Glory

After Ye Yaming returned to her own courtyard, Ye Chongming grew restless. Although Ye Hongchang had already been ambushed once, there was still a vast difference between knowing nothing and being able to foresee events.

Because of this, Ye Chongming didn’t dare to tell his wife about the matter.

He spent two anxious hours in his outer study before finally hearing the sound of a page running in the courtyard. He sprang to his feet abruptly, knocking over the teacup on the table and smudging the Buddhist scriptures he had been copying to calm his mind.

“How did it go?” he asked, his voice trembling, as Zhou Xiang, panting heavily, rushed in.

“S-smooth,” Zhou Xiang gasped, struggling to catch his breath. “Very smooth. The First Master and the others have taken all those men to the magistrate’s office.”

Clutching his chest and taking several deep breaths, he continued, “Moreover, the Meng and Yang families have landed themselves in serious trouble this time.”

“Oh? What do you mean?” Ye Chongming asked eagerly.

“After the First Master left the city, he encountered Young Master Lu. Young Master Lu said he wanted to go up the mountain together and boarded the First Master’s carriage.”

Zhou Xiang finally caught his breath and went on, “He said he knew martial arts and wasn’t afraid. He also mentioned wanting to deal a fatal blow to the Meng and Yang families. The First Master couldn’t dissuade him, so he had no choice but to let him be.”

Ye Chongming gasped sharply. “So, those men ambushed Young Master Lu?”

“Yes.”

“Were Young Master Lu and the First Master injured?”

“No.”

“Were all the attackers captured?”

“Yes,” Zhou Xiang replied. “All of them were captured and taken to the magistrate’s office. Following Miss Ye’s instructions, Meng Ji provided an address to the magistrate, and as a result, Gu Jie and Housekeeper Jin from the Meng family were also arrested.”

Ye Chongming finally relaxed and inquired about the details. “Did those men still dare to act after seeing Young Master Lu board the carriage?”

At this, Zhou Xiang chuckled. “Young Master Lu intended to help us, so naturally, he didn’t want to draw attention. He deliberately wore a dirty, dusty outer robe, and his page did the same.”

“He even boarded the mule cart at the back, the one meant for the servants. Those men assumed he and his page were Estate Holders from the Tea Garden, specifically waiting there to hitch a ride back. So, they didn’t pay them any mind.”

Ye Chongming’s heart finally settled. He slapped the table and exclaimed, “Gu Jie was the one who signed the cooperation contract with the Yang family on behalf of the Meng family. With the addition of the Housekeeper sent by the Meng family, the Meng family won’t be able to escape blame this time, and the Yang family’s crimes will be even more severe.”

Ambushing a merchant was entirely different from ambushing a young master from a noble and influential family. Meng Chengwei, who was about to be released, would not find it so easy to evade punishment this time. Even if this incident wasn’t pinned directly on Meng Chengwei, the Meng family would undoubtedly suffer a heavy blow. The forces behind Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji would not let them off lightly.

With these underhanded rats no longer watching them, they could finally focus on their business without worry, and Ye Chongming could rest easy even when Ye Yaming went out.

When Qi Ji learned that Lu Guanyi had taken such a risk, he was terrified. He rushed to Lu’s residence and confronted him, “Was it necessary for you to take part personally? If something had happened to you, how would my father explain it to His Highness?”

“You know perfectly well that I have martial arts skills,” Lu Guanyi replied dismissively.

Fearing that something might happen to him, his grandfather had hired a highly skilled master to teach him martial arts from the age of five. Lu Guanyi’s skills were even superior to Guan Biaotou’s by a small margin.

“Miss Ye is thorough in her planning. She had someone test the martial arts skills of the Meng family’s men and confirmed that Guan Biaotou and the others were capable of defeating them before setting this trap. So, there was no danger at all in my going.”Qi Ji was so concerned that his judgment was clouded.

He knew Lu Guanyi possessed exceptional martial skills, and although Lu Guanyi's page An Tai appeared chubby, he too was actually skilled in martial arts. Together, unless they were facing imperial guards, no one could easily take Lu Guanyi's life.

"Regardless, you should have told me. I would have gone with you. Brothers share hardships, after all," he said with grievance.

Lu Guanyi glanced at him sideways: "Do you know martial arts? Are you sure you'd be helping, not hindering?"

Qi Ji: "..."

With Lu Guanyi involved in the ambush incident, and the case being straightforward—Gu Jie and Housekeeper Jin, unaware that the Ye family was conducting a sting operation, believed they had been exposed by Lu Guanyi and grew fearful—they confessed everything after Qi Zhipei applied torture. Of course, the Meng family, unwilling to let Meng Chengwei take the blame, had instructed Gu Jie and Housekeeper Jin beforehand to shift all responsibility onto Meng Liang.

But the Crown Prince's faction was not so easily appeased. In the end, the Meng family sacrificed their status as imperial merchants to protect Meng Chengwei from more severe punishment.

Meng Liang was caned and exiled, while the Yang family's punishment was increased.

After this incident, the Meng family realized Lu Guanyi's protection of the Ye family and dared not extend their reach to Lin'an again. Only then did the name Meng Chengwei fade from Ye Yaming's concerns.

On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, Ye Chongming, Ye Hongchang, and Ye Yaming brought generous gifts to Lu Guanyi's residence to express their gratitude.

After exchanging pleasantries, Ye Yaming confirmed with Lu Guanyi the departure date for Huizhou: the day after tomorrow, the twentieth of the first lunar month.

Having heard them discuss it earlier, Qi Ji had been itching to join. Now, he couldn't resist asking, "Can I come along?"

Before anyone could turn to look at him, he explained, "In Xinping, I directly purchased a porcelain workshop and a pottery workshop. The craftsmen have become quite skilled at making our tea sets recently. As long as they have the design drawings, they can produce the tea sets we need. My housekeeper can handle the handover with them without any issues."

Before the New Year, when the Ye family had fewer people involved in the cooperative project, Ye Chongming had felt quite apologetic.

Hearing Qi Ji's words now, he smiled and said, "Naturally, that's no problem. Jiaxing is still here. He made several trips with Qi Gongzi before the New Year and is familiar with the work. Entrusting this matter to him and Qi Gongzi's housekeeper should go smoothly."

Lu Guanyi nodded. "That works."

Earlier, Ye Yaming had stated they would depart by the twentieth at the latest. Now, sticking to the original plan, everyone had their luggage packed. Qi Ji, who had originally planned to go to Xinping, had his servants prepare his belongings in advance.

Thus, on the twenty-first day of the first lunar month, the four of them set off from Lin'an for Huizhou with seven carriages in tow.

Although Qi Ji had his own carriage, he preferred to ride in Lu Guanyi's. Chatting and drinking tea together made the time pass more easily.

Noticing the line of carriages following behind and two unfamiliar faces up ahead, he remarked with a laugh, "Traveling with a young lady is different—so many people and belongings."

After the incidents with the Yang and Meng families, he genuinely admired Ye Yaming and meant no disrespect by his comment.

Lu Guanyi gave him a sidelong glance. "You arrived too late to hear Miss Ye's explanation."He pointed at the two people ahead: "The guards from the Security Company frequently escort goods and are quite familiar with road conditions. Miss Ye previously asked them to prepare an itinerary - when to depart in the morning, where to take breaks at noon, and where to stay at night. Miss Ye discussed these with them several times before finalizing everything. For this trip of ours, we'll follow this itinerary."