Thinking of these things, Gu Chang inevitably thought of Yu Tang.
When Yin Hao proposed a marriage alliance to him, he had indeed been very surprised.
He had never thought about marrying a daughter from a powerful aristocratic family.
Firstly, his public image had always been one of being indifferent to fame and fortune, not seeking wealth and status. Secondly, he feared being implicated by his wife’s clan and being forced to take sides when the Second Prince and Third Prince competed for the position of heir.
But one statement from Yin Hao moved him.
Yin Hao asked him, “Do you think the Gu family can support you in reaching a third-rank official position?”
The Gu family could not.
Although his uncle by concubine was merely a scholar, he was extremely adept at human relations and worldly matters. Such a person would be talented in any family, yet he had been forced by his father to split from the clan.
He hesitated.
The smiling face of Miss Yu flashed through his mind again.
So beautiful that one couldn’t help but smile along.
But with such talent and beauty, families with strict rules wouldn’t dare take her as a concubine.
Too outstanding—it would easily lead to conflict between wife and concubine, bringing disaster to descendants.
Those who dared take her as a concubine would either be princes or nobles, or those who didn’t care about inner courtyard conflicts.
Gu Chang yielded.
When it came down to it, it was still because the Yin family’s power was too formidable.
Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for him to form a marriage alliance with the Yin family. Was that why he had never thought about marrying a daughter from a powerful aristocratic family?
Gu Chang asked himself and smiled bitterly, shaking his head.
Perhaps this was the best outcome.
He would marry a Miss Yin as his wife, and Pei Yan would take Miss Yu as a concubine.
Perhaps only people like Pei Yan could willfully do whatever they wanted.
Having retired at home, he also had the time and energy to balance the relationship between wife and concubines.
Gu Chang took a fierce gulp of tea.
Perhaps this was actually a good thing.
Pei Yan wouldn’t have so much time to meddle in outside affairs.
And he could wholeheartedly compete for success in his official career.
Since he had decided to marry, he should properly manage his marriage. Whatever romantic notions he had before should become like passing clouds, forgotten completely, so he could focus single-mindedly on being good to his wife.
Husband and wife were also partners.
If you didn’t put your heart into it, the boat would capsize.
If this boat capsized, it would affect the younger generation.
Without an inheritance, what meaning would all his struggles and efforts in this life have?
What Gu Chang longed for was not only to leave his name in history, but also to leave a good reputation in the family genealogy.
Gu Chang pushed open the window, looked at the slowly rising sun outside, and let out a long breath. He felt that no matter how bad his future days might be, they wouldn’t be worse than now.
He called loudly for Gao Sheng. “Let’s go back!”
For the marriage with the Yin family, his father still needed to come forward. He had best write a letter and send it by fast horse to the capital, tactfully explaining to Sun Gao that this was by parental command…
As for Pei Yan, whom Gu Chang claimed not to envy anymore but would actually often use as a comparison, he sat refreshed, eating breakfast while listening to the Fourth Steward’s report: “The things Miss Yu bought, I’ve already had someone send them back to Lin’an. We’ll also help handle the bills on our end. Earlier, because of your suggestion, Third Madam Yang changed course to visit Madam Qin. This way, their return journey to the capital should be delayed by two or three days.” Speaking to this point, he hesitated slightly before continuing, “Lord Li’s carriages and horses have already reached Jinhua and will arrive in Hangzhou any day now. Will you return to Lin’an after Third Madam Yang and the others depart for the capital? Or will you return to Lin’an after meeting Lord Li?”
Qin Wei, the soon-to-retire Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhejiang, had once been a colleague at the Imperial Academy with Second Madam’s maternal brother. Through this connection, the Pei family had cultivated the relationship, and during his tenure, he had shown considerable favor to the Pei family. Li Guang, who would soon take up the post, had been serving in the Yunnan-Guizhou region and had risen from county magistrate. The reason he could become Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhejiang this time was also due to fortunate circumstances—he picked up an opportunity through the maneuvering of several parties. The Pei family had no direct relationship with him. Under these circumstances, if Pei Yan could stay here and show support when Li Guang took office, with Qin Wei acting as intermediary, Li Guang would surely be pleased and wouldn’t easily offend the Pei family.
