Young widow in her boudoir

Pei Zhiheng's gaze fell on her, and Xie Rutang felt flustered. At that moment, her hem was unfortunately caught on a tree branch.

She had no choice but to use her fingers to forcefully tear off a strand of silk thread wrapped around the branch before she could untie the hem of her dress.

Shen Xiaoxiao turned around and naturally noticed her, seeing her sister-in-law Xie Rutang standing under the plum tree, her plain-colored skirt slightly disheveled.

Shen Xiaoxiao turned pale with fright at the sight of her elder sister-in-law.

Now that she had been discovered, Xie Rutang knew from Pei Zhiheng's furrowed brows that he wanted her to help him get rid of his sister-in-law's entanglement.

So she pretended not to know Pei Zhiheng, and with a stern face, stepped forward to reprimand Shen Xiaoxiao, "Little sister-in-law, what are you doing?"

Shen Xiaoxiao was caught red-handed by Pei Zhiheng, who then rejected her advances. She was so ashamed that she wished she could just kill herself.

Xie Rutang frowned deeply, her face icy. "Haven't you embarrassed me enough? Get out of here with me!"

"You should be thankful that there are no monks from Dao'an Temple nearby. If your words had been overheard and spread, wouldn't you have brought shame upon the entire Shen family?"

Perhaps it was because her gaze was too serious and cold that Shen Xiaoxiao felt uneasy under her gaze, and she stood there blankly, her mind blank. She was frightened and then realized the seriousness of the matter.

If those words of hers were spread by someone with ulterior motives, she, a young woman, would probably never be able to face anyone again!

Xie Rutang was also afraid that someone would pass by, so she stepped forward, grabbed her sister-in-law's wrist, and took her away first.

The tall figure that had been standing in the plum grove was nowhere to be seen. All around was quiet. Xie Rutang had no time to think about it and quickly pulled Shen Xiaoxiao away.

On the way, Shen Xiaoxiao was still blaming her for ruining her good time.

Xie Rutang, unable to bear it any longer, said, "Shen Xiaoxiao, if you want to seek your own death, then go ahead, but this is a temple. Don't forget, you are a daughter of the Shen family, and I am the widow of the Shen family. Once the rumors of your promiscuity and improper behavior before marriage spread, it won't just be your problem; the women of the entire family will suffer the stigma and be criticized for the rest of their lives!"

Shen Xiaoxiao lowered her head and remained silent.

She was both ashamed and afraid. She was ashamed that Xie Rutang had seen her in such a disheveled state, and she was afraid that today's events would affect her future marriage prospects.

Tears welled up in Shen Xiaoxiao's eyes: "I...I never intended to implicate the family..."

She just didn't want the second master to get married.

Upon seeing her sister-in-law, Shen Xiaoxiao, as if remembering something, suddenly narrowed her eyes and asked, "Sister-in-law, have you ever seen any maids with a curvaceous figure in the backyard of the mansion?"

Xie Rutang had no idea what she was thinking.

Shen Xiaoxiao, however, was blinded by jealousy. "Last time I went to the Second Master's library, I saw with my own eyes a woman with her clothes half-undressed sitting on his lap. She was so wanton! How can anyone sit on a man's lap in broad daylight? She's just a slut!"

Xie Rutang's fingers, hidden under her sleeve, twitched slightly, and she froze.

Fortunately, Shen Xiaoxiao did not notice anything unusual about her.

"I've already had people inquire at the Pei residence, and the Second Master hasn't taken any concubines at all. The only possibility is that some shameless, lowly maid in our backyard has secretly seduced him!"

The reason Shen Xiaoxiao didn't suspect her was simply because Xie Rutang always wore worn-out white dresses in the mansion, had a bland and indifferent personality, and spent her days either fiddling with her boring paintings or reading books. No man would like that.

No matter how beautiful her features are, men dislike women who are dignified but boring. She'd heard that her brother rarely slept with his wife after marriage!

Xie Rutang's breathing grew heavier and heavier, while Shen Xiaoxiao continued talking to herself.

Xie Rutang immediately interrupted her and changed the subject, saying, "Second Master's affairs are not something a woman like me can interfere with."

Her attitude remained cold and hard. Even though Shen Xiaoxiao apologized to her after being scared, she did not soften her heart. "Come with me to see my mother-in-law."

