Young widow in her boudoir

Pei Zhiheng carried her back to the house and then left.

It turned out that Jin Yue had already returned with the firefly lantern.

Only after asking did Xie Rutang learn that Jin Yue, knowing it was late at night, had taken a shortcut from the library, which was why Xie Rutang hadn't encountered her.

Upon seeing this girl, Xie Rutang really wanted to slap her.

But it was already late, so the master and servant had no choice but to rest and discuss things tomorrow.

As dawn broke, the tutoring nanny arranged by the old lady arrived early in the morning. The collateral relative, named Shen Shuming, would be coming to the mansion the day after tomorrow.

The old lady insisted that she conceive as soon as possible so that she could give birth ten months later, so she sent the erotic pictures to Cuiwu Courtyard early in the morning.

The maidservant sent from Shou'an Hall had high cheekbones and triangular eyes with upturned corners. "These are the positions that make it easiest to conceive. Please learn them as soon as possible these next two days so that you can consummate your marriage."

Looking at these erotic pictures, Xie Rutang blushed with shame, yet was powerless to resist her fate.

Granny Zeng then ordered her to take off her clothes and examined her body. After confirming that she was alright, she planned to prescribe Chinese medicine for her to drink.

As Shen Yuan's widow, just because her husband died, everyone in the manor could bully her, a widow...

Once Granny Zeng left...

Xie Rutang could not bear such humiliation and lay on the soft couch weeping, her shoulders heaving slightly.

The candlelight beside the couch flickered slightly in the breeze seeping through the cracks in the window.

In her hand, she tightly clutched the red bean-shaped jade hairpin that Shen Yuan had given her in the past.

Over the next two days, Xie Rutang was instructed by Granny Zeng on what position to use to conceive, how to nourish the fetus, and what kind of diet would increase the chances of giving birth to a boy.

Because this matter was already difficult to talk about, if word got out that the Shen family was forcing their daughter-in-law to find a man outside the family to conceive a child... Therefore, the old lady strictly ordered the maids who knew about it not to speak out, otherwise they would be sold out of the mansion.

Xie Rutang borrowed a seed to ensure the continuation of the eldest son's lineage. At that time, Shen Shuming, a member of the clan, would be sent out of the capital, and no one would know that the two of them had been intimate.

……

As the sun reached its zenith, the sunlight was abundant and bright, the courtyard was filled with the sweltering heat, and the lotus flowers in the pond were half-open. Even the most precious and rare flowers and plants looked listless.

It was supposed to be a nap time, and Ye Wanyu was lying on the couch, enjoying the massage of her shoulders and neck by her maid. Upon hearing this, she sat up, and a crimson shawl draped over her arm.

Ye Wanyu was born with an elegant and noble appearance, her hair adorned with pearls and emeralds, and a pair of ruby ​​and tourmaline earrings that swayed and shone.

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you telling the truth?"

Tao Lü chimed in from the side, "This servant saw it all clearly in the Ink Garden. The First Madam deliberately approached the young master by the pond, practically throwing her breasts against him..."

Ye Wanyu was so angry that she broke off the gemstone armor, and her face instantly turned ashen.

"The First Madam is a widow who spends all day in the mansion with her seductive face. All the men in the mansion are eyeing her. I've said it before, she'll be a menace sooner or later!"

"My lord is in the prime of his life; if the First Madam tries to seduce him a few more times, wouldn't he be..."

Ye Wanyu gripped the handkerchief tightly.

Before her marriage, she was a beauty, but after giving birth to Jia Ge'er, her figure changed drastically. In particular, her breasts shrunk as she breastfed. Although her husband said it was nothing, he only slept with her twice a month, which was pitifully infrequent. Instead, he spent every night in his concubine's room, which angered her so much that she lost her appetite for several days.

Especially since that concubine had recently received a fine piece of brocade from Shen Wen, that little slut often came to show it off to her.

Ye Wanyu slammed her hand on the table in anger, "Bah! What good is it if Xie Shi is alluring and seductive!"

Oh dear, Xie Rutang actually seduced a man, and she even seduced her own man!

Ye Wanyu sat back on the couch, a contemptuous smile on her face. "Who doesn't know that she has to borrow a seed from her clan in order to stay in the manor?"

However, the fact that Xie was using a sperm donor was an unspoken secret between her parents-in-law.

