"...I know my abilities are limited. Even with a chance at rebirth, I couldn't change much. Meeting you on the Naihe Bridge was fate - our souls resonate, and we even share the same name. What kind of destiny is this? I believe you'd be willing to live another life with your memories intact. So please help me, change me, and alter the fate of our Ye family..."
In the dream, a stunningly beautiful woman in red robes bent forward, bowing earnestly to Ye Yaming.
Ye Yaming's eyes snapped open.
Dappled shadows danced through the deep courtyard, where upturned eaves traced elegant curves against the sky. Early autumn sunlight filtered through the leaves, almost too bright to bear.
Staring at the now-familiar scenery she'd seen for several days, Ye Yaming remained dazed for a long moment before finally releasing a slow breath.
It had been days since she parted with the original host on the Naihe Bridge. She thought the original had already moved on to reincarnation, never expecting to dream of her today.
Was this her coming back with earnest reminders because she couldn't rest easy?
Ye Yaming lifted her head, gazing at the azure sky unseen in modern times, silently promising the original host: "Go peacefully to your reincarnation. I will definitely change your fate and that of the Ye family."
It was merely the story of a devoted woman betrayed by a husband from a poor family. In her previous life, the original host had been too caught in the situation to free herself from the prison she'd created. Given another chance, she wouldn't repeat the same mistakes - changing fate shouldn't be difficult.
The reason she didn't want to live again, giving her rebirth opportunity to Ye Yaming, was probably because the scoundrel had broken her heart beyond repair, leaving her without any will to live. At the same time, she likely lacked confidence in changing her family's destiny.
But for Ye Yaming, who had once expanded tea business globally and presided over a listed company by thirty-one, altering the Ye family's fate wasn't particularly challenging.
"I won't fail this trust," she vowed silently once more.
"Young mistress, would you like to rest inside?" Bai Rui looked at Ye Yaming with concern.
Ever since recovering from that high fever some time ago, the young mistress never seemed quite herself.
Ye Yaming waved her hand dismissively and sat up straight. "How long was I asleep?"
"Just a short nap," Bai Rui replied.
Ye Yaming turned to the water-heating maid. "Is the water ready?"
Lve E quickly brought over the teapot and placed it on the table. "It's ready, young mistress. I've let it cool for a while - the temperature should be just right now."
Ye Yaming reached out to feel the teapot's temperature, nodded in satisfaction, then lifted the lid of the small white porcelain teapot before her and poured the water in.
Steam rose carrying the fragrance of tea, instantly misting in the air.
Watching the green tea leaves float and sink in the water, slowly unfurling before gradually settling at the bottom, Ye Yaming's mood mirrored the tea leaves - unfolding, calming, her heart gradually growing still.
The slight palpitations caused by the dream vanished completely.
Timing the infusion perfectly based on experience, knowing this was the optimal moment for flavor, Ye Yaming swiftly poured the tea from the white porcelain pot into the pale green ceramic pot.
After draining the last drop, she set the pot down, lifted the green pot to pour some tea into a small cup, then brought the cup to her nose. She first inhaled the aroma, observed the clear liquor, then parted her vermilion lips to take a small sip.
Letting the tea linger on her tongue before allowing it to flow across her palate and down her throat, she swallowed slowly. The tea's freshness and slight bitterness spread through her mouth, generating saliva and leaving a sweet aftertaste on her tongue.With her eyes closed, she savored the tea carefully. When she opened them again, Ye Yaming's heart was filled with tranquility.
"Young Mistress, Young Mistress..." A little maid with double buns rushed into the courtyard, shouting anxiously, "It's terrible! The Eldest Young Master... the Eldest Young Master was thrown from his startled horse and injured!"
Ye Yaming shot to her feet.
It's happening.
She strode out quickly.
Bai Rui shot Ziyuan a glare. "So reckless." She hurried after Ye Yaming.
Exiting the courtyard and passing through two arched gates, Ye Yaming was about to step into the main compound of the Ye family when an elderly woman emerged from the side of the path.
She smiled at Ye Yaming and said, "Third Young Miss, there are male guests in the main hall. Don't worry, the Eldest Young Master only suffered minor injuries. It's not serious. We've already sent for a Herbalist." The Great Jin Dynasty wasn't overly strict regarding women's seclusion, and the Ye family, being local gentry and merchants, weren't particularly rigid. They didn't forbid their women from meeting male guests.
The woman's words were merely a reminder: if Ye Yaming preferred not to encounter male guests, she could wait until the external guests had left before visiting the Eldest Young Master.
"It's fine," Ye Yaming replied without breaking stride, heading straight for the main hall.
If not for this male guest, she wouldn't have been in such a hurry to come.
Although it was said to be minor injuries, the main hall was in a state of chaos and panic.
The Eldest Young Mistress, née Guan, nearly fainted at the sight of the blood seeping through her husband's clothes. Ironically, it was the Eldest Young Master, Ye Jiaxing, who comforted his wife instead. The Second Elder Cousin Sister, Ye Yaqing, stood nearby, wiping her tears. Servants bustled about, some fetching water, others handing over towels—a scene of busy commotion.
On the other side of the hall, Old Master Ye Chongming was smiling warmly as he thanked a young man.
Standing at the doorway, Ye Yaming coldly observed the young man through the crowd.
Meng Chengwei, an Imperial Merchant from the capital, known for his ruthless methods. The Tea Monopoly System of the Great Jin Dynasty had been in place for over a century. Recently, smuggling at the border had become severe. The Meng family sought to infiltrate and control the tea industry in Jiangnan through the Ye family, aiming to reap enormous profits.
In her previous life, the Ye family failed to see his true nature. Bewitched by him, they frequently engaged in transactions with him and even helped him connect with fellow townsmen, allowing him to operate smoothly in Jiangnan. The Meng family merely provided some Tea Import Permits, and the Ye family felt immensely grateful.
But when the illicit tea case later erupted, the Ye family became the ready scapegoat. The Meng family emerged unscathed, while the Ye family had their property confiscated, were exiled, and died far from home.
Meng Chengwei was a wolf in sheep's clothing. Ye Yaming strongly suspected that the Eldest Young Master Ye Jiaxing's accident with the startled horse was his doing. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that he happened to be there when the horse bolted and personally brought him back?
Not just this incident, but likely several major misfortunes that later befell the Ye family were also connected to him.
However, the original host had been overly sheltered by her family, her mind occupied only with trivial romantic notions. Even after living a lifetime, she remained largely unaware of family affairs. All of this was merely Ye Yaming's conjecture. The truth still needed to be verified.
Perhaps keenly sensing Ye Yaming's scrutinizing gaze, Meng Chengwei lifted his eyes towards the doorway, meeting a pair of clear, autumn-water-like eyes.
Ye Yaming stood silhouetted against the light at the entrance. Yet, even against the backlight, Meng Chengwei could tell a beauty stood there—her features exquisite, her eyes sparkling like water, extremely beautiful. Her figure was slender and graceful, her demeanor gentle and delicate. She appeared to be the typical gentlewoman of the Jiangnan water towns, precisely Meng Chengwei's preferred type.
His efforts to appear in the Ye family in this manner were indeed not in vain.Long before Meng Chengwei raised his eyes, Ye Yaming had already withdrawn her gaze and quickly walked toward Ye Jiaxing, asking with concern, "Brother, are you alright?"
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