Glory

Lu Guanyi gazed at the bedroom, let out a long sigh, then a faint smile touched the corners of his mouth.

The reason he admired Ye Yaming wasn't just for her intelligence, but also for her proud and independent nature.

Unlike ordinary women who needed to cling to men for survival, she stood as a towering tree herself—capable of weathering storms alongside him.

Even if she never voiced it, he would grant her respect and equality. They were partners standing shoulder to shoulder, sharing weal and woe.

Lu Guanyi emerged from the bedroom with a smile on his lips.

Granny Li remained uneasy about Lu Guanyi. Both she and Lao Songtou had watched the Marquis and his late wife grow up, witnessed their marriage, and seen the young master take his first breath. With the late mistress gone, she felt it her duty to ensure the young master was well cared for.

If he showed any displeasure toward Miss Ye's arrangements, she wouldn't hesitate to convey it to the future mistress—even at the risk of offending her.

Thus, after hastily instructing Song Guo, whom she encountered on the way, to take over heating water duties, she hurried to the main residence.

Just as she entered, she came face to face with the young master stepping out of the bedroom, his lips curved in a gentle smile and eyes softened.

She froze.

"Young master, have you seen the arrangements in the main bedroom? What do you think?" Granny Li studied Lu Guanyi's expression. "If anything doesn't suit your taste, this old servant can communicate with Miss Ye on your behalf."

Lu Guanyi glanced at her, and Granny Li felt a chill down her spine—as if he had seen straight through her thoughts.

"No need. It's quite good. I'm very satisfied," Lu Guanyi stated.

Granny Li's lips parted slightly as she stared at him in disbelief.

Lao Songtou stepped forward to pull her aside, smiling at Lu Guanyi. "We're glad you're pleased. Miss Ye was worried you might not like it and specifically asked this old woman to check. Your satisfaction is all that matters."

As he spoke, he discreetly pinched Granny Li's arm.

Snapping back to attention, she quickly nodded in agreement.

Lu Guanyi spoke solemnly, "Let me reiterate: I hold my future wife in the highest respect. I expect you to honor her as you do me. Anyone who presumes upon seniority in this household to show her disrespect will face severe consequences."

"Of course, of course. Rest assured, young master," Lao Songtou hurriedly replied.

Granny Li added, "You have our word, young master. This old servant understands."

After bathing, Lu Guanyi went to the Qi residence.

Qi Furen was a typical inner chamber woman, far more artful in conversation than Granny Li.

Through subtle probing, she first praised Ye Yaming's refined intellect, then mentioned how she had noticed the considerable thought behind the household arrangements.

While speaking, she observed Lu Guanyi's expression. Seeing his eyes brighten with pleasure and no trace of displeasure, she understood the situation and refrained from any mention of the bedroom layout being improper.

Still, there were things she felt compelled to address.

"I've heard the Ye family prepared identical sets of furniture. The capital is a place that values propriety. Though outsiders rarely enter the master bedroom, close female relatives will inspect it during the wedding. While your current arrangement may work here, in the capital, such a setup might draw criticism—people could say Ming'er disregards rules and fails to observe hierarchy.""Yi'er," she said solemnly, "I don't look down upon Ming'er in the slightest. On the contrary, I quite like her. But her background remains a significant obstacle, making it difficult for her to be accepted by the nobility in the capital. The fact that the Ye family allowed a young woman like her to become the head of the household shows they are not rigid traditionalists bound by conventions. However, in the capital, certain rules must still be followed. You must remind Ming'er of this."

Her words were truly spoken with Ye Yaming's best interests at heart.

Lu Guanyi accepted her advice gratefully. "Aunt, I understand. I will remind her."

The residence in the capital was currently empty, as they were waiting for the dowry furniture to be moved in. Lu Guanyi wondered if Ye Yaming might have reservations and would arrange the furniture according to tradition.

He had even considered that if she did follow tradition, he would quietly have someone rearrange it to match the layout of their bedroom in Lin'an, hoping to surprise her and let her know that he understood her intentions—that he would offer her a lifetime of equality and respect.

But after his aunt's reminder, he was struck with alarm. He had not thought things through carefully and had nearly made a mistake.

It seemed that from now on, he needed to consider matters more deeply.

Seeing that her nephew had truly taken her words to heart, Qi Furen felt relieved.

As for Lu Guanyi arriving today and leaving again tomorrow to accompany the Ye family to the capital, Qi Furen said nothing.

Her nephew had been trained since childhood by his grandfather according to military standards and was accustomed to hardship. This journey was nothing to him.

Moreover, "willingness" was priceless. Since he was happy to do it, why should she play the villain?

On the sixteenth day of the ninth month, Qi Furen, her son Qi Ji, Lu Guanyi, the four members of the Ye family's second branch, along with the little tagalong Ye Yayu, Ye Hongchang, Ye Hongrong, Ye Jiaxing, and eight other members of the Ye clan, set off for the capital in a grand procession of over twenty carriages.

Generally, when a girl from the Ye clan married outside the local area, the clan would not send anyone to accompany her to her new home. There were too many women marrying away, and no one could bear the hardship. Besides, who would cover the travel expenses? And who would be responsible if something happened along the way?

But Ye Yaming's marriage was different. She was marrying into a noble family in the capital, a fourth-rank general—the most prestigious match the Ye family had ever secured.

The clan leader, Ye Chongxian, felt it was necessary for the clan to send representatives to attend, if only to make an impression on the future son-in-law. If the Ye clan ever needed to seek his help in the future, he would at least know who they were.

Thus, Ye Chongxian insisted on going.

As the "third elder brother" to Ye Chongming's "seventh brother," he was six years older than Ye Chongming and nearly seventy years old. Since Ye Chongming himself was not going, he advised Ye Chongxian not to go either, suggesting that he send his son or grandson instead.

But Ye Chongxian had never been to the capital in his life, and he knew the Ye family was wealthy. The journey would be fully covered in terms of food and lodging, and the carriages would be more comfortable than ordinary ones. If he didn't go this time, he might never have another chance.

Moreover, as a nearly seventy-year-old clan leader attending the wedding, he would surely receive great respect and courtesy from the new son-in-law. Wouldn't that leave a deeper impression than sending his son or grandson, who were merely insignificant "distant relatives"?

Thus, he insisted on going.Since he was coming, his sons and grandsons, feeling uneasy, naturally had to follow. Other clan members, hearing about the trip to the capital and that travel expenses were no concern—going to the capital with the Ye family meant good food, comfortable lodging, and a chance to broaden their horizons, not to mention bragging rights upon their return—why not take the opportunity?

Thus, they all expressed their desire to come.

In the end, Ye Chongming put a stop to it. He eventually selected a few representatives to make the trip.

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