Young widow in her boudoir

The belt that slipped through his fingers was like a pile of pear blossoms, but Xie Rutang's skin was even smoother and more delicate than that. Pei Zhiheng had experienced it firsthand.

But we'll never see each other again.

Xie Rutang was pinned to the tree by him, and he adjusted her belt. When she turned around, she could only see his long, thin hands arbitrarily manipulating the silk into various shapes.

Xie Rutang's eyes reddened even more. "I didn't treat you like Yuan Cheng. Calling you 'husband' that time was an accident..."

Besides, they both had identical pieces of black jade around their waists!

She didn't do it on purpose!

She has a husband, everything's fine, why would she go around flirting with men?! And why did she have to go and provoke this cold, ruthless man?!

Seeing that she was still trying to argue.

Pei Zhiheng finished tying her belt with a cold laugh, then turned her around, grabbed her chin, and stroked her face with his icy hand. "You already have a criminal record. How can I trust you not to mistake someone else next time? How are you going to prove it to me?"

If Xie Rutang were to discover that she had been lying in bed with her eyes closed, hypnotizing herself into thinking of him as Shen Yuan, he would want to break her legs.

Pei Zhiheng, the prison warden, was so feared that he would never act as someone else's substitute.

He felt aggrieved being Xie Rutang's lover. If his subordinates found out, wouldn't they laugh their heads off? Where would he put his face?

Pei Zhiheng was holding back a lot of resentment, his face was so gloomy that it looked like it could drip water.

Xie Rutang thought he had long forgotten, but she didn't expect him to still remember!

At that time, she had just married into the prestigious Shen family. Her long, black hair was styled into a cloud-like bun. Ye Wanyu would pretend to be kind to her, showing concern for her well-being, and even wanted to take the initiative to hand over the management of the household affairs to her.

She wore a rouge-colored dress, and wherever she went, her bright eyes were full of charm, making her look like the most beautiful mimosa flower in spring.

One evening, Shen Yuan had not yet returned home. She and her maid were walking in the back garden when suddenly a figure as upright as a pine tree came towards them. Since it was already dark, she mistook it for Shen Yuan.

So she held the handkerchief embroidered with twin hibiscus flowers and called out shyly.

"Husband, why are you only just returning..."

Upon hearing this, her maidservant turned pale with fright and hurriedly reminded her that she had mistaken her for someone else.

Xie Rutang was confused until the man walked up to her in his black boots, and she was shocked to see his face clearly!

He had a high, deep-set nose, wrinkled eyelids, and a pair of long, dark, and deep eyes like black jade, unreadable in their emotions, their intense color seeming as if they wanted to devour her.

Xie Rutang was taken aback.

Pei Zhiheng's face showed little emotion; he simply looked her in the eye, his voice clear and resonant like the clash of metal and jade, "Sister-in-law, I am Yuanzhi."

I never imagined I would end up in such an embarrassing situation.

Xie Rutang wished she could bury her face in the ground; her ears turned red, and she felt she could never face anyone again.

She took a deep breath. "Yuanzhi, are you here to see Yuan Cheng?"

"Yuan Cheng hasn't returned home yet, why don't you go sit in his study first?"

Pei Zhiheng's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and he gave a soft "hmm".

Fifteen minutes later, Shen Yuan returned, still in his official robes.

Shen Yuan and the man were discussing business in the study.

Because of the embarrassing incident, Xie Rutang hid in her boudoir. Even when she later saw Pei Zhiheng standing with Shen Yuan, she avoided him.

At that time, Shen Yuan was handsome and asked her with a smile why she hid when she saw Yuan Zhi, thinking that she was a shy bride and dared not see anyone.

Xie Rutang forced a smile but offered no explanation.

Pei Zhiheng saw her, but his expression remained unchanged.

She had always thought he hadn't heard it, but to her surprise, he remembered it clearly!

He was telling her this at this point just to humiliate her.

She gritted her teeth, inwardly cursing him as a pervert!

If Pei Zhiheng were to reveal this secret to the public while Shen Yuan was still alive, her reputation would be ruined. Noble families place great importance on a woman's words and actions, and every move she makes is subject to criticism, let alone someone as chaste as her.

Pei Zhiheng had previously shown her some kindness, only giving her a cold glance before walking away. He never mentioned it again, and when he occasionally saw her elegant figure next to Shen Yuan, he suppressed the matter, allowing her to become a daughter-in-law in the Shen family.

However, fate played a cruel trick on her. Shen Yuan went to the battlefield, while she fell into his hands, where he could ravage and torment her at will!

In the past, when he went to court, she had to get up early to help him change his clothes.

He even says she has a criminal record!

Pei Zhiheng ran his fingers through her hair, stroking it, sending chills down her spine. "How are you going to prove it?"

Xie Rutang turned her face away, her hair falling onto her cheek. "I can't prove it..."

Pei Zhiheng chuckled.

Her nonchalant attitude infuriated him.

He gripped her waist tightly, pulling her into his burning embrace. "So you're admitting that you deliberately called him Yuan Cheng."

Xie Rutang didn't care: "Think what you want."

She paused, her brows furrowing slightly, wondering what he was angry about.

Even if he wanted to humiliate her right now, there was nothing she could do about it. All she could do was wait until he had his fill of humiliation and then he would leave.

Once he leaves tomorrow, it will be over between them.

Xie Rutang was baffled: "You're leaving tomorrow, why are you saying all this?"

"Aren't you afraid that Shen Yuan in the coffin will hear what you're saying and come back to haunt you?"

Her face was so soft that he wanted to squeeze it. Pei Zhiheng, his voice hoarse, couldn't resist pinching it hard. It was unbelievably soft, as if you could squeeze water out of it.

Pei Zhiheng then noticed that she had been crying; her eyes were swollen like peaches, and her lips were slightly moving. It seemed that he had bullied her too much.

The man finally released her waist, his face cold and indifferent.

It seems that even after he leaves the Shen family tomorrow, Xie Rutang will still be engrossed in that book and will not care about him at all. Pei Zhiheng knows her too well.

To this day, she still doesn't know that the "Collection of Paintings by Mr. Yutang" that she cherishes so much was a gift from him. He doesn't bother to explain. He doesn't like to coax women. Besides, Xie Rutang is willingly guarding it for Shen Yuan. No matter how good he is to her, she won't remember it.

Pei Zhiheng's brow bone was sharp, casting a cold, dark shadow in his eye sockets. "I'm leaving. You'd better take care of yourself in the Shen family."

The steady footsteps gradually faded away.

The man left the silk lamp on for her, its light quietly illuminating the surrounding ground.

Xie Rutang quickly straightened his open robe and returned to his courtyard.

Knowing he was returning home tomorrow, all his luggage was prepared, filling an entire car.

He took his summer clothes and autumn robes with him, and his books were also taken away; he left behind no personal belongings.