She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 469 - 467 The Common Court Official’s Daughter-in-law

Chapter 469: Chapter 467 The Common Court Official’s Daughter-in-law

Ye Xinyan was merely a child brought up in a common family, working her way through school and jobs. How could she have experienced the scheming of high estate mansions before? Now there was an opportunity delivered right to her door, allowing her to take home advantage and practice on Ye Xinyi, a most advantageous situation.

She saw that Ye Xinyi was still in shock and at a loss for words, and said in surprise, "Could it be that Xinyi, you truly have nothing to arrange, and simply came to see mother out of pure heart? It really takes so much effort for you. Now that we have seen each other, since we don’t get along, rather than staying here being insincere and plotting behind each other’s backs, it’s better we each mind our own business. Xinyi, you should go to Maternal Aunt Liu’s place and get close to your mother. The door is that way; I won’t see you out."

Standing by, Nanny Huang stared with surprised eyes at her young mistress. The young mistress had become so formidable? Others speak with veiled insults, but the young mistress, she speaks the blunt truth, who could bear that?

Cui Bai and Cui Zhu both tightly pursed their lips, fearing that they would betray a smile. What a pity that the Second Miss had put on such a stately and elegant air, only to encounter the unyielding words of the eldest sister, rendering her effort utterly wasted.

As for Nanny Jin, she had long grown used to such things, and simply stood by Ye Xinyan’s side with her eyelids drooped and her face calm and composed, the epitome of serenity. She couldn’t manage the eldest mistress’ actions, and even if she did say something and the eldest mistress agreed to change, she would revert to her usual ways afterwards.

Ye Xinyi realized that prying into the hearts of Madam Yin and her daughter was utterly useless, not to mention now she faced the prospect of being thrown out.

Unable to worry about anything else, she hurriedly explained, "My sister, I just haven’t seen you for such a long time. Seeing you now, I am overwhelmed and unsettled; it’s not that I don’t wish to respond to your question."

"Oh, then what are you here for?" Ye Xinyan’s tone was a bit scorching. Indeed, there was no need for them to maintain a pleasant façade in their relationship.

Ye Xinyi suppressed the impatience in her heart and carefully inquired, "Sister, have you received the Spring Welcome Banquet invitation from Princess Fu?"

Ye Xinyan’s eyebrows shot up. She had received the invitation on the fourth day, and just one day later, Ye Xinyi, who was at the Ji Mansion, knew of it. The Duke An’s Mansion overseen by Old Master Ye Tang was not very capable, it seemed, more like a sieve, really.

"Yes, I have," Ye Xinyan responded simply.

"This is the situation," Ye Xinyi spoke with a smile on her face, "At the banquet in Prime Minister Han’s Mansion yesterday, Princess Fu was there, and the princess conversed about you, saying that she invited you to the Spring Welcome Banquet at Prince Fu’s Mansion. She also said she advised me to accompany you, sister, so that we could look out for each other as family."

Oh, so she met Princess Fu at Han Mansion. That was better than receiving news from Duke An’s Mansion through Ye Xinyi; otherwise, she might really question the old master’s leadership abilities.

Upon hearing Ye Xinyi’s explanation, Madam Yin couldn’t help but scoff, "Second Miss is being too polite. If the Second Miss has received Princess Fu’s invitation, just go by yourself. Ah Yan would not wish to trouble the Second Miss for company."

Ye Xinyan immediately grasped the crux of the matter and asked, "Did Xinyi receive Princess Fu’s invitation?"

Ye Xinyi’s expression remained unchanged, but her smile stiffened somewhat. She paused before saying, "Princess Fu indeed spoke to me in that manner yesterday, and there were many others present. I did not fabricate it."

"Oh." Ye Xinyan nodded, "This means that you haven’t received the invitation, Xinyi. You should know that Duke An’s Mansion usually does not attend various banquets of the princes and imperial relatives." Ye Xinyan paused, wanting to see Ye Xinyi’s reaction.

