Seeing Yu Tang’s good attitude in admitting her mistake, Yu Wen’s mood finally improved a little, but his daughter’s boldness still made him feel terrified just thinking about it.
He couldn’t help but scold his daughter a few more times before asking about the whereabouts of those two refugees.
Yu Tang said they were with the Qu brothers.
Yu Wen took advantage of the night to visit the Qu brothers’ home. Knowing that his daughter’s words were true, only the next day did he go to the Pei household.
Pei Yan thought Yu Wen had come to express thanks and didn’t want to see him. But Yu Wen said he had an urgent matter and wanted to ask him to act as a mediator. Pei Yan guessed Yu Wen was mostly coming about the conflict with the Li family. Thinking of how Yu Tang had struck up a conversation with Li Jun at Zhaoming Temple, he was even less willing to get involved. In his heart, he even felt a hint of disdain and rebuked Hu Xing, who had come to report: “Why is it that none of you are conscious of the fact that I’m still in mourning? Either dragging me here and there, or having these trivial matters bother me. Can’t you just let me quietly copy a few pages of Buddhist scriptures for my father and recite sutras for a few days?”
Hu Xing felt he had once again misjudged Pei Yan’s thoughts.
Cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead. He hastily said: “It’s this lowly one’s fault. I saw that Master Yu seemed very anxious…”
Pei Yan glared at him.
Hu Xing immediately said: “I’ll have him leave right away.”
Pei Yan made no sound and continued copying his scriptures.
Hu Xing didn’t dare linger and turned to go reply to Yu Wen.
Yu Wen was very disappointed. He vaguely sensed that Pei Yan didn’t really want to see him, but why had Pei Yan arranged for Imperial Physician Yang to examine his wife’s condition?
He couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard he tried, so he simply went to find Chief Steward Tong.
Chief Steward Tong also didn’t know what was peculiar about this, so he could only console Yu Wen, saying: “Everyone knows that Third Master was the Old Master’s son born in his old age. When the Old Master was alive, he truly feared melting him if held in his mouth, feared dropping him if held in his palm—who knows how good their father-son relationship was! When the Old Master passed, Third Master’s appearance—ah, you didn’t see it, but it was no different from the sky falling. Second Master is also an extremely filial person. Afraid the Old Madam would be heartbroken, he could still force himself to muster his spirits to arrange the Old Master’s funeral. But Third Master was like he’d lost his soul, acting on impulse at every turn. If anyone dared to contradict him even once regarding the Old Master’s affairs, all his emotions would immediately show on his face, and he’d turn hostile at the drop of a hat. His mourning for the Old Master is also truly sincere without the slightest negligence. The Old Madam’s heart aches for her children and grandchildren, extremely afraid their bodies wouldn’t be able to bear it. She quietly gave orders that while the masters, madams, young masters and young ladies could eat vegetarian food, the soups should use rich broths, and eggs and fruits must not be lacking. Only Third Master doesn’t touch any meat or oil at all. Never mind the Old Madam—even Second Master can’t persuade him. If you go looking for him at this time, unless it’s something important, he won’t see you.
“Moreover, if you’re only going to express thanks, in my opinion, there’s really no need. Third Master isn’t the kind of person who seeks fame and reputation. Having accepted the Old Master’s instructions to become the Pei family’s clan head, he must benefit the neighbors. Whatever he can do, he won’t shirk from. It’s just that his temperament is a bit cold—at first you all might find it somewhat uncomfortable.”
Old Master Pei had been a warm-hearted person.
Going out for a morning stroll, he could ask vegetable sellers several questions about the harvest these past few days. He treated people particularly kindly, and the common people of Lin’an all respected him greatly.
Yu Wen felt that since Pei Yan had such a personality, he really couldn’t keep this matter hidden.
After thinking it over and carefully considering his words, he told Chief Steward Tong about the Li family instructing someone to kill Wei Xiaoshan. Finally, he added: “If it weren’t a matter of great importance, I wouldn’t repeatedly seek an audience with Third Master. For this matter, please help me, old brother, and see if you can have the household steward show some flexibility and let me see Third Master.”
Chief Steward Tong was also greatly alarmed upon hearing this.
