Despite this, Pei Yan was still very dissatisfied, saying: “Young couples—which ones don’t quarrel? Is it necessary to bring in the elders over every little thing?”

He spoke as if they themselves weren’t a young couple.

Yu Tang suppressed her laughter and went with Pei Yan to Pei Xuan’s quarters.

Halfway there, they encountered Pei Xuan and his wife hurrying along.

Pei Xuan opened with complaints: “Tell me, among all the people in our family, who starts quarreling right after getting married? It’s fortunate we’re in the capital. If we were back home, wouldn’t we be laughed at by the uncles and brothers from the other branches!”

Second Madam asked worriedly: “Younger sister-in-law, do you know why they’re quarreling?”

“We only just got word,” Yu Tang quickly said. “We were hoping to ask if you knew something.”

Second Madam shook her head, linked arms with Yu Tang, and said: “Let’s hurry over and see! If this gets out, it would be too humiliating!”

Yu Tang felt the same.

Especially at this critical moment when the Pei family was discussing marriage with the Qin family—if word spread that the nephew and his wife were at odds, others would think everyone in their family was superficial!

The four of them hurried to Gu Xi’s quarters.

She was at least perceptive enough—the courtyard was completely quiet, with only a gatekeeper matron left, who was one of her dowry servants. All the Pei family servants who had followed along had been sent back to their own rooms. In the main hall, Gu Xi’s two dowry maids were carefully cleaning up the smashed hall. Pei Tong sat alone in the grand chair below the central hall with his head lowered. His clothing was still neat, but his expression was quite disheveled.

Hearing the commotion, he raised his head. His face immediately flushed red as he shouted loudly toward the inner chamber: “Gu Xi!”

Did he not know Gu Xi had gone to fetch the elders?

Yu Tang wondered, then saw Pei Tong walk over full of shame, bow to them, and softly call out “Second Uncle,” “Third Uncle.”

Pei Xuan, usually very amiable toward people, now wore a stern expression, looking very serious. He sat silently on the left side of the central hall without making a sound.

Pei Yan also remained silent, his face dark as a pot bottom, sitting to Pei Xuan’s right.

Pei Tong stood there with his lips trembling, looking completely at a loss.

Yu Tang was considering where she should sit when Second Madam glanced at Pei Tong, sighed softly, and quietly reminded him: “Where is the Gu woman? Go call her out! Since your Second Uncle and Third Uncle have come, they’ll certainly help you resolve this matter.”

Pei Tong softly agreed and entered the inner chamber.

Before long, two muffled voices arguing could be heard from the inner chamber.

Pei Yan raised his eyebrows, pointed to the seat below his, and said to Yu Tang: “You should sit down too! Looks like this won’t be resolved quickly.”

Yu Tang naturally followed Pei Yan’s arrangement.

Second Madam sat across from Yu Tang and instructed the maids still cleaning in the room: “You should withdraw for now! Bring up two cups of tea.”

The two young maids seemed relieved. They bowed and said “yes,” immediately withdrew, brought in tea and refreshments, then fled from the hall as if escaping, closing the hall door behind them.

Second Madam—whether wanting to speak up for Gu Xi or seeing that Pei Xuan and his brother’s expressions were too grim—smiled and said: “The maids around this Gu woman are really quite good. They know what’s important and what isn’t. That’s better than anything else.”

Upon hearing this, Pei Xuan’s expression softened slightly.

Pei Yan still wore his King of Hell face.

Pei Tong and Gu Xi emerged from the inner chamber one after the other and bowed to Pei Xuan, Pei Yan, and the others.

Pei Yan said nothing. Pei Xuan asked them solemnly: “What exactly is going on? We’re here now, so you might as well tell us.”

Pei Tong mumbled things like “just a disagreement between the two of us” or “didn’t expect to alarm both uncles” and “it’s all my fault,” but as for why they had quarreled, he couldn’t explain anything coherent after quite some time.

Standing to the side, Gu Xi listened calmly and silently to Pei Tong’s words. Seeing that Pei Tong went on and on without mentioning the conflict between them, she couldn’t help but sneer coldly, interrupting Pei Tong’s vague statements. She said: “Second Uncle, Third Uncle, the situation is this: Today my maternal aunt came to visit and mentioned wanting to form a marriage alliance with our family. I thought to myself that we have both uncles on the left and my mother-in-law on the right—how could this matter ever fall to us to decide? As juniors, we should just listen to our elders. So I never took a position. Who knew that when my husband returned home and heard my maternal aunt’s words, he agreed to come forward and help arrange the marriage between the two families? My maternal aunt was naturally overjoyed to hear this. But I felt my husband shouldn’t interfere in this matter. However, in front of my maternal aunt, it wasn’t appropriate to say anything. After my maternal aunt left, I tactfully brought up this matter with my husband, asking him not to trouble both uncles and to tell my maternal aunt in a few days that after thinking it over, we juniors shouldn’t interfere. Who knew he would lose his temper, point at my nose, and say I was stepping high and low, currying favor with the powerful, always trying to climb to higher branches, and looking down on his maternal grandfather’s family.

“I argued with him for ages but couldn’t make him understand.

“So I thought I’d ask Second Uncle to come and judge this matter for us.”

She hadn’t thought to tell Pei Yan and his wife.

She didn’t know if Hexiang had misunderstood or in her panic had also informed Pei Yan.

She had originally thought marrying Pei Tong wasn’t bad—Pei Yan’s official career path was cut off, while Pei Tong was like the rising sun. Perhaps one day he would pass the examinations. In the future, Pei Yan could be his country gentleman while she’d be her official wife, and they could coexist peacefully with the Pei family.

