Yu Tang was greatly startled.

Pei Yan had been stern before, but never like this moment—not only was his gaze ice-cold, but the way he looked at Miss Xu was like a hunter eyeing prey, faintly carrying a murderous intent.

Miss Xu was probably also quite frightened.

Yu Tang noticed her quietly retreat two steps and grasp the corner of her clothing.

She looked toward Miss Xu.

Miss Xu’s face, however, showed nothing. She even wore a smile as she conversed with Pei Yan: “Which restaurant in Hangzhou makes the best sweet and sour fish and Dongpo pork? I’ve never been to Hangzhou. Sister Yu, why don’t we join in the fun as well? What do you think?”

Yu Tang didn’t know how this matter had suddenly involved her, but if Miss Xu was willing, she was happy to act as host. However, she sensed Pei Yan’s emotions were off, so before answering Miss Xu’s question, she first glanced at Pei Yan.

She discovered Pei Yan’s gaze was dark and heavy, like a seemingly calm sea surface where the waves beneath were being forcibly suppressed from breaking through. But they were only being suppressed—with just a bit more force, these waves would likely surge forth, placing people amid terrifying billows with life and death uncertain.

Yu Tang was horrified.

Only now did she realize that Miss Xu’s earlier words had hidden implications, and moreover, what they implied had enraged Pei Yan.

Naturally, she had to stand on Pei Yan’s side.

Though Miss Xu was good, Pei Yan had shown her kindness.

This much she could distinguish clearly.

Yu Tang swallowed the words that had reached her lips and changed her response with a smile: “Are you going to Hangzhou to eat sweet and sour fish and Dongpo pork, or to see Hangzhou’s scenery? If it’s the former, we also have restaurants in Lin’an that make excellent sweet and sour fish and Dongpo pork. I’ll be the host and treat you to sweet and sour fish and Dongpo pork. If what you most want to see is Hangzhou’s scenery, you might discuss it thoroughly with Third Madam Yang and set a time. My mother and I will accompany you there. My mother hasn’t gone out for quite some time either. With the beautiful spring weather, it would be perfect to visit Hangzhou, and we could also buy some new styles of clothing and accessories.”

Her voice was clear, bright, gentle, and courteous. Somehow, it diluted the tense confrontation from moments before. Miss Xu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Pei Yan, she said to Yu Tang: “Then it’s settled. Once Third Madam Yang and I have finalized our itinerary, we’ll make arrangements with you.”

Yu Tang also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although she didn’t know why Pei Yan’s expression had suddenly relaxed after hearing her words, she was very good at seizing opportunities. Hearing Miss Xu say this, she not only immediately smiled and nodded in agreement, but also curtsied to Zhou Zijing, saying: “When did you arrive in Lin’an? Last time in Hangzhou, thank you and Third Master for coming to our aid. My father was still mentioning it at home a few days ago. If he knew you had also come this time, he would definitely have hurried to Zhaoming Temple early. I’ll send someone to inform my father right away and have him treat you to Lin’an’s fine wines.”

Zhou Zijing laughed heartily, looked Yu Tang over several times, and said to Pei Yan: “Haven’t seen her for two years—the little girl has grown into a young lady, becoming more and more beautiful.” Then he urged her: “Let me paint a small portrait of you? I guarantee it will be beautiful. You can hang it in your room later and even pass it down to your descendants.”

Yu Tang couldn’t help feeling somewhat tempted.

Pei Yan looked thoroughly displeased and said: “Are you painting a memorial portrait?! Talking about passing it down to descendants. Stop this nonsense. Miss Yu won’t have a portrait painted, and certainly not by you.”

Zhou Zijing was greatly affronted: “What do you mean by that? My portraits are worth a thousand gold pieces and hard to come by, yet you dare to look down on them.”

