Yu Tang and his wife chatted and laughed, and decided to visit Tao Qing in advance.

Pei Yan asked Pei Wu to tell Tao Qing in advance, then helped Yu Tang get on the sedan chair and went to an inn of the Tao family near Xizhamen.

Tao Qing personally greeted them outside the door and brought a lot of imported goods for Yu Tang, including a box about one foot high. Tao Qing said it was a Western doll that sold particularly well in Guangdong and Fujian, so he brought one for her as well.

Speak of Cao Cao and he will appear.

Yu Tang thanked him with a smile and accepted the gift, thinking that he would open it first when he got home to see what this Western doll looked like.

Tao Qingze and Pei Yan talked about Tao An, who was serving as the governor of Jiangxi Province. "It can be said that the predecessors planted trees for the benefit of the descendants. Many of the decrees that Lord Zhang had not had time to implement were completed by An. Your purchase of farmland also attracted many wealthy people nearby to buy land and reclaim wasteland, which helped An a lot. An said that if nothing unexpected happens this year, Jiangxi will have a bumper harvest. By then, there will be more food for the nine borders, and his political achievements will be able to go a step further. And even if the grain harvest is poor this year, I am prepared to send a batch of grain from Guangzhou so that An can safely and steadily complete his years of patrol."

When his term of office is over, if he doesn't become a minister, he can also become a chief official in the Censorate or the Dali Temple.

The appointment of Prime Minister to the cabinet is just around the corner.

Tao Qing thought about it and felt that it was the right thing to come to Pei Yan. He couldn't help but sigh and said to Pei Yan: "Are you going to just leave it like this? What did the old lady say? If you trust me, tell me. Maybe the old lady meant to let you take charge of the clan house temporarily, and wait until the storm is over. Don't go down this path to the end."

Pei Yan said, "If I didn't trust my brother, I wouldn't have brought my family to visit you like this. The old man really asked me not to be an official anymore. He thinks I am wild-minded and the court is in a turbulent period. He is afraid that I am young and hot-tempered and will be deceived and involved in the dispute over the succession. I also think what the old man said makes sense - if I were to be an official in the capital, given the current situation, I don't know how many people I would offend!"

Tao An exclaimed that it was a pity, but could not help but give him some advice: "It is not bad to live in the capital. If you teach your children well, you may be able to have three Jinshi in one family again."

Pei Yan laughed and didn't take it seriously.

He and Yu Tang have been married for nearly half a year, but Yu Tang has not made any progress. He thinks it may be difficult for them to have children.

However, there is no such thing as perfect in this world. If there is, there must be a big pit waiting for him in the future. Instead of not knowing what will happen, it is better to live slowly with Yu Tang. If there is a child, it will come naturally. If there is no child, there is no need to force it.

It's best that they can love each other.

Pei Yan asked, "Are you coming to the capital this time for next year's Wanshou Festival?"

Tao Qing nodded and said, "I want to see if there is any chance." Then he said, "The Li family is here this time. They are in the tea business. Let's see if we can send their tea to the palace."

Pei Yan didn't care much about these business matters. The Pei family's business was all managed by the chief steward. In his opinion, there were many ways for a family like them to make money, so there was no need to compete with the people for profits in everything. At most, Pei Yan would help decide on the rules when the chief steward couldn't make up his mind.

Yu Tang was pondering in his heart.

It was only when she arrived in the capital that she discovered that everyone there liked to drink green tea.

In the previous life, the tea from the second sister’s husband’s family became a tribute.

But she didn't know when she was chosen.

How about she go and ask?

But this matter still needs to be discussed with Pei Yan, lest she becomes self-righteous and ends up making things worse.

They had lunch at the Tao family, and in the afternoon, accompanied by Tao Qing himself, they went shopping in the Tao family's grocery store in the capital.

She saw Western dolls.

The low-cut dress, the porcelain face, the color on the eyebrows and mouth were painted on, the green eyes, the golden hair...it was really weird.

But it is also rare.

She bought one.

Tao Qing thought she liked it, so she asked the shopkeeper to pack two for her and gave her the only two dolls in the shop.

Yu Tang insisted on paying, saying that he was going to give it to a friend.

Tao Qing smiled and said, "I only brought five back this time. They are very good gifts. It's rare that you like them. Given the friendship between our two families, there's no need to be so polite."

Yu Tang glanced at Pei Yan.

Pei Yan nodded slightly at her.

Yu Tang accepted it with a smile and expressed his gratitude, thinking about whether he could come up with a suitable gift to return to the Tao family in the future.

Afterwards she picked out some perfumed lotions, ointments, scented powders and jeweled ornaments, most of which she prepared to give as gifts.

Pei Yan did not accompany Yu Tang to stroll around, but was pulled by Tao Qing to sit in the back of the account office and continue to talk about the things in the capital: "I heard that the Yang family was defeated this time? What are your family's plans? In my opinion, you can't just watch them go to hell. After all, they are your eldest brother's in-laws. Now that your eldest brother is gone, you should intervene for the sake of your two nephews."

Pei Yan smiled, said nothing, and lowered his head to drink a sip of tea.

