The Li family clan’s Twelfth Grand-Uncle had already reached the age of sixty. Whether it was poor maintenance or natural aging, his hair had turned completely white, his face was covered in wrinkles, and his murky eyes were like a piece of rotten wood that seemed ready to crumble at any moment.

Since entering the Pei family’s hall, he had kept his eyes half-closed, not saying a word, as if everything happening in the hall had nothing to do with him.

Now, called upon by Pei Yan, he finally opened his eyes, slowly straightened himself slightly, and said: “Third Master Pei, I’m a half-deaf, half-mute person. Being able to hear the general idea is already good enough—what could I have to say? As for how to handle this matter, we should listen to Li Duan!”

The implication was that he couldn’t manage it—whatever Li Duan said, he would do.

For the main clan branch to be manipulated by a collateral branch like this, and recalling how earlier outside the Pei residence, the Li Duan brothers had taken the lead while the Li family’s main clan branch had chased after them breathlessly from behind, everyone felt somewhat uncomfortable.

One must know that many of the gentry sitting here were the main clan branches of their respective families.

Li Duan’s behavior undoubtedly violated everyone’s interests.

The faces of all the gentry looked somewhat displeased.

They felt that Li Duan’s branch showed too much disrespect toward the main clan branch.

Li Duan, meanwhile, cursed Li He and his son thoroughly in his heart.

Because of their branch’s rise to power, the main clan branch had always been somewhat passive-aggressive. When coming to the Pei residence this time, they simply hadn’t notified the main clan branch at all, fearing that the main branch would not only fail to help but would drag them down. They had even guarded against anyone informing the main branch, posting people to watch the main branch’s side, preparing to find a way to prevent them if the main branch learned about it. Who knew that at the last moment, the main branch still managed to rush over.

Who could have tipped them off?

The main branch was indeed as they had predicted—not doing a single good deed.

Li Duan was angry in his heart, but couldn’t show it on his face. Instead, he respectfully said: “Twelfth Grand-Uncle saying this really puts me to shame. With my father absent and my youth, if I do anything wrong, I still need Twelfth Grand-Uncle’s guidance. How dare I make decisions on my own? This matter must be decided by you.”

He didn’t believe that Twelfth Grand-Uncle would dare to turn against their branch at this time.

Without their branch, the Li family could forget about any favorable treatment regarding taxes and levies.

The Li family’s main clan branch indeed didn’t dare turn against Li Duan’s branch. No matter how dissatisfied they were with Li Duan’s branch, at most they would make a few sarcastic remarks. If they truly ignored Li Duan’s branch, they would not only lose the main branch’s dignity but also affect the family’s interests.

The main branch could only go so far.

Hearing Li Duan say this, Twelfth Grand-Uncle had no choice but to step forward and say: “Our Li family has always maintained upright family conduct, and Li Yi has been quite successful in raising his children these years. The Yu family and Wei family couldn’t possibly falsely accuse the Li family without reason, and the Li family couldn’t possibly kill someone over a marriage matter. This shows that the head steward in Li Duan’s household is the key. Although since ancient times there have been cases like Cheng Ying saving the orphan, there have also been cases like Lü Bu committing patricide. This shows that matters in this world cannot all be treated the same. As for why the head steward in Li Duan’s household would do such a thing, I ask that Third Master Pei, Old Master Yu, and Old Master Wei give our Li family some face and not pursue this matter further for now. Let me write to Li Yi and have him give both families an explanation. What do you all think?”

After speaking, he stood up, bowed all around, and said in a low voice: “Whatever compensation is needed, our Li family will have no objections.”

Anyway, when it came down to it, Li Yi would have to worry about it—why should he be the villain?

The Yu family and Wei family were naturally unsatisfied, but what could they do about their dissatisfaction?

Unless the Li Duan household’s head steward would turn against his master on the spot and bite Li Duan.

But that was impossible.

If the Li Duan household’s head steward took responsibility for this matter, he might lose his life, but he could ensure his whole family continued living well in the Li residence. If at this moment he implicated the Li family as the ones behind it, not only would he lose his life, but his entire family’s lives probably couldn’t be preserved either.

Anyone could do this calculation.

This was also why Yu Tang would rather come to the Pei family for arbitration than go to court against the Li family.

But to have the Yu family and Wei family just let it go like this was also impossible.

At least before coming, Yu Tang had discussed multiple times with her father and brother—if things developed to this point, what should they do? Yu Wen had initially been somewhat hesitant about Yu Tang’s idea, but after discussing it with Old Master Wei and his son, they all felt Yu Tang’s idea was feasible, so he had no more concerns. Hearing what the Li family clan’s Twelfth Grand-Uncle said, he exchanged a glance with Old Master Wei, then the two stood up together, with Yu Wen representing both families saying: “Since that’s the case, our Yu family and Wei family are not unreasonable people. When the master is humiliated, the servant dies; when a servant does wrong, the master should also bear responsibility. We hope the Li family can solemnly apologize to both our families—Young Master Li should wear mourning clothes and hemp and hold a three-day Buddhist service for Wei Xiaoshan at Zhaoming Temple; Lady Lin should personally go to the Yu family’s front gate and kowtow three times to our Yu family.”

What?!

Everyone was astonished.

Li Duan’s face turned iron-blue. Suppressing the shock in his heart, he shouted: “What did you say?”

But Yu Wen had anticipated this long ago.

