Young widow in her boudoir

Even more coincidentally, she was wearing this purple one underneath today.

Xie Rutang suddenly didn't want to stay here anymore...

She looked at Pei Zhiheng, biting her red lips, almost wondering if he had some kind of supernatural ability to see through things.

She took a deep breath; it must just be a coincidence.

Su Yao was unaware of the grudge between her and Pei Zhiheng.

She put down her crimson silk skirt and picked out a moon-white one, with a few pale blue orchids embroidered on the neckline, elegant and simple. "And this one?"

"Although it's a light color, it has more vibrancy than what Madam Shen is wearing."

Xie Rutang could guess that Su Yao wanted to please her because of the special relationship between the Shen and Pei families.

With her approval, it would be easier for Su Yao to marry into the Pei family.

Xie Rutang thought that if Miss Su knew that her mother-in-law wanted her to borrow a child from Pei Zhiheng, she probably wouldn't treat her like such an innocent little rabbit.

So Xie Rutang smiled and said, "Then I'll take this one."

After browsing the clothes, Su Yao pestered Pei Zhiheng to take her to buy rouge.

This time, Pei Zhiheng refused, saying, "I have official business to attend to."

Su Yao looked disappointed and had no choice but to part ways with them.

Xie Rutang breathed a sigh of relief.

But after Su Yao left in the Su family's carriage...

Xie Rutang's eyelids twitched. Wait a minute!

It seems that she will be riding back to the manor in a carriage with Pei Zhiheng next.

As soon as they got on the carriage...

The carriage swayed slightly, and she accidentally sat on his lap.

Xie Rutang noticed that Pei Zhiheng, whose face was cold and indifferent, seemed to swallow.

Last night she came to him willingly. He's not some saint who's celibate, so he touched her waist, but in the end, reason prevailed over desire.

After all, he didn't have a penchant for married women.

But now, he couldn't help but feel that she was doing it on purpose again, and Pei Zhiheng's eyes darkened slightly.

Xie Rutang's cheeks flushed red. "I'm sorry."

As she stood up, the soft fragrance also faded away, and Pei Zhiheng subconsciously frowned in displeasure.

After a moment, he said calmly, "Does Madam wish to remarry?"

Xie Rutang gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.

Sure enough, he heard what Lin Yan said to her!

There seemed to be a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Xie Rutang suddenly felt a deep unease.

She seemed to be able to guess that the reason Pei Zhiheng was unwilling to continue Shen Yuan's family line was probably because he looked down on her status as a married woman, a woman who had been touched by Shen Yuan.

Those in high positions are inherently arrogant.

Moreover, he is one in a million, a favorite of the emperor. Even if a princess were to marry him, he would be worthy of her.

Even though he had some affection for her, it was only with a playful mindset; he never took it seriously.

Moreover, she had heard it from the servants in the mansion.

Pei Zhiheng had a white moonlight in his heart, and that person was Yin Qinrong, who was famous throughout the capital. She was the only daughter of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and was recognized by the world as the most talented woman in the capital.

The two had known each other since childhood and were deeply in love. They had already made a verbal engagement and were just waiting to choose an auspicious day to formally get engaged.

Unexpectedly, a year ago, Yin Qinrong suddenly changed her mind, accepted the royal marriage, and became the Crown Princess.

This incident caused quite a stir among the scholars in the capital at the time. According to the servants of the Shen family, it was said that this incident severely damaged Pei Zhiheng, who then stopped engaging in romantic affairs and devoted himself to official duties in the court and criminal justice system. His temperament became increasingly cold and taciturn.

Not knowing what he meant, Xie Rutang felt a little embarrassed. "This doesn't seem to be Second Master's business."

She looked over angrily.

But he got distracted, and his fingers unconsciously clenched.

She saw the piece of black jade at his waist.

In the past, she often mistook the two of them for each other.

Staring at the jade pendant, she was reminded of the deceased Shen Yuan. The two had shared a bed in the past, but now they were separated by death, and she couldn't help but feel sad.

She even forgot the flippant and offensive words the man had spoken earlier.

She lowered her eyes, looking somewhat dim and revealing a sense of loneliness.

Pei Zhiheng's icy gaze locked onto her, instantly seeing through her thoughts.

She was using herself to remember someone from the past.

For some reason, he, who was usually cold-hearted, felt a bit of coldness and hostility towards her.

Because of their family relationship, he and Shen Yuan participated in the baby's first birthday celebration together, learned swordsmanship together, and even had similar handwriting, both taught by the same renowned teacher. Their courtesy names differed by only one character.

If he really agrees to continue the family line, who knows if Xie Rutang will mistake him for her deceased husband Shen Yuan when they sleep together in the future...

