She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 311 - 310: Coming to Terms

Chapter 311: Chapter 310: Coming to Terms

The next day, although the servant women and underlings of Duke An’s Mansion carried on with their tasks as usual, they were distinctly more cautious. Cui Liu made her rounds outside and ran back excitedly to report the news she had gathered to Madam Yin, who was tidying up her clothes and preparing to go out.

As Madam Yin listened to Cui Liu prattle on in chirps and laughs, she couldn’t help but be surprised. Duke An had tried to discipline Ye Hongyang and Maternal Aunt Liu before, but none of those attempts had been effective. So many years had passed, and now he decided to take a hard line; did he really expect to turn Ye Hongyang’s habit of spoiling his concubines around?

"So Nanny Qian is truly managing the middle meal now?" asked Madam Yin.

"Absolutely, wife of the heir apparent," said Cui Liu, her face animated, "Many steward nannies and daughter-in-laws in charge of various errands saw it themselves; this morning, Nanny Qian took charge of the middle meal. Maternal Aunt Liu was also there, but she was just handing over her duties. Several people who saw Maternal Aunt Liu said that she looked very upset, as if she could hardly bear it."

Madam Yin raised an eyebrow but made no comment about the matter. Since the previous warnings by the Duke and Duchess hadn’t been effective, she estimated this attempt wouldn’t be much better. It was highly likely that in a few days, after hearing too much from Maternal Aunt Liu, Ye Hongyang would still secure various rights for her. Duke An and his wife, not wanting to see their son upset, would probably turn a blind eye once again and let the affairs of Duke An’s Mansion revert to how they were before.

No matter how much face Nanny Qian might gain, she was still a servant and couldn’t manage the Duke’s Mansion affairs indefinitely. And as one most qualified to manage the meal affairs, she definitely wouldn’t be working like a horse for Ye Hongyang and Maternal Aunt Liu’s son anymore. Now she had her proper business to run; she needed to earn silver for her Ah Yan. Who would bother with their nonsensical issues?

Seeing Madam Yin’s lack of interest, Cui Liu continued, "It’s true, they are dismissing the surplus servants from Maternal Aunt Liu’s quarters. They’re allowing her only two side rooms for her personal use; the rest have to be cleaned out for decent concubines and servants who will be moved in later. Now only two people remain in Maternal Aunt Liu’s quarters, and the rest have been led out, supposedly to be assigned to other courtyards to perform lowly and exhausting tasks, with little monthly salary in silver."

Nanny Huang, while arranging Madam Yin’s hair, chided with laughter, "Look at how pleased you are, girl. Are you that happy? Don’t just indulge in your happiness; pass me those three hairpins."

Cui Liu handed the hairpins from the vanity one by one to Nanny Huang, giggling, "Of course I’m happy. Maternal Aunt Liu always acted superior in the mansion as if she was some high-status mistress, and everyone in the Secluded Fragrance Garden acted high and mighty. Now they’ve all been reassigned; let’s see where they find the face to show off now."

Nanny Huang then made small talk with Madam Yin, "Madam, if the Duchess really arranges a decent concubine to be placed in the Secluded Fragrance Garden, do you think Maternal Aunt Liu, after enjoying so many years of favor, could tolerate having another concubine whose status surpasses hers right before her eyes?"

Madam Yin smiled faintly and said, "That will depend on what the Crown Prince has in mind. The Duke and Duchess have been indulgent with their son for so many years. As long as the Crown Prince is devoted to Maternal Aunt Liu and can’t live without her, the Duke and Duchess will ultimately have to yield to their son. These matters are beyond our control; let them squabble. Whichever side gains influence or favor, it won’t matter as long as it doesn’t spill over to our courtyard." Her courtyard was staffed by people from Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion; apart from Duke An and his wife and Ye Hongyang, no one else was allowed to step in.

Madam Yin had not expected that she could one day feel so indifferent about the affairs of Ye Hongyang and Maternal Aunt Liu.

Looking back, she realized how foolish she had been for so many years. She should have given up on Ye Hongyang long ago and focused on her daughter and her own life. There was no point in competing with Maternal Aunt Liu all these years to end up with this outcome and almost harming her daughter as a result.

She should never have regarded Ye Hongyang as a man worth her time. As long as she sat calmly and securely in her rightful place as the principal wife and let Ye Hongyang and Maternal Aunt Liu make a spectacle of themselves. No matter how much Maternal Aunt Liu struggled, she would still be just a concubine, and with her status as the principal wife and her lineage from the Marquis’s Mansion, she could firmly suppress her.

