Pei Yan had no desire to acknowledge Yin Hao, but Yin Hao gripped him particularly tightly. If he wanted to break free, he’d have to use some force, which would inevitably involve undignified pushing and shoving. He simply stopped in his tracks and said, “You’re the one who came to counsel me, and you’re also the one holding me back from leaving. What exactly do you want? Must you feel satisfied only if I say I’m unhappy? But even if I tell you I’m unhappy, can you help me solve it? If you can help me solve it, come, come, come—I’ll tell you all about it.”

For a moment, Yin Hao truly didn’t dare to listen—what if Pei Yan said he wanted to permanently “keep” Wang Qibao in Hangzhou? Should he help or not?

Yin Hao laughed awkwardly.

This time, Pei Yan shook off Yin Hao’s hand with a light flick and strode out of the hall in large steps.

Fourth Steward and the others didn’t know what had happened inside the room. Seeing Pei Yan emerge, they all swarmed forward.

Pei Yan shot them a cutting glare.

Everyone consciously lowered their heads and stood in place.

By the time Yin Hao rushed out, he only saw a courtyard full of “wooden stakes.”

Pei Yan, in an irritable mood, went to the courtyard where Yu Tang resided. Seeing only a few young maids wiping the window frames, he remembered that Yu Tang had gone to Third Madam Yang’s place. But this delay made him hesitate.

Last time, he had merely asked how she knew Gu Chang, and she had gotten so angry she wouldn’t speak to him, her words dripping with sarcasm. If he went now to ask whether she was heartbroken over Gu Chang’s affair… he felt she might actually throw him out.

Perhaps he should wait a bit?!

Pei Yan stood there, unable to make up his mind.

Qing Lian, having received word, had already walked out with several young maids.

“Third Master!” They curtsied to Pei Yan.

Pei Yan nodded without speaking.

Qing Lian and the others dared neither ask more nor leave.

Everyone stood there rigidly.

The more Pei Yan thought about it, the more he felt his coming here was somewhat impulsive.

What if Yu Tang was truly heartbroken over this matter? Wouldn’t his questioning be like stabbing a knife into her chest?

Though he wasn’t a considerate person, he wasn’t so insensitive either.

Perhaps this matter should just be something he knew and she knew, and leave it at that?!

But Pei Yan felt he couldn’t swallow this frustration.

That Gu Chang wasn’t even as good to Yu Tang as he was—why should Yu Tang care so much about him?

Thinking this, Pei Yan’s mind suddenly brightened.

Yes! With which eye had he seen Yu Tang being good to Gu Chang or caring about Gu Chang?

It was entirely his own monologue!

Thinking this way, Pei Yan suddenly felt he had truly been unfair to Yu Tang back then—what he had doubted wasn’t the relationship between Yu Tang and Gu Chang, but Yu Tang’s character.

Pei Yan smiled somewhat awkwardly, secretly glad that his mind had been elsewhere and he had walked straight to where Yu Tang lived. If he had run into Yu Tang directly, wouldn’t there have been another pointless argument between them?

He let out a long sigh, feeling that he had been like a soul lost all morning, not doing a single thing right.

Pei Yan went to the small stream behind Yu Tang’s quarters and sat in the pavilion beside it, staring blankly into space.

When had he fallen for Yu Tang? Was it at their first meeting when he had felt regret thinking “what a beauty, yet why a thief,” or was it during the series of chance encounters afterward?

The specifics, he could no longer remember clearly.

It seemed she had been by his side for a long time already.

So long that he had grown accustomed to her presence, and his protection of her had become second nature.

If not for Gu Chang’s appearance, if not for Gu Chang’s poorly concealed admiration, he might never have discovered his own regard for the young girl.

But was this regard actually affection? Could this affection allow them to grow old together?

The very reason he had never considered marrying Yu Tang was because he had witnessed firsthand his senior brother Fei Zhiwen’s marriage, wasn’t it?

Pei Yan’s mood began to sink again.

He very much wanted to talk with Senior Brother Fei.

But this place was too far from the capital. Even if he rode at full gallop to the capital, by the time he saw Senior Brother Fei, he would probably have lost all desire to confide.

Pei Yan paced back and forth in the pavilion like a caged beast, not knowing when he might fail to suppress the violent energy in his heart and roar forth to injure someone.

Tao Qing, who had come looking for him, saw this scene from afar and was immediately alarmed. He quietly asked Fourth Steward, “How long has he been like this? Where is Lord Yin? Didn’t you say he was staying here? Why hasn’t he tried to counsel your Third Master?”

Pei Yan was the youngest among their group. When Old Master Pei was alive, he had been generous and helpful. Both the Tao and Yin families had received help from the old gentleman. Especially Tao Qing—if not for the sum of silver that Old Master Pei had secretly sent back then, he would most likely have taken his widowed mother and young brother to seek their livelihood elsewhere, and there would have been no subsequent Grand Master Tao or Lord Tao.

Their feelings toward Pei Yan were thus rather complex—by seniority he was a younger brother, but emotionally he was more like a nephew.

Fourth Steward groaned inwardly but dared not show the slightest sign of it. He still had to respond respectfully, “The Gu and Yin families are forming a marriage alliance. The matter was decided rather urgently, and Lord Yin is also running around frantically. He came to check on our Third Master just now, but Third Master wasn’t willing to say anything, and Lord Yin had no solution. Just before you arrived, Third Madam Yang sent someone to summon him, saying they wanted to invite Lord Qin and Lord Deng to the engagement banquet, and called Lord Yin over to write the invitations.”

