Second Madam had given up her share to subsidize Pei Tong, not for the Yang family to squander.

Upon hearing this, she trembled with anger, sat up straight nervously and said: “Then what did A’Fei say?”

Gu Xi sighed and said: “Neither is confused. Brother-in-law naturally was unwilling. My mother-in-law even had a big fight with him over it.”

She had given Pei Fei advice: after spring opens, go study at an academy outside. If anyone asks, say he had Second Uncle Pei Xuan help manage this silver. If anyone wants to borrow silver, have them go find Pei Xuan.

Though Pei Fei had been in the capital for several years, there was a distinction between men and women. Moreover, the Grand Madam later grew to dislike Gu Xi and spoke ill of her frequently before her two sons. Pei Fei and Gu Xi’s relationship was very distant. This time when Gu Xi unusually gave him advice, while surprised, he suddenly understood somewhat why the Grand Madam didn’t like Gu Xi before.

It was probably the same reason she was now losing her temper with him—he hadn’t listened to her words and wholeheartedly helped the Yang family.

But the Yang family had already grown increasingly distant from their household because of his elder brother’s exam failure. Why should they still eagerly pursue cold rejection from the Yang family?

No matter what, Pei Fei was at least a legitimate descendant of the Pei family who had never suffered much mistreatment. Though unsuccessful in the imperial examinations, no one mocked him to his face. He still carried the proud spirit of youth and looked down somewhat on the Yang family’s conduct.

He not only took Gu Xi’s words to heart but also talked back to his mother, saying to the Grand Madam: “I don’t care how you all discussed it. No one can touch my share. If Mother feels uncle’s family affairs are more important, I recall Mother still has quite a bit of dowry. Why not sell it to help uncle’s family? That would be returning things to their original owner.”

The Grand Madam couldn’t contain her anger and directly cursed Pei Fei as “selfish.”

Pei Fei sneered coldly and left with a flourish of his sleeves.

Gu Xi found Pei Fei rather interesting and simply added more fuel to the fire, saying: “In the past with Pei Manor’s protection, everyone didn’t notice. Now that we’ve established our own household, everywhere requires spending money, and at high prices too. Not to mention anything else—just this year’s charcoal. Pei Manor ordered one portion, the Tao family, Fei family, and Qin family sent one portion. As for our household, we bought one portion at market price, and another portion was purchased in a rush at twice the market price. This was still with Second Aunt helping to put in a word so the shop didn’t overcharge me. Coming and going like this, our household’s annual expenses can’t be contained at even four thousand taels of silver. Now the public funds only have just over ten thousand taels left. Why don’t you contribute a bit more, and we’ll gather twenty thousand taels to send to uncle’s family? That would show some goodwill from us.

“But if we do this, what about the public household’s expenses? You still need to decide.

“Should brother-in-law and I split it evenly? Or should each of our households contribute a fixed amount? Splitting evenly is simple—continue as before. But if we each contribute a fixed amount, then however much we have in a year is what we spend. If it’s insufficient, we reduce the number of servant women in the household. If still insufficient, we economize further on daily necessities. We should be able to manage for several years.”

She added: “The way I see it, it’s better for each household to contribute a fixed amount. Otherwise, if we split whatever is spent, with only outflow and no income, any amount of money can be squandered away.”

This meant reducing her expenses!

The Grand Madam would absolutely never agree. But the household silver was controlled by Gu Xi. If she wanted to touch it, she’d have to go through Gu Xi, which would alert Pei Xuan and Gu Chang. The Grand Madam felt that if things really reached that point, it would only embarrass the Yang family and make people think her natal family was declining.

She was resentful but didn’t say much more to Gu Xi.

As long as the Grand Madam didn’t speak plainly with her, Gu Xi would play dumb and act as if she didn’t know.

When Second Madam heard that Pei Fei had refused the Grand Madam, she also breathed a sigh of relief and asked with concern: “Do you really spend four thousand taels of silver a year these years?”

When she managed the household, it wasn’t this much.

Gu Xi smiled with pursed lips and said quietly to Second Madam: “How could that be possible! If I didn’t say this, who knows what other trouble my mother-in-law would stir up!”

Second Madam listened and sighed directly, patting her hand and saying: “You’ve truly been put in a difficult position. Once your elder brother returns to the capital, things will surely improve greatly.”

Sun Gao’s matter had still blown up. To avoid some of the gossip in the capital, Gu Chang had gone to Baoding four years ago to serve as prefect.

Pei Xuan felt it was somewhat regrettable, but he still had Pei Chan and Pei Bo to look after, so he could only lament privately with Second Madam.

Gu Xi was very confident though.

She knew the Yin family would help plan for her elder brother.

After chatting idly with Second Madam about her natal family’s household matters, a stewardess servant woman came in to ask for instructions: “Should the small courtyard on the west side be cleaned out separately?”

Gu Xi knew this was the place where she had formerly lived at Pei Manor.

She pricked up her ears to listen.

Second Madam thought for a moment and said: “Better clean it out after all. We don’t know if anyone else besides Young Master Wei will come along. If there are many people, we certainly can’t have them all live in that small courtyard. But if it’s only Young Master Wei, it’s best to clean out a secluded courtyard.”

The servant woman smiled, acknowledged, and left.

Gu Xi couldn’t help but ask: “Young Master Wei? Which family’s marriage connection is this?”

She intended to arrange a marriage for Pei Fei to prevent the forty-five thousand taels of silver Pei Fei had left in her hands from falling into the Grand Madam’s control. She wanted the Yang family and the Grand Madam to see it but not be able to touch it.

