Zhao Zhen and Pei Qi had both learned martial arts from Zhao Zhen’s father. In terms of martial skills alone, Zhao Zhen naturally surpassed Pei Qi, but this wasn’t something that could be resolved by force alone!

If not for the sutra lecture gathering, Peng Shiyi and Miss Yu would never have had the chance to meet. And Peng Shiyi could only possibly come into contact with Miss Yu during the sutra lecture gathering.

Then, wasn’t this the most dangerous time for Miss Yu?

And though he’d said he believed Miss Yu, in reality he’d been dismissive in his heart—otherwise he wouldn’t have failed to take Miss Yu’s words to heart at all.

So now, because of him, Miss Yu was currently in danger!

As soon as Pei Yan thought of Yu Tang’s current situation, he immediately felt panicked, his palms breaking out in cold sweat.

This wouldn’t do!

He had to find a way to keep Peng Shiyi and Miss Yu far apart.

Moreover, the Peng family had power and influence, and wasn’t a family that acted with much propriety. If they truly intended to scheme against Miss Yu, how could Miss Yu have the ability to protect herself… The best method was still to keep her under his own watchful eye.

Pei Yan began pacing back and forth in the room again, saying to Zhao Zhen, “Go call Pei Qi back. Tell him I have urgent business for him to handle immediately.”

Zhao Zhen scratched his head.

Pei Yan was an extremely decisive person—every word he spoke counted, and he had never been as changeable as he was now.

What was going on with the Third Master?

Though he didn’t understand, he still obediently went to find Pei Qi.

Zhou Zijin broke out in a cold sweat upon seeing the letter Pei Qi had delivered. Without bothering to change clothes, he clutched the letter tightly and rushed toward Pei Yan’s place in his shoes.

The two groups met halfway. Before Zhao Zhen could speak, Zhou Zijin had already imperiously instructed him, “Prepare horses and carriages for me immediately. I need to go to the capital!”

With such a major incident befalling the Zhang family, things were surely in complete chaos. He needed to go help. If necessary, he would go to Jiangxi to escort Zhang Shao’s coffin back to the capital.

Zhang Shao’s eldest son was only seven years old this year, still a confused child who understood nothing!

As the thought flashed through Zhou Zijin’s mind, the corners of his eyes grew moist.

When he saw Pei Yan, he immediately spoke bluntly: “Xiaguang, what on earth is going on here? You’ve been investigating Peng Yu—did you detect something early on but just had no evidence and couldn’t say anything? Also, regarding Old Lord Zhang, will you come with me to the capital?”

When Pei Yan had left the capital, he had secretly sworn never to set foot in the capital again in this lifetime.

He lowered his eyelids.

Zhou Zijin understood.

He smiled bitterly: “Asking you to return would indeed be difficult for you. However, Old Lord Zhang is most fond of you. Write him a letter, and I’ll take it when I go to the capital.”

Pei Yan slowly nodded and instructed Zhao Zhen to tell Shu Qing to go to the capital with Zhou Zijin in his place to console Old Lord Zhang, to stay there and help out, and only return after Zhang Shao’s thirty-fifth day memorial had passed.

Zhao Zhen acknowledged and was about to leave when Pei Yan called him back. After hesitating for a while, he said, “You should also go to the capital with Shu Qing and help me investigate Li Duan’s whereabouts.”

The Li family’s lawsuit wasn’t finished yet, and he and his younger brother Li Jun were still staying in the capital to handle matters for Li Yi.

Pei Yan felt very uneasy.

In Yu Tang’s dream, she had developed murderous intent because of a dispute between Peng Shiyi and Li Duan, so Li Duan must have also been present.

He needed to confirm where Li Duan was right now!

Pei Yan instructed Pei Qi, “You return to Zhaoming Temple, see what Peng Shiyi is doing, then find a way to bring Miss Yu to Hangzhou.”

This way, Pei Yan would have no one left around him.

Shu Qing and the others were all astonished.

Zhou Zijin’s expression turned slightly angry as he said sternly, “At a time like this, you still have the mind to invite Miss Yu over.”

