Young widow in her boudoir

Pei Zhiheng did not speak, so it was unclear whether he had tacitly agreed.

After Xie Rutang finished decocting the medicine, she returned to her room and kindly served her mother-in-law.

She sat on a stool by the yellow pearwood bed, tucked the blanket around the old lady, then turned and took the medicine cup from the maid, tested its temperature, and scooped up a spoonful to bring to the old lady's lips.

The fair and delicate face smiled under the lamp. "The imperial physician said that my mother-in-law's condition is just an old ailment that occurs during seasonal changes. With proper care, she will be fine. My father-in-law also needs to be careful."

The summer night was sweltering. Xie Rutang took out a plain handkerchief from her sleeve and delicately wiped the fine beads of sweat from her forehead, her red lips slightly parted with each breath.

Pei Zhiheng stood in the room, his back view tall and deep.

Her delicate fragrance permeates the air.

It was as if only he could smell it.

It makes people restless and irritable for no reason.

He stared at it for a full moment before leaving with a somber expression.

After returning from Shou'an Hall, Pei Zhiheng went to Suxue Hall and took another cold shower.

I already took a bath tonight.

Why did you wash it again?

The maid Zhu Lan looked puzzled. She carefully examined her mistress's clothes outside the door. Although it was a summer night, she hadn't been sweating!

Even in summer, you shouldn't wash so frequently.

Pei Zhiheng stayed in the clean room for a full quarter of an hour.

He had just finished showering when he came out.

His expression seemed even colder, like snowflakes melting under the moonlight.

He had considered the old lady's suggestion last time.

But he would never use Xie Rutang's beauty to gain a foothold by having a child with her, and would never do something he would find shameful and intolerable.

It seems he should listen to the old lady and get married as soon as possible.

He definitely needs a woman to manage his backyard.

For some reason, however, what appeared in his mind was the image of Xie Rutang sitting on the Luohan bed in Shou'an Hall today, with her eyes lowered and her neck turned to the side, folding her clothes. The moonlight shone through the window and enveloped her, and she seemed to be full of gentle maternal love like a Bodhisattva.

Since Xie Rutang was the only young widow in the household, it was normal for him to project his desires onto her after spending so much time with her.

In a grand and secluded mansion, with strict etiquette, she, as a widow, should know to avoid suspicion.

Her identity was already controversial, so it was best to see her less often in the future. He also cut off any lingering thoughts he shouldn't have.

Pei Zhiheng's face returned to its usual cold and indifferent expression. During his stay at the Shen residence, he avoided anything related to Xie Rutang.

During the day, he deliberately avoided the flower path that Xie Rutang frequented.

Even when he occasionally caught a glimpse of her white figure from afar in the mansion, Pei Zhiheng would remain silent and take a detour to leave early.

……

The days passed uneventfully.

On this day, the paulownia trees in the courtyard grew thick and lush. Xie Rutang, fanning herself with a round fan, came out with Jin Yue to cool off and escape the summer heat. A layer of sticky, fragrant sweat appeared under their summer clothes. The beautiful woman and the lovely scene were thus reflected in the eyes of onlookers.

Xie Rutang looked up and bumped into the man who had just finished court in the corridor of the mansion. The Shen family never showed favoritism; Pei Zhiheng, like Shen Yuan, had a study in the Shen mansion used as an office.

With jade pendants at his waist, he looked like a banished immortal.

Xie Rutang was slightly taken aback. After hesitating for a moment, she was about to gracefully curtsy.

Pei Zhiheng, who was watching from afar, glanced over and saw that the person standing under the corridor was her. His long eyebrows immediately furrowed, and he suddenly changed direction without even pausing for a moment, heading towards the other side of the corridor.

The servants around him dared not say a word and hurriedly followed.

Xie Rutang's body, which was bent halfway, froze in place. After a moment, only a peaceful and calm demeanor remained.

She was already a widow, and her status was awkward, so it was only right that Pei Zhiheng avoided her without hesitation.

The wind ruffled her hair, and Xie Rutang's lips were a peach color. She gathered her sleeves, turned around, and slowly walked back the way she came.

She didn't think about it anymore, but was preoccupied with her brother's imprisonment.

The deadline mentioned by Scholar Zhang is fast approaching.

Recently, Xie Rutang pawned all the decent pieces of jewelry she had accumulated over the years. Although the money she received was still not enough, she didn't care about anything else.

