She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 149 - 148 So much... all for nothing

Chapter 149: Chapter 148 So much... all for nothing

It appears that without taking stern measures, the young lady will not adapt to the situation in a short time. Nanny Jin simply said, "These people were sent by Sixth Master Rong from the mansion to serve Ye Zi. Ye Zi, come and meet them."

From the Jinrong Residence? To serve her? Ye Xinyan was instantly stunned.

Nanny Jin called an old woman servant, "Nanny Zhou, go outside and keep watch. Don’t let anyone approach casually. We need to discuss matters with our Lady Qi."

Nanny Zhou agreed and went out of the work shed to check the surroundings.

Ye Xinyan looked again at Qi Younian, who was sitting on the kang mat in the work shed, equally bewildered, before she awkwardly asked Nanny Jin, "Nanny, could you repeat that? What’s going on? How can you bring people from the Sixth Master’s Mansion back here?" Her family’s temple was too small to house so many deities, wasn’t it?

Nanny Liu and the others watched from the side. This Lady Qi didn’t seem like she was from the Duke’s Mansion. Although she had enough boldness and composure, there was not a hint of the demeanor of a lady from a great household in her.

Nanny Jin said, "Ye Zi, please sit down. This matter is now beyond our control. The arrangement made by Sixth Master is, as of now, the best possible solution. There’s no alternative."

Nanny Jin did not avoid Nanny Liu and the others, telling everything to Ye Xinyan straightforwardly but without revealing everything, "With Sixth Master Rong’s people protecting the Qi family and Ye Zi, even those from the capital wouldn’t dare to harbor malicious intentions against Ye Zi. Nanny Liu and the others can ensure the safety of our family."

Ye Xinyan had calmed down during Nanny Jin’s narrative. Indeed, her own identity and wealth had limited her imagination, causing her to overlook such a simple matter, not taking it to heart. It was a pity that she’d wasted the vast information of the modern age—the movies, television, novels, and jokes; she had watched them all for naught!

Jinrong was a prince, born of an Imperial Consort no less. Even if he had no ambitions for the throne, others would guard against him. Did that even need saying? Moreover, before the final verdict was out, who could say Jinrong did not covet that supreme position?

It was not permissible for ordinary princes to wander around freely. Jinrong was able to move around his fiefdom because of his usual idleness, and not be confined to the limited area of Yuyuan City. A prince who wandered everywhere naturally attracted the watchful eyes of many powers. How could she be so foolish as to not have thought of such a simple matter?

Ye Xinyan was so vexed, she almost wanted to pull her own hair out.

Her gaze shifted towards Nanny Liu and the others. With the buffer time of looking around, her heart gradually settled.

In this brief moment, Nanny Liu and the others also saw that Lady Qi, indeed from a noble and prestigious background, had something extraordinary compared to ordinary people. Having heard Nanny Jin’s brief and ambiguous statement, she immediately grasped the key points. Once she realized them, except for a momentary look of chagrin at the beginning, she was quickly able to calm down. This self-possession and self-control certainly were not qualities of a girl from an ordinary small family.

Ye Xinyan slowly asked Nanny Liu, "The few of you, is Nanny Liu the official in charge?"

Nanny Liu hurriedly replied with crossed hands, "I dare not claim to be in charge. I merely rank slightly higher than they do in terms of household position."

"Hmm," Ye Xinyan nodded and then said, "Nanny, as you’ve seen, our Qi family are just ordinary folk, and even now, we’re still struggling to make a living. Strictly speaking, my family can’t afford to keep servants. What did Sixth Master Rong tell you when he sent you here? Please tell me, so that I might follow Sixth Master’s instructions and serve you nannies and young ladies accordingly."

Ye Xinyan had just finished speaking when Nanny Liu almost knelt on the ground, quickly replying, "We dare not, we dare not. If Lady Qi speaks like this, it will really humble us servants. Our Steward Wan from the Duke’s Mansion has made it clear that once we arrive at the Qi family, the Qi family becomes our new master. A servant’s life and death are at the master’s word, and we are the same."

Nanny Liu and the others behind her were also repeatedly saying, "We dare not," "It all depends on the master’s decision."

Ye Xinyan raised her hand and said, "Enough, I understand. Now, each of you, tell me about yourselves. What names do you go by and what have you done in the past? What are you skilled in?"

Nanny Liu was the first to speak, "I initially managed the tea room, and later on was in charge of the rear courtyard’s flowers and cleaning..."

Nanny Jin watched from the side as Ye Xinyan listened to the self-introductions of the people from the Duke’s Mansion, silently nodding in approval. Hmm, just from this display, her young lady still maintained the noble identity of someone from the Duke’s Mansion, not diminishing in value due to her current dress and behavior.

Qi Younian sat on the kang mat in the work shed, incredulously smacking his lips. He recognized his granddaughter, indeed; she truly had struck luck. Looking at her now, with her poise and attentiveness, who could tell that this was the same Ye Zi who was always cheerful?

Qi Younian was still delighting inwardly when Ye Xinyan turned to ask him, "Grandfather, with so many people, they will all need a place to live. How long would it take to temporarily set up a work shed?"

Qi Younian thought for a moment before responding, "Setting up a work shed is a minor matter, the key issue is that Sixth Master sent these nannies specifically to accompany you. How about this, I’ll find carpenters to hurry and make a few temporary bedsteads. The nannies and you girls can first squeeze in at home.

There are not many cattle at the ranch now, so we’ll put off the construction there and start building the three main houses for the new residence right away. We have ready-made foundations, bricks, tiles, and wood, and with so many workers, the construction will be quick, maybe taking ten days to half a month to reach the stage of raising the beams. By then, we’ll gather more firewood for heating the kang and the rooms to make them livable."

"How can our home accommodate so many people? And where will you stay, Grandfather?" Ye Xinyan asked.

What was Grandfather thinking, with those tiny two rooms, how could they accommodate so many people? Besides, these people from the Duke’s Mansion had strict protocols; it absolutely wouldn’t work for them to live together with Grandfather.

The old man smiled and said, "I’ll stay in the work shed together with our craftsmen." Ye Xinyan frowned slightly, but Qi Younian continued smiling, "We’ve barely entered autumn, the weather is still warm, and staying in a work shed is quite comfortable. Anyway, our house isn’t much different from a work shed."

Ye Xinyan also smiled. Their own house indeed wasn’t that great; in some ways, it was hardly better than a work shed. That’s why the household was so eager to build a new house—as the old one wasn’t even worth repairing.

"Alright," Ye Xinyan instructed Nanny Jin, "Don’t mind the shop today. Leave that to Ercheng, and give a heads-up to Shopkeeper He. Let the people from Great Crane House keep an eye on things. You take Nanny Zhou and Bi Ning to buy what is needed. The nannies’ bedding, clothes for changing and washing, personal hygiene items, and I’m afraid we’re also short on kitchenware at home, you judge what should be added."

Just as Nanny Jin had agreed, they heard the sound of wheels and horse hooves approaching from outside, followed by Nanny Zhou’s voice, "Young Master has arrived so soon."

Ye Xinyan glanced at Nanny Liu, who hurriedly replied, "Replying to Lady Qi, we brought our personal belongings and bedding when we came. The mansion must have sent over the things."