Glory

As the saying goes, "Even a broken ship has three pounds of iron." Though the Bai family had declined, their network and foundation remained intact. With sufficient funds to grease the wheels, reviving these connections wouldn't be difficult. If their descendants were properly nurtured, it wasn't impossible for them to restore the family's former glory. The one seeking to marry Ye Xuewei was the current head of the household. A marriage alliance between the Bai and Ye families would benefit both sides.

However, when Ye Xuewei learned she was to marry a man in his thirties with a ten-year-old son, she adamantly refused. Ye Chongming and Old Mrs. Ye also felt their daughter was being wronged and thus declined the proposal.

Later, Ye Xuewei married into a merchant family of similar status to the Ye family, who soon relocated to the capital.

Recalling this, Tao Shi instructed Mama Li: "I'll write a letter to my brother. Have someone deliver it to him."

Such matters were most frequently discussed in teahouses. When negative speculations arose, if someone countered with Ye Xuewei's case and skillfully guided public opinion, the adverse impact could be minimized.

But the Ye family couldn't intervene directly. If recognized, the backlash would be severe, utterly destroying the family's reputation. Having the Tao family handle this was the safer approach.

Mama Li's son delivered the letter to the Tao residence, and before long, Zan'er reported the matter to Ye Yaming.

He praised sincerely, "Miss, everything unfolded just as you predicted."

Bai Rui and Lve E also looked at Ye Yaming with admiration.

"We can't rely solely on the Tao family. We must contribute our efforts too. Select a few idlers in the city and have them coordinate with the Tao family in the teahouses," Ye Yaming instructed.

Her engagement to Lu Guanyi couldn't be settled quietly, or it would lose its significance; yet they couldn't openly declare it was with Lu Guanyi, lest it attract the sinister schemes of Duke Wei's household.

However, the more such matters were concealed, the more speculation they invited. If negative rumors spread unchecked, the reputation painstakingly maintained by generations of the Ye family heads would be ruined in an instant.

She had already instructed Zan'er to have someone keep an eye on Tao Shi.

She knew that, with Ye Yaqing's engagement at stake, Tao Shi cared even more about the Ye family's reputation than she did. Having the Tao family come forward to clarify this matter would be far more effective than hiring a few idlers to steer teahouse discussions.

Sure enough, the next day, Zan'er gathered news that public opinion about the Ye family's engagement was already buzzing. Everyone was curious about the identity of the proposer, waiting for the Ye family to release details. When the Ye family remained vague, some began maliciously speculating, portraying the Ye family in a very negative light.

Fortunately, the Tao family was also proactive. They dispatched some elderly members of their collateral branches to preside in the teahouses. With the coordination of the idlers hired by Ye Yaming and the Ye family's longstanding excellent reputation, public opinion was swiftly turned around.

In the end, the onlookers concluded: The Ye family was humble and morally upright, unwilling to use the marriage to elevate themselves—truly admirable.

At the Gathering Fragrance Pavilion, Xie Linjiang still sat in his usual spot, drinking tea and eating snacks with his old friend Wan Youde.

He asked Wan Youde, "What's your take on this Ye family matter?"

Wan Youde gave his friend a surprised look. "Didn't I just say? I don't believe Old Master Ye would use his granddaughter to climb the social ladder."

He had even interjected during the earlier debate.

"Naturally, that's what one says in public," Xie Linjiang replied.This was the Gathering Fragrance Pavilion after all. As regular patrons, though not particularly close with Ye Chongming, they were familiar faces who crossed paths frequently. They still had to show some respect to the Ye family.

"I'm asking for your genuine thoughts."

Wan Youde grew even more puzzled.

His old friend was a modest gentleman, upright in character, who never harbored ill intentions toward others.

As for the Ye family matter, to put it bluntly, it had nothing to do with them. It was merely a topic for casual conversation. They weren't actually concerned about the real situation.

Now, seeing his friend so intent on getting to the bottom of it, could it be that he had some thoughts about it?

Thinking this, he voiced his question.

Xie Linjiang didn't hide it from him: "You know, my youngest grandson doesn't care for studying—he only loves doing business."

He sighed as he spoke.

His grandson Xie Guizhou was seventeen years old and had always performed poorly in school. Forget becoming a Licentiate, his teacher even said there was no point in him taking the preliminary exams. The boy was actually quite clever, but for some reason, his interests just weren't in studying.

