Zhou Xiang was shocked once again.

He never expected Ye Yaming would speak about this matter so openly.

Didn’t she fear that the Old Master and Old Mistress might overthink and form a bad impression of her?

Ye Yaming said to Zhou Xiang: “Find someone trustworthy to pass the news about the private tea to Song Yifeng…”

She explained her plan to Zhou Xiang in detail. He set aside his regrets and committed her instructions firmly to memory, then bowed respectfully: “This humble servant guarantees to handle everything properly.”

Seeing that Ye Yaming had arranged everything, Old Lady Ye asked: “Yaming, regarding breaking off the engagement, should we inform your mother?”

Ye Yaming shook her head: “I’d rather not. If she knows, she’ll only be conflicted and troubled. It’s better to simply expose Song Yifeng’s disguise and save ourselves many complications.”

After Ye Hongsheng had told Madam Yin about Song Yifeng’s true character, Madam Yin had twice told Ye Yaming that if Song Yifeng truly wasn’t suitable, she could break off the engagement—she wouldn’t stand in her way. Given how much the Old Master valued Ye Yaming, he would surely agree to breaking the engagement as well.

Ye Yaming, carrying the original owner’s memories, knew these parents truly loved their children, unlike her modern parents, who, apart from ensuring she wasn’t hungry or cold and imposing various academic and career demands, didn’t care about her.

Therefore, she had quite favorable feelings toward Ye Hongsheng and Madam Yin.

But recently, her impression of Madam Yin had significantly deteriorated.

As grandparents, Ye Chongming and Old Lady Ye naturally had a layer of distance from their granddaughter. Ye Chongming was busy with outside business all day, while Old Lady Ye had to manage this large family with numerous grandsons and granddaughters. Furthermore, this marriage arrangement involved the in-law Yin De’an. So Ye Yaming could understand why Ye Chongming and Old Lady Ye weren’t familiar with the details of this engagement.

But Madam Yin was different.

She had only two daughters in total. The younger daughter was still small two years ago and hadn’t reached the age for marriage discussions. Besides the few servants in the second branch of the family, she had little else to worry about.

If she truly loved her daughter, she should have sent someone to understand Madam Yu and Song Yifeng’s characters, or even understood the mother and son’s moral character thoroughly before the engagement was settled.

Yet she did nothing. She didn’t even ask Nanny Xia, their longtime servant, to inquire. She only knew how to boast about her future son-in-law’s scholarly achievements and compete for face with her sisters-in-law in the household.

Regarding loving her daughter, she did love her. It was just that her personality was rather naive, she trusted people easily, and she wasn’t fond of managing affairs.

It could be said that for the original owner’s tragedy in her previous life, Madam Yin bore a large portion of responsibility.

Thinking of this, she added: “Regardless of what mother thinks or plans, I am breaking off this engagement. So there’s no need to tell her. Otherwise, if she becomes confused in a moment of anger and causes a scene at the Song household, wouldn’t that create more trouble?”

Ye Chongming nodded: “You’re right.” He looked at Zhou Xiang, “Then let’s proceed as planned.”

Zhou Xiang bowed and withdrew.

After Ye Yaming also left, Old Lady Ye said to Ye Chongming: “Tell me, why did Yaming let us hear what she said to Zhou Xiang?”

She had instructed Zhou Xiang to act behind Ye Chongming’s back, which was tantamount to inciting him to betray his master. Such matters should be kept hidden, so why reveal them so openly?

Old Lady Ye couldn’t understand.

Ye Chongming sighed deeply: “Though this child is calculating and resourceful, she’s a forthright person. Even when she schemes, she doesn’t want to keep her plans hidden in darkness, but rather lays them out clearly. The matter with Zhou Xiang is like this, and so is the private tea affair. This child has a magnanimous spirit. I wonder how Madam Yin raised her to be this way.”

Old Lady Ye was silent for a moment, digesting her husband’s words, then shook her head: “That muddle-headed Madam Yin couldn’t possibly have raised Yaming to be like this.”

Then she added: “It seems Yaming isn’t close to her mother Madam Yin either.”

Ye Chongming sighed: “That’s not a good thing.”

He instructed his wife: “So you must treat Yaming better and care for her more. Of course, I will also do my best to be good to her. Let’s keep her heart here with the family, close to her relatives. Otherwise, even marrying her to a man who takes our surname won’t keep her here.”

If a person wasn’t close to their family and had no sense of belonging to the clan, it wouldn’t be easy to make them work for the family’s benefit. This was especially true for girls like Ye Yaming who could leave the family through marriage.

He said: “The engagement with the Song family will soon be broken. You should start looking for suitable matrilocal son-in-law candidates. Don’t make decisions arbitrarily—first, see if there are any suitable prospects. If there are, don’t tell Madam Yin; let Yaming inspect them herself first.”

“Yes, I understand,” Old Lady Ye agreed.

After some thought, she stood up and said: “I’ll have someone find a few pieces of jewelry to send to Yaming.”

“Go ahead,” Ye Chongming strongly approved, “If there’s nothing suitable, have some made for her and also make her several new outfits.”

…

Two days later, at the Song household.

Madam Yu returned from buying vegetables with Xiao Xiang, entering the inner courtyard of the second compound. While massaging her legs, she complained to Xiao Xiang: “You always say how good Third Miss Ye is, how filial she is, but look, how many days has it been since she came to see this old woman? Aren’t you on good terms with that Nanny Xia? Go tell her to have Third Miss Ye come visit me. Otherwise, I may not recognize her as my daughter-in-law!”

Xiao Xiang poured a cup of tea for Madam Yu and placed it before her, answering “Yes,” while inwardly grimacing.

Previously, Third Miss Ye would visit every few days, bringing either fish or meat, so the Song family barely needed to buy protein dishes. Now that Third Miss Ye wasn’t playing the fool anymore, Madam Yu was distressed about spending money on food.

The Song mother and son looked down on others while still wanting to spend their money. How unfortunate that she had to serve such a family!

“Should I go now?” she asked.

After some thought, Madam Yu shook her head: “Never mind, wait until Guizi returns, I’ll tell him. Your young master will be attending a poetry gathering soon, Guizi should inform them.”

Guizi was Song Yifeng’s servant boy.

In their dreams, Madam Yu and Song Yifeng hoped he would win the highest honors in the imperial examinations. They had initially wanted to name the servant “Folding Laurel” (Zhe Gui), but it was too obvious. Since Madam Yu couldn’t come up with a more refined name, she simply called him Guizi.

And the “them” Madam Yu referred to was the Yin family.

The Song mother and son put on airs; they wanted Ye’s family’s money but were unwilling to ask directly. So when Song Yifeng needed money for poetry gatherings or other activities, they would either have servants casually mention it within earshot of Bai Rui and others, letting the original owner know, or they would have Guizi deliver some snacks to Yin De’an and “accidentally” mention the upcoming event.

Having been a private tutor all his life, Yin De’an was most proud of Song Yifeng as his student. Now that this student had also become his granddaughter’s fiancé, he naturally worried endlessly for Song Yifeng.

Upon learning that Song Yifeng would attend an event, concerned he might appear shabby due to lack of funds and be ridiculed, Yin De’an would send someone to inform Ye Chongming. Then the Ye family would proactively deliver money to Song Yifeng.