These words were rather serious.

At best they would affect Miss Yu’s reputation; at worst they would make people think he and Miss Yu had some kind of improper relationship.

Pei Yan’s expression was very unpleasant: “Brother Zhou, please be more careful with your words. Am I the kind of person who doesn’t know priorities? Not only do I feel something is wrong with Peng Yu’s side, I also feel Miss Yu will be in danger. I can’t explain to you why this is so, but Peng Yu’s matter will soon be verified. Right now I’m very worried about Miss Yu.”

Zhou Zijin didn’t doubt Pei Yan.

If Pei Yan had known early on that something would happen to Zhang Shao, he would certainly have done everything possible to save Zhang Shao.

Though usually carefree, when it came time to admit his mistakes, he wasn’t muddled.

Pei Yan felt that right now he had Yu Tang on one side and the Zhang residence on the other, both making him anxious. For the first time in his life, he felt powerless.

“Does Brother Zhou need to bring anything to the capital? I’ll have people prepare it immediately.” He just wanted to quickly resolve the Zhang residence’s matter, then focus wholeheartedly on resolving Miss Yu’s crisis.

Zhou Zijin shook his head: “Whatever I lack, I can get once I reach the capital. Once you have the carriage ready here, I’ll be prepared to depart.”

Pei Yan nodded and had Zhao Zhen stop by Shopkeeper Tong’er’s place when leaving to get ten thousand taels in banknotes for Zhou Zijin, saying, “We still don’t know what the situation is like in the capital. Taking more silver can’t hurt.”

Zhou Zijin trusted Pei Yan. He had come to hate the Peng family, feeling they were bullying the Zhang family for having no one, kicking them while they were down. He snorted coldly: “Xiaguang, one matter doesn’t trouble two masters. I’ll take fifty thousand taels in silver from you first. The position of Jiangxi Provincial Administration Commissioner absolutely cannot go to the Peng family.”

This was exactly what Pei Yan wanted.

He had Zhao Zhen fetch the banknotes and said quietly to Zhou Zijin, “For Senior Brother Zhang’s sake, I bought an estate in Jiangxi. Senior Brother Zhang’s intention was to use grain to exchange for salt certificates when the time comes. I invested two hundred thousand taels there and don’t want others to reap the benefits.”

When Zhou Zijin was serious, he was more capable than anyone—otherwise he wouldn’t have the capital to run his mouth off everywhere.

He narrowed his eyes, not believing at all that Zhang Shao had accidentally fallen into the water. He said ominously, “Don’t worry, no matter who comes to sit in the Jiangxi Provincial Administration Commissioner position, it won’t be anyone from the Peng family or Sun Gao’s people.”

Pei Yan still felt at ease with Zhou Zijin handling matters.

He said, “As for Gu Zhaoyang’s side, leave it to me.”

Zhou Zijin grunted in acknowledgment, took the banknotes, and left with Zhao Zhen.

On Pei Qi’s side, after hearing Pei Yan’s instructions, he hurried to Zhaoming Temple.

Gu Zhaoyang and the others were receiving Wei Sanfu, so Pei Qi went first to Yu Tang’s place.

Yu Tang was very surprised after reading the letter and didn’t speak for a long while. It was only when Pei Qi, needing to deliver a letter to Gu Zhaoyang, kept making eyes at Qing Yuan, and Qing Yuan had no choice but to boldly step forward and ask with a smile, “What did the Third Master say? Is there anything you need me to do?”—only then did Yu Tang exclaim “Ah” and put away the letter, saying distractedly, “Nothing much. The Third Master wants me to go to Hangzhou. The sutra lecture gathering here isn’t over yet, and I still need to tell my mother…” Between her brows was a trace of light worry.

Pei Yan said he was worried about her safety and wanted her to go to Hangzhou.

She believed Pei Yan wouldn’t speak groundlessly, but how could she explain this to her father and mother?

Just as she was worrying, she suddenly thought of Miss Xu.

