After a while, he dozed off in confusion.

When the Meng family moved to this residence, although smaller than their original mansion, it still had two courtyards and included a garden. Meng Xianzong and his steward were drinking in the outer courtyard. The Meng household now had fewer servants, and no one patrolled at night. Additionally, everyone in the Meng family slept deeply that night, so nobody noticed when an oil lamp in the main building of the outer courtyard tipped over, and the fire slowly spread along the path of the lamp oil.

By the time a neighbor who got up in the night saw the towering flames and shouted “Fire!”, the main building of the Meng family’s outer courtyard was already engulfed in flames.

The next day, news about the Meng family was reported to Ye Yaming: “Last night there was a fire at the Meng residence. Meng Xianzong, his steward, and his attendant were burned to death in the main building of the outer courtyard.”

Ye Yaming’s hand paused as she was drinking tea. “Did officials from the yamen come?”

“Yes. The coroner examined them and found smoke residue in their noses and mouths. After hearing from the household servants that Meng Xianzong was drinking with Steward Chen there last night and investigating the scene, they ruled it an accident.”

Ye Yaming put down her teacup. “Spread some rumors that Jia’an and the others have been anxious to free themselves from slave status these days.”

“Yes.”

“When the Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss hear about this matter later, don’t tell them that Meng Xianzong died. Just say he suffered a stroke after drinking wine sent by Jia’an and the others,” Ye Yaming added.

In her previous life, Meng Chengwei had caused the Ye family to lose everything. In this life, if she hadn’t taken proper precautions, the male members of the Ye family would have also died due to Meng Chengwei’s schemes, and her reputation would have been ruined in these past few days.

Therefore, Ye Yaming felt no psychological burden regarding Meng Xianzong’s death.

Besides, she had only used profit to tempt Jia’an and the others as a catalyst. Only heaven knew how things would develop. Even Ye Yaming herself hadn’t expected Jia’an and the others to be so ruthless. These household-born slaves, who had grown up in the Meng family since childhood, burned Meng Xianzong to death.

This could only be described as reaping what one sows.

If Meng Xianzong and his son hadn’t been so vicious, instructing Jia’an and the others to harm people using such methods, how would Jia’an and his people have become so terrifying, burning Meng Xianzong alive for just a small benefit?

So in this matter, Ye Yaming didn’t feel she was the main culprit. She had merely delivered a counterattack when the Meng family tried to scheme against her.

But Ye Yayin and Ye Yayu, those two innocent young ladies, might not think this way.

They might think that if their sister hadn’t sent someone to tempt Jia’an and the others, perhaps such a thing wouldn’t have happened. They would carry the shackles of these three lives on their conscience.

Ye Yaming naturally wouldn’t let such a thing happen.

After receiving this news, Ye Yaming didn’t inquire further about the matter, and Yun’er didn’t come to report any follow-up. Because the wedding date was approaching, the Ye family became busy with preparations.

The day before, Madam Zhou, as a woman of complete fortune, went with a group to set the bed at the Xuanwu Marquis Mansion. Upon returning, she praised the Marquis’s household to the Ye family members: “Previously, I thought Seventh Brother’s family was extremely wealthy, with a large and fine residence, eating and using only the finest things. But after visiting the Xuanwu Marquis Mansion, I finally understand what true wealth and nobility mean.”

“Is their residence very large?”

Madam Zhou shook her head. “I didn’t see the entire residence. I just followed them along the main central path to the courtyard where Ming’er will live to set the bed, and then we returned. I don’t know how large the residence is. But it takes the time of burning an incense stick just to walk from the main gate inside.”

“I’m saying their main gate itself looks magnificent—a tall, imposing red-lacquered gate. Inside, the painted beams and pillars are all resplendent with gold. And the way their servants dress and behave is also different from Seventh Brother’s household servants…”

The Ye family patriarch, Ye Chongxian, had come specifically to broaden his horizons. Normally, setting a bed wouldn’t require his presence, but he insisted on going. He felt this might be his only opportunity in life to visit a noble and powerful family’s home.

He also repeatedly praised the grandeur of the Xuanwu Marquis Mansion.

What made him most proud was: “Oh my! I’m nearly seventy years old, and the highest official I had previously met was just a village headman. Last time, when Seventh Brother’s second granddaughter got married, I was fortunate enough to meet the Prefect thanks to Third Miss. But do you know who I met this time?”

“Who did you meet? Could it be…” a young man who hadn’t gone tried to guess by pointing upward, not daring to say it aloud.

Ye Chongxian patted him and glared, saying, “I met our First Rank General, the Marquis of Xuanwu. My goodness, he was so imposing and intimidating. When he sat there, my legs almost went weak. I wasn’t even that timid when I met the Prefect back then.”

Ye Hongsheng, as the father-in-law, naturally couldn’t go to the Lu family to set the bed. But he was concerned about his daughter, so when he learned the clan members had returned, he rushed over to inquire about the situation.

As soon as he entered, he heard Ye Chongxian’s words.

He hurriedly came forward and asked, “Third Uncle, you saw the Marquis of Xuanwu? Wasn’t he said to be at the frontier? Has he returned?”

Seeing him arrive, Ye Chongxian immediately stood up and said, “Sit down, Hongsheng, come sit.”

The clan members quickly made room, letting Ye Hongsheng take the seat of honor.

After all, he was about to become the father-in-law of the Xuanwu Marquis’s heir, and tomorrow he would be able to sit as an equal with the First Rank General of military might. Hadn’t they noticed that after the patriarch visited the Marquis’s mansion, his attitude toward Ye Hongsheng became even more respectful?

Ye Hongsheng paid no attention to the seating. Without even looking, he sat directly in the space cleared by everyone, his eyes fixed intently on Ye Chongxian, and asked again, “Third Uncle, has the Marquis of Xuanwu returned?”

“Yes, yes, he just returned from the frontier yesterday.”

“How was his attitude toward you all?”

“Very courteous,” Ye Chongxian said. “He was extremely polite to me, and then ordered the kitchen to prepare a feast, insisting that we eat before allowing us to leave. I said there was no such custom, but he said he was a simple man and that the Xuanwu Marquis Mansion didn’t have many rules, telling us not to stand on ceremony. So we ate there before returning.”

He smacked his lips. “Many of the dishes at the feast were ones I’d never seen before, said to be of the highest quality.”

Whether it was meeting a First Rank General or eating a top-quality feast, all the clan members and Ye family servants who hadn’t gone felt extremely regretful.

Ye Chongxian, wise with age, knew well that Ye Hongsheng loved his daughter dearly. He understood that Ye Hongsheng’s questions weren’t like those of others who, like country bumpkins entering the city, had never seen the world and were merely curious. Ye Hongsheng was concerned about his daughter’s future life.

He continued, “Who are we? We’re nobody. We’re just Ming’er’s maternal family, which is why the Marquis treated us with such courtesy. Hongsheng, this shows how much the Marquis values this marriage. When Ming’er marries into their family, there won’t be a mother-in-law above her, her father-in-law values her, and the heir treats her well. You should just wait for her to marry in and enjoy good fortune.”