Pei Yan was thunderstruck.

After a long while, he stammered: “It, it can’t be, can it?”

Tao Qing then analyzed it carefully for him: “You said you unintentionally offended Miss Yu, and you and Miss Yu parted on bad terms. By rights, if Miss Yu had forgiven you, she would definitely harbor no grudge toward you. If you look after her family’s business, no matter what, she should at least thank you. Am I not correct?”

“Correct!” Pei Yan looked at Tao Qing expectantly.

Tao Qing continued: “If Miss Yu hasn’t forgiven you, she would definitely keep you at a respectful distance. Whatever you say or do, she would act as if she hadn’t seen it…”

Yu Tang was treating him exactly as if she couldn’t see him now!

Pei Yan was shocked.

Knowing he had figured it out, Tao Qing simply continued: “Let’s circle back and talk about you. You’ve always been straightforward and generous in your actions, repaying grievances with directness and directness with virtue. How is it that in Miss Yu’s matter you’re so muddled? A perfectly good thing, yet you say nothing at all and just dump it all in front of Miss Yu like this. Miss Yu is neither your colleague from the Hanlin Academy nor your colleague at court. She’s not familiar with your way of doing things—how would she know what your true intentions are?”

Upon hearing this, Pei Yan suddenly stood up. He cupped his hands toward Tao Qing and said: “Elder Brother, I’ll head back first. We’ll meet at Lingyin Temple tomorrow afternoon.” With that, he was about to dash off.

Tao Qing grabbed hold of Pei Yan and said: “Since you regard me as an elder brother, family doesn’t speak as outsiders. Tell me honestly, has there been some change regarding A’an’s matter? You know me—I’m content with what I have. You needn’t fear I’ll feel bad.”

“No, no.” At this moment, Pei Yan only wanted to hurry back.

He had Qing Yuan instigate Yu Tang to go to Lingyin Temple tomorrow. If Yu Tang was still angry with him, what if he told her to go east and she insisted on going west?

Time was of the essence.

He had to hurry and clear up the misunderstanding with Yu Tang.

Otherwise, wouldn’t he have elevated Jiang Chao for nothing?

Pei Yan’s mind raced rapidly. His tone urgent, he said: “Elder Brother, we called you here also to ask how much silver your family is willing to spend on arrangements. If you feel it’s not worth it, there are methods for that. If you feel it is worth it, there are methods for that too. Neither Second Brother Yin nor I can make decisions for your household.”

Hearing that Tao An’s matter still had hope, Tao Qing’s heart immediately filled with great anticipation. With full resolve, he said: “Our Tao family will definitely cooperate with you fully. You should know, matters that can be resolved with silver aren’t difficult matters. What’s to be feared is spending silver without it being of any use.”

Pei Yan understood.

The Tao family was prepared to devote every resource to help Tao An compete for this position of Jiangxi Provincial Inspector.

Tao Qing, still afraid Pei Yan might retreat when facing difficulties, decided to bind Pei Yan to his family’s carriage as well, saying: “Since you haven’t treated A’an as an outsider, I won’t be distant with you either. Count me in for the Jiangnan matter as well. Those two hundred thousand taels of silver—at worst, our Tao family will provide it all.”

Wealthy and imposing.

Pei Yan smiled: “Elder Brother, rest assured, I know what I’m doing. You can rest easy. I’ll take my leave now.” After speaking, he helped Tao Qing close the door and disappeared into the vast night.

By the time Tao Qing came out after him, Pei Yan had long since vanished without a trace.

Tao Qing shook his head. Standing in the late evening breeze of early summer, he remained silent for quite a while before going inside to rest.

When Pei Yan returned to the residence, it was already past the hour of hai. He very much wanted to go see Yu Tang immediately but could only gaze at the night and sigh.

