Gu Xi also suddenly looked toward Pei Yan.
Ever since her ambiguous confession was rejected, she had always thought Pei Yan disliked her, looked down on her.
Unexpectedly, in such circumstances, she had received Pei Yan’s affirmation.
She was smarter than Pei Tong?
Was it true?
Did Pei Yan really think so?
Gu Xi’s nose felt slightly sour, and her resolve strengthened.
She stepped forward, bowed to Pei Xuan and Pei Yan, and said in a low voice: “I dare not accept such praise from both uncles. My husband is straightforward and mindful of blood ties. I fear he doesn’t have the ability to handle this matter for the family. Only Third Uncle’s personal intervention can settle things definitively with a single word. Please, both uncles, see clearly.”
This meant she didn’t want to get involved in this matter.
Gu Xi was still as shrewd as in her previous life.
Yu Tang sighed inwardly.
But Pei Yan didn’t want to let her off.
Whether this quarrel between Pei Tong and Gu Xi was real or fake, the Yang family using his deceased elder brother to threaten their family into helping—this was inherently something particularly contemptible and chilling. His eldest sister-in-law had always felt their family hadn’t benefited from the Pei family, that their current status was entirely due to her natal family. Women favoring the family that raised them was understandable. But if his two nephews were influenced by their mother and thought the same way, why should he raise ingrates? With that effort, he might as well adopt some abandoned children or orphans—at least after eating and drinking what he provided, they’d know whom to serve.
He glanced coolly at Gu Xi and asked Pei Tong: “Do you know why the Yang family insists on forming a marriage alliance with our family?”
Pei Tong naturally knew.
If he didn’t know, he definitely wouldn’t have agreed to speak on behalf of his maternal aunt.
Originally he had wanted to gradually distance himself from the Yang family. But the Yang family’s two uncles were now imprisoned, and they were using his father’s matter to threaten their family. Given his understanding of his family’s elders, his Second Uncle might be manageable, but his Third Uncle would definitely not let the Yang family off. If he didn’t mediate, the Yang family would have a hard time—even if his Third Uncle was forced by temporary pressure to rescue his two uncles, he would doubly retaliate against the Yang family afterward. This was what he truly worried and feared.
But when Pei Yan’s gaze swept over him, his heart suddenly felt as if gripped tightly by a large hand. A wave of palpitations made the words at the tip of his tongue become stuttered: “I, I know. So I wanted to persuade my eldest maternal uncle…”
The corners of Pei Yan’s mouth lifted slightly.
Gu Xi inwardly cried out “not good!”
She had taken advantage of the quarrel with Pei Tong to get the family elders here precisely to extract herself and Pei Tong from this matter. Pei Tong saying this was clearly playing right into Pei Yan’s hands. All her painstaking efforts had come to nothing.
She turned to glare at Pei Tong, about to speak up in appeal, when unexpectedly the usually generous and magnanimous Pei Xuan suddenly slapped the table with a “bang” and shouted sternly: “A’Tong, just look at what you’ve become! When my elder brother was alive, is this how he taught you? All these years of reading the sages’ books—have you read them all in vain?”
Everyone was shocked by this.
His face was livid, even more terrible than Pei Yan’s, as he pointed at Pei Tong with furrowed brows and anger: “What is the Yang family using to threaten us? Your father’s matter. Never mind whether this matter is true or false—the dead are supreme. Your father is already gone, yet they still relentlessly drag your father into this. Do you think such a family is worth associating with? Or do you think this is nothing? Not only do you not speak up for your father, you actually want to mediate for the Yang family. In your heart, do you have your father at all? Do you have the Pei family? Do you have any sense of hierarchy? Do you have any heroic spirit or righteousness? All these years, your eldest aunt has had you study with the Yang family people. Is this what you learned from the Yang family? A’Tong, you are my elder brother’s eldest son, our family’s eldest grandson. Your actions this time have truly disappointed me!”
They say when honest people lose their temper, they’re especially fierce.
Yu Tang witnessed it this time.
Pei Tong was scolded until his face turned red, unable to utter a single word for ages.
Gu Xi didn’t dare make a sound either.
Second Madam wanted to intervene, but thinking about her husband’s words, she felt they made quite a bit of sense. Then she recalled her mother-in-law’s opposition to forming a marriage alliance with the Yang family and deeply felt that her mother-in-law’s judgment was superior—she had seen early on that the Yang family was problematic. The usual conflicts with eldest sister-in-law weren’t because mother-in-law was picky about daughters-in-law, but truly because the Yang family’s upbringing was inadequate. Like herself and younger sister-in-law—they both got along very well with mother-in-law.
Thinking this, she glanced at Yu Tang.
Yu Tang was looking at Pei Yan as if seeking help.
Pei Yan sighed inwardly and could only step in to salvage the situation. His voice was much gentler than before as he said: “A’Tong, among your generation, you’re the eldest. You’re the model and example. How you act will influence your younger siblings. Think carefully about this matter. Today, the Gu woman has done nothing wrong. Apologize to her properly. It’s getting late. We’ll head back first. If there’s anything, we’ll discuss it tomorrow.”
The implication was: give me your answer tomorrow about whether you’ll help the Yang family.
As he spoke, he shot Pei Xuan a meaningful look, signaling they should leave first.
Pei Xuan was still angry. He snorted coldly and stood up.
Pei Tong’s mind was also in chaos. Hearing this, he responded softly and saw both uncles and aunts to the door.
