Young widow in her boudoir

As dawn broke, a few birdsongs landed on the crabapple tree outside the window of the Green Wutong Courtyard.

The crape myrtle tree in the garden is usually tended by maids. When it is in full bloom, the petals on the ground are always swept away. Meanwhile, the grapevines outside the corridor have already climbed up with bunches of plump, green and purple fruits.

Before we knew it, it was the seventh day of the lunar month, the Qixi Festival.

Today, Xie Rutang discovered that her period had ended.

This means that she can have sex with him now.

Pei Zhiheng gave her the hibiscus hairpin with pendant beads, which she put away. Regardless of whether the man was using the hairpin to remember the Crown Princess, wearing it once was fine, but if she wore it more often, others would criticize her as a widow.

Today's Qixi Festival has nothing to do with Xie Rutang.

Xie Rutang sighed with emotion, recalling her unmarried days when she would go out to temple fairs and release lanterns with other women her age. Back then, she was in the prime of her youth and had not yet become a widow.

At dawn, the maids collected dew for her to wash her face, which was also a Qixi Festival custom. After washing, Xie Rutang's face became even more beautiful and delicate, as if it could be broken with a touch.

Xie Rutang wore a moon-white dark silk jacket over a lotus-colored green skirt. In the sweltering heat of July, a light blue gauze shirt was draped over her fair, jade-like arms. Since Shen Yuan left, Xie Rutang had lost all interest in beauty.

Both families celebrated Qixi Festival together, but since Second Master Pei was staying at the Shen family's residence, he spent the festival there this year.

By evening, everyone in the house and courtyard had swept the ground clean and poured spring water on the steps to dispel the summer heat. The night was cool, and the young women would wear their newly made clothes, filling the Shen residence with the lively atmosphere of the Qixi Festival.

Xie Rutang was unwilling to join in the fun. She had planned to spend her time alone in Cuiwu Courtyard, and asked Jinyue to set up a table under the corridor, light incense, and offer Qiaoguo (a type of pastry) to worship the Weaver Girl.

But she couldn't resist the fact that Gu Zhifei, the daughter-in-law of the Pei family, came to find her herself. Fearing that she would be lonely, Gu Zhifei lifted the curtain and entered. "Rutang, tonight all the women of the family have gone to the main garden to celebrate the Qixi Festival. It would be too cold and lonely for you to stay in this courtyard alone. Why don't you come with me to sit for a while? You don't have to force yourself to join the others in their merriment. Just relax and clear your head."

Knowing her concerns, Gu Zhifei came over and patted the back of her hand.

"There are many people in the garden, but not all of them are young men and women. You just stay with me and don't need to participate in those matchmaking games. Just enjoy the night view and have some snacks."

Xie Rutang had no choice but to go to the large garden with her.

Upon arriving at the garden, Xie Rutang saw Pei Xuannan reach out to brush the fallen flowers from Gu Zhifei's hair. The handsome man and beautiful woman seemed to have stepped out of a painting. Xie Rutang couldn't help but feel envious and secretly lonely. She hurriedly looked away, not wanting to think about it anymore, afraid that she would become sentimental again.

An incense table had been set up under the eaves, and the servants had already laid out Qiaoguo (a type of pastry), seasonal fruits, and two daughters-in-law had even laid out half-finished embroidery frames. The young women and girls prayed to the Weaver Girl to bless them with skillful hands and minds.

The vast garden was adorned with colorful lanterns, their vibrant lights swirling in the breeze.

Pei Zhiheng came over with Shen Wenyi.

But Xie Rutang was huddled together with the wives of noble families, and dared not look for his most refined and dignified figure among the men.

The moon had already risen, and then people began to worship the Weaver Girl. The younger sister-in-law, Shen Xiaoxiao, and the Pei family girl were praying for marriage, while women from noble families like Ye Wanyu and Gu Zhifei were praying for a happy marriage with their husbands and many children.

When it came to Xie Rutang's turn, people around her cast pitying glances.

With undivided attention, she lit incense and closed her eyes in prayer. She hoped for two things: first, that the Shen family and her loved ones would be safe and well; and second, that her deceased husband, Shen Yuan, had been reincarnated into a good family…

After worshipping the Weaver Girl, the women gathered under the eaves to thread needles under the moonlight.

Xie Rutang originally intended to just watch from the sidelines, but Gu Zhifei asked her to give it a try as well.

Just as she was about to decline, Gu Zhifei said, "I remember that among all of us wives, you have the best embroidery skills."

Xie Rutang had no choice but to step forward, take the colorful silk thread and seven silver needles from the maid, hold her breath and concentrate, and thread the needles by the moonlight.

