Glory

On the other hand, Ye Hongrong was, after all, a male elder of Ye Yaming. With him present, no one could gossip about Ye Yaming working alongside Lu Guanyi.

This move served multiple purposes.

Old Mrs. Ye’s eyes also welled up with tears as she held Ye Yaming’s hand and said, “Good child, you’re the only one who still thinks of your Fourth Uncle.”

She wiped her tears with a handkerchief and added, “But in this bitter cold, traveling far is both dangerous and exhausting. Your health isn’t strong—why not wait until the weather warms up?”

“Once it’s warm, we’ll be busy with work,” Ye Yaming replied, turning to Ye Chongming. “Grandfather, when the tea leaves are ready, I’d like to experiment with the tea-making secrets I dreamed of. The tea produced that way tastes even better than the loose tea Father makes, and the method isn’t difficult.”

“Really?” Ye Chongming was overjoyed.

Thanks to the Osmanthus Tea, the Classic of Tea, and the tea arrangement techniques, he had already come to regard Ye Yaming’s dream revelations as divine. He no longer doubted the skills she had acquired in her dreams.

If Ye Yaming claimed the secret method produced excellent tea, then it surely would. How could anything bestowed by the gods be anything less than perfect?

With that thought, his heart swelled with excitement.

The Ye family truly had ancestors smiling upon them from their graves. It seemed they were destined for greatness.

Ye Yaming smiled faintly.

Had it not been for her collaboration with Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji—and the evident capability they had demonstrated in promoting tea sets and tea arrangement concepts recently—she would never have revealed the method for pan-fired green tea.

The capital was teeming with powerful figures, yet despite Gathering Fragrance Pavilion selling tea sets at exorbitant prices, no one had caused trouble or attempted to seize the business. All of this was due to the protective influence of the Lu and Qi families’ backing.

She steered the conversation back on track: “So, if I want to inspect the tea mountains, it has to be now.”

She looked at Old Mrs. Ye. “Grandmother, don’t worry. Haven’t you noticed I’ve been having carpenters modify my carriage lately? I’ll make sure it’s comfortable and warm for the journey. Besides, we won’t be rushing. If the weather turns bad, we’ll simply rest at an inn.”

Ye Chongming said to his wife, “We can have a herbalist accompany them.”

Old Mrs. Ye could no longer object and told Ye Yaming, “In that case, you must explain this properly to your mother.”

“I will,” Ye Yaming nodded.

Yin Shi was naturally extremely reluctant to let Ye Yaming endure the hardships of travel. However, since Ye Yaming was determined to go—and for the benefit of the Ye family—Yin Shi could not bring herself to voice any opposition.

As for Ye Hongrong, he had been growing restless cooped up at home. In the past, his father had largely ignored him. But now that his father was determined to enforce discipline, he found himself completely confined to the house.

The moment he heard he could get out and travel—even in the bitter cold—he was more than willing.

Lu Guanyi had returned to the capital just before the New Year and stayed for less than half a month. Before the Lantern Festival, he had already returned to Lin’an and was staying in the same large estate as before.

After arriving in Lin’an, he had sent New Year’s gifts to Ye Chongming and mentioned his plan to inspect tea mountains after the Lantern Festival.

When he learned that Ye Yaming and Ye Hongrong would be joining him, he had no objections. However, Qi Ji found it strange.

He muttered to Lu Guanyi, “Third Miss Ye is indeed an exceptionally clever girl. If she said she wanted to join me in making tea sets, I’d understand—she’s quite skilled at drawing tea set designs. But she’s never left Lin’an in her life, has she? Wanting to accompany you to purchase tea mountains… that’s rather odd.”"Additionally, Fourth Master Ye is unreliable. Old Master Ye has assigned him and Third Miss Ye to accompany you, making one wonder what the Ye family is truly thinking."

Lu Guanyi remained silent, simply instructing his page An Tai: "Deliver a message to Old Master Ye. If it is convenient for him, I shall visit the teahouse in half a shichen to discuss where to purchase tea mountains."

An Tai acknowledged and departed, returning shortly to report: "Old Master Ye said he awaits your visit at any time."

Half a shichen later, Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji arrived at Gathering Fragrance Pavilion.

Qi Ji was quite surprised to find Ye Yaming already present while Fourth Master Ye was nowhere to be seen, though Lu Guanyi showed little astonishment.

After exchanging greetings and taking their seats, they engaged in brief pleasantries before Lu Guanyi stated: "Before the New Year, I surveyed the areas around Lin'an but found no suitable tea mountains for purchase. After the festivities, I plan to venture further afield. Might Old Master Ye and Third Miss Ye have suggestions regarding which direction we should explore?"

Ye Chongming remained silent, instead glancing toward Ye Yaming.

Since Lu Guanyi had spoken directly without questioning her involvement in the tea mountain acquisition, Ye Yaming decided to be equally straightforward.

"Huizhou," she stated plainly.

"Huizhou?" Lu Guanyi expressed mild surprise. "Why does Miss Ye suggest Huizhou?"

"Young Master Lu must be aware that tea trees thrive best on warm mountainsides with abundant rainfall and morning and evening mist," Ye Yaming explained. "Recently, I've studied numerous geographical records and discovered that Huizhou has plentiful mountains with limited flatland. Its high peaks are perpetually shrouded in clouds and mist, with mild climate and ample rainfall - making it highly suitable for tea cultivation."

After a brief pause, she added: "Besides Huizhou, Minzhou shares similar conditions. However, since Minzhou is more distant, we should visit Huizhou first."

Ye Yaming had previously discussed both locations with Ye Chongming. However, concerned about protecting his granddaughter's greatest secret and recognizing that there was insufficient time before the New Year for Lu Guanyi and Ye Jiaxing to travel far, Ye Chongming had not mentioned this to them.

Hearing Ye Yaming's explanation now, Lu Guanyi found it highly reasonable and regarded the Ye family granddaughter with increased admiration.

While he himself lacked expertise in tea cultivation, even Ye Jiaxing - born into a tea family that had maintained tea gardens and estate holders in Baiteng County since his birth - had only vague notions about suitable locations for tea planting. Consequently, before the New Year, he had merely accompanied Lu Guanyi on aimless excursions without substantive proposals.

Unexpectedly, this sheltered young mistress who rarely ventured beyond her family compound could provide such valuable suggestions.

Though as a young man he ought to maintain propriety, Lu Guanyi couldn't resist praising Ye Yaming: "Master Zhineng has consistently praised Third Miss Ye for her orchid-like purity and innate wisdom. Indeed, his assessment proves accurate."

Ye Yaming smiled slightly and continued: "My grandfather and others have informed me about the hardships of traveling in cold weather over long distances. I'm mentally prepared. With my fourth uncle accompanying me, I won't cause Young Master Lu any trouble. Should physical conditions prevent me from continuing, my fourth uncle and I will remain at an inn along the route without delaying your progress."

Ye Yaming's thorough arrangements and consideration for others further increased Lu Guanyi's favorable impression of her.

"Miss Ye needn't be so formal. As business partners, mutual care and consideration are only natural. Should you require any assistance during our journey, please don't hesitate to inform me," he responded.

"Very well," Ye Yaming replied with a smile."When would be convenient for you to travel, Miss Ye?" Lu Guanyi asked.

"I need to return in time for making Mingqian tea," Ye Yaming replied. "Counting the round trip, we have less than two months at most, so it's better to go earlier. After the Lantern Festival, Fourth Uncle and I can depart at any time."