Pei Xuan's promotion to the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was a stroke of genius by Pei Xuan's mentor, and even Zhang Ying didn't know about it.
When Mrs. Zhang found out, she wanted to marry Pei Xuan.
But the only son of the eldest branch of the Zhang family is only eight years old this year, the only son of the second branch is older, ten years old, and the two sons of the third branch are seven and four years old, respectively. None of them are quite suitable.
Especially after the death of the eldest son of the Zhang family, the second son had to temporarily take on some of the responsibilities of the eldest branch. If the second son married Pei Xuan's daughter at this time, the legitimate branch might be lost. This would lay countless hidden dangers for a large family that emphasizes legitimate primogeniture.
Old Madam Zhang sighed.
Since the death of the eldest son, nothing has gone well for the Zhang family.
Is it possible that the Zhang family is about to be robbed?
Mrs. Zhang's face didn't look very good.
Mrs. Zhang San knew what the old lady was thinking, and she said thoughtfully, "Xia Guang has already arrived in the capital, so there is no need to rush some things. We should take our time. The most urgent thing is to entertain the two ladies of the Pei family."
Madam Zhang nodded.
Mrs. Zhang San started talking about something: "When I came, I saw the maid next to Young Madam Yin, who said that she was sent by Young Madam Yin to go to the Pei family to pay her respects to Mrs. Pei San. What do you think, should we ask the eldest daughter to go to the Yin Mansion?"
The third branch of the Zhang family has only one girl, Zhang Lihua from the second branch.
Because the Zhang family had not divided up the family, they called her the eldest daughter according to the order of seniority.
Madam Zhang was quite surprised and asked, "Ah Xuan is actually friends with the third wife of the Pei family?"
In her impression, Yu Tang was a girl from a country family. Because she was from Lin'an, she had the opportunity to marry into the Pei family only after Pei Yan retired.
Mrs. Zhang San then told the story of Miss Xu and Yu Tang.
Old Madam Zhang couldn't help but sigh in her heart.
No matter what she asked, her third daughter-in-law could answer it, which showed that she had put in a lot of effort.
She had carefully selected the eldest daughter-in-law in the family, and naturally she was very good in every aspect, enough to serve as a role model. When choosing the second and third daughters-in-law, she followed the preferences of her two sons. Although they were well-matched, she did not expect them to manage the household, and she was also afraid that they would not get along with the eldest daughter-in-law after they got married, so she chose the youngest daughter in the family.
Unexpectedly, when something went wrong, the second daughter-in-law was unable to carry anything, and was confused about everything she did. However, the third daughter-in-law was no worse than the eldest daughter-in-law...
When Mrs. Zhang saw Mr. Zhang, she couldn't help but whisper, "What should we do if this continues? There will definitely be disputes at home. It's a pity that the old lady of the Pei family is so powerful that she just handed over the family business to Xiaguang."
Mr. Zhang didn't say anything.
The situations of the Zhang family and the Pei family are different.
If the third son of the Zhang family had the same ability as the third son of the Pei family, he would also be as courageous as Old Master Pei.
He felt that matters in the inner chamber were minor, while matters in the imperial court were major.
"You should take care of the family affairs first." Elder Zhang said, "Xiaguang will come tomorrow. If we can't turn the situation around in three to five years, we will learn from the Pei family and keep a low profile."
It's a pity that he has to give up the situation he has fought for all his life.
Seeing that her husband was in a bad mood, Mrs. Zhang decided not to bother him with matters at home. She thought that in three to five years, her eldest grandson would be twelve or thirteen years old and would be able to get married. By then, she would find him a smart and capable wife. Then the priorities would be settled and the family would be at peace.
She asked, "Won't the ladies of the Pei family come over tomorrow?"
Old Master Zhang said, "What are they doing here? They just arrived in the capital, and they must have a lot of things to do at home, right? The Buddha's Bathing Festival is coming in a few days, and you can invite the women of the Pei family to go to the Medicine King Temple together. There is no need to rush now, right?"
But it’s better to move ahead.
Madam Zhang made up her mind and asked the eldest daughter of the Zhang family to send a message to Xu Xuan early the next morning. However, people from the Yin family said that Xu Xuan went to the Pei family and said she would not be back until the evening.
Miss Zhang was shocked and asked, "Isn't Sister Xu pregnant? Why would my cousin let her go out?"
Miss Zhang and Yin Mingyuan are cousins within the fifth degree of separation.
The nanny who replied the letter smiled and said, "What can we do if Lord Yin doesn't want to? Fortunately, the young lady went there in a sedan chair. Lord Yin will go to pick up the young lady after he leaves the yamen in the evening, right?"
That's true.
They are a well-known couple in love.
Miss Zhang had no choice but to wait for Xu Xuan's reply.
Xu Xuan, on the other hand, was sitting in the flower hall of the inner courtyard of the Pei family, admiring the flowers, eating fruits, and complaining excitedly about the aunts of the Yin family: "...Now there is one more. It is Mingyuan's cousin, the one who married Gu Chaoyang. She just arrived in the capital, and when she heard that I was pregnant, she came to see me without even getting her family to think about it. She also brought a medical book and told me how to take care of the baby. I was so annoyed with her that I told her directly to come to me to talk about these things after she became a mother. Now I am about to become a mother, and she is still nowhere to be seen, so she has nothing to say to me."
Yu Tang saw that she didn't look angry, but rather looked like she had got a new toy and was having fun playing with it.
