Yu Tang and Miss Xu parted ways at the courtyard gate. Walking into the courtyard, she saw Qing Yuan standing under the eaves of the main building with a face grave as water, speaking with a young servant boy.
She thought for a moment and walked over, hearing Qing Yuan asking the boy, “So you’re saying Scholar Zhou left for the capital yesterday morning?”
The boy looked about the same age as A’Ming, though his appearance was thinner. Hearing this, he respectfully acknowledged “Yes” and said, “Not only did Scholar Zhou go to the capital, but Mister Shu and Brother Zhao also went to the capital together. Even Brother Qi is said to be heading to the capital in a couple of days. The Third Master has almost no one left to use around him, which is why he summoned Shopkeeper Tong’er. If Lord Gu moves in, who will go serve there? Shopkeeper Tong’er says he’s asking Sister Qing Yuan to make the decision.”
Qing Yuan frowned, then suddenly turned her head and saw Yu Tang. She quickly changed to a smiling expression, respectfully curtsying to Yu Tang: “Miss has returned! Could the scenery of the residence catch your eye? I’m a bit busy today. When I’m free, I’ll take Miss around to various places—there are many interesting spots.”
Yu Tang nodded with a smile.
The boy respectfully bowed to her, introducing himself as “A’Cha,” one of Pei Yan’s book boys.
Yu Tang guessed as much from hearing the name A’Cha.
She asked Qing Yuan, “Is there anything I can help with?”
Qing Yuan smiled: “Miss needn’t worry about these matters. If I can’t handle it, there’s still Shopkeeper Tong’er. If Shopkeeper Tong’er can’t handle it, there’s still the Third Master. You just enjoy yourself here for a few days, then return to Lin’an with us.”
Yu Tang didn’t dare assume this “us” also included Pei Yan.
She said, “Why did Scholar Zhou go to the capital? How is it that Mister Shu and the others also went along?”
Qing Yuan said, “You’d have to ask the Third Master about that. I don’t know either.”
Yu Tang smiled and turned back to her room.
That afternoon, she heard that Gu Zhaoyang had also moved in.
That is to say, after they left, Gu Zhaoyang had also followed closely to Hangzhou.
Her feelings toward Gu Zhaoyang were somewhat complicated—she didn’t like that he was Gu Xi’s older brother, yet she somewhat envied how good he was to Gu Xi.
Yu Tang asked Qing Ping, “Do you know what Lord Gu came to Hangzhou to do?”
Qing Ping smiled, “Would you like me to help Miss make some inquiries?”
Yu Tang really did want to know.
She vaguely felt something had happened that many people still didn’t know about.
Yu Tang rewarded Qing Ping with a few pieces of broken silver, saying to her, “This is for you to tip people.”
This meant she wanted her to find out no matter what.
Qing Ping couldn’t refuse. She first went to find Qing Yuan: “Sister, how do you think we should handle this matter?”
Qing Yuan sighed, “If only Mister Shu were here.”
With Mister Shu present, when they had matters they couldn’t decide on their own and asked Mister Shu, the Third Master would usually acknowledge the decision.
Now they didn’t know what to do.
Qing Yuan said, “Keep it for now. The Third Master will return tonight. Perhaps without you even asking, the Third Master will tell Miss Yu on his own initiative. Use that silver to buy some pastries and fruits that Miss Yu likes and give them to her.”
This was all they could do.
Qing Ping finally waited with difficulty until dusk when Pei Yan returned.
After returning, he first went to the study and talked with Pei Qi for quite a while. Then Pei Qi left Hangzhou. Afterward, Shopkeeper Tong’er transferred several strong and capable shop assistants from the store. Pei Yan assigned them all to Fourth Steward who had rushed over from Lin’an. Without having dinner, he went to Yu Tang’s place.
Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang didn’t know what they were doing. After Miss Xu returned, she hadn’t come out again. Yu Tang felt embarrassed to disturb her. She had originally wanted to read a few leisure books first, then see what Miss Xu was doing and visit her to discuss their upcoming itinerary. Who would have known that leaning against the large welcoming pillow, she had somehow fallen asleep. When she woke up, the sun was already setting in the west.
She rarely slept so deeply. Especially after her rebirth, with so many things weighing on her heart, sometimes when she suddenly woke in the middle of the night, she couldn’t fall back asleep. After learning that the person who killed her in her previous life was Peng Shiyi, she slept even less. Closing her eyes, she would involuntarily think of those things that happened in her previous life, pondering detail by detail, scene by scene, hoping to figure out something useful for this life—mainly for Pei Yan and the Pei family.
Therefore, when she saw the rosy clouds shining through the window lattice, she was greatly startled and repeatedly called for Shuang Tao.
It was Qing Ping who came in. She smiled and asked Yu Tang, “Sister Shuang Tao is on night duty. Should I go call her over now?”
“No need!” Seeing it was broad daylight, those serving beside her were still people from the Pei family, and she was still in this life, Yu Tang completely relaxed. Smiling, she said, “Has Miss Xu come looking for me?”
“No!” Qing Ping answered. Just as she was about to help Yu Tang change clothes, Pei Yan arrived.
Everyone was startled. Yu Tang even exclaimed, “What is the Third Master doing here? When did he return to the residence?”
Qing Ping couldn’t answer.
Pei Yan had already sat down in the hall.
Yu Tang couldn’t continue staying in the inner chamber. She hastily groomed and dressed herself, then went to the hall.
Pei Yan’s expression didn’t look too good. Upon seeing Yu Tang, without even waiting for her to bow, he pointed to the grand master’s chair beside him: “Sit down to talk.”
