So Qi Ji felt that if Lu Guanyi were to propose marriage to Ye Yaming and she wasn’t willing, she would straightforwardly refuse. After refusing, she would continue as before, and her attitude toward him wouldn’t change because of it.

“Let me think about this matter first,” Lu Guanyi said. “Even if I’m going to bring it up, I should wait until we return to Lin’an.”

Qi Ji was overjoyed.

As long as Lu Guanyi was willing to talk about it, things would work out.

He repeatedly said, “Good, good, good. It’s best to talk about it after we return. If we were to bring this up now, regardless of Miss Ye’s response, I would feel uncomfortable interacting with her.”

…

Ye Hongrong had gone behind Ye Yaming’s back to inquire about Lü Yan’s whereabouts, worried that Lü Yan might try to harm his niece.

This was Lü Yan’s territory, after all, and women could be utterly irrational when enraged. If something were to happen, they needed to be prepared.

But he never expected to hear such explosive news.

Judging by the voice, the person who spoke those words was Young Master Qi; both Lu and Qi’s servants were waiting outside the room. So it was obvious whom Qi was speaking to.

Thus, Ye Hongrong concluded: Lu Guanyi was willing to become his niece’s son-in-law by marrying into her family.

How was this possible?

Ye Hongrong was stunned by this conclusion.

“Impossible, impossible,” he kept shaking his head, muttering to himself.

His mouth said it was impossible, but his mind couldn’t help but consider the possibility.

His niece was truly beautiful, especially her big, watery eyes that were both clear and profound—extremely beautiful.

Although Ye Yaqing and Ye Yayin were also attractive, each with their unique charm compared to Ye Yaming, Ye Hongrong felt that Ye Yaming was the most beautiful girl in the family.

Most importantly, his niece was intelligent—extraordinarily so. And she was also excellent at making money. Her mind was always spinning with ideas, all of which could generate substantial profits. Despite her young age, his niece was more capable than many men.

For a girl who was both beautiful and capable, it was perfectly normal for Lu Guanyi to fall for her.

Not being attracted to her would be like being blind.

But the problem was… marrying into her family?

“No, no, no…” Ye Hongrong hurriedly shook his head again.

Lu Guanyi was the eldest legitimate son of the Xuanwu Marquis. What did it mean to be the eldest legitimate son? Just like his eldest brother, he was the one who would inherit the family business and receive seventy percent of the family property.

Even ordinary families wouldn’t allow such a son to marry into another family, let alone a noble family from the capital.

If this were to happen, the Xuanwu Marquis’s household would become the biggest joke in the Great Jin Dynasty.

Lu Guanyi couldn’t marry into their family. What about the reverse—letting his niece marry Lu Guanyi and become Lady Lu?

Ye Hongrong’s spirits lifted: that could work!

Compared to that bastard Song Yifeng, Lu Guanyi was far superior. He was more handsome, and his family background was leagues above. He had both power and money. Even the daughters of noble and official families in the capital would compete to marry such a man, let alone a merchant family like theirs!

Thinking this way, Ye Hongrong couldn’t sit still anymore.

He stood up and paced around the room a few times. Finally, he clapped his hands and left, going to Ye Yaming’s quarters. He said to Guan Ting, who was guarding outside, “Go see if Miss has retired yet. If it’s convenient, I have something to discuss with her.”

Guan Ting agreed and went inside. She returned shortly and opened the door, saying to Ye Hongrong, “Fourth Master, please come in.”

As soon as Ye Hongrong entered, he said to Bai Rui, “All of you go outside and keep watch. I have urgent matters to discuss with Miss. Don’t let anyone approach.”

The maids quickly agreed and withdrew.

Seeing this, Ye Yaming’s expression turned serious. She offered Ye Hongrong a seat and asked, “What has happened?”

“I just…” Ye Hongrong told her about going to Lu Guanyi’s courtyard and overhearing Qi Ji’s words.

After finishing, he saw no expression on Ye Yaming’s face and thought his niece hadn’t understood the meaning behind Qi Ji’s words. He hurriedly explained his analysis to Ye Yaming.

“If Master Lu doesn’t have those intentions, we’ll drop the matter. We’re leagues apart from their family background, and we shouldn’t entertain such fantasies. But since Master Lu has feelings for you, then we…”

“Stop, stop!” Ye Yaming quickly raised her hand to interrupt him.

Ye Hongrong had to close his mouth, but he looked at Ye Yaming expectantly.

After spending time together these days, Ye Yaming had come to understand this fourth uncle quite well.

He had many flaws, such as laziness and lack of ambition; he just wanted to live an idle life.

But he also had strong self-esteem. Usually, when his father and brothers looked down on him, he would feel resentful and want to prove himself. So under the instigation of someone with ulterior motives, he took a shortcut, trying to make money through private tea trading, which led to his mistake.

But he was a good person at heart, loyal and protective. Because his family was well-off and he didn’t lack money to spend, and because he had no great ambitions, it would be untrue to say he had any intention of selling his niece for glory.

“Fourth Uncle, marriage is about joining two families, not just two individuals. It’s a matter between two families, not just two people. You agree with this, right?”

“Yes,” Ye Hongrong nodded.

He had personal experience with this.

Back when he had his eye on Madam Zhang, both families opposed the match, and the marriage arrangements caused tremendous chaos. When they finally married, daily life turned out to be quite ordinary.

Like or dislike couldn’t withstand the trivial matters of daily life and necessities.

Now he was most annoyed by Madam Zhang’s nagging about how his eldest sister-in-law bought a small shop, how the second branch of the family gave money to support their son-in-law, how the old man favored the first branch, and how much jewelry and silver the old lady had given to Ye Yaming… It never ended, driving him to distraction.

He very much wanted to shout at his wife, “What business is it of yours? It’s not your money being spent.”

But given Madam Zhang’s shrewish temperament, to avoid greater trouble, he had to forcibly keep his mouth shut and simply go out to enjoy himself, adopting an “out of sight, out of mind” approach.

“This marriage wouldn’t be a problem for our side. If I’m willing, I think my grandparents and parents wouldn’t object. But what about his family? Forget about noble families—even someone like Song Yifeng, who eats and uses what our family provides, looks down on us for being merchants. How would the Lu family be willing to accept me as a bride?”

“And even if, as an extreme case, Lady Lu were willing to let me enter the family to suppress Lu Guanyi, what about Lu Guanyi himself? Marrying a merchant’s daughter would not only offer him no help but would also make him a laughingstock. Even if he married me in a moment of impulse, wouldn’t he regret it later? And if he regrets it, what kind of life would I have?”

Ye Hongrong’s upturned corners of the mouth gradually drooped as Ye Yaming spoke. By the end, they had curved downward completely.

“Moreover, as the eldest legitimate son, the reason he hasn’t become the heir apparent yet is that his stepmother covets that title and wants her son to inherit it. His stepmother’s family has great influence, and even with his grandparents’ protection, Lu Guanyi couldn’t secure the position of heir apparent.”

“Now that his grandparents have passed away, he’s left without support. Not to mention the hardships I would face from his stepmother if I married into the family, Lu Guanyi himself needs to marry someone from a more prestigious family than his stepmother’s to suppress her influence and live a better life.”