Yu Tang stood there quietly, coldly watching Li Duan come to his senses and urgently remedy his mistake: “Younger brother, even if it’s to go to the Yu family to apologize on behalf of Mother, it should be me, the elder brother, who steps forward. You don’t need to worry about this matter anymore—elder brother will handle it well.”

After speaking, he bowed to Pei Yan, Twelfth Grand-Uncle, Yu Wen, and Old Master Wei respectively, his expression sincere and his tone earnest as he said: “Miss Yu makes a good point. I acted with bias, only thinking of my family’s difficulties without putting myself in Miss Yu’s shoes to consider her situation. See if this will work. I’ll first hold a three-day Buddhist service for the Wei family’s second young master at Zhaoming Temple, then go to the Yu family to apologize on behalf of my mother!”

He looked expectantly at Yu Wen and the others.

But Yu Tang, listening, sneered inwardly.

When confronting her, he felt it was humiliating, but after Li Jun stepped forward, he felt it was glorious. Where in the world was there such a good thing!

Those present knew how difficult it had been for their Yu family to fight for this apology from the Li family, but the people who would go watch the spectacle outside wouldn’t know. When they saw Li Duan kneeling at the Yu family’s gate begging for forgiveness, they would still think Li Duan was benevolent and magnanimous, extremely filial to his mother, knowing his family had done wrong and sincerely apologizing!

Had she done all this just to let Li Duan pick the peach at the final moment, gain fame, and steal the spotlight?!

Even if someone had to go kneel at their home, it should be Li Jun who went to kneel.

Li Duan really couldn’t change his nature—he had done plenty of such things in her previous life.

Yu Tang stepped forward, wanting to object, but was pulled back by her father.

Earlier, Yu Wen had agreed to let Yu Tang take the lead because he wasn’t confident about what Yu Tang wanted to do, and moreover, Yu Tang was angry in her heart. He wanted to let her vent this anger so she wouldn’t keep dwelling on it and let it become a burden on her heart in the future.

Now that the dust had settled, he didn’t want his daughter to continue appearing publicly.

If this caused these gentry to form a bad impression of his daughter, no matter how much they made things difficult for the Li family or how they punished them, it wouldn’t be enough to compensate for the loss to his daughter’s reputation.

Although his daughter kept saying she didn’t care, saying that when doing things one must risk everything to succeed, he felt sorry for his daughter. He feared something terrible would happen to her—he couldn’t take that gamble.

“A’Tang!” Yu Wen’s expression was serious as he said in a low voice, “Don’t interfere in this matter anymore. You must listen to me. Whatever happens, Father will negotiate with the Li family. From now on, you stand obediently behind A’Yuan, just like when you first came in. Do you understand?”

It was rare for Father to speak to her in such a tone. Yu Tang immediately understood her father’s determination.

But she was still unwilling.

“Father,” she replied to her father in a low voice, “we must firmly fix the hat of unfiliality on him. We can’t let him go.”

“I know.” If Yu Wen had admired Li Duan before, he was now equally disappointed.

With Li Yi away from home and Li Duan being the eldest son capable of managing the household, if anyone said the things the Li family had done had nothing whatsoever to do with Li Duan, no one would believe it. Yet Li Duan wanted to do bad things while maintaining a good reputation—even the courtesans in brothels didn’t dare act like this.

Li Duan was nothing but a hypocrite.

Yu Wen patted his daughter’s shoulder reassuringly, positioned his daughter behind him, bowed to Pei Yan and the others, and said: “Everything has its cause. No need to grab hair and beard together. The death of the Wei family’s second young master is the main issue and our primary purpose in coming today. As for apologizing to the Yu family, that’s merely incidental. However, whoever caused the trouble should clean up the mess. Since the kidnapping incident arose from the Li family’s second young master’s excessive ardor in seeking a match, then let the Li family’s second young master resolve it!”

The implication was to have Li Jun go to the Yu family to apologize.