Yu Tang curtsied and acknowledged “Yes,” then sat down. Qing Ping and Qing Lian served them tea and refreshments.
Pei Yan then said, “For this period of time, stay close by my side. Since I came to Hangzhou, Peng Shiyi also came down from the mountain. I still don’t know where he went. Once I find Peng Shiyi, I’ll send you back to the Yu family.”
Yu Tang was confused for a moment, then understood that Pei Yan was saying she was in danger, and before the danger was resolved, Pei Yan wanted her to stay by his side.
That is to say, Pei Yan believed her “dream” was real!
Certainly some things she had told Pei Yan had been confirmed.
But what things had been confirmed?
Yu Tang couldn’t figure it out. But she felt this matter must be related to Scholar Zhou and Mister Shu going to the capital.
But having her stay by his side all this time—how could she explain this to her family?
She asked cautiously, “Then when can I return?”
Pei Yan, seeing she had quickly grasped his intention, was very satisfied and said, “I’ll find Peng Shiyi as soon as possible.” Having said this, he thought of Peng Yu’s matter, thinking this affair was also closely related to the young lady. Some things should be concealed from her, but concealing some things might make her let down her guard and lead to accidents.
He said, “It’s still uncertain. My mentor’s eldest son, Lord Zhang Shao, who was serving as Provincial Administration Commissioner in Jiangxi, suddenly fell into water and drowned. We still don’t know if this matter is related to the Peng family, but Scholar Zhou has already rushed to the capital. We still don’t know what’s happening with Li Duan. I’m afraid the Peng family might use some underhanded means for profit. It’s better to be careful.”
Miss Yu was a young lady. The slightest mishap could mean eternal damnation.
As the thought flashed through Pei Yan’s mind, he was unwilling to think deeper.
The little person in Yu Tang’s heart couldn’t help but jump.
Pei Yan believed her words.
The Pei family could proceed more smoothly, couldn’t they?
The Peng family shouldn’t expect to so easily become Fujian’s number one family.
A trace of a smile flashed in Yu Tang’s eyes. She rose to thank Pei Yan, then asked about the Zhang family’s situation: “Aren’t you rushing to the capital? Will the Zhang family harbor a grudge against you? Adding flowers to brocade is easy; sending charcoal in snow is difficult.”
Pei Yan’s mouth twitched.
This young lady was now advising him.
He had eaten more salt than she had eaten rice—wasn’t this needless worry?
Pei Yan was dismissive, but his mouth moved with his heart before he could react, already saying, “My mentor knows about my situation. Moreover, I gave fifty thousand taels in banknotes for Scholar Zhou to bring to the capital.”
That’s good!
Yu Tang nodded repeatedly.
Pei Yan felt somewhat depressed.
Did he need to tell her these things?
He should need to, shouldn’t he?
Miss Yu was lively and active. If she became suspicious, she would certainly find ways to figure things out. Rather than letting her unknowingly run around everywhere into danger, it would be better to tell her everything, let her know what could and couldn’t be done, and have her stay obediently in the residence without causing him trouble.
He should tell the young lady.
Pei Yan thought to himself, becoming even more determined to be frank with Yu Tang.
He simply said, “I also called Gu Zhaoyang to Hangzhou. Originally I thought he’d handle his business and I’d handle mine. But he insisted on moving in. I think letting him move in is fine too. Once we resolve Jiangnan’s matters early, we can free up our hands to focus on resolving the capital’s affairs. Senior Brother Zhang was the eldest son. His sudden death at the height of his prime caught everyone off guard. Many things need to be rearranged. Whether it’s the Zhang family or those officials, they’ll all be in chaos for a while. The matters there are more important than the matters here.”
Having said this, Pei Yan glanced at Yu Tang.
Yu Tang stared at him with wide eyes that could reflect his image, her expression appearing somewhat foolish, making him somewhat uncertain whether she understood what he was saying.
He couldn’t help but ask, “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“I understand.” Yu Tang quickly said, “You’re saying the capital is in great chaos, and the Peng family will take advantage of this opportunity to manipulate things, getting that Seventh Master Peng appointed as Jiangxi Provincial Administration Commissioner. That way your family’s estates in Jiangxi would have to be managed by Peng family people. So you gave fifty thousand taels in silver to Scholar Zhou, having him make arrangements and disrupt the Peng family’s plans. Is that right?”
In that last sentence, she asked somewhat anxiously, as if afraid she had said something wrong.
Pei Yan felt a little pleasantly surprised.
He hadn’t expected Yu Tang to truly understand what he was doing.
This young lady was indeed very intelligent.
He felt he should encourage the young lady.
“Not bad!” Pei Yan said. “Your mind works quite quickly.”
Yu Tang secretly breathed a long sigh of relief.
It was just like being checked on her lessons by a teacher when studying.
At least she had passed.
Her heartstrings had been stretched rather tight, making her feel a bit tired.
She asked Pei Yan, “Have you had dinner? It’s getting late. Would you like to have dinner here?”
In her view, with Gu Zhaoyang having arrived, Pei Yan would certainly hold a welcoming banquet for him and definitely wouldn’t have dinner at her place. Moreover, with the distinction between men and women, having said everything that needed to be said, Pei Yan would surely take the hint and tactfully leave.
What she completely didn’t expect was that Pei Yan actually thought for a moment, grunted in acknowledgment, and overstepping his bounds, instructed Qing Yuan, “It is getting late indeed. Serve the meal! I still need to go see Gu Zhaoyang afterward. Wei Sanfu went to Lin’an. I reckon he’ll need another two days before he can come over. I wonder how he sent Wei Sanfu away.”
He hoped his second brother could handle Wei Sanfu’s moves.