Yu Tang and Yu Yuan both kept their heads lowered without saying a word.

How were they supposed to know someone would report this matter to Pei Yan!

Yu Wen was furious, but they were currently standing in front of the Pei family’s main gate, with the Pei family’s gatekeepers and passersby all casting curious glances their way. It wasn’t appropriate to stand there any longer, so Yu Wen could only shake his head with a rueful smile and say, “What are you still standing here for? Come back with me!”

The two of them felt as if granted amnesty. Yu Tang immediately hooked her arm through her father’s and shook it playfully, while Yu Yuan diligently called out to the sedan chair bearers waiting a stone’s throw from the Pei residence gate, “Come quickly, we’re heading back!”

The sedan chair bearers hurried to bring the sedan chairs over.

Yu Wen watched with a helpless smile and got into the sedan chair one after another with Yu Tang and Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan was newly married and in the honeymoon phase with Miss Xiang. Previously at this time, he would sit at his uncle’s house for a while, or even stay for a meal before returning home. But this time, as soon as he delivered Yu Wen and Yu Tang home, he couldn’t wait to take his leave from Yu Wen: “Then I’ll head back now. Uncle, if you need anything, just call for me.”

Yu Wen watched with amusement. But seeing the younger generation living well made this elder happy: “Go on quickly! Don’t keep your wife waiting.”

He couldn’t resist teasing his nephew a little.

Yu Yuan’s face turned bright red. He gave Yu Wen a bow and hurried off. When Chen Shi, who had heard they’d returned and came out to see them, didn’t even catch a glimpse of Yu Yuan’s shadow, she couldn’t help but laugh: “That child doesn’t know the meaning of restraint at all.”

Many mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts arose because sons were too fond of their wives.

Yu Wen laughed and reassured her, “Sister-in-law isn’t that kind of person. But you could give Yuan a few reminders—nip problems in the bud!”

After the couple exchanged a few words, Chen Shi asked about their visit to the Pei family. Yu Wen and Yu Tang selected the less important details to tell her.

Early the next morning, Yu Yuan came running over and said, “Uncle, Auntie, Little Sister, Aunt-in-law has brought Little Cousin over. Mother asked me to invite Auntie and Little Sister over to keep them company. She also said that when Father returns this evening, Uncle should come over too for dinner together.”

Aunt-in-law?!

Yu Wen’s generation had no sisters.

After a moment, the family of three realized that the aunt-in-law Yu Yuan mentioned was Miss Xiang’s aunt, Madam Wei.

In other words, Madam Wei had brought Wei Xiaochuan to visit their home.

Yu Tang had last seen Wei Xiaochuan when she went to pay New Year’s respects to the Wei family. Later, when the county school started, Chen Shi had Nanny Chen bring homemade pastries to visit Wei Xiaochuan and invited him to come over for a meal when he had time. Wei Xiaochuan said the county school coursework was too demanding and he didn’t have time, so Chen Shi let the matter drop.

With no festival or special occasion, why would Madam Wei bring Wei Xiaochuan to visit her elder uncle’s house?

Yu Tang and Chen Shi hurriedly changed their clothes and went to Yu Bo’s house.

Madam Wei was sitting in the main hall talking animatedly with Wang Shi. Wei Xiaochuan sat alone in the seat below Madam Wei with his head hanging down, looking quite impatient, seemingly lost in thought about something.

Seeing him, Yu Tang felt warmth in her heart and called out softly with a smile, “Xiaochuan.”

Everyone talking in the hall looked over at the sound.

Madam Wei was the first to stand up, laughing as she said, “Oh my, it’s only been a little over a month since I’ve seen Tang, and she seems to have grown taller and become even more beautiful.” After speaking, she came over to take Yu Tang’s hand and greeted Chen Shi with a smile.