While her mother-in-law was taking a nap, Xie Rutang quietly left the mansion through a side gate, and a low-key carriage headed towards Changchun Street.

Pei Zhiheng spoke lightly, but the prefect's son, Wu, had secretly bribed officials, determined to sentence her brother Xie Huai to death. Given the gravity of her brother's fate, she couldn't simply let it go and had to seek help from others.

If she hadn't been in dire straits, why would she have had to live a life of begging for help everywhere?

Deep in the narrow alleys of Changchun Street, Zhang Qingci was already waiting for Lin Yan in her courtyard.

The day before, he had already asked someone to tell her that he had found guarantors, all of whom were upright local gentry, and that she was just waiting for him to raise enough money for the ransom.

The figure standing with his hands behind his back was as sturdy as a bamboo or a pine tree, waiting for a long time.

Xie Rutang was anxious, and when she was anxious, her eyelashes would inevitably get wet, easily arousing the man's protective instincts.

After learning of her situation, Zhang Qingci did not blame her. Instead, he pondered for a moment and said, "I have roughly calculated the amount of money involved. It is not a small sum. I know your family's situation. You don't have to bear it all alone. I still have some savings from my tuition fees. I will give it to you first. We will figure out the rest later."

After saying that, he took out a bag of silver from his wide sleeve and pushed it to the table.

"I have already prepared the money, so you don't need to worry about it."

Xie Rutang's nose suddenly stung with tears, and the tears she had been holding back all this time could no longer be contained and streamed down her face.

She had repeatedly been turned away when she sought help from various people. Pei Zhiheng, who held the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, possessed immense power and could save people with just a word, yet he never showed her any pity.

On the contrary, the impoverished Zhang Qingci was willing to give up his savings of many years to help her share her worries and difficulties.

The comparison made her even more certain that Pei Zhiheng was indifferent and cruel.

Xie Rutang stood up and slightly curtsied. "Young Master Zhang, if I have the means in the future, I will certainly repay you every penny."

Zhang Qingci handed over a clean, plain handkerchief, his eyes filled with pity. "Saving lives is the priority right now; don't worry about repaying the money."

After discussing with the scholar.

Seeing that it was almost time, Xie Rutang bid farewell to his sister-in-law and the others, and took a carriage back home.

As soon as I returned to the mansion, the square sky above my head was suddenly covered with dark clouds.

A sudden downpour soaked the fallen leaves on the bluestone slabs, washing away the summer heat and allowing a cool breeze to seep up from the damp cracks in the bricks.

Jin Yue hurriedly held an oil-paper umbrella over her head, and the two, mistress and servant, walked side by side, looking somewhat disheveled.

Finally back in the corridor, rain was still falling from the eaves, so they couldn't close their umbrellas. The rain soaked Xie Rutang's skirt and her embroidered shoes.

The master and servant had only taken a few steps to avoid the rain when they looked up and saw a handsome figure approaching from the front.

Pei Zhiheng walked slowly from the other end of the corridor, exuding an imposing aura without anger, standing out from the crowd, accompanied by a group of colleagues from the Ministry of Justice, all dressed in dark robes.

The rain slanted into the eaves, making his cold and aloof expression stand out.

Across a long corridor, her figure was completely exposed to view.

Xie Rutang froze. As a widow, she could not appear in front of a man casually.

Moreover, she is in such a disheveled state right now, and her demeanor is inappropriate. If word gets out, will she still have any reputation left?

Therefore, she bit her lip, trying to avoid it, and in her haste, she broke out in a cold sweat.

Pei Zhiheng, who was discussing matters with officials from the Ministry of Justice, glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, and his deep, inscrutable, emotionless eyes immediately locked onto her figure.

The man's eyes darkened, and he turned his head, saying something to them.

The rain was pouring down, and before the others could see Xie Rutang's face clearly, Pei Zhiheng bid them farewell and, holding a blue silk oil-paper umbrella, slowly approached her.

A light rain shower formed a thin curtain of water between the corridors, and a cool breeze caressed our faces.

The umbrella ribs made a muffled creaking sound in the rain.

Before long, a snow-white robe appeared in front of her.

Xie Rutang's eyelashes trembled, like the wings of a beautiful butterfly.

Just as she was feeling helpless and uneasy, Pei Zhiheng, with a calm face, reached out and grabbed her slender wrist before she could react, leading her into another secluded and deep corridor. His strength was restrained, yet he did not allow her to break free.

He shut out both the sound of the rain and the gazes of those people.