Glory

Before long, he drifted into a hazy sleep.

Although the Meng family had moved to this residence, which was smaller than their original grand mansion, it still consisted of two courtyards and included a garden. Meng Xianzong had been drinking with the steward in the outer courtyard. With fewer servants in the Meng household now, there was no one patrolling at night. Moreover, that night, the entire Meng family slept so soundly that no one noticed the oil lamp in the main room of the outer courtyard tipping over, the flames slowly spreading along the path of the spilled oil.

By the time a neighbor waking in the night saw the towering flames and screamed "Fire!", the main room of the Meng family's outer courtyard was already engulfed in a blaze.

The next day, news of the Meng family reached Ye Yaming: "Last night, there was a fire at the Meng residence. Meng Xianzong, his steward, and his personal page were burned to death in the main room of the outer courtyard."

Ye Yaming paused as she lifted her teacup: "Did the authorities send someone?"

"Yes. The coroner examined them and found soot in their noses and mouths. After hearing from the household servants that Meng Xianzong and Steward Chen had been drinking there last night and investigating the scene, they concluded it was an accident."

Ye Yaming set down her teacup: "Spread some rumors that Jia'an and the others have been eager to shed their status as household serfs these past few days."

"Yes."

"When Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss ask about the follow-up to this matter, don't tell them Meng Xianzong is dead. Just say he drank the wine sent by Jia'an and the others and suffered a stroke," Ye Yaming added.

In her previous life, Meng Chengwei had brought ruin to the Ye family; in this life, if not for her careful precautions, the Ye family's male members would have died under Meng Chengwei's schemes, and she herself would have had her reputation destroyed in recent days.

Therefore, Ye Yaming felt no psychological burden over Meng Xianzong's death.

Besides, she had only used benefits to lure Jia'an and the others as a starting point. How far things would develop was known only to heaven. Even Ye Yaming hadn't anticipated that Jia'an and his accomplices would be so ruthless—household serfs who had grown up in the Meng family actually burning Meng Xianzong alive.

This only showed that the father and son of the Meng family had reaped what they sowed.

If they hadn't been so vicious, ordering Jia'an and the others to use such methods to harm others, how could Jia'an and his group have become so terrifying, burning Meng Xianzong alive for mere trifling gains?

Thus, in this matter, Ye Yaming didn't consider herself the chief culprit. She had merely retaliated when the Meng family tried to scheme against her.

But Ye Yayin and Ye Yayu, those two innocent young girls, might not see it that way.

They might think that if their elder sister hadn't sent someone to tempt Jia'an and these people, perhaps this wouldn't have happened. They would carry the psychological burden of these three lives.

Ye Yaming naturally wouldn't allow such a thing to happen.

After receiving this news, Ye Yaming didn't inquire further about the matter, and Yun'er didn't come to report any follow-up. Because the wedding date was approaching, the Ye family began to busy themselves with preparations.

The previous day, Madam Zhou, acting as the "complete woman" (symbolizing marital bliss), had gone with a group to the Xuanwu Marquis Household to prepare the bridal chamber. Upon returning, she exclaimed to the Ye clan members: "I used to think Seventh Brother's family was the pinnacle of wealth and refinement, with their large, beautiful residence and exquisite food and furnishings. But after visiting the Xuanwu Marquis Household this time, I finally understand what true wealth means."

"Is their residence very large?"Zhou-shi shook her head: "We didn't finish touring the entire residence. I followed them straight along the main central path to the courtyard where Ming'er will live in the future to arrange the bridal bed. After that, we returned, so I don't know how large the residence is. But it took the time it takes for one incense stick to burn just to walk from the main gate inward."

"I mean, their main gate alone looks magnificent - tall, imposing vermilion lacquered doors with golden and jade-colored paintings on the interior beams and pillars. Even the servants' clothing, manner of speaking, and conduct are different from Seventh Brother's household servants..."

Ye Chongxian, the clan head of Ye Jia, had specifically come to broaden his horizons. Originally, there was no need for someone of his seniority to attend the bed-setting ceremony, but he insisted on going. He felt this might be his only chance in life to visit the residence of a powerful noble family.

He too repeatedly praised the magnificence of the Xuanwu Marquis Household.

But what made him most proud was: "Good heavens! I'm nearly seventy years old, and the highest official I'd ever seen before was the village chief. Last time at Seventh Brother's second granddaughter's wedding, I only got to see the prefect thanks to Third Miss. But this time, guess who I saw?"

"Who did you see? Could it be..." A young clansman who hadn't gone pointed tentatively toward the sky, not daring to say it aloud.

Ye Chongxian slapped him and glared: "I saw our First-Rank General, the Xuanwu Marquis. Ah, so majestic and imposing! Just sitting there made my legs go weak. I wasn't even this nervous when I saw the prefect."

As the father of the bride, Ye Hongsheng naturally couldn't appropriately attend the bed-setting ceremony at the Lu residence. But concerned about his daughter, he specifically came to inquire when he learned the clansmen had returned.

The moment he entered, he heard Ye Chongxian's words.

He quickly stepped forward and asked: "Third Uncle, you saw the Xuanwu Marquis? Wasn't he supposed to be at the border? Has he returned?"

Seeing him arrive, Ye Chongxian immediately stood up: "Sit, Hongsheng, come sit quickly."

The clansmen hastily made space, offering Ye Hongsheng the seat of honor.

They weren't joking - this man would soon be the father-in-law of the Xuanwu Marquis heir. By tomorrow, he would be sitting as an equal with the mighty First-Rank General. Hadn't they noticed how the clan head's attitude toward Ye Hongsheng had become even more respectful after visiting the Marquis residence?

Ye Hongsheng couldn't care less about seating arrangements. Without even looking, he sat directly in the spot everyone had vacated, his eyes fixed intently on Ye Chongxian as he asked again: "Third Uncle, the Xuanwu Marquis has returned?"

"Returned, returned! He just came back from the border yesterday."

"How did he treat you all?"

"Extremely courteous," Ye Chongxian said. "He was very polite with me, then had the kitchen prepare a banquet and insisted we eat before letting us leave. I originally said it wasn't proper, but he said he was a rough man and the Xuanwu Marquis Household didn't stand on ceremony, telling us not to be polite. So we ended up staying for the banquet before returning."

He smacked his lips: "Many dishes at that banquet were ones I'd never seen before - reportedly the very finest feast."

Whether it was seeing the First-Rank General or eating the exquisite banquet, those clansmen and Ye family servants who hadn't gone were filled with regret.

Crafty from age, how could Ye Chongxian not know that Ye Hongsheng had always cherished his daughter above all? He understood that Ye Hongsheng's questions weren't like the others' - mere country bumpkins in the city satisfying their curiosity about new sights. Ye Hongsheng was concerned about his daughter's future life.He continued, "What are we, after all? We're merely Ming'er's maternal relatives, which is why Marquis Xuanwu treats us with such courtesy. Hongsheng, the Marquis truly values this marriage alliance. When Ming'er marries into their household, she won't have a mother-in-law above her. Her father-in-law holds her in high regard, and the heir apparent treats her well. You just wait for her to marry into prosperity."