She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 144 - 143 The Spectacle Stirred Up by Lady Qi

Chapter 144: Chapter 143 The Spectacle Stirred Up by Lady Qi

Jinrong entered the room, just cleaned his hands and face, picked up a book, and lay on the couch, when Wan Yan requested an audience from outside the door.

As Jinrong watched Wan Yan enter, he didn’t wait for him to greet properly before he asked with surprise, "What urgent matter brings you here at high noon?"

Wan Yan quickly interjected, "It’s not an urgent matter, but it’s about Miss Ye’s affairs. I thought it’s best to inform Sixth Master early, so Sixth Master has an understanding. This morning, the servant I sent to buy pastries reported back that he overheard at the shop that Nanny Jin entrusted a go-between, planning to purchase a maid for Miss Ye."

"Oh?" Is that considered good news? It seemed beneficial to the plans he was about to make. But Jinrong didn’t understand. Considering how Ye Xinyan was currently behaving, she didn’t seem likely to restore her status and live a secluded and measured life as a distinguished lady.

Wan Yan continued, "I sent someone to inquire further, and it appears Nanny Jin and Qi Younian are behind this, mentioning Lady Qi, being a young woman, finds it inconvenient to come and go from the cattle farm, fearing it might affect her reputation... It seems they are worried about Miss Ye... remarrying...?"

"Remarry?" Jinrong was taken aback, nearly bursting into laughter, and almost dropped the book he was holding.

"It wasn’t clearly stated, but that was the implication—that Miss Ye is still young and they fear gossip about her reputation may affect her future," Wan Yan hastily explained.

"Reputation? Does Miss Ye still have such a thing?" Jinrong said with mirth, but a strange emotion surged within him.

Ye Xinyan had fled from a wealthy family and was now struggling at the bottom of society, yet she still considered remarriage? Based on her current public identity and circumstances, she was nothing more than a discarded farmer’s wife. Did she intend to marry into another family at the bottom of society? Would such a woman, just beginning to display her elegance and brilliance, merely bury herself in the petty and complicated affairs of a household?

Seeing an unsightly expression cross Jinrong’s face, Wan Yan tentatively said, "Of course, this is just our speculation based on Nanny Jin’s and the go-between’s conversation. It could also be possible that they want to find a maid who can work at home to take care of Qi Jia, while incidentally supporting Miss Ye."

Jinrong glanced at Wan Yan, a maid to take care of Qi Jia?

"Alright, I got it; you may go." Watching Wan Yan take his leave with respect, Jinrong called out, "Did you manage to buy pastries from the shop?"

Wan Yan stopped and replied, "The shop only had three cream cakes today; one was pre-ordered by customers from yesterday’s private rooms, already split in two. Another had already been sent to the Liang Residence by Shopkeeper He when our man arrived. The last one was the one Fan Zhengyuan sent to our mansion. Our kitchen supervisor has checked, and there’s no issue with the cake."

Wan Yan paused, then reminded, "Nanny Jin said that while cream-based foods are delicious, they shouldn’t be kept for long and are best consumed on the same day. They also taste best when eaten fresh."

After pondering for a moment, Jinrong instructed, "Send someone to the county government office and tell Lord Jiang that I’ll visit after he finishes work to have dinner. Keep the cake safe; I’ll take it with me when I go to the county government office."

Sixth Master Rong, always eager to deflate the pride of Lord Jiang, a favorite of the heavens—could it be... he was planning to crush Lord Jiang’s pride again?

While Wan Yan was lamenting for Lord Jiang of the county government office, Jinrong continued to inquire, "Was it Zhou Bingyi’s son and daughter who dined yesterday at Great Crane House?"

Wan Yan replied, "Yes, and also a brother and sister from the Liang family. Prefecture Governor Zhou’s eldest son brought his sister to the Liang Residence, claiming they were visiting relatives. According to Shopkeeper He, the other cream cake wasn’t ordered by the Liang young master, who adores the shop’s pastries, but by Zhou Shuyu of the Zhou family."

