Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99 -98: Give an Inch, Want a Mile_1

Chun Tao hurriedly added, “Nanny, you don’t know. Our eldest miss can now hold a horse stance for an hour. With iron sandbags tied to her arms while practicing calligraphy, she has gained strength. At first, I worried like you did. But then I saw our miss growing healthier, even Doctor Hong said she looks better than last winter. So, I started listening to our miss about these matters.”

Nanny Tong only then nodded, still repeatedly rubbing Bai Qingyan’s hands to warm them up.

On the way back, Nanny Tong didn’t stop talking. She mentioned that the two concubines from Shuoyang, who came for the funeral, had just visited Mrs. Dong to bid farewell.

Bai Qingyan was not surprised that the Shuoyang people were leaving. Today, the commotion at Wude Gate forcing the Emperor to kill King Xin was huge. They feared the Emperor’s anger might implicate them.

“It turns out these two concubines hadn’t left yet when the eldest son of the Old Clan Leader from Shuoyang arrived. As soon as he entered, he told the Crown Prince’s wife that before the Duke of Zhen left for the battle, the Shuoyang Clan had sent someone to the Duke’s residence. They discussed purchasing land, repairing the ancestral hall, graves, schools, and hiring scholars after the New Year.”

Bai Qingyan was very surprised. Although her grandfather always met the Shuoyang Clan’s requests, why hadn’t he mentioned this before he left?

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Seeing Bai Qingyan in doubt, Nanny Tong continued, “This gentleman said, Originally, it was agreed that these matters would be handled when the Duke’s residence sent New Year’s gifts to Shuoyang. But now, with the Duke’s residence facing a major disaster, the Old Clan Leader didn’t want to trouble them. So, he sent this gentleman with the ledger to the Crown Prince’s wife. It turned out that the total amounted to 450,000 taels of silver! Be it silver notes or hard silver, it must be prepared before they depart tomorrow. The Old Clan Leader insisted on this.”

Nanny Tong emphasized the word “must,” wanting Bai Qingyan to realize that the people from the Shuoyang Clan intended to exploit the Duke’s residence now that it had no male heirs.

Chun Tao widened her eyes, “Are they robbing silver or begging for it?! The Bai family has encountered such a big incident. They sent two concubines for the funeral, but before it ends, they are leaving! And now, an elder from the main branch arrives to demand silver!”

Even the usually good-natured Chun Tao was infuriated.

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, thinking deeply.

The people from the Shuoyang Clan dared to be so bold, not just because the Duke’s residence lacked male heirs but also because her grandfather was always too accommodating, causing them to develop such audacity.

There is a saying: An inch of favor reaps a yard of hostility. She had warned her grandfather and father about this.

Maybe the mindset of men differs from women…

Her grandfather used to say that blood relations couldn’t be measured with money. Moreover, the Bai Clan’s ancestral shrine in Shuoyang relied on their care; the current Clan Leader was her grandfather’s uncle within five generations.