Pei Tong’s words shocked everyone.

What did he mean by this?!

What had happened?!

The Second Madam and Gu Xi were stunned speechless for a long while.

Pei Yan, who had already guessed part of it, didn’t avoid the confrontation. His eyes churned with obscure emotions others couldn’t understand. He sneered and stood there as if Pei Tong were an ignorant child making unreasonable trouble.

This made Pei Tong even more furious.

It was just like this.

This Third Uncle of his was exactly like this—every time he looked at him, it was as if looking at an idiot. And he truly was an idiot. How could he believe an uncle he rarely saw and go suspect his own mother and uncle instead?

The expression on his face instantly became fierce.

But this expression, falling into the eyes of the dazed Yu Tang, made her shudder.

Pei Tong hated Pei Yan, Pei Tong wanted Pei Yan to pay for his father’s life, Pei Tong might hurt Pei Yan… These thoughts flashed through her mind one after another. Her hand moved faster than her heart, appearing before Pei Yan’s eyes—with a “smack,” she struck away Pei Tong’s hand reaching for Pei Yan’s collar.

Her body also moved faster than her heart, blocking in front of Pei Yan. She shouted loudly at Pei Tong, “What do you think you’re doing? Are you committing the offense of disrespecting your superiors? He is your uncle, not some unrelated person! If you dare lay a finger on him today, just wait to be expelled from the Pei family under the charge of ‘disrespect’!”

Pei Tong’s hand hurt, then he heard Yu Tang’s furious rebuke.

As his hand paused, his rationality also returned somewhat.

No matter what, Pei Yan was his elder. Calling Pei Yan directly by his full name was indeed disrespectful to an elder. If he couldn’t explain himself properly, his reputation would surely be ruined and he would lose his qualification for the civil service examinations.

No, he couldn’t do this!

He still needed to clear his father’s name, to care for his mother and younger brother—he couldn’t be so impulsive.

Impulsiveness, aside from momentary satisfaction, brought no benefits whatsoever.

Pei Tong kept telling himself to “calm down,” and the hand reaching toward Pei Yan slowly dropped to his side.

Watching this, Pei Yan only snorted disdainfully a few times.

This was his elder brother’s eldest son.

Raised by women’s hands.

Didn’t even dare lose his temper!

Didn’t even know how to question properly!

Didn’t even have the courage to strike!

What use was such a man?

He couldn’t help but speak, “Why aren’t you clamoring anymore? Your wife and your Second Aunt are both here! Didn’t you want to settle accounts with me? What happened? Someone blocked you, you came to your senses, and now you’re cowering! Just now you were shouting ‘Pei Xiaguang’ so loudly—why aren’t you calling out anymore?”

Pei Tong’s face paled upon hearing this.

But Yu Tang wished she could cover this man’s mouth and drag him aside.

However, covering his mouth definitely wouldn’t work.

He was too much taller than her.

But she could drag him aside.

Without thinking much, Yu Tang forcefully pulled Pei Yan to the side.

How harsh his words were!

Now that Pei Tong had calmed down, who could guarantee he would continue staying calm after hearing Pei Yan’s words?

Pei Yan too—even if he wanted to curse without using profanity, he should at least keep his distance from the person. Once you’ve provoked someone’s anger, who cares who you are—they’ll slap you just the same. Whether it lands or not, it first dampens your spirit. What’s there to argue about then!

Yu Tang muttered inwardly.

Only knowing how to criticize others when he himself was half-baked.

She also couldn’t resist whispering to Pei Yan, “Say less! Even if you must speak, keep your distance from him! A wise man doesn’t court immediate disaster. Usually you’re so clever—how can you become so muddle-headed at critical moments!”

His wife’s voice, gentle with a touch of crispness, spoke words of complaint yet revealed unmistakable care and concern.

Pei Yan felt as if cold water had been poured over his head on a winter day—he suddenly calmed down.

He had indeed been too impulsive just now.

Hearing Pei Tong disrespectfully shout “Pei Xiaguang” at him, he had truly been enraged to the point of losing his head, only thinking of teaching him a lesson, forgetting that Yu Tang was still beside him.

The six arts of a gentleman—though nowadays people weren’t so particular about these things, the Pei family remained conservative and old-fashioned. Their sons not only learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but also archery and martial arts. Pei Tong, having grown up with his parents in the capital, received training more inclined toward the nouveau riche Yang family’s requirement of “studying to enter officialdom,” selling oneself to the imperial family. He was no longer like a Pei family heir. Even if words hurt him, if someone really wanted to lay hands on him, that would depend on whether Pei Tong was willing.

But Yu Tang didn’t know this!

Look—in her anxiety, she not only struck away Pei Tong’s hand but also blocked in front of him, protecting him regardless of right or wrong…

How much must A’Tang like him to disregard even her own safety, to not even ask about right and wrong?

Thinking this, Pei Yan felt happy and sweet. All his dissatisfaction and indignation vanished like smoke.

Disregarding that it was broad daylight and they were outside, he tightly embraced Yu Tang’s shoulders and said quietly, “It’s fine! I know what I’m doing. Just take care of yourself.”

Though he said this, how could Yu Tang set her mind at ease! Especially after what Pei Tong had just said—every word accused Pei Yan of causing Pei You’s death. Whether true or false, if such words spread, with Pei Yan having taken their family’s patriarch position, it would be extremely detrimental to Pei Yan’s reputation.

