Young widow in her boudoir

Chunying suddenly raised her head, not expecting Zhulan to make such a decision on her own. She frowned and said, "I'm afraid this is inappropriate."

"After all, Madam Shen is the Second Master's widowed sister-in-law..."

Zhu Lan casually twirled a strand of her hair, her fingertips idly fiddling with the end, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

"What widowed sister-in-law? She's just using the old friendship between our two families to curry favor. The Shen family is in decline right now, and Xie Rutang is a widow. She's struggling to survive and can barely take care of herself. Why should we waste our time trying to please her? It's not worth it."

Chunying added, "Sister Hongyao isn't here right now; she went to deliver medicine to Old Madam Shen. Shouldn't you come back with Sister Hongyao and discuss this matter?"

Hongyao and Zhulan are both head maids at Suxue Residence. One is in charge of internal affairs, and the other is in charge of external affairs; they are Pei Zhiheng's right-hand women in the inner courtyard, respectively.

Logically speaking, Zhu Lan should have consulted with Hong Yao beforehand.

But Zhu Lan's face already showed some displeasure. "Why do we have to discuss such trivial matters with her every time?"

She and Hongyao were rivals, and they often had to determine who was better.

"Are you listening to Hongyao or me?" Zhu Lan gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with the arrogance of someone spoiled. "Just do as I say, what are you arguing about!"

Having no other options, Chunying had no choice but to return to the flower hall to give a reply.

"Madam Shen, without the Second Master's instructions, we servants dared not accept the items without authorization..."

Xie Rutang clenched her handkerchief tightly. She had never wanted to see Pei Zhiheng in the first place, and her purpose in coming here was to break up with him.

She was terrified that Pei Zhiheng would disregard her feelings again and suddenly come to Cuiwu Courtyard to ask her to cook him a hangover soup. What did he take her for?

Xie Rutang bit her red lips lightly, hesitated for a moment, but still insisted, "It doesn't matter if I leave my things here... Second Master will know when he sees them after he returns to the manor. I will never set foot in Suxue Residence again."

Chunying felt a pang of pity; it was clearly a small matter, yet Sister Zhulan refused to make an exception. But this was not something she could decide on her own.

Upon hearing Xie Rutang's words, Zhu Lan, who was in the tea room, immediately lifted the embroidered curtain and came out.

She gave Xie Rutang a slight curtsy with an air of superiority, "Madam Shen, why make things difficult for us servants? These are the rules, and even if you are the Second Master's widowed sister-in-law, you cannot make an exception."

When Xie Rutang saw it was her, she knew that she was deliberately making things difficult and was just using this as an excuse to vent her anger. Her fair cheeks immediately flushed hot. Xie Rutang felt deeply embarrassed and humiliated, as if a thousand ants were gnawing at her heart, causing her unbearable pain.

Pei Zhiheng sent her to Suxue Residence to deliver clothes, yet his maidservant is behaving so disrespectfully!

Was he deliberately trying to humiliate her?

After her husband's death, Xie Rutang had become more sensitive. Now, she was insignificant and her voice carried little weight, not even as strong as a prominent maid in the Pei household...

Xie Rutang suppressed the tears welling up in her eyes. Under Zhu Lan's repeated provocations, her temper was suddenly aroused. She was not a clay Buddha.

She took out the jar of Jade Skin Cream that Hongyao had delivered two days ago from her sleeve.

What a terrible ointment! She doesn't want it anymore!

Does Pei Zhiheng give her something and she has to accept it?

Xie Rutang's refined, smoky eyes reddened as she placed the jar heavily on the table. Her tone remained noble and elegant, and her face showed no sign of vulnerability. "In that case, please tell Pei Zhiheng to stop trying to coax me with such worthless trinkets! Who cares!"

Shen Yuan has passed away, but that doesn't mean his maid can bully her at will!

This was a rare instance in Xie Rutang's life where he used foul language.

After saying that, her eyes reddened, she got up, hugged the brocade cloth, and left.

Pei Zhiheng doesn't want this dress. She can take it and do whatever she wants with it—cut it with scissors or burn it!

Xie Rutang's graceful figure vanished in the blink of an eye into the lush green courtyard, leaving only the abundant flowers and trees. The tea and pastries on the table remained untouched.

Xie Rutang suddenly lost her temper, which caught both of their maids off guard.

This Mrs. Shen usually appears gentle and quiet, but I never expected her to get angry and lose her temper.

Because Xie Rutang suddenly got up and left, neither of them realized what she had just said.

Chunying was the first to come to her senses and picked up the jar of Jade Skin Cream from the table. "What's this?"

Upon opening it, the ointment inside was untouched; the ointment was so smooth and almost transparent, and it faintly emitted a fragrance.

Zhu Lan glanced at it, clearly not taking it to heart, "Who knows."

Chunying paused, trying hard to recall, "But what Madam Shen meant just now was that this ointment seems to be related to the Second Master..."

Could it be that she misheard?

Zhu Lan rolled her eyes. "How could that be? You must have misheard."

Chunying still hesitated, but dared not refute it. After all, how could it possibly belong to the Second Master?

Zhu Lan still found it amusing: "What are you afraid of? So what if she throws a tantrum? She has a lowly status in the Shen family."

"Besides, we have Second Master. We are just following the rules. It was Madam Shen who shamelessly entered Su Xue Residence to try to give Second Master something. Don't worry, Second Master will definitely protect us."

……

Located on Zixuan Street, the Pei Mansion boasts towering vermilion walls stretching for hundreds of feet, making it the sole residence on the vast street. The Pei family has been officials for generations, enjoying a prestigious reputation.

At this moment, Pei Zhiheng was sitting in the waterside pavilion in the mansion, chatting with his birth mother, Old Madam Pei.

Madam Pei was once renowned as the most beautiful woman in the capital. Although she is now old, she is well-preserved and one can still vaguely see glimpses of her former charm.

Outside the pavilion, the water rippled, a gentle breeze carried the aroma of tea, and two maids served tea to the guests.

Madam Pei stroked her knees and said slowly, "You've stayed at the Shen family's for half a month. After a while, you should return to your own residence. Next month, there will be a palace banquet hosted by the Crown Princess. You should bring Miss Su with you to the banquet. It just so happens that you two are also getting engaged."

Pei Zhiheng didn't reply. Instead, he lightly pinched the thin-walled teacup with his fingertips. His wrist was strong and slender, and he let the green tea ripple in the bowl. The man's eyes were cold and handsome. When the breeze came to his sleeve, it seemed to stand still.

Looking at him, Madam Pei sighed softly, "Now, you should have let go of Qin Rong, shouldn't you?"

Pei Zhiheng lowered his gaze slightly and leaned back in his chair, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"I know Qin Rong has wronged you, but she has already married into the Crown Prince's palace. Miss Su is the fiancée she personally chose for you. I think you should be more accepting of her choice."

"Yuanzhi, Qinrong... she also hopes you can be happy."

The two were children whom Madam Pei had watched grow up together since they were little.

I thought my son and Yin Qinrong were a perfect match, and that they would become a couple in the future, but I never expected this...

Even Madam Pei felt regret back then.