She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 344 - 343: Clothing and Apparel

Chapter 344: Chapter 343: Clothing and Apparel

Ye Xinyan felt a surge of emotions, but Nanny Jin merely squinted her eyes and laughed, "Brother Jia, don’t just focus on your sister’s pretty clothes; you have your own beautiful clothes to wear, too. Do you remember? The ones Sister Jiu Yu and Sister Zi Ning had you try on before were also very pretty."

Qi Jiaer snuggled up to Nanny Jin, still gazing at Ye Xinyan with stars in his eyes, but he questioned Nanny Jin, "But when I look at it, my new clothes don’t seem as pretty as sister’s."

"What are you talking about? Yours are much prettier than your sister’s. How can your sister’s new clothes compare to Brother Jia’s?" Nanny Jin said with a laugh.

Ye Xinyan made a face at Nanny Jin. Whenever it came to Qi Jiaer, Nanny Jin could immediately abandon her principles, saying whatever would make the lad happy.

Though Qi Jiaer was young, he was quite clever, and every time he saw Ye Xinyan make such an expression towards him and Nanny Jin, he couldn’t help but feel smug.

At this moment, seeing the helpless yet envious look on his sister’s face, Qi Jiaer cheerfully said, "Sister, are you jealous because Nanny likes me more again?"

Jealous my ass, what’s the point of being jealous of a little brat like you? Ye Xinyan rolled her eyes and asked him sourly, "Where are Qi Sanshun and Jiuhua? Why didn’t they stay to have breakfast with you?"

As soon as Qi Jiaer heard Ye Xinyan’s question, he forgot all about his smugness and excitedly said, "Brother Sanshun and Brother Xiao Si have gone home to wash their faces and change into new clothes. They said after they’ve changed and had breakfast, they’ll come out to play together. Brother Sanshun also said that Great Uncle bought him small firecrackers, the really tiny kind, and he wants to set them off with us."

Nanny Jin called to Zi Ning, "Go fetch the boy’s clothes here, so he can wash his hands and face right here and change his clothes." Then she said to Qi Jiaer, "After eating breakfast with your sister, go outside first to greet your grandfather, Sixth Master, and Lord Jiang, then you can go out and play, understand?"

While Qi Jiaer rolled up his sleeves on his own, he answered, "I understand. Grandfather mentioned it yesterday; we have guests at home, and every day we must greet the guests before doing anything else, to be a well-mannered child."

Qi Jiaer aimed to be a well-mannered child, and although Ye Xinyan wasn’t planning on being the good kid, proper etiquette was still expected. After breakfast, hearing that those who had stayed up late drinking were already up, the freshly dressed siblings went together to the outer court to fulfill their proprieties.

Qi Younian actually hadn’t drunk much the night before; he had just stayed up late talking with Jinrong, Guan He, and the others. He had woken up early today, but since it was so quiet in the courtyard, he didn’t want to disturb anyone else’s sleep and refrained from walking about. It was not until Shi Yu and Chengan went out to draw water that Qi Younian followed them out.

Jinrong and Jiang Yifan were staying next door, and both got up around the same time as Jiang Yifan, who decided to head to the dining hall after washing up.

Both their original garments were already nice—made of good material and fine craftsmanship, although still around eighty to ninety percent new, any ordinary person would immediately notice their luxurious and exquisite nature.

But today was New Year’s Eve, and so, in keeping with the occasion, both had changed into brand new clothes.

Jinrong wore a golden crown and a deep purple robe, the hems and cuffs edged with rolled gold and embroidered with golden cloud patterns. His belt of the same color was also adorned with golden thread cloud patterns, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, patterned as if reaching up to the clouds. He wore a pair of black satin boots, each embedded with seven red gems and embroidered with silver patterns surrounding the jewels.

Jiang Yifan was clad in a dark-patterned blue brocade robe that flowed over his form, his head uncovered, save for a white jade hairpin tucked into his topknot. The simplicity of his attire was only accented by a loosely tied waistband from which hung a jade pendant, signifying imminent nobility, while his feet were shod in unadorned black silk satin boots.

Both men were naturally tall and slender, with a graceful and refreshing air about them. Now, newly dressed and standing in the courtyard, accompanied by two handsome young servants, they were indeed a dazzling sight.

As Ye Xinyan emerged from the back garden, what she saw was a pairing of attendants and appearances that could rival a beauty contest, which prompted her to raise her eyebrows before her lips curled downwards in a slight frown.

Those with power and wealth always seemed to hold advantages in various aspects. Take looks for example, not only did they have the advantage of good family upbringing to cultivate an air of nobility; through generations of selective mate choices, they naturally gave birth to handsome and beautiful offspring, resulting in a stark contrast where the common folk not only lived in hardship but also bore despicable appearances.

If by some rare chance a beauty with mutated genes appeared among the commoners, they would typically be marked by wealthy families, taken into their grand mansions to extend the lineage of beauty and continue to bring misfortune upon others.

It was only because she had seen her fair share of various beautiful men, beguiling or strong and handsome young idols, that she wasn’t immediately lost to confusion, not knowing north from south at first sight.

When Jinrong and Jiang Yifan saw Ye Xinyan, dressed formally, their eyes lit up as well. Although she did not wear the dazzling silk or satin, clad in a simple cotton dress, she bore no resemblance to the previously flamboyant Miss Ye.

The Miss of today naturally carried an air of composed serenity, and clad in a pale reddish dress with subtle dark patterns, she exuded softness and delicacy, none of yesterday’s sharpness and edge to be seen.

The jewelry she wore for the first time, although made of silver, featured such fine, hair-like filigree work that it suggested luxury. The glinting silver complemented the red attire, setting off Miss Ye’s refined and slightly heroic beauty, almost as if she were bathed in a halo of red-tinged silver light. This, together with her bright, clear eyes, and an expression touched with disdain, gave her an enchanting allure.

Qi Jiaer’s eyes darted among the adults in the courtyard before he reminded them, "And me too, I’m wearing new clothes."

Jiang Yifan came back to his senses and suddenly smiled, his gaze falling on Qi Jiaer and showing a look of surprise, "Oh, Brother Jia’s new clothes are indeed extraordinary, so beautiful. And the accessories too, just as exquisite and lavish, look at our Brother Jia’s little face—truly like a young master from a distinguished family."

Qi Jiaer shifted slightly with coyness, then let go of Ye Xinyan’s hand, stepped forward, and greeted the two men, "The child pays respect to Sixth Master Rong and to Lord Jiang."

Jinrong bent down, took Qi Jiaer’s hand, and looked him over, laughing, "Indeed no longer that mud monkey. Look at this outfit paired with this little fellow’s features; he truly looks like a handsome young master now."

Qi Jiaer’s attire had been meticulously chosen by Nanny Jin, a robe of brilliant red silk satin embroidered with a design of the character for ’fortune’ in dark red and silver threads, topped with the silver necklace with the fortune, prosperity, and longevity design that Madam Yin had sent over. On his wrists were silver bracelets matching the pattern, and his twin topknots were each tied with a red cord, the ends of which dangled small hollow silver beads.

Spending his days racing around outside with village kids, Qi Jiaer lacked the polished refinement of wealthy children, but he wasn’t dark or thin-skinned either. Likely because he was well-nourished with daily milk, Qi Jiaer’s face wasn’t the pampered rosy-white of well-kept children, but his cheeks were nevertheless tender and smooth, and coupled with a pair of bright, sparkling eyes, he looked exceptionally spirited.