Go to Hangzhou?!

Yu Yuan was astonished.

Yu Tang looked into the room.

Under the dim yellow lamplight, the several elders were talking animatedly.

Only then did she lower her voice even further, saying: “Didn’t I mention it before? I won’t let the Li family off so easily. I want to go to Hangzhou to meet that eldest young lady from the second branch of the Gu family.”

“You mean Li Duan’s fiancée?” Yu Yuan’s expression changed slightly.

Yu Tang nodded.

“No!” Yu Yuan immediately said. “A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years. I will definitely give you an answer regarding the Li family matter, but you can’t get involved again.”

His sister was so good.

How could she carry the burden of Wei Xiaoshan’s death for her whole life because of that scumbag Li Duan?

If this misfortune had to be borne, it should be borne by him as her elder brother.

A’Tang should marry and have children happily, living peacefully and safely.

“Elder brother, I know you’re worried about me,” Yu Tang empathized. In her previous life, she had also hoped Yu Yuan could live happily and joyfully, which is why she had married into the Li family holding Li Jun’s memorial tablet. “But some things, if I don’t personally do them myself, I’ll never have peace for the rest of my life. Moreover, some things aren’t what you imagine them to be.”

Yu Yuan asked in confusion: “What do you mean by that?”

Yu Tang didn’t make a sound.

Gu Xi was an extremely beautiful woman. Not only was she beautiful in appearance, but she also had an elegant temperament—the kind of beauty that could attract people’s attention just by casually standing in a crowd.

When she had first married in, Gu Xi hadn’t thought much of her.

The reason was that Gu Xi felt that for one’s own family’s daughter to marry a dead man, one was either greedy for the Li family’s money or their reputation—it showed the Yu family’s family values were improper. But later, as Yu Tang gradually straightened her spine in how she conducted herself, Gu Xi instead became pleasant and kind toward her. When Lin Shi made things difficult for her, Gu Xi had even secretly helped her, and the two had once felt mutual sympathy.

Later, when Gu Xi discovered Li Duan’s designs on her, Gu Xi hated her with gritted teeth. If it weren’t for the fact that they were both daughters-in-law of the Li family, and she had the title of chastely keeping her widowhood, with the Li family still hoping she would earn a chastity memorial arch, Gu Xi could have killed her with her own hands.

Later still, probably knowing that Li Duan couldn’t possibly give her up, and as long as Yu Tang remained in the Li family, Li Duan might create a shocking scandal that would not only affect Li Duan’s official career but might even affect the reputation of Gu Xi’s two sons, Gu Xi began encouraging Li Duan to let Yu Tang leave the Li family. This way, with Yu Tang’s natal family being powerless, Li Duan could take Yu Tang as a concubine.

Li Duan thus looked at Gu Xi with new respect, and the relationship between husband and wife became unprecedentedly intimate because of this.

And Gu Xi, who had no way to deal with Yu Tang as a fellow sister-in-law, could deal with Yu Tang as Li Duan’s concubine.

In her previous life, after learning of Gu Xi’s plan, all of Yu Tang’s gratitude for Gu Xi’s secret assistance and all her discomfort from Li Duan’s designs on her completely disappeared.

She even suspected whether her eldest uncle’s and eldest cousin’s deaths might also be related to Gu Xi’s idea.

When she wanted to leave the Li family to investigate the cause of her eldest uncle’s and eldest cousin’s deaths, she had used Gu Xi without hesitation to help her.

It could be said that Yu Tang was one of the people in this world who understood Gu Xi best.

When she loved, she loved into the dust.

When she hated, she hated to the bone.

In her previous life, Gu Xi had made the first move against her. In this life, she decided to make the first move against Gu Xi.

Of course, everything had both good and bad sides—it just depended on how one chose.

Perhaps her preemptive strike would also be an opportunity for Gu Xi.

Yu Tang smiled faintly.

Yu Yuan watched with trepidation.

