Young widow in her boudoir

Granny Rong genuinely liked Xie Rutang, and couldn't help but praise him from the side: "Madam is truly filial. Not only does she personally sew sachets to calm the nerves and repel mosquitoes, but she also personally takes care of the old lady's clothes for all four seasons. She does everything herself, no matter how trivial. Looking at the entire capital, it would be hard to find a woman more gentle and virtuous than Madam."

This sachet is very thoughtful.

He needed a considerate woman in his room.

Having someone who understands and cares for you by your side.

Pei Zhiheng pursed his lips slightly, his eyes dark and deep.

He also remembered that when his elder brother was alive, Xie Shi also liked incense.

Whenever he came to his brother's study, there were always fresh flowers in the vase, changing every month: peach blossoms in spring, lotus flowers in summer, chrysanthemums in autumn, and plum blossoms in winter.

The room is always filled with incense, the subtle fragrance permeating the curtains.

Xie also took care of her elder brother Shen Yuan's food and daily necessities in a very orderly manner, without any omissions.

Sometimes he would come to the room to look for his brother.

Shen Yuan was not there; he was waiting in the side hall.

Occasionally, a slender and delicate figure could be seen in the room, fumigating Shen Yuan's clothes, completely unaware of his presence.

Newly married, her cheeks were flushed with spring, as if she had just been pampered by her husband.

Even through the screen, one could hear her soft whispers and coquettish complaints to her maid, which sparked the imagination, but Pei Zhiheng tried his best to ignore and avoid these things at that time.

Sometimes she dressed lightly, with a thin, soft silk robe draped over a shawl, the emerald green fabric hanging softly on her slender, fair arms.

At this moment, Pei Zhiheng inexplicably thought of the food box she had handed to Zhang Qingci earlier that day.

To be honest, the soup Xie Rutang made for him a few days ago gave him a warm feeling, as if he had entered a gentle paradise.

After the daily morning assembly, he would return home to a warm bowl of soup.

Xie Rutang was a very good cook, but to avoid suspicion, or perhaps because she was his brother's wife, he only took a sip or two before putting it down and having a servant take it away.

But today, without Xie Rutang sending a maid to bring him a bowl of hot soup, he felt somewhat uneasy.

Pei Zhiheng sat in the chair, his fingers silently resting on the armrest, lost in thought for a long time.

Seeing that he was taciturn and could not read his expression, Rong Mama said, "If the Second Master really likes this incense, this old servant will have a maid make a copy for him and ask the Madam for the recipe."

Given his status, it wouldn't be difficult for him to ask Xie Rutang to make him a sachet when she had time; he was in charge of the entire Shen family.

"No need," he said coldly, quickly pulling himself out of his memories.

After taking the pulse, the imperial physician quietly reported the pulse diagnosis to Pei Zhiheng.

It's nothing more than a chronic illness; after the start of summer, both qi and blood become deficient, so it needs proper care and nourishment.

Pei Zhiheng gave the reward money and then got up to take his leave, as he needed to go to his study to look at official documents.

She had barely taken half a step when Granny Rong came to greet her. "At this hour, Second Master rushed here to see the Old Madam, I'm afraid he hasn't even had a sip of hot soup yet?"

"Why don't we have dinner at Shou'an Hall? Madam just personally cooked porridge for the old lady and made a few soft side dishes. It's about time she came over."

Pei Zhiheng paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the graceful figure that had just appeared outside the window. Her hair was as black as satin, neither thick nor gaudy, exuding an allure without her even realizing it.

He gazed at the graceful figure walking towards Shou'an Hall, finally gave a soft "hmm," and sat down again.

……

Because the old lady had not had a good appetite recently, Xie Rutang prepared some light dishes.

She would feign filial piety, and once the news spread, everyone in the capital would think she was dutiful. This would make her remarriage even more certain. She had to play the part perfectly.

Xie Rutang used the tofu she bought today to make a crab roe tofu soup, and paired it with a light jade tofu roll, which was both appetizing and delicious.

Once inside the house, she set the food on the table, personally setting out the bowls and chopsticks. When the old lady came to sit down, she didn't let the maids do these delicate tasks, serving her herself instead.

After the old lady sat down, she took a sip of the yam and lily porridge. She had simmered the porridge over a low flame until it was thick and juicy, and then sprinkled a few goji berries on top as a garnish.

With her stomach and spleen warmed, the old lady's expression softened considerably.

Although she disliked Xie Rutang as her daughter-in-law, her cooking skills suited her taste.

Sometimes, she would be tempted by Xie Rutang's cooking and want him to make her something to eat, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Xie Rutang breathed a slight sigh of relief and was about to sit down to eat when she suddenly heard her mother-in-law call out from the inner room, "Zhiheng, stop looking at the official documents and come to eat."

"Try this, it's tofu soup made by Rutang."

The room was quiet for a moment.

Only a deep, cold male voice drifted out from behind the door frame; the person was hidden in the dim light and shadow, and his voice was soft and clear.

"Um."

Immediately afterwards, a slender, jade-white hand lifted the silk curtain.

