She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 464 - 462 Anshun’s Household

Chapter 464: Chapter 462 Anshun’s Household

Ye Xinyan was full of malicious speculation when Madam Yin suddenly asked her, "Ah Yan, Lian Gui mentioned that you got along quite well with Jiang Yifan in Qingyuan County, and there was no sign of the tension from the past two years. Has he started to treat you better now?"

Ye Xinyan looked at Madam Yin in astonishment. So you’re not holding a grudge, dear mother?

"Mother, you just said not to bring up Jiang Yifan, can’t you at least consider your daughter’s feelings? Thanks to Jiang Yifan, your daughter is in this pitiful state."

She had no choice but to let Jiang Yifan take the blame to avoid being forced into marriage. Luckily, this burden wasn’t too heavy, and it wasn’t as though Jiang Yifan was entirely faultless. Besides, it was Jiang Yifan who had instructed her not to agree to any marriage proposals in the capital. She was diligently working towards the goal Jiang Yifan had set for her.

Madam Yin hesitantly said, "But after all, you two are lawfully wedded husband and wife, and Jiang Yifan is not such a bad person..."

Ye Xinyan held her forehead and sighed in despair. Her mother really couldn’t be relied upon; she had just said not to mention Jiang Yifan, and within a short while, had completely changed her tune.

"Mother, you are not wrong; Jiang Yifan is not a bad person, and your daughter has wronged him greatly. If you think he is not bad, why not look for a gentle and beautiful lady of good family in the capital for him? When Jiang Yifan is transferred back, arrange a match for him so he can marry a beautiful wife. As for your daughter, let’s forget about it, we’ve already tried and it’s not suitable..."

Having Jiang Yifan marry a talented and beautiful wife was a good choice. If he were occupied with a harmonious marriage, he wouldn’t bother discovering her true identity or where she came from, and she wouldn’t always feel so anxious.

Even though her daughter had spoken thus, appearing to have an abhorrence for Jiang Yifan, Madam Yin couldn’t suppress the thought that had taken root.

Even though the divorce paper from Jiang Yifan had cut off all her daughter’s prospects, the best outcome for her daughter’s future would be their reconciliation. Her father had mentioned more than once that Jiang Yifan was a promising young man with both learning and bravery, and Ah Yan’s unhappy marriage was all her own fault.

As much as Madam Yin was reluctant to accept it, Jiang Yifan’s excellence was undeniable, beyond any room for her doubts. How could Ah Yan find another suitor like Jiang Yifan?

If Jiang Yifan were willing to reconcile with her daughter, given his promise, along with Duke An’s and her brothers’ support—not to mention his good relationship with His Highness Prince Yu—Jiang Yifan’s prospects looked very promising. And since her daughter was his lawful wife, she would become an Imperial Decree Lady in due form.

Thinking this way, Madam Yin felt her heart warming. The key now was whether Jiang Yifan was willing to reconcile with her daughter. The turning point in the deterioration of their marriage happened when her daughter had killed two maids who had served Jiang Yifan since childhood.

When Madam Yin heard about this incident, she too was full of regret and frequently blamed her daughter for being too impulsive and cruel. After all, the affection of a maid who had served from childhood could not be compared to that of an ordinary servant. There were many ways to deal with the issue, so why resort to killing?

If Jiang Yifan still resented this incident and despised her daughter for her cruelty, the reconciliation would be complicated.

Madam Yin, preoccupied with her own concerns and now with an objective in mind concerning her daughter’s marriage prospects, lost the interest to discuss whether her daughter should marry. Hastily agreeing to let Ye Xinyan take a temporary break from seeing suitors, she dismissed the matter.

By evening, Madam Yin sat alone, seriously considering the situation in Qingyuan County. She had never been to Qingyuan County and naturally did not understand how Ye Xinyan and Jiang Yifan got along. Even Lian Gui, who had been there twice, had only seen Jiang Yifan a few times and couldn’t possibly have a detailed understanding of their relationship.

Madam Yin thought it over and over and remembered Anshun’s household maid. The maid from Anshun’s household had accompanied her daughter on her return this time, and had also come to pay her respects when delivering the dowry. Madam Yin was grateful for the maid’s care of her daughter in Clear Water Village, rewarding her with a generous red envelope.

Yes, it had to be Anshun’s household maid; she had served her daughter for over a year in the Qi family of Clear Water Village and must know a lot about her daughter’s affairs. She decided to ask Anshun’s household maid privately about Jiang Yifan’s attitude toward her daughter.

The next day, with Ye Xinyan completely unguarded, Madam Yin took only her personal maid Cui Bai to the Steward Office where Anshun’s household maid worked, sent everyone away, and questioned her thoroughly about every detail of Jiang Yifan and Ye Xinyan’s interactions in Clear Water Village.

Regarding the daily interactions between the young miss and Lord Jiang, Anshun’s household maid recounted without any pressure, answering every question asked. When the wife of the heir apparent inquired whether there was any possibility of reconciliation between Lord Jiang and the young miss, Anshun’s household maid thought for a moment.

After the young miss decided to accompany Nanny Jin back to the capital, Lord Jiang had approached her in private, entrusting her to speak favorably of him in front of the wife of the heir apparent—to at least let her know that Lord Jiang now cared deeply for the young miss.

The rules of Duke An’s Mansion were strict, and as a hereditary servant of the Duke’s Mansion, Anshun’s household maid was accustomed to following them strictly and keeping her mouth shut. However, she felt it appropriate to speak to the wife of the heir apparent concerning the matter between the young miss and Lord Jiang since the Duke also had the intention of Lord Jiang becoming his granddaughter-in-law again.

Furthermore, for the young miss, a reconciliation with Lord Jiang would be incredibly fortunate.

Initially, Anshun’s household maid awkwardly told Madam Yin that the young miss had sternly instructed her that certain things could not be mentioned to anyone, and by "anyone," she meant all those who weren’t present at the time.

After obtaining Madam Yin’s promise to never speak of it to others, Anshun’s household maid recounted to her what she had witnessed last Chinese New Year’s Eve: an instance where Lord Jiang and the young miss had a private conversation alone, emphasizing that it was highly confidential and they wouldn’t allow anyone to overhear. After their talk, Lord Jiang watched the young miss walk away with a smile full of meaning in his eyes.

Anshun’s household maid’s vivid storytelling had Madam Yin utterly flabbergasted. In her recollection, Jiang Yifan had always been calm, indifferent, and impeccably polite in both words and demeanor. He had never looked at her daughter with the smiling eyes Anshun’s maid described.

Anshun’s household maid went on to tell Madam Yin that not long after, feeling troubled in her heart, the young miss was taken by Lord Jiang on horseback for a solitary outing lasting most of the day, not returning until dusk approached.

Having listened to Anshun’s household maid’s words, Madam Yin’s initial shock gave way to intense joy. So it seemed, Jiang Yifan adored her daughter, truly caring for her deeply.

Given their past mutual disdain and subsequent divorce, could it be that Jiang Yifan’s heartfelt care for her daughter meant their relationship, having endured so many hardships, would grow stronger? Could it mean that Jiang Yifan’s feelings, contemplated so deeply, stemmed from a genuine fondness for her daughter?

This was simply too wonderful, too perfect.

Delighted, Madam Yin found Anshun’s household maid increasingly pleasing to the eye and repeatedly instructed her not to discuss the young miss and Lord Jiang going out together on horseback with anyone else. She then ordered Cui Bai, "When you have time, send a large red envelope to Nanny Qiao."