Young widow in her boudoir

On a rainy day, the Pei residence was shrouded in a misty fog.

The Taihu stones were damp with water, and the lake surface shimmered with layers of water. Inside the mansion, the corridors meandered and twisted, and the vermilion pillars were soaked by the rain, making their color even deeper.

The Pei family members gathered in the main room of Pei's mother's house, including Pei Zhiheng, the eldest son who had returned from the Dali Temple.

Pei Zhiheng's grandmother, the Dowager Lady, was the legitimate daughter of Marquis Weirong, and held a noble status.

The matriarch, Madam Pei, and her father had only one direct descendant, Pei Zhiheng. The rest of the family were all Pei Zhiheng's uncles and cousins.

Although everyone lived in the same residence, their lives were clearly divided, with many interests intertwined, making it a delicate matter.

Who could blame them when the Pei family was so prominent, with so many noblemen in their ranks?

Pei Zhiheng, seated on his official chair, wore a red official robe that accentuated his handsome features, red lips, and white teeth, exuding an aloofness that kept people at a distance.

Inside the room, Su Yao, dressed in a smoky-colored brocade dress with a dark floral pattern, was talking with Pei's mother. But ever since Pei Zhiheng arrived, the young girl's heart had been in turmoil.

When Pei's mother looked up, she saw Su Yao's shy gaze fixed on Pei Zhiheng.

But what about Pei Zhiheng?

He didn't react at all, not even sparing the young girl a glance.

Still with that icy expression, he sat in his official hat chair, turning to speak with his cousins ​​from other branches of the family.

Pei's mother was so angry she almost fainted.

Pei Zhiheng's cousins ​​are mostly married and have children, some having two children in three years. Even his half-brothers all have several concubines and maids.

Pei Zhiheng used to be busy with the imperial examinations, but since His Majesty made an exception and allowed him to take charge of the Court of Judicial Review, he has lived a life of simplicity and detachment until now.

Pei's mother had a worry in her heart.

If he stays in the Dali Temple for a few more years, he'll be thirty!

She prayed to Buddha and Bodhisattva all day long, wishing that Pei Zhiheng would give her a son as soon as possible, even if his origins were unknown! But Pei Zhiheng didn't even go to brothels, which really drove her crazy.

Madam Pei then said, "I remember that Yao Niang's zither skills have improved quite a bit. It just so happens that Yuan Zhi is skilled at the zither. He was the one who compiled some of the zither scores in the palace. Since Yuan Zhi is here, why don't you play a refined piece and let him give you his critique?"

Soon two maids brought over a guqin (a seven-stringed zither).

Su Yao sat down, facing Pei Zhiheng, whose features were cold and handsome. She suppressed her nervousness, lowered her eyes, and shyly plucked the strings of her zither, finishing a piece.

Pei's mother gestured for him to hurry up, and Pei Zhiheng, unable to refuse, had no choice but to offer his comments.

"fine."

Su Yao's shy expression froze for a moment, and her fingertips tightened slightly.

Everyone in the Pei family present knew that Pei Zhiheng's words were just a compliment, something that was acceptable to hear.

If it weren't for considering Pei's mother's feelings, Pei Zhiheng would have frowned and left without hesitation, based solely on Su Yao's musical skills.

Madam Pei coughed lightly and said with a smile, "Yaoniang's skills are quite good. Yuanzhi, why don't you give her a few more pointers so that she can improve in the future?"

Pei Zhiheng remained silent.

The blush on Su Yao's face slowly faded, and she barely managed to maintain a dignified appearance as she curtsied to the man: "I have learned a lot."

But when she thought of the jewelry that Pei Zhiheng had bought for her at Qibaoge in the capital a few days ago, Su Yao felt a sense of relief and looked at Pei Zhiheng across from her with affection in her eyes.

It seems that Lord Pei is simply not good with words.

As a result, half a day passed, and it wasn't until Pei's mother wanted to take a nap that Pei Zhiheng served his mother at her bedside for a long time before bowing and taking his leave. He walked out of the main hall and into the courtyard where the rain was falling, but Pei Zhiheng still hadn't given her the hairpin!

Su Yao kept Pei's mother company while talking, and for a moment she gripped her handkerchief tightly.

But if the hairpin wasn't prepared for her, his fiancée, then... who exactly did Lord Pei intend to give that hairpin to?

As his fiancée, Su Yao would never allow him to keep another woman outside of marriage.

Su Yao silently clenched her fists.

She remembered that after Pei Zhiheng left the jewelry shop, he went straight to the Shen residence by carriage.

……

Because of the rumor that the butterfly was the spirit of her deceased husband, Xie Rutang was spared from household chores, including morning and evening greetings and setting rules, and was able to rest quietly in Cuiwu Courtyard for two days.

Having finally recovered from her illness, Shen Xiaoxiao's maid came to urge her again.

Helpless, Xie Rutang could only sit on the edge of the bed, take the plain silk handkerchief that Shen Xiaoxiao had given her, pick up the embroidery needle, and slowly embroider a few double-petaled crabapple blossoms on it.

Jin Yue stood watching from the side, and couldn't help but whisper, "Madam, your sister-in-law is really in a hurry. You've only just recovered; you can't afford to go through all this trouble. She wants the begonia pattern, but there are so many embroiderers in the manor! Why bother you to do it yourself?"

Xie Rutang paused slightly with her needle. "Shen Xiaoxiao specially sent it over, specifying that I should embroider it myself. She might not accept it if someone else embroidered it for her. But it's just a handkerchief, it won't take much effort, so never mind."

She was only doing it out of respect for her deceased husband.

Just as the crabapple blossom on the handkerchief was about to take shape, a commotion suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate!

In the blink of an eye, Tao Lü from Yun Yue Courtyard, the mistress of the house, led several rough-looking old women and stormed into Cui Wu Courtyard with great momentum.

Those old women were all broad-shouldered, thick-backed, with thick waists and round arms; they were clearly up to no good.

Tao Lu entered the room and curtsied to Xie Rutang. Her eyes and brows revealed the arrogance and domineering nature of a spoiled servant. "Madam, my mistress recently took stock of the storeroom's supplies and discovered that someone had secretly moved into the Shen family's storeroom. Several pieces of valuable jewelry have mysteriously disappeared. The mansion suspects a thief has broken in, which is why she ordered me to lead people to investigate each courtyard."

"What are you standing there for? Get started!"

Her widowed residence, Cuiwu Courtyard, was originally quiet and secluded. But after their search, an old woman accidentally knocked over a glass bottle on the shelf while passing by the Treasure Pavilion.

Xie Rutang sat by the bed, draped in her clothes, her delicate brows furrowed, quietly looking at the glass on the floor, her eyes filled with heartache.

This is her favorite vase.