She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 660 - 658: They Can All Tell

Chapter 660: Chapter 658: They Can All Tell

Qi Younian watched as Wong Qiao’s retreating figure disappeared into the distance, then turned to look in the direction of the backyard and silently shook his head. Ah Qiao is pitiable too, what did Lady Zhao say to him? Looking at the situation, could it be that the child has made some kind of decision, which is why he’s so depressed?

Concerned about Wong Qiao, after breakfast, Qi Younian sent word to the Duke’s Mansion to call Ye Xinyan over.

No sooner had the grandfather and granddaughter settled down in the outer courtyard’s hall than they heard Song Ping’s family arranging tea and speaking, "Lord Jiang is here, this servant pays respects to Lord Jiang."

Hearing this, Qi Younian couldn’t help but glance at Ye Xinyan. Now that his granddaughter and Jiang Yifan are discussing marriage, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for them to meet?

Ye Xinyan, meeting Qi Younian’s gaze, indicated that she too was helpless.

Yet in her heart, she scorned her grandfather’s overly cautious attitude. They all had been so eager before, wishing that she and Jiang Yifan could talk more, spend more time together. Now, as they start to discuss marriage, they suddenly treat Jiang Yifan as if he’s some great calamity. Is that really necessary?

Now that the families were discussing marriage, Qi Younian, being an elder, naturally couldn’t go out to welcome Jiang Yifan like before.

Although Ye Xinyan shouldn’t go out to welcome him either, she couldn’t just sit there carelessly, so she stood up.

Whether to formally welcome him or not, having the right demeanor was essential.

Jiang Yifan, not knowing he would encounter Ye Xinyan here, walked into the courtyard and saw Song Ping’s family instructing Jiu Yue to take the tea brought by the servant from the outer courtyard, and he couldn’t help feeling elated.

He had thought that perhaps he wouldn’t see Ye Xinyan before the New Year. Yet because of the trip made on account of Wong Qiao, he unexpectedly ran into her.

Jiang Yifan first paid his respects to Qi Younian, then smiled and turned his gaze towards Ye Xinyan.

Qi Younian coughed loudly to interrupt Jiang Yifan’s line of sight, "Yuanfan, come sit over here to talk."

Jiang Yifan moved a couple of steps forward, standing beside the chair, and said to Ye Xinyan, "Ah Yan, take a seat as well. There are no outsiders here, let’s all sit down and talk."

Ye Xinyan lowered her gaze and sat in a chair at the lower end of the table. This fellow has really thickened his skin, calling himself no outsider before anything else has happened.

Jiu Yue, who was about to bring in the tea from inside the house, was stopped by Song Ping’s family member who had her add another cup before bringing it into the room.

Qi Younian waited for the tea to be served before addressing Jiang Yifan, then asked, "Isn’t the Yamen very busy at the end of the year? Yuanfan, have you asked for leave for some matter?"

Jiang Yifan hurriedly waved his hand, saying, "Not at all, how could I ask for leave every day? I ran into Ah Qiao this morning, saw him riding a horse, wandering aimlessly on the streets with a very poor complexion. I walked beside him for quite a while, and he didn’t even notice. That’s why I made a detour here."

Worry showed in Qi Younian’s eyes as he said, "I was saying, his complexion didn’t look good when he left this morning."

Jiang Yifan nodded, "Seeing that something wasn’t right, I asked him what was wrong, but he wouldn’t say. So I came here to ask; with the way he looked, I’m afraid he wouldn’t even notice if he bumped into someone on the street. Grandfather, has something happened to our family?"

Qi Younian sighed, "I’ve called Ye Zi here to talk about just this matter."

He recounted Lady Zhao’s words from yesterday and then said, "It must’ve been something that Ah Qiao’s mother said to her yesterday. I noticed early this morning that Ah Qiao didn’t look right, but I couldn’t get anything out of her. That’s why I brought Ye Zi to talk about it."

As Qi Younian spoke, he turned toward Ye Xinyan. "Or maybe, Ye Zi, you could ask Ah Qiao’s mother what exactly the two of them talked about. The New Year is almost upon us, and we shouldn’t carry any grudges into it. It’s important to have good omens for the New Year, right? I really can’t imagine what she could have said to Ah Qiao. Even if she has some messy thoughts, Ah Qiao wouldn’t be willing, right?"

