“‘Comprehensive Treatise on Flowers’?” Both Yu Tang and Gu Xi were completely puzzled.

Xu Xuan said proudly: “It’s a book evaluating various flowers from different regions. Yin Mingyuan has been writing it for ten years, revising it every two years. It’s now become a template and guide for many families when buying flowers.”

Yu Tang exclaimed in admiration: “Your Lord Yin is amazing.”

As far as she knew, Yin Mingyuan had compiled several books already.

However, Gu Xi immediately grasped the significance of this book. She smiled at Xu Xuan: “I truly never imagined someone would devote their energy to compiling such a book. I also very much enjoy tending flowers and plants. Could you give me a copy?”

Since someone appreciated and praised Yin Mingyuan’s book, even though Xu Xuan didn’t think much of Gu Xi, she wasn’t as repulsed by her as when they first met. She raised her eyebrows: “Sure! But I hope in a few years I can still find this book on your bookshelf.”

“Listen to you.” Gu Xi also didn’t enjoy dealing with Xu Xuan, but reality forced her to interact with her. She said, “Even if it’s not on my bookshelf, it will be on my elder brother’s or sister-in-law’s bookshelf.”

As everyone chatted, Yu Tang decided to visit the flower farmer Xu Xuan recommended and have them come look at the courtyard, entrusting them with reorganizing the Pei residence’s garden. This way, by summer, the garden could add some new varieties and become a feast for the eyes everywhere.

Gu Xi couldn’t very well state her purpose for coming then. Fortunately, Fifth Miss arrived at that moment.

After everyone exchanged greetings again, Fifth Miss immediately joined the conversation between Yu Tang and Xu Xuan.

Miss Zhang observed her carefully from the side. When their conversation came to a pause, Miss Zhang quickly said to Yu Tang: “Actually, I came to deliver invitations—Grandmother said that since you rarely come to the capital, she wants to invite you to visit our home.”

They definitely needed to visit the Zhang family, but as for when would be appropriate, Yu Tang felt she should first ask Pei Yan. She immediately smiled: “Miss Zhang is too kind. We should have been the ones to visit Old Madam first. It’s just that we’re all young juniors who don’t understand many things. Although we’ve been here two days, many household matters still aren’t sorted out—we’ve been completely overwhelmed and haven’t had the nerve to pay respects to Old Madam. You’ve reminded us.”

As for when they would go, there was no definite answer.

This way she could discuss with Pei Yan some matters regarding visiting the Zhang family.

It was clear that Miss Zhang was also a perceptive person. She said with a smile, taking up the conversation: “Our family was inconsiderate. Is there anything else our family can help you with? Just say the word. If nothing else, we have plenty of people to buy things and run errands.”

Yu Tang thanked her but ultimately didn’t set a specific time with the Zhang family.

Miss Zhang was very patient, spending the day playing at the Pei residence with Xu Xuan, even having dinner there before being sent back to the Zhang residence by Yin Mingyuan, who had come to pick up Xu Xuan.

Old Madam Zhang asked Miss Zhang: “How is the Pei family?”

Miss Zhang felt this matter wasn’t hers to comment on. She only told Old Madam Zhang what she had seen and heard. Old Madam Zhang listened and nodded repeatedly, saying: “It seems this Miss Yu didn’t marry into the Pei family purely by luck.” Then she instructed her third daughter-in-law, “When the Pei family’s female relatives come, take out that set of butterfly-and-flower famille rose plates and dishes I’ve treasured in my storeroom to receive them. Our two families must interact as close family friends.”

Third Madam agreed with a smile.

Pei Yan felt that Yu Tang and the others could visit the Zhang family whenever they wanted: “Men’s affairs have nothing to do with women. Just go ahead and enjoy yourself. If you don’t want to go, I’ll deal with the Zhang family myself.”

Yu Tang had a quite good impression of Miss Zhang and felt the Zhang family didn’t seem like harsh people—she should go pay respects to Old Madam Zhang.

Pei Yan didn’t concern himself with these small matters. He was thinking about Zhang Ying’s words: “Having reached my position as an official, complete retirement is impossible. I’ve already understood everything you mentioned. As for Lord Shen, regardless of whether he’s a fence-sitter, within two years at most, even if he doesn’t want to step down, he’ll have to step down for me. As for who will take over after he steps down, that depends on each person’s luck. But Lord Shen is so calculating—I’m afraid his ambitions are not small. We need to be careful.”

So his mentor was playing with fire?

No wonder he wanted him to find a way to placate Fei Zhiwen.

Among their accomplished senior and junior disciples, only Fei Zhiwen and Jiang Hua had reached the third rank and had a chance to compete for positions in the Grand Secretariat. Even before Zhang Ying retired, Jiang Hua had already developed significant disagreements with Zhang Ying on policy matters. If Fei Zhiwen retreated on his own first, there was an eighty or ninety percent chance Jiang Hua would rise to power. That would be laughable—the student his teacher strongly supported entered the cabinet but held different political views from him… This matter would provide fodder for scholars’ ridicule for at least fifty years, and if they weren’t careful, it would “go down in history.”

This was Zhang Ying’s greatest worry.

Pei Yan decided to first meet with Fei Zhiwen and speak plainly about certain matters.

On Yu Tang’s side, she proactively sent someone to the Zhang family with a calling card, saying she wanted to pay respects to Old Madam Zhang.

Old Madam Zhang was naturally very willing.

Hearing this, Xu Xuan also wanted to go along.

Old Madam Zhang cherished this grand-nephew’s wife who had conceived right after entering the family—even Miss Zhang had to step aside. Hearing she wanted to come, she directly ordered the nanny beside her to open the storeroom and take out several thick cushions for Xu Xuan’s exclusive use: “She’s carrying two lives now—we can’t let her be uncomfortable.”

