Glory

"I know that. I've run a shop before, so I have experience," Yin Shi said.

Ye Hongsheng smiled, pleased to see the change in his wife.

Compared to the wife who used to stay at home all day wallowing in self-pity, he much preferred seeing her as vibrant and motivated as she was now.

"Well..." Yin Shi became hesitant.

"Just say what's on your mind," Ye Hongsheng said. "Between husband and wife, what can't be said?"

Steeling herself, Yin Shi said: "I just wanted to ask - must we return to Lin'an? Can't we stay in the capital permanently? Look, your teahouse can't operate without you. Your elder brother has been managing the tea house here all these years. Your teahouse is more important than the tea house and earns more money. If he needs to stay here, shouldn't you too?"

Back in Lin'an, she hardly ever went out. At home, she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law or sisters-in-law, and she had never made any friends in her life.

Here in the capital, she not only got along extremely well with Princess Yu'an, but the ladies and young misses who visited her pastry shop, out of respect for Princess Yu'an and Ye Yaming, treated her with courtesy. Here, she felt she had finally realized her personal value.

Ye Hongsheng knew his wife wanted to stay in the capital, but he still shook his head: "Fourth brother is in Huizhou, elder brother is here - I can't stay here too. Our parents are getting old, someone must stay by their side. Besides, I need to produce tea."

Teahouses and tea shops were derivative businesses - tea leaves were the foundation of Ye Jia. Without good tea, Ye Jia's teahouses and tea shops couldn't compete with those opened by capital nobility. This point was very clear to Ye Hongsheng.

Yin Shi understood what Ye Hongsheng said, which was why she had been hesitant earlier.

Compared to her small-scale venture, Ye Jia's tea business was the real priority. Dragon Well was Tribute Tea, and Dark Tea was under contract with the imperial court.

She said: "I understand. I was just saying it casually - naturally, I'll follow your lead."

...

Princess Yu'an had been going over accounts with Yin Shi. Now she sat in Princess Yu Ning's hall, sharing good news with her sister.

"...I asked Mrs. Ye - her shop in Lin'an only makes one to two hundred taels daily. Ours makes ten times that amount! Actually, the money isn't important. I don't need money anyway. I just feel really happy, especially happy."

Princess Yu'an didn't know the word "sense of accomplishment." Having never earned money in her life, now that she was making money through her own efforts, even earning a single copper coin would make her happy.

Seeing her like this, Princess Yu Ning felt genuinely happy for Yu'an.

Ever since discovering her Imperial consort kept a mistress outside and marrying off her daughter, Yu'an's life had become stagnant. She neither socialized with friends nor pursued hobbies, staying home all day eating and sleeping, speaking barely a few words daily - exactly what Ye Yaming called "idling away one's time."

Princess Yu Ning hadn't expected that running a small business with someone would change Yu'an's attitude toward life. When she initially encouraged Yu'an, she merely wanted to give her something to do, thinking it better than staying home alone.

But unexpectedly, Yu'an had found joy in this venture. Every day she went to the shop to discuss matters with Mrs. Ye, and today's opening had excited her like a child."Then do your best," Princess Yu Ning said. "But you should thank me for this matter. I don't want anything else—just wait until spring when the Ye family's Dark Tea is ready. Have Mrs. Ye quietly give you a few catties and send them to me."

Princess Yu'an rolled her eyes at her: "I have no problem with that, but I don't know if the Ye family will have any tea available. That's not something I can decide."

Princess Yu Ning, having run a shop before, was worried that the business might decline the next day and her second elder sister would be disheartened. She gave her a heads-up: "Many people came today to show support for your opening. There might not be as many tomorrow. You should be mentally prepared."

Princess Yu'an nodded: "Mrs. Ye has already told me. I know."

Although the Ye family were merchants, the women in their circle all referred to each other as "Madam," and there was no need to specifically address Yin Shi as "Mrs." Yin Shi was Ye Yaming's mother, and given Ye Yaming's current status, which was higher than many madams, Yin Shi could be considered honored through her daughter. Thus, everyone addressed her as "Madam Ye."

Everyone expected the pastry shop's business to decline the next day, but they hadn't anticipated the immense appeal desserts held for the young ladies of this era. The guests from the first day brought pastries back and raved about the dairy-based drinks as if they were heavenly delicacies. As a result, the wealthy young ladies, who had plenty of money and leisure, flocked to the shop the next day. Surprisingly, the business was just as good as on the first day.

By the third and fourth days, the situation remained the same. Princess Yu'an and Yin Shi received countless complaints that the shop was too crowded, making it impossible for friends to sit down and enjoy their food because people were always waiting for tables.

Since everyone moved in the same social circle, even if they weren't acquainted, they were familiar with each other's faces. Thus, those of lower status had to give up their seats to those of higher status, and the younger had to yield to the older. The principle of first-come, first-served was completely disregarded, leaving many unable to enjoy their pastries in peace.

The discomfort aside, the entire shop was overcrowded.

These were all noble ladies—when had they ever experienced the chaos of a market? Moreover, some families sent servants to make purchases, and having to squeeze in among the servants, no matter how delicious the pastries were, made for an unpleasant experience.

Yin Shi, having been a merchant's wife for over twenty years and having run a shop herself, was the decision-maker in her partnership with Princess Yu'an. Faced with this problem, she knew that opening two more branches would solve it, but she had reservations.

Thus, she had no choice but to write to Ye Yaming again, asking her daughter to return to her parental home when she had time.

Now that the teahouse was running smoothly, Ye Yaming stepped back and left everything to the two managers. She was currently enjoying a sweet honeymoon with Lu Guanyi.

Sometimes they would stay at home without going anywhere, and other times Lu Guanyi would take Ye Yaming out, showing her all the places he found interesting.

One day, Ye Yaming went with Lu Guanyi to the hunting grounds in the outskirts of the capital. She had just returned home, dressed in a red riding outfit and still on horseback, when the gatekeeper handed her a letter.

"I need to go back home. My mother's business has run into some trouble," Ye Yaming said apologetically to Lu Guanyi.

Lu Guanyi, who was about to hand the reins to the groom, immediately withdrew his hand upon hearing this: "Let's go together. I'll join you for a meal at your father's place."

Ye Yaming smiled at once: "Then let's get back on the horses."

The two mounted their horses and rode straight to the Ye residence.Several elderly men chatting at the alley entrance noticed two riders approaching with a retinue of servants. Not only did the leading pair possess extraordinary appearance and demeanor, but their steeds were also exceptionally noble—even the servants' horses stood out from the ordinary.