Glory

Early the next morning, Ye Yaming accompanied Ye Chongming to the teahouse.

Ye Chongming still seemed somewhat uneasy and asked, "Do you think he will come again?"

"Probably not," Ye Yaming replied. "But he might send someone to deliver a message. After all, he was only gathering information and doesn’t want to offend us—or rather, the people behind us."

She gave a slight nod to Bai Rui, who stepped forward and placed two carved boxes on the table.

"What’s this?" Ye Chongming opened the top box and found two exquisite celadon tea caddies placed side by side inside.

"The top box contains two jin of Dragon Well tea, and the bottom one holds six cakes of pressed tea," Ye Yaming explained. "If he sends someone to apologize later, present these teas as a gift from us. We’re merchants—harmony fosters prosperity, after all."

Ye Chongming understood that regardless of the eunuch Xiao Lizi’s intentions, since he had visited the Gathering Fragrance Pavilion, the Ye family had to offer some gifts. The same applied when officials visited—it was a way of showing deference.

Who could blame them? Merchants held a low status and couldn’t afford to offend anyone.

He had originally planned to prepare the gifts after arriving at the teahouse, but seeing that Ye Yaming had already taken care of it, he was spared the trouble.

"Shouldn’t we offer other teas as well?" he asked.

"No, to avoid unnecessary complications."

Ye Chongming nodded in agreement.

Concerned that the servers downstairs might misspeak, he turned to Meng Ji and said, "Go down and receive the guest."

After Zhou Xiang was promoted to Housekeeper, Ye Chongming had assigned a new page to fill his former role. However, Meng Ji was experienced and reliable, so Ye Chongming entrusted him with important tasks.

Meng Ji complied and went downstairs.

Xiao Lizi didn’t keep the grandfather and granddaughter waiting long. Shortly after Ye Chongming and Ye Yaming had settled in the teahouse, Meng Ji returned and reported, "A servant who accompanied the eunuch yesterday is here to see you."

Exchanging a glance with Ye Yaming, Ye Chongming said, "Invite him up."

The servant appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old but carried himself with remarkable composure. Upon entering and noticing a young woman present, he showed no reaction, simply bowing respectfully to Ye Chongming.

"Old Master Ye, Eunuch Li learned from Magistrate Qi that your business is in partnership with the Xuanwu Marquis Household and the Qi Family. He sent me to inform you that he will not interfere further."

"Originally, he had heard that the Third Prince enjoys Dragon Well tea. Since he was in Lin’an, he thought to earn some favor by inquiring on His Highness’s behalf. In truth, the Third Prince was unaware of this matter. Upon learning of your connections with the Xuanwu Marquis Household and the Qi Family, Eunuch Li realized his approach was presumptuous. On his behalf, I offer you our sincerest apologies."

Ye Chongming quickly responded, "It’s no trouble at all. It is an honor to have caught the attention of His Highness the Third Prince and Eunuch Li."

He picked up the tea boxes from the table and said to the servant with a smile, "These are teas produced by our family. Please present them to His Highness the Third Prince and Eunuch Li as a token of our appreciation."

The servant accepted the tea, expressed his thanks, and took his leave.

Once he was gone, Ye Chongming finally relaxed. "Ah, we’ve made it through this ordeal."

Ye Yaming nodded, then took out a piece of paper, wrote a letter, sealed it, and handed it to Meng Ji. "Go to the Qi residence and deliver this letter directly into the hands of Qi Gongzi himself."

Seeing that Ye Chongming offered no objection, Meng Ji acknowledged the order and departed.Ye Chongming knew that Ye Yaming had informed the Qi father and son about the earlier incident, so he didn’t press further. With a weight lifted from his mind, he now had the leisure to ponder the relationship between Ye Yaming and Lu Guanyi.

He asked, “Given the severity of the situation, didn’t you consider informing Zi Mo?”

To be honest, his granddaughter’s behavior over the past two days had left him somewhat perplexed.

What woman wouldn’t immediately turn to her man in times of trouble? Not just women—even he himself, after Xiao Lizi’s departure, had instinctively wanted to rush to inform Lu Guanyi. After all, Lu Guanyi was his granddaughter’s fiancé, the most influential among the three parties in their collaboration, and the one closest to the Crown Prince.

Only he could make the final decision in such matters.

Yet Ye Yaming seemed not to have given Lu Guanyi a second thought. Instead, she analyzed the situation and the broader context, made her own judgment, and devised the best course of action to resolve the issue.

Ye Chongming reflected that even without Qi Zhifu’s involvement, Ye Yaming would have handled the problem adeptly. Her decision to have Qi Zhifu relay the message to Xiao Lizi was merely a gesture of goodwill to both sides.

His granddaughter was undeniably capable—astonishingly so. But weren’t she and Lu Guanyi, as an engaged couple, a bit too distant?

As a man, wouldn’t he want his woman to seek his help first when faced with difficulties?

Ye Yaming’s resilience and independence, while admirable, might not bode well for marital harmony.

The thought troubled Ye Chongming on his granddaughter’s behalf.

Ye Yaming glanced at him in surprise and replied, “He’s so far away. By the time we finished discussing it, the opportunity would have long passed. Besides, since we’re partners and engaged, his background is effectively mine. With that backing, wouldn’t the approach to handling things be the same? What need is there to consult him?”

Her reasoning left Ye Chongming speechless.

Logically, she was right. But still…

After a moment’s thought, he said tactfully, “Ming’er, men generally prefer women to be a bit more delicate. When he’s around, it’s good to appear slightly less capable, so he has a chance to play the hero. If you’re too competent and never rely on him, he’ll not only feel disappointed but also think you don’t see him as your closest confidant.”

Ye Yaming was not one to dismiss advice outright. She had no desire to stand out excessively in this era, attracting constant scrutiny or criticism for discussing serious matters with men. If she were to marry in this lifetime, she would do so.

She hadn’t been careless in choosing a partner either. In the end, the most suitable match she had encountered was indeed Lu Guanyi.

She didn’t prioritize status or wealth; what mattered to her were upbringing, lifestyle, temperament, and mutual affection. Having traveled to Huizhou with Lu Guanyi and spent nearly half a year together, they had come to understand each other well. She felt that if she let Lu Guanyi slip away, finding another suitable partner would be difficult.

Thus, as long as Lu Guanyi was willing to continue their relationship—even to the point of marriage—she had no intention of breaking off their engagement. She genuinely hoped to build a good relationship with him.

She sighed helplessly and said, “It’s not that I’m unwilling to tell him, but it’s impossible to send letters to where he is. And as for relaying a message verbally, with Qi Gongzi already involved, what purpose would it serve? Wouldn’t that be superfluous?”

Though, truth be told, she hadn’t even considered seeking Lu Guanyi’s help in the first place. She was accustomed to her independence and unaccustomed to relying on men.

But that was something she couldn’t reveal to Ye Chongming.Moreover, if she were to truly marry Lu Guanyi, she might need to change some of her own habits and behaviors. Marriage requires effort and nurturing—she couldn't just take advantage of Lu Guanyi's affection for her and only receive without giving.

Hearing her say this, Ye Chongming felt somewhat relieved.

He said, "As long as you have that intention, it's enough."

Off-topic note:

I still struggled with insomnia last night, so there's only one update again today. Don’t worry, I’ve been taking medication to regulate it, and I’ll write more when I’m in better condition. These single-update situations won’t happen often, and any missed updates will be made up when I’m feeling better.

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