Glory

After all, Consort Min was not favored, and neither was the Third Princess. Princess Yu Ning, however, was the Emperor's own sister. Resolving Ye Yaming's troubles would be as simple as a word from Princess Yu Ning. For the sake of her Imperial consort Fan enjoying a satisfying cup of tea, it was likely Princess Yu Ning would be willing to speak that word.

That was why she hadn’t even mentioned the Meng family earlier and was now simply smiling, observing the reactions of Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji.

Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji had come all the way from the capital—surely they hadn’t traveled this far just to warn the Ye family without taking any action?

"We will deal with the Meng family. I guarantee they won’t trouble you again," Lu Guanyi said.

"In fact, before Meng Chengwei returned to the capital, I had been investigating his family’s affairs. But Meng Chengwei is extremely clever—he never provokes those of higher status. And when targeting those beneath him, he ensures no loose ends remain, eradicating all traces. That’s why, despite my long investigation, I haven’t found evidence to condemn him."

"Exactly," Qi Ji chimed in, finally grasping the implication behind Ye Yaming’s words. "During his exile, we tried repeatedly to ensure he never left that place. But the Meng family sent many people to protect him. If we acted too overtly, we’d leave evidence, which is why he managed to return to the capital alive."

Lu Guanyi nodded. "Rest assured, since Meng Chengwei’s return, I’ve been setting a trap. This time, he won’t escape."

His prolonged stay in the capital wasn’t just to handle matters related to the Crown Prince and himself or to present Dragon Well Tea to the Emperor—he was also waiting for Meng Chengwei’s return.

As long as Meng Chengwei lived, the Ye family was in danger. Before departing for the border, Lu Guanyi had to eliminate both Meng Chengwei and the Meng family completely.

Ye Yaming was quite satisfied with their stance and actions.

"Thank you, gentlemen," she said, picking up the teapot to refill their cups personally.

Both men stood and accepted the tea she offered.

After taking a sip, Lu Guanyi lifted his gaze. "As for your idea of resolving the British Duke’s mansion’s troubles by marrying immediately…"

He paused, as if steeling himself. "Regarding this matter, may I speak with you alone?"

Qi Ji nearly choked upon hearing this, quickly covering his mouth to stifle any cough that might ruin his friend’s opportunity.

Ye Yaming set down the teapot and sighed inwardly.

Was Lu Guanyi finally choosing to address the unspoken tension between them?

"Certainly," she replied straightforwardly.

Lu Guanyi turned to Ye Chongming, seeking his consent. "Old Master Ye, may we?"

Ye Chongming glanced between Lu Guanyi and Ye Yaming.

Seeming to guess the situation, he stood immediately and said cheerfully to Qi Ji, "Young Master Qi, I recently purchased a painting but am unsure of its authenticity. Would you mind taking a look in my study?"

Qi Ji suddenly found the old man exceptionally endearing.

"Of course, of course! I may not excel at much, but I do have a fondness for paintings, haha…" He gestured politely. "After you, Old Master Ye."

The two left the room together.

Now, only Lu Guanyi and Ye Yaming remained.

Lu Guanyi’s grandfather, Lu Min, was a military general, and many of the servants around him were veterans who had been disabled in battle and retired to the Lu residence.

Raised among such men, Lu Guanyi had adopted a soldier’s demeanor—direct and decisive in both speech and action.Having made up his mind, he did not hesitate any longer and went straight to the point: "If you intend to resolve the issues with the Duke of Ying's household through marriage, could you consider... marrying me?"

After saying this, he did not look at Ye Yaming's expression nor pause, but directly explained his family's situation to her.

A bitter smile appeared on his face. "Given my circumstances, I originally had no intention of proposing to you. If you marry someone else, with your abilities, you would surely live a very comfortable life."

"But now, with the situation involving Meng Chengwei and the Duke of Ying's household, I feel that others might not be able to protect you." He raised his eyes and met Ye Yaming's gaze directly. "I will resolve the troubles in my family. Give me two years—within that time, I will deal with Shi Shi and the Duke of Wei's household. If you agree, we won't marry immediately but will first get engaged. After the engagement, I will leave for the border. If I haven't resolved all the troubles within two years, you can break off the engagement."

"Because I have the Crown Prince's support. Once you become my fiancée, no one—whether it's Min Fei, the Third Princess, or the Duke of Ying's household—will dare to touch you. His Highness will protect you on my behalf. At least for these two years, you will be safe."

"If during these two years you find someone suitable to marry, don't rush into it. Wait until I return from the border to break off the engagement. I will never stand in your way if you wish to marry someone else."

After pouring out everything he had wanted to say in one breath, Lu Guanyi's expression relaxed considerably.

He added, "My proposal may seem abrupt, so you don't need to answer me right away. Take your time to consider it. You can give me your answer tomorrow or the day after."

From the moment Lu Guanyi began speaking, Ye Yaming's expression remained unchanged—neither surprised, shy, nor flustered. Her gaze stayed fixed on the teacup in her hand, her demeanor as calm and composed as still water.

Only when Lu Guanyi finished speaking did she lift her head and meet his eyes directly. "May I ask why you want to marry me? If you were to marry a daughter of the Duke of Ying's household or the General of Zhenbei's residence, you could suppress your stepmother, and it would be of great help to you. Why haven't you considered them?"

Lu Guanyi looked deeply at Ye Yaming.

This was what he admired most about her. She was always the smartest and most perceptive—calm, rational, and strong. Her questions always struck at the heart of the matter. Communicating with her was effortless and satisfying; she could stand shoulder to shoulder with him, empowering him like adding wings to a tiger, rather than becoming a burden.

He met her gaze with complete sincerity. "If it weren't for you, I might not marry at all—at least, not before resolving all my troubles."

"But I'm afraid that if I don't speak up now, by the time I return from the border, you might already be married. If you could choose someone you truly desire, I wouldn't say these things today. But you're facing difficulties now. Moreover, the candidates your grandmother has selected for you are entirely unsuitable. Setting aside the question of whether they are worthy of you, at the very least, they lack the heart to protect you."

Ye Yaming looked at him and suddenly felt a sense of amusement.

In her previous life, she had been beautiful, wealthy, and possessed both intelligence and emotional intelligence. Since childhood, she had received countless confessions of love. Especially during her studies abroad, she was almost daily showered with flowers, songs, and declarations of affection by passionate, unrestrained, and romantic people from various countries.She had never seen such an implicit confession like Lu Guanyi's.

After saying so much, not a single word like "like," "love," or "fancy" appeared throughout—it was all rational analysis.

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