Glory

But she felt this was just fine.

Love requires passion, exuberance, and romance, while marriage demands calmness, rationality, and practicality.

Love is like freshly baked bread—no matter how warm or sweet it is, once it passes its expiration date, it loses its flavor. Hoping for it to last forever is impossible; the best outcome is for it to transform into familial affection.

Even in modern times, she didn’t believe in love, let alone in this ancient era where polygamy was legal, divorce was extremely difficult for women, and they couldn’t even take their own children with them after separation.

She gazed at the man across from her.

Lu Guanyi was undoubtedly sincere and candid at this moment, and to some extent, he liked her.

The hardships and weariness revealed during travel best reflect a person’s true nature. On their journey to Huizhou together, Lu Guanyi proved to be clean, not noisy, calm in handling matters, decisive in action, and though he appeared aloof, there was warmth in his heart—

He showed care and consideration toward his subordinates, and when encountering villagers suffering from sudden illness or hardship, he would quietly instruct his men to provide supplies and silver. Yet, his assistance had its limits; he wasn’t indiscriminately kind.

Most importantly, although he was only seventeen or eighteen, perhaps due to his upbringing, his mentality was relatively mature. At least in terms of psychological age, the gap between them wasn’t large.

Thinking this, Ye Yaming had to admit that, at a time when she urgently needed a marriage partner to resolve her difficult situation, this person before her was the only one she could accept—and perhaps the best candidate.

Moreover, he didn’t require an immediate marriage but proposed waiting two years. This gave her a buffer period; if she discovered any issues, she could still find a way to dissolve the marriage.

Seeing Ye Yaming staring at him without moving or speaking, Lu Guanyi suddenly felt a bit flustered.

If the woman across from him were someone he didn’t care about, he might have remained calm and composed; but because he cared, he couldn’t help feeling anxious.

He tried his best to stay composed, suppressing the unease in his heart, and said to Ye Yaming, "This matter is of great importance. You don’t need to reply to me right now. Think it over, discuss it with your family, and then give me your answer."

With that, he nodded to Ye Yaming, stood up, and walked out.

Shortly after, the voices of Ye Chongming, Qi Ji, and Lu Guanyi could be heard outside, gradually fading into the distance.

Soon after, Bai Rui’s voice sounded from outside: "Miss, may we come in?"

"Come in," Ye Yaming said, rising and walking to the soft couch by the window to sit down.

Bai Rui led several maids in to clear the tea set.

After they left, Ye Chongming hurried in.

He waved Bai Rui away, leaned close to Ye Yaming, and asked, "Ming’er, what did Young Master Lu say to you just now?"

Seeing the old man looking sly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation and a hint of teasing, Ye Yaming felt utterly helpless.

She gestured for Ye Chongming to sit down before saying, "He said that perhaps he could get engaged to me to resolve the trouble with the British Duke’s household. That way, his stepmother wouldn’t be able to force unattractive women on him as a wife."

This was what Lu Guanyi had explained when he shared his family situation.Initially worried that he would have children immediately after marriage, after Lu Guanyi's fiancée died, Shi Shi delayed arranging another marriage for him. Later, when gossip made it impossible to delay further, she found women for Lu Guanyi who appeared fine on the surface but had serious hidden flaws—not only to disgust him but also to ruin his reputation. How could a title be inherited by a cuckold? Who could guarantee the children his wife bore would be from the Lu family?

Thus, if Ye Yaming agreed here, Lu Guanyi would have the Crown Prince represent the groom's side and ask either Master Zhineng or Princess Yu Ning to act as matchmaker, formalizing the engagement with Ye Yaming.

With the imperial family's endorsement, neither his stepmother nor the Yingguo Duke Household could scheme against their marriage anymore.

Earlier, while chatting idly with Qi Ji next door, Ye Chongming had countless speculations, but whenever his thoughts drifted toward marriage prospects, he would stop himself, reminding himself not to indulge in wild fantasies.

The social status of Ye Jia was far too distant from that of the Xuanwu Marquis Household. Even if Lu Guanyi had feelings for Ye Yaming, he could only take her as a concubine—never marry her as his wife.

And Ye Yaming would absolutely never become a concubine!

Hearing Ye Yaming's words now, he naturally assumed Lu Guanyi intended to take her as a concubine. Shocked, he grew instantly furious.

"No, absolutely not. How dare he? How could he do this?" He paced angrily around the room twice. "Recently, I observed him and Qi Gongzi treating you with great respect. How could he take advantage of the situation to humiliate you by proposing a concubine!"

"No, I'll go talk to him." With that, he made to rush out.

Ye Yaming quickly pulled him. "Grandfather, he didn't mention a concubine. It should be... as his wife." As she finished, she suddenly felt uncertain herself.

In her mind, becoming a concubine had never been an option.

Moreover, judging by Lu Guanyi's attitude—though his words weren't explicit—his demeanor and actions genuinely conveyed courtship and a marriage proposal.

So, the idea of "taking a concubine" hadn't even occurred to her.

Recalling it carefully now, Lu Guanyi had only said "marry me," without specifying as wife or concubine. Later, he did mention "once you become my fiancée," but that wasn't definitive either.

Based on Ye Yaming's reading comprehension and intuition, while she felt it was highly unlikely Lu Guanyi would be so despicable, the possibility couldn't be entirely ruled out.

Seeing her hesitation, Ye Chongming said, "Tell me exactly what he said earlier, word for word."

There was no reason to hide it. Ye Yaming repeated Lu Guanyi's words verbatim.

Hearing this, Ye Chongming also grew hesitant, stroking his chin. "From the sound of it, does it seem he genuinely likes you and wants to marry you as his wife?"

Ye Yaming found it awkward to affirm this directly.

She said, "This matter can't be ambiguous. We need clarity."

Tugging at Ye Chongming's sleeve with a slightly coaxing tone, she added, "Grandfather, before this is cleared up, I don't want others to know. Could you go ask him personally?"

"Fine, I was going to ask him myself anyway," Ye Chongming replied.

Someone had proposed to his granddaughter. As her elder, how could he not go inquire in person? Sending a servant was out of the question.

Action followed intention.

He stood up immediately and went to the Lu residence.

The Lu family home wasn't far from Ye Jia. By the time Ye Yaming finished practicing a page of calligraphy, Ye Chongming had returned.Seeing Ye Chongming's beaming face, Ye Yaming didn't even need to ask to know the answer.

"When he heard me ask whether he intended to marry you as his wife or take you as his concubine, he looked utterly astonished and said, 'How could it possibly be as a concubine?' Even taking you as his wife, he still worried about letting you suffer any grievance."

Ye Chongming smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits: "That lad truly adores you."

Despite being older, Ye Chongming had always respected Lu Qi from a position of lower social status, unfailingly addressing him as "Young Master."

But now, knowing the young man's affection for his granddaughter, he became so elated that he even casually referred to him as "that lad."

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