Pei Dan cheered and happily hugged her mother, saying: “Remember to tell me when the time comes.” Then she hurriedly said goodbye to Gu Xi: “Sister-in-law, I’m leaving first. Come visit our home when you have time.”

Gu Xi very much wanted to ask her “when exactly,” but then thought about how Pei Dan said this every time they met, yet had never actually sent her a formal invitation. She had once half-jokingly, half-seriously asked Pei Dan when exactly she would be invited to visit, and how had Pei Dan answered her? It seemed she said the household affairs were managed by her mother-in-law and she had no authority to make decisions. But everyone in the capital knew that Madam Qin had always favored this daughter-in-law she had personally selected. When Pei Dan said this, it was merely an excuse.

Perhaps after the branch division, she was no longer Pei Dan’s proper sister-in-law.

So Pei Dan no longer needed to show her such respect, right?

Thinking of this, Gu Xi’s heart still felt somewhat sad.

She wanted to form connections with official families in the capital. A sister-in-law like Pei Dan was a very good path. Pei Dan not associating with her was a great loss for her.

But she couldn’t force Pei Dan either.

Their household wasn’t as good as Pei Dan’s to begin with. If she were to eagerly pursue the connection, she would be even more looked down upon.

These thoughts flashed through her mind. She smiled self-mockingly to herself while responding to Pei Dan with “Good, we’ll get together when we have time,” and saw Pei Dan out with Second Madam.

Second Madam gazed at her daughter’s retreating figure, constantly complaining to Gu Xi: “This child is becoming more and more outrageous. I don’t know how she manages her days at her mother-in-law’s home. I see her mother-in-law is also someone who values propriety. What if one day she provokes her mother-in-law’s displeasure?”

The Qin family’s second son had married a few years ago. His wife was also a young lady of suitable status, also personally selected by Madam Qin as a daughter-in-law. She became pregnant upon entering the household and had just given birth to a son some days ago. Second Madam’s worry was not without reason.

Gu Xi hurriedly consoled Second Madam with a few words and asked about Second Miss Pei: “Is it true that she’s taking the child to accompany her husband to his posting?”

In previous years they had corresponded frequently, but since the branch division, their exchanges had grown less and less. Now, if she wanted to know news about the Pei family’s misses, she still had to ask Second Madam.

Second Madam smiled and nodded repeatedly, saying: “As you know, among the nieces she’s the most stubborn. When she married out, we were all very worried about her. We instructed her again and again to be more careful after marrying. She treated it all as wind past her ears. But unexpectedly, Second Brother-in-Law turned out to be a good one. All these years she’s had no children, yet Second Brother-in-Law has kept his eyes straight ahead and continued to treat her as he did at first. It’s fortunate she met such a son-in-law—her temperament has gradually softened. Now she can finally see the moon after the clouds part. For her sake, Second Brother-in-Law transferred to Huai’an Prefecture to serve as assistant prefect, and she’s also determined to accompany her husband to his posting. This way you yield a step, I yield a step, and life can be good. As for children, if there are any, fine; if not, we’ll adopt one—it’s not a big matter.”

Gu Xi was very surprised.

She had thought Second Miss Pei would quarrel with her husband to the point of estrangement.

In earlier years, because of Second Miss Pei’s stepmother-in-law’s interference, she had argued with her husband quite a bit. For a time she had actually moved to live at Bitter Hermitage Temple, helping the temple manage the incense business.

Second Madam saw this and smiled: “I didn’t expect it either. I heard that Third Young Madam made a special trip back, went to see her specifically, and counseled her for several days.”

Third Miss Pei had married back into her maternal family. Though her husband didn’t have exceptional learning, he was honest and reliable, studying diligently. Third Miss was a transparent and detached person who peacefully accompanied her husband in their hometown showing filial piety to his parents, not envying her brothers who had successively passed the imperial exams and served as officials elsewhere. Her parents-in-law liked her temperament and valued her especially among their daughters-in-law, gradually giving her all the good things their sons provided.

Though their household was ostensibly managed by the mother-in-law, household affairs had actually all been handed over to Third Miss. They often praised Third Miss publicly, so that her reputation for virtue had gradually grown these past years, becoming renowned far and wide.

Having her counsel such matters was naturally best.

Gu Xi then thought of Fourth Miss and couldn’t help but smile: “She’s still that fierce?”

Second Madam glared at Gu Xi and said: “You mustn’t say it that way.” After her words fell, she herself also laughed.

Fourth Miss had married into the Hu family of Fuyang, surnamed Hu. Their ancestors had also produced several prefects and county magistrates. Because they were related to Fourth Miss’s maternal aunt’s family, her aunt acted as matchmaker and the two married. Fourth Miss had married down, and she was someone who spoke frankly. The Hu family people dared not slight her and even less dared to restrain her. Coming and going like this, the people of Fuyang all felt she had a fierce temperament and dared to say anything, and were actually somewhat afraid of her.

This was also something everyone hadn’t expected.

Gu Xi wasn’t trying to expose Fourth Miss’s faults. She wanted to ask about the Hu family’s situation.

“I heard that last time Fourth Young Madam returned, she brought her younger sister-in-law back with her.” She said carefully: “I wonder if her younger sister-in-law has been betrothed?”

From the bottom of her heart, Gu Xi still trusted the character of the Pei family. She felt that if the Pei family could marry a daughter to the Hu family, the Hu family’s household standards must be good.

If Pei Fei could form a marriage alliance with the Hu family, not only could her relationship with the Pei family progress further, but she could also advance her relationship with Pei Fei further. If the Grand Madam wanted to cause trouble, it would be even more difficult.

She didn’t want to waste all her energy on the Grand Madam.

Pei Tong was going to take the exams, and she also needed to find an enlightenment teacher for her son.

