She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 582 - 580: Two Months

Chapter 582: Chapter 580: Two Months

Primarily, the problem was that Jiang Yifan’s letters would, from time to time, end with questions about when she would finish handling matters in Yuyuan Prefecture and return to the capital city, along with expressions of deep concern.

Such letters, when taken seriously, contained no real substance. However, for a young man to be writing specifically to a divorcee, and to do so incessantly, was highly inappropriate.

What was infuriating was that the Qi family had grown accustomed to receiving letters from Jiang Yifan; if his letter was mixed in with others, Song Ping would inquire if any had been overlooked. It was just too damn maddening.

To refuse them was worrying in case they fell into others’ hands, which was not good. To accept them seemed somewhat improper. To burn them would appear too deliberate, as if there was something to hide. To keep them—why should she keep such boring letters?

Dammit, wasn’t this tantamount to exchanging tokens in private? Wasn’t this deliberately ruining her reputation?

Well, alright, it’s not like she had much of a reputation to begin with.

Regardless of the letters, the urgent matter truly was to arrange everything in Yuyuan Prefecture properly; delaying the return to the capital city was not an option. Since she would have to return sooner or later, she might as well do it sooner. Although Grandfather was still strong, he was, after all, nearing sixty years of age.

Strong as one may be in old age, it is just a saying. When you’re older, you no longer have the luxury of wasting time. While Grandfather still had the energy, it was important to establish a foundation and fulfill the old man’s lifelong dream, earning some glory for her guilt-ridden Qi family parents.

As for leaving a stable family business for Qi Jiaer, that was optional. Qi Jiaer still had her, and capable men, given their ancestors’ assets, certainly had it better. But without them, they could also earn their own and their wife and children’s livelihood through their own abilities.

......

In late April, Ye Xinyan arranged everything in Clear Water Village and Peach Grove, entrusting Qi Younian, Wong Qiao, and several managers to oversee matters. She, along with Guan He, the accountants, two bodyguards, and Old Madam Ding from the prince’s mansion, rode horseback to the southern part of Yuyuan Prefecture and Guanyuan Prefecture to inspect the operation and accounts of two cattle farms and the Dairy Products Store, arranging the management of the business for after her return to the capital.

By the time she had inspected the business in both prefectures, adjusted personnel, and settled affairs, it was the end of June when she returned to Clear Water Village.

Qi Younian, Madam Yin, and others welcomed Ye Xinyan home. Madam Yin, while examining her from head to toe, couldn’t stop expressing her sympathy, "Just look at you, I told you to take the carriage, but you insisted on hastiness. Look at what the wind has done to a girl like you; you’ve become so dark and thin. What hardships you must have endured."

Guan He discretely curled her lips, and while no one was paying attention, she took a detour back to her own room.

Seeing Guan He slip away, Qi Younian quickly said to Madam Yin, "The child has suffered on the journey, say less, and let’s have Ye Zi return to her room to wash up and change clothes. Don’t join us for dinner, just have something light to tide you over, and rest early. Get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll talk tomorrow."

Ye Xinyan immediately beamed with joy, "Yes, yes, Grandfather is the best. I’ll go back and sleep for three days first."

"I’ll accompany you, I’ll accompany you, Sister, I’ll be with you," Qi Jiaer said, jumping up and down.

Qi Younian shook his head with a smile, and said to Cheung Wusi and Wong Qiao, "Let us carry on with our own tasks, and leave Ye Zi to rest on her own."

Lady Zhao masked her disagreement, bid Madam Yin and Ye Xinyan farewell, and led Xiuqin back to her own courtyard. All the while as she walked, she fretted in her heart. Zhou Biyao worked under Miss Ye, and if Miss Ye didn’t follow the proper conduct of a married woman, leaving with just an old woman servant and several grown men for months without returning home, what if Zhou Biyao followed her example in the future? What then?

After washing up and changing her clothes, Ye Xinyan came out without going back to her room, lounging on the pillow in Madam Yin’s room, answering Madam Yin and Zhou Biyao’s questions intermittently, and then there was silence as she spoke. One could only hear Madam Yin asking questions without Ye Xinyan responding.

Zhou Biyao disregarded decorum and crawled a few steps on the kang bed to get closer, then quietly retreated and whispered to Madam Yin, "She’s fallen asleep."

Madam Yin was leaning forward to check on her and nearly burst into tears upon hearing Zhou Biyao’s words, "How exhausted she must be to fall asleep while talking."

Zhou Biyao continued in a hushed voice, "Sister Qi has been riding a horse, unlike sitting in a carriage where she could snooze if tired. Let’s not talk anymore, let’s cover Sister Qi with a quilt, let her sleep for now, and we will speak to her during dinner."

Madam Yin ultimately couldn’t bring herself to wake Ye Xinyan, who slept through the night until the next morning at Mao Hour.

With the early brightness of the summer day, Ye Xinyan opened her eyes groggily to the bright room and met Madam Yin’s concerned gaze.

"Mother, why are you in my room?" Ye Xinyan asked, her eyes glancing around, and she couldn’t help but smile. She was actually in Madam Yin’s room, having fallen asleep there, still in the clothes she had changed into after her bath.

Madam Yin’s eyes were filled with pity as she looked at Ye Xinyan, "You’re just a girl, why push yourself so hard? Riding a horse through two prefectures is hard even for rough men to endure, let alone a young woman like you. I should have stopped you from learning to ride a horse back then."

Ye Xinyan pushed the covers aside with a smile, sat up, and while rubbing her way to the edge of the kang, she laughed, "It’s lucky I learned to ride, or else your precious daughter wouldn’t have returned so quickly. If I had taken a carriage, it would have been another two months before I got back. Wouldn’t you have missed me by then?"

As she called for someone to help her wash up, Madam Yin complained, "You’re so worn out, and still joking around. Hurry up and wash, then eat something. If I had known you could fall asleep mid-conversation, I would have made you eat some pastries beforehand."

"It’s alright, I’m tough. What’s skipping a meal or two? It’s no big deal," Ye Xinyan reassured.

As mother and daughter talked, through the open window, they saw Nanny Liu come to inquire.

When Nanny Liu saw Madam Yin notice her, she smiled and approached, paying her respects through the window, "Old Master Qi is worried, and sent me to ask if the Miss has woken up." She looked at Ye Xinyan, who was washing up, and said with a smile, "I’ll report back now, so he doesn’t worry."

Since the end of last year, Madam Yin had been taking care of Ye Xinyan’s daily life, not seeing her daughter for two months; needless to say, she was worried, and she missed her dearly.

While Ye Xinyan washed up, Madam Yin personally helped her, handing her a towel, "Old Master Qi was worried when he heard you fell asleep while talking and didn’t even have dinner. He’s been asking several times whether to call the doctor to have a look at you."

Ye Xinyan dried her hands and face, took the towel back, and continued to ramble as she handed it to Cui Zhu, "That year you rashly ran away from home, you were lucky to come across Old Master Qi, and you had your skills and a kind personality. If it had been someone vicious, what would you have done? Every time I think of that year’s events, I break out in a cold sweat..."

Just as Ye Xinyan was vexed by her mother turning into a chatterbox again, Qi Jiajia ran in with a pitter-patter, "Sis, you fell asleep last night before we could even talk."