The Ye family ancestors were originally villagers from Ye Family Village near the outskirts of Lin’an, and the Ye family ancestral hall was built there. Most of the Ye family relatives who came to the feast today still resided there.

Only a few branches had moved away after becoming wealthy. One branch was the most accomplished, having produced a jinshi who became an official years ago, though he only reached the sixth rank with no further advancement. His descendants couldn’t enter the imperial academy either, so they returned to Ye Family Village to maintain their ancestral home and farmland as small landlords.

The others were all merchants.

The most successful was Ye Chongming’s branch. Although they were merchants, Ye Chongming had directly reached the position of head of the tea guild. He had both money and status.

Ye Chongming’s great-grandfather wasn’t from the main lineage. The old house was rebuilt by Ye Chongming’s grandfather after he became successful. By Ye Chongming’s generation, they only returned to stay overnight during ancestral worship, and he didn’t have deep feelings for Ye Family Village or these relatives.

But over the years, they hadn’t been unkind to the clan. They had established a clan school and sacrificial fields; the income from these fields was used to cover the expenses of the clan school and sacrificial ceremonies. They had also built a road connecting the village to the county.

They did these things not only to give back to their hometown and gain the support of their relatives but also to leave themselves a fallback option.

Although their branch was considered the most successful and contributed the most to the clan, they weren’t the main lineage. Old Lady Ye wasn’t the clan matriarch, and Ye Hongchang wasn’t the clan patriarch. Ye Chongming changing the position of family head from his eldest son to his granddaughter was like any household allowing a daughter-in-law to manage the family—it had no impact on the Ye family clan and wouldn’t even merit a mention in the clan genealogy.

Additionally, he knew that because his family was wealthy, once the clan learned of this matter, some would certainly try to intervene, even sowing discord between him and Ye Hongchang, creating more trouble to earn Ye Hongchang and his son’s gratitude for their profit.

Therefore, regarding the change of family head, he hadn’t told anyone in the Ye clan. Bringing Ye Yaming to meet everyone today was also a simple notification.

He was already in his sixties and didn’t know how much longer he would live. If he suddenly passed away, the Ye family relatives might cause trouble, accusing Ye Yaming of seizing the position of family head from her uncle’s family upon her grandfather’s death, trying to take advantage of the situation to share in the Ye family’s wealth. This would make the people of Lin’an laugh at the Ye family and would further push Ye Yaming out of the Ye family.

With Ye Yaming’s abilities, she naturally wouldn’t allow these people to manipulate her. But Ye Chongming worried she might not want to get involved in trouble and might simply take this opportunity to rid herself of these burdens, allowing the second branch of the Ye family to become independent, returning the “position of family head” that the Ye family relatives valued to Ye Hongchang.

Through several incidents, Ye Chongming had figured out Ye Yaming’s character.

She indeed valued family relationships, but only with relatives of good character whom she was willing to help. For example, she was generous to Ye Yaqing, and she was willing to give a hand to someone like Ye Hongrong, who had made mistakes but valued relationships and loyalty.

But for someone like Madam Tao, who was narrow-minded and only knew how to resent others, Ye Yaming wouldn’t give her a second glance. If it weren’t for her consideration of him, Old Lady Ye, Ye Hongchang, Ye Jiaxing, and Ye Yaqing’s decent character, Ye Yaming would have sent Madam Tao packing.

So when it came to being ruthless, she could be very ruthless indeed.

Yesterday, Ye Yaming went to give wedding gifts, and Ye Yaxiu’s words and actions were relayed to him through Old Lady Ye. Ye Chongming had called Ye Hongchang over and asked about his thoughts.

If he truly wanted the position of family head, Ye Chongming could satisfy him by directly dividing the family among the three brothers. At that time, Ye Hongchang would be the head of the Ye family’s first branch. He and Old Lady Ye would live with the second branch.

