Upon hearing this, Pei Yan quickly glanced at Yu Tang, then said thoughtfully: “I’ll still travel together with Second Sister-in-law—it’s better to have someone to look after each other on the road. Furthermore, I want to take Yu Shi with me to the capital. Before she married, she got along well with Yin Mingyuan’s wife. Taking advantage of this trip to the capital, I’ll have Yin Mingyuan’s wife take her around to various places—it’s much better than maintaining contact through letters alone. Once I’ve handled the capital’s affairs, I’ll bring her back to properly manage household matters and stop traveling about so casually.”
Yu Tang was extremely surprised.
Going to the capital—he was taking her too?
She couldn’t help but look toward Old Madam Pei.
Just then, Old Madam Pei also looked her way.
Their gazes collided in midair.
Old Madam Pei smiled.
The young girl’s face showed alarm and unease—she probably hadn’t expected Pei Yan to take her along, and feared she wouldn’t agree, even more afraid this would displease her, right?
Old Madam Pei’s heart softened.
She was still an inexperienced young girl—going out to see the world would be good for her.
Besides, she was her son’s beloved.
Thinking this, Old Madam Pei glanced at Pei Yan.
Saying it was to broaden her horizons was false—wanting to bring his wife along was the truth, wasn’t it?
Never mind anything else, just look at the Lantern Festival period—he took her everywhere, as if no one else knew.
“Then go together!” Old Madam Pei generously gave her blessing, saying: “Take plenty of clothes and jewelry. Our family’s clan wife, visiting the matrons of those great noble families in the capital for the first time—we can’t lose face.”
Pei Yan smiled in agreement and smiled at Yu Tang.
Yu Tang lowered her head bashfully, extremely grateful to Old Madam Pei.
She truly had encountered a good mother-in-law.
Even without comparing to her previous life, just looking at people around her—how many had their mothers-in-law become unhappy after just a few visits home? How many could be like her, following their husbands thousands of miles away to the capital?
Yu Tang respectfully performed a curtsy to Old Madam Pei and responded with a “yes.”
The matter was thus decided.
Fortunately, Pei Yan had previously planned to take Yu Tang to Jiangxi, so Pei Man had already been preparing various travel matters. Though the itinerary had now changed, it wasn’t so chaotic that they’d be caught off guard—just some matters needed Pei Yan to rearrange, such as Pei Man needing to stay at the Pei residence to oversee the overall situation.
Pei Yan decided to take Hu Xing to the capital.
Hu Xing was so delighted his eyes narrowed to slits, feeling his good fortune seemed to have started from when he began helping with Yu family matters. Before Yu Tang even returned to her natal home to take leave, he first brought two bottles of wine to find Yu Wen.
Yu Wen was also very happy to learn his daughter would accompany his son-in-law to the capital. He drank with Hu Xing half the night, continuously entrusting him to look after his daughter: “When you return, I’ll treat you to drinks.”
Previously, when Yu Wen was just an ordinary xiucai scholar in Lin’an, Hu Xing dared accept such words. But now that Yu Wen had become Pei Yan’s father-in-law, and Yu Tang was so beloved, how could Hu Xing dare accept such words? He quickly said: “How would I dare let you treat me? It must be me treating you.”
He flattered Yu Wen for quite a while before returning drunkenly to the Pei residence.
But as soon as he entered the house, his wife slapped him awake with one blow.
His wife twisted his ear, saying: “Where did you run off to pour down wine again? The First Madam has made a fuss, demanding Third Master take the eldest young master to the capital too! Old Madam was furious and declared that not only would Third Master take the eldest young master to the capital, but he must take the eldest young mistress along as well. She also said they could return whenever they wished, but if they didn’t want to return and stayed in the capital, that was fine too. However, if they stayed in the capital, they should go live with the Yang family. The residence in the capital is only for Pei family people to live in.”
Hu Xing sobered up in fright.
Did Old Madam’s words mean that if Pei Tong went to the capital this time, she wouldn’t acknowledge him as a Pei family descendant anymore?
He immediately asked: “Then what did First Madam say?”
Hu Xing’s wife smacked her lips: “What could she say! She knows Old Madam dotes on her children and grandchildren and wouldn’t really drive the eldest young master out. But Third Master also said to just let them come along, and where they’d stay could be decided after entering the capital. He spent quite a while placating Old Madam before she calmed down and went to speak peacefully with the eldest young master. Tomorrow, the eldest young master and eldest young mistress will go to the capital with you—you’d better be careful on the road not to back the wrong horse!”
“I know, I know!” Hu Xing pondered in his heart while placating his wife perfunctorily. “When the First Master left, I didn’t side with the First Master’s branch. A servant doesn’t serve two masters—at this time, I certainly can’t side with the eldest young master. Your words are completely superfluous. But I really do need to be careful…”
It was still safer to stick with Yu Tang, this iron rice bowl—though it wouldn’t bring great wealth, nothing bad would happen either.
Hu Xing made up his mind. The next day, he personally supervised the young servants packing trunks for Washing Jade Mountain Hall, then discovered Third Mistress was very respectful toward Second Mistress. He conveniently had Second Mistress’s trunks loaded onto the boat as well.
Second Mistress was very happy to learn Yu Tang would travel with her to the capital. She said regretfully: “The boat doesn’t stop at Jinling, otherwise you could visit my natal home for a few days. My natal family doesn’t have much else, but there’s an estate that’s quite famous—it has a hundred wisteria plants that bloom like clouds and mist,似仙境. We’re departing at this time, so we’d arrive at Jinling right during the blooming season.”
