Tao Qing’s teasing tone made Pei Yan very displeased.

He regarded Yu Tang as a junior. Tao Qing’s manner showed too little respect for Yu Tang.

Pei Yan immediately changed his expression and said coldly: “What is Scholar Tao saying? Madam Yu is my mother’s guest. How did she become ‘someone’ of mine in your mouth?”

Tao Qing watched and secretly clicked his tongue several times in his mind.

This was the very picture of embarrassed anger!

Still claiming he had no relationship with her?

However, he too had passed through his youth—he understood these things.

Tao Qing chuckled twice and no longer continued on this topic, but kept it in mind, thinking he must send someone later to inquire about this Miss Yu’s background. If it concerned Pei Yan’s marriage prospects, he needed to find a way to establish contact in advance.

He returned to the main topic with Pei Yan: “I understand what you mean. I estimate Gu Chaoyang is also preparing to use this method to resolve our current crisis. However, regarding the matter of abolishing the Quanzhou and Ningbo Maritime Trade Bureaus, what’s your view?”

Since Tao Qing dropped the subject, Pei Yan also let it go.

His expression became somewhat solemn as he discussed in low tones with Tao Qing the unfinished conversation from earlier: “My view doesn’t matter. What matters is whether we want to do this or not?” As he spoke, his gaze fell on Fourth Master Song, who was engaged in heated debate with Elder Master Wu in the hall. “This could affect the whole situation. I’m afraid it won’t be easy to account for afterward!”

Tao Qing disagreed, saying: “Without destruction, there can be no construction. Even if we don’t act, someone else will act for us.”

“Then let’s wait for those people to act first.” Pei Yan lowered his head, his thumb gently rubbing the rim of his teacup. “We can’t make the first move, otherwise it won’t be easy to account for.”

Tao Qing said nothing for a long while. When he spoke again, the Wu, Song, and others had finished their debate and were pulling Gu Chaoyang along, saying “Let’s first investigate clearly whose family took out those two hundred thousand taels of silver! Otherwise, discussing anything else is pointless.” Tao Qing’s face was expressionless, his voice very low: “Then we’ll do as you say.”

Without that nautical chart, he might never have truly understood what kind of person Pei Yan was, and there wouldn’t have been the subsequent cooperation.

Pei Yan also lowered his voice, saying: “Then let’s first handle the Huai’an matter properly…” But before his words could fall, Elder Master Peng had already turned to look at Pei Yan and Tao Qing, saying: “What are you two sitting over there doing? If you have something to say, say it in front of everyone. If you have any difficulties, you can speak up. Three cobblers are worth one Zhuge Liang—we can all help you think of solutions.”

He always felt that Pei Yan and Tao Qing had already formed an offensive and defensive alliance and couldn’t let them act alone.

Tao Qing smiled.

He knew perfectly well what Elder Master Peng was thinking, but in this setting, he didn’t need to offend the Peng family and create unnecessary complications.

“Fine!” he said forthrightly. “Xiguang and I both prefer quiet to noise. Seeing you all so excited in your discussion, we didn’t go over to join the commotion. The two of us were just talking about Wang Qibao, discussing what gifts to bring when we go see him.”

Now everyone became interested.

If they could learn Wang Qibao’s preferences from Pei Yan, should they get the chance to bypass Pei Yan, they too could establish contact with Wang Qibao, couldn’t they?

The hall became lively again.

Meanwhile, A’Ming had discovered that Yu Tang wasn’t ill at all. Not only that, Yu Tang had spent half the day playing at Miss Xu’s quarters.

How should he report this to Third Master?

A’Ming scratched his head. After thinking for a long while without coming up with a plan, he ran to find Pei Man for advice.

Pei Man was running around frantically busy and had no time to deal with him. Seeing him pestering and refusing to leave, he said impatiently: “Of course you tell it as it is? Could you possibly lie to Third Master’s face? Besides, one lie always requires countless lies to cover it up. Do you think you have the ability to deceive Third Master?”

A’Ming shook his head like a rattle drum and indeed went to report to Pei Yan according to Pei Man’s suggestion.

When Pei Yan heard that Yu Tang was feigning illness, his expression was very strange, but inwardly he thought: as expected, she’s holding a grudge against him. Not only feigning illness to avoid going out, but also hiding at Miss Xu’s place. Tomorrow was the scripture lecture gathering—the Yu family needed to donate to the merit box, and the Pei family’s female relatives needed to donate Buddhist incense. She couldn’t possibly continue hiding!

However, that wasn’t necessarily true.

She never played by the rules.

If she only stayed indoors today while holding this grudge against him, he might never even know. Only if she failed to appear at tomorrow’s scripture lecture gathering would he definitely notice.

Perhaps she just wanted to make things appear natural—feigning illness today, not appearing tomorrow would seem perfectly reasonable. Even if he found out, he wouldn’t necessarily know she was feigning illness.

Should he just go along with her performance?

The thought flashed through his mind, and Pei Yan immediately felt it inappropriate.

Tomorrow’s occasion was too important. If she didn’t appear, it would be too much of a loss.

What should he do now?

Pei Yan’s mind raced rapidly.

After thinking it over repeatedly, he felt he still needed to make Yu Tang change her mind.

As for the matter of her holding a grudge against him, he needed to have a broader perspective. He could settle accounts with her properly after the scripture lecture gathering ended.

Once Pei Yan made up his mind, he usually acted swiftly and decisively.

