Chapter 713: 710: Jade Body Health and Well-being_1

Chapter 713: Chapter 710: Jade Body Health and Well-being_1

Bai Weimei threw the handkerchief in her hand onto the black lacquered round table, instructing people to clear the meal, and waited with an air of importance for Bai Qihe to come over.

Not long after, Bai Qihe, accompanied by over ten guards, stepped into the courtyard, startling the busy servants and maids.

The morning sun gilded the blue bricks and green tiles of the courtyard with a golden light.

Bai Qihe glanced at the upper room and shouted, “The old master suddenly fell ill last night. From today, he will be resting quietly in the courtyard, and no one is allowed to disturb him! You dozen people keep this courtyard well-guarded. If anyone comes in and disrupts the old master’s recuperation, don’t blame me for being ruthless… sell what needs to be sold, kill what needs to be killed!”

Inside, Bai Weimei heard this and stood up in shock, even Bai Weimei’s old wife looked equally astonished.

“This unfilial son wants to imprison me!” Bai Weimei, leaning on his cane, hurried out, quickly pulling back the curtain but stumbling over the threshold.

“Husband!” Bai Weimei’s old wife cried out in alarm and hurriedly stood up with the help of a maid, “Quick! Quickly help the old master up!”

The house was suddenly in chaos. Several maids hustled to support Bai Weimei, who had fallen outside the door. Fortunately, the servants had cleaned the blue stone floor spotlessly in the early morning, so Bai Weimei didn’t get dirty.

Bai Weimei shook off the maids supporting him, leaned on his cane, standing under the corridor, glaring angrily at Bai Qihe: “You unfilial son! Are you trying to imprison your father?!”

Bai Weimei’s old wife also came out of the house. She looked at her son and then at her husband, eyes brimming with tears not knowing what to do, she could only scold her son: “Qihe! What are you trying to do?!”

Bai Qihe’s face remained calm and indifferent. “Now, the Bai family is managed by me, father; you are old… it’s inevitable you’ll be deceived into doing foolish things, so it’s best for you to peacefully enjoy your old age. I will certainly be filial to both of you, but please, do not meddle in clan matters anymore! I… also will not allow you to interfere and push our Bai Clan into the fire pit!”

After finishing, Bai Qihe turned and left.

Saying that Bai Weimei was deceived was merely Bai Qihe giving his father some face. Bai Qihe knew very well that it was others who were deceived by his father.

“Unfilial son! Unfilial son!” Bai Weimei’s face turned red with fury. Leaning on his cane, he hastily took two steps forward. His heart twisted in pain, clutching his chest, his bloodshot eyes widened as he fell back stiffly.

Bai Weimei’s old wife, in fear, ignored everything else and rushed towards him: “Husband! Husband!”

She rushed over to see Bai Weimei on the ground, his face flushed red. Trembling, she unfastened his collar buttons while shouting, “Quick, call the doctor!”

Bai Qihe ignored the exclamations coming from the courtyard, got into his carriage, and didn’t head directly to the Bai Clan ancestral hall. Instead, he instructed the driver to wait at a secluded spot.

Wrapped in a fur cloak, sitting in the carriage with his eyes closed, Bai Qihe listened to the sound of icicles melting and dripping under the eaves outside, keeping a composed expression.

Not long after, a subordinate came running hastily, reporting in front of the carriage, “Master, the old master indeed sent people to several elders’ houses separately.”

Bai Qihe understood his father. If Bai Qihe dared to confine him, he would definitely seek the elders to pressure him through filial duty.

But it was precisely this act of sending people to deliver messages that would make others realize that Bai Qihe, the Clan Leader, was not Bai Weimei’s puppet. Having confined his own father meant that the words he would soon say to the clan elders were no joke.

“Master, should we go to the ancestral hall now?” the coachman cautiously asked Bai Qihe, who was sitting in the carriage.

Without opening his eyes, Bai Qihe calmly said, “Wait a bit longer. Wait until those oldsters who rely on seniority have entered the ancestral hall. We won’t be late.”

The once overlooked second son wanted to truly become the Clan Leader. Without making a ruthless move, it wouldn’t work…

Without ruthlessness, this position couldn’t be retained.

Bai Qihe wasn’t coveting the position; he just couldn’t watch the reputation built by the Bai ancestors through bloodshed be destroyed. Once, Bai Qihe also had youthful passion and wanted to join the military, galloping on iron horses and fighting bloody battles.

But his father didn’t allow it, so he obeyed filial piety and didn’t go.

Yet, now the Bai Clan’s legitimate sons were all dead, the reputation of the Bai family relied on the daughters to uphold. And the inside… he had to support it too.

Near the end of Hour of the Dragon, after the Bai Clan elders and members had all arrived, the Clan Leader Bai Qihe finally walked in slowly.

Originally, those elders wanted to talk to Bai Qihe about filial duty, but as soon as Bai Qihe stepped into the ancestral hall, he sat on the clan leader’s seat with a gloomy face, giving no one a chance to speak, declaring, “From today on, if anyone dares to ask the Princess of Zhen to recommend Bai family members to the Crown Prince, whoever’s name is mentioned… I will expel them from the Bai Clan. Don’t think I’m joking! If you truly want a title… want to be an official, then go and earn it by your own abilities!”

Bai Qingping, standing to the side, turned to look at his father, a different light shining in his eyes. He always knew his father was not truly a weak and incompetent person, rather… his father understood things better than anyone.

Now that his father was willing to deal with the clan and establish authority, it was a very good sign.

Bai Qihe picked up the hot tea by his side, lightly pressing the floating tea leaves with the lid, “Naturally, if the clan indeed has an outstanding child, worthy of the Bai family’s reputation, as the Clan Leader, I will request the Princess of Zhen to recommend them to the Crown Prince! But if anyone… dares to bypass me, the Clan Leader, and press the Princess of Zhen, don’t blame me for not showing any mercy! The Bai Clan’s ancestral rules and family laws, though my father never used them as Clan Leader, it doesn’t mean I won’t! If you don’t believe me… feel free to try!”

Bai Qihe heavily placed the tea cup down, exuding the majesty of a clan leader, the sound of porcelain clashing with the black lacquered square table making everyone’s hearts tremble with fear.

“A Clan Leader says so… now that the Princess of Zhen is gravely injured and not long for this world, what will become of the future of our Bai family offspring if the Princess of Zhen dies?” an elder asked.

Bai Qihe’s eyes turned coldly towards the elder, sneering, “You also know the Bai Clan relies on the Princess of Zhen now?”

The elder was at a loss for words, furrowing his brows tightly.

Bai Qihe swept his gaze over the clan members, “Have some self-respect! The Bai Clan’s face has been utterly lost by all of you! Want a future but don’t know to fight for it yourself, yet trouble the girl who is holding up the Bai family with all her might! Still dare to speak here! If you have any conscience left… then go back and pray day and night, beseeching that the Princess of Zhen remains healthy and lives a long life!”