She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 649 - 647: What Channel

Chapter 649: Chapter 647: What Channel

Qi Jiaer hurriedly looked at Lady Qin and explained, "No, no. Today, the young one has brought silver and plans to treat aunt to some delicious food elsewhere." As he spoke, a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face, "It’s mainly because I had already promised to take Lord Jiang to eat delicious food. I made the promise before coming to the capital, and as it turns out, Lord Jiang has been too busy to take a day off for such a long time."

Jiang Yifan, listening to Qi Jiaer’s words, had a look of regret on his face. He had indeed readily agreed to let the little guy take him around the capital to play and eat. However, he had been caught up in those messy affairs and had ended up breaking his promise.

Lady Qin pulled Qi Jiaer to her side, showering him with affectionate terms like "my heart" and "my liver," and incessantly scolded Jiang Yifan, "You as a brother are really out of line, actually breaking promises even to a child, auntie will scold you when we get back."

Qi Jia held in front by Lady Qin was still a bit uncomfortable, but when he heard Lady Qin say she would scold Jiang Yifan upon returning, he felt pain for both heart and liver even more than if he was being scolded himself. That was Lord Jiang, the person he had admired and looked up to since childhood, how could he be casually scolded by others? That wouldn’t do.

"Don’t, auntie, don’t scold Lord Jiang. Lord Jiang is busy with official duties, and we children really shouldn’t be causing him trouble."

Lady Qin’s heart nearly melted with these two sentences. Such an adorable child, Yuanfan said, this child was taught by Ye Xinyan, it seems that she would also raise good grandchildren in the future.

Lady Qin promptly agreed, casting a smile at Ye Xinyan and feeling even more satisfied in her heart.

Qi Jiaer then took the opportunity to move and snuggled next to Jiang Yifan.

Jiang Yifan held him in his arms and whispered in his ear, "We’ll go eat some tasty food in a little while. And when the New Year comes, I’ll come to pick you and your sister up, so we can go watch acrobatics and magic tricks, and have fun together."

After finishing, with an even lower voice, he emphasized, "We’re going with your sister too, do you like that idea?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiaer’s eyes immediately brightened, he tiptoed and hugged Jiang Yifan’s neck, whispering in his ear, "Lord Jiang, does this mean you’re going to become my brother-in-law?"

Jiang Yifan immediately beamed with a smile and nodded eagerly, speaking in a tone only the two of them could understand, "Yes, yes, but it’s just between us two, we can’t tell anyone else."

Qi Jiaer’s eyes crinkled in delight, not only because Lord Jiang had personally promised to become his brother-in-law, but also because it was a secret between him and Lord Jiang that definitely couldn’t be shared with others.

In the past, Madam Yin had also seen Qi Jiaer and Jiang Yifan being affectionate, but her mood now was different from before. Seeing the big and small together whispering, her happiness also rose a level compared to the past.

This son-in-law of hers, capable of being so patient and affectionate with a child who wasn’t related by blood, would surely treat his own children even better. In the future, if the son-in-law loved the children, wouldn’t he also treat their mother well?

Madam Yin glanced at Lady Qin again and noticed that her mood was also very good seeing her daughter pleased, and she felt even more at ease. She smiled at Jiang Yifan and said, "Yuanfan, as a man, getting stuffy staying with us women. Righteous Guan and Brother Shun are in the large elegant room in the east, you can go have a chat and play with them, while I chat a bit more with your mother here."

Hearing this, Jiang Yifan stood up, bowing to Madam Yin and Lady Qin, "Taking advantage of today’s free time, my senior brother and I will take Brother Jia and Brother Shun out for a stroll, and we’ll have dinner outside. After dinner, I’ll bring the two brothers back." Then he turned to Madam Yin and said, "I’ll need to trouble Eldest Lady to arrange for a couple of people to send my mother back to the mansion later on, if that’s convenient?"

Madam Yin promptly agreed, "Convenient, how could it not be convenient? I have eight guards with me. You go and enjoy yourself, Mrs. Qin will be in good hands with me."

As soon as Qi Jiaer heard that he could go out to play, he immediately became overjoyed. Seeing that neither Jiang Yifan nor Madam Yin mentioned Ye Xinyan, his eyes couldn’t help but gaze in her direction, stirring Madam Yin’s heart with tenderness.

However, her daughter was already in the process of arranging a marriage with Jiang Yifan. As a young lady in such proceedings, she absolutely could not go to the City God Temple with Jiang Yifan and Guan He for a leisurely stroll, and especially not to eat snacks at a street stall — that was out of the question.

"Brother Jia is a good child, go and accompany Lord Jiang by yourself. Nowadays, there are too many people at the City God Temple, and it’s complicated. It’s not appropriate for your sister, as a lady of a household, to go there for amusement at this time," Madam Yin said.

Qi Jiaer also knew his boundaries. Even though he had some hopes, once Madam Yin spoke, he didn’t insist any further. Although there was a bit of regret, he held Jiang Yifan’s hand and cast the regret aside, bouncing off joyfully.

Ye Xinyan was, of course, aware of her situation. As the end of the year approached, the City God Temple bustled, but the crowd was overly complicated. If she insisted on going for a stroll at such a time, it would only serve to provide fodder for gossip.

Thus, Ye Xinyan obediently stayed in Shengyu Snack House, chatting idly with Madam Yin and Lady Qin. To speak more precisely, she was listening to their idle chatter.

Madam Yin and Lady Qin were in very high spirits, recounting the recent happenings in their respective families. Without the need for a matchmaker to pass messages back and forth, they discussed almost everything there was to know about the marriage negotiations.

Out of respect for Ye Xinyan’s presence, they didn’t indulge in excessive speculation about the future, which could be considered a courtesy extended by the elders to save her some dignity.

One must know that Madam Yin’s indulgence and doting for her daughter were not as they once were. In fact, Ye Xinyan’s current status was definitely lower than that of Qi Jiaer. In the past, whenever Madam Yin felt like criticizing her, she wouldn’t spare Ye Xinyan’s modesty as a young lady, speaking bluntly as if Ye Xinyan’s skin were as thick as cast iron.

During the latter half of that day, everyone but Ye Xinyan was in high spirits, chatting and enjoying themselves, all returning home in a cheerful mood.

......

No one knew how Jiang Yifan had arranged it, but just after Chen Hour the next day, the official matchmaker arrived at Duke An’s Mansion. Not only was Duke An not surprised by Jiang Yifan’s proposal, but he had also stayed at home that day, seemingly waiting for the matchmaker, ready to receive her at any time.

It must be said that Jiang Yifan was a capable official. The matchmaker he had hired was very competent, and the marriage arrangements were handled with swift efficiency. With the cooperation of both families, the engagement process was conducted smoothly and quickly.

Somehow, within a day’s time, the neighbors all came to know that the elder daughter of Duke An’s Mansion, who had been sent back home after her separation, was getting back together with her former husband. Though it was a reconciliation, the ex-husband did not scrimp on the formalities; the entire range of engagement and marriage rituals was thoroughly observed.

This story, passed from mouth to mouth, somehow became a pleasant tale for many. Everyone remembered how fiercely the couple fought in the past, their discord touted at every corner of the streets. Yet now they could reconcile—even with such a tumultuous emotional history, if this wasn’t a match made in heaven, if this wasn’t true love, then what could it be?

The corners of Ye Xinyan’s mouth twitched uncontrollably as she listened to Jiu Yu’s chattering retelling. What kind of melodramatic tale was this?

......

It wasn’t just Jiang Yifan, the modest Deputy Director of the Ministry of Revenue, who was busy preparing for the new year, but also His Majesty the Emperor, who was high above.