Little did she expect that while Pei Tong’s scholarship was good, he was also foolishly filial. Clearly knowing Grand Madam was wrong, if he couldn’t bear to speak up, that was one thing. But at critical moments, he still sided with his mother, willing to wrong himself, willing to wrong her.

If Pei Tong wanted to martyr himself for the Yang family, she couldn’t control that. But to expect her to also use her own shoulders to prop up the Yang family’s rise—that was impossible.

Gu Xi’s expression became increasingly stern as she said: “Why does the Yang family want to form a marriage alliance with the Pei family? To put it bluntly, they just want to rescue both maternal uncles from the quagmire. Relatives helping each other should be natural, but it’s not as if there are no other solutions—why must it be through marriage? Wouldn’t it work for Second Uncle to help rescue the two Yang family uncles? When the Yang family chose to stand with the Sun family, did they consult our family? Now that trouble has arisen, our family is willing to shoulder the burden but that’s not enough—they still want to marry our family’s young ladies into their family? Grandmother clearly opposes this, yet we still want to do it. In all my years, I’ve never seen such unfilial children and grandchildren. Yet you still have the face to point at me and say I’m unfilial. I cannot wear that hat. If I don’t invite the family elders to clarify this matter, how can I hold my head up and face people in the future!”

Everyone’s gazes fell on Pei Tong.

He trembled with anger. His lips quivered for ages before he ground out a few words through clenched teeth: “Is that how you answered me just now? Don’t avoid the important and dwell on the trivial! Since you dare to complain, you should tell the truth.”

Everyone’s gazes shifted to Gu Xi.

Gu Xi stood there with her spine perfectly straight, her face as white as plain silk. Fearlessly she said: “Yes, those weren’t my exact words. My exact words were to ask my husband why we must form a marriage alliance. Did he feel that only by forming another marriage with the Yang family could he smooth over his regret at not marrying a Yang family woman?”

Looking at her like this, Yu Tang suddenly recalled her previous life—how Gu Xi had looked when she first came to find her after Li Duan’s designs on her were exposed.

It was just like this—spine straight like a white poplar tree, face bearing the resolution of burning one’s boats.

Could it be that this time, Pei Tong had also failed her?

Yu Tang couldn’t help but clutch her handkerchief tightly, staring intently at Pei Tong.

In her previous life, Gu Xi and Li Duan had spent four or five years in loving harmony.

But now, Gu Xi had been married to Pei Tong for less than a year.

Pei Tong’s face reddened further as he said: “Second Uncle, Third Uncle, tell me—isn’t she being ridiculous? If I truly wanted to marry a Yang family woman again, why would I have agreed to the marriage with her? My mother originally wanted me to marry my uncle’s daughter, but I didn’t want to continue wallowing in past pain, so I refused to marry into the Yang family again. Mother felt sorry for me, which is why she arranged the match with the Gu family.” After speaking, he glared at Gu Xi and said: “You’re too petty. How can you suspect me like this?”

“I am a woman. Protecting my own household is natural instinct.” Gu Xi didn’t argue but said righteously: “Since my husband says so, I’ll apologize to you in front of both elders. But you must also put my mind at ease—promise me in front of both elders that you’ll never again mention forming a marriage alliance with the Yang family.”

This was Gu Xi’s real purpose, wasn’t it!

To extract them from this matter. At least to extract their small family from this matter.

Yu Tang suddenly understood and looked toward Pei Yan.

Pei Yan sensed something and turned his head to see Yu Tang’s bright, limpid eyes.

He could see clearly what she was thinking.

He looked toward Pei Xuan and Second Madam.

Pei Xuan frowned, feeling that quarreling over such matters until family elders had to intervene was simply ridiculous. Second Madam wore a smile, as if finding this jealous Gu Xi quite interesting.

Their family’s young lady was still more clever—Gu Xi’s tactics couldn’t fool her.

He cleared his throat lightly.

Pei Tong and Gu Xi stopped quarreling. Pei Xuan and Second Madam fell silent. Everyone looked at Pei Yan, ears perked to hear what he would say.

Only then did Pei Yan say unhurriedly: “A’Tong, regarding forming a marriage alliance with the Yang family, what are your thoughts now?”

Pei Tong was quite quick-witted and immediately said: “Naturally I’ll listen to my elders.”

Pei Yan nodded calmly and said: “I think what the Gu woman said makes sense. Since there are other solutions, why does the Yang family still insist on forming a marriage alliance with our family?” After saying this, his face showed disgust as he pursed his lips. “A’Tong, the Yang family is your maternal family. You and your uncles share blood ties that can’t be broken. I think this matter should be left to you. Go to the Yang family and ask carefully—what exactly do they want to do? If they truly only want to rescue your two uncles from their predicament, your Second Uncle and I will think of ways to help them escape danger. If they want to use this matter to form another marriage alliance with the Pei family, you should also ask clearly—what does the Yang family hope to gain from a marriage alliance with us? The Yang family will certainly be more forthright with you than with your Second Uncle and me.”

Pei Tong and Gu Xi both froze.

Pei Yan said with a half-smile: “What? Unwilling? Or do you think you can’t do it?”

Pei Tong lowered his head and said hesitantly: “No, it’s not that I’m unwilling. I’m just afraid I won’t do it well.”

“How could that be!” Pei Yan smiled. “The Gu woman is meticulous in thought. If you feel uncertain about making decisions, just discuss it with her. She’s definitely more decisive than you are.”

Was this praising Gu Xi or mocking her?

Yu Tang blinked in confusion.