Young widow in her boudoir

Seeing Pei Zhiheng's calm expression and focused gaze, he appeared spotless from head to toe, as if nothing in the world could disturb his mind.

As the person who knew him best, the old lady's heart sank deeper and deeper.

She glanced at the maids and servants standing in the room out of the corner of her eye. "All of you, get out!"

No one dared to linger. They lowered their voices and bowed as they withdrew, leaving only Rong Mama to serve her.

Pei Zhiheng was already sitting in his usual armchair. Granny Rong served him his usual Junshan Silver Needle tea. The tea leaves in the cup were the color of green bamboo, with a faint fragrance that seemed to waft like a fairy.

Xie Rutang looked at him with red eyes.

As a result, the man sitting in the high position didn't even glance at her, and was extremely indifferent.

Even though she was forced by her mother-in-law to have a child with a member of her clan, as long as she did not remarry and remained chaste for Shen Yuan for the rest of her life, the entire Shen family would be proud of her. If she was lucky, the government might even give her a plaque inscribed with "Her Chastity and Filial Piety Will Be Remembered" and erect a memorial arch for her chastity when she grew old.

And the "posthumous child" that was born could also carry on the lineage of Shen Yuan.

As a result, Pei Zhiheng's words ruined her plans.

She was torn between being thankful that Pei Zhiheng had come out to claim her clothes, saving her from being drowned, or lamenting that her reputation was now ruined...

Xie Rutang was filled with anger and sorrow. Her eyes were swollen like peaches from crying, and her skin was flushed and stained.

Her knees were already numb from kneeling, and her body swayed slightly.

Granny Rong exclaimed in surprise, "Young Madam!"

Xie Rutang, whose body was not yet fully recovered from her illness, could not withstand this severe blow and fainted from crying.

Granny Rong helped the unconscious woman to her feet and called out to the outside, "Quickly! The young mistress has fainted from crying! Help her out!"

Even though Pei Zhiheng appeared and spoke up for Xie Rutang.

The old lady still couldn't swallow her anger and said gruffly, "Even if she fainted, take her to the ancestral hall! When she wakes up, make her kneel as punishment again!"

In the blink of an eye, the unconscious Xie Rutang was helped out by the tightly sealed maid.

Only the old lady and Pei Zhiheng remained in the room, sitting face to face.

The old lady looked up at him, who was silent and reserved.

"Yuanzhi, what are you thinking? I asked Xie to borrow a seed from you back then, and you refused. Now I'm letting Shen Shuming sleep with her..."

Why did he become displeased instead?

Today, wave after wave of stress hit her, and it's a blessing she didn't faint!

The old lady took another deep breath: "When did you get involved with the Xie family?"

Pei Zhiheng remained silent, his posture stiff and upright, revealing no emotion, just as he had in his childhood.

"Tell me, what are you really thinking?"

Pei Zhiheng's face was as cold as jade. He raised his hand, grasped the tea lid, and gently flicked it, causing the porcelain cup to emit a clear, melodious sound.

He lowered his eyes, his expression indifferent, his voice low and slightly hoarse, "Since you found the child's clothes in Madam Shen's room, why not let me also inherit Yuan Cheng's household?"

"In this way, we haven't treated the Xie family unfairly."

He can give Xie Rutang a child.

The old lady was stunned, her burning gaze falling on his drooping brow bone.

The Shen family had long since declined, but the Tong family's Pei family was now very prominent. Because they had raised Pei Zhiheng as their own son since he was a child, Old Madam Shen had high hopes for him. Since Shen Yuan had died young, she wanted her daughter-in-law Xie Rutang to marry Pei Zhiheng.

In this way, the "posthumous child" in Xie Rutang's arms would have the bloodline of both the Shen and Pei families.

Because of this child, Pei Zhiheng's official career will soar, and he will definitely promote the Shen family, so that all the Shen family members will be protected.

I thought all hope was lost, but now things have taken a turn for the better...

The old lady gazed intently at the man before her. Pei Zhiheng suddenly changed his mind. Could it be that he had gradually let go of the Crown Princess in his heart?

Slowly, the old lady frowned again. Thinking of Xie Rutang's charming and gentle face, she thought to herself unhappily, "She really is a vixen who brings trouble to men everywhere. Even Yuan Zhi, who is usually the most virtuous and abstinent, has developed feelings for this married woman."

But if Xie Rutang were to actually marry a powerful and influential official like Pei Zhiheng, she wouldn't be happy about it, feeling it was a waste for her son.

The old lady was furious; she shouldn't have let Xie Rutang marry into the family in the first place.

Even if Xie Rutang truly has this good fortune, the old lady must still ensure that Xie Rutang establishes a proper order and behaves herself in the Shen family. She must not be allowed to lose her sense of propriety.

Even though Xie Rutang served Pei Zhiheng, her only husband was her son, Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan's memorial tablet in the ancestral hall was like the heavens, weighing heavily on his daughter-in-law Xie Rutang throughout his life.

The old lady suppressed her displeasure, her expression softening slightly as she smiled kindly again. "If you had agreed earlier, there wouldn't have been so much trouble later. Good, that's fine too. The Xie family asked you to conceive, and since you are the person Yuan Cheng trusts most, I feel more at ease..."

"If that's the case, then let's make this decision."

"From now on, I will entrust Yuan Cheng's wife to your care, and I will arrange for that Shen clan member to leave."

Pei Zhiheng did not respond.

He originally had no feelings for Xie Rutang, after all, he hadn't touched any of the concubines that Pei's mother had arranged for him before, and had them sent back.

He has always despised those hypocrites who are driven by lust and unable to control their lower bodies, as described in books.

As a result, after tasting Xie Rutang's flavor, he encountered that warm and soft jade and was so captivated by her beauty that he found it unforgettable. It turned out that he was no different from ordinary people in the world.

Besides, he had already seen Xie Rutang's scantily clad and alluring appearance, and being as picky and aloof as he was, he was not averse to her.

Back when Shen Yuan was still alive, whenever he came to the Shen residence, he would often see Xie Rutang with her cheeks slightly flushed, her body soft and delicate, her dignified figure exuding a faint tenderness. Her eyes sparkled with spring-like light, clearly having been well-nourished by her husband. No man could look at her without being moved.

Even a gentleman as aloof and upright as Pei Zhiheng couldn't help but glance at her from afar.

But at that time, Xie Rutang belonged to Shen Yuan. In her eyes, there was only her husband.

A man's heart is usually calm and still. Pei Zhiheng's dark eyes were like a still well. Even though he had agreed to take care of Shen Yuan's widow, his heart was never disturbed.

He has always been a man of few words, even as a child.

The old lady was already used to it, so she kept talking and muttering to herself.

The two were talking in the main room.

Suddenly, a cry of alarm came from outside the courtyard, and a maid in a light brown dress rushed in, still out of breath.

"Grandma, something terrible has happened! Madam has woken up in the ancestral hall and is threatening to kill herself!"