What happened that night—no one saw it.

No one knew when he left the house, no one knew when he died, no one knew what he experienced before his death. Just because his corpse floated up in the river and fishing tools were left by the riverbank, they concluded he had accidentally drowned.

Upon hearing this, Yu Tang couldn’t stand up for a long time.

A’Tiao looked at her appearance and felt very afraid. He asked cautiously, “Then, Miss, should I, should I continue asking around?”

“No need!” Yu Tang felt as if there was a fire burning in her heart, yet also as if she’d been soaked through with ice water.

The people living near the Wei family farmland were all acquaintances of the Wei family. A’Tiao was an unfamiliar face—if someone was paying attention, they could quickly find out who A’Tiao was. She couldn’t alarm the Wei family and plunge them into even greater sorrow. This matter would stop here with her.

Let the Wei family believe he had drowned.

Whatever the truth was, she would investigate it thoroughly.

If he truly died from a conspiracy, regardless of the reason or who did it, even if it cost her life, she would demand justice for him and restore his honor.

Yu Tang supported herself on the table as she slowly stood up and pushed open the window lattice.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching.

The osmanthus flowers were blooming one after another.

The fragrance was overwhelming.

This was a festival for family reunions. Everyone should be happy and joyful.

Yu Tang sat under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard making hair ornaments.

This time she was making camellias. Various kinds, various materials, different colors. In another two or three months, she would fill several boxes. When the time came, besides giving them to her mother, her aunt, and Ma Xiuniang’s family, she planned to send some to the female members of the Wei family as well.

Yu Tang lowered her head, slowly sewing together the cut Zhang velvet petals one by one. Soon she would make a complete flower, then add green leaves, or use beads to make morning dew, or use fabric scraps to make a bee resting on top—looking lifelike and vivid.

Zhang velvet was mostly crimson, covered with fine down. Touching it felt just like real camellia petals—delicate yet textured.

Some water droplet fell from somewhere, wetting the Lu silk cut into leaf shapes in her hand.

Yu Tang frowned.

Looking up, she found the sky clear and cloudless.

Where had the water droplet come from?

She wondered about this, feeling something uncomfortable on her face. She casually touched her face—her hand came away wet.

Yu Tang was somewhat dazed, but then heard Shuang Tao’s alarmed voice: “Miss, what happened? Why are you crying so badly? I, I’ll go call Madam right away…”

She grabbed Shuang Tao and said, “I was crying?”

Shuang Tao looked at her somewhat fearfully, pointed at her face, and said quietly, “Your face is covered in tears.”

“Don’t let Madam know.” Yu Tang said, “Go fetch water so I can wash up again.”

Shuang Tao was also afraid of frightening Chen Shi and hurried to fetch water.

Yu Tang returned to her room and looked in the mirror.

Just as Shuang Tao had said, her eyes were red and her whole face was covered in tears.

Yu Tang sat woodenly before the dressing table for a while, her mind scattered here and there—she herself didn’t know what she was thinking. When Shuang Tao brought water in for her to wash and change again, A’Tiao suddenly came to report that Wei Xiaochuan wanted to see her: “He’s waiting at the back gate.”

“I’ll go see.” She stood up and went to the back courtyard.

Wei Xiaochuan was carrying his school basket, leaning boredly against the wall of their back courtyard, kicking small pebbles at his feet.

Seeing Yu Tang, he immediately stood up straight and said, “Miss Yu, I have something to say to you privately.”

Yu Tang nodded, let him through the gate, and sent both Shuang Tao and A’Tiao away.

Wei Xiaochuan asked her, “Why was A’Tiao going around asking about my second brother? Is your family hiding something from ours? And what did those questions you asked me last time at the county school really mean?”

Yu Tang hadn’t expected Wei Xiaochuan to be so precocious and perceptive. She was thinking of finding some excuse to fool him when Wei Xiaochuan said, “If you tell me the truth, I might even be able to help you. But if you lie to me, I’ll tell both families’ elders about this.”

“Ah!” Yu Tang’s eyes widened.

Wei Xiaochuan’s face showed a triumphant expression as he said, “Don’t think that just because I’m young I don’t understand anything. You came secretly to see me at the county school—the elders at home definitely don’t know. A’Tiao probably also acted on your orders. I advise you to be honest, or I’ll have to use forceful measures.”

All of Yu Tang’s sorrow was driven away by Wei Xiaochuan’s words.

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she said, “At such a young age, you’re actually threatening me. Aren’t you afraid I’ll go tell your family?”

