Young widow in her boudoir

"That guest is very mysterious. He looks like he's either very rich or very noble. Every time he comes to our painting shop, he sends his servants with him."

"That servant was literate and dressed in silk. He was exceptionally cautious and wary. A few days ago, I casually struck up a conversation with him, but he seemed afraid that I would inquire about his master's background. After a short while, his face darkened, and seeing this, I dared not say anything more."

"The painting 'Lotus in the Rain and Water Lily' that the lady painstakingly created last time was bought by his master."

Manager Yang kept rambling on and on, and although Xie Rutang was slightly surprised, she didn't take it to heart.

This was an affirmation of her talent from others, and a slight joy inevitably welled up in her heart. However, she had always known how to restrain herself and never indulged in it. She knew in her heart that although the painting shop had seen some improvement in the past few days, and Manager Yang had praised her paintings, it was far from a time when she could breathe a sigh of relief. Selling one painting did not mean that the next one would sell as well.

She still had many things to do, such as managing the painting shop left by her late husband. Every little thing involved paying the wages of the elderly people in the shop on time and purchasing paper and paints monthly. Each and every item cost money.

Xie Rutang took out several paintings she had brought this time, and unfurled her recent masterpiece, "Osmanthus Dew and Chrysanthemum Frost," and asked Manager Yang to place it in the most conspicuous place in the main hall of the painting shop so that all passing customers could see it at a glance.

The painting captures the essence of autumn, with golden osmanthus blossoms glistening with dew and chrysanthemums embracing their branches. The colors are cool and elegant yet not desolate, and the delicate brushstrokes convey a sense of crisp, clear air.

Manager Yang unfolded the book and examined it for a moment, then secretly inhaled, his eyes revealing amazement.

The woman's delicate and graceful charm was evident, all executed in one smooth motion. Yet, it was perfectly acceptable, as outsiders had no idea whether the Lotus Hermit was male or female.

He dared not say more, and took the painting to the main hall. He personally took down a landscape painting that had been hanging there and carefully hung "Osmanthus Dew and Chrysanthemum Frost" in the center of the entrance.

Despite being the owner of the painting shop, Xie Rutang never showed his face in the main hall.

There are very few women in the world who are exceptionally talented. Most talented women can only be married into aristocratic families to become the matriarch, managing household affairs and confined to the inner chambers of their homes.

Furthermore, most literati are aloof and arrogant. If they knew that the Daolian Jushi they admired was actually a woman, they would probably turn against her, become enraged, and unite to attack her.

Women have always been barred from entering the literary world, and throughout the centuries, only a handful of women have managed to leave their mark on history.

After giving a few more instructions at Chengxin Painting Shop, Xie Rutang wanted to put her veil back on, go out through the back door, board the carriage, and quietly visit her sister-in-law Lin Yan.

Just then, a pink-curtained carriage stopped in front of Chengxin Painting Shop.

Slowly, a maid helped a woman of striking appearance out of the carriage and into the painting shop.

Xie Rutang was painting inside, separated by a screen.

Then a soft, delicate female voice came from the main hall, and it sounded somewhat familiar.

She was a lady from a prominent family. As she selected the calligraphy and paintings, her voice choked with emotion, every word filled with grievance. "I've known Lord Xie since we were young, and I thought we were both doing well after all these years apart. Who knew that after he came to the capital, he would bring up the old issues again and argue with my husband in public, leaving me in a difficult position, suffering all the gossip and criticism from others..."

Xie Rutang froze, peering out through the gap in the screen, and sure enough, it was Kong Xueer.

She was Wu Xuming's wife. Back then, her elder brother Xie Huai had a physical altercation with Wu Xuming. The Wu family was powerful and had deep roots in the capital, which turned a small matter into Xie Huai's current imprisonment.

Xie Huai and Kong Xueer were childhood sweethearts, inseparable since they were little, and had even been engaged at a young age.