As expected, Ye Xinyi immediately became anxious, "Usually, the invitations we receive at our mansion are sent as a courtesy to Grandfather, as a gesture of respect for him. In reality, they never intended for anyone from our mansion to attend. But this time with Princess Fu is different. The princess formally invited you, Sister, how can you denounce the princess’s respect?"

Ye Xinyan shook her head, "The invitation from Princess Fu did include an additional sentence of invitation, and I indeed plan to attend briefly. However, there’s no need for Xinyi to accompany me. My reputation has always been poor, but Princess Fu, with her high status, will naturally not be questioned for her conduct. But it’s different for you, Xinyi. You’re just the daughter-in-law of an ordinary court official. If you were to come and go with me, and people started gossiping, your in-laws would despise you."

"My in-laws..." Ye Xinyi began to say but immediately felt that it was inappropriate and stopped herself, her heart full of resentment.

How could her in-laws be ordinary court officials? Her father-in-law, Lord Ji, was the Imperial Academy Libationer, a prestigious position in the Great Xia Dynasty. And her father-in-law was a role model for scholars everywhere. Wasn’t every scholar respectful when mentioning Ji Xiaoyuan?

Two years ago, as the daughter-in-law of the Imperial Academy Libationer, she completely overshadowed Ye Xinyan, the wife of an Eighth-Rank Central Official. Ye Xinyan had exploded in rage more than once. But now, she, an abandoned wife deserted by an eighth-rank petty official, was actually referred to as the daughter-in-law of an ordinary court official!

"What’s wrong?" asked Ye Xinyan with a smile, "Is Lord Ji not an ordinary court official? Then what is he? What kind of official is higher than an ordinary court official? Xinyi, with your wisdom, enlighten me."

Ye Xinyi’s heart shuddered, thanking her lucky stars that she hadn’t blurted out the rest of her sentence. If she had claimed that the Ji family was not ordinary court officials, would that be tantamount to harboring disloyal thoughts?

"What I meant to say just now was that my in-laws are very strict, but then I thought, going out with my own sister, even my in-laws would understand," Xinyi smoothly rounded out her previously half-finished sentence.

Ye Xinyan said with a malicious smile, "Actually, Sister, when I haven’t been cast aside and returned to my parental home, I was the wife of an eighth-rank official. Once abandoned and sent back, I am the legitimate granddaughter of Duke An. It seems that overnight, my status has risen much higher than yours, hasn’t it?"

Ye Xinyi’s eyes widened, unable to process what Ye Xinyan had just said. An abandoned wife, somehow turned into something advantageous by this idiot?

Ye Xinyan, of course, wasn’t going to patiently wait for her to respond and continued, "Sister, if you have an invitation from the prince’s mansion, don’t mind me, just go by yourself. If not, then stay at Ji Mansion and fulfill your duties as a daughter-in-law. I don’t have the courage to let you accompany me. With your cleverness and wit, if you accompany me to Princess Fu’s only to let your sister make a fool of herself again, it won’t be as easy to resolve as at Duke An’s Mansion."

"Nanny Huang, Nanny Jin, please escort the Second Miss out. My courage is small, and seeing the Second Miss reminds me of the incident at Grandfather’s birthday banquet two years ago, and it scares me to the point where I can’t sleep. The less I see, the more peace I can have."

Ye Xinyi’s perplexed expression, upon hearing Ye Xinyan’s last sentence, turned to one of indignation. When had this fool acquired such cunning, to insult in such a calm and indirect manner? She was being compared to a malevolent spirit.

Watching Ye Xinyi being led out, dispirited, by Nanny Huang and Nanny Jin, Qi Jiaer then asked, "Sister, who was that beautiful sister?"

"Beautiful sister? Do you like her?" asked Ye Xinyan, raising an eyebrow. Little rascal, dare to say you like her, and today’s lunch will be plain rice and pickles.