As soon as Pei Yan’s words fell, everyone was stunned into silence.

Especially Qing Yuan.

Having served Pei Yan since childhood, no one knew better than she how particular he was in his daily life.

Forget about eating—even when it came to drinking tea, he wouldn’t touch a cup from just any ordinary household.

Since Third Master wanted to stay here for evening meal, she needed to quickly finalize the dishes, and the tableware, utensils, handkerchiefs, tea… everything would need to be replaced with what Third Master was accustomed to using… They had just finished tidying up. Miss Yu hadn’t brought many things with her; most items were still the original furnishings and implements from the room. She had originally wanted to find the estate’s steward to get a catalog, to ask what kinds of furnishings Miss Yu preferred, so she could obtain some things from the steward to decorate and arrange Miss Yu’s living quarters. But now they were short-handed, with many matters requiring her personal attention. In one afternoon, she had only managed to pass along some of Yu Tang’s preferences and collect the tea leaves and refreshments for Yu Tang’s room. She hadn’t yet had time to discuss room arrangements with Yu Tang. Third Master would certainly be very dissatisfied.

Should she rush to arrange the reception hall first?

Qing Yuan couldn’t make up her mind for a moment, somewhat uncertain about what to do first and what to do next.

Fortunately, Yu Tang quickly recovered her composure.

Pei Yan actually wanted to stay here for evening meal with her.

She had never dined alone with Pei Yan before!

Could it be that he still had some important matter to discuss with her?

Yu Tang stole a glance at Pei Yan.

Pei Yan sat there with the bearing of a commanding general, looking every bit like he was waiting for his meal, obviously completely unaware of the bombshell he had just dropped.

Yu Tang couldn’t help but sigh quietly to herself.

She really couldn’t keep indulging in wishful thinking.

Pei Yan treated her like a somewhat close fellow villager, upright and proper. It was she, on the other hand, who had stirred up all sorts of ripples and even misunderstood Pei Yan because of it.

Yu Tang’s face reddened a bit. She hurriedly suppressed all those chaotic thoughts in her heart, took a deep breath, and spoke with the respect yet familiarity one would show an elder brother: “You said Magistrate Gu would also be staying here. Don’t you need to host a welcoming dinner for him?”

As for why she treated Pei Yan like an older brother rather than a father figure, she subconsciously didn’t think too deeply about it.

Hearing this, Pei Yan frowned and said with displeasure, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to eat if I dine with him. I plan to eat first and then go see him.”

Gu Chang was staying in his, Pei Yan’s, private residence. Whenever he came back, whenever he went out, if he wanted Gu Chang to know, Gu Chang would know; if he didn’t want Gu Chang to know, Gu Chang would never know. That Gu Chang actually wanted to stay at his residence—was this arrogance or confidence?

Pei Yan made no effort to conceal his disdain for Gu Chang, saying, “That man is too much of a schemer. It’s not a good thing.”

Yu Tang’s eyes widened in surprise.

She naturally knew what kind of person Gu Chang was, but people have countless facets. What she appreciated was the side of Gu Chang that he showed toward Gu Xi. But Pei Yan was a typical scholar, both proud and dignified. How could he suddenly speak about Gu Chang behind his back?

Yet Yu Tang vaguely sensed that Pei Yan at this moment was very different from before.

If previously Pei Yan’s conduct had been strictly governed by scholarly norms, like wearing a mask that prevented people from easily discerning his emotions, then the Pei Yan of this moment was like someone who had removed his mask, revealing his true features and allowing others to easily perceive his joys, sorrows, and anger.

The Pei Yan who adhered to the ways of a gentleman naturally inspired trust, but this Pei Yan with his own temperament and even flaws made Yu Tang feel closer to him, more genuine, more fond of him, safer, and more at ease.

It was as if… she could see into his heart this way.

Yu Tang couldn’t help but blush with embarrassment, her heart pounding like a drum. She echoed his sentiment: “Then you should have your evening meal here before going to see that Magistrate Gu.”

Pei Yan grunted his assent, very satisfied that Yu Tang completely trusted him, stood on his side, and supported his approach. Then he spoke even more directly: “I’ll be staying in Hangzhou for ten days to half a month. I can see that Miss Xu isn’t one to stay quiet. If she invites you out shopping and you can’t refuse, make sure to tell Steward Si. He’ll arrange for guards to accompany you. If you encounter anything you need to buy but don’t have the funds on hand, just have the shop send the items directly to this residence. Steward Si will settle the accounts.”

Yu Tang quickly said, “When I came, my father gave me silver.”

Pei Yan glanced at her and said, “When I was in the capital, I heard that once when Miss Xu went out shopping, the Xu family’s steward had to temporarily exchange a hundred taels of gold at a silver shop to pay her bills. Since you’ll be accompanying her, surely you don’t plan to just stand there watching while she makes purchases?”

Just thinking about it made him uncomfortable.

Yu Tang’s heart trembled as she heard this: “O-one hundred taels of gold? What did Miss Xu buy?”

“Who knows what she bought?” Pei Yan said dismissively. “Her monthly expenses are considerable. Even Yin Mingyuan sometimes worries that the family has no surplus grain.”

Yu Tang was dumbstruck. “Then, then why doesn’t Miss Xu buy less?”

“Probably because Yin Mingyuan is too embarrassed to tell her to buy less?” Pei Yan said. “Miss Xu is his wife. If he can’t even support his own wife, what’s the point of marrying her?”

This was the first time Yu Tang had heard such words.

