She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 203 - 202 - How are the Agricultural Affairs?

Chapter 203: Chapter 202 - How are the Agricultural Affairs?

Lian Gui was about to leave upon receiving the order, but Ye Hongyang still didn’t understand and stopped Lian Gui as he urgently said to Duke An, "Father, you cannot do this. By acting this way, aren’t you telling the whole world that the village woman is the scandal of our Ye Family?"

Duke An scolded, "Fool, Nanny Jin could serve her old master just because a village woman resembles her greatly. What is wrong with our Duke’s Mansion taking extra care of a village woman, out of longing for a deceased granddaughter and daughter? Sending a few reliable servants to keep an eye on a village woman is much easier than committing murder under the watchful eyes of many in the capital!"

Hence, a few days later, there was the journey to Qingyuan County by Lian Gui, Nanny Qiao, and others.

Before leaving, Duke An and the Duchess instructed them to ensure the safety of Qi Ye and Nanny Jin in all matters, to prevent strangers unaware of their background from approaching them, and to keep Qi Ye from stirring up trouble and drawing attention. As for other matters, the Duke’s Mansion would naturally arrange for someone to deal with them.

Duke An also emphasized deliberately that if the true identity of Qi Ye was ever at risk of being revealed, they should act without regard for anything else and make the Qi family suffer an accident first.

......

Jiang Yifan and Lian Gui sparred with their wits in the guests’ room of the inn, although he didn’t know the specific process the Duke’s Mansion had arranged for this matter, he could broadly guess Duke An’s intentions.

With a smile, Jiang Yifan reminded Lian Gui, "Steward Lian, this task may take some time and might not be resolved quickly."

"Oh? What’s the reason?" Feeling a bad premonition within, Lian Gui eagerly sought guidance, "Please enlighten me, Lord Jiang."

With a smile, Jiang Yifan said, "The Qi family is just an ordinary farming household, a family of four living in two thatched cottages. Not long ago, because Lady Qi fell short of help, Sixth Master Rong sent six maids and servant women over, and the two thatched cottages are now crammed to the brim. The Old Master Qi now has no place to stay and is living with his brothers in a tent set up temporarily."

Lian Gui and Anshun’s Household exchanged looks with a sense of dread in their hearts.

Cramped living conditions were actually not a big issue, they’d simply take some time to hire more people and build a few more houses. For a rural dwelling, even constructing an entire courtyard would only cost a bit over a hundred taels of silver. With the silver they had brought this time, it should be sufficient.

The trouble was with Sixth Master Rong, who was none other than His Highness Prince Yu. The tactics Duke had planned, His Highness Prince Yu had already employed; even if they forcefully wedged themselves in, if they encountered Prince Yu’s Mansion’s servants who were staunchly protecting Qi Ye... they would be no match.

And this Jiang Yifan was also very strange.

Lian Gui stealthily glanced at Jiang Yifan, recalling how previously, he and the young miss were like a pair of adversaries, each wishing the other would disappear immediately. And Lord Jiang was decisive, taking the opportunity to separate from the young miss the moment she caused a scandal. From this aspect, Lord Jiang’s disdain for the young miss was evident.

But what was the situation now? Was Jiang Yifan also going to protect Qi Ye? Causing an accident within a family under the eye of a parental official was very difficult.

Jiang Yifan observed the expressions of Lian Gui and Nanny Qiao and switched to a lighter topic to reassure them, "This village woman, Qi Ye, is also quite fortunate, actually gaining such care from so many people. You don’t need to worry so much, the Qi family is currently building a house. At most half a month, or as little as seven or eight days, the living conditions there will be relieved. The Duke and Duchess deeply love their younger relatives, so there will always be a place for you to stay with the Qi family."

Lian Gui hastily said, "That’s good, that’s good. If we botch this minor task that would be one thing, but causing the Duke and Duchess to grieve would be an error we could never fully atone for, even with a thousand deaths."

Having roughly understood the situation, Jiang Yifan stood up, "You have all traveled far and must be tired from the journey, you should rest early. I won’t impose any further tonight. As you are all new here and might find things inconvenient, I will arrange for Shi Shu to come tomorrow to help handle the trivial matters and show you around."

"How dare we, how dare we. My Lord has pressing official duties, and we are merely here for a private matter. It would not be right to trouble you so," Lian Gui hastily declined, his alarm evident. With the County Magistrate’s informant by his side, how could he possibly feel at ease carrying out his task?

"There’s no need for concern, Steward Lian; I am merely fulfilling the hospitality due from a landlord. Shi Shu is an observant lad; he will not interfere with your tasks. Once you are a bit more familiar with Qingyuan County, I will have him return," Jiang Yifan reassured.

With the conversation having reached this point, Lian Gui could only agree.

After leaving the inn, Jiang Yifan mounted his horse and headed straight for Jinrong’s residence. As soon as he entered and was greeted by Wan Yan, he said, "Is there any food left in the kitchen here? I and a few attendants haven’t had our evening meal. Could you prepare some easy food for us? Anything will do."

As they walked into the courtyard, Wan Yan chuckled, "Lord Jiang, we have already prepared your meal. Please, come in and rest for a while, have some tea. Dinner will be served shortly."

The meal was indeed served quite quickly. Before Jiang Yifan had even finished his cup of tea, four hot dishes and a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup were brought to the table.

While eating, Jiang Yifan recounted the happenings at the guest inn from earlier that evening, concluding with, "It seems the Duke’s Mansion isn’t very clear about the situation with Ye Xinyan. However, Lian Gui, upon hearing about people from Prince Yu’s Mansion being at the Qi family, seemed somewhat surprised and troubled, but not as if he couldn’t continue his task. They must have come to take control of the situation. Unless things become uncontrollable, there should be no major mishaps."

Jinrong, sipping tea by Jiang Yifan’s side, heard this and smiled, "Elder Master Ye is not confused. He is trying to solidify this identity of Qi Ye. If the Duke’s Mansion admits that the Qi Ye from the countryside is indeed the peasant girl who closely resembles his granddaughter, what else could anyone say?"

"That’s true," said Jinrong after some thought, continuing, "I’ll have someone change Qi Younian’s past actions, erase his residential registration in Miyi County, and find a seldom-visited mountainous area to record him as a hunter, and look for two reliable people to provide testimony. You just need to alter the records of Qi Younian’s route back."

Jiang Yifan swallowed his last bite of food and said, "When I was traveling with my master in my younger days, I met some friends from the Jianghu. I’ll take care of the areas seldom visited by people. Sixth Master, you just handle altering the records of household registration and population movement in Miyi County."

Jinrong looked at him and nodded, "Alright, but remember to act quickly. With the Ye Family proceeding this way, there shouldn’t be any major issues. However, if Jinyi insists on focusing on Ye Xinyan to pressure me or Duke An, he may start from the household registrations."

"Yes," Jiang Yifan nodded and then asked, "What should we do about Qi Ye’s identity?"

Jinrong smiled, "Just add Qi Ye into Qi Younian’s records from a year or two ago. As for who Qi Ye really is, with so many servants in the Qi Family Courtyard now in the service of Prince Yu’s Mansion, surely no one will go knocking on the door to inquire about her, will they?"

"Indeed," agreed Jiang Yifan as he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

"How did your inspection of the agricultural affairs in Qingyuan County go today?" Jinrong changed the subject.