Young widow in her boudoir

Pei Zhiheng's cold gaze swept over her slender waist, which seemed so delicate it could be grasped with one hand, before withdrawing and returning to her beautiful and serene face.

He still remembered the first time he met Xie Rutang; it was shortly after his brother Shen got married.

As a new bride, she was as bright and delicate as a spring flower, with tenderness and compassion in her eyes, like a white plum blossom placed in a Buddhist vase, or like Guanyin Bodhisattva.

The next day, she came to serve tea to her parents-in-law. She had changed into a gold-embroidered hibiscus jacket, and her fair face still had a blush of being loved. Her eyelashes trembled as if they were covered in dew.

She stood there obediently, trying her best to please everyone, playing the role of a daughter-in-law that everyone liked, serving tea and water.

With just one glance, Pei Zhiheng looked away.

At the time, he found her extremely boring.

On their first meeting, to showcase the bride's embroidery skills and sincerity.

Xie Rutang presented this second master with a bamboo-patterned sachet that he had embroidered himself.

Pei Zhiheng disliked the fact that it was tainted with her vulgar and seductive fragrance, so he casually tossed it into a chest in the storeroom.

It has never been opened again.

Yan Wenzhao continued, "You don't know, ever since Shen Yuan passed away and she became a widow, countless people have come to me indirectly, asking me to help them find out about her through you."

"Don't be surprised, many people covet Shen Yuan's wife. Even though she's a remarried woman, it doesn't matter. No wonder, she has a face that every man would want."

Pei Zhiheng glanced at the dignified figure in the distance, "Is that so?"

He then casually looked away.

……

Yan Wenzhao smiled, his eyes unreadable. "A man and a woman alone together, aren't you going to go check on them?"

If Xie Rutang really had something going on with someone else, it would damage the reputation of both the Shen and Pei families. If Xie Rutang were to commit adultery, what would become of the family?

Pei Zhiheng didn't speak. Did he really think he was that idle? Meddling in other people's business?

Perhaps the gaze from afar was too intimidating, Xie Rutang subconsciously turned around and saw Pei Zhiheng standing next to Yan Wenzhao. She gasped in fright and felt her scalp tingle.

She is now very afraid of him.

Who in the capital wasn't afraid of Pei Zhiheng, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? The common people privately said that he was like Yama, the King of Hell, and that his name could stop children from crying at night.

Even she was afraid of him.

Wasn't he going boating on the lake with Miss Su today?

How did I end up here?

Because Zhang Xiucai had arranged for his nephew to attend school, his sister-in-law's family was now left with only women and children, and no man to support the household. Zhang Qingci also brought some local produce with him.

Zhang Qingci's eyes were bright. He rubbed his head shyly and handed over the food box. "These are dumplings my mother made by hand, just a little something. There are also some fresh fruits from our own garden. If you don't mind, you can have them for your sister-in-law and the children to try..."

"Thank you." Xie Rutang felt very bad about it, so she personally escorted him to the door.

In addition, she wanted to know if the scholar had any connections that could help her redeem her brother.

Unexpectedly, Pei Zhiheng happened to witness this scene.

Xie Rutang nervously clutched her handkerchief.

However, not long after.

Pei Zhiheng then got into the car and left, as if he hadn't seen her and Zhang Qingci.

He handled numerous important cases daily, wielding immense power over criminal matters, and the lives of the powerful and corrupt officials were decided with a single stroke of his pen.

Xie Rutang lowered her eyes.

As expected, Pei Zhiheng showed no concern for her affairs.

He was a cold moon hanging high in the sky, how could he possibly lower his gaze to notice her, such an insignificant speck of dust?

Xie Rutang stared at the hem of her skirt.

Because of him, she no longer dared to wear light purple dresses, for fear that he would recall memories he shouldn't have.

Xie Rutang hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, "Brother Zhang, you have wide connections in the capital, I wonder... if you have any connections that could get my brother out of prison?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qingci's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, as if weighing something. Feeling a pang of pity, he whispered, "I'll inquire about this for you. Don't worry. I know a few people in the Ministry of Justice; perhaps they can be of help."

"Let me investigate the situation in prison and inquire about the amount of money and procedures required for my release. I will inform you as soon as I have any news, so please do not worry too much."

Hearing this, Xie Rutang felt a great weight lifted from her heart, and her eyes welled up slightly. "Then Rutang thanks Brother Zhang."

