Young widow in her boudoir

The next day, the sky was clear and the morning light of the dog days filtered through the layers of branches and leaves, and a gentle breeze wafted through the garden.

The temperature rose, prompting the servants of the Shen residence to constantly fan themselves; it had been a long time since the weather had been this hot.

Because she needed to borrow a seed, Xie Rutang eventually had her maid deliver a message inviting Shen Shuming to the garden that night for a chat, even though she wasn't prepared.

The pretext was to ask him to take a look at the newly planted orchids, but it was a weak excuse and just a fig leaf.

The matter of the First Madam using another man to conceive was a closely guarded secret within the household; everyone kept quiet about it, and very few people knew about it.

Throughout the day, the maids of Cuiwu Courtyard were coming and going, preparing for the night. Comfortable new pillows were placed on the couch so that the man could lean on them, and Xie Rutang could also lie on them for support. There were also gold basins, bronze mirrors, towels, and clean water, all of which had to be prepared in advance.

Xie Rutang had not yet experienced the pleasures of womanhood, and she did not know who to ask, nor could she ask.

After thinking for a long time, she asked someone to invite a familiar nanny to her room tonight to check on her, saying that she was nervous and couldn't accept any man other than her deceased husband.

Feeling stifled indoors at noon, Xie Rutang went outside for some fresh air.

Only Jin Yue knew that the lady was saddened by thinking of her deceased husband, so she didn't follow her and let Xie Rutang calm down on her own.

Otherwise, prolonged suppression will cause a person to break down.

Qin Yao, who lived in the front courtyard, couldn't sit still. Taking advantage of the servants' busy comings and goings and the lax supervision, he quietly slipped into the inner garden.

He didn't have high hopes; he was just trying his luck.

Having just found a secluded spot in the rockery by Taihu Lake, where he knew the way well, he unexpectedly encountered Xie Rutang, who was traveling alone. She was walking gracefully from the opposite side of the winding corridor.

She walked to the stone bench by the lotus pond, sat down quietly, and sobbed softly.

Hidden among the flowers are pavilions, and the water glistens.

She stood with her back to him by the stone railing, her shoulders trembling slightly, wiping away tears with her head down, which accentuated her slender waist and shapely hips, arousing the imagination.

Qin Yao hid behind the rocks, his gaze sweeping over the area without restraint, and he swallowed hard.

The top courtesans in the brothels outside are beautiful, but they are all deliberately embellished and vulgar. How can they compare to the person in front of you?

In his view, the woman's solitary tears were the perfect opportunity.

She cried for about fifteen minutes.

Xie Rutang was about to turn and leave when her eyes inadvertently swept over the lush foliage of the artificial hill by Taihu Lake and she suddenly caught sight of a man's figure.

She recognized the pattern on the hem of the garment; she had seen Qin Yao wear it before!

He didn't know how long he had been hiding inside.

In that instant, her blood almost froze.

There was no time to think about how he got into the backyard.

Xie Rutang dared not disturb the other party. She suppressed the fear that made her legs weak and got up to stroll around the garden. She pretended to admire the flowers by the roadside, but actually walked towards the front yard. Qin Yao was not familiar with the way to the back yard.

Qin Yao followed behind at a leisurely pace.

Xie Rutang passed through a moon gate covered with green vines and saw a quiet pavilion standing in front of him, which was Pei Zhiheng's library.

This is where the Second Master recuperates and studies. The mansion has established a rule that no one except his personal servants is allowed to enter without permission.

At that moment, the rustling of branches and leaves could be faintly heard behind me.

Xie Rutang's heart tightened, and without regard for etiquette, she lifted her skirt and forced her way in.

Upon entering the pavilion, one is greeted by shelves full of books, with sunlight streaming in through the high windows overhead, gently falling on the stacked scrolls, and carrying a faint fragrance of ink.

Seeing her disappear into the pavilion, Qin Yao was overjoyed and quickly followed her in.

