Glory

One day after the banquet, Ye Hongchang, Ye Hongsheng, and Yin Shi returned to Lin'an with their two children. Having no plans that day, Ye Yaming went to see them off.

At the city gate, she got out of the carriage and advised Ye Hongsheng, "Father, after the New Year, you should stay in Lin'an. When spring arrives and I return to make tea, there's no need for you to come back."

"Not come back?" Ye Hongsheng hesitated.

After the New Year, it would soon be the sixteenth of the first lunar month, and tea production would begin by the end of the second month. With only a month in between, traveling back and forth would be troublesome.

However, he had started this tea house himself and felt uneasy leaving it; he guessed his wife and daughter would also worry about their pastry shop. He was torn about whether to come to the capital after the New Year.

"Braving the wind and snow, the journey is arduous. If you fall ill from all the traveling, what would we do?" Ye Yaming said.

Ye Hongchang, who had been about to speak, silently closed his mouth upon hearing this.

Ye Yaming turned to him, "Da Bo, if you have something to say, please speak frankly."

Ye Hongchang said, "I asked your father if he'd like to stay in the capital permanently. He seemed interested. I wanted to ask if tea production can't proceed without him? If it can't, then forget I mentioned it."

"It's not that it can't proceed without him. Only the Tribute Tea in this year's Spring Tea requires my father and me to handle it personally. The rest can be entrusted to the tea-making masters, and I'll send someone specifically to inspect the tea quality, so there's no need for my father to stay in Lin'an all the time."

As she spoke, Ye Yaming asked, "Da Bo, do you plan to stay in Lin'an permanently from now on?"

Ye Hongchang nodded, "I do have that idea."

He explained, "The tea house is more important than the tea garden. It's best for your father to manage the tea house here in the capital. The tea garden can be sufficiently managed by the shopkeeper."

Previously, the Ye family's main businesses were the tea garden in Baiteng County, the two tea houses in the capital and Lin'an, as well as the tea house and tea factory in Lin'an. The tea garden only needed management during tea production; he and his father each managed one tea house, the tea house was originally handled by Ye Hongrong, and the tea factory was managed by Ye Hongsheng.

Ye Chongming oversaw all the businesses in Lin'an, so naturally, he, as the eldest son, managed the capital side.

Now that the Ye family had more enterprises, the capital tea house had become relatively insignificant. Not to mention anything else, even the usual earnings from the Gathered Fragrance House in the capital during the off-season were more than double those of the tea house, let alone the profits from Huizhou and Minzhou.

Given this, there was really no need for him to stubbornly remain here. If he were to stay, it shouldn't be for the tea garden but for the tea house.

However, when it came to dealing with nobility, it had to be said that his previously inarticulate second brother was more suitable than him. Having been in business for many years, he had become somewhat slick, which didn't endear him to the nobility. His second brother's honest, straightforward nature, on the other hand, resonated with them, not to mention that the nobility, knowing he was the father of the Madam Heir Apparent of the Xuanwu Marquis, would also show him some respect.

"Besides, I've been away alone for many years and should return to accompany your Da Bo's wife and eldest brother," Ye Hongchang said with a smile. "Your mother runs a shop in the capital, so it's perfect for her to stay here with your father. When you're in the capital, the family can be reunited."

"Of course, this is just my idea. The specific arrangements still need to be decided by your grandfather and you," Ye Hongchang added.Ye Yaming smiled and said, "Thank you, Uncle. Your arrangement truly takes my parents' situation into consideration, and I'm grateful on their behalf. Since you have this idea, I naturally have no objections. After you return, discuss it with Grandfather and make the decision. If Grandfather agrees, you'll need to make another trip to the capital after the New Year. My father and I won't be able to come to the capital until mid-March. There's a two-month gap in between, so we'll need you to oversee things."

"Alright," Ye Hongchang agreed without hesitation.

After seeing her family off, Ye Yaming remained busy. In addition to attending banquets, she also had to prepare New Year's gifts.

She had to carefully select appropriate gifts for families in the capital who were friendly with the Lu family, with Lu Guanyi, and with herself, as well as for Third Master Lu's household.

During the New Year period, other households were bustling with activity, but only the Xuanwu Marquis Household had just Lu Guanyi and Ye Yaming celebrating together, making it seem rather quiet.

Yet Lu Guanyi remarked, "Although it's just the two of us, I feel it's livelier than previous years."

Ever since his grandfather and grandmother passed away, he had dreaded the New Year. Fearing that Shi Shi might harm him, he preferred to bear criticism rather than return to the Xuanwu Marquis Household. Worried that Shi Shi might cause trouble for Lu Bin, he also dared not go to Third Master Lu's place, spending the holidays alone in a separate residence.

Later, the Crown Prince, taking pity on him, invited him to the Eastern Palace to celebrate with his advisors.

Celebrating with the advisors, the Crown Prince would visit to offer greetings, share a few drinks with everyone, and there would be singing and dancing performances, creating a very lively atmosphere. But even amidst the bustling crowd, he still felt lonely inside.

This year, although there were only two of them and the mansion was quiet, having this person by his side made Lu Guanyi feel that his life was now complete, and his heart was warmer and more at peace than ever before.

Lu Guanyi raised his glass, clinked it with Ye Yaming's, his eyes brimming with affection: "Ming'er, thank you for being willing to marry me."

"Thank you, I feel the same," Ye Yaming gazed at his handsome face, her mind momentarily drifting.

It had been three years since she came to this ancient era, and everything from the modern world felt like a distant memory, becoming less and less real. Here, she had built a career and married Lu Guanyi. At this moment, she couldn't tell whether she was Zhuang Zhou dreaming of being a butterfly or the butterfly dreaming of being Zhuang Zhou—which life was truly real.

However, "wherever the heart feels at peace, that is home." No matter what, in this lifetime she had family who loved her and a partner who cherished her. She hoped that every New Year's Eve for the rest of her life could be like tonight, with someone she loved and who loved her by her side, sharing sweetness and affection, growing old together.

She raised her glass and clinked it with Lu Guanyi's again, giving him a radiant smile: "I hope we have today every year, and tomorrow every season."

Lu Guanyi clinked glasses with her, tilted his head back to finish his wine, then picked up an exquisite wooden box and handed it to Ye Yaming: "This is my gift to you."

Ye Yaming opened the box and exclaimed in surprise: "Jadeite?"

If there was one preference she had in her previous life, besides good food, it was jadeite jewelry. She loved that vibrant green hue. In her past life, she owned a complete set of Glass Type Imperial Green jadeite jewelry.

When they were preparing for their engagement, Lu Guanyi had asked her what kind of jewelry she liked, and she had casually mentioned it.I was just casually mentioning it back then. Because even though we're in a different era, the geographical location remains the same. The Great Jin Empire doesn't produce jadeite locally - what's popular here is mutton fat jade.

Ye Yaming truly never expected Lu Guanyi to find her such a set of jewelry!

She picked up one of the jade pendants and held it up for closer examination.

Lu Guanyi grew somewhat nervous and leaned in to ask, "How is it? Is this the type of jade you wanted?"

"Yes." Ye Yaming gave him a sweet smile and took the opportunity to plant a kiss on his cheek. "This is exactly what I wanted."