It must be said that although Madam Tao’s guess was not entirely correct, it wasn’t far from the truth. She could never have imagined that Ye Yaming would create a new tea.

“Stop inquiring about it, and make sure our First Branch people don’t wander over there,” she instructed. “Also, from now on, offer more assistance to the Second Branch when possible. If the Third and Fourth Young Ladies suffer any grievances, inform me immediately.”

As the First Branch’s eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Tao had been carefully selected by Old Lady Ye. Generally speaking, she was a fair person with a good heart, intelligent and astute, who could handle matters clearly.

But she also had her self-interests. When the First Branch’s interests were threatened, she would naturally calculate; when they weren’t threatened, she was happy to play the good person.

Her thinking was very clear—

Second Master excelled at tea production. Even if the family were to split in the future, the First Branch would still need his assistance. The Second Branch had no son, so no matter how much profit and benefits were allocated to them, everything would eventually fall into the First Branch’s hands.

Regardless of circumstances, since Ye Hongsheng and Madam Yin had no son, Ye Jiaxing, as the First Branch’s eldest grandson, would have to support the Second Branch couple in their old age.

Therefore, the First and Second Branches should be bound together as one rope, working together in unity. United, they would both benefit—good for everyone.

Madam Zhang of the Fourth Branch wasn’t as clear-headed as Madam Tao.

After sending her maid to inquire twice without results, she finally took action herself. Under the pretext of visiting Ye Yaming’s courtyard, she arrived at the entrance.

“Fourth Madam.” When Yu Mama saw Madam Zhang, she frowned and approached.

“I’ve never seen how osmanthus honey is made, so I came to take a look. What’s this, Yu Mama, you won’t even let me in?” Madam Zhang glanced sideways at Yu Mama.

Having spotted Madam Zhang from a distance, Yu Mama knew she wouldn’t be easily turned away, so she had already sent a young maid to summon Old Lady Ye. For now, she just needed to delay Madam Zhang.

With a stiff smile, she said, “This servant wouldn’t dare. It’s just that the Third Young Lady’s osmanthus honey is made with the Yin family’s secret method. Because she made a meritorious contribution the other day, Old Lady instructed this servant to guard her and not allow anyone to investigate. If Fourth Madam wishes to know how the Yin family’s secret method makes osmanthus honey, I would need to go inside and report to Second Madam first.”

“Hmph, what Yin family secret method? Her Yin family…”

Madam Zhang instinctively wanted to belittle them. But halfway through her sentence, she suddenly remembered that Ye Yaming’s fiancé was a young scholar who had passed the provincial examination. In the future, when he passed the imperial examination and became a high official, not just the Ye family’s Fourth Branch but possibly even her own natal family might need to ask favors from Ye Yaming. She promptly closed her mouth.

“Fine, then go and ask. I just don’t believe Second Sister-in-law and the Third Miss won’t give me this courtesy.” She stood there, speaking in a lackadaisical manner.

Yu Mama secretly sighed, glancing toward the main courtyard, praying the maid would come quickly to resolve the situation. Otherwise, she would have offended people on behalf of the Second Branch because of her unsuitable excuse.

But as a servant, without this excuse, she truly had no way to stop the masters. Who told Madam Zhang to be so improper that when her maids couldn’t get information, she took action?

Yu Mama entered the courtyard but didn’t ascend the steps. Instead, she explained the situation to Madam Yin, who was sitting in the corridor supervising the maids and grannies roasting tea.

“This Madam Zhang!” Madam Yin angrily stood up, ready to go out and argue with Madam Zhang.

“Mother…” Ye Yaming, hearing the conversation from inside the room, quickly called out to Madam Yin.

She came out of the room and said to Madam Yin, “Don’t go argue with her, it’s unnecessary. Yu Mama, don’t go out either, just let her wait outside.”

“Yes, yes, you needn’t go out,” Yu Mama strongly agreed with this approach. “This old servant has already sent someone to notify the Old Lady. I came in not to request your permission, but just to delay time. When someone comes from the main courtyard soon, Fourth Madam will quiet down.”

Imagining Madam Zhang’s discomfited expression outside, Madam Yin’s mood greatly improved.

She smiled and said, “Fine, let’s do that.”

The Ye family mansion was large, and with Third Madam Cai being a widow, it would be inappropriate for male guests or servants to accidentally intrude into the Third Branch’s area. Therefore, the main courtyard and the four branches all had their courtyard walls, with grannies guarding each branch’s entrance.

Today, Madam Yin had moved the Second Branch’s gate-guarding granny to the entrance of Ye Yaming’s courtyard. Without her orders, Madam Zhang couldn’t force her way in even if she wanted to.

“Then sit down and have a cup of tea before you go,” she smiled.

Yu Mama indeed sat down and drank a cup of tea.

After waiting at the door for a while, Madam Zhang not only didn’t see Madam Yin and the Ye Yaming sisters come out, but even Yu Mama, who had just gone in, had disappeared.

She was furious and was about to force her way in when she was stopped by the gate-keeping granny.

“Fourth Madam, without our mistress’s orders, we dare not let you in. Please be understanding and don’t put us servants in a difficult position.”

Though the granny’s words were polite, her actions were not. She firmly grabbed the two maids who were protecting Madam Zhang as she tried to rush in, pushing them forward and using their bodies to block Madam Zhang’s path.

Madam Zhang was extremely angry. Just as she was about to rage, she heard a cold rebuke from behind: “Zhang shi, what are you trying to do?”

Her body stiffened. She turned around to see Old Lady Ye approaching from behind with an angry expression.

She had to turn and bow, and was about to make some excuses when she heard Old Lady Ye say: “Grab her and drag her to the ancestral hall to kneel.”

Madam Zhang was shocked: “Mother, I just wanted to go in and see, I didn’t have any other intention.”

Seeing that Old Lady Ye wasn’t listening, she called out again: “It’s just osmanthus honey after all, not something that can’t be seen. Why are they making it behind closed doors, afraid of people looking? Mother, aren’t you curious?”

Old Lady Ye looked back at her once, feeling extremely regretful in her heart about how she had indulged her youngest son’s temperament and let him marry such a fool.

Hearing the gate-keeping granny describe how Madam Zhang was taken away, Madam Yin laughed heartily, extremely pleased.

Ever since Madam Zhang had entered the family, she had endured a lot of anger from her. This time she finally got to vent, which made her truly happy.

“Roast it properly, mind the heat. If you burn it, not just me, but even the Old Master and Old Lady won’t spare you,” she said to several maids and grannies.

Ye Yaming was scenting flowers with her maids and grannies inside the room, while she and Ye Yayin were roasting tea outside with trusted maids. Ye Yaming had taught them twice, and with three people watching over one stove, they were extremely attentive. After roasting several batches, they hadn’t made any mistakes.

After the incident with Madam Zhang, Madam Yin became even more devoted to this osmanthus tea.

After Yu Mama left, Madam Yin sighed to Bai Mama: “My Yaming is still the best. Second Master has made so many good teas for the Ye family, but none have made me feel this satisfied.”

“Third Young Lady is capable, and the Master is a man of integrity,” Bai Mama smiled. “Madam, your good fortune is still to come, and it’s not something Fourth Madam can compare to.”

With the experience of scenting tea last time, this time, even with the addition of Zi Yuan, Qing Zhi, Summer Mama, and others, Ye Yaming felt much more relaxed.