Early the next morning, Yin Hao came over to demand an explanation: “Elder Brother Tao asked us to meet with him last night. You were the one who said we couldn’t be too conspicuous and arranged to meet today at Lingyin Temple. So why did you run off alone to see Elder Brother Tao last night? You be honest with me—what did you and Elder Brother Tao discuss yesterday? Why did you leave me on the sidelines? What exactly are you scheming? Cooperation requires sincerity—like this, you have no sincerity at all.”

Pei Yan had just sent someone to inquire about Yu Tang’s whereabouts. No news had come back yet, and his heart was anxious. Being dragged along by Yin Hao’s nagging made him displeased, and his words became somewhat irritable: “Why do you talk so much? The Tao family definitely wants us to help Tao An compete for a third-rank official position. The question is how we persuade Wang Qibao to also help and come forward today.”

Yin Hao trusted Pei Yan’s character. He felt that Pei Yan going to find Tao Qing last night must have been because there was temporarily some urgent matter, with no time to call him, or no need to call him. But he rarely caught Pei Yan at a disadvantage and couldn’t help wanting to tease him. He persistently pressed Pei Yan about why he had gone to see Tao Qing alone.

Pei Yan was preoccupied with whether Yu Tang would go to Lingyin Temple as he wished. How could he have the mood to wrangle with Yin Hao? He wished he could just stuff Yin Hao’s mouth shut.

The two were engaged in a war of words when Qing Yuan came over.

Pei Yan left Yin Hao standing in the outer courtyard and spoke with Qing Yuan.

Qing Yuan smiled: “This servant observed the weather. It might rain tomorrow. Miss Xu and Miss Yu decided to go to Lingyin Temple today instead.”

Pei Yan breathed a sigh of relief, calculating that in the afternoon he had to find an opportunity to speak with Yu Tang. Otherwise, if this misunderstanding continued, the two of them might end up never communicating again for the rest of their lives.

As for Yu Tang, she sat before her dressing table, comparing hair ornaments at her temples while speaking to Miss Xu, who sat on the arhat bed beside her: “How do you know it will rain tomorrow?”

Miss Xu propped her elbow up, picking through the candies in the tiered box on the bed table, saying absentmindedly: “The servant woman at my side knows how to read the weather! She reminded me yesterday too, saying she was afraid it would rain. I thought if it rains, it rains—at worst we can enjoy Lingyin Temple in the rain. But Qing Yuan said she was afraid the weather would turn cold and felt it would be better to go today. Besides, Pei Xiaguang will also be going later. I heard from Yin Mingyuan that the abbot of Lingyin Temple was a scholar before becoming a monk. His literary talent is excellent, and he’s especially skilled at painting. We can use Pei Xiaguang’s connection to request the abbot to perform a prayer service—that’s the minor matter. We might even be able to ask the abbot master for a few paintings. Our Yin Mingyuan just loves painting.”

Yu Tang could see that Miss Xu was going precisely to take advantage of Pei Yan’s reputation.

Serves him right!

That kind of person needs to be schemed against a few times before the resentment is satisfied.

If it were before, Yu Tang would definitely have cherished Pei Yan’s reputation, but now, she decided to join Miss Xu in borrowing Pei Yan’s influence.

She thought of the second time they met, when Pei Yan was extremely angry seeing her use the Pei family’s power to act.

He should taste it again.

Yu Tang even felt somewhat gleeful, saying: “Then good! Let’s properly tour Lingyin Temple today. I heard Yongfu Temple is right next to Lingyin Temple. Should we also go see Yongfu Temple?”

“Excellent!” Miss Xu was enthusiastic and animated. The two discussed their itinerary for Lingyin Temple, then took Qing Yuan, A’Fu, and the others in sedan chairs to Lingyin Temple.

Lingyin Temple had received advance notice. A minor steward under the fourth steward had notified the guest monk of Lingyin Temple before they arrived, tidied the side room for rest, and was waiting for them at the foot of the mountain.

When the two arrived at the temple gate, they alighted from their sedan chairs. The guest monk came forward to greet them and led them through the side entrance into the temple.

