Old Madam Pei needed to receive guests, so it wasn’t quite appropriate for Chen Shi and the others to remain. Everyone rose to take their leave.

The Old Madam thought for a moment and said, “This is my first time meeting the Wu family from Huzhou. It would be good for you all to sit in the flower hall first.”

She was mainly concerned that the Wu family might not have brought sufficient greeting gifts, which could cause embarrassment for the Wu family’s womenfolk.

Everyone understood her meaning and laughingly made their way in twos and threes to the flower hall behind the main hall, leaving only the Second Madam of the Pei family to help the Old Madam receive guests.

The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Young Ladies of the Pei family hadn’t seen Yu Tang since yesterday afternoon, so naturally they were especially delighted to see her now. They pulled Yu Tang along, chattering excitedly: “The incense made by Ku’an Temple has been delivered to Zhaoming Temple. We went to see it last night. It’s sure to become famous.”

Because the items had come with the Pei family women’s carriages, and the Buddhist incense to be presented to Zhaoming Temple was in the hands of a steward sent by the Pei family, Yu Tang hadn’t inquired about it. She hadn’t expected these young ladies to have run over to look last night.

She nodded with a smile.

The Second Young Lady of the Pei family wasn’t particularly close to Yu Tang. She walked behind with Miss Xu, looking as though she wanted to strike up a conversation with Miss Xu but didn’t know what to say, causing Miss Xu to roll her eyes inwardly. However, for Young Master Yang’s sake, she took the initiative to speak with the Second Young Lady: “Did you sleep well last night? I felt there was a strong sandalwood scent in the side room that kept me awake most of the night. Finally, I was so exhausted that I dozed off in a daze.” Then, pointing at the Pei young ladies and Yu Tang walking ahead of them, she said: “I just heard them mention Buddhist incense. Does someone in your family excel at making this? Are there other scented varieties? Could you give me some? I’ve already had someone go buy incense, but Lin’an is so small, I don’t know if they’ll be able to find any pleasant ones.”

The Second Young Lady knew what sort of family the Xu family was and naturally didn’t wish to offend Miss Xu. Moreover, Miss Xu was to marry into the Yin family—and not just anyone, but the only son of the Yin family’s main branch, a nineteen-year-old young scholar who had passed the imperial examination… She hurriedly said: “The one skilled at making incense is my eldest cousin from the main branch’s fiancée. You probably know her too—the eldest daughter of the Gu family’s second branch in Hangzhou.” In a low voice, she told Miss Xu about how they had helped Ku’an Temple make Buddhist incense.

Miss Xu listened with her eyes darting about. After the Second Young Lady finished, she said “Oh,” then asked: “I don’t know this Miss Gu. However, I do know Gu Chaoyang from the Gu family. What is his relationship to this Miss Gu?”

The Second Young Lady smiled gently and said, “She is precisely Gu Chaoyang’s younger sister from the same mother.”

Miss Xu said “Oh” again, then asked: “If I remember correctly, the current mistress of their household is a second wife? I just don’t know which family’s daughter she is?”

Since she had no recollection of her, she certainly wasn’t from any prominent family. Moreover, she had heard people say that the mistress of the Gu family’s second branch had very limited vision—her own husband couldn’t study well, yet she still suppressed several concubine-born younger brothers, so now the second branch hadn’t produced any talented individuals. If not for Gu Chaoyang, they would probably have long since fallen from the ranks of Jiangnan’s elite families.

However, the Second Young Lady was quite curious about how she knew Gu Chaoyang.

Miss Xu said, “He and Yin Mingyuan were in the same examination class.”

Yin Mingyuan?!

Miss Xu’s fiancé.

The Second Young Lady looked at Miss Xu.

Miss Xu nodded, showing not the slightest hint of bashfulness, and said openly: “I heard that Gu Chaoyang is supremely talented and more handsome than Pan An. When Yin Mingyuan went to attend a poetry gathering, I had him take me to see for myself. He was alright—not as good-looking as Yin Mingyuan, but more robust than Yin Mingyuan.”

