Young widow in her boudoir

When Xie Rutang learned that her mother-in-law wanted her to offer incense to Shen Yuan, she hesitated for a moment.

She also needed to report to Yuanlang...

Xie Rutang's expression froze, but she quickly processed it.

She was just offering incense to a memorial tablet; what was she feeling guilty about, what was she afraid of?

That was forced upon her by her mother. She had no reason to feel guilty; she was just an innocent, unarmed woman.

When Shen Yuan insisted on going to the battlefield to kill the enemy, he should have thought that his wife was young and beautiful. If something happened to him, she would inevitably be coveted by other men who were more powerful than him. Therefore, Shen Yuan should not hold a grudge against her for being with Pei Zhiheng.

She shouldn't feel guilty; she should resent him.

After Xie Rutang finished speaking to her mother-in-law and agreed, she turned around and saw that the man in the armchair was no longer there. Only the cup of Pu'er tea remained quietly on the table, with wisps of steam still rising slowly.

She was momentarily dazed.

She would never see him again.

Whether she was pregnant or after giving birth, in order to avoid suspicion and sever ties, Pei Zhiheng would never appear in front of her.

Xie Rutang went to the ancestral hall.

The incense in the ancestral hall was burning brightly, and an old woman was on duty to watch over it every day. When she saw that she wanted to go in, she quickly and respectfully let her in, bowing and saying, "Madam, please come in."

Xie Rutang stepped over the high vermilion threshold. A black lacquered plaque hung on the beam, bearing the names of his ancestors. Incense ash had accumulated on the offering table, perhaps because the servants had been too lazy in the afternoon to clean it.

Xie Rutang picked up the incense sticks prepared to the side, lightly gathered them with her fingertips, and then knelt on the prayer mat with her back straight.

After the maid and the old woman left, Xie Rutang looked up at Shen Yuan's memorial tablet. She did not weep, but spoke to him softly in her boudoir as if he were still alive, "Yuan Cheng, I have come to see you."

"I promised my mother-in-law and Master Pei that I would inherit the family line. Now that I am pregnant, he will be the child of you and me."

"Second Master is a very good person. He was gentle with me during the days we shared a room. However, I will forget those memories. You can rest assured down there. I will not fall in love with anyone else, nor will I change my mind."

"I will never remarry in this life, not only for the sake of the art shop we built together, but also for the sake of the child in my belly."

The incense and candles on the offering table burned quietly.

Her voice was pleasant, but she didn't respond to any of her questions.

Only the echoing sounds remained within the ancestral hall.

Xie Rutang's heart felt like it had been leaked, leaving it empty and desolate.

This is what it feels like to be a widow.

Perhaps after a long time in the Shen family, she will resent the abyss of loneliness that comes day after day. If another ten years pass, she might hate this memorial tablet and become a resentful woman.

Xie Rutang suddenly felt very afraid that she would become like that.

……

After leaving the ancestral hall, Xie Rutang learned that ever since Shen Xiaoxiao had talked back to her, Pei Zhiheng had made her copy "The Virtuous Conduct of Women" and "The Rules for Teaching Daughters".

After Shen Yuan's death, Pei Zhiheng became her elder brother, and his words were like imperial edicts to Shen Xiaoxiao.

Shen Xiaoxiao had always admired him, and his reprimand was like a blow to her head. She was both ashamed and angry, so she simply closed the door, refused to see anyone, and refused to see anyone again.

Pei Zhiheng felt that as a young lady from a respectable family, her words and actions were inappropriate, and that if she continued to be pampered in the Shen family, she would make a big mistake sooner or later. He urged the old lady to arrange a marriage for her as soon as possible.

Xie Rutang was slightly surprised.

But she didn't think he did it for her own sake.

Pei Zhiheng was a man of propriety and integrity, so much so that he was almost harsh. Shen Xiaoxiao's disregard for hierarchy and her defiance of her elders was tantamount to stepping on his landmine. With Shen Yuan gone, Pei Zhiheng had an obligation to take on the responsibility of educating his younger sister.

