Yu Wen was angered again. He pointed at Chen Qi’s departing back and said to Yu Tang, “Look at that. I don’t know why the Pei family sent him to deliver the news. First, he didn’t say which family won the bid for the map, and second, he didn’t…” His words reached this point when his expression froze slightly.

He too—how had he not asked about the auction?

Yu Tang lowered her head and secretly smiled for a while. Only after feeling she had controlled her expression did she raise her head, call out “Father,” and say, “The auction should have just ended at this time. Those wealthy aristocratic families probably haven’t left yet. What exactly happened during the auction? Which family took the map? Why were we able to get so much silver? I wanted to ask when I saw Manager Chen, but thinking about it, the Third Master Pei’s most urgent matter right now is probably how to safely and smoothly send these people who came to participate in the auction out of Lin’an City. How would he have the time and energy to tell us these things now? So I thought we might as well wait patiently for a few days. After the Third Master Pei finishes his work, we’ll prepare generous gifts and pay a visit to properly thank the Third Master Pei!”

They hadn’t even attended the auction because they feared people with ulterior motives would connect the map with the Yu family. Moreover, this was also Pei Yan’s intention—how could they disappoint Pei Yan’s good intentions? These days, they should not only wait patiently for the Pei family’s arrangements but also, just like before, go out less, speak less, inquire less, and wait until those families who came to participate in the auction had all left before finding an open and aboveboard reason to thank Pei Yan.

Once Yu Wen heard this, he had no mind to quibble with Chen Qi anymore.

He asked Yu Yuan, “For your wedding, did you send an invitation to the Pei family?”

For such a major event, they definitely had to send an invitation to the Pei family.

Yu Yuan said, “I did. But I had A’Tiao deliver it to the gatekeepers.”

The Pei family received countless such invitations every year. Generally, they were given to the gatekeepers, who would pass them to the stewards specially managing such matters. The stewards would then handle them accordingly based on the relationship between the family sending the invitation and the Pei family. Most families did it out of respect for the Pei family, specifically informing them. The Pei family would prepare some gift boxes as congratulatory gifts. Some were families with distant relations to the Pei family—they would wrap two taels of silver in a red envelope as a congratulatory gift. For those with even better relationships with the Pei family, the steward would report it to Pei Yan, who would decide whether to personally offer congratulations or have a steward send an appropriate congratulatory gift.

The Yu family had no intention of disturbing Pei Yan, so following the general practice among neighbors, they had only sent an invitation. As for how the Pei family would arrange things, that was the Pei family’s business.

However, Yu Wen felt Pei Yan probably wouldn’t come.

The auction and Yu Yuan’s wedding were too close together. If he personally offered congratulations, it might reveal something to people with ulterior motives.

Pei Yan might truly be very busy, as he had no further contact with their family afterward.

Their family then peacefully began preparing for Yu Yuan’s wedding.

But what the Yu family hadn’t expected was that the day before Yu Yuan’s wedding, although Pei Yan himself didn’t appear, he sent the head steward Pei Man over.

Pei Man’s face was full of apology as he said, “The Third Master is still in mourning and couldn’t come in person. Please forgive us, Master Yu!”

Pei Yan was indeed in mourning, but in the eyes of the people of Lin’an City, the Yu family didn’t have such a great reputation that they could invite Pei Yan to drink at a wedding feast. So Pei Man’s words were very tactful, giving the Yu family tremendous face. Which of the helpers like Master Wu wasn’t an expert at social finesse? They immediately chimed in, “Head Steward Pei, what are you saying? That the Third Master Pei remembers Young Master Yu’s happy day is already extremely rare. How could we have the Third Master Pei attend joyous occasions now? Since Head Steward Pei has come on behalf of the Pei family, please have a cup of celebratory wine before returning to report.”

Pei Man tactfully declined, “My masters are all observing mourning at home. How could I, a servant, dare to break the rules? I’ll first wish Young Master Yu a harmonious marriage and a house full of children and grandchildren. After some days pass, I’ll make a special trip to congratulate Young Master Yu.”

Master Wu was today’s reception master. Hearing him say this, naturally he couldn’t insist. He smiled and saw Pei Man out.

The Xiang family people who had come to deliver the dowry and prepare the bed saw this and couldn’t help nodding repeatedly, discussing privately, “No wonder everyone says Aunt is formidable. Not to mention anything else, being able to bring the eldest miss over to raise her and find such a respectable family for her—that’s not something ordinary people can accomplish.”

The “aunt” they spoke of referred to Madam Wei.

“This is also the eldest miss’s good fortune!”

“I heard all the scholars in Lin’an City will attend. This wedding is truly respectable.”

“After the eldest miss gives birth to a young master, at least education won’t be a worry. Back then, no matter what, the master insisted on marrying the madam, wasn’t it because he saw that the Shen family were scholarly people, so in the future the young masters could study with their maternal uncle?”

The Xiang family people continued their discussion.

Yu Tang, however, was busy with her mother preparing for tomorrow’s wedding.

Was there enough tea and wine? Had any return gifts for the Xiang family members coming to see off the bride been overlooked? Could the people going to fetch the bride depart smoothly today?

Although these were trivial matters, missing even one thing could cause problems with the wedding.

Bustling about, before they knew it, evening arrived. Because Fuyang was a day’s journey away, the Yu family’s bridal sedan had to depart the day before to ensure the bride could be brought in according to the auspicious time. Yu Tang and her mother together saw off the bridal sedan, then went to check the kitchen and bridal chamber. Seeing that everything was arranged properly, only then did they return home and get a full night’s sleep.

