Young widow in her boudoir

Xie Rutang was woken up by being splashed with cold water.

The room smelled stuffy and unpleasant.

"Son, you didn't get the dosage right. Don't kill her! If she dies, how can she be my daughter-in-law and give me grandchildren?"

It turned out to be Zhang's mother, whom she had met while setting up her stall on the street!

Xie Rutang's heart sank suddenly. What were they talking about?

When I opened my eyes, I found myself locked in a woodshed, my wrists tightly bound with thick hemp rope, which hurt terribly.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Zhang Qingci standing in the room, and the wooden box she had brought with her to the carriage to store the silver had been pried open.

Xie Rutang's voice was hoarse, "...What are you going to do?"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhang's mother spat a mouthful of yellow phlegm onto her snow-white skirt, her eyes fixed greedily on the silver coins. "You pawned your jewelry for this silver just for that good-for-nothing brother of yours who's causing trouble in jail?"

"Instead of wasting this money on your elder brother, it would be better to leave it for my son to study, become an official, and establish himself in society!"

"You'll be entering the Zhang family sooner or later; your money should rightfully belong to my son!"

Bound and trembling, Xie Rutang suddenly understood everything.

It turns out that the mother and son had their eyes on her wealth and fortune from the moment they arrived in the capital, and Zhang Qingci never intended to rescue Xie Huai!

They abducted her here today to imprison her and force her to become a daughter-in-law of the Zhang family.

If she spends one night alone with Zhang Qingci, it will solidify the charge of their affair and completely ruin her.

Xie Rutang turned pale with fright, but she managed to calm herself down. "I am the young mistress of the Shen family. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review of the Capital Region and my late husband were close brothers. Do you know what the consequences will be if you imprison me here?"

Upon hearing the name of Pei Zhiheng, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Zhang's mother was so frightened that she trembled all over. Was it that serious?

She trembled all over: "Son, maybe we should let her go..."

That's Pei Zhiheng.

A cold and unapproachable Yama whom no one in the capital dared to provoke.

If this matter really attracts Lord Pei's attention...

But Zhang Qingci was not intimidated by her words at all.

He was dressed in a scholar's robe and spoke in a refined manner, "Mother, don't be fooled by Madam Shen. Pei Zhiheng received the imperial decree this morning and has already left the capital."

"The King of Qin is secretly plotting a rebellion in Anyang, causing chaos in the region, and no one dares to investigate. His Majesty has appointed him as Imperial Envoy to personally go to Anyang to handle the case and give him full authority."

He stared at Xie Rutang, a meaningful smile on his face. "He has no time to care about the whereabouts of a widow in the manor. This is a remote outskirts of the capital; even if someone discovers you're missing, they won't be able to trace you here."

These words completely awakened Zhang's mother. Filled with shame and anger, she stepped forward and kicked Xie Rutang, yelling, "You shameless woman, how dare you deceive me!"

The kick was extremely powerful, and the woman was in so much pain that she was sweating profusely.

Zhang's mother was still cursing: "Do you still think you're some high and mighty young mistress? The news of you seducing my son and having an affair has already spread throughout the capital!"

"The Shen and Pei families wouldn't care about you at all; they'd rather drown you in a pig cage!"

As if struck by lightning, Xie Rutang's eyes completely lost their light.

To her utter surprise, the letter she had previously asked Zhang Qingci for a favor, as well as the ransom money, became evidence of their secret dealings, leading to accusations that she had seduced him.

Even if Pei Zhiheng were in the capital and learned of this, he would never come to save her again.

Zhang Qingci, showing tenderness and compassion, quickly said, "Mother, be gentle, don't kick her too hard."

He stared greedily at the woman's clear and beautiful face.

Before Xie Rutang got married, she was the most beautiful woman in their county.

At that time, he was still a down-on-his-luck, impoverished scholar, living in abject poverty. He felt inferior and thought he was not worthy of Xie Rutang. He could only admire her from afar and secretly admire her, not daring to have any thoughts of transgression.