Who knew that Pei Yan would snort disdainfully. “No need to bother with him. He rose through suppressing bandits—he’s not on the same path as our family.”
The Fourth Steward was greatly startled.
The Yunnan-Guizhou region had many local chieftains. The so-called “bandit suppression” mostly meant suppressing people in mountain strongholds.
He couldn’t help but worry. “Since that’s the case, shouldn’t we all the more…”
Pei Yan felt the Fourth Steward’s mindset was wrong and said seriously, “Although there’s the saying ‘a prefect who wipes out entire families,’ there’s also the saying ‘the government office is iron, but officials flow like water.'”
If Li Guang wanted to play the Yunnan-Guizhou tactics, the scholars of Jiangnan might not swallow it.
The Fourth Steward knew Pei Yan had great insight—otherwise, why would the old master have entrusted the Pei family to Pei Yan before his death? He said no more and smiled with complete trust. “Then I’ll go prepare a boat for you. We’ll bring Miss Yu back at that time.” He even explained for Pei Yan, “Miss Yu came as a companion guest for our family. Since we invited her to come, we should also send her back safely.”
Pei Yan immediately felt this Fourth Steward was also talented and could completely serve as a head steward.
Much better than Hu Xing.
Pei Yan glanced at the Fourth Steward.
The Pei family only had three head steward positions.
If he wanted to promote the Fourth Steward to head steward, he would have to demote one. No matter how he looked at it, the one demoted would be Hu Xing.
Or should he add another head steward position?!
Adding a head steward position was easy to say, but the fear was that future clan heads would follow suit and casually add head stewards, supporting idle people.
It would be best to just demote Hu Xing.
Let others see that in the Pei family, the capable work harder and earn more for their efforts.
However, Hu Xing had brought Imperial Physician Yang to treat Madam Yu and served before Old Madam, working diligently—he was still passable.
How about having Hu Xing specifically serve Old Madam?
He could let Hu Xing continue receiving a head steward’s stipend.
This way, Hu Xing’s dignity would be preserved while promoting another person.
The more Pei Yan thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
He just needed to think carefully about how to discuss this with Old Madam.
Having made up his mind, Pei Yan’s expression became pleasant. He was thinking about whether to go see Yu Tang and could take the opportunity to discuss returning to Lin’an with her.
But before he could rise, Yin Hao came over.
He had already discussed it with Gu Chang. They would cut through the matter quickly—tomorrow the Gu family’s clan head would personally come to propose marriage for Gu Chang. He wanted Pei Yan to help him entertain the Gu family’s visitors.
Pei Yan didn’t want to get involved in Gu Chaoyang’s affairs.
He glared. “Have you got it wrong? My own marriage isn’t even settled yet, and you want me to entertain your guests? I won’t do it!”
Yin Hao was furious to death. “Tell me, besides you, who else is suitable? Speaking of which, you could be considered Gu Chaoyang’s elder. When people come to your home to propose marriage, both in reason and propriety you should come out to receive them, shouldn’t you?”
Speaking to this point, Pei Yan’s eyes grew even wider. “Your two families are forming a marriage alliance—why come to my home to propose marriage and entertain guests? Aren’t there enough good restaurants in Hangzhou? Or is one of your families short of silver? When you discussed this with Gu Chaoyang, didn’t either of you feel something was wrong?”
Yin Hao said, “Didn’t I come to Hangzhou quietly?”
