Young widow in her boudoir

The door was suddenly pushed open.

Startled, Zhang's mother looked up and saw a handsome man on a tall horse in the distance, as beautiful as a god, with an air of pampered elegance.

She was just a village woman; she had never seen such a big scene before.

Zhang's mother immediately started screaming and throwing a tantrum, "What are you doing? Breaking into a private home! I'm calling the authorities and having you all arrested!"

The leading officer, with a dark complexion, shoved her aside.

"We are here on the orders of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to arrest the widowed sister-in-law who is committing adultery!"

What?!

Zhang's mother's legs went weak, and she immediately collapsed to the ground.

……

The musty smell of rotting straw in the woodshed made Xie Rutang feel nauseous.

Before me was the heavy, nauseating sound of a man's breathing.

Xie Rutang was trembling all over, her clothes were disheveled, tears were streaming down her face, her slender wrists were red and blue, and her throat was tightly blocked with a rag.

Despair, like a cold tide, completely overwhelmed her, and she could not utter a sound.

Just then.

The old wooden door of the woodshed was forcibly cleaved open from the outside, revealing a gleaming sword.

Before Zhang Qingci, who was on top of her, could react, she was shot through the heart with an arrow. Blood splattered on the wall, and a few drops of blood fell on her clothes.

Xie Rutang looked up in alarm from the couch and saw a clear and aloof figure in black standing against the light at the doorway.

Pei Zhiheng's dark official robe was spotless, and his expression was cold and serene.

Behind him, a dense, imposing troop of soldiers surrounded the entire courtyard.

Beside the man stood an archer.

Upon seeing her, Xie Rutang's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She had lived a secluded life in her home for many years and rarely showed her face in public. Who would have thought that today, she was drugged after helping Zhang's mother on the street out of kindness!

At this moment, I see Pei Zhiheng's figure descending like a celestial being.

Xie Rutang's long-suppressed fear and grievances suddenly burst forth, "Second Master!"

Just now, she almost had her body taken by Scholar Zhang!

She never expected that the person she most hoped would appear to save her was actually the second master of this mansion.

Unexpectedly, she was met with the chilling coldness in his eyes, and Xie Rutang felt as if her blood had turned to the back of its head.

She had completely forgotten that the news of her affair with Scholar Zhang had spread throughout the capital, and she was now a notorious slut known to all.

Pei Zhiheng's pupils were like cold jade, black and icy, and a deep-seated fear shot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

She had no idea what the consequences would be.

Seeing her disheveled hair and tattered clothes, Pei Zhiheng subconsciously stroked the jade thumb ring on his finger, a cool smile playing on his lips.

This woman, Xie, was truly a bodhisattva. She kindly helped the old woman, but almost had her body defiled.

Should he praise her for her compassion and bodhisattva-like heart?

The man gently raised his hand.

"All of you, step back."

Before long, the soldiers withdrew like dark clouds surrounding a city, and the door was gently closed, leaving only her and Pei Zhiheng in the small room.

Pei Zhiheng slowly approached her. She subconsciously curled up, hurriedly gathered her clothes to make herself look presentable, and wet tears fell uncontrollably. She never expected that the person who came to save her would be the least likely Pei Zhiheng.

In the blink of an eye, the silk robe with moon patterns was placed in front of the couch.

Pei Zhiheng, however, remained cold and unsympathetic, his voice like poison, "Your husband is dead, yet you, my lady, are so unable to bear the loneliness that you leave the manor to commit adultery?"

Hsieh Ju-tang's face has become fair!

She had heard many rumors about Pei Zhiheng before.

The reason he was able to sit in the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was because he had solved countless cases, used cruel methods, and had countless lives on his hands.

Xie Rutang was frightened by what she had experienced that day. She quickly stepped forward and grabbed his hem, pitifully complaining, "Today, I happened to meet Zhang's mother on the road. Seeing that she was walking unsteadily, I took pity on her and kindly went to help her..."

She paused, tears falling onto his cold, official robe.

Her clothes had been pulled off her shoulders, leaving behind deep red fingerprints left by Zhang Qingci. As the woman bent over, seeking shelter and pity, the collar of her lilac-embroidered dress opened slightly.

With tears streaming down her face, Xie Rutang recounted her ordeal of the day.

Unfortunately, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review in the capital city was the most ruthless one. He had long since severed all emotions and desires and was estranged from his family.

Pei Zhiheng, his feet clad in jet-black boots, spoke in a tone devoid of emotion, "How can I believe you based solely on your own words?"

Xie Rutang raised her overly beautiful face in astonishment. "Why won't Lord Pei believe me? Just now in the woodshed, Scholar Zhang attempted to do something indecent to me. Lord Pei clearly witnessed it with his own eyes. How can that be faked?"

She didn't understand why Pei Zhiheng kept targeting her.

What did she do wrong this time?

The room was filled with the fragrance of the woman's lips and teeth.

Pei Zhiheng, clad in a cold, imposing official robe, stared at her with long, hawk-like eyes. "All I saw was you in a room with him, your clothes disheveled. Now everyone is saying you're having an affair with a scholar; rumors are flying throughout the city. How can you expect me to uphold justice?"

Xie Rutang's fingers, which were gripping the hem of his clothes, suddenly loosened, her hands and feet turning icy cold.

Yes, how could she possibly expect Pei Zhiheng to show her any special favor?

He even killed his own uncle!

Zhang Qingci was already dead. The walls were sticky with blood and had a strong, pungent smell. Xie Rutang covered her mouth in fear and nausea, but she couldn't vomit.

She was trembling with fear.

Pei Zhiheng's fingers traced her cheek, then moved to her smooth earlobe, circling around it, sending shivers down her spine. "Scared?"

In the dark room, a sharp, bright light suddenly flashed across her face, illuminating her tear-filled pupils.

Pei Zhiheng silently took out a dagger inlaid with gemstones from his sleeve, which reflected a gorgeous and decadent pearly light in the dark.

Xie Rutang was terrified, and kept backing away from the bed. "Second Master... what are you going to do?"

His eyes look strange right now.

She suddenly felt that he was even more intimidating than Zhang Qingci, who had been driven by lust just moments before.

The other party completely disregarded the fear in her eyes.

The cold official robe brushed against her leg. Pei Zhiheng, his voice deep, cornered her against the wall. "Whether there has been adultery or not, a single test will tell."

Xie Rutang gasped from the cold.

The jeweled dagger bestowed upon her by the emperor pressed so roughly and coldly against her clothes, the foreign object feeling extremely obvious, and she was afraid that her skin would be scratched.

Xie Rutang was like a prisoner being held in court, undergoing the scrutiny of this Minister of Justice in order to get justice for her.

Xie Rutang froze.

There was nothing in front of me, and the air was chilly.

She felt insecure and instinctively wanted to hug herself with her slender arms.

Pei Zhiheng's breathing became slightly heavy. "According to the laws of our dynasty, when the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review of the Capital Prefecture searches a prisoner, the prisoner must remove his or her clothes, regardless of his or her social status, without exception."

"Relax."