In Yu Tang’s view, whether Gu Chang helping Gu Xi was an exchange of benefits or family affection made a huge difference.

In her previous life, Gu Chang had been Gu Xi’s backbone.

The reason Gu Xi dared to deal with her that way was precisely because she had Gu Chang who would stand on her side no matter what happened!

Pei Yan glanced at Yu Tang and said: “Since you went to the Gu family to file a complaint, didn’t you investigate the Gu family’s situation clearly? If the second branch of the Gu family didn’t have Gu Chaoyang, they probably would have long ago lost their place in family councils.”

The implication was that in the Gu family, only Gu Chang had this capability.

Yu Tang naturally knew this—that’s why she dared to go complain to the Gu family.

She quickly said: “I know, which is why I felt it must have been Young Master Gu who stepped forward that the Gu family would break off the engagement with the Li family!”

Yu Tang’s original intention was to use Gu Chang to discipline Li Duan a bit.

Now that the Gu family and Li family had broken off their engagement, not only had her goal been achieved, but it far exceeded her expectations.

Her face bloomed with smiles.

Without the Gu family, Li Duan would be much easier to deal with.

Pei Yan didn’t know the calculations in Yu Tang’s heart. Seeing her laughing so happily, he felt his heart was about to break from worry and couldn’t help reminding her: “Don’t think Gu Chaoyang is someone easy to get along with. Gu Chaoyang has other important matters during this time. Although the marriage was proposed to be broken off by the Gu family, who knows what Miss Gu is really thinking in her heart. You just happened to stumble into an opportunity by chance. If you act so recklessly in the future, it might not be so easily settled.”

Yu Tang nodded repeatedly, knowing that the reason this matter succeeded was not only due to favorable timing, geography, and people, but also because she had the experience of her previous life—not enough to be proud about.

Should she be on guard against Gu Xi then?

From what she understood of Gu Xi, she was someone who was very competitive.

A trace of hesitation flashed in Yu Tang’s eyes.

Pei Yan saw this and felt displeased, thinking Yu Tang didn’t believe his words and was only nodding to humor him. He simply added: “If Li Duan had even a bit of ability and means, Gu Chaoyang wouldn’t have stepped forward to help his sister break off this engagement. If you don’t believe me, just wait and see—he’ll definitely find a way to arrange a marriage for his sister that can help him.”

Yu Tang believed this.

She said: “Since marriage is the union of two families, of course one hopes to add flowers to brocade! It’s only natural that Young Master Gu would seek a marriage for his sister that could help him. Besides, who doesn’t hope their husband or brother-in-law is a capable person. However, since they’re to be husband and wife, it’s still better if there’s mutual affection. I’m afraid Miss Gu’s marriage won’t be so easily settled.”

Pei Yan scoffed at this.

His father had liked this idea of mutual affection, which was why he had his eldest brother marry Yang Shi.

And what was the result?

He couldn’t help saying coldly: “There are plenty of people with mutual affection. So why is there still importance placed on matching family backgrounds? Clearly a person’s learning, cultivation, ability, and insight are most important. I have yet to see any couple who remained respectfully devoted to each other for a lifetime just because of mutual affection.”

These words grated on Yu Tang’s ears.

She clearly knew Pei Yan had a bad temper and that to please him, she needed to stroke him the right way. But she still thought it over and over, held back again and again, yet ultimately couldn’t hold back, saying: “Respectful devotion is certainly good, but when a couple lives together, being able to speak intimate words from the heart is more important, right? If marriage only considers family status and ability, then what’s the point of the matchmaking process? Might as well just choose whoever is most capable and from the highest-ranking family!”

This little slip of a girl actually dared to talk back to him!

Pei Yan was displeased in his heart. His face darkened as he said: “Are you telling me how to select marriage prospects?”

Yu Tang’s back went cold. She snapped back to her senses, but it was impossible for her to admit she was wrong.

She thought quickly and said ingratiatingly: “No, no. Aren’t we just chatting? When chatting, isn’t it about saying whatever comes to mind? Saying whatever you want to say?”

So she wouldn’t admit she was wrong!

And she was using this clumsy answer to evade his point.

Pei Yan laughed in anger. He raised his eyelids but saw Yu Tang’s face with its somewhat ingratiating smile.

He suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

Miss Yu was just a young lady, and a young lady with quite a few ideas at that. Was he making a mountain out of a molehill?

Just as Miss Yu said, chatting was merely speaking casually together. If even this required determining right from wrong and competing to win or lose, who would dare to casually chat with anyone!

Moreover, he wasn’t usually like this.

Even when he was a Hanlin compiler and everyone discussed governmental affairs together, when some disagreed and others refuted, it was a very normal thing. He usually just laughed it off. How did it become so demanding when it came to Miss Yu?

Pei Yan reflected on himself.

Seeing that Pei Yan wasn’t speaking and couldn’t read joy or anger on his face, Yu Tang didn’t know what to say for a moment either.

Suddenly silence fell between the two, and the atmosphere immediately became somewhat awkward.

Yu Tang could only make conversation, remembering her other purpose in coming. She smiled and said: “Third Master, with Master Li serving in the Office of Transmission, doesn’t that mean he’s in the same bureau as your family’s First Madam’s natal family? What does the Office of Transmission do? Is it a very important bureau?”

Her tone was gentle, with a touch of carefulness, like a small beast cautiously testing something.

Hearing this, Pei Yan inexplicably felt his mood improve considerably.

Was it because after his self-reflection just now, he had become more tolerant toward Miss Yu?