Why did he feel his sister was smiling as if she was about to do something bad, somewhat malicious?

“What, what are you going to do?” he said urgently. “Don’t do anything rash! Otherwise, not only will I not take you to Hangzhou City, I’ll also tell Uncle about this.”

Yu Yuan threatened Yu Tang with complete lack of威慑力.

Yu Tang laughed.

Her foolish brother always protected her with such partiality.

“I know,” Yu Tang said with a smile. “I won’t do anything foolish. I just want to tell the Gu family about all the things the Li family has done, to let Miss Gu know what kind of person Li Duan is.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuan immediately felt relieved, saying: “Right! That Li Duan isn’t a good person. If the Gu family knows about the things the Li family has done, they’ll definitely break off the engagement. This way, you’re also helping Miss Gu.” After speaking, he hesitated: “Should we wait until after the New Year to go?”

Yu Tang was startled, then said with displeasure: “When the Li family abducted me, did they care whether our family needed to worship our ancestors? Why should we care whether the Gu family needs to celebrate the New Year?”

“Alright!” Yu Yuan said.

Yu Tang snorted coldly.

If the Gu and Li families could break off the engagement this way, it wouldn’t be anything but Gu Xi’s good fortune. What she feared was that the Gu family wouldn’t consider this a big deal.

But based on her understanding of Gu Xi, after Gu Xi learned what Li Duan had done, she would definitely look down on the Li family and look down on Li Duan.

Especially since the Li family had used so many methods yet ultimately failed.

Then when Gu Xi married over, would she still tolerate everything and treat Lin Shi courteously out of admiration for her husband?

Yu Tang very much wanted to know.

“So will you accompany me to Hangzhou City or not?” She pulled on Yu Yuan’s sleeve, saying: “If you accompany me to Hangzhou City, I’ll make sister-in-law a pink silk twin lotus flower that will guarantee no one will be prettier than her when she wears it.”

Yu Yuan was immediately tempted.

He thought for a moment and said: “Could you have a pair of butterflies resting on that twin lotus?”

Yu Yuan had seen the silk flowers Yu Tang made. Those insects and birds were especially exquisite and unique—unlike any other family had.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Yu Tang liked Yu Yuan this way, having pursuits and loves, but she still couldn’t help teasing her brother. “Sister-in-law hasn’t even entered the door yet, and you’re already bullying your sister. Do you know that those insects and birds take the most effort? Ordinary silk flowers can be finished in at most one or two days, but if embellished with insects or birds, it takes four or five days. Aren’t you afraid my eyes will strain?”

“I, I didn’t mean that!” Yu Yuan was greatly embarrassed, but unwilling to give up having Yu Tang help make a prettier silk flower for Miss Xiang, he could only say: “Good sister, when you get married, I’ll have your sister-in-law help you make shoes and socks.”

“I won’t make shoes and socks when I get married!” Yu Tang said proudly. “I’ll have Father go directly to the ready-made clothing shop to have them custom-made.”

Yu Yuan was at a loss, anxiously pacing in circles.

Yu Tang laughed heartily, saying: “So will you accompany me to Hangzhou or not?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Yu Yuan immediately said.

“Then you think of an excuse for us to go to Hangzhou.” Yu Tang continued to enslave Yu Yuan.

Looking at Yu Yuan’s manner, once he got married, he would definitely be closest to his wife and children. She wouldn’t be able to boss him around anymore. While she still had the chance, she couldn’t easily let him off.

Yu Yuan immediately agreed.

Only then was Yu Tang satisfied and returned with Yu Yuan to the hall where a large brazier of silver frost charcoal was burning.

Whether to get revenge on the Li family or thinking about the silk flower to comfort Miss Xiang, Yu Yuan quickly thought of an excuse to take Yu Tang to Hangzhou City—the Yu family’s lacquerware shop had reopened. To know yourself and know your enemy ensures victory in every battle. He needed to go to Hangzhou City to see what kinds of goods other families’ lacquerware shops sold. Taking Yu Tang along would be to have her help look at what kinds of patterns were carved on those lacquerware items, and preferably to draw some designs to show the masters when they returned. When spring came next year, they would know what lacquerware to make to sell in the shop.

