Gu Xi knew Pei Tong’s temperament—he was somewhat mild-mannered, and thus his ears were rather soft to persuasion.
She feared a few words from Yang Eldest Master would make Pei Tong change his mind.
Gu Xi paced anxiously in circles. After thinking it over, she felt this wasn’t something she could handle alone. She simply gritted her teeth and went to the Second Madam’s quarters to tell her about Yang Eldest Master coming to see Pei Tong.
Upon hearing this, the Second Madam also grew tense. She dropped the account books she was reviewing, stood up, and said, “Come, let’s go find your Third Aunt.”
Gu Xi didn’t particularly like dealing with Yu Tang, especially regarding some of the unpleasant matters in her household. She instinctively tried to avoid it, saying, “Why don’t I not go? Second Aunt, you can just tell Third Uncle about it.”
After all, this matter wasn’t something Gu Xi could resolve anyway.
The Second Madam shook her head and took the opportunity to instruct Gu Xi, “Although people in our household aren’t too particular about formalities, some matters cannot be handled carelessly. Regarding the matter you mentioned, I reckon we women of the inner quarters certainly have no solution—we’ll definitely need to ask your Second Uncle or Third Uncle to handle it. If your Second Uncle were in the residence, I could tell him and however he arranges things would be his business. But your Second Uncle isn’t in the residence right now, so we’d best go tell your Third Aunt and let her inform your Third Uncle. For us to bypass your Third Aunt and go directly to your Third Uncle would be extremely improper.”
Gu Xi’s face immediately flushed red.
The Second Madam had all but pointed at her and said she didn’t understand proper etiquette.
This was basic courtesy—she was a young lady from a Jiangnan aristocratic family, how could she not know this? That the Second Madam would say this was partly because of her earlier words, and partly most likely because she had grown up under a stepmother’s hand, suspecting she hadn’t learned proper rules.
Gu Xi didn’t know at this moment whether to be glad she had grown up under her stepmother, or glad that the Second Madam was kindhearted and didn’t think too much of it.
Otherwise the Second Madam would surely have detected her attitude toward Yu Tang.
Gu Xi sighed deeply in her heart and followed the Second Madam to Yu Tang’s quarters.
Yu Tang was sitting at a stone table under the grape arbor talking with Yu Yuan.
Seeing the Second Madam and Gu Xi arrive, Yu Yuan quickly stood up, gave them a hasty greeting, and took his leave.
The Second Madam said apologetically, “Did we interrupt you two?”
But the matter she needed to discuss was too urgent—even so, she could only inconvenience Yu Yuan.
Yu Tang smiled and shook her head, saying, “No interruption at all. We’d already finished discussing things anyway—he was just about to leave!”
The Second Madam didn’t ask further questions and quickly told Yu Tang about Pei Tong’s situation, adding, “We must tell Third Uncle about this quickly. I keep feeling that Yang Eldest Master came with ill intent—something bad might happen.”
Hearing this, Yu Tang also grew anxious, saying, “Third Master was summoned by Elder Zhang. I’ll send someone to tell him right away.”
The Second Madam nodded repeatedly, breathed a sigh of relief, and discussed with Yu Tang, “What do you think—should we also send someone to tell Second Master?”
“Let’s see what Third Master thinks!” Yu Tang was both afraid something might happen on Pei Tong’s end, and afraid of raising a false alarm and being laughed at. “Isn’t Second Master still at the government office?”
The Second Madam thought about it and didn’t insist further, watching as Yu Tang instructed others to find Pei Yan.
However, Gu Xi hadn’t said a word since entering Yu Tang’s door.
Sitting under the grape arbor, Yu Tang wore a bright silver-red silk gauze jacket with jade butterfly-among-flowers buttons, a pristine mutton-fat jade bracelet on her wrist, her wrist white as congealed frost—so strikingly beautiful one couldn’t look away. And that cousin of hers looked very different from when Gu Xi had seen him in Lin’an before. He wore a sapphire blue hangzhou silk robe, a black net cap, a jade-colored gold-embroidered purse at his waist, with various gold accessories hanging in a dazzling array. His complexion was fair, and perhaps because life was getting better, his expression was peaceful and gentle—he looked like a young master from some wealthy family studying, not at all like a small merchant. It made her involuntarily think of the saying “one’s environment shapes one’s temperament, one’s circumstances transform one’s bearing.”
Gu Xi couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.
With the Pei family as backing, things were indeed different—he’d turned his fortunes around.
She lowered her eyelids, not wanting others to detect her thoughts at this moment, lest it create complications regarding Pei Tong’s matter.
However, what had Yu Yuan come to see Yu Tang about? Though she’d been standing somewhat far away just now, she’d seen very clearly that brilliant smile on Yu Yuan’s face.
After Yu Tang had given her instructions, Gu Xi tugged at the Second Madam’s sleeve, saying, “Should we go back and wait for news? Just now the Yu family’s young master was here…”
Reminded by her, the Second Madam showed a look of sudden realization and quickly said to Yu Tang, “What matter did Young Master Yu come about? Don’t let us delay it.”
Gu Xi, always unable to stay quiet!
Yu Tang sighed inwardly, smiled at her, then replied to the Second Madam, “Really, it’s nothing! His business in the capital is finished—he’ll be returning to Lin’an in the next few days. First, he came to tell me, and second, to ask if I have anything I want brought back to Lin’an. I figured he still has a few days to prepare, so I didn’t go tell you two—do you have anything you want brought back to Lin’an? I can have him take it for us.”
