She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 679 - 677: Really Can’t Stand It

Chapter 679: Chapter 677: Really Can’t Stand It

Ye Hongyang racked his brains for a long time before he found an excuse, "I know life in the Buddhist hall is lonely, but you should know your grandfather’s temperament; he cannot bear to see me being close with your Maternal Aunt Liu. I’ve reached such a desperate state, there really is no other way. In order to free your Maternal Aunt Liu as soon as possible, I can only try not to anger your grandfather, hoping for a chance to plead with him to let her out."

Ye Xinyi looked at Ye Hongyang, struggling to regain her composure for quite some time. Her father was indeed unreliable; did he not realize how different this speech was from his earlier guilty and awkward expressions?

Ye Hongyang saw the suspicion in Ye Xinyi’s eyes and coughed, then continued, "You should also urge your Maternal Aunt Liu to devote herself to worshipping Buddha and not to cause any trouble. Only then will I have an opportunity to ask your grandfather to help her out sooner."

These words from Ye Hongyang were not just perfunctory, although he could not accept Maternal Aunt Liu’s current state and found it unbearable to be close with her. Nonetheless, he was willing to help her out.

No matter what, Maternal Aunt Liu had borne him three children. As long as he did not have to see Maternal Aunt Liu as she was now, he still held fond memories of her past tender and compliant affection.

Take the two maids serving him now, although young and beautiful, where did they possess Maternal Aunt Liu’s warmth and empathy? Compared with Maternal Aunt Liu, those two maids were just wooden figurines.

Ah, it was better than nothing, at least better than Maternal Aunt Zhao. Ye Hongyang felt a mix of melancholy.

Ye Xinyi, seeing the changing expressions on Ye Hongyang’s face, knew full well the real reason her father did not visit Maternal Aunt Liu. Though she could not know Ye Hongyang’s thoughts with perfect accuracy, she was aware that he truly despised Maternal Aunt Liu for the loss of her former gentle beauty.

Ye Xinyi said, "Father and Maternal Aunt Liu have been affectionate for many years. If you could find the time, please visit her. Even just a glance could warm her heart."

Ye Hongyang hesitated for a moment and then nodded readily, yet internally he was resistant. Every time he saw Maternal Aunt Liu—with high cheekbones, a sallow complexion, venomous eyes, deep wrinkles at her forehead and crow’s feet, and that vulgar, round bun at the back of her head resembling an old crone—he felt extremely uneasy.

And yet this old crone still attempted to strike a pitiful and gentle pose, which he genuinely could not bear; he felt his skin crawl again and again, and even his back was chillingly cold.

Ye Hongyang’s expression contained pity, disgust, and melancholy. The one thing missing was that past warmth and infatuation he had when looking at Maternal Aunt Liu.

Ye Xinyi sighed inwardly, thankfully her father’s expression still showed pity and melancholy. Regardless of whether his promise was sincere, it ultimately did no good for her father to keep Maternal Aunt Liu confined in the Buddhist hall. His willingness to help her get out was probably genuine.

Ye Xinyi argued with her father for a long time, playing the card of hardship, and secured a promise that he would keep Maternal Aunt Liu’s matter in mind and, given the opportunity, would plead with the Duchess to let Maternal Aunt Liu out. Even assigning a maidservant to her and keeping her in another courtyard would be better.

Afterward, lunchtime arrived. With Fourth Master Ji of the Ji Family, who valued etiquette, the family feasted at Duke’s Mansion with screens dividing them, and they ate at two separate tables.

During rest in the afternoon, Ye Xinyi sought out Ye Heng and Ye Yi for a conversation.

After the talk, just as Ye Xinyi had expected, her two younger brothers truly had no ideas of their own and had not considered how to help Maternal Aunt Liu out, nor how to plan for their own and their mother’s future. They merely hoped that their mother’s compliance might one day move their grandparents to release her.

Ye Xinyi had no choice but to ask the two men where her brother Ye Hongyang and their original personal servants had been reassigned by Duke An.

Just as she finished inquiring about the whereabouts of the servants, a maid came in with a message, saying that the Second Son-in-law had rested well and was now waiting outside for the Second Miss to return to the mansion.

Ye Xinyi hurriedly went to the Buddhist hall once more to say farewell to Maternal Aunt Liu. She reassured Maternal Aunt Liu and polished the excuse given by Ye Hongyang before relaying it to her.

Maternal Aunt Liu, who had been dealing with Ye Hongyang for over twenty years and was always trying to guess his thoughts, naturally did not believe Ye Xinyi’s words. Although she resented Ye Hongyang for his emotional detachment, she also knew that the less he cared about her, the greater her chances of leaving the Buddhist hall. Thus, even with her resentment, she felt somewhat calmer and nurtured some hope.

Before dinner, Madam Yin and Ye Xinyan returned with Qi Jiaer and Qi Sanshun, and by then, Ye Xinyi and her husband had already left.

After dinner, while it was not yet too late, Maternal Aunt Zhao came to Ye Xinyan’s room with Ye Yuan in her arms for a chat, telling Ye Xinyan about the round Ye Xinyi made at Duke An’s Mansion. She hinted Ye Xinyan to be cautious, considering that she couldn’t find out what Ye Xinyi and her family, as well as her brothers, had talked about; perhaps they conspired some dark deeds.

The old woman servant who watched over Maternal Aunt Liu belonged to Duke An, so no one could find out what was really going inside the Buddhist hall unless Duke An wished for it to be known.

Even though the old woman servant guarding Maternal Aunt Liu received silver from Nanny Jin and could convey messages that were favorable or not based on Nanny Jin’s wishes, she couldn’t obtain anything more substantial.

It was evident that Duke An only turned a blind eye to Ye Xinyan’s actions, but he wouldn’t fully close both his eyes.

Since Duke An controlled the mansion so tightly, Ye Xinyan naturally dared to disregard whether Ye Xinyi had any back-up plans in mind.

After that came the joyous days of the new year. Now that Ye Xinyan was officially betrothed, she used this as an excuse, if she didn’t feel like going out. She avoided obligatory banquets, which were nothing but breeding grounds for trouble, and appreciated the leisure of staying home without having to venture outside for obligations; that was truly a carefree life.

Qi Sanshun and Qi Jiaer, on the other hand, ran back and forth between Duke An’s Mansion and the Qi Family Courtyard. Ye Xinyan intentionally let them spend more time playing with Ye Yuan, in consideration of the boys’ future and to fulfill Duke An’s wishes.

Not long ago, Duke An wanted to take Zi Ning over to bring up Ye Yuan. Ye Xinyan didn’t agree, but when Ye Yuan played with Qi Jiaer, Zi Ning still had to watch over him.

It had to be said that Zi Ning was very experienced in taking care of children. No matter how pampered a child was or how lavishly they were dressed, in Zi Ning’s eyes, none of that mattered. She wouldn’t interfere with rough play like tumbling and rolling, as long as there was no danger, it was satisfactory.

Every time they saw Ye Yuan, who was supposed to be the most cherished little master of Duke’s Mansion, playing like an unsupervised wild child, getting into all sorts of messes, the maids and old woman servants attending to him would cluck their tongues in disapproval.

The nursemaids sent by the Duchess were even more agitated and stomped their feet. "We are from a wealthy household; how can we let the little master tumble and roll about on the ground?"

But what could they do when Duke An let both the young lady and her maids do as they pleased? All they could do was watch Ye Yuan, bundled up and laughing like a silly child, eagerly following the Young Master Qi’s lead.