Meanwhile, Ye Yaming was preparing for the opening of the new teahouse with Ye Hongsheng.

Following their usual practice, invitation cards were sent to the Ye family’s major customers for free tea on the opening day of the new teahouse.

The Capital was different from Lin’an, with its numerous nobles and high-status women. Therefore, the Ji Xiang Pavilion in the Capital was twice the size of the one in Lin’an city and was specially built at great expense.

The location of this garden was somewhat secluded, with specially channeled running water, built in the style of a Jiangnan garden. The garden was divided into front and back courtyards. The front courtyard had a large hall that could accommodate dozens of people drinking tea together, as well as individual elegant rooms where men and women could enjoy tea in small groups.

The back courtyard was divided into two halves down the middle; one half was called Ji Xiang Yuan, the women’s teahouse, and the other half was called Ji Xiang Xuan, the men’s teahouse.

Lu Guanyi said to Ye Yaming: “Tomorrow, Chuyang and I will also help entertain the guests.”

Chuyang was Qi Ji’s courtesy name.

Ye Yaming was surprised: “You’re going too? Is that appropriate?”

This business was a partnership that included shares owned by Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji, with the Crown Prince behind them. Although this matter couldn’t be hidden from the Emperor, it wasn’t suitable to be made public.

Therefore, Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji had always remained behind the scenes.

For this opening, even though Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji were both in the Capital, neither Ye Yaming nor Ye Hongsheng had thought of having them appear to entertain guests.

“Am I not your husband? This teahouse is opened by your family, so shouldn’t I help my father-in-law and wife entertain everyone?”

Ye Yaming glanced at him: “People will mock you.”

She came from a tea merchant family, and Ji Xiang Tower was a Ye family business—everyone in the Capital knew this. Now that the Ye family was opening a new teahouse, even though she had become the Xuanwu Marquis Young Master’s wife, it was still normal for her to appear and entertain everyone.

After all, in the Capital, whether princesses or noble ladies from prominent families, all managed their dowries. Opening a shop and inviting everyone to visit and support her business was a normal practice, and people didn’t see it as lowering one’s status.

But it was different for men. Especially for officials in the court, personally managing household affairs would be seen as neglecting their official duties, lowering their status, and willingly degrading themselves, which would invite ridicule from others.

Lu Guanyi waved his hand: “I’m not afraid. This business is our partnership to begin with. If Chuyang and I weren’t in the Capital, that would be different. Now that we are in the Capital and have an excuse to appear, we naturally shouldn’t stand idly by.”

After a pause, he added: “Besides, previously my status and position weren’t high enough, so many people knew my name but didn’t recognize me. Now there’s an opportunity to meet people, which is good.”

Ye Yaming very much agreed with this point.

Although Lu Guanyi wasn’t passionate about power and influence, making more contacts and friends could never hurt. More friends meant more paths. When facing difficulties, having someone to speak up for you might just save your life.

So Ye Yaming had someone deliver a message to Ye Hongsheng.

The next day, she and Lu Guanyi went to the teahouse.

Since yesterday, Ye Yaming’s senior maids had changed to Zi Yuan and Qing Zhi. Bai Rui and Lu’E had gone to the teahouse early this morning with Xu Zan, conducting final inspections together with the teahouse managers Zhang Tao and Wen Xiu.

Zhang Tao was a manager under Lu Guanyi, in his forties. Wen Xiu was a manager from the Qi household, currently in her thirties. Both had previously been second managers in Lu and Qi family shops, were shrewd and capable, had seen the world, were familiar with news in the Capital, and knew many noble people by sight.

For a place like Ji Xiang Pavilion, frequented exclusively by the nobility and powerful, mature, steady, and socially adept people like them were needed to run it. The young people Ye Yaming had trained weren’t yet up to such a significant responsibility.

When Ye Yaming arrived, not only were Zhang Tao, Wen Xiu, Xu Zan, Bai Rui, and Lu’E waiting for her in the hall, but Ye Hongsheng was also seated.

“Father, you came so early?” Ye Yaming hurriedly went forward to greet him.

“Father-in-law.” Lu Guanyi also clasped his hands in greeting.

Ye Hongsheng was very surprised to see Lu Guanyi: “Why has Zimo come as well?”

He glanced at his daughter, a knowing smile appearing on his face: “Alright, now that you’ve escorted Yaming here, you can go back.”

“No, no, Father-in-law, I’ve come to attend to the guests today.” Lu Guanyi repeated what he had told Ye Yaming at home.

Ye Hongsheng glanced at Ye Yaming, and seeing that his daughter was just smiling, not objecting, he naturally had no objection either.

Moreover, Lu Guanyi’s willingness to come showed that he cared for Ye Yaming and didn’t want his wife and father-in-law to be busy outside while he sat idle at home. Ye Hongsheng was more than pleased and would not refuse.

“You’re saying that Chuyang will be coming later too?”

“Yes.”

“Then we’ll trouble you both today. It’s just for today’s opening, when people come to show their support, and we need to appear to welcome them. After this, it won’t be necessary.” Ye Hongsheng said with a smile.

After the father-in-law and son-in-law finished their greetings, Zhang Tao and Wen Xiu finally came forward to pay their respects.

Ye Yaming raised her hand, nodding and smiling at the two: “Manager Zhang and Manager Wen, thank you for your hard work.”

Wen Xiu quickly replied: “It’s not hard work at all. It’s our honor that Madam has entrusted such an important teahouse to us to manage.”

She was a hereditary servant of the Qi family, originally a maid to Madam Qi. Because of her intelligence and capability, she was promoted to manager, and gradually was sent out to manage business as a second manager.

For people like her, besides the generous monthly salary from the master’s family, they would also grant freedom to her descendants, allowing her children to become free persons, in exchange for her lifetime of loyal service to the master’s family.

But after being transferred here, besides her monthly salary, Ye Yaming also gave her a commission. The better the teahouse business did, the more money she would earn. This filled her with motivation.

Zhang Tao needn’t be mentioned. This teahouse was a partnership between the Young Master and his wife, with their family owning two-thirds of the shares. As a manager of the Lu family, he naturally would dedicate himself to the teahouse.

Ye Yaming asked Xu Zan, Bai Rui, and Lu’E: “Have you checked everything? No problems?”

The three nodded: “No problems.”

“Not only must you check the furnishings in each room and the tea leaves and tea sets, but also the railings by the pond, the condition of the steps and ground, and the personnel must also be thoroughly examined.” Ye Yaming said to Wen Xiu and Zhang Tao, “When the teahouse staff arrive each day, have someone inspect them, not allowing them to carry any unidentified powders or food, nor any weapons, knives, needles, or other dangerous items.”

“The people who come here are those who can shake the Capital with a stomp of their foot. If someone bribes a teahouse servant to harm them, we’ll be beyond redemption. So I must emphasize this repeatedly—do Manager Zhang and Manager Wen understand?”

“We understand, we understand,” Zhang Tao said. “I am aware of the severity of this matter. Madam’s reminder is correct, and I will be vigilant every day, carefully checking for safety issues.”

Ye Yaming placed great importance on safety issues. The teahouse was managed by two managers under Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji, but in yesterday’s assignments, she had sent two men and two women here.