Would Pei Yan be so kind-hearted?

Yu Tang looked at the bird’s nest soup with rock sugar in her hand, her heart uneasy, and said, “Third Master only had A’Ming send over the bird’s nest but didn’t say anything else?”

Shuang Tao thought carefully and said, “He didn’t say anything else.”

Yu Tang muttered quietly, “Why would he suddenly think to send food over?”

She tasted a mouthful—it was quite sweet—and then said, “Did you send over Mother’s bowl?”

Shuang Tao quickly said, “I sent it over. Madam had already changed her clothes, so Chen Pozi came out to receive it.”

Yu Tang then drank the bird’s nest in three or two gulps and handed the empty bowl to Shuang Tao. Shuang Tao set down the bowl and brought water for Yu Tang to rinse her mouth. Chen Pozi came in carrying an empty bowl and said, “Madam says we can’t just accept Third Master’s courtesy for nothing, so when returning the bowl, send over two boxes of our peanut pastries.”

For this trip to Zhaoming Temple, Chen Shi had made many pastries in preparation for gift-giving.

Yu Tang thought this feasible and let Shuang Tao and Chen Pozi handle it. She herself fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow and slept until broad daylight.

Shuang Tao hurried in to help her wash up, chattering as she did, “When I went to return the bowl yesterday, Third Master’s side still had all the lights blazing. They said that besides the womenfolk, the Song family had their First Master and Fourth Master come this time, and the Peng family had their First Master, Third Master, and Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Young Masters, plus their First and Second Young Masters—all came, and Third Master was talking with them! I heard that tomorrow there will also be two masters, two young masters, and several madams and young madams from some Wu family of Huzhou coming. The guest reception master at Zhaoming Temple has a massive headache and stayed up all night discussing how to arrange the chambers. Good thing we came in early with the Pei manor people, otherwise there really wouldn’t even be a place to stand.”

She also nagged on, “The Pei family has hosted temple fairs and sutra lecture meetings before, but this time the most people are coming. The eminent monk Old Madam Pei invited from South Shaolin Temple must be very impressive. Miss, if that eminent monk is willing to pray for blessings for you and the Pei family’s young misses, what do you think—should we prepare some thank-you gift? What would be a good thank-you gift? Should we consult Nanny Ji about this?”

In Shuang Tao’s view, since Nanny Ji and Manager Tong were in-laws, they could be considered family acquaintances of the Yu family too.

Yu Tang nodded absently, saying “We need to ask Mother about this,” but in her heart she was pondering these families coming to attend the sutra lecture meeting—they were all families who had come to photograph the maps back then. Counting the days, the ships should also be nearly completed. To say that the appearance of these families had nothing to do with maritime trade—she wouldn’t believe it if you told her a thousand or ten thousand times.

The mountain rain was about to come, and the wind filled the towers!

Yu Tang took a deep breath, always feeling somewhat uneasy in her heart.

After Chen Shi finished dressing, she came to her daughter’s side. Seeing that Yu Tang had also finished tidying up, she had Chen Pozi go fetch breakfast while she sat on the embroidered stool by the round table in the middle of the room to discuss with her daughter the thank-you gift for the eminent monk. She praised Yu Wen, saying, “Good thing your father insisted I bring two fine inkstones. Otherwise, how could those pastries I made be presentable? This mountain isn’t like down below—even with silver, you can’t buy things. This shows a household must have someone who can make decisions.” Then the topic shifted to her marriage prospects again. “Don’t always just listen to your father and let my words go in one ear and out the other. If Madam Wu arranges another meeting for you next time, you must take a proper look. How can you know someone’s temperament without interacting with them? Perhaps this could be your destined match…”

Yu Tang appeared respectful but let it go in one ear and out the other.

She knew her mother’s concerns, but she always felt that marriage was sometimes a matter of fate. If the fate was there, even if you went round and round, that person would still be yours. Without fate, like in her previous life, even an engagement could suddenly be lost.

It wasn’t until Chen Pozi brought breakfast that Chen Shi’s words were interrupted.

Chen Shi also knew this wasn’t good of her, but whenever she saw her daughter’s indifferent attitude toward her own marriage, she became extremely anxious. However, coming to Zhaoming Temple to attend the sutra lecture meeting was a good idea. She heard that the matriarchs of many respectable gentry families had come—perhaps her daughter’s opportunity lay in this sutra lecture meeting?

Thinking this way, Chen Shi perked up again. After having breakfast with her daughter and bringing the two boxes A’Ming had sent over last night, they were just preparing to go to Old Madam Pei’s when a young novice ran in and said, “Madam Yu, there’s a madam surnamed Wu who says she’s your neighbor and has something to see you about.”

Chen Shi and Yu Tang were astonished and quickly invited the person in.

The visitor was a trusted servant from Madam Wu’s side. She said with an embarrassed expression, “Our madam heard there would be a sutra lecture meeting here and had me come ahead to reserve a chamber. Who knew that even though I came three days early and arrived at the temple before dawn, the guest master said there were no more chambers… I had heard in passing that you would be staying here early with the Pei family womenfolk, so I shamelessly came to find you to see if you could help our madam reserve a room.”

Chen Shi couldn’t make this decision. She said, “I’m also borrowing the Pei family’s fortune.” But the Wu family had helped their family considerably, so she couldn’t just refuse outright. She added, “How about this—you also try your best to search around, and I’ll help you ask as well to see if everyone can work together to reserve a chamber for your madam.”