One must know, he had been the matchmaker who guaranteed this marriage.
His face turned pale as he hastily said: “You say the Li family instructed someone to kill Wei Xiaoshan—do you have evidence? How did your family discover this? Does the Wei family know about this matter? As you just said, it’s a matter of great importance—don’t let it turn out to be a misunderstanding in the end.”
Yu Wen didn’t want to drag Yu Tang into this, so he only said he had discovered it himself, claiming that the things Yu Tang had done were actually done by him.
Chief Steward Tong was speechless for a long while.
He had never imagined that his good intentions had actually cost Wei Xiaoshan his life.
Chief Steward Tong felt both guilty and ashamed.
Yu Wen thought Chief Steward Tong was worried about making Pei Yan play the fool, so he said: “The Pei family has shown kindness to me—how could I ruin Third Master Pei’s reputation? Not only is there evidence for this matter, we’ve even caught the people. We just don’t dare hand them over to the yamen, afraid of implicating my daughter’s marriage prospects. That’s why I want to ask Third Master Pei to act as mediator and uphold justice.”
Chief Steward Tong had been able to act as matchmaker for the Yu and Wei families because he also had a good relationship with the Wei family.
With matters having reached this point, he couldn’t help but believe.
His old tears flowed freely as he said: “I’ll go into the household right now to beg Third Master. If he doesn’t agree, I’ll kneel there and not get up!”
He was an old hand in the Pei household. He understood very clearly what kind of temperament Pei Yan had. Doing this, he would certainly be able to get Pei Yan to help, but acting this way amounted to forcing Pei Yan to step forward for the Yu family. It would inevitably affect his standing in Pei Yan’s heart, and might even affect the entire Tong family’s standing in Pei Yan’s estimation. But he had no choice but to do this.
Otherwise, how could he face the Wei family?
Yu Wen was accustomed to being easygoing and naturally didn’t know the intricacies involved. He only felt he hadn’t found the wrong person and thanked Chief Steward Tong again and again.
Chief Steward Tong’s heart was in turmoil. He had no mood to exchange pleasantries with Yu Wen. He waved his hand, said “Just wait for my news,” turned, and headed to the Pei household.
Pei Yan still valued Chief Steward Tong quite highly. Hearing that he requested an audience, he immediately had someone lead him to his study.
After Chief Steward Tong explained his purpose, Pei Yan’s expression became somewhat cold.
Chief Steward Tong assumed Pei Yan was dissatisfied with him interfering in this matter and hastily pleaded with Pei Yan: “I was the matchmaker who guaranteed this marriage. My heart feels too terrible about this. If Third Master has time, please look into this matter. I thank you in advance!” After saying this, he was about to kneel down and perform a grand salute to Pei Yan.
Pei Yan was quite surprised. He hadn’t expected that Yu Tang’s marriage would also drag Chief Steward Tong into this.
He supported Chief Steward Tong with one hand and asked curiously: “Does Miss Yu know about this matter?”
Chief Steward Tong truly didn’t know whether Yu Tang knew or not. He hesitated: “She should… know, right? With such a major incident occurring, the Yu family’s intention is to step forward for the Wei family—Miss Yu couldn’t possibly not know… However, she might also not know. Master Yu only has this one daughter. The person she went on a match-viewing with was harmed by a family that had previously sought to marry her—anyone knowing this would feel upset, let alone Miss Yu who is still young and needs to marry. If she harbors resentment in her heart, that wouldn’t be good…”
Pei Yan stroked his chin and said: “When did that lad from the Wei family have a match-viewing meeting with Miss Yu?”
Chief Steward Tong said: “In the summer, not long after the Old Master’s funeral. I don’t remember the specific date very clearly anymore.”
Pei Yan thought about it—wouldn’t that have been before he saved Miss Yu?
Looking at the situation at that time, Miss Yu and that second son of the Li family, Li Jun, had been polite and courteous with each other, not looking like they were about to fall out.
He said: “Then go ask clearly whether Miss Yu actually knows about this matter or not before we discuss further.”
Chief Steward Tong was stunned.
