Because of his inquiries, Master Wu knew that Song Yifeng was Ye Yaming’s fiancé.

Upon hearing the servant woman’s words, he assumed that Ye Chongming wanted his future grandson-in-law to make an appearance before Lu Guanyi, Qi Ji, and himself to establish connections.

He was willing to show some respect to Song Yifeng, this young candidate who had passed the provincial examination, so he smiled and said to Ye Chongming, “What a coincidence that Young Master Song has arrived. Why not invite him in to meet everyone?”

Ye Chongming, however, apologetically cupped his hands toward him and Lu Guanyi: “I’m sorry. Since Li Yue says he has important matters to discuss, I’ll speak with him in the adjacent room first. If it’s nothing serious, I’ll bring him in afterward to pay his respects to everyone.”

Li Yue was Song Yifeng’s courtesy name.

“Please go ahead, Elder Ye,” said Lu Guanyi.

Qi Ji also voiced his agreement, feeling quite curious about this Song Yifeng.

After all, in their three meetings, Ye Yaming had shocked him repeatedly. What kind of extraordinarily talented man would be worthy of such an intelligent and exceptional girl?

Ye Chongming first instructed the servant woman, “Lead Young Master Song to the side hall.” Then he apologetically cupped his hands to everyone, excused himself, and went to the side hall on the left.

The servant woman left, went out through the left corridor, then led Song Yifeng back along the same route, directly to the side hall through the left corridor.

The main hall was generally where honored guests were received. Since Song Yifeng was considered family, in the past, when he visited, Ye Chongming had received him either in his study or in the side hall. So when the servant woman led him to the side hall this time, he didn’t think much of it.

Moreover, his thoughts were complicated at the moment, and he wasn’t focused on such matters.

Ye Chongming pretended not to know Song Yifeng’s purpose for coming and treated him with the same kindness and warmth as before: “Li Yue, it’s been a long time. Have you been well recently? How is your mother’s health?”

In his heart, Song Yifeng despised the Ye family.

Previously, for various reasons, he had to maintain respect before Ye Chongming, but now that they were about to break off the engagement, he wasn’t in the mood to put on an act in front of Ye Chongming.

He neither bowed nor acknowledged Ye Chongming’s greeting, instead staring at him and asking coldly: “Elder Ye, I initially agreed to the engagement with your family because the Ye family had upright family values, conducted themselves properly, and were known for their kindness…”

In the main hall, after Ye Chongming left, Ye Hongchang assumed the host’s responsibilities, offering everyone refreshments and specifically calling for Yu Mama to come and brew osmanthus tea for everyone.

At this moment, no one was speaking; they were eating snacks and watching Yu Mama brew tea, making the hall very quiet.

Although Yu Mama was old and her appearance had faded, her tea brewing displayed a steady demeanor and graceful poise. Having received Ye Yaming’s guidance these past two days, the tea she brewed was not inferior to that of the young monk Jinchen from Chongshan Temple.

At first, no one paid attention to the conversation next door, but Song Yifeng, raising the banner of righteousness, wanted to overwhelm Ye Chongming from the outset, putting the Ye family at a disadvantage to achieve a smooth dissolution of the engagement. He spoke with an aggressive tone, his voice quite loud.

With the main hall so quiet, Song Yifeng’s words fell into everyone’s ears without missing a single word.

Everyone was extremely surprised and couldn’t help but prick up their ears to listen.

Song Yifeng continued: “But I never imagined that your Ye family would disregard imperial laws for the sake of exorbitant profits by trading private tea. As scholars deeply indebted to the Emperor’s grace, we should obey the Jin Dynasty laws and promote moral principles—this is our duty. Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, Teachers—even though I have relations with your Ye family, and you are my elder, I cannot disregard the great righteousness due to the ruler because of this marriage. For the sake of loyalty to the ruler, justice, and righteousness, I should report your actions to the officials.”

“However, I have received many years of kindness from your Ye family and cannot bring myself to do so. Unable to fulfill both loyalty and gratitude, I have come today to remind Elder Ye that one must never violate imperial laws. Though tea is merely a beverage, it concerns border politics and laws of the court—a matter of great importance. Elder Ye, as a guild leader, should especially obey the law. I cannot be tainted along with you. Now, I have come to inform Elder Ye that the engagement between our two families is hereby terminated. Please do not refer to me as your granddaughter’s husband-to-be in public from now on. I no longer have any connection with your Ye family.”

“In this matter, you must agree whether you want to or not. Otherwise, I cannot continue to show favoritism and will have to report your private tea trading to the officials. Elder Ye, I imagine you wouldn’t want things to reach that point, would you?”

It seemed Song Yifeng had long prepared this speech, delivering it very smoothly and passionately, taking a stance of upholding great righteousness to sever family ties.

Having finished speaking in one breath, and taking advantage of Ye Chongming’s stunned moment, he cupped his hands: “Farewell.” He then intended to leave with a flourish.

Ye Chongming seemed to come to his senses and quickly called out loudly: “Wait.”

Song Yifeng had planned to deliver his eloquent speech and slip away while Ye Chongming was still in shock, avoiding further entanglement with the Ye family.

He knew that the more they argued, the less justified he would appear. If the Ye family wasn’t trading private tea, then his outburst would be completely unfounded, and the engagement couldn’t be broken off.

A quick resolution was the best approach. Ideally, Ye Chongming wouldn’t even have the chance to speak.

But Ye Chongming was well-prepared, having set a trap waiting for him, so Song Yifeng’s calculations were bound to fail.

Just as Song Yifeng reached the doorway, he was stopped by the servant boy guarding the door.

Ye Chongming’s voice sounded faintly behind him: “Young Master Song came today specifically to break off the engagement, didn’t you? Now that you’ve passed the provincial examination, do you think my Ye family, as merchants, are no longer worthy of your noble self? Otherwise, why would you rush here based on hearsay rumors, dumping accusations on me without even giving me a chance to speak? Are you that desperate?”

Concerned that those in the adjacent room might not hear, he started in a normal speaking tone, but his voice gradually rose, making listeners feel he was becoming increasingly agitated.

“Young Master Song, when you were seven years old, your mother brought you from the village to Linan to struggle for survival. At that time, you couldn’t afford enough food or warm clothes, living in a shack built against someone else’s house. After finishing your work, you would run to listen secretly outside the window of Ming’er’s grandfather, Scholar Yin.”

“Later, out of kindness, he took you as a student without charging any tuition fees, gave you paper and brushes, and provided you with food when he saw you were hungry. Studies cost money, and even though he was willing, he lacked the means to support you further. But he admired your intelligence and arranged for our two families to be connected through marriage. The Ye family would provide for your education and living expenses, and after you grew up, you would marry a daughter of the Ye family.”

“From the age of ten, the Ye family has sent you two hundred taels of silver every year; when you fell ill, participated in imperial examinations, or attended poetry gatherings, we spent an additional one or two hundred taels annually. Now you are eighteen, and our family has given you more than three thousand taels of silver in total; when your family wanted to buy a house, eight or nine tenths of the cost was covered by my Ye family. All in all, has the Ye family spent thousands of taels of silver just to raise such an ungrateful wretch?”