She thought of the fifty taels in banknotes she had been so happily hiding in her cosmetic box and honestly said, “Then, I’d better just stay in my room! That way I won’t run into Peng Shiyi either.”

Pei Yan was disappointed by her lack of ambition and said with displeasure, “What are you afraid of? I’m not asking you to repay the silver. No matter how wealthy the Xu family is, they’re not as wealthy as our Pei family. What Miss Xu can afford, you can afford too.”

But this was different!

After all, she wasn’t part of the Pei family. Why should the Pei family pay for her?

Yu Tang knew Pei Yan didn’t like being contradicted. She felt there was no need to displease him over these things that hadn’t even happened yet, so she smiled and agreed on the surface, but secretly resolved that even if she went shopping with Miss Xu, she wouldn’t buy things she couldn’t afford.

Everyone’s circumstances were different, some better, some worse. She didn’t feel she was inferior to anyone.

Pei Yan’s expression softened slightly. He was considering whether to give Yu Tang some personal spending money when Qing Yuan arrived with several servants, maids, and matrons, all perspiring profusely. She curtsied to Pei Yan and asked where they should serve the evening meal.

“In the reception hall will be fine,” Pei Yan said. “It’s brighter here.”

Qing Yuan led the staff to set out the meal.

Yu Tang noticed that among the hot dishes there was a small dish of wine-marinated fish and a small dish of braised pork. Thinking that Pei Yan was still in his mourning period, and that Qing Yuan, as Pei Yan’s head maid, could never make such a mistake, she knew these were most likely prepared for her. She couldn’t help but look up at Pei Yan.

Pei Yan asked with puzzlement, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing.” Yu Tang quickly said, dining quietly with Pei Yan, but she didn’t touch the wine-marinated fish or the braised pork.

Qing Yuan led the maids and matrons to clear the table and served them tea.

Yu Tang assumed he would go see Gu Chang, but who knew he would dismiss all the servants and speak with her about that “dream” of hers: “I’ve thought over and over about what you said. What is the identity of that woman Peng Shiyi mentioned? Why does Li Duan protect her so much? And why did Peng Shiyi use that woman as his pledge of allegiance? Could she be Li Duan’s future concubine? But from the tone of it, this woman also has some connection to Gu Chang? Could it be that when Li Duan went to the capital and was running about for his father’s affairs, he took some family’s concubine-born daughter as a concubine? Then who did Li Duan marry as his wife?”

He stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Yu Tang, however, broke out in a cold sweat.

She knew Pei Yan was very intelligent. Fortunately, she had already said this was a dream. It was common to misremember things after waking from a dream, or to remember them unclearly. Otherwise, she really wouldn’t know how to account for this to Pei Yan.

Yu Tang said with difficulty, “I’m not clear either. What I can remember is just this much.” Then she changed the subject, asking why Pei Yan had chosen this residence: “Don’t you dislike flowers?”

“Not particularly!” Pei Yan seemed not to like this topic much, saying, “Since I’m still in mourning, I felt it wasn’t quite appropriate for the house to be full of blooming flowers. It’s not that I dislike flowers. I chose to stay here because Wang Qibao likes it. I plan to invite him for a meal here in a few days.”

Of course, this would be after Gu Chang made up his mind to bring down that mentor of his.

Yu Tang said, “The roses here are blooming beautifully, and there are wisterias too. Miss Xu and I even made plans to have tea by the rose wall tomorrow!”

“I don’t know where this rose wall you mentioned is. However, there’s a winding water feature in the estate. You could take your maids there to enjoy yourselves,” Pei Yan said. “If you find that boring, tomorrow I’ll have Steward Tong invite a female storyteller to the house.”

Yu Tang found this rather interesting.

Pei Yan could tell the young lady preferred liveliness.

After thinking for a moment, he simply made the decision for her: “Then tomorrow we’ll have a female storyteller come to the estate. Ask Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang tomorrow what kinds of opera they enjoy, and in a couple of days we’ll invite some performers to the estate to stage a private performance.”

“No need, no need.” Yu Tang thought of how Pei Yan hadn’t yet completed his mourning and smiled, saying, “Miss Xu told me that Magistrate Yin will be arriving soon. I also want to take advantage of these few days to make some Five Poisons sachets to give as gifts for the Dragon Boat Festival.” She also asked Pei Yan, “What kind of fragrance do you like? I’ll make a few for you too!”

Pei Yan didn’t particularly like any fragrances, but he didn’t want to reject Yu Tang’s kind intentions. He decided that if Yu Tang really did give him sachets, he would hang them on the bamboo outside his study—at least they could repel mosquitoes.

Yu Tang asked about the Dragon Boat Festival: “Will Lin’an still hold dragon boat races this year? I heard from my father earlier that after the Dragon Boat Festival, Master Jiang’s ship should return. I wonder how the business went this time? They absolutely must make a profit! Otherwise, my father will certainly feel he’s let down Master Wu.”

Pei Yan felt Yu Wen’s approach was inappropriate and said, “Master Wu is partnering with your family in business, not lending money to your family! In business, there are losses and gains. If he can’t understand even this, the two families should stop associating.”

His tone was quite cold.

Yu Tang then thought of how she had plagiarized the sea buckthorn fruits that Pei Yan had grown in her previous life.

Her ears burned hotly as she said in a low voice, “Do you think our family’s sea buckthorn fruits can still be saved?”

Pei Yan thought for a while and said, “How about making them into preserved fruits to sell?!”

His tone didn’t sound very certain.