They had gone to the post station to negotiate with Chen Zhen in the morning, and by the afternoon, Lu Guanyi had arrived. Accompanying him were servants carrying gifts and Master Zhineng, who was acting as their matchmaker.

“Ha ha, Master Zhineng honors us with his presence, brightening our humble home!” Ye Chongming personally went out to welcome Master Zhineng.

Over the past two years, the Ye family’s relationship with Master Zhineng had grown even closer. Except for the time she spent in Huizhou and Minzhou, Ye Yaming made time every month to visit Chongshan Temple, bringing personally made tea and carefully prepared snacks from her kitchen to visit Master Zhineng, and even brewing tea for him herself.

Because of the propriety between men and women, Ye Chongming always accompanied her on these visits.

Therefore, not only did she offer Master Zhineng jasmine tea she had made and the Iron Goddess tea she had brought back from Minzhou, but the day after sending black tea to Lu Guanyi at the border, Ye Yaming had gone to Chongshan Temple to present some black tea to Master Zhineng as well.

Her later works, “Tea Art” and “Tea Ceremony,” were also sent to Master Zhineng first, asking for his review to see if there were any parts that weren’t well-written or appropriate.

So when Lu Guanyi went to invite him at noon today, Master Zhineng very happily accompanied him to the Ye family home.

After everyone entered the hall and took their seats, Master Zhineng fulfilled his responsibility as a matchmaker by discussing the wedding date with Ye Chongming.

Although Ye Chongming already knew the date the young couple had set from Ye Yaming, as the girl’s family, he had to show some restraint, expressing his reluctance to let his granddaughter marry and his wish to keep her at home a bit longer.

He repeatedly indicated that he wanted Ye Yaming to marry later, trying to push the wedding date back as much as possible.

After Master Zhineng’s repeated persuasion, Ye Chongming finally agreed to the ninth day of the tenth month as the wedding date.

After confirming the wedding date, Ye Chongming earnestly said to Lu Guanyi: “Zi Mo, I think you know my family’s situation. Although I have three sons, they are not as clever as Ming’er combined. It can be said that the Ye family’s success today is entirely due to Ming’er. That’s why I removed the eldest son from the position of family head and made Ming’er the next family head, which all three of my sons agreed to.”

“Now that Dragon Well has become a tribute tea, and black tea will be transported to Great Jin, this is no longer just a matter for our Ye family but concerns the court. The tea and tea utensil businesses in Huizhou and Minzhou are also related to you and Young Master Qi. All these matters depend on Ming’er. So, after she marries, could you give her some time and freedom to return to Lin’an occasionally to manage the business affairs?”

Ye Yaming had discussed this with Ye Chongming, but he felt it would be better if he brought it up with Lu Guanyi himself.

His request wasn’t excessive, just “occasionally” would be fine. This would prevent Lu Guanyi from becoming dissatisfied and treating Ye Yaming coldly.

Hearing Ye Chongming’s humble plea, Ye Yaming felt both touched and saddened for the women of this era.

In modern times, even after marriage, women still have personal freedom and the right to work. But in this ancient time, once married, a woman needed her husband’s family’s permission for everything, even to visit her maiden home.

She looked toward Lu Guanyi.

Although this marriage was bestowed by the Emperor and couldn’t be easily dissolved, and Lu Guanyi had previously agreed to let her return to Lin’an to manage affairs, his response now would determine her attitude toward him in the future.

Lu Guanyi’s attitude was equally sincere.

He said: “Grandfather, please rest assured, Yaming has discussed this with me. After our marriage, we will stay until after the New Year. After the fifteenth day of the first month, I will go to the border, and Yaming will return to Lin’an. From then on, she will live in Lin’an. What she does is too important to the court, and I won’t confine her at home and prevent her from doing her work.”

Ye Chongming’s face immediately showed a relieved smile: “Thank you, Zi Mo.”

Old Mrs. Ye and Ye Hongsheng both showed satisfied expressions.

Although Madam Yin didn’t have any particular feelings about whether Ye Yaming worked or not, she was very happy to hear that Ye Yaming would regularly live in Lin’an.

She had no son, so naturally, she hoped her daughter would marry nearby so they could look after each other.

Master Zhineng also approved from the side: “That’s right, Zi Mo. A child like Yaming has received heaven and earth’s spiritual essence and is favored by the gods. If you were to confine her to the inner chambers, even heaven might not agree.”

These words resonated with Ye Chongming.

Lu Guanyi gestured to Antai, who passed a small box toward Bai Rui.

“These are the keys to my residence in Lin’an City and bank notes worth eighty thousand taels. After my grandparents passed away, they left their savings to me. Aside from our cooperation, investing in the tea business, and the betrothal money, most of what remains is here. Ming’er, you can furnish that courtyard however you like; whatever you need to add, how many servants to hire, it’s up to you.”

The act of handing over his “salary card” greatly satisfied Ye Yaming.

She wasn’t short of money; what she wanted was Lu Guanyi’s attitude.

She didn’t stand on ceremony: “Alright, then I’ll take this money for now.”

Bai Rui stepped forward and accepted the box.

Ye Yaming then asked: “Do you have any requirements for how to furnish the residence or what things to add?”

Lu Guanyi shook his head: “I don’t have any requirements. Just follow your preferences.”

As the two conversed about domestic matters like an old married couple, Master Zhineng and the four members of the Ye family were both surprised and somewhat amused.

Ye Chongming naturally hoped for a good relationship between Ye Yaming and Lu Guanyi and wanted them to spend more time together talking.

So he invited them to stay: “Master Zhineng, are you in a hurry to return to the temple? Why don’t we sit in the garden, have a cup of tea? You could leave after dinner?”

Master Zhineng naturally knew that Ye Chongming wanted to keep his future grandson-in-law, and stroking his beard, he smiled: “I’m not busy, but Zi Mo has no time.”

Lu Guanyi apologetically said: “Grandfather, I have to return to the Capital City with Lord Chen early tomorrow morning, and then go to the border. I also want to visit the Qi household for a while.”

When Ye Chongming heard this, he immediately said: “Of course, of course.”

Lu Guanyi was Madam Qi’s nephew and had a good relationship with Qi Ji. Naturally, he needed to visit the Qi household during his trip to Lin’an. As the soon-to-be grandfather-in-law, Ye Chongming naturally hoped his future grandson-in-law would maintain a good relationship with Magistrate Qi.

After they left, Ye Chongming said to Ye Yaming: “Let’s go to the main chamber. We need to discuss your dowry.”

“There’s nothing to discuss, is there? However, you prepared the dowry for Second Sister, just prepare the same for me. I have no objections.”

The Ye family had given Ye Yaqing a dowry of two shops in Lin’an City, one estate, various jewelry and silk fabrics, and two thousand taels of silver as her bottom-drawer money.

“Your grandmother and your mother have looked at several shops for you, and there are also several estates. Choose what you like. Besides, don’t you have your own money? If there’s something good, buy it together to save you time and effort in selecting later,” Ye Chongming said.