Glory

But the Ye family was no unknown entity in Lin'an City, and among the onlookers, many were aware of the Ye family.

Someone began explaining to others: "This is the residence of Old Master Ye, the proprietor of Gathering Fragrance Pavilion and head of the tea guild. You know, right? Dragon Well Tea is their secret recipe."

"Ah?" someone exclaimed in surprise, "How is that possible?"

Another person nearby, unclear about the context, asked: "Why wouldn't it be possible?"

The first speaker lowered his voice: "Their family are merchants. You know what merchants are, right? Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—even though we’re just poor folks with a few meager fields, in terms of status, the Ye family can’t compare to us. How would nobles from the capital form a marriage alliance with them? And with a fifth-rank official, no less."

He spoke with a deeply puzzled expression.

The people around him exchanged glances, unconvinced.

In their view, the Ye family was immensely wealthy and influential—a truly prosperous household where even the servants ate and dressed better than they did. Whenever they passed by this mansion and saw the well-dressed gatekeeper, they would steer clear, hugging the walls as they walked, not daring to get too close for fear of being scolded.

Now, to claim that the Ye family’s status was inferior to theirs? They scoffed.

What use was status when they couldn’t even fill their bellies? Hadn’t they seen how nobles from the capital were willing to marry into the Ye family but wouldn’t even glance their way?

Seeing their skepticism, the man grew anxious and said, "Do you know the young Recommended Man Song Yifeng? He was originally engaged to the Ye family’s young lady. Later, the engagement was broken off. His parents constantly say at home that the Ye family’s young lady isn’t worthy of Recommended Man Song."

The elderly man in sapphire-blue robes was named Xie Linjiang. As he watched Old Master Ye and the Second Master welcome Master Zhineng inside, his ears caught the tail end of this conversation.

He turned to the man and said, "What Recommended Man Song? Don’t you know that the very Song you speak of was stripped of his scholarly rank and thrown into prison for writing forbidden poetry?"

He gave the man a once-over and added, "You think you’re so noble? Then why hasn’t anyone sought a marriage alliance with your family? Why don’t you try forming a kinship with a noble or a fifth-rank official?"

The man’s face flushed red and then pale with embarrassment.

He wanted to retort, but considering that this person could recognize noble attire and ceremonial robes, and even knew that the wife of the Assistant Prefect had attended banquets during the New Year, he figured Xie Linjiang must be someone of wealth or status. He promptly shut his mouth.

He was merely dissatisfied with his own lot in life, and seeing others prosper filled him with envy. He couldn’t resist belittling them to comfort himself and boost his own ego. Yet he knew such remarks were only fit for private grumbling and shouldn’t be spread around.

If the Ye family caught wind of what he’d just said, they might target him and cost him his livelihood.

Muttering something unintelligible under his breath, he turned and melted into the crowd.

Xie Linjiang watched as the betrothal gift procession filed in, the last person disappearing through the gate. Among the onlookers, a few bold ones approached the Ye family’s gatekeeper to inquire further, and he quickly squeezed forward to listen.

"...These are the master’s affairs. We only guard the gate and know nothing," the gatekeeper said.

"Even if you won’t say whose family sent the gifts, you must at least know which young lady of your household they’re intended for, right?" the persistent questioner pressed.

Most of those who had followed the procession to the Ye family’s doorstep were idlers. Their inquiries stemmed from mere curiosity and gossip, hoping to gain a reputation as "well-informed" when chatting with others at teahouses."I don't know, I don't know." The gatekeeper waved his hand, then turned and shouted to the crowd, "Thank you all for your concern. In a few days, my master's family will be holding a celebration, and you're all welcome to come for the wedding banquet. Let's disperse for today."

Seeing that the gatekeeper refused to say anything and that the Ye family wasn't scattering money or wedding candies, the crowd exchanged a few comments before gradually dispersing.

After leaving, Xie Linjiang didn't return home but instead went to the Gathering Fragrance Pavilion.

His old friend Wan Youde was still in the teahouse and looked surprised to see him. "Oh? Didn't you say you had something to attend to and couldn't come?"

"Haha, just a small matter, it's all taken care of now," Xie Linjiang replied with a laugh.

"What tea did you order?" he asked again.

"Dragon Well."

As the weather warmed, tea buds sprouted quickly. Ye Yaming and Ye Hongsheng had also trained apprentices, so more tea was being produced. Since it was summer tea, the price wasn't as exorbitant. Families of moderate means, who usually hesitated to buy half a catty or a full catty, could still afford to order a pot when meeting friends at the teahouse.