Those families she was familiar with were unlikely to form marriage alliances with Pei Fei. Instead, families like the Yang family that Second Miss Pei married into, or the Hu family that Fourth Miss Pei married into—if they had young misses from collateral branches, that would be suitable matches.

Second Madam smiled and said: “He’s a relative from your Third Aunt’s natal family. Their youngest son used to study at the county school, and Master Fang even taught him. Later after Master Fang left, the child studied with Old Master Yu for a period. Old Master Yu then recommended him to your Third Uncle. The child is taking the exams this year, so he came along with your Third Uncle.”

Gu Xi was greatly shocked.

She knew Yu Tang’s natal family brothers did well in business, but hadn’t expected they’d also produced someone who studied.

Having money wasn’t frightening—what was frightening was having someone in the family who could enter officialdom.

Gu Xi’s smile couldn’t help but become somewhat forced as she said: “Third Uncle still has time to teach people to study! I really didn’t expect it. Is that Young Master Wei very clever? From the sound of it his age isn’t great—have you met him?”

“I haven’t met him.” Second Madam smiled and said: “He should be of good character—otherwise given your Third Uncle’s personality, even if he had nothing to do he wouldn’t invite trouble by taking on a student. This child isn’t very old and isn’t yet betrothed. Your Third Aunt is coming to the capital this time wanting to arrange a suitable match for him. Besides entrusting me, she also entrusted Madam Yin. I’m thinking that given Madam Yin’s character, she’s probably already considered all the eligible young ladies in the capital. Once your Third Aunt arrives, there should be good news for her.”

These past years Yin Mingyuan had been idling in the Hanlin Academy, seeming to have no aspirations for office. His health remained as sickly as before, yet he had published many books. Some even said he might become the most famous great scholar of this dynasty. Those at the Hanlin Academy therefore showed him special respect.

Xu Shi, meanwhile, had given birth one pregnancy after another and was now mother to four children.

The first three were sons, and the youngest was a daughter who was just born last month, but no full-month celebration had been held yet.

Gu Xi had previously inquired why. The Yin family only said publicly that the weather was too cold to hold a full-month celebration—they would only hold a hundred-day celebration.

Could Xu Shi be waiting for Yu Tang to come to the capital?

This thought flashed through Gu Xi’s mind but was immediately dismissed.

The Yin family wouldn’t truly be ruled by Xu Shi. How could they change their daughter’s celebration to wait for Yu Tang to come to the capital?

However, Xu Shi truly did know many people. If she acted as matchmaker, regardless of whose face was being considered, the prospects were quite good.

She thought of Pei Fei.

Gu Xi shook her head inwardly.

If it were before, she could still ask Second Madam to inquire with Xu Shi, but now… families like the Yin and Li no longer sent her invitations to celebrations. Even if she approached Xu Shi, Xu Shi would only refuse tactfully.

But she was still very curious whether Xu Shi could help.

She said to Second Madam with a smile: “I wonder what kind of match Young Master Wei is looking for? If Young Master Wei’s marriage can be settled, please tell me—I’d also like to hear this interesting story.”

Second Madam smiled and said: “That child’s family are rural gentry, commoners without rank. I’m thinking they definitely want to find someone who can provide some help.”

As for whether it was financial help or help with an official career, they’d have to wait to see Yu Tang to know.

As the two were talking, Pei Dan suddenly arrived.

Second Madam was so startled her teacup nearly fell to the ground. She immediately asked the reporting maid: “How did she return without even giving notice? Where’s her husband? Did he escort her back? Did she bring Sen Geer? How does she seem?”

Sen Geer was Pei Dan’s eldest son.

The maid was somewhat bewildered by Second Madam’s questions and said: “Young Madam is fine, very happy. She didn’t bring Young Master with her. She says she has something to ask you, and will leave after asking.”

“This child!” Second Madam was still very worried and stood up to go greet her. Pei Dan lifted the curtain and walked right in.

“Mother!” She called out joyfully.

Compared to when she was an unmarried girl, she had grown a bit taller and a bit plumper. Her complexion was even better, and her personality was more open and lively than before.

Seeing Gu Xi was also there, she smiled broadly and called out “Sister-in-law” to Gu Xi, then took Second Madam’s arm and said in a rush: “Don’t worry about whether I’ve eaten or drunk. I accompanied my mother-in-law to visit Old Madam Zhang. She took Sen Geer home, and my carriage was following behind, so I just made a detour to come ask you—is Third Aunt coming? And bringing two young male cousins? I saw the Zhang family’s eldest young madam at the Zhang residence. She visited Madam Yin a few days ago. Madam Yin said Third Aunt would arrive in the capital these next few days, and she’s helping arrange viewings for Third Aunt’s natal family brother!”

What a jumble this all was!

The Zhang family’s eldest daughter had married the son of Grand Secretary Yang Chunhe of the Hanlin Academy. Yang Chunhe thought very highly of Yin Mingyuan. It was said this marriage was even arranged by Xu Shi as matchmaker.

Second Madam smiled with a frown and said: “I see you’ve just gone wild playing with Madam Yin and the others. In future, spend less time making mischief with her.” She added: “Your Third Aunt will indeed arrive in the capital these next days. Your grandmother is also coming along. Your father, A’Hong, and I will go to Tongzhou to meet your grandmother and your Third Uncle’s party. We’ll tell you two days in advance. You should also tell your husband.”