Young widow in her boudoir

The next day, Manager Yang sent word that all the paintings she had given away had been sold, and for quite a good price. Chengxin Painting Shop's business was recovering day by day.

Many people, having heard of Daolian Jushi's paintings, came to his door seeking to purchase his calligraphy and paintings.

Xie Rutang was also surprised. Her original intention was simply to protect the property left by her deceased husband and try her best to maintain it. She never dared to hope that she could gain such prestige.

She used to be protected by Shen Yuan, confined to the inner quarters all day, revolving around him all the time. Her husband sheltered her from everything, and she lived like a parasitic vine dependent on others.

When the devastating news of Shen Yuan's death arrived, Xie Rutang felt as if the sky had fallen and the earth had collapsed. She almost fainted from crying, fearing that she would not be able to live without a man to rely on. It was as if she could not live without a man.

But when she was pushed to the edge of a cliff and had nowhere to retreat, she could only grit her teeth and pick up her paintbrush again, only to realize that living alone was not as difficult as she had imagined.

She could have used her identity as Daolian Jushi to let the world know about her talent.

Jin Yue couldn't hide her joy. "Madam, many scholars and literati are inquiring about Dao Lian Jushi everywhere, all hoping to obtain a piece of his calligraphy!"

Xie Rutang felt much better, so today he painted at his desk. Plain Xuan paper was spread out, and next to it was a celadon water bowl and a dish of pigments containing azurite and ochre.

She picked up her brush and sketched a landscape painting, the light ink blending to depict distant mountains shrouded in mist. "Remember to tell Manager Yang that you must never reveal to outsiders that Daolian Jushi is me. I am a widowed woman, and if people find out that I am selling paintings for fame, I will inevitably be subject to rumors and slander, and I will be accused of disgracing my family. Ye Wanyu is already watching my every move, so I must not give anyone a handle to use against me."

Jin Yue's expression turned serious. "This servant understands. I will send someone to tell Manager Yang to keep his mouth shut and not to reveal the lady's true identity in the slightest."

Xie Rutang continued painting. After a moment of thought, he dipped his brush in a little indigo and carefully dotted the grass and trees in the crevices of the rocks.

Cuiwu Courtyard was quiet all day long. As a widow, Xie Rutang should keep a low profile, so she dismissed many servants and kept only her confidante Jinyue and two personal maids by her side. There was also a rough old woman in the courtyard to take care of cleaning and chores.

Although the Shen family outwardly treated her well, they secretly reduced her allowance as a widow in every way, leaving her penniless and unable to afford the finest ingredients. Although there was a small kitchen in Cuiwu Courtyard, it was rarely used. Jin Yue would only occasionally make soup for Xie Rutang, and yesterday she made a bowl of brown sugar water.

As soon as Shen Xiaoxiao, dressed in a pale yellow floral brocade dress, arrived, she saw Xie Rutang painting in the room again.

Her tone carried the undisguised disdain of a young lady from a sheltered family. As she entered, she said, "Sister-in-law, you're fiddling with those lousy paintings again. What's the point of all that effort? You might as well make me a couple more dresses."

The Shen family, where Master Pei is currently staying, presents her with an opportunity. Shen Xiaoxiao frequently dresses up and goes to Su Xue Ju, but Xie Rutang failed to embroider the phoenix-tail skirt for her last time, causing her to become angry and extremely displeased with Xie Rutang.

Xie Rutang stopped writing with his brush, and the ink spread out in a small spot on the rice paper.

Shen Xiaoxiao looked around and asked, "Sister-in-law, have you finished embroidering the begonia handkerchief I asked for?"

She urged him impatiently.

Xie Rutang gestured to Jin Yue with her eyes, signaling her to fetch the handkerchief. "Alright."

Shen Xiaoxiao asked her to embroider double-petaled crabapple blossoms, which was extremely hard on the eyes.

Shen Xiaoxiao looked at the handkerchief in her palm without saying a word of thanks, as if it was her duty to do so.

