She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 737 - 735

Chapter 737: 735

The heads of each household expressed their stance and, no longer in the mood for the banquet or the subsequent lineup of activities, promptly led their own children away from this place of contention.

The families caught in public with improper conduct were naturally disgraced, and although greatly annoyed, they could only slink away.

Those uninvolved also found themselves tainted by association. Although not many attended today’s banquet at the General’s Mansion, there were quite a few. With the Ye sisters causing such a commotion today, if there were to be any slandering rumors about them in the future, who knows what madness Ye Xinyan might unleash.

By then, anyone present today would be under suspicion.

While these families were annoyed with the Ye sisters, they also held disdain for those mansions that professed rules and etiquette but lacked moral fiber.

No matter how high the official rank, how ancient the family heritage, or how illustrious, everyone usually just looks out for their own façade, letting things slide without serious contention. But faced with someone as undiscerning as Ye Xinyan who could tear away that fig leaf in a single move, their true colors were immediately exposed.

It seems that from now on, interactions among young ladies must be handled with greater caution. One cannot simply associate recklessly just because the outward appearance seems impeccable.

Lunchtime had already passed, and the gates of the General’s Mansion were wide open. The guests departed in succession, creating an even livelier scene than when they were invited.

Outsiders unaware of what had transpired thought today’s banquet at General Huwei’s Mansion was bustling. Not only did the female relatives of each household come upon invitation, but many minister-level officials and heads of noble families also joined in the festivities, which seemed exceedingly flattering.

Don’t you see how lively it is outside the General’s Mansion? Carriages and sedan chairs of significant individuals, identified by the emblems on them, were departing continuously.

People chattered amongst themselves, yet some were puzzled: since when had the prince’s concubine become so sought after?

The stir-causing comments of daughters might be tolerable, as they were after all educated by their own families, for better or worse, and blame could not be placed on others. But when the troublemaker was a daughter-in-law, life became difficult.

Today, those who were able to be in the side hall were young daughters-in-law, with the exception of young ladies. A daughter-in-law is not a child born to the family but someone married into it, and not long ago at that. The parents-in-law naturally believe that it’s the failure of the girl’s family’s upbringing that has brought an ill-mannered daughter into their home.

The Ji Family now found itself among those whose daughters-in-law’s lack of virtue had brought shame to their husbands’ families.

Originally, as the concubine-born daughter of Ye Xinyi, who had the favor of her father the princely heir, Ye Xinyan’s status as a concubine-born child was naturally overlooked.

But now, not only did she lack her father the princely heir’s favor, her father had also been stripped of his title. Having such a father was even worse than if he had never been the heir.

Just as Madam Zhou said, the Ji Family had been scholarly for generations. Yet her family’s legitimate son had married a wife who was the daughter of a father who could not show his face in public and a mother who was equally despicable. This bitter pill could not be spoken of or reasoned out, only to be swallowed silently, teeth gritted in pain.

This very daughter-in-law, through malicious instigation today, caused so much uproar at the General’s Spring Welcome Banquet. She was even counter-accused by that Ye woman, saying her Ji Family had poor morals, corrupting a perfectly good young lady.

In the future, when inviting guests to various gatherings in the back houses of the capital’s elite, one would have to be extremely cautious, most of all when it came to the Ji Family with its poor reputation.

How was she to endure this?

Originally, when the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the Ji Family came to the banquet, they arrived in two separate carriages. On the return journey, Madam Zhou didn’t even glance at Ye Xinyan, her face cold as she boarded her carriage alone, not even signaling for her daughter-in-law’s carriage to follow, and went on ahead.

Ye Xinyi saw that Madam Zhou didn’t even glance her way and left on her own, she immediately felt a bone-chilling coldness.

She didn’t dare to imagine what kind of rejection and coldness she would face once she returned to Ji Mansion.

There were many carriages and sedans leaving the mansion, and Madam Zhou did not call for her to follow, causing her to hustle and still not catch up with Madam Zhou. By the time she entered the mansion and mustered her spirits to head to Madam Zhou’s courtyard, she was stopped by an old woman servant by Madam Zhou’s side.

The old woman was respectfully postured, yet her gaze was ice-cold, unyielding to Ye Xinyi’s pleading expression, and she simply bowed and said, "The madam is tired and will not see anyone. Fourth madam, please go back."

Seeing that Ye Xinyi seemed about to speak again, she immediately added, "Fourth madam should know why the madam is fatigued. It’s best you hurry back to your own room to show filial respect, lest the madam knows you’re lingering and feels even worse."

After speaking, she unceremoniously instructed the doorkeeper old woman, "Watch the gate closely. If you disturb the madam and interrupt her rest, I’ll break your legs!"

Ye Xinyi’s face turned pale; Madam Zhou was openly showing her distaste for her, even the servants were giving her a hard time.

Ever since the Ye family reported news of Ye Xinyan, after Maternal Aunt Liu lost her power, there had been subtle changes to her days in her husband’s home. It had only been a little over two months since her father lost the position of Princely Heir, and her life had already become this difficult.

She refused to believe that if her father was still securely in the position of Princely Heir as before, the mother-in-law and the servants of this courtyard would treat her like this.

Qingqing watched the old woman walk away, the doorkeeping old woman eying them menacingly. She hurriedly whispered to Ye Xinyi, "Fourth madam, let’s go back."

Qingqing’s words brought Ye Xinyi out of her daze. Glancing at the unusual looks from the servant girls coming and going from Madam Zhou’s courtyard, Ye Xinyi lowered her eyelids, curtsied to the main house of the courtyard, and then turned to leave.

She still had to think about how to face her husband. Because of that vile woman’s disregard for consequences, the image of gentleness and kindness she had cultivated for so many years collapsed today.

Without the strong support of her natal family, her husband’s protection became crucial. In this residence shared with four sisters-in-law, if she had nothing, she feared she might become even less than Madam Yin once was in Duke An’s Mansion.

Ye Xinyi hurried back. She still had her son, Ji Sheng—her foundation for standing firm in the Ji family.

Not bothering to prepare any food, she quickly brought Ji Sheng over, asking about his day and whether he had been naughty. Seeing her intelligent and adorable son, her heart finally felt a bit more settled.

As Ye Xinyi played with the tangram puzzle with her son, she pondered how to face Ji Chengru. After much deliberation, she chose to admit her wrongs and seek forgiveness over making excuses.

In her view, Ji Chengru had always been caring and loving towards her. Even after Maternal Aunt Liu lost her ability to manage Duke’s Mansion and Ye Hongyang was stripped of his position as Princely Heir, Ji Chengru’s treatment of her remained unchanged, showing no contempt:

As long as she confessed that she acted impulsively because of Maternal Aunt Liu’s confinement and that she had harbored thoughts of making her legitimate elder sister uncomfortable. She knew she was wrong, but it was not out of malice. Residing in the inner house, she was unaware of the extent of the impact this incident would cause; she just wanted to make her legitimate elder sister uncomfortable.

As long as she could convince Ji Chengru of her sincere remorse, she believed he would surely forgive her.

Ye Xinyi pondered over and over, so much so that she didn’t have the appetite for the snacks sent by Liu Xiang’s residence’s servant girl. It wasn’t until before dinner, just as she was composing herself to go to the main house to pay respect and attend to Madam Zhou’s dinner,

a servant girl came in to report: The old woman from the main house had a message; the madam was tired, and for the next few days, the fourth madam need not come over to pay respects.