She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 488 - 486: The Person Who Looks Forward with Great Anticipation

Chapter 488: Chapter 486: The Person Who Looks Forward with Great Anticipation

Jiang Yifan turned to look at the carriage compartment he had been eyeing for a while, and upon seeing Qi Jiaer with a beaming smile and the pure joy in the child’s bright eyes, he felt a warmth in his heart. He strode forward and reached out to Qi Jiaer.

Qi Jiaer stood on the carriage shaft and without any hesitation leapt toward Jiang Yifan, who caught him and held him tight.

Jiang Yifan chuckled and asked, "Brother Jia, how many delicacies have you enjoyed in the capital? You’ve gained quite a bit of weight."

Sitting in the crook of Jiang Yifan’s arm, Qi Jiaer gestured broadly with his hands, "The capital is so big, and there are so many delicious foods, and fun places too. Uncle Guan took us to many places to eat, and even the Sixth Master joined us to eat at food stalls. We tried quite a few, and they were really tasty."

"Really? They were that good?" Jiang Yifan laughed.

Qi Jiaer nodded emphatically, "Yes, Lord Jiang, when will you take leave? Make sure it’s a long one. I’ll take you to all the delicious spots; I know the way."

Qi Sanshun had already taken his place not far in front of Jiang Yifan, waiting to offer him a salutation, but with Qi Jiaer snuggled cozily in Jiang Yifan’s arms, he felt rather helpless, unsure of what to do.

Sitting inside the carriage, Ye Xinyan, watching them being overly sentimental and wasting time, reminded them, "Qi Jia, aren’t you going to offer your respects to Lord Jiang?"

"Oh no, I forgot." Qi Jiaer hurriedly wriggled out of Jiang Yifan’s embrace and moved beside Qi Sanshun. Together, they bent forward to salute Jiang Yifan.

After the greeting, Qi Jiaer looked up at Jiang Yifan and said, "Lord Jiang, I was just so happy to see you that I forgot to greet you properly. I didn’t mean any disrespect."

Jiang Yifan patted Qi Jiaer’s head, smiling, "It’s alright, Lord Jiang knows Brother Jia is a good boy." He drew both children to his side, then lifted his eyes toward the carriage.

Although Madam Yin favored Jiang Yifan concerning her daughter’s affair, deep down, she saw him as a faithless man who had abandoned her daughter in troubled times.

She had been frowning all this while, watching Jiang Yifan respond carefully to Zhao Gang, then seeing Qi Jiaer’s closeness with him and the children’s salutations. Jiang Yifan appeared as calm and polite as ever, but now with a warmth and joy she had never seen before. This Jiang Yifan was almost a completely different person from the son-in-law who stood by her daughter’s side in the past, desperately maintaining a calm detachment.

Jiang Yifan’s gaze slid across Ye Xinyan’s face and figure, then he looked respectfully at Madam Yin. Bowing deeply, he said, "The wife of the heir apparent has traveled from afar, and Yuanfan has arrived late to welcome you. Please forgive Xiao Ke for the lack of proper etiquette."

"Lord Jiang, please rise. As an imperial appointed official, your courtesy is too much," Madam Yin hurriedly glanced at Zhao Gang, signaling him to help Jiang Yifan up.

Ye Xinyan stared at Jiang Yifan in astonishment; this fellow was really trying hard to curry favor with Madam Yin. The obeisance was indeed a bit much, nearly tantamount to kowtowing, wasn’t it?

It is often said that excessive politeness is rarely taken amiss.

Even though Madam Yin was a woman of ranked nobility, and Jiang Yifan was a local official, and furthermore, Madam Yin was in plain clothes. Such deep bowing was, indeed, excessive.

Madam Yin, after receiving such a profound bow from Jiang Yifan and seeing his attitude toward Zhao Gang, Qi Jiaer, and the others, had her impression of Jiang Yifan greatly improved. The dissatisfaction of reluctantly making a choice for the sake of her daughter’s best interest nearly dissipated completely.