Ye Xinyan curled her lip. "Lady Zhao? I’m not going to ask her."

Jiang Yifan, seeing Ye Xinyan’s reluctance, thought for a moment and said, "When I saw Ah Qiao earlier, there wasn’t a hint of light in her eyes, as if she had lost all hope. Aunt Wong, however, didn’t seem to react much, which makes me think that perhaps Ah Qiao has made some concessions to Aunt Wong. Knowing Aunt Wong’s character, if she managed to force Ah Qiao into yielding, she’s probably delighted right now. We shouldn’t ask her."

Ye Xinyan said disdainfully, "Exactly, with Lady Zhao’s selfish nature, she’d be content only after driving Ah Qiao to her grave. What’s the use of asking her? Later, I’ll go to Guangsha Construction to check on the progress and take the opportunity to find Wong Qiao and ask him."

Upon hearing that Ye Xinyan intended to speak with Wong Qiao personally, Jiang Yifan looked slightly uneasy. He quickly said, "Ah Yan, let me accompany you. Last year, when Aunt Wong disagreed with the marriage between Ah Qiao and Second Miss Zhou, it was me who gave him advice. We got along well; it might be easier for me to speak with him."

Though it wasn’t ideal for a man and woman whose match was being arranged to be seen together, Qi Younian, noting the unease in Jiang Yifan just now, thought that it would be even worse to let his granddaughter talk to Wong Qiao alone.

"Yuanfan is right; you two should go and ask Ah Qiao together. With an extra person, there’s also one more person to persuade," he said.

Jiang Yifan, accompanied by Shi Yu and Shi Shu, followed beside Ye Xinyan’s carriage, heading towards the back entrance of Guangsha Construction’s back courtyard.

The chief manager, Yuan Shang, hastily welcomed both of them inside. As Ye Xinyan walked towards the official’s office, she asked Yuan Shang, "Is Wong Qiao inside working?"

Wong Qiao’s complexion was too grim today; probably anyone could tell something was off with him. Hearing Ye Xinyan’s question, Yuan Shang quickly answered, "Steward Wong is leading people working inside. His spirits don’t seem very good, as if he didn’t sleep well, and he’s not in a good mood, barely speaking."

"Alright, I’ll take a look. Uncle Yuan, go about your business, no need to accompany us," Ye Xinyan nodded, then, with Song Ping’s Household and Jiu Yue, walked toward the largest room in the back courtyard.

Jiang Yifan, walking beside Ye Xinyan, gestured a bow to Yuan Shang and followed her in.

Yuan Shang watched the backs of the group and thought that something serious must have happened in Wong Qiao’s Family, since it disturbed both Miss Xinyan and Lord Jiang to come inquire.

He quickly ushered Shi Yu and the others, "You two young men come with me, the cold is biting, and you shouldn’t freeze outside. Sit a while in the side room. If the Lord and Miss Xinyan have any orders, you two can hear it from here."

Ye Xinyan, who often came to inspect and supervise, did as usual, making her rounds in the room, then finally stood in front of Wong Qiao’s desk.

First, she checked Wong Qiao’s complexion, which indeed was not good, and then looked at the work in his hands—it was as meticulous and standardized as ever.

Ye Xinyan sighed quietly and said in a low voice, "Stop your work for now. If you make a mistake because your mind isn’t focused, that would be the real trouble."

Wong Qiao had already noticed someone standing in front of him, but had no mood to entertain, so he had not looked up. Only when he heard someone speak—and recognized it was Ye Xinyan’s voice—did he reluctantly look up and saw Ye Xinyan and Jiang Yifan standing before him.

Seeing these two, who usually didn’t get along, come together made Wong Qiao feel a pang of pain. He and Biyao were genuinely in love, yet they were being forced to part, while these two were somehow managing to come together.

When he spoke of breaking off the marriage and refusing to wed Biyao yesterday, he instantly saw his mother’s poorly concealed joy. She hadn’t considered whether he would be sad or whether Biyao would suffer any repercussions.