Before Yu Tang could go visit Pei Yan, someone from the Pei household came to visit Yu Tang first.

The visitor was Third Steward Hu Xing.

He was extremely cordial, sitting in the Yu family’s hall and speaking with animated gestures to Yu Wen and Chen Shi: “…Our Old Lady is no ordinary inner chamber woman. The year Master Yi fell ill, all the affairs of their household were arranged and managed by our Old Lady. Moreover, since Old Master passed away, our Old Lady has closed her doors to guests. Even when the maternal aunt of the First Madam’s family came over, our Old Lady only met with her once. Yet now she says she wants to invite your young miss into the household to sit for a while. This is a favor that countless people beg for but cannot obtain. You must instruct Miss Yu to dress up nicely. Our Old Lady loves pretty young ladies the most!”

Yu Wen was very surprised.

Chen Shi was so delighted she didn’t know what to say.

To this day, Yu Tang’s marriage still had no resolution. As Lin’an city’s most distinguished family, if Yu Tang could gain Old Lady Pei’s favor, her reputation would surely spread far and wide, which would be very beneficial for her marriage prospects.

“Many thanks to Steward Hu.” Because Hu Xing often brought Imperial Physician Yang to examine her, Chen Shi was quite familiar with him, and when speaking with him, she didn’t have the usual constraint of ordinary households. “We certainly won’t disappoint Steward Hu’s generous affection. Please sit for a while. I’ll have someone prepare a feast so our master can have a few drinks with you.”

Chen Shi signaled Chen Pozi to prepare some gifts to give to Hu Xing later.

Hu Xing waved his hands repeatedly, saying: “We’re not outsiders. Mrs. Yu needn’t be so polite with me. I’m here on the Old Lady’s orders, and was just preparing to make a trip to see Head Steward Tong when I ran into a steward at the gate who was about to deliver a message to your household. I volunteered myself and came over. I still have matters to attend to. Once I’ve finished this busy period, I’ll find an opportunity to come specifically to visit Master Yu.”

He was thinking that if Miss Yu gained the Old Lady’s favor on this visit to the household, the Yu family and Pei family would begin associating regularly. At that time, no matter what, he would have to come seek some good fortune, and his relationship with the Yu family would need to become even closer.

Yu Wen listened and said with a smile: “From Steward Hu’s tone, are you now serving before the Old Lady?”

Hu Xing smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits: “You truly have sharp eyes. Just a few days ago, I helped the Old Lady handle several matters, and the Old Lady thought I did well enough, so she had me serve specifically before her. Doesn’t Head Steward Tong manage the pawnshops in Lin’an city? In a few days it will be Old Lady Song’s birthday celebration. The Old Lady asked me to go see if he has any rare treasures there, planning to select a couple to send over.”

Yu Wen couldn’t very well keep him and personally saw him out.

Chen Shi immediately began preparing joyfully, rushing to Yu Tang’s quarters to explain Hu Xing’s purpose, pulling her along to go to the jewelry shop: “We need to see if there are any new-style jewelry pieces to buy, and we need to buy a few outfits too. I’ve heard that the Qian family has also been officials for generations and is one of Jiangnan’s four great families. If Old Master Pei hadn’t been truly handsome, the Qian family elders wouldn’t have taken a fancy to him. Back then, the Old Lady married down.”

Yu Tang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

In her previous life, when she first began interacting with the Li family’s various relatives, she had also been very nervous. Later she discovered that sometimes the more you maintained an ordinary mindset, the easier it was to blend into your surroundings.

However, Pei Yan was someone who placed such importance on appearance. This was her first time formally visiting the Pei household to pay respects to the female members of the family, so she did need to dress up properly. This was also a sign of respect for Old Lady Pei. But on the morning she was to go to the Pei household, it suddenly began to rain and the weather was somewhat gloomy. She specifically chose a silver-red jacket with persimmon calyx patterns and tender yellow border trim, a white standing-collar inner garment fastened with lotus seed-sized pearl buttons, which perfectly complemented the pair of pearl earrings hanging from her ears. On her head she wore a pair of tender yellow twin lotus flowers. The dressed-up Yu Tang appeared even more graceful and elegant, her skin like snow, making even the dim hall brighten.

Chen Pozi kept praising: “Our young miss just needs to dress up nicely. Look at this—once dressed up, she truly looks like a celestial maiden descended to earth.”

Chen Shi smiled with pursed lips, clearly in full agreement with Chen Pozi’s assessment.

Yu Tang looked at her powdered self in the mirror, momentarily dazed.

In her previous life, she had never dressed up like this, nor had she had the opportunity to look carefully in a mirror like this. She hadn’t expected she was actually quite pretty. No wonder in her previous life, after Gu Xi learned that Li Duan harbored improper intentions toward her, every time he looked at her, besides hatred, there was also some jealousy in his eyes.

But loving beauty was a woman’s nature.

She dressed up beautifully, and even she herself was delighted to see it, let alone others.

Yu Tang sat before the dressing mirror and watched her mother apply rose-colored lip rouge on her, feeling her face appeared even more fair and clean.

She lifted her head and smiled at her mother.

Chen Shi lovingly stroked her head and said gently: “The sedan chair is already prepared. Remember to be cautious in your words and actions when you enter. If the Old Lady bestows anything upon you, just accept it graciously. At most, we’ll return the courtesy later. If she asks you questions, just answer truthfully—one is one, two is two. It’s better to let people think you’re honest and easily bullied than to be glib and frivolous, appearing disrespectful. Do you understand?”

Yu Tang nodded repeatedly, moisture appearing in her eyes.

In her previous life, her mother hadn’t lived long enough to teach her these things.

In this life, with her mother and father and brothers protecting her, she would surely proceed smoothly.

