Since Yu Tang knew that Fifth Miss couldn’t play in the snow, she naturally had to look after her a bit. However, this left her with little time to play herself. After frolicking with the young ladies all morning, by the time they rested, her undergarments were already soaked through with sweat.

In such weather, in such a state, it was very easy to catch a chill.

Yu Tang decided to return to her own room first to change clothes.

However, Second Madam instructed her, “It’s fine, don’t rush. Go back and take a bath, dry your hair thoroughly before coming over—we’ll wait for you all to have lunch together.”

With her body all sticky, being able to take a bath would be even better.

Yu Tang took her leave from Second Madam, but halfway back she encountered Nanny Ji.

“Miss Yu!” Nanny Ji came forward with a beaming smile, performed a courtesy, and said, “The gatehouse reported that your family sent a letter. Just now I specially went to the gatehouse to fetch the letter and was preparing to deliver it to you!”

Yu Tang was greatly startled.

Could something have happened at home?

She thanked Nanny Ji, but her heart couldn’t help churning with wild thoughts.

Mother’s medicine hadn’t been interrupted, her health was getting better and better—she hadn’t fallen ill last year, and this year they were taking care of her as meticulously as in previous years, so there shouldn’t be any changes, right? As for Elder Sister-in-law’s side, First Aunt and First Elder Cousin treated her like a treasure in their palms, the whole family revolved around her, and Elder Sister-in-law’s constitution was very healthy too—there shouldn’t be anything wrong there either… Why on earth would the family write to her?

She hastily took her leave from Nanny Ji and hurried back to her lodgings in quick strides, impatiently opening the letter.

After just one glance, she relaxed.

It turned out that Young Master Zhang had sent over ten paintings, and her First Elder Cousin couldn’t make up his mind, so he forwarded the paintings to her, asking her to make a decision.

Yu Tang carefully examined Young Master Zhang’s paintings. Truly worthy of a scholar’s aesthetic—though executed with just a few brushstrokes, they captured both form and spirit, elegant and full of life.

She immediately wrote back to her First Elder Cousin, telling him to pay according to the previously agreed price, and added, “Even if the merchants who placed orders don’t fancy them, they can still be kept for other purposes.”

At her command, Shuang Tao requested a servant boy from the gatehouse to help deliver the letter, while Yu Tang was attended by Liu Xu as she took a bath.

Before long, Shuang Tao returned.

Her wooden clogs were piled with snow.

It appeared the snow was falling even heavier.

Yu Tang asked, “Was the letter sent out?”

While removing her wooden clogs, Shuang Tao said with a smile, “It was sent out. I also gave that servant boy twenty wen.”

Yu Tang nodded with a smile and opened her jewelry box to select appropriate accessories to wear.

Shuang Tao came over to help, chatting with her as she did, “On my way back, I ran into a servant woman from Madam Shen’s side. She was also going to deliver a letter, but only rewarded that servant boy ten wen. I originally thought to wait for her so we could return together, but seeing her like that, it didn’t feel right to say much to her.”

Yu Tang’s hand paused in selecting jewelry as she said, “Madam Shen also had someone deliver a letter? Do you know who it was sent to?”

While helping her insert the selected silk flowers into her hair bun, Shuang Tao said, “It seemed to be sent to Hangzhou City. I heard that servant boy ask the servant woman from Madam Shen’s side that if the letter was delivered through the Pei family, they could only send it first to Chief Steward Tong, who would take it to Hangzhou City when he went there. But if it was delivered through official channels, they would help her take the letter to the postal station and give her a receipt. Madam Shen was apparently rather anxious and had them help deliver it to the postal station.” After finishing, she complained somewhat, “With such heavy snow falling, and the postal station so far away, yet the servant woman from Madam Shen’s side only rewarded that servant boy ten wen…”

Yu Tang listened with displeasure and said, “Each family’s circumstances are different. Perhaps the twenty wen we gave seems very little in those servant boys’ eyes too. Moreover, we’re currently at the Pei family’s—you must be careful with your words!”

