She Became A Downfall Noble Lady

Ye Hongyang glared at Madam Yin, who clearly dismissed him as nothing, and anger rose within him. He, Ye Hongyang, was the future top-ranking noble and was being disdained by a woman of the inner court; the very thought was preposterous!

With his temper flaring, Ye Hongyang didn’t bother with any more pretense or worry about saving face, and blurted out, "Madam Yin, those two Pastry Houses of yours have just started, and I imagine it’s not easy to get a new business off the ground. I have some fresh pastry recipes here, praised by His Majesty as excellent cheese desserts. I propose these recipes be incorporated into your venture. I’ll help you purchase the cheese and butter required from the Northern Barbarians. Let’s say I hold a forty percent share in the business of the Pastry Houses."

As he spoke, Ye Hongyang took out two densely written sheets of paper from his sleeve and, with a whoosh, flicked them open and slapped them down on the kang table where Madam Yin kept her account books.

Madam Yin, planning how to maximize profits from the Pastry Houses, hadn’t paid any attention to Ye Hongyang’s ramblings and started upon the sudden noise on the table. She focused her gaze on the two sheets of paper on the table, then looked up at Ye Hongyang with furrowed brows, asking, "What is this? What are these?"

Ye Hongyang nearly choked on her question. He glared at Madam Yin for quite some time before he caught his breath and snapped, "Madam Yin! Have you no understanding of the ’Three Obediences and Four Virtues?’ I am your husband. Such disrespect towards your husband is unbecoming of a wife’s virtue!"

Upon hearing this, a mocking look immediately crossed Madam Yin’s face as she retorted with a sneer, "Really? Having married into the Duke’s Mansion over two decades ago, I had thought all along that the Princely Heir was only Maternal Aunt Liu’s husband, and that’s exactly how the Crown Prince had presented himself to me. Please forgive me, but I’ve become accustomed to the idea that you are Maternal Aunt Liu’s husband and would not dare to presume otherwise for myself."

Turning her gaze to the papers on the table, she spoke to Nanny Huang in a most malicious tone, "What is this? Return these to the Crown Prince. All things belonging to the Crown Prince are meant for Maternal Aunt Liu, the Second Miss, and the two young masters. We dare not touch them." Ye Hongyang’s things were Maternal Aunt Liu’s, and she had no interest whatsoever in knowing about them.

Nanny Huang hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth. The Crown Prince had long since fallen out with Aunt Liu and the lady of the house, so why should her mistress still protect his dignity?