The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 101

“Of course!” Bai Qiyun’s expression eased slightly.
Bai Qingyan nodded and turned to Dong-shi, “A few days ago, Grandmother did mention to me that after the Zhenguo Duke’s residence finishes the period of mourning, she intends for us to return to our ancestral home in Shuoyang. Originally, Grandmother had wanted to speak with you about repairing the ancestral residence in Shuoyang. I’ve asked Housekeeper Hao about it privately, and Housekeeper Hao said that Grandfather had long had this intention. Half a year ago, he already ordered the old housekeeper in Shuoyang to send over blueprints for the repairs. Our ancestral residence is large, and if we were to properly repair it, it would require 180,000 to 190,000 taels of silver, and that doesn’t even count the purchase of new items. Since the sum was so great, our Zhenguo Duke’s residence could not bring it out all at once, and so the matter was set aside.”
Bai Qiyun’s heart skipped a beat, thinking that Bai Qingyan was using the ancestral house repairs as an excuse to refuse handing over money!
Bai Qiyun’s face turned ashen.
It had been he himself who just said that the women of the Zhenguo Duke’s household should return to the ancestral home in Shuoyang. If they were to go back, then repairing the ancestral residence was naturally the first priority. He felt as though he had hoisted a rock only to smash his own foot.
Bai Qiyun gave a cold sneer, “The Zhenguo Duke’s residence is a century-old family of military commanders, yet claims it cannot bring out 180,000 to 190,000 taels to repair an ancestral residence. Niece, who are you trying to fool?! The rations and military stipends that the Zhenguo Duke’s residence handles… just the bits that leak through the cracks of one’s fingers would be far more than that!”
Her eyes darkened, “Uncle, mind your words! You’re over 40 years old, yet you speak so carelessly. To embezzle military rations and stipends is a crime punishable by death and extermination of all nine generations. Uncle may dare to say this… but our Zhenguo Duke’s residence dares not receive such words.”
Bai Qiyun pressed his lips tightly together. Indeed, he had spoken in a moment of anger.
She cast him a deep glance, then turned again to Dong-shi, “Since Grandfather once gave his word to buy fields for the clan, to repair the ancestral temple, the ancestral hall, the ancestral graves, and to build a school, even if he is no longer with us, we must see that it’s done. The clan is requesting 450,000 taels. Add to that 200,000 for repairing the ancestral residence, and altogether it comes to 650,000 taels!”
Bai Qiyun’s brow twitched. Indeed, this was no small sum.
“Mother, you and Aunts’ dowries must not be touched. Even for raising money for repairing the Bai family ancestral temple, hall, graves, school, and buying fields for the clan, no matter what, there’s absolutely no reason to touch your dowries! Why not sell all the shops and houses held by the Zhenguo Duke’s residence? And also sell the farms and fields in the suburbs of the capital, to raise funds. After all, in the end the widows of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence will return to Shuoyang to rely on the clan. Better to leave cleanly, with no attachments left in the capital…”
Bai Qiyun and the two Shuoyang elders were stunned. They had not expected that after Bai Qingyan said so much, she would offer such a response.
Dong-shi looked at her daughter with doubt, but seeing her daughter nod with a light smile, Dong-shi frowned but felt reassured. She lifted her teacup and said, “These estates cannot simply be sold just because we say so.”
Bai Qiyun’s heart stirred. The properties of the Zhenguo Duke’s residence in the capital were extremely profitable. If they were really to be sold off to raise money, he could secretly have Steward Wu purchase one or two, and then he would have no worries for the future.
“I know Uncle is in a rush, saying the money must be ready by tomorrow!” She gave a cold laugh, then turned her head to Dong-shi, “Mother, the wealthiest merchant, Xiao Rongyan, is still in the capital. By chance, our own Chen Qingsheng is very well acquainted with the Xiao family’s steward. We can have Housekeeper Hao go together with Chen Qingsheng to ask. Looking across the world, perhaps only Xiao Rongyan could produce such a large sum in such a short time.”
“Actually…” Bai Qiyun began, but forcibly swallowed back his words, only saying, “Actually, what Qingyan says is right!”
He had originally wanted to say that in truth there was no urgency, and even to advise Dong-shi and Bai Qingyan to take their time selling the estates for a good price so that he would have time to profit from it.
But if he said this, it would contradict his earlier demand that the money must be ready tomorrow, so he could only swallow it back.
“Since this is settled, then three Uncles please go and properly offer incense to my Grandfather and Father, telling them that our Zhenguo Duke’s residence has agreed to the clan’s matters. Let Grandfather and Father also know that the clan has received the Zhenguo Duke’s residence’s favor, and in the future will take good care of the widows of the Zhenguo Duke’s household… so that Grandfather and Father may rest at ease!”
Bai Qingyan’s words were reasonable. Having taken money squeezed out by another’s ruin, if one could not even offer a single promise, that would be truly shameless!
Seeing Bai Qiyun remaining silent, the two Shuoyang clan elders tugged lightly at his sleeve and whispered so only the three could hear, “Elder Cousin, this makes sense… These years the Zhenguo Duke’s residence has been very supportive of the clan. And just now you were too hasty, entering without first offering incense and immediately speaking of this matter with First Madam. Many people saw it. Just to save the situation a bit, you should indeed offer incense properly.”
“Yes! The Zhenguo Duke’s residence has given money, and the clan has gained benefits. What the widows seek is nothing more than face. Offering incense, then speaking in front of the mourning guests of how the widows of the Bai family kept their word, that’s worth it! Moreover… Once these words are spoken before the guests, the Zhenguo Duke’s residence cannot later take advantage of them being mere widows to deny the money!”
Indeed, Bai Qiyun had been too hasty. He had only wanted to speak before his two younger brothers left. He had not meant to not offer incense.
Since his goal was achieved, there was no need to act condescending any longer. After all, the Zhenguo Duke’s residence was in mourning.
“It was not intentional that I did not offer incense, only that I was a bit anxious!” said Bai Qiyun. He cleared his throat and continued, “Since the matter has been decided, then let’s offer incense and report to the Zhenguo Duke and the Heir, so that they may know! First Madam… please forgive me if I’ve offended you!”
Dong-shi turned her head and said to Aunty Qin: “Aunty Qin, take the three elders to offer incense.”
“Yes!” Aunty Qin folded her hands, bowed respectfully to the three Shuoyang Bai family elders, and gestured in invitation.
No sooner had the three stepped out of the hall than Dong-shi asked impatiently, “Ah Bao, what are you up to?”
The Zhenguo Duke’s residence could indeed produce that amount of money, but the clan’s actions and attitude had been too infuriating. Even if they must pay, how could they pay so readily?!
“Mother…” Bai Qingyan linked arms with Dong-shi, walking with her toward the mourning hall as she said, “Since we must return to our ancestral home in Shuoyang, rather than being endlessly exploited by the clan afterwards, it’s better to cleanly sell off all our publicly available assets this time! While Grandfather’s mourning hall is still set up at the gate, we can have Jinzhi and Jintong make a big deal out of this, so that both the clan and the world know we were forced to aid the clan… so much that even our estates have all been sold. Once the clan takes the money this time, for fear of public judgement, they won’t demand support from us widows and orphans in the future. That’s the first reason.”
“The second… is to make a show of withdrawing from the capital, to put the Emperor at ease?” asked Dong-shi.