Glory

A skilled tea-making master is indeed hard to come by, but if they lack integrity or are unwilling to stay with the Ye family, they hold little value. Such individuals, after learning the craft, are prone to causing trouble.

Shortly after, Ma Yun arrived and reported: "Qin Sixiang is a tea enthusiast who cares about nothing but tea-making. Since his entire family came along, we settled them quite comfortably, so he has no worries. He has been dedicated to tea-making recently."

"Two months ago, he sent someone to ask if he could learn to make Osmanthus Tea and Dark Tea. Old Master Ye and the master didn’t want to bother you with such trivial matters, so they postponed it, saying they would wait until after you had given birth and completed your postpartum confinement."

Logically, someone like Qin Sixiang would suit Ye Hongsheng’s preferences perfectly. Such minor matters could be decided by him, or Ye Chongming could simply give an order.

However, after several incidents, Ye Chongming had lost confidence in his judgment of character, and Ye Hongsheng was even more afraid of misjudging someone and bringing disaster upon the Ye family. After all, the secret tea-making recipe was the foundation of the Ye family’s standing.

Thus, without Ye Yaming’s approval, neither of them dared to make a decision. At the time, Ye Yaming was heavily pregnant, finding it difficult to move or rest comfortably, and was about to give birth. Father and son were unwilling to trouble her with such minor matters and add to her worries.

"How is his family’s character and conduct?"

Qin Sixiang’s wife originally worked in the Wang family’s laundry, while his elder daughter-in-law assisted in the kitchen. Both sons were tea-making apprentices learning from him, and the younger son was not yet married.

After arriving at the Ye family, Ye Yaming had initially asked Ye Chongming to arrange their placement. But Ye Chongming said that since this family was won over by Ye Yaming, she should handle them as her own retinue.

Considering such talent, Ye Yaming also felt it was safer to keep them under her watchful eye, lest they be marginalized in the Ye family or, worse, develop disloyalty and steal the secret tea-making recipe for their former masters. She tacitly agreed to Ye Chongming’s arrangement.

She instructed Xu Zan to assign the family of five to positions similar to those they held in the Wang family. Qin’s elder daughter-in-law was placed in the Lu residence’s main kitchen, which prepared meals for the servants.

"The entire family is honest and straightforward," Ma Yun said. "They are very diligent in their work and have no ulterior motives."

Reassured, Ye Yaming said, "Bring him here. I’ll speak with him."

For someone like Qin Sixiang, who was wholly devoted to tea-making, the way to win him over was naturally to teach him more tea-making techniques.

After discussing with Qin Sixiang and painting a grand vision that left the honest and simple-minded man wide-eyed with excitement, Ye Yaming stood up and returned to the inner courtyard.

Lu Guanyi was in the nursery, playing with the two children.

By now, the children had long shed their reddish skin, becoming fair, tender, and exquisitely delicate like carved jade. When awake, they would suck on their tiny feet, their dark, grape-like eyes sparkling with lively curiosity.

Although many servants cared for the children, Ye Yaming did not want Lu Guanyi to be an absent father. Whenever he had time, she would bring him to the nursery to spend time with the children and even have him change their diapers.

"This is bonding time," she declared emphatically. "Whenever you have a moment, come and spend time with the children. The more time you spend with them, the closer they’ll feel to you."

In Lu Guanyi’s memory, he had never known his birth mother. His father was stationed at the border year-round, and on the rare occasions he returned, he would only sternly ask, "Have you done your homework?" and remind him to "be filial to your grandfather and grandmother."Although he knew his father still cared for and loved him, he had never experienced paternal warmth.

What he had missed and could never obtain in his lifetime, he was willing to give to his child in the form of compensation.

Therefore, he strongly agreed with Ye Yaming's perspective.

Every day when the child woke up, he would spend time with them, transforming from a clueless novice into a skilled dad who could change diapers, burp, and soothe the baby to sleep with ease.

After changing her clothes and washing her hands and face, Ye Yaming entered the nursery and sat by the bed. She picked up one of the children and noticed the baby nuzzling into her embrace.

The clothes Ye Yaming wore were specially made, designed by Xia Momo in a breastfeeding style that prevented accidental exposure.

Originally, Old Mrs. Ye had prepared several wet nurses for the children, so the two babies were never short of breast milk. Moreover, in ancient times, noblewomen from prominent families rarely nursed their own children.

But Ye Yaming knew that colostrum was the best. The two selected wet nurses had children aged four and five months respectively, so they were no longer producing colostrum. Additionally, breastfeeding was beneficial for her own recovery. Thus, she insisted on nursing the children herself, only supplementing with the wet nurses' milk if the babies were still hungry afterward.

She planned to wean them after three months. Since the wet nurses took care of the children entirely at night and during the day when she was busy, it wasn't too exhausting, and she never felt tied down.

"You'll be leaving for the capital in ten days. What are your plans for the three of us?" Ye Yaming asked Lu Guanyi.

Lu Guanyi saw that their daughter had started nursing, while their son was kicking his legs vigorously, trying to get his share.

He quickly picked up his son and said to Ye Yaming, "I don't want to be a lonely man. The thought of returning to an empty mansion is unbearable. But the weather is getting cold, the children are still so young, and you haven't fully recovered. The journey to the capital would be too strenuous. It's better for you to stay in Lin'an. Wait until next spring..."

He paused mid-sentence.

He had intended to suggest that Ye Yaming bring the children to the capital once the weather warmed up in spring.

But come spring, Ye Yaming would be busy with tea production. By the time she finished, it would already be autumn.

He lowered his gaze and stared blankly at the chubby son in his arms, his eyes filled with melancholy.

Ye Yaming deliberately teased him, pretending not to notice his expression and turning to him with feigned surprise. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing," Lu Guanyi replied.

He sighed inwardly and said, "Your and the children's health comes first. Stay in Lin'an. Next spring, you'll be busy making tea and won't be able to leave. I'll come back to see the three of you whenever I have time."

Although he said this, aside from a few days off during the New Year, the court only allowed one day off every ten days. A single day off wasn't enough for a round trip. If Ye Yaming and the children remained in Lin'an, he would hardly see his wife and children throughout the year.

After some thought, Ye Yaming said, "In that case, you won't have anyone to attend to you. How about... taking a concubine?"

Lu Guanyi turned to glare at her. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

His voice was loud and stern, startling the chubby son in his arms, who opened his mouth and let out a loud "wah" as he began to cry.

An'an, who had been happily nursing in her mother's arms, paused for a moment, turned to look at her brother, thought for a second, and then let out a matching "wah" as she started wailing too.

The sight of this made Ye Yaming burst into laughter.

She glared at Lu Guanyi. "Why are you shouting so loudly? Look, you've scared the children."Lu Guanyi looked embarrassed as he skillfully patted his son's back, coaxing the child while saying, "Who told you to talk nonsense?"