Delicate Flower – Chapter 186

Chapter 186 – Objection

Lady Gu?

Gu Xi!

If the Gu family wanted to marry into the Pei family, then they should just arrange it themselves, why did the Yang family get dragged into this?

The crowd looked at each other in disbelief.

The second young lady’s face even flushed with anger as she gritted her teeth and asked, ”What does the Yang family mean by this? Why are they meddling in the affairs of our Pei family?”

The Yang family had just agreed to a marriage with the Pei family, and already they were interfering in the Pei family’s affairs, not to mention they were Second young lady’s future in-laws, so it was no wonder that second young Lady was annoyed and enraged.

Yu Tang wanted to calm her down with a few words of advice, but her heart was also in turmoil, and the corners of her mouth opened and closed, but she didn’t know what to say.

The other young ladies also came back to their senses at this time.

Third young lady immediately apologized, embarrassedly whispering to Yu Tang, ”Sister Yu, we won’t see you off. This happened so suddenly, I’m sure the elders of the family would be preoccupied for a while. Once my family’s affairs are straightened out, I’ll personally invite Sister Yu to come again as our guest.”

Yu Tang wanted to say “It’s fine”, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something, and she, who was usually quite articulate, was actually unable to speak.

She was supported by Shuang Tao as she left the Pei Residence dazedly, got into the sedan chair, and somehow returned home to Qingzhu Lane.

Madam Chen was alarmed by her behaviour and asked ”What’s wrong? Why are you sweating so much on such a cold day? And your face is white as a sheet!” After speaking, she frantically questioned Shuang Tao loudly, “Didn’t you say you went to see Grand Madam Pei? Why did she come back looking like this? Did someone bully Ah Tang? Or did Grand Madam Pei say something?”

She had her hands clenched tightly, as if she was going to fight with someone.

Yu Tang jolted back to her senses and quickly pulled on her mother’s arm, saying softly, “It’s nothing, I’m fine. It’s just that while I was in the Pei family’s residence……”

When she heard that the Yang family wanted to secure a match for Gu Xi, her heart panicked, and she momentarily lost her composure.

Yu Tang swallowed hard.

She didn’t know what was wrong with her.

Gu Xi fancied Pei Yan – not only her, but even the elders of the Pei family seemed to have sensed it.

Didn’t she already know about this?

Why was it still so unbearable for her now that the Gu family had brought this up?

Yes, it was unbearably painful.

She detested Gu Xi, and as soon as she imagined Gu Xi standing by Pei Yan’s side one day, and that Pei Yan would show a gentle smile to Gu Xi that no one else would ever see, Yu Tang felt like her heart was dripping blood.

It was definitely because she treated Pei Yan as her benefactor and was unwilling to let a woman like Gu Xi desecrate or defile Pei Yan.

Yes, it must be like this.

That’s why it was so painful for her.

Yu Tang drew in a long breath, and only then did she feel the warmth spreading from her hands and feet and the warm spring air that flowed through.

It was as if she had suddenly awakened from a nightmare.

Her limbs were filled with strength, and her mind spun rapidly.

“Mother,” Yu Tang said in a relaxed tone, “Don’t worry about it, it’s about the Gu family. You remember her? It’s Lady Gu who was also a guest staying at the Pei family along with me. I was just a little caught off-guard when someone came to the Pei Family, wanting to secure a marriage for her and Third Master Pei.”

Madam Chen looked at her skeptically, “Really? Grand Elder’s mourning period will soon be over, thus it’s about time to prepare for Third Master’s marriage, so why are you so shocked? Are you bluffing me?”

“No, no.” Yu Tang re-assured her, saying, “I’m just genuinely surprised. Previously, I thought that Lady Gu was around the same age as me, but it turns out that Lady Gu could potentially be the wife of Third Master……. Can you imagine it?”