Pei Yan sneered. “Just deceiving yourself. You think everyone really doesn’t know you came! Stop fooling yourself. What time did you arrange for tomorrow? I’ll go book a restaurant for you right now. I’ll pay for the banquet. Consider it a betrothal gift from me as an elder to Gu Chaoyang.”
Seeing that he didn’t seem to be joking, Yin Hao said in confusion, “Gu Chaoyang hasn’t offended you, has he? Why do you sound like you’re sworn enemies when you talk about him?”
Pei Yan indeed felt annoyed whenever he saw Gu Chang, but he couldn’t show it in front of Yin Hao now. Otherwise, if Yin Hao asked him, “Since Gu Chaoyang isn’t good, why did you recommend him as a son-in-law for our Yin family,” and the marriage between the two families fell through, that would be troublesome.
He said, “I don’t want people bringing me up when they discuss Sun Gao’s matter—you serve as officials at court and will rise step by step in the future. I can only guard my ancestral business in Lin’an and be my local gentleman. Some people you can afford to provoke, but I can’t. Don’t drag me into the water.”
Yin Hao suddenly understood and patted his chest. “Don’t worry. As long as you still call me ‘Second Brother Yin,’ I won’t let anyone bully your Pei family. Isn’t it just Li Guang? I guarantee he won’t dare touch a blade of grass in your home.”
Of course Pei Yan wasn’t truly afraid of Li Guang.
As long as his second brother was restored to office, the Pei family would have someone speaking for them at court again. He was just finding an excuse not to help Gu Chang. Even in trivial matters, he was unwilling. So no matter how moving Yin Hao’s words were, they couldn’t sway him.
He ignored Yin Hao and directly called the Fourth Steward, having him book the best banquet at the best restaurant in Hangzhou, and said, “After you’ve arranged everything, remember to inform the Gu family.”
Hearing this, a trace of worry flashed in the Fourth Steward’s eyes before he quietly assented and withdrew.
Yin Hao wanted to stop him but it was too late.
Pei Yan patted Yin Hao’s shoulder, rather like an elder instructing a junior, and said earnestly, “If you don’t believe me, go ask Third Madam Yang. See whether I’m doing it right or you’re doing it right.”
Hearing these words, Yin Hao immediately deflated.
He had been pampered since childhood, and with aunts and sisters helping him handle everything, though he was the Yin family’s clan head, he wasn’t skilled at managing these relationships.
Pei Yan still wouldn’t let him off and continued, “If you still don’t trust me, go ask Master Tao. He surely wouldn’t deceive you, would he?”
Yin Hao no longer wanted to ask anyone. He directly resigned himself to fate. “Fine then. I’ll go tell my aunt. If they invite a matchmaker over, my aunt will definitely need to come forward.”
Pei Yan said, “As long as it’s not at my home, that’s fine.”
Yin Hao shook his head helplessly and went to Third Madam Yang’s quarters.
After Third Madam Yang learned of this matter, she smiled. “I was just thinking about your meeting with the Gu family tomorrow and felt something was improper somewhere. With Pei Xiaguang making this fuss, it really makes sense—when our two families discuss marriage, we should properly worship our ancestors and let them know. This is, after all, the Pei family’s residence. How can we worship our own ancestors in the Pei family’s residence? I think Pei Xiaguang did this correctly. We not only shouldn’t receive the Gu family here, we also shouldn’t exchange betrothal gifts at the Pei residence. I think we should buy a residence instead. When A’Zhi leaves to marry, it can also serve as part of her dowry. In the future when we come to Hangzhou, we’ll have a place to stay.”
Yin Hao’s eyes brightened. He clapped his hands and exclaimed “Excellent!” He immediately had someone summon the Fourth Steward and asked him to help buy a residence: “Size doesn’t matter. The location should be good, with convenient access. It’s best if it’s relatively close to your place, so we can look out for each other in the future.”
The Fourth Steward didn’t think much of it. After reporting to Pei Yan, he sent someone to call over a familiar property agent to help the Yin family make arrangements.