Delicate Flower – Chapter 153

Chapter 153 – Meeting

Without the need for calculations of age and generational senority, Yu Tang already knew that Gu Xi was a year older than her.

However, she still smiled faintly and stated the year she was born.

Gu Xi pursed her lips into a smile. She turned to Grand Madam and Mrs Shen, saying “Oh, she’s my younger sister!”

Yu Tang thought of all the grievances between them in her previous life, the mocking and degrading ways Gu Xi treated her. In this life, she refused to restrain her real emotions and have any kind of sisterly relationship with Gu Xi.

“Lady Gu!” She called out to Gu Xi cheerily, with a clear sense of detachment and distance that was visible to everyone present.

Gu Xi look unbothered, but her eyes narrowed, her smile remained bright as she replied, “Younger sister, don’t get upset. I’m not usually like this, I only saw that younger sister looked so pretty, and I grew a liking, so I couldn’t help but speak a little informally. Let older sister offer you an apology.” After saying that, she reached out and pulled on Yu Tang’s arm.

Yu Tang laughed derisively in her heart as she listened.

Was this blaming her for being quick-tempered?

In her previous life, Gu Xi wasn’t this petty.

Was it because she wasn’t as miserable and broken as she was when they first met in her previous life?

It was obvious how hypocritical all that kindness and generosity Gu Xi displayed in her former life was!

Speaking of this, who wouldn’t know how to utilise small, petty tricks like this to ingratiate themselves with the other party?

She glanced towards Grand Madam.

Grand Madam secretly nodded, thinking to herself that although this young lady of the Yu family had this and that minor faults, her inner character was good. Although she introduced her to Mrs Shen and the others as her junior, in actuality, Lady Yu wasn’t related to her family at all. The fact that Gu Xi was so warm towards Yu Tang was obviously intended to get into her good graces. Referring to them as sisters, it was seemingly pure, but if they were to socialise further and solidify this relationship, the implications would be profound. In this critical moment, Yu Tang sought to consult her. Clearly, she knew the balance of things and differentiate between what’s important and what’s not.

“She is a timid one.” Grand Madam smiled as she spoke up to shield Yu Tang, “Since you’re the elder sister, you shouldn’t care so much about such trivialities.” After saying that, she turned her attention to Mrs Shen’s purpose in visiting, “I remember you said that your family’s young grandchildren needed to be taken care of. Mr Shen stayed in Lin’an for the past five or six years and I didn’t see you come over at all. So why did you come over at this time? Are you here to visit Mr Shen? Or is there something the matter at home? If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word. Not mentioning the relationship between Mr Shen and my second son, but when my husband was alive, he admired Mr Shen the most, and the two of them often drank and travelled together. Since you’ve came all this way to Lin’an, you don’t have to be polite with us.”

Not a word was mentioned about Yu Tang and Gu Xi age and terms of address.

By this, the implication was that she was against Gu Xi and Yu Tang forming any kind of sibling relationship. Gu Xi bit her lip and darted a glance at Yu Tang.

Her appearance was outstanding, and she was graceful in her mannerisms, so it seemed that she did not come from a small insignificant family. Then what kind of kinship did she have with Grand Madam?

Why did Grand Madam not allow her to address Lady Yu according to age and senority?

Could it be that it was inappropriate for her to call Lady Yu “younger sister”?

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Gu Xi was frightened by her own speculations, and her heart thudded in disarray.

Mrs Shen was Grand Madam’s one generation junior, and she came with Mrs Shen, as Mrs Shen’s junior, which meant that she was at the same level as Grand Madam’s granddaughters…… It couldn’t be that this Lady Yu was the …… fiancée that Grand Madam prepared for Third Master Pei?! (TL: If Yu Tang was PeiYan’s fiancée, she would be one generation senior to Gu Xi, although Yu Tang was younger than Gu Xi in age. Similar to how Li Duan had to call Pei Yan his senior in terms of generations, although they were similar in ages.) 

