Glory

Ye Yaming glanced at Tao Shi: "So what are Da Bo and your plans?"

"I've already told Qing'er the investigation results about the Chen family. That section of railing was deliberately sawn by someone sent by that Yang fellow, leaving only the thinnest inner layer intact. It looked fine on the surface, but anyone leaning against it would definitely fall into the lake," Ye Hongchang said.

"It's obvious the Yang family hasn't given up and sent this Yang An to disgust us. If your second sister still misses that scoundrel after this, I'll be furious to death," Tao Shi added.

"Talk to her properly. If she doesn't listen, tell me and I'll persuade her," Old Mrs. Ye said.

"Mother, don't worry. I plan to quickly settle Qing'er's marriage to stop her from overthinking," Tao Shi sighed.

"Originally, I didn't want to marry her into another merchant family and hoped to find a scholar's household. But now I'm afraid—it's better to arrange it sooner. Among the families we're close with, there are several good young men. I'll make a selection and have you elders take a look. If you have no objections, we'll finalize it for her."

Hearing this, Ye Yaming frowned.

Ye Hongchang now completely trusted his niece's judgment. Seeing her expression, he quickly asked: "Ming'er, do you have some thoughts?"

Ye Yaming said: "As her younger sister, I shouldn't comment on my sister's marriage matters. But I do have something to say."

She looked at Tao Shi: "Aunt, it's clear Second Sister still has Yang Chuzhi in her heart. Even if you tell her the truth, she'll make excuses for him, saying he was forced by the Yang family. He might genuinely like her and want to marry her."

Tao Shi's eyes widened, then she smiled bitterly: "You've hit the nail on the head."

Had she not been with Ye Yaqing all this time and known the sisters hadn't met, she would have thought Ye Yaming had spoken with Ye Yaqing.

"If you force her to get engaged to someone else while she's still hung up on Yang Chuzhi, then he and this relationship might become her most unforgettable and cherished memory. What you can't have always seems best," Ye Yaming said.

"It's like a piece of clothing or jewelry—when you find it beautiful but someone else buys it immediately, don't you keep thinking about it for years? But if you buy it, wear it a couple times, don't you start finding it less appealing?"

Tao Shi's own marriage had been arranged by her parents through a matchmaker, and she and Ye Hongchang respected each other but never experienced any intense romance. If Ye Yaming had only said the first part, she might not have understood. But hearing the latter analogy, she immediately grasped it.

"Yes, yes," she said. "That's exactly how it is."

Then she hesitated: "So what should we do? Let her keep in touch with that Yang Chuzhi?"

"Not necessary. Let her calm down first. You can continue investigating Yang Chuzhi, and sometimes even let Second Sister see for herself his and his family's actual situation. When she realizes Yang Chuzhi or his family aren't as perfect as she imagined, she'll come to her senses."

Tao Shi nodded with a smile and looked at the elders and Ye Hongchang.

Ye Chongming said: "Ming'er is right. Let's handle it this way. Don't rush Qing'er's matter—haste causes trouble. If the prospective in-laws hear about today's incident, they'll surely hold a grudge, which would harm her future in her husband's family."

"Father is right," Tao Shi said, immediately abandoning her remaining thoughts."Father, Mother, Ming'er, please continue your meal. We'll take our leave now." Ye Hongchang rose and said.

Since the elderly couple had specifically asked Ye Yaming to accompany them for the meal, it was only proper not to overstay.

"Yes, go back and comfort Qing'er," Old Mrs. Ye said.

Before leaving, Tao Shi said to Ye Yaming, "Your second sister is actually very grateful to you. After you finish your meal and return, she plans to visit your courtyard personally to apologize and express her thanks."

"That won't be necessary," Ye Yaming replied. "Second Sister must be exhausted today. Let her rest properly. We sisters will have plenty of opportunities to talk in the future."

After Tao Shi and her husband departed, Ye Yaming said to Ye Chongming, "Grandfather, you should assign someone to keep a close watch on Yang Chuzhi's family. It would be best to investigate them thoroughly."

Ye Chongming's expression turned serious. "What's wrong? Is there something suspicious?"

Ye Yaming nodded. "Yang Tai, Yang An, Chuzhi... 'Remaining calm in the face of chaos'—don't you find these names peculiar? Even if a servant's son was granted the master's surname in the Yang family, would he be given a name so closely connected to the young master of the household?"

She narrowed her eyes and spoke slowly, "Do you think this Yang An might actually be Yang Hong's illegitimate son, deliberately passed off as a servant's son just so he could take the imperial examinations and bring glory back to the Yang family?"

Ye Chongming and Old Mrs. Ye were stunned by Ye Yaming's speculation.

"N-no, that can't be right?" Old Mrs. Ye stammered. "What family would willingly let their son carry the stigma of being a servant's child for life?"

Yet Ye Chongming seemed thoughtful, his eyes suddenly brightening as if Ye Yaming's words had opened a new door for him.

Ye Yaming had anticipated this reaction.

From Ye Chongming's relentless efforts to form marriage alliances with scholarly families, it was clear that these merchants, after accumulating wealth, constantly sought to break free from the constraints of their social status and yearned for the protection of official power.

The method of substitution and deception hadn't occurred to Ye Chongming before. Now that she had provided him with this idea, he would certainly contemplate its feasibility.

She quickly poured cold water on his enthusiasm: "Grandfather, you must understand that if Yang An is truly Yang Hong's son, the Yang family would be guilty of deceiving the emperor. Since the court has explicitly forbidden merchants' descendants from participating in the imperial examinations, do you think they would allow anyone to exploit this loophole without severe punishment? If this were discovered, it would mean extermination of the entire clan."

"Risking the destruction of their family and lineage—if the child isn't cut out for studying and never passes the imperial examinations to become an official. Do you think such a scheme would be worth it?"

Ye Chongming's feverish excitement quickly cooled.

Yes, how could he have forgotten? Such deception would lead to the execution of the entire family!

Ye Chongming didn't even dare to collaborate with others, revealing his inherently conservative nature and lifelong pursuit of stability. Ye Yaming's words immediately extinguished all such thoughts.

Seeing clarity return to his eyes, Ye Yaming continued, "It is impolite not to reciprocate. Since the Yang family dug such a deep pit for us, nearly costing Second Sister her life, we must retaliate."

"Moreover, they're collaborating with the Meng family, who absolutely despise us and won't let this matter rest. This trap might very well be the Meng family's doing. If we don't strike back now while their arrogance has been dampened and before they recover, we'll face endless trouble in the future."

Ye Chongming's eyes suddenly blazed with intensity. "Ming'er, do you have any good ideas?"