Worried that her father-in-law might think she was blaming him, she quickly explained to Ye Yaming as if to make amends: “Your eldest uncle just wants a simple life, cutting corners whenever possible, not being mindful about his meals, and having an irregular schedule. The servants can’t control him. It was fine when he was younger, but now that he’s older, he can’t go on without taking care of himself. If he comes back, I can look after him.”

During these years that Ye Hongchang had stayed in the Capital, others might not have worried, but she had been anxious every day, fearing that Ye Hongchang might suddenly bring home a concubine or keep a mistress in the Capital.

He had been in the Capital for years, in the prime of his life, separated from his wife. Even if he took a concubine or kept a mistress, Ye Chongming couldn’t blame him. In that case, she would be the one to suffer the humiliation.

All these years, Madam Tao had never dared to investigate whether Ye Hongchang had a mistress in the Capital—if he only kept a mistress without taking her as a concubine, he was showing her face. Once she knew he really had a mistress, and if she couldn’t control her emotions and expose this matter, then that mistress would have to become a concubine, and what would happen then?

She had sons and daughters, and even grandchildren now, so she would never agree to divorce. But if there was a conflict, their marital feelings would be gone, and with a concubine in between, how would she live? Even if she stayed in the Ye family, she wouldn’t be happy.

So it was better to live in ignorance.

And this time, Ye Hongchang’s initiative to return to Lin’an gave Madam Tao great comfort—it showed he wasn’t attached to the Capital, which proved he very likely didn’t have a mistress there.

Seeing that Madam Tao’s gratitude was sincere, Ye Yaming felt relieved.

Madam Tao already had a knot in her heart over Ye Yaming becoming the family head. If she misunderstood that the Second Branch was driving Ye Hongchang away, there would be trouble.

Ye Yaming still hoped that the Ye family could be harmonious, pulling together in one direction, working together to expand the family business. Once there was a crack, people would take advantage of it, and calamity would strike from within.

Old Lady Ye glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law and asked Ye Yaming with a smile: “Did you delay your departure by a few days? If you hadn’t sent someone to inform us, we would have been worried.”

Ye Yaming smiled at her: “I’m sorry for making Grandfather and Grandmother worry.” But she didn’t directly answer Old Lady Ye’s question.

She turned and instructed Bai Rui: “Bai Rui, bring my gifts.”

Bai Rui had the maids bring forward all the gifts, and Ye Yaming personally distributed them to everyone.

“Grandfather, this is a tiger skin rug from the north, specifically used by nobles in the Capital to keep warm in carriages during winter. You often travel by carriage, so this is perfect for you. Grandmother, this is a cat’s eye emerald. Didn’t you say that Old Lady Lin has one? Just before the New Year, new stock arrived at the jewelry shop opened by the Princess Consort Kang, and I managed to get one for you.”

“Father, Fourth Uncle, these are fox fur vests, both made according to your measurements.” Ye Yaming then turned to Madam Tao, “I gave Eldest Uncle’s when I met him on the way.”

Madam Tao’s smile became more genuine: “Thank you, Ming’er.”

Ye Yaming then presented silks and jewelry from the Capital to Madam Tao, Madam Yin, and Madam Zhang.

Ye Yaming had always been considerate, and now with Xu Zan, Bai Rui, and others managing her affairs, the gifts she gave naturally touched everyone’s hearts.

Everyone in the room was delighted.

She then said to Li Fu and Nanny Lu: “Manager Li, Nanny Lu, and all the household servants have gifts too. Xu Zan and Bai Rui will distribute them to you shortly.”

Li Fu and Nanny Lu quickly thanked her on behalf of the household servants.

After returning, Ye Hongsheng and Madam Yin had already spoken about what kind of life Ye Yaming had been living since her marriage.

Now seeing her rosy complexion, relaxed expression, smiling face, and gifts that only the Capital’s elite could afford, they knew she was living extremely well in the Capital.

Old Lady Ye didn’t ask more and said to her: “Alright, you must be exhausted from the journey. Quickly go back to your courtyard and rest.”

“Yes.”

With so many people around and potential spies from the Capital to guard against, Ye Yaming didn’t want to announce her pregnancy publicly at this moment.

Although the journey had been slow, she hadn’t been able to eat or sleep well, and she hadn’t bathed for seven days on the road. Back in her courtyard, she took a good bath, washed her hair, ate dinner, and went to bed.

The next day, after having breakfast with the elderly couple in the main house and dismissing the servants, Ye Yaming asked about the family situation: “Is everything well at home?”

“Well? It’s more than well, it’s excellent. We received many New Year gifts this year, and when we attended banquets, your grandmother and I were treated like treasures,” Ye Chongming said, shaking his head self-mockingly.

The poor are ignored in bustling markets, while the rich find distant relatives even in remote mountains.

With Ye Yaming married to the heir of the Xuanwu Marquis, the Ye family’s social status seemed to have risen. Many people in Lin’an city wanted to curry favor with them.

“What about you? Has anyone given you trouble there?” Old Lady Ye asked with concern.

Although Ye Hongsheng and Madam Yin had returned saying that Ye Yaming was protected by Princess Imperial Yuan and Princess Imperial Yuning in the Capital, with no one giving her trouble, Old Lady Ye didn’t believe it.

Everywhere in the world, some people flatter the powerful and bully the weak, especially among the elite circles of the Capital. She thought Ye Yaming was just reporting the good news and concealing the bad.

“No,” Ye Yaming smiled. “You know my temperament. Even if there were, I would have countered them.”

“That’s true,” Old Lady Ye nodded in approval. “People always bully the weak and fear the strong. If you appear formidable, those who are observing will know you’re not to be trifled with and will restrain themselves.”

This was the wisdom of life that elders had summarized. Ye Yaming expressed her appreciation for the lesson.

“You’re a new bride now. Once you have a child or two, you’ll establish your position among those people.” Old Lady Ye looked at Ye Yaming’s abdomen. “Speaking of which, you’ve been married for three months now. How is it? Any news?”

Ye Yaming touched her stomach: “It was just confirmed before I left the Capital. I’m one and a half months along.”

“What?” The elderly couple was startled.

Old Lady Ye had just asked casually, not expecting that Ye Yaming was pregnant.

“You’re courting death,” Old Lady Ye gently tapped Ye Yaming, feeling that her words were inauspicious, she spat “pei, pei” twice.

She glared at Ye Yaming: “Since you knew you were pregnant, why didn’t you stay in the Capital instead of running around? Could the Ye family not survive without you?”

Ye Yaming smiled mischievously, hugged her arm, and shook it: “A three-day journey took me a full seven days. Dear Grandmother, I just missed you all.”

“Besides, staying alone in the Capital, wanting to eat something specific, or feeling unwell and wanting to seek comfort from you—all without anyone around—would be so miserable.”

“Hmph, stop trying to coax me.” Even knowing Ye Yaming was using sweet talk, Old Lady Ye couldn’t help but smile. “Your parents are about to go to the Capital. I don’t believe a single word you’re saying.”

“But even if they go to the Capital, I can’t live with them. It’s different in Lin’an, where I can stay at home without anyone saying anything.”