Looking at those thick cushions, Miss Zhang felt somewhat sympathetic toward Xu Xuan. Then thinking about how Xu Xuan could still eat some fruit and cold dishes at Yu Tang’s place, she suddenly felt that Xu Xuan’s daily visits to Yu Tang also had good reason, and Yin Mingyuan’s indulgence of her might also be because he knew Xu Xuan was watched too closely by the family and pitied her.

Going to the Zhang family naturally couldn’t exclude Gu Xi.

Gu Xi hadn’t expected Yu Tang would give them fifty taels as a monthly allowance.

One should know that even Old Madam Pei only received thirty taels per month.

Of course, someone like Old Madam Pei didn’t need to rely on a monthly allowance to live, but Yu Tang’s willingness to give her this much silver at least showed Yu Tang had no intention of shortchanging her.

Gu Xi couldn’t help but breathe a long sigh of relief.

If their positions were already set and Yu Tang wanted to make things difficult for her, although she had ways to deal with Yu Tang, it would ultimately mean tearing off the facade, which would be disadvantageous in the long run.

When she went to pay respects to her sister-in-law Lady Yin, Lady Yin asked if her expenses were sufficient. After hesitating a moment, she told the truth.

Lady Yin didn’t know about the grievances between them, but she knew that the matriarch of the Gu clan only received thirty taels per month. Fifty taels of silver, plus the public funds covering part of their expenses, was already enough to live quite respectably.

She couldn’t help but smile: “Your elder brother occasionally mentions Lady Yu to me, saying she’s a good person. You know how men and women view women differently. I didn’t take it seriously. I never thought your elder brother didn’t misjudge this time—this woman has excellent character and bearing. You should get along well with her.”

Gu Xi felt like something was stuck in her throat. She couldn’t spit it out and could only silently digest it herself.

Lady Yin had already gone to look through the things Xu Xuan had Gu Xi bring over. She looked and laughed, then turned to Gu Xi: “This sister-in-law of mine is truly something else—she’s become more mischievous after marriage than before. Do you know what she had you bring me? Pickled vegetables from the shop at the east end of the city. They start selling before dawn every day and sell until late afternoon. If I want to eat them, can’t I buy them myself?”

Was Xu Xuan trying to make fun of her?

Gu Xi’s expression darkened further.

She had barely managed to endure this when Lady Yin asked her: “When the Jiang family marries their bride, will you attend?”

Gu Xi didn’t know if she could go.

Seeing her like this, Lady Yin pondered for a moment and said: “You’d best find a way to attend. Nearly all the decent official families in the capital will go. The Jiang family will definitely send an invitation to the Pei family. You’d better mention it to Lady Yu. People fear face-to-face encounters—I believe she’ll definitely be willing.”

This meant she should ask Yu Tang.

Gu Xi felt somewhat reluctant.

Lady Yin observed this secretly and was somewhat displeased.

She knew this sister-in-law of hers had a stubborn temperament, but whether to be stubborn depended on the circumstances. When living under someone else’s roof, when it was time to bow one’s head, one had to bow.

Lady Yin wasn’t the type who liked to meddle in others’ affairs. Since Gu Xi didn’t respond, she wouldn’t urge her, only extracting herself from the matter: “Of course I could also bring you along, but you still have elders present. If you just bypass your elders like this, it could easily cause trouble. It’s best not to do that.”

She also worried that Gu Chang wouldn’t know his limits and would privately agree to Gu Xi’s request. When Gu Chang returned, she specifically reminded him about this matter, and to prove her concern, told Gu Chang how much monthly allowance Yu Tang allocated to Gu Xi: “When they were in Lin’an, they only had ten taels of silver. After arriving in the capital, Lady Yu increased it fivefold. She’s not the petty person you described. As her natal family’s elder brother and sister-in-law, we even less can hold little sister back.”

Lady Yin stopped just short of directly saying that Gu Xi’s mother died early and her stepmother hadn’t properly taught her how to handle inner household relationships.

Gu Chang listened and nodded slightly: “I’ll have to trouble you to pay more attention to these matters. I don’t have time right now.”

He hadn’t expected the Peng family to take over the Sun family’s mess. There was some pointing and gossiping about him outside. He was considering whether to first retreat to the Hanlin Academy to lie low. If that were truly the case, he would need to ask the Li family or Zhang family to help smooth things over.

Gu Chang looked at Lady Yin, who was busy directing the maids to help him change clothes, and fell into contemplation.

Gu Xi was unwilling under any circumstances to ask Yu Tang.

She went to ask Second Madam Pei.

Second Madam Pei had been busy with social calls during this time. Yu Tang helped her look after her daughter while Pei Hong was entrusted to Pei Qi. She was very grateful to the Pei Yan couple. Hearing this, she was quite surprised: “The Jiang family should invite our entire family, right?” Afraid she had misjudged, she called for a servant woman to find the invitation.

The servant woman brought the invitation over. Second Madam Pei opened it, glanced at it, and handed it to Gu Xi with a smile: “Look, it says our entire household should go. You’ll definitely come with us!”

Only then did Gu Xi suddenly realize that compared to Yu Tang, in others’ eyes she was just a junior. With Yu Tang present, they only needed to send an invitation to Yu Tang. As for whether she attended or not, whether Yu Tang would bring her—that depended on Yu Tang’s wishes. She was merely someone who tagged along.

For the first time, she clearly felt the gap between herself and Yu Tang.

If she wanted to change this gap, unless Pei Tong became a third-rank official. Otherwise, in public settings, she would forever be just a junior serving Yu Tang.

Without a name, much less a seat.

Gu Xi suddenly understood why her mother-in-law insisted on pushing Pei Tong to advance.