Young widow in her boudoir

Pei Zhiheng's words were blunt and cold, and he frowned, "From now on, you don't need to greet me when you see me in the manor. You should avoid suspicion."

Xie Rutang froze, the sensation of being touched by his fingers instantly turning cold, and the tender warmth that had arisen over the past few days was like being doused with cold water.

So he felt that when she met him in Shou'an Hall earlier, calling him "Second Master" was intentional and improper.

Xie Rutang almost laughed in exasperation.

Since they were constantly running into each other at the Shen family home, what was wrong with her calling him "Second Master" as before? It would be strange and suspicious if she didn't!

He felt she was restless and unruly, and that she might be after his position as Mrs. Pei.

But the fact that he said these words so coldly and harshly still made people feel embarrassed.

Xie Rutang unconsciously clenched her sleeves, her knuckles turning slightly white. The pearl pendant of the hibiscus hairpin at her temple drooped gently, no longer trembling as it had during their intimate moments.

After a long while, she slowly lowered her eyes, her voice revealing little emotion, "I have remembered what you mean, Second Master."

"Second Master, there's no need for further explanation. I understand all the implications. In the future, unless it's an extremely urgent matter, I will never rashly go to bother you, lest I implicate you and the Shen family."

She suppressed the lump in her throat, because of her pitifully small amount of self-esteem.

Most importantly, we must not damage his reputation.

He was an exceptional man, as radiant as the sun and moon, an unattainable being. How could he possibly let the world know that he had an affair with a widow?

She no longer wanted to defend herself.

Seeing her demure demeanor, Pei Zhiheng felt that she was well-behaved and sensible, and his cold expression softened slightly.

With societal norms and etiquette standing in his way, he couldn't give her a respectable status, so he could only use such cold and harsh words to draw a line between them, lest it lead to even greater trouble in the future.

Pei Zhiheng continued to kiss her, but she became increasingly uncomfortable and began to resist. She hated that the Second Master misunderstood her, and her slender fingers gripped his clothes tightly.

She was not the kind of woman he imagined at all, which meant that in his heart she was of low status and he did not respect himself.

Satisfied with the kiss, Pei Zhiheng used his fingertips to rub her earlobe.

"Pack your clothes, I'll take you somewhere."

As he spoke, Pei Zhiheng took her hand and led her to the backyard. He had already cleared away all the Shen family servants along the way.

He led her to the side, around a clump of banana trees, and into a narrow passage between two high walls.

Here, the green tiles and eaves, the dappled shadows of the trees, isolate the noise of people in front of the house, and at the end of the narrow alley, there is an inconspicuous green-canopied carriage.

After sitting down, Pei Zhiheng closed his eyes and remained silent.

Xie Rutang felt nervous and uneasy, wondering where he was taking her.

The carriage traveled straight ahead, entering a quiet alley in the north of the city, and finally came to a steady stop at the entrance of the alley outside the Ministry of Justice prison.

Pei Zhiheng opened his eyes, his gaze cold and unapproachable, the lustful look he had shown in the Cuiwu Courtyard completely gone.

He saw right through her thoughts, "I brought you here to see Xie Huai today. I've put in a good word with the prison guards, so I can make an exception and let you visit him for a short while."

Xie Rutang looked up in shock. She had never imagined that Pei Zhiheng would help her, let alone bring her here...

The words were spoken.

As expected, Pei Zhiheng saw the woman's eyes quickly redden.

A genuine expression of gratitude spread across her delicate and beautiful face, her eyes sparkling as they met his gaze.

Her pink lips couldn't hide her joy, and her delicate hands nervously gripped the hem of her skirt. Her voice was both sweet and charming, "Thank you, Second Master."

Pei Zhiheng then realized that she was so easily satisfied.

Seeing her lips pressed together in joy, Pei Zhiheng unconsciously rubbed his fingertips.

Xie Rutang's clothes were already soaked with tears. She suddenly didn't understand why the Second Master was being so nice to her.

She was really grateful, very grateful.

She hadn't seen her brother for a long time, and didn't know if he was alive or dead, or how he was doing.

"Go."

Pei Zhiheng withdrew his gaze, avoiding the tears in her eyes, and coldly instructed, "Time is limited, no need for further words, just comfort your brother. I will wait for you here."

He knew the prison was a cold and gloomy place, and that her loved ones had perished; she was filled with grief at that moment. Since she and Xie Huai had things to say, he deliberately gave her some space to be alone.

Xie Rutang slightly bent her knees and bowed respectfully to him before being led into the Ministry of Justice prison by the jailer.

A dark green cloak covered her thin body, and she only took off the hood when she saw Xie Huai through the heavy wooden fence.