The servant left full of gratitude.

Chen Shi shook her head and said, “Madam Wei also said that day she would bring her family’s womenfolk. Looking at this situation, they definitely won’t be able to reserve a chamber.”

Yu Tang said nothing.

Chen Shi also knew this matter was difficult and couldn’t be resolved immediately, so she suppressed her emotions and first went with Yu Tang to Old Madam Pei’s place.

Nanny Ji was on duty at the door. Seeing Yu Tang and her mother, she shot them a meaningful glance, then turned to quietly instruct a young maid a few words before ushering Yu Tang and her mother to the adjacent tea room.

Yu Tang and her mother discovered that Third Madam Yang and Miss Xu were already sitting in the tea room drinking tea.

Third Madam Yang and Miss Xu stood up to greet Yu Tang and her mother. Third Madam Yang even pointed to the pastries on the tea table and said to Chen Shi, “These are pastries from Beijing. I haven’t eaten them in many years either. Try them and see if they suit your taste.”

Chen Shi thanked her and sat down next to Third Madam Yang.

Nanny Ji explained with a bitter smile, “The Song family and Peng family madams brought several young masters, so we can only trouble you and Third Madam to have tea here first.”

From her tone, she didn’t particularly welcome the Song and Peng family people.

Chen Shi quickly said, “Third Madam and I both brought young girls. The Old Madam’s arrangement is both thorough and considerate. Perfect—I can also chat with Third Madam.”

Third Madam Yang also nodded and said with a smile to Nanny Ji, “With so many guests arriving at the Old Madam’s side, you must be very busy. We’re not outsiders, so you don’t need to mind us. I can chat with Madam Yu. Speaking of which, I only came to Lin’an once as a child with my father—this is my second time. I heard Madam Yu is excellent at making pastries, and I was just hoping to learn from her!”

She was giving face to the Pei family and to Nanny Ji. Naturally, Nanny Ji was extremely grateful and had a very good impression of her. She not only said many complimentary words about Third Madam Yang but also personally poured tea for Third Madam Yang, Chen Shi, and the others. After leaving a young maid to serve them, she left the tea room.

Third Madam Yang then truly began exchanging pastry-making tips with Chen Shi.

From listening to Third Madam Yang speak, one could tell she came from a good background and had been to many places. She talked eloquently about northern and southern pastries with considerable insight. Chen Shi was also eager to learn from Third Madam Yang. The two talked enthusiastically with constant laughter.

Yu Tang was doing a bit better—having been forced by Chen Shi to make pastries before, she could at least understand.

Miss Xu had probably never done such things. To her it was like listening to a foreign language. At first she could still patiently sit properly, but as time went on, she began fidgeting like a child.

Yu Tang smiled with pursed lips.

Miss Xu didn’t mind and even found an opportunity to lean close to her ear and say, “Should we go use the privy?”

Yu Tang almost couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Miss Xu unhappily glared at her.

Yu Tang felt she shouldn’t laugh at Miss Xu and quickly agreed to accompany her to the privy.

Her eyes immediately lit up, and she carefully asked Third Madam Yang for leave.

Third Madam Yang looked at Miss Xu with a half-smile. She did agree, but she called a servant to accompany Miss Xu and Yu Tang to the privy together and said to the servant, “Keep your eyes sharp and don’t run into people you shouldn’t.”

The servant quickly bowed and responded affirmatively.

Miss Xu pulled Yu Tang and left the tea room.

Standing under the eaves, she took a long breath and said quietly to Yu Tang, “You can really sit still. I can’t. Making me sit like that for half a day would cost me half my life.” After saying this, she asked the servant, “Do you know what Second Miss Pei is doing? It would be great if we could find her to play for a while.” This last sentence was directed at Yu Tang.

The servant apparently knew Miss Xu’s temperament very well. Before Yu Tang could answer, she said, “Second Miss Pei was called by the Old Madam to meet the elders from the Song and Peng families. By the time she can come out, Cousin Miss should also need to go see the Old Madam.”

Miss Xu was very disappointed.

Yu Tang then asked her, “So do we still want to go to the privy?”

Miss Xu hesitated, “The privy here should be very smelly, right?”

The servant answered, “How about Cousin Miss follow me to walk in the back courtyard? Many osmanthus trees are planted in the back courtyard. It’s a pity it’s not autumn, otherwise the osmanthus fragrance would be lovely to see.”

Miss Xu’s interest waned. She said, “Forget it. I’ll just sit under that camphor tree over there with Sister Yu for a while.”

Only then did Yu Tang notice there was an armspan-thick camphor tree between the main hall on the north side of Old Madam Pei’s courtyard and the eastern chamber, with a long bamboo bench beneath it.

The servant smiled and said, “Then Cousin Miss and Miss Yu wait for me a moment. I’ll have someone bring some cotton cushions. Although spring has come, this bamboo bench is still a bit cool to sit on.”

Miss Xu quickly urged her to fetch them, then invited Yu Tang over, “Standing here is too conspicuous. Better to wait over there.”

She looked very experienced.

Yu Tang smiled. But just as she and Miss Xu had settled under the camphor tree, she saw Second Madam Pei angrily stride out from Old Madam Pei’s hall, followed by Nanny Chen with an anxious expression.