Shuang Tao responded with a red face, and after Yu Tang finished getting ready, they went to Old Madam An’s place.

Fourth Miss, Third Miss, and Fifth Miss had all arrived. They too had bathed and changed clothes, and were sitting gathered around Old Madam An, talking.

Seeing Yu Tang arrive, everyone rose to exchange greetings.

Gu Xi and Second Miss also came over together.

Both had also freshly bathed and groomed.

Everyone inevitably exchanged more laughter and conversation.

Old Madam An then cheerfully instructed Nanny Chen, “Since everyone has arrived, serve the meal!”

Nanny Chen complied.

Gu Xi then stepped forward to support Old Madam An.

Old Madam An smiled and patted Gu Xi’s hand, and supported by her with Yu Tang and the others clustering around, they went to the dining hall.

Perhaps because of the cold weather, today’s meal included an additional dish of clear mutton soup.

Not only did that mutton have not a trace of gamey smell, but the broth was unexpectedly rich and mellow.

Yu Tang drank two bowls in succession, and with her body feeling warm all over, only then did she put down her chopsticks.

Fourth Miss then proposed that everyone go to the warm pavilion in the afternoon.

Old Madam An laughed heartily and instructed Nanny Ji, “Go tell Second Madam not to be busy this afternoon—have her accompany them.”

Nanny Ji smiled and agreed.

Everyone was very happy and invited Old Madam An in a chorus of voices to go with them in the afternoon.

Old Madam An smiled affectionately and said, “My old arms and legs can’t endure such commotion from you all. Just spare me and let me rest well at home.”

The younger generation couldn’t help feeling somewhat disappointed.

Seeing this, Old Madam An felt reluctant and said, “All right then. Everyone go back and take an afternoon nap, and I’ll come see you all in the afternoon.”

Everyone became happy again and, fearing they would delay Old Madam An’s afternoon rest, all stood up to take their leave.

Old Madam An had Nanny Chen see them out.

Both Yu Tang and Gu Xi were staying behind Old Madam An’s main residence and had to pass through an alley, while the Pei family’s young ladies stayed to the east of Old Madam An’s main residence. After leaving Old Madam An’s main residence, the two groups split up—Yu Tang and Gu Xi going one way, the Pei family’s young ladies another. But upon leaving Old Madam An’s main residence, Second Miss invited Gu Xi, “Elder Sister, would you like to come sit at my place?”

Gu Xi showed a regretful expression and said, “I still need to go back and check on Madam Shen. How about Second Miss comes to sit at my room instead? I heard earlier from your manor’s young maids that there’s a large plum grove on the back mountain. I was thinking about whether to pick some plum blossoms to make fragrance when it snowed. I didn’t expect it to start snowing last night. I’m also planning to invite the younger sisters and Miss Yu to go admire the plum blossoms together!”

The Pei family’s young ladies all brightened up upon hearing this. Fourth Miss even said enthusiastically, “Elder Sister Gu, I want to go. Don’t forget to call me when you go pick plum blossoms.”

Fifth Miss also clamored, “I want to go too, I want to go too.”

Gu Xi smiled with pressed lips and said, “I don’t even know yet if the manor’s plum blossoms can be picked. If they can be picked, I’ll definitely bring you all along.”

Even Third Miss, rarely, showed interest and said, “They should be able to be picked. We’ll ask Second Aunt about it later.”

Fourth Miss nodded repeatedly, and Fifth Miss volunteered to go ask her mother.

Everyone laughingly settled this matter, then dispersed.

Yu Tang saw Second Miss and Gu Xi walking shoulder to shoulder, speaking in whispers, and knew that Gu Xi was trying to break through the Pei family members one by one, making them develop favorable impressions of her. She had no intention of getting involved, so she slowed her pace and gradually fell behind them.

