Yu Tang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I really have no feelings for Lord Gu.”

Miss Xu didn’t quite believe her. “The way you look at Lord Gu seems like you’re quite familiar with him.”

Yu Tang had no choice but to say, “That’s because I know his younger sister, Miss Gu. Haven’t you ever had such a situation?”

Miss Xu understood. “Meeting an acquaintance in a distant place?!”

“Exactly!” Yu Tang smiled. “Miss Gu is about to marry into our Lin’an.”

So they would be seeing each other constantly.

Miss Xu nodded, indicating she understood, and hesitated about whether to tell Yu Tang about Yin Mingyuan’s young cousin.

Yu Tang happened to pull her over to the round table in the inner room, personally poured her a cup of tea, and asked with a smile, “What did you come to see me about? Don’t tell me you have some grievance with this Miss Yin from the Yin family?”

The urge to speak that Miss Xu had forcibly suppressed was immediately provoked again.

She stamped her feet. “How is it that I have a grievance with her? It’s clearly she who has a grievance with me! You don’t know this person. If you knew her, you wouldn’t be able to stand her either. Now it’s good—she’s getting married. Let’s see if she still dares to frown whenever she sees me.”

Once Miss Yin married, Miss Xu would be her sister-in-law from her natal family. No matter what, she should show her respect.

Hearing Miss Xu’s tone, it seemed Miss Yin was very dissatisfied with her. Yu Tang smiled. “She’s your sister-in-law. If you don’t restrain yourself and really bully her, and she complains to Lord Yin, what will you have Young Master Yin and Lord Yin do?”

Miss Xu was very distressed hearing this. “You don’t know—the first time I met her, she was only seven or eight years old, but she had a stern face and asked me if I was her third brother’s wife. She even said I talked too much, was too noisy, liked to meddle in other people’s business, and that if I wanted to marry into their family, I had to follow the rules properly—womanly speech, womanly virtue, none could be lacking. I was so angry at the time that I said I would never marry into their family, so she could rest assured. If their family broke off the engagement, there were plenty of people outside lined up waiting to marry me.

“Who knew that after hearing this, she immediately became like a lit firecracker, her face red as she grabbed my collar demanding I go apologize to Yin Mingyuan. She said she would tell my father and mother about this and have them discipline me properly.

“How was I to know that despite being small, she had such strength? She choked my throat so it hurt. I couldn’t bear it anymore and pushed her.

“She fell to the ground.

“The servant by my side immediately helped her up and asked if she was uncomfortable anywhere. She didn’t speak, just kept shaking her head.

“Who would have thought that after she went back, it was discovered her arm was dislocated… Not only did I apologize to her, but my father made me go take care of her for several days. Yet she still wouldn’t let it go and insisted I promise my father that when I grew up, I would definitely marry Yin Mingyuan.”

Miss Xu’s voice grew smaller and smaller as she spoke. “I didn’t do it on purpose. And her too—at such a young age, she could endure so much, forcing herself not to make a sound.”

When it came down to it, Miss Xu still felt quite guilty—otherwise she wouldn’t remember it so clearly.

Besides, who hasn’t done a few wrong things when they were young?

Yu Tang held Miss Xu’s hand and patted it gently. “Everyone’s grown up now. When we think back on childhood, we only feel it’s interesting and endearing. I think Miss Yin isn’t someone who holds grudges either. She surely doesn’t blame you anymore.”

Miss Xu might have felt better after speaking about it. She let out a long sigh. “Though I was mischievous growing up, I never hurt anyone. She’s the only person I pushed down. It’s natural that she doesn’t like me.” Then she changed the subject. “Speaking of which, her situation is somewhat similar to yours. In earlier years, Yin Mingyuan’s second uncle was still planning to keep Miss Yin at home. I don’t know why he changed his mind later. Perhaps live-in sons-in-law are really hard to find? In any case, I’m quite happy she can marry out. At least we won’t have to see each other every day.”

Yu Tang wanted to cheer Miss Xu up and deliberately teased her, “Even if she stayed at home, she wouldn’t see you every day, would she? Stop worrying about it. If she had stayed home, you could just treat each other with mutual respect. Now that she’s marrying out, just be polite to her and fulfill your responsibility as a sister-in-law. But I think that no matter what, the Yin family’s aunts are so famous that whether she marries out or not, she’ll probably still manage your family’s affairs.”

Miss Xu pouted. “That’s why the Yin family’s aunts… can be quite annoying sometimes.”

Yu Tang laughed heartily.

Miss Xu thought about it and found it amusing too. She laughed along and began to gossip with Yu Tang about the Yin family. “Several of the Yin family’s aunts also felt they should keep Yin Mingyuan’s cousin at home. I heard his second uncle agreed and raised Miss Yin like a boy. She’s not only proficient in estate management but also manages shops. They say some accountants need half a day to calculate accounts, but when they reach her hands, she understands them at a glance. Yin Mingyuan felt that having such a sister could save him a lot of trouble. Who knew things would change so suddenly? You don’t know—the first time I heard that Third Madam Yang, entrusted by several aunts, was finding a husband’s family for Miss Yin, I was so surprised my jaw nearly dropped. I was thinking at the time that if she could marry before age twenty, the Yin family’s ancestral graves would be smoking with good fortune… Fortunately I only thought about it and didn’t say it out loud. Otherwise today would be awkward.”

Miss Xu really dared to say anything.

