First Madam respectfully answered “Yes” and smiled at Second Madam: “It’s all because my body is so useless. I’ve troubled Second Sister-in-law.”

But Second Madam appeared unmoved. She smiled with the same gentle and serene manner, saying: “Family doesn’t speak as if they’re strangers. Eldest Sister-in-law is being too polite.” She then personally went to fetch an embroidered stool for First Madam, saying: “Eldest Sister-in-law, please sit down and talk.”

First Madam smiled at Second Madam, her smile quite gentle and even carrying a bit of weakness, involuntarily drawing people’s gazes to her thin body.

Yu Tang felt even more puzzled.

First Master had passed away before Old Master. If one were to say First Madam was mourning her deceased husband, although she had looked somewhat sorrowful at that time, it wasn’t like now… as if she were showing weakness…

She frowned almost imperceptibly.

Madam Shen also felt something was strange. But she wasn’t puzzled about why First Madam had suddenly become this way—after all, going from being the wife of a third-rank official and future clan matriarch to a widowed woman maintaining her chastity, anyone would have a period of maladjustment. What puzzled her was that glance Old Madam An had given her.

What did First Madam’s appearance have to do with her?

Her relationship with the Shen family wasn’t good, and social obligations among relatives wouldn’t fall to her to handle. She didn’t know if First Madam and the Shen family were connected by marriage, but First Madam certainly wasn’t connected by marriage to her maternal family. Could First Madam’s current appearance somehow have anything to do with her?

These thoughts merely flashed through her mind. She politely exchanged pleasantries with First Madam according to propriety.

First Madam’s responses were both proper and didn’t make people feel either distant or overly enthusiastic—her measure was just right.

Madam Shen silently praised her in her heart and couldn’t help but begin paying attention to First Madam.

Upon this closer attention, she discovered that although First Madam was dressed entirely in plain clothes, looking carefully, there was something shabby about her appearance.

Her shoes had been washed until they were somewhat faded. Her outer jacket was white Hangzhou silk, but her inner garment was coarse cloth.

Madam Shen’s heart sank slightly.

She knew her own personality was forthright, often speaking directly and saying things that made people uncomfortable, but she felt this was the proper attitude for being a person.

Could it be that after First Master died, the Pei family had been harsh to First Madam, and Old Madam An was afraid she would notice and make a scene?

This wasn’t impossible.

Especially since in the end, the position of Pei family patriarch had passed over the eldest grandson and Second Master to be given to Third Master.

One must know that this Third Master of the Pei family was the apple of Old Master and Old Madam An’s eyes.

Back then, when he had burned down Old Master Song’s new house, Old Madam An hadn’t been willing to have this youngest son say even a single word of apology.

This matter had spread throughout the relatives and prominent families.

Madam Shen lowered her head to drink tea.

Gu Xi, on the other hand, was very interested in First Madam. She not only greeted First Madam warmly but also inquired with concern about First Madam’s daily life. Moreover, her questions weren’t ordinary pleasantries. Because her topic quickly shifted from copying Buddhist scriptures to calligraphy, and she even mentioned that although she had started by copying Yan Zhenqing during her initial studies, she ultimately practiced Lady Wei’s style. This made First Madam’s eyes light up, and when she spoke, her spirit improved somewhat.

Yu Tang guessed that First Madam must write excellent calligraphy.

Her heart immediately became somewhat dejected.

It seemed Gu Xi had truly come to marry Pei Yan, otherwise she wouldn’t be so knowledgeable about everyone in the Pei family.

Thanks to Gu Xi, the atmosphere gradually began to warm up again. Even Second Miss slowly joined into the conversation between Gu Xi and First Madam. Madam Shen’s gaze toward First Madam became different, and she even began praising First Madam between the lines as a true talented woman.

First Madam modestly said: “Not at all. It’s only because my family patriarch loved calligraphy, and we younger generation benefited from following along.”

Madam Shen thought of how First Madam’s father was the Rector of the Imperial Academy, then recalled how Shen Shanyan had refused to teach at the Imperial Academy but instead stayed holed up in Lin’an. She felt quite uncomfortable and showed this emotion without concealment.

First Madam quickly dropped this topic and asked about the studies of the several Pei young ladies, as well as who Yu Tang was.

The Pei young ladies answered First Madam’s questions one by one in order of age. Fourth Miss even enthusiastically introduced who Yu Tang was.

Yu Tang specially stood up to properly pay her respects to First Madam again.

First Madam fumbled in her sleeve and said somewhat embarrassedly: “I didn’t expect there to be so many guests at home. I didn’t bring anything with me. I’ll make it up to you all next time.”

Yu Tang thanked her respectfully.

At this point, First Madam struck up a family connection with Gu Xi: “Since you’re a young lady from the Hangzhou Gu family, do you know of a grand-aunt whose given name was ‘Liushen’? She married into our family, and I must call her Grand-Uncle’s Wife.”

Gu Xi quickly smiled and said: “Is it that grand-aunt from our fourth branch? She had already married before I was born. However, even now people still say she was the most beautiful young lady in our Gu family. Unfortunately, I had no chance to meet her. I wonder if it’s true?”

First Madam pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes flowing with light, full of charm.

Yu Tang suddenly understood somewhat why First Master and First Madam had been such a devoted couple.

Anyone with such a wife would feel extra tenderness, wouldn’t they?

As the two discussed this Gu family grand-aunt, they grew increasingly close.

But Madam Shen’s brows were tightly knit.

