The one who came to deliver the letter to Yu Tang was A’Tiao.

Seeing Yu Tang, he hurriedly came forward, cupped his hands in salute, and said, “Miss, the young master sent me. He said he’s received your letter and will do as you instructed. He also said everything at home is fine—you shouldn’t worry. That business deal has also been concluded. When you return, we’ll celebrate properly.” After speaking, he pulled out a letter from his pocket.

Yu Tang nodded with a smile, opened the letter, and immediately began reading.

Besides those few sentences A’Tiao had mentioned, Yu Yuan also highly praised Young Master Zhang’s ten paintings in the letter, saying the merchant was very satisfied and wanted to purchase the paintings at ten taels of silver each. Yu Yuan was writing to her with two purposes in mind. First, he wanted to complete this business deal—that merchant’s family dealt in embroidery goods, and they came to their shop to buy trunks and chests in order to make their shop’s inventory more complete and improve their embroidery business. Therefore, not only was there no conflict between the two businesses, but they could mutually benefit each other. Second, he wanted to consult with her: if they sold the paintings to that merchant family, should they give silver to the Zhang family? How much silver would be appropriate to give Young Master Zhang?

Moreover, since that merchant would be leaving Lin’an to return home in the next few days, and the completed trunks and chests would be delivered by their family, this matter needed to be decided before the merchant left Lin’an. That was why, having just received Yu Tang’s letter, he had immediately sent A’Tiao back with a reply.

Yu Tang folded the letter and contemplated for quite a while before writing a reply to Yu Yuan.

Selling the paintings was acceptable. The silver from selling the paintings could be split evenly with the Zhang family, but they needed to write a contract with that merchant stating that these ten paintings were unique to their Yu family. After the merchant took them, they could only be used in their own shop and must not be resold. If they absolutely had to resell them, they must notify the Yu family in written form and obtain the Yu family’s consent, requiring new payment of silver.

Since it was getting late and returning to Lin’an City would take at least an hour and a half, A’Tiao received the letter and immediately took his leave to return to the Yu family.

On Pei Yan’s side, knowing that besides Yu Tang staying at the villa, there were also Madam Shen and Gu Xi at the villa, with outsiders present, it wouldn’t be proper to go directly to pay respects to Old Madam An. So he first returned to his own courtyard, and after bathing and changing clothes, sent someone to ask when it would be convenient for Old Madam An to see him.

However, before the person he sent out could return with a reply, he heard that someone from the Yu family had come to deliver a letter to Yu Tang.

He couldn’t help feeling surprised.

Yu Tang’s letter had only just been sent back, and her family immediately sent her a reply, unable to wait even a day. Could something have happened at home?

Pei Yan thought of Madam Yu’s illness, then thought of the thirty mu of good farmland from the Li Duan family that the Yu family had purchased…

He called in Hu Xing, who was serving Old Madam An here: “Has something happened with Miss Yu?”

These past days, Hu Xing had been wholeheartedly helping Old Madam An with affairs at the villa. He knew which dishes the young ladies and honored guests ate more or less of each day—he hadn’t heard of anything happening with Miss Yu!

He was momentarily bewildered.

Pei Yan had originally been dissatisfied with his work capabilities. Later, seeing that he had curried favor with Old Madam An, and considering that Old Madam An also needed someone easy to work with, he had turned a blind eye and let him continue occupying the position of chief steward as a sinecure. Now seeing him like this, Pei Yan became even more dissatisfied, and this dissatisfaction showed directly on his face.

He said sternly, “What? You don’t know?”

Just a few days ago, Third Master had beaten to death all the male members over five years old from a hereditary servant family that had served the eldest master’s family for many years, and sold off all the women and children. Everyone in the entire manor was trembling with fear, privately discussing how Third Master was neither as benevolent as the late old master nor as tolerant as Old Madam An—completely unlike a Pei family member. Some even envied Hu Xing for his blessing in disguise, having gone early to serve Old Madam An.

Hearing this, Hu Xing felt secretly fortunate yet also deeply terrified. Now being questioned by Pei Yan like this, he shuddered with a chill, his legs went weak, and he nearly fell to his knees. After quite a while, he was finally able to make a sound, stammering, “Miss Yu gets along very well with the young ladies. She rises and sleeps early, occasionally takes walks around Mingshan Lake, and just now went with the young ladies to admire plum blossoms in the plum grove…” He was nearly in tears. “Truly, truly I haven’t noticed anything wrong with her!” Then, his instinct made him bold enough to add, “Besides, Miss Yu is a sheltered young lady. Even if I wanted to know something, Miss Yu wouldn’t speak to me!”

Pei Yan’s expression softened slightly.

Hu Xing secretly wiped away cold sweat, feeling as if he had narrowly escaped death.

But immediately after, he began reflecting on why he had said he had no way to get close to Miss Yu, reflecting on why Pei Yan’s expression had softened slightly because of these words…

For a moment, he felt he might have learned something extraordinary.

Hu Xing’s gaze toward Pei Yan was now different.

Pei Yan didn’t regard Hu Xing highly, so naturally he wouldn’t notice those subtly changing expressions.

He thought for a moment and said, “Are Miss Yu and the others still admiring plum blossoms in the plum grove?”

Hu Xing hurriedly said, “Yes, they’re even composing poetry.”

At least he could answer a few questions and be of some use!

Pei Yan glanced expressionlessly at Hu Xing and said, “Quietly give Miss Yu a message—have her wait for me near the plum grove for a moment. I have something to ask her.”

See no evil, right?

Why did it have to be him delivering the message?

Hu Xing felt bitter inside but didn’t dare show it in the slightest. Not only did he have to respectfully lower his head in agreement, he also had to put on an appearance of being overjoyed at this chance to make amends, saying loudly, “I’ll go right now!”

