She Became A Downfall Noble Lady

Clear Water Village was much like many of the impoverished mountain villages she had encounterd several times before while accompanying her father on his official duties, with dilapidated, scattered, and crumbling houses, rugged, narrow, and dusty paths, and vast expanses of farmland. At this time of year, the crops had already begun to turn yellow, lacking the vibrant green vitality.

Inside Zhou Biyao’s carriage sat two maids and Nanny Zhong, with four robust house servants following before and after the carriage.

Shun Yi had already aroused suspicion and been dealt with once. Zhou Biyao dared not ask Shun Yi to lead the way, so the group had to walk and ask for directions as they went. They set off at the Chen Hour, spurring their horses on at a fast pace, and it wasn’t until three quarters past the hour of Si that they finally found themselves outside the courtyard of the second branch of the Qi family.

Zhou Biyao lifted the curtain of the carriage window a bit more and took a glance outside, immediately stunned by a large expanse of neatly spaced fences and pens. What was this, the cattle farm that Lady Qi managed on behalf of His Highness Prince Yu, requiring such a vast space? How many oxen had to be raised?

Turning her gaze, she saw a courtyard that was as dilapidated, or perhaps even more so, than the other houses in the village, and within the courtyard, there were two thatched cottages. Next to this courtyard, a house was under construction, which seemed to be a complex of three rooms.

Within that area of construction, about a dozen people were busy at work; craftsmen stood atop scaffolding, laying bricks on walls that were nearly reaching their peak. It was clear that the house being built was already taking shape.

Ye Xinyan heard the sound of carriages and horses approaching from outside the courtyard, but as there had been many things happening at home lately, with Qi Younian and Fan Zhengyuan busy every day, and the two carriages bought for the household and the cattle farm constantly coming and going, she didn’t pay much attention.

It wasn’t until Nanny Liu’s voice sounded. "Are you looking for someone?" Shortly thereafter, Nanny Liu’s tone changed, becoming more familiar. "Oh, it turns out to be Second Miss Zhou. What brings Second Miss Zhou to such a remote and impoverished place—are you passing through for some business?"