She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 416 - 415 Normal Human Thinking

Chapter 416: Chapter 415 Normal Human Thinking

Duke An suddenly remembered last year’s rumors about railway use, "At this time last year, it was widely rumored in the capital the many benefits of using railways to transport materials. It seems that the first to use railways was the Qi family’s construction industry, the same Qi family you are with, right?"

Ye Xinyan nodded hastily, "Yes, that’s why His Highness Prince Yu found me to help him operate the railway carriage. That’s also why I dared to agree."

These were also things Duke An had not quite understood, "But in just two short years, you’ve been able to learn so much? You’ve even mastered machinery and construction?"

"Mastered? Not at all," Ye Xinyan explained, pushing the hastily sketched diagram of the railway operation she had done earlier towards Duke An, "As you can see, I can only do these things. Those tasks requiring superb craftsmanship are all done by Grandfather Qi and Wong Qiao."

Duke An flipped through the sketches again, these were the rough diagrams drawn earlier when Xinyan was explaining the railway carriage to him in order to make things clear. To draw these crude diagrams really didn’t require much skill, only enough cleverness and an idea to do it.

He did want to see just how capable his granddaughter, praised by Lian Gui, actually was. Since she was sure she could do it, let’s see to what extent she could accomplish it. It was just a matter of two thousand taels of silver; even if it was not successful in the end, with him, the old man, around, His High Highness Prince Yu would not do anything to his own granddaughter.

Duke An wasn’t afraid of children not doing well, but rather feared they would shy away, not able to stand up or push forward. As long as they dared to reach out and work, they were good children.

"If you have so much confidence, then go ahead and do it," said Duke An.

Is that settled then? Ye Hongyang couldn’t help but widen his eyes. Didn’t his father disapprove of the railway carriage?

He didn’t wait to gauge his father’s expression, and eagerly interjected, "Father, those who work outside are all lowly commoners. If Xinyan mingles in such a noisy place every day, and people come to know of it, she will definitely be subject to criticism and gossip. Our Duke’s Mansion is, after all, a First-Rank Duke of the court; we can’t afford to lose this kind of face. Please think it over again, Father."

Duke An’s expression was calm as he looked him over and said, "If you always live by looking at the faces and words of others, your life won’t be good."

"Father, how can you speak like that? People have to live with a reputation," Ye Hongyang said, frowning.

Duke An looked at Ye Xinyan, his face still indifferent, and said, "Tell me, do you want to keep your reputation or not?"

Ye Xinyan was rendered speechless. What kind of question was that? To say without reputation – that was about the original owner, his own granddaughter. As for me, my reputation is quite good.

Ye Xinyan raised her hand, somewhat puzzled, and scratched her forehead with her finger.

"Well, Grandfather, rest assured, I have come to understand some things now. As long as I live in your mansion, I will definitely be careful and act cautiously, and never bring shame to you. As for what others say... well, I think, as long as I’m not doing anything wrong, how can we control what others say?"

Duke An showed a look of satisfaction on his face and nodded, "As long as you can progress, enduring some hardship is nothing, and the Duke’s Mansion losing some face is nothing either. Remember the words you’ve just said to me."

Ye Hongyang anxiously said, "Father, this is no trivial matter. The incident from the year before last is still being talked about. If she, if she does something outrageous again, can our household’s people even show their faces outside?"

Duke An’s expression was impassive as he drooped his eyelids and said, "I am the one who brought her back; I will be the one to discipline her going forward. If she dares to hatch any crooked schemes and brings trouble, I will break her legs so that she will have no chance to cause further mischief, and you can be completely at ease; from now on she will be raised in our mansion. Xinyan, you heard that, didn’t you? I am not joking." Duke An lifted his eyelids and glanced at Ye Xinyan.

Ye Xinyan drew several sharp breaths, knowing that this old master always meant what he said. If he truly intended to break her legs, then her legs would definitely be broken.

"Old master, let’s get this straight, I will not harbor any crooked thoughts or cause trouble, but that doesn’t mean others won’t. If something bad does happen, you, old sir, must investigate clearly first. If it’s my fault, I won’t just accept having my legs broken, I’d acknowledge it even if it costs me my life. But if it’s not, old sir, please don’t act rashly," she warned.

Duke An snorted coldly, "You are overthinking it. Who in my mansion could easily suffer? I will assign Lian Gui to you; when you go out to handle affairs, have Lian Gui arrange for the household’s guards to accompany you at all times."

Ye Xinyan blinked, considering this point. Even when the original host had been so reckless, she had never really suffered any losses.

Ye Hongyang wanted to argue again, but seeing his father’s demeanor, he knew that the decision was final.

He glared at Ye Xinyan, filled with resentment and jealousy. Lian Gui had been serving their father since childhood and knew the dignity of both the inside and outside of the house, yet now he was assigned to Ye Xinyan. With Lian Gui by Ye Xinyan’s side, who would dare to trouble her? Who would dare to make her life difficult?

At this point, Ye Hongyang could no longer keep up his pretense of status. He stared at Ye Xinyan and asked, "When Duke’s Mansion sent someone to Qingyuan County, the word was that Nanny Jin was returning to inquire about matters, but you came back and even brought along two children from the Qi family. What are your plans for the future?"

Before Ye Xinyan could reply, Ye Hongyang scoffed and continued to ask, "Do you intend to take care of these two children just like that, working to earn money to support them? Or, have you simply decided to stay in Duke An’s Mansion all this time, leveraging the Duke’s authority to haggle with others and make a fortune for yourself?"

After Duke An had made those comments, Ye Xinyan thought their discussion was over and was in the process of tidying up the messy sketches when Ye Hongyang posed these questions.

She stopped her handiwork and looked at Ye Hongyang. This question she could answer. She had yet to figure out how to bring up her intentions to return to Qingyuan County with Duke An, but Ye Hongyang had given her this opportunity.

"To answer the Crown Prince’s question, I, a humble woman, have no plans to stay in the capital for long." Then, turning to Duke An, she said, "The dairy farm and dairy product workshop in the village of Qingyuan County have just stabilized, and the dairy farm and dairy product industry in the southern part of Yuyuan Prefecture have just been established, and haven’t been run for long. Bearing the responsibility of Chief Steward, I can’t simply abandon it. After the New Year, I plan to go back there."

Duke An wasn’t surprised by Ye Xinyan’s plans. As soon as he learned that his granddaughter had brought back two children from the Qi family, he guessed her intentions. Bringing the Qi family’s children, especially the one who was the sole heir, was clearly to lay the groundwork for her return.

Ye Hongyang, however, was taken aback by Ye Xinyan’s words. He could not comprehend how Ye Xinyan, after spending so long adrift and, according to Lian Gui, having endured some hardships, could refuse the opportunity to stay in Duke An’s Mansion—an outcome she couldn’t have even dreamt of. Why was she thinking of going back? Shouldn’t she be contemplating how to gain a foothold in Duke An’s company and fight for more interests?

Was this even the thought process of a normal person?