The Wu family’s womenfolk didn’t stay long at Old Madam Pei’s residence. However, Chen Shi was led by Third Madam Yang to make the acquaintance of all the Pei family’s women. After returning from having lunch at Old Madam Pei’s, Miss Xu followed Yu Tang to the side room where Chen Shi and Yu Tang were resting. Yu Tang gave her half a bottle of scented water, and Miss Xu was extremely pleased, saying: “This fragrance is wonderful.” She also said, “Sister Yu, don’t worry—I’ll return a bottle to you in a few days.”

Although Yu Tang was quite fond of this scented water, she had learned that it was also sold in Hangzhou and wasn’t something unattainable. She smiled and said, “No need. If you like it, just take it and use it.”

Miss Xu didn’t stand on ceremony either, saying: “Then I’ll thank you first.” After speaking, she rose to take her leave: “Little sister, take an afternoon nap first. I’ll come find you to play later.” Then she pointed to the side room next to theirs, “Third Madam Yang and I are staying right next door.”

Yu Tang agreed and sent Miss Xu off with a smile. Turning around, she was called into the east room by Chen Shi.

Chen Shi was sitting at the large desk by the window writing. Seeing Yu Tang enter, she quickly beckoned to her: “Come help me look at this.”

Yu Tang smiled and quickly stepped forward, discovering that her mother was writing down the titles and physical characteristics of the Pei family women she had met today.

“What’s this for?” She was somewhat puzzled.

Chen Shi smiled and said, “After all, we’re from Lin’an and never had contact with the Pei family before. Now that we frequently visit the Pei residence, how can we meet the several madams and ladies of the Pei household without recognizing them? You also know about our family—we have a simple household. All these years I’ve followed your father, and he’s protected me from everything, so I’ve experienced little. I’m afraid I’ll forget and offend someone when we meet again. I thought that a good memory isn’t as reliable as poor ink, so while I still have an impression, I’m recording everyone I met today. This will also benefit you in the future—not getting people’s names wrong is also a form of respect for them.”

Yu Tang felt her mother was absolutely right.

She pulled over a chair and sat down beside her mother. Together, they recalled the people they had met today while recording what they all looked like, occasionally commenting in low voices and sharing a bit of gossip about the Pei household.

Just like playing games with her mother when she was little, Yu Tang not only didn’t feel tired but was full of interest, finding it extremely enjoyable. If Miss Xu hadn’t come to find her to play, she wouldn’t have realized an entire hour had already passed.

They had forgotten to take an afternoon nap.

Mother and daughter exchanged smiles, feeling quite happy inside.

Yu Tang hugged her mother’s arm, thinking that when Miss Xu was studying genealogies of prominent families, perhaps she and her mother had also enjoyed themselves just like this, which was why Miss Xu was so thoroughly familiar with the relationships among those elite families!

She suddenly felt a sense of warmth toward Miss Xu.

When Miss Xu proudly produced a bottle of scented water identical to hers, Yu Tang praised her with a beaming smile as if coaxing her own little sister: “You’re so amazing! You found a bottle of scented water identical to mine so quickly. How did you manage it?”

Miss Xu was very pleased to hear her say this. Her voice unconsciously rose several pitches, and she raised her eyebrows at Yu Tang, saying: “Do you know what the Wu family does? They run grain transport operations. Their family spends enormous effort every year cultivating relationships with the powerful in the capital. What could the powerful in the capital possibly lack? At most they’re a bit curious about things that come from overseas. Your scented water is clearly something from overseas. I sent someone to ask their family for it, and they immediately produced seven or eight types of scented water for me to choose from.” As she spoke, she blinked at Yu Tang as if presenting a treasure, “If the Wu family didn’t have it, I could still ask the Song family. The Song family is extremely fond of ostentation. They would definitely show off such rare items among their womenfolk.” Finally, she said sincerely: “Later, come to my place to play, little sister, and pick a few bottles of other fragrances to bring back.”

Yu Tang smiled with pursed lips and said, “You’re really clever!”

“Of course.” Miss Xu accepted this with a clear conscience.

Yu Tang thanked her and accepted the scented water she had brought.

Miss Xu liked her even more.

She felt Yu Tang wasn’t affected—although her background was ordinary, she carried herself with poise and dignity, truly neither servile nor overbearing.

She couldn’t help continuing to chat with Yu Tang: “The Wu family is also famous for their beauty. Otherwise, their daughter couldn’t have married into the Jiang family and become the eldest daughter-in-law. My aunt says it’s because the Wu family used to be river pirates, and the wives they took were all beautiful women they captured from various places, which is why everyone in their family is fair-skinned and beautiful. However, the Jiang family also set a bad precedent for the Wu family. I made thorough inquiries—this time the Wu family only brought two young masters, but they brought many young ladies, ranging from eighteen to fourteen years old, each one more beautiful than the last. Including the Wu family’s Tenth Young Lady, who is said to be no less beautiful than the eldest young lady who married into the Jiang family. I think the Wu family definitely wants to marry their daughters to Third Master Pei.”

Yu Tang was greatly startled and hurriedly said, “Keep your voice down! Be careful that walls have ears—you’ll ruin someone’s reputation.”

But she didn’t dispute her speculation.

Miss Xu paused slightly, then burst into laughter, her eyes bright and sparkling as she reached to tousle Yu Tang’s hair: “You’re really interesting!”

