Miss Wu breathed a sigh of relief and said quietly to Gu Xi, “Keeping one eye on the bowl while watching the pot—isn’t she afraid of offending the Pei family? And when Miss Xu returns to the capital later, she’ll be left with nothing on either side.”

Gu Xi glanced at Miss Wu but didn’t make a sound, though in her heart she cursed Miss Wu thoroughly.

Pei Yan was also in Hangzhou. Who knew whether Yu Tang was accompanying Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang, or going to “coincidentally encounter” Pei Yan?

But whether it was the former or the latter, it made her very uncomfortable.

This Yu Tang, jumping up and down everywhere, was quite formidable.

She wanted to marry into the Pei family, didn’t she?

However, she also didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth.

There was a world of difference between wife and concubine.

She could only hope Yu Tang wouldn’t cry when the time came.

While Gu Xi was inwardly criticizing, Yu Tang, Miss Xu, and Third Madam Yang, escorted by Pei Qi, had already returned to Lin’an city.

Yu Tang was thinking of inviting Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang to stay at her home for a night, then take a boat to Hangzhou the next morning.

Hu Xing, who had accompanied them down the mountain, quickly stepped forward with a smile and bowed to Yu Tang, saying, “Miss needn’t go to such trouble. The boat is already prepared and waiting at Tiaoxi Wharf. If we board now and sleep for the night, we’ll arrive in Hangzhou early tomorrow morning without any delay.”

This was the proper travel mode for great aristocratic households.

Yu Tang’s face turned slightly red.

Miss Xu came to her rescue, smiling: “I know you want to invite us to your home as guests, but I’m afraid Second Brother Yin is already waiting for us in Hangzhou. Let’s skip it this time. Next time we come to Lin’an, we’ll definitely impose on you for a few days—just don’t find us annoying then.”

Yu Tang repeatedly said “I wouldn’t dare,” and passing by her own door without entering, she followed the Pei residence’s mule cart to the wharf. The Pei family’s servants swarmed up to help them move their trunks and boxes. Yu Tang, supported by Qing Yuan, entered the cabin.

The boat the Pei family had sent out had seven cabins. In Lin’an it could be considered one of the top boats, but Yu Tang had been to Hangzhou before and had seen even larger boats there, so she didn’t gawk around and went directly to the cabin assigned to her.

Qing Ping and Qing Lian brought water in for Yu Tang. Shuang Tao reached out to take it, but Qing Ping avoided her and smiled: “Sister Shuang Tao should also go rest. Qing Lian and I will attend to Miss first. Sister Shuang Tao can keep Miss company tonight.”

All seven cabins were suites, with a large room, a small room, and a storage room. The small room was Yu Tang’s room, the large room was a reception room. The servant girls on duty slept on the bed in the small room or on the arhat couch in the reception room, and normally rested in the second-level cabin.

Shuang Tao felt she hadn’t done much these past days and smiled: “Why don’t I attend to Miss, and one of you can rest first?”

Qing Ping smiled and said, “Sister Shuang Tao is someone close to Miss. This is Miss’s first time spending the night on a boat—it’s better to have someone familiar nearby.”

Shuang Tao felt embarrassed.

The Yu family didn’t have so many formalities, and Yu Tang had never enjoyed such care.

But she felt Qing Ping made sense. Without being polite, she thanked Qing Ping and Qing Lian with “Then I’ll trouble you both” and went down to rest.

Qing Ping and Qing Lian helped Yu Tang change clothes. Then Qing Yuan came in to report: “Tonight we’ve prepared eight-treasure duck, steamed fish, dried scallop soup, two stir-fried seasonal vegetables, one dessert, and the late-night snack will be small wontons. Miss, please see if there’s anything to add or remove. Should we dine separately in our rooms or together with Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang?”

Everyone was somewhat tired from traveling. Yu Tang smiled: “I plan to have dinner in my own room. See what Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang prefer and make arrangements accordingly.”

