Lady Pei blinked her eyes, thinking she had seen wrong, and stared at Yu Tang for several more moments.
Yu Tang had no choice but to shake her head emphatically, indicating that she truly had no intention of taking this spotlight.
Lady Pei raised her eyebrows.
As a woman, once one gained a good reputation, one could accomplish many things. One could even transcend one’s birth status and marry into a wealthy and powerful family.
Did Yu Tang not understand this? Or did she truly view things with such calm detachment and indifference, preferring a stable life?
This was not the time for discussion. Moreover, if Yu Tang changed her mind, there would still be time and opportunity to remedy the situation. Lady Pei did not insist and turned to discuss with the abbess of Ku’an Temple the matter of making and selling Buddhist incense: “…The children’s thinking is simple. They always assume that since you make Buddhist incense, you would naturally sell it using the temple’s name. But in reality, there are quite a few people who worship Buddha at home. If the incense smells good, it can also be sold in various incense and candle shops. This might actually be more beneficial for you. After all, Ku’an Temple’s reputation is not large enough, and you are a nunnery—having too many people coming and going would not be good. I’ve called you here to see how we can help you. Should we provide the materials and you only help with making the incense? Or should we give you the incense formula and lend you a sum of money so you can make and sell the incense yourselves?”
Having probably conducted too many unprofitable businesses, the abbess answered without hesitation: “Naturally, it would be best if your honored household provides the materials and we help make the Buddhist incense. As for conducting business and such, we don’t understand it at all. Moreover, as you said, we are after all a nunnery and cannot compare to temples like Zhaoming Temple. If people come and go and some incident occurs, our twenty years of reputation would be completely ruined.”
Lady Pei clearly hoped for this kind of cooperation as well. She nodded slightly and said, “Then we’ll tentatively settle on this arrangement. As for the specifics, after I return to the villa and consult with the household stewards and have a concrete plan, we’ll discuss further.”
The abbess of Ku’an Temple naturally agreed repeatedly.
Yu Tang, however, sighed inwardly. Lady Pei was indeed worthy of being the clan wife who had managed the Pei household’s domestic affairs—she had immediately thought of such a plan, which was far better than what she herself had previously conceived.
Just as everyone had roughly discussed the matter, a steward came over to ask when they could depart and return to the villa. The abbess of Ku’an Temple naturally dared not delay the itinerary of the Pei household’s womenfolk. She quickly rose and arranged a time with the two Ladies: “In a couple of days, I’ll visit the villa again to pay my respects to the two Ladies.”
Lady Yi deferred to Lady Pei’s lead. After a moment’s consideration, Lady Pei said, “I think this matter should wait until after the New Year! It’s too busy before the New Year.”
Yu Tang estimated that they were probably arranging Second Miss’s betrothal before the New Year.
She looked toward Second Miss, who was indeed hiding behind Lady Yi without speaking.
Yu Tang smiled with pursed lips, thinking that she should prepare a gift in advance to give to Second Miss when the time came.
Lacquerware would be best.
And it should be lacquerware made by their own family.
She recalled the several paintings that Young Master Zhang had sent over.
She wondered if any were suitable for making a small box, which would be perfect for Second Miss to store jewelry or documents.
After Lady Pei had spoken, the Pei household’s servants immediately sprang into action. In less than a quarter of an hour, everyone’s belongings were packed, and they separately rode in mule carts back to the Pei family villa located halfway up the mountain.
After traveling all day, the two Ladies retired as soon as they returned to the villa, eating only a little porridge hastily for the evening meal. The younger generation, however, were full of energy. They dined with Second Madam, and everyone sat together talking for a long time before dispersing.
Gu Xi had been very quiet the entire time.
After returning to her quarters and washing up with no one else present, Hexiang brought a cup of warm water to Gu Xi, who sat before her dressing table, and asked softly, “Miss, what’s wrong with you?”
Gu Xi didn’t make a sound for a long while.
She couldn’t quite see through Yu Tang now.
Helping Ku’an Temple with charitable work—such great merit, yet Yu Tang neither fought nor competed for it, and even actively declined. And Lady Pei? She simply took the credit as a matter of course. Could it be that she had been mistaken all along? Was Lady Pei someone who disliked the household’s womenfolk seeking the spotlight? Had Yu Tang discerned Lady Pei’s mindset and prescribed the right medicine, which was how she had established herself in the Pei household?
But no matter what, she had already been rejected by Pei Yan. The Pei and Gu families had no destiny for a marriage alliance.
At this thought, Gu Xi’s chest felt as if a large stone was pressing on it, making it hard to breathe.
Pei Yan! Pei Xiaguang!
Just you wait…
A gentleman’s revenge is never too late, even after ten years.
Someday, you’ll fall into my hands.
When that time comes, I’ll see how I deal with you!
Never before had Gu Xi felt such desire for power and wealth as she did at this moment.
Her right hand clenched tightly into a fist and slammed down on the table with a bang.
Hexiang was badly startled and urgently called out, “Miss!”
“I’m fine!” Gu Xi said coldly, the anger in her chest gradually subsiding with that slam.
She instructed Hexiang, “Prepare yourself. We’ll return to the manor in the next two or three days.”
Hexiang responded anxiously, “But we haven’t received Eldest Young Master’s reply yet!”
Would they have to station someone at the Pei household?
Gu Xi’s hand clenched even tighter.
