Yu Tang stood there frowning in anger.

Shuang Tao, listening from the side, had bright eyes and said with emotion: “Third Master is truly a good person. Miss Gu is about to become his nephew’s wife, yet he’s afraid you’ll suffer losses and specially sent someone to tell you. That Miss could encounter Third Master is truly Miss’s good fortune!”

Yu Tang was stunned, standing rooted in place. She blinked her eyes and didn’t speak for a long while.

Indeed! Just now Pei Yan had clearly sent someone to bring her word, telling her not to suffer any losses. But why did she always only think of Pei Yan’s bad points and couldn’t feel his good intentions?

Was it because she herself had prejudices against Pei Yan, and consequently also had biases against Pei Yan’s words?

Yu Tang sat down at the round table, propping her elbows as she reflected on herself.

Since she and Pei Yan had met, their encounters had never been very pleasant, but she couldn’t deny that each time Pei Yan had helped her solve major problems. It was just that his tongue was too poisonous and his words too cutting, causing her to receive his kindness yet only remember his faults.

But it wasn’t as if she didn’t know Pei Yan had an arrogant and proud temperament—even when doing good deeds, he wouldn’t tell you clearly and plainly.

Looking at it from another angle, that could also be considered doing good deeds without leaving his name!

Thinking of Pei Yan’s stern face, Yu Tang couldn’t help but laugh aloud with a “pfft.”

Served him right! Who told him to have such a bad temper?

But this temper of his was too easy to suffer losses from.

She also needed to slowly change her attitude, couldn’t keep thinking of his faults first whenever something happened and forgetting his good points.

Yu Tang pondered this, while Shuang Tao stared at her with wide eyes, saying carefully: “Miss, what’s wrong with you? One moment worried, the next moment happy…”

It made Shuang Tao’s heart a bit afraid.

She felt like something extraordinary had happened to Yu Tang, but she couldn’t find any trace of it and didn’t know what to do.

“It’s nothing, nothing.” Yu Tang came back to her senses. Looking at the table full of sweets and pastries, she thought for a moment and instructed her: “Take these things to Chen Pozi and say they were sent by the Pei family. Then ask Madam whether we should send some to Miss Xu, Third Madam Yang, and the Pei family young ladies as well.”

The newly available cherries not only looked good but were also quite expensive. Sending them out at this time of year was a very prestigious matter.

Shuang Tao acknowledged and left.

Chen Shi thought Yu Tang’s consideration was very thoughtful. She put down her brush from copying Buddhist scriptures and said to Chen Pozi and Shuang Tao: “Package them beautifully. Miss Xu, Third Madam Yang, and the Pei family young ladies all have high standards. Don’t let you two ruin good things.”

The two laughed cheerfully, divided up the things Pei Yan had sent over, then brought them to Yu Tang for inspection. Yu Tang nodded, and only then did Shuang Tao go deliver the items.

When Miss Xu received the items, she was inevitably puzzled.

She had just parted from Yu Tang—how was Yu Tang already sending over so many things? This wasn’t the city where one could go to the market anytime. But if these were bought from the small vendors outside the temple, having seen the world herself, she could tell at a glance these weren’t things ordinary merchants could produce.

Shuang Tao smiled and replied according to Yu Tang’s instructions: “An elder from the Pei family sent them. Miss thought they were delicious, so she had some sent to you and Third Madam to try.”

The scripture lecture gathering would last nine days. Those who understood would be entranced, but for sheltered young ladies like them with little experience, they could only listen to it like a story. How could they possibly be moved? How could they possibly sit still? Having these snacks would help pass the days.

Miss Xu happily accepted them and had her maid take some peaches and plums to give to Shuang Tao as a return gift.

Shuang Tao didn’t stand on ceremony either. She thanked her on Yu Tang’s behalf, accepted the fruit, and was about to go deliver sweets and pastries to the several Pei family young ladies.

Seeing her carrying and holding so much, and knowing the Yu family only had two servant women, Miss Xu simply instructed A’Fu: “Help Shuang Tao deliver the things.”

Because of Miss Xu, A’Fu had gradually become familiar with Shuang Tao from Yu Tang’s side these past few days. The two got along quite well. Hearing this, she smiled broadly and agreed, helping Shuang Tao carry half the items.

Shuang Tao thanked Miss Xu and left with A’Fu.

The Pei family’s female relatives lived next door to Miss Xu, but to get there required going around a bamboo grove path outside. It was the height of spring’s brightness. The small path was quiet, with occasional bird calls from both sides. Both Shuang Tao and A’Fu felt refreshed and at ease.

A’Fu asked Shuang Tao about the Yu family’s affairs: “I heard your family does lacquerware business. You could have your family’s miss talk to our family’s miss about shipping goods to sell in the capital!”

This way the Yu family could earn more money and hire more servant women, so everything wouldn’t fall solely on Shuang Tao.

Shuang Tao smiled: “This is the master’s business. How can we servants interfere?”

As they talked, they encountered the young ladies from the Song and Peng families head-on, standing by the bamboo grove, directing several young maids to pick oleander flowers by the pavilion.

A’Fu was badly startled and said: “These flowers are poisonous.”

Shuang Tao was also startled: “Oleander is poisonous? I didn’t even know!”

A’Fu said: “Our young master said so, and our young master is never wrong.”

Shuang Tao hesitated: “Should we say something?”

Mainly because the Song and Peng family young ladies were both very proud. She feared directly speaking out would hurt their dignity, and not only would they not listen, but they’d also hold a grudge and create trouble for the Yu family.

