Second Madam wasn’t an inexperienced person. It was just that in her maternal family she had been her parents’ treasured pearl, and in her husband’s family she was a second daughter-in-law who only needed to consider the bigger picture and be obedient and compliant. She had no opportunities, nor any major matters requiring her decisions. Encountering this for the first time, she inevitably felt somewhat flustered. When Yu Tang grabbed her like that, her steps paused and her mind gradually became clear.
She gripped Yu Tang’s hand and let out a long breath, saying, “You’re right. The more critical the moment, the less I can panic. I still have two children!”
This could also be considered as motherhood making one strong!
Yu Tang smiled with pursed lips.
The two went to where Second Madam lived. Pei Dan and Pei Hong were waiting for their mother to return for dinner. Seeing Yu Tang had also come along, Pei Hong, who had little contact with her, was somewhat surprised, but Pei Dan was very happy. She quickly walked over, smiling as she called Yu Tang “Third Aunt.”
Seeing this, Second Madam put her arm around her daughter’s shoulder and said to Pei Hong, “Your Third Aunt is coming to have dinner with us. Later we still have some matters to handle. You two should both return to your respective study rooms. A’Hong, after completing the assignments your teacher gave you, write the three hundred large characters your father assigned, then you can rest. A’Dan needs to finish embroidering that flower the embroidery teacher assigned you yesterday. I’ll inspect it first thing tomorrow morning.”
Shortly after Pei Xuan received his official seal, he found a retired Hanlin scholar to teach Pei Hong reading. The embroidery teacher for Pei Dan was hired by Second Madam after the marriage between the Pei and Qin families was settled. Knowing that Madam Qin excelled at needlework, Second Madam feared Pei Dan’s needlework would be looked down upon by the Qin family, so she hired an embroidery teacher who had come from the palace to supervise Pei Dan.
Both children had been quite busy recently.
They both responded “Yes,” and Pei Hong also came over to bow to Yu Tang.
The four sat down according to status, had dinner, and after settling Pei Dan and Pei Hong, the two headed toward the flower hall.
Pei Yan, Pei Tong, and the others hadn’t arrived yet—the flower hall had only the two of them.
Although it was brightly lit with lamps and maids and servants attending nearby, both felt somewhat uneasy.
Second Madam even consulted Yu Tang: “Should we send someone to look?”
Before Yu Tang could respond, voices of Pei Xuan and Pei Yan speaking came from outside.
Both Second Madam and Yu Tang breathed sighs of relief.
Pei Xuan and Pei Yan walked in.
The two women hurried to greet them.
Pei Xuan asked Second Madam, “Are the children all settled?”
Second Madam responded affirmatively and said, “I’ve already instructed the managing nannies in their rooms to help watch them closely.”
Pei Xuan nodded with satisfaction.
Yu Tang was softly asking Pei Yan, “Is Lord Gu settled?”
Pei Yan looked deeply at Yu Tang before saying, “Don’t worry, I won’t let him be bored.”
Yu Tang didn’t understand.
Pei Yan said, “We also can’t let him come for nothing. I gave him a rare poetry anthology from the previous dynasty. He’s reading it with great interest—never mind asking him to wait a few quarters of an hour, he’d probably be willing to wait several hours.”
Scholars love books.
Pei Yan was also a scholar, and a proud one at that.
A rare book from his hands was probably not just valuable and scarce, but also a treasured possession of the Pei family.
Yu Tang was somewhat stingy and said, “It’s just waiting a few quarters of an hour—yet you gave away a rare book… Why not give something else?”
Hearing this, the corners of Pei Yan’s mouth curved up. He said in a low voice, “You’re reluctant to part with it?”
“Obviously!” Yu Tang shot Pei Yan a look. “Since it’s a rare book, it’s unique. Once you give it to someone else, you no longer have it.” At this point, she even felt some displaced anger toward Pei Tong.
Pei Yan just laughed silently and comforted her warmly, “It’s fine, that kind of rare book isn’t particularly precious.”
But it still shouldn’t be given away.
Yu Tang thought about how her father had been tricked by Lu Xin and frowned.
Pei Yan chuckled, reached out a finger wanting to smooth the wrinkles between Yu Tang’s brows, and said quietly, “Don’t worry, we’re not giving it for nothing.”
Only then did Yu Tang feel somewhat better.
Just then, Pei Tong and the others also arrived. She said nothing more and followed behind Pei Yan, sitting beside him.
Pei Tong and Yang Grand Master had obviously already discussed things. After the attending maids and servants withdrew from the room, Yang Grand Master spoke on behalf of Pei Tong: “Speaking of this matter, it’s all a misunderstanding. But no matter who it was, they would probably be the same as us—the Pei family is a century-old noble house. Old Master Pei gave no advance warning whatsoever and suddenly passed the patriarch position to Xiaguang. Pei You also died, and you uncles gave no explanation. Whether the children or their mother, they couldn’t help but overthink. Surely both of you uncles can understand.
“As for what just happened, A’Tong also told me about it.
“That was also very sudden. He also respects his father—this is human nature. I think this matter shouldn’t be pursued further, much less escalated to the point of dividing the clan.
“In my opinion, let A’Tong apologize to Xiaguang, and from now on serve both uncles as if they were his birth father. That should settle it. As for both uncles, just substitute for Elder Brother in disciplining your nephew, treating him as your own—beat him when needed, scold him when needed. The whole family harmonious and happy—how wonderful!
“No need to let others see our family joke.”
Pei Xuan thought this wasn’t bad either.
But the prerequisite was that the Yang family stop meddling in their family affairs.
