She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 550 - 548

Chapter 550: 548

In the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, Jiang Yifan received a letter from the capital. After reading the letter, Jiang Yifan was filled with melancholy; sending sturdy threaded components and hand-pulled hoists to the capital was meant to elicit this response from the court, so having artisans bring the drawings to the capital was an expected development.

What caused Jiang Yifan’s melancholy was the implicit message in Jinrong’s letter, which basically confirmed that his term in Qingyuan County had ended, and he would be transferred back to the capital. However, Ah Yan’s affairs in Clear Water Village couldn’t be wrapped up so soon, and he had to leave her in Qingyuan County while he returned to the capital alone.

Initially, he had risked offending Duke An’s Mansion and resolutely divorced Ye Xinyan, resulting in the anticipated outcome: being sent away from the capital.

On his way to his new post, he encountered Ah Yan, and not long after, Ah Yan appeared in the area he governed. No matter how his mood fluctuated afterward, Ah Yan was beneath his watchful eye, blossoming with an extraordinary radiance day by day.

This time, as his term ended and he left, leaving her behind in Yuyuan Prefecture, thousands of miles away from the capital, he felt anything but secure. Although he later stopped inquiring about Ah Yan’s past, he now believed that this woman was not simply someone who had experienced a dream; if she disregarded her kinship with Duke An’s Mansion, delaying and refraining from returning to the capital...

Jiang Yifan pondered for a moment, then arranged the affairs of the county government office and, accompanied by Shi Yu and a few young servants, set out for Clear Water Village.

By this time, it was the late Shen hour (5 PM), and Qi Younian was in the main house talking with Cheung Wusi when they heard Song Ping’s familiar greeting to Magistrate Sir. Quickly, Qi Younian and Cheung Wusi came out to welcome him.

Upon seeing the two men emerge, Jiang Yifan hastily clasped his hands and smiled, "The two old masters are too kind. I’ve become such a frequent visitor at the Qi family that I might wear down the threshold. There’s no need for both of you elders to come out and welcome me like this."

Qi Younian returned the gesture, laughing, "We also regard Lord Jiang as family, but since Lord Jiang is an Imperial Appointed Official, the proper courtesies must still be observed."

Qi Younian and Cheung Wusi escorted Jiang Yifan into the main house, after which Cheung Wusi excused himself, yielding space for Qi Younian and Jiang Yifan to speak privately.

Originally, Cheung Wusi saw that his eldest brother’s recognized granddaughter was good-natured and capable, so he thought of matching Wong Qiao with Ye Zi, hoping that Wong Qiao could marry this extraordinary talent, and the like-minded couple could work well together, giving his late younger brother a reason to smile from beyond.

His intentions were good, but Wong Qiao held a unique reverence for Ye Zi, showing no interest in the idea of marriage. Whenever the topic was broached, Wong Qiao would either shake his head like a rattle-drum or mumble that Qi Ye was destined for great things, and a common craftsman like himself wasn’t a suitable match for her.

It later become clear that Wong Qiao was a perceptive young man. After all, Qi Ye was the granddaughter of Duke An, a noble and prestigious figure of the Great Xia Dynasty, and with princes and Lord Jiang hungrily eyeing her, this woman... indeed wasn’t someone ordinary families would dare to marry off.

Subsequent events left Cheung Wusi stunned and struggling to grasp the turn of events; his lad Wong Qiao must have stepped in some luck, one fortunate incident after another. It turned out that the Prefecture Magistrate’s daughter had taken an interest in Ah Qiao!

To this day, Cheung Wusi still couldn’t fathom what Prefecture Magistrate Lord Zhou was thinking, or whether it was Second Miss Zhou’s enough petulance that allowed her to sway her parents into conceding. Second Miss had already been staying with the Qi family for nearly a year, and the Prefecture Magistrate’s Wife visited her daughter only twice, casually inquiring whether she wanted to return home. Furthermore, not only did they let their daughter stay with the Qi family, but they also subtly inquired about Wong Qiao’s origins and family members.

