Before Lu Guanyi could respond, she smiled brightly and turned her gaze toward Master Wu. “My idea only requires five thousand taels of silver. Does Master Wu think it’s worth it?”
When she asked this, Master Wu’s heart skipped a beat, knowing that his earlier dismissiveness and doubt had been observed by Ye Yaming.
Such a young girl, born into this family, yet capable of articulating such profound thoughts—she was certainly no ordinary person. Who knew what accomplishments awaited her in the future? Offending her would not be wise.
Moreover, with Ye Yaming’s discourse, Lu Guanyi and his associates could directly commission the production of various tea sets. Once her tea ceremony theory spread throughout the capital, those self-proclaimed scholarly nobles would have every reason to pursue these tea sets.
Previously, when people enjoyed tuan tea, a single tea set was sufficient. But with Ye Yaming’s tea ceremony theory, who wouldn’t equip themselves with eight or ten tea sets? They wouldn’t even dare claim they understood tea without them.
Lu Guanyi, Qi Ji, and their associates wouldn’t need to go to great lengths to procure tea leaves; they’d make a fortune just from selling tea sets.
Master Wu clapped his fan against his palm and praised, “It’s worth it, absolutely worth it!” He then burst into hearty laughter, showing great approval.
His behavior made Madam Wu unable to look directly at him.
After recovering from his shock, Ye Hongchang offered great praise, followed by deep regret.
If Ye Yaming had shared these ideas before they partnered with Lu and Qi, allowing the Ye family to pursue this business alone, wouldn’t the Ye family have made enormous profits? Now, though the ideas came from their family, they would have to share the profits with Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji—truly a pity.
Ye Yaming beckoned to Bai Rui, who immediately retrieved a scroll case that had been placed nearby and handed it to Lu Guanyi’s servant.
“Inside are drawings of several tea set designs I’ve created. Please see if they’re usable, Young Master Lu and Young Master Qi. If they are, consider them as a starting point for inspiration.”
“With my designs as a foundation, artists who understand painting, scholars from the academy, or others might be inspired to design their own tea sets. You can purchase those designs with a bit of silver.”
Lu Guanyi personally took the scroll case, removed the drawings, and unfolded them to look. On one sheet was a complete tea set: teapot, teacups, a fair cup, a water vessel, and a tea canister. Most striking was that these pieces were white, adorned with peach blossoms, petals, and branches painted in an impressionistic style—some bold, some delicate, some in full bloom, others just budding.
Any single piece might not seem remarkable, but as a complete set, one couldn’t take their eyes off it.
Come spring, when peach blossoms were in full bloom, one could choose a small pavilion where willow leaves were sprouting, or simply sit on the grass, arrange such a tea set, and brew a pot of pre-Qingming spring tea in the gentle breeze, experiencing the essence of spring—how pleasant and fitting that would be.
He raised his eyes to look at Ye Yaming, his gaze bright: “Is this a spring or peach blossom theme?”
Ye Yaming smiled and nodded: “Yes.”
Qi Ji had already been peering over Lu Guanyi’s shoulder when he unrolled the scroll. Now he clapped his hands forcefully and exclaimed, “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! I imagine when such a tea set is displayed, young ladies will eagerly spend their silver to purchase it. Who wouldn’t love an elegant tea set filled with the essence of spring?”
Lu Guanyi pulled out this page and looked at the next one.
He raised an eyebrow: “Pottery?”
“Yes,” Ye Yaming said. “Tea sets don’t necessarily have to be fine porcelain. Pottery tea sets possess a kind of rustic elegance. Additionally, they can be made into separate vases and water vessels, forming a set with corresponding porcelain pieces.”
All the tea sets she had drawn were classic modern designs, highly representative. Lu Guanyi could take them directly to the kiln and have them produced.
After pottery, the next group was Ru kiln celadon porcelain.
When she had commissioned tea sets previously, she had specifically inquired about the kiln owner and learned that Ru kiln celadon porcelain existed in this era as well.
Lu Guanyi finished looking through Ye Yaming’s five tea set design drawings, while Qi Ji and Master Wu, who couldn’t resist joining them, kept exclaiming in amazement, arousing Ye Jiaxing’s curiosity.
But he knew the disparity in their status meant he couldn’t approach Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji, so he had to suppress his curiosity and wait until the three had finished before taking a look.
After Lu Guanyi and the others finished examining the tea set designs, Ye Chongming couldn’t resist asking to see them. He, Ye Hongchang, and Ye Jiaxing huddled together, the three of them studying the designs intently.
Madam Wu was also tempted to look at the tea sets everyone was praising so highly. Only Old Madam Ye kept her mind elsewhere.
She occasionally glanced outside the door, then at Ye Yaming, worried that Song Yifeng wouldn’t arrive at the Ye residence as Ye Yaming had predicted.
By now, the kitchen manager had appeared at the door, and Old Madam Ye knew the kitchen was ready to serve the meal.
She looked toward Ye Yaming, wanting to ask her advice on whether to begin the meal now.
Ye Yaming nodded to Old Madam Ye.
It didn’t matter when Song Yifeng arrived. When he did, Ye Chongming would certainly handle the matter in the room adjacent to where everyone was gathered. The wooden structure of these ancient houses wasn’t soundproof, so their conversation would surely be heard by everyone present.
Seeing this, Old Madam Ye glanced at everyone, noting that Lu Guanyi and his two companions were already drinking tea, while only the three generations of the Ye family were still examining the drawings. She prepared to announce the start of the meal.
But just as she was about to speak, she saw the doorkeeper hurriedly approaching. The woman entered, bowed to her, and said, “Old Madam, Young Master Song has arrived and says he has important matters to discuss with the Old Master.”
This doorkeeper was also one of Old Madam Ye’s confidantes, specially stationed at the main gate. She had specifically instructed that when Song Yifeng arrived, the doorkeeper should not report quietly but announce it openly in front of the guests.
Though Ye Chongming was looking at the drawings, he still kept half his attention on the matter of Song Yifeng. After all, this was the main event of the day.
If they didn’t break off the engagement quickly, once Song Yifeng learned about the Ye family’s partnership with Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji, and that Ye Yaming had earned the favor of the Tea Sage, he would surely stick to them like a leech, impossible to shake off.
Naturally, he heard the doorkeeper’s report.
He handed the drawings back to Ye Hongchang.
Master Wu knew of Song Yifeng and was aware that he was the grandson-in-law of Ye Chongming.
Originally, he didn’t know which of the Ye family’s young ladies was betrothed to Song Yifeng. But after hearing about Ye Yaming’s performance at Chongshan Temple, and learning that Lu Guanyi, Qi Ji, and even the Tea Sage highly praised this third young lady of the Ye family, he had specifically asked someone to inquire about Ye Yaming’s situation.
After all, both young masters were still unmarried. With the third young lady being so exceptional, whether the two young masters had any intentions toward her, and what their elders’ attitudes were toward this matter—these were all important considerations he needed to prepare for mentally.