Glory

Ye Yaming ignored her and turned to instruct Wenxiu, "Cancel and retrieve the membership card we just gave to Madam Tang as well. From now on, we cannot afford to entertain these two ladies."

Madam Tang, being the elder sister, was more cunning than Madam Song. Due to her close relationship with Shi Shi and her husband's precarious position at court—constantly walking on thin ice, fearing demotion by the emperor at any moment—she had come to humble the newly prominent Lu family, who were military nobles, in order to gain favor with the civil officials of humble origins.

After all, civil officials and military generals, common-born scholars and hereditary nobles had always been at odds. And the emperor likely welcomed someone to curb the rising influence of the Xuanwu Marquis Household.

Unexpectedly, Ye Yaming seized upon a single remark from her younger sister, thwarting her plans, and was now even revoking her membership card.

Without the membership card, how could she continue her husband's diplomatic efforts through social engagements?

"Madam Lu, I must say..." she began, stepping in personally.

But Ye Yaming still gave her no chance to speak, fixing her with a stare as she said, "Will you leave on your own, or shall my servants escort you out and spread your words throughout the capital? Madam Tang, Madam Song, do not take others for fools. Everyone knows why you’re causing trouble today—it’s simply because of your friendship with Shi Shi, to avenge her."

"The Duke Wei’s household plotted treason and usurpation, yet you still cry injustice for Shi Shi. Such friendship truly moves heaven and earth."

Upon hearing this, not only Madam Tang and Madam Song, but even the Countess of Yong'an, who had been listening outside, turned pale.

This Madam Lu truly dared to pin any foul accusation on others. The matter of the Duke Wei’s household was now a forbidden topic in the capital, one no one dared mention.

Yet Ye Yaming not only dared to bring it up but also accused the Tang and Song ladies of defending the Duke Wei’s household. If such words spread, not only would the Tang and Song families be doomed, but even the Yong'an Count Household would suffer.

After all, these two ladies were married daughters of the Yong'an Count Household.

The Countess of Yong'an could no longer care about saving face—survival was paramount.

She rose and rushed over, shouting at her two nieces from outside the door, "You fools! Brainless and causing trouble everywhere. If you want to die, do it alone—don’t drag down your maternal family. Servants, seize them!"

The maids and matrons of the Yong'an Count Household immediately stepped forward, working in pairs to restrain the two ladies. Despite being in her late fifties, the Countess remained agile. She strode forward and delivered several sharp slaps—"smack, smack, smack"—leaving symmetrical red handprints on both Madam Tang and Madam Song’s faces.

The series of actions was so swift that the Tang and Song households’ servants had no time to react before it was over.

Even if they could have intervened, they wouldn’t have dared.

In this world, aside from the imperial family, only the elders of the Yong'an Count Household had the right to slap their married daughters. This was a legitimate elder disciplining her juniors—how could servants dare interfere?

Still fuming, the Countess kicked each of them and scolded, "Shameless creatures! Stirring up trouble over a membership card—how petty can you be? I must ask your husbands just how incompetent they are to let you embarrass yourselves like this? Apologize to Madam Lu at once and get out!"Tang and Song had initially targeted Ye Yaming because they viewed her as an easy target—someone of humble origins, young, and married into the prestigious Xuanwu Marquis Household. They assumed she would tread cautiously around unfamiliar noblewomen in the capital, making her the perfect "soft persimmon" to bully. To their surprise, she turned out to be a tough nut to crack, and a poisonous one at that.

The moment Ye Yaming mentioned "Duke Wei's household" and "Shi Shi," Madam Tang immediately regretted her actions.

Though the two sisters had long looked down on the Yong'an Marquis Household after currying favor with Shi Shi and marrying well, they now saw the Lady of Yong'an Marquis as their salvation. With the stage set, it was time to seize the opportunity.

Madam Tang gave her sister a forceful shove.

Madam Song nearly bit through her lip.

But she understood the gravity of the situation and bowed to Ye Yaming. "Madam Lu, I apologize. I spoke recklessly and out of turn earlier. I beg your forgiveness. Please be magnanimous and spare me for the sake of my aunt."

Ye Yaming fixed them with a steady gaze, a slight smile curling her lips. "Aren't you going to ask how Madam Qian came to be here? I anticipated that you would cause trouble on Shi Shi's behalf and specifically invited her."

The Tang and Song sisters widened their eyes, staring at the Lady of Yong'an Marquis.

Ye Yaming continued, "Since I could summon her here, I could just as easily summon others. How do you know there isn't someone else listening nearby?"

Madam Song's legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed. The Lady of Yong'an Marquis and Madam Tang also turned pale.

"However," Ye Yaming added, "I'm not one to press an advantage. If you refrain from targeting me in the future, I will keep this matter to myself. But if you ever cross me again, I won't hesitate to reveal what happened today."

"We won't, we won't say a word," Madam Song stammered.

...

That evening, Ye Yaming recounted the incident to Lu Guanyi.

Lu Guanyi asked curiously, "Did you really have someone eavesdropping outside?"

"Of course not. Who could guarantee they wouldn't leak the story? Even if exposing it would ruin the Song couple, we'd suffer too. If the messenger twisted the tale, we'd all be doomed."

Relieved, Lu Guanyi chuckled. "So you were bluffing."

"People like them hold grudges. Unless I had meekly fulfilled all their demands from the start, they would have slandered me anyway."

As Ye Yaming reached to remove her hairpins, Lu Guanyi helped her. "Aren't you worried others will see you as formidable?"

"One must be formidable when necessary. Haven't you noticed how Madam Li and the Tang and Song sisters keep testing me? If I showed the slightest weakness, they'd push further."

Lu Guanyi fully agreed. "Exactly."

In the following days, Ye Yaming remained busy at the teahouse. Fortunately, the two hundred membership cards were quickly distributed. Even if the heads of top noble families didn't come personally after receiving the invitations, they sent their stewards to obtain a card—a gesture of respect to the Xuanwu Marquis Household.

Thanks to Ye Yaming's adept social skills—firm where needed, gentle where appropriate, candid in temperament, and witty in conversation—she was swiftly accepted into Beijing's aristocratic circles, earning an excellent reputation.

With the teahouse running smoothly, Ye Yaming specially sent an invitation to Princess Yu'an and brought Yin Shi for a visit to the princess's residence.Yin Shi went to the front with trepidation, repeatedly asking Ye Yaming, "What if I say something wrong? Could it bring a death penalty upon our family?"

When she met Princess Yu'an and saw that she was even more approachable than Tao Shi and Zhang Shi, she finally set her heart at ease. With Ye Yaming mediating between them, the two conversed happily, discussing where to make pastries and how large the shop should be.

Off-topic note:

It's the last day of August. If you have votes, cast them quickly—don't let them go to waste.

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