Chen Shi quickly exchanged bows with Madam Wei. Everyone sat down again. At this moment, Miss Xiang brought maids carrying tea and refreshments. Wei Xiaochuan, however, shuffled over to sit below Yu Tang. Looking rather guilty, he glanced at the womenfolk in the room. Seeing that Chen Shi was talking with Miss Xiang, while Wang Shi and his mother were listening with smiles on their faces and no one was paying attention to him, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He secretly tugged at Yu Tang’s sleeve and whispered, “Sister, my third brother is getting married. We’ve come to invite you all to the wedding feast.”

The Wei family had originally planned to have their third son also become a live-in son-in-law, but Wei Xiaoshan’s sudden death made the Wei family elders suddenly feel the impermanence of life and decide it was better for the family to stay together. So they decided to have Third Wei marry a wife instead.

Yu Tang had heard about this matter during New Year’s, but she hadn’t expected Third Wei’s marriage to be settled so quickly.

Seeing Wei Xiaochuan pouting, she pushed the pastries on the tea table toward him and said softly with a smile, “You’re about to have a new sister-in-law. Be happy!”

Wei Xiaochuan took a piece of pastry and bit into it, mumbling, “My coursework at the county school is very demanding, but Mother insisted I come along to visit.”

The implication being, he didn’t want to visit relatives.

Yu Tang smiled with pressed lips and comforted him, “Be cheerful, and after we’ve eaten, I’ll find a way to send you back to the county school.”

Wei Xiaochuan’s eyes lit up.

It wasn’t even noon yet. Given the relationship between their families and the Yu family, Great Madam Yu would definitely insist they stay for dinner before letting them leave, which meant his whole day would be wasted. If he could return after lunch, he could still study with his teacher for half the afternoon.

“Sister, you must keep your word,” he repeatedly reminded Yu Tang.

Yu Tang nodded and smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely keep my word.”

Wei Xiaochuan felt reassured and finally had the mood to drink tea and eat pastries.

Yu Tang’s attention then shifted to Madam Wei’s side.

Only then did she learn that the girl betrothed to Third Wei was from the Gao family of Banqiao Town!

Could it be the Gao family of Banqiao Town that she knew?

Yu Tang’s eyes widened.

She heard Madam Wei say, “Originally I wasn’t very satisfied. They have an uncle who does business in town. He’s honest and keeps his word in business, but he’s very petty with his own family. So I had someone carefully inquire about them and learned that their family doesn’t interact much with that uncle. Plus, Third Son had taken a liking to her himself, and he’s not the eldest son—we’ll help them out for three to five years and then they’ll split off to live separately. After discussing it with his father, I agreed.”

In other words, Third Wei was marrying a cousin of her previous life’s sister-in-law, Gao Shi.

Yu Tang breathed a sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, in her previous life she hadn’t known the Wei family and didn’t know much about Gao Shi’s maternal relatives, so she didn’t know whether the Gao family had formed this marriage alliance with the Wei family in her past life.

Thinking about it this way, Lin’an City was really quite small. If the mountain doesn’t turn, the water does—you’re bound to run into people.

After lunch, Yu Tang suggested sending Wei Xiaochuan to the county school: “It’s good that he’s so diligent. Aunt Wei really shouldn’t delay Xiaochuan’s studies!”

Madam Wei naturally hoped her son would be diligent. But last time when Yu Yuan got married, Wei Xiaochuan hadn’t come. This time, coming to bring good news to the Yu family, if Wei Xiaochuan was already in the city but still didn’t come, wouldn’t that make the Yu family think their family was being impolite?

Now that Yu Tang was the one suggesting it, she was happy to go along with it.

“How can I let you send him!” Madam Wei said politely. “He’s not a two or three-year-old child. He can go back by himself.”

But in Yu Tang’s heart, even two or three-year-old children weren’t as adorable as Wei Xiaochuan. How could she let Wei Xiaochuan go to the county school alone?

She insisted on sending Wei Xiaochuan, and Wei Xiaochuan wanted to talk privately with Yu Tang and wanted her to send him.

