Pei Yan had never apologized to anyone in his entire life.

Should he be like those who came to apologize to him, bringing stewards and servants, carrying expensive gifts to her door?

Just thinking about it made Pei Yan shudder.

That would be far too unseemly.

He needed to think of another method!

He sighed softly, but his shoulder received a heavy blow.

Pei Yan turned his head and saw Yin Hao’s smiling face.

“What are you thinking about?” He sat down in the grand master’s chair beside Pei Yan, ordering the attending A’Cha at the table without any reserve: “Bring me a cup of Biluochun tea.” Only then did he look at Pei Yan again and say, “Gu Zhaoyang’s matter is settled, those two hundred thousand taels of silver won’t be a problem either. Although Zhang Shao’s affair caught everyone off guard, Zhou Zijin has rushed over there. With his aggressive style, no one will get away with anything good. What are you still worried about? Perhaps the estate in Jiangxi? With me keeping watch in Huai’an, nothing will go wrong. Just wait to count your silver next year.”

Pei Yan raised his eyebrows dismissively and said, “These are all matters with clear direction. What do I have to worry about?”

What he was worried about was what to do about Miss Yu!

Pei Yan was considering whether to consult Yin Hao when he heard Yin Hao say, “How has my aunt been these past few days? Has she complained about me privately? So what if I keep a concubine? That’s only because she bore me a child. I’ve already thought it through—keep the two places far apart, and I guarantee the child won’t be brought into the main household. When he grows up, I’ll establish a separate household for him. I really don’t know what my aunt and the others are thinking. Before, they were always anxious to have more descendants. Now that there are more descendants, they disdain the mother’s origins. Where in this world are there perfectly flawless situations? I can’t very well divorce the one at home and marry another for the sake of the child! Isn’t the current arrangement the best of both worlds?”

Hearing these heart-wrenching words, he didn’t want to say a single thing. Instead, he opened his mouth to mock: “Then you’d better confirm whether the child is actually yours. Don’t end up raising someone else’s child!”

Yin Hao jumped up at once and said, “What nonsense are you spouting? Would I not know if the child is mine or not?”

Pei Yan snorted coldly, too lazy to say more to him. He asked Yin Hao, “When are you returning? With such a major incident at the Zhang family, I’m afraid it can’t be settled peacefully. My suggestion is that you find a way to have a heart-to-heart talk with Magistrate Shen and try to return to the capital as soon as possible.”

Seeing Pei Yan discuss serious matters with him, Yin Hao’s expression gradually became solemn. He said, “I want to see Tao Qing before I leave.”

Pei Yan immediately understood Yin Hao’s meaning. He said in surprise, “You want to recommend Tao An for Jiangxi?”

Yin Hao nodded and analyzed in a low voice with Pei Yan: “With my qualifications, I could of course compete for it, but ultimately I’m still lacking a bit. It would be better to take this opportunity to recommend Tao An. The salt certificate matter is too important. Your family and the Tao family both have maritime shipping businesses to support you, so it’s not critical. Our Yin family’s situation these past two years hasn’t been easy. No matter what, I need to stabilize this business before I can leave Jiangnan. Then there’s your second brother. You’ll complete your mourning in September. You’re stuck in Lin’an and can’t leave, but if we drag things out in the capital for a few more days, your second brother will also be ready to resume his duties. I think this is a good strategic move.”

If Tao An could go to Jiangxi as surveillance commissioner, the Tao family’s influence in the court would strengthen. When discussing the abolishment of the Maritime Trade Office, they would have more say.

Pei Yan said, “I’ll listen to my elder brothers on this matter.”

Yin Hao didn’t believe him at all and clicked his tongue: “I think I’ve hit upon what you’re thinking, right? Otherwise, would you agree so readily and honestly? However, this matter should be done sooner rather than later. Did Tao Qing say when he would arrive?”

“He should rush over through the night,” Pei Yan said. “As for Third Madam Yang, I heard she sent people to present several calling cards. I don’t know if there’s anything I can help with.”

Yin Hao didn’t plan to hide it from him and said frankly, “After the Wu and Jiang families formed a marriage alliance, the Wu family has become arrogant. Plus there’s the Song family eyeing things from the side like a hungry tiger. Although it’s not to the point of making me feel troubled, sometimes it’s vexing. For some matters, if Auntie makes the trip for me, I can have less trouble on my end. Besides, Mingyuan is getting married in September. Some families really should be personally notified. You just stay out of it.”

The Xu family was one of the top wealthy households in the current dynasty. The marriage alliance between the Yin and Xu families could also serve to intimidate potential adversaries.

Both Pei Yan and Yin Hao understood this tacitly. They stopped discussing this matter, and Yin Hao brought up another issue: “What are your plans for the Peng family? They’ve been jumping up and down these past two years. I think they need to be taught a lesson.”

Lessons and such were all excuses. The Yin, Pei, and Tao families had formed an offensive and defensive alliance. If they could abolish the Maritime Trade Office in Quanzhou, their business would truly bring in gold by the bushel!

This was the real reason they didn’t want Peng Yu to advance further.

But if the Maritime Trade Office in Quanzhou were abolished, the one in Ningbo might not necessarily be preserved either.

The Yu family had just partnered with Jiang Chao… They wouldn’t suffer losses exactly, but they shouldn’t expect to earn much more money either.

Pei Yan said, “What excuse will be used to abolish the Quanzhou Maritime Trade Office? Can the one in Ningbo be preserved?”

Yin Hao guessed the Pei family also had a fleet in Ningbo. He hesitated and said, “It’s just that the Song family side is difficult to handle?”

Pei Yan said coldly, “Then kick the Song family out and let someone else take their place.”

