“New tea varieties aren’t like Chinese cabbage that can be created casually. Haven’t you noticed that throughout all the years people have been drinking tea, only a few processing methods have been developed?”

Therefore, he only considered the existing tea recipes and hadn’t taken into account the innovative tea varieties that might be created in the future.

“Well… why not bring this up again when you create another new tea?” he suggested tactfully.

If she mentioned it now but couldn’t create any new tea later, wouldn’t that be embarrassing? Ye Chongming was truly worried for his granddaughter.

Ye Yaming turned to Madam Yu and Bai Rui, saying, “You may both leave now.”

Since Ye Chongming and Ye Yaming always discussed important matters when together, the Old Madam had long established rules for the servants in the main courtyard. Whenever the Old Master, the Eldest Master, or Third Miss visited, everyone except Madam Yu was to leave the room.

Therefore, the other servants had already withdrawn, consciously keeping their distance from the hall.

Now that Ye Yaming had even asked Madam Yu and Bai Rui to leave, Ye Chongming and the Old Madam couldn’t help but grow serious, their gazes fixed intently on Ye Yaming.

Ye Yaming couldn’t help but smile, “Why are you both looking at me like that? Don’t tell me you think I’ve created another new tea?”

“Isn’t that the case?” When Ye Chongming heard her question, he felt a hint of disappointment.

“Though I haven’t yet, it won’t be long,” Ye Yaming replied.

She composed herself and addressed them seriously, “Grandfather, Grandmother, do you believe there are spirits in heaven and earth?”

The two were startled again.

The Old Madam said, “Of course I believe.”

She frequently visited temples to burn incense and donate money, praying for the gods and Buddhas to bless the Ye family with peace and safety.

Ye Chongming also nodded.

Ye Yaming continued, “When I was ill recently, while I was delirious with fever, I kept vaguely hearing someone speaking in my ear about understandings of tea. After I regained consciousness, these words remained firmly in my mind, not at all like a dream.”

Ye Chongming and the Old Madam widened their eyes.

“And during this time, I’ve had several related dreams,” Ye Yaming added. “The creation of the osmanthus tea was based on the method that person told me.”

“So that’s it, that’s it,” Ye Chongming suddenly understood.

In his youth, he had also attempted to create new teas, but without exception, all failed. The same happened with Ye Hongrong and Ye Hongsheng. Apart from Ye Hongsheng, who was obsessed with this pursuit and still young enough to keep trying, the others gradually accepted reality and stopped entertaining such impractical dreams.

Thus, Ye Chongming knew how difficult it was to create a new tea.

Yet Ye Yaming, who had never processed tea before, suddenly claimed to have inspiration. Transforming inspiration into reality required countless attempts. But she seemed to know the correct method from the start, succeeding in one go, and subsequently producing hundreds of catties of tea without a single failure—this was truly unusual.

Ye Chongming naturally didn’t want to doubt his granddaughter.

Elders always view their children through a thick filter; when children display exceptional talent, they readily accept it, thinking, “My child has always been this excellent.” Even if doubts arise, they dismiss them, attributing success to heaven’s blessing or ancestral protection.

But occasionally, they still harbor suspicions.

Now with Ye Yaming’s explanation, Ye Chongming and the Old Madam suddenly understood.

Indeed, it was a divine blessing or ancestral protection.

Ye Chongming asked, “That voice, was it male or female?”

Ye Yaming replied, “Male.”

Ye Chongming slapped the armrest, “That’s it then. It must be your great-grandfather or great-great-grandfather manifesting to enlighten you.”

The Old Madam had an even deeper interpretation: “I believe it’s because Ming’er has the highest comprehension and spiritual sensitivity, which is why the Ye family ancestors chose to enlighten you.”

Ye Chongming nodded in strong agreement, “Definitely so.”

Ye Yaming: “…”

She knew that once she said this, the two elders would readily accept it. After all, there was no nine-year compulsory education or socialist core values now; people were generally superstitious, and everyone would deeply believe her explanation.

She told this lie not only to patch up previous matters but also to lay the groundwork for future events.

Previously, when the Ye family had no power, status, or backing, she had to consider whether to introduce various tea varieties. Now, with the cooperation with Lu Guanyi and his associates, plus Master Zhining as a powerful supporter, it seemed entirely feasible to introduce pan-fired green tea and some tea utensils by next spring.

As for other tea varieties, it would depend on Lu Guanyi’s character and whether their backing was strong and solid. If they truly relied on the Crown Prince, and if the Crown Prince had decent character, strong ability, and a relatively stable position, then she could certainly establish a career in the Great Jin Dynasty.

Indeed, the ambitious Miss Ye, with her strong drive for career success, was already planning her business blueprint in the Great Jin. Despite the risk of being drawn into succession disputes, she was still eager to move forward.

Ye Chongming, having processed this, became extremely delighted: “So, you might be able to create other teas?”

Ye Yaming nodded: “I already have some ideas. But since we don’t have fresh tea leaves now, I can’t experiment yet. When spring comes and fresh leaves are available, I believe I can succeed in making this tea.”

Ye Yaming’s confident demeanor filled Ye Chongming with faith in her, and he repeatedly said, “Good, good, good.”

“However, in the meantime, we can first produce tea utensils,” Ye Yaming suggested.

She winked playfully at Ye Chongming: “It will serve as both an accounting to our partners after cooperation begins and a demonstration of our capabilities.”

“Excellent!” Ye Chongming clapped his hands together.

If they didn’t contribute all their tea gardens and raw tea to the partnership, relying only on their existing tea-making techniques, the Ye family might do well at the beginning of the cooperation but would gradually lose leverage.

After all, in the future, Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji would put in more effort in dealing with various officials and tea merchants. If the Ye family couldn’t keep up, they would have no say at all.

But if they continuously introduced new tea utensils and created new teas, things would be completely different. It might even end up with the Ye family taking the lead.

“When the time comes, you’ll accompany me to discuss partnership matters with Young Master Lu and his associates,” he said.

Then he revealed a sly smile: “I suggested inviting Master Zhining as a mediator. I wonder if that would work.”

He harbored ulterior motives, worried that Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji’s status might not be enough to keep Meng Chengwei in check. He wanted to borrow the strength of Master Zhining, this great deity, and so proposed to Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji about having Master Zhining serve as mediator.

Moreover, in future cooperation with Lu Guanyi, Qi Ji, and others, Ye Yaming would need to be involved. He hoped that Master Zhining, Lu Guanyi, and the others would first recognize Ye Yaming’s abilities. This way, they would respect her rather than see her as a shallow woman approaching them through improper means with intentions to marry them.

So he wanted Ye Yaming to not only have the reputation of creating osmanthus tea but also to demonstrate her tea brewing skills in front of Master Zhining.

In this respect, his thoughts aligned perfectly with Ye Yaming’s.