“However, there’s something I need to tell Mr. Lu,” Ye Yaming continued.

She briefly explained the entanglement between the Ye family and Meng Chengwei.

“I believe Mr. Lu and Mr. Qi are already aware of this matter. I’m bringing it up again to inform you that the Meng family has been constantly seeking ways to take revenge on our family.”

Next, she told them about what the Yang family had been doing to the Ye family recently, as well as what had happened to Ye Yaqing.

Of course, she didn’t mention that Ye Yaqing had fallen for Yang Chuzhi, only saying that the Yang family had tried to scheme against Ye Yaqing but was discovered by her.

As she spoke, she stood up and bowed to both Lu and Qi.

The two hurriedly moved aside to avoid the bow.

Qi Ji said: “Miss Ye, what are you doing?”

Ye Yaming smiled slightly: “If not for the protection of you two gentlemen, who knows what the Meng family would have done to us by now. The reason they haven’t made any direct moves and instead tried to use the Yang family to cause trouble is all thanks to you two.”

Her smile faded as she continued seriously: “However, we will handle the troubles we can manage ourselves. I don’t want our Ye family to be too weak, always needing your protection.”

“So we’ll strike back at the Yang family next. I’ll also spread news about buying tea mountains to draw out the snake, luring out the people Meng has sent to abduct me, and capture them all at once.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Chongming was startled.

“What, Ming’er? The Yang family wants to abduct you? How do you know?” he asked anxiously.

“Lately, whenever I go out, I feel someone watching me in secret. I asked people from the escort agency to investigate quietly, and they discovered unfamiliar people who aren’t Yang family guards or servants,” Ye Yaming explained.

“I suspect they’re Meng family people wanting revenge but afraid of angering you two gentlemen. So openly, they have the Yang family scheme against my sister and me in marriage matters, while secretly planning to harm our family members. This way, we wouldn’t suspect them.”

Ye Chongming was both shocked and angry, slapping the table: “How despicable! How outrageous! They tried to harm us, but we were vigilant and avoided it, yet they still hold a grudge!”

“If they weren’t wary of you two gentlemen, their revenge wouldn’t be so indirect or mild in approach,” Ye Yaming reminded him to thank the two men.

Ye Chongming quickly bowed to Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji: “Thank you both, gentlemen.”

Lu and Qi moved to avoid his bow.

Lu Guanyi said: “Please don’t stand on ceremony, Old Master Ye. Since we’re business partners, we’re one entity.”

He looked at Ye Yaming: “If you need any help with this matter, please don’t hesitate to ask. Your well-being ensures our well-being. Otherwise, this business cannot continue.”

“Yes, indeed,” Qi Ji agreed.

They hadn’t bought tea mountains yet, and spring tea hadn’t emerged. Since their partnership began, they’d only done business with tea ware.

But the tea setting concept was proposed by Ye Yaming, the tea ware was designed by her, and the tea ware sold through the Capital’s Jixiang Tower was related to her concepts and designs.

As for themselves, they had merely gone to Xinping Town and selected a pottery workshop, having the porcelain masters create the tea ware. This step required the least technical skill.

Even without them, the Ye family had already produced tea ware before.

Now, for buying tea mountains, Ye Yaming had also given them a clear direction.

Though whether Huizhou truly had suitable tea mountains still needed verification, Ye Yaming had always been reliable. Throughout their cooperation, every word she said, even if it seemed incredible at the time, had proven entirely feasible, with results exceeding expectations.

While Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji, apart from using their status and position to protect the Ye family due to their family backgrounds, hadn’t contributed much.

Therefore, facing the gratitude of Ye Chongming and Ye Yaming, the two men felt genuinely apologetic.

“Good, if there’s any need, we definitely won’t stand on ceremony.”

Ye Yaming turned to Qi Ji with a smile: “The Yang family conducts business unscrupulously, harming lives. Mr. Qi can send people to inquire about this matter to confirm.”

“We’ve been investigating these matters for some time. When the issues are exposed, regarding Prefect Qi, we ask Mr. Qi to put in a good word for us. There’s no need to do much, just to punish the Yang family according to the law.”

Qi Ji quickly replied: “No problem, no problem.”

Ye Yaming looked at Lu Guanyi: “These matters shouldn’t take long. I estimate we can depart on the twentieth of this month.”

“No rush. When you’re ready to leave, just send someone to notify me,” Lu Guanyi said.

After leaving Jixiang Tower and returning to Lu Guanyi’s residence, Qi Ji, who had held back his thoughts the entire way, spoke as soon as they entered: “The Ye family is truly strange. It seems the decision-maker isn’t Old Master Ye, but this Miss Ye who has just come of age not long ago.”

“The capable rise, the mediocre fall. Miss Ye is intelligent, quick-witted, and exceptionally courageous. It’s not surprising that she takes charge in the Ye family,” Lu Guanyi replied.

After saying this, he smiled: “When I initially chose the Ye family as our partner, I was somewhat concerned.”

Qi Ji looked at him in surprise: “Concerned about what?”

“Concerned that the Ye family might be too kind-hearted but lacking in capability.”

Lu Guanyi stopped walking, turned around, and gazed in the direction of the Capital: “You should know that no matter who we partner with, it can’t be hidden from those people in the Capital. Publicly, His Highness has many political enemies; privately, my dear stepmother is quite formidable.”

“They’re wary of our status and don’t dare to move against you and me, so naturally, their target would become the Ye family. Once the Ye family is broken, our plans would fail.”

“Moreover, at that time, the Ye family had the private tea incident. This matter could be made big or small, but those people in the Capital could use this handle to destroy the Ye family.”

He entered the hall and sat down, taking the tea handed by the servant: “Fortunately, the Ye family handled this matter very decisively at the time. They were also recommended by Master Zhi Neng, and there were no better partners in Lin’an city, so I decided to cooperate with them.”

He took a sip of tea and placed the cup on the table: “Later, the Ye family sent Meng Chengwei to prison, exiled thousands of miles away, which I never expected. At that time, I was puzzled, thinking I had misjudged. Later, the matter with Song Yifeng revealed some clues.”

He looked at Qi Ji: “Do you remember when I verbally tested Old Master Ye?”

Qi Ji nodded.

“That’s when I discovered this wasn’t Old Master Ye’s handiwork at all. I separately tested First Master Ye Hongchang and Young Master Ye Jiaxing, and it wasn’t them either. At that time, Second Master Ye was in the Capital, and I had also spoken with him. In terms of strategy, he wasn’t even as good as his nephew.”

“That’s when I suspected it was Miss Ye’s strategy. The intelligence and wisdom Miss Ye displayed at Chongshan Temple far exceeded the Ye family members. And today’s conversation finally confirmed this for me.”

As he said this, a smile appeared on Lu Guanyi’s handsome face: “This is truly an unexpected delight. With someone like her in the Ye family, we can rest assured.”