The best way to achieve this, undoubtedly, was to unite her son and niece in a dynastic alliance.
Of course, Yun Yao was not only considering her old family, but also her new one. After all, her beloved son was destined to become the future Patriarch of the Ye Family.
If the political marriage came to pass, Ye Qian would not have to worry about major conflicts between the Ye Family and the Yun Family, and would instead enjoy far stronger backing.
"Qian'er," she said gently, "I suspect you already understand the reason behind your cousin's visit. If the two of you prove compatible, I would like to propose..."
Yun Yao was about to speak, but Ye Qian had already guessed her intention and swiftly raised his hand to stop her.
"Mother, I appreciate your concern and foresight," he said with a smile. "But I would ask you to leave this matter to us younger ones.
If there is truly a destined connection between us, then it will reveal itself naturally, wouldn't you agree?"
He had no intention of rushing into marriage. At just eighteen, there was no need to hurry.
Besides, until he could determine whether his older cousin was truly a 'tigress' intent on dominating him, he preferred to keep his distance from any formal entanglement.
After all, Ye Qian would never abandon an entire forest for a single tree. With his status, weren't countless forests already his for the taking?
Of course, if this cousin had changed—genuinely transformed into a proper noble lady—Ye Qian wouldn't be entirely opposed to a conversation first.
Seeing Ye Qian's words, Yun Yao found it difficult to press him further. No matter her plans or schemes, one truth remained clear in her heart: Ye Qian came first.
She loved Ye Qian more than the Yun Family, more than the Ye Family. He was her only son, a piece of her own flesh and blood. How could she not dote on him?
Shaking her head with a soft, helpless smile, Yun Yao let the matter drop and smoothly shifted the topic.
"Alright, alright. Since you insist, I'll leave it for now...
But your cousin is already on her way here. I still want you to go pick her up.
In three days, she'll arrive outside our Ye Family Land. Could you personally meet her then?"
Relieved that the earlier subject had been dropped, Ye Qian readily agreed. If he refused now, he knew Yun Yao would never let him off so easily.
"Of course, Mother. I look forward to welcoming Older Cousin when she arrives."
He was no longer the same as before, so the arrival of this so-called cousin held no fear for him.
To avoid being assigned other tasks by Yun Yao, Ye Qian quickly seized the chance to excuse himself.
"Mother, if there's nothing else, then I'll be taking my leave. I still have some matters to attend to."
A mother knows her son best. How could Yun Yao not see that Ye Qian was eager to leave?
"Very well. Go do your things, but don't forget what you promised me in three days," she said, her voice laced with gentle reminder.
With a faint smile, Ye Qian nodded. "Then, I'll be leaving now."
And with that, he quickly stepped out of the pavilion, the sound of his footsteps fading into the garden's quiet embrace.
Watching Ye Qian's gradually disappearing back, Yun Yao sighed softly, a bittersweet ache in her heart.
"Brother, your sister has done all she could to make this happen for you. Now, it's up to Qian'er and Xi'er's fate."
The Yun Family's rise to power—ranking among the top even among the six great forces besides the Ye Family—owed much to the support of the Ye Clan. Without their backing, the Yun Family would never have flourished so greatly.
As the Family Head, Yun Feng naturally hoped to preserve this alliance.
His nephew Ye Qian possessed the Supreme Immortal Body and was destined to lead the Ye Clan in the future. With Yun Xi of a similar age, a marriage between them would be the most favorable outcome.
It would not only secure a promising future for his daughter, but also ensure the bond between the two families endured for generations.
Yet the Yun Family's circumstances were far from secure. Yun Feng was not acting purely out of sentiment—he had deeper motives as well.
No matter how much he cherished his daughter, when family interests were at stake, even a father's love had its limits.
…
Ye Qian stepped out of the pavilion and quietly exhaled, a subtle sense of relief washing over him as he left the garden behind.
I was summoned for something important, I thought—turns out it was just about a marriage prospect.
Ye Qian had no intention of entertaining such matters just yet. At only eighteen, marriage was the last thing on his mind. There was simply no point.
Mounting his qilin carriage, he prepared to embark on a thorough tour of the Ye Family Land. Since his transmigration, he hadn't yet taken the time to truly appreciate the vastness and splendor of his ancestral home.
The qilin carriage was more than just a mode of transport—it was a symbol of Ye Qian's status.
Anyone who saw a carriage drawn by Four Qilin, each bearing a different elemental attribute, would instantly recognize it as belonging to none other than Young Master Ye Qian.
Seated comfortably inside, Ye Qian gazed out at the passing scenery, then turned to address the Wind Qilin, its stride powerful and graceful.
"Wind, slow down a bit. I want to enjoy the scenery," Ye Qian murmured, his voice carrying the faintest hint of indulgence.
At his command, the Wind Qilin immediately tempered its pace.
As the lead among the four, it had been effortlessly guiding the others through the skies, weaving currents of wind beneath their hooves and enabling a breathtaking speed.
Now, with a subtle shift in rhythm, the Qilin car glided more gently through the air.
Below, the land unfolded like a living scroll—famous mountains pierced the clouds, rivers shimmered with spiritual light, and immortal peaks rose majestically from the earth.
Scattered across the Ye Family's domain, towns dotted the landscape, their streets bustling with prosperity.
As the Qilin car drifted overhead, pedestrians on the ground looked up in awe.
"That's the Young Master's qilin carriage!"
"I've never seen anything like it—pulled by four Qilin! Such extravagance is beyond imagination!"
"That's Lord Qian, the Young Master of the Ye Family. Those four qilin are his mounts, raised by him since childhood. Ordinary cultivators can't even dream of such fortune."
"A qilin carriage truly commands the heavens. When will I ever experience such grandeur?"
Voices buzzed with excitement and envy, yet none dared interfere. Even those with respectable cultivation instinctively stepped back, their eyes filled with reverence.
For this was Ye Qian, the Young Master of the Ye Family—the most exalted figure within their territory. And beyond it, in the domains of other great powers, no one would dare provoke him.
…
It wasn't until close to evening that Ye Qian returned to his palace.
As he stepped out of the qilin carriage, Xia He and Qiu Lan were already waiting outside.
Of course, they weren't alone—Yue Ming stood beside them, her presence calm and composed.
By now, Yue Ming had been carefully instructed by Xia He and Qiu Lan, her earlier confusion replaced by quiet understanding. She knew exactly what was expected of her, and what she should avoid.
Here with Ye Qian, besides serving him, she hardly had to do anything else. Other matters were handled by the common servants below. Their sole duty as his personal maids was to attend to Ye Qian's every need with meticulous care and unwavering devotion.
Originally, Yue Ming still harbored a trace of arrogance, secretly believing she might one day become Ye Qian's wife.
However, Xia He's words had struck her like a splash of icy water.
"With your status, do you truly believe you're worthy of being the Young Master's wife?
The Yue Clan is nothing but a family of ants. Why should you dream of such a position?
For the Young Master to even notice you is a stroke of fortune. Don't be ungrateful.
Remaining by his side may earn you a title in time, but the status of wife—don't even dare to imagine it."
The words were harsh, blunt, and utterly realistic, leaving Yue Ming stunned and struggling to accept their cold truth.