She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 499 - 497: Who Will Treat You Sincerely

Chapter 499: Chapter 497: Who Will Treat You Sincerely

Yet Ye Xinyan harbored an unconscious resistance toward Jiang Yifan, who was the original host’s husband. By all logic, he and the original host should have been the closest and most intimate of relations, yet they were not on good terms and even detested each other.

A saying from a thousand years later goes, "The person who understands you best is not your friend, but your enemy."

As an enemy with sufficient closeness and intelligence, Ye Xinyan unconsciously believed it would be easy to give herself away in front of Jiang Yifan. Therefore, she had always tried to avoid excessive contact with Jiang Yifan, but still, she had been seen through by that fellow.

Such people needed to be kept at a distance, ensuring the well water did not interfere with the river water was the safest approach.

"The cheese was a token of my Miss Cousin’s goodwill, naturally it is for her to decide its disposal, how could we trouble Lord Jiang, an outsider, to concern himself?" Zhao Gang replied indifferently.

Jiang Yifan paused for a moment, his face bitter. Who could be as miserable as he, his journey to woo his wife proving so arduous. Others marry with the blessing of their parents and the matchmaker’s words, but not so for him.

He had already overcome the hurdle of the wife of the heir apparent, if only Ah Yan’s father were reliable, all that would remain would be to ingratiate himself with Ah Yan’s father. But Ah Yan had such a father, utterly unworthy of reliance; however, this led to more people who could decide Ah Yan’s marital affairs, nearly all of whom were hostile toward him.

Like Zhao Gang, although not yet a relative, he played a pivotal role in Ah Yan’s life. Zhao Gang had not shown him the slightest kindness during his last visit to Qingyuan County, and even now that the wife of the heir apparent had tacitly allowed him to reconcile with Ah Yan, Zhao Gang remained unchanged, not granting him even a single chance to speak.

It couldn’t be helped; after all, Ah Yan regarded Zhao Gang in a different light.

Jiang Yifan said with downcast eyes, "Uncle Zhao speaks truth. My intention too was for Ah Yan’s benefit, thinking Ah Yan respects Uncle Zhao, so I brought the cheese you enjoy. Uncle Zhao, please accept it and fulfill Ye Zi’s wishes, isn’t pleasing her the best outcome?"

Ye Xinyan was uninterested in echoing Jiang Yifan’s words, but she still nodded repeatedly toward Zhao Gang. If there was something that could please her, why not do it?

Zhao Gang glanced at Ye Xinyan, then disregarded her. He disliked the tone of Jiang Yifan’s speech, as if he and Miss Cousin were so intimate, completely forgetting how he had treated her in the past.

Zhao Gang said coolly, "If Lord Jiang had been this thoughtful earlier, he would not have found himself in the current circumstance."

Did he think he couldn’t see through the intentions of the Jiang scion? Seeing Miss Cousin now so sensible and intelligent, he wanted to turn back. Was there such a cheap deal?

Ye Xinyan was somewhat taken aback; this Uncle Zhao... held quite a grudge, bluntly speaking his mind. Indeed, he had the disposition of a military general. But still, it was better to change the subject; this topic was dangerous. That Jiang fellow was cunning; even now, she did not know how he had managed to convince Madam Yin, permitting him to roam about the Qi family’s residence.

"Let’s not talk about this messy affair anymore, we should hurry on our way."

Ye Xinyan was once again ignored.

Jiang Yifan’s expression became serious as he looked at Zhao Gang and said, "Uncle Zhao treats the Miss Cousin with care and affection because of his long-standing love for her, naturally able to accommodate all of her. But such a Miss Cousin, if it were any other blooded man, who could accept her without hesitation? I am a normal man with self-respect and need time to slowly accept her."

Without hiding anything from Ye Xinyan, Jiang Yifan earnestly said to Zhao Gang, "Uncle Zhao should take an impartial stance and give me a chance. A person only sees their true heart through experiences. It is precisely because of our previous discord that I am now able to see Ah Yan’s virtues and come to cherish her more. I will not question Uncle Zhao’s character because of his hostility towards me. And Uncle Zhao should also be aware of my character; promises I have made will never be broken."

Ye Xinyan stared at Jiang Yifan, speechless, not out of being moved, but because... this guy was too presumptuous. Should these words be said in front of her? She was an ancient woman, for heaven’s sake, didn’t she understand modesty?

Ye Xinyan’s eyes rolled, well, she didn’t quite understand modesty. She looked at Zhao Gang to see what expression he, like Madam Yin, who was also unreasonable and staunchly protected his family’s Miss Cousin, would have, and how he would respond to Jiang Yifan’s justified argument.

Clearly, Zhao Gang was not as unreasonable as Madam Yin. Frowning at Jiang Yifan’s words, Zhao Gang stared at him for a while and said, "Lord Jiang now swears confidently in his own defense, but can the harm done to Miss Cousin before be undone by simply saying one needs time to slowly accept? Zhao once saw much in Lord Jiang’s character, but after the divorce incident, I dare not trust him so lightly anymore."

Jiang Yifan quickly glanced at Ye Xinyan, then swiftly turned back and said softly to Zhao Gang, "After the incident, I left the capital and knew very little of its affairs. But Uncle Zhao remained in the capital; considering the capital’s gossip about the Miss Cousin, do you dare assure that if Ah Yan remarries another man, that man would truly treat Ah Yan with sincerity?"

"You..." Zhao Gang was furious, yet his anger couldn’t sustain itself. Two years had passed since the incident; although there were far fewer people talking about it, the words spoken on the rare occasions it was brought up were still unspeakable. Even with this year’s introduction of the railway carriages, it only recognized that Miss Cousin was capable of managing affairs like others, and did not restore much of her reputation as a virtuous woman.

One who would dare to propose marriage in the face of such gossip, their underlying motives could not be scrutinized too deeply. Just like the second son of Shen Qixiang, who professed admiration for Miss Cousin’s talent, harbored such malicious intentions, and as a result, ruined Miss Cousin’s life.

Jiang Yifan bowed respectfully, clasped his hands together, and said, "Uncle Zhao and Yuanfan have been acquainted for years; you should know that no matter how long my promises last, no matter what trials they may endure, I am not a person of insincere words and malicious intentions. Yuanfan says he cherishes Ah Yan, and it comes from the heart, I hope Uncle Zhao can believe me and give me another chance."

Indeed, the more precious something is, the harder it is to obtain. Was it easy for him to overcome one challenge after another?

Even if Zhao Gang was softening, the situation with Marquis Zhongyong and the Protectorate General might be somewhat better, but they too were barriers that needed to be crossed. And then there was the old... whatever, Duke An who, cunning as he was, although willing to reconcile his granddaughter with me, would certainly not make things easy for me because of the embarrassment I had caused Duke An’s Mansion in the past.

Madam Yin had already bid farewell to Zhao Gang, but then Zhao Gang called Ah Yan to the side, saying he needed to give instructions. Following that, not only did Yuanfan join in the conversation, but he seemed to be getting increasingly involved.

Madam Yin, feeling surprised, stepped forward and asked, "What are you talking about again? Aren’t we in a hurry for the Shichen Chinese Time?"

Seeing Madam Yin approaching, Zhao Gang hurriedly said, "Nothing much, just a few words of idle talk," saying this while casting a cold glance at Jiang Yifan.