She hugged her mother’s waist, afraid of smearing powder on her mother’s clothes. She didn’t dare bury her head in her mother’s embrace, only leaning gently against her mother’s side.

Chen Shi then instructed Shuang Tao: “The bundle contains the young miss’s change of clothes and jewelry. You must watch it carefully. Don’t let it happen that when the young miss needs to change clothes, you’re not even prepared, making the Pei family laugh at us. Speak less, listen and observe more. Since you’re following the young miss into the Pei household, you are the young miss’s face, and also the Yu family’s face. If you do something wrong, people will speak of the Yu family, not of you, Shuang Tao.”

“I know!” Shuang Tao was practically ready to swear an oath. With a tense face, she said: “I definitely won’t let the Pei family look down on us.”

Yu Tang said: “Don’t be nervous. Just be at the Pei household as you usually are. Treating people sincerely is the best approach.”

Shuang Tao acknowledged this, but still didn’t relax at all, and was actually more nervous than before.

Yu Tang couldn’t help but laugh. Escorted by A’Tiao and bringing Shuang Tao along, she went to the Pei household.

Because she was going to pay respects to Old Lady Pei, the sedan chair traveled all the way to the hanging flower gate before stopping.

The person who came to receive her was actually an acquaintance—Nanny Ji, who had received her when she came to pay respects to Old Master Pei.

Nanny Ji and Head Steward Tong were even in-laws through their children.

Yu Tang felt even more warmth seeing her.

She sweetly called out “Nanny Ji.”

Nanny Ji had been standing solemnly, but when she saw her, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. Upon hearing Yu Tang call her, she couldn’t help but reveal a smile and said in a low voice: “Miss Yu, please follow me.”

“Yes!” Yu Tang responded, and couldn’t help asking softly: “Nanny Ji, are you now serving in the Old Lady’s quarters?”

Nanny Ji nodded and said: “After Old Master passed away, the Old Lady released some people. My family has served in the Pei household for several generations, so we would certainly remain in the Pei household. The Old Lady made me a matron steward in her quarters.”

That meant that because she served the Old Lady, even the young masters of the Pei family had to treat her respectfully.

“Oh my! Congratulations!” Yu Tang was happy for her.

Nanny Ji smiled at her, thinking that this young miss of the Yu family truly had a good temperament. Not only was she harmonious in speech and conduct, but she was always smiling, making people happy just to see her. She was much better-natured than the several young misses in the household.

No wonder Third Master intentionally or unintentionally kept mentioning this Miss Yu before the Old Lady, and had them, the attendants by her side, encourage the Old Lady to invite Miss Yu to the household to visit.

The Old Lady would surely like her upon seeing her.

Having a familiar person along and quietly chatting, Yu Tang felt that the quarter-hour journey passed in the blink of an eye.

They stopped before a large five-bay-wide house. Standing before the black lacquered latticed windows covered with white silk gauze, they waited while a young maid lifted the white brocade curtain and went in to announce them.

Soon a plump woman in a camphor-colored vest came out smiling to receive her: “You must be Miss Yu? I’m Nanny Chen from the Old Lady’s quarters. The Old Lady has been waiting for you. Please follow me inside.”

Yu Tang saw that the woman wore a lotus-stem-thick gold bracelet on her hand and guessed she was likely a woman of standing in the Old Lady’s quarters. She smiled and thanked her, following her into the room.

Though it hadn’t yet reached the depths of winter, a heated kang had already been lit in the Old Lady’s quarters. A wave of hot air rushed toward her, and Yu Tang’s forehead immediately broke out in sweat.

Nanny Ji hurriedly reminded her: “Give me your cloak. Just ask me for it when you leave.”

Yu Tang quickly removed her cloak and followed Nanny Chen into the eastern secondary chamber.

The eastern secondary chamber and the end chamber had been opened up to create a two-room open hall. Multi-treasure shelves against all the walls were filled with books. In the center was a luohan bed spread with a crimson seat cushion. To the left of the luohan bed was a large blue and white porcelain vat containing water lilies and koi. Standing before the vat was a woman in a plain blue Hangzhou silk jacket, tall and slender with jet-black hair. Her frost-defying, snow-rivaling hands held a small sweet white porcelain bowl, and she was feeding the fish in the vat.

Several maids stood with lowered brows and eyes, silent as statues in the corners. Yu Tang hadn’t even noticed them when she entered.

“The young miss from the Yu family has arrived!” The woman who heard the movement turned around.

Yu Tang was greatly startled.

That woman bore five or six parts resemblance to Pei Yan. Her eyes were bright and piercing, brilliant to the point of being sharp. When she looked at someone, it was as if she could see through to their internal organs, making one feel completely exposed and trembling before her.

This was Old Lady Pei?!

Yu Tang’s mouth opened slightly, her expression appearing somewhat foolish.

With this imposing presence, although there were fine lines at the corners of her eyes and forehead, she looked at most around forty years old. She didn’t at all seem like someone who had a son as old as First Master Pei, let alone look like a widowed old lady.

How did she manage this?!

Yu Tang felt that even when she herself had been a widow waiting at the gate in her previous life, she hadn’t lived as spirited and clearheaded as Old Lady Pei.

Old Lady Pei smiled.

This girl was indeed quite interesting.

No wonder her son had schemed in various ways to call this young lady into the household to keep her company.

The maids around her appeared cheerful enough, but who knew when that cheerfulness was genuine and when it was fake. The several young maids in the household were pretty and spoke cleverly, but they were just too good at reading expressions. They wanted to flatter her yet maintained their dignified status. They weren’t as refreshing as this girl seemed.

The Old Lady handed the small bowl in her hand to the young maid serving beside her, accepted the hot cloth Nanny Chen passed to her and wiped her hands, then said: “Sit down and let’s talk!”