She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 200 - 199: A Gift of Earthware to the Duke’s Mansion

Chapter 200: Chapter 199: A Gift of Earthware to the Duke’s Mansion

Lian Gui and those from Anshun’s Household hadn’t yet explained themselves when a servant who had come along reported, "The County Magistrate of Qingyuan County, Lord Jiang Yifan, has arrived."

Lian Gui and the person from Anshun’s Household exchanged a glance, finding the news about Jiang Yifan a bit too informed. They had only entered the county town that afternoon, and here he was already.

Everyone from Duke An’s Mansion knew how indifferent and weary Jiang Yifan, once a son-in-law of Duke An’s Mansion, had been towards their eldest miss and how helpless he had been about his identity as Duke An’s Mansion’s son-in-law.

Now Jiang Yifan was serving as the County Magistrate in Qingyuan County, and it was said that a woman who looked strikingly like the eldest miss was within the jurisdiction of Qingyuan County, and that this woman lived a flourishing life. How had Jiang Yifan borne this?

Although Jiang Yifan was no longer a son-in-law of Duke An’s Mansion, he was still a local official of Qingyuan County and could not be neglected. They hastened to greet him.

Before they even left the corridor of the main house, Jiang Yifan turned their way, followed by several familiar young servants.

From a distance, Jiang Yifan greeted Lian Gui with a clasped handshake and a smile, "Steward Lian is coming to Qingyuan County, and doesn’t send a message ahead of time for Jiang to arrange accommodations? There is no need for you to stay in an inn like now. How could Jiang face everyone from the Duke’s Mansion in the future?"

Lian Gui hurriedly bowed and saluted continuously, "Lord Jiang is too courteous, too courteous. We came to Qingyuan County for private matters, where would we dare to bother you and cause you trouble?"

This was honestly not just a courtesy; Lian Gui truly did not intend to disturb Jiang Yifan. That woman, Qi Ye, who looked exactly like the eldest miss, was certainly the eldest miss herself. When Lord Jiang and the eldest miss lived together, they were like enemies. Who knew what stance Lord Jiang would take after learning their intentions for coming here.

Jiang Yifan’s smile was free of any grudge, and his attitude extremely warm, "How can you say that I am being courteous? It’s Steward Lian who treats me as a stranger. Even if we are not relatives anymore, we are at least old acquaintances. Meeting an old friend in a foreign land, we should look after each other. Yet Steward Lian doesn’t seem to regard me as an old friend."

Lian Gui felt awkward with Jiang Yifan’s enthusiastic attitude; it seemed really inappropriate to come to the door and not enter. As servants of Duke An’s Mansion, arriving here, they should have visited and notified the local official.

"It was my negligence, please do not take offense, Lord Jiang." Lian Gui admitted his fault.

Jiang Yifan then smiled at the person from Anshun’s Household, "Is Nanny Qiao always well? Are Duke An and the Duchess well?"

The person from Anshun’s Household hurriedly performed a courtesy, "I thank Lord Jiang for your concern; I am well. The Duke and Duchess are healthy, though they still mourn for our eldest miss. Even now, mentioning her still brings sorrow."

Jiang Yifan also withdrew his smile and with a sigh, said, "Life is full of uncertainties, beyond the control of our hearts. Nanny, please advise Duke An and the Duchess that the past is gone; they should not let their grief harm their health."

While they talked, they went inside the house.

Lian Gui yielded the seat of honor to Jiang Yifan before sitting in the chair at the lower end. The person from Anshun’s Household came with a servant woman to serve tea to both men, then stood aside.

After the pleasantries were exchanged, Jiang Yifan finally asked, "Steward Lian, have you come all this distance for some specific business?"

Although Lian Gui intended to avoid Jiang Yifan, he had considered the possibility of encountering him while in Qingyuan County. He thought it best not to alarm Jiang Yifan, to quickly settle the party of four from Anshun’s Household in Clear Water Village, and then leave at once, to avoid a lot of trouble.

