She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 676 - 674: No One Helps Her

Chapter 676: Chapter 674: No One Helps Her

Ye Xinyi had been favored by Ye Hongyang since she was born, and the Duchess had always been affectionate towards her. Although she later suppressed Maternal Aunt Liu on many occasions, she did not take her anger out on Ye Xinyi, and she even hardly restricted her from seeing Maternal Aunt Liu. As long as Ye Xinyi spoke up, the Duchess would always consent.

When the grandmother and granddaughter were together, they were truly affectionate. After talking for quite a while, Ye Xinyi opened her mouth several times, wanting to ask about Maternal Aunt Liu’s current situation, but she didn’t know what the Duke’s Mansion’s current attitude toward her father and Maternal Aunt Liu was. It was also the New Year, and she didn’t know if it would bring trouble upon the Duke’s Mansion.

The Duchess was always kind-hearted and, seeing Ye Xinyi gradually becoming absent-minded, guessed that she was probably worried about Maternal Aunt Liu. Once she considered that Ye Xinyi hadn’t seen her birth mother for a long time, she said, "After your mother and sister returned this year, your father and Maternal Aunt Liu committed a serious mistake. Now Maternal Aunt Liu is worshiping Buddha in the prayer hall, and although she is restrained from seeing outsiders, as it’s New Year, we should still consider familial affection. Go and see her."

Ye Xinyi’s face was filled with gratitude, and she immediately got up to kneel in thanks, but the Duchess hurriedly had Nanny Qian support her.

It was natural for a daughter to bring gifts when returning to her maternal home for the New Year. The gifts for the Duke’s Mansion had been handed over to Nanny Qian by the accompanying old woman servants as soon as the couple entered. Of course, Maternal Aunt Liu had a separate gift.

Ye Xinyi hesitated before asking, "Grandmother, I know that my aunt lacks nothing in the mansion regarding food and clothing, but I always want to show her my sentiment. I brought nothing else, just some food, may I give it to her?"

"Of course," responded the Duchess with a nod, "Maternal Aunt Liu gave birth to you, and it’s only a matter of taking some food to her – how could that be a problem? However, remember to show the food to the old woman servant at the door when entering."

Ye Xinyi was stunned. Was Maternal Aunt Liu’s current situation so dire that even the food brought by her daughter had to be inspected? What were they afraid of?

Seeing a sad expression on Ye Xinyi’s face, the Duchess felt sympathetic and gently said, "Don’t overthink it. We’re just worried your aunt might do something rash, and we wouldn’t want you to too. The inspection is simply a precaution because if anything happened to your aunt, it wouldn’t look good for you children. You must not hold a grudge against your grandparents because of this."

Despite still feeling upset, Ye Xinyi could not let the Duchess see anything amiss and quickly said, "Grandmother, how could you even say such a thing? Considering the severity of the mistake my aunt made, it is already extremely lenient for you and Grandfather not to punish her severely. Instead of feeling resentment, I am overwhelmed with gratitude."

The Duchess patted her arm and sighed, "You’ve always been an obedient and sensible child. It’s good that you understand. Remember to advise your aunt when you see her. In this world, not just a concubine like her, but even legitimate ladies and high-ranking women, there are many who practice Buddhism all year round. She is accumulating merit and fortune for herself and her descendants."

Ye Xinyi nodded eagerly, "I understand, Grandmother. I will certainly advise my aunt."

Although Ye Xinyi had made a good promise in front of the Duchess, when she stood outside the prayer hall and saw the cold courtyard as it always was, Ye Xinyi couldn’t help feeling sorrowful.

After she entered the courtyard and let her personal maidservant check the snacks and fruits in the food box with the old woman servant, she looked at the empty doorways of the two rooms in the courtyard and remembered the past days.

In past years, once Maternal Aunt Liu knew of her return, she would always wait eagerly at the doorstep, hoping to catch an earlier glimpse of her. Whereas this year, on the second day of New Year, it had been certain she would return to her maternal home, but Maternal Aunt Liu was nowhere to be seen at the doorway.

Ye Xinyi’s heart ached with the thought; Maternal Aunt Liu had schemed so much for her and her brother’s sake. Yet, since Maternal Aunt Liu’s misfortune, she hadn’t visited her, and her aunt must surely feel extremely disheartened by that.

And indeed, things were just as true. After Maternal Aunt Liu was locked in the Buddhist hall, she had only seen her son once in over two months. Ye Hongyang, who had doted on her for more than twenty years, only visited her twice. The first time, he shed a few tears and stayed a little longer. The second visit was hurried.

The daughter she had painstakingly raised, who she always ensured was above Ye Xinyan, the legitimate daughter, did not even bother to show her face. It was not to mention paying a visit to her own mother; she had not even returned to Duke An’s Mansion once.

Maternal Aunt Liu was genuinely angry, genuinely coldhearted. Yet, when she heard voices in the courtyard, her daughter had truly come. Even though she was still resentful and sat stiffly inside the room, her heart had already flown outside.

When Ye Xinyi entered, she saw the sparsely furnished inner and outer rooms. Neither the inner nor the outer room had doors or curtains, and there was only a simple bed and a table with chairs in the outer room, guarded by an old woman servant with a stern face.

The old woman, upon seeing Ye Xinyi, merely curtsied briefly and said nothing more.

Seeing all this filled Ye Xinyi with extreme indignation. Since her birth, she had been clothed in silk and fed with the finest foods at Duke An’s Mansion. Together with Maternal Aunt Liu, they enjoyed the treatment of the leading lady of the house and the legitimate daughter. All the servants in the mansion were respectful towards her and Maternal Aunt Liu.

Neither she nor Maternal Aunt Liu had ever suffered the slightest grievance in Duke An’s Mansion. Even when they sometimes yielded to Madam Yin and Ye Xinyan, with her father’s support, they were always able to reclaim those concessions twofold afterward.

Now, her aunt was treated like a criminal and locked up here, and these dog-like servants didn’t even show a kind face to her and her mother. Could they be so certain that she and her aunt would never have a day to turn their fate around?

Ye Xinyi rushed into the inner room and saw at a glance a thin, lonely figure sitting on a narrow bed – it was Maternal Aunt Liu. Her complexion was sallow, her hair was dull, and her bun was not as elegant or voluminous as it once was, but combed into a simple bun at the back of her head, just like a servant’s.

If Ye Xinyi had not known that Maternal Aunt Liu was locked up here, she would have hardly believed that this was the same aunt who had always been charming in her memory.

The indignation Ye Xinyi felt upon entering the room instantly turned into sorrow upon seeing Maternal Aunt Liu, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.

"Auntie," Ye Xinyi called out, rushing to Maternal Aunt Liu’s side and embracing her, sobbing uncontrollably.

At this moment, Maternal Aunt Liu could no longer hold back. She hugged Ye Xinyi back, pounding on her back and crying out, "You ungrateful things, wuwuwu... do you even remember to come see me? Wuwuwu... do you even remember you have a mother like me? You might as well pretend I’m dead, wouldn’t that be easier? Wuwuwu..."

Although she was born into a poor family, living days of hunger and lack of warm clothes, living from hand to mouth, the more than twenty years of wealth had made her unable to bear this desolate life. She would rather die than continue to live like this.

Maternal Aunt Liu cried as she thought about how she had endured day after day. Almost every moment, she felt she could not last to the next, ready to collapse. But there was no one to help her, no one to save her.

She had originally hoped that Ye Hongyang would remember their many years of love. Even if this love could not last long, it could fade more slowly. As long as Ye Hongyang visited her a few more times, not forgetting her in a short span, she could always find an opportunity to beg Duke An to let her out.