Glory

She stood up and gave Ye Yaming a deep bow, saying, "Thank you, Third Sister."

Raising her eyes, she smiled with genuine sincerity, "Truly, Grandmother spoke my heart. Third Sister, you don't know how grateful I am to you. If not for you, who knows what state I'd be in now? How could I ever have married into the Xie family?"

At this point, her eyes dimmed slightly.

If not for Ye Yaming, she would have been ruined by that despicable scoundrel Yang Chuzhi—perhaps the grass on her grave would already be several feet high. How could she be living well now, let alone have a family like the Xies seeking her hand in marriage?

Over the past six months, Xie Guizhou had frequently sent her gifts and invited her to go shopping with his cousin. She had become quite familiar with Xie Guizhou and his cousin. She had also met Xie Guizhou's mother and aunt twice.

The more she got to know them, the more satisfied she grew with Xie Guizhou and the Xie family.

They were a wealthy, harmonious, and highly courteous family. Xie's mother was gentle and kind-hearted, and Xie Guizhou's eyes lit up when he spoke of business. From their words and actions, she detected not the slightest disdain for merchants.

After the incident with Yang Chuzhi, Ye Yaqing was no longer the naive girl who cared about nothing and thought of nothing.

Watching Ye Yaming, despite her youth, shoulder the burden of the Ye family and lead it to unprecedented prosperity, Ye Yaqing felt ashamed of her own incompetence and foolishness.

She used to think that business and revitalizing the family estate were men's affairs. With her father and elder brother leading the way, she could remain carefree, staying in the inner quarters and simply enjoying life.

But Ye Yaming's impact on her was too profound. She began to reflect on her life and aspired to become stronger.

Especially after Ye Yaming wrote over a dozen pastry recipes and Ye Yayin and Ye Yayu, under Yin Shi's guidance, opened a pastry shop and started their own business, this desire grew even stronger.

She began consciously reading and learning, frequently seeking advice from her elder brother and the Housekeeper.

Because of this, coupled with her daily exposure to such matters, she could speak knowledgeably with Xie Guizhou about business, which made him appreciate her even more.

Thus, Ye Yaqing felt full of confidence about the future.

She decided that after marriage, she would join Xie Guizhou in business instead of staying in the inner quarters like her mother and sister, focusing only on trivial matters. Over time, such a life would narrow one's perspective and shrink one's heart.

Reminded by Ye Yaqing, Tao Shi and Old Madam Ye also recalled the incident with Yang Chuzhi.

Although Ye Yaxiu had not returned to her maiden home in recent years, she would send gifts to the Ye family during festivals and exchange messages to inquire about her parents and siblings’ well-being.

Thus, she was aware of what had happened to Ye Yaqing.

In the past, Old Madam Ye would have brought up the matter again to remind the eldest branch of Ye Yaming's kindness. But today was Ye Yaqing's happy occasion, so it was not the right time to mention it, and she remained silent.

Though she said nothing, Tao Shi could not pretend the matter never happened.

Her feelings toward Ye Yaming were now quite complicated. She felt intense anger and jealousy over Ye Yaming seizing the family headship from her husband and son. Given any opportunity, she would try to provoke Ye Yaming with a sharp remark.

But her husband and son repeatedly reminded her, "Ming'er is formidable," and "Do not provoke her." Moreover, the Ye family had indeed reaped immense benefits thanks to Ye Yaming. Even if they only received twenty percent of the Ye family's wealth, that twenty percent was now greater than the seventy percent they once had.Not to mention that Ye Yaqing's marriage was entirely due to Ye Yaming's influence.

She quickly smiled at Ye Yaming and said, "Qing'er is right. Not only Qing'er, but even Da Bo's wife is very grateful to you."

Ye Yaming smiled and replied, "Second Sister is blessed. Her life will only get better from now on."

Tao Shi was genuinely touched by these words: "Thank you for your kind words, Ming'er."

Ye Yaming turned and signaled, whereupon Bai Rui and Lve E opened the boxes they were holding.

Ye Yaming took two differently colored tiles from the box in front of Bai Rui and placed them on the red silk-covered table where dowry additions were displayed.

