She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 398 - 397: Someone’s Coming

Chapter 398: Chapter 397: Someone’s Coming

The journey from Qingyuan County to the capital was long, and Ye Xinyan and the others would surely travel by carriage, a journey that would take at least half a month. According to Ye Xinyan’s own plan, half a month to go, one to two months to stay in the capital, and half a month to return, that would be a total of three months’ time.

In her hands, she was managing the business of Jinrong and Jiang Yifan, and she had to arrange everything for these three months. There were also two small eateries in the county and prefecture cities, which Ye Xinyan had planned as a retirement business for Nanny Jin, and these also needed to be well settled.

While arranging things for the cattle farm and the dairy product workshop, Ye Xinyan sent Qi Ercheng and the Zhou Nanny from the royal mansion to Yuyuan City, bringing back Nanny Jin.

The household matters were left to Nanny Liu. Qi Younian, who had been busy all year, was supposed to rest at home this winter, but since Qi Ercheng went to the prefecture city, the small eatery had to be left to a young servant who followed Qi Ercheng, and Qi Younian would check on it from time to time.

According to Nanny Liu’s instructions, Ye Xinyan must take attendants with her, for if she had no one by her side upon arriving in the capital, it was hard to guarantee that the Duke’s Mansion wouldn’t assign people to her.

Ye Xinyan thought about it and realized that it made sense. Even as a guest staying in Duke An’s Mansion, she would need attendants. If she didn’t have any, she would have to comply with the arrangements of Duke An’s Mansion. Even if she disliked having too many people and the inconvenience of finding lodgings on the road, she should still bring two maids and an old woman servant.

After much consideration, Ye Xinyan decided to bring Bi Ning with her. Although Bi Ning was from Jinrong Residence, she had been with Ye Xinyan long enough to develop a significant rapport. When moving around Duke An’s Mansion, it was essential to have a well-behaved maid by her side to keep up appearances.

She was accompanied by Bi Ning, Jiu Yue, a servant from Song Ping’s household, and Nanny Jin, who was also following her. As for Qi Jiaer, Guan He would take care of Qi Jiaer, Qi Sanshun, Jiuhua, and Zi Ning.

The four servant women from Anshun’s household, who were temporarily assigned by Duke An to serve the so-called Qi Ye, had completed their duties over the past year and could return to report their service.

All counted, the group returning to the capital would include more than a dozen people and require several carriages, along with the clothes and utensils needed for the journey...

Ye Xinyan thought about the commotion and found it troublesome. Traveling was already a hassle, let alone with so many needless attendants. She remembered how, two years ago at this time, she and Nanny Jin had set out with just the two of them, carrying only a few pieces of warm clothing. Though it was hard, it had been easy to manage.

Seeing the busy preparations by Nanny Liu and the people from Anshun’s household over these ten days, she couldn’t help but sigh. Here, the biggest manifestation of a different status was a master surrounded by many cumbersome encumbrances.

Nanny Jin had settled the affairs of Yuyuan City and arrived at Clear Water Village closely following Lian Gui, who was sent by Duke An’s Mansion to meet Ye Xinyan.

Although Nanny Jin was somewhat worried about the summons from Duke An’s Mansion, she wasn’t very afraid. At the time of the young lady’s misfortune, she had resigned herself to a death by beating but, not only was she not beaten to death, she also escaped with the young lady and had since seen and done so much.

The small eatery in the county city was something the young lady had started, which she later took over. However, Delicious Taste Tower in Yuyuan Prefecture City was her own venture from scratch. Although it had been open for less than a year, the business was booming and very profitable.

She was capable of earning her livelihood, not just a servant stuck in the back house, limited to serving tea and water.

Regardless of what she may face upon returning to Duke An’s Mansion, she felt that her life was worthwhile, more so than any servant in Duke An’s Mansion.

But why does the young lady need to go back? Who knows if Duke An is still angry about that incident, and the embarrassment her escape caused for Duke An’s Mansion. She’s been so happy and carefree here, why go back?

So, in mid-November, when Nanny Jin came back after noon, before she even entered, she was already complaining to the greeting Ye Xinyan, "The Duke only asked for this old servant to return, Ye Zi, why are you joining in the fuss? If, after going back, the Duke and Madam Yin blame you, what are we to do? Ye Zi, if you stay here, with Master Guan and the people of the Sixth Master’s Mansion, you would at least be well-protected."

Ye Xinyan half supported, half pushed Nanny Jin towards the house, while saying, "Enough, Nanny, you talk as if by not returning I could avoid the inevitable. If I go back this time obediently, the old man might be in a good mood and we both could have an easy time. If I avoid going back, not only would I be implicating you, but people would still come looking for trouble with me. Anyway, we are only going to stay for a few days, then we will come back."

"Ah? Who said that? Who said we’ll only go for a few days?" Nanny Jin almost stopped in her tracks.

"Let’s go, what are you stopping outside for? It’s freezing and we have a journey ahead. Once back, we can drink tea and eat pastries to warm up. I’m the one who said it; I still have things to take care of here, how could I have time to dawdle in the capital city with them?"

"Is that so," Nanny Jin continued walking. It turned out to be the young lady’s own words; she had thought Duke An had hinted at something.

It was only after Nanny Jin wiped her hands and face, holding a cup of milk tea, sitting in her own room, did she sigh to Ye Xinyan sitting opposite her, "Ah, if it weren’t for this servant accompanying Ye Zi, even if the capital knew that Ye Zi was here, we could have claimed that Ye Zi only resembled the young lady and stubbornly refused to admit anything."

Ye Xinyan chided, "There you go with that talk again, Nanny, as if it’s for nothing. If it weren’t for you, Nanny, I wouldn’t have been able to escape that day, let alone get so far and meet grandfather in Miyi County."

And then, none of the following would have happened. If they hadn’t set up a stall in Qingyuan County, there wouldn’t have been the manpower and financial support of Jinrong and Jiang Yifan. Relying on her small business like making headdress flowers for capital, she feared that she would only just be able to eat and dress warmly by now, without any surplus...

They had only been sitting for a short while when news from Song Ping’s Household came in, "Someone from the capital city has arrived, a steward surnamed Lian leading twelve guards, has just been welcomed into the guest hall by the old master."

Upon hearing this, Ye Xinyan smiled and said to Nanny Jin, "Look, it’s someone familiar. Nanny, you rest here, I’ll go out to receive him. Steward Lian was a great help last time he came, and he serves the old man closely; it’s always good to show more courtesy." Not to mention, he had even brought things to Madam Yin for her.

Nanny Jin set down her cup and stood up promptly, "How could a culpable servant like me presumptuously rest in the inner yard? I ought to go to pay respects to Steward Lian."

After a year, Lian Gui met Ye Xinyan again, and compared to the last impression, the young lady seemed different this time. She appeared more composed and shrewd, her eyes lively and graceful when she looked around.

Ye Xinyan said she came to pay respects to Lian Gui, but before she could move, Lian Gui had already stepped forward, bowing in greeting, "Your humble servant Lian Gui, has the honor to see the Young Lady."

Ye Xinyan hurriedly returned the courtesy, "You are too kind, Steward Lian. The journey from the capital city here is long, especially in the cold winter. For Steward Lian to travel back and forth like this, it’s trouble we have caused."

"Not at all, not at all, it’s this lowly one’s duty to serve the household diligently, I dare not accept the Young Lady’s words."

Qi Younian, smiling, suggested that Lian Gui retake his seat, "Steward Lian, you’ve been on the road for days, working hard. It’s better to sit and talk."