This was, after all, a shameful matter for the Shen family. The old lady had repeatedly ordered them not to tell anyone. Even if Ye Wanyu was the daughter-in-law, if she accidentally let it slip to some noble ladies, she would be in deep trouble. Even if she had done a good job managing the household, the old lady would not let her off the hook.

It's a pity she can't publicize this, otherwise she would definitely ruin Xie Rutang's reputation.

Ye Wanyu couldn't swallow this insult; her anger surged uncontrollably.

She called Tao Lü back to her side, a malice flashing in her eyes. "Go quietly and find one of the gossipy and greedy guards in the manor. Give him a heads-up and promise him some money..."

Upon hearing this, Tao Lü immediately understood and quietly went to do it.

The following afternoon, the guards in the mansion took their turn to rest, and a group of servants gathered in the side courtyard under the eaves to drink and chat.

The guard, bribed by Ye Wanyu, pretended to be drunk and began to speak recklessly, "Speaking of which, our Madam, though she appears aloof and dignified, is actually quite the romantic and restless woman..."

Hearing this, the others, emboldened by the alcohol, pricked up their ears and shoved him to continue.

Servants are naturally inclined to pry into the secrets of the inner quarters, and when they hear about Xie Rutang, how can they not feel itchy?

That's the First Madam, Xie Rutang!

Everyone knows that Xie Rutang's beauty is unparalleled in the capital. Even the pampered empresses and princesses in the palace are said to be less charming than her.

Someone quickly stepped forward, offering a cup of wine and coaxing, "Brother, tell us the details quickly, don't keep us in suspense!"

The guard waved his hand dismissively, then said in a low voice with a hint of helplessness, "I once saw the First Madam walking alone from afar. As she walked, she deliberately dropped her embroidered handkerchief, which fluttered down to my feet. It was clearly an attempt to seduce this strong man. However, knowing the vast difference in our status, I dared not overstep my bounds in the slightest, so I pretended not to see her and took a detour to avoid her."

These words caused an uproar among the crowd.

Soon, rumors about Xie Rutang's interest in the guards spread throughout the entire Shen residence.

In the area around the manor's ponds, the green leaves stretch to the sky, and the pink, white, and bright red lotus flowers are in full bloom.

The next morning, Xie Rutang, accompanied by her maid Jinyue, took a small bamboo basket and went to the pond to pick lotus flowers, as well as some lotus leaves and buds to put in a vase.

Along the way, Xie Rutang sensed that something was off about the atmosphere in the mansion, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Although servants and young men still bowed to her in greeting under the eaves and on the steps, there was a hint of disrespect in their manner, and whispers could be heard even from a distance.

After turning past the artificial hill, she could vaguely hear people laughing and talking in hushed tones behind her. When she turned around, they all fell silent, only glancing at her furtively.

Since becoming a widow, Xie Rutang has become more sensitive than ordinary women, with a very keen mind. How could she not sense this subtle hostility?

She could guess that people in the mansion were whispering about her behind her back.

Xie Rutang sent Jin Yue out to inquire.

Half a day later, Jin Yue returned to her room.

Xie Rutang saw that her eyes were red and her eye sockets were swollen, which showed that she had heard those foul words outside and had secretly cried because she felt wronged.

Xie Rutang had already guessed about 70% of what was going on, but she remained relatively calm. She lowered her head and quietly embroidered the clothes. "Tell me slowly, I can handle it."

Jin Yue took a deep breath, bowed her head and knelt down, and recounted, word by word, the rumors spread by the guards in the mansion while they were drunk, slandering her mistress for seducing the guards with a handkerchief.

Xie Rutang's fingertips, which were holding the embroidery needle, trembled violently, and a drop of bright red blood immediately seeped out and dripped onto the moon-blue silk.

Jin Yue's eyes reddened with grievance. "These gossipy servants have absolutely no evidence! Even that handkerchief they're spreading so convincingly—the guards at the front gate don't have it at all! Yet they still believe it, these heartless bastards..."

Xie Rutang remained silent, lowering her eyes to hold the fingertip that had been pricked by the needle in her mouth, a faint taste of blood lingering on her lips.

She had long suspected this day would come; there's always trouble around a widow's door.

However, it was clear that this guard was deliberately instructed by someone.

She has been copying scriptures behind closed doors every day and has never made enemies with anyone. Who could be so malicious as to want to ruin her reputation?

The most insidious thing is that these are nothing more than idle gossip among the servants in the mansion. If she were to actually investigate and confront them, others would secretly laugh at her for making a mountain out of a molehill.