Gu Xi couldn’t help but glance at Yu Tang again.

Yu Tang was quietly listening to Grand Madam and didn’t notice Gu Xi’s furtive looks. Moreover, even if she noticed, she wouldn’t be bothered.

In her previous life, they were sisters-in-law, living under one roof, and she didn’t have anywhere else to go, so there was no other choice. In this life, she had both her parents, her brother and sister-in-law to help her out, so even if Gu Xi no longer treated her favourably, so what?

Rather, Yu Tang found something interesting about Mrs Shen.

According to Mrs Shen, she came to Lin’an City because she was entrusted by Gu Chang to watch over Gu Xi. Pei Yan’s maternal aunt knew about it, which was why she was entrusted to deliver a few things. Not only food and medicinal herbs, but there were also some books popular in Jiangnan over the past few years.

Gu Xi was the one engaged to Li Duan; was it proper for her to come to Lin’an City like this?

Gu Chang couldn’t send his personal attendant or his servants to assist him, therefore he had to ask Mrs Shen to accompany Gu Xi to Lin’an City. When Mrs Shen came to visit the Pei’s family, why did she have to bring Gu Xi with her?

Yu Tang felt that this matter was a little strange no matter how he thought over it.

However, so long as Gu Xi’s arrival did not jeopardise the safety of the Yu family, then it had nothing to do with her.

Yu Tang didn’t intend to ask more questions. She sat quietly by the side to listen to Grand Madam and Mrs Shen’s conversation.

Gu Xi, however, was in a state of turmoil.

Saying that she came to Lin’an to see Shen Shanyan was simply an excuse. In reality, she came to see Grand Madam, and it would be ideal if Grand Madam feel favourably towards her.

Thinking about this, her face burned.

The Li family was of little use, and according to her brother, if she could succeed in marrying into the Pei family, it would be perfect. Previously, she felt that since she had broken off the engagement to the Li family, it would be best if she didn’t have any further dealings with the people of Lin’an. However, Gu Chang told her all about the various sons of the families around Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and there really wasn’t anyone more suitable than Pei Yan.

Gu Chang enquired about it and found that the Pei family held high hopes for Pei Yan, and would not accept daughters of families ranking lower than 3rd grade, and even the marriage discussion between Pei family and the daughter of the Minister of Rites and Wen Yuan Court scholar, Li Xun’s family, was genuine. However, the marriage between the two families was not confirmed. After Grand Elder Pei passed away, Pei Yan and his marriage to the Li (黎) family was put on hold.

Originally, they didn’t dare to compete with the Li (黎) family. After all, the Li (黎) family and the Pei family had a marriage arrangement. But just last month, the only unwed Li (黎) family daughter, the third lady and the Hanlin Academy scholar Yang Shoudao’s son got engaged. It was clear that the Li (黎)  family and Pei family’s marriage arrangement changed.

It was difficult to find a good son-in-law. Take for example Pei Yan, previously, as he had a verbal marriage arrangement with the Li (黎) family, no one dared to consider him as a marriage candidate. Now that he was available, there was no knowing how many people would target him once news got out.

Gu Xi pondered and secretly heaved a sigh.

Comparing families, their Gu family was a little better than the Qian family. However, they did not have any sort of friendship with the Pei family. Especially among the ladies, they had no one who was able to request an audience with the women of the Pei family.

If they were to rely on her stepmother, she’d likely would have made Pei Yan her niece’s husband, or have spoiled the whole matter altogether. As for the other women of their family, they’d be even more unreliable.

Gu Chang thought about it and felt that Mrs Shen was the most suitable.

Of course, with Mrs Shen’s character, she wasn’t the ideal person for the job, but she could at least take Gu Xi to the Pei family, and if Gu Xi left a good impression in Grand Madam’s mind, she’d have a much better chance of success compared to the other ladies who only heard the news from the grapevine.

Gu Xi had a simpler way of thinking compared to Gu Chang.

