Glory

Because Master Wu was aware that Song Yifeng was Ye Yaming’s fiancé,

upon hearing the maidservant’s words, he assumed Ye Chongming intended to introduce his future grandson-in-law to Lu Guanyi, Qi Ji, and himself, giving the young man a chance to build connections.

Willing to extend this courtesy to Song Yifeng, a young Recommended Man, Master Wu smiled and said to Ye Chongming, “What a coincidence that Young Master Song has arrived. Why not invite him in to meet everyone?”

Yet Ye Chongming clasped his hands apologetically toward him and Lu Guanyi, saying, “My apologies. Liyue mentioned he has urgent matters to discuss. I shall speak with him in the side room first. If it is nothing major, I will bring him in shortly to pay his respects.”

Liyue was Song Yifeng’s courtesy name.

“Please proceed as you see fit, Old Master Ye,” Lu Guanyi replied.

Qi Ji echoed the sentiment, though inwardly, he felt quite curious about this Song Yifeng.

After all, Ye Yaming had astonished him profoundly in each of their three meetings. What kind of extraordinary man could possibly be worthy of such an exceptionally intelligent and remarkable young woman?

Ye Chongming first instructed the maidservant, “Escort Young Master Song to the side room.” Then, with another apologetic gesture to the guests, he excused himself and headed toward the side chamber on the left.

The maidservant went out through the left corridor, retraced her steps with Song Yifeng, and led him directly into the side room via the same corridor.

The main hall was typically reserved for distinguished guests. As Song Yifeng was considered family, Ye Chongming had previously received him either in the study or the side room. Thus, Song Yifeng thought nothing of being led to the side chamber now.

Moreover, his mind was preoccupied with weightier matters.

Ye Chongming pretended to be unaware of Song Yifeng’s purpose for visiting and greeted him with his usual kindness: “Liyue, it has been too long. How have you been lately? And how is your mother’s health?”

Song Yifeng secretly looked down upon the Ye family.

In the past, he had maintained a respectful demeanor toward Ye Chongming out of necessity. But now that he intended to break off the engagement, he had no patience for pretense.

He neither bowed nor acknowledged Ye Chongming’s greeting. Instead, he stared coldly at the old man and demanded, “Old Master Ye, the reason I agreed to become engaged to your family was because the Ye clan was known for its upright conduct, its adherence to propriety, and its honorable character…”

Back in the main hall, after Ye Chongming’s departure, Ye Hongchang took on the role of host, offering refreshments and specially summoning Granny Yu to prepare Osmanthus Tea for the guests.

For a while, no one spoke. The hall fell into a quiet stillness as everyone sampled the snacks and watched Granny Yu brew the tea.

Though advanced in years and no longer graceful in appearance, Granny Yu carried herself with a calm and dignified composure. Having received guidance from Ye Yaming in recent days, her tea now rivaled that brewed by Jingchen, the young monk from Chongshan Temple.

Initially, the guests paid no attention to the conversation next door. But Song Yifeng, cloaking himself in righteousness and aiming to overpower Ye Chongming from the outset, spoke in a loud, aggressive tone, hoping to pressure the Ye family into submitting to his demand to annul the engagement.

Amid the silence in the main hall, his words carried clearly, reaching every ear.

Surprised, the guests instinctively pricked up their ears to listen.Song Yifeng continued, "But I never imagined that your Ye family would disregard imperial laws for profiteering by trading in illicit tea. We scholars, deeply favored by the sage, must uphold Jin laws and promote righteousness—this is our duty. Between heaven, earth, sovereign, family, and teacher, even though I am related to your Ye family and you are my elder, I cannot prioritize kinship over the greater loyalty to the sovereign. In duty to the sovereign, the public, and righteousness, I ought to report your actions to the authorities."

"However, having received years of kindness from your Ye family, I cannot bear it in my heart. When loyalty and righteousness conflict, I came today to remind Elder Ye that violating imperial laws must not be done. Though tea is but a beverage, it concerns court policies, border affairs, and governance—this matter is of great importance. As a guild leader, Elder Ye should abide by the law all the more. I cannot be tainted with you, so I am here to inform you that the marriage alliance between our two families is hereby dissolved. Henceforth, do not speak of me as your grandson-in-law. I have severed all ties with your Ye family."

"Whether you agree or not, this matter is settled. Otherwise, I will no longer show favoritism and will report your illicit tea trade to the officials. I trust Elder Ye would not wish it to come to that?"

It seemed Song Yifeng had prepared this speech long in advance, for he delivered it smoothly and fervently, adopting a stance of upholding righteousness by cutting familial ties.

Having said all this in one breath, he took advantage of Ye Chongming's stunned silence to clasp his hands and announce, "Farewell," then turned to leave in a flurry of sleeves.

Ye Chongming seemed to snap out of it and hurriedly called out, "Wait!"

Song Yifeng had intended to spout his rhetoric and slip away before Ye Chongming could react, avoiding further entanglement with the Ye family.

He knew that prolonged argument would put him at a disadvantage. What if the Ye family wasn't actually involved in illicit tea trade? Then his outburst would be baseless, and the marriage annulment would fail.

A swift resolution was the best approach—ideally, without even giving Ye Chongming a chance to speak.

But Ye Chongming had long been prepared, laying a trap for his arrival, and Song Yifeng's clever plan was doomed to fail.

Just as Song Yifeng reached the door, he was blocked by the page guarding it.

Ye Chongming's voice drifted eerily from behind him, "Young Master Song, you came today specifically to break off the engagement, didn't you? Now that you've passed the provincial exam and become a Recommended Man, does our merchant Ye family no longer suit your noble status? Is that why, upon hearing a mere rumor, you rushed over to dump a chamber pot on this old man's head without even letting me speak? Are you that desperate?"

Worried that the neighbors might not hear clearly, he started in a normal tone but gradually raised his voice, making it sound increasingly agitated.

"Young Master Song, when you were seven, your mother brought you from the village to Lin'an, struggling to survive. Back then, you went hungry and cold, renting a shack built against someone else's house. After work, you'd sneak to the window of Licentiate Yin, Ming'er's grandfather, to eavesdrop on his private lessons."

"Later, out of kindness, he took you as his student without charging a single coin for tuition, gave you paper and brushes, and shared food when he saw you starving. Though schooling costs money and he had limited means, he admired your intelligence and arranged the marriage alliance between our families. The Ye family supported your studies and living expenses, with the understanding that you would marry a Ye daughter when you grew up.""Since you were ten years old, the Ye family has given you two hundred taels of silver every year. When you fell ill, took the imperial examinations, or attended poetry gatherings, you spent an additional one to two hundred taels annually. Now that you are eighteen, our family has given you over three thousand taels in total. When your family bought a house, eighty to ninety percent of the payment came from the Ye family. All in all, our family has spent thousands of taels, only to raise an ungrateful wretch like you?"