Xie Rutang dared not linger on the first floor and hurriedly climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Just as I turned the corner of the corridor, I saw a figure standing on the terrace.

Pei Zhiheng leisurely read through the books, his slender fingers lightly resting on the pages of the ancient text. His expression was deep and cold. At this moment, he seemed to have grown tired of reading and was resting with his eyes closed.

Xie Rutang was confined to his large, secluded mansion, with no one to rely on and no one to trust others easily, because he never felt secure.

But seeing him now, Xie Rutang felt at ease for some reason.

"Second Master, save me..."

The woman's sweet voice escaped from her lips.

Xie Rutang didn't even have time to see what was happening inside the room before she threw herself into the man's arms, his embrace warm and firm.

Pei Zhiheng also paused slightly, his brows furrowing as he looked down at the person who had suddenly entered his arms.

Qin Yao, who was outside the library, was about to step inside when he was stopped by the guards of the Pei family.

"Halt! This is Master Pei's library. Unauthorized personnel are strictly prohibited from entering!"

Qin Yao was instantly dumbfounded, his heart jolted.

Pei Zhiheng? It's actually the Second Master Pei who holds power in the Court of Judicial Review!

How could Xie Rutang, a widow from the Shen family, be allowed to enter?!

The guards of the Pei residence stood solemnly at the gate. Even though Qin Yao was incredibly audacious, he didn't dare to force his way in. He stared intently at the pavilion and had no choice but to leave reluctantly.

Still in the man's arms, Xie Rutang was in shock.

After a moment of deathly silence, extreme shame instantly overwhelmed Xie Rutang. She hurriedly tried to get up, "Second Master, I didn't mean to..."

Pei Zhiheng smelled the faint fragrance emanating from her again; these days, this delicate scent had been lingering in his dreams.

Since she's come to me willingly, how could I let her go so easily?

The weather was hot, and she was only wearing a double-layered, plain pink gauze jacket in the backyard, which made things convenient for him.

Xie Rutang gasped.

Pei Zhiheng actually put down his book and reached inside, right there in broad daylight in the Shen residence!

Thinking of how she let Shen Shuming into her bedroom last night, Pei Zhiheng wrapped his arms around her waist, as if he wanted to kiss her all the way to the depths of her throat before he would stop.

How could Xie Rutang possibly withstand this?

Soon after, she melted in his arms, her eyes filled with tears.

Pei Zhiheng's gaze deepened slightly. He was somewhat surprised. Logically speaking, Xie Rutang and Shen Yuan had been married for a year, so she should be quite experienced. How could she still blush so easily?

Just then.

Not long after Qin Yao left, Shen Xiaoxiao actually came towards the library!

Under the bright sun, her face was beautiful, and a golden hairpin glittered in her hair. Soon after, her charming and willful voice came from downstairs.

"I came to see Brother Pei, why are you stopping me?" I clearly saw Brother Pei reading upstairs!

The guards dared not offend Miss Shen, nor did they dare disobey the Second Master's orders; they were caught in a dilemma.

They couldn't stop her.

Shen Xiaoxiao lifted her skirt and went upstairs. Her skirt swept past the corner of the stairs, and in the blink of an eye, she arrived at the second-floor terrace.

"Brother Pei!"

The next moment, her bright smile froze on her face.

A stunningly beautiful woman was sitting on Pei Zhiheng's muscular lap, her long hair cascading down her back.

Pei Zhiheng was holding her waist. The woman was so weak from his kisses that she was almost forced to lean against his chest in a seductive pose. She was completely exhausted, her breath was sweet and fragrant.

Sloping shoulders and a slender waist.

The scene is as alluring as it gets, both glamorous and decadent.

Shen Xiaoxiao was furious; her eyes quickly turned red.

Why is there a woman in Brother Pei's library?

Shen Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes, and why did she feel that the woman's back looked somewhat familiar?