As soon as this thought arose, he suddenly felt enlightened.

Yes!

How had he not thought of this!

Kick the Song family out and let Jiang Chao take their place. That way, the Yu family would have a foundation to establish themselves, and Yu Tang wouldn’t be angry with him anymore.

“Then it’s decided.” Pei Yan was almost impatient, eagerly saying, “I’ll handle this matter. You all are responsible for watching the movements in the capital. I’ll also be the one to approach Scholar Zhou.”

To help the Tao family secure the position of Jiangxi Surveillance Commissioner.

“However, how to thank the Zhang family will require the Tao family to come up with a plan,” Pei Yan said thoughtfully. “Also, the situation in Jiangxi is quite complex. Even Zhang Shao’s elder brother couldn’t smooth things over back then. Tao An will be even less capable. You’ll need to think of a solution.”

Yin Hao gasped and said, “What has the Song family done? To offend you so much! Aren’t you afraid their eldest master will run to your old matriarch to complain? Speaking of which, their eldest master is also nearly sixty years old. I’m just afraid that when the time comes, you won’t be able to withstand it, and we’ll end up being the villains!”

They all knew about the relationship between the Song and Pei families.

Pei Yan laughed coldly a few times and said, “Don’t worry about that. Just make sure you don’t drag your feet when the time comes.”

“Don’t worry!” Yin Hao said, patting his chest. “If you can sacrifice family for righteousness, I can dedicate myself wholeheartedly!”

Pei Yan then said, “Second Brother, have you had your morning meal yet? Shall I have someone bring you a bowl of congee? We’ve all rushed to Hangzhou together. The Song family people aren’t fools either. To avoid alerting them prematurely, I need to go make arrangements right away. I won’t accompany you for your morning meal, Second Brother.”

Having said this, ignoring Yin Hao calling after him, he headed directly toward where Yu Tang was staying.

As he walked, he asked A’Cha, “Do you know if Miss Yu has had her morning meal yet? I have some urgent business to discuss with her!”

Hearing this, A’Cha immediately ran off like a wisp of smoke to gather information for Pei Yan ahead of time.

By the time Pei Yan reached the entrance to Yu Tang’s courtyard, A’Cha had already investigated thoroughly. As he accompanied Pei Yan inside, his mouth didn’t stop: “Miss Yu is currently having her morning meal, and Miss Xu is also here. I heard from Miss Xu’s maid that they originally planned to go out and browse around today, but because the Zhang family has a funeral, Miss Xu said she has no mood for it. She plans to spend today copying several pages of Buddhist scriptures with Miss Yu, then send them to Lingyin Temple to be burned. In a couple of days, they’ll go out with Miss Yu to browse around, buy some gifts, and then prepare to return to the capital.”

Pei Yan stopped in his tracks.

He had forgotten that Miss Xu and the Zhang family’s female relatives should be quite familiar. No wonder she had no mood to leisurely stroll about.

Pei Yan said, “If the two young ladies plan to go to Lingyin Temple, let me know in advance. I’ll accompany them for the trip. The abbot at Lingyin Temple has dealings with our family. I haven’t yet gone to donate incense money this year.”

A’Cha acknowledged, his mind full of confusion.

Third Master had always been domineering. Even when the old master was alive, he went wherever he wanted—when had he ever explained himself to them? What was wrong with Third Master? Could it be that after observing mourning for several years and eating vegetarian food, even his temperament had become peaceful?

A’Cha didn’t dare speculate further and followed Pei Yan into the main hall.

Yu Tang hadn’t slept well last night either. She tossed and turned, only falling asleep when the sky began to lighten, but was quickly awakened by Miss Xu. She looked somewhat listless.

Seeing Pei Yan arrive, she was greatly startled.

After all, the two had parted on bad terms yesterday.

She hurriedly invited Pei Yan to sit in the grand master’s chair and ordered the maids to serve tea.

Miss Xu had never looked favorably upon Pei Yan. Seeing him made her want to mock him a few times, but thinking that she planned to invite Yin Mingyuan to revisit Pei Yan’s estate, she at least restrained herself from speaking. Yet she was also unwilling to engage in empty pleasantries with Pei Yan. After greeting him, she simply bid Yu Tang farewell: “I’ll go back first. Once I’ve prepared the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, I’ll come back over.”

Yu Tang didn’t particularly want to see Pei Yan, but with Miss Xu here, she couldn’t very well embarrass Pei Yan. She only saw Miss Xu to the door and quietly urged her at the entrance: “Come back early!”

Looking very much like she didn’t want to spend much time with Pei Yan.

Miss Xu, putting herself in Yu Tang’s shoes, felt Yu Tang probably didn’t like Pei Yan much either. She repeatedly said, “Don’t worry. At most half an incense stick’s time. If he still hasn’t left, I’ll come chase him away.”

Yu Tang nodded gratefully at Miss Xu. After seeing Miss Xu off, she returned to the hall.

Pei Yan felt he had already found a way to resolve the conflict between them and was quite confident. Seeing Yu Tang return, he got straight to the point: “What do you think of Jiang Chao as a person?”

Yu Tang couldn’t guess at all what Pei Yan wanted to do, and she didn’t understand Jiang Chao very well either. After thinking for a moment, she said what she knew: “He should be quite capable at business, and he’s very protective of his family members. As for other things, I don’t know.”

Pei Yan said, “Being capable at business shows this person has ability. Protecting family members shows this person values relationships. He can barely be used.”

Yu Tang was baffled.

Pei Yan said, “You don’t need to worry about this matter. I plan to help Jiang Chao out. Since your family is doing business with him, you can also benefit from the dividends.”