She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 736 - 734: Due to the Soil and Water

Chapter 736: Chapter 734: Due to the Soil and Water

As a man, Ji Xiaoyuan could contain his anger momentarily, but Madam Zhou from Ye Xinyan’s side found it difficult to calm her indignation.

"The daughter raised by your Ye Family is malicious at heart. Even if a family meeting is called, Duke An should be summoned to face this disgrace. Her husband Chengru is such a good child; marrying such a woman has brought him eight lifetimes of bad luck, yet he has to stand by her side and share in her embarrassment."

The Ji Family had a long history of scholarly honor; when had they ever been put to such shame?

Madam Zhou gave Ye Xinyi a cold glance and said in a stern voice, "Miss Ye, some words should be said in moderation, and some actions should not be taken too far. Everyone is just trying not to make a scene, out of consideration for your dignity. Miss Ye, please be mindful of your conduct."

Ye Xinyan shifted her gaze, her expression somewhat apologetic, and spoke, "Thank you, Madam Zhou, for your guidance. This humble woman will certainly take it to heart. However, concerning today’s matter, everyone should understand clearly that it’s not this humble woman being meddlesome. This issue involves the life, property, and reputation of the Duke’s Mansion and I have no choice but to treat it with the utmost seriousness. If I have offended anyone, I ask for your understanding and forgiveness."

With these words, Ye Xinyan bent her knees and offered a respectful curtsy to all the female relatives present.

She might have paid her respects, but the words that needed to be said must be spoken, especially to Ye Xinyi’s mother-in-law; everything had to be made crystal clear.

As Ye Xinyan’s eyes gleamed, she continued, "This humble woman has always believed that the women of the Capital are the role models of proper conduct and etiquette for all women of the Great Xia Dynasty. It was only I who have caused embarrassment. But today’s events have truly overturned my understanding.

"This humble woman believes that ultimately, as the Capital is at the Son of Heaven’s feet, it is imperative for all the ladies and madams to maintain the Capital’s noble ladies’ good reputation, and not let their own daughters tarnish it. If people from other regions learn that the women from the noble mansions of the Capital are so inconsistent in their behavior, it would indeed bring utter shame on our Imperial Capital and the court."

This was indeed a heavy accusation... They were unaware that the dignity of the Capital rested on the shoulders of these few children? And the life and property mentioned by the Ye Family woman earlier, how are these related? Was there a need to escalate matters to such severity?

And who are these female relatives speaking so tactlessly? Why can they not just settle the matter swiftly? Why insist on reasoning with a Ye Family woman who clearly doesn’t play by the rules?

Look, not speaking would have been better, but now that it’s out there, hasn’t the situation just gotten worse?

Naturally, Madam Zhou did not wish to carry this blame. Every child from the Ji Family was well-versed in literature and rationale; they were certainly not lowlifes. It’s Duke An’s Mansion that’s at fault for failing to educate, producing two unworthy daughters.

"Miss Ye, stop playing the fool. This matter today was started by my fourth son’s wife, but this wife is a daughter of your Ye Family. She aimed her efforts at you, her sister. Duke An’s Mansion has failed in their daughters’ education but has pushed all the blame onto others instead.

"We are merely reluctant to quibble with a young woman like you. Do you really think we don’t know that it’s the discord between you sisters that has led to today’s debacle?"

Madam Zhou’s voice grew colder, and her gaze towards Ye Xinyan became increasingly sharp.

Madam Zhou’s words expressed the thoughts of many; though not many voiced agreement, there were a few low murmurs of complaint.

Although Old Lady Li and others did not speak, they quietly waited, eager to see what Ye Xinyan would come up with as an excuse.

Yes, many of the women’s conversations today were unsavory, but it was Ye Xinyan’s sister, a daughter from Duke An’s Mansion, who brought the private whispers into the open.

Ye Xinyan raised her eyebrows and a faint smile played on her lips, "If it were so easy to twist the situation to their advantage, how could I have caused such a scene?"

