Yu Tang acted as if she knew nothing about the upcoming marriage alliance between the Pei and Yu families. She graciously thanked Old Madam Pei An and withdrew with Nanny Ji.
Nanny Chen personally saw her out the door. When she returned, she praised Yu Tang to Old Madam Pei An: “So young yet so composed—rather like you when you were young.”
Old Madam Pei An snorted coldly and said, “Did you receive some benefit from Xiaguang?”
Though she seemed rather cold, it wasn’t a truly angry appearance.
Nanny Chen knew she had said the right thing and immediately put on an expression of protest: “If you say that about me, I won’t accept it! Although I do favor Third Master, it’s only because Third Master treats you the best!”
The corners of Old Madam Pei An’s mouth couldn’t help but rise. She gently instructed Nanny Chen: “What was the name of the person who served her last time? Willow Catkin or Willow Tip? Arrange for her to serve her again this time.”
After all, the Yu family’s status was what it was. It was impossible for them to send many attendants over, and even if they did, they couldn’t compare to the maids and matrons who had grown up in their household from childhood, who were familiar with the rules of aristocratic families.
If those maids were clever, once Yu Tang married over, they would be transferred to serve in Pei Yan’s quarters.
Nanny Chen understood. Remembering Nanny Ji’s request, she said, “Nanny Ji has someone by her side called Lei Zhi. I think she’s quite good. Why don’t we also assign this Lei Zhi to serve at Miss Yu’s side? Relying on just Willow Catkin and a few others, I’m afraid they won’t be able to manage.”
Willow Catkin was already fifteen or sixteen years old. At this time, she was still a third-class maid in the guest quarters, which showed her abilities were limited.
Old Madam Pei An trusted Nanny Chen very much. Hearing this, she said, “You just arrange it.” Then she spoke about some trivial matters concerning going to the country estate to escape the heat.
As for Yu Tang, she followed Nanny Ji to the guest room arranged for her and encountered Willow Catkin and the others again. Because they were still in the mourning period for the old master, aside from a few confidants around Old Madam Pei An, only Second Master Pei Xuan and the Second Mistress knew about Pei Yan seeking to marry Yu Tang. Even the First Mistress’s side hadn’t heard the news yet, let alone other people in the household. Willow Catkin and the others treated Yu Tang the same as before, chatting and laughing with each other. They nimbly helped Shuang Tao pack Yu Tang’s luggage. Yu Tang changed into a fresh set of clothes and took Shuang Tao to Fifth Miss’s quarters.
When Nanny Ji saw that everything here was settled, she went to report back to Old Madam Pei An.
Old Madam Pei An immediately asked her, “How was it?”
Clearly, she had been waiting for a long time.
Nanny Ji was someone at Old Madam Pei An’s side and could be considered half an insider. Naturally, she knew who Old Madam Pei An was asking about. She said with a smile, “Still the same as before.” As she spoke, she took out a small purse, opened it, and showed it to Old Madam Pei An: “Look, just like last year.”
Old Madam Pei An looked and saw a pair of five-tael silver ingots in the auspicious “all things as you wish” pattern.
Old Madam Pei An’s anxious heart finally settled. She couldn’t help but confide in them: “I both worry that she’ll be arrogant and fear that she’ll be timid. This is quite good—at least halfway there.”
Nanny Ji knew that Old Madam Pei An favored Third Master Pei the most. She quickly said, “You should trust our Third Master’s judgment. The person he chose won’t be wrong.”
Old Madam Pei An nodded with a smile and rewarded both Nanny Chen and Nanny Ji with a bag of gold beans each.
Nanny Chen and Nanny Ji joined in the fun from the side: “Oh my, our Old Madam is so eager to drink her daughter-in-law’s tea that even we servants get to share in the benefits.”
“Whose daughter-in-law’s tea does Mother want to drink?” The First Mistress’s gentle voice suddenly came from outside the door.
How did this person get in?
Were all those on duty outside dead?
And this form of address “Mother”… she had been married into the Pei family for nearly twenty years and still hadn’t changed it. She insisted on calling her “Mother.” It made her uncomfortable to hear.
Old Madam Pei An’s expression became somewhat unpleasant.
Nanny Chen hurriedly lifted the curtain, still smiling as she said, “The First Mistress has arrived! Please come in quickly. Old Madam was just mentioning you, saying that the weather is particularly hot this year. Old Madam is about to go to the mountain to escape the heat. With you being the only one from the main branch staying in the residence, the First Young Master’s wedding arrangements will have to trouble you to manage more.”
Old Madam Pei An listened and rolled her eyes.
*
At this time, Yu Tang had also arrived at Fifth Miss’s residence. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she heard a burst of cheerful laughter coming from Fifth Miss’s side room.
Her face immediately showed a few hints of a smile. She asked A’Shan, who came to greet her, “Why is it so lively? Are all the Pei Misses here?”
A’Shan nodded with a smile and said, “Besides the Pei Misses, the eldest young lady of the Yang family has also come over.” Afraid she didn’t know, she added, “She’s the Second Son-in-law’s younger half-sister. She’s back from the capital and, following her family elders’ orders, came specially to bring some local gifts to Second Miss. Second Miss brought her over to pay respects to Second Mistress.”
Yu Tang nodded and was led by A’Shan into Fifth Miss’s side room.
When everyone saw her, their eyes all lit up.
Today’s Yu Tang was more beautiful than in their memories.
A lake-green plain jacket, white South Sea pearl earrings, and very simple and elegant jasmine flowers in her hair—yet her face was fair and her hair lustrous black. Her pair of already bright black and white eyes were like gems soaked in quicksilver, sparkling brilliantly as she looked around, like thoroughly polished diamonds, radiating dazzling light.
