Glory

Ye Yaming relayed this to Old Mrs. Ye and Yin Shi, both of whom were overjoyed: "Is it true?"

Ye Chongming nodded, confirming Ye Yaming's words: "Indeed it is."

"So you needn't worry too much about me. Since no one can pressure me with status, and with my abilities, are you still concerned I might suffer losses?" Ye Yaming said with a laugh.

These words finally eased everyone's anxious hearts.

Old Mrs. Ye and Yin Shi, both inner chamber women, were usually quite bored at home and eagerly sought things to do. Now that Ye Yaming was to marry, they were most enthusiastic about organizing her dowry, so Ye Yaming entrusted this matter to their care.

After returning to her own courtyard, she first asked Bai Xin and Lve E: "Do you two still plan to follow me, without changing your minds?"

When she had taught them to read and calculate, she had already asked them. Both had expressed their intention to follow their mistress to her husband's household when she married.

Otherwise, Ye Yaming wouldn't have invested so much effort in carefully nurturing them.

Bai Xin and Lve E shook their heads: "We won't change our minds."

Bai Xin hesitated for a moment, then suddenly knelt on the ground: "Miss."

Ye Yaming's heart skipped a beat, and she asked: "What is it?"

Among those around her, aside from Zan'er, she valued Bai Xin and Lve E the most.

Bai Xin was meticulous, steady, and intelligent, having performed exceptionally well in her recent secretarial duties.

Ye Yaming was about to face complex situations. Not only was she going to the unfamiliar capital, but she also had to deal with the Lu family; meanwhile, she couldn't neglect matters in Lin'an. She needed capable people by her side more than ever.

If Bai Xin decided not to accompany her, Ye Yaming feared she would be in disarray for quite some time.

Bai Xin said: "Miss, you once told me that if I found someone I favored, I should inform you."

She lowered her head, her face flushed: "I... Zan'er and I have taken a liking to each other. I didn't want to hide it from you, so I'm telling you first. As for marriage, I'm in no hurry and would like to wait two or three years before discussing it."

In two or three years, Ye Yaming would have established herself in the Lu family, given birth to children, and everything would be on track. Only then would Bai Xin feel at ease to arrange her own affairs.

Hearing this, Ye Yaming immediately felt relieved and couldn't help but feel happy for Bai Xin.

When Old Mrs. Ye had assigned maids to her granddaughter, she deliberately chose those a year older. This way, the maids would be slightly more mature and could better serve the young lady; when the young lady married, the maids wouldn't be too old to accompany her. They could then be married off by the young lady—either to pages in the husband's household to consolidate her position or to housekeepers managing the dowry.

As someone from the modern era, Ye Yaming naturally wouldn't follow such practices.

She had long told her four maids that they needn't serve as concubines. If they fancied any page or junior housekeeper, they should feel free to tell her, and she would help facilitate the match.

Unexpectedly, Bai Xin and Zan'er had taken a liking to each other, which genuinely pleased Ye Yaming.

"This is wonderful news. Congratulations to you both," she said. "As for your marriage, let's arrange it half a year after my wedding. You're already eighteen this year; we can't delay it another two or three years. The reason for waiting half a year is so our events don't coincide. After I marry, there will be many matters to attend to, and I'll still need both of your support."

Bai Xin bowed: "Thank you, Miss."

Ye Yaming turned to Lve E: "What about you, Lve E? Is there someone you fancy?"

Lve E shook her head: "No.""Then take your time to choose, no rush," Ye Yaming said.

After finalizing the selection of these two maidservants, Ye Yaming then inquired with Xia Momo.

Xia Momo replied, "As long as Miss does not find this old servant useless due to my age, I naturally wish to follow you."

"How could I ever find you useless? I still need your help to manage the courtyard," Ye Yaming said with a smile. "As for Ziyuan and Qingzhi, I’ll trouble you, Momo, to ask them on my behalf."

Both Ziyuan and Qingzhi were Household Serfs. If Ye Yaming were marrying out normally, they might have hesitated briefly—after all, following Ye Yaming to her husband’s family would mean separation from their parents and siblings, with little chance of meeting again in the future. While they might be willing to leave their parents, their parents might not be willing to part with them.

However, since Ye Yaming remained the head of Ye Jia and would continue residing in Lin’an, frequently visiting Ye Jia, Ziyuan and Qingzhi had no reason to hesitate. They immediately expressed their desire to follow Ye Yaming.

As for the other two servants, Ye Yaming had requested them from Sun An. They were siblings whose mother had died during a famine, and their father had sold them. After changing hands several times, they ended up in Lin’an. Ye Yaming, finding the boy clever, resilient, and upright, transferred both siblings to her service.

Following the naming style of Zan’er and the four maidservants, Ye Yaming named the siblings Song’er and Hongye.

Having no roots here and with their Indentured Servant Contracts held by Ye Yaming herself, they naturally would go wherever she went, with no need for further discussion.

The next day, Ye Yaming took Bai Xin and the others to Lu Guanyi’s residence.

The family left to guard the estate was surnamed Song—an elderly couple, their disabled son named Song Gang, and their twelve-year-old granddaughter, Song Guo. Lao Songtou’s wife was surnamed Li.

Song Gang, in his thirties, had once served as Lu Zhongyong’s Page. He had followed Lu Zhongyong to the battlefield, where he was injured saving Lu Zhongyong’s life, ultimately leaving him with a limp.

Lu Zhongyong, grateful for his lifesaving act, had intended to grant him a sum of money and freedom for his entire family. However, the elderly Song couple felt that even able-bodied people struggled to survive outside, let alone their disabled son, whose leg occasionally caused pain requiring visits to the Herbalist. Staying with the Lu family meant Lu Zhongyong would continue to care for them; leaving might mean they couldn’t survive. Thus, they chose to remain with the Lu family.

After the Crown Prince bestowed this residence upon Lu Guanyi, Lu Guanyi assigned them to guard the estate, providing them with a generous monthly allowance. Their lives were relatively leisurely.

They had guessed that Ye Yaming might come today and had been waiting at the gatehouse since early morning. Upon seeing Ye Yaming arrive, the family hurried to pay their respects and introduced themselves.

Lao Songtou treated Ye Yaming with great respect: "Miss Ye, the young master instructed us yesterday that we are to follow your every directive regarding how the residence should be arranged."

Ye Yaming smiled and nodded at him. "Let me take a look first."

She glanced over the Song family, then beckoned to Song Guo. "Guo’er, lead the way and tell me what each building is used for." She smiled at Lao Songtou. "You may all return to your duties; there’s no need to attend to me."

"Yes," Lao Songtou replied. The entire Song family were Household Serfs of the Lu family, with rules ingrained in their bones. Without another word, they withdrew as instructed.At first, Song Guo was a bit timid, but after being teased a few times by maids like Lve E and seeing how friendly Ye Yaming was, he grew bolder. He began to bounce along, leading them and introducing the buildings in the estate.