Glory

The Ye family's ancestor was originally a villager from Ye Family Village in the outskirts of Lin'an City, where the ancestral hall was built. Most of the Ye relatives attending today's banquet still resided there for generations.

Only a few branches moved away after prospering. Among them, one branch achieved the most success—their ancestor passed the imperial examination to become a Presented Scholar and an official. However, he only reached the sixth rank and advanced no further, and his descendants failed to pursue scholarly honors, eventually returning to Ye Family Village to manage their ancestral land and residence as minor landowners.

The rest engaged in commerce.

The most successful was Ye Chongming's branch. Although they became merchants, Ye Chongming rose directly to the position of Tea Guild Head, attaining both wealth and status.

Ye Chongming's great-grandfather was not from the main lineage. The old residence there was built by Ye Chongming's grandfather after he achieved success. By Ye Chongming's generation, they only stayed overnight during ancestral worship visits. He held little deep affection for Ye Family Village or these relatives.

Nevertheless, over the years, they had treated the clan generously—establishing a clan school and sacrificial fields, with the fields' income covering school expenses and ritual costs. They also funded the village road connecting to the county seat.

Beyond benefiting the hometown and gaining clan support, these actions served as a contingency plan for themselves.

Although their branch was the most accomplished and contributed the most to the clan, they were not the main lineage. Old Mrs. Ye was not the clan matriarch, and Ye Hongchang was not the clan heir. Ye Chongming replacing his eldest son with his granddaughter as family head was akin to any village household letting a daughter-in-law manage affairs—it held no impact on the Ye clan, not even warranting a mention in the clan registry.

Moreover, he knew their wealth would inevitably attract clan interference. Some might even sow discord between him and Ye Hongchang, stirring trouble to gain gratitude from Ye Hongchang and his son for personal profit.

Thus, he never informed the Ye clan about the succession change. Bringing Ye Yaming to meet everyone now served as a simple announcement.

Over sixty years old, Ye Chongming knew his time was limited. Should he pass suddenly, clan members might accuse Ye Yaming of seizing the family head position from her uncle upon her grandfather's death, causing an uproar to claim a share of Ye family assets. This would make the Ye family a laughingstock in Lin'an City and potentially ostracize Ye Yaming from the clan.

Given Ye Yaming's capabilities, she would never submit to such manipulation. But Ye Chongming feared she might avoid the hassle altogether—using this as an excuse to detach the second branch from the Ye family, returning the "family head" position valued by the clan to Ye Hongchang.

Several incidents had revealed Ye Yaming's character to Ye Chongming.

She valued family bonds, but only toward relatives with decent character whom she was willing to help. For instance, she generously supported Ye Yaqing and assisted Ye Hongrong, who, despite his mistakes, remained loyal and righteous.

However, toward narrow-minded individuals like Tao Shi, who harbored nothing but jealousy, Ye Yaming wouldn't spare a second glance. If not for his and Old Mrs. Ye's sake—and considering Ye Hongchang, Ye Jiaxing, and Ye Yaqing's good character—Ye Yaming would have long dismissed Tao Shi.

So when it came to cutting ties, she could be utterly ruthless.

Yesterday, after Ye Yaming attended the dowry ceremony, Ye Yaxiu's conduct reached Ye Chongming through Old Mrs. Ye. He summoned Ye Hongchang to inquire about his thoughts.If he truly desired the position of family head, Ye Chongming could satisfy him by directly dividing the estate among the three brothers. In that case, Ye Hongchang would be left to manage the affairs of the eldest branch of the Ye family. He and Old Mrs. Ye would live with the second branch.

As for the property, he would set aside the hundreds of thousands of taels from the sale of the tea formula and allocate seventy percent to the eldest branch. He, the second branch, and the fourth branch would each receive ten percent.

From then on, their fortunes—whether rise or fall, glory or disgrace—would be entirely separate.

Ye Hongchang was deeply alarmed by these words and immediately refused, expressing his sincere admiration for his niece's capability as family head and promising to reprimand Tao Shi and his eldest daughter sternly upon returning home.

It was precisely because of this that Ye Chongming had arranged today's scene.

Watching Fifth Uncle yield and be escorted out by his grandson, Ye Chongming turned to the clan head, Ye Chongxian, and said, "Third Brother, my three sons and I all agree to appoint the third granddaughter of the second branch as the family head. This is my family matter and has little to do with the clan. There is no need to consult anyone. I am informing you now to prevent future complications." Ye Chongxian's lips twitched slightly.

Though he called it "informing," it was clearly a "notification." Moreover, judging by Ye Hongchang's demeanor, Ye Chongming had already confirmed his third granddaughter as the family head some time ago but had not sent word to him, the clan head. This notification was merely a formality.

Yet he could not voice any reproach. After all, in many families within the clan, if the second son was capable, he became the head; if the third daughter-in-law was capable, she took charge. Ordinary households did not stand on such ceremony. Though Ye Chongming's family was wealthy, they were, in the clan's eyes, just an ordinary family. Would it not seem like coveting their wealth if he, as clan head, interfered in their affairs?

Ye Chongming was no pushover and would not tolerate anyone overstepping. Offending him would bring no benefit to the clan.

He nodded and smiled, "Very well, I understand."

He then added praise, "Ming'er is so capable at such a young age. Seventh Brother, you are blessed with good fortune." Ye Chongming was the seventh among his generation in the clan.

This was precisely the attitude Ye Chongming had hoped for. Seeing Ye Chongxian's tactfulness, he reciprocated by praising the other's children.

With Fifth Uncle publicly humiliated, the clan head adopting such an attitude, and Ye Chongming making it clear that "this is a family matter, no outsiders need interfere," the Ye clan relatives naturally dared not say more. They gathered around Ye Chongming and Ye Hongchang, echoing their words in praise of Ye Yaming.

Just then, a servant came to announce, "Old Master, the Prefect and his son have come to offer congratulations."

Both Ye Chongming and Ye Hongchang were taken by surprise.

Ye Chongming quickly instructed, "Summon the Second Master and the Fourth Master to join us at the entrance to welcome the Prefect."

Most of the clan relatives lived in the village and rarely interacted with anyone beyond the village chief. The county magistrate was the highest authority they knew, let alone the Prefect.

Hearing that the Prefect himself had come to offer congratulations, they could hardly believe their ears.

"Did I hear correctly? Did the page say the Prefect?"

"Yes, that's right. Besides the Prefect, his son is also here."

"The Prefect came to congratulate them? Has Chongming's branch risen so high?"

"Didn't you hear what Hongchang said earlier? Niece Ming'er is engaged to a fifth-rank noble official from the capital. The Prefect must have come because of her."

Only Ye Chongming and Ye Yaming knew about Lu Guanyi's promotion to the fourth rank. To avoid drawing connections, they had not even informed Old Madam Ye.Therefore, everyone thought Ye Yaming’s fiancé was still a fifth-rank official.

“Not necessarily. Perhaps he came for the Tribute Tea. Having Tribute Tea produced within the prefect’s jurisdiction brings him honor as well. Now that Seventh Uncle’s family is holding a celebration, it’s only fitting for the prefect to come and offer congratulations,” someone remarked, thinking themselves quite knowledgeable.

Author’s Note:

My period has arrived, feeling unwell. Taking a one-chapter break.

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