Princess Imperial Yu’an was an excellent person. Although she was six years older than Lu Zhongying, she was gentle, virtuous, considerate, and still beautiful.

After experiencing someone like Madam Shi, having Princess Imperial Yu’an as a companion might be good for Lu Zhongying.

Besides, if the arranged marriage could put the Emperor’s mind at ease regarding Lu Zhongying, that would be for the best. For a great general to sacrifice himself for righteousness and serve the country with utmost loyalty, while still being suspected by the Emperor, was a truly sad thing.

Yi Wu finally said, “Those comrades who entered the Marquis’s household as servants have heard that someone wishes to harm Madam, and they have volunteered for duty. After requesting permission from the young master, I’ve dispatched some people here, disguised in various roles, to protect Madam. They are all trusted by the young master and known to Madam. If they appear suddenly around madam, please don’t be too surprised.”

“Good, thank you all for your efforts,” Ye Yaming nodded.

“It’s because madam has been good to them; they are merely repaying your kindness,” Yi Wu said sincerely.

When soldiers and their families became servants in the Marquis’s household, many were clumsy and couldn’t perform well. As long as they didn’t make fundamental mistakes, Ye Yaming wouldn’t blame them and would even show concern. For those who were ill, she would pay for their treatment.

Most importantly, she treated them with sufficient respect.

“In three days, I’ll come down from the mountain, and afterward, I’ll stay at the Lu residence continuously, no longer staying at the Ye household,” Ye Yaming said.

Yi Wu let out a sigh of relief: “Thank you, madam.”

The Ye family had many people and complex situations; the Lu residence was simpler in all aspects, making it easier for them to protect Ye Yaming. He had been struggling with whether to discuss this matter with Ye Yaming, but unexpectedly, she had brought it up herself.

“Then I’ll arrange everything in these few days,” he said.

Ye Yaming stayed at the tea garden villa for three more days before taking a carriage down the mountain.

After arriving safely at the Lu residence, washing up, and having a meal, Zi Yuan reported that Yi Wu had something to report.

“Bring him in quickly,” Ye Yaming knew there must be news.

Yi Wu entered and got straight to the point: “Madam, Madam Shi is dead.”

With a “clang,” the book in Ye Yaming’s hand fell to the ground.

“What did you just say?”

“Madam Shi, the second young master’s mother, she’s dead.”

Ye Yaming still hadn’t regained her composure: “How did she die?”

“They say she was careless while descending stairs, fell onto a protrusion on the steps, cracked her head, and passed away after several days in a coma.”

Ye Yaming’s eyes narrowed to slits: “Was it the Princess of Zhennan’s doing? Is the accusation eventually going to point to me and the heir?”

“That was indeed the Princess of Zhennan’s original plan. However, the heir modified it somewhat. The old woman’s testimony points to the three Chu siblings, claiming they no longer wanted any entanglement with the Shi family, but Madam Shi clung to them, constantly sending people to ask them to deal with this person or that. Chu Yuehua particularly didn’t want Lu Guanyu to have such a mother; as long as Madam Shi was alive, he would never have a future. They held the old woman’s son hostage, forcing her to act against Madam Shi.”

“Who did the old woman tell this to?”

“Although Madam Shi had returned to her hometown, she was essentially under house arrest. She couldn’t leave the boundaries of Yu County, and the county office was monitoring her regularly. When she died, those monitoring her immediately reported to the County Magistrate. The Magistrate’s investigation led to the old woman, who told him this story before committing suicide by slamming herself against a wall.”

In the past, Ye Yaming wouldn’t have felt much upon hearing such news. Madam Shi had brought this on herself; the old woman was under duress, so her fate wouldn’t be good either. Moreover, since she hadn’t caused anyone’s death, there was nothing for her to lament.

But now, perhaps due to her pregnancy, upon suddenly hearing that two people who had been alive and well had died because of these conspiracies and schemes, she felt a heaviness in her heart.

“Has the news reached the capital yet? What’s the reaction there?”

“Madam Shi’s incident happened the evening before yesterday. Yesterday, our people got the news and hurried to deliver it. We don’t know the subsequent developments yet. But I will keep an eye on that side.”

Ye Yaming let out a long breath: “It seems we don’t need to be too tense anymore. The accusations are directed toward the Chu siblings, so no one should come after us.”

Yi Wu’s face showed admiration: “Yes, the heir’s move was truly formidable.”

Ye Yaming nodded, feeling instantly relieved.

It had to be said that having someone help handle problems while she only needed to reap the benefits was a truly wonderful feeling.

“But we still can’t relax. Who knows if the second young master might go insane when he returns from the border for the funeral? We should still be cautious,” Yi Wu said.

Madam was pregnant now. If anything happened to her, even if he apologized with his life, it wouldn’t alleviate his guilt.

“Alright, arrange it as you see fit. If there’s news, come tell me anytime.”

“Yes.”

Shortly after Yi Wu left, Ye Chongming arrived.

“Has something happened?” he asked as soon as they met.

Ye Hongsheng was still on the mountain, waiting to oversee the completion of the pre-rain tea production before coming down. Ye Yaming had come down alone.

Having been away for so long without returning to the Ye household and instead summoning him here, something must have happened.

On his way over, Ye Chongming had been wondering if his eldest daughter-in-law had angered Ye Yaming, making her unwilling to return to the Ye household.

Ye Yaming first smiled at him: “Nothing’s wrong.”

After Qing Zhi served tea and left, she told Ye Chongming about Madam Shi’s matter.

Ye Chongming was greatly shocked and asked, “Do you need to handle this matter?”

His mind contained no schemes or plots. He only thought that Madam Shi had, after all, been Lu Zhongying’s wife and was Lu Guanyu’s birth mother. Now that she had died, with all three Lu men at the border, wasn’t Ye Yaming, as the only daughter-in-law of the Lu household remaining inland, supposed to help with the funeral arrangements?

But Ye Yaming was pregnant now.

“No, no need,” Ye Yaming quickly shook her head. “She is neither the Lu madam nor Ayi’s birth mother, and has nothing to do with me. What reason would I have to concern myself with this?”

Ye Chongming’s mind was finally put at ease.

“Then why do you not even return home and instead come directly to stay here?” he asked, puzzled.

Ye Yaming didn’t want to worry Ye Chongming. But if she didn’t explain clearly, he would overthink.

So she said, “With Madam Shi’s sudden death, Lu Guanyu will have to return for the funeral. Lu Guanyi is concerned that he might suspect Ayi had someone kill Madam Shi and might go crazy seeking revenge against me, so he sent some people to protect me.”

“Our family’s residence is large, with many people and complicated affairs, and we aren’t very vigilant, making it easy for someone to take advantage. So Ayi urged me to stay here during this period. Once Lu Guanyu handles the funeral and returns to the border, I’ll go back to the Ye household.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Chongming’s heart tightened with worry.

Ye Yaming quickly reassured him: “Ever since I became pregnant, Ayi has been overanxious. In my opinion, even if Lu Guanyu goes insane, he won’t come after me. After all, I have no conflict with him. And if something truly happened to me, it wouldn’t greatly affect Ayi; he could just marry another wife. So Lu Guanyu has no reason to come after me.”

Although these words might be considered somewhat taboo, the reasoning was sound.