Who would have thought that this time Yu Tang would disappoint Pei Yan.

She suddenly became like an elm knot, stubbornly insisting on principles: “Then what about your family directing those ruffians to kidnap me? Was everything Young Master Li said earlier false? In Lady Li’s mind, does ruining someone’s reputation count for nothing?”

Li Duan grew somewhat impatient.

What use was it to keep talking about this? Even if womenfolk committed crimes, ordinary families couldn’t possibly have women appear in court for confrontation, let alone go to the Yu family to apologize as Yu Tang suggested. The Yu family making such a demand was clearly meant to make things difficult for their family.

No, perhaps they wanted to negotiate conditions for what came next.

Li Duan thought of how earlier, when Yu Tang spoke like this, those gentry had shown dissatisfaction with his mother in their discussions. He felt that letting Yu Tang continue speaking like this would only lead him by the nose. He had to find a way to seize the initiative and get ahead.

“Miss Yu,” Li Duan said directly, “having my mother go to your family’s front gate to kowtow and apologize is impossible. Continuing to argue about this will yield no results.” At this point, he looked toward Yu Wen and said: “Old Master Yu, put yourself in my shoes—if the one who erred was your wife or daughter, would you agree to have them come forward to be punished? Rather than remain deadlocked over this matter, why not have Third Master Pei serve as mediator to discuss a compensation method everyone can accept? Elders, do you all think what I say makes sense?”

After speaking, he bowed to all the gentry present.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Yu Wen and Old Master Wei exchanged glances, both their faces showing expressions of unwillingness yet helplessness.

But Yu Tang didn’t appear as calm, wise, sharp, and clever as before. It was as if after long endurance, she could no longer hold it in and revealed her true nature.

She cried out: “Father, this matter cannot end like this. Are the Li family’s face and dignity worth more than our Yu family’s face and dignity? If you don’t agree today to have Lady Li personally come to our home to apologize, I’ll dash my head against something here and die. Anyway, after today this matter will become known to everyone. Living, I’m worse off than dead—at least death would be cleaner, sparing me decades of being pointed at and gossiped about. Not just me—even our family’s descendants will be unable to hold their heads up like me.”

These words were rather willful.

Several gentry all turned their heads to look, but not one stepped forward to dissuade her.

Because thinking carefully about Yu Tang’s words, they made some sense.

What could be done about this?

Everyone’s gazes involuntarily fell upon Pei Yan.

A trace of suspicion flashed through Pei Yan’s gaze toward Yu Tang.

Why did this Miss Yu constantly have to create situations that left him unable to see clearly or understand what was happening!

Setting aside what happened before, just taking today’s events—at first she was clever and cunning, everywhere revealing her scheming mind, advancing step by step, catching Li Duan completely off guard. Just when victory seemed within reach, she suddenly seemed to lose all method, recklessly only seeking her own satisfaction, saying whatever she wanted to say, completely disregarding everything else.

No matter how he looked at it, something seemed off!

Was the earlier her the real her? Or was the current her the real her?

Pei Yan felt he had still been careless.

This was the awkwardness of not understanding the person involved.

If he had known, he should have learned more about Miss Yu beforehand.

However, with Miss Yu constantly changing, even if he had superficially understood her, he probably still wouldn’t know what kind of person she would become the next time they met.

All in all, it was still because of the separation between men and women—he couldn’t properly investigate Miss Yu’s true nature.

Thinking of the several times he had guessed wrong after encountering Yu Tang, his instinct told him he’d better observe more carefully before making a decision, otherwise he would immediately fall into a trap like before.

He unhurriedly took a sip of tea, playing both sides: “What Miss Yu says makes sense, but having Lady Li personally go to the Yu family’s gate to kowtow isn’t quite appropriate either.” He pushed the ball to the Li family’s main branch side, saying: “Li family’s Twelfth Grand-Uncle, what do you say?”

The Li family’s Twelfth Grand-Uncle was like a candle—he wouldn’t light without being lit. Hearing this, he said: “Our Li family follows Third Master Pei’s lead in everything—we’ll listen to whatever you say.”

He pushed the ball back again.

Pei Yan smiled faintly and said: “I’m merely serving as mediator. As long as both the Yu and Li families feel it’s good, that’s fine. Since the Li family feels anything is acceptable, then I can only ask Old Master Yu’s opinion.”

Who knew that Yu Tang wouldn’t wait for her father to speak before saying with dissatisfaction: “Father, I don’t agree. Lady Li must apologize to our family.”

Yu Wen wanted to speak but stopped.

Like a father who indulged his daughter without limit, clearly knowing it was wrong but unable to oppose his daughter in front of everyone.

Li Duan also felt very dissatisfied.

What did it mean that “the Li family feels anything is acceptable”?

Li Duan clearly sensed that Pei Yan was going to help the Yu family.

Had the Yu family spread some slander before Pei Yan?

Li Duan glared at Yu Tang and said: “Miss Yu, one matter is one matter. An apology is acceptable, but we cannot have my mother, a woman of the inner chambers, appear publicly.”

Yu Tang glared back unflinchingly and said: “In my view, this is one matter. An apology requires sincerity.”

