Gu Xi smiled faintly and said nothing more—she had said everything she needed to say. The rest was for others to speak.

For instance, this Second Miss appeared to have eyes that looked down on everyone with great pride, but in reality she was merely a young lady spoiled by her family. All her emotions showed on her face, making them obvious at a glance—she was not even as good as Fourth Miss, who appeared clever and mischievous.

However, it was somewhat unexpected that all the Pei family’s young ladies were this naive.

Perhaps it was because they were in the small city of Lin’an?

Gu Xi and Second Miss slowly walked toward where she was staying.

But Second Miss bit her lip, her brows tightly knit.

This wouldn’t do—she had to find a way to figure out how Miss Yu was coming and going at the Pei Manor.

There were too many people in Lin’an City trying to curry favor and flatter the Pei family. She didn’t like people using the Pei family’s name as a stepping stone to fulfill their own private interests.

It was just that Gu Xi was a guest and newly acquainted—it wouldn’t be proper to say too much in front of her. But as soon as she turned around, while Gu Xi went to the inner room to change clothes, she couldn’t help instructing the servant woman who had cared for her since childhood to investigate Yu Tang.

That servant woman couldn’t help frowning and said, “Second Miss, that’s a matter for the main branch. If you don’t like this person, you only need to exchange a few polite words with her—why wade into such muddy waters? Moreover, you’re about to marry out soon. When you go to your in-laws’ family, you’ll still need your natal family to support you. If any bad talk about your natal family spreads, you’ll lose face at your in-laws’ home too. I think you should just drop this matter!”

Second Miss refused, saying, “I just can’t accept someone using our Pei family as a stepping stone! I only want to know the reason behind things. Grandmother also taught us not to be gossips but not to be clueless fools either. That Miss Yu is no simple person. She’s able to please Great-Aunt everywhere. This isn’t something an ordinary person can accomplish.”

The servant woman had no choice but to agree, though she still repeatedly warned her, “No matter what I discover, you must keep it to yourself.”

Second Miss impatiently waved her hand, and only then did the servant woman withdraw.

Meanwhile, in the inner room, Gu Xi straightened her collar before the dressing table while having He Xiang keep watch on Second Miss’s people, instructing her in a low voice, “After all, we’re not in our own home—be careful in your actions.”

He Xiang wasn’t doing this sort of thing for the first time. She smiled and said, “Rest assured, I know what to do. Not to mention Second Miss’s side—I’ve even sent people to watch Fourth Miss’s side too. The Pei family’s people won’t discover us.”

Gu Xi nodded with satisfaction and asked her, “Is there still enough silver?”

She had only brought two or three personal attendants on this trip. To know what was happening around them, she could only use borrowed strength, bribing the Pei Manor’s servant women. But in the few days since moving into the Pei Manor, they had also discovered that although the Pei family seemed to lack someone managing domestic affairs due to Old Madam Pei An being widowed and the eldest branch having lost the position of clan head, in reality the Pei family was not the least bit chaotic. They didn’t dare approach those prominent servant women and maids of the Pei Manor, and could only bribe some rough-work servant women and maids, then deduce what people were doing through observation.

He Xiang smiled and said, “We have enough. We still have over one hundred fifty taels of silver left!”

Gu Xi felt a pang of heartache.

When her elder brother left Hangzhou City, he had left her one thousand taels in bank notes. Coming to Lin’an this time, thinking she would need silver, she had someone exchange three hundred taels to bring along. In just these few days, one hundred fifty taels were already gone, and she hadn’t even used it on the main targets yet.

But there was no helping it—who told them they had no connections here!

Gu Xi asked again, “Do you know why the eldest wife asked Madam Shen to help her deliver a letter?”

He Xiang went to the door to look left and right, and seeing everyone busy with their own tasks, whispered in Gu Xi’s ear, “It’s said she had something to ask of her natal family’s sister-in-law. Fearing Old Madam An would be displeased, she asked Madam Shen to deliver the letter.”

Gu Xi raised her eyebrows.

Could it be she spoke ill of her mother-in-law?

No—if she were speaking ill of someone, it should be of her brother-in-law Pei Yan.

But was it that Pei Yan seized the position of clan head, or that the deceased old master was partial? This matter needed to be investigated clearly.

She had no intention of marrying someone who was subject to much gossip and couldn’t even hold his position steady!

Gu Xi said to He Xiang, “Bring some pastries. I’ll first go pay my respects to Madam Shen, then keep Second Miss company.”

She didn’t know how her elder brother had thought of Madam Shen. This Madam Shen was also quite a character. She didn’t love gold or silver, nor did she love social engagements—she only loved a good reputation. As long as she was given hints that something involved her reputation, she immediately fell for it. Watching her was both pitiful and laughable.

She just didn’t know what method the eldest wife had used to win over Madam Shen.

Shen Shanyan was also quite pitiful, having married such a wife. Fortunately he wasn’t struggling in official circles, otherwise who could say what kind of trouble this Madam Shen might cause!

He Xiang acknowledged and left.

Gu Xi looked at the pretty girl in the mirror—plainly dressed yet revealing an elegance through exquisite small accessories—and smiled.

The person in the mirror smiled back.

Only then was she satisfied and left the inner room.

Perhaps for the convenience of admiring plum blossoms, the Pei family villa’s warm pavilion was built in the plum grove on the back mountain.

Sitting in the pavilion with underfloor heating, drinking white tea with its refreshing tea broth, looking at the scattered dots of red plum blossoms, and smelling the faint plum fragrance—even immortals couldn’t live better than this.