Looking at the man inside the cell whose features resembled hers, Xie Huai, dressed in prison clothes, sat on the ground, his cheekbones slightly protruding from thinness.

She stepped forward and grasped the railing. "Brother!"

Xie Huai suddenly spotted his younger sister and stared at her for a while before confirming it was her. "Xiuxiu, what are you doing in a place like this?"

Tears welled up in Xie Rutang's eyes instantly. "It was Second Master Pei of the manor who secretly pulled strings to get permission to come in and see you."

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke, but she ultimately didn't tell Xie Huai the truth about her relationship with Pei Zhiheng, fearing that her brother would worry.

Xie Huai was arrogant and flamboyant in his youth, but after starting a family, he has long since tempered his sharpness and become calm and family-oriented.

Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, his first thought was of his wife and children at home: "Are Yan'er and the children doing well?"

Xie Rutang's shoulders trembled slightly as she cried. She quickly stopped sobbing, afraid of adding to Xie Huai's worries in his imprisonment. She could only say, "Sister-in-law and nephews are all well, don't worry about them."

Then, she recounted her encounter with Madam Wu at Chengxin Painting Shop, "Brother, it was Madam Wu who caused your imprisonment!"

To everyone's surprise, Xie Huai frowned upon hearing this and said that she was overthinking it.

"Wu Xuming is violent and narrow-minded. After marriage, he has always treated Xue'er coldly and harshly, and would humiliate her at the slightest provocation. That day, I happened to meet the two of them and saw him pushing and insulting his wife in public, showing no gentlemanly manners whatsoever."

Xie Huai's expression softened slightly. "Xiuxiu, are you overthinking this? Xue'er isn't that kind of person. I know her; she's kind and innocent. How could she possibly frame me?"

Xie Rutang was furious.

Before Kong Xueer got married, Xie Huai would empty his wallet to pay for her tears whenever she shed one.

Now, he is bewitched by Kong Xueer. She and her husband framed him and imprisoned him. He still thinks Kong Xueer is as wonderful as before, and he can even ignore the fact that his sister-in-law Xie Rutang and nephew are living frugally.

Xie Rutang was so angry that she didn't want to say another word to him. The thought that her brother was still so infatuated and stubborn made her feel choked up.

Enraged, she hardened her heart and said, "Brother, you'd rather believe Madam Wu's side of the story than your own sister. If that's the case, then you might as well divorce me! Why make me suffer this in vain, running around and spending all my money trying to save you!"

"If you still have even a shred of affection for Madam Wu, you might as well set your sister-in-law free and let her remarry a good man, so she won't be heartbroken when she finds out!"

Lin Yan is still young and beautiful.

Xie Huai was stunned, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed again, and his handsome and gentle face fell silent for a moment.

He never considered divorcing Lin Yan, even though he didn't love her.

The jailer urged impatiently from the side, "It's time to go."

Looking at her brother's haggard and handsome face, Xie Rutang felt extremely disappointed.

"Brother, I'll come to visit you again next time." After saying that, he put on his cloak, turned around, and left.

As soon as I stepped out of the cold stone gate of the prison, I looked up and saw that the Pei family's black and gold carriage was still parked there.

The guards stood tall and straight beside the car.

As Xie Rutang lifted her skirt and boarded the carriage, she smelled the sandalwood incense burning in the golden beast-shaped incense burner inside. It smelled like the cold pine trees on a snowy day, just like the man's cold and indifferent demeanor.

She looked up and met his cold, dark eyes.

Before the woman could react, Pei Zhiheng grabbed her wrist with a force that was neither too strong nor too weak, yet she couldn't break free. He pulled her in, and Xie Rutang fell into his lap, the pearl hairpin by her ear swaying slightly and hitting his face.

As she leaned closer, her soft, jet-black hair cascaded down his chest, and Pei Zhiheng smelled her fragrance again. She was so sweet and gentle.

The snow-white hem of his dress intertwined with the dark hem of his robe on the ground, the intense colors striking her eyes, both ambiguous and alluring.

Xie Rutang realized that she had just bumped her hand against something and dared not move, remaining frozen in place.

Pei Zhiheng grasped her chin again, his fingertips icy cold. "I introduced you to my brother today. How are you going to repay me?"

Xie Rutang's butterfly-like eyelashes trembled slightly. "What does Second Master wish me to do?"

His eyes darkened. "From now on, serve me well in the Shen family."

Looking at her delicate, pointed chin, Pei Zhiheng couldn't help but caress its smooth, soft texture, finding it irresistible.

If the woman is well served, he will pay off her brother's debts, protect her safety as a widow in the Shen residence, and properly settle her family.