She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 361 - 360: Do You Even Need to Think About It?

Chapter 361: Chapter 360: Do You Even Need to Think About It?

Lady Wang looked over each dish on the table, lion’s head meatballs, ribs, braised lamb, crispy meatballs, and the whole crispy chicken hadn’t been touched at all, along with the braised pork, soy-braised grass carp, and stir-fried shredded pork with dried beans they had made earlier.

Qi Sanshun also looked over each dish, then cheered, "Oh, great, crispy meatballs and braised lamb are just fine, I hardly ate any earlier."

Lady Wang slapped Qi Sanshun’s hand as it reached for the meatballs, "Haven’t you eaten enough at your Second Uncle’s family? And still, you’re not satisfied." Then she pointed to the table and asked Lady Xu, "Have the dishes that Nanny Liu packed up been left behind?"

As Lady Xu generally arranged the dishes, she said with a smile, "Nanny Liu just led people in cleaning up a bit, the guards and nannies carried them out and put them straight in our utility room. Ye Zi had just specifically instructed Chengzi’s wife to not eat leftovers during the New Year, and told us to eat those untouched meals from the kitchen first. If that’s not enough, we’ll make additional dishes. The leftovers that are packed will be frozen outside, to be eaten after the fifth day of the new year."

Lady Wang’s mouth fell open, but it was something she had expected, yet she said, "It’s so late, what will they eat when they return? You should have been polite and suggested leaving some food, us villagers aren’t so particular, leaving a bit would have been fine. It’s such good food, let her take it home, to save her from having to cook when they get back."

Lady Li said with a smile, "Grandmother, I did say that, but Ye Zi said that Sixth Master Rong and Lord Jiang are staying at our house as guests. If they knew she actually packed up food to bring home, they might laugh their heads off."

Lady Li was genuinely happy, not just because of the New Year’s Eve dinner, but also because Ye Zi wasn’t angry with her family.

She hadn’t thought much of it before, but when Ye Zi mentioned starting a pastry shop in the afternoon, the more she thought about it, the more eager she felt.

If she and Sister Meizi could really get the shop up and running, not only would Meizi and Xinger be able to secure a good marriage, the family’s life would improve as well. She would be someone who ran a business and earned money for the family, no longer just an unworldly farmwife, good only for serving her in-laws and husband.

Today’s gloominess had dissipated when Ye Zi had instructed her about the food boxes in the utility room. As long as Second Uncle and Ye Zi weren’t angry with her family, she didn’t care whether the people from Qi Family Third Branch were pleased or not. Even if she gave her heart to them, it wouldn’t result in anything good.

Lady Wang chuckled, "Speaking of which, if Ye Zi didn’t pack the food, I’m afraid your Third Great Uncle would have been busy, unable to carry everything in one trip and having to come back a second time."

Qi Yougui cleared his throat and said, "Now that the meal is ready, let’s start eating. It’s getting late, and the children must be hungry."

When Qi Younian and his group returned, Hongzhi was already waiting in the courtyard, the row of lanterns hung under the eaves lighting up the yard in a joyful glow.

Hongzhi spotted them from a distance and hurried to meet them at the courtyard entrance, bowed his hands first, and then said, "Sixth Master is waiting in the living hall, not much of the meal has been disturbed, and not all the dishes were served. He said he’d wait for Lord and Young Lady to come back and eat together."

Ye Xinyan frowned and asked, "Did you tell Sixth Master?"

Hongzhi was in a tough spot; he had told him. But, wasn’t it a matter of time? If he hadn’t told him just now, wouldn’t Sixth Master still find out? Besides, he would have faced scolding either way.

Qi Younian said, "Sixth Master would have found out sooner or later. Didn’t you just tell Chengzi’s wife that if the food was packed up and brought back, Sixth Master would make fun of us? Little brother did the right thing telling Sixth Master. Let’s go inside, I reckon Brother Jia must be hungry too."

Qi Younian and a few others entered the room, and chaos ensued once more. The chairs for Qi Younian, Ye Xinyan, and Qi Jiaer had already been arranged. Qi Younian sat beside Jinrong, followed by Ye Xinyan and Qi Jia.

After everyone had exchanged greetings and taken their seats, engaging in brief pleasantries, Jinrong finally asked, "What happened? How can a meal turn into such chaos? You even needed the guards and Nanny Ding to intervene."

"Ah, it’s embarrassing in front of Sixth Master and Lord Jiang," said Qi Younian as he briefly recounted the events. He didn’t delve into many details but simply reiterated the conversation that led up to the incident.

Jinrong was somewhat puzzled. Ye Xinyan truly adored her younger brother, yet there seemed to be no need to create such a fuss over a petty quarrel between children.

"Because the child from the third branch cursed Brother Jia for drinking swill?" Jinrong asked.

Ye Xinyan’s face darkened, becoming increasingly incensed each time this topic was brought up in front of Qi Jia, discussing it repeatedly.

With a stern expression, she spoke slowly, "If it had simply been verbal abuse, no matter how vulgar, it wouldn’t be much of a concern. The key issue is... they really did often feed Qi Jia swill instead of a proper meal."

When Qi Congwu had spoken about this in the main branch, Ye Xinyan was merely angry. But now, speaking out herself, she suddenly felt her prior reaction was too mild. Damn it! To think such things were happening! She should have slapped every single person from the third branch twenty times each and force-fed them swill for three days in place of meals.

Her rage billowed once more, while Jinrong, Jiang Yifan, and everyone else present turned pale. They were aware of Qi Jiaer being mistreated by his stepmother in the third branch, but had not expected such atrocities to occur.

Enraged, Jinrong said, "Such a thing has happened, and yet you are only reacting now? You think merely slapping their faces twenty times is enough?" Turning to Jiang Yifan, he continued, "Tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year. Summon the constables from the Yamen to arrest people. First, detain the people from the third branch and interrogate them separately. Clarify the abuse of the stepchild by Madam Pang and the complicity of the Qi Family Third Branch. Judge the case according to the law, and sentence them as they deserve."

Still indignant, he added, "To commit such depravity without any attempt to hide it, and daring to speak of it in public. So arrogant—are they not afraid of the law of the land?"

Although Ye Xinyan was already furious, her renewed anger seemed trivial compared to Jinrong’s outburst.

Jiang Yifan looked somberly at Qi Younian.

Qi Younian tightly shut his eyes and said, "Lord Jiang will handle this matter. There are laws in our country, and such heinous acts cannot be tolerated. I, of course, cannot obstruct."

After scrutinizing the members of the Qi family once again, Jinrong said in astonishment, "Such a wicked woman, is there even a need to ponder further?"

By then, Qi Younian was at a loss for words. On one side were his beloved grandchildren, the royal prince, and the local magistrate, and on the other, his brother of several decades. Once the third branch family was sent to prison, he likely wouldn’t be able to face Qi Yougui from the main branch ever again.

A profound silence filled the room. Then, Ye Xinyan broke the silence.