Unlike the attitude toward Wong Qiao, Anshun’s Household was now behaving very unrighteously. Without uttering a word, they simply knelt down and then beckoned the two maidservants before retreating far away.
Ye Xinyan was so stunned she was at a loss for words. This nanny and maidservants... were they still her people? Wasn’t Anshun’s Household part of the noble and prestigious household of the Great Xia Dynasty, and wasn’t she, at the very least, the granddaughter of Duke An? Was there a need to be so obsequious and act based on others’ expressions?
Moreover, this also involved an issue of loyalty. Her people should have been ready to stand by her side in the face of any power, regardless of life and death, and act according to her attitude, right? How could they leave her aside and take orders from a former husband who had turned against her? Was this the way to handle things?
With Jiang Yifan watching from across, Ye Xinyan could only blink away her anger and helplessness, calming herself with the thought: at least, when the two maidservants left, they had glanced at her, slightly saving her face.
As for what to do when she got back... Should she punish them by making them stand in the corner? Or dock their allowances, or lock them up without meals? Or perhaps give them a taste of each?
Jiang Yifan looked rather unhappy, but his tone was passable when he asked in a gentle voice, "You’ve been standing here for quite some time. Is there something troubling you that you can’t decide on?"
Ye Xinyan, unable to suppress her irritation at Anshun’s Household, replied, "Nothing. There’s just been a lot going on these days, and I wanted to be alone for a bit, nothing else."
Jiang Yifan seemed not to have heard her, and continued, "Does it have something to do with Wong Qiao, or perhaps Second Miss Zhou?"
Since Jiang Yifan had already come this far and even asked such a question, he must have seen her talking to Wong Qiao. Ye Xinyan immediately changed her tone, speaking seriously, "I just bumped into Wong Qiao and took the opportunity to inquire about Second Miss Zhou’s progress with her tasks."
Jiang Yifan was noncommittal in response to her reply, but a hint of a smile appeared on his otherwise expressionless face, which seemed rather provocative.
He gestured to the chestnut stallion behind him and asked, "You won’t have the chance to be alone in peace when you return home, so how about I accompany you to go farther away and find a quiet place for you to have a good rest?"
Only then did Ye Xinyan notice Jiang Yifan’s heavy clothing—it was a thick leather coat with a turquoise cloak lined with fox fur, hooded.
Ye Xinyan raised an eyebrow; he was rather sure she would agree, hence his thorough preparation.
She shook her head, "No need, standing here half the day has already helped."
With an inscrutable smile, Jiang Yifan looked at her and asked, "If you have already made up your mind, why do your steps still seem so heavy and reluctant on the way back?"
"This lady is simply taking a leisurely stroll," Ye Xinyan brushed off flippantly, intending to bypass Jiang Yifan and return.
However, Jiang Yifan gathered the reins in his hand, and the horse took a couple of steps, effectively blocking Ye Xinyan’s path. Then, without waiting for Ye Xinyan’s consent, he once again commanded Anshun’s Household, calling out, "Nanny Qiao, lead the others back first, I will take a walk with the young lady."
Ye Xinyan immediately looked toward Anshun’s Household, her gaze filled with stern reprimand.
This time, Anshun’s Household did not immediately follow the order but stepped forward a few paces, meeting Ye Xinyan’s gaze and asking, "Young Lady?"
This is more like it.
Ye Xinyan cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Yifan and instructed Anshun’s Household, "It’s getting late, let’s head back."
Jiang Yifan waved his hand to stop the people from Anshun’s Household from coming closer, yet spoke to Ye Xinyan in a way that was intended for Anshun’s Household to hear, "Sixth Master is currently having an enjoyable conversation with my senior. Before I came out, I had already asked our patriarch. You’re not in a good mood, and I wanted to know if I could take you somewhere further away to clear your mind. The patriarch agreed."
Yex Xinyan abruptly halted her steps. Wasn’t her grandfather acting a bit too decisively? He had only just spoken favorably of Jiang Yifan, and now he was putting it into action. She was an adult too, had anyone asked for her opinion before making such a decision?
Jiang Yifan took a step forward, lowered his voice, and leaned in to continue speaking, "If you go back , there won’t be a single place where you can have peace. I’m thinking about the dream you mentioned, that life in the dream, which seemed so carefree, so comfortable, without anyone intruding upon your space. Right now, you’re clearly in a bad mood. Can you guarantee that you will still be able to adapt to the crowded environment here?"
Ye Xinyan absentmindedly lifted her eyes to look at Jiang Yifan. How long had he been pondering over her to have gained such insight? To make such an accurate guess?
Jiang Yifan continued, also offering an explanation, "I simply understand that you are disturbed and want to find a place for you to vent. Besides, I’d like to ask you about that dreamlike lifetime. I’m curious about what kind of miraculous place it was. You can also share it, which is better than keeping such a big matter to yourself."
Ye Xinyan drew her gaze back, hesitating. Undeniably, Jiang Yifan’s words were tempting. Her current mood was irritable, with the issues involving Wong Qiao and Zhou Biyao, as well as her need to rethink her future.
Having been here for over a year, in others’ eyes, she had already become quite casual and undisciplined, but she knew that throughout this past year, there were always people by her side. Every action of hers took place in the company of others, with hardly any chance for solitude, constantly reminding herself not to reveal her differences from this era. Such a life was suffocating.
And Jiang Yifan... Ye Xinyan furrowed her brows as she looked at Jiang Yifan; he was the only one who was sure that she was different from the past, and his conjectures about her past were pretty accurate. She had been holding out for such a long time, perhaps she could take this opportunity to relax a bit?
Anshun’s Household servant, accompanied by two maids, stood still, watching Jiang Yifan and Ye Xinyan walk away, with the chestnut horse leisurely following behind them. Their figures grew smaller and smaller, and then Lord Jiang mounted the horse, reached down to pull her, the young lady of his household, onto the horseback, and soon disappeared from sight.
Anshun’s Household servant sternly swept her gaze over Jiu Yue and Jiu Mei, saying, "Concerning this morning’s events, no matter who asks, you all know nothing. Whether it’s about Third Master Wong or Lord Jiang, you are to respond the same. We are the young lady’s servants; we only carry out her orders and know nothing else. Understand?"
Seeing the two nod their heads quietly, she walked back satisfied.
Now, Duke and Duchess should be relieved. The Duke feared most that if the young lady, while outside without any restraint, got involved with Prince Yu, it could lead to unsavory incidents.
His Highness Prince Yu is a prince, a man; even if things escalate, it’s just seen as passionate and unrestrained. However, the young lady and Duke An’s Mansion couldn’t afford that. A woman who carried the scandal of an annulled marriage, running away from home was already another unspeakable scandal. If she then got involved with another man, how could the entire mansion face anyone?
But being with Lord Jiang was different; reconciliation was a beautiful tale.
Wrapped in the thick cloak made from the fur sent by Madam Yin, Ye Xinyan sat in front of Jiang Yifan on the horse, feeling the first month’s cold wind that was no longer bitingly chill brush against her face, as she tucked her cheeks further into her hood.
Her patriarch really went to great lengths, with Jiang Yifan taking the initiative to show goodwill, the patriarch even thought everything through so thoroughly, even preparing her garments against the cold.