She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 259 - 258: Just Don’t Rebel

Chapter 259: Chapter 258: Just Don’t Rebel

The next afternoon, Zhou Biyao’s carriage stopped in front of the Qi family’s residence in Clear Water Village.

Nanny Liu and someone from Anshun’s Household ushered Zhou Biyao through the Second Gate, and Zhou Biyao and her servants followed Nanny Liu into the rear courtyard’s hall. She sat down on the couch and let out a long sigh, "Oh, after rushing for three days, I’m so tired."

Nanny Liu brought over two cushions and said, "Second Miss Zhou, rest on these for a while and have some refreshments, and you’ll slowly recover."

Qian Yue thanked Nanny Liu, took the cushions, and placed them behind Zhou Biyao. Zhou Biyao leaned against them comfortably and after sighing with relief, she asked, "Isn’t Sister Qi here? Has she gone to do work again?"

Nanny Liu said with a smile, "Yes, my Young Lady doesn’t have the good fortune of Second Miss Zhou and is always busy with making a living. I have sent someone to find her, and she will be back soon."

Zhou Biyao quickly put down her tea cup and waved her hands hurriedly, "No need to look for her. I will go to Sister Qi later and see what she is doing."

Nanny Liu said with a smile, "The places where work is done are frequented by crude men; it’s not proper for a distinguished young lady like Second Miss Zhou to enter such places." The Young Lady is working in the guest hall of the outer court. If we really let the Miss of the Zhou family find her way there, who knows what might happen? This Second Miss Zhou is also quite a unique lady—very clever indeed.

Zhou Biyao became displeased, "If Sister Qi can go, why can’t I? Don’t talk about being a distinguished young lady; Sister Qi is almost recognized as a granddaughter by Duke An’s Mansion. In terms of distinction, if you count all the girls in Yuyuan Prefecture, Sister Qi is second to none." She turned her head and asked someone from Anshun’s Household, "Nanny, you agree, don’t you?"

"Miss Zhou is joking," said someone from Anshun’s Household with a laugh, remaining noncommittal.

Zhou Biyao retorted, "I’m not joking. You’re a nanny from Duke An’s Mansion, aren’t you? Sister Qi is served by a nanny sent specifically by Duke An’s Mansion. Can her status be compared with the female relatives from our Local Official families? Sister Qi’s status is indeed high."

Inwardly sizing up Zhou Biyao, someone from Anshun’s Household thought she really was different from the usual shy girls, speaking very straightforwardly.

Zhou Biyao grew more interested and continued to ask someone from Anshun’s Household, "Nanny, you serve Duchess An, right? I saw you the last time at Sister’s house and didn’t even know you were from the capital. I only found out after talking to my brother. Are the rules set by Duchess An very strict? When my father went to the capital to report on his duties, I saw Duchess An at a banquet hosted by my father. She was so far away, I couldn’t even see what the Duchess looked like clearly."

"Mmm, very strict," replied someone from Anshun’s Household vaguely. The rules of the lady are so strict, yet they couldn’t keep the young lady in check. If Second Miss Zhou knew that the girl who now spends all day outside working and doing business with men actually comes from Duke’s Mansion, she might not ask so curiously.

Nanny Liu felt a bit sorry for this young lady, having ventured to an unfamiliar place on behalf of her family’s affairs, doing her utmost to prevent awkwardness and to avoid appearing embarrassed or presumptuous.

Ye Xinyan also worried about Zhou Biyao going to where she worked, in case Biyao saw something she shouldn’t. Upon receiving the report, she immediately handed off her work to Wong Qiao and returned to the rear courtyard.

When Zhou Biyao saw Ye Xinyan coming in, she hastened to rise from the couch. Ye Xinyan quickly took a couple of steps and gestured for her to stop, saying, "Second Miss Zhou, keep sitting on the couch. All this putting on shoes to get down, then taking them off to get back on—it’s quite troublesome."

Zhou Biyao paused briefly, then said enthusiastically, "Well then, if younger sister won’t go down, Sister Qi, please come up and sit with me, and let’s chat together."

Ye Xinyan raised her hand and pressed her forehead, finding Zhou Biyao’s rapid familiarity quite overwhelming.

Nanny Liu said to Ye Xinyan with a smile, "The young lady has been busy all day; it would be just right to sit with Miss Zhou for a while, and you can take a break while you’re at it."

Ye Xinyan looked at Zhou Biyao and forced a chuckle, saying, "Forget it, given the status of us country folks, I’d better stay seated on the stool to talk." At least there was an end to talking while seated on stools, but if they were to sit on the couch together, who knew when Zhou Biyao would stop talking?

"What are you saying, Sister Qi? Are you despising me for my low status, thinking I’m not worthy to make friends with you?" Zhou Biyao felt a bit hurt, "I have always admired your abilities, sister, and wanted to get along with you. The first two times you excused yourself due to low status, I let it go, but now, sister has gained the favor of Duke An’s Mansion, and you still speak this way."

Ye Xinyan was filled with annoyance. She was already of such an age, truly too lazy to bother with whether a young girl was good company or not. However, seeing the young girl’s saddened eyes, she had no choice but to follow suit, take off her shoes, and sit on the couch.

Zhou Biyao did not hide her intentions, and sitting across the table, she directly said to Ye Xinyan, "Sister, I have nowhere to stay in Qingyuan County this time. Could I possibly stay here for a few days? I promise not to disturb you; just let the nannies find a convenient place for me to stay."

Ye Xinyan was startled; without any small talk, this cut straight to the point?

"In these rural parts, Second Miss might not be accustomed to the living conditions. Your uncle’s house... Oh, where does Lord Zhou reside? Why didn’t Second Miss come over with him?" Recalling the matter of the Liang family, Jiang Yifan had saddled Liang Qiyuan with such serious accusations that perhaps the Liang Residence was already under observation by the Yamen, so Zhou Biyao could not stay there, or possibly Zhou Bingyi had no intention of letting her stay at all.

Ye Xinyan gave Zhou Biyao a longer look. What was Zhou Bingyi doing bringing his daughter Zhou Biyao to Qingyuan County at such a time? It was normal for relatives to visit each other when the household was in peace, but bringing his daughter over under these circumstances was not usual.

"Father came to inspect agricultural affairs and is staying at the county government office," Zhou Biyao said, her eyes a bit downcast as she met Ye Xinyan’s gaze. "Uncle got himself into trouble because he was provoking sister, and sister must know that uncle has been involved in a lawsuit."

Ye Xinyan felt a touch of pity and asked, "With the Liang Residence’s matters still unresolved, why would Lord Zhou bring a young girl like you to Qingyuan County?"

Zhou Biyao first motioned for Nanny Zhong and Qian Yue to leave the room, then glanced at Nanny Liu and Bi Ning, hesitating whether to speak or not.

Out of options, Ye Xinyan addressed Nanny Liu and the others, "Second Miss Zhou has something to say, please take the people and step out for a while."

Once everyone had left, Zhou Biyao took several deep gulps of tea, then said with a pained expression, "My uncle caused such a disaster, and father fears it will spill over to our family, so he rushed here, thinking that by moving around, he could dispel the matter from being marked as a mob riot against the Yamen."

Zhou Biyao stole a glance at Ye Xinyan, then continued with hesitation, "My father said that I had past interactions with you, sister, and asked me to make an effort here with you, to see if you could speak on our behalf with Sixth Master Rong and have uncle’s case re-examined. Whatever the verdict, as long as it’s not rebellion, it will be fine."