Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Chapter 103: Where to Go_1

“Jinzhi!” Bai Jintong called out, playing the act of restraint on her.

Bai Jinzhi shook off Bai Jintong’s hand and asked angrily, “Why did Aunt agree to this extortion by a bunch of villains?! How can our Duke’s household raise four hundred and fifty thousand taels without going bankrupt? How could Aunt have agreed?! If we were to actually go bankrupt… what would the Duke’s widows do?!”

“Little Four!” Bai Jinxiu choked out, attempting to intervene.

Bai Jinzhi’s emotions only grew more impassioned. “Moreover, if this matter were true, why did Grandfather never mention it?! This clan’s elder came in, not to worship or to mourn, but to say that the widows of the Duke’s mansion have to rely on the clan for protection and that we should buy peace with silver, behaving just like bandits! Aunt is such a strong person, why did she give in?! And why should our Duke’s mansion give in?! Has the clan not taken enough silver from us over the years? Our grandfathers, uncles, father, and brothers’ bodies are not yet cold, and the clan is already forcing us orphans and widows to buy peace with silver! How is this any different from rural bullies?!”

Bai Jinzhi, already with a loud voice and trained in martial arts, shouted this, drawing all the guests in the courtyard and the commoners outside to come and watch the spectacle.

The entire family of men had perished in the southern border, and earlier this morning, the military records were returned at the cost of loyal servants’ lives. The people gathered at the Wude Gate of the Imperial Palace caused a commotion!

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At present, the people of Dadu City were all concerned about the Duke’s mansion and did not want to see any more trouble.

The clan people had arrived just now, not paid respects or offered incense, but rushed straight into the inner courtyard, which the commoners and guests had witnessed.

After much commotion, they were indeed demanding the widows of the Bai family to buy peace with silver!

Bai Qiyun’s eyes widened, “What nonsense are you spouting, you youngster?! Who demands your Duke’s mansion for silver to buy peace?! This was already agreed upon by your grandfather, the Duke of Zhen, and the Crown Prince long ago. It was originally arranged to be done during the year’s end gift! The Duke often said… that our Duke’s mansion, being the most prominent family in the clan, should contribute accordingly. Over the years, the Duke has taken on all tasks for the clan. Despite the Clan Leader’s urging for him to let other clan members contribute, the Duke always said that the clan’s honor prospers the Bai family further! The Clan Leader was worried that, during the mourning period, the Duke’s mansion would still be preoccupied with clan matters and lack manpower, so he sent me over! How can you, a mere girl, distort the truth and speak this way to your elders?!”

Bai Qiyun, though often putting on airs, was not entirely foolish. With so many outsiders present, how could he expose his earlier coercion of Mrs. Dong and invite criticism?!

Naturally, he elevated the Duke’s status, and the Clan Leader, out of consideration for the Duke’s honor and future, sent him here.

“Little Four! Step back! How improper to cause a scene before the twenty-odd heroic spirits of the Duke’s mansion?!” Bai Jintong pulled Bai Jinzhi back, handing the incense in her hands to Bai Qiyun. “Please, uncle, offer incense to my grandfather, uncles, father, and brothers!”

Bai Qiyun glanced at Bai Jinzhi, who was restrained by Bai Jintong, muttering, “Lacking family teaching!”

“You…”

Bai Jinzhi wanted to step forward and reason, but Bai Jintong tightly held her wrist.

Bai Qiyun, holding the incense, bowed thrice. Just as he was about to place the incense, the three sticks in his hand snapped in half.

“They broke…”

“Why did the incense break?!”