She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 404 - 403

Chapter 404: 403

In the evening during dinner, Jinrong and Guan He chatted idly about the feel of the pieces in land battle chess. They actually considered using rosewood or even making a set out of green and white jade.

Overheard by Ye Xinyan at the side, she scoffed, "Such trivial things are merely child’s play, used to pass the time. To make them out of rosewood or jade, what a waste of good material."

Before Jinrong could speak up, Guan He took over the conversation, saying, "Land battle chess is quite interesting, children have their way of playing, and adults have theirs. Since it’s something to be handled, it’s more comfortable if it feels better in the hand."

After finishing this sentence, he paused, then continued, "Are you scared because you’ve suffered a bit? With your abilities, living a comfortable life isn’t difficult, and you’ve lived comfortably for quite a while now. Why can’t you shake off your frugal nature?"

"Uh..." Ye Xinyan was stunned, "Really?"

As they were about to reach the capital, she wondered if her commoner’s habits would cause her trouble? It seemed she needed to be more mindful in the future. It wasn’t easy to fundamentally change her behavior, but at least she should avoid speaking so bluntly and setting herself up like today.

Jinrong laughed and smoothed things over, "It’s understandable. Ye Zi has never had to worry about food and clothing since she was little. Sudden hardship is bound to leave a deep impression. But this land battle chess isn’t as worthless as you make it out to be. Through the arrangement of the game, one can guess the opponent’s mentality, which is particularly beneficial for boys to play."

Guessing the opponent’s mentality? Ye Xinyan was surprised, "It has that effect?"

Guan He waved his hand and said to Jinrong, "It’s useless to tell her, a woman. She doesn’t understand."

Ye Xinyan blinked, was she being looked down upon? Ye Xinyan glared fiercely at Guan He. What kind of person was he? Playing the land battle chess she created, yet speaking of her like that! Even if it were true, there was no need to say it to her face, right?

Once back at Duke’s Mansion, she would have Zi Ning replaced, find a pretentious and show-off maidservant from Madam Yin to look after Qi Jiaer, parading in front of him, flaunting, to make him uncomfortable.

Soon after, Ye Xinyan didn’t have time to worry about anything else. The journey had already reached its midpoint, and Jinrong’s guards who had been sent to the capital to fetch railway carriage materials had returned. All the necessary documents and materials were complete, stacked in two thick piles with drawings, placed in two small boxes.

From that day on, Ye Xinyan spent most of her time reviewing the materials. She was planning the trial operation scheme for the railway carriage while looking over the documents.

Perhaps it was because the thirty or so formidable guards from Prince Yu’s Mansion and Duke An’s Mansion were quite intimidating, their journey was smooth and secure.

As they entered the twelfth lunar month, they gradually entered the jurisdiction of the capital.

That day, just after Shen Hour, Jinrong and his party stopped at a county near the capital.

Jinrong, concerned about Ye Xinyan’s situation upon returning to Duke An’s Mansion, found her and asked her when she planned to enter the city.

Ye Xinyan had been busy these days with planning for the trial operation of the railway carriage, her mind completely absorbed in the operation. She had no concept of Jinrong’s question.

Isn’t that obvious? Of course, she would enter the city whenever she arrived. Was she supposed to realize she wasn’t eager to return upon almost reaching her destination, or was she considering going back to Clear Water Village?

Jinrong noticed that Nanny Jin, who stood alongside, clearly understood yet inconveniently kept silent out of anxiety, and explained to Ye Xinyan, "When you left Duke An’s Mansion that year, the old master did put effort into looking for you, but he just couldn’t find you. Now that you are returning, even if the old master isn’t angry, he will still need to make an example and punish you."

"Oh, is that so? When can I return to avoid punishment?" Ye Xinyan asked. Was there really a special technique to this, calculating the times when Duke An’s anger would be at its least?

Jinrong smiled and said, "Avoiding it is definitely impossible. Let’s just go back during Shen Hour, even if you’re punished by kneeling, it won’t be for long. If you kneel until evening, it’s time to rest, and it also gives the Duke a generous reason to deal with you."

Once the plan was settled, Jinrong called over Lian Gui and told him to set out earlier the next day, without resting at noon, striving to enter the city before Shen Hour the day after.

Lian Gui naturally had no objections; entering the city during Shen Hour or after dark made no difference to him. The distinction lay with the young lady.

If they entered the mansion at night, it was likely that neither the Duke nor the Duchess would see the young lady that day. If the meeting were pushed to the next day, the young lady’s punishment of kneeling could perhaps extend from morning to evening, a full day on her knees.

Entering the city during Shen Hour, however, was different. With a detour through the main and second gates into the mansion and being delayed by Madam Yin, it would probably be late Shen hour. This time was somewhat late, but still somewhat adequate for greeting elders. And the young lady’s kneeling punishment would at most last for a Shichen, allowing her to enjoy a delightful dinner and rest afterwards.

The inevitable always arrives; now in the early Shen hour, the towering and dignified city gates of the capital loomed in sight.

Ye Xinyan thought she was prepared, but upon seeing the city gate she had passed through twice before, her anxiety intensified. This was the place where the original host had grown up, but she had only spent one abnormal day lying in her room within Duke An’s Mansion and hadn’t faced anyone except for Madam Yin.

She didn’t know if she, the young lady with a different soul, could pass the scrutiny of everyone. According to what Jiang Yifan had said, it seemed not to be difficult, but she still had no confidence in her heart.

Qi Sanshun and Qi Jiaer didn’t notice Ye Xinyan’s unease – they were about to enter the legendary capital city. Both had packed up their chess game and all their trinkets, already in a state of excitement.

Though they had passed through many cities on their way, none of them compared to the imposing grandeur of this city. The two lads couldn’t sit still inside the carriage upon seeing the tall and majestic city in the distance. They perched on the shaft of the carriage, pointing and making comments about the city and the people and carriages nearby, chatting non-stop.

Nanny Jin stayed by Ye Xinyan’s side, and she herself felt quite uneasy, sensing the emotional fluctuations of Ye Xinyan.

She steadied her heart and reminded herself again that this escape was worth it, then comforted Ye Xinyan, "Ye Zi, you don’t need to worry. Judging by the respect Steward Lian has for you, the Duke surely won’t be angry with you. Just be at ease."

"Hmm, I know. But having been away for so long, I feel a bit anxious about returning. It’s probably what they call a fear of approaching one’s hometown," Ye Xinyan said, relaxing her tone.

She wasn’t worried about Duke An being angry; she was afraid of how to face these strangers who were her family. She was worried about getting caught.

At an arrow’s shot distance from the city gate, the steward from Prince Yu’s Mansion led some servants, holding horses and waiting there. By their side stood the steward and servants from Duke An’s Mansion.

By this time, Jinrong, sitting inside the railway carriage, heard the steward from home welcoming them, lifted the carriage curtain, exchanged a few words with his own steward, and then greeted Duke An’s Mansion’s steward. The party continued toward the city gate.

The city gate had already been notified, and, despite the nearing year-end, which brought a lot of pedestrians and vehicles passing through, Jinrong and Ye Xinyan were not affected at all and entered the city unimpeded.