The two were at daggers drawn, neither yielding. Though they merely stood confronting each other, it made people feel sparks flying.

The gentry present, regardless of whom they favored in their hearts, wouldn’t easily reveal their stance before Pei Yan spoke. With Pei Yan remaining silent, they merely watched as if it were a show, each one keeping quiet.

For a moment, the great hall fell into an eerie silence, so quiet that only the rustling sound of wind blowing through the tree branches outside could be heard.

Old Master Wu couldn’t help but feel anxious.

In his view, Yu Tang was being somewhat excessive in this matter, but even more excessive was Yu Wen.

If the child didn’t understand, did the adult not understand either?

At this time, it should be the adult who cleaned up the mess.

Surely they couldn’t just let their daughter and Young Master Li continue refusing to yield like this?

Even if they needed to step back, there had to be a graceful way out.

Old Master Wu was considering whether he should step forward to be the villain when a weak voice suddenly reached his ears: “Miss, Miss Yu, I’ll go to your family to apologize on behalf of my mother. Do, do you think that would work?”

The speaker was Li Jun, who had maintained no presence throughout.

Everyone’s gazes all turned toward the sound.

Li Jun probably hadn’t expected this reaction. Under everyone’s gaze, his face grew even paler, and he even flinched, but he quickly rallied himself, straightening his back as if mustering courage, and even stepped forward two paces, coming before everyone. Once again he said in a low voice: “Miss Yu was kidnapped entirely because of me. If we trace it back, the fault is entirely mine. My mother’s love for her son was excessive—I dare not ask Miss Yu to forgive her, but as a son, I cannot stand by unmoved while my mother is humiliated. Miss Yu, please agree to let me go to your residence’s gate to kowtow and apologize on behalf of my mother.” With that, he deeply bowed to Yu Tang.

If his earlier words had still revealed hesitation and timidity, now not only did he speak clearly and distinctly, but he also expressed a kind of unflinching courage.

Old Master Wu couldn’t help but silently cheer for Li Jun in his heart.

Although Li Jun hadn’t made a sound before, the fact that he could step forward at this moment showed he was a man with filial piety, responsibility, and the courage to take action.

Old Master Wu kept nodding.

Most of the other gentry felt similarly to Old Master Wu, all looking at Li Jun with smiles and slight nods.

Yu Tang let out a disdainful light “hmph,” not even glancing at Li Jun, but instead fixed her gaze on Li Duan even more sharply.

She said mockingly: “What if I don’t agree?”

When Li Jun stepped forward, Li Duan’s heart stirred, suddenly feeling this was actually a good idea. First, the Li family showed sufficient sincerity; second, Li Jun taking punishment for his mother could stand on the grounds of “filial piety” and could re-cleanse the Li family’s reputation.

Yu Tang’s opposition brought out the violent side he had suppressed for so long.

He said furiously: “Miss Yu, people are watching, heaven is watching—leave yourself some virtue.”

But Yu Tang, hearing this, showed nothing but disdain, letting out several cold “hehe” laughs before saying: “I was just about to say the same thing. People are watching, heaven is watching. Young Master Li, when you accuse me, don’t forget to examine your own conscience. I thought all the men in your family had died out, that you could only engage in verbal sparring…”

Before she could finish speaking, Li Duan felt as if he’d been struck by lightning on a clear day, his head buzzing, unable to recover for quite a while.

How had he not thought of it!

How had he not thought of going to the Yu family to apologize on behalf of his mother!

He had waited for his younger brother to step forward and speak such extremely filial and sincere words before he reacted.

The current dynasty’s emperors for several generations had all governed through “filial piety.” His earlier refusal to have his mother apologize to the Yu family wasn’t problematic, but with Li Jun jumping out and stirring things up like this, his previous actions seemed somewhat lacking.

It was said that when the Pei family’s old master died, Pei Yan was grief-stricken to the point of not only immediately retiring from office but also being unable to bear seeing anything colored in his home. What would Pei Yan think of him?

What would these gentry present think of him?

Li Duan felt somewhat panicked.

He hurriedly looked around.

Pei Yan sat there expressionless, as if he hadn’t yet reacted to what had happened.

The faces of those gentry revealed strange expressions again.

Did they all think he should step forward like Li Jun to take punishment for his mother?

Li Duan’s heart grew more panicked.

He kept telling himself to stay calm, to stay calm. The more critical the moment, the more he couldn’t make mistakes, the more he couldn’t speak or act rashly and let someone catch another weakness.

As for Pei Yan, the instant Li Jun stepped forward, he saw the dagger Yu Tang had revealed.

So she wanted to trap Li Duan in unfilial behavior!

Her trap was waiting here for Li Duan.

Miss Yu wanted to destroy Li Duan completely!

He didn’t know what mortal enmity Miss Yu had with Li Duan.

Right now he didn’t want to know why Li Duan was so foolish, nor did he want to know what those gentry were thinking. He only wanted to know how much of a role Miss Yu played in the scheme against the Li family.

As for Yu Tang, her hands were tightly clenched into fists.

They thought she only wanted to humiliate Lady Lin. No, she had no such intention at all.

Because that was far from enough.

How could physical pain compare to mental despair?

Her revenge had only just begun!