Young widow in her boudoir

Xie Rutang's eyes were red at the corners, like crushed flower juice.

Unfortunately, Pei Zhiheng is drunk tonight, so she can't even get justice... let alone cry to anyone.

Her innocence is gone...

What's even more infuriating is that Pei Zhiheng still thinks she's secondhand, that she was touched by Shen Yuan.

She had long since lost her virginity, so even if he accidentally touched her while drunk, he wouldn't feel any sense of responsibility towards her; he was very pragmatic.

Xie Rutang submerged her face in the water, tears streaming down her face.

Fortunately, she stopped Pei Zhiheng in time before he took the final step tonight; she was still a virgin.

She never did that kind of thing with her deceased husband.

Therefore, when Pei Zhiheng pressed her hand down, she pulled her hand back because she was burned.

Xie Rutang closed her eyes, no longer wanting to recall the past.

After what happened tonight, she was so frightened by Pei Zhiheng that she only dared to wear white clothes. She dared not touch any light pink or light yellow clothes that were brighter than snow white.

She was terrified that Pei Zhiheng would grab her waist and pin her against a secluded corner again.

Even though she loved beauty, she dared not do it.

Xie Rutang gently instructed, "Put away all the brightly colored clothes in the wardrobe."

After taking a bath, she looked in the mirror. The thin snow dress clung to her curvaceous figure, making even a woman like her blush.

He recalled Pei Zhiheng's cold, mocking phoenix eyes.

Even she herself felt that she was too vulgar and tacky, unlike the refined ladies of the capital.

She sighed softly.

Xie Rutang also didn't want all the flesh to grow in that direction.

However, not wanting Pei Zhiheng to perceive her as "unladylike" any longer, she decided to bind her chest in the mansion and keep a low profile as a widow to avoid attracting unwanted attention...

The next morning, Jin Yue helped her to the dressing table to do her makeup.

Xie Rutang originally wanted to wear a pair of red agate earrings.

But remembering Pei Zhiheng's aloof and distant gaze at night, she finally lowered her eyes slightly and put on nothing today.

Widows have very few pieces of jewelry left to wear.

Now, at eighteen, she really has to live a dull and simple life like a woman in her thirties.

Jin Yue watched her mistress from the side, her eyes reddening with heartache. How could the Second Master be so cruel?

The lady is young, in the prime of her life.

Are you really going to dress her up as an old woman in her twilight years and let her slowly wither away in this Shen mansion...?

……

Pei Zhiheng returned to his study, his clothes damp with night dew. He sat in his armchair, still able to smell Xie Rutang's lingering scent on him.

With her eyes closed, all she could see was Xie Rutang's vulnerable state tonight, afraid to offend anyone. She was beautiful and radiant; even a simple hairpin couldn't diminish her allure.

Pei Zhiheng lowered his eyes, now confirming that Xie Rutang's scent was indeed attractive to him, and he didn't find it repulsive.

These past few days, Xie Rutang's frail figure has frequently appeared before his eyes, making his heart itch.

Today, after going out to socialize and drink with his superiors, he talked about criminal matters over drinks. When he returned home and saw her, he almost made a big mistake.

Pei Zhiheng closed his eyes, his peripheral vision cold.

Having been in charge of the Dali Temple for so long, if she hadn't appeared in the bamboo forest tonight, how could he have broken his twenty-year-long rule of celibacy?

Pei Zhiheng tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

Just then, a maid knocked on the door and brought in a bowl of soup.

"Madam brought the Second Master chicken soup an hour ago. The Old Madam noticed that the Second Master had been busy with official duties lately and had difficulty sleeping at night, so she specially asked Madam to simmer it over a low flame. It is the most nourishing soup."

"The old lady said that if you drink it in the afternoon, you should also drink a bowl before bed for the best effect."

Pei Zhiheng paused slightly as he picked up his pen to review official documents.