She hadn’t anticipated that Pei Yan would speak and act so decisively, showing no consideration at all, which was why she had written to Gu Chang. Now it seemed that even if her elder brother received the letter, it wouldn’t change anything, and would completely expose the Gu family’s intentions.
At this thought, Gu Xi’s heart stirred.
Everything has its good and bad sides.
Perhaps if her elder brother explicitly expressed interest in a marriage alliance with the Pei household in his letter, it would make Pei Yan reconsider the matter?
When she personally went to find Pei Yan, it was after all improper etiquette, so Pei Yan’s refusal was the conduct of an upright gentleman.
Pei Yan’s face—flawless no matter how one looked at it—floated into Gu Xi’s mind, and her heart immediately melted like water. She selectively cast Yu Tang to the back of her mind, pushed Pei Yan’s cold words to her into the recesses of her thoughts. She even wondered, if she really married Pei Yan, would he still speak to her with such cold words? Perhaps she could even bring up this incident as a joke, letting Pei Yan know how much she admired him in her heart, thereby firmly grasping this husband in her hands…
“Then we’ll wait until we receive Elder Brother’s letter before we leave,” she decided. “However, we should slowly start organizing our things. If there are no unexpected incidents, Elder Brother’s letter should arrive soon.”
Hexiang acknowledged the order and withdrew to direct the junior maids. Gu Xi soon extinguished the lamp and went to sleep, but early the next morning she learned from a Pei household maid assigned to serve her that the two Ladies had summoned Yu Tang to the main courtyard for a conversation first thing in the morning.
Gu Xi frowned, half teasing and half mocking the Pei household maid Liuye who was attending her: “You certainly are well-informed. The moment there’s any activity on the Ladies’ side, you all know everything.”
But Liuye was honest by nature and didn’t catch Gu Xi’s implication at all. She answered naively, “We all serve in the Ladies’ quarters! If the Ladies didn’t want us to know, Nanny Chen and Nanny Ji would certainly have ways to keep us from knowing. But what we can know, we’re certainly allowed to speak of! Besides, I heard from Sister Liuxu, who serves in Miss Yu’s quarters, that Miss Yu is a very kind person. I’m sure she wouldn’t take such small matters to heart either.”
Were these small matters?
She really didn’t know whether it was because the Ladies were too old to want to manage affairs anymore, or because Second Madam lacked the ability to handle these matters properly.
In the Gu household, such loose talk was unthinkable.
Gu Xi suddenly thought of First Madam.
She had already conversed with First Madam several times. Should she continue maintaining this relationship? Or should she bid First Madam farewell before leaving, considering they had become acquainted?
Gu Xi couldn’t quite make up her mind, so she temporarily set the matter aside. After dressing and grooming, she went to Lady Pei’s quarters.
Lady Pei was speaking with Yu Tang: “…The matter of Ku’an Temple would greatly benefit your reputation. I don’t know what you young girls are thinking, to actually decline like this. However, you are still young after all, and the matter of Ku’an Temple cannot be settled in just a day or two. I think you should go back and discuss it with your mother, then give me your answer.”
Yu Tang smiled and thanked Lady Pei, but still firmly refused to take credit for the Ku’an Temple matter: “A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. We are from a small, modest household. Living peacefully and steadily is most important. We shouldn’t give up what we deserve, but we shouldn’t covet what we cannot grasp—that is the proper conduct of a person. Moreover, though the idea of making incense is good, if it weren’t backed by the Pei household, I wouldn’t dare to think this way. For you to say such things would be giving me too much credit.”
Lady Pei listened and couldn’t help but exchange a glance with Lady Yi. She then showed great interest, leaning forward slightly, raising her long eyebrows and saying “Oh?” before continuing, “Your words are quite fresh—this is the first time I’ve heard such a thing. Tell me then, what do you consider something you deserve? And what do you consider something you cannot covet?”
Yu Tang naturally couldn’t say that having lived two lives, she felt that no amount of fame or fortune was as good as having her family safely together. Nor could she say that the Pei household had power and influence, and if they supported Ku’an Temple’s incense sales, no one would dare cause difficulties, making things a hundred or thousand times more convenient than for others. Fortunately, her mind was quick, and she soon formulated her response: “If it weren’t for the Pei household, even if I wanted to help the nuns of Ku’an Temple, I could only send a few old cotton jackets in winter and a few old summer mats in summer. Though these would also be charitable acts, they would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. But with the support of the two Ladies, I dare to suggest that Ku’an Temple make incense. Even if the costs are somewhat high at the beginning, if this matter succeeds, it would be something that could benefit the entire Ku’an Temple and even future women who seek refuge there. If by chance it doesn’t succeed, all that’s spent would merely be from the two Ladies’ personal funds…” At this point, she smiled with pursed lips before continuing, “I can do this because I have a large tree behind me for shade. Otherwise, how would I dare to suggest ideas so freely?”
Both Ladies laughed upon hearing this.
Lady Pei waved her hand in excellent spirits and said, “Consider yourself to have passed this test. We won’t make you show your face publicly or stand at the storm’s center. This matter will be handled by the womenfolk of our Pei household.”
Yu Tang hurriedly thanked both Ladies.
Lady Yi also looked at her with affection, nodding slightly.
It was clear she had a favorable impression of her.
Yu Tang breathed a sigh of relief.
A junior maid entered to report that Miss Gu had arrived.