When Yu Tang first suggested this to him, hadn’t he reacted just like everyone else, thinking it impossible?

Yet ultimately, things were still proceeding in a direction favorable to their Yu family and Wei family.

He calmly and composedly repeated the Yu and Wei families’ demands: “Young Master Li should wear mourning clothes and hold a three-day Buddhist service for Wei Xiaoshan at Zhaoming Temple; Lady Lin should personally go to the Yu family’s front gate and kowtow three times to our Yu family.”

“Impossible!” Li Duan said without thinking, his eyes revealing undisguised fury.

Did they really think the Li family had no options?

Otherwise, why wouldn’t the Yu and Wei families go to the authorities!

He simply didn’t want to offend the Pei family, that’s all.

The Yu and Wei families didn’t know their place, actually wanting his mother to go to the Yu family’s front gate and kowtow three times as an apology!

Who was his mother? A dignified Fourth-Rank Ruren, the mistress of the Li family—to kowtow in front of all of Lin’an city to the Yu family, how could she show her face afterward?

Pei Yan also found it difficult to suppress his astonishment.

This kind of almost humiliating affair was mostly something that only women of the inner chambers could think up.

It should be Miss Yu’s idea.

He didn’t know what she was thinking.

Holding a three-day ritual service was one thing, but having Lady Li apologize like this was equivalent to throwing the Li family’s face on the ground and trampling it. The Li family would probably rather go to court than agree. Rather than fighting over a matter of face, it would be better to have the Li family compensate with silver or something to better achieve their goal.

Pei Yan looked toward Yu Tang.

But he saw Yu Tang sitting there calmly and confidently, as if everything was within her expectations.

Pei Yan couldn’t help but rub the pixiu in his hand. The uneven patterns on the pixiu’s surface had been worn smooth by his handling, no longer sharp, only round.

At this moment, he was extremely curious—what was Yu Tang thinking? What was she preparing to do next?

Yu Tang did not disappoint him.

She stepped forward and said to Li Duan: “Impossible? Which thing is impossible? And why does Young Master Li think it’s impossible?”

Having already stolen the spotlight, and since the outstanding tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind, Yu Wen didn’t want Yu Tang to draw more attention. He coughed lightly, signaling Yu Tang not to speak—he would handle it.

But Yu Tang felt that for this kind of haggling matter, like buying vegetables, it was better for her to step forward than her father. Let everyone see how this scholarly gentleman Li Duan would argue with a young lady.

She put her hand behind her back, waved it at her father, and continued addressing Li Duan: “Are you unwilling to apologize to our two families? Or do you think the conditions we proposed are too harsh? Our two families—one lost a son, one lost their reputation. Doesn’t this deserve an explanation from your Li family?”

Yu Wen couldn’t make Yu Tang lose face in front of everyone. Though anxious in his heart, he could only watch Yu Tang argue with Li Duan.

Yu Tang’s voice, clear and pleasant as striking ice or jade, gave Li Duan a jolt, and reason finally began to return.

The Yu family had clearly come prepared. If he couldn’t respond calmly, he might fall into an even bigger trap.

“Miss Yu, I came with sincerity, to resolve the problem, to apologize to your family,” he said solemnly. “Not to be insulted by you. Having my mother kowtow and apologize in front of everyone at your Yu family’s front gate—even in killing, one only strikes at the vital point. Aren’t you being too excessive!”

Yu Tang sneered and said: “According to what you’re saying, Young Master Li feels that wearing mourning clothes and hemp and holding a three-day Buddhist service at Zhaoming Temple for the Wei family’s second young master wouldn’t be humiliating to you?”

Of course Li Duan was also unwilling.

But compared to having his mother kowtow, performing the Buddhist service was more acceptable to him.

Moreover, if he made such a grand show of apologizing to the Wei family, others would only think him benevolent and magnanimous, having the bearing of a great family. Not only would it not humiliate his reputation, it would actually benefit it.

Could this be the Yu and Wei families’ true objective?

Propose two solutions, so that by comparison, he would subconsciously choose the more acceptable solution.

Did the Yu and Wei families simply want him to wear mourning for Wei Xiaoshan?

He just didn’t know whether this was Yu Wen’s idea or Miss Yu’s idea.

Li Duan carefully scrutinized Yu Tang.

Medium height, wearing a half-new, dull-colored fine cotton green garment, her jet-black lustrous hair coiled on top of her head in a Daoist bun. Though her masculine-feminine appearance couldn’t conceal her snow-white skin, her graceful curves, and her cold demeanor couldn’t hide the gentleness and rippling beauty in her eyes and brows.

This matter probably wasn’t her idea!

She was such a beautiful woman—how could she have so many scheming thoughts?

It should be her father who, wanting everyone to pity their family, deliberately had her step forward.

Li Duan’s heart calmed slightly, and he said directly: “Miss Yu, our servant lacked virtue. I can wear mourning clothes and hemp for Wei Xiaoshan, but my mother is a woman of the inner chambers—having her kowtow at your family’s front gate is unacceptable!”

Pei Yan pricked up his ears.

He also felt that having Li Duan wear mourning was the Yu and Wei families’ true objective.

From the looks of it now, the Yu family’s goal had been achieved.

But he felt that the Yu family couldn’t possibly propose only this one condition.

What remained to be seen was what other condition Yu Tang would propose next, and how the Li family would respond.