It was a pity that she ignored others’ advice, drawn by Ye Hongyang’s outward charm and unable to stomach his affections for the lowborn Maternal Aunt Liu. She demeaned herself by competing with a slave-born concubine and ended up utterly defeated. If not for her father and brothers intervening, would her life have also been calculated away by others?

Now she felt content; Nanny Huang had discreetly inquired from Lian Gui, and although Qingyuan County was a small place, Lian Gui said that Ah Yan was living much better there than she had in the Duke’s Mansion. Even His Highness Prince Yu had to show her Ah Yan some respect.

"Hmph, in the entire Duke’s Mansion, it was only Duke An himself who could make Prince Yu save a bit of face. Now there’s another person, not the Princely Heir Ye Hongyang, nor the son of Ye Hongyang and Maternal Aunt Liu, but her Ah Yan."

Madam Yin felt a sigh of relief and contentment whenever she thought about these things.

As for whether to be a decent concubine or a servant woman, these mattered not at all to her. When she was initially hurt and her parents realized she couldn’t bear an heir and had no son by her side, even if she remarried, she wouldn’t have good days ahead. It was her unwillingness to leave her daughter and Ye Hongyang that made her stay at Duke An’s Mansion.

Now there was no need for such considerations. She would stay in Duke An’s Mansion as long as she could, but if it became unbearable, she would just leave. With Ah Yan able to stand on her own two feet outside and the support of her father and brothers, her security was even more assured.

Regarding the adoption of a goddaughter, she had thought it over well after returning home yesterday. She could acknowledge Ah Yan in the Duke’s Mansion, and she could do the same in Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion. The people her brother sent to Qingyuan County had been gone for a while now; perhaps with their uncle’s help, Ah Yan could send more messages back to her.

Madam Yin looked at herself in the bronze mirror—dignified and proper, ready to go out and take care of business.

She stood up and said to Nanny Huang, "We can’t manage their mansion’s affairs, but I need to ensure the pastry chefs have prepared all the desserts and soups from the recipe book thoroughly, guaranteeing the flavors are exceptional before I can be at ease. Nanny, have them bring the large cloak. Let’s be off."

Nanny Huang laughed in agreement, "The wife of the heir apparent is right. The matters of the Pastry House are indeed more urgent." Saying this, she beckoned Cui Bai and Cui Liu to bring Madam Yin’s warm clothes.

It was right for the wife of the heir apparent to think this way. Rather than focusing her entire heart on the disordered Princely Heir, it was much better to think about living her life well.

If the wife of the heir apparent had had such a mindset earlier, how could things have reached this point? However, awakening now wasn’t too late. Her eldest daughter was living comfortably outside the mansion; with the wife of the heir apparent so open-minded and a whole yard of people to protect her, neither the Princely Heir nor Liu Maternal Aunt could touch a hair on her head.

Nanny Huang helped Madam Yin into the carriage at the Second Gate and instructed the coachman to head to Shengyu Snack House.

Madam Yin settled herself in the carriage and instructed Nanny Huang, "Nanny, remember, speak with the manager of Shengyu Snack House and tell him to send someone to South and North Goods Store earlier tomorrow to buy some of their flavored cheese. We will see what it is and how it differs from the dried cheese Ah Yan mentioned."

"Yes, I’ve taken note," replied Nanny Huang, then added, "The flavored cheese managed by Prince Yu’s Mansion must come from the Dairy Products Store under the young miss’s control. We ought to try the handiwork of the young miss."

Madam Yin nodded, "I also believe it should be made by Ah Yan. It’s just, His Highness Prince Yu hasn’t offered this cheese to the imperial palace; I fear this cheese may not be as delicious as the butter cheese they had before."

Nanny Huang had this worry a few days before, but recent opinions about flavored cheese seemed slightly different. She said, "This flavored cheese is extremely expensive, so many wealthy families are willing to try it. However, those who have tried mostly didn’t like the taste, saying it wasn’t good. Still, this hasn’t stopped people from vying to buy it.

It mainly has to do with a few young gents who are friends with the Second Son of Marquis Jingyuan. They grew up with His Highness Prince Yu, and they say the more you eat this cheese, the more you appreciate its full-bodied, rich flavor. I’ve heard that these past days the number of households visiting South and North Goods Store to purchase cheese has increased, and due to limited supply, most of them leave empty-handed."