As for the property, he would set aside the several hundred thousand taels of silver from selling tea recipes, and then give seventy percent to the first branch. He and the second and fourth branches would each get ten percent.

After that, their future prosperity or decline would be unrelated to each other.

Ye Hongchang was greatly frightened by these words and immediately declared his refusal, saying he sincerely accepted his niece as the family head and promised to go back and properly discipline Madam Tao and his eldest daughter.

It was because of this that Ye Chongming had arranged today’s proceedings.

Seeing the Fifth Grand Uncle take the opportunity to leave, supported by his grandson, Ye Chongming said to Clan Leader Ye Chongxian: “Third Brother, my three sons and I all agree to establish my second branch’s third granddaughter as the family head. This is my family matter, not much related to the clan, and doesn’t need to be discussed with anyone. I’m informing you now to prevent any future incidents.”

Ye Chongxian’s mouth twitched slightly.

He said it was “informing,” but it was actually “notifying” him. Moreover, judging by Ye Hongchang’s behavior, Ye Chongming had established his third granddaughter as the family head for some time already, yet hadn’t sent anyone to inform him, the clan leader. Notifying him now was just incidental.

But he couldn’t say anything reproachful. After all, in those ordinary families in the clan, if the second son was capable, he would manage the family; if the third daughter-in-law was capable, she would manage the family. For ordinary families going about their daily lives, how could they be so particular? Although Ye Chongming’s family was wealthy, in the clan, they were still just an ordinary family. Could it be that because they had money, he, as the clan leader, should interfere in their family affairs? Wouldn’t that be coveting their wealth?

Ye Chongming was no pushover and wouldn’t allow others to reach for his money. Offending him would do the clan no good.

He nodded and smiled: “Alright, I understand.”

Then he added praise: “Yaming is so capable at such a young age. Seventh Brother, you have good fortune in your later years.”

Ye Chongming was the seventh among his generation in the family clan.

This was exactly the attitude Ye Chongming wanted. Seeing that Ye Chongxian was sensible, he also began to praise the other’s children.

With the Fifth Grand Uncle being publicly embarrassed, and the clan leader taking such an attitude, Ye Chongming had made it clear that “this is a family matter, requiring no outsider’s interference.” The Ye family relatives naturally dared not say more and all gathered around Ye Chongming and Ye Hongchang, following their lead in praising Ye Yaming.

At this moment, a servant came to announce: “Old Master, the Prefect and the Prefect’s son have come to offer congratulations.”

Both Ye Chongming and Ye Hongchang were somewhat surprised.

Ye Chongming quickly ordered: “Go call Second Master and Fourth Master, and together we’ll welcome the Prefect at the entrance.”

Most of the relatives lived in the village, and the person they interacted with most was the village head. The County Magistrate was already like heaven to them, let alone the Prefect.

Now, hearing that the Prefect personally came to offer congratulations, no one could believe their ears.

“Did I hear wrong? Did the servant say it was the Prefect?”

“Yes, that’s right. Not only the Prefect but also the Prefect’s son.”

“The Prefect has come to offer congratulations? Has Chongming’s branch become so successful?”

“Didn’t you just hear what Hongchang said? Niece Yaming is engaged to a fifth-rank noble official from the capital. The Prefect must be coming because of Niece Yaming’s status.”

The news of Lu Guanyi’s promotion to the fourth rank was known only to Ye Chongming and Ye Yaming. To prevent people from identifying the match, they hadn’t even told Old Lady Ye.

Therefore, everyone still thought Ye Yaming’s fiancé was a fifth-rank official.

“That’s not necessarily the case. Maybe it’s because of the tribute tea. Having tribute tea produced in the Prefect’s jurisdiction brings honor to him, too. Now that Seventh Uncle’s family is celebrating, it’s appropriate for the Prefect to come and offer congratulations,” someone said, thinking they understood the situation.

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*Note: The author is taking a one-chapter break due to menstrual discomfort.*