Chapter 181 – Tranquillity
Grand Madam Pei blinked, thinking that she had misread the situation, and stared at Yu Tang for several moments.
Yu Tang could only shake her head adamantly, signalling that she had no intention of taking the credit.
Grand Madam Pei raised an eyebrow.
As a woman, she could accomplish many things with a good reputation. You could even cross the status line and marry into a wealthy and prestigious family.
Did Yu Tang not understand? Or did she really prefer to live a quiet and tranquil life?
This was not the time for questions, not to mention that should Yu Tang change her mind, there was still a chance to remedy the situation. Grand Madam Pei did not force her to speak and instead spoke to the presiding master about the production and sale of Buddhist incense: “…… children think in simplistic terms. Since you make Buddhist incense, naturally, it should be sold in the name of the temple. However, many families create Buddhist incense in their homes. As long as the fragrance is good, it is possible to sell them in larger quantities. This should be a better investment for you. After all, Bitter Nunnery is not that famous, and being a nunnery, it is not good to have too many people coming and going. I called you over to see how we might help. Do you prefer us to supply the materials for you to make the incense? Or do we give you the incense recipe and loan you a sum of silver, for you to make your own incense and sell it?”
Bitter Nunnery probably conducted many businesses that weren’t profitable, so the presiding master replied unthinkingly, “Naturally, it’s best if you could provide us with the materials, and we’ll help make the Buddhist incense. We don’t know anything about doing business. Besides, you are correct in saying we are a nunnery, and compared to a temple like Zhaoming Temple, where many people come and go, if something were to happen, our good reputation cultivated over the past twenty years would be ruined.”
Grand Madam Pei also wished for this kind of cooperation. She nodded slightly and replied, “Then we’ll agree on this for now. When I return to my residence, I’ll ask the family steward to come up with a specific plan.”
The presiding master of the Bitter nunnery naturally agreed.
Yu Tang felt that Grand Madam Pei was indeed worthy of having presided over the Pei Family as the patriarch’s wife for all these years. Grand Madam Pei instantly came up with this suggestion, which was much better than what she had in mind before.
Just as the matter was finalised, a steward arrived, asking when they would be leaving. The presiding master naturally didn’t dare to delay the Pei family’s trip. She hurriedly got up and arranged a time to meet with the two grand Madams, “I’ll come visit at your residence the day after tomorrow.”
Grand Madam Yi looked towards Grand Madam Pei, who considered the matter for a moment and replied, “I think it’s better to talk about this after the new year. We will be too busy before the New Year’s.”
Yu Tang wondered if they were going to finalise Second Young Lady’s marriage before the year.
She looked towards Second young lady, who was silently hiding behind Grand Madam Yi.
Yu Tang bit her lips in a smile, thinking that when the time came, she would have to prepare some wedding gifts in advance to give to Second Young Miss.
Preferably lacquerware.
It had to be lacquerware made by her family.
She remembered the paintings that Gentleman Zhang sent.
She then pondered if any of them were suitable for making a small box, which would be the best gift for second young lady to keep some jewellery, documents or something else.
Grand Madam Pei gave her instructions and the family servants immediately got to work, and in a quarter of an hour’s time, everything was packed up and loaded onto the mule carts that would be returning to the Pei other residence located halfway up the mountain.
The mule carts and horse carriages travelled for almost a day, and once the two grand Madams returned, they immediately retired to their respective residences and only ate a little congee for supper. In contrast, the juniors were all in high spirits, and after having dinner with Second Madam, they sat around and chatted for some time before dispersing.
Gu Xi was silent the entire time.
Once she returned to her place, and after freshening up with no more bystanders, He Xiang brought Gu Xi, who was sitting in front of the mirror, a cup of warm water, and said in hushed tones, “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Gu Xi did not speak for a long time.
She was baffled by Yu Tang’s behaviour.
After helping the Bitter Nunnery with a charitable deed, and it being a significant achievement, Yu Tang unexpectedly didn’t scramble to obtain credit, and even took the initiative to push it away. As for Grand Madam Pei, she took the credit just like that. Was her judgement wrong? Was Grand madam Pei someone who didn’t like ladies to be in the limelight? And did Yu Tang read Grand Madam Pei’s mind and take the right course of action, which resulted in her establishing herself in the Pei Family?
Nevertheless, she was already in Pei Yan’s bad books, so there should be no chance of a marriage forming between the Pei and the Gu families.
Thinking of this, Gu Xi’s chest felt like it was being heavily constricted, and she couldn’t catch her breath.
Pei Yan! Pei Xia Guang!
Just you wait……
It’s never too late for revenge.
One day, you’ll fall into my hands.
When that time comes, let’s see how I’ll deal with you!
Never before had Gu Xi been filled with such a strong desire for power and wealth as she did in this moment.
Her right hand tightly clenched into a fist and she hit the table with a bang.
Hexiang was startled and cried out “Young Miss!” sharply.
“I’m fine!” Gu Xi coldly stated, the anger in her chest slowly dissipating.
She instructed Hexiang, “Get ready, we’ll return home in the next two to three days.”
Hearing this, Hexiang said anxiously, “But we haven’t gotten Eldest Master’s reply yet!”
Should she send someone to monitor the Pei Family’s movements?
Gu Xi’s hand clenched tighter.
Previously, when she wrote the letter to Gu Chang, she hadn’t expected Pei Yan to respond so decisively and without showing any mercy. Now, it would seem that even if her brother received her letter, it wouldn’t change anything, and might even expose the Gu family’s intentions.
Thinking of this, Gu Xi’s heart stirred.
Everything has both good and bad sides.