And so, she brought Shen Xiaoxiao back to the Zen temple and explained the matter to the old lady.

The old lady was indeed horrified and furious upon hearing this, and ordered that Shen Xiaoxiao be confined to her home for a month to reflect on her actions after returning to the Shen family. Before Xie Rutang left, she saw Shen Xiaoxiao glaring at her with hateful and vicious eyes.

Xie Rutang remained calm. She was unwilling to offend her sister-in-law, but if she didn't do so, she, as her sister-in-law, would also be dragged into the scandal when things were exposed. She was only trying to protect herself.

Xie Rutang was still listening to the old lady scolding Shen Xiaoxiao, who was kneeling on the ground. She felt a sense of satisfaction. Shen Xiaoxiao was courting death, but she shouldn't drag her down with her.

Just then, a nun quietly entered.

It was said that the Second Master invited her to the Qingfeng Pavilion on Qingyin Mountain.

Xie Rutang then realized that this nun was Pei Zhiheng's person.

She nervously clutched her clothes, her heart feeling as if it had been gently bumped.

This is a Buddhist temple, yet he so openly met with her in private?

After the nun left, before Xie Rutang was about to go out, the old lady called her back and asked her to stay alone in the corridor.

The temple is covered with green tiles, and Xie Rutang stands under the painted corridor.

The old lady glanced at her figure, hoping her flat stomach would soon develop into a healthy baby boy like Jia'er, to continue the Shen family line. "Is it Yuan Zhixun you?"

Even though her mother-in-law knew, Xie Rutang was still embarrassed. She clutched the hem of her clothes, so ashamed that she wished she could disappear into the ground.

However, the old lady didn't say anything: "Second Master values ​​you, so that you can get pregnant soon."

"Take a food box to the mountain and bring some rice cakes and snacks for Second Master."

The old lady said that only by winning a man's stomach can you win his heart.

……

So Xie Rutang picked up the food box and left through a secluded back gate of Dao'an Temple, embarking on the winding mountain path towards Qingfeng Pavilion. She and he could not meet in public, so they could only do so in this way to conceal their relationship.

Xie Rutang walked along a rocky path half-hidden by grass and trees, and arrived at Qingfeng Pavilion in less than a quarter of an hour.

A composed figure already stood in the Qingfeng Pavilion beneath the ancient pine trees, with his attendant Yuejian behind him. From afar, the pine trees rustled like waves, and the man stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an aura of refined elegance.

Xie Rutang, carrying the food box, went over and said softly, "Second Master."

I heard her soft, charming voice.

Pei Zhiheng was gazing at the scenery of the towering mountains when he heard this, and slowly turned around, revealing his handsome face with long eyebrows.

His pupils reflected Xie Rutang's figure. She was dressed simply, with a dark blue belt that cinched her waist. He suddenly remembered that she was Shen Xiaoxiao's sister-in-law.

Xie Rutang dared not show how close she was to him in public, so she placed the food box on the stone table in the pavilion, opened the food box, revealing rice cakes and green rice cakes inside. These were the food provided by the temple, and the conditions were limited, so she could only find something slightly more refined.

Xie Rutang clutched the hem of her clothes, not daring to look at him. "Second Master, my mother-in-law ordered me to come and bring you some food."

She still vividly recalled the image of Pei Zhiheng's broad, tall figure pressing down on her, kneading her like water, while the hot sweat on his chest dripped onto her body, pouring down like rain. Had she known he had such stamina, she would never have agreed to her mother-in-law's suggestion.

Pei Zhiheng enjoyed the pastries with the clear tea. The tea was made from spring water from the mountains, and it was sweet and refreshing. Even the tea leaves were specially brought from the Pei family mansion, a jar of Guzhu Zisun tea from Huzhou. As the head of the Pei family mansion, he was still so particular about food and tea even in the mountains and pavilions.

She was still standing to one side, her neck bowed.

Pei Zhiheng never imagined that after more than twenty years of celibacy, he would give his first time to Shen Yuan's wife, a married woman. This was completely unlike his usual self; he was always meticulous and perfectionistic, even when handling cases or filling out case files.

Even though several days have passed, he still feels it's somewhat unrealistic and impractical.