She discovered that Qing Yuan was exceptionally skilled at handling interpersonal relationships. She only needed to tell Qing Yuan what she wanted to do, and Qing Yuan could handle all the details well. Like this time—she said she wanted to dine in her own room, and Qing Yuan would politely yet properly convey her meaning to Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang, making them feel that everyone dining separately in their own rooms was the best arrangement.

This kind of talent was something even some household matrons might not possess as well as Qing Yuan.

It showed that capable talents all went to great aristocratic families like the Pei residence.

Of course, cultivating such a senior maid also required considerable effort.

Qing Yuan left with a smile and acknowledgment.

Yu Tang didn’t have a late-night snack that evening. Lying in the gently rocking cabin, she arrived in Hangzhou early the next morning.

Shopkeeper Tong’er came to receive them.

Yu Tang immediately went forward to greet Shopkeeper Tong’er.

Shopkeeper Tong’er was also very warm upon seeing her, praising her with a smile for “growing up” and looking more and more like Yu Wen.

Yu Tang thanked him.

Shopkeeper Tong’er went to greet Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang, then led them toward Meijia Bridge.

Yu Tang quietly asked Qing Yuan, “Why are we staying at Meijia Bridge?”

The Pei family also had their own residence in Hangzhou. The residence at Meijia Bridge was Pei Yan’s private residence.

Qing Yuan didn’t know either and said, “I’ll ask Pei Qi when I see him. However, the scenery at the Meijia Bridge residence is very good, with many plum trees planted. When Old Lord Qian was alive, he often entertained high officials from the capital there. It was even rated by people from the capital as one of the ten great residences of Jiangnan. Later, after Old Lord Qian passed away, the Meijia Bridge residence was left empty and hasn’t entertained guests for many years. That Miss can go this time is perfect for having a look—it won’t be a wasted trip!”

Yu Tang nodded repeatedly.

Qing Yuan told her, “The Third Master’s residence at Meijia Bridge is famous for its luxuriant flowers and trees. The residence near Qingbo Gate is famous for its lake views and night scenery. The villa near Phoenix Mountain has the most beautiful layered green mountain colors. Unlike the Pei family’s old residence in Hangzhou, which is right on Xiaohe Imperial Street—convenient for going out, but without any special features.”

Yu Tang found this somewhat strange.

Didn’t Pei Yan dislike flowers and plants?

Could it be that because they were female family members, he arranged for them to stay at Meijia Bridge?

But when they arrived at Meijia Bridge, before she had time to carefully examine the residence that occupied half the street, she saw Pei Yan.

He stood at the main gate of the residence, wearing a moon-white Hangzhou silk robe with a subtle bamboo leaf pattern, adorned with a sky-blue jade pouch. His features were handsome and upright, his posture straight as a ramrod. Standing there quietly, he was as beautiful as a painting.

Was he… waiting here for her…

Yu Tang’s heart grew warm, and she felt her face burning hot as well.

Pei Qi quickly ran over to Pei Yan and whispered a few words in his ear.

Pei Yan then walked over and bowed to Third Madam Yang, who had just gotten off the carriage: “I didn’t expect such a coincidence. I was just about to go see Eunuch Wang. I can only wait until I return from Eunuch Wang’s place to properly welcome you.” Only after saying this did he glance at Yu Tang.

Yu Tang was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground, thinking how fortunate it was that she had lived two lives—otherwise she definitely wouldn’t have been able to control herself and would have revealed her true thoughts.

She lowered her head.

Third Madam Yang, with Miss Xu, curtsied to Pei Yan.

Yu Tang also followed with a curtsy.

Only then did Third Madam Yang say with a smile, “I originally said we’d just find an inn in Hangzhou to stay at, but Old Madam wouldn’t agree. It would be ungracious to refuse, so we’re imposing on you!”

