Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 974

Chapter 974: Chapter 970: All Must Be Punished

The young woman was trembling with anger all over, but despite her overwhelming fury, she couldn’t utter a single word.

Holding the young woman tightly and crying her heart out, the maid couldn’t stand it anymore and shouted, "Three feet above the head, there are deities watching! Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning for slandering our mistress like this? Our mistress has been married into the Bai family for years, serving her in-laws diligently every day without complaint, and you claim to consider her as your own daughter? Is this how you treat a daughter?!"

"Bah! You shameless wretch! If I had a daughter like you, I’d have strangled her long ago rather than let her live so shamelessly!" The elder’s wife, losing her dignity, yelled loudly.

Seeing that a crowd of onlookers had already gathered by the river, gossiping and watching, the elder knew... this time, sinking the daughter-in-law into the pond was impossible. After all, Bai Qingyan was implementing new laws, and if they forcibly drowned her, Bai Qingyan, known for being ruthless, would surely make an example of their family.

"Enough!" The elder gave Lu Ping a deep look and said, "Let’s put this matter behind us then!"

"Master!" The elder’s wife widened her eyes, unable to believe her husband would let it go just like that, "She wants to remarry!"

The elder clutched his cane, looking at the young woman who was shaking incessantly, saying, "Since you are determined not to remain a wife of the Bai family, I will grant you your wish and write you a letter of divorce on behalf of my son!"

Although the elder of the Bai Clan was forced to concede, he couldn’t conceal his anger, speaking slowly, "The Bai Clan now has ties to the imperial family! Upon leaving the Bai family today, I hope you won’t regret it in the future! Let it be known... your maternal family cannot afford to offend the Bai family; after your divorce, you will not be accepted back! Moreover, no matter who you marry in the future, the Bai family will not forget this heinous disgrace, and your life will not be easy. This message... let it reach your cousin’s ears! Let’s see if he dares to marry you!"

Just as his words fell, there was a sudden sound of horses neighing angrily from behind.

The elder turned his head, seeing that Bai Qingyan was leading the galloping horse and was immediately flustered. He hastily pulled his wife and servants to their knees to greet her, sweat covering his forehead.

Wasn’t Bai Qingyan supposed to be visiting the Imperial College today? Many citizens had gone to the college to watch the spectacle; how did Bai Qingyan appear here?

"Welcome, Your Majesty!" The elder of the Bai Clan quickly kowtowed and shouted reverently.

The onlookers also did not expect the Empress of Zhou to arrive personally, kneeling one after another to greet her.

Lu Ping, seeing Bai Qingyan arrive, also knelt on one knee with the Bai family guards, "Eldest Mistress!" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Uncle Ping, thank you for your efforts, you may rise!" Bai Qingyan said, looking at the master and maid huddled tightly together, sobbing uncontrollably, protected by the Bai family guards, "First help your master onto the carriage and change those wet clothes."

The young woman came to her senses and hurriedly led the stunned maid to kowtow to Bai Qingyan, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Bai Qihe, rushing in, was a step later than Bai Qingyan. As he arrived, he witnessed the young woman being helped onto the carriage Bai Qingyan had summoned, and immediately dismounted to bow to Bai Qingyan.

"This matter, Clan Leader, are you aware?" Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Bai Qihe, who was kneeling in salute.

The elder dared not raise his head, turning to kneel and kowtow towards Bai Qingyan, his entire body trembling unceasingly, "It’s... not yet been gathered."

"Without conclusive evidence, it’s extrajudicial punishment and disregarding human life." Bai Qingyan turned her head towards the elder, her fingers stroking her ebony whip, "To handle issues according to clan laws and rules is the clan leader’s right, but for you here to privately deal with a Bai family woman, even the Bai Clan’s leader was unaware..."

"Defying the new law, disregarding human life, with intent to kill, each item deserving of execution!" Bai Qingyan pursed her lips, her gaze falling on the endless crying elder and his wife, "Someone, bind them and send them to the Jing Zhaoyin magistrate for strict legal handling!"

Lu Ping immediately stepped forward with others and seized the elder.

The elder’s throat tightened, crying miserably, "Your Majesty, after my son got married, he worked hard for the family business for the sake of my daughter-in-law and unborn grandchild. That’s why he traveled far! In the end, my son died at the hands of bandits, and my grandson was lost too! My son truly loved this daughter-in-law; I, as his father, cannot just watch her remarry!"

The elder’s wife also cried out hoarsely, "What kind of new law is this that forces a widow to remarry against her will? She was my son’s wife!"

"Yes, why does the new law force a widow to remarry?"

"Indeed, if my wife were to remarry with my child after I died, I would never rest in peace!"