Yu Tang, upon returning to her room, quickly calmed her anger.
After all, it was Pei Yan who had made the effort. Pei Yan certainly had his own considerations. Her forcibly demanding that Pei Yan deal with the Li family according to her ideas and Pei Yan getting angry was understandable.
She wasn’t anyone special to Pei Yan—why should Pei Yan have to accommodate her emotions at every turn?
On the contrary, she had received much kindness from Pei Yan. No matter what, when it was time to repay kindness, she should repay it.
Yu Tang began worrying that the Pei family would suffer losses.
The reason the Third Prince dared to accumulate wealth in Jiangnan was largely because the Emperor had difficulty producing heirs. He had successively established three empresses and fathered seven princes, but only the Second Prince and Third Prince had survived. The Emperor believed a Taoist priest who said he had the fate of a solitary star that killed relatives, unsuitable for living with his children or establishing an heir early. Thus, for all these years, the two princes had lived outside the palace, and the Emperor had never established a crown prince. Though the Second Prince held the advantage of being the legitimate eldest, he had no son, which inevitably made many ambitious people restless.
In her previous life, three years later, there had indeed been a crisis—the Emperor suddenly fell gravely ill and prepared to establish a crown prince. As a result, court officials all felt the Third Prince, who had a clever imperial grandson, was more suitable to be established as crown prince. The Third Prince himself thought so too and repeatedly met privately with external ministers while the Emperor was gravely ill. The Second Prince, however, dutifully stayed by the Emperor’s side to attend to his illness. It turned out to be a false alarm. The twenty-four government offices had all begun preparing funeral supplies when, unexpectedly, the Emperor consumed an “immortal elixir” from a Taoist priest of Longhu Mountain and inexplicably recovered.
After that, he lived another four years.
The Second Prince became the ultimate winner.
This matter would certainly affect the Pei family.
Of course, in her previous life, the Pei family had also proceeded safely and steadily, outlasting even her own lifespan. But if Pei Yan could know the outcome in advance, he would certainly be more composed and resolute, knowing what choices were best for the Pei family.
She needed to tell Pei Yan about this matter.
But how could she tell Pei Yan?
Say she was reborn?
She feared Pei Yan would lock her up as a lunatic.
Or think she was possessed and invite Taoist priests or monks to perform rituals on her.
Yu Tang was very troubled. She had originally planned to copy Buddhist scriptures with her mother but couldn’t calm her mind no matter what.
Chen Shi didn’t know what she was anxious about and asked her: “What’s wrong with you? If you don’t want to copy scriptures, don’t force yourself. Old Madam Pei is compassionate and magnanimous—she won’t mind these small matters.”
Yu Tang barely nodded, still struggling to recall events from her previous life, hoping to find things that could warn Pei Yan. She couldn’t sleep that night, and when she got up the next morning, not only was she in a daze, but when going to pay respects to Old Madam Pei, she nearly bumped into Nanny Ji.
Nanny Ji treated her like family. Not only did she not reproach her, but she even steadied her and asked with concern: “What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? If you’re not feeling well, you needn’t come over. Third Madam Yang said she felt somewhat unwell yesterday afternoon and began coughing and running a fever after returning last night. Today she sent a servant to report to Old Madam. Miss Xu also stayed in her room to care for Third Madam Yang.”
The implication was that she could also not come.
Yu Tang was surprised.
When she and Miss Xu parted yesterday, Miss Xu had said nothing. How had Third Madam Yang fallen ill first thing this morning?
Seeing no one around, Nanny Ji whispered in her ear: “Today the Song, Peng, and Wu families, along with some Lin’an gentry, will gather together. Perhaps Third Madam Yang found it too noisy.”
Yu Tang was grateful for Nanny Ji’s protection and gently nodded, saying “I understand.” After paying respects to Old Madam Pei, she pretended to cough several times. Old Madam Pei became very nervous, immediately asking what was wrong and having someone fetch a physician to examine her: “Don’t be like Third Madam Yang. I heard you’ve been walking together these past few days.”
Chen Shi was also somewhat worried and took Yu Tang back to their room.
Yu Tang quickly reassured Chen Shi: “I’m fine. I just don’t want to deal with those powerful families.”
Chen Shi thought this was also good, though she was dissatisfied with Yu Tang feigning illness.
Yu Tang said: “Don’t I have no other choice? When the physician comes, he’ll know I’m fine. I just wanted an excuse to stay in my room.”
Things having reached this point, Chen Shi could only compromise.
The physician came, examined her, and found nothing wrong. She might just be tired from the past few days. He prescribed some pills to replenish energy and calm the spirit, then Lei Zhi escorted him to report back to Old Madam Pei.
Chen Shi felt apologetic and followed Lei Zhi to thank Old Madam Pei. But as soon as she left, A’Fu arrived, saying Miss Xu had heard she was feeling unwell and wanted to come visit her.
Yu Tang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She politely declined, but Miss Xu still came running over.
“Oh my, you should rest well.” She winked at Yu Tang. “There are so many people outside—it’s chaotic. Better to stay in your own room.”
Yu Tang smiled in agreement.
Chen Shi returned and said: “Old Madam Pei was relieved to hear you’re fine. She told you to rest well in your room and needn’t go over today. We’ll see about tomorrow’s scripture lecture gathering.”
Yu Tang nodded repeatedly.
Miss Xu then pulled at Chen Shi’s sleeve: “Could I have Sister Yu come keep me company? Third Madam is unwell and resting most of the time. I’m quite bored alone. Let Sister Yu come be my companion.”
