She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 699 - 697: That’s All

Chapter 699: Chapter 697: That’s All

Upon hearing that Ye Xinyan was making a scene at her door, Han Yufang planned to come out. Wasn’t it just a few wrong words she had said? At most, she could apologize to her and that would settle it, what was the big deal?

But before she could reach the Second Gate, she was stopped by an old woman servant sent by Madam Jiang.

Facing the nanny from her mother’s quarters, Han Yufang didn’t give up but had her maid inquire about the situation in the outer courtyard. After some delay, the maid reported that His Highness Prince Yu had arrived and was just outside the mansion gate.

Now even the nanny from Madam Jiang’s side couldn’t hold her back, and Han Yufang, heedless of advice, insisted on rushing out. As soon as she emerged, she overheard Jinrong asking Ye Xinyan how much she wanted in compensation, and that he would pay her.

This was what her grandfather had referred to as support and strength; such support and strength should be the subordinates of His Highness, shouldn’t they? What kind of subordinate would not listen to their lord, and would make their lord concede?

As for Jinrong saying that he would pay in her family’s stead to save the Han Family’s wealth, not a bit of relief did Han Yufang feel. All she thought about was Prince Yu giving treasures to Ye Xinyan: that top-grade jade pendant, pearls, fabrics...

Han Yufang charged forward in a few strides and confronted Jinrong, demanding, "Why should His Highness compensate her? Those children from her family weren’t wearing any jewelry that day; this is nothing but extortion under false pretenses. You all know it, so why let her continue like this?"

As she spoke, she pointed at Qi Jiaer and the others, "If Your Highness doesn’t believe me, you can ask these children, and also summon the guards and servant women I have brought with me for questioning."

Qi Sanshun had some reservations and didn’t intend to speak, but Qi Jia was unwilling to remain silent. He recognized clearly that this lady was the one who had spoiled their fun at the City God Temple the other day. How could she be right after doing something wrong? Just as he was about to start questioning her, Guan He stopped him with a look.

Ye Xinyan didn’t want to squabble with Han Yufang either. She tilted her head, thought for a moment, waved her hand, and said, "I think I’d better come back tomorrow. Take your time to talk, everyone, I shall take my leave."

Jinrong glanced at Han Yufang, knowing that with the involvement of a woman, matters become much more complicated. He then looked at Han Yanhui and said, "Alright, you head back first." At most, he would appease the Han Family before trying to persuade her later.

Han Yanhui and his son nodded in agreement. Although Prince Yu was obviously accommodating the Ye Family’s young lady, it wasn’t proper for this lady, who seemed like a young master, to be causing a ruckus with his granddaughter right outside.

"No! Let’s make things clear before anyone leaves," Han Yufang completely disregarded the gesture, blocking Ye Xinyan’s path.

"Sister Fang! Return!" Han Jun couldn’t hold back, and chided her. But Han Yufang remained unmoved and stubbornly glared at Ye Xinyan.

Han Yanhui frowned; even though the surroundings had already been cleared by Prince Yu’s men and there were no idle spectators, it wasn’t good to let his granddaughter create a scene, especially with Prince Yu present. Any man would wish for a wife who was gentle and understood the bigger picture, and for Prince Yu to witness such behavior from his granddaughter was far from desirable.

Ye Xinyan stopped in her tracks, her demeanor no longer playful, but rather she asked, "What exactly needs to be clarified? Should I clarify that I was simply watching a monkey show with my brother when Miss Han suddenly spouted insults out of the blue? Should I clarify that Miss Han was the first to instruct the Han Mansion’s guards to start a fight and even boasted that Miss Han would bear the consequences of any trouble? Or should I clarify that I was already planning to leave, yet Miss Han insulted me again?"

"I," Han Yufang paused, recalling the events of the day, and pointed at Guan He, saying, "Your servant insulted me, calling me a dog."

Ye Xinyan looked toward Jinrong and sneered, "Sixth Master, is Big Brother Guan my servant? Even if he didn’t mean to insult anyone, and even if he wanted to insult someone, even someone of much higher status than Miss Han, couldn’t he do so?" Ha, she really thinks too highly of herself; Guan He could kill a man without anyone stopping him.

Guan He stood to one side, watching the commotion as if it had nothing to do with him, without a hint of extraneous emotion on his face.

Han Yanhui and Han Jun wore expressions of shock and skepticism, scrutinizing Guan He carefully before turning their gaze to Jinrong. Then, on Jinrong’s face, they saw a sense of recognition. Who exactly was this Jianghu character, to earn such affirmation of his transcendent status from His Highness Prince Yu?

Jinrong furrowed his brow and said to Han Yufang, "Miss Han should go back, as a woman, there are many things you don’t understand."

The way Jinrong addressed her as Miss Han grated on Han Yufang´s ears, she heard it clear as day. When Prince Yu had been speaking with Ye Xinyan just moments ago, it was all informal chatter, with no sense of distance. Yet when addressing her, he immediately reverted to Miss Han. She wasn’t foolish, she could hear the difference.

"I don’t often go out, so of course there are many things I don’t understand. If His Highness would enlighten me, wouldn’t I understand then?" Han Yufang lifted her small face defiantly.

Han Jun was so furious, his face turned ashen. If this weren’t in public, he would have called the old woman servant to drag her away and administer a thrashing with the wooden plank. It had seemed she was sensible enough on regular days, yet suddenly she became so ignorant of proprieties.

Jinrong pinched the bridge of his nose, already dreading how troublesome his days ahead would be.

"Ye Zi, since we can’t leave, let’s enter Minister Ye’s residence for now. It’s better than quarreling out here," he saw Ye Xinyan about to speak and gestured for her to stop. "Don’t say too much. Isn’t it just a compensation? I promise you, I’ll have the reparations settled for you today."

Han Yufang felt another wave of bitterness. This address, these promises... were they completely disregarding everyone else’s presence?

Ye Xinyan glanced at Jinrong and Han Yufang, realizing this was the only option left. She instructed Guan He and Qi Jiaer, along with a few others, to head back first and left two guards to wait for her, before she turned to walk towards the entrance of the Han Mansion.

Muttering to herself as she walked, "There’s nothing wrong with arguing in public, anyway, I’m not afraid of losing face." Damn it, she had been lucky to have deflected Han Yufang´s questioning earlier. If Han Yufang had probed any further, she might have given herself away.

Although she had brought Qi Jiaer and the others, they were not aware that she was extorting money. She had not intended to linger at the Han Family’s expense and was ready to leave, but then Han Yufang and Jinrong appeared. That was a close call, she almost corrupted the children.

Han Yufang watched the key figures of the day leave, feeling unspeakably stifled. Yet, with her singular strength, how could she stop several horses? And they were all men; she would certainly not breach courtesy or propriety.

Han Yanhui led the way into the parlor, and when about to enter, he noticed Han Yufang had followed. Just as he frowned, pondering the idea of sending her to the inner chambers, Jinrong spoke, "Minister Ye can educate the young lady later. Since she wishes to listen, let her listen."

Jinrong’s tone was indifferent, and he understood the concept that sometimes it was better to allow rather than obstruct.

He had seen Han Yufang´s envious glances towards him and Ye Xinyan. Ye Xinyan was unlike any other woman in the world, and as long as her heart remained unchanged, his affection for her would not falter, not by Miss Han nor by a princess consort.

Yet that was as far as it went. From the moment he gave up, it could only be this way, and nothing more. So, what harm was there in letting Han Yufang listen in?