Who would have known that upon exiting the alley, they would encounter head-on a servant boy who had just begun growing his hair. Upon seeing her, he bowed to Yu Tang and even asked, “Are you Miss Yu?”

Yu Tang replied “yes” in surprise.

The servant boy then smiled, “Third Master came up the mountain and, knowing that Miss Yu wanted to send a letter, had the gatehouse hand the letter to Chief Steward Hu, having Chief Steward Hu personally deliver it to your home. Chief Steward Hu was afraid you’d worry, so he specially sent me to inform you.”

Yu Tang felt inexplicably both surprised and delighted, saying, “Third Master came over?”

“Yes.” The servant boy said, “He just came up the mountain and is staying at Xi Garden on the west side. He should be going to pay his respects to Old Madam An shortly.”

According to the Pei family’s rules, he shouldn’t reveal Third Master Pei’s whereabouts, but Third Master Pei had Chief Steward Hu help Yu Tang deliver her letter as soon as he arrived on the mountain, and Chief Steward Hu had specially sent him to inform Miss Yu—no matter how he looked at it, it made him feel that Yu Tang was an honored guest of the Pei Manor. He felt he should also curry favor with Miss Yu like Chief Steward Hu.

Yu Tang smiled and rewarded him with a handful of copper coins before continuing forward with Shuang Tao. But when she lifted her head, she saw Gu Xi and Second Miss both standing motionless ahead, staring fixedly at her.

Not understanding, she touched her face and asked curiously, “What’s wrong? Is there something the matter?”

Second Miss was frowning and about to say something when Gu Xi stopped her.

“It’s nothing!” Gu Xi said with a smile. “We were just walking and suddenly realized you weren’t there, so we waited here for you.”

Upon hearing this, Second Miss called out in surprise, “Elder Sister Gu!”

But Gu Xi pulled Second Miss and said to Yu Tang with a smile, “What time are you planning to go out later? We’ll call you then, shall we? We can go to the warm pavilion together.” She changed the subject.

Yu Tang understood Gu Xi all too well.

She thought too much, had many concerns, and even speaking required several turns before listeners could figure out her true meaning after thinking it over repeatedly.

In the past, they were sisters-in-law who saw each other constantly—there was no choice. Now that they each went their separate ways, she couldn’t be bothered guessing at Gu Xi’s intentions. As long as Gu Xi didn’t ask her directly, she would pretend not to know and let Gu Xi ponder it privately by herself.

Thinking of this, Yu Tang couldn’t help but imagine Gu Xi pacing around her room in circles with an anxious face. The corners of her mouth curved upward and she smiled.

“Sure!” She looked at Gu Xi. “I’ll wait for you all to come call me, and we can go to the warm pavilion together.”

“Then it’s settled!” Gu Xi said, pulling Second Miss away.

Yu Tang smiled and also returned to her room with Shuang Tao.

But Second Miss wasn’t as composed as Gu Xi.

As soon as Yu Tang’s figure left their sight, Second Miss impatiently said to Gu Xi, “Elder Sister Gu, why didn’t you let me ask her? How could she have gained Chief Steward Hu’s favor? Even if Scholar Yu is on good terms with Chief Steward Hu, she lives in the inner quarters of a great household—what matter would require Chief Steward Hu to intercede for her? What exactly is she trying to do?”

They hadn’t heard very clearly what that servant boy said, which made them all the more puzzled.

Gu Xi’s eyes lowered as she thought of Yu Tang’s family background and said softly, “I wonder how Miss Yu gained Old Madam An’s favor? Logically speaking, the Yu family has no connection with your manor—how could she so easily get before Old Madam An?”

Second Miss was startled and thought carefully, but the more she thought, the more she felt Gu Xi’s words made sense.

She said hesitantly, “I think I heard that her silk flowers are well-made… But no matter how skilled she is, could she be better than the embroidery women in our household?” At this point, she said in astonishment, “Elder Sister Gu, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have noticed—Miss Yu seems to have suddenly appeared out of nowhere!”