She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 636 - 634 Discussing Matters

Chapter 636: Chapter 634 Discussing Matters

Ye Xinyan felt somewhat embarrassed as she glanced at Song Ping’s household and gave an imperceptible nod, indicating her understanding. She kept reminding herself that since things had come to this, she might as well accept it. She had always been a decisive person and in such matters, she should definitely maintain a positive and correct attitude.

Ye Xinyan sat in the reception room, originally a civilian dwelling, continually steeling herself mentally, and then heard Jiu Yu announce from outside, "Miss, Lord Jiang is here."

"Please invite his lordship in," Ye Xinyan said, hesitating for a moment before taking a couple of steps towards the entrance, unsure of where exactly she should receive him.

After all, she had worked with Jiang Yifan for several years, and previously, no matter where they met, she seemed to have never greeted him.

Jiang Yifan also had mixed feelings as he entered the room.

When he had formally expressed his intention to propose to Ye Xinyan again, it was with forced calm that he had spoken his piece. Although her reaction at the time had disappointed him, as days passed without her showing any unwillingness, his heart gradually settled.

Moreover, each time they met, he could tell that Ye Xinyan was unusually embarrassed when facing him.

He believed this to be the shyness Ye Xinyan was reluctant to reveal. Jiang Yifan couldn’t help feeling pleased internally; after three years of torment, he was finally about to fulfill his wish.

Although he frequently visited the Qi family and saw her often, he never again took the initiative to engage in casual conversation with her. One reason was to keep things relaxed between them, and another was his fear that, if he talked too much, it might give her the opportunity to reject him.

At that moment, hearing the consent from inside the house, Jiang Yifan took a deep breath, nodded solemnly at Jiu Yu, who lifted the cotton curtain, and stepped into the room.

This room was likely originally the main hall and living room of a residential house, its spacious interior centered with a large square table, and chairs on the east and west sides, all made of simple-carved sourwood.

Beyond that, on both the left and right sides, rows of chairs and narrow side tables were set, matching the sourwood material and simple carvings. By the window, there was a low table surrounded by four chairs.

On and in the corners of the wall, two sets of cabinets and a curio shelf were placed. Besides holding everyday items and several pieces of porcelain, the curio shelf mainly displayed various architectural models.

Ye Xinyan stood inside the reception room, her poised-to-advance stance making it immediately clear to Jiang Yifan that she was in a quandary about whether to come forward to greet him.

Seeing Ye Xinyan like this, Jiang Yifan inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

From his experience dealing with Ye Xinyan, the most comfortable she appeared was when working or discussing matters. Such hesitation and indecision were rare in her, almost non-existent in the past.

Jiang Yifan was also very nervous; seeing Ye Xinyan’s hesitation, as if trying to force herself to step forward, he quickly went to greet her.

"Ah Yan, I have something I’d like to discuss with you," he said, glancing over the room’s furnishings and the servants standing inside, including Song Ping’s and the two maids Jiu Yue, "...shall we sit down to talk?"

Song Ping’s household hastened to offer Jiang Yifan a seat by the window, saying with a smile, "We were rude, my apologies. Please take a seat over here, Lord Jiang," and then signaled Jiu Yue to serve tea.

Ye Xinyan also nodded slightly to Jiang Yifan, taking the lead to walk over, but noticed that Jiang Yifan hadn’t moved and was instead looking at Song Ping’s household.

Song Ping’s household, as if oblivious to Jiang Yifan’s gaze, busied herself arranging the tea cups, dried fruit, and snacks on the low table.

Unable to ignore this, Ye Xinyan said to Song Ping’s household, "That... Aunt Song, it seems Lord Jiang has urgent matters to discuss."

The words didn’t come out smoothly; in fact, it was impossible for them to be smooth. It was indeed against the norms of propriety for a young man and woman, who had already begun discussions for marriage, to be alone in a room together, so it was quite improper to say such things.

However, seeing the expression on Jiang Yifan’s face, Ye Xinyan could tell that what he was about to say probably wasn’t suitable for others to hear. Although she was thick-skinned, there were still many things that could make one feel embarrassed, which she didn’t want others to overhear. It was similar to what Jiang Yifan was about to say.

Upon hearing this, Song Ping’s Household turned her head and commanded Jiu Yue, "Jiu Yue, the young mistress and Lord Jiang have important matters to discuss. You all withdraw and wait outside the door."

Watching Jiu Yue promptly exit, Song Ping’s Household closed the door and positioned herself by it, her eyes cast down, apparently planning to stand there the entire time.

Ye Xinyan widened her eyes. This Aunt Song... was she determined to stay in the room and listen to their conversation?

She cast her gaze towards Jiang Yifan, feeling helpless, as Aunt Song had the dual leadership of her mother and Nanny Jin to answer to, and Ye Xinyan dared not provoke her.

In the past, Jiang Yifan often complained about Aunt Song, criticizing her for not fulfilling her duties as a personal nanny and allowing Ye Xinyan to do as she pleased, unable to keep her in check. Only now did he realize that, after all, Ah Yan was a woman, and when it came to crucial moments, Aunt Song could still strictly adhere to her boundaries.

So, he either had to say nothing or speak up in front of her personal nanny.

Hmm! Jiang Yifan bit his teeth. He couldn’t not speak the words that needed to be said. The New Year was fast approaching, and time was tight. If he delayed any further, once the New Year passed, he would miss the fifteenth as well...

Compared to missing those days during the New Year and the fifteenth of the first month of the lunar year, he felt it was acceptable to be a bit shameless and endure Aunt Song’s strange looks.

The two of them sat down on either side of the low table, and Jiang Yifan took a moment to silently savor the satisfaction in his heart. They had sat together and spoken privately before, but they had never felt the same thrill as now.

Jiang Yifan pushed a cup of hot tea towards Ye Xinyan, then glanced at Aunt Song by the door and said in a low voice, "My mother will arrive in the capital tomorrow."

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but lift his gaze, sweeping a quick look at Ye Xinyan and explaining, "I had written to my mother recently with the intention of having her come after the New Year. She is probably anxious about our marriage, so she hurried over."

As for whatever his mother was worried about, he would handle it himself. He was determined to make Ah Yan feel that she was the daughter-in-law the Jiang Family liked.

Ye Xinyan was also taken aback, lifting her gaze momentarily, nearly meeting Jiang Yifan’s. Was the matter of the marriage discussion so urgent?

His mother rushing over, wasn’t that going to spoil the celebration of the New Year?

Ye Xinyan instantly remembered that she, as the future daughter-in-law, had met Lady Qin before. After her marriage to Jiang Yifan, she had visited their ancestral home, but in her memory, the experiences of paying respects to the Jiang family elders and meeting the clansmen were not at all pleasant.

Would Lady Qin be willing for her to enter the Jiang Family again? Why did she find that so hard to believe?

Ye Xinyan looked directly at Jiang Yifan, the doubt in her eyes unmistaken. Jiang Yifan met Ye Xinyan’s gaze and felt somewhat guilty, quickly averting his eyes.

Telling lies, for him, wasn’t that easy, was it? How could such a situation arise?

Aunt Song, standing at the doorway, was inwardly panicking. The young mistress was still so naively innocent. At this time, shouldn’t she be shyly expressing her inner joy, then demurely showing concern about the hardships her future mother-in-law might have encountered on the journey, or if the accommodations in the capital were satisfactory?

What did it mean to be staring at Lord Jiang like this?

Seeing her young mistress stare blankly for quite some time without any realization, Aunt Song hastily coughed.