“Besides, I’m not reporting to the court now, but giving Zimu a rough idea.”

She used to call Lu Guanyi “Master Lu.” With the separation between men and women, the ancients strictly observed propriety, and given the vast difference in their status and position, she had always addressed him in this distant manner.

Later, the engagement had been hasty, and Lu Guanyi had left immediately afterward, so she hadn’t had the opportunity to deliberate over how to address him.

Now that the Emperor had bestowed marriage upon them, this marriage would have to take place no matter what. Moreover, with Ye Chongming’s teachings still fresh in her ears, Ye Yaming was also willing to make an effort for a harmonious married life, so she changed how she addressed him.

Lu Guanyi was very pleased when he heard Ye Yaming call him “Zimu.”

He gave Ye Yaming a bright smile, revealing a row of white teeth: “Right, I’ll be overseeing this.”

Ye Yaming silently withdrew her gaze.

The former Lu Guanyi had been such a steady, self-controlled person, usually not given to smiles or excessive words. How was it that now Lu Guanyi seemed a bit silly, even comparable to Qi Ji?

Could it be that after spending several months together in Huizhou, she had misjudged the person?

Ye Yaming collected herself and continued: “Tea production will be affected by temperature and rainfall; it also depends on the weather. Two hundred thousand catties is the output without significant climate impact. So, Zimu, what do you think would be appropriate to report?”

This was the advantage of having someone on the inside.

Since the court would determine rewards based on output, naturally it would be better to report a higher number; but reporting too high carried risks.

What value to settle on ultimately required someone like Lu Guanyi, who was clear about both sides, to decide.

“There can be an approximate range, such as between 150,000 and 250,000 catties,” Lu Guanyi said.

“Is that acceptable?”

“It is.”

“Then we’ll report it that way.” Ye Yaming nodded.

Ye Chongming naturally had no objections.

“What about the price?” This was what he was concerned about now.

Lu Guanyi glanced at Ye Yaming: “Didn’t you tell me before that if purchased directly from Lin’an, it would be 450 wen? I told the court that at the time, and they felt this price was acceptable.”

“However…” he shook his head, “Official Chen is a formidable character. Many of the court’s bulk purchases are overseen by him, and he is extremely skilled at negotiating prices down. What price you can settle on tomorrow will depend on you.”

Ye Yaming smiled slightly: “Alright.”

In her previous life, she had rarely been at a disadvantage at the negotiating table. Instead, her opponents often left with ashen faces, unwilling to face her again.

Her only concern was whether Ye Chongming could withstand the pressure.

For her, a young girl, in the eyes of outsiders who didn’t know the situation, she was a junior, and a female at that, of little consequence. Stepping forward boldly would make people feel disrespected and think the Ye family lacked propriety.

So this negotiation still had to be led by Ye Chongming as the family head.

The reason Lu Guanyi could stay behind and reveal some inside information to the Ye family was because Chen Zhen considered that the Xuanwu Marquis had rendered great service during the coup, and still held military power, and that Lu Guanyi had a boundless future. It’s worth noting that the heir of Duke Wei, Shi Kun, had once disrespected Chen Zhen, nearly causing him to lose his official hat.

Lu Guanyi was very mindful of propriety in his actions. After quickly sharing some information with the Ye family grandfather and granddaughter, he took his leave.

“Yaming, please see Zimu out,” Ye Chongming said with great understanding, wanting to give the betrothed couple a chance to be alone.

So Ye Yaming went to see Lu Guanyi off.

“After we settle the black tea business tomorrow, I plan to come over to discuss the matter of our marriage,” Lu Guanyi said, looking at Ye Yaming. “I had someone check a few dates, and the two nearest ones are the ninth day of the tenth month and the sixth day of the twelfth month. This time, after I return to the Capital with Official Chen and his group and complete this task, I can rest until the New Year. What do you think about us getting married on the ninth day of the tenth month?”

“What? Marriage?”

Although Ye Yaming knew that her marriage to Lu Guanyi would likely happen soon, she was still shocked by the specific date.

There was no help for it; modern people were already afraid of marriage, not to mention in ancient times.

Although Madam Shi’s father and brothers had been beheaded, her sister who was the empress had been deposed and sent to the Cold Palace, her family estate had been confiscated, the men of the Shi family had been executed, and the women sold off, Madam Shi as a married woman had not been affected. She had only been divorced due to the grudge between the Shi family and Lu Zhongyong, but at least her safety was guaranteed.

Although Lu Zhongyong had been forced into marriage with Madam Shi, and his original wife had been killed by the Shi family, they had still been husband and wife, and Madam Shi had borne him a son. He hadn’t been ruthless; he had allowed Madam Shi to take all of her dowry with her when she left.

Duke Wei’s mansion had once wielded immense power at court, so one can imagine how generous Madam Shi’s dowry had been. If she had wanted to, staying in the Capital to enjoy wealth and prosperity would not have been difficult.

But as the daughter of a traitor, wouldn’t remaining in the Capital be an eyesore to the Emperor? Who knew if she might be assassinated someday, not to mention that the Shi family had offended many people over the years. Even though only the women remained, there was still concern that someone might take vengeance on them.

So Madam Shi promptly returned to her hometown and sent people everywhere to buy back the women of the Shi family who had been sold off, planning to spend the rest of her life keeping a low profile with them in her hometown.

Therefore, after marrying Lu Guanyi, Ye Yaming wouldn’t have to worry about a mother-in-law’s scrutiny. As soon as she married into the family, she would be the wife of the heir, directly managing the household.

Lu Zhongyong had been at the border all this time; the son Madam Shi had left behind, Lu Guanyu, who was two years younger than Lu Zhongyong, even if he was dissatisfied with his father and brother, could only secretly make small moves, not daring to openly oppose Ye Yaming.

But Ye Yaming still felt some resistance to marriage.

Yet no matter how resistant she felt, she still had her rationality and naturally understood the principle that whether you stick your neck out or pull it in, it’s still one cut.

She said, “Then let’s make it the ninth day of the tenth month.” Better to die early and be reborn early.

Lu Guanyi was overjoyed and again revealed his white teeth: “Excellent, I’ll have people start preparations right away.”

It was now the middle of the seventh month, leaving less than three months until the ninth day of the tenth month.

The reason Ye Yaming agreed so readily was that her main point was yet to come.

“After we’re married, do we have to live in the Capital? I still have many matters with the Ye family, and I need to oversee the production of the black tea the court wants.”

“After the New Year, when I go to the border, you can return to Lin’an,” Lu Guanyi said. “The residence next to the government office was bestowed upon me by the Crown Prince; you can stay there.”

Ye Yaming’s heart immediately settled, and she wasn’t so resistant to marriage anymore.

She gave Lu Guanyi a smile: “That’s good then.”

The front courtyard was very close to the main gate, and within a few sentences, they had reached the entrance.

Taking the reins handed over by An Tai, Lu Guanyi turned back and glanced at Ye Yaming.

Ye Yaming smiled at him: “Go on, see you tomorrow.”

After seeing Lu Guanyi off, she returned to the study in the front courtyard. Ye Chongming was still there and immediately asked upon seeing her: “Did Zimu mention when you’ll get married?”

“Yes, he did.”

Ye Yaming told him about the two marriage dates Lu Guanyi had proposed, saying: “He suggested getting married in October, so he could stay in the Capital until the New Year.”