The little person in Yu Tang’s heart wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Miss Xu imagined: “Tell me, after Miss Yin and Gu Chaoyang marry, will they live at the Gu family’s old residence in Hangzhou? Or will she follow Gu Chaoyang to the capital?”

Either was possible.

Yu Tang couldn’t guess.

In her previous life, Miss Sun had lived at the Gu family’s old residence in Hangzhou.

Miss Xu said to Yu Tang with some regret, “Miss Yin might go to the capital, but you still have to stay in Lin’an.” Speaking to this point, she began to let her imagination run wild, her eyes brightening. “How about I have my mother adopt you as a goddaughter? That way you could come visit me often.”

Yu Tang smiled. “Do you know how long it takes to travel from the capital to Hangzhou? Even if I became your mother’s goddaughter, I couldn’t visit you often! But don’t worry—right now I’m still learning shop management from my uncle and cousin. Later I might go to the capital with my cousin to have a look. When that time comes and I impose on you, don’t pretend you don’t know me.”

“That would be wonderful!” Miss Xu said happily. “I might forget anyone else, but I could never forget you! You must keep your word—if you come to the capital, you must come find me.”

Yu Tang nodded with a beaming smile.

The two of them chatted about this and that for quite a while before Miss Xu took her leave.

Yu Tang had originally spent half the day accompanying Miss Xu and the others on their outing, then rode back in a mule cart that jolted terribly over the stone-paved streets. She was already quite exhausted. Once Miss Xu left, she washed up and collapsed onto her bed.

But she couldn’t fall asleep no matter what, still thinking about Gu Chang’s matter.

Who had arranged the match for Gu Chang?

If Gu Chang married Miss Yin, his official career should go more smoothly than in his previous life, shouldn’t it?

If that was the case, she could somewhat understand why Gu Chang would form a marriage alliance with the Yin family.

However, Gu Chang must be nearly ten years older than Miss Yin, right?

If Gu Xi knew that Gu Chang had married such a prominent sister-in-law for her, she would surely be quite proud, wouldn’t she?

In her previous life, she had often complained that Miss Sun’s family had dragged down Gu Chang…

Yu Tang thought it over and over, and realized that if she wanted to know about these matters, asking Pei Yan would be most appropriate.

She discovered that whenever she had something on her mind, she wanted to find Pei Yan… When had Pei Yan become so important in her life?

Yu Tang frowned, somewhat unwilling to admit it, and feeling a bit distressed.

After Pei Yan married a wife in the future, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to seek him out anymore, would it? Even if she was perfectly aboveboard about it, Pei Yan’s wife would surely be unhappy seeing another woman come looking for Pei Yan.

She lay with her eyes open, staring blankly at the bed canopy, and unknowingly fell asleep.

The next day, she was awakened by a burst of laughter.

Yu Tang opened her eyes and found that only Qing Lian was keeping watch in the room. Shuang Tao, who should have been on duty, was nowhere to be seen.

She couldn’t help but ask, “What’s happened?”

Qing Lian quickly said, “Isn’t Lord Gu getting betrothed to the Yin family? Lord Gu needs to return home to inform his family elders. He was preparing to leave early this morning and sent a young attendant to distribute red envelopes to the servant women, saying he was thanking everyone for taking care of him these past days.”

So Shuang Tao had gone to collect a red envelope? That’s why it was so lively outside?

Yu Tang was just thinking about this when Shuang Tao walked in beaming with joy. Seeing that Yu Tang had awakened, she quickly waved the red envelope in her hand. “Miss, I see Lord Gu is quite generous. Not only did I get several red envelopes for Miss Qing Lian, I also got several for you.”

Shuang Tao didn’t like Gu Xi, and by extension didn’t much care for Gu Chang either. She probably felt that making Gu Chang spend a bit like this was like digging into Gu Xi’s corner, which made her feel better.

It was just that this behavior didn’t quite fit with the Pei household’s usual conduct.

But after Shuang Tao returned home, she would be preparing to marry, so this approach actually better suited the life of common neighborhoods and alleys.

Yu Tang didn’t plan to restrain Shuang Tao. She smiled. “Did Lord Gu bring a lot of silver for rewards?”

Shuang Tao pursed her lips. “They said they brought a whole basket of new coins, but I didn’t see that much.”

At least not as much as when they went to pay New Year’s respects to Old Madam Pei.

Though the Pei household’s servant women all acted jubilant while receiving the red envelopes and offering congratulations, there was no real smile in their eyes. She could tell they were being perfunctory—surely the Gu family people could see it too?

Shuang Tao felt a bit gleeful.

Gu Chang, on the other hand, was quite frustrated.

Just how rich was the Pei family that these servant women were unmoved even by his rewards?

Though he hadn’t rewarded much, it was still several coins—enough to buy a hair ornament or some melon seeds.

When Gu Xi married into the Pei family, how much dowry would he need to prepare for her?

Gu Chang thought of the marriage alliance with the Yin family.

How much betrothal gifts would he need to prepare to give the Yin family proper respect?

A simple yet clean little residence with a scholarly air—the Sun family home—suddenly flashed through Gu Chang’s mind.

Perhaps that was where he truly felt comfortable?

But this thought only flashed by before he quickly suppressed it in his heart.

He couldn’t struggle in the lower ranks for so many years like Sun Gao, finally getting an opportunity with great difficulty to join the cabinet as prime minister. He should have a residence like Pei Yan’s that seemed simple but was exquisite in every detail…