Xie Linjiang ordered some tea snacks as well. Sipping his tea, he made casual conversation with Wan Youde, but his ears were perked up, listening to the chatter around the teahouse.

Teahouses were hubs for news, often frequented by "news gatherers" who spread the latest gossip as soon as it emerged.

Sure enough, he soon overheard people discussing the recent betrothal gifts. The voice sounded familiar. Turning to look, he saw the same man who had been questioning the gatekeeper at the Ye residence, now animatedly describing the unique aspects of the betrothal gifts to others.

Noticing that half the people on the floor had turned to listen to him, the man raised his voice even louder. Wan Youde naturally heard it too.

Both Wan Youde and Xie Linjiang were wealthy idlers of Lin'an City. Their families owned land, shops, and ran businesses. Their descendants studied diligently, and some had even become officials. Now in their fifties or sixties, aside from enjoying their retirement, their only concern was the future prospects of their descendants.

At this moment, whether it was Xie Linjiang, who had witnessed the betrothal procession firsthand, or Wan Youde, who had only heard descriptions, both felt nothing but envy.

"Ah, the Ye family is truly blessed. Regardless of anything else, the fact that the groom's family invited Master Zhineng to deliver the betrothal gifts shows how much they value this marriage," Wan Youde remarked with a sigh. "I just don't know how the Ye family managed to secure such a match. Impressive, truly impressive."

Xie Linjiang shook his head. "'Plant a phoenix tree, and the phoenix will come.' That Miss Ye receives such high regard—I don't think it's just luck or the Ye family's influence, but rather because Miss Ye herself is exceptionally outstanding."

"Well said," a middle-aged man nearby chimed in. "The Ye family is kind-hearted and has produced such fine tea as Dragon Well. Even as merchants, there are those willing to form alliances with them. Moreover, I've heard that Miss Ye is remarkably talented. She wrote a book called Tea Arrangement, and the principles of tea arrangement she proposed have gained much praise among scholars and connoisseurs in the capital."

"Really?" Xie Linjiang was surprised and cupped his hands in salute. "May I ask your esteemed name, sir? Are you from the capital?"

The man smiled and returned the gesture. "My surname is Zhu. I've just returned from the capital and had the chance to read Miss Ye's book. I was deeply impressed."

"Why haven't we seen it here in Lin'an?" Wan Youde asked in surprise, then turned and waved toward the counter, calling out, "Manager Lin!"

Lin Zhensheng looked up from his account books and, seeing it was Wan Youde, hurried over. "Master Wan, what can I do for you?""I heard your daughter wrote a book called 'Tea Arrangement' that's quite famous in the capital. Is it true? Why hasn't anyone in Lin'an mentioned it?"

"Brother Shen!"

"Hmm!"

As Shen Changqing walked along the road, he would greet acquaintances he encountered with either verbal salutations or nods.

But regardless of who it was.

Everyone's face bore no extra expression, as if they were completely indifferent to everything.

Regarding this.

Shen Changqing had already grown accustomed.

Because this was the Demon Suppression Division - an institution responsible for maintaining the Great Qin's stability, whose primary duty was slaying demons, monsters, and supernatural beings, though it also handled some secondary operations.

It could be said.

That every person in the Demon Suppression Division had much blood on their hands.

When one becomes accustomed to life and death, they grow indifferent toward many things.

When he first arrived in this world, Shen Changqing found it somewhat uncomfortable, but gradually became accustomed to it.

The Demon Suppression Division was vast.

Those who could remain in the Demon Suppression Division were either powerful experts or individuals with the potential to become experts.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter category.

The Demon Suppression Division was divided into two main professions: Garrison Envoys and Demon Subduing Envoys.

Anyone joining the Demon Suppression Division started from the lowest rank of Demon Subduing Envoy,

then progressed step by step, with the ultimate prospect of becoming a Garrison Envoy.

Shen Changqing's predecessor was a probationary Demon Subduing Envoy in the Demon Suppression Division, the lowest rank among Demon Subduing Envoys.

Possessing his predecessor's memories.

He was very familiar with the Demon Suppression Division's environment.

Without taking much time, Shen Changqing stopped before a pavilion.

Unlike other solemn and murderous places in the Demon Suppression Division, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, presenting a different kind of tranquility within the blood-soaked Demon Suppression Division.

At this moment, the pavilion's main door was wide open, with people occasionally entering and exiting.

Shen Changqing merely hesitated for a moment before striding inside.

Upon entering the pavilion.

The environment suddenly transformed.

The scent of ink mixed with faint blood odor assailed his senses, causing him to instinctively frown, though his expression quickly relaxed.

The blood scent that clung to every person in the Demon Suppression Division was almost impossible to wash clean.