For officials like Qin Wei and Deng Xuesong, if the Yin and Gu families sent invitations for their engagement, they would certainly come. But if Yin Hao personally went to invite them or personally wrote cards to be delivered, the significance would be different.

Tao Qing was well-versed in such matters and couldn’t blame Yin Hao. He dismissed Fourth Steward and walked directly over.

“Xiaguang,” he addressed Pei Yan directly by name, “there’s no obstacle in the world that cannot be overcome. Sit down first, and whatever it is, we’ll discuss it together. If that still doesn’t work, I’ll have someone fetch your second brother right now.”

Based on Tao Qing’s understanding of Pei Yan, what could trouble him this much certainly wasn’t external social obligations or a family crisis. Pei Yan seemed naturally gifted at handling such matters. Moreover, he enjoyed handling these things—not only did he not find them burdensome, he treated them as entertainment. What could affect Pei Yan this way could only be betrayal or conflict among family members or close relatives. Pei Xuan coming might not necessarily solve the problem, but at least he could comfort Pei Yan and let him know that his blood brother would always stand on his side.

Hearing this, Pei Yan indeed became less agitated than before.

He sat frowning on the beauty couch in the pavilion. A’Cha, who had come at Fourth Steward’s command to attend to him, ran over panting and directed the young servants to arrange cushions and serve tea and refreshments before withdrawing from the pavilion.

Tao Qing pointed to the bright red cushion with floral brocade patterns and said to Pei Yan, “Though it’s early summer, one mustn’t be careless. Sit on the cushion when talking.”

They all adhered to the Daoist philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi, emphasizing self-cultivation and nurturing one’s nature. Pei Yan also wanted someone to talk to and didn’t reject Tao Qing’s arrangement, sitting down on the nearby cushion.

Tao Qing felt slightly reassured. He personally passed over a cup of tea and said gently, “Have some tea to refresh yourself.”

Pei Yan didn’t refuse.

Only then did Tao Qing sit down and say, “Do you want to talk with me? If not, I’ll just sit here with you.”

Pei Yan stared at the teacup in his hand without speaking. After a long while, he said in a muffled voice, “Elder Brother, do you know about my Senior Brother Fei’s situation?”

Vice Minister of Personnel Fei Zhiwen?!

The Fei Zhiwen who had taken over Zhang Ying’s network and influence in the Ministry of Personnel after Zhang Ying retired?!

Tao Qing couldn’t possibly not know.

This time, with Tao An competing for the position of Jiangxi Provincial Governor, he was also an important figure.

But Tao Qing always acted prudently. Hearing this, he said, “Which aspect are you referring to? I’ve never had private dealings with him, only shared two meals because of A’an.”

Pei Yan didn’t raise his head and said softly, “He’s a descendant of the Fei family of Tongxiang. Because he was good at studies from a young age, he was quite rebellious and unruly when young. He was betrothed once as a child, but before the formal engagement, the other party passed away. Later, when he reached marriageable age, he took a liking to the daughter of a local gentry family near their farmland, and found ways to marry her…”

Speaking to this point, he stopped.

Tao Qing had heard a bit about Fei Zhiwen’s affairs. Combined with his own life experience, seeing Pei Yan’s expression of not knowing what to say, and recalling Pei Yan’s sudden late-night visit the other day, he couldn’t help but speculate, “Did things not go well for them afterward?”

Pei Yan nodded and said vaguely, “After Lady Fei married in, she couldn’t adapt in any aspect. Senior Brother Fei took her to the capital… but she also couldn’t adapt to the capital’s climate… Senior Brother Fei had no choice but to send her back to Tongxiang, letting her live separately in a country estate, and invited people from her natal family to accompany her…”

Speaking to this point, he stopped again as if finding it difficult to continue.

Tao Qing knew the crucial part was coming next.

He couldn’t help but hold his breath and said softly, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. Not even A’an.”

Pei Yan still hesitated for quite a while before saying, “Later that woman became involved with the estate steward and requested to be divorced…”

Tao Qing’s head buzzed.

He only knew that Fei Zhiwen had no children and had never taken concubines. He had assumed Fei Zhiwen was deeply devoted to his wife, never expecting…

Tao Qing’s throat tightened, unable to speak.

Pei Yan raised his head. His gaze was calm yet carried traces of deathly stillness as he said softly, “Elder Brother, I’ve never considered marrying a woman from outside the Jiangnan gentry families… I don’t know…”

Don’t know if he could walk life’s path with that person.

Also don’t know if that person knew his intentions and was willing to walk that path together with him.

He feared his affections were one-sided, and even more feared dragging an innocent woman into this.

Tao Qing’s scalp went numb.

With matters of the heart, any counsel would be wrong.

Especially with someone as strong-minded as Pei Yan.

Perhaps he had already made up his mind long ago and merely wanted someone to approve of his thinking, to prove he wasn’t so absurdly wrong, using this as an excuse for self-consolation.

But he also couldn’t refrain from giving his opinion.

He feared that if things ended badly, Pei Yan would attribute all the blame to himself and never be able to climb out of the quagmire.

Like Fei Zhiwen—no heir, no concubines, never visiting teahouses or wine shops, reportedly living more ascetically than a monk…

Tao Qing’s mind raced rapidly, yet he dared not let Pei Yan notice. His nervousness made his hands clench tightly into fists.

“Matters of the heart—no one can say for certain, and everyone’s situation is different,” he said ambiguously. “You need to tell me what you’re thinking before I can help you figure things out!”