Jiang Yifan was supported by Zhao Gang as he bowed again before rising to say, "The wife of the heir apparent is a senior to Xiao Ke, and Yuanfan is merely observing the etiquette due to an elder."

At these words from Jiang Yifan, Madam Yin was immediately reminded of their departure to the outskirts of the capital, when Jinrong had also referred to himself as a junior, shocking her considerably at the time. Both of these men’s excessive respect was all because of Ah Yan.

While it was good that desirable young men were interested in her daughter, as a mother, Madam Yin could not feel much joy; she only worried whether this might bring her daughter trouble and idle gossip.

The status of His Highness Prince Yu was a troublesome matter when it came to her daughter’s marital affairs, unable to withstand the idle chatter of people. Moreover, there were recent rumors in the capital that Young Master Shen, who admired her daughter, had suffered a fall while traveling outside, and it was said to be very serious. However, some people claimed that the individual had harbored thoughts he shouldn’t have, and as a result, had been beaten to such a pitiable state.

Madam Yin looked at Ye Xinyan, her heart only wishing for her Ah Yan to marry sooner rather than later, to avoid stirring up any troubles. And her daughter’s former husband in front of her was an excellent choice.

Jiang Yifan respectfully took two steps back, then when he looked at Ye Xinyan again, he lowered his eyelids, hiding all the eagerness and anticipation in his heart, and simply nodded before turning to Zhao Gang to say, "Our friends have traveled a long way and should not delay any longer here. Let us set off immediately for Clear Water Village. Old Master Qi must already be eagerly awaiting us at the village entrance."

In comparison to the distant capital, arriving at Qingyuan Town meant they were practically at their doorstep, especially for Qi Sanshun and Qi Jiaer, who couldn’t wait to already be standing in their own courtyard, sitting on the kang at home, and meeting with their elders and brothers. Hearing what Jiang Yifan said, the two youngsters immediately looked at Zhao Gang, and then again at Madam Yin and Ye Xinyan.

Madam Yin said with a smile, "Let’s proceed with our journey. Look at these two kids; they are so eager to get home."

Zhao Gang agreed with a voice and signaled for the caravan to continue on its way, while Jiang Yifan bent down to lift Qi Jiaer into the carriage.

Turning to see Qi Sanshun leading a small horse, he asked with a smile, "Sanshun is doing well; have you learned how to ride a horse? How was the journey? Did it broaden your horizons?"

Qi Sanshun hurriedly answered, "I saw so much. The capital is truly bustling, with tall and spacious houses, courtyards, and streets, and many important people too. Duke An even took us to see the soldiers training, such an impressive scene with real swords and spears, and so many different weapons." Just recounting it made Qi Sanshun’s heart swell with excitement again, his tone growing animated.

Jiang Yifan patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "If you like the soldiers’ training and weapons, then practice martial arts diligently and study hard. Someday, you can become a martial scholar by your true merit and show your worth."

Qi Sanshun nodded vigorously and said, "Master Guan said the same thing. Uncle Guan said that only by not neglecting studies and martial practice, can one have both good skills and good knowledge."

At the entrance to Clear Water Village, it wasn’t just Qi Younian who was eagerly anticipating; unexpectedly, many were waiting. Almost the entire village had gathered at the entrance, eager to see Qi Sanshun return.

It wasn’t that the villagers were unaware that Ye Xinyan was coming back, but the impact of her going to the capital was far less than that of Qi Sanshun’s return.

The villagers had long been aware that Old Master Qi’s adopted granddaughter was no ordinary person; she was originally from a first-rate wealthy family in the capital who had fallen on hard times and encountered Old Master Qi. A phoenix in distress would ultimately fly back home, something unrelated to their humble lives.

Even the wealth and status enjoyed by Qi Jiaer were accepted by the villagers. Who could blame her for her good fortune and for meeting such a sister of noble standing?

But Qi Sanshun was different. The entire main branch of the Qi family, including his grandparents, parents, elder brothers, and even his uncle’s family, were all present. He was just an ordinary peasant child, yet he had the chance to go to the capital – a place of splendor that the poor peasants could only dream of. What great luck was this?