Perhaps, her brother’s letter expressing his intention to form a marriage alliance with the Pei family would allow Pei Yan to re-examine this matter?
After all, her going to Pei Yan in person was not in accordance with etiquette and Pei Yan’s refusal was an act of a honourable gentleman.
Pei Yan’s flawless and handsome face popped up in Gu Xi’s mind and her heart instantly melted into a puddle of water, selectively forgetting Yu Tang and Pei Yan’s frigid words. She even thought, if she really married Pei Yan, would he still speak so coldly to her? Perhaps she could even bring this matter up as a joke, so that Pei Yan would know how she adored him from the heart, and thereby holding this husband firmly in her hand. That wouldn’t be a bad idea…
“Then we’ll wait until we receive a reply from my brother before we depart.” She made up her mind and added, “However, we should also slowly organise our things, and if there’s no mishaps, brother’s letter should be arriving soon.”
Hexiang responded and retreated, Gu Xi quickly blew out the lamp and went to sleep. However, early the next morning, she learned from the maid sent by the Pei mansion to serve her that the two Grand Madams had called Yu Tang to the main courtyard early in the morning to have a chat.
Gu Xi frowned. Half mockingly and half sarcastically she said to the Pei Family maid, Liu Ye, who was serving her, “You are really well-informed. As soon as there is a little movement on Grand Madam’s side, all of you will know about it.”
Liu Ye was so honest that she didn’t notice Gu Xi’s hidden message, and replied innocently, “We’re all Grand Madam’s people. If Grand Madam doesn’t want us to know about it, then Chen Daniang and Ji Daniang would definitely have a way to prevent us from knowing about it. So if we are able to know, we can definitely speak about it to others! Moreover, I heard from Sister Liu Shu who is personally serving Lady Yu, that Lady Yu is a very nice person, so I’m sure she won’t take such trivial matters to heart.”
Was this a small matter?
Was it because Grand Madam was getting on in age and didn’t want to manage such things? Or that Second Madam was incapable of handling such matters?
In the Gu family, such indiscriminate sharing of information and careless passing of rumours was unthinkable..
Gu Xi suddenly remembered Eldest Madam.
She had conversed with Eldest Madam a few times before – should she continue maintaining the relationship? Or, perhaps, before she leaves, she should say her farewells to Eldest Madam and count it as making an acquaintance?
Gu Xi was a little uncertain, so she temporarily put this matter aside and went to Grand Madam’s residence after getting dressed and groomed.
It so happened that Grand Madam Pei was speaking with Yu Tang, saying “… the matter with Bitter Nunnery would be greatly beneficial to your reputation. Dear girl, I don’t know what you are thinking to shrug it off like this. However, you are still young and the matter with Bitter nunnery wouldn’t be settled in just a day or two. The way I see it, it’s better for you to return and discuss with your mother before making your decision.”
Yu Tang smiled and thanked Grand Madam Pei, but she still firmly refused to take the credit, saying “A tree without a forest would be destroyed by the wind. I come from a small family, so it’s more important to have a peaceful and stable life, not to give up on what is rightfully ours and not to covet what we can’t keep – that’s the rightful course. Moreover, although the idea of incense-making is a good one, but if not for the Pei family’s strong backing, I would not have even presumed to think up such a plan. You’ve falsely elevated me by your words.”
As Grand Madam Pei listened, she couldn’t help but dart a glance towards Grand Madam Yi. She looked intrigued, leaning forward slightly, with raised eyebrows as she remarked, “Oh, that’s an unique way of thinking. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it. Tell me, what is it that you should acquire? And what is it that you cannot be presumptuous about?”
Yu Tang naturally couldn’t reveal that she had been reborn. She only felt that no amount of fame and fortune could be compared to having a peaceful and secure family living together. She also couldn’t say that due to the Pei Family’s power and influence, if they supported the Bitter Nunnery in selling Buddhist incense, no one would dare to make things difficult for them, and it would be a hundred times more convenient to facilitate this business deal than if some other family were to handle it. Fortunately, she was quick-witted and soon thought of a good argument, saying “If there wasn’t the Pei family, then I would only be able to help in smaller ways like sending a few plain cotton coats in winter and a few coarse mats in summer. Although these are good deeds, but such deeds only treat the symptoms and not the root cause. However, with the support of both Grand Madams, I dared to come up with the bolder idea of incense production. Even if the cost is a little expensive at the beginning, but once it’s completed, it is something that can benefit the entire Bitter Nunnery and even benefit all the women who come to rely on the Bitter Nunnery in the future. In case it doesn’t work out, what is being spent is only both Grand Madam’s funds……” Here, she pursed her lips and smiled before continuing, “I can only do this because there’s a big tree behind me that I can lean on, otherwise how would I presume to come up with such a crazy idea out of the blue?”
Both Grand Madams laughed heartily at this.
Grand Madam Pei even waved her hand cheerily and said, “Very well. I won’t ask you to reveal yourself, nor stand at the helms. This matter will be handled by the Pei Family.”
Yu Tang quickly thanked the two Grand Madams.
Grand Madam Yi gazed at her lovingly and nodded slightly.
It was obvious that she had a favourable impression of her.
Yu Tang was relieved.
A maid then came in and reported that Lady Gu had arrived.
xkurohana 
Gu Xi would never understand Yu Tang bc Gu Xi is too greedy and scheming. People judge others based upon what they themselves would do in the same situation. Gu Xi would never understand that some ppl truly have no greed or wish to be in the limelight.
It’s pretty funny to hear Gu Xi’s inner scheming. It’s like she’s running circles around herself. ”Pie Yan- I hate him!” ”Someday we’ll look back and laugh as he falls deeply in love with me! How cute!”