She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 328 - 327: If Only He Were a Grandson

Chapter 328: Chapter 327: If Only He Were a Grandson

Ye Xinyan resolutely shook her head, "I daren’t, I’m afraid that once I go back, I’ll be recognized and cause trouble for my mother and maternal grandfather’s family. I’m also afraid that my grandfather and father won’t be able to coexist, and I may even lose my life; or I dread being confined or sent to the ancestral temple. I don’t want to go back."

Zhao Gang listened in silence for a moment, empathizing with the child’s plight, indeed pitiable for truly having no home to return to. Yet, as the granddaughter of Duke An and the legitimate granddaughter of the Marquis, she can’t always drift about, with no chance to see her relatives.

He pondered deeply, then asked, "What if Duke An is willing to accept you, with no confinement or sending you to the ancestral temple?"

"Would he?" Ye Xinyan expressed doubt regarding Zhao Gang’s wishful thinking. How could that be possible? Unless the old man’s brain has gone bad.

The decision to send her to the ancestral temple that day was made because she had embarrassed herself during the old man’s birthday banquet, causing both him and Duke An’s Mansion considerable shame in front of a large audience. Moreover, because they failed to capture her when she fled thoroughly, they were furiously ashamed and directly declared her dead.

It could be said that in making those decisions, Duke An no longer regarded her as his granddaughter, showing not a trace of familial affection.

Even now, with several of Duke An’s Mansion’s servant women here, it was only due to Prince Yu’s Mansion’s influence and informers that they could only keep people close to watch her, so as to prevent any more shocking incidents and to avoid further embarrassment for Duke An’s Mansion.

Now, Duke An’s granddaughter, whom he personally announced as dead, has seemingly returned without any issues. To protect the old man’s face, she estimated that before she could even enter the capital, she would face who knows how many attempts on her life.

Zhao Gang was not the slightest bit conscious of being questioned, and with a nod, he said, "If that’s the case, would you consider going back?"

Ye Xinyan, giving Zhao Gang a sideways look, said, "As Qi Ye?" Or as Lian Gui once said, perhaps Duchess An only used Qi Ye because she resembled the granddaughter, as a way to carry on the Duchess’ so-called sorrow for her granddaughter.

Zhao Gang nodded, "Recently, Duke An told your mother that if you are indeed good, he would allow your mother to acknowledge you as her goddaughter."

Ye Xinyan shuddered with disgust, she had always disliked the notion of a goddaughter. Unexpectedly, now she faced the prospect of accepting this distasteful title and status.

She mused silently, not responding.

In today’s Clear Water Village in Yuyuan Prefecture, she already had a sense of familiarity and belonging, and her actions were never restricted. She couldn’t predict what she would face if she returned to the capital. Here, Jiang Yifan was in charge; Jinrong was the most powerful person in Yuyuan Prefecture.

If she went back to the capital, squeezed among countless powerful people, who knew when she might bump into someone’s hands and offend some noble?

And there was the wife of the heir apparent. She felt that with her capabilities, she might not be able to handle Madam Yin’s affection.

Zhao Gang sighed, "Your mother, of course, hopes you could stay by her side, but as a loving mother, if you return unhappy or even in danger, she naturally wouldn’t force you. However, having seen the burgeoning foundation of Qi Family Construction Business these past few days and your management of the two properties for His Highness Prince Yu, I’m afraid it might not be up to you whether you wish to return to the capital, you would surely have to."

"How could that be?" Ye Xinyan was astonished, "Even if the construction business grows bigger, it’s still a craftsman’s identity, not a high official. Is it really necessary to go to the capital? Besides, those two properties belong to Sixth Master, whether for profit or fame, that’s Sixth Master’s concern. When did managing things become glamorous?"

"What if Duke An forcefully demands your return?" Zhao Gang asked.

Ye Xinyan scoffed, "How is that possible? I’ve been hiding from his and the capital’s sight. The old man is at ease."

Zhao Gang said sternly, "You are young and don’t understand many things." Zhao Gang paused, then asked, "Have you never wondered why you could act wildly in the capital for so many years, yet never truly court disaster or really suffer for it?"

Was this even a question? Ye Xinyan looked down on Zhao Gang for underestimating her and said, "Am I not bearing the title of the legitimate granddaughter of Duke An’s Mansion? Then there are my uncle and you, constantly cleaning up the messes I make. Moreover, the women and female relatives I provoke can’t afford to lose face, so they give me that so-called... opportunity to act wildly."

Zhao Gang nodded, then immediately shook his head, "It’s true that the Marquis and General Zhenyuan stepped in, but what really fueled your arrogance was none other than Duke An himself."

"How could it be the old man? Isn’t it..." Wasn’t it Madam Yin’s coddling?

Ye Xinyan looked at Zhao Gang skeptically. Could it be that Zhao Gang intended to shift the blame to Duke An in order to exculpate Madam Yin? Zhao Gang seemed like a decent man; he didn’t appear to be someone who would stoop so low, right?

Meeting Ye Xinyan’s gaze, Zhao Gang chuckled and said, "What nonsense are you thinking about again?"

"From the time when you were two years old at the flower fair held at the Grand Tutor’s Mansion, you pushed the Grand Tutor’s grandson, who was a year older than you, to the ground in a fight over a cloth tiger. Then, climbing on top of him, you started kicking and hitting. Since then, Duke An has never punished you for how you treated others.

With Duke An’s tacit approval, no matter how overbearing and irrational you were, no one else in the mansion could do anything to you. Coupled with Maternal Aunt Liu’s deep scheming, she seized the opportunity to lift you even higher, leading to an uncontrollable situation in the end."

The more Ye Xinyan listened, the larger her eyes grew, "How could this be? Duke An is actually so intent on harming his own granddaughter. Aren’t Duke An and my maternal grandfather sworn brothers?" Even if he didn’t consider his own granddaughter, for the sake of Marquis Zhongyong and Madam Yin, Duke An couldn’t do this, could he?

Going back to the capital was out of the question now! What was this? How could things have come to this, ruining one’s own granddaughter?

"Sigh, you’re overthinking it again." Zhao Gang saw the turmoil in Ye Xinyan’s face, her eyes filled with shock, and sighed again, "Duke An spent his youth and middle years fighting on the frontiers, and he only had your father as a son, who was also pampered by the Duchess. In Duke An’s eyes, your father lacked masculinity, which was a lifelong regret for him."

So, watching his granddaughter be so unreasonable, ready to lash out in word and deed, gave him a sense of satisfaction? Ye Xinyan’s eyebrows shot up.

Zhao Gang said, "If only you were a boy. If you were his grandson, each time people came to complain about you beating up some playboy in the capital, Duke An would have been even more pleased."

It took quite a while for Ye Xinyan’s eyebrows to settle down.

Damn, how bizarre was this? To allow his granddaughter to become so intolerable until she was beyond redemption, causing an uncontrollable situation, just to then dispose of her with a single word by sending her to the ancestral temple or getting rid of her. Could Duke An be any more irresponsible or capricious?

Zhao Gang’s eyes lowered, and he sighed again, "When you were young and in your early years, such a temperament could still be excused as childishness, regardless of the trouble you stirred up. But as you grew up, with your mother protecting you with all her might and Duke An feeling much guilt toward your mother and Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion due to your father and Maternal Aunt Liu’s affairs, he couldn’t bear to be harsh with you and you were uncontrollable."

"Do you still remember when you were twelve, and the general had several old woman servants hold you down on a bench in the main hall to administer those ten beats?" Zhao Gang asked.