Having come to this point, there was no use saying more.
Gu Chao said to Gu Xi: “Wait for me a moment. I’ll tell your sister-in-law, and I’ll escort you back to the Pei residence.”
This meant he intended to have a detailed discussion with Pei Yan.
Wouldn’t that mean Yu Tang knew nothing at all?
The Yang family’s intent was to approach through Yu Tang.
Now she had gone to the Yang family in Yu Tang’s place, the Yang family had dumped this matter on her, and she had sought out her own brother in a state of panic. Her brother was now preparing to personally go find Pei Yan to discuss it. Coming and going like this, not only did it have nothing to do with Yu Tang, but she could still lie under the grape arbor with Mrs. Yin as usual, eating fruit and chatting idly, while these outsiders had to run themselves ragged helping her.
How could there be such a good deal!
“Elder Brother!” Gu Xi immediately stopped Gu Chao. “This matter is of great importance. Whether the Pei family has any connection to the Second Prince’s assassination case is only our speculation. If you ask me, this matter should be handled in two steps. I’ll tell Yu Shi about this according to the Yang family’s intent and see what Pei Yan’s reaction will be. As for you, try to find a way to investigate what happened back then. Pei Yan is someone who particularly likes to stir up trouble and has a terrible temper. If it really is connected to him, wouldn’t the Pei family have been implicated because of him? We also need to make some preparations. These past couple of days, chatting idly with several madams, from the implications in their words, if the Emperor truly intends to establish the eldest, what does it matter whether the Second Prince has heirs or not? That’s something for the Second Prince to worry about after he ascends the throne. It’s just that his heart still favors the Third Prince. Although our family doesn’t take sides, we can’t muddle-headedly offend anyone…”
Gu Chao sharply interrupted Gu Xi’s words, saying sternly: “A’Xi, you can say these things in front of me, but you must never say them outside. This matter isn’t as simple as you think. Those madams each have their own intentions in saying such things. You’re the Pei family’s eldest young mistress—don’t let yourself be used and manipulated by others.”
Gu Xi nodded repeatedly, saying: “I understand, Elder Brother. Don’t worry, I won’t be so foolish as to be used by others.”
Seeing her answer so casually, Gu Chao knew she hadn’t taken his words to heart. He could only emphasize again: “Among the external noblewomen who have a place in this capital, there isn’t a single simple character. You’ve just arrived in the capital—you should speak less and observe more. I heard from your sister-in-law that Yu Shi is doing very well. She stays close to the Pei family’s Second Madam, speaking when she should speak and remaining silent when she should be silent. She’s neither ostentatious nor withdrawn, and everyone finds her steady and reliable. You should learn from her.”
Was this how her sister-in-law evaluated Yu Tang?
Thinking of the Jiang family’s enthusiasm toward Yu Tang and Second Madam at the celebration banquet, Gu Xi didn’t think much of it inwardly.
If the Jiang family had treated Yu Tang and Second Madam coldly, would the two have stood in a corner picking at their nails? The reason she had to smile and greet people this way and that—wasn’t it because no one treated her as an honored guest?
What did her brother, who had only known studying since childhood, understand about these struggles among women of the inner quarters? Moreover, these words came from her sister-in-law. If she contradicted them and word got out, she might upset her young sister-in-law.
Gu Xi never did things that would offend people.
She smiled and said: “I promise to listen to Elder Brother just like when I was little.”
When Gu Xi was young and encountered things she didn’t understand, even if she argued with Gu Chao when he told her not to do something, she still wouldn’t do it.
Gu Chao’s mind was set at ease. Smiling, he praised her a few times and kept her at home for the evening meal: “Your sister-in-law should be back soon. Since you’re already here, greet her before you leave.”
Yin Shi definitely wouldn’t return home for the evening meal, which meant Yu Tang and Second Madam wouldn’t return home either.
Gu Xi was quite willing to have dinner with her brother.
The siblings finished their evening meal. It was already lamp-lighting time when Yin Shi returned. After the three talked for a while, Gu Xi got up to take her leave.
Yin Shi helped Gu Chao change his clothes, asking curiously: “Did younger sister-in-law come over because she had some favor to ask?”
Gu Chao didn’t quite like her saying this, so he smiled and said: “Must A’Xi only come when she has a favor to ask? Can’t she just come to see me?”
The daughters of the Yin family weren’t the type to only know how to be stubborn. Otherwise, every single one who married out wouldn’t be able to manage the inner quarters.
Yin Shi immediately laughed coquettishly: “I’m just feeling sorry for you! I’m afraid that since you’ve just arrived at the Hanlin Academy and already have so many matters to deal with, if younger sister-in-law has something, you’ll have to divide your attention to take care of her. I just wanted to help you!”
Seeing her being so humble and submissive, the bit of displeasure in Gu Chao’s heart disappeared. He said gently: “I know you’re virtuous and kind. She really didn’t come for anything this time—she just came to see me. If she does have something, I’ll definitely ask you to help me handle it.”
Yin Shi didn’t believe it. She felt the siblings must have some secret they didn’t want her to know about. Thinking of all the nonsense at the Gu family’s ancestral home, she stopped asking to avoid embarrassing Gu Chao.
The couple extinguished the lamp and settled down to rest.
But Gu Chao lay thinking about Gu Xi’s words, unable to sleep.
As for the Pei family’s matter, was it stirred up by the reckless Pei Yan? Or was it stirred up by the ambitious Pei You?
He was more inclined toward Pei Yan.
Pei You had a nickname in official circles back then called “Little Zhuge.” Based on his abilities, he shouldn’t have been so careless.