Pei Yan said impatiently: “It’s precisely because your portraits are worth a thousand gold pieces and hard to come by that I think you’re unsuitable to paint Miss Yu’s portrait—what if someone learns that Miss Yu’s portrait was painted by you and steals it for money? Wouldn’t Miss Yu’s portrait fall into others’ hands? To be collected and handled by others?”

Yu Tang shuddered at these words. Before Zhou Zijing could speak, she said: “Thank you, Scholar Zhou. My appearance is ordinary—I dare not trouble Scholar Zhou to take up his brush. In the future, if there’s an opportunity, I’ll ask Scholar Zhou to paint a portrait for someone in my family.”

She could have him paint one for her father.

Zhou Zijing felt quite regretful but didn’t mention it again.

Miss Xu then discussed his own portrait with Zhou Zijing: “When it comes to painting portraits, naturally no one can compare with Scholar Zhou. Do you have a portrait of yourself on hand? It would be wonderful if we could take advantage of this opportunity to bring one back to the capital. You’re like a floating cloud and wild crane—finding you is too difficult.”

Zhou Zijing smiled: “I was already planning to visit the capital in some days. Tell Mingyuan not to bother himself—I’ll seek him out then. Have him prepare pear blossom white wine for me. I want to drink three large cups with him.”

Miss Xu nodded repeatedly, saying: “Perfect—you can also help review how well we’ve compiled our book.”

“Naturally.” Zhou Zijing readily agreed.

Miss Xu then pulled Yu Tang along to take their leave.

Neither Pei Yan nor Zhou Zijing said anything.

Miss Xu dragged Yu Tang along, running back to the side room where she was resting as if bandits were chasing them. Unable to wait, she poured herself a cup of tea and gulped down two mouthfuls. Only then, with an appearance of just recovering from fright, did she pull Yu Tang to sit at the round table in the middle of the room and complain: “How can Pei Xiaguang have such a temperament? No wonder everyone only praises his courage and resourcefulness without mentioning anything else. Someone like him wants to be an official? I think when he retired, it was probably because he couldn’t stay in the Six Ministries.”

Yu Tang disliked others attacking Pei Yan this way.

She said: “Third Master is a very good person. He brings blessings to his community—we’re all very grateful to him.”

Miss Xu smiled sheepishly upon hearing this: “I’m not targeting Pei Xiaguang specifically. He really frightened me. I didn’t expect him to be so difficult to talk to.” Speaking of this, her emotions became somewhat low as she sighed: “No wonder people say seeing once is worth hearing a hundred times. I’ve certainly experienced Pei Xiaguang now. Don’t ever expect me to say another good word about him. If I encounter him again in the future, I’ll take a detour!”

She looked quite resentful.

Yu Tang wanted to defend Pei Yan: “What did you mean just now? What do sweet and sour fish and Dongpo pork refer to?”

Miss Xu hesitated to speak.

Yu Tang said: “Don’t try to fool me either. Sweet and sour fish and Dongpo pork are found in Hangzhou, but also in Suzhou. You might have been hinting at Suzhou. Moreover, you also mentioned Gaoyou’s salted duck eggs, and Gu Chaoyang came to Jiangnan in his capacity as a censor to investigate Gaoyou’s waterways. Were you perhaps hinting that while Gu Chaoyang ostensibly came to investigate Gaoyou, someone in Suzhou actually committed some offense? But you used Magistrate Yin as your excuse—does Magistrate Yin know about this matter? Or does this matter also have some connection to Magistrate Yin?”

Miss Xu looked at Yu Tang with new respect.

After thinking for a moment, she had A’Fu and Shuang Tao guard the door: “Don’t let anyone approach, no matter who comes.”

The two looked at each other but obediently went outside, even thoughtfully closing the door behind them.