Shen Xiaoxiao carefully traced the double-petaled crabapple embroidery with her fingers. She tilted her head slightly, her dark eyes darting around, and said, "Sister-in-law, my mother has been urging me to practice my needlework diligently lately. She says I'm getting married soon, and if I'm not good at needlework, I won't be able to hold my head high in my husband's family. Do you have any ready-made handkerchief flower patterns here? I'll take them back and trace them to practice."

A very self-righteous tone.

Xie Rutang immediately knew what wicked idea she was plotting.

Although the old lady harbored resentment towards her, always feeling that she had caused Shen Yuan's death after marrying into the family, her exquisite embroidery skills and expertise in making sachets, coupled with her filial piety and frequent handmade handkerchiefs for her mother-in-law, led to the old lady's resentment towards her lessening after seeing the embroidered "Hundred Longevity" picture she had given back to the old lady.

Although the old lady was difficult to get along with and often criticized Xie Rutang, she still gave her some face in front of a distinguished guest like Madam Pei.

Xie Rutang's eyes remained indifferent as she immediately saw through her: "Little sister-in-law, are you trying to get flower patterns from me to take back to your second sister-in-law?"

With the old lady's birthday approaching, Xie Rutang guessed that Ye Wanyu had sent Shen Xiaoxiao to come to her to ask for something, hoping to get something for nothing!

Xie Rutang, who rarely got angry, was so angry that he sneered, "Fine, fine."

This is her sister-in-law who serves as a maid in the Shen family!

Seeing her smile so coldly, Shen Xiaoxiao felt uneasy and took a step back, not daring to look at her.

Shen Xiaoxiao's face darkened; she looked very unpleasant.

She didn't understand what was wrong with Xie Rutang lately. He used to be submissive, but since last time he actually dared to talk back to her!

Not only would her mother not find her a new female tutor, but she also wanted her to personally apologize to Xie Rutang. How could that be possible?

Xie Rutang was just a merchant's daughter; her own brother was still in jail, supposedly for offending the prefect!

And what is the identity of her second sister-in-law, Ye Wanyu?

She was a proper legitimate daughter from a scholarly family, of noble status, far superior to Xie Rutang, who came from a poor, remote village.

When Shen Yuan married Xie Rutang, Shen Xiaoxiao was already unhappy, feeling that it was shameful for her brother to marry such a sister-in-law. With Ye Wanyu secretly instigating her, a rift gradually grew between her and her brother Shen Yuan.

Little did she know that she had been angry with Shen Yuan and gone to the battlefield. Before they could reconcile, one day the devastating news of his death in battle suddenly arrived.

Therefore, how could Shen Xiaoxiao not hate Xie Rutang?

If it weren't for Xie Rutang, she wouldn't have had so many arguments with her own brother, leading to a rift between them before her death and the end of her life when she had no chance to apologize.

All the regret and grief were placed on Xie Rutang.

It's all her fault.

It's all her fault.

Shen Xiaoxiao's eyes gradually reddened.

Although Xie Rutang's words struck a nerve, and Shen Xiaoxiao's face flushed, she still refused to back down, maintaining her haughty demeanor. "I only came to borrow a few flower patterns from you, sister-in-law, and you're refusing me like this. You're truly short-sighted, so petty, unwilling to lend even a few pages of embroidery!"

Xie Rutang wasn't angry. Instead, she frowned coldly. "These flower patterns were all conceived, designed, and sketched by myself. You can't find them anywhere else. Why should I give them to Ye Wanyu for nothing?"

"Shen Xiaoxiao, you should explain yourself clearly. Am I your sister-in-law or Ye Wanyu? If your brother were alive, what do you think he would think if he saw you siding with outsiders like this? I wonder if he would feel heartbroken."

Xie Rutang's voice grew even colder, "Even if you complain to my mother-in-law, I will not back down. I want to see if the clan elders can judge this matter. Just because Shen Yuan is dead, does that mean you can bully me, a widow who is keeping her chastity?"

After saying that, she snatched the begonia handkerchief she had embroidered for two days back from her hand and refused to hand it back to Shen Xiaoxiao.