Miss Xu quickly finished writing the letter and asked Yu Tang to find her a reliable person to help deliver it: “I’m unfamiliar with everyone here. I originally just wanted to attend a scripture lecture gathering and didn’t bring many people with me. I can only trouble you with this matter, younger sister.”
However, Yu Tang felt that entrusting anyone would be less reliable than entrusting the Pei family’s people.
Miss Xu hesitated repeatedly.
Yu Tang said: “Since Third Master Pei is here, nothing that happens at Zhaoming Temple can escape his notice. Rather than acting alone, you’d be better off seeking help from Third Master Pei. Moreover, when great disaster looms, seeking help from one’s own family is both reasonable and natural. I believe Third Master Pei would understand.”
Miss Xu contemplated for a moment, then said: “I know my actions and behavior certainly can’t escape the Pei family’s notice, and I also trust the Pei family won’t open my letter privately. But I still want to notify Second Brother Yin myself. Because I don’t know if, after this incident occurs, our family and the Pei family will still be able to stand together. So from now on, it’s better to accept as little kindness from the Pei family as possible.”
Yu Tang could understand this feeling. She said: “But I still need to tell the Pei family about this matter.”
“Naturally.” Miss Xu smiled. “We each have our positions, so naturally we must govern ourselves separately. This way, I like being friends with you even more. I’m most afraid of those people who act purely on emotion, yet make a complete mess of things and then blame others for lacking righteousness.”
Yu Tang also smiled.
She stepped forward and embraced Miss Xu, silently praying in her heart that hopefully Miss Xu was overthinking this matter, and that after this incident passed, she and Miss Xu could still be on the same path.
Yu Tang thought of two people.
The Qu family brothers!
Because of the Wei family matter, she had some dealings with these two brothers, but hadn’t been able to change their fate. These two, just like in her previous life, were now making their way in Lin’an and gradually gaining some reputation. However, this life was different from the previous one after all. In her previous life, the Pei family had been silent and unobtrusive, but in this life—perhaps because Yu Tang had dealings with the Pei family, or perhaps because not enough time had passed—the Pei family seemed more high-profile than in the previous life, appearing before Lin’an residents from time to time, constantly reminding Lin’an people that the Pei family was Lin’an’s foremost family. The Qu brothers acted much more cautiously than in the previous life, always following the Pei family’s lead and not daring to easily offend them, thus lacking their previous life’s prestige.
These two brothers were trustworthy.
It was just a matter of how much silver to pay.
Miss Xu would certainly be willing to pay silver.
Yu Tang told Miss Xu about the Qu brothers.
Miss Xu was overjoyed: “I’m not afraid if they’re scoundrels—I’m afraid if they have no foundation. Since they’re Lin’an people, there’s nothing to worry about. Have someone find these two right away and have them help deliver the letter to Huai’an overnight. For each day earlier, I’ll add ten taels—no, twenty taels of silver.”
The land route from Lin’an to Huai’an took ten days, the water route seven days. If one could ride a horse, it was a ten-day round trip; riding at full speed was unknown.
Yu Tang wondered whether to give the Qu brothers advice to borrow horses from the Pei family or something.
But in the end, she said nothing.
From this moment on, they each had their own positions.
Yu Tang had Shuang Tao take a message to A’Tiao, then had A’Tiao bring the Qu brothers over.
The Qu brothers arrived that evening. Shuang Tao gave Miss Xu’s letter to them.
Seeing the letter was being sent to the Huai’an magistrate, the Qu brothers couldn’t help but regard the Yu family even more highly. They readily agreed and, upon leaving Zhaoming Temple, set about finding horses.
Miss Xu still felt somewhat uneasy, not knowing whether what she had done was right or wrong. She told Third Madam Yang about this matter.
Third Madam Yang also found it troublesome.
She had merely wanted to see what kind of person the Pei family’s Second Miss was like, and incidentally see if she could arrange a marriage alliance with the Pei family, yet ended up entangled in this affair. After thinking, she said to Miss Xu: “You did the right thing. Although your second brother dislikes the burdens of office work, he’s not one to shirk responsibility. If the Pei family’s scripture lecture gathering truly has such intentions, your second brother will certainly have a way to extricate us. Don’t go wandering about these next two days. If anyone asks, I’ll say you’re not acclimated and feeling unwell. Once the scripture lecture gathering here concludes, we’ll immediately set off for Huai’an.”
Miss Xu nodded.
Third Madam Yang said: “What is Miss Yu doing?”
The implication was that Yu Tang might not be trustworthy.
Miss Xu smiled: “She sat with me for a while, comforted me for quite some time, then returned to her own lodging and had someone take a message to that book servant called A’Ming by Pei Xiaguang’s side, requesting to see Pei Xiaguang, but Pei Xiaguang has given no response. I reckon Pei Xiaguang is busy entertaining people from the Tao and Peng families and has no time to see her. If he does see her, it will be this evening.”
Clearly she had also sent people to watch Yu Tang.
Miss Xu also told Third Madam Yang about what the two of them had discovered earlier.
Third Madam Yang was quite surprised and immediately thought more highly of Yu Tang: “I didn’t expect that a young lady from such a small household could have such breadth of mind and magnanimity. This shows that a woman’s birth is one thing, while her insight is another matter. This young lady is worth befriending!” She added: “Is she betrothed? I think such a young lady would be excellent if she could marry into my family, or the Li family, or the Zhang family.”