When Pei Zhiheng came over, he saw her obediently serving food to the old lady, her hair tied low in a bun, her features faint, and her eyes beautiful yet lonely.

Xie Rutang's fingers, which were holding the chopsticks, froze slightly and trembled slightly.

She didn't know that he was also with his mother-in-law.

Did the sun rise in the west today?

A maid brought over a copper basin and a handkerchief. Pei Zhiheng washed his hands there and then went to the table.

In the past, whenever the Shen family had a meal, Xie Rutang would always take the initiative to serve rice and add more rice, always humble and subservient in order to establish a virtuous and gentle persona.

But now, she regretted it.

Because the old lady was present, Xie Rutang thought for a moment, then got up, poured a bowl of lily porridge for the man in a jade bowl, and handed it to him.

Pei Zhiheng's eyes seemed to flicker with a very faint smile, cold and devoid of warmth, as he looked at her face. "Then I'll have to trouble Madam Shen."

Xie Rutang was uneasy, feeling that his gaze was strange and unpredictable.

As he took the bowl, the calluses on his fingertips, worn from years of holding a pen, gently brushed against her delicate palm.

Xie Rutang felt a chill run down her spine, her heart pounded, and she instinctively looked up at him.

Pei Zhiheng lowered his eyes, calmly scooping the porridge from his bowl. His movements were slow and deliberate, his expression serene and peaceful, showing no sign of anything amiss.

It was impossible to tell whether his mistake was unintentional or not.

The old lady enjoyed her meal tonight, and even found Xie Rutang much more pleasing to the eye. She especially loved the crab roe and tofu soup on the table.

"Zhiheng, what do you think of this tofu soup?"

Xie Rutang's palms were damp, and her cheeks began to feel hot.

Seeing the tofu reminded her of the scene where Pei Zhiheng cornered her in an alley in East Street, her clothes half-undone.

Her hands, hanging under the table, were tightly twisting the handkerchief.

The tender, smooth tofu lay quietly in the clear broth in the porcelain bowl. Pei Zhiheng looked at it for a moment, then said, "It's quite good."

"White, soft, tender, and smooth."

His innocence made him want to leave some kind of mark on it.

Xie Rutang immediately put down her chopsticks with a soft thud, her ears and neck burning inch by inch.

For some reason, she suddenly didn't want to eat the tofu soup anymore.

But his expression was calm and serene, his demeanor refined and dignified, as if she were the one harboring evil thoughts.

Xie Rutang was in a state of panic. She dared not think any further and hurriedly ate a few mouthfuls of rice.

After the three finished their dinner, the dishes were cleared away neatly, and Granny Rong led the maids to collect the bowls and plates onto trays.

The old lady rinsed her mouth with tea and carefully wiped it with a handkerchief. "Rutang, go and brew the medicine for me. I always feel that if someone else does it, it's not quite right, and I don't feel at ease with that."

The words were kind, but to put it bluntly, they were just making things difficult for her.

Over the years, the old lady has been trying all sorts of strange things to do.

Xie Rutang wasn't annoyed. She got up and left, since she didn't want to share a room with Pei Zhiheng anyway.

They finally managed to get Xie away.

"I know that Xie has been getting close to you these past few days. She wants an heir to protect her in the household."

The old lady's shrewd gaze then fell upon her second son, Pei Zhiheng, who had already leaned back in his chair after the meal. He had somehow picked up a celadon cup lid and was slowly turning it along the rim with his fingertips.

Although she and Pei Zhiheng were like mother and son, and Pei Zhiheng was very filial, she still couldn't understand his thoughts over the years.

Pei Zhiheng is now dressed in blue and purple, deeply favored by the Emperor, and even she is somewhat wary of him.

The old lady, who had just been solemn and dignified, suddenly looked distraught and sighed wearily, "Fine, I know you have no feelings for the Xie family."

"The reason you're unwilling to accept the Xie family is because you still have feelings for that other person."

"I know, the Crown Princess wrote to you as soon as she returned to the capital."

Pei Zhiheng's celadon teacup remained untouched, as if frozen in time.

He said nothing, his eyes and brows appearing neither bright nor dim.

Even the old lady couldn't fathom his true feelings for the Crown Princess. So much time had passed; had he truly let go?

Yin Qinrong has always been a taboo subject for Pei Zhiheng.

The old lady didn't bring it up again. Instead, she raised her hand and rubbed her throbbing temples, as if she had finally let go of the idea she had been plotting for so long. "From now on, I will no longer bother to match you with the Xie family, and I will no longer force you."

Changing the subject, she had already made up her mind. "In my opinion, that Miss Su is outstanding in every way, and she is a perfect match for you. You should marry her on an auspicious day next year. Your mother and I have already spoken to her."

"Marriage is a major life event for men and women. Since you look down on the Xie family, you should settle down and start a family as soon as possible."

"You're not getting any younger. You need a woman in your room to take care of your daily life and carry on the family line."

As for Xie Rutang, she has other plans.

The old lady's eyes flickered slightly, and she disappeared in an instant.

The first wife must have a child, no matter what method is used.