She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 589 - 587

Chapter 589: 587

Jiang Yifan was talking to Madam Yin, but his gaze kept stealing glances toward Ye Xinyan, watching her face full of disinterest. He didn’t feel discouraged, instead, he found it exceptionally endearing.

Finally seeing Ah Yan again, Ah Yan was still just like before, openly displaying her emotions in front of him. How could he not be overjoyed?

When he left Qingyuan County, although he knew he would miss Ah Yan after returning to the capital, he never expected that this longing would deepen with the passage of time. Now, seeing the woman he’d missed for more than half a year, he felt everything about her was beautiful, pleasing to the eye, almost to the point where he couldn’t bear to look away.

Madam Yin, seeing the deep affection in the gaze of her ideal son-in-law toward her daughter, naturally knew what he was thinking. She couldn’t help but smile and said, "It’s getting late, Yuanfan, have a few words with Ah Yan, and then we should set off for the capital."

Ye Xinyan’s eyes widened instantly upon hearing Madam Yin’s words. She simply couldn’t understand how there could be such a mother in the world, so eager to throw her daughter under the bus. At least for now, she and Jiang Yifan were two unrelated members of the opposite sex; encouraging another young man to strike up a conversation with her daughter, wasn’t that a bit inappropriate?

The wife of the heir apparent used to always dote on her daughter, right? No matter what the daughter did, everything was good, right, and warranting of full indulgence. So how come it all changed when it came to her? She was so obedient, sensible, compliant, intelligent, capable... Anyway, she had all kinds of virtues that her predecessor lacked, so why was her mother not going along with her now?

Look at the situation now, adding up all the intimate "my son", "my daughter" phrases, was she being placed in a position of absolution?

Now knowing that Jiang Yifan was intent on marrying her, her mother was so eager to facilitate the match, as if she couldn’t wait to send her off to Jiang Yifan’s mansion. Was it because she was too sensible?

Ye Xinyan’s accusing gaze was outright ignored by Madam Yin, who smilingly glanced from the prospective son-in-law to her own impeccable daughter, feeling for a moment that her life was incomparably fulfilled.

"Ah Yan, this journey must have been tiring, right?" Jiang Yifan said.

Ye Xinyan, hearing Jiang Yifan’s very ordinary attempt at conversation, quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She had truly feared that the first thing out of Jiang Yifan’s mouth would be whether she had received his letters, or some other off-the-wall comment. After all, her mother had laid it out plainly, giving him ample room to talk; it was clear that no matter what he said, he had her mother’s strong backing for support.

If that were the case, wouldn’t she be embarrassed, blushing and speechless?

With such thoughts, she looked back at Jiang Yifan and couldn’t help but find him much more agreeable. A person who knew when to speak and when to hold back was always likeable.

"It was... all right," Ye Xinyan replied, looking into Jiang Yifan’s eager eyes, finding herself at a loss to voice the polite remarks she had intended to say.

Those few wistful words were greatly appreciated by Jiang Yifan. Ah Yan’s simple manner of speaking was much more comforting to him than any elaborate politeness.

"The journey has been tiring, Ah Yan and Madam should hurry back to the mansion to rest. I’ll take care of Old Master Qi and Wong Qiao mother and son, and arrange for their accommodation, you just rest assured," he said.

Seeing Ye Xinyan about to speak, and in order to preempt any polite remarks she might be about to make, Jiang Yifan quickly changed the topic, asking, "Second Miss Zhou didn’t come with you?"

Ye Xinyan, remembering that Wong Qiao and Zhou Biyao were able to achieve their heart’s desire thanks in large part to Jiang Yifan’s advice, couldn’t help but smile and said, "Zhou Biyao has already become engaged to Wong Qiao. Grandfather just arrived in the capital, and since there’s no construction work here in winter, she has temporarily returned to Yuyuan City. Come spring next year, Lord Zhou will return to the capital to report for duty, at that time their whole family will come back."

"That’s good," he replied.

