Ye Yaming and Ye Hongrong toured the city and visited other teahouses to gather information. When they returned at noon, they learned that Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji had gone to the Prefect’s residence as guests. Ye Hongrong was quite pleased about this.

He said, “They’ve given Prefect Lü generous gifts. Magistrate Qi has powerful backing, and he’ll certainly be promoted faster than Prefect Lü in the future. How could Prefect Lü not give him face? We’re also offering him a twenty percent stake. We’ll soon have Huizhou in our grasp.”

Unexpectedly, when Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji returned at noon, both looked rather displeased.

Behind them followed a young lady.

The girl was sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a bright red dress. Her features were strikingly beautiful, giving an impression of boldness and flamboyance at first glance.

The two men entered the inn, intending to go directly back to their courtyard, but the young lady asked the inn attendant, “Where is the young lady staying who came with Young Master Lu and Young Master Qi?”

This young miss from the Prefect’s household was someone who often roamed the streets, so the inn attendant recognized her immediately.

He dared not conceal anything and pointed to Ye Yaming’s courtyard, telling Lü Yan, “It’s the Tian Number Two Courtyard.”

Lü Yan glanced at Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji, then headed directly toward Ye Yaming’s courtyard with her maid.

Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji exchanged looks.

Qi Ji asked, “What should we do?”

Lu Guanyi frowned and called out to Lü Yan’s retreating figure, “Miss Lü, arriving uninvited is discourteous. As the daughter of an official family, surely you wouldn’t barge into a guest’s courtyard uninvited?”

Lü Yan turned back, smiling sweetly, “Young Master Lu is right.”

She tempered her smile and said to the attendant, “Go and inform the young lady in that courtyard that the Prefect’s daughter has come to visit.”

The attendant repeatedly acknowledged and hurried away.

Lü Yan smiled at Lu Guanyi, “I’ve sent someone to announce me. If that… what’s her name… oh, the Ye girl, if Miss Ye invites me in, then I’m not barging in uninvited, am I?”

Lu Guanyi’s expression was cold. “I don’t know why Miss Lü wishes to see Miss Ye. I only tell you that Miss Ye came with me and Qi Ji, and we have the responsibility to protect her from mistreatment.”

Lü Yan had grown up pampered by her father and brothers. Now at a rebellious age, she immediately felt anger rising upon hearing these words.

She let out a cold laugh, about to blurt something out, but seeing Lu Guanyi’s handsome face as solemn as water, she finally swallowed her words.

She exclaimed, “Young Master Lu, don’t you think your words are somewhat impolite? I’m merely visiting Miss Ye, not planning anything untoward.”

Hearing the attendant’s announcement, Ye Yaming guessed that this Miss Lü was a troublesome admirer drawn by Lu and Qi. Upon learning that a young lady had accompanied the two men, wouldn’t Miss Lü want to see what kind of person she was?

She had already reached the courtyard gate and heard the conversation between Lu Guanyi and Lü Yan. She quickly said to Fang Xing, “Please invite her in.”

Fang Xing hurried out, first bowing to Lu Guanyi, “Young Master Lu, Young Master Qi, you’ve returned?” Then turning to Lü Yan, “You must be the Prefect’s daughter, Miss Lü? Our miss invites you in for tea.”

“Such a small merchant’s daughter, yet putting on such airs, not even coming out to greet us when she heard we arrived,” Lü Yan muttered beside Lu Guanyi before stepping across the threshold.

Entering the courtyard, she saw Ye Yaming standing there.

The original owner of the body had possessed the gentleness and delicate nature typical of women from the Jiangnan water towns. Since Ye Yaming had transmigrated, except for a brief period at the beginning when she maintained the persona for consistency, she had gradually changed her demeanor as her influence in the Ye family increased, reverting to her true self. She practiced martial arts for exercise, making her body considerably stronger than before.

Now, Ye Yaming’s features remained delicate and beautiful, but her bearing was magnificent and dignified. When she looked at people, her gaze was direct and steady, her manner composed, giving others a subtle sense of pressure. Her every gesture carried a relaxed yet spirited air.

Seeing such a Ye Yaming suddenly, Lü Yan was momentarily stunned.

Ye Yaming nodded to her, “Miss Lü.”

Had a merchant’s daughter not approached her with a fawning smile and bow, Lü Yan would have been extremely displeased. Moreover, she had come looking for trouble.

But facing Ye Yaming, whose beauty exceeded her own and whose presence was formidable, Lü Yan felt a hint of timidity.

Qi Ji, worried that Lü Yan might cause trouble, quickly stepped forward to introduce them, “Miss Lü, this is Miss Ye. The Ye family is a tea dynasty that has been in the business for over a hundred years in Lin’an. Miss Ye’s grandfather is a close friend of Master Zhineng, and Miss Ye is highly regarded by Master Zhineng, who treats her like his own descendant.”

Seeing Lü Yan’s confused expression, clearly not knowing who Master Zhineng was, he had to lower his voice to clarify, “Master Zhineng is the Emperor’s cousin, the legitimate son of the old Prince Wei.”

Only then did Lü Yan understand.

She had vaguely heard someone mention Master Zhineng before and had some impression.

Seeing that she understood, Qi Ji then said to Ye Yaming, “This is Miss Lü Yan, daughter of Prefect Lü of Xin’an.”

“Miss Lü,” Ye Yaming nodded again, turning and gesturing, “Please come inside to talk.”

“Haha, no need, no need. I just heard Young Master Lu and Young Master Qi mention you and was curious, so I came to see. It’s getting late, and I should return home. Farewell.”

With that, Lü Yan nodded to everyone and turned to leave.

Qi Ji personally escorted Lü Yan to the inn’s entrance, watching her mount her horse and leave before heaving a great sigh of relief.

Ye Hongrong had stayed by Ye Yaming’s side when Lü Yan arrived. If Lü Yan had been discourteous, he would certainly have protected his niece’s safety.

Before leaving home, his father, mother, elder brother, and second sister-in-law had all given countless reminders. If anything happened to Ye Yaming, he would surely be flayed alive.

Now, seeing Qi Ji escorting Lü Yan out, he invited Lu Guanyi, “Young Master Lu, would you like to come in and sit for a while?”

Lu Guanyi nodded and entered the hall.

Ye Hongrong knew he wasn’t talkative, just like his own niece—if there was something to say, they’d say it; if not, they stayed silent. In their group, it was always Qi Ji who livened up the atmosphere.

He called for Zan’er to brew tea.

By the time Zan’er had prepared and brought the tea, Qi Ji had returned.

Qi Ji first gave Ye Yaming a cupped-hand salute, “Although it’s not our fault, I must still apologize to Miss Ye. This Miss Lü…”

He shook his head with a bitter smile.

It turned out that he had attended a banquet at the Lü residence last night and met Miss Lü there. Judging from Miss Lü’s conduct, it was clear she had been raised with indulgence by her parents. Upon seeing Qi Ji, she was instantly smitten. After all, Qi Ji was handsome and from a prominent family, with manners and bearing distinctly different from the young men of Xin’an.

After Qi Ji left, Lü Yan shared her feelings with her parents, and Prefect Lü Xuanlin and his wife also thought it would be a good match.