She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 309 - 308 I Know It’s You

Chapter 309: Chapter 308 I Know It’s You

As this thought arose, Maternal Aunt Liu’s composure began to falter. If things were as she feared, wasn’t her decision to use the recipe to divide shares in Madam Yin’s Pastry House a foolish move? No wonder Madam Yin had brought the matter to Duke An; she had the cheesecake recipe in her possession all along.

This despicable wretch! She had the cheesecake recipe and yet kept it hidden, what was she waiting for? Was she waiting for her to make a fool of herself, waiting for her to be punished by Duke An and his wife?

Duke An took in Ye Hongyang’s and Maternal Aunt Liu’s expressions, one clueless, the other enlightened; both so starkly obvious and so irritating to the eye.

He spoke slowly, "When Lian Gui returned from Yuyuan Prefecture, Qi Ye brought back two cookbooks for Madam Yin. Besides the cookbooks, there were also several recipes for desserts and dishes made with cheese, far more than the recipes you’ve copied onto these two pieces of paper. Additionally, Madam Yin has methods for making dried cottage cheese and butter with cow’s milk; it’s not difficult, one can manage by simply following the methods. Thus," Duke An’s eyes filled with pity as he looked at Ye Hongyang," Madam Yin must have despised you, looked down on you deeply, seeing you divide her business with these few recipes. How could she possibly respect you?"

Ye Hongyang’s eyes widened in shock. How could this be, it couldn’t be, "Impossible, absolutely impossible! The cheesecake recipe was brought back from Yuyuan Prefecture by the Butler of Prince Yu’s Mansion, how would Madam Yin know about it? If she knew the recipe, wouldn’t those two Pastry Houses have already started selling cheesecake desserts?"

Duke An’s palm swept across the tabletop, taking the two pieces of paper and handing them back to Ye Hongyang, saying, "I didn’t wish to become overly involved with several princes, so I admonished Madam Yin that she mustn’t use the cheese or let anyone know about the cheesecake, but she could do as she wished with the other items in the cookbook. Hence, although she opened a Pastry House with the cookbook, she did not use any cheese in it."

Ye Hongyang’s eyes swept furiously across the faces in the room, finally settling on the Duchess, "Mother, is this true? Why didn’t you tell me? Ye Xinyan is a person of Duke An’s Mansion; what she brought back doesn’t just belong to Madam Yin, as her father, I am the real person in charge of the cookbooks and recipes.

The Duke’s Mansion can’t just raise her for nothing, bringing up the Duke’s Mansion when there is shame, but claiming all the benefits for themselves when there’s profit to be had. Where is the reason in that?"

The Duchess frowned at her son; although Ye Hongyang spoke such unreasonable words, they held a certain crooked logic she couldn’t refute.

Duke An said coldly, "If you raise a child without teaching her, what right do you have to speak such words? And remember, your eldest daughter is already dead. You couldn’t wait for her to die, without the slightest bit of reluctance or heartache. You despised her coming into this world, unwilling to spend even a thought or penny on her. Now that there’s benefit to be had, you come reaching out your hand. What kind of reasoning is that?"

Ye Hongyang became even more infuriated, staring at Duke An speechless, yet his expression revealed his extreme unwillingness and dissatisfaction.

A maid from the Duchess’s side entered, glanced at the several masters in the room, and whispered to Nanny Qian, "Housekeeper Qiao is outside, waiting to report back to the Duke."

Nanny Qian looked at Duke An, who then said, "Qiao Laiyun, is it? Let him come in."

Qiao Laiyun entered and immediately sensed the unpleasant atmosphere, proceeding to report the results directly, "Duke, I had people ask today’s gatekeepers. This morning, one of the maids accompanying the Second Miss came, saying she was delivering pastries for Maternal Aunt Liu and went directly to Maternal Aunt Liu’s courtyard."

As soon as Qiao Laiyun entered, Maternal Aunt Liu knew the outcome. At this point, the origin of the pastry recipe had to be accounted for.

Ye Xinyan was aware of Duke An’s methods. When Madam Yin’s health had been compromised and the incident happened, nearly two months had passed, yet Duke An had managed to uncover everything. If it hadn’t been for the Crown Prince turning a blind eye, she would have truly been exposed.

The recipe for pastries had only been sent over this morning, if investigated, the truth would be undeniable, leaving no room for denial.

Yet Ye Hongyang was not willing to concede, bellowing at Qiao Laiyun, "Absurd! Is there a need for investigation when the Second Miss is merely sending pastries to her birth mother? Does this breach any royal law, to warrant a discussion here?"

"Yes, what the Princely Heir said is true," Qiao Laiyun bowed deeply as he responded. How the household would be managed in the future was beyond his control, but at least he had to handle the current situation well. Even though the Princely Heir might be more arrogant, he couldn’t match Duke’s shrewdness. Qiao didn’t have the ability to deceive the Duke, nor any reason to do so.

Duke An gestured for Qiao Laiyun to leave, then looked at Ye Hongyang with an unspeakable sense of disappointment and desolation, "Hongyang, you really should take a good look at your concubine. Although she doesn’t come from a notable background, she is much stronger than you. She knows there’s no way to refute this matter, yet you don’t realize that.

Many key points have already been foreseen by Maternal Aunt Liu, yet you remain clueless. It’s because of your ignorance that over the years she has dared to play you like a fiddle, resulting in Duke An’s Mansion not having a single worthy successor to maintain the family’s facade."

Maternal Aunt Liu’s face drastically changed, and with a thud, she knelt down, crawling forward two steps while trembling and kowtowing, "Duke sees clearly, I am wronged, I have only loyally served the Princely Heir with sincerity, never daring to be negligent towards him. Please, Duke, your discerning eye will see the truth, I really haven’t done anything."

Ye Hongyang also stood up abruptly, angrily saying, "What is father talking about? Am I really so worthless in father’s eyes?" While speaking, he reached to help Maternal Aunt Liu, "Father has been confused by that wicked woman, don’t worry, I know you are innocent."

Duke An said to Maternal Aunt Liu, "Get up." Then he signaled to Ye Hongyang, "Help her up. Your mother and I are old, and we are content just seeing our children and grandchildren happy. As for being accomplished or wise, you’re already over forty, it’s unnecessary to be too demanding of you."

"However," Duke An’s tone shifted, "before I close my eyes for good, Duke An’s Mansion must not become too ridiculous, too looked down upon. Hence, whatever you and Maternal Aunt Liu do is fine, but you mustn’t stir up trouble outside the Mansion. Like today, the concubine used whatever recipe to scheme against the main wife’s business, and even had the Princely Heir front the operation. If this gets out, it will be laughable."

"Also, it seems Maternal Aunt Liu feels the assets in her hands are too few, which is why she reached out for Madam Yin’s business. Tomorrow, I will arrange for the sale of the two shops and three manors Maternal Aunt Liu has acquired. Concubines shouldn’t hold assets to begin with. Without any, you won’t develop insatiable greed."

Maternal Aunt Liu, who had just been helped up by Ye Hongyang, nearly collapsed again after hearing Duke An’s words, looking at him with eyes full of despair.

When did Duke An find out about her acquisition of shops and manors? That was her very life! She wasn’t as fortunate as Madam Yin, born with a substantial dowry prepared by her parents. She had spent years, expending great effort, just to accumulate these assets.

Ye Hongyang was equally anxious, "Father, as the esteemed Duke An, you cannot do this, those are the shops of Maternal Aunt Liu’s brother."