Yu Tang didn’t acknowledge Pei Yan but frowned, looking at Pei Tong with great disapproval, and said loudly, “Do you want to speak here, letting all the household servants hear clearly to judge right from wrong? Or shall we go to the study or flower hall, and when Second Uncle returns, invite the Yang family people and the Gu family people over to explain everything clearly?”

The Yang family people were scheming behind the scenes—they definitely needed to be summoned for confrontation.

The Gu family were Gu Xi’s natal family. Since ancient times when major events occurred, the maternal uncle’s family were important witnesses, so naturally they should be invited too. Moreover, Gu Chang had clearly reached an agreement with Pei Yan currently. Gu Chang wasn’t someone to be easily manipulated either. Inviting them over, setting aside whether they could help, would at least make the situation more complex and let more people know what Pei Tong had done.

This was a method Yu Tang thought of on the spot while speaking.

Pei Tong also wanted to know the truth.

He had just been too emotional.

Since the Yang family said his father’s death was related to his Third Uncle, then everyone should speak clearly, gong to gong, drum to drum, to avoid him recognizing thieves as fathers and having no face to see his father in the netherworld.

He coldly responded “Fine!” loudly.

Yu Tang immediately had someone go invite the Yang family and Gu family people over.

Only then did Gu Xi and the Second Madam come to their senses.

The Second Madam wanted to pull Yu Tang aside to ask what exactly was going on, but Yu Tang was held in Pei Yan’s arms and she felt too embarrassed to take Yu Tang’s hand. She could only say, “I, I’ll have someone go urge Second Master to come back quickly!”

Yu Tang nodded.

But Gu Xi was cursing Pei Tong viciously in her heart.

How could there be such a foolish person?

Even if Pei You’s death was related to Pei Yan, at this moment he had neither achievements nor power, and was still living under his two uncles—what basis did he have to turn against Pei Yan? Even if he was too indignant not to turn against him, couldn’t he first win Pei Xuan to his side and have Pei Xuan stand up for him?

Without any support around him, he dared clamor here and even let the Pei family people go summon the Yang family like this? Couldn’t he find a way to send word to the Yang family before the Pei family people summoned them, so the Yang family could prepare?

Gu Xi was so angry her chest heaved. Her mind raced, yet without realizing it, she had retreated several steps backward, distancing herself further from Pei Tong.

She glanced around.

Too embarrassed to look at Yu Tang and Pei Yan, the Second Madam, blushing, was turning aside to speak with a matron beside her. Pei Yan’s eyes held laughter as he whispered something to Yu Tang. Yu Tang kept nodding, occasionally responding softly to Pei Yan. The two were so sweetly affectionate one could almost smell sugar. And that good husband of hers, Pei Tong, stood there with a wooden expression, not knowing what he was thinking, as if the earlier fury had completely consumed all the vital energy and spirit from his body, unable to burst forth with any passion anymore.

She quietly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly summoned He Xiang, whispering instructions to find a way to tell Gu Chang what had just happened, adding, “You must do it before the Pei family people arrive. Don’t let the Eldest Young Master step on a landmine without knowing anything.”

This way, her brother could consider whether to get involved in this Pei family matter. If not coming, what excuse to use? If coming, what should be said? Which side to stand on?

Having just been frightened out of her wits by Pei Tong, He Xiang, upon hearing Gu Xi say this, immediately understood the severity. She repeatedly agreed and ran off in a flash.

But though she ran, she couldn’t leave the residence.

At the side gate, she was stopped by a matron from Yu Tang’s quarters with a half-smile, who said, “Where are you going? Doesn’t the Eldest Young Madam need you to serve her? Something has happened in the household today. The Third Madam said that in the inner quarters, from those who sweep floors to those who water flowers, no one may leave through this gate. You’re the most capable servant at the Eldest Young Madam’s side—please don’t make things difficult for us who are just doing our jobs.”

Whether He Xiang spoke kind words or offered silver made no difference—she was still blocked inside the side gate by Yu Tang’s people.

He Xiang had no choice but to run back to find Gu Xi.

The covered corridor was already empty. After searching for some time, He Xiang finally discovered that Gu Xi and the others had gone to the flower hall in Pei Yan’s courtyard, which was closest to here.

He Xiang tiptoed into the flower hall only to discover that of those who had been following the Second Madam, Third Madam, and even Third Master earlier, except for particularly close confidants like Nanny Jin beside the Second Madam and Qing Yuan beside the Third Madam, all the others had disappeared. The maids and matrons serving tea and pouring water had all been replaced with people she didn’t recognize. She couldn’t even find a familiar person to ask what had happened after she left.

She couldn’t help but feel uneasy and ran to Gu Xi’s side, staying as close to Gu Xi as possible.

Gu Xi was displeased and asked quietly, “What happened?”

He Xiang glanced at the flower hall where the silence made even the sound of setting down teacups seem infinitely amplified. She lowered her voice again and again, whispering to Gu Xi, “Can’t get out! The Third Madam had someone guard the side gate. She said people from the inner quarters are absolutely not allowed to leave.” After speaking, she thought about it and added, “On my way here, I didn’t encounter a single person.”

In other words, the inner quarters had been locked down. Without Yu Tang’s permission, no one could move about freely.

But she had been watching Yu Tang the whole time—when had Yu Tang given such instructions? Qing Yuan had also been beside her the whole time—who had conveyed Yu Tang’s orders?

Gu Xi was somewhat confused.

A servant boy came running in with a “pat-pat-pat” of footsteps, saying breathlessly, “Second Master has returned!”