Young widow in her boudoir

The old lady assigned several reliable matrons to specifically handle his departure from the manor. Carriages, entourage, and ceremonial guards—everything had to be arranged according to the most respectable standards of a noble family, without the slightest oversight.

Since Pei Zhiheng had only been staying at the Shen family's house for a short time, he only had four boxes of luggage, mostly his books. He cherished those books greatly, keeping them on the shelf and having Zhulan and Hongyao move them to the yard every few days to air them out. He would then wipe the corners of each book with a fine cloth to make sure they didn't get damp.

Xie Rutang was already inside the house, her skirt flowing gracefully, as bright as the autumn moon. She had been married into the Shen family for over a year and was no longer the graceful young girl she had been before her marriage. She had grown into a slender and elegant woman, the fabric in her chest bulging out, her curves beautiful and captivating.

She did whatever her parents-in-law asked her to do, and then served the old lady a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup. Her voice was gentle and graceful, befitting the dignified demeanor of a daughter-in-law from a prominent family.

To be a good wife, one must temper one's sharp edges, be considerate and sensible, so that elders will like her.

Pei Zhiheng saw it all. If Shen Yuan were still alive, she would definitely be pampered by her husband and have a rosy complexion. Now even her younger brother and sister-in-law can bully her. But these are all her choices. Who told her to marry into the Shen family without hesitation for the sake of so-called love?

Madam Shen leaned against the pear blossom couch, gently scooping up a spoonful of white fungus and lotus seed soup with a silver spoon and putting it into her mouth.

The white fungus is stewed until soft and sticky, with a sweet and refreshing taste that is not greasy.

Old Madam Shen had actually been craving this white fungus and lotus seed soup for some time, but she didn't show it on her face. She was even stingy with a word of praise, instead criticizing it sternly: "It's been stewed for too long. It's so thick it's like it's been thickened with cornstarch, and the taste is strange too."

Xie Rutang sneered inwardly, knowing perfectly well what her mother-in-law was thinking. She had simmered that soup for two hours, and the heat was just right, exactly the taste her mother-in-law preferred.

Instead, she smiled and agreed with her mother-in-law, saying, "Yes, my daughter-in-law's cooking is not good, and her skills are rough. I won't waste food in the future. Why don't we let Granny Rong do it? Granny Rong has served in the mansion for many years and is very skilled at controlling the heat. She is better than my daughter-in-law."

Perfect, she can be a hands-off manager.

When serving this old hag, even the bowls used were particular; they had to be her white jade inlaid bowl. Sometimes Xie Rutang even had the urge to pour soup on his mother-in-law's head.

The old lady's face looked as if she had choked.

But she was the one who made the criticism just now. If she were to change her mind, wouldn't that be a slap in her own face? It would also be tantamount to admitting that her daughter-in-law had done a good job.

The old lady was filled with regret, but with a somber expression, she simply waved her hand and said, "Alright, you may leave."

Xie Rutang responded softly, "Yes."

Throughout this process, she did not glance at Pei Zhiheng inside the house, behaving properly as the daughter-in-law of the Shen family, adhering to etiquette, as if she had never had those fleeting encounters with him in the past.

Since Yuanzhi had prepared so many valuable jewelry pieces for Madam Xie, the old lady put down the white fungus and lotus seed soup and said, "Yuanzhi is leaving. As his sister-in-law, you should serve him one last cup of tea."

These were gifts Yuanzhi gave her to rely on in the Shen family. Although she couldn't bear to see her daughter-in-law receiving such favor from a man, according to the Shen family rules, Xie Rutang had to give something in return.

Xie Rutang gently scratched her palm with her fingernails, leaving crescent-shaped marks.

Pei Zhiheng is about to leave the Shen family.

She and he were finally able to pretend they didn't know each other and had a distant relationship, but her mother-in-law insisted that she go upstairs to serve tea!

Even though it was all over, she was given the opportunity to meet Pei Zhiheng again. Every time she saw him, she would think of the process of having a child with him. She was restrained and proper. As a daughter-in-law of the Shen family, she could not be frivolous in bed and overstep the rules. And he was a man of few words and silence.

So when the two of them had sex and had a child, they both kept quiet and restrained their emotions and voices, and silently carried out the deed.

Xie Rutang forced herself to hold back, muttering to herself, "Oh well, this is Pei Zhiheng's last day staying at the Shen family's house. She'll hardly see him again. Seeing him once or twice a year will be good enough." She comforted herself with these thoughts.

A maidservant brought in a vermilion tray with a cup of Pu'er tea on it. Xie Rutang reached out and took the teacup, then presented it to the man, her embroidered white dress trailing on the ground.

Pei Zhiheng was sitting quietly, yet he stood tall and imposing, with long, slender fingers and a clear, calm gaze that made Xie Rutang's heart flutter.

Xie Rutang held the teacup in both hands and slowly stepped forward, feeling extremely uneasy, but she couldn't show it.

The woman was dressed in a long, moon-white satin jacket and a plain skirt. The fabric hung lightly, accentuating her slender and graceful figure. As she approached Pei Zhiheng, she slightly bent her knees and bowed. Her wrists were delicate, and the teacup emitted wisps of pale white steam, which blurred her gentle features.

She raised her arm and offered him the teacup, her voice carrying a subtle fragrance, "Second Master, please have some tea."

You can only smell it when you get close.

When Pei Zhiheng lowered his eyes, his gaze first fell on her slightly bent knees. Her features were beautiful, and her shoulders and neck were slender. He lowered his eyes, his deep and mature gaze revealing something he was thinking about.

The man's sleeves fluttered slightly as he reached for the teacup. His fingertips brushed against the back of her cool hand, and the unintentional touch of his dry fingertips on her skin reminded her of their past, stirring up a strange feeling within her.

When Xie Rutang saw his hand, she felt fear. This hand had sentenced countless corrupt officials to prison, had been stained with blood and gore, and had once lingered on her skin at night with a burning heat and a rough feel.

When Xie Rutang served tea, he closed his eyes and stopped thinking about it.

She would never remember those things again.

She made up her mind to forget completely, leaving not a single memory.

She pretended that nothing had ever happened between her and Pei Zhiheng.

However, the man withdrew his hand in an instant, his fingertips still gripping the rim of the cup, and thanked her gently.

Xie Rutang quickly got up, lowered her head, and returned to the old lady's side, secretly relieved.

After serving the tea, she went back to being a dutiful daughter-in-law of the Shen family.

The bitter aroma of Pu'er tea permeated the room, and the tea soup rippled, faintly reflecting the woman's gentle and beautiful figure. Her face was radiant, and her eyebrows were arched like willow leaves; she didn't look like she had ever been married.

Pei Zhiheng couldn't hear what she had said to the old lady in the past.

The old lady sighed softly, "Since you are pregnant, go and offer incense to Yuancheng so that he may know as well."

He saw her holding the handkerchief, her neck lowered, and she said gently, "Yes."

Pei Zhiheng's expression was solemn and cold.

Shen Yuan was her first man.

Shen Yuan held a special place in her heart.

The reason she came to his study in disheveled clothes to ask him to consummate their marriage was so that she could continue Shen Yuan's family line.

Pei Zhiheng indifferently shifted his gaze, and as for the tea served by the woman, he placed it beside him without taking a sip.