He felt a pang of guilt towards her; she had made him chicken soup that night, yet he had almost defiled her in the bamboo grove.

Pei Zhiheng's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

Perhaps out of a sense of guilt, he decided to take a few sips.

Just as he picked up the jade spoon and smelled the aroma, Pei Zhiheng didn't rush to drink it. Instead, he put the spoon down and asked, "What kind of soup is this?"

The maidservant stammered.

She blushed, a little afraid to look him in the eye, and said, "Second Master, this is deer antler and ginseng chicken soup..."

Pei Zhiheng's expression changed instantly.

Deer antler is a powerful tonic for virility, and its aphrodisiac properties are strong. It is often used in the bedroom as a private tonic.

Pei Zhiheng lowered his eyes.

Although Xie Rutang claimed that the gift was sent by the old lady, who knew whether it was actually sent by her or at the old lady's behest?

As a widow, how could she feel so empty and have such strong desires in her room?

Does she really need a child that badly?

Surprisingly, even after so much time has passed, she still hasn't given up on this idea.

Pei Zhiheng took a sip and put down the spoon, finding it utterly tasteless.

He stared at the bowl of chicken soup, then suddenly chuckled. It was cold.

He doesn't need to take medicine.

Pei Zhiheng: "Take it out, then pour it out."

The maid was too frightened to speak. She had never seen the Second Master's face look so bad before, and she kept saying yes.

He hid from Pei Zhiheng for two days.

It is said that when he went to the old lady, he refused her request to continue making chicken soup for him.

His voice was as clear and cool as the sound of jade striking jade. "Madam Xie has to manage household affairs, which is really hard work. From now on, I won't trouble her to bring me soup."

In short, she didn't catch his eye.

The old lady had originally held out hope that she would conceive Pei Zhiheng's child, but now that hope was completely shattered.

The old lady looked at her, her eyes wide with disappointment and frustration.

Xie Rutang pretended that nothing had happened and continued to serve her, massaging her shoulders with just the right amount of force, and then poured out the foot bath water.

Finally, he took out a small sachet from his sleeve, with a few mugwort leaves embroidered on the blue cloth.

Xie Rutang half-closed her eyelids. "There have been more mosquitoes in the mansion these past two days, so your daughter-in-law made a few mosquito-repellent sachets. Place one in your mother-in-law's room so she can sleep peacefully at night."

But the old lady was really annoyed by her today, so she said, "Alright, alright."

"It's all your fault for being useless; that's why Zhiheng has lost interest in you. Get lost! Just looking at you gives me a headache!"

They even lost a lot of money.

Xie Rutang simply smiled faintly.

Although the old lady still scolded her, she still served her kindly as before, without showing any resentment.

This way, she could gain a good reputation, and once the news spread, she could remarry. She wasn't stupid; she had her own selfish motives and used the Shen family as a stepping stone.

Now all the servants in the Shen household praise her, and her virtuous reputation will soon spread far and wide.

However, the old lady's wishful thinking was ultimately thwarted, and in her resentment, she took it out on her.

Suddenly, a teacup flew past her, smashing into pieces against the door frame behind her. The shards nearly hit her face, and Xie Rutang's eyes darkened.

"Mother, I know you're upset, but this isn't entirely my fault. Haven't you considered that it might be Second Master's fault?"

Jin Yue gasped in shock.

What is the lady saying?!

If the Second Master finds out...

Although Xie Rutang was also afraid, since Pei Zhiheng did not want to inherit the family line, it was not too much for her to ruin his reputation and thus lose the old lady's heart.

Who would have thought that this ancient ice block was actually a fledgling!

Pei Zhiheng might really be incapable.

Otherwise, how come he's already of age and doesn't even have a single concubine in his room?

Xie Rutang remained completely calm and composed.

The old lady's face changed upon hearing this.

Xie Rutang finally got her revenge for Pei Zhiheng's lewd behavior towards her in the bamboo forest.