Pei Yan strode over to the grand armchair and swept his robe aside as he sat down.

He felt he was no different from usual, but Qing Yuan quickly glanced at him.

Third Master’s movements just now seemed somewhat impatient, as if deliberately drawing attention.

Was Third Master trying to hide something?

Qing Yuan couldn’t figure it out.

Pei Yan had already spoken: “What? Did I wake you?”

Wasn’t that obvious?

Yu Tang grumbled inwardly, but was startled by Pei Yan’s gentle voice.

Her drowsiness was completely frightened away. She glanced at Pei Yan and saw that his expression was also gentle, not seeming insincere. Secretly amazed, she didn’t dare show it on her face and nodded with the corners of her mouth turned up.

Seeing this, Pei Yan suddenly realized he had been a bit too hasty.

In any case, he was home tonight and Miss Yu’s quarters were quite safe. Bringing Nanny Tao over tomorrow would have been fine too.

But since he had already come and woken her up, it was better to cut through this matter quickly. Otherwise, given his temperament, he definitely wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.

Pei Yan said, “Although we haven’t yet discovered how Gu Chang came to know you, I always feel this matter isn’t so simple. And there’s still the matter of Peng Shiyi and Li Duan—who knows when that will explode. I’m very worried, so I borrowed someone from the Tao family. Normally, you can treat her as a guest and show her respect, but once you leave this courtyard, you must take this servant with you—she knows martial arts. If you happen to encounter any trouble, she can help block it for you.”

Yu Tang was very surprised.

She had only seen such people in picture books, and they were all young, beautiful heroines.

Now that Pei Yan had brought over an older servant, she couldn’t help but say, “Since she’s an older servant, she must be quite advanced in years. Can she really manage?”

“Don’t worry!” Pei Yan said with complete confidence. “Elder Brother Tao does things very reliably. Since he could lend her to me, he must be quite certain. Just listen to me and you won’t go wrong.”

If he hadn’t mentioned it, Yu Tang would have nearly forgotten about Peng Shiyi and Li Duan. Now that Pei Yan brought it up, though she felt that what happened in her previous life definitely wouldn’t repeat itself in this life, she couldn’t reject Pei Yan’s good intentions and let him detect anything suspicious. She could only say, “Please rest assured, I’ll definitely act according to your instructions and take that servant with me when I leave this courtyard.”

Seeing that she had taken his words to heart, Pei Yan felt that since she could glimpse heavenly secrets, Peng Shiyi and Li Duan would sooner or later harm her as in her dreams. No amount of precaution on his part was excessive. Only after he could catch Peng Shiyi and Li Duan’s weaknesses and deal with these two people would Miss Yu truly be safe.

He repeatedly instructed Yu Tang several times before having someone invite Nanny Tao in.

Nanny Tao wore a fine cloth bright blue plain-faced outer robe with white inner garments. Her back was ramrod straight, and she looked clean, neat, solemn, and dignified.

She came forward to bow to Yu Tang and greet her, appearing somewhat silent.

Since Yu Tang knew what kind of person she was, she looked at her like seeing an older, retired heroine. Naturally she was very courteous to her, telling her that if there was anything, she could go directly to Qing Yuan. She then served tea and asked Qing Yuan to take her down to rest.

Seeing everything go smoothly, Pei Yan was greatly pleased and strode away vigorously.

Yu Tang sighed.

She could feel Pei Yan’s goodwill and was very grateful that he had gone to the Tao family to borrow someone. But if only Pei Yan could be less awkward and more forthright, it would be more perfect.

Perhaps this confirmed that saying “there are no perfect people in the world.” Perhaps this was Pei Yan’s shortcoming, Pei Yan’s flaw.

What could she do?

She could only slowly adapt and find a way to accept it!

Yu Tang returned to her room and lay on the bed, only managing to fall asleep again after much difficulty.

Yin Hao, meanwhile, yawned continuously while waiting for Pei Yan to return.

“Where did you go?” he asked worriedly. “Nothing happened with Wang Qibao, did it?”

Pei Yan subconsciously didn’t want to tell Yin Hao about this matter. He said somewhat vaguely, “This is Hangzhou, not Suzhou. What could happen to Wang Qibao? Would I let something happen to Wang Qibao here?”

Yin Hao was speechless.

Although the Pei family’s ancestral home was Lin’an, they secretly controlled Hangzhou and were actually the local power in the city.

Nothing could happen to Wang Qibao in Hangzhou.

Yin Hao pondered secretly.

No wonder the Pei household was somewhat short-handed.

He suspected Pei Yan had dispatched some people to Wang Qibao’s location, both to guard and to monitor.

No wonder Pei Yan could always get news earlier than they could.

Yin Hao glared at Pei Yan. “I was just worried something happened to you!”

Pei Yan dismissively snorted coldly without speaking.

Yin Hao looked at him and didn’t seem like anything was wrong. Thinking that Pei Yan was extremely cunning—he only schemed against others, how could others scheme against him… Of course, if Pei Yan really was schemed against, he would only clap and cheer, eager to meet whoever had such ability.

He laughed and brought up Gu Chang’s matter: “Third Madam Yang thinks it’s feasible. I’m planning to invite him for lunch tomorrow. Come along then too. You can also give him some guidance.”

Pei Yan had no interest in getting involved in Gu Chang’s affairs. He glanced sideways at Yin Hao. “Do you really want me to go? When I was in the capital, I heard someone say that among the young scholars, the only one whose virtue, character, and appearance he admired was your Yin Mingyuan! Do you think it’s appropriate for me to go?”