Shouldn’t this matter be about clarifying whether the Li family truly instructed someone to kill the person who had a match-viewing meeting with Miss Yu as the Yu family claimed? How was it that what Third Master cared most about was whether Miss Yu knew about this matter?
What was Third Master thinking?
Wasn’t this focusing on the wrong point?
Chief Steward Tong was a bit bewildered. But having been a pawnshop steward his whole life, besides needing discerning eyes to see clearly the goods brought for pawning, he also had to learn to read expressions and see clearly the people bringing goods to pawn.
One could say he had spent his entire life observing carefully and meticulously.
Third Master’s reaction wasn’t right!
His mind raced rapidly, but his face remained respectful as he said: “This matter wasn’t handled well by me. I’ll go right now and ask whether Miss Yu knows about this matter.”
Pei Yan nodded.
Chief Steward Tong hurried off to the Yu household.
Pei Yan continued copying his Buddhist scriptures, but his thoughts found it very difficult to calm and focus as quickly as usual. His mind kept involuntarily conjuring up the image of Yu Tang walking toward Li Jun with graceful bearing at Zhaoming Temple.
He didn’t think Miss Yu was a gentle-as-water, demure and chaste woman. Otherwise, she couldn’t possibly have run to the pawnshop to stage a collision and intimidate people by invoking the Pei family’s name.
At Zhaoming Temple, Miss Yu had most likely taken a fancy to Li Jun and thus seduced him.
And Li Jun? Still young, probably without much sense, was made completely infatuated by Miss Yu. Not only did he fall for Miss Yu’s trick, but he also staked his reputation and future on Miss Yu, crying and shouting that he wanted to marry into the Yu family as a live-in son-in-law.
From this perspective, Miss Yu could also be considered brave and resourceful. Among so many talented young men under the Enlightenment Pine, she hadn’t set her sights on the most outstanding Shen Fang, but had immediately spotted Li Jun who had no real opinions of his own. Just this discernment alone was probably unique among women.
Thinking of this, Pei Yan recalled the scene when he had seen Yu Tang at the county school.
Li Duan had looked at Miss Yu with blazing, fiery eyes, barely able to conceal his feelings.
Miss Yu should have known this too, and even showed some attitude of avoiding Li Duan.
He just didn’t know whether Miss Yu’s objective was merely to hook a live-in son-in-law to bring home, or if she wanted to marry into the Li family.
Li Duan was the eldest son. When the Li family married a wife for him, they should place more importance on family status—Miss Yu definitely had no chance. But honestly speaking, Li Duan was far more capable than that Li Jun. There was no guarantee that after seeing Li Duan, Miss Yu wouldn’t come to despise Li Jun as useless.
Who knew what story lay within all this?
It might well be that the death of that lad from the Wei family was that Miss Yu’s scheme.
If that were the case, then things would become quite interesting.
Pei Yan suddenly felt his emotions in turmoil and didn’t even want to copy Buddhist scriptures anymore.
He called Pei Man over to ask: “Has Li Duan gotten engaged? Which family’s young lady is he engaged to?”
What the Li family meant to the Pei family—others might not know, but Pei Man, the chief steward, was clear about it.
He couldn’t say he knew the Li family like the back of his hand, but he knew about ordinary matters.
Pei Man immediately said: “He’s engaged. To the legitimate eldest daughter of the Gu family’s second branch in Hangzhou, the younger sister of Lord Gu Chang.”
He knew Gu Chang.
He had passed the imperial examination to become a Hanlin bachelor one session before him, and now served as Supervising Secretary in the Ministry of Rites. He was currently the Gu family member with the most promising future prospects.
That made sense then!
Whatever scheme Miss Yu was hatching, it probably wouldn’t be so easy for her to get her wish.
Here, Chief Steward Tong asked whether Yu Tang knew about the Li family instructing someone to harm Wei Xiaoshan. Yu Wen wanted to refuse outright, but Chief Steward Tong said solemnly: “You must tell me the truth about this matter. When I went to see Third Master, Third Master didn’t ask about anything else—he only asked whether Miss Yu knew about this one thing. This shows this matter is very important. Don’t hide anything, or when you confront the Li family later and what you say differs from what Third Master knows, you’ll cause Third Master to shoot himself in the foot!”