She sensed that First Madam had changed the topic because of her. She had originally wanted to explain a few things, but the several Pei young ladies were chattering away, making it difficult for her to interrupt. When she wanted to explain again, she couldn’t find a suitable opportunity.

She felt she had to find an appropriate moment to explain things to First Madam, lest First Madam misunderstand that she was giving her cold treatment. Then wouldn’t she become the kind of person who bullied a widowed First Madam!

But Yu Tang was quietly observing Old Madam An and Second Madam.

Unfortunately, both Old Madam An and Second Madam were people who had been through countless trials. If they wanted others not to see something, no one would be able to tell. One sat there drinking tea with an expressionless face that showed neither joy nor displeasure, while the other smiled at First Madam and Gu Xi with an appearance of listening attentively.

So what exactly had First Madam come to do?

Was it simply to pay respects to Old Madam An?

Then why was she at the villa?

Yu Tang felt her brain wasn’t sufficient for this. In that case, she should just behave herself and not try to match wits with experts, or else she wouldn’t even know how she died.

She sighed inwardly.

Even though the atmosphere in the room looked quite warm, it no longer had the genuine joy from before and still made people feel somewhat tired.

Fortunately, First Madam didn’t sit for very long. She only mentioned that for the sake of peace and quiet, she had been living in the mountains since autumn began, staying at Autumn Freshness Studio in the western cross-courtyard. She invited them—mainly referring to Madam Shen and Gu Xi—to visit her when they were free. When she was alone, she just copied scriptures and recited Buddhist texts, living quite leisurely and freely. Then she rose to take her leave.

Both Madam Shen and Gu Xi smiled and agreed.

Only then did First Madam seem to remember there was also Yu Tang. She specially instructed Yu Tang as well, adding: “When it snows at my place, the snow scenery is also quite nice. Come play with the several younger sisters when the time comes.”

Yu Tang smiled and agreed.

Except for Old Madam An, everyone rose to see First Madam out.

When First Madam reached the door, she wouldn’t let everyone see her further out, saying: “It’s cold outside. Nanny Chen is enough.”

Second Madam also smiled and joined First Madam in stopping everyone, but she personally escorted Second Madam out of Old Madam An’s courtyard before returning.

After this interlude, the atmosphere could never return to what it had been before. Everyone sat for a little while longer, then rose one after another to take their leave.

Old Madam An nodded without keeping them, and everyone returned to their own rooms.

Shuang Tao followed Yu Tang into the inner chamber and closed the partition door.

Yu Tang thought she was going to help her change clothes, but unexpectedly she produced an oil paper package from her bosom with a grin. Opening it, she held it before Yu Tang: “Miss, do you want some?”

The aroma of roasted sweet potato immediately filled the inner chamber, making Yu Tang swallow: “Where did you get this from?”

Because Yu Tang had only brought Shuang Tao as her maid, Old Madam An had assigned a maid named Liu Xu to attend to Yu Tang’s meals and daily needs. Yu Tang, worried that Shuang Tao might be impolite, had Shuang Tao follow Liu Xu to observe and learn more. During dinner and tea time, Liu Xu served at her side while Shuang Tao waited in the tea room with the second-rank maids of the several Pei young ladies, also taking the opportunity to get to know people.

Knowing that Yu Tang loved eating roasted sweet potatoes and roasted chestnuts in winter, Shuang Tao smiled and said: “A maid from Second Miss’s side roasted them, and we each got one.” Then she smiled and added: “I think the Pei family’s several young ladies are truly worthy of being from a great family. Not only are they kind to others themselves, but even the maids and servants attending them are all very nice. A maid from Third Miss’s side told me many of the Pei residence’s rules and said if there’s anything I don’t understand, I can ask her.”

This was good!

Yu Tang smiled and nodded, pointing at the sweet potato in her hand: “Didn’t you say one each? You keep it to eat yourself. In front of Old Madam An, how could they possibly short me on food? If you encounter such things in the future, just take care of yourself first.”

Shuang Tao smiled and agreed, but still kept half the sweet potato for Yu Tang, saying it was for when Yu Tang wanted to eat it.

Yu Tang said nothing, but was very grateful to her in her heart.

She knew this was because Shuang Tao worried she might not eat well in front of Old Madam An having just entered the residence, and had specially saved it for her.

Early the next morning, when they got up and saw the young maid who brought hot water had water marks in her hair, they learned that heavy snow had fallen in the middle of the night.

This was Lin’an City’s first snow of the year.

Yu Tang and Shuang Tao excitedly opened the window lattice.

Outside was a vast expanse of white. Large flakes of snow like cotton wadding were still falling. Tree leaves were already piled with snow, and from time to time branches couldn’t bear the weight of accumulated snow, causing the snow piled on top to slide down from the leaves with “thump thump” sounds.

Neither Yu Tang nor Shuang Tao had expected the snow to be this heavy.

Shuang Tao smiled and said: “We can build snowmen!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a blast of cold air rushed in, making both of them shiver. However, because they had stayed in the room with heated floors all night, their bodies were still warm and they didn’t feel cold. But the two immediately closed the window anyway.

Shuang Tao asked Yu Tang: “Will you build a snowman today?”

If they were at the Yu family home, with such heavy snow, they would certainly build snowmen.

Yu Tang hesitated for a moment and said: “Let’s see how things go!”

If the Pei family people didn’t have such a custom, she wouldn’t build one either.

In fact, from the time she married into the Li family in her previous life, she had never built another snowman.