Young widow in her boudoir

Xie Rutang could smell the sweat on the Taoist robe. It was said that her father-in-law sometimes went for days without bathing during his seclusion. She forced herself to endure it so as not to cover her mouth and nose and show that she was disgusted.

She also understood that if she compromised, her life in the Shen family would be easier in the future. What the old lady wanted was an attitude, a test of whether she would obey.

Xie Rutang stood still, saying, "My daughter-in-law can't do it."

She actually talked back to me?!

The old lady slammed her hand on the table, her face darkening, and her eyes turned sinister. "What, you're still not happy?"

"This is a rule passed down through generations in the Shen family. When I married into the family, I had to wash clothes for my parents-in-law. I even washed my father-in-law's underwear. Which woman hasn't gone through that?"

"Why can't you even do this dirty work?"

"Now that you're a widow, our Shen family has never neglected your food or clothing, nor have we asked you to move out and live separately. But you, when asked to do something within your duty, make excuses and refuse."

Xie Rutang frowned, her throat bobbed, and she felt nauseous, but she forced herself not to vomit.

Why should she suffer the same fate as the old lady? As a woman herself, shouldn't she be more considerate?

Xie Rutang knelt down, her eyes lowered, and said in a firm voice, "I'm afraid I really can't do it."

She's never even washed Shen Yuan's clothes, so why should she wash his father's?!

She's here to be a daughter-in-law, not a maid!

Xie Rutang's voice was filled with anger: "When Shen Yuan married me, he promised me that he would never make me do hard labor for my in-laws after I married into the Shen family. Now that Shen Yuan is gone, you have broken your promise and bullied his widow. Is this how the Shen family behaves?"

Pei Zhiheng sat on the armchair next to her, feeling extremely humiliated. Her fingernails were so hard they could tear the silk of her skirt, and her fingers were trembling slightly. Pei Zhiheng noticed the slight tremor in her fingers.

Her father-in-law also showed his displeasure with her.

Old Madam Shen was still feeling choked up, thinking that Xie Rutang had become bolder because she thought she was pregnant. She was about to continue her anger when Pei Zhiheng frowned and stopped her.

Pei Zhiheng held the teacup but didn't drink: "Madam, the Shen family is a prominent family in the capital. In Yuanzhi's opinion, this bad habit should be abolished."

His words were so direct and cold that the old lady's face stiffened. She hadn't expected him to show such tenderness towards his daughter-in-law, Xie Rutang. What did he mean? Had he developed feelings for Xie Rutang, or...?

The man sat upright in a chair, his clean robe intricately woven with gold thread, like the purple-gold light surging at dusk, exuding overwhelming power, yet his expression was indifferent, and his features were clear and refined.

He showed no anger on his face, but his words carried more weight than anyone else's, and the current emperor valued him highly.

The father-in-law looked at Pei Zhiheng with a hint of fear in his eyes; he had always been afraid of Pei Zhiheng, this junior.

The old lady frowned, but didn't lash out: "Yuanzhi, what's your opinion?"

Pei Zhiheng's eyes were deep and clear. "So-called family rules should be about upholding goodness and propriety, and protecting the peace of the entire household, not about deliberately tormenting a pregnant daughter-in-law. If rules are only used to force people to do things they don't want to do, then they are useless and harsh laws."

Xie Rutang felt a ripple in his heart, but he remained kneeling on the ground, silent.

Her father-in-law, fearing Pei Zhiheng's authority, raised his hand to interrupt, "Alright, alright, I think Yuanzhi is right... Rutang is pregnant and should rest properly. There are already people taking care of her laundry. We were inconsiderate. Let's let this matter rest and not mention it again."

Pei Zhiheng lowered his eyelids slightly and nodded.

The old lady could only grip the armrest, feeling both angry and helpless, and forced a smile: "Since Yuan Zhidu has said so..."

She glared fiercely at the woman in the white dress kneeling on the ground. "But Rutang, you must remember, I'm not letting you off today because of Yuanzhi's words. Don't forget your duty as a daughter-in-law of the Shen family!"

Xie Rutang's eyelashes fluttered slightly: "Yes."

The old lady's subsequent smile seemed somewhat fake. She publicly set rules for Xie Rutang, but Pei Zhiheng interfered in the Shen family's affairs!

Seeing that Pei Zhiheng had come with important matters to discuss, she took the opportunity to send Ye Wanyu away.

Then, only four people remained.

Ye Wanyu, the only one unaware of his relationship with her, left. Xie Rutang subconsciously held her breath, wondering what he was going to say.

Because her in-laws knew about it, Xie Rutang found it very difficult to endure.

Pei Zhiheng didn't speak, and then servants filed in, carrying several brocade boxes into the room. These brocade boxes were not covered with ordinary silk; their bodies were all made of thick tribute brocade, and they were all placed on the table.

Upon closer inspection, there were ten sets of clothing and five boxes of jewelry. One of the boxes was filled with seawater pearls, which were specially collected from the pearl pools of Hepu. Each pearl was of the highest quality, perfectly round and full, with a lustrous sheen.

The ten outfits are clearly coordinated: five autumn clothes, five winter clothes, and a fox fur cloak. Such a complete and flawless piece of fox belly fur is hard to find even at a high price. Most furs are pieced together from scattered scraps. Finding such a large, whole piece of material would require a lot of effort and money.

The old lady was astonished and deeply moved. "What are these?"

Pei Zhiheng didn't mince words: "I arranged it for the Xie family."

Xie Rutang was also surprised, and looked at him with watery eyes. An ordinary young lady from a noble family would only use a few beads of this quality in a complete set of hairpins, but Pei Zhiheng casually sent her a box with a full hundred beads. However, his gaze did not fall on her face.

After regaining her composure, the old lady frowned and pondered, "Why on earth would you prepare all this jewelry and clothing for Madam Xie?"

Previously, the gifts the man gave to the Shen family were all for the children or decorative items; he never prepared anything for Xie Rutang.

It should be given to Su Yao, as Su Yao is a daughter-in-law candidate that both she and Pei's mother are satisfied with.

Pei Zhiheng said calmly, "After all, Xie has been with me for a period of time. Since our relationship has come to an end, these are gifts from me to her."

He will return to the Pei residence tomorrow and will not come back.

Xie Rutang blinked, and in an instant, she understood the deeper meaning: this was a farewell gift.

Is it true that every woman who has been with him for a while receives such a generous sum of money before leaving?

Xie Rutang stood there, stunned, unable to react.

Adding the gifts he gave to her child, isn't that too much?!

She accepted it, how wonderful... If his future wife, Mrs. Pei, found out about this, wouldn't she tear her apart?

Her mother-in-law glanced at her and said, "Rutang, this is a token of Master Pei's goodwill. What are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank him. This is a blessing that others would kill for!"

Xie Rutang had no choice but to kneel and bow deeply, saying, "Thank you, Second Master."

Pei Zhiheng frowned, wondering if Xie Rutang would still remember him after he left.

Looking at her voluptuous figure, yet with an extremely slender waist, Pei Zhiheng couldn't help but pat his large hand on his lap, his throat bobbing deeply.

He had been too rushed in the past few days and hadn't had a chance to properly experience her body. Everything was over in a hurry. But now that she was pregnant, no matter how much he regretted it, he would not continue to stay at the Shen family's house.

Perhaps it was fate; Xie Rutang and he were destined to part ways.

Upon learning that his carriage would depart the next morning, the old lady smiled gently and said, "I will see you off tomorrow."