If it had been any other time, it would have been fine, but at this particular moment, just as Madam Shen finished her sentence and Old Madam An didn’t respond, Second Miss’s cold snort fell clearly and distinctly into everyone’s ears.

Madam Shen’s expression changed drastically, and the look she gave Second Miss even became somewhat hateful.

Since one dared to do it, one should dare to take responsibility.

Yu Tang acted as if she hadn’t seen anything.

However, Nanny Chen attending at the side couldn’t let the atmosphere become too awkward. She quickly smiled and said: “Madam Shen has just recovered from a serious illness. I wonder what instructions the physician gave? That way I can tell the young maids and servants to be careful.”

An upset stomach wasn’t any strange illness, and servants in wealthy families mostly had common knowledge in this area. Nanny Chen asking this way was clearly trying to smooth things over.

Old Madam An—whether out of protectiveness or dislike for Madam Shen—didn’t stop her, and everyone else followed Old Madam An’s lead, of course each keeping their heads down and acting like quails.

Madam Shen’s expression grew even worse, her lips twitching as she was about to say something.

Gu Xi quickly glanced at Yu Tang.

She hadn’t expected this Miss Yu to be such a coward, acting as if the matter had nothing to do with her when trouble arose, sitting calmly on the sidelines watching the excitement. So why had Old Madam An brought her here?

Could it be just because she was obedient?

But which of these several Pei family young ladies wasn’t obedient?

Would Old Madam An really go to the trouble of bringing a young lady from another household just to find an obedient girl?

Gu Xi secretly scorned Yu Tang in her heart. Feeling somewhat irritated but with the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, she smiled and said: “You’ve troubled Nanny Chen. The physician didn’t have any special instructions, just to avoid spicy food for the next two or three days.”

She had to find a way to figure out why Old Madam An had called Yu Tang to stay at the villa!

Over there, Nanny Chen, seeing Gu Xi take up the conversation, breathed a sigh of relief.

Having served Old Madam An for so many years, she knew Old Madam An’s temperament. Especially after Old Master had passed away, Old Madam An had become increasingly willful without reservations. Not to mention someone like Madam Shen—even First Madam of the Song family, the old lady would rebuke directly without leaving any face.

Now that Miss Gu had provided a way out of this situation, she naturally had to seize it. She immediately smiled and said: “Avoiding spicy things—I’ve heard of that before. Although the household’s food is usually mild, one must guard against the unexpected. I’ll go instruct those maids and servants right away.” Finishing, she immediately called over a young maid and said, “You need to inform not only the kitchen but also make clear to those serving Madam Shen. If there’s any mistake, watch out for your hides!”

The young maid submissively agreed and quickly withdrew.

Nanny Chen then asked Madam Shen: “Have you had dinner yet? Would you like to add something?”

This question was somewhat impolite.

Usually when inviting someone to stay for a meal, one would directly extend the invitation rather than asking if the other person wanted to stay.

Moreover, wasn’t Madam Shen’s arrival at this time precisely to have dinner?

Madam Shen’s eyebrows shot up upon hearing this.

Gu Xi came to the rescue again.

Before Madam Shen could speak, she smiled and preempted her: “I’m just worried the kitchen didn’t prepare enough. Let me have He Xiang tell the servants in our courtyard to bring our dinner over here too, shall we?”

This clearly indicated a determination to stay for dinner.

Old Madam An glanced at Madam Shen.

Veins bulged on Madam Shen’s forehead, but she didn’t contradict Gu Xi’s words.

Old Madam An then smiled and said: “That works! Madam Shen cannot eat spicy food, but I cannot enjoy a meal without spice. Madam Shen has only just recovered—if she has a relapse, that would be my fault.”

Old Madam An loved spicy food?

This was the first time Yu Tang had heard this.

But Gu Xi smiled and said: “Previously I heard from the aunts on my uncle’s side that Old Madam An once lived for some time with Great-Uncle Qian when he was an official in Changsha Prefecture. I didn’t expect Old Madam An’s tastes to have become the same as Hunan people’s.”

This was also the first time Yu Tang had heard of such a thing. She looked toward Old Madam An with some surprise.

Old Madam An’s previously somewhat stiff expression relaxed into a smile upon hearing this. She sighed in a reminiscent tone: “That was over fifty years ago!”

Gu Xi smiled and said: “No matter how long ago it was, everyone will remember. Just the other day I heard my elder brother say that when his senior fellow student went to Changsha Prefecture, he specially went to walk by the irrigation channels Great-Uncle built back then. He even said that although over fifty years have passed, the irrigation in the Ningxiang area still relies on those channels Great-Uncle built during his tenure! Everyone is grateful for Great-Uncle’s benevolence, and some families still keep Great-Uncle’s memorial tablet!”

“Really?” Old Madam An was both surprised and delighted. The look she gave Gu Xi no longer held its previous coldness but became warm. “People still remember my father?”

“Really!” Gu Xi nodded with a sincere expression. “My elder brother wrote about it in a letter home—how else would I know? Moreover, my brother’s letter wasn’t even written to me but to my eldest uncle. He said that being an official should be like Great-Uncle, and asked my eldest uncle to educate the children in the family to learn from Great-Uncle.”

“Oh my, your brother is too thoughtful.” Old Madam An said politely, but her face bloomed with smiles. She even began talking about following her father during his tenure when she was young.

Gu Xi chimed in from time to time, and the atmosphere was lively.

Yu Tang was quite impressed.

In her previous life, she had still underestimated her.

There were good reasons she was so popular.

