She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 431 - 429 Identity

Chapter 431: Chapter 429 Identity

Duke An furrowed his brows hearing how smoothly Ye Xinyan had answered, and that she had gotten straight to the point as soon as she opened her mouth.

Rail transportation had been a hot topic in the court since the end of last year. At that time, Prince Yu was in Yuyuan Prefecture, an idle prince unconcerned with politics. Not only was Ye Xinyan in Yuyuan Prefecture, but she was also a woman; how could she have known about these matters?

"Did you hear it from Prince Yu?" Duke An asked.

"You could say that," Ye Xinyan nodded.

Duke An’s heart skipped a beat again. Why would Prince Yu discuss this with her? It seemed unlikely that Prince Yu would speak to a woman about the court’s affairs.

Ye Xinyan explained, "When discussing the railway carriages in the capital, His Highness Prince Yu had mentioned that the operation of railway carriages wasn’t a big deal, but there were greater concerns regarding the use of rail to transport important materials for the court."

The statement wasn’t entirely true, but neither did Ye Xinyan lie. Indeed, when she discussed the matter with Jinrong and Jiang Yifan, they had also talked about railway carriages that could carry passengers within towns—a distinction between priority and sequence.

Duke An felt much relieved upon hearing this. It had been around this time last year that the court debated the issue of rail transport. It wasn’t unusual for Prince Yu to know about it now, and mentioning it while discussing railway carriages with his granddaughter seemed normal.

Duke An said, "It’s good that you know. The railway lines in the capital have been laid for nearly a year, but it wasn’t until Prince Yu and you returned that there has been substantial progress. Moreover, the progress has been so rapid that within less than half a month, it will be possible to transport passengers. This is indeed a big deal and bound to draw a lot of attention to you. I want to ask what your plans are for the future?"

"Plans? What plans?" Ye Xinyan didn’t understand what Duke An was specifically referring to.

"When no one takes notice of you and your existence doesn’t matter, your identity is irrelevant. Now it’s different. After today, I believe many will inquire about your identity. Do you want to continue as Qi Ye, acting as your Chief Steward, or return to Duke An’s Mansion to be the young lady of the house?" This was the real issue Duke An wanted to query and decide upon.

Finally, Duke An had brought up the matter.

If it were up to Ye Xinyan, she would still prefer to be Qi Ye; life as a commoner’s daughter had fewer constraints, and she found such a life more comfortable.

Duke An seemed to guess her thoughts and said, "Although someone has already arranged your whereabouts, what’s false remains false. Qi Ye’s identity ultimately has its flaws. As your business grows in the future, having the identity of the legitimate granddaughter of Duke An’s Mansion has its advantages."

Ye Xinyan was silent for a moment before speaking, "Yuyuan Prefecture... I must return. There’s the Dairy Products Store with its substantial profits, my painstaking effort.

And the Construction Industry, that is the hope of the Qi family. Although the Construction Industry has gained some momentum nowadays, its foundation is too shallow, and its operations are not mature enough, lacking staying power. If I were to leave now, I fear Grandfather Qi and Wong Qiao would just stagnate at this level, and it wouldn’t be easy to aim for greater things.

Then there’s the small snack shop and Delicious Taste Tower, which are the foundation of Nanny Jin’s livelihood. Just like the Construction Industry, they are not stable yet. If I leave them in the hands of others now, I can’t guarantee they will still be profitable in the future."

Having listed so many ’ands’, Ye Xinyan felt she sounded like a narcissist, as if so many people couldn’t live without her.

Fortunately, Duke An seemed to approve of her words, he simply asked, "What if you return to being the young lady of Duke An’s Mansion? You can still go back to Yuyuan Prefecture, sort out those matters, and then come back, can’t you?"

Could such a good thing be possible? To wear the identity of the legitimate granddaughter of Duke An’s Mansion and do business and make money openly?

Wouldn’t making money from such a business be even more secure than paying protection fees?

Ye Xinyan stopped swirling her teacup and looked at Duke An, "Aren’t noblewomen supposed to abide by the rules for women in the inner quarters?"

Duke An heard potential in this, and smiled, "Who says that doing business is not abiding by the rules? As it stands, the maids and old woman servants by Qi’s side, with guards following, you’ve already abided by the rules."

"That one, isn’t your granddaughter... deceased?" How can you reconcile what was solemnly announced at that time?

Duke An stroked his thick beard and said with a touch of pride, "My old face still carries some weight. As long as His Majesty says nothing, what does it matter what other people think or say?"

Ye Xinyan raised an eyebrow. Was the old man planning to use backdoor dealings with the Old Emperor to settle this matter privately?

"Would His Majesty agree?"

"He would," Duke An answered very confidently. However, he added, "But there is something I need to ask you."

"Ask what?"

"Why are other sections of the railway progressing so much slower than the same projects?" Duke An inquired.

"Your granddaughter has not seen their construction firsthand, so I presume it’s due to poor project scheduling and excessive delays, right?"

Ye Xinyan had seen houses being built and walls being constructed in the remote mountains. The master craftsmen would carefully place a brick upon the mud, tapping it repeatedly from all sides until they were satisfied with its placement. In the big city construction sites, ordinary workers hastily positioned bricks onto walls. They would occasionally tap them into place, but not often. Their walls turned out just as smooth and attractive. It was all a matter of habit in action.

Duke An continued to ask, "If you were put in charge, could you expedite the completion of the remaining railway sections in the capital city?"

Ye Xinyan was stunned for a moment. It seemed she couldn’t.

"The reason Changping Street’s railway was completed quickly is due to the capable government clerks from the Sixth Master’s Mansion. This... your granddaughter is actually not adept at things that require high professional skills." To be honest, she really didn’t know how to handle tasks.

Duke An smiled and said, "If the Sixth Master does not object and is willing to let his clerks train other craftsmen, would you be able to take charge then?"

"Then... that shouldn’t be a problem. But that is a question you should not be asking me. If Prince Yu is willing to let his people train other craftsmen, what right do others have to object?"

Duke An laughed, "You are a magnanimous and unencumbered child. There are many things you don’t notice, but others do. Being an outsider, how come you were able to enter the construction site and command those in charge without any resistance?"

This was something he had pondered for quite some time. His granddaughter was a young girl, unknown to others, merely perceived as a peasant girl from a remote mountain village. Yet, from her first day on the job, she faced no opposition when arranging tasks. What did this suggest?

From his decades of military experience, Duke An judged that the only possibility was that the construction project leaders and stewards respected his granddaughter.

"..." Because the official in charge was Hu Jing; because whenever she was at the construction site, Liu Qing was always by her side; and because the person managing the construction affairs was a clerk who had worked with her and Wong Qiao.

Duke An shook the sleeves of his robe, "In the afternoon, I will see His Majesty and clarify your situation to him. If His Majesty asks about the construction site, I will recommend Prince Yu and tell His Majesty that Prince Yu’s people are efficient and can help expedite the railway construction on the other sections."

"You haven’t asked if Prince Yu is willing yet," Ye Xinyan reminded.

"If you are willing, that is enough. Prince Yu has no reason to refuse. The country belongs to their father and son, and if the skills of the craftsmen throughout the land are improved, it is a blessing for the royal family."

Seeing she still did not understand, Duke An explained with a smile, "If the craftsmen and stewards under Prince Yu are actually instructed by you to achieve such skill, even if Prince Yu wishes to impart those skills to others, he would have to consider your intentions."

"Really?" She found it hard to believe. Who was she, after all? Just a woman. Even if she was Duke An’s granddaughter, Duke An himself still had to act according to the Emperor’s wishes.