She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 379 - 378: Becoming a Cunning Woman?

Chapter 379: Chapter 378: Becoming a Cunning Woman?

Jinrong lifted his eyes, his face beaming as if bathed in the spring sun. He smiled, lifted his cup of wine, and towards Guan He, he raised it, saying, "Brother Guan is a lucky man, carefree for so many years. In the end, not only can he settle down here and continue his carefree life, but also do so with such peace and stability, truly making us all envious."

Guan He responded by lifting his cup, sneering, "Saying one thing and meaning another." Then he drained the wine from his cup in one gulp and continued, "Speaking of which, Sixth Master is the truly lucky one. Originally, Yuanfan was demoted to serve as the magistrate of Qingyuan County, which was a demotion. Yet, he could bring so many benefits to Sixth Master. The advantages he gained from this demotion are something even you two, who have had smooth official careers for many years, could probably not imagine."

"That is indeed the case," Jinrong said sincerely, then smiled at Jiang Yifan, "Yuanfan, this demotion of yours, is it a blessing or a misfortune? Or is it a case where blessings and misfortunes are intertwined?"

Guan He refilled the cups for Jinrong and Qi Younian and poured himself a full cup, saying, "Given this young man’s energy, perhaps it is all good fortune. What’s so great about staying in the capital? It’s nothing more than vying with those old foxes who have been in the bureaucracy for years. It’s far less meaningful than doing some real work in the localities and not wasting the hard efforts of his master who took him on so many tours over the years."

Jiang Yifan, from beginning to end, did not give Ye Xinyan a glance, but he nodded in agreement, "The benefits have been substantial."

Ye Xinyan truly did not join them in conversation, and after finishing a bowl of noodles, she pulled Zhou Biyao to the back courtyard.

The Second Miss Zhou, who was reluctant to part with the roasted meat, managed to persuade Nanny Liu to give her two pieces of roast and several slices of cheese before leaving, saying she could roast them over the warming brazier and have a feast at dinner.

After resting for two days, Jinrong, with the two others and Guan He continued their leisurely ways, passing the time. Jinrong also took time to discuss with Jiang Yifan matters mentioned by Ye Xinyan, waiting until after the new year to gather the manpower and elaborate further.

Wong Qiao began spending his days in the office, helping Ye Xinyan with the paperwork for expanding the cattle farm and the dairy workshop.

During this time, Zhou Biyao also started getting involved, taking on some simple tasks. Eager to be able to work after returning to Yuyuan City, she volunteered to take on part of the construction details of the Prince’s Side Courtyard, breaking down materials and labor costs into segments and specifying the budget.

The matter of the Prince’s Side Courtyard was later handed over to Wong Qiao, so Zhou Biyao’s contact in this regard was with Wong Qiao.

Watching Wong Qiao attentively teach Zhou Biyao, Ye Xinyan could not pinpoint exactly what she felt inside.

Ye Xinyan originally thought of Wong Qiao as a gentle, diligent, responsible man next door, a refined man. She was not like Zhou Biyao, whose decade-long experiences had been wasted away in the inner quarters, not investing all her feelings into a likable man at first sight. Although she believed Wong Qiao would make a good husband, the mere half-year of acquaintance was not enough to let Ye Xinyan elevate these feelings to a formal agenda.

Before she had time to think clearly about where this budding relationship would go, Zhou Biyao appeared out of nowhere, disrupting her calm years like the chaos of troubled waters, cutting short what she thought would naturally take its course.

Zhou Biyao approached her with a headstrong energy. Fortunately, Zhou Biyao knew she was a woman and so far her interactions with Wong Qiao were limited to work matters and did not exhibit the same relentless pursuit she had shown towards Ye Xinyan in the past.

As rulers who should fully uphold the feudal rites and education, people like Jinrong and Jiang Yifan, surprisingly showed no doubts or dissatisfaction towards the association of another woman and a man out of those associated with Ye Xinyan.

That made Ye Xinyan feel incredulous and indignant. Could it be that the strict separation of men and women in the Great Xia Dynasty was so fragile that upon entering the courtyard of the Second Branch family of the Qi family, it suddenly crumbled?

Ye Xinyan had once maliciously thought, if Jinrong could raise doubts about Zhou Biyao’s conduct, could she use the pretext of His Highness Prince Yu to pack Zhou Biyao off and send her back to the Zhou Mansion in Yuyuan City? Or could she directly use Zhou Biyao’s transgressions here as a reason, under the guise of protecting her own reputation, to force her to return home?

But if she sent Zhou Biyao away, what about Wong Qiao? What if her grandfather was right, that she wasn’t suitable for Wong Qiao, and Wong Qiao himself preferred Zhou Biyao, who admired him?

Time and distance might sever a budding romance, but they could not cut off memories. What if one day Wong Qiao regretted it? What if he yearned for the good woman who was driven away, for the life that was ruined by a cunning woman? Might the regret of not having obtained her deepen over time, eventually becoming more beautiful than its actual worth?

Ye Xinyan, coming out from the workshop, did not immediately go home but stopped in an empty space mid-way. In the winter days free of biting cold, she stood with her hands behind her back in a discordant posture, aimlessly watching the horizon far away over the gravel, her thoughts drifting farther and farther.

She seemed to see Wong Qiao, after getting married, being oppressed by a manipulative, strong-willed wife, and day after day, pondering over the wonderful woman driven away, thinking about the life that was ruined.

Then, not far away, Jiu Yue gently reminded her, "Young Lady, Third Master Wong is coming over."

Ah? Speak of the devil and he shall appear; she was thinking of him, and he returned. Ye Xinyan turned her body to the side and saw Wong Qiao walking towards her from the direction of the courtyard.

Wong Qiao nodded to the people from Anshun’s Household and two maidservants as he walked up to Ye Xinyan and asked, "Ye Zi, why are you standing here? The weather hasn’t warmed up yet, you’ll get cold if you stand for too long."

Ye Xinyan sized up Wong Qiao, shouldn’t he be working with Zhou Biyao in the office? "Why are you out? Where are you headed?"