Li Duan looked at Yu Tang with smiling eyes and said: “My mother was wrong in this matter. However, I must ask Miss Yu to forgive her. No matter which mother it is, when protecting her own child, she inevitably does a few foolish things. Fortunately, my mother’s original intention was not to harm Miss Yu. When my younger brother heard that Miss Yu might be in danger, he even went with companions to rescue Miss Yu. Speaking of it, my younger brother is also a victim!”
Those gentry were all shrewd people. Hearing this, they immediately understood the peculiarity of the situation and couldn’t help but laugh.
Pei Yan hadn’t expected that this matter was arranged by Li Jun’s mother, Lin Shi.
He couldn’t help but size up Li Jun with a glance.
He saw Li Jun staring wide-eyed at Yu Tang, his lips moving as if he had many words to say to Yu Tang but didn’t know what to say. It all finally transformed into a trace of bleak sorrow.
He looked toward Yu Tang.
Yu Tang’s gaze was calm as she looked at Li Duan, neither sad nor happy. Even the corner of her eye didn’t sweep over Li Jun once.
Clearly she didn’t think much of Li Jun.
Pei Yan marveled inwardly.
Looking at this, he dared to be certain that Li Jun liked Miss Yu, and still liked her very much even now. Miss Yu had taken the initiative to provoke Li Jun before—why did she now treat him with such disdain? Moreover, judging by appearances, she didn’t seem to like Li Duan either. At least when facing Li Duan, he couldn’t see that Miss Yu had any romantic feelings for Li Duan.
Could his eyes be failing him?
He had never been particularly perceptive in this area.
Back when Zhou Zijin was having an affair with the abbess of some nunnery, he had accompanied him to tea several times without noticing. He only found out when Madam Zhou brought people to break up the lovebirds.
Pei Yan couldn’t help but touch his nose.
Then there was that Wei Xiaoshan, the Wei family’s second young master. One could see that Miss Yu was sincerely standing up for him, even disregarding her own reputation, showing her face in public to confront Li Duan.
This Miss Yu was truly interesting!
Among so many people, going round and round, she actually still had her own position.
For the first time in his life, someone had made Pei Yan unable to see through them.
But Miss Yu’s approach wouldn’t work. Even if Li Duan admitted that the kidnapping incident was done by the Li family, he pushed this matter onto his mother Lin Shi. Women—long hair, short insight. When they suddenly act impulsively and do something jaw-dropping, it’s common enough. Holding onto the Li family over this wouldn’t work.
If it were him, since he’d already led the conversation to this matter, he would make an issue from another angle, questioning how the Li family prepared to deal with the aftermath of such an incident. One way or another, he should completely sever the marital connection between the two families, so the Li family could never again use this matter to arrange a marriage with the Yu family.
Should he remind Miss Yu?
This thought flashed through Pei Yan’s mind before he denied it.
Right now he didn’t know what Miss Yu wanted to do either. Although she appeared to be standing up for Wei Xiaoshan, what if in reality she wanted to marry Li Duan?
He could never clearly see through these romantic entanglements between men and women. Better not to end up being blamed from all sides.
However, if Miss Yu really wanted to marry Li Duan, he could help out. When the time came and the Li and Gu families broke off the engagement, Gu Chang’s expression would definitely be quite ugly.
Pei Yan’s lips curved slightly upward, then he heard Yu Tang say: “Although Madam Li acted in momentary confusion, now that Young Master Li is managing the household, with Madam Li having done such a thing, our family absolutely cannot arrange a marriage with the Li family anymore. I presume everyone present, putting themselves in our shoes, can understand our Yu family’s indignation.”
Pei Yan immediately sat up straight.
Unexpectedly, this Miss Yu really wanted to draw a clear line with the Li family!
He had misjudged again!
Pei Yan lowered his head to sip tea, concealing his discomfort.
The gentry present buzzed with discussion, and Old Master Wu, who had been entrusted by Yu Wen, took advantage of the situation to speak directly: “Indeed, Miss Yu speaks reasonably. If my daughter encountered such a matter, although it was done with good intentions, there would inevitably be some discomfort in the heart. It goes against propriety and law—the two families absolutely cannot arrange a marriage. After saying this, he laughed heartily twice and said: “Fortunately, the Yu family wants to keep Miss Yu and bring in a son-in-law. The Li family’s second young master is also handsome and talented, outstanding in learning. If I were Master Li, I wouldn’t bear to send a son I’d raised for so long to someone else either. Enemies should be reconciled rather than created—I think this matter should end here. Everyone laugh and let bygones be bygones. What do you say, Third Master Pei?”
Pei Yan looked up at Yu Tang.
Yu Tang was also looking at him.
Her eyes, brilliant as starlight, now revealed a hint of nervousness. She focused all her attention on watching him, not blinking at all, as if afraid that blinking would cause her to miss his expression and leave her unable to respond in time, allowing things to develop in a direction unfavorable to her. Her body leaning slightly forward also carried a few traces of pleading and expectation, as if his decision was so important to her—able to affect her life and death, her future, her entire life.
Tsk, tsk, tsk, this Miss Yu truly had a thousand faces. When needed, she could make even him feel soft-hearted, let alone that boy Li Jun.
Pei Yan uncomfortably took another sip of tea and looked toward Li Duan.
Still young after all, unable to completely hide his emotions. Li Duan’s expression was somewhat ugly, clearly disliking Old Master Wu’s words.
So it wasn’t Miss Yu who wanted to entangle with the Li family, but rather the Li family who, even at this point, still wanted to pursue Miss Yu!
Interesting, interesting!
Pei Yan thought of Gu Chang’s gentle face, and his mood became even more cheerful.
