She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 697 - 695: It’s Really Hard to Operate

Chapter 697: Chapter 695: It’s Really Hard to Operate

Ye Xinyan seemed wrapped in gold and silver from head to toe, even her boots adorned with colored beads. As Han Yanhui spoke with her, she was putting on an air of casual elegance, chatting and laughing with a passerby.

Only when the noise in front of Han Mansion’s gate subsided, followed by the sound of an old and thin voice, did she clasp her hands at the young man, turn her smile back toward them, gave a deep bow, and said, "I presume you must be Lord Prime Minister Han. I, the unenlightened one, have come overstepping my bounds without invitation, and I hope you can forgive my brashness. However, my admiration for Miss Han is by no means feigned."

Han Yanhui’s temples twitched a few times. Even with his granddaughter’s identity called out, this granddaughter of Ye Tang could still fully commit to the act; he wondered how she was raised.

He made a welcoming gesture, "Miss Ye, please come into the mansion to talk." It seemed better to get her inside first before further discussion; otherwise, who knew what else she might say if left outside.

Ye Xinyan bowed again, smiling and modestly said, "Lord Prime Minister, after you."

Han Yanhui, smiling kindly, obliged and walked into Prime Minister’s Mansion first.

Once everyone was through the gate and it closed behind them, Han Yanhui dropped his smile, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, and asked, "What exactly are you after, Miss Ye? Regarding the incident the other day, my granddaughter indeed made a mistake, but that mistake was merely speaking out of turn, and did not actually harm you in any way. Do you really intend to seek such extreme retribution as to endanger Sister Fang’s life?"

By then, Han Yanhui was convinced that Ye Xinyan knew about Jinrong’s intent to remarry the princess consort and that the chosen bride for Prince Yu was his granddaughter. That was why he appeared so confident and fearlessly pressured him this way.

Han Yanhui looked at Ye Xinyan with a touch of nostalgia; with her flashy garb, it was impossible not to draw attention.

Even on this short walk, countless eyes had seen them, countless people would talk, all about a handsome young gentleman becoming acquainted with the granddaughter of Lord Prime Minister Han.

With the way she was handling things, by the fifteenth, when His Majesty issued the decree, the talk about his granddaughter would likely be at its peak.

Ye Xinyan, meeting Han Yanhui’s gaze, did not feel the slightest bit embarrassed. Accompanying her were Qi Jiaer, Qi Sanshun, and three other children, with Guan He and four of Duke An’s Mansion’s guards standing not far off.

Curiosity filled the eyes of Qi Jiaer and the others as they watched Han Yanhui and the masters and servants of Han Mansion; everything was novel to them.

She said to Han Yan, still smiling, "Lord Prime Minister, you speak too seriously. I came here merely to discuss the compensation with you. Look, I brought my three children as well. Please ensure they are well looked after; these are truly three children, compared to the grown guards in your household. Would it not be unfair if my children were beaten by the guards, yet we still suffered property loss, right?"

Han Yanhui’s face darkened, "Are you referring to that whole list of top-tier items? Are you certain all of them were top-tier?"

Ye Xinyan was displeased, "Lord Prime Minister, what do you mean by that? How I hear it, it’s as if you’re suggesting Duke An’s Mansion couldn’t afford top-tier items. Let me tell you, that is not acceptable. It’s as if you are outright belittling Duke An’s Mansion, looking down on the Ye Family."

Han Yanhui’s expression grew even worse, while the faces of those behind him varied greatly; the Miss of Duke An’s Mansion really knew how to spin a tale. What was she talking about? Even if your family has nice things, would you deck out all your relatives in them in one go? And one of that bunch is nothing but a young lad.

Ignoring the unpleasant looks from those of Han Mansion, Ye Xinyan continued, "Besides, Lord Prime Minister, the way you talk is quite dangerous, you know. Let me break it down for you, look, what’s your official salary? What’s my grandfather’s official salary? How many people are there in your household, and how many masters does the Ye Family have? My father only lost his Princely Heir status before the new year, and for nearly forty years before that, he was receiving an official salary. Surely you don’t mean to say your son was collecting a salary from the moment he was of age, do you?"

Han Yanhui’s beard trembled as he listened, yet strangely, he did not find it absurd. On the contrary, an ominous feeling arose in his heart.

"My lord, consider this, if Duke An’s Mansion, after accumulating wealth for several decades, cannot even afford to show off top-grade clothing for three children during the New Year festivities. In your household, there are several lords, below whom are several gentlemen, and following them are sons, daughters, and young ladies, each adorned with gold and silver..."

"Tsk, tsk," Ye Xinyan leaned in rudely, lowering her voice, "Tell me, how could your family possibly have so much silver?"

Han Yanhui felt dizzy, he stepped back half a step and snapped, "Nonsense!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Ye Xinyan withdrew, "The young one was merely asking casually, didn’t say anything, look how agitated you’ve become?"

Caught off guard, Han Yanhui realized why this woman had been able to behave so outrageously in the capital for more than a decade. With such nonsensical, vexatious arguments, it was probably hard to find a few young ladies or daughters-in-law in the entire capital who could outtalk her. No, not just the young ladies or daughters-in-law, even among the men, it would be difficult to find such a troublesome character.

Suppressing his anger, he said, "Let’s sit down and talk about it." Saying so, he started walking deeper into the courtyard.

Sit down for a talk? She didn’t have that kind of idle time.

Ye Xinyan hurriedly stepped forward to block him, "My lord, let’s not bother with that, I’ve come here this time just to inquire when you’ll compensate Lady Luo. You know, our Duke An’s Mansion cannot be compared to the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Those few top-grade items were secured by the young one with all our family’s resources, just to put on an appearance. With the big festival not yet over, and us wanting to go out again on the fifteenth of the first month, it would really be embarrassing to step out without anything decent. When will you compensate me?"

Han Yanhui glared at her, if this were some rough-skinned, tough-fleshed lad, he would have risked a conflict with Duke An and had his servants beat her up right there.

She dared to say anything, claiming she had nothing decent? Han Yanhui’s gaze moved up and down Ye Xinyan’s figure.

This woman seemed to deliberately fashion herself in the gaudy style of a nouveau riche to attract attention. She wore a smooth white jade forehead band on her brow and a small golden crown atop her coiffure, likely considering it too heavy; the crown was filigree, but it did not hide its gleaming gold color.

She was dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold thread, which appeared much thicker than ordinary embroidery thread, shining brightly in the sunlight. A belt of alternating gold and silver encircled her waist, and a large chunk of low-quality jade pendant hung ostentatiously at her side, very eye-catching.

Her hands, visible outside her sleeves, were clad with several large rings that seemed ill-fitting. The lass dared not move her fingers casually, always half-clenching her hands into fists.

Her feet were in a pair of boots inlaid with various pearls and jadeites, the dense mass of beads making Han Yanhui tense, feeling utterly uncomfortable. If he were a time traveler, he would certainly know he had trypophobia, a sign of an impending episode.

Ye Xinyan followed Han Yanhui’s gaze and looked herself up and down as well, then with a casual flick of her sleeves and the front of her robe, she said boldly, "Lord, is there a deeper meaning in that look of yours? You can probably tell, right? Everything I’m wearing is vulgar gold and silver, all the valuables from home I could bear on my body, and they’re not worth much. The young one here is entirely relying on the previous clothing of our little brother to make an impression."

As for why she shook her clothes with only small movements, because she feared shaking off all the valuables on her body, of course; everyone knows that large, flamboyant sleeve-flinging is necessary to be truly showy, no? Truly, she was in a difficult and awkward position.