Only then did Miss Xu say to Yu Tang: “Someone said the Third Prince is accumulating wealth in Jiangnan. What problems could the Gaoyou waterways have? Second Brother Yin supervised their construction when he was at the Ministry of Works. They’re actually trying to investigate officials in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Moreover, this time not only did the Censorate send censors, but the palace also sent a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial. Gu Chaoyang and his group are the overt force, while the Directorate of Ceremonial eunuch is the covert one.” She frowned. “I just don’t know who the Directorate of Ceremonial sent. Counting the days, Gu Chaoyang has already arrived in Lin’an, so the Directorate of Ceremonial should have long since arrived in Hangzhou or Suzhou.”

Yu Tang listened in stunned disbelief, asking foolishly: “What does this have to do with the Pei family? Their eldest master who served as vice minister in the Ministry of Works has already passed away, and both the second and third masters are at home observing mourning.”

“How can you be clever one moment and confused the next?” Miss Xu glanced at her and lowered her voice: “The Pei family is extremely, extremely wealthy. Calling them Jiangnan’s richest wouldn’t be an exaggeration. It’s just that the Pei family has always been low-key. If the Third Prince wants to accumulate wealth in Jiangnan, the Pei family would definitely bear the brunt. If he doesn’t start with the Pei family, where would he start?”

As she spoke, her expression became alarmed, and she whispered to Yu Tang: “Could this scripture lecture gathering be a facade? Otherwise, why would several of Jiangnan’s famous wealthy households all come? Even the Peng family from far-off Fujian and the Tao family from Guangzhou came.” Speaking of this, she frightened herself, her face turning deathly pale. Her body went soft as if boneless as she clutched her chest: “We won’t be implicated, will we? Since they’re all involved, how can they still gather together? Aren’t they afraid of being caught like turtles in a jar? No, no—I need to send word to Mingyuan.”

Miss Xu paced anxiously in circles: “No, the capital is too far. I need to send word to Second Brother Yin first and have him take charge of the overall situation. But he can’t come here—if he comes, he’ll be inextricably linked to this matter.”

Yu Tang was calmer than her.

Mainly because Yu Tang recalled her previous life, when the Pei family had remained safe and sound until the Second Prince ascended the throne as emperor.

Either the Pei family had nothing to do with this matter, or they had a way to extricate themselves.

But in her previous life, there had been no scripture lecture gathering hosted by Old Madam Pei.

When Gu Xi presented the incense formula to Zhaoming Temple, it was five years later, when Li Duan’s father Li Yi returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors, and the Li family hosted a Ghost Festival celebration in the seventh month.

Thus, this life already differed greatly from the last.

Though she also felt uncertain, she wasn’t as panicked as Miss Xu.

“Listen to me.” She gripped Miss Xu’s hand tightly and said: “If you have such thoughts, you might as well speak directly and clearly with Third Master Pei. It’s inappropriate for Magistrate Yin to come here, but it’s also wrong for us to know something disadvantageous to the Pei family and not tell them.”

Since Miss Xu could know such secret matters, she could certainly help the Pei family.

Moreover, she had already moved into Zhaoming Temple—it was too late to extricate herself.

Better for everyone to work together in unity and create a new situation.

Miss Xu had obviously also thought of this point.

She paced back and forth in the room, unable to make up her mind.

Yu Tang knew that whoever acted faster could seize the initiative. She simply gave Miss Xu advice: “How about this—send an urgent letter to Magistrate Yin asking him to help make a decision, but don’t have him come in person yet.”

Miss Xu thought for a moment, stamped her foot, and agreed. While sitting down to write a letter to Magistrate Yin, she regretted: “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come to Zhaoming Temple with Third Madam Yang. That Yin Mingyuan—when he talks, he’s all evasive. When I said I was coming to Jiangnan, he didn’t openly oppose it, only casually told Third Madam Yang to watch over me and told me not to meddle in other people’s business. He clearly knew something. I hate it most when he does this! If he doesn’t speak clearly and plainly, how am I supposed to know what’s going on!”

Yu Tang said: “Didn’t you say Young Master Yin let you come to Jiangnan to enjoy yourself?”

Miss Xu stammered: “I wanted to come and enjoy myself, and he didn’t clearly object!”

Yu Tang was speechless.