A night passed, and Pei Tong continued to quarrel with Gu Xi and ignored Gu Xi.

Gu Xi said nothing.

She almost didn't sleep the whole night last night, thinking about what Pei Yan and Pei Xuan said.

It was impossible to get her family out of this situation, so Pei Tong had to make the choice. With Pei Tong's personality, she was afraid that the Yang family would play the sympathy card. What if... Pei Tong stood on the side of the Yang family, the Pei family would definitely not let their family go. What would she do then?

Gu Xi went to Pei Tong's study and asked her husband, "When are you going to meet your two uncles today?"

Pei Tong's face changed, and she said sharply: "What do you mean? Are you urging me to express my opinion? Don't worry, I won't implicate you. Even if I have to help my outside family, I will get you out of here."

Gu Xi wanted to ask, "Why did you pick me out?" or "Why did you pick me out?" But once she said that, their love would be over, right? She endured it again and again, and finally smiled and said, "I have to go out. Mrs. Yin said that the pickles I made were delicious two days ago. I sent some to Mrs. Yin and planned to take some to my sister-in-law. If you are going to see the two uncles this morning, I will go another day. If you are going to see the two uncles in the afternoon, I will go there when I have nothing to do in the morning. Otherwise, my sister-in-law will feel uncomfortable if she knows that I sent food to Mrs. Yin but didn't think about her."

The eldest wife has always disdained these household chores. After Pei You died, Pei Yan took over.

He felt that he had misunderstood Gu Xi, but he was asked to bow his head and admit his mistake to Gu Xi. However, when he thought about how Gu Xi had made a fuss yesterday, he still felt angry and couldn't bow his head.

Gu Xi didn't expect that he would bow to her. After all, they were just friends with Qin Jin and they should treat each other with respect.

Seeing that he didn't answer, she smiled and said, "Then I'll go to my sister-in-law's place first. I'll be back early and we'll have cold noodles tonight."

No more mention of visiting Pei Yan and Pei Xuan.

Pei Tong breathed a sigh of relief.

Gu Xi went to Gu Chang's house.

Gu Chang had not returned from the yamen, and only Yin was at home.

Gu Xi did not expect to see her brother again, so she told Yin everything that happened at home.

Yin frowned when she heard this.

No matter how capable a woman is, she is afraid of meeting a husband who does not listen to her advice.

She asked, "What are you going to do if your aunt really chooses the Yang family?"

You can't get divorced because of this, right?

Even if we don't divorce, we are still a family after all, and we can only share the glory and disgrace.

Gu Xi smiled bitterly and said, "That's why I came to find my brother to hear what he thinks!"

Yin didn't pretend and said, "Okay, then you talk to your brother later." She also invited her to dinner.

Gu Xi shook his head and said, "I have to hurry back. Things are going through a rough patch at home and I can't stay out too long. Please help me tell my brother a message."

Yin agreed and asked Gu Xi: "What do you think? As your brother and sister-in-law, we must stand on your side and consider this."

Gu Xi also didn't want to run back and forth to her parents' home for this matter. The main reason was that even if she went to her parents' home without fear of trouble, she might not be able to see Gu Chang.

She groaned and said, "I will definitely stand on the side of the Pei family."

No matter what the Yang family said, she felt that with the Pei family's way, it was unlikely that they would be convicted. But if they were really convicted, the Yang family would not be able to clear themselves of the crime. Anyway, life and death depended on the Pei family, so she would not care about the Yang family and only prayed to the Bodhisattva to bless the Pei family to escape danger.

Gu Xi said, "If he can't distinguish the priorities at this critical moment, I don't think I will be able to enjoy his blessings in the future. I think I should take the initiative to ask to return to Lin'an and take care of the old An people on behalf of my mother-in-law and husband."

It would be best if I could have a son.

With the protection of Mr. Pei and without this sentimental husband, she might be able to live a better life in the Pei family.

Mrs. Pei Laoan was married into the Pei family with a grand ceremony.

Gu Xi touched her belly which had not changed at all.

Yin was very impressed with her sister-in-law's decisiveness and said, "It's great that you think this way. People can only save themselves. Don't worry, I dare not say anything else. When that day comes, even if you have the Pei family to take care of you, your brother and I will do our best."

Gu Xi achieved his goal, felt relieved, and returned to Pei Mansion.

Pei Yan and Yu Tang haven't come back yet. They said they went out shopping.

Gu Xi was stunned, his mouth was so wide open that an egg could fit in it. It took him a while to come back to his senses and said, "Uncle San took Aunt San to the street just like that."

The maid who replied that she had come from the old house of the Pei family and had served Mrs. Pei in the past was a bit unhappy when she heard this and said, "The Third Madam is still wearing a veil, and she is visiting the shop of the Tao family, accompanied by the Third Master, how could she not bring anything?"

"Oh." Gu Xi quickly put aside his confusion and focused on talking to the old woman: "Did Third Uncle and Third Aunt say when they would be back?"

The sooner Yang's family affairs are resolved, the better.

She was already a little out of breath.

If the Yang family's problem is not resolved, she is afraid that she will explode, get angry, and quarrel with Pei Tong again.