Gu Chao didn’t sleep for half the night.
Pei Yan also didn’t sleep for half the night.
He was angry.
When Yu Tang returned from the Qin family, she was blocked at the door by Gu Xi, who told Yu Tang about the Yang family’s matter.
She was greatly startled and hurried to find Pei Yan.
But Pei Yan had been dragged out drinking by Fei Zhiwen. He only returned at midnight, and upon returning, he prepared to do as he pleased, not wanting to hear anything. This angered Yu Tang so much she nearly kicked him out of bed.
Only then did he calm down and listen to what Yu Tang had to say.
Pei Yan immediately flew into a rage and began cursing: “What does the Yang family think they are? Do they really think I don’t dare deal with them? They say the Second Prince’s assassination case is connected to our Pei family—why doesn’t she say that the Emperor not establishing the Second Prince as heir is also my doing? A horse doesn’t know how long its face is! Seeing that my elder brother is dead and they can’t get anything good from the Pei family, they’re unwilling to accept it and want to form another marriage alliance with us. What kind of things does their family raise! Harming one family wasn’t enough—they want to harm another? Even if I agreed, who in the Pei family would be willing to marry into their family? They ruined their own reputation themselves—it’s what they deserve today!”
Yu Tang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
In front of her, Pei Yan wasn’t particular at all—saying whatever he wanted to say, cursing however he wanted to curse, not caring one bit about his status as a two-time imperial examination graduate.
But this kind of Pei Yan, in her eyes, was especially adorable.
It made Yu Tang’s heart feel soft.
She hurried to bring over some honey water for sobering up, coaxing him gently: “Alright, alright, don’t be angry anymore. Didn’t you say we’re porcelain and those people are rubble? It’s not worth getting yourself upset. The Yang family relayed their message to me because they wanted to connect with you. Haven’t you completely ignored the Yang family people this whole time? Aren’t they just desperately jumping over the wall? Why should you bother with them! If worst comes to worst, I’ll relay your exact words to them—say that the main branch and the Yang family have no people of suitable age, and the other branches of the Pei family are all unwilling to form a marriage alliance with the Yang family, feeling there’s nothing worthwhile about it. Let’s anger them to death.”
These words were extremely childish.
But at this moment, having someone who completely believed in him, stood on his side and spoke for him—this feeling was exceptionally good.
Pei Yan’s anger immediately vanished completely. His expression slightly clearing, he accepted the honey water Yu Tang gave him and gulped it down in one go.
Yu Tang put down the bowl, walked over, and leaned on Pei Yan’s shoulder, her voice clear and melodious as she said: “Why don’t you not bother with this matter? I’ll answer the Yang family.”
Pei Yan turned his face sideways, his lips brushing across Yu Tang’s lips.
The soft feeling made his heart tighten. Even his voice became low as he said: “Don’t you want to ask why the Yang family says the Second Prince’s assassination case is connected to our family?”
In her previous life, without her appearance, the Pei family had been fine.
At least, the Pei family had escaped danger.
Yu Tang smiled and said: “You definitely have a way to prove this matter has nothing to do with the Pei family.”
As for whether they did it or not, she felt that wasn’t something she could ask about, because asking about it was already beyond her scope of understanding. Even if she asked, she couldn’t help Pei Yan make a decision.
Pei Yan suddenly became excited.
Having someone willing to step back for you, show forbearance, and trust you at critical moments—this feeling was wonderful!
He pulled Yu Tang from behind him to in front of him, holding her tightly. Lowering his head, he smelled the faint floral fragrance in her hair, thinking that even this scent existed according to his preferences. The person before his eyes—her flesh and blood were his, her heart was also his. She belonged to him completely and would share fortune and misfortune with him, life and death together.
This feeling was too wonderful.
“This matter is indeed connected to our family.” He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then rested his head on her shoulder and said quietly: “Moreover, it’s connected to my eldest brother. Father was afraid of implicating the family, which is why he had me return to the ancestral home to inherit the family business.”
“Ah!” Yu Tang was stunned.
The Pei family was playing such a big game.
Weren’t they afraid of capsizing?
Or beneath the prosperous surface, were there undercurrents surging everywhere?
Pei Yan still had his eyes closed. He softly hummed an acknowledgment against her shoulder.
That breathing sound like a sigh, combined with his devastatingly handsome profile, made Yu Tang completely collapse with no resistance at all. Her mind like mush, she said: “Then, then what should we do?”
“I still don’t know!” Pei Yan sighed. “I quarreled with my eldest brother several times over this matter. He wouldn’t listen, so I wrote to Father, wanting Father to call him back. Because he’s the eldest son of the main branch, if Father wanted him to return home to inherit the family business, unless he wanted to be removed from the Pei family name, he could only drag things out.
“My father isn’t an ordinary person either. He came to the capital in person and smoothed over all the traces.
“But my eldest brother trusted the Yang family extremely—trusted them even more than he trusted me. Whether the Yang family has any leverage we don’t know about, it’s really hard to say right now.”
Pei You was truly harmful to others!
No wonder Old Madam Pei didn’t think well of Pei You’s branch. Now she knew—she also wouldn’t think well of Pei You’s branch.
She frowned and said: “Even if the Yang family has some leverage in hand, the Yang family and us are grasshoppers on the same string, right? If they hand our family over, their family will also fall into misfortune! He definitely doesn’t just want a marriage alliance. Has their family encountered some matter during this time?”
“Yes!” Pei Yan didn’t hide anything from Yu Tang either. “The Sun Gao matter—their family got implicated in it. Both the Yang family’s eldest and second sons might never be employed again.”
This was far too damaging to the Yang family.