Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Mrs. Fang's brother bowed to Bai Qihe again: "Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law, I beg you, for the sake of my sister who bore children for you, plead with His Majesty! My sister gave birth to these few children for you, let's not mention the eldest son... but A Ping, such a good child, was definitely taught by my sister, brother-in-law I beg you... plead with His Majesty, spare her a life!"

Bai Qihe remained silent without pleading, instead saying: "The wrongdoings committed by Mrs. Fang are not just one... all added together, she could die a hundred times for them!"

Upon hearing these words, Mrs. Fang felt as if the sky had fallen: "You..."

"Brother-in-law! A hundred days of grace for a day's marriage!" Mrs. Fang's brother, a grown man, began to cry aloud, "I beg you, for... the sake of A Ping, plead!"

Bai Qihe kept his spine straight; it wasn't that he intended to abandon her during hard times, he had given Mrs. Fang too many chances, but she didn't restrain herself... each time becoming bolder.

"If she truly cared for A Ping, she shouldn't have done such things!" Bai Qihe's voice trembled with anger as he closed his eyes in despair, "Mrs. Fang's outrageous actions have happened more than once or twice! Why she returned to her maternal home back then... her brother surely knows!"

Bai Qihe took a deep breath: "The bit of marital affection between her and me has been completely worn out by her."

Bai Qingyan finished the tea in her cup and casually placed it aside, then spoke: "Since the Clan Leader says there is no marital affection left with Mrs. Fang, let's give her a divorce letter and let her brother take her back! In that case... for the sake of the Clan Leader and Bai Qingping, I can spare Mrs. Fang and her brother's lives, but spared from death means not spared from punishment! Both the Fang siblings will receive fifty strikes, and the matter will be considered closed."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Fang's brother at least felt their lives were saved, and he hastily bowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Mrs. Fang was heartbroken by Bai Qihe's words; he said that the marital affection had worn out to nothing. Why did she do all this... wasn't it for Bai Qihe and Bai Qingping apart from helping her maternal home, yet Bai Qihe treated her like this.

The heartbreak was almost instant, Mrs. Fang suddenly straightened up and chuckled coldly: "You want to divorce me, but I won't let you have your way! Even if I die... I will hold onto my position as your first wife!"

Speaking, Mrs. Fang suddenly struggled free from the eunuchs holding her and tried to run toward a wooden pillar supporting the tent, but as soon as she darted out, Wei Zhong grabbed her by the back of her collar.

Bai Qihe broke out in a cold sweat; despite his hatred for Mrs. Fang, he didn't wish for her to die. They had been a youthful couple... once loving, and he was unwilling!

Yet, Mrs. Fang couldn't let herself become a discarded person.

If she were discarded... how could Bai Qingping ever hold his head high? Bai Qingping was already of marriageable age; due to Bai Qingyan's favor back in Shuoyang, many good family girls want to marry, but Mrs. Fang had not agreed, simply to settle her son well in Dadu City, to marry a high-born legitimate daughter from a noble family in the capital.

If his mother were discarded, could Bai Qingping still marry a legitimate daughter from high-born families?

She is Bai Qingping's mother! How could she not think for Bai Qingping!

"Let go of me! Let me die! Let me die!" Mrs. Fang cried out, "I cannot let A Ping have a discarded mother! He is already of age to discuss marriage, Bai Qihe... how can you bear to let A Ping have a discarded mother! Plus, our daughter... hasn't yet talked about marriage, are you forcing our daughter to death?! With a discarded mother, what good family can she marry in the future!"

Mrs. Fang cried hysterically, Bai Qihe thought of his son and daughters, his eyes red as well, turning around to shout: "Now you think of the children? When you're doing those beastly acts, why didn't you consider them! You always say... everything you did was for me and the children! Wrong... it was for me and the children! Don't you have a bit of selfishness?! Rather than letting A Ping have a mother like you, calculating to marry a noble's daughter as a family daughter-in-law, I'd better send you off early to save my Bai family the disgrace!"

Bai Qingyan quietly drank tea, letting the couple settle the matter themselves.

In any case, Mrs. Fang cannot stay in the Bai family anymore; not to mention her character, being ignorant she cannot remain as a Clan Leader's wife.

Currently, among the full Bai Clan, it's only Bai Qihe who can be Clan Leader, and Bai Qingping is still young, needing several years of experience and achievements, then the Clan Leader position can be stable.

Bai Qingyan understands, Bai Qihe must also understand this reason.

"The Clan Leader should handle family matters, deal with them after the punishment here, I won't keep the Clan Leader here now!" Bai Qingyan doesn't want them to disturb Fourth Aunt.

Seeing this, Wei Zhong responded by gagging Mrs. Fang, leading her and her brother out of the tent.

Bai Qihe heavily kowtowed to Bai Qingyan: "Your Majesty, since becoming Clan Leader, I've never relieved Your Majesty's worries, yet the inner chambers frequently trouble Your Majesty, Bai Qihe is unable to bear the Clan Leader's duties, according to Bai family's rules, the Clan Leader should be the legitimate second son, Your Majesty's brothers have returned, so Your Majesty..."

"You can rise first!" Bai Qingyan interrupted Bai Qihe, "The reason you're the Clan Leader now is that only you are suitable at the moment, I think highly of Bai Qingping, when Bai Qingping is older, let him lead the whole clan well, before that... please ask the Clan Leader, for me, also for Bai Qingping, to oversee Bai Clan well!"

Bai Qihe looked up in disbelief at Bai Qingyan upon hearing these words.

"Don't tell Bai Qingping yet, let him keep a steady mind for experience!" Bai Qingyan said.

Bai Qihe kowtowed to Bai Qingyan, finally understanding, Bai Qingyan has Bai Qingping, the clan brother, in mind.

After Bai Qihe exited the tent, Bai Qingyan instructed: "Today's matters mustn't be conveyed to Fourth Aunt, she's timid, not knowing would be better..."

Fourth Madam Mrs. Wang's personal nanny wiped her tears with a handkerchief, hurriedly bowed and answered: "Don't worry, eldest young lady! Us old servants and Lingyun Lingxiu will surely keep silent!"

Nanny Guan, still fearful till now, was too careless, as Bai family sisters-in-law had no scheming, having been with Mrs. Wang for so many years, she lost caution.

"Nanny Guan, don't blame yourself, just look after Fourth Aunt well in the future!" Bai Qingyan said with a smile.

Nanny Guan nodded firmly: "Don't worry, eldest young lady, unless I die, I won't leave Fourth Madam's side!"