She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 492 - 490 Substantive Questioning

Chapter 492: Chapter 490 Substantive Questioning

Qi Younian greeted Ye Xinyan and invited her to sit in her usual chair, smiling as he asked, "How was the trip back? The journey is long, and without anyone to bring news. We only heard from Lord Jiang twice, or else we would have been very worried."

Ye Xinyan picked up the milk tea Jiu Yu had offered and took a satisfying sip before smiling and replying, "What’s there to worry about? With Big Brother Guan accompanying me, nothing can go wrong. Even when our Qi Sanshun and Qi Jia and the official family’s children got into a fight, we did not suffer any loss."

"Ah? They got into a fight with the children of the privileged?" Qi Younian exclaimed. Cheung Wusi and Wong Qiao were all ears as well.

Ye Xinyan blinked, realizing that maybe this wasn’t something she should have mentioned on her first day back.

"That, um, it’s nothing much, we can’t just let others bully us, right? Besides, we live in Duke An’s Mansion. If we don’t dare to stand up for ourselves when others try to push us around, it would bring shame to Duke An," Ye Xinyan hurriedly explained.

Qi Younian sighed helplessly, "I knew it, with you and Master Guan, two daredevils, together, there’s never a moment of backing down."

Knowing his advice would be futile with his granddaughter, Qi Younian turned to Qi Jia in his arms and said, "Didn’t we agree before we left that the capital is filled with wealthy families, all more influential than ours, and you mustn’t stir up trouble? How could you forget your grandfather’s advice? If you really encountered someone you shouldn’t provoke and got beaten or arrested, what would your grandfather and sister do?"

Qi Jia nonchalantly said, "Sister taught us. If Uncle Guan isn’t with us, we won’t bother with them. Brother Sanshun and I remember."

Qi Younian glanced at Ye Xinyan, who simply spread her hands helplessly. This kid was too honest with his words, why couldn’t he have just said they wouldn’t do it again in the future?

Ye Xinyan switched the topic with a forced smile, "Grandfather, you might not know, but Qi Jia and Sanshun were very well-received in the capital. Qi Jia is still young, and everyone simply adores him. For Sanshun, there was more than one person who said he should train martial arts with Big Brother Guan and strive to become a Martial Scholar in the future. These words, they imply patronage."

"Really?" Qi Younian asked in surprise. This was an unexpected blessing indeed. If Sanshun could become an official through military service, Brother Sanshun’s family would have their day to shine.

In the guest room, Madam Yin was already discussing substantial matters with Jiang Yifan: "I heard from Lian Gui and Nanny Qiao in the capital that Lord Jiang has been kind to my Ah Yan. I want to thank Lord Jiang here for looking after her."

Without inviting Jiang Yifan to sit, and given the circumstances, Jiang Yifan dared not sit without permission. He bowed and replied, "Madam is too courteous. A good girl like Ah Yan would receive a helping hand from anyone in her presence."

Yes, a wonderful girl like Ah Yan, just having the chance to meet her was a blessing in life. Any sensible person wouldn’t refuse to befriend Ah Yan or to offer her help.

However, Jiang Yifan’s words immediately triggered the resentment Madam Yin had felt before, causing her to disregard her initial reason for having him stay and utterly ignore the awkwardness of Jiang Yifan’s reference to her daughter.

She scoffed, "What a surprise, to hear such words from Lord Jiang. I thought your resentment towards Ah Yan would last until death."

Jiang Yifan, reminded of their past, was momentarily confused and didn’t know how to respond to Madam Yin’s words. As for his ex-wife, the true daughter of the Duke’s Mansion, although he had no resentment that would last until death, he truly had no desire to reminisce.

Seeing Jiang Yifan’s ambiguous attitude, Madam Yin grew even more agitated. According to Anshun’s household, Jiang Yifan seemed to be keen on reconciling with Ah Yan, but what kind of attitude was he showing now? No sign of repentance or even a hint of guilt or regret?

Madam Yin spoke with a flip of her sleeve, "Lord Jiang harbors dislike for my daughter yet still lends her support, such nobility. However, now that my daughter has returned to Duke An’s Mansion, she naturally has others to care for her, so there is no need for Lord Jiang to trouble himself any further."

Jiang Yifan stiffened, as Madam Yin’s ability to keep him here, together with Anshun’s household’s recent demeanor, implied that the wife of the heir apparent would not object to a reconciliation with Ah Yan. It was no time for beating around the bush; doing so could only spoil matters.

Determined, Jiang Yifan stepped forward and, with hands clasped and bowing deeply, said, "Madam has misconstrued, I hold no distaste for Ah Yan. I am fond of Ah Yan, and I will treat her well in the future, hoping that Madam will consent to this."

Madam Yin scoffed. Nice words! Jiang Yifan’s failure to promptly follow her lead and express remorse for his mistakes infuriated Madam Yin to the point of being unforgivable!

Her expression stern, Madam Yin said, "Lord Jiang’s words seem insincere, don’t they? Although I am merely a woman of the inner chamber, I can still discern what Lord Jiang’s expressions meant just now. No matter how lacking Ah Yan might be, she is still my daughter, and I dare not entrust her to Lord Jiang. I have nothing more to say. Please, Lord Jiang, you may leave."

Jiang Yifan froze, aghast, looking at Madam Yin. So, just because of his momentary hesitation earlier, the wife of the heir apparent refuted her prior decision? Her over-sensitivity when it came to her daughter was as acute as ever, as was her tendency to lose patience and judgment, just as it had been in the past.

Jiang Yifan thought about how Ye Xinyan and Madam Yin interacted earlier, realizing this was Ah Yan’s mother.

He knelt to the ground, lifting his robes, with hands clasped, and said, "What the wife of the heir apparent said just now reminded me of the past, and I was bewildered for a moment, that’s why I didn’t respond immediately. Ah Yan has been self-reliant and earnestly honorable since leaving the capital, and is greatly respected, how could I possibly disdain Ah Yan? I truly like Ah Yan, and I will treat her well, vowing never to forsake her throughout this life. I beg the wife of the heir apparent to give me another chance."

Madam Yin raised her face, glancing sideways at Jiang Yifan with a faint expression, "So even Lord Jiang acknowledges Ah Yan’s respectability. If so, why must my Ah Yan remarry you? Here in the capital, there are many who are interested in my Ah Yan. It won’t be long before suitors are knocking down the Duke’s Mansion’s doors, plenty of them more sincere than Lord Jiang."

Jiang Yifan was all the more anxious, as he believed what Madam Yin said. Ah Yan had the talent to bring glory to a clan, and once her abilities were recognized by those aristocratic clans, with their numerous offspring, it would be easy to select several of comparable age and decent conduct to propose to Ah Yan.