"This is the Second Branch's contribution to the dowry," she said, pointing to the slightly yellowish glazed tile. "This is a shop in the capital, located on Dong'an Street, about half the size of the Gathering Fragrance Pavilion."

Then she pointed to the greenish glazed tile and said, "This is a shop in Lin'an City, on Qianyi Street behind the Gathering Fragrance Pavilion. It's similar in size to the one in the capital, with two floors."

She looked at Ye Yaqing and said, "I heard that Second Sister will be doing business with her husband after marriage. I wish you both booming business and abundant wealth."

Ye Yaqing was on the verge of tears.

Shops in prime locations in the capital were extremely hard to come by and prohibitively expensive. The situation in Lin'an was slightly better than in the capital, but acquiring a shop near the Gathering Fragrance Pavilion was still incredibly difficult, let alone one of such considerable size.

This wasn't just a matter of money—what made it even more valuable was the rare thoughtfulness behind it. Ye Yaming must have gone through great pains to secure these two properties.

Yes. Even though Ye Yaming claimed it was the Second Branch's contribution, Ye Yaqing knew that neither her second uncle nor aunt could have afforded such generosity, nor would they have taken such pains to purchase these shops for her.

Only Ye Yaming could have done this.

Ye Yaxiu's mouth fell slightly open, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Having lived in Lin'an for a few years after her marriage before moving to the capital with her husband's family, she understood better than anyone how rare and expensive these shops were.

The two shops combined would cost well over ten thousand taels of silver. Moreover, it required connections to get timely information, as noble and official families were always eyeing prime-location shops.

Although the Ye family was wealthy, there were many grandchildren, and not everyone could receive a lavish dowry. Like her and Ye Yaqing, the fixed amount from the family coffers was twenty thousand taels.

Any additional contributions from parents or siblings were separate.

But for a cousin like Ye Yaming to gift shops worth over ten thousand taels—something even Ye Hongchang and Tao Shi might not be able to manage—was truly astounding.

And that wasn't all. Ye Yaming took two sets of head ornaments from the box in front of Lve E, placed them on the table, and said with a smile, "I also wish Second Sister a harmonious marriage, growing old together in love, and the early arrival of a precious son."

Ye Yaxiu's eyes nearly popped out of her head, her face burning with embarrassment.

As her parents' first child, when she got married, besides the twenty thousand taels from the family coffers, she had received over ten thousand taels in additional dowry from her parents.

But that was her foundation for establishing herself in the world. With a long life ahead and children to raise, and with her sister's dowry covered by the family and their parents, she hadn't been willing to give anything too valuable as a dowry addition. Thus, she had only gifted two sets of head ornaments worth about eight hundred taels.She had thought her gift was already quite generous. But with Ye Yaming's lavish display, she felt utterly overshadowed.

"Brother Shen!"

"Hmm!"

As Shen Changqing walked along the road, he would greet acquaintances with a nod or a brief exchange.

Yet regardless of who it was,

every face bore an expression of detachment, as if indifferent to everything.

To this,

Shen Changqing had grown accustomed.

For this was the Demon Suppression Division, an institution tasked with maintaining the stability of Great Qin. Its primary duty was to slay demons, monsters, and supernatural evils, though it also handled some secondary affairs.

It could be said

that every person in the Demon Suppression Division had blood staining their hands.

When one has witnessed life and death too often, they grow indifferent to many things.

When Shen Changqing first arrived in this world, he found it hard to adjust, 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 formidable experts or individuals with the potential to become such.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter category.

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

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

advancing step by step, with the ultimate goal of becoming a Garrison Envoy.

Shen Changqing's predecessor had been a probationary Demon Subduing Envoy—the lowest tier among them.

With the memories of his predecessor,

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

It didn't take long for Shen Changqing to stop before a pavilion.

Unlike the solemn and austere areas elsewhere in the Demon Suppression Division, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, exuding an unusual tranquility amidst the pervasive bloodshed.

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

After only a moment's hesitation, Shen Changqing stepped inside.

Upon entering the pavilion,

the atmosphere abruptly changed.

The scent of ink, mingled with a faint trace of blood, assailed his senses, causing him to instinctively frown before quickly smoothing his expression.

The scent of blood that clung to everyone in the Demon Suppression Division was nearly impossible to wash away completely.