Madam Wei had no choice. She just reminded Wei Xiaochuan to “behave” and such, letting Yu Tang send Wei Xiaochuan to school.

Wei Xiaochuan was like a bird let out of its cage, chattering away with Yu Tang about things happening at school.

Yu Tang listened while walking with Wei Xiaochuan toward the county school.

Shuang Tao followed behind them carrying pastries for Wei Xiaochuan.

When they reached the county school entrance, they saw Shen Shanyan talking with several students.

Yu Tang couldn’t accompany him further. She helped Wei Xiaochuan straighten his clothes, had Shuang Tao hand the basket to Wei Xiaochuan, and carefully instructed him, “Studying hard is certainly important, but you’re still young with many years before the imperial examinations. You need to pace yourself, otherwise when the time comes in a few years when you should be taking the exams, what if you’re worn out? Also, remember to share the pastries in the basket with your classmates so others can taste them too.”

Wei Xiaochuan nodded repeatedly.

Yu Tang waved as she watched Wei Xiaochuan enter the county school gates. Turning around, she saw Li Jun standing alone across the street holding a horse, watching her with an unreadable expression.

Li Jun had actually returned?

She wondered when that had happened.

Yu Tang had no intention of asking further questions. She nodded at him as a greeting, then turned and left the county school with Shuang Tao.

Shuang Tao had also seen Li Jun. She nervously held Yu Tang’s arm and whispered, “Miss, shall we hire a sedan chair?”

Yu Tang thought about it and agreed, so she nodded.

Shuang Tao breathed a sigh of relief and was just about to go to the sedan chair hiring area when they ran into Sanmu.

Seeing Yu Tang and Shuang Tao, Sanmu was so happy he nearly jumped up. He ran over and said, “Miss, Sister Shuang Tao, Second Master asks you to return quickly. He says the Pei family has sent someone to invite Miss to the Pei residence to answer questions.”

It should be about Gu Chang’s matter.

Yu Tang nodded and hurried toward Qingzhu Lane with Shuang Tao.

Suddenly, a commotion arose behind them.

Yu Tang couldn’t help but look back and saw Gu Chang, surrounded by several attendants, heading toward the county school.

It was like time flowing backward.

In her previous life, when Gu Xi’s eldest son turned one year old, she as a widowed aunt should have avoided the occasion. But Gu Chang had come, and Lin Shi couldn’t help but proudly want to show off, having someone call her to greet the Gu family’s uncle as well.

Of course, the so-called greeting was just having her stand among the womenfolk and watch from afar.

The scene then was so similar to now.

With fair weather, flowers and leaves luxuriant, Gu Chang wore blue brocade robes, surrounded by several attendants as he walked across the Li family’s curved corridor. By the time she arrived, she only saw his cold profile as he walked toward Lin Shi who was respectfully greeting him.

Except this time, it was Shen Shanyan greeting him.

She stopped in her tracks, stunned for a few breaths.

Gu Chang had already stopped and was exchanging bows with Shen Shanyan, who was surrounded by several students.

Yu Tang turned her head and quickly left the area.

This time, Yu Wen accompanied Yu Tang to see Pei Yan.

As soon as he sat down, he impatiently asked Pei Yan, “What did Young Master Gu say? Don’t tell me he really came to inquire about Li Duan’s character?”

Investigating the character of an already betrothed son-in-law showed just how dissatisfied they were with this marriage match, and how much speculation this marriage aroused.

Pei Yan glanced coldly at Yu Tang.

Yu Tang sat there properly with eyes on nose, nose on heart, looking utterly obedient.

Pei Yan couldn’t help but smile.

Such composure!

Still, her silent acknowledgment of fault showed a decent attitude.

He felt his mood instantly improve considerably. Only then did he look at Yu Wen and say, “Your guess wasn’t wrong. Gu Chaoyang came to Lin’an City specifically to inquire about Li Duan’s affairs.”