"Madam Zhou, your words are ill-considered. Have you ever heard the saying: ’Oranges grown in the south become oranges, while those in the north become trifoliate oranges.’ Why is that if not due to the differences in soil and environment?" Ye Xinyan’s slight smile grew more pronounced, while Madam Zhou’s color changed.

"Everyone in the capital knows that the Second Miss from Duke An’s Mansion is virtuous and well-mannered. My well-bred daughter became like this after just a few years in the Ji Mansion. It must be said that there’s something wrong with the soil and water in the Ji Mansion, failing to nurture our Miss Ye properly."

"You!" Madam Zhou was so angry she nearly spat blood. Do you not know what kind of person your own sister is? No matter how poor my household’s conditions might be, could it make two sisters, who were originally harmonious, turn against each other to such a degree of ’you die, I live’?

But she couldn’t say that. Wouldn’t that be admitting that the Ji Family was willing to marry the concubine-born daughter from the Ye Family because they coveted the favoritism shown by the heir of Duke An towards his concubines and their children, hence overlooking the concubine-born daughter’s character?

Ye Xinyan’s expression turned calm, looking at Madam Zhou with great surprise as if she found Zhou’s anger incomprehensible.

Yet inwardly, she sneered. Back in the day, the Ji Family, renowned for their nobility, married Ye Xinyi with opportunistic intentions, obviously aiming for Ye Hongyang, the heir of Duke An.

After spending many years in the capital, did Madam Zhou and Lord Ji really not know that Ye Hongyang indulged his concubines and favored his illegitimate children, neglecting to teach his children properly?

At this time, now that Ye Hongyang had no chance of inheriting the title, Madam Zhou suddenly questioned Ye Xinyi’s upbringing, wasn’t that too late?

Everyone watched as Ye Xinyan left Madam Zhou speechless and even pointed directly to the poor family customs of the Ji Family, leaving Madam Zhou without any grounds to argue.

Indeed, Duke An had not restrained Ye Hongyang, who was expected to be the next Duke An. With the support of the prospective Duke An, Ye Hongyang, no one in the capital thought that Madam Yin and her daughter were actually being trampled underfoot by a concubine; instead, they all raised the prestige of the Ye Family’s illegitimate sons and daughters.

Now being slapped in the face by Ye Hongyang’s only legitimate daughter, apart from acquiescing that the concubines and their children of Duke’s Mansion had changed, what else could they do? Could they admit that so many of the capital’s elite were just opportunists, acknowledging only titles and positions, not people?

Those on both sides of the screen reined in their enthusiasm for the spectacle, and a few even felt a premonition of disaster. They were all in the same boat, at least for today, and it was best to resolve matters quickly and never again have any dealings with the Ye Family’s women, to live a peaceful life.

If there were any more objections, who knew what else could be dragged out? Hadn’t they just been accused of corrupting the etiquette of the Son of Heaven’s court?

Han Yanhui looked towards Jiang Yifan and broke the silence, "Lord Jiang, the Ye Family’s women are not to blame. The matter has been clarified, and the girls indeed should be properly disciplined. We are willing to assure Miss Ye that we will strictly discipline our household’s children; they will never again gossip about Miss Ye. Today’s nonsense will end here, and no further unfavorable talk about Miss Ye will arise outside."

After Han Yanhui finished speaking, he turned his head and glanced at everyone present, "If anyone has objections, you should speak them sooner rather than later, without further delaying everyone’s time." His stern gaze swept over those present, and all nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Jiang Yifan swiftly bowed to the ground, "This subordinate thanks all the lords and elders for their understanding. It’s only due to the open-mindedness of the lords and elders that my fiancée’s life was spared. When we lead a harmonious life in the future, we will not forget the grace granted by all the lords and elders today."

With the declaration from Lord Prime Minister Han, even if there were future rumors on the streets, those present today would find ways to suppress them.

However, fear was now instilled, and further interaction would likely cease accordingly. From this point on, it was probable that few would dare to send invitations to Ah Yan of his family.