After offering incense at the Great Hero Treasure Hall and donating a considerable amount of incense money, Yu Tang and Miss Xu, accompanied by the guest monk, went to the abbot master’s meditation chamber.

The abbot master personally arranged their prayer service. The one presiding over the service was an eminent monk recommended by the abbot master. He said humbly: “I am advanced in years with declining energy. I have visitors coming this afternoon, so I must neglect you two benefactors!”

Yu Tang and Miss Xu, looking at the abbot master whose beard and hair were completely white yet who treated them with humble courtesy, hastily returned the courtesy respectfully, repeatedly saying “We wouldn’t dare.”

Miss Xu even hesitated over whether to ask the abbot master for some paintings.

At this moment, Yu Tang, fearing Pei Yan’s side wouldn’t be chaotic enough, suggested to Miss Xu: “Then let’s ask Third Master Pei for help. Didn’t Qing Yuan say he’s very familiar with the abbot master? Can’t he do even this small thing?”

Miss Xu’s spirits lifted upon hearing this.

After the two had vegetarian meals at Lingyin Temple, they instructed the young novice monks serving them that if Pei Yan came, they should notify them immediately. The two then slept carefree in their side room.

When they woke in the afternoon, supposedly Pei Yan and Yin Hao had already arrived at Lingyin Temple. They didn’t require the abbot master’s accompaniment and were wandering somewhere unknown.

Yu Tang discussed with Miss Xu that they had to find Pei Yan.

Qing Yuan volunteered to go find him.

Yu Tang and Miss Xu waited for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense but didn’t see Pei Yan, and Qing Yuan also hadn’t returned.

The two were getting somewhat anxious and went together to the courtyard to admire the flowers.

Who would have known that just as they walked out of the side room, they encountered Gu Chang.

“Miss Yu, I didn’t expect to meet you again?” His face was full of pleasant surprise.

Yu Tang was also quite surprised. She smiled warmly and curtsied to Gu Chang, saying: “I didn’t expect you’d also come to Lingyin Temple. What a coincidence!”

“Indeed! Indeed!” Gu Chang smiled, feeling that under the sunlight, Yu Tang’s beautiful eyes were clear black and white, as limpid as a pool of autumn water—a different kind of beauty from her jade-like appearance in the moonlight.

His smile unconsciously grew even wider. He said: “What brings Miss Yu to Lingyin Temple? I’m from Hangzhou and have come to burn incense at Lingyin Temple since childhood. The year I passed the imperial examination, I specially came to fulfill my vow. If Miss Yu needs anything, you can come find me.”

“Many thanks!” Yu Tang said politely. The two exchanged pleasantries.

Miss Xu, left neglected to the side, looked left and right. A trace of coldness flashed in her eyes. Seeing Gu Chang still standing there making conversation where none was needed, she coughed heavily twice.

Only then did Gu Chang realize his breach of etiquette. Smiling, he greeted Miss Xu.

Miss Xu responded with an ambiguous smile, then pulled Yu Tang away.

Gu Chang felt he and Yu Tang really seemed to have quite a connection. Standing there watching their retreating figures, he hesitated over whether to find an opportunity to “coincidentally encounter” Yu Tang again. Miss Xu, however, pulled Yu Tang close and whispered: “Gu Chaoyang will most likely marry his mentor Lord Sun’s daughter. We should keep our distance from him.”

“I know!” Yu Tang merely admired that Gu Chang could stand up for Gu Xi, and therefore thought more highly of him. Hearing this, she smiled and said: “I heard people mention it before.”

Miss Xu didn’t doubt her. She felt that since Yu Tang already knew about certain matters, that was enough. If she said too much, it would be questioning Yu Tang’s character. She therefore changed the subject: “We also can’t just wait for Pei Xiaguang so rigidly! How about we first tour Yongfu Temple? After we return from Yongfu Temple, we can go see Pei Xiaguang?”