Qiyun, feeling a surge of anger. He stood up angrily, intending to confront Bai Qiyun, but as soon as he stepped out, he drew his leg back.
What he needed to do now was not to confront Bai Qiyun but to clear his own na as quickly as possible.
Magistrate Zhou paced around the room, then suddenly stopped and shouted, “Soone! Quickly have Master Li organize all the case files covered up for the Bai family over the years! Hurry!”
After shouting, Magistrate Zhou hurried to his desk and dug out a few petitions he had previously suppressed.
·
Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi walked around Shuoyang City, and many commoners learned that soone was investigating the misdeeds of the Bai family of Shuoyang these past years.
Initially, the commoners were hesitant to speak, but when they saw that Bai Qingyan and her group visited the ho of the shopkeeper beaten to death by the clan leader’s grandson and even gave them silver, they beca indignant and began to spill out all the misdeeds the Bai family had committed in Shuoyang.
Bai Qingyan sat under a willow tree at the village entrance with the commoners, listening patiently.
Over the years, it started with the clan leader’s branch committing evil deeds. As they beca more unscrupulous, the other branches of the Bai Clan in Shuoyang, seeing the clan leader’s branch grow richer by relying on Bai Qingyan’s grandfather’s influence, began to imitate them.
Gradually, more and more side branches followed the clan leader’s example, oppressing the commoners for their own benefit, completely ruining the reputation of the Bai Clan of Shuoyang.
The commoners believed that Bai Qingyan’s grandfather had allowed and indulged the Bai Clan of Shuoyang.
She understood that people’s hearts were easily swayed by wealth. When the main branch of the noble clan, once righteous and benevolent, saw that the clan leader could beco so rich by leaning on her grandfather’s influence, they naturally wavered and tried to follow suit. Once they saw no consequences, they beca bolder.
The commoners of Shuoyang suffered greatly.
Many tenant farrs on the farmland of the Bai Clan were forced to sell their children.
When they tried to report to the authorities…the Official Governnt, fearing Bai Weiting’s power, suppressed the commoners, and even the early inforrs against the Bai Clan of Shuoyang were accused of false charges and sentenced, many tying nooses around their necks to prove their innocence.
The commoners endured these grievances silently, harboring resentnt against the Bai family in the Capital.
Hearing these stories, Bai Jinzhi felt a pang of anger in her chest, furious that her family’s good na had been so disgraced.
Bai Qingyan turned to the guard recording everything diligently. “Have you noted it all down…”
“Yes!”
The guards answered in unison.
Seeing Bai Qingyan’s deanor, so curious commoners couldn’t help asking, “Which noble family’s daughter are you from? Why do you want to inquire about the Bai Clan of Shuoyang? Aren’t you afraid of offending the Bai family? The Bai Clan of Shuoyang has a fearso God of Slaughter, the Princess of Zhen!”
“Nonsense! How is my eldest sister scary?” Bai Jinzhi replied proudly.
“Eldest sister?”
The commoners glanced at the young lady sitting under the willow tree, patiently listening to their accounts of the Bai Clan’s deeds.
The young woman looked almost unreal in her beauty and carried an aura of nobility and determination, unlike a typical maiden.
The commoners fell silent in fear.
Bai Qingyan rose and bowed earnestly to the commoners gathered around her. “All these years, I did not know that the Bai clan, under the Duke of Zhen’s na, had been oppressing the commoners of Shuoyang so. The Duke of Zhen’s residence failed to investigate thoroughly. You have all suffered!”
The commoners were shocked. “This…is…the Princess of Zhen?”
How could they associate this beautiful and patient young lady with the fearso Princess of Zhen, rumored to have executed ten thousand Xiliang prisoners?
“Are you…the Princess of Zhen?” an elderly man asked boldly, eyes wide.
Bai Qingyan bowed to the elder, her expression filled with regret.
The elder, previously propped on a cane, stood up tremulously and knelt. “Prin…Princess!”
Imdiately, the commoners who had been complaining joined the elder, kneeling towards Bai Qingyan.
“No need for such formalities!” Bai Qingyan helped the elder up and addressed the commoners. “Please rise! My grandfather, father, and I were negligent. We did not know the Bai Clan of Shuoyang acted so ruthlessly, causing such suffering. Rest assured, if your words are verified…I will not tolerate such actions!”
The commoners looked at each other in disbelief, their expressions hesitant.
Without further explanation, Bai Qingyan bowed to the Shuoyang commoners and led her group away, arriving at Tianxiang Tower just before noon.
Inside the tavern, they heard a child’s cries and the Tianxiang Tower owner begging, “I’ll sign! I’ll sign! Please, young noblen, spare my young boy! The child is innocent! Please don’t cut off his hand!”
Before Bai Qingyan’s group could enter, they were blocked by the Bai family’s servant, who arrogantly proclaid, “We are from the Bai Clan of Shuoyang! Our young masters are conducting business with the owner of Tianxiang Tower today. No idlers allowed inside!”
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