The day after the banquet, Ye Hongchang, Ye Hongsheng, and Madam Yin took the two children back to Lin’an. Ye Yaming, having nothing scheduled that day, went to see them off.

At the city gate, she got out of her carriage to advise Ye Hongsheng: “Father, after the New Year, you should just stay in Lin’an. When spring comes and I return to make tea, you needn’t come.”

“Not come?” Ye Hongsheng hesitated.

After the New Year, it would be nearly the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, and by the end of the second month, tea-making would begin. With only a month in between, traveling back and forth would be troublesome.

But the tea house was his creation, and he was somewhat concerned about it; most likely, his wife and daughter were also concerned about their pastry shop. He was conflicted about whether to come to the capital after the New Year.

“Traveling against the wind and snow is exhausting. If you fall ill from all this journeying back and forth, what then?” Ye Yaming said.

Beside them, Ye Hongchang, who was about to speak, quietly closed his mouth after hearing these words.

Ye Yaming looked at him and said, “Uncle, please speak your mind.”

Ye Hongchang said, “I’ve already asked your father if he’d like to stay permanently in the capital. He seemed interested. I just wanted to ask if they can manage the tea production without him. If they can’t, then forget I mentioned it.”

“They can manage without him. Only this year’s spring tribute tea requires my father and me to personally handle it. For the rest, we can leave it to the tea masters. I’ve specifically assigned people to inspect the tea quality, so my father doesn’t need to stay in Lin’an all the time.”

Ye Yaming continued, “Uncle, are you thinking of staying in Lin’an permanently?”

Ye Hongchang nodded. “That’s what I’m considering.”

He explained, “The tea house is more important than the tea pavilion, and it would be best if your father managed the tea house here in the capital. The tea pavilion can be handled well enough by the manager.”

Previously, the Ye family’s main businesses were the tea garden in Baifeng County, the tea pavilions in the capital and Lin’an, and the tea shop and tea factory in Lin’an. The tea garden only needed management during the tea production season. He and his father each managed one tea pavilion. The tea shop was originally managed by Ye Hongrong, while the tea factory was under Ye Hongsheng’s supervision.

Ye Chongming had to oversee all the Lin’an businesses, so naturally, his eldest son would manage the capital’s operations.

Now that the Ye family had expanded their businesses, the capital’s tea pavilion had become relatively insignificant. Even the Collection of Fragrances shop in the capital earned more than twice the tea pavilion’s revenue during slow seasons, not to mention the earnings from Huizhou and Minzhou.

As such, there was no real need for him to guard this position. If something needed guarding, it was the tea house, not the tea pavilion.

But when it came to dealing with nobility, his previously inarticulate second brother was more suitable than himself. Having been in business for many years, he had become too diplomatic, which didn’t endear him to the nobility. His second brother’s honest and straightforward nature had won their favor, not to mention that the nobles knew he was the father of the Marquis of Xianwu’s heir’s wife, and would show him some respect.

“Besides, I’ve been away from home for many years, and it’s time I went back to accompany your aunt and your cousin,” Ye Hongchang smiled. “Your mother has her shop in the capital, so she can accompany your father here. When you’re in the capital, the family can be together.”

“Of course, this is just my idea. The final arrangement should be determined by your grandfather and you,” Ye Hongchang added.

Ye Yaming smiled, “Thank you, Uncle. Your arrangement genuinely considers my parents’ situation, and I’m grateful on their behalf. Since you have this thought, I certainly have no objection. After you return, please discuss it with Grandfather. If he agrees, I’d trouble you to come to the capital once more after the New Year. My father and I won’t be able to return to the capital until mid-March. During those two months, we’ll need you to oversee things here.”

“Certainly,” Ye Hongchang naturally agreed.

After bidding farewell to her family, Ye Yaming remained busy. Besides attending banquets, she also had to prepare New Year gifts.

Families in the capital who were close to the Lu family, to Lu Guanyi, or herself all exchanged New Year gifts. Additionally, there was Lu Third Elder Master’s household to consider. She had to carefully select appropriate gifts for all of them.

During the New Year, other mansions were lively and bustling, but the Marquis of Xianwu’s household had only Lu Guanyi and Ye Yaming celebrating, making it feel quiet and empty.

Yet Lu Guanyi said, “Although it’s just the two of us, I find it more lively than in previous years.”

Since his grandparents’ passing, he had dreaded the New Year.

Fearing that Madam Shi might harm him, he preferred to bear a bad reputation rather than return to the Marquis of Xianwu’s mansion. Concerned that Madam Shi might trouble Lu Bin, he didn’t dare go to Lu Third Elder Master’s place either, and spent the holiday alone in a separate courtyard.

Later, the Crown Prince took pity on him and invited him to the Eastern Palace to celebrate with his advisors.

Celebrating with the advisors, with the Crown Prince coming to offer greetings and sharing a few drinks, along with song and dance performances—the atmosphere was quite festive. But even amidst the crowd, he remained lonely at heart.

This year, though there were only two people and the mansion was quiet, with this person by his side, Lu Guanyi felt his life was complete, his heart warmer and more peaceful than ever before.

Lu Guanyi raised his cup, clinked it with Ye Yaming’s, his eyes brimming with affection: “Mingʼer, thank you for agreeing to marry me.”

“Thank you, and I feel the same,” Ye Yaming gazed at his handsome face, experiencing a moment of disorientation.

She had been in this ancient world for three years, and everything from the modern world felt like a distant dream, becoming less real. She had built a career here and married Lu Guanyi. In this moment, she truly didn’t know whether she was Zhuangzi dreaming of being a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming of being Zhuangzi—which life was real?

Nevertheless, “where the heart finds peace is home.” Regardless, in this life, she had family who loved her and a husband who cherished her. She hoped that every New Year’s Eve in this life would be like tonight, with someone who loved her and whom she liked beside her, sweet and loving, growing old together.

She raised her cup to clink with Lu Guanyi’s again, giving him a charming smile: “I hope every year will be like today, and every day will be like tomorrow.”

Lu Guanyi clinked glasses with her, drained his cup, then took out an exquisite wooden box and presented it to Ye Yaming: “This is my gift to you.”

Ye Yaming opened the box and exclaimed in surprise: “Jadeite?”

If she had any preferences in her previous life, besides fine food, her favorite jewelry was jadeite. She loved that verdant greenness. In her previous life, she had a complete set of imperial green glass-type jadeite jewelry.

When they were preparing for their engagement, Lu Guanyi had asked what kind of jewelry she liked, and she had mentioned it casually.

It was truly just a casual remark. Even though she had changed time and space, the geographical location remained the same. The Great Jin didn’t produce jadeite locally; people here favored mutton-fat jade.

Ye Yaming hadn’t expected Lu Guanyi to find such a set of jewelry for her!

She picked up a jade pendant from the box and examined it closely.

Lu Guanyi, somewhat anxious, leaned in and asked, “How is it? Is it the kind of jade you wanted?”

“Yes,” Ye Yaming smiled sweetly at him and spontaneously kissed his cheek. “It’s exactly what I wanted.”