Yu Tang tilted her head to dodge her hand and said petulantly, “I don’t want to redo my hair. Don’t touch my head.”

Miss Xu laughed again and promised: “Don’t worry, I brought an old woman who’s good at hairstyling and a maid who’s good at hairstyling. I can send one of them over to help you when the time comes.”

Yu Tang was secretly astounded.

In families like theirs, it was already good to have a servant woman who could also do hairstyling. Even when Gu Xi married into the Li family in her previous life, she had only brought an old woman skilled at hairstyling as part of her dowry, and this woman also helped Gu Xi organize clothes and ran errands for Gu Xi’s wet nurse. The young ladies of the Pei family each only had one maid skilled at hairstyling.

One could see that the Xu family was truly wealthy and noble.

Miss Xu asked Yu Tang again: “Is there really no way for you to visit Third Master Pei? I’m so curious what he looks like. Tell me, if something happened on our side, would he come over to check in person? After all, there are so many women staying here…”

Yu Tang’s heart pounded with anxiety. She stopped her, saying: “What are you planning to do? If something happened to the women staying here because of you, do you think you’d ever be able to sleep soundly again? Besides, haste makes waste—why must you force the issue? Aren’t we still staying at the temple for four more days? How do you know there won’t be opportunities to meet Third Master Pei later?”

“What you say makes sense.” Miss Xu pondered for a moment and said, “I am indeed being too hasty.”

Seeing this, Yu Tang’s heart stirred, and she asked: “Why are you so anxious to meet Third Master Pei?”

Miss Xu’s face reddened. After a moment of silence, she told her quietly: “Our family also wants to marry my cousin to Pei Xiaguang. However, my cousin is only sixteen this year—a bit young. Third Master Pei should marry as soon as his mourning period ends, so the Pei family probably won’t agree. But according to my uncle’s meaning, we have to try whether they agree or not.”

Yu Tang’s mouth fell open, prompting another round of laughter from Miss Xu.

She even tapped Yu Tang’s head, saying: “Otherwise, what do you think Third Madam Yang came here for? You don’t really think everyone came to listen to the sutra lectures, do you? Even Old Madam Pei may not be without such intentions.”

Yu Tang said nothing, feeling a tightness in her chest and looking rather unwell.

Still immersed in her own thoughts, Miss Xu didn’t notice Yu Tang’s distress and continued rambling: “I wonder what other families will come. Among the families that have arrived so far, I’ve observed that perhaps only the Peng family has no such intentions. Ah…” As if discovering something remarkable, she suddenly exclaimed softly.

Yu Tang’s heart tightened at her startled reaction. She hurriedly asked, “What is it?”

Miss Xu then grasped Yu Tang’s hand and whispered in her ear: “Tell me, could the Peng family and Pei family be at odds beneath a harmonious surface? The Peng family is in Fujian, thousands of miles away—what are they doing joining in this commotion?”

Yu Tang’s heart raced wildly.

Miss Xu was too clever.

After the maritime chart incident, the Pei family was certainly wary of the Peng family. But if the Peng family was also wary of the Pei family, didn’t that mean the Peng family had discovered the Pei family’s wariness toward them? If so, should the Peng and Pei families turn against each other one day, it might not be so easy for the Pei family to deal with the Peng family.

Did Pei Yan know the Peng family’s attitude?

Yu Tang took several deep breaths before her emotions gradually calmed and her mind began racing rapidly.

However clever Miss Xu was, she certainly couldn’t be cleverer than Pei Yan. Since Miss Xu could see through this matter, Pei Yan could definitely see through it too.

She should trust Pei Yan.

Yu Tang took several more deep breaths.

“Did I frighten you?” Only now noticing Yu Tang’s somewhat pale face, Miss Xu belatedly said, “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“No, no.” Yu Tang’s heart was somewhat flustered. She wanted to gloss over it, but didn’t really know why she was flustered or why she needed to gloss over it. “I’ve never thought about such things before. I was just very surprised.”

Miss Xu believed her.

She had seen too many girls like Yu Tang who only cared about clothing, flowers, and plants, with no interest in outside affairs.

“I’m sorry.” She said apologetically, “I just like to overthink things. Don’t take it to heart—I was just speculating wildly. Perhaps it’s because Fujian is so far from here that the Peng family only sent a few women. My mother has already scolded me several times about this. I’m just too idle.”

“No, you’re fine this way.” Seeing her become dejected, Yu Tang comforted her, saying: “Sometimes I like to speculate wildly like this too. It’s just that you know more than I do, so we speculate about different things. Like me—sometimes I see the neighbor’s servant woman going out with a basket of pickled vegetables, and when she returns with an empty basket, I wonder if she secretly exchanged the vegetables for silver.”

Miss Xu laughed heartily, her eyes and brows flying up, and said: “Did you guess correctly?”

“I don’t know!” Yu Tang smiled and said, “I’ve never had a chance to verify it.”

“But I guess correctly most of the time.” Miss Xu said, “Yin Mingyuan has been sickly since childhood, can’t stand wind or rain, yet insisted on studying at our house and having me play with him. If I didn’t accompany him, he would cry, and the maids and old women around him would complain to my grandmother.” She huffed indignantly, “I had no choice but to accompany him in his studies. Later when I grew up, I learned how to deal with him—I just wouldn’t talk to him.”