However, life is unpredictable. Several years ago, Kong Xueer came to her brother's door in person, tearfully telling him that she was being forced by her parents to marry Wu Xuming, the son of the prefect of the capital.

Xie Huai was heartbroken and utterly powerless. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as his beloved went to another, and they were separated by mountains and rivers from then on.

Xie Rutang, his younger sister, had seen him drunk and crying at night. When they were little, she often played and frolicked with her brother and Miss Kong.

This year, Xie Huai moved his family to Beijing, and during a chance walk down the street, he unexpectedly reunited with Kong Xueer, whom he hadn't seen for many years. However, his own brother, out of jealousy, got into a fight with Wu Xuming.

Xie Rutang clenched her fists. She simply couldn't believe her brother could be that kind of person. Even when Pei Zhiheng told her, she didn't believe it either...

However, she knew that her brother was still deeply in love with Kong Xueer, and even she herself felt uncertain about the situation.

Kong Xueer's personal maid was speaking up for her mistress.

"Madam is far too kind! It's clearly that Lord Xie, still clinging to old feelings and indulging in wishful thinking, who, seeing your current wealth and status, became jealous and deliberately provoked trouble. His imprisonment is entirely his own fault, yet he drags you down with him, bringing you endless gossip!"

Perhaps because the painting shop was quiet and deserted, Kong Xueer, dressed in splendid clothes, gradually relaxed.

She spoke calmly, "The engagement was called off not because my parents forced me, but because I myself did not want to marry Xie Huai."

Xie Rutang's heart skipped a beat, and she froze behind the screen.

The woman chuckled softly, reaching out to stroke the landscape painting on the wall. Her voice was devoid of any remorse. "Xie Huai comes from a poor family. Although his career has improved somewhat, his family's wealth is still meager. He has worked diligently his whole life, and at most, he can only become an ordinary official. But the Wu family is different. If I marry into the Wu family, I can enjoy wealth and honor."

The woman sighed softly again, "Why should I stay with Xie Huai, whose future is bleak, and waste my best years? It was I who took the initiative to dislike his poverty and broke the marriage agreement to deceive him."

"But he still firmly believes that I had no choice back then. Two months ago, we bumped into each other on the street. He only saw my husband and got angry, so he pushed me and shoved me against the wall. He then concluded that my husband was violent and mistreated me after marriage. In a moment of impulse, he went up to argue and fight..."

"I was afraid that Xie Huai would one day find out in the capital that I had deliberately broken the marriage agreement, ruining my reputation. So I whispered in my husband's ear and asked his father to arrest Xie Huai and imprison him, and personally convict him..."

Xie Rutang's eyes turned slightly red, and her blood rushed to the top of her head.

Just as she was about to get up and push open the door to the private room next door, she stopped herself.

Otherwise, Kong Xueer will only become more wary and collude with Wu Xuming, making her brother's situation in prison even more difficult.

Kong Xueer, who was outside, finally chose two paintings, then left the painting shop, got into her carriage, and sped away.

After she left, Xie Rutang went back to her sister-in-law's house.

Lin Yan, who was butchering a chicken, quickly wiped her hands and came over when she saw her. Her once delicate face had lost its radiance due to the changes in her family, and the back of her hands was rough. "Ru Tang, why are you here? You're still a widow. If your mother-in-law finds out, she'll definitely scold you. You should go back right away!"

Lin Yan knew how difficult it was for her, and that she struggled to even protect herself in the Shen family, so she never dared to bother her again.

Xie Rutang gave her all the money she had earned from selling paintings recently. She looked up at her sister-in-law's haggard and weathered face, and after several hesitations, she swallowed back the words about meeting Madam Wu at the painting shop that day.

Her brother got into a fight because of Kong Xueer; he still couldn't forget his childhood sweetheart, and she was afraid her sister-in-law would be upset.

Xie Rutang hesitated to speak, but if she didn't, it would be as if she and her brother were deceiving their sister-in-law.

Xie Rutang was struggling internally.