Chapter 162: Clearing After the Rain

In the Lotus Fragrance Room on the second floor of the teahouse, Yu Youwei said, "Brother Yang, you shouldn't have shown your face. If you wanted to send me something, you could have sent someone, or had Feiyan bring it to me."

Baili Yang, Baili Feiyan's brother-in-law, sat opposite Yu Youwei. Taken individually, his facial features were not particularly striking, but put together, they were remarkably pleasing to the eye. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Hiding in the shadows can never be a permanent solution. Besides, with something as important as you getting married, how could your brother Yang not deliver the wedding gift in person!"

Yu Youwei chuckled. "To find a place to freeload and live off others while still receiving wedding gifts—such a wonderful thing makes me think I should get married a few times more."

"Following Feiyan, you haven't learned anything good, just her sharp tongue!" He reached out as if to flick Yu Youwei's forehead, but pulled his hand back and glanced toward the doorway.

Having heard the commotion outside earlier, Yu Youwei simply couldn't be bothered to care.

The door was abruptly shoved open. Old Madam Ning stormed in, striking a pose as if catching an adulterous couple, and demanded aggressively, "What are you doing here?"

Having managed the Pavilion of All-Knowing for years, Baili Yang still looked like a fresh greenhorn. His fair skin was thin and he easily blushed, which in the old madam's eyes was a sign of a guilty conscience.

After leaving the imperial palace with her stepmother, Yu Youwei had been unwilling to go to the Yu family residence, lest the secret she carried be discovered by the cyan-robed guards beside her stepmother. Furthermore, the Fourth Madam Yu assumed she was avoiding suspicion to prevent rumors about her returning to the Yu family to meet Yu Shiyu—even though Yu Shiyu had already returned to his sect with her sect master father at the end of last month. Thus, the two had parted ways in front of the Myriad Phenomena Tower.

When in low spirits, sipping tea could bring peace of mind. Yu Youwei was drinking tea alone in the Lotus Fragrance Room when Baili Feiyan's brother-in-law, Baili Yang, happened to arrive.

Having previously wandered the cultivation world and often followed Baili Feiyan to her sister's home for free meals, Yu Youwei had naturally taken to calling Baili Yang "Brother Yang." Since Baili Feiyan needed to pan-fry tea leaves, Yu Youwei hadn't felt it necessary to mind the taboos of a lone man and woman, so she had closed the door with Baili Yang to drink tea and chat. She had never expected the old madam to barge in like this, adopting such an interrogative tone. Her anger flared, and it took repeated forbearance to keep herself from slamming the table and standing up.

Hearing no explanation from Yu Youwei—who even remained calmly seated, clearly showing she held no regard for her—Old Madam Ning grew even angrier. "Have you no sense of shame left?"

Yu Youwei's mood was already foul from being wrongfully accused, and with the old madam throwing out such a remark, she disdained to explain further, offering only a cold smile.

Ning Ruotong hurriedly nudged Yu Youwei. "Sister-in-law, quickly explain things properly to Grandmother."

Old Madam Ning raged, "What is there left to explain! A lone man and woman sharing a room, this kind of degenerate behavior—"

"Old Madam, do you take such delight in pinning a cuckold's horns on your own grandson?" Yu Youwei finally lost her temper and erupted, ignoring Baili Yang's warning glances.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Baili Yang hurriedly intervened. He bowed respectfully to Old Madam Ning in the manner of a junior before continuing, "You have misunderstood, Old Madam. Yu's younger sister is as close to my wife as her own. My coming here today is because my wife prepared some modest gifts for me to deliver to Yu's younger sister as a wedding present." As he spoke, he gestured toward the trunks against the wall.

Twelve gold-plated chests were neatly stacked three tiers high, occupying nearly half the room. The topmost chest was open, and the red glow of fire-type spirit stones flickered within.