Xie Rutang has been a pampered young lady since childhood.

If he hadn't fallen on hard times and become a widow at home, he probably would never have had the chance to have a proper conversation with her in his entire life—a destiny he never dared to dream of before.

Zhang Qingci's ears turned slightly red.

He stared at the beautiful face so close to his eyes, holding his breath, feeling dizzy.

Who would have thought that the once-proud young lady of their county would fall to such a state? He used to be so good to her that he couldn't even afford to carry her shoes.

Zhang Qingci snapped out of his reverie, his expression softening. "We are from the same village and neighbors. Your brother's family is left with only women, children, and other vulnerable members. The little help we can offer is nothing to mention."

After saying that, he really took it to heart and spent several days running around taking care of things for her.

……

After seeing Zhang Qingci off, Xie Rutang was about to go back when he bumped into a few idle thugs at the entrance of a street alley.

The man in the lead squinted and looked her up and down, speaking in a frivolous and vulgar tone, and even whistled.

"Oh my, look at this young widow, she's so beautiful."

"Such a stunning beauty, all alone in an empty room every night, how lonely must you be? Why don't you come and keep us brothers company today, we'll make sure you're pampered and live a life of unbridled pleasure..."

Several people gathered around, laughing and joking.

In the blink of an eye, they had blocked all her escape routes.

The leader of the thugs rubbed his hands together and moved forward, grabbing her slender wrist and trying to take off her clothes.

His gaze was fixed on her face, and he refused to look away, his words becoming increasingly frivolous and unrestrained.

Xie Rutang subconsciously took a half step back. She struggled desperately, feeling nauseous and wanting to vomit, but unable to. A layer of cold sweat broke out on her back.

Xie Rutang's fingertips turned white from the force of her grip, and just as she was feeling desperate and helpless, a shout suddenly came from afar, abruptly interrupting the group's flirting.

"Outrageous! How dare they harass a woman in broad daylight near the Dali Temple!"

Xie Rutang's heart skipped a beat, and he saw two constables with sticks reprimanding the local thugs.

Behind him, Pei Zhiheng, dressed in a black official robe, stood at the alley entrance. His eyes were as cold as December snow, sharp enough to make one's skin ache, and his lips were pale red, clear and pure as ice and jade.

When I came over, I caught a glimpse of her beautiful eyes filled with tears, she looked frightened, and her exposed, snow-white shoulders trembled slightly, making her look incredibly endearing.

A light drizzle had just fallen, and the woman's clothes were soaked through; her whole body was trembling, her figure outlined.

Pei Zhiheng's gaze swept lightly over her body.

He watched coldly, his sharp, dark eyes showing not a trace of pity. Instead, he raised his chin impartially, and the constables behind him immediately stepped forward and quickly pinned the men to the ground.

A light tap of a stick on the shoulder terrified the group of thugs, who kowtowed and begged for mercy, their voices trembling uncontrollably.

"Sir, spare our lives! We were blind and foolish, we'll never dare to do it again!"

In the blink of an eye, the group was pushed, dragged, and taken back to the Dali Temple.

Pei Zhiheng didn't look at them again and had already turned and left, leaving Xie Rutang, disheveled, in the corner.

Xie Rutang leaned against the wall and slowly got up, looking at that aloof and independent figure, and couldn't help but think.

If it had been the talented Crown Princess who was just harassed by the thugs, he would surely have felt great pity for her.

It was the yamen runners who came over and found her a garment to drape over her shoulders.

"Madam Shen, we will escort you back to your residence."

I was almost assaulted by thugs today, and I'm still shaken.

After returning to her residence, Xie Rutang locked herself in her room and sat quietly for a long time, feeling deeply saddened.

In the quiet, empty room, with no one around, the pent-up grievances of many days could no longer be contained, and scalding tears rolled down silently.

Xie Rutang wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and rallied her spirits.

Xie Rutang had just returned to the Shen residence in the evening when she was summoned by Old Madam Shen.

The Second Master will stay at the Shen residence for another month.

The old lady said, "Zhiheng has lost some weight recently due to his investigations. Tomorrow, cook a bowl of chicken soup and personally deliver it to him."

Xie Rutang tightened her grip; this red date and shredded chicken soup was her husband's favorite thing when he was alive.

She could easily guess what the old lady was planning.