She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 544 - 542: Won’t Regret It Afterwards?

Chapter 544: Chapter 542: Won’t Regret It Afterwards?

Ye Hongyang blinked in surprise. He knew that Qu Mao’s family wasn’t doing well, but he hadn’t expected that they were struggling to such an extent. Moreover, why was Qu Mao telling him all of this? Whether or not the Marquis Jingning’s Mansion had a good life was their own business, wasn’t it? What did it have to do with anyone else?

While Ye Hongyang was still astonished, Qu Mao said something that took him aback.

Qu Mao looked at Ye Hongyang earnestly and said, "My eldest son, Qu Zhaoyong, is nineteen this year and has yet to marry. I won’t deceive you, Cousin; Zhaoyong is just an average child. He’s been studying for more than a decade, and despite taking the imperial examinations for several years, he hasn’t passed. But I assure you that my Zhaoyong is a good child, with no bad habits. If your daughter marries into our family, she will be in charge of the household affairs, and we will definitely not treat her unfairly."

Ye Hongyang, initially uncomfortable, now looked shocked beyond belief, his eyes growing wider and wider. He had been waiting for Qu Mao to suggest some plan that could save him from the embarrassment of being mocked, but instead, Qu Mao first spoke of his family’s hardships and then proposed this.

Seeing that Ye Hongyang had not responded, Qu Mao hurriedly added, "Cousin, think about it. If you marry off your daughter, her husband’s family will take charge of her, which would relieve you of a lot of worry, wouldn’t it? After all, your wife cannot possibly live with your daughter in her husband’s family. Once your daughter is married, she can only obediently return to your mansion, don’t you think?"

It was at this point that Ye Hongyang’s almost rusted eyeballs began to turn, and he immediately recalled the shameful reputation that could not be mentioned, quickly asking, "Brother Qu, are you serious about this? You’re not playing a joke on me?"

Qu Mao was so earnest that he might as well have been pounding his chest and stomping his feet. "What are you saying, Cousin? Marriage—the most solemn of matters—how can it be taken lightly? With our many years of friendship, don’t you trust your brother?"

Ye Hongyang sized up Qu Mao several times, still somewhat disbelieving. With that disgraceful reputation and the scandal seen by many that year, was there really someone willing to marry her?

"That rebellious daughter of mine... ahem, Brother Qu is aware of her previous... indecent activities. And now you’re seeking a wife for your eldest son. You won’t get cold feet at the last minute, will you?" Otherwise, not only would his joy be short-lived, he would also lose face a second time.

A look of difficulty and shame crossed Qu Mao’s face. "Alas, I won’t lie to you, Cousin. Who wouldn’t want to marry a gentle and virtuous woman into their family? But given the state of our household, what woman of that caliber would be willing to join us? I have no other choice and—after much thought—hope that you, Cousin, might consider our decades of friendship and be willing to marry your daughter to my family. After all, your eldest daughter understands how to earn some Silver Coin, which could help sustain our home. So here I am, asking for your help."

If it were anyone else, Qu Mao wouldn’t dare speak such outrageous words to a father. But his long-standing relationship with Ye Hongyang meant he knew such words would be acceptable in this case.

In Ye Hongyang’s eyes, his wife and legitimate eldest daughter were worthless, the latter even more so. Miss Ye’s presence seemed to exist solely to embarrass him, culminating at the birthday banquet for the Duke An’s sixtieth birthday. And still, the heir of Duke An remained on that peak of disgust to this day.

Laughable was Ye Hongyang, oblivious to his own daughter’s worth and gazing at him with those small, anxious eyes, fearing he might recant. Qu Mao believed that if possible, Ye Hongyang would now eagerly push that daughter, who seemed as desirable as a hot cake, through the door of the Qu Family.

In today’s capital, aside from Ye Hongyang, who didn’t know that there were numerous noted families vying to ask for Miss Ye’s hand in marriage? His Marquis Jingning’s Mansion didn’t even come close to qualifying. Yet those families had fallen into misconception, valuing Ye Xinyan too greatly and knowing Ye Hongyang had no say over his daughter, while Madam Yin was not in the capital. Thus, the Female Relatives focused their efforts on the Duchess and the wives of both Marquis Zhongyong and General Zhenyuan.

Little did they know, no matter how foolish or heartless Ye Hongyang was, he was still Ye Xinyan’s father. Once he finalized his daughter’s marriage, the whole world would have nothing to say.

If someone like Yin Xiaocheng heard Qu Mao’s words, he wouldn’t be beaten to death, but his head would likely become as swollen as a pig’s. However, to Ye Hongyang, these words were like a siren’s song. Someone actually wanted that disgraceful wretch? Why not hurry and send her away at once?

"That’s wonderful, that’s wonderful. With Brother Qu showing such sincerity, how can I let you down? When would your household like to come and propose marriage?" asked Ye Hongyang.

This question startled Qu Mao, who waved his hands at Ye Hongyang and whispered, "Cousin, Cousin. We can’t do things this way. Please think about your father and the father and son of Marquis Zhongyong. Would they allow you to marry off your daughter so easily?"

At this, Ye Hongyang paused in realization. Indeed, his father was extremely muddle-headed these days and might still be dreaming of finding a distinguished family for that troublesome girl, even willing to keep her in the Duke’s Mansion and defer to Madam Yin. Marquis Zhongyong and Yin Xiaocheng were even less likely to agree, almost hating him to death. They’d be all too happy to keep that troublesome girl at Duke An’s Mansion to irritate him; why would they let her get married?

Ye Hongyang nodded repeatedly, "Brother Qu is more considerate indeed. We can’t let them find out. What should we do? Let’s do as you suggest." Once he sent off that troublesome girl, no matter what, she must never set foot in Duke An’s Mansion again.

Qu Mao sighed in relief. Now that things had come this far, if he and Ye Hongyang quietly replaced the betrothal gifts and wrote the marriage contract, it would be difficult for the Duke’s Mansion to back out. Even if Duke An was furious with the Qu Family, the deed would be done and his granddaughter would be the wife in the Qu Family. For his granddaughter’s sake, the old man would have to swallow his anger.

After sharing his plan with Ye Hongyang and giving him a final reminder, Qu Mao instructed, "Cousin, remember, you mustn’t mention this to anyone until the day of the wedding. If any hint of this gets back to your mansion or to the ears of General Zhenyuan, the plan will fall through."

Besides, with such scheming against Madam Yin’s daughter, who knew what the furious Yin Xiaocheng might do? The current state of Marquis Jingning’s Mansion was so precarious that a single mishap could lead to their titles being revoked. Without the official’s salary, the entire household would truly be reduced to begging.