Yu Tang naturally had no idea that her small gesture had drawn the attention of the Song and Peng family ladies.

After readjusting her mindset, Yu Tang not only smoothly finished copying the Buddhist scriptures but also enthusiastically tasted the ice rice cake.

It was somewhat similar to Lin’an’s crystal cake. However, Lin’an’s crystal cake was made from tapioca flour—shiny and translucent, more crystalline. Fengcheng’s ice rice cake was made from glutinous rice and whiter.

This showed many pastries were similar, just with different ingredients and different names.

Yu Tang decided to also copy a few pages of Buddhist scriptures for Pei Yan, asking the Bodhisattva to bless him so everything would go smoothly.

Shuang Tao, who had gone to deliver the sweets and pastries, returned, bringing back the return gift from Miss Xu. She said: “Miss Xu is truly kind. Seeing I was carrying things with some difficulty, she even had A’Fu accompany me to the Pei young ladies’ quarters. However, the Pei young ladies weren’t there—they said they’d gone out to browse the market. I left the things and came back.” Then she also recounted encountering the Song and Peng family ladies on the road, but didn’t tell her about Miss Song’s difficulties, only mentioning they had picked oleander to take back: “A’Fu, seeing the Pei young ladies all weren’t there, mentioned it to a woman servant in Fifth Miss’s room. A’Fu said that in any case, we’ve said what we should. As for whether the woman servant in Fifth Miss’s room tells Second Madam, and whether Miss Song and Miss Peng will have any problems because of the oleander, that depends on their luck. Even if the Bodhisattva knows, she can’t say we didn’t help the Song and Peng family young ladies.” She also said full of gratitude: “Miss, I feel I made the right choice following you out this time. Getting to know A’Fu and the others, I realized how foolish I am. From now on I’ll definitely observe more, think more, speak less, and learn from them properly how to serve you, Miss.”

Yu Tang just laughed and said: “Are you planning to be a servant woman for life? Not planning to have your registration released?”

In her previous life, after the Yu family fell, she hadn’t sold Shuang Tao but released her registration and chose an honest merchant as her husband, but she hadn’t lived very comfortably. As for the specific reasons, Yu Tang had asked several times but she always evaded vaguely. Later Yu Tang had many matters and didn’t have time to look after her. Therefore, in this life when First Aunt arranged a match for Shuang Tao to marry Wang Si, Yu Tang thought it was quite good. At least Yu Tang could still protect her.

Shuang Tao, hearing this, dismissively waved her hand and said: “What’s good about having my registration released? Master and Madam are both kind, and Miss treats me well. I like staying in the Yu family.”

When Miss recruited a son-in-law, the Yu family would still be managed by Miss. If she worked diligently and wholeheartedly, Miss wouldn’t mistreat her.

This matter passed like a spring breeze. She was more concerned about the oleander the Song and Peng family young ladies had picked: “I never imagined aristocratic families also had hierarchies. Even a maid by Miss Xu’s side knows oleander is poisonous, yet the Song and Peng family young ladies don’t. This shows Miss Xu’s family is truly formidable. Those young ladies fawning over Miss Xu also has its reasons.”

Yu Tang said: “I’ve often seen others pick oleander and never heard of anyone being poisoned. It’s just that oleander doesn’t smell good, so people don’t like using it for flower arrangements. Perhaps it’s due to differences between north and south—isn’t there a saying about ‘Huai oranges becoming trifoliate oranges’?”

The two chatted idly for a while, then several Pei young ladies came bustling over.

After paying respects to Chen Shi, Fifth Miss took Yu Tang’s hand and said: “We went out to the temple area early this morning to browse. There were many vendors selling snacks, but unfortunately A’Shan wouldn’t let us buy, so I didn’t get any. However, I did find good things.”

Her face flushed with excitement, she pulled from her pocket a palm-sized boxwood comb.

The comb’s material was ordinary, but carved into the shape of a plump carp. Compared to commonly seen designs like magpies on branches or marital harmony symbols, it was too stunning.

“How beautiful!” Yu Tang praised sincerely.

Third Miss and Fourth Miss both smiled with pursed lips.

Only then did Fifth Miss place the comb in Yu Tang’s palm, saying: “This is for you.”

Yu Tang was both surprised and delighted: “For me?”

Fifth Miss proudly lifted her chin toward Second Miss.

Second Miss glanced at Yu Tang with an inscrutable look.

Though Yu Tang didn’t know the reason, at this moment she certainly wouldn’t undermine Fifth Miss. She hurriedly said: “Oh my, I love it so much. But a gentleman doesn’t take what others love. Such an interesting comb—I’ll just look at it. You should put it away quickly and take it back to use later.”

Fifth Miss giggled and pulled from her pocket another identical comb, saying: “Look, I have one too.”

Yu Tang was slightly stunned.

Third Miss and Fourth Miss laughed heartily and said: “We bought several at once and bought out all the combs on the stall. As a result, Miss Wu and the others couldn’t buy any. We each have exactly one.”

Was this the Miss Wu mentioned by Sixth Miss Song who wanted to marry into the Pei family?

Yu Tang felt somewhat uncomfortable but still couldn’t suppress her curiosity: “What exactly happened? Tell me about it!”

Fourth Miss then gleefully recounted encountering Miss Wu and Gu Xi at the small stalls outside the temple: “Both wore veiled hats, surrounded by a crowd of maids and old women, and brought guards… you could see them from far away… picking and choosing… saying this she’d also seen in the capital, that she’d also bought in Suzhou, as if afraid others wouldn’t know she came from a wealthy family… wasn’t she afraid of attracting thieves… poor Sister Gu, accompanying her on the side, her face frozen in a smile!”