Regardless of whether the young man named Baili Yang's words were entirely true, this wedding gift was at least offered with sincerity. One does not strike a smiling face; even Old Madam Ning could not insist they were having an illicit affair simply because they were alone in a room together, especially since this could be considered a public place. Besides, she had no desire for her beloved grandson to wear a green hat.

Old Madam Ning fell silent, her expression exceptionally grim.

Ning Ruotong did not dare to interrupt casually, but instead kept shooting frantic glances at Yu Youwei, signaling her to offer the old madam an apology. Unfortunately, even as her eyelids fluttered as if they were about to cramp, Yu Youwei remained entirely unresponsive.

Just as the stalemate persisted, Baili Feiyan walked upstairs. Leaning against the doorframe, she drawled in a sarcastic tone, "Brother-in-law, Youwei accepts the good intentions you and my sister share. You might as well take these things back anyway; since she's about to be thrown out on the street, whatever is given will just have to be returned. You're better off keeping them. Perhaps you can send them another time."

"Talking nonsense! Marriage is no child's play!" Baili Yang scolded angrily. This sister-in-law of his was eccentric in her ways and constantly uttered astonishing remarks; with her stirring the pot, it would be a miracle if Yu's younger sister wasn't thrown out!

Old Madam Ning found this comforting to hear, though she remained troubled by the sight of him and Yu Youwei standing by the window smiling at each other, and her complexion remained quite ugly.

Baili Yang bowed to Old Madam Ning once more and said sincerely, "My wife and I have always regarded Yu's younger sister as our own. She was in a hurry when she married and didn't manage to send word to us. Upon hearing the news, my wife was unable to travel, so she sent me to deliver the wedding gifts and asked me to convey her message: Yu's younger sister has a stubborn and unyielding temperament, yet she remains utterly sincere. If she has caused any offense, we hope the elders will be gracious and forgiving."

Sensing the genuine sincerity in Baili Yang's words, Old Madam Ning finally believed that his relationship with Yu Youwei was purely platonic like brother and sister, and her expression softened. "Your wife is most thoughtful. Please convey my thanks to her."

"The Myriad Phenomena Tower has little to offer by way of hospitality, but the spirit tea personally roasted by Feiyan is quite acceptable. Would you do me the honor of tasting it, Old Madam?" Having managed the Pavilion of All-Knowing for years, Baili Yang was tactful and smooth-tongued, flattering the old madam until she felt placated and actually agreed to sit down.

Catching her brother-in-law's warning look, Baili Feiyan went off grudgingly. Before long, she had someone bring up a pot of tea, complete with specialized translucent cups. The cups were her own exclusively crafted glassware, which she boasted was an unprecedented, peerless innovation. Through the cup walls, one could see the tea leaves rising and falling, with floral shadows faintly blooming within the brew.

The old madam also appreciated the art of tea, and the blending of spirit tea with flowers and fruit did not strike her as strange. However, upon entering the throat, the tea was initially slightly astringent with a hint of tartness, followed by a rich floral fragrance and the aroma of berries. After finishing it, she couldn't help but praise involuntarily, "Fine tea!"

"This tea is called 'Autumn Water Beauty' and has the effect of nourishing Qi and enriching the blood. We also have a few other varieties suited for your constitution, Old Madam. You may take some back to taste when you leave," Baili Yang said warmly.

"How could I impose?" the old madam said with a smile, though she did not strictly refuse. Upon leaving, she even took the initiative to invite Baili Yang to visit their home as a guest and rewarded Baili Feiyan with a jade bangle.

Remembering that she had previously received a blood-soul jade bangle as well, Yu Youwei couldn't help but wonder if the old madam's bracelets were worn solely for the purpose of giving them away.

Returning to the carriage alongside Yu Youwei, Ning Ruotong finally let go of the heart that had been hanging in her throat. She drew a long breath and said, "It's finally cleared up after the storm! Sister-in-law, you nearly scared me to death."

Yu Youwei smiled faintly and remained silent. She felt that this tempest had only just begun and was far from being over. Once the slightest disturbance arose, given the Ning family's fragile trust in her, she might well be swept out the door at any moment.