She couldn't help but look at Xu Xuan's bulging belly in awe, and thought it was amazing: "We haven't seen each other for just a few months, and you're already..."
His belly was as big as a basket.
Moreover, a few yellow spots appeared on her originally white jade-like face.
Xu Xuan looked at her belly and sighed, "I didn't expect that I would be pregnant so soon." Then she pointed to her cheeks and said, "Look, look, I can't even press it down with powder, and Yin Mingyuan doesn't let me use powder. I haven't been out for a long time, it's too ugly. But, luckily you are here, let's go shopping tomorrow. I want to buy some fabric to make some clothes for confinement - my mother-in-law said that if I give birth in the summer, the weather will be so hot! I feel that I will suffer a lot when I think about it, and I don't want to give birth."
Yu Tang knew that some people would be particularly upset when they were pregnant, so she tried her best to go along with Xu Xuan, thinking that the Pei family would have their own satin shop to send new patterns to their doorstep for them to choose from, not to mention the Xu and Yin families. Xu Xuan wanted to go out, mainly to go out for a walk.
But she is so heavy now, if she is bumped into by someone, it could be fatal.
She smiled and said, "I'm busy these days! My second sister-in-law can't ride in a carriage. She's still lying down after vomiting! And A-Dan has to take care of the sick. All the things at home are on my hands. How about you wait for me for a few days? Wait until I get things sorted out at home, and then go out with you?"
Xu Xuan was really pushed into a corner and said, "Okay! I'll come to your place every day to help you. If you want to buy something or need anything, just tell the maid next to me and I'll ask the Yin family's steward to buy it for you."
In her mind, Yu Tang was unfamiliar with the place and this aspect must be very difficult.
It would be fine if she could just sit in their house and not run around!
Yu Tang chatted with her in the flower hall and gave instructions to the maids and nanny in the house.
As a result, when the Fifth Miss came to get the soothing incense for the Second Madam, she saw Xu Xuan's condition and immediately started to scream. She wanted to touch Xu Xuan's belly but didn't dare to do so: "Sister Xu, you are going to be a mother! You are so awesome! Won't he kick you? I heard from others that babies will kick their mothers when they are in the belly. Is that true?"
She chirped a bunch of questions.
Xu Xuan smiled and not only answered her questions one by one, but also took the initiative to tell her a lot of things. If Ah Shan hadn't been waiting beside her and stamping her feet, Yu Tang would have probably talked to Xu Xuan for half a day when she asked if the calming incense was ready.
Despite this, when the fifth lady left, she held Xu Xuan's hand and asked her to come and play when she was free.
Xu Xuan was very happy and said with a smile: "I will come again tomorrow."
Only then did the Fifth Miss leave with great satisfaction.
In the evening, Pei Yan returned from Zhang's house, and Yin Mingyuan also came to pick up Xu Xuan, and the two went to the inner courtyard together.
It was the first time that Yu Tang met Yin Mingyuan, who was very famous to her.
He had a handsome face and fair skin, though he was a little thin, and there was a hint of sickness between his eyebrows. However, his temperament was very good, as gentle as jade. Standing next to the handsome Pei Yan, he was not suppressed by Pei Yan at all.
This was the first time Yu Tang had seen someone with such a temperament.
She couldn't help but look at Yin Mingyuan a few more times.
After seeing Yin Mingyuan and his wife off, Pei Yan asked her, "Do you also think that people like Yin Mingyuan are amiable?"
Yu Tang indeed felt that he was more approachable than Pei Yan, especially the way he spoke and acted. He exuded a warm gentleness and thoughtfulness from the bottom of his heart. He was polite and graceful, and was much more approachable than Pei Yan.
But she also knew that if she praised Yin Mingyuan so much, Pei Yan, the peacock, would definitely be unhappy. She hurriedly said, "He looks a little sick, so we must be careful with him. If he gets sick, won't we be responsible for treating him? We can't afford the consequences!"
Pei Yan was delighted when he heard that, and during the meal he took the initiative to give her the four-happiness meatballs that she had just liked yesterday.
After dinner, they went to visit the second wife.
Pei Xuan hasn't come back yet, saying that he was called away by his mentor. The second wife is much better now and is urging Pei Hong to write big characters.
Seeing Pei Yan and his wife coming over, he hurriedly asked someone to make some more tea, and said, "This was brought by your second brother's classmate who is a tea merchant. Try it and see if it tastes good. If it tastes good, I'll ask them to buy some tomorrow and keep it in stock."
Pei Yan came to discuss family matters. After drinking tea, Pei Xuan had not returned yet. Pei Yan thought for a moment and told the second wife the purpose of his visit: "My eldest brother only associates with officials here, so the flower halls in the outer courtyard and the inner house are for my second brother and his wife to use. I plan to open the side door on the north side, and I will go in and out from there. Although Atong is a youngster, he grew up in the capital and has his own friends. I plan to let them move to the library in the west. Can you tell my second brother and see if it's okay?"
The Shuzhai on the west side was originally a private school for the family's children. It had a dozen rooms, a special corner door for entrance and exit, a special kitchen and so on.
Pei Xuan thought this arrangement was good. As for the front yard and the living room, he wanted to share them with Pei Yan. Because he had to get up at 3:00 pm to attend court, and had just arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, he had a lot of things to do, so he came back very late at night, and sometimes he would sleep directly in the government office. He couldn't take a rest day, so it was difficult for him to meet Pei Yan, so he asked the second wife to take a message to Pei Yan: "There's no need to divide it so clearly."