Glory

The next day, after consulting with Princess Yu'an, Yin Shi sent a servant to deliver a message to Ye Yaming, informing her that they were planning to open a second branch.

Ye Yaming was delighted and instructed, "The master and mistress have been extremely busy lately. As servants, you must be extra attentive—prepare nourishing soups for them. If you perform well, I will reward you accordingly."

"Young lady, rest assured. This old servant will take good care of the master and mistress."

In the following days, Yin Shi became overwhelmingly busy.

As for the teahouse, Ye Yaming refrained from going unless necessary, not wanting it to become dependent on her presence. Moreover, if she personally attended to one noblewoman today but was absent when another visited tomorrow, wouldn’t that be discourteous?

Thus, aside from the opening day, she never again received guests. Even when she went to handle affairs, she avoided making public appearances.

Ye Hongsheng, however, was different. With a new teahouse opening, it was essential to have a master present. He went daily, and even if he didn’t personally attend to guests, he remained in the residence there, feeling at ease only that way.

Apart from managing their newly opened pastry shop, Ye Yayin and Ye Yayu spent their time exploring the capital’s streets and alleys with their etiquette governess and manor guards, learning about the city and experiencing life.

Though Ye Yaming didn’t need to manage the teahouse, she had no respite.

As the year-end approached, noble families in the capital began hosting banquets. As Madam Heir Apparent of the Xuanwu Marquis, Ye Yaming was naturally among the invited. She and Lu Guanyi were occupied all day attending these events.

The capital’s aristocratic circles were vast, and less than one percent had visited the teahouse, so many were meeting the legendary "divinely bestowed" Madam Heir Apparent of the Xuanwu Marquis for the first time.

Due to this legend and the Xuanwu Marquis’s current prominence, those without grudges saw no reason to offend her openly. Although some still privately looked down on Ye Yaming for her origins, the majority treated her with courtesy, keeping their disdain concealed.

One day, while attending a banquet at Kang Prince’s residence, Ye Yaming had just paid her respects when Princess Yu Ning beckoned her over, saying, "Yaming, come, let me introduce you to Princess Consort Zhennan."

Ye Yaming’s eyes flickered.

If she recalled correctly, Shi Shi had arranged a marriage for her own son, Lu Guanyu, with County Princess Qingrong, the youngest legitimate daughter of Prince Zhennan.

The former Princess Consort Zhennan had left behind two sons and a daughter before her passing. The current heir of Zhennan Prince Household was her eldest son, and the daughter born during her difficult labor was County Princess Qingrong, a few months younger than Lu Guanyu.

Shi Shi, pitying her niece for growing up without a mother and fearing she might suffer under a stepmother, often brought her to stay at the Xuanwu Marquis Household. County Princess Qingrong spent most of the year there, growing up alongside Lu Guanyu as childhood sweethearts.

When they turned twelve, Shi Shi formally betrothed them.

After the Duke Wei’s rebellion and Shi Shi’s divorce, although Lu Guanyu—as Lu Zhongyong’s son—was not implicated, it was clear to all that his prospects had dimmed. Any other family would have called off the engagement.

However, with Duke Wei’s fall and the Xuanwu Marquis’s rise, the Lu family’s status had become more illustrious than ever. Moreover, County Princess Qingrong adamantly refused to break the engagement. As a granddaughter of Duke Wei raised by Shi Shi and a girl who grew up with Lu Guanyu, breaking the engagement would have left her with few respectable marriage prospects.Thus, Prince Zhennan kept this marriage arrangement.

Ye Yaming followed Princess Yu Ning to a noblewoman.

Princess Yu Ning smiled at the noblewoman and said, "Sixth Sister-in-law, let me introduce you. This is Madam Ye, the Heir Apparent's wife of the Xuanwu Marquis Household."

She then introduced to Ye Yaming, "This is Princess Consort Zhennan."

Ye Yaming quickly curtsied, "Yaming pays respects to Princess Consort Zhennan."

"Please, no need for such formality." Princess Consort Zhennan stood up, smiling as she gestured to help Ye Yaming up.

She was in her thirties, with a stunning appearance. She was Prince Zhennan's second wife, reportedly from a merchant family.

"People say the Heir Apparent's wife of the Xuanwu Marquis is beautiful, and indeed, she is as lovely as flowers and the moon," Princess Consort Zhennan praised Ye Yaming.

"Princess Consort is the truly beautiful one. Standing before you, Yaming feels ashamed of her own plain looks."

Hearing this exchange of insincere compliments, a girl standing behind Princess Consort Zhennan curled her lips, her face full of mockery.

As if she had eyes in the back of her head, Princess Consort Zhennan turned to the girl and beckoned, smiling, "Yuehua, come quickly and pay respects to the Heir Apparent's wife of the Xuanwu Marquis." She then said to Ye Yaming, "This is my second daughter, County Princess Qingrong."

Chu Yuehua frowned slightly, reluctantly taking a few steps forward. She looked at Ye Yaming with utter disdain, her expression extremely contemptuous.

Princess Consort Zhennan's face changed slightly, but she said nothing, only looking at Ye Yaming with an apologetic expression.

Ye Yaming acted as if she hadn't noticed Chu Yuehua's expression or gaze and curtsied to her, "Yaming pays respects to County Princess Qingrong."

Chu Yuehua nodded and coldly said, "Rise." With that, she returned to her seat behind Princess Consort Zhennan, picked up a snack from the table, and began eating.

Princess Consort Zhennan's smile instantly faltered. She wanted to politely apologize to Ye Yaming, saying something like "the child is immature," but she knew her stepdaughter's terrible temper all too well.

If she dared say such a thing, Chu Yuehua would publicly humiliate her without hesitation.

In all her years married into the Zhennan Wangfu, she had suffered little from her mother-in-law or husband but endured much from her stepsons and stepdaughters. Even her own son had nearly been poisoned to death. Despite this, Shi Shi still spread rumors outside that "the stepmother is vicious," ruining her reputation.

When the Duke Wei's household was raided and executed overnight, she had privately raised her glass in celebration multiple times. What vexed her was that Shi Shi hadn't died, leaving her feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

For now, she pretended not to notice and smiled apologetically at Ye Yaming, then asked Princess Yu Ning, "Why haven't I seen the Second Eldest Princess?"

Princess Yu Ning's face had darkened the moment Chu Yuehua rudely stared at Ye Yaming, and it turned completely stormy when she saw Chu Yuehua not even returning the courtesy.

She and the current Emperor were both born of the Empress Dowager. Even Kang Prince, born of the hostess Grand Imperial Concubine today, wouldn't dare disrespect her.

Yet here was the daughter of a distant cousin—a mere commandery prince—publicly humiliating her in front of everyone.

Ye Yaming was under her wing. Regardless of one's opinion of Ye Yaming, Chu Yuehua's blatant disregard was not just a slap to Ye Yaming but a direct insult to her, the royal aunt.

However, publicly reprimanding Chu Yuehua would not only make her seem harsh as an aunt but also deepen Chu Yuehua's resentment toward Ye Yaming. Princess Yu Ning resolved to speak with Prince Zhennan and have him properly discipline his daughter.Ye Yaming seemed not to notice Chu Yuehua's rudeness, her smile remaining unchanged as she took two steps back to stand behind Princess Yu Ning, waiting for her to speak with Princess Consort Zhennan.