Jiang Yifan was genuinely happy for Wong Qiao. Besides, for a guy like Wong Qiao, who was quite popular with the ladies, it was better to be spoken for than not. It gave those among them without wives some peace of mind.

Zhou Biyao and Wong Qiao shared the same aspirations, and even after their marriage, Zhou Biyao could still go out to handle affairs, allowing Ah Yan to have a companion in her work.

As for Wong Qiao’s mother, Lady Zhao, in Jiang Yifan’s view, she was just an ordinary woman harboring private intentions, which were not even easy to voice, but very easy to deal with.

Ye Xinyan leaned out, glanced at Shi Yu, who was following by the carriage, and said to Jiang Yifan, "We’re back now. The guards and staff of Duke An’s Mansion are numerous, and with Big Brother Guan here too. You should take Shi Yu back with you."

Shi Yu had been eagerly looking at Jiang Yifan, and upon hearing Ye Xinyan’s words, the look in his eyes grew even more hopeful.

Jiang Yifan hesitated for an instant before Ye Xinyan said, "For the past six months, Shi Yu has worked hard. Earlier, when I went to the southern part of Yuyuan Prefecture and Guanyuan Prefecture for inspection, Shi Yu took care of all the household duties and the guards. After you go back, arrange for him to have a few days off."

Shi Yu never expected that simply carrying out his daily duties would earn him praise from Miss Ye, which came as a great surprise to him. Did this mean that even if Miss Ye were to marry the Eldest Son eventually, their lives would improve substantially, and perhaps Miss Ye might even occasionally speak well of them?

Upon hearing her words, Jiang Yifan’s expression also relaxed. It was good that he could be of use. The reason he had kept Shi Yu there, first, was because having an extra person close to him in Clear Water Village, allowed Ye Xinyan to see Shi Yu and be reminded of him at all times.

The more important reason was that he didn’t trust others; afraid that, in his and Jinrong’s absence, Ye Xinyan’s household would lack sufficient help and there would be no one truly dedicated to looking after her concerns.

Now that Ye Xinyan had returned to the capital, Duke An’s Mansion and Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion naturally had numerous guards, and he had already placed his name with Duke An’s father to come over frequently. Moreover, with the wife of the heir apparent and many others to assist her, they would remind Ah Yan that there was an outstanding husband candidate like him, so it was fine for Shi Yu to come back.

"Well, then," Jiang Yifan nodded and said cheerfully, "Let’s have him come back. I was previously worried this lad was of little use by Ah Yan’s side, just taking up space and only keen on freeloading for food and drink."

After speaking, he gestured to Shi Yu with a nod of his chin.

Shi Yu, not daring to show any displeasure towards his young master’s groundless defamation, quickly took the reins of the horse and hurried back to join the party led by Shi Shu. Although serving Miss Ye was not bad, being with his own young master was somehow more satisfying and more masculine.

...

After entering the city, at the intersection leading to Duke An’s Mansion’s street, the group split in two; Qi Younian, Qi Jiaer, and Wong Qiao with his mother, accompanied by Nanny Jin, followed Jiang Yifan to the house that the Qi family had purchased.

Madam Yin and Ye Xinyan’s party, however, returned to Duke An’s Mansion. By the time they entered the mansion, it had already become completely dark.

In the Duchess’s room, Madam Yin and Ye Xinyan first paid their respects to Duke An and his wife with full ceremony. Ye Xinyan also paid her reluctant respects to Ye Hongyang, who barely lifted his hand to indicate for her to rise.

Ye Hongyang’s eyes swept over Madam Yin and her daughter with ill favor, his expression darkening.

This was because while his parents were present, this disgraceful daughter managed to find favor in her father’s eyes, having returned to the capital after her father’s repeated urging. Otherwise, he would have made this unfilial child kneel indefinitely. A daughter divorced by her husband’s family, yet daring to encourage her mother to leave with her, causing him to lose all face. Even if he resorted to family punishment or sent her to the ancestral temple, it would not be unjust.