He stood up and said to Elder Master Peng and the others who were discussing how to investigate whose family had sent those two hundred thousand taels of silver: “I have something urgent to attend to. I’ll step out for a moment. When everyone has discussed and reached a conclusion, you can tell me then.”

Having finished speaking, without waiting for Elder Master Peng and the others to respond, he strode quickly out of the hall. Standing under the eaves outside, he instructed his attendant Pei Qi: “Go fetch Master Shu!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt it inappropriate.

Each family had brought many advisors and secretaries, and Shu Qing needed to represent him in hosting these people. Moreover, Shu Qing was meticulous and overthought everything. If he discussed with Shu Qing how to make amends to Yu Tang, Shu Qing would definitely think he was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Though he too felt he was making a bit of a mountain out of a molehill, wasn’t it because Yu Tang was particularly difficult to deal with?

She really could do something like not appearing at tomorrow’s scripture lecture gathering!

“Shu Qing is busy, better not disturb him.” Pei Yan changed his mind just as quickly. “Let me think… how about getting Qing Yuan instead…”

Qing Yuan was attentive and also a woman—she should know what things fellow woman Yu Tang would like.

Pei Qi didn’t think much of it and turned to leave upon acknowledgment.

Pei Yan again felt this was improper.

Qing Yuan was a maid by his side—her perspective was certainly different from Yu Tang’s. What Qing Yuan liked, Yu Tang might not necessarily like. If she learned that his peace offering was something Qing Yuan loved, she might think he was humiliating her and become even angrier.

“Pei Qi, wait.” He called Pei Qi back again and stood there racking his brains over how to make amends to Yu Tang.

Pei Qi didn’t know what Pei Yan wanted to do, but seeing his troubled expression, couldn’t help saying: “Third Master, what difficulty have you encountered? Should I fetch A’Man?”

His words reminded Pei Yan, who said: “No need. Go call Hu Xing over.”

Pei Qi jogged off to summon Hu Xing.

Pei Yan asked Hu Xing directly: “I’ve offended Miss Yu. What do you think I should send her to make her forgive me?”

What did he mean by “offended Miss Yu”?!

Hu Xing’s mind buzzed, thinking he had misheard.

He stared intently at Pei Yan, only to see Pei Yan’s face full of seriousness as he waited for an answer.

Hu Xing involuntarily rubbed his eyes, only to receive Pei Yan’s merciless disdain: “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t sleep well? Then go rest first. I’ll find someone else to ask.”

How could he go rest at such a critical moment?

This was precisely the time to demonstrate his abilities, the opportunity to share his master’s burdens. How could he give up so easily?

Hu Xing hastily said: “No, no. I’m thinking about what you said.” In reality, he had no confidence at all and no plan yet, but this didn’t prevent him from stalling for time while desperately thinking of solutions, all while using the corner of his eye to observe Pei Yan’s mood and gauge whether his answer would satisfy him: “Young ladies all like flowers and such. But there are distinctions between men and women. Though you are an elder, it’s still somewhat inappropriate. By the same logic, rouge and powder are also inappropriate. Miss Yu is a straightforward person, not like ordinary boudoir ladies. She’s generous in character. I think she definitely likes clarity and directness in speech and action. What do we usually send most when making amends to people…”

Pei Yan found him long-winded. Not promoting him back then had truly been the most correct decision.

“Then let’s just send some pastries and sweets over.” Hu Xing’s words had indeed reminded him. Since clothing and accessories were inappropriate, he’d send food.

Didn’t the Yu family often send him pastries and sweets?

Now that he recalled, Yu Tang seemed quite fond of eating fruit.

“Cherries should be in season now, right?” Pei Yan continued. “Send two baskets to Madam Yu and Miss Yu. Also the newly available plums, melons, and such—send two baskets of those as well. The nested silk candy from the capital, dragon beard crisp from the Two Lakes region, and ice rice cake from Fengcheng in Jiangxi—I heard the Old Madam mention they were delicious last time. Send some of those over too. Then tell Miss Yu to get well soon and appear properly at the scripture lecture gathering tomorrow morning.” Feeling that just saying this might not guarantee Yu Tang would obediently comply, he added: “When you go, remember to tell her that Miss Gu will also appear tomorrow.”

Was he being entrusted with handling this matter?

Hu Xing was overjoyed. Fearing this assignment might slip away, he immediately acknowledged and hurried off before Pei Yan could say another word.

Pei Yan felt Hu Xing’s methods weren’t very reliable. He wanted to call him back to give further instructions, but Elder Master Peng came looking for him, saying: “What are you doing? Everyone’s been waiting for you for ages and you haven’t returned. Hurry, we’re just waiting for you. We’re planning to divide up those two hundred thousand taels of silver proportionally and say we all sent it together.”

Whose idea was this!

Idiots!

Pei Yan cursed inwardly. Not wanting the people in the hall to know what he’d just been doing, he simply followed Elder Master Peng back to the hall.

Everyone was indeed waiting for him.

Fourth Master Song was still clamoring there: “The Yin family and Li family are also famously wealthy. They should also bear part of the responsibility, shouldn’t they?”

This time, neither the Yin family from Quanzhou nor the Li family from Longyan had sent anyone.

Whether they didn’t want to get involved in this matter, or because their intelligence network wasn’t good enough and they still didn’t know about the court’s intention to abolish the Quanzhou and Ningbo Maritime Trade Bureaus, was unclear.