Glory

She sighed, "What girls fear most is being called too fierce and formidable."

Upon hearing this, Ye Yayin grabbed Ye Yaming's hand, her large eyes filled with worry.

"What excuse? Saying we'll meet another time? Do you believe she wouldn't immediately set a date?" Ye Yaming said. "Besides, she doesn't genuinely want to spend time with me—she's scheming for her family against ours. The Yang family covets our Osmanthus Tea formula and is targeting me."

Although this was still speculation without proof, facing two innocent young girls, she didn't hesitate to paint the Yang family in the worst possible light to make them aware of the world's darkness.

Sure enough, her words frightened Ye Yayin, who exclaimed, "Ah?"

Ye Yaming looked at her seriously and said, "The Yang family has set their sights on me. If I don't publicly cut ties with Yang Shu, they'll cling to us like sticky glue. And if they fail with me, what if they turn their attention to you? What if they resort to despicable means and force a situation where 'the rice is already cooked'?"

"Ah? That wouldn't happen, would it?" Ye Yaqing was also alarmed.

"Why wouldn't it?" Ye Yaming shared everything she could about what Meng Chengwei had done to the Ye family with her two sisters.

"The Yang family is collaborating with such a person, and they've even signed a contract. What does 'birds of a feather flock together' mean? What does 'wallowing in the same mire' imply? With people like this, what tactics wouldn't they use? Is it worth risking yourself and your sisters for the sake of face or a so-called good reputation?"

Ye Yaming's alarming words thoroughly frightened the two sisters.

Terrified at the thought of her sister nearly being ensnared, Ye Yayin gripped Ye Yaming's hand indignantly. "That Meng and the Yang family are truly wicked. Sister, you did the right thing by speaking as you did."

Then, she looked at Ye Yaming with admiration. "Sister, you're amazing. Your words were incredibly satisfying. You didn't see how Yang Shu's brother's face turned as dark as a pot bottom."

Ye Yaming couldn't help but laugh and pinched her cheek. "I'm glad you don't think I'm too fierce."

Seeing Ye Yaqing about to explain, Ye Yaming said, "Sister, there's no need to explain. I know you mean well. What I'm trying to say is that you should think more carefully when facing situations and not be too soft-hearted or overly cautious. Being too hesitant and yielding everywhere will only lead to you being wronged, while others will think you're easy to bully."

Tao Shi had a somewhat strong personality, which had influenced Ye Yaqing to be somewhat timid.

"Mm, I understand," Ye Yaqing nodded.

"Besides, didn't I bring up filial piety? Yang Hong insulted Grandfather. By cutting ties with the Yang family now, outsiders will only praise me for being filial. What's wrong with being firm when someone mocks your elders?" Ye Yaming added reassuringly.

Upon returning home, Ye Yaming went to the main courtyard and reported the incident to Old Mrs. Ye. "I don't know what they're thinking—perhaps they mean no harm, and I'm just being overly suspicious. But it's better to be safe than sorry. By cutting off contact with Yang Shu, they won't have any chance to scheme."

Old Mrs. Ye patted her head and sighed. "It's just hard on you."

Her third granddaughter had finally found a good friend, only to sever ties because of family matters. She felt somewhat sorry for her granddaughter.

"I don't find it hard. I told you because I'm worried they might target Second Sister and Fourth Sister."Given her previous life's age and mentality, Ye Yaming didn't believe she could have much in common with Yang Shu. The topics young girls discussed in this era were nothing more than clothing, jewelry, and what kind of husband to seek—none of which interested her.

She was actually relieved not to have to deal with a friend like Yang Shu.

As for Ye Yaqing and Ye Yayin, she treated them as younger sisters to guide, hoping they could develop some of the independent and self-reliant consciousness of modern women, enabling them to navigate life more smoothly in the future.

To confirm the Yang family's intentions, Ye Yaming sent people to keep watch near Ye Jia and the Yang residence. Sure enough, they discovered that the Yang family had servants stationed at the alley entrance where Ye Jia members came and went. Whenever the carriage she frequently used went out, someone would report to Yang Tai. Not long after, Yang Tai and Yang Shu would appear near where the carriage stopped.

After testing this once, Ye Yaming lost interest in going out.

In her previous life, her parents felt they had fulfilled their reproductive duty after having her, and both had an agreement to play around outside but not to produce any illegitimate children.

Thus, Ye Yaming knew from a young age that she was to inherit the family business. She skipped grades from elementary to junior high, never forming deep connections with classmates. During winter and summer vacations after high school, she stayed by her grandfather's side, familiarizing herself with the company and learning management skills. After graduating from Cambridge, she directly took over the company, staying constantly busy.

Shopping and browsing clothing and jewelry—even with more free time in this lifetime—held no appeal for her, especially with the Yang siblings watching her like flies.

That day, after being publicly shamed by Ye Yaming, the Yang siblings were utterly humiliated. Yang Tai, furious, initially decided to abandon his plan to marry Ye Yaming.

However, Yang Hong said, "How did I raise such a coward? If she made you lose face, you should marry her and then find ways to torment her. That's what a real man does."

Yang Tai deeply agreed with his father's reasoning and ordered continued surveillance of Ye Yaming.

They saw Ye Yaming's carriage leave and enter a jewelry store. But when the siblings rushed over, they found it was actually Ye Jiaxing's wife, Lady Guan, wearing a cloak very similar to the one Ye Yaming had worn that day, using her carriage to go jewelry shopping.

After that, Ye Yaming never went out again.

Meanwhile, Old Madam Ye made quite a stir in selecting a groom, making it clear that Ye Jia truly intended to arrange a matrilocal marriage for Ye Yaming.

The Yang family had no choice but to give up their scheme.

"Grandfather, how are things with Young Master Lu and Qi Gongzi?" Ye Yaming asked Ye Chongming. Recently, Lu Guanyi had been taking Ye Jiaxing around to see if they could pre-order next year's Spring Tea, while Qi Ji had entrusted a skilled painter friend to collect design drafts and went to Xinping Town to supervise the porcelain masters in firing tea sets.

Ye Chongming shook his head. "Your cousin sent word two days ago that things aren't going well. Tea from various regions has already been fully reserved. Even if they manage to pull strings at the Tea Monopoly Bureau, any tea they can buy won't be of good quality."

"Which places did they visit?" Ye Yaming asked again.

Ye Chongming listed several place names.

Ancient place names differed from modern ones. For example, their current residence, Lin'an, was modern-day Hangzhou; Xinping Town, where Qi Ji went to make tea sets, was the modern Porcelain Capital, Jingdezhen.

Moreover, this was an alternate dynasty—even if the geographical locations matched, the names bore no resemblance to their real historical counterparts.

Thus, among the places Ye Chongming mentioned, Ye Yaming only recognized two, and that was only because she had been cramming knowledge of the Great Jin's geography and history by reading various travelogues and miscellaneous books daily.Both of these places are located in Liangzhe.

It seems Lu Guanyi and the others have been circling around their own doorstep.