The capital’s matters were urgent. Last night, Pei Yan had discussed with the household stewards until late, then went early this morning to see Mister Chen. He still had to take leave from Yu Tang’s parents. If not for fearing her father and mother would think Pei Yan had slighted them, she would have returned alone earlier.
Yu Tang took Second Mistress’s hand and smiled: “There will surely be opportunities later. This trip was decided too hastily—there really isn’t time to visit the in-laws.”
Second Mistress understood, just felt it was somewhat regrettable. As the two talked, Pei Yan hurried over.
Yu Tang quickly took leave of Second Mistress and went to the Yu family to bid farewell to the household elders.
Yu Wen had known the news early. Chen Shi was also happy for her daughter. The atmosphere wasn’t sorrowful—rather, Chen Shi quietly instructed her daughter: “This is how it should be. You’ve just married and to separate isn’t good. You should also work harder and try to conceive a child soon.”
Yu Tang’s face flushed deeply.
Without “working hard” she was already like this—if she “worked harder”… just thinking of that scene made her teeth ache.
Better not.
Neither stayed at the Yu family for a meal and returned to the Pei residence.
Pei Tong had already hastily packed his luggage and was waiting for Pei Yan to return.
Seeing Pei Yan and his wife, he immediately stepped forward to perform a salute, saying apologetically to Pei Yan: “Third Uncle, my mother was too insistent. That I can make this trip to the capital to visit my maternal grandfather and uncles will both set my maternal grandfather and uncles’ minds at ease and ease my mother’s anxious state of mind.”
Pei Yan didn’t want to listen.
What his eldest sister-in-law thought had nothing to do with him. If Pei Tong was obedient, he’d continue acknowledging this nephew. But if Pei Tong had other ideas, this was a good opportunity to speak plainly.
He didn’t want to use the Pei family’s connections and money to raise an ungrateful wolf.
He said: “Then you go bid farewell to your mother. We’ll pay our respects to Old Madam, then depart.”
It was nearly noon already!
Pei Tong was taken aback: “We’re not eating lunch before leaving?”
“No need,” Pei Yan said. “We need to pass through Hangzhou City before the waterway closes this evening.”
Otherwise they’d have to spend a night in Hangzhou City.
Pei Tong said “oh” and hurriedly went to see First Madam.
What First Madam instructed, Pei Yan and his wife didn’t know. Once Pei Tong and his wife arrived, they all went together to see Old Madam Pei.
Old Madam Pei felt reluctant in her heart but showed nothing on her face. She simply gave Pei Yan brief instructions to “take good care of Yu Shi and young Tong and them,” then stood up, wanting to personally see them to the main gate.
Who knew how many years this trip would take?
Pei Yan supported Old Madam Pei. Everyone clustered behind them and went to the main gate.
Since it wasn’t New Year’s Day and there was no ancestral worship, the Pei family today only had the side gate open.
When they arrived, people from the Pei family’s other branches either came personally or sent people to see them off.
Pei Yan gave further instructions, especially to Pei Chan and Pei Bo, telling them to study well and strive to meet in the capital next year. Then he boarded the mule cart and went to Tiaoxi Wharf, set sail, and headed toward Hangzhou City.
The main cabin of the large boat housed Pei Yan and his wife. Second Mistress’s family of three lived in the left cabin. Pei Tong and his wife lived to their right, while Mister Chen was arranged to the right of Pei Tong and his wife.
Having grown accustomed to living in the large mansion before, now living in such close quarters, Yu Tang felt somewhat unaccustomed.
But the Pei family’s Fifth Miss, Pei Dan, and her brother Pei Hong—both excited at the thought of seeing their father in some days—were thrilled beyond measure. Pei Hong ran off to find Pei Qi, while Fifth Miss ran to Yu Tang’s place to visit.
“I saw Third Uncle and that Mister Chen talking by the ship’s rail, so I came to find you.” Her cheeks were rosy red. She cheerfully brought a basket of tangerines and said to Yu Tang: “I’m treating you to tangerines.”
Second Mistress, having set the itinerary long ago, wasn’t like Yu Tang and the others. The snacks, cakes, and fruits for the journey were all prepared at the last minute. She had more fruit than Yu Tang.
These tangerines were honey tangerines sent from Changsha Prefecture—ones Old Madam Pei had bestowed before the new year. Yu Tang had already finished hers, never expecting Second Mistress had saved some for the journey.
She only took one, peeled it, and shared half with Fifth Miss, smiling: “You brought these for me—what will you eat?”
“Aren’t delicious things meant to be shared with everyone?” Fifth Miss didn’t mind, laughing: “Besides, after finishing these, I still have fragrant pears.”
Yu Tang had brought more pastries, so she had someone bring pastries for Fifth Miss to choose from: “Pick whatever you like to eat.”
Fifth Miss wasn’t polite. She selected four or five types of candied fruits and seven or eight kinds of pastries before stopping. She also asked Yu Tang: “Third Aunt, where did you buy this pulled sugar candy? It’s better than what I usually eat.”
Yu Tang didn’t know either and smiled: “You’d have to ask Qing Yuan. If you like it, I’ll have her keep watch and send some to Shandong later.”
Fifth Miss nodded repeatedly: “It’s better than what I bought before—it must be goods from the capital.”
“Then take more with you.” Yu Tang packed another box for her.
The two talked and laughed, their voices inevitably carrying to Gu Xi’s side.
Lotus Fragrance looked at the gloomy-faced Gu Xi and said cautiously: “Eldest Young Mistress, should we go over to greet them?”
Pei Tong had gone out.
He said he wanted to take this opportunity to have a good talk with his Third Uncle to prevent his Third Uncle from misunderstanding their purpose in going to the capital.