Glory

Princess Yu Ning slammed the table with a "bang" upon hearing this: "These people are truly despicable." She startled the Shen residence maid who was about to serve tea.

Madam Qi frowned and asked, "Why didn't you report this to the authorities?"

Ye Yaming shook her head: "For minor theft like this, where nothing was actually stolen, even if caught, the officials can only issue a reprimand without being able to impose real punishment."

Madam Qi fell silent.

That was indeed true.

Princess Yu Ning patted Ye Yaming's hand sympathetically: "You've truly had it difficult. Even after producing the finest tea in the world, you still can't have everything go smoothly."

Ye Yaming nodded: "The business world is like a battlefield - no one is exempt."

Madam Qi looked at her: "Will you have to personally make the Dark Tea later as well?"

Ye Yaming didn't deny it: "I won't handle it directly, but I must supervise. This concerns diplomatic relations between two nations. The Dark Tea delivered this year must match exactly what was sent last year."

Princess Yu Ning looked from Ye Yaming to Madam Qi, her brow furrowing.

Naturally, she felt more protective of Ye Yaming.

She said unhappily to Madam Qi: "Madam Qi, while General Lu is attending to official duties, Yaming is also engaged in important work. When General Lu went to the border, Yaming - despite being pregnant - didn't utter a single complaint or try to stop him. Why is it that when it comes to her, instead of supporting her, you blame her? What logic is this?"

Madam Qi flushed crimson at her words.

"I... I was just worried about her..." she said awkwardly.

"Does the Ye family not worry about her? They're certainly more concerned than you are. Yet they don't stop her. You might think they're blinded by profit, disregarding Ye Yaming's health for gain. But the wealth they've accumulated now could last several lifetimes - they have no need for Yaming to earn this amount. Without Yaming, they would be nothing."

"They don't stop her because they understand this concerns the court, and more importantly, because they know Yaming is no ordinary person. So they only offer Yaming their fullest support and care, rather than hindering and condemning her, causing her distress."

Though only in her thirties, Princess Yu Ning's position had allowed her to witness countless people and events over the years.

As Lu Guanyi's aunt and a fourth-rank Imperial Mandate holder, Madam Qi deserved respect, and the princess shouldn't have spoken so bluntly without saving face.

But after years of interaction, she had observed Ye Yaming's refined speech and bearing, her unwavering dignity in all circumstances, her innate pride and integrity. More importantly, she possessed great vision and compassion. Among all the women in the imperial harem and noble families, Princess Yu Ning had never encountered another like her.

Thus she firmly believed in the saying that Ye Yaming was "a celestial being descended to earth."

Even she herself could only respect Ye Yaming, not daring to show the slightest disrespect; she felt no man in the entire Great Jin was worthy of Ye Yaming.

That Ye Yaming was willing to marry Lu Guanyi and bear his child was already tremendous fortune for the Lu family. The Lus should be venerating her like a deity.

Therefore, seeing Madam Qi acting as Lu Guanyi's elder, trying to control Ye Yaming's every move, even blaming her because of the child, made Princess Yu Ning so angry that she spoke so harshly.

Since marrying Qi Zhipei, receiving his devotion, and bearing several sons that secured her position in the Qi Family, Madam Qi had never been so publicly humiliated.The one disciplining her was none other than Princess Yu Ning, so she dared not even show a hint of grievance. She was so mortified she wished she could vanish into the ground.

Madam Shen stood by watching this scene, her heart brimming with envy beyond words.

This Third Miss Ye’s luck was truly beyond compare. To marry into the Xuanwu Marquis Household and have a maternal aunt like Qi Furen—who wouldn’t say she was fortunate? Marrying into such a family made enduring some grievances worthwhile. Moreover, the Lu family had no matriarch, so she had no mother-in-law above her. Even if Qi Furen scolded her occasionally, since they didn’t live together year-round, it was hardly bothersome. Such a life was truly blissful.

But who would have thought Princess Yu Ning would protect her so fiercely?

Treating her like her own daughter, the princess spared Qi Furen no face for her sake—something even a birth mother might not do. People said Third Miss Ye was a celestial descended to earth, and it seemed they weren’t wrong. Otherwise, how could such immense fortune come her way?

Princess Yu Ning’s defense warmed Ye Yaming’s heart, but she couldn’t let Qi Furen be overly humiliated or allow discord to arise between the princess and Qi Furen because of her.

She first gave Princess Yu Ning a hug: “Your Highness, thank you.”

Princess Yu Ning sensed the gratitude in her words.

She returned the embrace, patting Ye Yaming’s back, and said, “It’s nothing, really. You have people on your side too; no one will bully you.”

This made Qi Furen even more ashamed and furious. If the speaker weren’t the esteemed princess, she would have stormed off in a huff.

Ye Yaming nodded in her embrace, took a deep breath, and straightened up.

She smiled and said, “Auntie meant no harm. She said those things out of concern for me, worried that something might be wrong with my health. Both of you care for me, which is why you acted this way.”

With that, she walked over to Qi Furen and gave her a hug: “Thank you, Auntie.”

The emotions of people in ancient times were often reserved and restrained. Aside from close relationships like husband and wife or mother and child, physical contact was rare, let alone embraces like this.

Ye Yaming’s behavior was somewhat exaggerated, and her words carried a hint of affectation. But the effect was excellent.

Not only did Princess Yu Ning feel Ye Yaming’s heartfelt gratitude, but Qi Furen also stiffened for a moment before slowly reaching out to hug Ye Yaming back, her attitude softening.

“Alright, let’s all sit down and eat,” Ye Yaming released Qi Furen and rubbed her stomach. “You may not be hungry, but the little one inside me certainly is.”

She looked at them with pleading, hopeful eyes.

Madam Shen quickly stepped in to break the tension: “Yes, yes, the meal is ready. Honored guests, please take your seats. Having you stay to dine is a tremendous blessing for our Shen family. I had the chef prepare some pastries and dishes suited to our ladies’ tastes, though I’m not sure if they’ll suit your palates. Please, honored guests, sit and try them.”

Princess Yu Ning glanced at Qi Furen, then turned and took the seat of honor.

Her status was the highest, so the seat needed no yielding—no one would dare take it even if offered.

Ye Yaming tugged at Qi Furen’s sleeve, giving her a way to save face, and only then did Qi Furen reluctantly sit to the left of Princess Yu Ning.

With Ziyuan’s support, Ye Yaming walked over and sat down to the right of Princess Yu Ning.In the Great Jin Dynasty, the right side is considered the position of honor. Although Ye Yaming is a junior to Qi Furen, her Imperial Mandate rank is the same as Qi Furen's. However, as the wife of the heir to a marquis household, her status and position are higher than Qi Furen's.

Family rules cannot override etiquette and state law. If this were a family banquet, Qi Furen would naturally take the seat of honor. But with Princess Yu Ning present, this is no longer a family banquet, and etiquette and state law should be observed.

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