Chen Shi had always liked Miss Xu’s cheerful and lively nature and immediately agreed, even instructing Yu Tang: “Stay at Miss Xu’s place and don’t run around. Don’t offend the Pei family’s guests and put the Pei family in a difficult position.”
Looking at Miss Xu’s face full of cunning smiles, Yu Tang could only agree. But on the way to Miss Xu’s lodging, she directly turned hostile: “Tell me the truth—what are you really trying to do? Otherwise, I’ll go see Old Madam Pei right now. The old lady was worried about my illness and called a physician for me. I haven’t gone to thank her in person yet!”
“How can you be so petty!” Miss Xu said huffily. “I really just wanted to let you have some peace and quiet. Don’t fail to recognize good intentions. That eldest young madam from the Peng family really loves meddling in others’ affairs. First Madam Pei hasn’t appeared at all—don’t you find that strange? I heard that eldest young madam from the Peng family was formerly close friends with First Madam Pei in their boudoir days. She’ll certainly want to visit First Madam Pei and will probably say some unpleasant things. Why should you get caught up in their disputes?”
This was also something Yu Tang found strange. She said: “What’s the situation with First Madam Pei? She’s so wholeheartedly trying to leave the Pei family, looking like she wants to draw a clear line with them. Does she plan never to have the eldest and second young masters acknowledge their clan?”
Otherwise, no matter how First Madam Pei tried to distance herself from the Pei family, in others’ eyes, one stroke couldn’t write two Pei characters—they were still one family. What was the point of doing this?
Miss Xu chuckled: “You still can’t do without me, can you?”
Yu Tang glanced at Miss Xu and said coldly: “I don’t plan to leave Lin’an anyway. What does it matter whether I have you or not?”
Miss Xu deflated but still couldn’t help telling Yu Tang about First Madam Pei: “Her father made his fortune relying on his wife’s family, so their family is closer to the maternal clan. First Madam Pei is the same—she always feels her natal family is closer than her husband’s family, that her natal family is more powerful and influential than her in-laws. Moreover, Old Madam Pei isn’t someone who can be easily fooled, so the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship is very tense. If you ask me, Pei Xiaguang is right. First Master Pei has already passed away, and the capital is very chaotic. At this time, the Pei family should keep a low profile and act discreetly, rather than striving to catch up and urgently pushing the children to obtain scholarly titles. First Master Pei offended quite a few people in his previous life. When a person dies, it’s like a lamp going out—some matters people won’t pursue. But if these descendants don’t yield at all and forcefully compete with those people, why wouldn’t they eliminate the threat at its root? Should they give you a chance to rise again like grass in spring? So First Madam Pei’s natal family’s traditions aren’t good, and her own way of doing things is quite radical.
Moreover, the Pei family isn’t like the Yang family.
The Yang family has no foundation. If they don’t strive diligently while they have the chance, they won’t have a place in the future.
The Pei family has been wealthy for several generations. Even now, three masters hold scholarly titles. There’s no need to be this anxious.”
Yu Tang felt Miss Xu made very good sense.
Miss Xu continued: “So I say she’s wrong to prioritize the children’s scholarly achievements at this time. Rather than spending this time and effort, she’d be better off having the two young masters build good relationships with their uncles. After all, the maternal family connection is there—even without frequent contact, with the old master and old madam present, relations won’t be severed. The several uncles are different though. The two young masters didn’t grow up in the Pei family to begin with. They’re not the Pei family’s most promising descendants. Their father is gone, their mother isn’t favored—why should those uncles and cousins take care of them?”
Yu Tang asked: “Who are the Pei family’s most promising descendants?”
“Pei Chan and Pei Bo!” Miss Xu answered without hesitation. “Pei Chan’s mother, like Old Madam Pei, is from the Qian family of Qiantang. Pei Bo’s mother and Second Madam’s mother are cousins—both from the Jin family of Jinling. The Qian family needn’t be mentioned. The Jin family is also a family of scholars for generations. Years ago, when our Xu family was still in Jinling, the two families formed a marriage alliance. One of my grand-aunts has the surname Jin. However, later the Jin family’s descendants became sparse, and gradually we visited less often. Pei Bo is also excellent at studying, but the Pei family is low-key and doesn’t make a show of it.”
Whether Pei Bo was excellent or not, Yu Tang didn’t know, but five years later Pei Chan and Pei Tong both passed the jinshi examination together—this she knew.
At least it proved Miss Xu wasn’t speaking nonsense.
The two arrived at the side rooms where Miss Xu and Third Madam Yang were staying.
Third Madam Yang, with a ruddy complexion and exquisite makeup, received Yu Tang.
Yu Tang couldn’t help being somewhat surprised.
Even if Third Madam Yang was pretending, she should at least put on an appearance. Like this, she completely looked as if she wasn’t afraid of others knowing—it was a bit too… brazen!
As if reading her thoughts, Third Madam Yang smiled: “See through it but don’t say it—there’s not one person coming who isn’t shrewd. Since I don’t want the trouble, I won’t disgust others either!”
This forthright way of doing things refreshed Yu Tang’s perspective and made her both enlightened and longing.
Her heart suddenly settled.
Leaving Third Madam Yang’s room, Yu Tang went to Miss Xu’s inner chamber.
Miss Xu pulled her to look at her fragrant oils: “That day I said I’d let you choose a few scents, but with this and that, we delayed this important matter. Quick, see which scent or which bottle you like—I’ll give it to you.”