After hearing this, Princess Imperial Yuning slammed the table with a “bang”: “These people are truly despicable!” The maid from the Shen household who was about to serve tea was startled.

Madam Qi frowned and asked, “Why didn’t you report this to the officials?”

Ye Yaming shook her head: “For petty thefts like this, where nothing was stolen, even if they were caught, the officials could only reprimand them verbally and couldn’t do anything to them.”

Madam Qi was at a loss for words.

It was indeed true.

Princess Imperial Yuning patted Ye Yaming sympathetically: “You’ve had it difficult. Even after producing the world’s finest tea, you still can’t have everything go smoothly.”

Ye Yaming nodded: “The business world is like a battlefield; no one is exempt.”

Madam Qi looked at her: “Then for the black tea later, will you have to make it yourself as well?”

Ye Yaming didn’t deny it: “I may not personally handle it, but I must oversee it. This concerns diplomatic relations between two countries. The black tea delivered this year must be the same as what we sent last year.”

Princess Imperial Yuning looked at Ye Yaming, then at Madam Qi, her brows furrowing.

Comparatively, she naturally protected Ye Yaming more.

She said to Madam Qi, displeased: “Madam Qi, Young General Lu is doing his duty, and so is Yaming. When Young General Lu went to the border, Yaming was pregnant, yet she didn’t complain once, nor did she try to stop him. Why is it that when it comes to her, you don’t support her but instead blame her? What’s the reasoning behind that?”

Madam Qi’s face turned red from these words.

“I-I was just concerned about her…” she stammered.

“Aren’t the Ye family concerned about her? They would be even more concerned than you. Yet they didn’t stop her. You might think they’re blinded by profit, disregarding Yaming’s health for the sake of benefit. But they’ve earned enough money to last for generations; they don’t need Yaming to earn this little bit. And without Yaming, they would be nothing.”

“They don’t stop her because they know this concerns the court, and more importantly, because they know Yaming is no ordinary person. So they give Yaming the greatest support and care, rather than stopping and reproaching her, making her unhappy.”

Though Princess Imperial Yuning was only in her thirties, her position had allowed her to witness too many people and events in these thirty-some years.

Madam Qi was Lu Guanyi’s maternal aunt and held a fourth-rank title; normally, she should be respected, and one shouldn’t speak so bluntly to her, leaving her no face.

But after several years of interaction, Ye Yaming had shown extraordinary speech and bearing, maintaining dignity and poise in any situation, with a natural pride and character. Moreover, she had great ambition and great compassion. Such a woman, in Princess Imperial Yuning’s observation throughout the inner palace and noble families, was unprecedented.

So she firmly believed the saying that Ye Yaming was a “celestial being descended to earth.”

Even she, toward Ye Yaming, had only respect and dared not show any slight disrespect; she felt that none of the men in the entire Great Jin Dynasty were worthy of Ye Yaming.

Now that Ye Yaming was willing to marry Lu Guanyi and bear children for him, the Lu family should consider themselves incredibly fortunate. The Lu family should be treating her like a treasure.

Therefore, when she saw Madam Qi posing as Lu Guanyi’s elder, trying to control Ye Yaming and even blaming her for the sake of the child, she became so angry that she spoke such harsh words.

Since marrying Prefect Qi, being loved by him, and bearing several sons to secure her position in the Qi family, Madam Qi had never been humiliated like this.

But it was Princess Imperial Yuning who was reprimanding her, so she didn’t even dare to show an aggrieved expression. She was so ashamed and embarrassed that she wished she could find a crack in the ground to disappear into.

Madam Shen, standing nearby watching this scene, was truly envious beyond words.

This third daughter of the Ye family was undeniably fortunate. Who wouldn’t say she was lucky to marry into the Xuanwu Marquis’s household and have someone like Madam Qi as her husband’s aunt? Marrying into such a family, even if she had to endure some grievances, would be worth it. Moreover, the Lu family had no matriarch, so she had no mother-in-law above her. Even if Madam Qi said a few words to her, since they didn’t live together year-round, it wouldn’t be too bothersome—such a life would be as blissful as an immortal’s.

But unexpectedly, Princess Imperial Yuning protected her like this, treating her like her own daughter, and for her sake, left Madam Qi no face at all. This was something even a birth mother couldn’t achieve.

People said that the Ye family’s third daughter was a celestial being descended to earth, and it seemed to be true. Otherwise, how could such an immense fortune come to her?

Princess Imperial Yuning’s protection warmed Ye Yaming’s heart, but she couldn’t let Madam Qi be too embarrassed, causing discord between Princess Imperial Yuning and Madam Qi because of her.

She first gave Princess Imperial Yuning a hug: “Your Highness, thank you.”

Princess Imperial Yuning heard the emotion in her voice.

She hugged Ye Yaming back, patting her on the back, and said, “It’s nothing, we’re your natal family too, and we won’t let anyone bully you.”

These words made Madam Qi even more ashamed and annoyed. If the person speaking weren’t the Princess Imperial, whose status was revered, she would have stormed off.

Ye Yaming nodded in her embrace, took a deep breath, and stood up straight.

She smiled and said, “Actually, Aunt has no ill intentions. She said those things out of concern for me, worried about my health. You all speak this way because you care about me.”

As she spoke, she walked over to Madam Qi and gave her a hug: “Thank you, Aunt.”

Traditionally, people’s emotions were always restrained and introverted. Except for intimate relationships like husband and wife, or mother and child, physical contact between people was extremely rare, let alone such embraces.

Ye Yaming’s behavior was somewhat exaggerated, and her words had a slightly ingenuine tone. But the effect was very good.

Not only did Princess Imperial Yuning feel Ye Yaming’s heartfelt gratitude and appreciation, but Madam Qi, after initially stiffening, slowly extended her arms to hug Ye Yaming back, her attitude softening.

“Alright, let’s sit down and eat,” Ye Yaming said, releasing Madam Qi and touching her belly. “You may not be hungry, but this little one inside me is.”

As she spoke, she looked at the two with pleading eyes.

Madam Shen quickly spoke up to break the deadlock: “Yes, yes, the food is all prepared. Please be seated, honored guests. Your staying here for a meal is a great blessing for our Shen family. I’ve had the cook prepare some dishes and snacks specifically suited to women’s tastes, though I don’t know if they’ll suit your palates. Please, esteemed guests, sit down and try them.”

Princess Imperial Yuning glanced at Madam Qi, then turned and sat in the seat of honor.

Her status and position were the most respected; there was no need to offer the seat to anyone else. Even if offered, no one would dare to sit there.

Ye Yaming pulled Madam Qi again, giving her a way to save face, and only then did Madam Qi awkwardly sit down to Princess Imperial Yuning’s left.

With Zi Yuan’s support, Ye Yaming walked to Princess Imperial Yuning’s right and sat down.

In Great Jin, the right side was considered more honorable. Although Ye Yaming was Madam Qi’s junior and held the same rank, she was the wife of the Marquis’s heir, making her status higher than Madam Qi’s.

Family customs could not override ritual and national laws. If this were a family banquet, then naturally Madam Qi would sit in the place of honor. But with Princess Imperial Yuning present, this was no longer a family banquet, and they should follow the ritual and national laws.