Young widow in her boudoir

His voice was deep and authoritative.

After saying that, he let go.

Pei Zhiheng brushed past her and entered Shou'an Hall.

Xie Rutang was left alone in the courtyard, her heart pounding as the man's subtle touch had caused her to pound rapidly.

It also let her know that she had a man she could rely on in the Shen family...

Xie Rutang paused for a moment, not daring to linger, and hurriedly left. Her white skirt swayed slightly like ripples, and her graceful figure made people stop and watch her go. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared into the end of the flower bushes.

Xie Rutang returned to Cuiwu Courtyard, but since she didn't know when the Second Master would arrive, she could only wait patiently, which was agonizing.

Since meeting Madam Wu, Kong Xueer, at Chengxin Painting Shop, Xie Rutang has secretly bribed the servants in Prefect Wu's mansion, attempting to find out what Kong Xueer does in her daily life, and then expose her slander of her own brother to the public.

Xie Rutang knew very well that Kong Xueer had her husband's family backing her up, and it would be extremely difficult to bring her down and give her brother Xie Huai justice.

Moreover, Xie Huai was unaware of Kong Xue'er's true nature, and she feared that Xie Huai would instead protect his beloved.

When Pei Zhiheng stepped into the Cuiwu Courtyard, he heard the sounds of birds and flowers, and even the voices of the maids were rarely heard.

The courtyard wasn't large, but the woman had kept it meticulously. A slightly worn plain bamboo curtain hung under the eaves. Instead of planting rich and expensive flowers and trees, she had planted a few tuberoses in the corner of the wall. Just from the arrangement of the courtyard, one could glimpse the owner's personality.

Pei Zhiheng had already entered the inner room when he saw Xie Rutang painting by the window. Her beautiful figure exuded a soft, graceful curve. She was so engrossed that she didn't even notice him coming over. The sunlight streamed into the room, casting a hazy, soft glow on her shoulders and neck.

Pei Zhiheng stood there quietly, without interrupting her.

She hurriedly put down her brush and curtsied, her eyes lowered, not daring to look directly at his face. "Second Master."

She paused.

"When did Second Master arrive?"

Why don't you call her?

Pei Zhiheng walked towards her, his black robe brushing against her pearl-embroidered shoes. Xie Rutang clearly saw the black jade pendant hanging from his waist, identical to the one worn by her deceased husband.

But now, as he steps into this room, the owner of this piece of black jade has become Second Master Pei Zhiheng.

Xie Rutang's expression was complex, with countless indescribable feelings.

Pei Zhiheng came over and glanced at her desk. "What are you doing?"

She went to open the window and let the painting dry. "When I have nothing to do, I paint in the room to pass the time."

Pei Zhiheng glanced at it, a rare hint of genuine amazement flashing across his deep eyes.

In his previous impression, Xie Rutang was just a widowed woman in the inner quarters of the house, but he never expected that she would have such talent.

Pei Zhiheng was well-versed in calligraphy and painting. With just a few glances, he could tell that the brushwork and composition were excellent. The ink tones on the painting were well-balanced, the arrangement of the rocks was spacious and orderly, and the brushstrokes subtly conveyed a sense of tranquility and solitude.

His gaze lingered on the paper for a moment before slowly returning to her temple, where he saw the same silver hairpin, simple and understated.

"Where's the hairpin I gave you last time?"

Xie Rutang obediently went to fetch it.

The man's tone remained unchanged, "Put it on and let me see."

Xie Rutang obediently put it on. Since it was a gift from him, she should try it on for him to see and reciprocate his kindness.

In the blink of an eye, she had it tucked into her hair. It was just a piece of jewelry, but it instantly gave her a touch of allure. The shimmering light of the pearls reflected on her face, making her chin appear more pointed, and her gentle eyes and brows added a touch of soft, graceful charm.

Pei Zhiheng's gaze lingered on her temples, and he was momentarily stunned. In the past, when he saw her, she was usually dressed simply, with few hairpins or ornaments, which made it difficult for him to look away.

They both knew his intentions, but neither of them said a word.

Xie Rutang's heart trembled slightly, but she still couldn't help but say, "Second Master, my period hasn't ended yet..."

The next moment, her chin was lifted, and then Pei Zhiheng's cold kiss landed on her.

She gasped inwardly, but after the previous two times, she had calmed down and let him kiss her and ask for her kisses.

Every time he placed a kiss on her neck, the hibiscus hairpin with dangling pearls at her temple would tremble slightly, the dangling pearls knocking against each other, creating a distinct, soft sound. His fingers were not idle either, as he untied her pearl clasp.

The sound made Xie Rutang feel so ashamed she wanted to die. She had never imagined that the hairpin he had given her would have such a use.

When Pei Zhiheng kissed her, he placed her on the table where she had just been painting. The black jade pendant at his waist occasionally fell onto her thigh, its coldness making her skin shiver.

His cold tongue plunged deep into her lips, kissing her until she felt numb and tingly. When he released her, Xie Rutang was already panting in his arms, her eyes red.

Xie Rutang felt weak all over in his arms from the kiss and couldn't help but ask a question she had always wanted to know.

"Second Master...why did you finally agree?"

Why her?

Xie Rutang was panting. He had clearly rejected her at first, looking down on her as a married woman, hadn't he?

Pei Zhiheng kissed the soft flesh of her neck again, his voice low and hoarse, undisguised and devoid of emotion.

"Because I crave your body."

These words exploded in Xie Rutang's mind like a thunderbolt. In an instant, her cheeks flushed red, her heart pounded rapidly with a bittersweet feeling, a mix of emotions swirling within her.

Pei Zhiheng initially disliked her because she had been married before, but in the end, he was still attracted to her body.

Pei Zhiheng lowered his eyes to gaze at her clear face. He had to admit that in his more than twenty years of life, she was the first woman to arouse his interest, and the only one whom even he could not understand and felt was a stranger.

Even though he felt contempt and disgust, could it be that he really didn't like those young and beautiful girls who were still unmarried, but instead preferred a married woman?

Is it really true that he can only feel something when he's with Xie Rutang?

Therefore, during this period, Pei Zhiheng was always in a state of inner turmoil with a sullen face. In the end, he could not overcome his desires, even though he had read extensively in classical Chinese literature.

So he agreed to borrow a seed from the Shen family woman. He regarded Xie Rutang as the source of his desire. Only by obtaining her could he dispel the enchantment and completely eliminate the lust that was affecting his clear mind.

Therefore, he made no attempt to hide his desire, and was even somewhat rough and ungentle towards her. His slender, bony fingers slipped inside her collar, teasing her.

He let her face flush with passion in broad daylight, while he remained cold and indifferent, his clothes as white as snow.

Anyway, she was a widow, and without a husband, he didn't have to marry her. No one would know that he and the widow had a past.

Pei Zhiheng did nothing, yet he teased her until she was so tired that she lay on the couch, her clothes already loose, revealing half of her fair skin.

He was already sitting on the tatami mat and had taken a sip of tea.

After finishing his tea, Pei Zhiheng put down his teacup with a soft thud. He spoke to her directly, his tone devoid of any warmth.

"From now on, unless there is an urgent matter, you must not go to Su Xue Ju on your own, nor should you go to Dali Temple to look for me. I do not want our relationship to fall into the eyes of others and cause controversy."

"I will come to Cuiwu Courtyard whenever I have free time."