Miss Xu smiled with pursed lips: “Are you addicted to matchmaking? Her family plans to take in a live-in son-in-law.”
Third Madam Yang waved her hand dismissively: “Nothing is set in stone. We’ll discuss Miss Yu’s matter later. First, let’s deal with the situation at hand.”
Miss Xu nodded: “I’m thinking we shouldn’t participate in the scripture lecture gathering after all. Better to find an excuse and just stay in our room.”
Tomorrow would certainly be a gathering of elites. Their Xu, Yang, and Yin families were all prominent—appearing there would be too conspicuous.
Third Madam Yang was very gratified.
By Yin Mingyuan’s generation in the Yin family, of the five branches there were only three male descendants. Only Yin Mingyuan’s wife was capable like this—the other two madams in the Yin family were fine at managing the inner household, but completely at a loss with other matters.
She said: “Let’s say I suddenly caught a chill and you need to care for me in the room.”
How could Miss Xu let an elder bear such a reputation? She quickly said: “Better to say I’m unwell.”
Third Madam Yang shook her head and made the decision: “That won’t do. You can’t bear this reputation.”
Miss Xu was to marry into the Yin family. Yin Mingyuan already bore the reputation of poor health—they couldn’t let Miss Xu also bear such a reputation.
The matter was thus settled.
Third Madam Yang said: “Continue having people watch Miss Yu’s side. We might be able to learn through Pei Xiaguang whether the Pei family’s scripture lecture gathering is unintentional or deliberate.”
Miss Xu agreed. After Third Madam Yang left, she sat restlessly, thinking that although Yu Tang was compatible with her temperament, she had no support or backing. If something happened, Yu Tang would very likely be the one abandoned. She felt she couldn’t just stand by and watch.
After long deliberation, she decided to go warn Yu Tang a few times.
She quietly rose and went to the courtyard where Yu Tang was resting.
At this moment, Yu Tang was speaking with Pei Yan beneath the camphor tree at the courtyard entrance: “…That’s all I know. I don’t know if it’s useful to you, but I hope it’s just a false alarm.”
Pei Yan was still wearing the plain-colored Taoist robe from before. From the moment Yu Tang began speaking, he had been looking at her seriously, his calm eyes pitch-black and lightless, like the sea surface at midnight, impossible to discern the danger.
Only when Yu Tang finished speaking did he say indifferently: “Why are you telling me these things? If Miss Xu knows about this, I certainly know too. I couldn’t possibly be inferior to even Miss Xu.”
So her bringing him intelligence was wrong!
Yu Tang was extremely annoyed and waved her hand to leave, but felt somewhat unwilling, afraid he would underestimate the enemy and implicate the Pei family in losses. She could only patiently say: “In any case, caution ensures safety for ten thousand years. I’ve said what I should say. If you don’t want to listen, I won’t say anything in the future. Just know what you’re doing!” Having said this, she turned to leave.
Watching her retreating figure, the corners of Pei Yan’s mouth curved slightly before returning to his original expressionless state. He called to her back: “Guess who I saw before coming here?”
Yu Tang very much wanted to have the backbone to ignore him and just walk away, but she knew better—Pei Yan wouldn’t speak carelessly. Saying this, he certainly had his reasons, and moreover, this matter might involve her or her Yu family.
She could only turn back, looking at him steadily: “Who did you just see?”
Pei Yan still stood with his hands behind his back, his posture upright as a pine, but to Yu Tang’s eyes, inexplicably, it seemed that in that instant just now, Pei Yan had suddenly relaxed.
He raised his eyebrows: “Scholar Shen came to find me.”
Scholar Shen finding him was his business—what did it have to do with her?
Yu Tang didn’t understand.
Pei Yan sighed inwardly.
Miss Yu had experienced too few matters, unlike Miss Xu, who had been exposed to aristocratic genealogies since childhood and understood things immediately upon a hint.
He could only say: “Scholar Shen is Li Duan’s teacher. Li Yi has been impeached by censors and imprisoned. He should be exiled. Li Duan is seeking help everywhere. Scholar Shen also received word. He just hurried to find me, wanting me to say a few good words for Li Yi for the sake of being from the same region—to be dismissed and compensate rather than be exiled.”
Wouldn’t that let Li Yi off too easily!
Yu Tang couldn’t help but step forward several paces, saying urgently: “So what did you say?”
Pei Yan coughed lightly, his face showing hesitation: “I’m somewhat undecided. Since you came to find me, I came over. What do you think—how should this matter be handled?”
Yu Tang was extremely irritated: “Ridding the people of a scourge—what’s there to consider? Though fellow townsmen share a bond, with such a fellow townsman, whoever helps him loses face. How can you do such a thing? You shouldn’t even think about it.” Speaking of this, she glared at Pei Yan.
This one glance made her seem to see shallow traces of amusement in his eyes.
Yu Tang froze.
Was he thinking what she thought he was thinking?
Unfortunately, before she could think further, Pei Yan already looked thoughtful: “However, if he’s exiled, the Li family will probably be finished. Li Duan is quite capable. In Lin’an, apart from the Li family, no other family can compete with our Pei family…”
Was he planning to protect the Li family?
Yu Tang said indignantly: “Your own family has a pile of troubles, and you could capsize at any moment—why are you setting up targets? Isn’t it chaotic enough already? As the saying goes, one force defeats ten skills. Wait until you’ve suppressed those people until they can’t breathe, then see who dares to chatter in front of your family! Can’t you just exert yourself and make those people only able to admire you without daring to envy you!”