Pei Yan snorted coldly.

When Yu Tang received the message, she didn’t think much of it. After whispering a few words to Old Madam An, she found an excuse to leave the warm pavilion.

Fifth Miss had just finished composing a six-character quatrain and couldn’t help saying, “Where is Elder Sister Yu going?”

Everyone was composing poetry together. Gu Xi was the first to finish, Third Miss ranked second, Yu Tang was third, Second Miss and Fifth Miss followed close behind, and Fourth Miss was still bent over writing her poem.

Everyone was planning to wait until they had all finished before presenting them together to Old Madam An, Madam Shen, and Second Madam for evaluation.

Old Madam An didn’t think much of it either.

Since Yu Tang already knew about the suspicious circumstances of the Li family selling their land, Pei Yan certainly knew as well.

She guessed that Pei Yan was probably looking for Yu Tang to ask about this matter.

It was just that this matter wasn’t suitable for these young girls to know, so the old lady played it vague, saying with a smile, “Everyone has their matters. Child, when you should play dumb, you must pretend not to know. When you should ask, speak directly. You still need more practice before you can be sent out the door.” After speaking, she even glanced at Second Madam.

Second Madam laughed heartily and responded, “Rest assured, I’ll teach her well.”

Old Madam An made a sound of agreement, and the matter was thus glossed over.

But Gu Xi’s mind went through a thousand turns.

The servant boy from the Yu family coming to find Yu Tang clearly meant something had happened, yet when Yu Tang returned, she only said someone from home came to ask about shop matters, blocking even what Old Madam An wanted to know. Now she was brazenly leaving the poetry gathering—no matter how she thought about it, things weren’t simple.

And He Xiang’s thoughts were even more complex than Gu Xi’s.

She found an opportunity to lean close to Gu Xi’s ear and whisper, “Miss, Third Master has come up the mountain.”

Gu Xi raised an eyebrow.

He Xiang knew she wanted to hear more details, so she quickly said, “I just discovered it while inquiring about Miss Yu’s affairs. Third Master hasn’t yet come to pay respects to Old Madam An. I heard he’ll come after the evening meal.”

So what was Yu Tang going to do?

Gu Xi felt vaguely uneasy.

Second Miss still hadn’t investigated how Yu Tang had suddenly appeared.

She gave He Xiang a meaningful look.

He Xiang understood and quietly left the warm pavilion.

Before long, Fourth Miss also finished her poem.

Second Miss teased Fourth Miss, “We’ve all been waiting for you!”

Fourth Miss said with dissatisfaction, pouting, “Didn’t I say I wanted to roast meat? You all were the ones who wanted to compose poetry. I had no preparation at all.”

“How would you prepare?” Third Miss rarely joked with Fourth Miss. “Come beforehand and familiarize yourself with Bai and Li?”

Bai referred to Bai Juyi, Li referred to Li Bai.

Fourth Miss retorted guiltily, “Wouldn’t that work?”

Everyone laughed.

Old Madam An said, “Then let’s look at Fourth Girl’s poem first.”

Fourth Miss had the little maid attending her timidly pass over the poem.

But Gu Xi said, “Aren’t we waiting for Miss Yu?”

Old Madam An smiled and said, “It’s getting late. Don’t you all still want to eat roasted meat later? We won’t wait for her.”

Gu Xi smiled with pressed lips and stepped forward to view the poem Fourth Miss had composed, but half her mind was paying attention to when He Xiang would return.

It was only about the time it takes to burn an incense stick when He Xiang once again appeared silently at the warm pavilion.

This time He Xiang didn’t need to find an opportunity—Gu Xi directly said she needed to visit the privy and brought He Xiang to pause in the deserted plum grove.

He Xiang’s expression was somewhat grave.

She said, “Miss, that Miss Yu doesn’t have some matter—she went to meet Third Master!”

Gu Xi was astonished, yet inexplicably felt a settling certainty in her heart.

She said in a low voice, “What exactly is going on?”

“I don’t know the specifics either.” He Xiang said quietly, “After leaving the warm pavilion, I slowly searched in the direction Miss Yu went and discovered that path led to a pavilion beside Mingshan Lake. In the pavilion, besides Miss Yu, there was also a young man wearing a white cloak. I wanted to get closer to see, but discovered there were seven or eight guards standing concealed around the pavilion. I was greatly startled and said I was your personal maid, that you had me return to the room to fetch something but I got lost—only then did I escape. Afterward I encountered Chief Steward Hu again. After probing with a few questions, I learned that young man was the Pei family’s Third Master.”

Gu Xi was silent for a long while, then said, “What does that Third Master look like?”

He Xiang’s face reddened as she said in a low voice, “He’s very handsome with an elegant scholarly bearing… Among all the people I’ve seen, only the eldest young master can compare with him.”

Gu Chang was a famous beauty in Hangzhou City.

Gu Xi’s face also felt somewhat hot.

But thinking of Yu Tang, she couldn’t help furrowing her brows tightly.

What was Pei Yan trying to do?

Meeting privately with Miss Yu—did Old Madam An not know? Or did she know but was covering for them?

And in what capacity was Miss Yu appearing before Pei Yan?

All in all, she and her elder brother had been careless, not expecting there would be someone like Miss Yu in Lin’an City.

Should she follow Miss Yu? Or should she find a way to make Miss Yu disappear from the Pei Manor?

For a moment, Gu Xi couldn’t make up her mind.

She said to He Xiang, “See if you can find a way to learn about the relationship between Miss Yu and Third Master Pei. Especially whether Old Madam An knows…”

If Old Madam An knew, then what were the Pei family’s intentions?

That was what she should be paying attention to and concerned about.

Gu Xi let out a long breath.