The Second Young Lady had seen arrogant people before, but had never seen anyone more arrogant than Miss Xu. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

The Fourth Young Lady walking ahead suddenly turned around, exclaimed “Wow,” and said: “Elder Sister Xu is so amazing, you actually dared to attend the scholars’ poetry gatherings.”

Miss Xu waved her hand dismissively and said, “Yin Mingyuan has studied at our home since childhood. What’s so remarkable about me having him take me to a poetry gathering!”

To get one’s fiancé to agree to take a woman to a poetry gathering—that was already quite remarkable!

The several Pei young ladies all looked at her with admiration.

However, Yu Tang’s attention was focused on the character “Yin.” She glanced at the several Pei young ladies, thought briefly, then pulled the Third Young Lady aside and asked in a low voice: “What is the background of the Xu family? And who is this Yin Mingyuan?”

The Third Young Lady quickly glanced at Miss Xu, saw that she was completely absorbed in talking with the other young ladies, and hurriedly whispered: “Miss Xu’s great-great-grandfather served as Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince and Minister of Personnel. Her great-grandfather and great-grand-uncle both served as Grand Secretaries. Currently, the head of the Xu family is her father, who serves as Grand Secretary of the Hall of Military Eminence and Minister of War. She has one uncle serving as Provincial Administration Commissioner of Shaanxi, and another uncle who previously served as Censor in the Censorate and was transferred this spring to serve as Salt Distribution Commissioner of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Yin Mingyuan is her fiancé, a Hanlin scholar observing governance in the Ministry of Justice.”

It took Yu Tang a moment to understand.

In other words, the old madam of the Li family and Third Madam Yang were both daughters of Miss Xu’s future husband’s family.

No wonder she was so respectful toward Third Madam Yang.

Seeing that Miss Xu was still talking with her sisters, the Third Young Lady quickly added: “She’s a daughter born to her parents in their old age. Although Yin Mingyuan is very accomplished in his studies, his health isn’t good. The marriage between the Xu and Yin families was arranged by the older generation. I heard that Madam Xu was extremely dissatisfied and announced that she had Miss Xu’s fortune told, and Miss Xu shouldn’t marry early, so they would keep her until she’s twenty. The two still haven’t married.”

Were they afraid Yin Mingyuan would die young?

The Xu family was truly formidable!

The little person in Yu Tang’s mind wiped sweat from her brow. She quickly glanced behind her, then continued gossiping with the Third Young Lady: “So the Yin family says nothing about this?”

The Third Young Lady smiled with pursed lips and said, “Yin Mingyuan likes Miss Xu. He won’t marry anyone but her.”

“Ah!” Yu Tang exclaimed, instinctively lowering her voice, and couldn’t help glancing behind again.

This time she didn’t have her previous good luck and met Miss Xu’s gaze directly.

Yu Tang smiled at Miss Xu somewhat guiltily.

Miss Xu’s eyes sparkled. She left the several Pei young ladies behind and quickly walked over, taking Yu Tang’s arm with a smile: “Little sister, were you asking others about me? I don’t like the sandalwood scent in the temple. Sister, give me a few sticks of incense with a different fragrance! How about it?”

Yu Tang smiled at her somewhat sheepishly and said, “I don’t like burning incense. I prefer scented water. How about I give you half a bottle of scented water first? I only brought one bottle on this trip.”

This scented water was a gift that Yu Wen and Old Master Wu had brought her when they went to Ningbo last time.

It was supposedly rose-scented and quite pleasant.

But scented water needed to be properly sealed, otherwise it would quickly lose its fragrance.

Fortunately, they were only staying at the temple for three to five days. Otherwise, even if she gave her half a bottle of scented water, there probably wouldn’t be a bottle to put it in.

Miss Xu smiled and said, “Oh my, I’ve finally met someone who likes scented water just like me. After we have lunch, I’ll come to your place to get it.”

Yu Tang felt that her expression didn’t look like someone going to get scented water, but rather like someone going to investigate a mystery…

However, since she had already agreed, even if Miss Xu was going to her place to investigate mysteries, Yu Tang could only steel herself to receive her.

Everyone soon sat down in the flower hall.

The several Pei young ladies hurried to their respective grandmothers to show filial respect.