He pondered this in his heart and softly said “mm,” suddenly discovering that Miss Yu seemed to know quite a bit about his family’s affairs. He was somewhat curious about just how much Yu Tang knew about his family, and directly ignored the question “what does the Office of Transmission do,” instead asking: “You knew that First Madam’s natal family has a brother in the Office of Transmission?”

Pei Yan’s tone made Yu Tang feel as if she were prying into the Pei family’s secrets.

Sure enough, when making conversation, she shouldn’t have brought up such a sensitive topic.

She felt very regretful and quickly said: “Not really! When the Old Master passed away, didn’t our family all come to pay respects? I heard it from the guests who came to pay respects to the Old Master.” Speaking of this, she couldn’t help but look at Pei Yan with concern.

Previously Pei Yan had protected their family on many occasions, and Pei Yan’s relationship with the first branch wasn’t good. She was afraid that after Li Yi went to the Office of Transmission, he would get entangled with the Yang family and be detrimental to Pei Yan.

Pei Yan saw this clearly.

She had heard those rumors and learned about his conflict with the first branch!

However, was there anyone in Lin’an city now who didn’t know about his conflict with the first branch?

Probably not.

This little girl was worried about whether the Li family would cause him trouble.

At least she had a conscience.

His occasional help hadn’t been in vain.

Pei Yan mocked himself inwardly but didn’t show it on his face. He nodded toward Yu Tang, his expression becoming even more impassive, yet in his heart he felt somewhat gratified. He explained in detail: “The Minister of the Office of Transmission, along with the Six Ministries’ Ministers, the Chief Censor of the Censorate, and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, are called the Major Nine Ministers. The Ministers of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Court of the Imperial Stud, Court of Imperial Entertainments, the Senior Compiler of the Office of Heir Apparent, the Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, the Rector of the Imperial Academy, the Minister of the Court of the Imperial Studs, and the Minister of the Court of Imperial Insignia are the Minor Nine Ministers. These all have the qualification to attend court and discuss governmental affairs during grand court assemblies. If you want to know more clearly, go ask Master Yu—Master Yu would know.”

Yu Tang was secretly surprised.

She knew how formidable the Major and Minor Nine Ministers were, but she hadn’t known that the Rector of the Imperial Academy was also one of the Minor Nine Ministers.

The Yang family was quite formidable.

One son was a Major Nine Minister, the father was a Minor Nine Minister, and another son was in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

She just didn’t know how many maternal uncles Young Master Pei had? Were they all this formidable?

She didn’t know why Pei Yan hadn’t agreed to the marriage with the nephew’s wife’s family from First Madam’s natal family. Was it because he had long been at odds with the First Master, or simply because he didn’t want to establish connections with the Yang family?

Then wouldn’t the Li family, headed by the Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, which Pei Yan could look up to, be even more remarkable?

Even she was afraid that Li Yi entering the Office of Transmission would be detrimental to Pei Yan—Pei Yan must have thought about this much more than she had.

He should already have countermeasures, right?

Yu Tang nodded, feeling she shouldn’t worry about Pei Yan, yet couldn’t stop thinking that everything had its exceptions. What if by some chance Pei Yan encountered some accident because of this matter?

Her mind raced, and she inevitably became somewhat distracted.

Many women were quite clever when doing other things, but became confused when it came to court matters, taking ages to understand even when explained.

Pei Yan felt Yu Tang was probably like this too, having no idea what he had actually said. He was hesitating about whether to explain it to her again in more detail when his attendant Pei Qi walked in quickly. After bowing to him, he lowered his head and reported: “Third Master, Sixth Master Gu from the Hangzhou Gu family had someone send over a calling card, saying he’s returning to the capital and will come to bid you farewell tomorrow.”

Gu Chang was returning to the capital and wanted to personally bid farewell to Pei Yan? When had the relationship between them become so close? Hadn’t Pei Yan just said Gu Chang wasn’t a good person?

Yu Tang looked toward Pei Yan, her large eyes full of curiosity.

But Pei Yan frowned.

He had already spoken very clearly—he wouldn’t serve as an official again, nor would he participate in those factional struggles anymore. Yet Gu Chang acted as if he hadn’t understood. When Shen Shanyan was unwilling to accompany Gu Chang in visiting him anymore, Gu Chang came by himself. After returning to Huai’an, Gu Chang had written letters and sent things to him several times. This time, having completed his official duties and about to return to the capital, he still wanted to personally bid him farewell.

What exactly was Gu Chang plotting?

Pei Yan held the calling card for a long while without making a sound.

Yu Tang didn’t want to disturb him and let her eyes wander around.

She discovered that the person who came to report to Pei Yan wasn’t the same person who had moved the armchair for her.

The one who moved the armchair was a man of about thirty, of medium build and somewhat thin, appearing taciturn and respectfully obedient—giving the impression of being someone who “speaks little and does much.”

The person before her eyes, however, only looked to be in his early twenties, tall and slender with a dashing appearance. He didn’t show the humility of ordinary servants but rather exuded the vigor of youth.

Yu Tang clicked her tongue quietly.

Chief Steward Pei also didn’t seem like a servant.

And there was that Zhao Zhen who drove Pei Yan’s carriage too.

She didn’t know how Pei Yan had come to have such attendants.

Yu Tang pondered this, then saw Pei Yan hand the calling card back to the servant before him, saying: “I won’t see him!”

So direct?!

Both Yu Tang and Pei Qi widened their eyes simultaneously.

Pei Qi felt that their Third Master’s temper was getting worse and worse. He advised: “How about saying you’re not at home?”

That would be better than refusing so directly.

No matter what, Gu Chang wasn’t someone to trifle with.

Since there was no conflict, why make an enemy of Gu Chang!

But Pei Yan said: “Just say it like that!”

Pei Qi withdrew with a bitter expression.