Her statement convinced Madam Chen, who laughed, “Dear child, you scared me! This is only because our family is small and you haven’t experienced much of the workings of the inner courtyard, so you feel that it’s uncommon. Take for example, your Eldest aunt, who was only a few months older than her aunt. The two grew up together and even got married in the same year.”

Yu Tang sulked.

Anyway, she didn’t think Gu Xi was good enough for Pei Yan.

She instructed Ah Cam to keep an eye on the Pei family’s affairs.

Pei Yan’s marriage was a significant event in the Pei family, as it determined who would be the Pei family’s matriarch. The Pei family was the biggest family in Lin’an City, so even if they wanted to keep a low profile, there was no way they could.

The following day, information came from Ah Cam, saying that the Gu family was going to enter into a marriage with the Pei family.

Yu Tang froze.

After being questioned by her mother yesterday, she calmed down a little and returned to her room to contemplate. If the Pei family agreed to marriage with the Gu family, Grand Madam Pei would have to be really satisfied with Gu Xi. However, in the other residence, it was seen that Grand Madam Pei was not particularly attentive to Gu Xi, and Mrs. Shen, who accompanied Gu Xi, even offended Grand Madam Pei, therefore the so-called marriage should only be the Gu family’s fervent wish that would go unfufilled.

Hower, listening to Ah Cam’s words, she began to doubt her previous conclusion.

Perhaps Grand Madam Pei was really satisfied with Gu Xi, so when she saw that Mrs. Shen’s words and actions were not to her liking, she lost her temper and drove Mrs. Shen away. Otherwise, with Grand Madam Pei’s open-mindedness, she wouldn’t have reacted so vehemently.

Subsequently, Gu Xi was sent away early, was it also because she was going to talk to the Gu family about marriage, and Gu Xi living in the Pei family would be somewhat inappropriate?

Otherwise, the Yang family was just about to be the Pei family’s in-laws, and the marriage was not yet officially announced to the public, so why would they get involved in the marriage of the Pei and Gu families?

It’s not like the Yang family is some shabby family that didn’t know the rules!

The more Yu Tang thought about it, the more it seemed to be the case.

Her heart felt like it was being fried on an iron skillet, constantly stirred in various directions, and she didn’t even know what she was feeling anymore.

She paced back and forth in the room.

Shuang Tao, who was helping her pack, her eyes grew dizzy watching her and couldn’t help but ask, ”Miss, what exactly are you worried about? Master and Madam both love you very much, if you were to speak up, they would definitely grant your request. Why are you so agitated? You can just do as you please!”

Yu Tang froze.

Her thinking was inferior to Shuang Tao’s.

Indeed, what’s the use of her being so antsy at home? Once the marriage between the Pei and the Gu family was finalized, even if Gu Xi wasn’t capable enough, the Pei family would surely tolerate it in view of the bigger picture, at most sending Gu Xi to the temple for closed meditation. But in this way, Pei Yan’s life will be over – his wife is not virtuous, his children unfilial, and he can’t even manage his family’s affairs, so why should he remain the patriarch of the family?

No, she couldn’t just stand at the sidelines, watching Gu Xi marry Pei Yan like this.

She still had a lifetime to spend in Lin’an City!

Wouldn’t she have to live her whole life enduring Gu Xi again, just like in her previous life?

Yu Tang suddenly felt as if a stream of hot blood had gushed out from her heart, causing her entire body to burn.

In her previous life, she escaped from the Li family purely by courage, and only then was she able to do what she did afterward. Now that she was a person of two lifetimes, how could she still be fearful, and not be as courageous as the lonely and pitiful girl of her previous life?

She had to fulfil what she set out to do.

Yu Tang immediately wrote a letter and had Ah Cam send it to the Pei Residence and instructed him. ”Be sure to give it to Third Master Pei. If you can’t meet him, you can pass it to the Head Chief Steward or Ah Ming, and tell them that I have an important matter to see Third Master for, so please make sure that Third Master arrange for a time to see me.”