Who could have imagined that life is unpredictable and fate can be so cruel?

The other woman's husband died, and she became a widow.

The once unattainable Madam Shen ultimately fell into his hands.

Zhang Qingci slowly squatted down, his fingertips brushing against Xie Rutang's soft cheek, making the twisted sense of inferiority in his heart surge even more fiercely.

She used to be so aloof and noble, and the way she looked at him, this poor scholar, was always indifferent.

If things escalate to the point of no return tonight and the news spreads throughout the capital, Xie Rutang will completely lose face.

But after he finally got his former love, he began to despise Xie Rutang for being a married woman and no longer pure and innocent.

Something must have provoked him.

"Do you still think you're so superior? You used to look down on me, thinking I wasn't good enough for you?"

Zhang Qingci suddenly tightened his grip on her chin, pinching it so hard that Xie Rutang's face contorted in pain.

"Tonight I'll let everyone know that you, Mrs. Shen, this used shoe, were willingly slept with by me!"

Xie Rutang trembled with pain and tried to pry his fingers off, but no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't move.

Zhang Qingci raised his hand and slapped her across the face, his eyes filled with a sinister and terrifying light: "Let me tell you, now that you've become a daughter-in-law of the Zhang family, you'll have to listen to my mother in everything you do in the family from now on."

"My mother raised me with great difficulty. If you don't treat her well and be filial, I have plenty of ways to make you wish you were dead."

Xie Rutang's eyes flashed with terror as she suppressed a sob in her throat, afraid of provoking him further.

……

This earthen house is remote and desolate, located in the wilderness on the outskirts of Beijing, with few people around.

Just then, a clear sound of horses' hooves came from outside the window.

Zhang's mother went out to check cautiously, and soon returned: "A group of soldiers has come outside; they must be passing through from the city."

So they didn't take it seriously.

Zhang Qingci swallowed involuntarily. "Mother, you go out first."

"Tonight, I'm going to consummate my marriage with her."

The malice in his eyes was laid bare.

He couldn't wait any longer; he felt bloated.

Seeing this, Zhang's mother was so jealous that her chest heaved violently. "Well, sure enough, once she has a daughter-in-law, she forgets her mother!"

She rolled her eyes at Xie Rutang on the ground. That vixen! Just wait and see how she tortures her later!

Just wait, starting tomorrow we'll make her sweep bird droppings and clean the pigsty. With mud mixed with excrement and urine, let's see how she seduces her own son then.

Thinking this way, Zhang's mother felt much better and relieved.

What kind of noblewoman from the capital is she? She's just become Zhang Da Sha's wife.

Just as Xie Rutang was about to cry for help, the mother and son immediately covered her mouth tightly with a coarse cloth, leaving her and Zhang Xiucai trapped in the darkness. She could not make a sound, only painful sobs could be heard.

Two lines of regretful tears silently slid down her almond-shaped eyes. She was filled with remorse, wondering why she hadn't listened to Pei Zhiheng's advice back then.

Zhang Qingci suddenly pounced on her, violently and frantically tearing at her clothes.

Her clothes were torn, revealing a patch of fair skin.

Outside, Pei Zhiheng was leading a group of soldiers out of the city and passing by this place.

The lieutenant on horseback saw smoke rising from the thatched hut and said, "Lord Pei, there's a house ahead. Let's go ask for some water."

Pei Zhiheng sat upright on a tall horse, his dark official robe accentuating his tall and refined figure.

Upon hearing this, he raised his eyes slightly, and his deep, dark gaze fell on the thatched hut.

He turned his head to the soldiers beside him and said something.

In a short while, two soldiers rushed forward and pounded on the door.

Inside the house, Zhang's mother hurriedly suppressed her panic and planned to pretend to be an ordinary peasant woman to open the door.

As a result, a loud bang!

The door was kicked open violently, the sound echoing throughout the dilapidated courtyard.

"Open the door! Government inspectors!"