Why would he act as someone else's stand-in?

Staring at her dignified face, Pei Zhiheng let out a cold laugh, each word humiliating her: "It seems that Madam Shen, widowed in the mansion, is truly unbearably lonely, mistaking a stranger for her deceased husband to alleviate her loneliness?"

These words were like ice water poured over Xie Rutang's head. Xie Rutang froze, and the color drained from her face instantly.

Her hands fell limply, her fingertips gripping the plain fabric tightly, and her eyes suddenly reddened.

Xie Rutang had no idea that her youth and beauty, and the slightest hint of vulnerability she showed, could make any man want to take advantage of her.

Pei Zhiheng's eyes darkened slightly as he took a sip of tea and swallowed.

Xie Rutang swallowed her anger and said, "Second Master, your words are a bit too harsh. It is my duty to remember my late husband, and I have never been disrespectful to Lord Pei in the slightest. I have always been mindful of etiquette."

Her watery eyes held a hint of anger. "How dare you so maliciously humiliate me? Don't you care about Shen Yuan in the afterlife, or the reputation of the Shen family?"

Her shoulders trembled slightly with anger.

Pei Zhiheng remained silent. Since entering the court, he had held power, and when had he ever been contradicted like this?

His eyes held a chilling, mocking glint. "You climbed into my bed last night. You've certainly done right by your elder brother."

Xie Rutang's face gradually turned pale.

Slowly, she clenched her fist. "If I told you I had my reasons... would you believe me?"

Xie Rutang really wanted to expose the old lady's ugly face, but the words stopped her in her tracks.

His eyes flickered slightly.

My mother-in-law is selfish and mean, but she loves face too much.

If she used the aphrodisiac incident as leverage, she might be able to pry a sum of money from her mother-in-law to keep quiet. Now that her brother is in jail and needs money to bribe officials everywhere, she is short of funds.

So she shut her mouth.

"What's your predicament?" Pei Zhiheng's dark eyes reflected her face.

Xie Rutang clenched her handkerchief tightly: "It's nothing."

It seems she'll have to take the blame for her mother-in-law putting aphrodisiacs on her.

What does dignity matter compared to his own brother's life?

Pei Zhiheng's eyelashes concealed the emotions in his eyes. "Why would you do such a thing?"

The tea in his hand was top-grade Junshan Silver Needle. At this moment, the tea soup swayed slightly, reflecting a corner of the shadow diagonally in front of him. The charming and beautiful outline of a woman was half-lit and half-dim in the cup through the misty tea smoke.

Aged tea is worth savoring; the longer it's stored, the more mellow and flavorful it becomes.

Xie Rutang never expected that he would interrogate her personally.

Since she had decided to extort hush money from her mother-in-law, she answered frankly, her spring eyes reflecting his elegant figure, "Because I want an heir."

Her brother is still imprisoned. If she can get Pei Zhiheng to help, her brother will be saved.

Pei Zhiheng was used to being ruthless and cold-faced, and was known as the Cold-Faced Yama.

She knew in her heart that begging him would be like throwing an egg against a rock.

But she still wanted to give it a try.

With tears in her eyes, Xie Rutang said timidly, "Since my husband died, I have had no one to rely on in the manor..."

"If I can conceive a child, I can stay in the Pei family, and my mother-in-law will not allow me to remarry."

She knew that her vulnerability was her only advantage in attracting men.

A dark cloud immediately settled over Pei Zhiheng's eyes.

She needs a man.

A man who can protect her.

A man who can stay in her room every night.

After Xie Rutang finished speaking with trepidation, she saw that the man in the car had already closed his eyes.

Xie Rutang bit her lip, unable to figure out what he meant.

Didn't her words just now contain a bit of her true feelings?

She didn't know why she said it, but once the words were out, she couldn't take them back.

The days of being a widow are truly unbearable.

Moreover, she is so young, how could she be willing to accept what her mother-in-law said?

Once those thoughts take root, they will quietly creep up your bones, making you itch with desire.

Last night's touch was like a long-awaited rain after a drought, leaving her feeling both itchy and bitter.

They arrived at the Pei residence.

Pei Zhiheng's voice was indifferent and cold.

"get off."

Xie Rutang's face drained of color, and an unprecedented sense of shame swept over her.

The carriage rumbled along the long bluestone street, heading towards the Dali Temple without a backward glance.

Xie Rutang lowered her eyes, her face showing a hint of gloom, and her ears turning slightly red.

She's so foolish; Miss Su is the fiancée he's satisfied with.

She must have been bewitched today to try and seduce him with her body.