Ye Yaming hadn’t looked at the register yet. Only when Antai’s side sent over the list did she examine it carefully, circling the names of people who could stay. These nine individuals were either long-time servants of the Lu family or honest and simple people who weren’t favored by Madam Shi and Lu Guanyu.

Additionally, Antai had provided a list of those who had caused trouble yesterday.

“What were they trying to do?” she asked Antai.

Antai had originally been a chubby boy, but after spending two years at the border with Lu Guanyi, training with soldiers and riding into battle, he had slimmed down, grown taller, and his skin had darkened. He looked completely different from when Ye Yaming first met him.

A barely noticeable blush appeared on his dark skin. “Uh, well… they put drugs in the wine, hoping to embarrass you and the Heir.”

It was exactly as she had imagined. Ye Yaming’s expression immediately darkened.

“Was it the Second Young Master’s order?” she asked.

“They say it was a kitchen maid who received favors from Madam Shi, who added drugs to the wine. We couldn’t trace the Second Young Master’s involvement directly. But he definitely couldn’t have been uninvolved,” Antai said indignantly.

“The Second Young Master probably thought that by doing this, our Heir wouldn’t be able to catch him red-handed. Even if this were brought before the Marquis, he could claim innocence and accuse our Heir of falsely accusing him. But our Heir didn’t confront him immediately or question the Second Young Master directly. He plans to write to the Marquis after he returns to the border. By then, no matter how the Second Young Master tries to deny it, the Marquis will have seeds of doubt planted in his mind.”

At this point, Antai looked at Ye Yaming with admiration: “My Lady, this is largely thanks to your cautious attitude at the time, which left an impression on the Marquis.”

In truth, even if Ye Yaming had drunk from that ceremonial wedding cup, nothing would have happened because they had already secretly replaced the wine.

Ye Yaming’s display of distrust toward the servants of the Martial Marquis’s mansion had slightly displeased the Marquis at the time, but he must have also become suspicious. Later, when Lu Guanyi reported that they had caught the culprit and produced evidence, regardless of whether Lu Guanyu had ordered it or the kitchen maid had acted on her own, the blame would fall on Lu Guanyu’s head.

Ye Yaming gave a thumbs up: “You master and servant are both impressive.”

Back at the Ye family, she had been responsible for managing all household affairs, big and small. Now with Lu Guanyi and his subordinates helping, things were resolved before she even had to step in. This feeling was quite nice.

Since she and Lu Guanyi were still in their honeymoon period and hadn’t even made a formal visit home yet, she put this matter aside without dealing with it.

The next day, having nothing to do after waking up, and with Lu Guanyi reluctant to be sent to the front courtyard by Ye Yaming, he suggested, “How about I take you to tour the old residence today, and then see the separate courtyard where I usually live?”

Ye Yaming brightened up: “That sounds wonderful!”

She knew that marriage required effort to maintain. Lu Guanyi could only stay in the capital for just over two months; after the New Year, he would have to return to the border. It would be best for them to spend more time together to nurture their relationship.

Sitting face-to-face and forcing conversation would be uncomfortable. Going out for a walk together now was the perfect solution.

So Lu Guanyi had a carriage prepared and took Ye Yaming to the old residence.

“My father grew up here. Later, when he was granted the title of Marquis and given a mansion, he moved to the Marquis residence. However, my grandparents always lived in the old residence. Before my grandfather passed away, I also lived here. I rarely went to the Marquis residence.”

At this point, he revealed a mocking smile.

Ye Yaming patted his arm in consolation.

“Then why didn’t you stay here after your grandfather passed away? Why did you move to a separate courtyard?” she asked.

Lu Guanyi had told her that the separate courtyard was quite far away, in an area where common people lived, not in the same district as the wealthy and noble residents of the Marquis mansion and old residence.

She wanted to know what had driven Lu Guanyi away from even the old residence, forcing him to move to a separate courtyard.

Lu Guanyi’s mocking expression deepened: “After my grandfather passed away, I should have continued living in the old residence, but Madam Shi, wanting to control me, sent many servant girls there. When I drove them out, they would cry at the gate, causing people to point fingers at me.”

“I simply went to Jiangnan. When His Highness the Crown Prince heard about it, he granted me that mansion in Lin’an. When I later returned to the capital, I didn’t go back to the old residence but bought a separate courtyard to live in.”

Ye Yaming felt increasingly sympathetic toward him.

In her previous life, although her parents weren’t affectionate, they hadn’t produced illegitimate children. Money was never lacking, and they maintained a decent facade, occasionally showing concern. After she came of age and took control of the family business, they had to curry favor with her.

In this life, the Ye family’s treatment of her was beyond reproach.

“Things are better now. Good deeds will be rewarded, and evil will be punished. Our good days are ahead of us. Let’s look forward,” she said.

“Mm.” Lu Guanyi gripped her hand tightly. “Like you, I don’t seek great wealth or honor. I only hope for peace and joy, for us to live a good life together.”

Ye Yaming stopped walking and looked at him, her expression solemn.

“There are some things I should have made clear when we got engaged, but at that time, the engagement was a tactical move to avoid trouble, so I didn’t mention them. When you returned from the border to discuss our marriage, I had intended to say it, but then we were granted imperial marriage, and there was no opportunity to speak up.”

Lu Guanyi’s smile faded, and he asked somewhat nervously, “What things? Tell me.”

“In our Ye family, we’ve never had the custom of taking concubines. Because of this, our family is harmonious and has maintained proper conduct. You also know that I originally planned to have my husband marry into our family, or if not, I planned to marry a commoner. The reason I was unwilling to marry someone from a family equal to or better than the Ye family was that I could not tolerate my husband taking concubines.”

Her eyes were full of sincerity: “If you want to take concubines, I won’t stop you, but don’t expect me to continue treating you as I do now. In that case, I would stay in Lin’an, and you would be at the border or in the capital. We couldn’t possibly stay together.”

“I know these words may not align with popular opinion. People might think I’m jealous and intolerant. But this is who I am, and I won’t change. I have a spiritual cleanliness obsession—a husband, like a toothbrush, is not to be shared with others.”

Looking at her beautiful eyes filled with unusual seriousness, Lu Guanyi smiled.

He subdued his smile and said solemnly, “Rest assured, even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t take concubines. Perhaps because my experiences have been more complicated than others, I tend to think deeply about things that Qi Ji wouldn’t overthink.”

“Among the noble families in the capital, those with many conflicts and even great troubles are mostly households with complex family structures—many concubines and many children born of concubines. Families without concubines are generally harmonious, with few conflicts.”

“And your family is exactly the kind I aspire to. Perhaps there are some minor conflicts among your family members, but no matter what happens, you all consider each other’s feelings and are willing to sacrifice much for each other.”