She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 261 - 260 A Big Fuss

Chapter 261: Chapter 260 A Big Fuss

"That’s true, we’re all women, and there are many things in the government office we don’t understand," Zhou Biyao sighed sorrowfully, then said earnestly to Ye Xinyan, "Sister Qi, from now on, don’t refer to yourself as just a ’simple woman,’ nor call me Second Miss. The future of my family is uncertain, but Sister Qi has already caught the attention of Duke An’s Mansion. Who knows when the Duke’s Mansion might send someone to invite Sister Qi to visit the capital city? With your intelligence and capability, it’s possible that Duke An’s Mansion might ask you to stay. Sister Qi, your status is already quite high now."

"Second Miss jests. I am merely a peasant woman; how could I have such opportunities?" Ye Xinyan replied resolutely. The capital city? Not going. Given the various contexts set by the original host, if her completely different character appeared, it would be full of traps everywhere, and she could not go.

Speaking of which, Zhou Biyao looked a bit more spirited and asked curiously, "Sister Qi, do you really look exactly like the Duke’s Mansion’s young lady?"

"Who knows? They say we look somewhat alike," Ye Xinyan replied indifferently, glancing at Zhou Biyao. Being the same person, of course they looked exactly alike. "Alright, Second Miss must be tired from the journey; you should take a nap first. I’ll go find Nanny Liu to arrange a place for you to stay."

As she spoke, she called for Nanny Liu to come in.

As soon as Nanny Liu entered, she saw Zhou Biyao clinging to Ye Xinyan, saying, "Sister Qi, could you please stop calling me Second Miss from now on? It’s possible that I might become just the daughter of a commoner. It’s embarrassing for me when you address me that way."

"It’s not as bad as becoming a commoner’s daughter; don’t worry about it," Ye Xinyan struggled to free her sleeve from Zhou Biyao, "Let Nanny Liu settle the Second Miss down to rest. I, as a simple woman, still have plenty to do and am in a hurry. I won’t accompany Second Miss any longer." Could you hear that now? Dear sister, I don’t want to get too friendly with you.

Zhou Biyao looked at her pitifully, pleading, "Or, could you teach me some skills? If I learn to work, even if my family falls on hard times, I can still earn my own living."

...

Prefectural Magistrate Lord Zhou Bingyi had finished his inspection of the villages and towns within Qingyuan County. Seeing no more reason to continue staying in Qingyuan County, anxiously and impatiently, he finally agreed to meet.

Lord Zhou Bingyi almost shed tears of excitement when he heard Wan Yan’s "Please come in." After profusely thanking, he followed Wan Yan to the front courtyard study.

In the study, Jinrong was sitting in the master’s seat with Hu Jing seated at the side, and Jinrong’s two personal attendants stood by the door.

As soon as Lord Zhou Bingyi stepped in, before he could even salute, he heard Jinrong speak in an inexplicable tone, "Lord Zhou truly indulges his relatives well."

Lord Zhou Bingyi was so frightened that he shuddered, his original gesture of salute immediately turned into a kneel, and he fell to the ground with a ’thud’, incessantly expressing, "It is my fault for not managing my family well, causing trouble for the court and Sixth Master. I am unworthy of the education given to me by the court and the kindness bestowed by Sixth Master."

Jinrong paused for a while before speaking again, "Where have you let me down? You have let down the cultivation of the court, the hard work of your years of studying and your career in civil service. Alright, get up, how can you talk while kneeling on the ground?"

Hearing this, Hu Jing, who was seated opposite, rose to his feet and went forward to help. Lord Zhou Bingyi repeatedly thanked him as he climbed up from the ground.

It wasn’t until Lord Zhou Bingyi, trembling, took a seat at the lower place that Jinrong asked, "Now tell me, what brings you here so persistently? It couldn’t be to seek mercy for your suicidal brother-in-law, right?"

Ah, Lord Zhou Bingyi immediately got stuck, unable to utter a single word from his full belly of speech.