With so many people watching, her hands were trembling at first, and the night wind made the colorful silk in her hands sway slightly. Eventually, she gradually calmed down.

The moon had risen high in the sky, and slowly, a single silk thread strung together seven silver needles, prompting the women around to gasp in amazement.

"I put it on! I put it on! How did you do that?"

Gu Zhifei stood to the side, her eyes smiling: "You've worn them all, Ru Tang, you've got a lucky break."

"It seems that the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family is a woman of skillful hands."

Xie Rutang was also very surprised. She had only tried it out, but she didn't expect to actually wear it.

Just as others were praising her for her skillful hands, Xie Rutang suddenly froze, realizing that there was someone else beside her.

Pei Zhiheng was standing right next to her, very close!

Pei Zhiheng wore a bamboo-green robe today. He always preferred green. Although it was his everyday clothes, it still made Shen Wen and Pei Xuannan beside him look like mere background figures. The moonlight shone on his eyebrows and eyes, but it couldn't melt away the cold snow between his brows.

Pei Zhiheng was also looking at her.

Xie Rutang's heart suddenly started pounding wildly. The other members of the Shen and Pei families were still nearby, but no one noticed that the Second Master was standing quite close to her, a widow, with the hem of his blue robe almost brushing against her soft skirt.

Her palms were sweating involuntarily; she was inexplicably nervous.

Perhaps it was because she had once possessed such a young and handsome man as Pei Zhiheng that she felt a strange, indescribable feeling in her heart.

After all, Pei Zhiheng was born into privilege and will be the future head of the Pei family, the powerful figure in the aristocratic clan. Even the Crown Princess still thinks highly of him.

...More importantly, the man's face is really pleasing to the eye.

Xie Rutang had to admit that Shen Yuan was not as handsome and outstanding as him.

Pei Zhiheng's gaze slid over her temple again. She wasn't wearing that jade hairpin today. The man's cold gaze withdrew without leaving a trace, his expression calm and undisturbed.

Shen Wen came with Master Pei, so he stood on the side watching and naturally saw Xie Rutang's clever move. As a man, he couldn't help but show his admiration.

Ye Wanyu, who was standing next to him, felt so angry that she wanted to gouge out his eyes.

As a widow of the Shen family, Xie Rutang was beautiful with slender shoulders and a graceful figure. Since she lost her husband early, other men would naturally pay more or less attention to her.

Moreover, Ye Wanyu and Xie Rutang are sisters-in-law, so comparisons are inevitable.

Comparing backgrounds, appearances, husbands and children...

Xie Rutang's overly charming appearance has always been Ye Wanyu's deepest resentment.

Xie Rutang married Shen Yuan, having entered the household before her.

After Ye Wanyu married into the family, she often heard the servants in the Shen family say that before she married into the family, her brother-in-law Shen Wen treated his sister-in-law Xie Rutang very well and with great respect.

Whenever Shen Yuan was unavailable, before Shen Wen entered officialdom, Shen Yuan would send Shen Wen to deliver Xie Rutang's favorite pastries. At that time, Xie Rutang was sick and craving something sweet, so Shen Wen had to run to Yunxianglou to bring back pastries for his sister-in-law.

Although these were ordered around by Shen Yuan and Shen Wen.

But Ye Wanyu felt uncomfortable after hearing this. In the quiet of the night, she always suspected that Shen Wen might have had feelings for his sister-in-law in the past, otherwise why would he be so attentive and do whatever she asked him to do?

Moreover, Xie Rutang was exceptionally beautiful, like a vixen.

What's more, Shen Wen helped Xie Rutang chase away a bee in the garden last time!

Are there no other strong male servants in the garden?

Why does he have to be so diligent and hardworking?

Thinking of this, Ye Wanyu gritted her teeth in hatred and smashed the vinegar jar again. However, she couldn't show it in front of everyone. She knew she would have a big fight with Shen Wen when she got back tonight!

After finishing threading the needle under the moonlight, Xie Rutang was pulled away by his wife Gu Zhifei to taste Qiaoguo (a type of pastry) at a long table, blending into the group of women.

Pei Zhiheng stood among the men. Perhaps Xie Rutang was too beautiful, causing many people to secretly stare at her. He glanced over indifferently as well.

Then you see Xie Rutang, dressed in a gentle and elegant dress, her vermilion lips holding a pomegranate-shaped pastry. The tiny pastry, no bigger than the palm of your hand, seems to have absorbed her fragrance. Xie Rutang is talking to her wives, her breath as delicate as orchids.

His eyes darkened, his throat tightened, and he felt inexplicably agitated.

After a busy day, Xie Rutang was finally able to return to Cuiwu Courtyard to rest.

However, her boudoir was once again visited by an uninvited guest.