Yu Wen spoke so clearly and thoroughly that not one person present lacked a perceptive heart—how could they not understand?

This suited Pei Yan perfectly.

The Li family dared to harbor so many vagrants on the Pei family’s territory, and not only lacked the ability to contain the situation but also took them all for fools. They deserved to be taught a lesson.

How to teach the Li family a lesson? Start with this Li family’s triumphant eldest son!

Pei Yan took a sip of tea and said: “What Old Master Yu says is reasonable. Young people—who doesn’t make mistakes? But having made mistakes, if one knows to reform and take responsibility, nothing could be better. The Li family’s second young master has such courage and awareness—we elders should not only protect but also encourage this. This matter is settled then.”

Li Duan was naturally dissatisfied and wanted to say something, but he couldn’t withstand having such a foolish brother.

Li Jun’s eyes moistened with gratitude. He respectfully stepped forward and bowed deeply to Pei Yan. When he raised his head, his gaze toward Pei Yan was full of resolution: “Third Master Pei, Twelfth Grand-Uncle, Uncle He, I, I will certainly examine myself from now on, conduct myself properly, and never again do things that worry the family elders.”

The Li family clan’s Twelfth Grand-Uncle was also shrewd—otherwise he wouldn’t have entered acting like a mute. Seeing Li Jun had set up Li Duan, he found Li Jun increasingly pleasing to the eye, and naturally spoke to him in a loving tone: “Don’t feel burdened. Third Master Pei is right—who didn’t make mistakes when they were young? Knowing to correct them is what matters.” Then he even helped Li Jun plead with Yu Wen and Old Master Wei, “Don’t you two gentlemen agree?”

This was the Yu family’s matter. Since Yu Wen had said so, what objection could Old Master Wei have?

He kept nodding and even took the opportunity to praise Yu Wen: “Old Master Yu thinks the same. Since everyone’s thinking aligns, then as Third Master Pei said, this matter is settled.”

Old Master Wu, watching, shook his head inwardly.

This second young master of the Li family was truly an honest and upright person—a good bamboo shoot from bad bamboo indeed.

“As it should be, as it should be!” The gentry present all discussed it, and those wanting to curry favor with Pei Yan even instructed Li Jun: “You must properly thank Third Master Pei for this. Third Master loves and cherishes talent, which is why he’s willing to protect you like this. From now on, you must follow the rules and not disappoint Third Master’s painstaking care.”

Li Jun repeatedly agreed.

But Li Duan’s forehead bulged with veins—he wished he could throw this younger brother out.

He had known since childhood that Li Jun was foolish, but he hadn’t imagined Li Jun could be foolish to this degree.

No, after returning home, he had to tell his father to take Li Jun to his posting and not let him stay home causing trouble.

Having made up his mind, Li Duan felt somewhat better, then heard Yu Wen say: “The apology matter is resolved, but the Wei family’s second young master can’t just go like this. Shouldn’t we discuss how to punish the culprits?”

Everyone was startled, looking at each other, exchanging confused glances.

This matter wasn’t finished yet?

Hadn’t the Li family’s head steward already taken the blame for the Li family?

What more did the Yu family want?

Old Master Wu was on good terms with the Yu family and had been invited by Yu Wen. He didn’t know what Yu Wen was planning, but this didn’t prevent him from supporting the Yu family.

He said: “Hui Li, if you have something to say, speak directly in front of Third Master Pei. Everything can be discussed! Just like the apology matter earlier—in the end, didn’t you all feel that having the Li family’s second young master apologize to your family on behalf of Lady Li was acceptable?”

Hearing this, Li Duan couldn’t help but grit his teeth.

Was this the result they had discussed?

These gentry were truly shameless in their attempts to curry favor with Pei Yan.

Clearly old enough to be Pei Yan’s father in terms of age, yet before Pei Yan they kept calling him “Third Master,” wishing they could cling to Pei Yan and call him “brother.”