The corner of Yin Hao’s mouth twitched.

As Zhang Ying’s last disciple, Pei Yan had been too prominent in the capital back then and was envied and resented by many people openly and secretly. What Pei Yan was saying now clearly hinted that Gu Chang was also one of those who envied and resented him. This kind of stripping away of fig leaves—if Pei Yan were present, it would only embarrass Gu Chang. Not only would a marriage alliance be impossible, they might become enemies the moment words were spoken.

Yin Hao mocked him: “If you don’t want to go, just don’t go. Why bring up Gu Chaoyang? No matter how much Gu Chaoyang envies and resents you, he’s still continuing to work in officialdom! And you? You retired to inherit the family business. No matter how capable you are, you can only be capable within your own little territory. Whatever envy or resentment he had has probably been released by now.”

Pei Yan angrily drove Yin Hao away.

Yin Hao really didn’t dare let him go as the persuader now.

At noon the next day, he invited Gu Chang to lunch at the water pavilion in Pei Yan’s home.

The Pei family’s chef, wearing coarse blue cloth garments and holding a knife, waited by the water pavilion with a group of apprentices. Yin Hao and Gu Chang sat side by side on small folding stools by the lake, each holding a fishing rod.

“Xiaguang really knows how to enjoy life!” Yin Hao gazed at the lake surface where lotus leaves were just emerging and sighed. “Look at this setup. If I were him, I’d also be willing to retire and return home to inherit the family business. No wonder Zhou Zijin is so jealous of him his heart itches. This guy never lets himself suffer a loss anywhere.”

Gu Chang smiled without speaking.

Someone idling away in the countryside waiting for death—no matter how brilliant they once were, after a long time away from court, their influence gradually diminishing, what could they use to protect family interests? What was there to envy?

He would never become such a person!

Watching, Yin Hao’s spirits lifted and he began slowly revealing the Yin family’s plans to Gu Chang: “However, people have different aspirations. Though I’m envious, if you asked me to truly give up my great prospects in the capital and return home like Xiaguang, I definitely wouldn’t be willing…”

Meanwhile, Yu Tang and Miss Xu were preparing to go out for a stroll.

Because she had received advance notice from Pei Yan, yesterday afternoon Third Madam Yang had changed her itinerary at the last minute to visit Qin Wei, the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhejiang. Madam Qin was very surprised by Third Madam Yang’s visit, but fortunately Third Madam Yang was an expert at socializing and quickly convinced Madam Qin that the Qin family had always been on her visiting list. They hit it off immediately, even agreeing to visit silver shops together this afternoon.

Miss Xu quietly told her, “We’re not going there—it’s too constraining. We’ll do our own touring and come back together when it’s time. The Pei family’s mule cart is quite comfortable to ride in, but being watched and discussed wherever we go isn’t so good.”

Yu Tang only planned to be a good companion today. She smiled and agreed, then asked Nanny Tao who was following her, “Are you getting used to things?”

Nanny Tao smiled and assented. “Miss, just call me Nanny Tao. I’ve lived in Hangzhou for over twenty years. There’s not a corner or alley I’m not familiar with. Wherever Miss wants to go, I can help lead the way.”

Yu Tang’s eyes lit up when she heard this. She smiled. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony and will call you Nanny Tao.”

Nanny Tao nodded repeatedly.

Yu Tang then mentioned several century-old shops where Miss Xu wanted to buy gifts.

Nanny Tao quickly told them how to get there.

Yu Tang excitedly discussed with Miss Xu where to go first and then where to go next, asking Nanny Tao what other good things Hangzhou had to sell that outsiders didn’t know about. However, Third Madam Yang still hadn’t departed.

After half an incense stick’s time, Miss Xu couldn’t bear it anymore and had A’Fu go inquire what had happened on Third Madam Yang’s end.

Soon, A’Fu came running back. “Third Madam Yang is writing a letter. She asks the two young ladies to wait a moment—she’ll be right there.”

As it turned out, they waited another two incense sticks’ worth of time before Third Madam Yang finally emerged with a beaming smile. She first called a young attendant to deliver the letter, then said to Miss Xu, “You’ve all been waiting anxiously, haven’t you? Today I’ll treat you to Hangzhou’s most famous Dingding cake. How about it?”

Miss Xu immediately forgot the frustration of waiting and asked Nanny Tao, “Where’s the best one?”

Nanny Tao first glanced at Third Madam Yang. Seeing her expression remain gentle, she said, “I do know of one place, at the North Gate night market.”

Third Madam Yang said, “Where’s the North Gate night market? Judging by the name, it should operate at night. Do they do business during the day?”

Nanny Tao smiled. “Theirs is a small business. They sell during the day and at night too—otherwise how could they make money!”

The group laughed and chatted as they went to Hangzhou’s largest silver shop, Changxing Hall.

But when Yu Tang returned that evening, she was stunned by shocking news.

Gu Chang was actually going to form a marriage alliance with the Yin family!

He would marry the daughter of Yin Mingyuan’s second uncle’s family.

How could this be?

Then… then what about Miss Sun?

Yu Tang felt that after her rebirth, many things had become chaotic. She could no longer see the path forward at all.

When Miss Xu excitedly ran over to gossip with Yu Tang about this matter, she saw her looking dispirited and thought Yu Tang had been struck by this news. She quickly comforted Yu Tang: “Think about it—your family has few members, and you need to recruit a live-in son-in-law. How could Gu Chaoyang possibly become a live-in son-in-law? Since he has no connection with you, just pretend you don’t know him.”