Young widow in her boudoir

Pei Zhiheng naturally did not want his affair with her to be exposed, lest it ruin his reputation.

Xie Rutang lay on the couch, as if she could still faintly smell the lingering, cool fragrance of him on her bed. He had stayed for a month, and the scent of him in Cuiwu Courtyard had not completely dissipated.

He and she will never see each other again.

Xie Rutang didn't think much of it, closed her eyes, and soon fell asleep.

……

After leaving the bamboo forest, Pei Zhiheng walked back to Shou'an Hall.

Su Yao has already gone back, but Pei's mother is still in the inner room.

Seeing him return covered in night dew, Madam Pei was very pleased: "After you go back, hurry up and go to the Su family to propose marriage."

She can only feel at ease once things are settled.

Pei Zhiheng suppressed a surge of anger in his heart, his lips pressed tightly together, his profile as cold as a stone carving, and the other maids dared not approach.

While Pei's mother was still grumbling, she had ordered the kitchen to prepare a table full of delicacies before coming to the Shen family. She packed them in a food box and brought them over, and everything was one of his favorite dishes.

A table was set up inside the room, and Old Madam Shen went to drink her medicine in the side hall.

While serving him food with chopsticks, Madam Pei said gently, "Eat more. The food at the Shen residence is definitely not as refined as what we have at home."

As she spoke, she placed another piece of fish, its bones carefully removed, onto his plate. "Your Aunt Shen and I have agreed that your wedding date with Su Yao will be at the end of the year, and we can hold the betrothal ceremony this month."

The moment she finished speaking, when she looked at the man, the smile on Pei's mother's face suddenly froze.

Was it just her imagination?

She noticed a woman's fragrance on her son, mixed with the scent of bamboo and dew.

A faint, unfamiliar woman's fragrance lingered around Pei Zhiheng's clothes, but it didn't smell like cosmetics.

Madam Pei's face darkened.

Pei Zhiheng made no attempt to hide the red mark on his own son's neck, which had been scratched by a woman's fingernails.

"Yuanzhi, how come you have a woman's fingernail marks on your body?"

When she was young, Madam Pei was a renowned talented woman in the capital. She had a gentle personality and hated wild women of unknown origin, especially those seductive vixens in brothels.

Upon hearing this, Pei Zhiheng realized that when Xie Rutang was struggling in his arms in the bamboo forest, her unpainted fingers had accidentally scratched his neck, which was quite obvious.

"Who is that woman?"

Pei's mother's face flushed red as she struggled to suppress her anger.

Her son was a prodigy from a young age, and for over twenty years he lived a life of strict discipline and unwavering integrity.

She wanted to know which woman had seduced Pei Zhiheng.

If the Su family found out, what would they think?

He and Su Yao are getting engaged soon!

He's still fooling around outside!

Xie Rutang's delicate, beautiful face slowly appeared before Pei Zhiheng's eyes, his expression turning cold and somber.

"When did this happen? And who exactly is that woman?"

Pei's mother assumed that the nail marks had been there for a long time and that she had simply overlooked them tonight, only noticing them now.

Pei Zhiheng couldn't possibly be causing trouble in the Shen family; the only possibility is that he has a woman outside, and it just so happens to be at this time!

After finishing his meal, the delicacies on the mahogany table were cleared away, and a beautiful maidservant came forward to pour him a bowl of tea.

Pei Zhiheng stroked the sky-blue teacup in his hand, "She's just a woman from a brothel."

"A couple of days ago, Brother Yan and I went to a brothel."

It didn't say she was a beautiful widow living at home.

Pei Zhiheng recalled the feel of Xie Rutang's waist; it was no less alluring and captivating than the women of brothels.

At least, none of the courtesans had a face more beautiful than hers.

But Xie Rutang was incomparable to those shallow and vulgar courtesans.

Even in the Shen residence, no matter how simply she dressed, her compassionate face resembled a white lotus in a pond receiving incense offerings, yet her figure, concealed by loose clothing, still revealed a hint of allure, an undeniable charm.

She lost her husband, which is truly pitiful.

Upon hearing this, Pei's mother immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, she was just a courtesan; Yuanzhi was only playing around with her and would soon settle down.

But she still couldn't stand Pei Zhiheng going there to fool around. What kind of person was he? What kind of behavior was that?

But Pei's mother couldn't help but feel relieved. Over the years, her son had never asked for a concubine. When asked, he always said that he was too busy with official duties at the Dali Temple and had no time for such things.

Now that she sees him finally break his vow, it's a relief for her.

Madam Pei's unpleasant expression softened. "Fine, you're only allowed to go to the brothel once. You're not allowed to go again."

"Before you marry Miss Su, I will arrange for you to have several concubines."

In this way, Yuan Zhicai will not go out and look for those disreputable women.

It would have been better if she hadn't said anything.

After he told her, Pei Zhiheng became even more concerned.

Pei Zhiheng took a sip of bitter tea, wondering what she was doing now that she had returned to the Shen residence.

Is she thinking about her deceased husband again?

For the first time in his life, Pei Zhiheng felt that a woman's body could haunt his dreams.

"Yuanzhi".

"Yuanzhi, I'm talking to you, can you hear me?"

After a long silence, Pei Zhiheng replied calmly, "I understand what Mother means."

Mother Pei: "Then what do you think about arranging a few concubines for you before the marriage?"

Pei Zhiheng lowered his eyes indifferently, "I'll leave it to my mother's arrangements."

He didn't want his thoughts to be occupied too much by a widowed woman.

Madam Pei breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad you think that way. What kind of concubines do you like? I'll have the nanny arrange a few for you."

What kind of type do you like?

Pei Zhiheng inexplicably thought of Xie Rutang's delicate yet dignified face. Someone like her had a full chest and a pert bottom. Because she had been married before, she was also very good at serving men.

He can't very well say that he likes women.

Even he didn't know whether he simply liked the feeling of mature women or Xie Rutang herself.

Thinking about it this way, Pei Zhiheng became restless, and even he felt that he was sick.

Pei Zhiheng frowned: "Mother can arrange it."

His face was icy cold. He paused for a moment, then said, "Choose a few plump, mature ones."

He refused to believe that he couldn't forget Xie Rutang, the widow.

Could it be that he can't find other women?

Upon hearing this, Pei's mother was almost stunned.

Pei Zhiheng said this, got up and left. His face was as cold as a pool, and his fierce aura was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe. All the servants in the mansion lowered their heads, and none of them dared to look him in the eye.

With the help of her maid, Madam Pei rinsed her mouth with tea.

She took the handkerchief handed to her by the maid, wiped the back of her hand, and then glanced at Granny Xu, who was standing to the side, also looking bewildered.

Madam Pei was a little hard of hearing. "Granny Xu, did you hear clearly what Yuanzhi said?"

Looking for a few plump, mature women?

Did she mishear?

Granny Xu calmed down and repeated what Pei Zhiheng had just said to her, "That's exactly what the Second Master said, isn't that right?"

Pei's mother's eyelids twitched violently. "Plump and mature?"

"Could it be a woman older than him?!"

"this……"

She was about to faint; did he think she had too much life?

Pei's mother had a strange expression. Although men have many interests in the bedroom, and other men of Pei Zhiheng's age have countless wives and concubines at home.

But she never imagined that Pei Zhiheng would like women older than him!