She had many identities—she was the next head of the Ye family, the wife of the heir to the Xuanwu Marquis Estate, and in the future, she would be the mother of her children. In her previous life, she had dedicated all her energy to her career. In this life, since she chose to marry and have children, she also wanted to devote part of her energy to her family and children.

A person’s energy is ultimately limited. She needed a capable assistant, not someone like Xu Zan or Bai Rui, but someone with commoner status who could represent her in negotiations and social engagements.

Ye Chongming was old, Ye Hongchang was mediocre, Ye Jiaxing was too inexperienced, and Ye Hongsheng was focused on technology and would be outmaneuvered by those old foxes in the business world. Ye Hongrong, however, would be a good candidate.

Both Ye Chongming and Ye Hongrong were somewhat surprised by Ye Yaming’s words.

One was his granddaughter, and one was his son. Ye Chongming didn’t beat around the bush and directly asked Ye Yaming, “You want your Fourth Uncle to stay here and work? Doing what?”

Ye Yaming said, “For example, if there’s something that needs to be handled in the capital and I can’t go conveniently, Fourth Uncle can go on my behalf. If there’s business in Minzhou or Huizhou that I can’t attend to, and servants lack the authority, then Fourth Uncle would have to make the trip. Wherever there’s something to be dealt with and I can’t go, Fourth Uncle would go in my place.”

She looked at Ye Hongrong, “This would be quite taxing. And the matters are diverse and complicated. Since you’re scheduled to depart in three days, there’s no rush to give me an answer. Think about it first, and you can respond tomorrow or the day after.”

Ye Hongrong indeed needed to think about it.

He nodded, “All right.”

Ye Chongming understood what Ye Yaming meant.

She was pregnant now, and not just for this year—even after her confinement period, it wouldn’t be convenient for her to travel about, as the child would still be young. And after giving birth to this child, she would continue to have more.

Moreover, she not only had the affairs of the Xuanwu Marquis Estate to handle, but also all the matters of the Ye family. She needed to command from the capital or Lin’an, just as he was doing now.

The Ye family’s business had expanded greatly. In the past, they had Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji to help manage. But now Lu Guanyi had gone to the border, and Qi Ji, as the son of an official family, was only dabbling in business as a passing fancy—he couldn’t possibly turn himself into a merchant.

So these businesses ultimately fell to the Ye family and their stewards.

And some matters, such as dealing with local officials and prominent figures, couldn’t be handled by stewards and required a proper master to appear in person.

Ye Hongchang was over forty, no longer young, and couldn’t endure such travel. Although Ye Hongsheng had made some progress, he ultimately wasn’t the kind of person with the skill and ability to outmaneuver those old foxes.

In the end, only Ye Hongrong and Ye Jiaxing remained.

By comparison, Ye Hongrong had mixed with dandies and people from all walks of life in his earlier years. He knew something of both legitimate and underworld ways. These past two years, he had been running things in Huizhou on his own, building his capacity. He handled matters with flexibility, capable of using any tactic within the boundaries of the rules. There was a shadow of Ye Yaming in him.

In contrast, Ye Jiaxing—who had been taught by him and Ye Hongchang to be an obedient child—was too conventional and righteous, lacking vigilance against others. He would be defeated if someone used slightly underhanded methods against him.

Thinking this way, Ye Chongming looked at his youngest son differently.

He said meaningfully, “Hongrong, your eldest brother has spent over ten years in the teahouse in the capital, his eyes only able to see that small space. If you also only stay in Huizhou, in the future, you’ll only see that little patch of land. Now you have an opportunity to broaden your horizons—it would be too regrettable to miss it. Of course, where you go is your own decision. I’m just saying this.”

He waved his hand, “All right, you may go now.”

Ye Hongrong made a bow and retreated.

Madam Zhang left the main hall with him and asked, “What did Father-in-law mean? Does he think that position Yaming mentioned is a good post?”

She was displeased by what Ye Yaming had said.

Wasn’t that just wearing someone out? Ye Yaming would serve as the family head, not going anywhere herself, but would dispatch Ye Hongrong to run all over? So all the benefits would be hers, while all the hard work would be Ye Hongrong’s? Treating Ye Hongrong like an errand boy?

If Ye Yaming’s status hadn’t changed, she would have confronted her directly.

But her father-in-law’s words confused her.

Three years ago, Ye Hongrong might not have even understood what Ye Yaming and Ye Chongming meant. Even if he had understood, he wouldn’t have been willing to take on this task.

The position was good, but indeed arduous, and everything would have to be done according to Ye Yaming’s wishes. How could that be as comfortable as being the head in Huizhou?

But now, as he traveled back and forth to Huizhou, learning from Ye Yaming’s example to make the journey more comfortable, he didn’t find going to Huizhou or Minzhou particularly difficult. On the contrary, being able to travel and see different places made him happier than staying in one place.

Moreover, he genuinely admired Ye Yaming’s character and abilities. Being able to stay by her side, learning her business acumen and methods of handling affairs, would be greatly beneficial for him. Additionally, the significance behind this matter also tempted him.

He waved his hand, dismissing the servants, and only then said to Madam Zhang, “Taking on this role means that in the Ye family, apart from Father and Yaming, I would be the most important. Of course, Second Brother is Yaming’s father, so I can’t surpass him. But at least my words would carry more weight than Eldest Brother’s.”

Madam Zhang’s eyes immediately brightened, “Really?”

Ye Hongrong nodded.

Madam Zhang grabbed his arm, “Then what are you waiting for? Quickly go back and tell Father-in-law and Yaming that you’re willing. If you don’t accept, Eldest Brother and Jiaxing might snatch it away.”

“But that way, it would be very tiring, and I would often be away from home, unable to spend much time with you and the children,” Ye Hongrong said with a smile.

“Oh, that’s nothing to worry about. These past two years, when you weren’t in Lin’an, weren’t we just fine? As for being tired, you’re still young, so it’s okay to work hard. Eldest Brother has been traveling to and from the capital these years, and Second Brother spends half a year at a time on the mountain; they’ve all been through hardships.”

She lowered her voice, “Hongrong, Yaming is ultimately a person of the Marquis Estate. Her children will not become the head of the Ye family. When she gets older and has less energy, who knows who will take over as the family head?”

“No need to mention the second branch. In the household, it’s just the first branch and our fourth branch competing. If you become a person of importance in the Ye family, suppressing the first branch, and I carefully raise and educate Rui and Ning, perhaps they could become the head of the Ye family.”

“Before, the first branch had the eldest son and eldest grandson, so we had no right to compete. Now it’s different. If you don’t fight for your sons, do you want to be forever looked down upon by Father and Eldest Brother, and despised by Eldest Sister-in-law?”

That last sentence struck at the core of Ye Hongrong’s heart.