After offering incense to her deceased husband, Xie Rutang put on a cloak and quietly left the mansion through the side gate with her painting, heading to Chengxin Painting Shop.

As a widow, she would inevitably attract criticism if she frequently left the mansion, so she always had to travel discreetly to avoid being noticed.

Upon seeing Manager Yang, Xie Rutang handed over the brocade box she was carrying. Inside the box, lined with soft silk, were several meticulous flower and bird paintings she had recently completed.

These paintings were all made by her in special consideration of the tastes of noble ladies in the capital. Whether they were given as congratulatory gifts at banquets or hung in the boudoir for appreciation, they were all elegant and presentable.

This idea was given to her by Mr. Xiao in a letter.

Mr. Xiao's tone in the letter was gentle and profound. He told her that the easiest money to make in the world was the money of the wives of noble families. Officials needed their wives to support them, so they were willing to spend money to provide their wives with fine silks and jewelry so that they could go to social events, banquets, and visits to various households in a respectable manner.

Otherwise, where would all that embezzled money come from? Throughout officialdom, countless sums of money flowed from public funds into private pockets under the guise of private household expenses. And elegant paintings were even more valuable.

Those who run jewelry shops are all making a fortune, and Xie Rutang naturally felt envious when she heard this.

The ladies of high society would give these away as gifts, making it a perfectly respectable and safe way to do favors. If a good painting was given away and the wife of a superior was pleased with it, it was more respectable and secure than giving gold or silver jewelry.

Having received Mr. Xiao's guidance, Xie Rutang felt grateful and respectful, and couldn't help but regard him as a confidant.

From the man's gentle tone, which suggested he had seen much of the world, and his elegant handwriting, Xie Rutang could vaguely guess that he was a man much older than her, who had seen much of the world, and who was more mature and composed than her, which made her feel respect for him.

Xie Rutang stroked the unfolded scroll, hoping that these three exquisite flower and bird paintings could help her break into the market among wealthy women.

Her eyes gleamed slightly; she harbored great ambitions.

Mr. Xiao also pondered in the letter that it would be best if he could get to know a well-connected lady from a prominent family, help her promote the business at the banquet, and open up this avenue for her.

As long as the wives and relatives of those officials spread the word among themselves, her paintings gained value.

When Manager Yang heard about her plans, he couldn't help but admire her, saying, "Madam is truly beautiful and intelligent."

However, while this idea is appealing, putting it into practice is quite difficult, so we have to take a long-term approach.

After delivering the painting, Xie Rutang remembered that the ink sticks in the room were almost used up and there was only half a roll of Xuan paper left. He decided to take advantage of this trip to buy the necessary items. The East Market had a full range of stationery, and if he was lucky, he might even find a good inkstone or two.

Upon arriving at the East Market, Xie Rutang was looking down at a blue-green Taohe inkstone on a roadside stall, haggling with the vendor, when suddenly he heard the sound of hurried hooves coming from the crowd.

Xie Rutang had just turned around when, amidst the exclamations of the crowd, he saw a runaway horse suddenly appear on the street.

Xie Rutang was so frightened that her legs went weak. Before she could dodge, she watched helplessly as the horse broke free of the groom's control and charged straight at her.

Before she could react, a strong arm suddenly reached out from the air, grabbed her waist, and pulled her firmly into its embrace.

Xie Rutang's delicate, jade-like forehead bumped into the man's wide robe, and she smelled a faint scent of dragon's blood emanating from him.

The hand that held her wrist was large and slender, with a thin layer of calluses on the fingertips and the base of the thumb, marks left from years of wielding weapons and practicing martial arts, which scorched her skin.

Li Guan was traveling incognito, dressed in plain white clothes. His face was solemn and cold, almost fierce, yet his handsome features were undeniable.

He lowered his eyes and recognized her as the daughter-in-law of the Shen family. His gaze narrowed slightly, his phoenix eyes dark and unfathomable. He loosened his grip on her slender waist, his throat bobbing silently. "Is there anything you need, Madam?"