Chapter 193: The Jiaolong - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 193: The Jiaolong

The news of Bai Siruo receiving a whipping in the ancestral hall reached the ears of Bai Xiang and Bai Chaohai. Bai Chaoran was heartbroken for his niece, mumbling a few words of sympathy, but Bai Xiang remained indifferent.

“Fourth Brother did the right thing. Since Siruo has joined the Bai family, she is destined to face a life without ease. Instead of shielding her from every difficulty, it’s better for her to grow stronger on her own. After this punishment, she should mature and behave more cautiously in the future.”

“Father is right.”

Bai Chaoran never questioned Bai Xiang’s words but was worried about the Lin family’s situation. After all, it was for the Bai family’s sake that the military force of the capital was used, causing a stir throughout the city. Many officials in the Imperial Censorate were probably already drafting memorials to report Lin Wang.

“Please, Father, guide me on how to rescue the Lin family from this crisis.”

Bai Xiang looked at his eldest son with a touch of helplessness.

This child is kind-hearted and upright but somewhat slow-witted. He lacks the decisiveness and ruthlessness needed to manage the family affairs.

If he were to fall, what would become of the Bai family?

So he handed a letter from the desk to Bai Chaoran and said softly, “This is a letter from Ah Yao. It’s for you. Take a look and then decide what to do.”

A letter at this time? Bai Chaoran was puzzled by his niece.

Opening the letter, his expression gradually turned to one of shock.

---

Greetings to Elder Uncle,

The Bai family has been influential in the court for three generations since our maternal grandfather. When His Majesty first ascended the throne, he naturally relied on us. But after more than ten years, His Majesty’s power has grown strong, and now the Bai family has become an obstacle that the imperial authority cannot shake off.

Words can be more powerful than gold. If someone brings up the matter repeatedly, do you think His Majesty will be wary?

Now that our maternal grandfather is still in office, the small and insignificant individuals do not dare to challenge us directly. But what if our grandfather retires? What do you think, Elder Uncle? Can you, Third Uncle, and Fourth Uncle really protect the Bai family from collapsing?

The matter regarding Cousin has reached a point of no return. Since the Bai family cannot silence the rumors, we might as well escalate the situation and connect it to the court. By doing so, someone will naturally step forward to seek justice for the Bai family!

The political situation in the court is ever-changing. The Bai family is not powerless. Since we have the means to stand firm, why not fight for it? When the storm comes, a dragon entering the sea, will we still fear other people’s schemes?

I hope you, Elder Uncle, can ponder this carefully and act quickly without delay.

---

The words in Feng Jinyao’s letter made Bai Chaoran’s face turn pale.

How dare she, a young woman, write such things in a letter so openly? Isn’t she afraid of the potential risks if the letter fell into the wrong hands?

Bai Xiang observed his son’s anxious and contemplative expressions and became curious about the content of the letter.

After reading it, Bai Xiang’s face lit up with delight.

“Good! Our Bai family actually had such a granddaughter. It’s truly wonderful!”

For a moment, he felt as though he was back to his younger days. If he hadn’t been astute and cut through obstacles to reach this point, the Bai family wouldn’t have its current glory.

If he wanted to maintain this glory, he had to act decisively and avoid causing chaos.

The Bai family’s sons were lacking, and the Bai family’s granddaughters were too. However, this young granddaughter seemed to understand things better than he did.

Recently, he had been considering whether to have the Bai family’s descendants avoid the storm and leave the Eastern Capital to seek peace and safety.

Now, after reading this letter, he realized that it’s futile to remain quiet. If the storm cannot be avoided, then let it come with greater force. A towering tree is naturally unafraid of storms. Once it passes, it will be able to ensure safety and peace. However, if it’s only a sapling or a broken branch, even if it survives, it will merely be a stepping stone for others.

Either fight for a place in the world where others will no longer dare to look down upon us or perish in the storm, living on only as a memory.

“Eldest Brother, do you understand?”

Bai Chaoran had spent his life in mediocrity, wanting to compete but lacking the ability. Now he had grown accustomed to a comfortable life and was reluctant to compete further. But outsiders did not think this way.

They dared to bully the Bai family, and so many families did not deceive others but chose to deceive the Bai family’s children. If they swallowed this insult today, they would be bullied again in the future.

He was now only a fifth-grade Hanlin Academy scholar, with a scheming third brother and a fourth brother who lived a carefree life. His descendants were also few and weak. If their father fell, wouldn’t the Bai family fall too?

A young girl could understand these principles, so how could outsiders not know them?

Rather than being a fish at others' mercy, it was better to cut through the chaos swiftly, showing the Bai family’s resolve with a decisive action.

“Father, don’t worry. I know what to do!”

When the flames rose, the letter turned to ashes, but only the Bai family father and son understood that this fire would forever burn in their hearts, never extinguishing until the end.

That night, Bai Chaohai personally went to the Lin family and, in less than half an hour, went to the palace to present the severed hand of Lu Yuanfeng.

It was already early morning when Bai Chaohai knelt at the palace gates with a memorial in hand, followed by Lin Wang and Bai Silang, all filled with righteous indignation and earnest expressions.

“My Bai family has been deeply favored by His Majesty since the time of Emperor Taizu. For decades, we have never dared to betray this grace. The Bai family is willing to go through fire and water for His Majesty, demonstrating our loyalty. Yet some people, seeing my father gravely ill and the family in chaos, dared to instruct thugs to abduct my Bai family members. If it weren’t for Princess Fulin’s bravery, my Bai family would have been left with only a corpse. This is an attempt to exterminate the Bai family! I humbly request His Majesty to uphold justice for the Bai family, punish the culprits, and expose the mastermind behind this to maintain the nation’s authority.”

Bai Chaohai knelt at the front, holding the memorial high, repeatedly shouting at the palace gates. Bai Silang also stood in front of the gates, banging heavily on them.

The sound of banging was like thunder, waking Emperor Qi from his sleep. Consort Shu beside him was also startled awake.

Since he married her, Emperor Qi had been staying in the Zichen Palace every night, making others in the harem envious.

Now, slightly frightened, Consort Shu asked, “Your Majesty, what’s going on outside?”

“Wang Yu.”

“Old servant here.”

“What is happening outside? Who is making such a commotion?”

Wang Gonggong was directed by others and naturally exaggerated the situation. Upon learning about the Bai family’s affair, Emperor Qi’s expression turned grim.

Not to mention Bai Siruo was his favored niece; the fact that such a blunder occurred at the gates of the palace, under his watch, was a significant embarrassment. He angrily demanded, “What is the Yingtian Prefecture doing? How could such audacious individuals abduct the daughter of a high-ranking official right under their noses? Are they not even aware if people come to the palace next time?”