Their conversation only stopped when Second Madam arrived. Even then, Old Madam An’s enthusiasm was undiminished as she pulled Second Madam aside to talk about this matter for a long time.

Second Madam had clearly heard about it before. Not only did she respond with smiles, she even said: “Mother, Grandfather’s death anniversary is approaching. Should we speak with the masters at Zhaoming Temple about conducting several land and water services for Grandfather?”

“That’s not necessary.” Old Madam An sighed. “You never met your grandfather—he had such a stubborn temperament. Before he passed away, he even left instructions in his will to have his body cremated and his ashes scattered in West Lake. Your uncles were so frightened they didn’t know what to do and specially invited the family patriarch to intervene. Only then was your grandfather buried in the ancestral tomb. Sometimes I think, whose temperament did Xiaguang inherit? I feel it was your grandfather’s. But your grandmother and grandfather didn’t think so—they especially loved his temperament. Otherwise, when your grandmother passed away, she wouldn’t have left all her dowry to Xiaguang. You had just gotten married at that time!”

Pei Yan’s uncle was Old Madam An’s adopted elder brother.

Wasn’t it because Pei Yan was her own maternal grandson?

Yu Tang didn’t think so.

However, hearing Old Madam An say this, Pei Yan really was quite similar to his maternal grandfather.

To actually want his body cremated and even his ashes scattered… just thinking about it made her shiver involuntarily.

Perhaps Second Madam had no dissatisfaction with Pei Yan inheriting the maternal family’s property, but she was truly skilled at speaking.

“Grandfather lived his whole life following his heart. Third Uncle is like Grandfather, and Grandfather also liked Third Uncle, so he wanted to leave his personal possessions to Third Uncle. Moreover, Grandfather’s things in Third Uncle’s hands are better than in ours—this is like a precious sword gifted to a hero.” She smiled and said, “If word spreads, it will also be a fine tale.”

Old Madam An looked both happy and gratified, holding Second Madam’s hand and nodding repeatedly.

Pearl came in to quietly report that the meal was ready.

Second Madam then supported Old Madam An to stand up.

The group followed Old Madam An to the west side room for dinner.

Madam Shen and Second Madam sat on Old Madam An’s left and right respectively.

Gu Xi sat below Madam Shen, Yu Tang sat below Second Madam, and the several Pei young ladies were seated by age.

The meal was eaten quietly and peacefully without incident.

After the meal, Old Madam An was in excellent spirits. Everyone returned to the east side room to drink tea and talk.

The topic shifted from the earlier Great-Uncle Qian to the snow scenery of Phoenix Mountain.

Phoenix Mountain was in the outskirts of Hangzhou. When it came to Phoenix Mountain’s snow scenery, naturally Gu Xi had more authority to speak.

She vividly described going with Gu Chaoyang to catch sparrows on Phoenix Mountain when she was young.

The several Pei young ladies, including Old Madam An, Second Madam, and Madam Shen, all listened with great interest. Only Yu Tang sneered inwardly.

In her previous life, she had also heard Gu Xi talk about catching sparrows.

But it wasn’t at Phoenix Mountain—it was at Yongfu Temple located in the western outskirts of Hangzhou.

According to the previous life’s Gu Xi, it was the tenth anniversary of her mother’s death, the first time she had accompanied her blood brother Gu Chaoyang to the temple to conduct services for their mother.

She believed the previous life’s Gu Xi more.

But that Gu Xi could improvise to this degree—Yu Tang still admired her for it.

The room was lively when Nanny Ji walked in with a somewhat serious expression and whispered a few words in Old Madam An’s ear.

The smile on Old Madam An’s face disappeared all at once.

Fifth Miss was so frightened she clutched the hem of A’Shan’s clothes behind her.

The atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze.

Gu Xi’s face showed hesitation.

Yu Tang knew she felt she should take her leave but didn’t want to lose the opportunity to get close to Old Madam An.

Some opportunities were fleeting.

Before Gu Xi could speak, Old Madam An had already said indifferently: “Since she has the intention, then let her in!” After speaking, she even glanced at Madam Shen.

Madam Shen was baffled, but Gu Xi had a bad feeling in her heart.

Yu Tang and the several Pei young ladies held their breath in silence.

Soon, Nanny Ji led in a woman dressed in plain mourning clothes.

Yu Tang was so startled she almost cried out.

The person who arrived was actually First Madam Pei.

Taking a closer look, having not seen her for only a year or so, compared to when Yu Tang had first met her, First Madam Pei seemed to have aged ten years all at once. Not only had white hair appeared at her temples, but her wrinkles were obvious, her expression haggard—as if her tendons and bones had been extracted all at once, leaving her without spirit.

“Mother!” First Madam respectfully paid her respects to Old Madam An, her expression humble. Where was her previous noble arrogance?

Yu Tang felt a moment of confusion.

What had happened to First Madam in this past year? And how could she be at the villa? Had she been living here since Old Master’s funeral? Or had Old Madam An brought First Madam along on this trip up the mountain?

Yu Tang’s heart was like a tsunami, yet she was afraid others would notice her surprise. As a cover, she lowered her head to drink tea.

But as she set down her teacup, from the corner of her eye she inadvertently swept past Gu Xi and discovered she too was lowering her head to drink tea.

Yu Tang smiled bitterly.

Old Madam An was already saying to First Madam: “Your health is poor now. Every month we have to invite Imperial Physician Yang to check your pulse. You should rest more. I have Second Daughter-in-law here to keep me company, and several girls to accompany me. There’s nothing for you to busy yourself with—just take good care of yourself.”