Perhaps she could go with Miss Xu?

She asked Pei Qi, “Did the Third Master say when he wants me to go?”

Pei Qi quickly replied, “He wants you to go as soon as possible.”

Yu Tang asked again, “Did the Third Master have any other instructions?”

Pei Qi said, “He told me to see what Master Peng Shiyi has been doing these days. If Master Peng Shiyi is still in Lin’an, to send him back.”

Was Pei Yan confirming her “dream”?

So he was worried about her safety and wanted her to stay by his side?

Yu Tang pressed her lips together.

Only she knew what had happened in her previous life. She wasn’t worried about her own safety—there were too many ways to avoid Li Duan. What she cared more about was what tricks the Peng family had played to make Pei Yan feel her current situation was very dangerous.

Having finally been reborn, she cherished her opportunity greatly.

Yu Tang thought for a moment and decided to find Miss Xu to ask when she was going to Hangzhou. “I haven’t been there in quite a while and would like to go with you.”

Miss Xu was overjoyed: “You can go to Hangzhou? Then do you want to go earlier? There’s nothing interesting about the sutra lectures here anyway, and that Miss Song Six keeps wandering around in front of us every day, which is annoying just to think about. I’ll go tell Third Madam right now, and we can go to Hangzhou earlier.”

Yu Tang agreed and asked Miss Xu, “If my mother asks, just say you invited me to go.”

Miss Xu was well-practiced at such things. She smiled and nodded at Yu Tang, patting her chest: “Leave it to me.”

Only then did Yu Tang go inform her parents.

Yu Wen felt this was nothing, but Chen Shi felt the timing was somewhat inconvenient.

This time the Wu and Wei families had received favors from the Yu family and had become even more enthusiastic toward the Yu family. Chen Shi had wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to find a suitable marriage for her daughter. She had planned to wait until Yu Tang recovered and take her around to various places. If they went to Hangzhou now, who knew when they’d have such an opportunity again. But in the end, Chen Shi still couldn’t argue against Yu Wen. Yu Wen waved his hand magnanimously and gave Yu Tang fifty taels of silver.

Chen Shi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

On the other side, Miss Xu clamored with Third Madam to go to Hangzhou with Yu Tang: “There’s nothing worth buying here, and First Madam Pei has heart-to-heart talks with you every day—even I’m tired of watching it. Pei Xiaguang happens to be in Hangzhou too, and when Second Brother Yin arrives in Hangzhou, he’ll definitely go see Pei Xiaguang. That Pei Xiaguang fellow never lets himself suffer a loss wherever he goes—we can follow Second Brother Yin and mooch meals at his place.”

Third Madam Yang felt she made a lot of sense and decided to leave the mountain with Yu Tang.

Yu Tang went to take leave of Old Madam Pei.

Old Madam Pei asked curiously, “Didn’t he say what urgent matter required you to go?”

Yu Tang figured Pei Yan felt Zhaoming Temple had too many people with loose lips and feared she might have some accident, so he wanted to keep her under his watchful eye to feel at ease.

Her ears burned. Feeling it was difficult to explain to Old Madam Pei, she could only say, “He only said it was urgent business, but didn’t say what kind of urgent business.”

“Then you should go quickly!” Old Madam Pei estimated that by this time Pei Yan should have already visited Wang Qibao. Perhaps he really did have some matter calling Yu Tang over.

Third Madam Yang found First Madam Pei tiresome. After hearing Miss Xu’s words, she decided to leave Lin’an early.

Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang also came to take leave of Old Madam Pei.

Old Madam Pei very much wanted to keep Third Madam Yang in Lin’an to play for a few more days, but Third Madam Yang used the excuse of having business to handle in Hangzhou and wouldn’t stay longer in Lin’an this time.

She urged Yu Tang to go quickly and had Second Madam personally escort her, Miss Xu, and Third Madam Yang to their carriage.

In less than half an hour, all the womenfolk in the eastern hall of the dharma hall knew that Yu Tang had accompanied Miss Xu and the others to Hangzhou.