The Second Madam’s face immediately lit up with joy, saying, “That would be wonderful! This year we couldn’t be at the Old Madam’s side to fulfill our filial duties for either Dragon Boat Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival. If Young Master Yu can help me bring some things back, that would be perfect.” At this point, she remembered Yu Yuan’s purpose in coming to the capital and added, “So the merchant guild matter is settled then? Won’t your family be quite busy this year and next?”
Yu Tang smiled and nodded repeatedly, saying, “More than that! Not only is the tribute goods matter settled, but my brother also met several merchants from Guangdong and Fujian during this trip to the capital. They’ve agreed to have him make gift boxes for their capital shops. My brother said when he returns, he’ll discuss with my eldest uncle about bringing some apprentices to open a shop in the capital specifically to make gift boxes for these families.”
The Second Madam was momentarily stunned, then praised, “I think that’s an excellent idea! People in the capital are very particular about social exchanges, requiring high-quality gift boxes in large quantities. There are quite a few people from Jiangnan serving as officials in the capital. If your brother comes to open a shop, never mind anything else, just out of hometown loyalty, everyone would surely be willing to do business with him first. The business should do well.”
Yu Tang thought so too, which was why she’d been very supportive when Yu Yuan discussed this with her.
The Second Madam then began helping the Yu family strategize.
Which third-rank officials in the capital were from Jiangnan? Which families had many social engagements? Which had few? And what government offices did each manage—would they need gift boxes?
She and Yu Tang chatted with great interest, but listening from the side, Gu Xi only felt irritated.
Pei Tong had already been out for nearly an hour. If Yang Eldest Master had any malicious intent, even if the Pei family had supernatural powers, it was probably too late. Yet the Second Madam and Yu Tang, instead of worrying about Pei Tong’s safety, were here happily chatting… Sure enough, blood brothers were blood brothers, and nephews were just nephews. No matter how much they usually said everyone was treated the same, at critical moments it was still impossible to be truly evenhanded.
She seized an opportunity to interrupt the Second Madam and Yu Tang’s conversation, saying, “Has Manager Yu set a date to return to Lin’an? I’m thinking perhaps I should go back with him then!”
Yu Tang was dumbfounded.
The Second Madam sighed deeply, not only telling Yu Tang about Gu Xi’s plan but also trying to persuade Gu Xi again, pulling the topic back to Pei Tong.
Yu Tang pursed her lips.
Pei Yan returned.
His expression was rather grim as he asked Gu Xi, “Are you certain A’Tong went out together with his uncle?”
At these words, everyone’s expressions changed.
Gu Xi stammered, “The servants and maids in the household saw them leave together. Has something happened?” After speaking, she was so frightened her eyes grew moist.
If something happened to Pei Tong, what would she do?
Pei Yan nodded and instructed Pei Wu who stood behind him, “Continue searching. Also have Mr. Chen help think about where he might have gone.”
Pei Wu nodded and was about to respond when a servant boy from Gu Xi’s quarters came running over, saying, “Eldest Young Madam, the Eldest Young Master has returned.”
Everyone was delighted.
Gu Xi immediately asked the servant boy, “When did the Eldest Young Master return? Where is he? Is he injured?”
The servant boy looked utterly confused and quickly said, “Eldest Young Madam, the Eldest Young Master came back alone. He’s lying in his study now. His clothes are neat and he doesn’t look injured. But his expression is somewhat dazed—when we greeted him, he didn’t even glance at us. I don’t know what happened.”
Did it have to do with Yang Eldest Master’s so-called “evidence”?
Gu Xi looked anxiously at the Second Madam.
The Second Madam bit her lip and asked Pei Yan, “Should we go see him?”
They definitely needed to go see. Not only that, they needed to ask him what Yang Eldest Master had said to him.
Pei Yan had originally planned to just go himself with Chen Shu, his advisor, but seeing the curiosity in Yu Tang’s eyes, which made them appear even brighter than usual, he thought about it and decided they should all go together. This would save him from having Yu Tang chase him with questions about what happened when he returned, requiring him to explain everything in scattered detail.
“Then let’s all go together!” Pei Yan said, leading the way out of the hall.
Hearing this, the Second Madam and the others immediately stood up, gathered themselves, and followed Pei Yan toward Gu Xi and Pei Tong’s residence.
When they reached the pavilion at the bend by the stream, Pei Tong suddenly came stumbling toward them.
Pei Yan saw his ashen face, vacant stare, and staggering steps—like he was drunk, his consciousness somewhat confused. He sharply called out “A’Tong!” and said irritably, “What’s wrong with you? So distracted!”
He was a married man now, yet still acting so irresponsibly.
He criticized inwardly, but seeing as Pei Tong had taken a wife, he wouldn’t rebuke him in front of everyone and make him lose face.
Who knew that Pei Tong seemed not to understand at all what Pei Yan had said. Hearing Pei Yan’s rebuke, he looked over with a deathly pale face, then his steps halted, his expression suddenly transformed, and he looked at Pei Yan with eyes full of hatred. He charged over furiously, reaching out to grab Pei Yan’s collar, “It’s you! Was it you? You killed my father! You framed him! You opposed him! You betrayed him! It’s you, all you! If not for you, my father wouldn’t have died! Wouldn’t have died with his eyes open! Wouldn’t have failed to arrange even his own funeral! Wouldn’t have left my mother and me without even a place to settle and make a living! Pei Xiaguang, are you worthy of being our uncle? Worthy of being the Pei family patriarch?” The more he spoke, the greater his fury grew, his voice getting louder, until finally he was shouting, “Give me back my father’s life!”