Glory

Ye Chongming instructed her, "No matter what, it's better to be safe than sorry. Since there's this possibility, you should stay home and not wander around. Also, tell the servants to be vigilant."

"Alright, I understand. When you return, please explain the situation to Grandmother and my mother on my behalf."

"If anything happens, be sure to send someone to inform us."

Ye Chongming initially considered having Old Mrs. Ye and Yin Shi accompany Ye Yaming, but upon second thought, they might end up being a hindrance in case of trouble. Moreover, the manor guards at the Lu residence were retired soldiers, which was somewhat reassuring.

After reiterating a few more warnings, he left with great unease.

In the following days, Ye Yaming obediently stayed home, sampling the tea leaves sent in by Ye Hongrong.

With Dragon Well Tea's reputation established, it would be a huge loss not to capitalize on it quickly.

Last spring, to keep the tea-making method confidential, the Ye family had only produced Dragon Well Tea in their own tea garden in Baiteng County, without sending tea-making masters to the tea mountains under contract with Ye Jia.

However, before the snowfall last winter, Ye Jia had dispatched people to purchase land and build compounds on various tea mountains to serve as tea-making bases. They also renewed contracts with the estate holders of these tea mountains before the start of spring this year.

Previously, estate holders had to both pick tea leaves and process them into crude tea, working tirelessly from spring to autumn. Now, they only needed to pick the leaves and deliver the fresh tea leaves to the tea-making bases. Yet, the Ye family paid them no less than before.

Naturally, the estate holders had no reason to refuse Ye Jia's terms. Thus, around the time Ye Yaming went up the mountain, groups of tea-making masters and their apprentices had been stationed at the tea-making bases across various mountains, producing Dragon Well Tea in large batches.

Although a tea evaluation system had been established, this being the first year, Ye Yaming was not entirely at ease. She had Ye Hongrong take samples for her to taste and assess again.

Being pregnant, she couldn't drink too much tea. Ye Yaming would swirl the tea in her mouth before spitting it out, then rinse with plain water before tasting the next sample.

"Haha, you should have seen those tea merchants—their eyes turned as red as rabbits' when they saw us producing tea on such a large scale. They couldn't stop with the sour remarks," Ye Hongrong said, feeling particularly pleased at the memory.

Ye Yaming jotted down her comments on paper and smiled. "They can mass-produce tea next year too."

"Tsk, how could it be the same? We get to eat the meat, while they can only have some broth."

Although the tea formula for Dragon Well Tea had been sold, Ye Yaming had timed the sale for last autumn.

The six tea-making masters who learned the method had mastered Dragon Well Tea, but the season had passed, and winter soon arrived with no fresh leaves available. Tea merchants wanting to maximize profits couldn't even have these masters train a batch of apprentices promptly.

So this spring, they could only have those few masters rush to produce as much Dragon Well Tea as possible. Training apprentices would have to wait until after the Pre-Qingming Tea, or even the Pre-Rain Tea, seasons.

By the time those tea merchants cultivated a large number of tea-making masters next year, Ye Jia would have already captured the Dragon Well Tea market this year and successfully built their brand.

The tea produced by those merchants, who had spent a fortune on the tea formula, was destined not to reap the main benefits but only to follow behind Ye Jia and settle for leftovers.

Meanwhile, Ye Jia not only earned a substantial profit but also ensured their safety, avoiding becoming a target of envy due to the tea-making recipe.

Whenever Ye Hongrong thought of this, he couldn't help but admire Ye Yaming profoundly.Mentioning this, Ye Yaming couldn't help but pause her writing and ponder the matter of the Chu siblings and Wang Kuan.

Now that the Chu siblings were accused of murdering Shi Shi, they probably had no time to cause trouble for her, right?

Would Prince Zhennan protect them? Would the Imperial Clan Court shield them or handle the case according to the law? Lu Guanyi had already gone to such lengths—he would surely add fuel to the fire and not easily let the Chu siblings off. And beside him was the Princess Consort Zhennan, burning with a desire for revenge.

After finishing her tea evaluation notes, she compared them with those of the other tea appraisers and pointed out issues with a few individuals, then assigned Ye Hongrong to handle it.

Once Ye Hongrong left, Ye Yaming summoned Yi Wu and asked him, "Any news from the capital? How has Zhennan Wangfu been lately?"

"The old woman's son has been found and has come forward to testify against the three Chu siblings.

Chu Zonghua and the other two are now imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court. Prince Zhennan fell ill with a chill while running around for the three siblings. The evidence is solid, and there's no possibility of overturning the case. However, due to Shi Shi's status, the Imperial Clan Court is still deliberating on how to sentence Chu Zonghua and the others." At this point, Yi Wu showed a mocking expression. "I heard that the three Chu siblings are turning on each other in the Imperial Clan Court, each trying to shift the blame onto the others to save themselves, but instead, they've revealed quite a few things."

Ye Yaming frowned slightly. "Regarding Shi Shi's status, has His Lordship made any stance?"

Shi Shi was a remnant of Duke Wei's faction. The court had long wanted to execute her to eliminate future troubles. However, the laws of the Great Jin Dynasty included the principle that "punishment does not extend to married women," and Shi Shi was also Lu Zhongyong's wife. That was why she had been allowed to live peacefully.

Now that Shi Shi was dead, it suited the court's intentions perfectly. It was even possible that her death had been premeditated. Whether it was the imperial family, the court, Lu Guanyi, or even those who held grudges against Shi Shi from the past—all wanted her dead. Her death was the result of a collaborative effort from multiple parties.

Now that she was dead, with the culprits being descendants of the imperial family and Duke Wei's estate, the court would not seek justice for her.

The only reason for hesitation was out of consideration for Lu Zhongyong.

"A day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace." If Lu Zhongyong held any affection for his former wife, then a light sentence for the three Chu siblings would disappoint him. This was something the emperor and court officials were unwilling to see.

But if Lu Zhongyong made his stance clear, that would change things.

Yi Wu said, "I've only just learned this news. It takes time for messages to travel from the capital to the border and for feedback to return. It will take at least ten days to half a month before we see any results."

Ye Yaming couldn't help but shake her head.

Such were the drawbacks of backward communication.

She wondered how long the Princess Consort Zhennan could keep Prince Zhennan ill.

But these matters were not her concern. Lu Guanyi would surely handle them well.

After Yi Wu left, Ye Yaming summoned Ma Yun and asked him, "Any movements from Wang Kuan's side?"

Ma Yun replied, puzzled, "I don't know what's happened in the capital, but the person from Zhennan Wangfu who had been in contact with Wang Kuan has disappeared. Wang Kuan sent people to the capital but couldn't gain entry. Right now, he's as restless as an ant on a hot pan."

Ye Yaming informed him about Shi Shi's death and the imprisonment of the Chu siblings.

Ma Yun suddenly understood. "So that's what happened."He said, "However, there is one matter. Zhou Qingsong, who sold the tea-making masters to Wang Kuan, as well as Shi Guilin and Li Sheng, who purchased our tea formula, went to Wang Kuan's residence yesterday. As for what they went there for, I have yet to find out."

Ye Yaming nodded, "Keep a close watch and report to me promptly if anything arises."