Young widow in her boudoir

She knew perfectly well that Pei Zhiheng didn't have those feelings for her.

However, under the old lady's tyranny, Xie Rutang still personally went to the kitchen the next day to make a bowl of chicken soup and sent it to Dali Temple.

Upon arriving at the government office, she introduced herself to the guards as a member of the Shen family, sent by the old lady to deliver some food to Lord Pei.

In a short while, they arrived at the office where Pei Zhiheng usually worked.

Before she even went inside, she heard soft, sweet laughter coming from within, and Xie Rutang paused in her tracks.

Inside the room, Pei Zhiheng was dressed in a blue robe with cloud patterns, yet his handsome and noble appearance was still undeniable.

Su Yao was also inside.

Xie Rutang was about to turn around and find a corner to hide in.

However, Pei Zhiheng noticed her presence immediately.

His pupils were dark and cold, and he glanced down at the food box beside her.

Xie Rutang wore a slightly worn white silk dress, her face was as smooth as jade, her hair was unadorned with pearls, and her figure was slender and dignified.

When Su Yao saw her, her eyes flickered slightly. She stepped forward and snatched the food box from her hand, her attitude noticeably more distant than last time. "Let me do it."

"Sister-in-law, you don't need to worry about it. Once I'm in the Pei household, I'll be in charge of taking care of Lord Pei's meals. I remember Lord Pei's tastes and habits. I'm afraid that if someone else takes care of them, it won't be thorough enough, and they might overstep their bounds."

He knew she was targeting him.

Xie Rutang paused slightly, thinking to herself, "Miss Su must have heard something."

Su Yao's smile remained on her face, but her eyes held a thin glint in them. "Sister-in-law, you should rest more now that you're widowed. Don't trouble yourself with these trivial matters."

Xie Rutang smiled, "Miss Su is right."

Seeing her compromise, Su Yao felt even more contempt for her weak nature.

She knew how high Pei's standards were. Xie Rutang was just pretty, but had no other redeeming qualities. She wasn't good enough to make Pei fall for her. Pei Zhiheng wasn't such a shallow person.

Su Yao's heart raced because of the information her informant had gathered at the Shen residence.

Is Pei Zhiheng really going to marry Xie Rutang? Isn't that reckless?

After serving the soup, Su Yao used the excuse that "she disturbed Lord Pei's peace and quiet" to drive Xie Rutang out.

Xie Rutang had no regrets. She never had any designs on Pei Zhiheng from beginning to end; she was only coerced by her mother-in-law.

Night falls at the Shen residence.

A bright moon hangs in the sky, and the bamboo forest is filled with the intermittent chirping of insects.

Xie Rutang lifted her skirt and walked slowly on the stone path when a pair of hands suddenly reached out silently from behind her. The large, calloused hands covered her lips tightly.

She suffers from night blindness.

At that moment, the lantern in her hand fell to the ground, and she was plunged into complete darkness. Boundless fear enveloped her, and she could no longer see.

Xie Rutang was about to scream when her mouth was covered.

She was pinned against the cold wall, and the man's hands, which were around her lower back, gradually grew hot.

Upon smelling the man's cool scent, Xie Rutang gasped, her anger rising to her head.

A strong smell of alcohol wafted from her neck.

Xie Rutang was slightly taken aback; he was drunk.

She remembered that the news of Crown Prince Li Guan and Crown Princess returning to the capital this morning had spread throughout the city.

"Be good."

Xie Rutang couldn't see it at all.

Suddenly, she felt a chill at her waist as Pei Zhiheng's long fingers naturally pulled away the silk sash from her waist.

The summer night was sweltering, and she was dressed in thin clothes, which could easily be peeled off.

All I could hear was my own heart pounding rapidly, drumming against my eardrums.

Xie Rutang was both annoyed and angry.

When Miss Su was present today, he was cold and indifferent, wishing he could sever all ties with me.

But after Miss Su left, he actually did this to himself!

He reeked of alcohol, his lips were icy cold, and he kissed her passionately. She could tell he was in a bad mood, as if he was venting, or perhaps reminiscing about another woman.

Xie Rutang was trembling with anger, and finally made up her mind to bite him hard on the shoulder.

Pei Zhiheng gasped for breath, winced in pain, and released his grip.

Those dark eyes, once filled with the color of wine, gradually regained their clarity, revealing a cold desolation like snow beneath.

Pei Zhiheng frowned when he saw it was her.

He then came to his senses, his hand emerging from her clothes, his expression returning to its usual indifference.

"Sorry, I'm drunk."

Xie Rutang was trembling with anger. Using the dim light of the lanterns on the ground, she quickly put on her clothes, not wanting to pay any attention to him at all.

But she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, wondering: who did he mistake her for just now, the Crown Princess?

So, his relationship with Miss Su was just an arranged marriage between prominent families.

Therefore, his desires and spirit are separate.

In a short while, Xie Rutang was dressed neatly by the rockery. She tidied up the stray hairs that he had kissed and messed up by her temples, and put the jade hairpin back in its original place.

But the corners of her eyes were still red.

Pei Zhiheng watched her for a long time.

"Are you dressed like that in the manor to seduce men?"

Xie Rutang was completely stumped by the question.

Her fingers, which were adjusting her clothes, froze.

She picked up the lantern again, glanced down at her clothes, and found nothing amiss.

Xie Rutang wore a light pink gauze shirt embroidered with jade butterflies, and a brocade skirt without a single embroidered flower.

Still a widow, she could only choose light and plain fabrics. This dress was the most inconspicuous item in her wardrobe.

Because of the heat of the summer night, she wore lighter clothing, but she was still dignified and proper. She only revealed a section of her slender white neck, without exposing any of her other skin.

So why would he think that way and say such a thing?

Xie Rutang's fingernails dug into her palms, causing a sharp pain.

Perhaps, Pei Zhiheng never even glanced at her.

Xie Rutang defended herself, swallowing her anger, "I feel that dressing like this is already behaving appropriately."

Pei Zhiheng's pupils were as deep as ink, his emotions unreadable. "Your clothes are too undignified and vulgar, which is why they aroused my desire."

Xie Rutang: ?

She really wanted to ask the Minister of Justice in front of her, "What's wrong with you?"

Her outfit today is not much different from what she used to wear at the mansion.

Why does he suddenly think she's seducing men today?

Why didn't he say that before!

Her husband died in battle, and her mother-in-law wished she could make Pei Zhiheng the head of the family to ease her longing for her son. How could she dare to offend him?

She will have to rely on him to survive in this mansion; otherwise, she will face great difficulties.

She clutched her sleeve, tears welling in her eyes, "Yes, Second Master is right, it's all my fault..."

"When I returned, I changed into this outfit."

Pei Zhiheng nodded, said no more, and walked away from the bamboo forest.

He had kissed her so passionately just now, but now he had returned to being an unattainable beauty.

After he left, Xie Rutang covered her chest, finally unable to suppress her emotions, and squatted down on the spot, crying.

Pei Zhiheng clearly wanted to marry Su Yao, yet he refused to inherit both families' fortunes. Why then did he do this to her, humiliating her like this...?

She cried for a long time in a daze before finally managing to return to Cuiwu Courtyard.

Xie Rutang submerged herself in the bathtub, the petals covering the surface of the water, the color of the roses making her body appear even more delicate and fair.

No matter how much she washed, she couldn't remove the red marks Pei Zhiheng left on her body, like his personal brand.