Does this mean consent to the marriage between Ye Zi and Wong Qiao? This outcome left Cheung Wusi, who brought out Wong Qiao hoping for a better life, feeling utterly astonished, almost as if he were dreaming.

Thankfully, the wife of the heir apparent and Ye Zi were holding the fort at home. The eldest brother had also sent people to Hezhou to bring over Wusi’s seventh younger brother’s wife to reunite with Wong Qiao, and incidentally to see if Ah Qiao and Second Miss Zhou could marry. Whether or not it would happen, the man must take initiative. The rest would be left to the resolute Second Miss Zhou and the wife of the heir of Duke An.

Reflecting on the past three years, it felt like a dream. He was just a craftsman who, through the ambitious Qi Younian and a few brothers, had fought together for a time that was nothing short of glorious for small folks like them.

The subsequent calamity nearly cost him his life at the border pass, and he thought that was it for him. He would only rely on his skills, squatting in the corner of a market waiting for families in need of his work, until the end of his days.

He could never have imagined such a day, not only earning an unimaginable amount of silver but also meeting people of extreme nobility. Even princes, prefectural magistrates, and county magistrates were now people he saw and conversed with regularly.

As for Wong Qiao, without the presence of Ye Zi, this genius, and the eldest brother, at most he would have been slightly regarded by some random workshop head. Who would have thought he’d have such an extraordinary fate? To be involved with a prefectural magistrate and his daughter? Such figures were once unattainable for small folks like them.

Cheung Wusi shook his head subconsciously, marveling at the unpredictability of life. Perhaps a single small opportunity can change one’s entire life. That year, by chance, he took on a job he was reluctant to do, leading to his acquaintance with the eldest brother. This lifetime was worth it.

He couldn’t help but wonder where Lord Jiang would be reassigned after his term ended, and what Ye Zi and the wife of the heir apparent were planning. If Lord Jiang and Ye Zi were to leave, could their construction industry continue to run as smoothly as it does now?

While Cheung Wusi was considering the future of the construction industry, Jiang Yifan too was hard at work planning its path forward. Given Ah Yan’s relationship with the Qi family’s grandfather and grandson, if he could persuade Old Master Qi to move to the capital, then Ah Yan would surely return to the capital with Qi Younian and his grandson.

"I have received a message from Sixth Master, mainly asking Ah Yan to arrange for craftsmen who make threaded fasteners to come to the capital. Also, I will likely be reassigned after my term is over."

Speaking of this, Jiang Yifan looked at Qi Younian, "The transfer order should arrive in about two months. With neither Sixth Master nor I in Qingyuan County, I am a bit concerned about Ah Yan and the old master and his grandson. This time, I came to ask if you have any plans to develop your construction industry in the capital?"

Qi Younian had thought about Jiang Yifan’s reassignment. The construction industry and their grandfather and grandson were minor issues, but Ye Zi’s marriage was key. He had a high opinion of Jiang Yifan. After nearly three years of acquaintance, Jiang Yifan proved to be trustworthy and considerate towards Ye Zi. He believed that after marriage, Jiang would let Ye Zi do what she loves, and they were a bonded couple after all. From any aspect, Jiang Yifan was a suitable match for Ye Zi.

After some thought, Qi Younian said, "Ye Zi is no longer alone, she has the wife of the Duke’s Heir Apparent with her. For the sake of the wife of the Heir Apparent, Ye Zi will definitely need to return to the capital. Lord Jiang need not worry about this old fellow here. Even if both Sixth Master and Lord Jiang are absent, Sixth Master’s business is still here. Whoever takes over the position would not dare to make trouble for us, out of respect for Sixth Master’s business. Once Ye Zi is in the capital, we will rely on Lord Jiang to protect and look after her more."

"Protecting and looking after her is certainly no issue," Jiang Yifan said with a troubled expression, "but you know as well, old master, the deep bonds you share with Ye Zi and Brother Jia are something she wouldn’t want to leave behind, with you and Brother Jia’s family alone while she leaves."