“Most importantly, you are the person I cherish most in this life. Besides you, no other woman will ever catch my eye. So, Ming’er, rest assured, I will not take concubines. I only wish to grow old with you.”

Ye Yaming only registered the first few sentences. As for the last sweet words, she heard them but pretended not to.

A man’s sweet talk, a man’s solemn vows—it was best to just listen without taking them too seriously, otherwise one would end up unhappy.

It wasn’t that they were lying; she believed Lu Guanyi was sincere in what he said at this moment. But people and feelings change. Taking such words to heart meant losing in the end.

She nodded with a smile: “I hope you’ll keep your word.”

……

The third day was the traditional bride’s return home visit. Lu Guanyi had already prepared the return gifts early, shown them to Ye Yaming, and then they headed to the Ye family home early in the morning.

“Third Young Mistress has returned! Third Young Mistress has returned!”

Hearing servants running to report this news, Ye Yaming raised her eyebrows and couldn’t help but sigh.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Guanyi tried to hold her hand again.

Ye Yaming quickly put her hands behind her back, glared at him, then said mournfully: “I’m no longer the Third Young Lady, but have become the Third Mistress. A married daughter is like spilled water—I’ve truly experienced this now.”

Lu Guanyi laughed heartily: “Why don’t you ask your grandfather and father if they’re willing to ‘spill you out’? You’re the next family head—if they spill you out, what would happen to the Ye family?”

Just as Ye Yaming was about to retort, she heard someone call: “Ming’er.”

She looked up and saw that in the main courtyard, everyone who had escorted her to her wedding was standing there, not one missing.

It was Ye Hongsheng who had called her.

Seeing his daughter’s rosy complexion, laughing and talking with her husband just now, the two appearing to be in high spirits, Ye Hongsheng felt relieved but also somewhat empty.

The tender cabbage his family had raised was finally snatched away by a pig.

“You’re back? Come inside quickly.” He beckoned, then smiled and said, “Zi Mo probably doesn’t know your grand-uncles yet, right? I’ll introduce them one by one inside.”

There were many people in the courtyard, and greeting each one would mean standing there for half the day. Concerned for his daughter and son-in-law, he thought it better to continue inside.

Lu Guanyi smiled: “I’ve met them already. Grand-uncle and the other uncles came to our home for the bed-setting ceremony. I’m deeply grateful.”

Ye Chongxian was extremely pleased and exchanged pleasantries with Lu Guanyi as they entered the hall.

Inside, Ye Yaming didn’t need to make introductions. Ye Hongsheng led Lu Guanyi around, introducing all the Ye family members.

Besides the Ye family members, Ye Ruhui with her husband and children, as well as Ye Yaxiu with her husband and children, had also come.

Both of their husbands’ families were merchants. Perhaps due to his more advanced age, Ye Ruhui’s husband maintained his composure; Ye Yaxiu’s husband, however, was somewhat fawning toward Lu Guanyi.

Lu Guanyi usually didn’t like to talk much, but facing Ye Yaming’s relatives, he abandoned his aloof persona and entertained all the Ye family relatives with great consideration.

“Ming’er, let the men chat here, and let’s go talk by ourselves,” said Madam Yin, eager to know how her daughter was faring at the Martial Marquis’s mansion.

Ye Yaming nodded and followed the female relatives to the inner courtyard.

“I’m doing very well,” Ye Yaming told everyone about Lu Zhongyong and Lu Guanyu’s return to the border. “Now there are only two masters in the mansion—me and Zi Mo. There’s no one there to give me trouble, so Mother, please don’t worry.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Madam Yin, who had been worrying about her daughter for three days, finally relaxed.

Ye Ruhui and Ye Yaxiu were extremely envious of Ye Yaming.

Ye Ruhui said: “Ming’er is truly blessed. You’ve married into a good family.”

“Indeed,” Ye Yaxiu agreed.

Ye Yaming just smiled without saying anything.

At Ye Yaqing’s wedding, Ye Yaxiu had heard her mother complain, offending Ye Yaming and causing Ye Yaming to always treat her coolly, not as intimately as she treated Ye Ruhui. She deeply regretted this.

She had never dared to let her husband know about this matter. Not only did she keep it secret, but she often boasted to her in-laws, sisters-in-law, and husband about how close she was with her third cousin.

Now she was eager to repair their relationship while also trying to gauge Ye Yaming’s attitude. She smiled and said: “Third Sister will be staying in the capital for over two months—a rare leisure time. I’d like to invite Third Sister to visit my home. Would Third Sister honor me with her presence?”

Beforehand, Ye Hongsheng had repeatedly reminded Madam Yin to help their daughter avoid trouble. Now that their daughter had married into a noble family, people might make unreasonable requests, putting her in difficult positions.

Ye Yaming was younger in the family hierarchy and had just married into a noble house. If she refused directly, she would not only offend people but also be seen as looking down on poorer relatives after gaining status, creating a very bad impression.

As parents, they should step up as the villains and shield their daughter from trouble.

Madam Yin rarely went out socially. Unless the Ye family was hosting a banquet, she didn’t go out to socialize. Having grown up in a simple environment, she wasn’t very adept at navigating social relationships.

Now with Ye Yaxiu’s invitation, Madam Yin wasn’t sure if this was good or bad. But she knew that Ye Yaxiu had offended her daughter and that her daughter didn’t like her, so she guessed her daughter wouldn’t want to visit Ye Yaxiu’s home.

She immediately said, “When would Ming’er have free time? The Ye family is opening a new teahouse in the capital, and Ming’er needs to oversee this. Also, the New Year is approaching, with all the social obligations and various trivial matters at year’s end. Even families like ours find it complicated, not to mention a Marquis’s mansion. As the newly married wife of the Marquis’s Heir, Ming’er isn’t familiar with various situations yet, and will probably be overwhelmed.”

Ye Yaming was surprised that Madam Yin was so tactful today, knowing how to shield her from trouble.

She gave her mother an appreciative glance, then turned to Ye Yaxiu with a smile: “My mother is right. For the next two months, I expect to have no spare time with so many things to attend to. Elder Sister has invited me, and I imagine Elder Cousin also wants to invite me. Going from mansion to mansion to attend banquets—if I agree now, I fear I won’t be able to make time later, which would disappoint you all.”

Seeing disappointment flash in Ye Ruhui’s eyes as well, she added: “How about this—I won’t return to Lin’an until after the Lantern Festival next year. Before I go back, I’ll set aside a day to host a banquet at the Martial Marquis’s mansion and invite Elder Cousin’s family and Elder Sister’s family to visit. How does that sound?”

“Really?” Ye Yaxiu exclaimed with delight, then immediately felt she had overreacted.

She covered her face briefly with her handkerchief but soon smiled again.

She was very happy. It seemed that Third Sister was magnanimous and didn’t hold a grudge against her. With Third Sister’s invitation, she could hold her head high in her husband’s family, and no one would dare mistreat her.

Ye Ruhui was also overjoyed.

During this period, her in-laws’ attitude toward her had changed significantly. With Third Sister inviting her family to a banquet, it showed that she was backing her up. Her in-laws’ attitude toward her would surely improve from now on.