Later, they discovered he had been using his accumulated New Year's money to start a business, and it was thriving. The boy was completely absorbed in it—how could he possibly settle down to study?

Their Xie family, after all, was a scholarly household. How could they allow a merchant profession? He and his son had tried both punishment and scolding, but Xie Guizhou finally laid his cards on the table, saying he didn't want to study anymore—he just wanted to do business. Every family had someone managing business affairs, so why couldn't he? This caused quite an uproar at home.

Wan Youde was aware of this situation in the Xie family.

He lifted his eyes and waited quietly for Xie Linjiang to continue.

"We certainly won't let him register as a merchant, but we could arrange for him to marry a girl from a merchant family, letting his wife take on the merchant title."

Wan Youde's heart stirred: "Are you considering a daughter from the Ye family?"

Xie Linjiang nodded: "People say 'wealth leads to heartlessness.' When it comes to merchants, only the Ye family earns my respect. They don't just chase profit—they act with principle and integrity, a family known for accumulating virtue and kindness. But I hesitate, worried people might say our Xie family is coveting the Ye girl's dowry, or that my grandson would be mocked for marrying a girl from a lowly merchant family."

Hearing this, Wan Youde understood.

He nodded and said: "Now that the Ye family has married into a fifth-rank noble official family, their social status has risen significantly. Being connected by marriage to a fifth-rank noble official is completely different in reputation from being connected to merchants."

Xie Linjiang nodded: "Exactly my reasoning. My only concern now is that they're being so secretive about this marriage alliance—there might be something unsavory about it."

This was something Wan Youde couldn't really comment on.

If he said there was no problem with the Ye family and there turned out to be one, wouldn't his old friend blame him? If he said there was a problem and it turned out there wasn't, causing his friend to miss a good marriage opportunity, he'd be blamed for that too.

This matter simply had nothing to do with him—why should he say more and bring trouble upon himself?

He said: "Why don't you send someone to make inquiries? Do you know any of their relatives well? Ask them to investigate. If everything turns out fine, you could directly ask them to serve as matchmakers—wouldn't that be ideal?"

Xie Linjiang felt as if he'd been enlightened, repeatedly saying: "Yes, yes, you're absolutely right. I've been stuck in a dead end, being foolish."Wan Youde laughed heartily, picked up his teacup, and gestured to clink it with Xie Linjiang's: "Then I'll wish you success in finding a good match for your grandson in advance."

Two days later, Tao Shi's sister-in-law, Feng Shi, went to the Ye residence and told Tao Shi about the Xie family's inquiries regarding Ye Yaming's marriage prospects.

"Brother Shen!"

"Hmm!"

As Shen Changqing walked along the road, whenever he encountered someone familiar, they would greet each other or exchange nods.

But regardless of who it was,

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

Regarding this,

Shen Changqing had already grown accustomed.

Because this was the Demon Suppression Division, an organization responsible for maintaining the stability of Great Qin. Its main duty was to slay demons, monsters, and supernatural beings, though it also handled some other side tasks.

It could be said

that every person in the Demon Suppression Division had their hands stained with much blood.

When one had witnessed life and death too often, they would become indifferent to many things.

When Shen Changqing first arrived in this world, he found it somewhat uncomfortable, but over time, he grew used 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.

Within the Demon Suppression Division, there were two main roles: one was the Garrison Envoy, and the other was the Demon Subduing Envoy.

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

then advanced step by step, with the ultimate hope of becoming a Garrison Envoy.

Shen Changqing's previous self had been a probationary Demon Subduing Envoy in the Demon Suppression Division, the lowest tier among the Demon Subduing Envoys.

Possessing the memories of his former self,

he was also very familiar with the environment of the Demon Suppression Division.

It didn't take long before Shen Changqing stopped in front of a pavilion.

Unlike other solemn and imposing areas of the Demon Suppression Division, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, exuding an unusual tranquility amidst the pervasive bloodshed of the division.

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

Shen Changqing hesitated only briefly before stepping inside.

Upon entering the pavilion,

the atmosphere abruptly changed.

A scent of ink mixed with a faint smell of blood wafted toward him, causing him to instinctively frown, but his expression soon relaxed.

The bloody odor that clung to everyone in the Demon Suppression Division was almost impossible to wash away completely.