The Fifth Young Lady stayed with Yu Tang.

Third Madam Yang sat beside Old Madam Yi, reminiscing with her. From the sound of it, their family elders seemed to have served as colleagues with Old Master Yi.

Miss Xu looked left and right, then followed the Fifth Young Lady to stand together with Yu Tang.

She asked the Fifth Young Lady, “What time does your family have lunch?”

The Fifth Young Lady shook her head and said, “I don’t know either.”

Miss Xu looked helpless and asked again, “Then what time does your family usually have lunch?”

The Fifth Young Lady said, “A quarter hour before noon.”

Miss Xu nodded with satisfaction, pulled a golden pocket watch from her pocket, opened it with a “snap,” looked at it, and said with an air of resignation: “Still another hour to go.”

Both Yu Tang’s and the Fifth Young Lady’s eyes were glued to Miss Xu’s pocket watch. The Fifth Young Lady even said, “So this is a pocket watch? It’s really beautiful.”

Miss Xu nodded slightly and extended her hand: “Would you like to look at it?”

The Fifth Young Lady quickly shook her head and said, “My father has one too. I just haven’t seen one this small before.”

In her previous life, Yu Tang had seen Li Duan use one, and like the Fifth Young Lady, hadn’t seen one this small.

Miss Xu said nonchalantly, “I had it specially made to order. It keeps quite accurate time.”

The Fifth Young Lady then said, “Are you hungry? Should I have A’Shan bring you a plate of snacks?”

“No need.” Miss Xu sighed, looking very bored and listlessly said, “I’m not hungry. I just want to know when we can leave. I want to go to Sister Yu’s place to see what scented water she brought.”

You might as well just say you find these gatherings tedious!

Both Yu Tang and the Fifth Young Lady simultaneously rolled their eyes at her.

She laughed cheerfully and asked the Fifth Young Lady, “Has your eldest cousin arrived? Do you know where he’s staying?”

The Fifth Young Lady said, “Not only has my eldest cousin arrived, my second cousin and my younger brother have come too. Of course they’re staying in the outer courtyard! But I didn’t ask where exactly. What do you want to do? Should I find a steward to ask?”

Miss Xu leaned close to whisper to them: “The Yang family has praised your eldest cousin to the skies, saying he’s even more talented than your third uncle. I want to see what he looks like.”

The Fifth Young Lady was startled and murmured, “More talented than my third uncle?”

Why did these words sound so awkward?

Yu Tang thought of the events from her previous life and felt that the Yang family was building momentum for Pei Tong.

In her previous life, she didn’t know whom Pei Tong had married, but he had married in the capital. In this life, things had already changed greatly—she didn’t know whether Pei Tong would still walk the same path as in her previous life.

Seeing this, Miss Xu asked the Fifth Young Lady again, “Then do you know what time your third uncle comes to pay his respects to Old Madam Pei each day?”

The Fifth Young Lady asked in confusion, “Why are you asking about this?”

Miss Xu said nonchalantly, “I’m just asking.”

However, Yu Tang glanced at Miss Xu.

Miss Xu chuckled and said to Yu Tang and the Fifth Young Lady, “When I came in earlier, I saw pomegranate trees outside. Why don’t we go pick pomegranates?”

The Fifth Young Lady and Yu Tang looked at the room full of women and shook their heads in unison.

Miss Xu decided to go by herself.

Yu Tang felt that Zhaoming Temple was currently very complicated. She grabbed Miss Xu and said, “When Master Wuneng prays for our blessings, do we also need to write our names and birth dates and times as usual? What if someone looks at them?”

Birth dates and times were related to one’s fortune and prospects and weren’t ordinarily told to others, especially for young women.

Miss Xu’s attention was diverted. She hurriedly said, “When we used to go to Hongluo Temple, we would write them down too, but they had to be placed in bright red envelopes, sealed with a special method, and stored in sealed boxes. Don’t worry, no one will know.”

“That’s good!” Yu Tang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and continued consulting Miss Xu about matters related to the blessing ceremony.

Miss Xu talked at length about her own experiences and didn’t bring up going outside again.