This involved Gu Xi too?!

Yu Tang pricked up her ears and heard Fifth Miss sighing: “We should have pulled Sister Gu away right then.”

Second Miss frowned deeply and said: “Sister Gu isn’t like you—she can’t rely on being young to buy out someone’s entire stall and then deliberately say in front of Miss Wu that we sisters each have one. Miss Wu showed up early at Sister Gu’s lodgings to block her door. If it were you, could you refuse? Besides, who could have imagined Miss Wu would be so ostentatious! Sister Gu was also implicated by her.”

Third Miss, hearing this, said worriedly: “The Wu family used to be water bandits. Could they still be secretly doing their old business now?”

“How is that possible?!” Second Miss immediately refuted. “If their family were still doing their old business, Third Uncle definitely wouldn’t let our family associate with them. The Wu family has been accustomed to being domineering in Huzhou. Miss Wu is just influenced by her family.”

Fourth Miss listened and muttered quietly: “In any case, I don’t like Miss Wu. I don’t want her to marry into our family.”

Second Miss laughed in exasperation and said: “Even if our family wanted to marry someone in, there would need to be a suitable candidate. Stop worrying about these things. Better concern yourself with your own affairs!”

“What affairs do I have?” Fourth Miss’s face reddened, quite guiltily saying: “I’m going to tell Great-Grandmother that you’re bullying me!”

Second Miss looked at her as if looking at a fool and ignored her.

Fifth Miss quietly explained to Yu Tang: “The Peng family wants to marry one of our family’s daughters.”

That appearance showed no thought of herself at all.

Perhaps because she was the youngest.

Yu Tang smiled with pursed lips, feeling that whether the Peng family or Wu family, both would probably be disappointed this time.

She put away the comb and solemnly thanked the Pei young ladies.

After asking about Yu Tang’s health and learning she had long since recovered, they began chattering about tomorrow’s incense offering ceremony.

On the other side, Gu Xi had also returned to her lodgings.

But just as she stepped into the hall, she saw her elder brother Gu Chang, who should still be discussing matters with Pei Yan, sitting with a stern face on the master’s chair in the central hall, looking as if he’d been waiting for her.

Her heart skipped a beat. Forcing herself to be spirited, she smiled at Gu Chang and said gently: “Elder Brother, when did you arrive? Didn’t you say you might take the noon meal at Third Master’s place? Has something changed there?”

Yesterday, as soon as her brother arrived at the temple, he came to see her first. Only then did she learn that for the sake of her marriage, he had specially requested his current assignment to return to Hangzhou, and learning she was here, had pursued her.

The siblings had argued yesterday about her marriage to Pei Tong. If her brother’s attendant hadn’t rushed in saying Pei Yan was now available, they probably would have quarreled.

Her brother had a stern face—was he continuing to discuss Pei Tong’s matter with her?

Gu Xi felt somewhat afraid.

Her brother had protected her since childhood. Whatever matters she had, she always discussed with him. Only the marriage to Pei Tong had been decided first and reported later. Her brother must be extremely angry.

Thinking this, Gu Xi proactively served Gu Chang a cup of tea and said softly: “Elder Brother, please don’t be angry with me anymore. I know you’re doing this for my good. But I also have my own thoughts. No matter how good Pei Xiguang is, he doesn’t fancy me, and having become the Pei clan head, he’s severed ties with the official career path. I’m unwilling to marry someone like him. Look at the Li family—didn’t they previously clamor that their daughter was for Pei Xiguang to choose from? But look now—do they still say such things? Isn’t it because Pei Xiguang can no longer become an official? No matter how flawed Pei Tong is, it’s true he can study, it’s true he has maternal relatives willing to help him, it’s true he’s the eldest grandson of the Pei main branch. Moreover, Pei Xiguang feels guilty toward him and certainly won’t shortchange him financially. If we take this opportunity to escape the inheritance rights of the Pei main branch and let our descendants study properly and become officials, wouldn’t that be better than being stuck in this small place of Lin’an for a lifetime?

You also said before that the Pei family was a good match.

First Madam also repeatedly sent people to propose the marriage, promising that if I married over, she’d let me accompany Pei Tong back to the Gu family to study.

You know First Madam is widowed and couldn’t possibly leave Lin’an.

Just for this point alone, I’m willing to marry over.”

“Nonsense!” Gu Chang was startled upon hearing this and stood up, looking around. “Where is there a daughter-in-law who doesn’t serve her parents-in-law? I see that with me away from home, your courage has grown.”

Gu Xi covered her mouth and smiled.

Her brother still felt sorry for her after all.

She thought of the unfortunate Li family and couldn’t help bringing up their matter: “Do they still have a chance to turn things around? I heard Master Shen is running around everywhere for them. This kind of thing is too sordid. I feel that by doing this, Master Shen will ruin his reputation.”

“What do you know?” Seeing no one around, Gu Chang felt somewhat reassured and sat back down, scolding his sister: “Li Duan is Master Shen’s student. At this time he has only two paths: first, draw a clear line with the Li family; second, run around for them. Given Master Shen’s character, he must run around for them—otherwise why would he have ended up resigning and returning home? As for the Li family’s matter, it depends on whether Pei Xiguang is willing to help them. The current Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is Zhang Ying’s second son, who has close private relations with Pei Xiguang. If he speaks up, the Li family paying some fines and escaping unscathed isn’t impossible.”