Third Miss was the first to call out, “Roasting meat here would be far too spoiling of the scenery. The plum fragrance would all turn into the smell of grease. Rather than roasting meat today, why don’t we admire the plum blossoms instead? Elder Sister Gu and Elder Sister Yu are both here—we could also play drinking games or compose poetry. Father said that after the Lantern Festival this year, classes will resume. I still have three six-character poems left incomplete!”

As she complained, Yu Tang was secretly surprised and asked, “Has the manor engaged a women’s academy?”

Third Miss nodded and said, “We several sisters all study together.”

Gu Xi glanced at Old Madam An, who sat smiling at the head seat, and said in a clear voice, “I’m fine with either! I love eating, but I also love studying.”

Fourth Miss giggled.

Fifth Miss looked hesitantly at her mother and Old Madam An, murmuring, “But, but isn’t it still over a month until New Year? There’s no need to be so anxious, right?” After speaking, she looked at Yu Tang as if seeking help.

Yu Tang naturally knew that composing poetry, painting, and prosody were all Gu Xi’s specialties. Whether playing drinking games or composing poetry, Gu Xi would definitely steal the show. But she also truly didn’t want to waste this beautiful scenery.

She smiled and said, “Why don’t we raise our hands? The minority will follow the majority.”

Third Miss immediately raised her hand, saying, “I’m in favor of admiring plum blossoms!”

Fourth Miss hesitated and didn’t raise her hand for quite a while.

Fifth Miss looked at Fourth Miss.

Gu Xi covered her mouth and laughed on the side, as if she truly was fine with anything.

Yu Tang sighed inwardly and raised her hand: “I’m in favor of composing poetry.”

She certainly had no timeless verses, but composing doggerel was no problem for her.

As the thought flashed through her mind, she even had the somewhat wicked idea of plagiarizing Gu Xi’s proud plum blossom poem from her past life. It would surely greatly surprise Gu Xi or even make her feel stifled—that would certainly be very interesting.

But it was just a thought.

Other matters could be used to disgust Gu Xi this way, but for talents like composing poetry and painting, she wouldn’t go so far as to plagiarize others just to save face.

However, as soon as she finished speaking, Fifth Miss looked at her indignantly, as if she had committed some heinous crime.

Yu Tang had a sudden realization.

Fifth Miss probably considered her an ally. By going against Fifth Miss’s wishes like this, Fifth Miss naturally felt angry.

Yu Tang barely managed not to laugh out loud.

Young ladies were just this interesting—when faced with situations, things were either black or white, straightforward yet adorable.

But she still felt that roasting meat here would be like burning a zither for firewood or boiling a crane for soup—better to change locations.

At this moment, however, Fourth Miss jumped in, raising her hand and saying, “I want to roast meat!” After speaking, she glanced at Gu Xi.

Gu Xi’s heart trembled.

She felt she had made a great miscalculation.

Had she known, she should have come forward early like Miss Yu.

At this moment, should she express agreement or opposition?

Gu Xi’s head ached.

But Fifth Miss didn’t notice any of this. Overjoyed, she also chimed in, “I want to roast meat too!” Then she looked expectantly toward Second Miss.

It was two to two. The attitudes of both Second Miss and Miss Gu were important, but she instinctively felt Miss Gu would definitely follow the crowd, so Second Miss’s attitude was even more crucial than Miss Gu’s.

Second Miss smiled disdainfully and said, “I’m in favor of admiring plum blossoms! As for roasting meat, let’s change locations.”

Gu Xi sighed and had no choice but to say, “I’m also in favor of admiring plum blossoms!”

Fifth Miss pouted and pulled Fourth Miss’s hand.

Fourth Miss giggled, looking unwilling to give up, and said, “We still have Great-Aunt, Madam Shen, and Second Aunt here—we haven’t lost yet!”

Madam Shen looked at Fourth Miss with some disdain, said nothing, and appeared unwilling to lower herself to their level.

Second Madam looked somewhat displeased. Smiling, she walked over and stroked her daughter’s head, saying gently, “I’ll vote for your Third Elder Sister.”

Now the situation was truly lost.

Fifth Miss stamped her foot and coquettishly called out “Mother!”

Both Second Madam and Old Madam An laughed heartily.

In the end, everyone decided to admire plum blossoms in the afternoon and have roasted meat for the evening meal.

Fifth Miss was still somewhat unhappy, so Fourth Miss pulled her to go sweep the accumulated snow off the plum blossom petals, speaking in a voice everyone could hear as they put their heads together: “My mother said we can store them in jars and bury them underground, then take them out in summer to brew tea.”

“But doesn’t that have to be done in the morning?!” Fifth Miss said somewhat bewildered.

“Oh well!” Fourth Miss didn’t care. “Morning and afternoon shouldn’t make much difference, right? I just don’t want to compose poetry anyway.”

Fifth Miss giggled and said, “We can pick plum blossoms! Take them back for Grandmother to display in plum vases—the whole room will be filled with plum blossom fragrance.”

Fourth Miss said, “Shouldn’t vase arrangements also be done in the morning?”

Fifth Miss froze.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Old Madam An beckoned the two over: “You two little monkeys, sit here properly and compose two poems for me. You’ll both respond to the scenery and complete your assignments—wouldn’t that kill two birds with one stone?”

The two dejectedly agreed, prompting another round of laughter from everyone.

Nanny Ji and others had already brought over the prepared writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. After setting up the Four Treasures of the Study, she reported to Old Madam An, “A servant boy from Miss Yu’s family has delivered a letter.”

Everyone was astonished.

Old Madam An said very kindly to Yu Tang, “Quickly go see what it is, so I can be at ease too.”

Yu Tang was also very curious. She curtsied and followed Nanny Ji out of the warm pavilion.

Gu Xi, however, made an imperceptible gesture toward He Xiang.

Before long, He Xiang had vanished without a trace.