“You’re too kind.” Pei Yan exchanged a few pleasantries with Third Madam Yang, Miss Xu, and Yu Tang about “settling in comfortably” and such, saying that his appointment time with Wang Qibao was approaching. He boarded his carriage and left.

Miss Xu immediately became much more lively, linking arms with Yu Tang: “Let’s stay together. This residence looks very large—if we stay too far apart, there won’t even be anyone to talk to.”

In an unfamiliar place, it was naturally better to have company.

She agreed with a smile.

Shopkeeper Tong’er led them to the guest courtyard.

Yu Tang was prepared to stay with Miss Xu, but unexpectedly Shopkeeper Tong’er said a place had already been arranged for Yu Tang. Although it was right next to the courtyard where Miss Xu was staying, it was a courtyard with five main rooms. She felt it was somewhat spacious.

Qing Yuan, however, thought it was just right. She pointed to the three-room wing buildings on the east and west sides: “This side has been made into a study, that side is for Sister Shuang Tao and those on duty to live in. Some of your things will have to be placed in the reverse-facing rooms in the back. I think it’s still a bit small.”

Yu Tang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “We’re only staying temporarily for a few days.”

Qing Yuan said, “Even so, we can’t shortchange ourselves!”

Yu Tang was speechless.

She didn’t feel shortchanged at all.

However, since everything had already been arranged, if she changed places now, Qing Yuan and the others would have to reorganize the courtyard for her, which would be even more troublesome.

Yu Tang simply adapted to circumstances and settled in.

At noon, she had lunch together with Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang.

After lunch, Third Madam Yang went for an afternoon nap, while the energetic Miss Xu pulled Yu Tang to tour the residence.

Yu Tang also wanted to look around, so accompanied by Qing Ping and Qing Lian, they walked slowly along the covered corridors of the residence.

Miss Xu looked up at the paintings of treasure lotus lanterns and other images on top of the corridor and said to Yu Tang with a smile, “The residences in the north all have covered corridors like this, painted with blue-green images like these. I didn’t expect to encounter them in a residence here. This corridor must have been built imitating northern residences.”

Qing Ping heard this and smiled: “Miss Xu is very perceptive. All the covered corridors in this residence were added later. I heard that one year Hangzhou had heavy rain that didn’t stop for two months. Old Lord Qian found it inconvenient, so he had these covered corridors built. Following these corridors, you can tour most of the residence!”

Miss Xu nodded with a smile and asked Qing Ping if she knew how to get to the plum grove.

Evidently she had also heard of this residence.

Qing Ping then accompanied them to see the plum grove.

The plum grove covered about ten mu. Since it was past the season when plum blossoms bloomed, the plum trees were all bare and not so attractive. But the small bridges, flowing water, warm pavilions, and bamboo groves nearby were also quite pleasing to the eye.

Miss Xu said, “The scenery along both sides of the covered corridors is still better to look at—flowers blooming wall after wall, trees growing patch after patch. Not only spacious and open, but also very grand. Not like ordinary gardens that are very refined, with Taihu rocks everywhere. Elegant is elegant, but after seeing too much, it feels a bit cramped.”

Yu Tang smiled gently.

The two of them toured the residence for half an hour, but the covered corridor seemed endless, winding who knows where. Even Miss Xu got a bit lost and asked Qing Ping, “You still remember the way back, right?”

Qing Ping smiled: “Even if I don’t remember, it doesn’t matter. We can just call a servant girl on duty.”

But along the way they had encountered very few maids.

Miss Xu pursed her lips and said to Yu Tang, “See what I mean about large residences not being good? Like our family—as soon as you go out you can see brothers and sisters from the household, lively and bustling. How nice.”

That was probably also because the Pei family’s numbers weren’t flourishing, wasn’t it?

If Pei Yan had seven or eight brothers, would they still worry about the residence being too empty?

Yu Tang’s thoughts wandered as she found a passing maid to lead the way back to their courtyard.