“Shouldn’t you be more afraid of me telling?” Wei Xiaochuan snorted. “Don’t think I don’t know—if you wanted my family’s elders to know, you would have sent someone to ask directly long ago. The fact that you didn’t shows what you’re doing can’t stand the light of day.” He continued, “I’m not threatening you either. It’s just that what you did was really underhanded. After I went back, I thought carefully about it. All those questions you asked about my second brother were centered around how he died.” As he said this, his young face gradually grew serious, and his eyes revealed deep sorrow.

“I also feel my second brother wasn’t such a reckless person. I thought I was overthinking it… But you must know something.” He looked at Yu Tang pleadingly. “You, you should just tell me! I’ll owe you a big favor. I’ll definitely repay you in the future.”

Yu Tang was stunned.

But Wei Xiaochuan was convinced she knew some inside information. He looked at her somewhat stubbornly, as if he would never give up unless she spoke.

Yu Tang let out a long breath.

If this was karmic debt, then this debt was originally created by her, stirred up by her—could she really hide it? Could she pretend nothing had happened?

Time wouldn’t wait for her. Moreover, she desperately needed help right now.

“Fine!” Yu Tang almost immediately made her decision. She said solemnly, “I can tell you, but you must swear you won’t tell a third person about this.”

As for the consequences of this matter, she would bear them.

Wei Xiaochuan hesitated for a moment, then swore his oath.

Yu Tang told Wei Xiaochuan about her suspicions, but didn’t mention the painting. She was afraid Wei Xiaochuan or the Wei family would also be implicated. She only said she suspected someone was jealous and competing for affection.

“I guessed right, I guessed right.” Wei Xiaochuan murmured. “I said, my second brother was such an honest person—the next day he was supposed to go propose marriage. How could he have run out without saying a word? The big and small rivers and streams near our family farmland are like my second brother’s backyard. How could he have died just from catching fish? At that time, it was prime season for fat frogs and plump fish. Whenever the children from the farmland had free time, they would go catch frogs and fish in groups of two or three. How come not a single person saw my second brother…”

The half-grown child’s lost and dejected appearance was especially heartbreaking.

Yu Tang wanted to comfort him, but he suddenly raised his head, staring straight at Yu Tang and said, “Miss Yu, is it the Li family!”

This child was too clever by half!

Yu Tang’s mouth hung open for a long time.

Wei Xiaochuan said resentfully, “I knew it was them. Besides their family, no one else is so determined to marry you no matter what.”

Yu Tang blushed and apologized in a low voice, “I’m sorry. I don’t have evidence yet. I don’t know if it was really them…”

“What do you have to apologize for?” Wei Xiaochuan said with dissatisfaction. “If anyone’s at fault, it’s them. Just because you’re beautiful and they’re all insatiably greedy, does that mean the responsibility should be pushed onto you? You don’t need to apologize to me or to anyone else.”

“Wei Xiaochuan!” Yu Tang murmured, her vision suddenly becoming somewhat blurred.

In her previous life, whether Li Jun died or Li Duan coveted her, Lin Shi always said it was her fault—that flies don’t land on seamless eggs. It had taken her a very long time to understand that sometimes, the truth stood on the side of the minority.

She wasn’t wrong. Those with filthy minds were the ones in the wrong.

Since her rebirth, this was the first person to tell her so decisively that she wasn’t at fault.

Yu Tang’s eyes brimmed with hot tears.

But Wei Xiaochuan’s face was full of disgust as he said, “You women just love to cry! Big things, cry. Small things, cry. When happy, cry. When sad, cry. Whether there’s a reason or not, you cry. Can you stop crying? You’re being really annoying, you know that?”

Though his mouth spoke words of complaint, his ears were bright red.

Yu Tang smiled through her tears and tried to pat his head, saying, “It’s my fault. I won’t cry like this anymore.”

Wei Xiaochuan dodged her hand by tilting his head and said, “Then I’m leaving. I’ll come tell you when there’s news.”

Yu Tang was afraid he would act rashly and quickly grabbed him, saying, “Let’s investigate this matter clearly first. Once we’ve figured it out, no matter who did it, I have a plan to deal with them. You mustn’t take matters into your own hands and ruin my big plans.”

“I know, I know.” Wei Xiaochuan said dismissively, “Even if I wanted to do something, I have no way to act right now. I need to find a helper!”

So she was the helper Wei Xiaochuan had selected!

Yu Tang finally understood a bit why Wei Xiaochuan had come to find her and said such things.

However, she also needed help. If Wei Xiaochuan would help, he would certainly be more useful than A’Tiao.

Yu Tang had Shuang Tao bring a box of pastries to give to Wei Xiaochuan, saying, “You’re at the age for growing. Take these to school to eat. If you can’t finish them, share them with your classmates.”