He said: “The romantic tales of literati and poets usually go against propriety and teaching. When one occasionally appears, if both parties are mutually affectionate, that’s fine. It’s better not to let the world follow such examples.”
This was opposing the Li family continuing to entangle with the Yu family over marriage matters.
Yu Tang let out a long breath of relief.
She had already made up her mind to persuade Third Master Pei to stand on her side. She hadn’t expected that without her needing to say another word, Third Master Pei would help her by saying it “went against propriety and teaching.”
Third Master Pei seemed truly as she had understood him before—although he didn’t much manage affairs, at critical moments, he was someone who could help people and was willing to help people.
Yu Tang looked at Pei Yan with gratitude.
Those eyes, containing a trace of moisture, under the bright light of the hall were like sunlight shining on water—sparkling ripples, shimmering brilliantly.
Pei Yan was momentarily stunned.
Yu Tang had already gracefully curtsied to him, gratefully saying “Thank you, Third Master” in a voice clear and pleasant as jade stones striking together.
Pei Yan suddenly thought of how beside the Enlightenment Pine at Zhaoming Temple, Miss Yu had seemed to thank Li Jun with such graceful charm as well.
His expression darkened a bit.
He felt as if he and Li Jun had been reduced to the same level…
Yu Tang, however, was muttering to herself inwardly.
Third Master Pei’s moods really were unpredictable!
Just moments ago he had been kind and pleasant in helping her, and in the blink of an eye his expression had changed.
She didn’t want any unexpected developments to occur because of Pei Yan’s mercurial temperament, causing him to do something unfavorable to her.
Yu Tang couldn’t worry about anything else. Things had finally progressed to this point with such difficulty—even if it was risky, she had to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and nail this matter down.
“Second Young Master of the Li Family,” she looked at Li Jun with a smile and said warmly: “I presume you also agree with Third Master Pei’s opinion!”
This was the first time since that day when Li Jun had stopped Yu Tang’s sedan chair at the entrance to Green Bamboo Lane that Yu Tang had turned her gaze upon him, and also the first time she had spoken to him.
Li Jun’s expression was bitter, but more than that, it was filled with guilt.
He knew Yu Tang was drawing a clear line with him, but could he disagree?
He was the one who had wronged her to begin with—could he still drag her down and not let go?
This was the resolve he’d had when leaving Green Bamboo Lane. Now it was just being stated clearly and explicitly.
Li Duan, watching this, was anxious beyond measure. Without waiting for Li Jun to speak, he stepped forward and pulled at Li Jun’s sleeve.
This child—how could he be so foolish?
When pursuing a young lady, if you cared about face, nothing would be accomplished.
Marrying Miss Yu into the family wasn’t just his business alone—it was their father’s decision.
This concerned the Li family’s future prospects.
The only unexpected thing was that they hadn’t anticipated Li Jun would truly fall for Miss Yu.
“Third Master Pei…” Li Duan said, but before he could finish, Li Jun shook off his hand, knocking away Li Duan’s grip on his sleeve corner, and spoke before Li Duan could: “Miss Yu, what you say is reasonable. This matter indeed goes against propriety. I was discourteous.” After speaking, he bowed to Yu Tang in apology.
“Little Brother!” Li Duan frowned.
But Yu Tang felt a weight lift from her heart.
Li Jun, that spirited young man on his fine horse—in the end he still had some baseline principles. He hadn’t become irredeemably bad.
Cast peaches and plums, receive jade and gems in return.
She would find a way to save his life.
Yu Tang looked toward Li Duan, a trace of coldness flashing in her eyes.
Even if the kidnapping was Lin Shi’s idea, without Li Duan, could Lin Shi have succeeded?
Whether in her previous life or this one, Li Duan never had a moment of standing up clearly and admitting things.
She said: “Young Master of the Li Family, you see, everyone knows that after your family did such a thing, our two families absolutely cannot arrange a marriage anymore. Even Second Young Master Li feels this matter is inappropriate. So when our family refused the marriage proposal initially, you were already out of options, correct?”
Li Duan agreed with this reasoning in his heart, but he didn’t speak.
Last time, he had answered too hastily, letting Miss Yu find a loophole and completely sever the possibility of the two families arranging a marriage. It showed he had underestimated Miss Yu. He should have known—since the Yu family dared to let Miss Yu confront him, Miss Yu must have her own exceptional qualities.
From now on, whatever Miss Yu said, he needed to think carefully before answering.
What also surprised him was Pei Yan’s attitude.
He knew the Yu and Pei families had a good relationship. Before coming, he had considered whether to visit Pei Yan in advance, but he worried that his advance visit would make Pei Yan misunderstand that their family was in the wrong in this matter, thereby affecting Pei Yan’s impression of him—Pei Yan’s master and fellow disciples were too formidable, and each occupied important positions. He feared that one day he might need to ask Pei Yan for help.
But looking at it now, he had probably made another mistake in this matter.
For the Yu family to be able to ask Pei Yan to act as mediator, they had probably already persuaded Pei Yan, causing Pei Yan to have preconceptions about the Li family.
To break this deadlock, he needed to be even more careful.
“Miss Yu, one cannot say it like that.” Li Duan smiled as if bathed in spring breeze, showing no trace of the panic in his heart. He said: “Where there is sincerity, metal and stone will open. Our family has always wanted to arrange a marriage with the Yu family. We would never do something that destroys our own great wall.”
Yu Tang also smiled, her smile gentle and modest: “But the fact is, our family is determined to bring in a son-in-law for me, while your family is determined to have me marry into the Li family. Neither family is willing to yield, and your mother did a foolish thing. Am I not speaking correctly?”