Ah Cam took the letter and left. Later, he came back and told her, “Third Master Pei has to host guests throughout the day and asked if it would be okay for you to go to the Pei Residence early tomorrow morning. If you can’t wait until tomorrow morning, then write a note for me to bring over. He also told Head Chief Steward that if you still had to meet with him today, for him to take you directly to see him.”

Tomorrow shouldn’t be too late, right?

Yu Tang calculated in her mind, but she unconsciously asked, “Third Master was seeing guests all day today? Do you know the people who he’s been meeting?”

I wonder if it has anything to do with Pei Yan and Gu Xi’s marriage?

Ah Cam shook his head and replied, “I only heard that Mr. Shen came over early in the morning, and then the Gu family from Hangzhou came. Third Master Pei hasn’t even set foot outside of his study. While I was there, it was Ah Ming who passed the message along for me.”

Mr. Shen was also at the Pei family!

The Gu family also came!

Yu Tang’s heart tightened. She was secretly glad that had she not made up her mind earlier, she might not have had the chance to meet with Pei Yan again, and their next meeting would have to be at the time of his betrothal.

She returned to her room and couldn’t help but hug Shuang Tao, saying “I really owe my thanks to you today. When you get married, I will definitely reward you with a full set of silver headwear.”

Shuang Tao was baffled by her words, but being rewarded by her mistress with a set of silver headpieces when she was married off was an extremely honourable thing, so she blushed and couldn’t help but ask Yu Tang, “Eldest Miss, you’re confusing me…… why are you rewarding me?”

Yu Tang was taken aback and then burst out laughing, saying, “If you don’t know, it’s best for you not to know. Just remember that when you get married and remind me that I still owe you a set of silver headpieces.”

Shuang Tao was momentarily confused if Yu Tang was joking or that she really wanted to reward her. She blushed hotly as she packed Yu Tang’s newly made summer clothes that Madam Chen gave into the closet.

Early the next morning, Pei Yan met Yu Tang at the pavilion in the garden where he had met her before.

During Spring, the carefully cultivated garden revealed another kind of beauty. In addition to the big and lush green trees, silvery weeping willows that brushed against the water, there were also beautiful tiny wildflowers budding beside the creek. Butterflies fluttered and bees buzzed about, and the air was refreshing and gentle, filled with the flavour of spring.

Yu Tang wondered if Pei Yan might have been too busy during this period of time which allowed these wildflowers to flourish so abundantly, or maybe the maids and attendants were too busy and had no time remove them, or perhaps they plucked the flowers every day, but didn’t manage to remove them all?

Pei Yan, in contrast, surveyed Yu Tang closely.

Compared to when she was at the Bitter Nunnery, she seemed to be somewhat frailer. Of course, this was not refering to her appearance, as she still had a face like a peach blossom and eyes as clear as a spring day, just like a eye-catching flower blossoming. Rather, he felt that she was low in spirits, as if she had suffered some grievances.

However, he did not hear about any major events that happened to her family during this period of time.

Pei Yan mused internally, but his voice was calm and unruffled, making it impossible to detect any joy or displeasure, “What’s wrong? Anxiously requesting to meet with me, you are not in trouble again, are you?”

Thinking of their first encounter, she had fooled people using their Pei family’s name.

Yu Tang got upset.

She shouldn’t have bothered to come and advise this person.

Why, there wasn’t even one word spoken that was nice.

The manuscript she had prepared mentally last night was immediately tossed aside as she replied, ”I heard that Third Master is getting married to Lady Gu. Thinking about how much Third Master cared for our Yu Family in the past, I have a couple of words that are stuck in my throat and I have to say them. If my comments aren’t pleasant, please extend your kindness and overlook my error on the basis of my sincerity.”

Here was another one who had something to say about the marriage between the Pei and Gu families.

Pei Yan raised an eyebrow and retorted, “Then don’t speak!”

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