Instead of marrying a useless bum and having to deal with the guests, concubines, mother-in-law and messy inner courtyard matters, she would rather remain in her maternal home forever, be a proud and dignified daughter, and live her life freely and peacefully.

Only that she was a strong-willed person. Although she didn’t know if her and Pei Yan were destined, but since she was here in front of Grand Madam and the Pei family, she would do her best, so that when others spoke of her they would only heap praises and compliments on her.

Therefore it was imperative to leave a good impression on Grand Madam and Second Madam Pei.

Gu Xi sipped her tea with a dignified and elegant posture, secretly wondering how she could find out more about Yu Tang’s background.

As Yu Tang listened to Mrs Shen’s words, the more she heard, the stranger she felt.

Mrs Shen wanted to stay with Gu Xi at the Pei’s residence for a few days, the reason being that Shen Shan Yan didn’t have a house of his own in Lin’an and lived in one of the courtyards in the local school. There were too many scholars in the local school, and Shen Shan Yan didn’t have an inner and outer courtyard, and since there needs to be separation between men and women, it wasn’t convenient for her and Gu Xi to stay there.

Yu Tang failed to hold back her puzzlement and gave Mrs Shen a quizzical look.

If you haven’t seen your husband in such a long time, shouldn’t you be overjoyed to be with him and find every opportunity to stay with him? Why was it that in Mrs Shen’s case, she had to stay away in order to respect the differences in gender?

Yutang, however slow she was, could see that Mr and Mrs Shen did not get along well.

Could this be one of the reasons why Mr Shen came to Lin’an without his family?

She didn’t know the answer, but she could see clearly that Grand Madam didn’t like Mrs Shen.

“You are his wife, what’s so inconvenient about this?” Grand Madam’s tone was a little harsh when she replied, “I see that you are just too rigid. At this age, it’s better to loosen up if you can.”

Mrs Shen obviously didn’t like hearing Grand Madam say this either as she responded, “If it’s inconvenient for Grand Madam, I’ll go and stay at the inn for two days. It’s just that I don’t feel at ease with Lady Gu here, so I’d also like to ask Grand Madam to take her in for a few days.”

True.

No matter how good the inn was, one was afraid of encountering unscrupulous characters.

Grand Madam frowned and eventually relented, saying, “I was concerned that it would be inconvenient for you to travel to and fro from the local school. Since you think it’s alright, then I have nothing to say. It’s fine if the both of you were to stay here. I don’t have much, but I do have several rooms empty. You can stay in whichever one you please.”

In this way, Mrs Shen and Gu Xi got to stay.

When Yu Tang left the room, Yu Tang asked Ji Daniang who escorted her out, “Does He Ming Hall have many rooms?”

She saw that He Ming Hall was a five-room, three-entry way courtyard.

As Ji Daniang was becoming familiar with her these days, she spoke more casually.

“That five-roomed courtyard next to it is also part of He Ming Hall.” She whispered to Yu Tang, “He Ming Hall is where the previous Grand Madam and past elderly ladies of the Pei family used to live, so naturally there are plenty of rooms. Over the years, the Pei family was greatly blessed with longevity, and it’s rare for people like Grand Elder who passed away so early in life and didn’t have any concubines or mistresses, and thus the rooms have been left empty all this while.”

Yu Tang shivered.

Inexplicably, she felt that He Ming Hall was a bit eerie.

Ji Daniang saw her expression and laughed aloud, saying, “You too came to pay your respects to Grand Master Pei previously. The Pei family is a big family, and very particular about decorum. If a family member dies, there is a special courtyard for them. Why is He Ming Hall eerie now?”

Yu Tang smiled sheepishly.

Ji Daniang continued, “Besides, if you didn’t do anything wrong in your life, you wouldn’t be afraid of ghosts knocking on your door in the middle of the night. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Wasn’t it because she personally experienced the supernatural and thus became more cautious? Yu Tang thought to herself, as she got on the carriage for home.

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TL: Hohoho~ Looks like we’ll be seeing more of Gu Xi now.
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