He looked toward Pei Yan, wanting to see what he meant. But before he could turn his head, he heard Pei Yan say coldly, “Is this also Pei Tong’s meaning?”
Pei Xuan’s gaze fell upon Pei Tong.
Under the lamplight, Pei Tong lowered his head with downcast eyes, casting a shadow on his cheeks that made his emotions impossible to read.
“I’ll completely defer to Maternal Uncle and both uncles!” His voice was also somewhat low.
Pei Yan’s heart was full of disappointment.
This kind of person was the eldest grandson of the Pei family’s main branch.
Not knowing how to live his own life, he was either controlled by his mother or controlled by his uncle. In the end, he was still like his father—trusting Yang family people more than Pei family people.
Pei Yan acted as if looking at Pei Tong one more time would hurt his eyes and closed them.
Gu Xi felt Yang Grand Master’s words weren’t very good.
He got to be the good person while the bad people were Pei Xuan and Pei Yan—no one would be comfortable with that!
Especially someone as proud as Pei Yan.
She wanted to add a few words to ease the atmosphere, but unexpectedly Pei Yan suddenly opened his eyes and looked coldly at Pei Tong, saying, “If your maternal uncle and I have differing opinions, what do you plan to do?”
“Ah!” Pei Tong looked up in confusion.
Yang Grand Master also looked toward Pei Yan with displeasure.
Pei Yan sneered inwardly.
If apologies were useful, how would his father have died!
Begging for mercy when the situation was unfavorable, then acting arrogant when gaining the upper hand—where was such a good deal?
Pei Yan said, “Your maternal uncle thinks this matter should just be settled like this, but I think the opportunity is rare—we should voice all our mutual dissatisfactions, then divide the clan.”
This meant he wouldn’t forgive!
Hearing this, Pei Tong’s face turned completely red. Yang Grand Master, having already experienced Pei Yan’s methods, hurriedly said, “How can we divide the clan? Children are ignorant—as elders, we naturally have the responsibility to teach and guide. For you to just cast them out when they make mistakes is too crude.”
Pei Yan made a gesture indicating Yang Grand Master should stop talking, then said, “Although my father passed the patriarch position to me out of necessity, it planted the hidden danger of ‘not distinguishing between legitimate and young.’ If this continues, if other branches follow suit, what will become of our Pei family? The best solution is to divide the clan. This avoids future troubles and also avoids your awkwardness at the Pei residence.” Then he began persuading Pei Tong to divide the clan: “Rather than having no position like this, better to take your mother and A’Fei to the capital to live independently. The house Elder Brother left behind is still good. Those colleagues and examination classmates who received Elder Brother’s kindness will also look after you orphans and widows who have left the clan. Moreover, you’re just dividing from the Pei family, not cutting off all contact until death. What’s bad about it?”
Pei Tong’s heart was immediately moved.
This way, the matter of being deprived of the main branch patriarch position could be entirely attributed to their grandfather favoring his younger son. Their leaving the clan wouldn’t be because of conflicts with clan members, but to allow the Pei family to pass down better. It would also fulfill his mother’s long-held wish to reside in the capital. Truly killing two birds with one stone.
His eyes and brows became animated, no longer carrying their previous heaviness.
Yang Grand Master very much wanted to give a good scolding.
He had also noticed his nephew’s problem.
Just now things were agreed upon, but after hearing Pei Yan’s words, he changed his mind again.
He hurriedly called out “A’Tong,” wanting to stop him from saying something that couldn’t be cleaned up, but was cut off by Pei Yan who had already perceived his thoughts: “As for Yang Grand Maternal Uncle, you can also help us look after A’Tong and his mother. Speaking of which, your family wanted a marriage alliance just to advance more smoothly in official careers. I won’t dare say anything else, but regarding the matter of Yang Second Master and Yang Third Master, I did my utmost, as you’ve seen. We also haven’t hidden the Pei family’s secrets from you. As for my sister-in-law’s side, we’ll need Yang Grand Master to help counsel her more.”
A marriage alliance—wasn’t it just to establish a connection with the Pei family?
Since a connection had already been established, with the Pei family counting on him to help pacify his sister and everyone jointly guarding the Pei family’s secrets—could there be a more solid relationship than this?
Yang Grand Master was both delighted and deeply wary. He instinctively felt Pei Yan wasn’t someone so easily dealt with. For him to do this, he must have his own calculations. Was he trying to resolve the main branch’s inheritance rights without bloodshed? Or did he simply find Pei Tong’s branch an eyesore? Or was he preparing for a rainy day in resolving the mess Pei You had left behind?
He calculated repeatedly in his heart, but his face showed nothing as he reminded Pei Tong, “Don’t you want to think about this carefully?”
What was there to think about?!
Gu Xi couldn’t care about proper order and immediately said, “A’Tong, we can’t divide the clan.”
Actually, the life after dividing the clan that Pei Yan described was exactly what Gu Xi had hoped for.
If she hadn’t witnessed Pei Yan’s methods, hadn’t felt Pei Yan’s hatred toward the Yang family, she would certainly have happily agreed. But after once again refreshing her understanding of Pei Yan, even if she couldn’t figure it out, she vaguely felt that whatever Pei Yan hoped for, she should oppose.
She absolutely couldn’t get off Pei Yan’s boat.
“We’re still willing to live together with both uncles,” she loudly stated her position again. “I also know Third Uncle has concerns, but who becomes patriarch was Grandfather’s meaning, and the family elders all recognized it. If we divide the clan now, wouldn’t we be questioning Grandfather’s and the elders’ decision?”