Hu Jing interjected, "Sixth Master shouldn’t speak like that. Liang Qiyuan is Lord Zhou’s uncle by marriage; with such a serious incident, it’s only natural for Lord Zhou to ask about it. This is a common human feeling."

Jinrong expressed his disdain, "He shouldn’t be asking me, though. Ever since his uncle by marriage caused trouble, how long have I been unable to sit or stand at ease here? It’s neither feasible to leave nor stay; I truly don’t know how to handle myself. What use is there in him looking for me?"

Hu Jing forced out a couple of smiles.

Jinrong continued, "If he wanted to cause trouble, he could at least wait until I wasn’t here, right? For so many years, Yuyuan Prefecture and Qingyuan County have been peaceful, but just half a year after my arrival, a civil unrest is plotted. How can I wash my hands of this?"

Zhou Bingyi, drenched in sweat upon hearing this, was about to get up and kneel again when Jinrong waved his hand and said, "Enough, don’t kneel in front of me. At this point, I don’t even know whom I should kneel to."

Zhou Bingyi turned even paler and hesitated for a moment before firmly kneeling down, incessantly kowtowing, "I deserve death. It’s unforgivable that I’ve dragged Sixth Master into such a predicament."

Jinrong squinted at Zhou Bingyi for a long while before softening his voice, "Stand up. When it comes down to it, you’re just at fault for not keeping a close eye on your relative. As long as you report Liang Qiyuan’s case truthfully and sentence him severely, showing your righteousness by severing kin ties, I might also be freed from this affair."

Zhou Bingyi lifted his head from the ground, looking pitifully at Jinrong. To sentence him severely meant to confirm Liang Qiyuan’s guilt of inciting civil unrest and rebellion. Sixth Master, you might truly be fine, but I’ll be miserable—if I sever kin ties, it will only result in my dismissal and degradation.

Jinrong raised an eyebrow, "Does Lord Zhou doubt my words?"

Zhou Bingyi quickly lowered his head, "I wouldn’t dare. I was just thinking... If Liang Qiyuan’s case isn’t decided hastily and disrupts the Yamen, then there would be no basis for claims of civil unrest... Many issues could be resolved, and Sixth Master wouldn’t be troubled..."

"Oh, not hastily decided and disrupting the Yamen? How do you explain the commotion and petitions submitted by many people in front of the Yamen these past two days?" Jinrong asked, his expression gradually darkening, "Is Jiang Yifan incompetent in dealing with affairs, causing the public to harbor resentment? Or is Qi Ye simply relying on Sixth Master’s influence, framing so many people and throwing them into jail?"

Zhou Bingyi quickly responded, "I wouldn’t dare. I wouldn’t dare. I was only thinking of pinning the crime of causing public grievance over civil disputes and bribing people to frame the innocent Qi family on Liang Qiyuan." Sixth Master and Jiang Yifan are close, and Qi Ye is the steward valued by Sixth Master; he wouldn’t dare to concoct charges against them.

Jinrong said indifferently, "The ruckus your uncle by marriage has caused trying to frame the common people has been quite significant."

Zhou Bingyi kowtowed again, "It’s truly his stupidity that led him to do such a thing. Just a glance at the small eateries and properties run by the Qi family would dissuade any sensible person from such clouded judgment. He may be foolish, but he truly doesn’t harbor intentions of rebellion. I would never dare to spout nonsense before Sixth Master."

Jinrong lifted his hand, "Get up now."

Zhou Bingyi looked at Jinrong’s expression before crawling up from the ground again.

Jinrong massaged his forehead and said, "It’s not that I’m unwilling to accommodate. You didn’t see the situation at the time; three to four dozen people making a scene at the doors of the county government office for two days, with countless onlookers. The difficulty with this case is that it can be explained in any number of ways. Today, I might say it’s a civil dispute, but tomorrow someone might turn it around and call it civil unrest. Moreover, there was silver involved, which is a major taboo."