The Wei family’s life wasn’t too bad, but they were still rural gentry after all. They had many sons and heavy burdens. Except during holidays, the children didn’t have the habit of eating snacks, much less sharing with classmates. Wei Xiaochuan was a bit isolated at school—not because he didn’t know how to make friends, but mainly because making friends required spending silver, and he felt sorry for his parents and was unwilling to spend that silver.

He didn’t want Yu Tang’s pastries and rolled his eyes, about to push them back, when Yu Tang said, “Consider it payment for helping me inquire about news.”

Wei Xiaochuan felt her goodwill. He hesitated for a moment, then accepted the pastries, thinking that later when he became a high official, he would buy her ten or eight cartloads to repay her kindness.

Yu Tang watched Wei Xiaochuan’s solitary retreating figure and shook her head with a smile, feeling this child’s precociousness was heartbreaking.

A few days later, Yu Yuan returned.

Yu Wen, Yu Tang, and he again avoided Chen Shi to talk in the study.

“Master Qian is very grateful we made a special trip to tell him.” Yu Yuan lowered his voice and said, “He said when he first saw that map, he also suspected it was a nautical chart, but didn’t want to get involved, so he didn’t say anything. He also feels this matter is quite serious. He’s planning to go hide at his senior apprentice brother’s place for a few years. If the business there can be established, he won’t come back. He told us not to worry about him. He also said if we decide to go to Fujian, he has a friend there who loved studying maps when he was young and might recognize it. He even gave me that person’s address and told us to try.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Wen and Yu Tang breathed a sigh of relief while also feeling delighted.

“That’s good!” Yu Wen added, “This shows our ancestors’ words were right—good deeds bring good rewards. We merely went to warn Master Qian, yet Master Qian has helped us so greatly. Perfect—now I don’t need to inquire about who has people doing business in Fujian. I can go directly to the person Master Qian introduced.”

Yu Tang nodded repeatedly.

Chen Shi knocked on the door outside, complaining, “Why have you closed the door again? I have something to say. Open the door quickly.”

The three of them looked at each other. Yu Tang hurried to open the door.

Chen Shi walked in with furrowed brows and said, “The autumn weather is so crisp and refreshing. What words do you have that you can’t say in the courtyard? Why are you hiding in the study?”

Yu Wen quickly changed the subject, saying, “Do you have urgent business with us?”

Chen Shi said, “A matchmaker came to the house…”

The little person in Yu Tang’s heart immediately raised a shield.

The Li family matter still wasn’t resolved. If she discussed marriage with any family at this time, she would be harming them!

“Mother, please put my marriage on hold for now!” she said urgently. “The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. After Mid-Autumn is the Double Ninth Festival. Let’s wait until October to discuss it!”

Chen Shi listened and laughed with a “pfft,” saying, “What if I insist on settling your marriage right now?”

Yu Tang’s mouth fell open, but she saw mischief in her mother’s eyes.

“Mother!” she said, at a loss.

Chen Shi just smiled and tapped her forehead, laughing, “Do you think you’re some hot commodity? That anyone who comes to our house must be proposing to you?”

Yu Tang said blankly, “Isn’t that the case?”

Chen Shi doubled over with laughter and said, “Don’t we still have your elder brother in this family?”

Everyone was shocked.

Yu Yuan’s face turned bright red.

Yu Wen quickly asked, “What’s going on? If they’re proposing for A’Yuan, why didn’t they find your sister-in-law instead of coming to you?”

Exactly!

Yu Tang perked up her ears to listen.

Chen Shi said, “It’s the Wei family. Mrs. Wei sent someone. She said it’s truly a pity about the matter between A’Tang and their second son. She wants to continue being in-laws with our family. Afraid sister-in-law might have some thoughts, she had the matchmaker come sound out my opinion first. I came to find you to discuss this matter.”

Yu Yuan’s face flushed bright red. He wanted to leave but also wanted to hear, standing there unable to advance or retreat.

Yu Wen said, “Don’t they only have five sons? Where would a daughter come from? Could it be from another branch of the Wei family?”

Chen Shi covered her mouth and laughed, saying, “Mrs. Wei wants to matchmake between her niece who grew up in the Wei household and our A’Yuan.”

“That young lady!” Yu Wen clearly had an impression and said, “Sure, sure, I think that’s fine. You should go talk properly with sister-in-law then. The Wei family are honest people. I also regret we couldn’t become in-laws with them.”

Chen Shi looked at Yu Yuan with a beaming smile and said, “Then I’ll go over. The matchmaker is still waiting for a reply!” Though she said this, she didn’t move, making Yu Yuan so embarrassed he wished he could shrink into a ball.

The couple laughed heartily and asked Yu Yuan, “What do you say? Although major marriage matters should follow the parents’ wishes, we also hope you can live well. Think about whether you’re willing.”

Yu Yuan’s face turned so red it could drip blood as he nodded haphazardly.