Fifth Miss was the first to cry out, “Sister A’Tang, what have you been eating? Or what have you been applying? How did your complexion suddenly become so beautiful? You must tell us—you can’t keep secrets.”
Yu Tang was astonished. She suspiciously touched her own face and said, “I’ve been the same as usual during this time. I haven’t done anything. The fragrant balm I’m using is still the one you recommended last time. When Miss Xu and I went to Hangzhou city, we encountered some for sale and we both bought a little. Could it be because of that balm?”
Fourth Miss said jealously, “We’re also using that fragrant balm. Why is it so effective when Sister Yu uses it? Sister Yu, no—you have to treat us! If we hadn’t recommended it to you, where would you have gotten such good fragrant balm? You have to treat us to food!”
Yu Tang laughed heartily and said, “Alright, whatever you want to eat, I’ll treat!”
The young ladies of the Pei residence had been followed by a large group of maids and matrons since childhood. Their food was particular and nutritious. There was no way they’d be allowed to eat randomly. Once they married, they’d wed into families of equal standing. Some things, they probably wouldn’t see in their entire lives. The food they could actually ask for was very limited.
Fourth Miss’s eyes rolled around for a long while, but she still couldn’t think of what to have Yu Tang treat her to. Yet she was unwilling to give up an opportunity for fun like this. She pulled over a round-faced unfamiliar young woman beside her and said, “Sister Yang, do you have any good ideas?”
Yu Tang guessed this young girl must be the eldest young lady of the Yang family. She smiled and nodded at her.
Miss Yang also had a lively personality. Upon seeing her, she immediately introduced herself to Yu Tang.
Third Miss glared at Fourth Miss, feeling they should have introduced Miss Yang to Yu Tang when Yu Tang entered. Having a guest introduce herself was too impolite.
Fourth Miss stuck out her tongue sheepishly.
Yu Tang didn’t mind these things. She arranged herself by age with Miss Yang. She was two years older than Miss Yang, so she became the elder sister.
Miss Yang then suggested, “Why don’t we wait until we get to the country estate? I heard there’s a small river at the country estate. We can go fishing. We’ll roast the fish to eat!”
Yu Tang hadn’t expected Miss Yang would also go up the mountain with them.
Third Miss quietly said to her, “Miss Yang is borrowing our family’s country estate for a matchmaking meeting. The other party is a cousin from my grandmother’s side.”
This was adding kinship upon kinship.
However, the notable aristocratic families in Jiangnan were only so many. No matter what, they could all be connected by marriage. The relationships were quite complex.
She smiled. Second Miss blushed and asked Yu Tang to sit beside her, speaking about the Ku’an Temple matter: “Miss Yang heard about it and thought it was particularly good. She also wants to contribute. I said this matter was led by you, so I had to ask you first.”
When Second Miss mentioned her, Miss Yang smiled at Yu Tang.
For charitable work, of course the more people participating, the better.
Yu Tang naturally welcomed it.
Miss Yang thanked Yu Tang. Second Miss sighed, “It’s such a pity that Sister Gu can’t go up the mountain with us this time.”
Everyone began discussing Gu Xi.
“I didn’t expect Sister Gu would marry into our family. It shows Sister Gu and our family are quite fated.”
“First Aunt said she won’t go to the country estate to escape the heat. Nine out of ten times, she’s staying home to prepare for Sister Gu and Cousin Tong’s wedding. Does that mean Sister Gu will marry into our family very soon?”
“I heard First Aunt wants to buy a residence in Hangzhou for Cousin Tong. I wonder if First Aunt will give her own Hangzhou residence to Cousin Tong?”
Everyone talked at once. Yu Tang smiled and just listened from the side. However, Miss Yang, sitting across from her, showed a slight change in expression and several times seemed to want to speak but stopped.
Yu Tang thought that this Miss Yang had reportedly grown up in the capital with her parents. She speculated that Miss Yang either knew that niece from the First Mistress’s natal family who had been childhood sweethearts with Pei Tong, or knew about the matter of Pei Tong nearly marrying that Miss Yang.
After she went to pay her respects to Second Mistress, she stayed in Fifth Miss’s room with Miss Yang and the other Pei Misses for dinner before returning to her own quarters.
Unexpectedly, her lodging was brightly lit, and Qing Yuan was directing Willow Catkin and the others to change the furnishings in the hall.
“Where did that flower vase come from? A design from over ten years ago—immediately go exchange it for one added last year. And these cushions—can’t you see the red is veering toward purple? Take my storeroom key and go find a set in bright scarlet red…”
Willow Catkin and the others were so tense they didn’t dare breathe.
Seeing Yu Tang return, they all breathed a sigh of relief and called out “Miss Yu” as if seeking help.
Yu Tang guessed that Qing Yuan might have come on Pei Yan’s orders. Only that fellow wouldn’t tolerate even the slightest grievance.
She had no intention of making such a big fuss, but she also couldn’t disappoint Qing Yuan’s good intentions.
Yu Tang smoothed things over: “The guest quarters have established practices for receiving guests. Even if you wanted them to make an exception for me, they’d be like clever wives without rice—nothing to work with. As for me, thinking I’d only stay one night, I didn’t pay attention to these things. Instead, I’ve made you all worry on my behalf.”
Although Qing Yuan didn’t know that Pei Yan and Yu Tang were about to become engaged, she knew from Pei Yan’s attitude toward Yu Tang that Pei Yan was very attentive to Yu Tang. This was enough for her to know what attitude she should use in treating Yu Tang.
She smiled and respectfully performed a curtsy to Yu Tang, saying, “Third Master heard there were still female guests in the house and was afraid you might need to receive guests on your side, so he had me come arrange your side room.”
Yu Tang covered her forehead.