The Prefectural Magistrate’s daughter, traveling from the bustling Yuyuan City to Qingyuan County to visit relatives? Such a flimsy excuse to masquerade as a reason!

Could it be that even in such a small county town he could not avoid the multitude of troubles? Jinrong grew impatient and waved his hand, dismissing Wan Yan.

Jiang Yifan, though the Prefectural Magistrate of Qingyuan County in charge of all county affairs, didn’t necessarily know immediately about the smaller matters, such as what a restaurant was selling.

Therefore, while at the dinner table, under Jinrong’s attentive courtesies, Jiang Yifan ate a piece of dessert brought by Sixth Master, a taste so exquisite that he believed it was a new top-grade delicacy from the capital.

Fortunately, Jiang Yifan was not overly obsessed with sweets. Though delicious, even if it were a top-grade treat, he wasn’t compelled to overindulge.

Savoring the aftertaste, Jiang Yifan pushed aside the plate that held the cake and, with a smile to Jinrong, said, "This dessert, having traveled such a long way and still maintaining its fine taste, must mean that the person who brought it had quite the arduous journey. With Sixth Master Rong’s status, even if you travel to the ends of the earth, you are treated differently than others."

Jinrong glanced at Jiang Yifan, leisurely savoring the last bit of cake on his plate, slowly swallowing before he replied, "It’s just from a small eatery to my residence. Such a short distance, such a brief time, the person delivering dessert had no trouble at all."

Jiang Yifan’s expression stiffened as he asked, "Do you mean to say, Sixth Master, that this dessert is another innovation from that small shop of the Qi family?" He knew it, how could Jinrong be so kind as to share a dessert sent from the capital with him.

Jinrong chuckled, "To be precise, it’s an innovation by Lady Qi."

Jiang Yifan took a mouthful of rice, picked up some vegetables with his chopsticks, and no longer paid attention to the high-born prince and damaging friend sitting opposite him.

Jinrong continued, "Yuanfan, aren’t you going to ask why I thought to bring this dessert to share with you?"

Jiang Yifan spoke leisurely, but didn’t respond to Jinrong’s question, "Sixth Master has changed a great deal since coming to this humble county. I am quite surprised, what has caused Sixth Master to reveal his true nature?"

"Isn’t it obvious, Yuanfan?" Jinrong paused before continuing, "In the capital, with high-ranking officials and nobles at every turn and complex webs of relationships, one could step onto an irreversible path of doom without paying attention. How could one live peacefully without being constantly vigilant?

"Free from that oppressive place, isn’t it understandable for Sixth Master to indulge a bit? Especially among us brothers, don’t you agree, Yuanfan?"

Your brothers? That title was reserved for the Crown Prince and his numerous siblings in the imperial city of the capital.

Jiang Yifan couldn’t be bothered with him and merely rolled his eyes, not even glancing at Jinrong as he continued to eat in contentment. There was no point in talking to a prince whose personality had dramatically changed and who couldn’t hold a rational conversation.

Jinrong noticed Jiang Yifan didn’t have the awkward and displeased look he had expected, and he was disappointed, "Yuanfan, aren’t you going to ask why I’m seeking you out? You don’t think that I’ve come to watch you make a fool of yourself, wasting Sixth Master’s precious leisure time, do you?"

"Isn’t that the case?"

"Not at all. I have serious matters to attend to. Tasting the cake was merely a prelude."

Jinrong’s defense did nothing to alter Jiang Yifan’s opinion of him.

"Alright then, the cattle farm matter has caught the attention of the capital. The Seventh Prince’s men have revealed Ye Xinyan’s whereabouts to Duke An’s Mansion." Jinrong succeeded in seeing a slight change in Jiang Yifan’s expression, "Which means, Duke An’s Mansion may very well know that Ye Xinyan has settled in Clear Water Village."