She didn’t want her son to be like Pei Tong—raised in a woman’s hands, hesitant and indecisive, not knowing what he stood for.

But Second Madam didn’t really want to get involved with the Grand Madam, saying: “Why don’t you write a letter to ask Fourth Young Madam?”

Last time Fourth Miss brought her younger sister-in-law to the Pei family, it was precisely to use the Pei family’s reputation to arrange a better match for her sister-in-law.

At that time Yu Tang had already returned to Lin’an. Both the Hu family and Yu Tang’s sister-in-law’s natal family were in Fuyang. Given Yu Tang’s character, she would form this good connection.

However, that was all before the New Year. Gu Xi was asking a bit late—who knew if Miss Hu’s marriage had been settled?

But Gu Xi also had her own concerns.

Previously Pei Fei had been very disdainful of her, so she didn’t need to bother with his affairs.

Now, since he dared to resist the Grand Madam, he was in the same boat as her. She was naturally willing for their relationship to be better.

The two returned to the room. Yuan Geer was dozing in his wet nurse’s arms.

Second Madam had the wet nurse take Yuan Geer down to rest first: “Don’t trouble the child anymore. Once he’s slept well, you can stay here for the evening meal before going back.”

Gu Xi initially wanted to refuse, then thought that Pei Tong wouldn’t be home for the evening meal today, and Pei Fei, angered by the Grand Madam, had gone to stay temporarily at the Great Xiangguo Temple. She might as well not return either and let the Grand Madam have the evening meal alone at home.

She also decided not to have anyone inform the Grand Madam at this time. Whenever Yuan Geer woke up, her people would report to the Grand Madam then.

When the Grand Madam ate her evening meal would not be her concern.

After all, she hadn’t expected the child would sleep that long, had she?

Gu Xi agreed with a smile, called He Xiang in, and had her go inform the Grand Madam. Behind Second Madam’s back she gave He Xiang a meaningful look.

He Xiang understood, nodded with a smile, and withdrew.

The wet nurse then took Yuan Geer to rest in Second Madam’s canopy bed.

Second Madam, afraid of disturbing the child, simply went with Gu Xi to the small western courtyard where Gu Xi had lived when she first came to the capital.

The small courtyard had changed greatly from when she had moved out.

Where peonies had been planted before, camellias were now growing. A grape arbor and rose wall had been built in the courtyard. Though it was winter, the roses still bloomed brilliantly, very bright and beautiful.

The gardener had originally been hired from outside by Yu Tang—an honest and simple person who stood respectfully bowed before Second Madam reporting on the courtyard arrangements: “Third Madam’s quarters follow the old practice of all green trees. This small courtyard has many flowers planted, different throughout the four seasons. If you feel it’s inappropriate, while the weather hasn’t completely turned cold, I can transplant these several plants in the courtyard into flower pots and move them to the greenhouse.”

“No need!” Second Madam had no intention of changing Yu Tang’s decisions from years ago and smiled: “Even if this small courtyard is to house someone, it’s prepared for household guests. It’s better to have flowers and scenery. As for Third Madam’s side, those are all Third Master’s peculiarities—you needn’t take them to heart.”

The gardener breathed a sigh of relief.

Second Madam then had servant women accompany her to view the freshly plastered walls and newly painted ceiling canopy.

One could see that great care had been taken with everything.

She couldn’t help but say: “This must have cost quite a bit of money?”

After speaking she felt she had misspoken somewhat.

These past years she had watched over that one-third of an acre at home every day. Even daily necessities required careful planning. Though not yet old, she already had the appearance of a haggard housewife.

Second Madam didn’t think much of it and smiled: “Whatever your Third Uncle does, he does well. The public funds are increasingly abundant. Even we have benefited from this these past years.”

In other words, the silver for repairing the house came from the public funds.

Gu Xi very much wanted to ask why it wasn’t Pei Yan paying for it, but thinking of how the two Pei brothers had always been close, she swallowed these words in time.

That evening when she returned to the residence, the Grand Madam indeed threw a tantrum, summoning her and severely scolding her.

She had expected this long ago.

Upon returning she had sent the wet nurse to rest with Yuan Geer first.

She lowered her head, allowing the Grand Madam to scold her.

When the Grand Madam tired of scolding and was gasping for breath as maids attended to her rest, Gu Xi quietly exited the room, but upon raising her head saw Pei Tong standing under the eaves.

The bright red lantern shone on his face—cold and pale, emanating a frost-like chill.

She was greatly startled and said: “When did you return? Why didn’t you say something when you got back? Mother-in-law just went to rest. Perhaps… you could come pay your respects to her tomorrow morning?”

Ordinarily Pei Tong would never agree.

But this time, Pei Tong thought for a moment and actually nodded, saying to her indifferently with a slight bow: “Let’s go! The weather is quite cold—you should also return to your room and rest early!”

Gu Xi meekly agreed and followed behind Pei Tong, though her heart bloomed with joy.

If once didn’t work, then twice; if twice didn’t work, then three times… One day she would make Pei Tong feel disgusted upon seeing the Grand Madam and annoyed upon hearing her speak.

The next morning, Pei Tong didn’t go pay respects to the Grand Madam. His reason to Gu Xi was that he went to the Great Xiangguo Temple to find Pei Fei: “We can’t let him keep living at the temple.”

When Gu Xi asked about the Yang family matter, Pei Tong also appeared very indifferent, saying: “Relatives should naturally help each other, but that silver was left by Grandfather to Father. The two uncles in the family are also in their prime years, managing affairs. To touch that silver we’d need to inform the two uncles.”

The implication was that it wasn’t easy to manage.

Which meant finding an excuse not to lend it.

“I understand!” Gu Xi responded, laughing secretly to herself.