“Can A’Tang handle it?” Yu Wen asked doubtfully. “She draws a thrush looking like a sparrow—aren’t you afraid she’ll draw the patterns into something unrecognizable?”

Yu Tang was too angry to speak.

Yu Yuan laughed and said: “But A’Tang is clever! If I just wanted to copy patterns, I might as well bring the masters from the shop!”

“That’s true too.” Hearing this, Yu Wen became proud again and instructed Yu Tang: “You must look carefully. Don’t let your elder brother have no way to answer to your eldest uncle when he returns!”

“Don’t worry,” Yu Tang said shamelessly. “When elder brother and I return, next year the goods sold in the shop will definitely be completely different.”

Yu Wen and Yu Bo didn’t believe her at all, thinking Yu Tang was just boasting, but they still agreed to let Yu Yuan take Yu Tang to see Hangzhou City. Chen Shi even quietly gave Yu Tang two taels of silver, telling her to buy something if she saw anything she liked, also saying: “If there’s nothing you like, don’t buy randomly. When spring comes next year, I’ll go to Hangzhou City with your eldest aunt, and we can buy you some things to wear then—it won’t be too late.”

Yu Tang happily agreed.

On the day they took the boat, Yu Tang wore an oil-green coarse cloth plain waistcoat again, styled her hair in a maiden’s bun, rolled up her sleeves and carried a blue coarse cloth printed bundle, wrapped her head in a matching coarse cloth headscarf, and went to Hangzhou City with Yu Yuan.

On the way, Yu Yuan, afraid she would catch the wind, found a corner seat, went to ask the boatman for hot water, filled a hand warmer for Yu Tang and tucked it into her embrace, then quietly asked her: “How do you plan to inform the Gu family?”

Yu Tang might not be able to explain other people’s affairs clearly, but she understood Gu Xi’s matters all too well.

To avoid worrying Yu Yuan, Yu Tang whispered: “I’ve already inquired clearly. That Miss Gu has a wet nurse who was formerly Madam Gu’s dowry maid and is extremely loyal to Miss Gu. She has a son who works as a young clerk in a silk shop at the Gu family’s Wulin Gate. Every half month, Miss Gu’s wet nurse finds a way to leave the residence to see this son. When the time comes, we’ll run into that wet nurse and casually tell her about the Li family’s affairs as if by accident. After hearing the gossip, the wet nurse will definitely go investigate. I figure after all these days, the events in Lin’an City should have spread to Hangzhou City as well.”

Yu Yuan repeatedly praised this, saying: “If the Gu family can break off the engagement with the Li family because of this, that would be best.”

Yu Tang didn’t respond but instead changed the subject, saying: “This time, will we still stay at the Ruyi Inn?”

The Ruyi Inn was a bit far from Wulin Gate, but the owner and his wife were very familiar, and there was a Pei family pawn shop in front, where Manager Tong’s younger brother was the head manager. Just thinking about it felt warm and familiar.

Yu Yuan probably thought the same, saying: “Didn’t you say you also want to buy some materials for making hair flowers? That area is a bit closer.”

Yu Tang then complained: “Elder brother, you need to learn to be more clever in the future. Which family has butterflies resting on twin lotuses? Butterflies flutter gracefully and come in pairs, but they disappear in an instant. If anything should rest there, it should be dragonflies. If you don’t understand these things in the future, ask sister-in-law—don’t make decisions on your own. When we go to Hangzhou City this time, I’ll help you look carefully and make a few dewdrops on the twin lotus—that will look beautiful!”

Yu Yuan chuckled.

Soon the boat reached the dock. They bought some food and went to the Ruyi Inn on Yuhe Street.