Seeing that Madam Yin was again overthinking things, Nanny Bai sighed silently and said, “The Elder Master’s intention was simply to ask you not to restrain the Third Young Lady. The Elder Master especially values the Third Young Lady and doesn’t want her to suffer any grievances, which is why he spoke that way. He had no intention of blaming you.”

She had originally been Elder Lady Ye’s maid. When Madam Yin first married into the family, she had no personal attendants and wasn’t familiar with the rules of a large household or how to manage servants. Elder Lady Ye had assigned Nanny Bai to help her manage internal affairs and also to guide Madam Yin.

After serving Madam Yin for more than a decade, no one understood her better than Nanny Bai.

She continued, “Think about it. For matters like this, it would have been enough for the Elder Lady to speak with you, yet the Elder Master personally addressed you and even explained how our family is cooperating with Young Master Lu and Young Master Qi. These are matters that not even the Elder Lady is allowed to inquire about. Now, for the sake of the Third Young Lady, the Elder Master patiently explained everything to you in detail.”

Hearing this, Madam Yin’s mood instantly brightened.

At the time, she had indeed felt a sense of unexpected honor.

The privilege of being summoned by her father-in-law for a conversation was something only the First Madam, Madam Tao, had experienced before, and that was merely to inquire about preparations for New Year’s gifts. As for business matters, even the Elder Lady would be rebuffed if she tried to ask about them.

Nanny Bai continued, “Why did the Elder Master do this? Isn’t it because he values the Third Young Lady so highly?”

She glanced at Madam Yin. “Second, Madam, you’ve always regretted not having a son. Now that the Third Young Lady’s engagement with Young Master Song has been broken off, the Elder Master has decided to find a husband to marry into our family for her. In the future, the Third Young Lady will be like a son for the Second Household. A daughter is different from a son—sons often forget their mothers after they take a wife, but a daughter who stays at home with a husband who marries into the family will only be more devoted.”

“Besides the reason I just mentioned, there’s another reason. The Elder Master hopes that allowing the Third Young Lady to keep her earnings will make her more committed to tea production. Who would be willing to work day and night if they didn’t receive a single coin for themselves? After all, since the Third Young Lady will remain in the family, her money won’t go to her husband’s family. The meat stays in our pot, as they say. Eventually, won’t it all stay in the Second Household and be used to support you, Second Madam?”

There was another reason she didn’t mention.

Although Madam Yin had injured her body when giving birth to Ye Yayin and hadn’t conceived again, she was still only thirty-two years old. What if, after some recuperation, she became pregnant and gave birth to a boy? Or perhaps Ye Hongsheng might take a concubine who would bear him a son. In that case, wouldn’t all the wealth earned by Ye Yaming go to that fourth young master of the Ye family?

That would break the Third Young Lady’s heart.

Not just the Elder Master and Elder Lady, but even she, as the nanny who had watched the Third Young Lady grow up, didn’t want to see that happen.

This reason, however, was something no one would ever tell Madam Yin.

With Nanny Bai’s persuasion, Madam Yin was completely reassured.

She nodded. “You’re right. I was overthinking things.”

Regardless of everything else, it was a good thing that the Elder Master valued Ye Yaming.

In the past, the Second Household’s honor had come from Song Yifeng, their son-in-law. Now that Song Yifeng, that ungrateful wretch, had proven unreliable, looking down on the Ye family as soon as he achieved some success. Fortunately, Ye Yaming’s outstanding performance meant that the Second Household was not blamed by the Elder Master and Elder Lady for Song Yifeng’s betrayal.

Moreover, having Ye Yaming stay in the family with a husband marrying in would also completely resolve her distress over not having a son.

From now on, their Second Household would have an heir.

Thinking of it this way, Madam Yin no longer had any reservations about Ye Yaming keeping her own money and felt happy about it.

However, when she thought about her daughter’s engagement being broken off by Song Yifeng, she became upset again. As she walked with Nanny Bai toward the Second Household, she cursed Song Yifeng and Madam Yu all the way.

Upon returning to the Second Household, she didn’t go back to her main courtyard but went to Ye Yaming’s courtyard instead.

Entering the courtyard, while still on the path, she saw from a distance that Bai Rui and Lu’E were standing like door guardians in front of Ye Yaming’s room.

Seeing her approach, Bai Rui hurriedly descended the steps and came to meet Madam Yin, saying in a low voice, “Madam, after returning from the main courtyard, the Young Lady shut herself in her room and said no one was allowed to enter.”

Madam Yin frowned and was about to move forward when Bai Rui added, “The Young Lady said that if you came, we should tell you that she wishes to be left alone for a while.”

Madam Yin stopped in her tracks.

She asked worriedly, “Will she be alright?”

Bai Rui shook her head. “She should be fine. Actually, for some time now, the Young Lady had noticed that something was amiss with Young Master Song. She was mentally prepared for the broken engagement. She’s probably feeling a bit sad now and doesn’t want to talk to anyone, which is why she’s shut herself in her room, not wanting to speak.”

As for whether Ye Yaming was truly heartbroken, Bai Rui knew better than anyone.

It seemed that ever since she had fallen ill, the Young Lady had grown cold toward Young Master Song. Not only did she stop visiting the Song family, but when later planning the broken engagement, she didn’t show any sign of distress.

Perhaps people are just like that—after a brush with death, they suddenly awaken and let go, no longer caring about certain things.

Seeing the situation, Nanny Bai quickly advised Madam Yin, “Madam, perhaps it’s best to let the Young Lady have some quiet time.”

Madam Yin had been somewhat intimidated by Ye Yaming lately.

Somehow, ever since her illness, her third daughter had become distant from her and had developed a mysterious air of authority. She had become a more formidable person overall.

In the past, her daughter would share all her thoughts with her. Now, facing a broken engagement, she had returned from the main courtyard in silence, not saying a word about it, leaving Madam Yin to learn of the matter from the Elder Master and Elder Lady.

She didn’t insist further and, after giving Bai Rui a few instructions, led Nanny Bai away.

Leaving the courtyard, she stopped, turned back, and after a long silence, asked Nanny Bai, “Have you noticed that Yaming has changed a lot recently?”

“If the Third Young Lady hadn’t changed, how could she have gained such respect and admiration from the Elder Master?” Nanny Bai smiled. “The Third Young Lady has grown up. When people grow up, they always change. Especially after experiencing something like a broken engagement.”

Thinking of Ye Yaming’s behavior these past days, Madam Yin sighed. “It seems Yaming indeed discovered that something was wrong with the Song family early on.”

Having been hurt, she had worked so hard to improve herself, actively participating in the family business to gain the recognition and favor of the Elder Master and Elder Lady. The good news was that she had truly succeeded.

Thinking of this, Madam Yin felt somewhat comforted.

In the courtyard, after seeing Madam Yin and her group leave through the gate, Bai Rui went to Ye Yaming’s door and knocked gently, saying softly, “Young Lady, the Madam has left.”

Ye Yaming was sitting at the table, head down, writing something.

Upon hearing this, she didn’t look up. “Come in.”

When Bai Rui entered, Ye Yaming put down her brush and looked at the paper she had been writing on, frowning as she examined it again and again, confirming that she couldn’t remember anything more.

Seeing that the ink had dried, she picked up the paper and handed it to Bai Rui. “Take a look. Is there anything I’ve missed?”

She silently thanked her predecessor—the original literary young lady who had taught Bai Rui and Lu’E to read. Otherwise, things would have been quite troublesome after her arrival.