She truly admired Lu Guanyi’s discipline. After being active for most of the night, he could still get up early in the morning to practice martial arts—his self-discipline was truly unmatched.

Prepare water with a few drops of essential oil. I want to soak in a hot bath,” she instructed.

“Miss, the water is already prepared, and the essential oil has been added,” Bai Rui’s voice came from the doorway.

They had come early, making sure Lu Guanyi wasn’t in the room before entering.

“Nanny Xia, go rest. Let them take over here,” Ye Yaming said to Nanny Xia.

Last night, Nanny Xia only got to rest in the later part of the night. Concerned that Ye Yaming might have further instructions, she probably hadn’t slept soundly.

“This old servant would prefer to accompany Miss to pay respects with tea before resting,” Nanny Xia said.

She was worried that the Marquis and the second young master might embarrass her mistress.

Now that the young miss had married into this family, she no longer had her natal family members around. As a servant given to Ye Yaming by the Ye family’s Old Lady, she could at least speak up for her mistress at critical moments.

Ye Yaming went to the washroom and soaked well in the hot water, finally feeling more comfortable.

Seeing Ye Yaming fully dressed, Lu’E brought forth the cosmetic box, but Ye Yaming only applied some skincare products before stopping.

“Miss, aren’t you going to put on makeup?” Lu’E asked.

Yesterday, after Ye Yaming had applied makeup, who wasn’t stunned by her beauty? Even the servants who had attended to Ye Yaming for many years couldn’t take their eyes off her.

It was truly a dazzling beauty.

Lu’E wished Ye Yaming would wear makeup every day, letting those arrogant servants of the Marquis Xuanwu’s household see with their own eyes how exceptionally beautiful her mistress was, more than worthy of their young master.

Ye Yaming shook her head. “We’re going to meet the Marquis soon. It’s not appropriate to wear makeup.”

Without makeup, her appearance was already exceptionally striking. If she wore makeup and paraded in front of Lu Zhongyong with a face even more beautiful than usual, the ill-intentioned servants of the Marquis Xuanwu’s household would surely spread rumors and damage her reputation.

Only someone with water in their brain would do something so foolish.

Hearing this, Lu’E was so annoyed with herself that she wanted to slap her face. “I’m sorry, Miss. This servant wasn’t thinking again.”

“In the future, it’s best to think more before speaking or acting. Think three times before speaking, and ensure everything is thoroughly considered before taking action,” Ye Yaming said.

“Yes, this servant will remember.”

“Young Master,” Hongye’s voice came from outside, followed by the curtain being lifted as Lu Guanyi entered.

Ye Yaming raised her eyes and met his gaze.

Lu Guanyi’s eyes immediately softened, and his tone carried a tenderness not usually present. “You’re up?”

“Yes,” Ye Yaming smiled. “You went to practice martial arts?”

“Yes, I worked up a sweat, so I took a bath in the outer courtyard before returning.”

As newlyweds still unaccustomed to each other, he feared Ye Yaming might feel uncomfortable if he returned to bathe, so he bathed outside before coming back.

“It’s getting late. Shall we go to the main courtyard?” Ye Yaming stood up.

Lu Guanyi nodded. “Let’s go.”

The two walked out one after the other.

An Tai, who had been waiting outside the door, saw the two emerge and noticed Lu Guanyi nodding to him. He quickly headed to the front courtyard.

The young master had instructed him earlier, saying he was concerned that if he and the young mistress arrived too early, the Marquis and the second young master might not yet be there. He asked An Tai to specifically remind them.

Based on the Marquis’s years of inattention toward the young master, and the second young master’s hatred toward him, An Tai felt this reminder was very necessary.

After leaving the room, Lu Guanyi waited a moment. When Ye Yaming caught up, they walked side by side. When descending the steps, he reached out to steady her.

Concerned that she might be nervous about meeting Lu Zhongyong, he reassured her, “Don’t worry. My father may appear stern, but he’s not difficult to get along with. He puts almost all his energy into commanding troops and fighting battles, and doesn’t typically concern himself with minor household matters. He certainly won’t be harsh on his daughter-in-law.”

Ye Yaming smiled. “This is what they call ‘those who handle great matters don’t fuss over minor details.'”

Lu Guanyi also smiled. “Exactly.”

However, his smile quickly faded.

His father was indeed not difficult to get along with, as he had just said, but he hadn’t spent much time with his father either.

Before he could even form memories, Lu Zhongyong had remarried Lady Shi. After marrying Lady Shi, to avoid revealing his dislike and hatred for her during their interactions, Lu Zhongyong almost always stayed at the frontier and didn’t return. On the rare occasions when he did return, he dared not show too much concern for his eldest son, fearing Lady Shi might recklessly try to harm Lu Guanyi.

Although he knew his father cared about him, over the years, father and son were like strangers, not knowing what to say when they met.

Moreover, he was very dissatisfied with how his father had handled Lady Shi.

Lady Shi had caused the death of his mother, so why was she allowed to leave with her dowry intact? Just because she had given his father a son? Could it be that his father had feelings for her as well?

Wouldn’t that mean his mother died in vain?

Having married into the Marquis Xuanwu’s household, how could Ye Yaming not gather intelligence on the father and son? She could easily guess the situation between them.

Now, seeing Lu Guanyi’s complex expression when mentioning his father, she reached out and patted his arm reassuringly, asking, “In the future, will you continue to serve under the Great General Zhenbei?”

Lu Guanyi’s thoughts were immediately diverted. Bringing up this matter, his expression became even more complex. “I’ll probably be transferred to serve under my father after the New Year.”

At that time, he would have to interact with Lu Zhongyong day and night. The thought made him uncomfortable.

Thinking about Lu Zhongyong’s life, Ye Yaming sighed, “Father-in-law is aging, his energy is waning, and the situation in his army is complex. It’s appropriate for you to go help him. Besides, with your father’s position, you couldn’t stay under the General Zhenbei indefinitely anyway.”

Many soldiers under Lu Zhongyong’s command originally followed Shi Kun. When Duke Weiguo’s household fell, Shi Kun was executed, but it was impossible to kill all the hundred thousand soldiers under his command.

Replacing those openly loyal to him, removing Shi Kun’s covert agents placed in various positions, and winning the hearts of soldiers loyal to him was not easy. With the slightest carelessness, Lu Zhongyong could be assassinated.

Now in the Great Jin, apart from the army in the southwest, there were only two major forces in the north: the Zhenbei General in the northeast and Lu Zhongyong in the northwest. Lu Guanyi had initially gone to the Zhenbei General to seek refuge, but the Emperor would not allow him to control both armies.

Thinking about how, under such circumstances, his father had still traveled thousands of miles to attend his wedding, much of the resentment in Lu Guanyi’s heart dissipated.

He looked at Ye Yaming with gentle eyes and nodded, “Don’t worry, I know what to do. No matter what, he is still my father. Without his protection, I wouldn’t have survived until now.”

Without Lu Zhongyong’s overt and covert protection, how could two elderly people have withstood the immense power of the Duke Weiguo’s household, allowing him to safely reach the age of marriage?

[Note: Still in Guangzhou, this is a pre-written draft]