A’Fu, having more experience than Shuang Tao, thought briefly and whispered: “When we see the Pei family young ladies shortly, we’ll mention it. If the Pei family young ladies don’t know either, I’ll mention it to our miss on the way back. This way if anything happens, the Pei family won’t be implicated.”

Shuang Tao looked at A’Fu with shining eyes and praised sincerely: “A’Fu, you’re even younger than me, but you have far more presence of mind. I need to learn from you.”

This made A’Fu blush all over, not knowing what to say.

The two of them prepared to just brush past the Song and Peng family ladies, but the Song and Peng family ladies had no intention of letting them pass. Especially Sixth Miss Song—after returning, she had not only been severely scolded by Fourth Madam Song but also had her monthly allowance docked for a month and was ordered to copy the “Admonitions for Women” three times upon return, causing her to lose all face. If it weren’t for all the female guests being present, given Fourth Madam Song’s temperament, she would have sent her back to Suzhou long ago.

Seeing A’Fu and Shuang Tao, she was naturally seething with anger. She called out to stop them and looked disdainfully at the items in their hands, saying: “Where is your miss? Is she still not well? Is she not planning to go out with us?”

A’Fu had seen plenty of such foolish people. She smiled warmly and curtsied to Sixth Miss Song, saying with a humble expression: “Our miss needs to stay home to care for Third Madam. Miss Yu is copying Buddhist scriptures and probably can’t leave the temple today. We’ll have to wait for another opportunity to go out and play with Miss Song.”

Sixth Miss Song’s face darkened upon hearing this. The younger Peng family miss, ranked eighth, didn’t want to create complications and quickly smiled before Sixth Miss Song could speak: “Are you going to deliver things? Go quickly! Don’t make your miss wait anxiously.”

A’Fu and Shuang Tao hurriedly thanked Eighth Miss Peng and, holding the items, wanted to leave.

But Sixth Miss Song wasn’t willing to let it go: “Who are you delivering things to?”

A’Fu felt this wasn’t any big deal. Even if she kept it secret, the Song family could find out if they wanted to, so she honestly replied: “An elder from the Pei family gave some food to Miss Yu. Miss Yu divided some for our miss and the Pei family young ladies. Since there’s quite a lot, our miss asked me to help Sister Shuang Tao deliver them.”

Sixth Miss Song was puzzled and asked: “Where are you coming from?”

A’Fu said: “From our miss’s quarters.”

Sixth Miss Song asked again: “Why did Miss Yu give to your miss first?”

A’Fu felt Sixth Miss Song was being somewhat unreasonable, and her tone carried some impatience: “Miss Yu and our miss live next door. We’re closer to our place, so she sent there first.”

Sixth Miss Song was about to explode, but was restrained by Seventh Miss Song, who said to A’Fu and Shuang Tao: “You go deliver the things quickly! We need to return as well.”

A’Fu and Shuang Tao didn’t know what had happened, but could see Sixth Miss Song was very irritable and Seventh Miss Song very anxious. Not daring to linger, they hurriedly curtsied and quickly left.

Sixth Miss Song couldn’t help but lose her temper: “What exactly is that Yu woman’s relationship with the Pei family? I have nothing to say about Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang living in the best meditation rooms with the Pei family female relatives, but what right does that Yu woman have to move in too? Isn’t the Pei family bullying people?”

As soon as the words fell, she immediately realized she’d spoken wrongly.

A wife’s status depends on her husband’s. By the same logic, how the Pei family treated the Song family precisely showed the Song family’s standing in the Pei family’s eyes.

The Song family had fawned over the Pei family severely these past years. The Song family felt only they themselves knew, and naturally didn’t want the Peng family to know.

She hastily tried to remedy it: “Sister Peng, I didn’t sleep a wink last night. Did you all sleep well?”

The Peng and Song families had come together and were therefore neighboring each other. Who knew that though they seemed to be staying next to the Pei family’s female relatives, the small garden behind their rooms was right up against the temple’s outer wall. Usually very quiet, but now vendors from the mountain’s base had come up to set up stalls, and some inevitably pitched tents against the wall for temporary shelter. Common folk not only spoke loudly but also liked to drink and boast late at night. In the silent night, the disturbance seemed particularly loud.

Sixth Miss Song had gotten up and thrown a fit, then found Fourth Madam Song to tactfully ask if they could change lodgings.

Fourth Madam Song had chosen to stay here precisely to be close to the Pei family’s female relatives. How would she listen to Sixth Miss Song’s complaints?

Sixth Miss Song had returned to her room and thrown another fit.

At this moment, suddenly discovering Yu Tang had moved into the quietest meditation rooms on the east side, how could she not be furious!

Eighth Miss Peng gazed in the direction of Yu Tang’s courtyard, her eyes flickering, saying nothing.

Seventh Miss Peng smiled gently: “We didn’t sleep soundly last night either. However, when traveling, it’s always like this. Just endure it and it will pass.”

But Sixth Miss Song was someone who couldn’t endure.

Seventh Miss Song’s face was very ugly. She grabbed her and said: “What do you want to do? Exchange lodgings with Miss Yu? That depends on whether Fourth Aunt will agree, and whether the Pei family is willing! Are you planning to act recklessly and do whatever you want?”

Thinking of Fourth Madam Song’s taut face this morning, Sixth Miss Song mumbled: “I, I’m just angry!”

So what if she was angry? Their Song family was currently seeking favors from the Pei family. Could they possibly go question the Pei family?

Sixth Miss Song’s expression darkened.

Seventh Miss Peng watched and smiled, saying: “This Miss Yu—we should indeed inquire about her. I wonder who’s familiar with her?”