It was now a few days until the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, and she hadn’t received any messages from Ye Yaqing. She didn’t know if Yaqing had sent someone to investigate that Scholar Wang, or if they had discovered anything.

Ideally, regarding Ye Yaqing’s marriage, Ye Yaming should speak directly to Ye Chongming and Old Madam Ye. With their recognition of her intelligence and insight, they would certainly intervene in this matter.

However, firstly, Ye Yaming had never met that Scholar Wang and didn’t know his full name. At least in this lifetime, neither Madam Tao nor Ye Yaqing had mentioned his name to her; she only knew his surname was Wang. And since she had been busy with family business matters lately and hadn’t gone out, it would seem unreasonable to suddenly claim that Scholar Wang was unsuitable and this marriage wasn’t appropriate.

Secondly, Ye Yaming didn’t know whether Ye Yaqing’s life in her previous lifetime had been happy or unhappy.

Although the Wang family men all lived off their wives’ blood, and Ye Yaqing had been brainwashed severely, they truly put effort into pleasing their wives to make them willingly offer up their dowries and ask their natal families for money. They didn’t take concubines and were willing to do things their wives liked to make them happy.

At least in the original owner’s memories, until she went to the capital with Song Yifeng, Ye Yaqing had felt very happy and was willing to sacrifice everything for her husband, who respected and loved her.

Of course, in the previous life, when the Ye family had their property confiscated and were exiled, Ye Yaqing’s days at the Wang household might have become difficult. But in this life, with Ye Yaming safeguarding the family, they wouldn’t face such troubles. With Ye Hongchang and Madam Tao occasionally supplementing Ye Yaqing’s needs with their private funds, perhaps she could still live the dream she had in her previous life?

Being cherished for a lifetime, even if deceived, was a kind of happiness too.

If Ye Yaming prevented Ye Yaqing’s marriage, who would she marry next? What if it were an abusive man, or someone who despised women and enacted cold violence? How would Ye Yaqing’s life be then?

Ye Yaming couldn’t guarantee that she had the insight to find a man who would make Ye Yaqing happy for a lifetime. She couldn’t even find or believe in such happiness for herself, so how could she guarantee it for someone else?

Therefore, Ye Yaming felt she had done her duty by warning Ye Yaqing at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

But now, after much hesitation, seeing they were approaching the intersection, she finally couldn’t help but speak up.

“Grandmother, please pay attention to Second Sister’s marriage. I’m concerned that the provincial examination candidate the matchmaker recommended might be like Song Yifeng—interested in our family’s money but looking down on our merchant status. Such a person, even if married into the family, would be of no use to our Ye family and would only ruin Second Sister’s life.”

She raised her voice slightly. Just then, Ye Chongming, walking ahead, saw they were nearing the intersection and wanted to say a few words to Ye Yaming, so he slowed his pace. Ye Hongchang and Ye Jiaxing, following behind him, also slowed down.

Ye Yaming’s words were overheard by the three men in front.

If it had been Madam Tao, she might have overthought the situation, wondering if Ye Yaming’s own failed engagement made her hope that her cousin’s marriage would also fail, fearing that if her cousin married a provincial examination candidate, she would outrank her.

But Ye Hongchang and Ye Jiaxing didn’t think that way at all.

Ye Yaming’s recent performance, her handling and control of a series of family events, and her superior insights about tea had earned their genuine respect. They regarded her as a person of high intelligence and noble aspirations.

Someone like her had a broad vision, high standards, deep thoughts, and far-sighted views. Combined with her beauty, if she wished, she could certainly stand on a higher platform. The small Ye family wasn’t even on her radar, let alone competing with her cousin over who could marry better.

Moreover, Ye Yaming had always said she wanted to bring a husband into the family.

As for the original owner’s previous infatuation with Song Yifeng, they simply ignored it. They only believed what they saw with their own eyes and heard with their ears.

So upon hearing Ye Yaming’s words, Ye Hongchang became concerned and turned to her: “Ming’er, you’re right. We should indeed send people to inquire more about your cousin’s marriage.”

Ye Chongming also nodded: “We should certainly do so. Hongchang, pay more attention to this matter; don’t just leave it to your wife to arrange.”

Ye Hongchang immediately agreed.

“I’ll also send people to inquire,” said Ye Jiaxing. “It can’t hurt to gather information from multiple sources.”

Ye Yaming listened and felt relieved.

Originally, Ye Yaqing’s marriage was being arranged by Madam Tao. Although Ye Hongchang and Ye Jiaxing also cared about Ye Yaqing, they felt that with Madam Tao overseeing the matter, there wouldn’t be any problems, so they hadn’t worried too much. With her parents involved, Ye Chongming and Old Madam Ye were even less concerned.

Now that everyone was taking it seriously and sending people to investigate, Ye Yaqing’s marriage arrangement would surely be scrutinized if it was inappropriate. As for how to decide and what path to take, that would be Ye Yaqing and the First Branch’s choice.

Upon reaching the intersection ahead, Ye Yaming took her leave.

“Go on, go and rest well. Don’t dwell on the matter of Song Yifeng. The bad must go for the good to come. Look at it this way: you should be grateful to have seen his true face early on,” Old Madam Ye couldn’t help but advise her.

Being rejected would make anyone unhappy. Although Ye Yaming appeared as if nothing had happened, Old Madam Ye was concerned that she was hiding her feelings, unwilling to show them in front of others.

“I understand,” Ye Yaming looked toward Ye Chongming and reminded him, “Grandfather, based on my understanding of Madam Yu, if you only ask them to return the silver without specifying how much, she will give less, not enough. To avoid haggling later, you should have the accounting office prepare a list of all the silver given to the Song family over the years.”

Although the original owner’s engagement to Song Yifeng had been arranged by Yin De’an, Yin Shi’s father, since he was Ye Yaming’s maternal grandfather, it wasn’t appropriate for him to serve as the matchmaker, so another matchmaker had been invited to formalize the engagement.

Ye Chongming was a businessman. Since he was investing in Song Yifeng, he naturally needed to be cautious. Concerned that Song Yifeng might use the Ye family’s money to pass the palace examination but then deny the engagement, he had specifically invited an official matchmaker.

A marriage certificate written by an official matchmaker was equivalent to being registered with the government, similar to a red contract, carrying legal effect.

This was why in the previous life, when Song Yifeng passed the palace examination, despite his extreme reluctance to acknowledge this engagement, he had no choice but to hold his nose and marry the original owner.

The precaution Ye Chongming had taken initially was now proving useful.

Sending the expense list to the official matchmaker was equivalent to filing it with the government. If Song Yifeng denied it, he would need to provide evidence; otherwise, he would have to return the exact amount listed to the Ye family.

Upon her reminder, Ye Chongming immediately said, “Good, I’ll have the accounting office organize the accounts.”

Knowing Ye Yaming was upset, he comforted her: “Don’t worry, your grandfather isn’t naive. The silver given to the Song family over these years is all documented; they can’t deny it.”