Glory

Zhou Xiang was startled once again.

He hadn't expected Ye Yaming to reveal this matter openly.

Wasn't she afraid Old Master Ye and Old Madam Ye would think poorly of her for this?

Ye Yaming said to Zhou Xiang, "Find a reliable person to pass the news about the illicit tea to Song Yifeng..."

She explained her subsequent plans to Zhou Xiang. Setting aside his regret, Zhou Xiang committed her words firmly to memory and bowed, saying, "This humble one guarantees the matter will be handled properly."

Seeing that Ye Yaming had arranged everything appropriately, Old Madam Ye asked, "Ming'er, should we inform your mother about breaking off the engagement?"

Ye Yaming shook her head. "Better not. If she knows, she'll only fret and feel conflicted. It's simpler to directly expose Song Yifeng's hypocrisy and avoid unnecessary trouble."

After Ye Hongsheng had told Yin Shi about Song Yifeng's flaws, Yin Shi had twice assured Ye Yaming that if Song Yifeng truly proved unworthy, she wouldn't oppose calling off the engagement. Given Old Master Ye's high regard for Ye Yaming, he would likely agree as well.

With the original host's memories, Ye Yaming knew these parents genuinely cherished their children—unlike her modern parents, who, beyond providing food and shelter, had only imposed academic and career demands without true concern.

Thus, she held considerable goodwill toward Ye Hongsheng and Yin Shi.

Lately, however, her regard for Yin Shi had significantly diminished.

As grandparents, Ye Chongming and Old Madam Ye were naturally more distant from their granddaughter. Ye Chongming was constantly occupied with external business affairs, while Old Madam Ye managed the entire household with its numerous grandchildren. Moreover, the engagement involved Yin Shi's father, Yin De'an, so Ye Yaming understood why the elderly couple might not grasp the full context.

But Yin Shi was different.

She had only two daughters, and the younger one, still a child, hadn't yet reached marriageable age. Aside from overseeing a few servants in the second branch, she had few responsibilities.

If she truly loved her daughter, she should have investigated Yu Shi and Song Yifeng's character—even before the engagement was settled—to ascertain what kind of people this mother and son were.

Yet she did nothing, not even sending the experienced servant Xia Momo to inquire. Instead, she merely boasted about her future son-in-law's scholarly achievements, using them to compete for face among her sisters-in-law within the household.

To say she didn't care for her daughter would be untrue—she did. But she was naive, easily trusting, and rather negligent in managing affairs.

One could argue that Yin Shi bore significant responsibility for the original host's tragic fate in her previous life.

Reflecting on this, Ye Yaming added, "Regardless of what Mother thinks or plans, I am determined to end this engagement. So there's no need to tell her. If she acts rashly in anger and confronts the Song family, it would only create more complications."

Ye Chongming nodded. "You're right." He turned to Zhou Xiang. "Proceed as discussed."

Zhou Xiang bowed and withdrew.

After Ye Yaming had also left, Old Madam Ye said to Ye Chongming, "Why do you think Ming'er deliberately let us hear what she said to Zhou Xiang?"

If she had secretly instructed Zhou Xiang to conceal matters from Ye Chongming, that would be inciting him to betray his master. Such matters should be kept under wraps—so why announce them openly?

Old Madam Ye couldn't comprehend it.Ye Chongming let out a long sigh. "Although this child is shrewd and capable, she is open and aboveboard. Even when she schemes, she doesn't hide her calculations in the shadows but lays them out clearly for all to see. This was true with Zhou Xiang's matter, and it's the same with the illicit tea affair. This child has great magnanimity. I wonder how Yin Shi managed to raise her like this."

Old Mrs. Ye remained silent for a moment, digesting her husband's words, then shook her head. "That muddleheaded Yin Shi couldn't have raised someone like Ming'er."

After a pause, she added, "It seems Ming'er isn't close to her mother Yin Shi either."

Ye Chongming sighed. "That's not a good thing."

He cautioned his wife, "So you must be kinder to Ming'er and show her more care. Of course, I'll also do my best to treat her well. We need to win her heart and make her feel close to her family. Otherwise, even a matrilocal marriage won't be enough to keep her."

If someone lacks affection for their family and feels no sense of belonging to the clan, it's difficult to expect them to contribute to the family's welfare. This was especially true for girls like Ye Yaming, who could leave the clan through marriage.

He said, "The engagement with the Song family will soon be broken off. You should start looking for potential grooms who would live with the bride's family. Don't make any decisions on your own—first see if there are any suitable candidates. If you find any, don't tell Yin Shi. Let Ming'er evaluate them herself first."

"Alright, I understand," Old Mrs. Ye replied.

After some thought, she stood up. "I'll have someone look through our jewelry and select a few pieces to send to Ming'er."

"Go ahead," Ye Chongming approved wholeheartedly. "If nothing suitable is available, go out and have some pieces custom-made for her, and order some new clothes as well."

...

Two days later, at the Song residence.

Yu Shi returned from grocery shopping with Xiao Xiang and entered the inner quarters of the second courtyard. Rubbing her legs, she complained to Xiao Xiang, "You're always saying how good Third Miss Ye is, how filial she is. But look how long it's been since she last visited me, an old woman! Aren't you quite friendly with that Xia Momo? Go tell her to have Third Miss Ye come see me. Otherwise, I won't dare acknowledge her as my daughter-in-law."

Xiao Xiang poured a cup of tea for Yu Shi, placed it in front of her, and replied, "Yes," though inwardly she scoffed.

Previously, Third Miss Ye visited every few days, bringing either fish or meat, so the Song family hardly needed to buy any meat dishes. Now that Third Miss Ye was no longer coming to be their fool, Yu Shi was clearly feeling the pinch of having to spend money on groceries.

The Song mother and son looked down on the Ye family in every way, yet they still wanted to spend their money. Why was she so unlucky to have to serve such a family?

"Shall I go now?" she asked.

After a moment's thought, Yu Shi shook her head. "Never mind. I'll wait for Guizi to return and talk to him about it. Soon, your young master will be attending a poetry gathering. I'll have Guizi go and inform 'that side'."

Guizi was Song Yifeng's page.

Yu Shi and Song Yifeng dreamed of him winning the highest honor and becoming the champion. They had initially wanted to name the page "Zhegui" (Win the Laurel), but it was too blatant and Yu Shi found the literary name awkward to use, so she simply called him Guizi.

The "that side" Yu Shi referred to was the Yin family.

The Song mother and son put on airs—they wanted the Ye family's money but were unwilling to ask for it directly. So, whenever Song Yifeng needed money for a poetry gathering or other events, they would either "accidentally" let servants mention it to Bai Rui and others so that the original host would find out, or they would have Guizi deliver some snacks to Yin De'an and "casually" bring up the event.

Yin De'an had been a private school tutor all his life, and his proudest achievement was his student Song Yifeng. Now that this student had also become his grandson-in-law, he naturally worried endlessly on Song Yifeng's behalf.Knowing that Song Yifeng was going to attend an event and worried he might appear poor and be laughed at, he would send someone to deliver a message to Ye Chongming. Then, Ye Jia would take the initiative to send money to Song Yifeng.