On the way, Second Madam couldn’t help sighing: “Eldest sister-in-law has raised these two children to be like this. It’s truly a pity.”
But Yu Tang felt it might not necessarily be Grand Madam’s fault. Otherwise, how would the Yang family have leverage over the Pei family?
She thought of how Pei Yan had been running around for this matter. If the Yang family truly didn’t mention what Pei You had left behind but only begged desperately, even just for Pei Tong’s sake, Pei Yan couldn’t possibly wash his hands of it.
Then it would still be Pei Yan’s problem!
Yu Tang felt uncomfortable and couldn’t help saying: “When Elder Uncle was alive, the two children were raised by his side, weren’t they? Even if they were sent to the Yang family to study, Elder Uncle should have agreed to it, right?”
When she said this, Second Madam was fine, but both Pei Yan and Pei Xuan froze together.
Pei Xuan even murmured: “When elder brother was alive, both A’Tong and A’Fei studied with him. It was only after elder brother passed away that eldest sister-in-law wanted to send the brothers to study at the Yang family. When A’Tong and A’Fei were in the capital, they didn’t study with the Yang family people…”
So what influenced these two brothers wasn’t the Yang family, but the deceased Pei You.
For the rest of the journey, no one spoke. The atmosphere was oppressive. The two brothers exchanged only a few brief words before parting ways at the intersection.
Yu Tang tugged at Pei Yan’s sleeve and asked softly: “Did I say something wrong?”
“No!” Seeing Yu Tang’s unease, Pei Yan gently embraced her and even kissed her forehead before saying: “One cannot see the true face of Mount Lu because one is within the mountain itself. Some things we simply don’t want to think about carefully.”
Thinking too much inevitably breeds fear.
That brilliant elder brother of his, hailed as the foremost talent south of the Yangtze, might have trusted the Yang family more than his two younger brothers.
Otherwise, where would the Yang family get their leverage?
Pei Yan’s heart ached. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep until nearly dawn.
Yu Tang also didn’t sleep all night. When she got up the next day, her eye circles were dark.
Seeing this made Pei Yan’s heart ache even more. He had Qing Yuan bring over an egg and personally applied it to her eyes.
Yu Tang held Pei Yan’s hand and said gently: “I’m fine. Even if Madam Yin comes over, I can take a noon nap. But you—are you going out today? If there’s nothing urgent, just rest at home! You said yourself that it’s the Yang family who are anxious, not us. Even if Elder Uncle left behind evidence, the Yang family wouldn’t dare use it casually, or they themselves wouldn’t escape either.”
Pei Yan indeed didn’t feel like going out today, and he didn’t want Yu Tang to be caught up in this and worried, so he smiled: “How about we go out and stroll around? Speaking of which, you’ve been in the capital for so long, and I haven’t properly accompanied you.”
Yu Tang wanted to make Pei Yan happy, so she immediately smiled and agreed, asking him: “Where shall we go? What should we bring?”
Since it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, Pei Yan hadn’t thought of any good ideas yet. He said: “How about we just stroll the streets? Buy something for mother to have someone bring back. Also for your father and mother-in-law’s family, and your eldest uncle’s family.” Speaking of this led to Yu Yuan. “What has he been doing these days? I’ve been out every day and haven’t asked him. Is his business going smoothly?”
Yu Tang smiled and nodded.
The Pei family letting her elder brother stay here was already a statement of support. People from the Six Ministries would more or less show the Pei family some face. The Peng family simply hadn’t recommended lacquerware masters from Fujian. The Qin family’s steward had even greeted the Hangzhou Guild Hall.
“It’s already been submitted,” she said. “Just waiting for the Ministry of Rites to officially issue the document. He’s been using these days to visit this person and that person, saying he wants to know more people so he’ll hear news faster in the future. I saw the tribute matter hasn’t been formally settled yet, so I didn’t specifically mention it to you.”
“That’s good!” Pei Yan said. “It’s best if he can stand on his own.” Otherwise, even relying on the Pei family to do business, others would look down on him from the bottom of their hearts. People with real ability and insight would still disdain dealing with Yu Yuan, and truly useful information would be hard to reach his ears. It would be difficult for Yu Yuan’s business to grow and strengthen, to distinguish himself.
The two went back and forth discussing where to go and have fun.
Pei Wu requested an audience, saying the Tao family had sent over a card, wanting to visit Pei Yan tomorrow.
Yu Tang was surprised.
“I was just thinking—for next year’s Longevity Festival, how come the Tao family hasn’t come to the capital to make arrangements yet!” Pei Yan smiled as he explained to her: “The Tao family used to deal in general goods, so they do well in maritime trade. Those Western self-chiming clocks, dolls, perfumes and such—almost all are their business. For His Majesty’s birthday, who doesn’t want to buy something unique? They absolutely cannot be absent.” Then he asked Yu Tang in a consultative tone: “How about we go to the Tao family’s shop today? You can see if there’s anything good to buy. Last time I saw someone buy a doll to give as a gift. You could also buy one to bring back!”
“Why wouldn’t you buy one to give to me?” Yu Tang said, dissatisfied.
Pei Yan said dismissively: “I find those dolls quite eerie. But you’ve never played by the rules—you might think they’re good. Better if you go look yourself. Otherwise, if I buy it and bring it back, it would be awkward whether to throw it away or keep it.”