Therefore, regarding the engagement between Lu Guanyi and Ye Yaming, Lu Guanyi would inform Duke Ying through the Crown Prince’s casual conversation. But he couldn’t openly advise Duke Ying not to spread the news.

With many people and loose lips in Duke Ying’s household, this news might reach Madam Shi’s ears, bringing certain trouble to the Ye family.

Lu Guanyi had also mentioned that he would assign an exceptionally skilled guard to secretly protect her. Ye Yaming felt she could protect herself and wouldn’t take too much risk. But if the elders knew, they would certainly worry.

So Ye Yaming planned to selectively share all this with Ye Chongming and Old Madam Ye.

She said, “Although there are arrangements in place, there are still places where he cannot protect me. So regarding our engagement, he plans to tell Duke Ying in a certain way. This way, if Duke Ying doesn’t spread the news, Madam Shi won’t know about this engagement for the next two years. This will reduce some trouble.”

She looked at the two elders and said seriously, “Since this is how things are in the capital, I hope our family will do the same. Many people are envious of us and can’t bear to see us doing well. Our family is already hated enough because of Longjing tea; adding fuel to the fire isn’t wise. So it’s best if we only tell my father and mother about my engagement to Young Master Lu, and not inform others for now.”

These words poured cold water on Ye Chongming and Old Madam Ye, completely cooling the excitement of these two who had been eager to announce this engagement with gongs and drums.

“You’re right, let’s not tell anyone,” Ye Chongming said.

Old Madam Ye frowned, “Your grandfather and I, and your father won’t be a problem. But your mother might tell your maternal grandparents.”

Everyone has people they feel closest to and most trustworthy.

For Ye Yaming, perhaps Ye Chongming and his wife, and Ye Hongsheng and his wife were the closest and most reliable. But for Madam Yin, her parents and in-laws were her closest and most dependable.

The Yin family was mostly fine, except for Madam Yin’s second sister-in-law. Because she had wanted Ye Yaming to marry her nephew and was ruthlessly rejected, she harbored great resentment toward the Ye family, Madam Yin, and Ye Yaming.

Expecting her to keep this secret would be difficult.

Ye Yaming found herself in a dilemma.

After all, Madam Yin was her birth mother. Marriage arrangements should be handled by the birth mother, just as Ye Yaqing’s marriage was arranged by Madam Tao. Now, not only was Madam Yin not arranging the marriage, but they weren’t even telling her about the engagement. When she eventually learned the truth, who knew how heartbroken she would be.

“Let’s just tell her. Grandmother, please emphasize the severity of the situation to her, frighten her a bit, and tell her not to inform my maternal grandparents’ family,” Ye Yaming said.

Old Madam Ye nodded.

“I’ll go up the mountain myself tomorrow to tell your father about this,” Ye Chongming said.

Ye Yaming smiled, “You’d better send someone to call him down. Once he knows about my engagement, he’ll certainly be unable to stay on the mountain. He’ll want to come down to question me and must meet Young Master Lu in person to feel at ease.”

Ye Chongming thought this made sense.

His second son loved his daughters like his life, especially his eldest daughter Ye Yaming. Anyone who coveted his daughter was an enemy to him. He had never shown a friendly face to Song Yifeng in the past.

“Very well, I’ll send someone up the mountain right away,” he said.

Ye Yaming didn’t know exactly what Old Madam Ye said to Madam Yin. She only knew that Madam Yin came to her place that evening, asking detailed questions about Lu Guanyi’s situation. Ye Yaming tried to present the situation in the best light, and only then did Madam Yin feel at ease.

As Ye Yaming had predicted, Ye Hongsheng appeared at the Ye family’s front gate at noon the next day, dusty from his ride.

“Second Master Ye,” an excited voice called from behind him.

Ye Hongsheng turned around and saw Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji, along with their servants. It was Qi Ji who had greeted him.

Since the engagement shouldn’t be widely known, when Ye Chongming sent servants to notify Ye Hongsheng, he only said that Ye Yaming’s marriage had been arranged and asked him to return, without mentioning the engagement to Lu Guanyi.

Therefore, Ye Hongsheng didn’t yet know that Lu Guanyi was his future rough-footed son-in-law.

He greeted them warmly, “Young Master Lu, Young Master Qi, you’ve returned to Lin’an? Please, come in and have a seat at my home.”

“Haha, we came specifically to visit your family,” Qi Ji laughed.

Lu Guanyi clasped his hands and bowed to Ye Hongsheng, while walking in with him and asking, “Second Master Ye, were you up in the mountains making tea? How is your health? Is it very tiring to make tea in the mountains?”

Ye Hongsheng was very surprised.

If Qi Ji wasn’t around, Lu Guanyi, though not very talkative, would still exchange pleasantries. But whenever Qi Ji was with him, the chatty Qi Ji would do all the talking, while Lu Guanyi would just listen without saying much.

Now Lu Guanyi was initiating conversation and showing concern for his health, which was quite strange.

As they exchanged pleasantries, they arrived at the outer courtyard. The doorkeeper had already run to inform Ye Chongming, and shortly thereafter, Ye Chongming arrived as well.

Ye Chongming ignored his son and asked Lu Guanyi, “What did Master Zhineng say?”

When Lu Guanyi went to Chongshan Temple yesterday, it was already evening. The city gates closed at nightfall, so he could only enter the city today.

His arrival now meant he had just returned from Chongshan Temple.

Lu Guanyi smiled, “Master Zhineng is very willing to act as a matchmaker for me and the Third Miss. I came to inform you, and I’ll be departing for the capital shortly. The Crown Prince will then send the betrothal gifts on my behalf, and Master Zhineng will formally propose.”

He contained his smile, stood up, and bowed deeply to Ye Chongming and Ye Hongsheng: “However, I might not be able to personally visit them. After returning to the capital, I’ll depart for the border. I ask for Grandfather’s and Father-in-law’s understanding.”

Ye Hongsheng was stunned.

“Wh-what?” He pointed at Lu Guanyi, then turned to look at Ye Chongming. “You said Ming’er’s marriage was arranged, could it be… Young Master Lu?”

“Yes,” Ye Chongming said happily, “It’s Zi Mo.”

Ye Hongsheng looked at Lu Guanyi, dumbfounded.

“Father-in-law, rest assured that I will treat the Third Miss well,” Lu Guanyi said.

Ye Hongsheng didn’t speak.

At that moment, Ye Yaming’s voice came from outside: “Grandfather.”

When Ye Chongming heard the servants’ report that Lu Guanyi had arrived and had met Ye Hongsheng at the entrance, he immediately sent someone to notify Ye Yaming.

The engagement between Lu Guanyi and Ye Yaming was quite complicated, with many factors involved. Ye Chongming felt that whatever the situation, it would be better for the two young people to discuss the details themselves.

Ye Chongming said to Lu Guanyi, “Since you’re pressed for time, you probably have matters to discuss with Ming’er. The adjacent room is my study; you and Ming’er can talk there. Your father-in-law just returned and doesn’t know the ins and outs yet, so I’ll explain everything to him.”

He turned to Qi Ji with a smile, “I’m not very familiar with Zi Mo’s family situation either, so I’ll have to trouble Young Master Qi to help explain.”

“Of course, of course,” Qi Ji quickly agreed.

Lu Guanyi gratefully bowed and left to find Ye Yaming.