Even so, early the next morning when the sky wasn’t yet bright, she was awakened by Chen Pozi, “Miss, Wang Pozi from the eldest master’s side came to ask where you put the congratulatory banners for the wedding ceremony—they need to decorate the ceremonial hall.”

Originally, the reception master had made a list, and the items needed for the wedding were all bought at once. At that time, the eldest aunt was in the kitchen weighing the fish and meat needed for the wedding feast, so she had helped her eldest aunt put things away.

Yu Tang sat up in bed for a while, then said with a yawn, “Isn’t it too early? Be careful that children coming to the wedding feast might dirty the congratulatory banners. I was planning to decorate the ceremonial hall after cleaning up from the noon feast.”

Chen Pozi, while directing the equally sleepy-eyed Shuang Tao to help Yu Tang wash and dress, quickly and efficiently brought over the clothes Yu Tang had prepared days ago and hung on the wooden rack.

Yu Tang rinsed her mouth and washed her face, becoming fully awake. She said to Chen Pozi, “Go tell Wang Pozi that the congratulatory banners are stored in the black lacquer box painted with plum blossoms in eldest aunt’s storeroom. I’ll come help after I finish washing and dressing.”

Chen Pozi acknowledged and left.

Shuang Tao helped Yu Tang style her hair in a double-spiral bun, simply adorned with a pink pearl hair ornament, and changed into the light blue butterfly-and-flower Hangzhou silk jacket that had been ironed long ago.

This outfit was somewhat mature. If it weren’t for Yu Tang being truly beautiful and able to carry off anything she wore, she might have been invisible in a crowd.

However, today was Miss Xiang’s happy day. For three days there are no distinctions of seniority—when Miss Xiang entered the house and lifted her veil, these relatives would go into the bridal chamber to watch the excitement. She had no intention of becoming a conspicuous person, so this outfit suited her intentions perfectly.

Shuang Tao couldn’t help but nag, “You should have listened to Madam and worn that pink iris-patterned jacket. How beautiful it would be, and it’s this year’s new style from Hangzhou City…”

Although the auction matter had been sandwiched in between, Wang Shi and Chen Shi had still taken Yu Tang on a trip to Hangzhou City. They not only bought new-style fabrics and jewelry but also added new bowls, chopsticks, and utensils for the household.

The outfit Shuang Tao mentioned was one Chen Shi had bought for her to wear at Yu Yuan’s wedding.

Yu Tang also thought it looked good.

That fabric, so pink, like peach blossoms blooming in the third month, complemented her complexion beautifully. It just didn’t quite suit her personality—when she wasn’t smiling, she seemed a bit serious, lacking a young girl’s innocent liveliness. Another peach-red one actually suited her better.

However, she had no intention of discussing this with Shuang Tao. She interrupted Shuang Tao’s nagging with a laugh, “Why do you have so much to say? Wasn’t yesterday’s work enough to keep you busy?”

Thinking of yesterday’s exhausting pace without her feet touching the ground, Shuang Tao immediately fell silent.

Actually, she had wanted to say that today many women would be coming, and if Yu Tang dressed more beautifully, more people would have an impression of her. Perhaps some madam might take a liking to Yu Tang and arrange a good marriage for her.

Both the first madam and second madam had said that after the eldest young master got married, they would focus their energy on finding a son-in-law for the eldest miss.

The two arrived at Yu Bo’s house. Wang Shi was talking with several women in the courtyard. The main hall was still the same as yesterday—not decorated at all.

Had eldest aunt changed her mind?

Yu Tang went forward puzzled to greet her eldest aunt.

Her eldest aunt, with a face full of smiles, pulled her over and introduced her to those several women.

They were all madams in charge of prominent and respectable families in the city.

Some Yu Tang had encountered at the Li family in her previous life, while others she had heard their husbands’ names. Wang Shi only introduced them once, but Yu Tang remembered them all. When she spoke again, she didn’t make a single mistake. Combined with her experience from her previous life, her manner was natural and graceful. No matter what they asked, she could answer with substance. The several madams couldn’t help but regard her more highly, their joy evident in their expressions, and they were very friendly toward her.

One Madam Zeng, a scholar’s wife, even somewhat inappropriately asked how old she was, what pastimes she had at home, whether she could read account books, and such.

Her eldest aunt surprisingly didn’t deflect, and the other several women all smiled at her, looking as if they also very much wanted to know.

Yu Tang realized what was happening.

Her eldest aunt was having others arrange a match for her!

Yu Tang’s face immediately flushed slightly, but she still briefly answered Madam Zeng’s questions.

Another Madam Meng, seeing this, deliberately helped Yu Tang escape the situation. She smiled and said to Wang Shi, “I’ve long heard your niece is beautiful. Seeing her today, not only is she beautiful, but her speech and conduct are also proper. Madam Chen truly has excellent family education!”

The other several madams followed with a round of praise.

Wang Shi, seeing things had gone about far enough, had Yu Tang go prepare the items for decorating the ceremonial hall, and said, “What you said makes sense. We’ll decorate the ceremonial hall after cleaning up from the noon feast.”

Since it was a happy occasion, for tasks like decorating the ceremonial hall or bridal chamber, they sought women whose parents were both living and who had both sons and daughters. These several madams were probably here to help.

Yu Tang acknowledged and headed toward the nearby tea room, but heard Madam Meng say softly, “Have you all heard about the Li family matter?”

Someone responded, “The Li family from the south of the city, the one with the young provincial graduate?”

“That’s the one.” Madam Meng’s voice lowered, but Yu Tang still heard fragments, “I heard they want to break off the engagement… went to Hangzhou City a few days ago and haven’t returned yet… Master Li is extremely anxious, sent his personal secretary back, and together with Madam Li went to the Gu family…”