Thinking of this, Li Duan felt even worse.

When would he be able to be like Pei Yan, treated as an elder and respected person wherever he went…

Yu Wen had been waiting for these words and didn’t stand on ceremony: “The two vagrants and the Li residence’s head steward should be handed over to the authorities for legal punishment according to law—this is what we common people should observe. But this matter ultimately arose from the Li family’s poor supervision, which allowed the Li family’s head steward to abuse his borrowed authority to the point of not knowing his limits. If not severely punished, who’s to say there won’t be a second head steward? In my opinion, not only should the head steward be punished, but his family members and distant relatives should all be expelled from the residence as a warning to others.”

Li Duan’s mouth twisted with anger.

Everyone knew the Li family’s head steward was taking the blame for his master. Not only could the master not preserve his life, but couldn’t even protect his family—who would dare work for the Li family in the future!

How was this different from having his mother go kowtow and apologize to the Yu family!

The Yu family was truly going too far.

Did they really think the Li family feared them?

The word “no” was still on his lips when Li Duan’s ears were filled with Pei Yan’s voice, cold as ice: “Acceptable! When one person commits a crime, the whole household shares responsibility. Our dynasty’s laws are the same. This can serve as a warning to those who don’t follow the rules—when the Son of Heaven violates the law, he is guilty like commoners. No one can escape by chance!”

“Third Master Pei!” Li Duan’s face instantly turned black as the bottom of a pot. “This matter requires further discussion…”

But before he could finish speaking, Li He, who had been standing like a shadow behind his father, suddenly stepped forward and rebuked Li Duan: “Shut up! That Third Master Pei listens to you shows his magnanimity, considering you’re a junior. Don’t fail to know your place and disrupt proper hierarchy. This matter will be accepted by our clan branch on behalf of your family. Step back and stop talking nonsense.”

“Uncle He.” Of course Li Duan wouldn’t take Li He seriously. He said loudly: “Those people have served our family for generations. How can we just drive them all out without asking right from wrong…”

Li He had finally waited for this opportunity to strike at Li Duan—how could he let Li Duan escape so easily?

He said loudly: “Li Duan, do you want to bypass the clan branch and make decisions yourself?”

Li Duan really wanted to say “yes.”

But he couldn’t.

Clan hierarchy and seniority were ancestral family law. If even this became chaotic, the world itself would become chaotic.

No matter how little he regarded the clan branch in his heart, he couldn’t say it out loud.

Li Duan could only close his mouth in frustration, but in his heart he calculated that the Pei family couldn’t possibly check their family’s servants against a roster. Once they left here, he could naturally find a way to exonerate the head steward and his family—no need to oppose these people at this moment.

His heart calmed slightly.

Pei Yan had already picked up his teacup, his voice clear and peaceful as he said: “I’m honored that the neighbors and the Yu and Wei families have asked me to serve as mediator. I’ve stated my position. Whether the Li family complies—I’m neither a local official nor an imperial censor, so it still depends on the Li family’s intentions. Today’s matter is concluded. I’m still in mourning and it’s inconvenient to host everyone for drinks. I won’t keep everyone today. When I’m out of mourning, I’ll properly invite everyone for drinks—I hope you won’t disdain the invitation and will spare the time to come.”

This was clearly seeing them out.

“Third Master Pei, you’re too kind!”

“We’ll definitely come, definitely come!”

“Then you rest—we’ll take our leave!”

Everyone rose one after another.

Pei Yan didn’t stand on ceremony with them either, standing up, which counted as seeing them out.

In the past, Old Master Pei would personally escort people to the main gate.

These gentry were still somewhat unaccustomed to this, but looking at Pei Yan’s young face and thinking of his imperial examination scholar background, they felt this was only natural.

After Yu Wen and Old Master Wei specifically thanked Pei Yan, they also followed the crowd out, but were stopped by Pei Yan: “Old Master Yu, please stay a moment. I have a small matter I’d like to consult you about!”