As for the servants of Duke An’s Household, she was just a Servant Woman from the inner quarters. If Duke An’s Household was clueless on questioning, Jiang Yifan couldn’t press too hard about their purpose in coming here.

But now it was different, being the Local Official of Qingyuan County, they went straight to him, the steward of Duke An’s Mansion, and he could only respond head-on.

Lian Gui put on a smiling face and said, "Lord Jiang should be aware of this, there is a woman in your Qingyuan County, Lady Qi, who bears an astonishing resemblance to our young miss."

"Oh, there is such a person," Jiang Yifan nodded, calmly affirming his knowledge of her.

Lian Gui was internally surprised by Jiang Yifan’s composed calm and continued, "Our Duke and Duchess were deeply grieved by the young miss’s absence, and were extremely astonished to learn of this news. Upon hearing that Nanny Jin encountered Lady Qi, and out of reminiscence for her former master, mistook Lady Qi as her own lady, they also harbored a sense of tenderness.

Therefore, they sent me to check on her and to bring Lady Qi some everyday items she might need, just as a way of showing care for their grandchild. Our Duchess also instructed me, if Lady Qi truly resembles the young miss, to leave Nanny Qiao to serve Lady Qi, as a form of solace for the elder’s longing for their granddaughter."

"I see," Jiang Yifan nodded and praised, "The Duke and Duchess are indeed kind-hearted, their love for the young miss is very deep."

Jiang Yifan and Lian Gui looked at each other, each understanding the other’s thoughts. Both spoke sincere words that neither believed, each with their own agenda in mind.

Jiang Yifan felt somewhat relieved. At least the current situation was manageable, certainly better than Duke An’s Mansion forcibly taking Ye Xinyan away without regard for losing face. As for the potential threat posed by Duke An’s Household’s remaining servants, that was a matter to be dealt with later. Considering that Qi family had people from Jinrong Residence watching over them, even the prestigious Duke would have to weigh his options carefully before moving against Ye Xinyan, protected under Prince Yu’s wing.

However, Lian Gui and Duke An’s Household felt uneasy. According to the information Duke An’s Mansion received, His Highness Prince Yu had already shown considerable concern for the young miss. If Jiang Yifan’s attitude towards the young miss was the same as Prince Yu’s, that would be troublesome.

His Highness Prince Yu could not possibly stay in Qingyuan County for long and would have to leave eventually. But as the Local Official, Jiang Yifan’s situation was different; he had to remain here for at least a three-year term. If Jiang Yifan kept a close eye on the young miss, they would be taking a risk when the time came for them to act.

Lian Gui verbally agreed with Jiang Yifan but his thoughts were on the news of the young miss reaching Duke’s Mansion.

A month before, when the Duke received news of the young miss and Nanny Jin in Yuyuan Prefecture, he was furious. He immediately called in those responsible for tracking down the young miss from the previous year’s end and launched into a tirade. After the scolding, that wasn’t the end of it; the people in charge then were beaten with thirty large boards each, their monthly salary in silver withheld for a year, and sent away to recover from their injuries.

Lian Gui had been serving the Duke since he was a child and knew the Duke’s thoughts at the time were to send people over to cleanly resolve the matter and eliminate future troubles.

However, before they could pick the people to send to Yuyuan Prefecture, someone from Prince Yu’s Mansion arrived.

That day, it was Lian Gui’s turn to be on duty when someone from Prince Yu’s Mansion delivered a tribute of local Qingyuan County soil, saying that His Highness Prince Yu had a serendipitous encounter in Qingyuan County and thought of Duke An, prompting him to send some local specialties over.

The visitor also requested an audience with Duke An, saying they had matters to present in person.

Lian Gui vividly remembered the scene. The visitor was a scholarly-looking man in his thirties, ordinary in appearance but cultured and genteel, not shying away from them, the servants.

The scholar introduced himself as Yan, with the full name Yan Zhixing, working on behalf of the prince outside of the capital, usually not active in the city.