Young widow in her boudoir

After walking for a while, Xie Rutang saw that the man's figure had already stepped onto the winding corridor and was heading deeper into the inner courtyard, never to look back again. Xie Rutang breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Given her current awkward position, she felt extremely reserved when she saw him, and was afraid of revealing something in front of others, making her very uneasy.

Seeing that her expression was a little off, Gu Zhifei patted her hand again and smiled as if it were nothing new. "Isn't my uncle terrifying?"

"Don't even mention you, even I, your own sister-in-law, couldn't help but feel intimidated when I saw his cold and stern face, let alone you, Shen Yuan's wife."

Pei Zhiheng and her husband Pei Xuannan looked somewhat alike, but Pei Zhiheng was younger and more handsome. His brows always held a melancholy that kept people at a distance. Gu Zhifei couldn't help but feel weak in the knees when she saw him.

She secretly sighed in her heart, thankful that she had married Pei Xuannan, who was gentle and considerate.

"It's strange, I've been married into the Pei family for two years, and he's already in his early twenties. He still hasn't settled down and started a family. Maybe things will get much better once my brother-in-law gets married. He'll then know how to cherish a woman."

It won't hurt.

Xie Rutang thought silently to herself, gently waving the round fan in her hand.

She didn't believe that a man of such high status would know how to cherish a woman, given his unrestrained brute force on the bed. Xie Rutang considered herself to be plump, but she still couldn't quite handle it.

Xie Rutang was still bothered by the man's warning last time. What made him think she was that kind of person? She didn't covet his looks or his power. What did the Second Master take her for?

But today, upon entering the deep courtyard of the Pei family mansion again, all I could see were carved railings and jade steps, pearl-beaded railings and brocade railings, multi-story buildings and pavilions. As the second master, Pei Zhiheng, who would inherit the Pei family business in the future, he was undoubtedly the most prominent figure.

Gu Zhifei had just escorted her to the main gate of the vermilion palace when she unexpectedly ran into Su Yao, who had disembarked from her carriage to visit Pei's mother.

Xie Rutang had not seen her for some time.

Now all the servants in the Pei household believe that Su Yao is the future Madam Pei, and they all obey her every word. Therefore, Su Yao, who is already aloof and beautiful, carries an air of arrogance.

Su Yao came over after hearing that Pei Zhiheng had returned to the Pei residence.

Gu Zhifei was taken aback for a moment, then smiled meaningfully and said, "Miss Su is here again."

Su Yao listened to her teasing with composure and grace; her bright and playful eyes were the kind that any man would find attractive.

The Su family and the Pei family were related by marriage, so Su Yao often came to visit Pei's mother. The reason was legitimate, and no one would criticize her.

Su Yao's gaze fell on Xie Rutang, and she paused for a moment. She still had a lingering doubt in her heart: whether the hairpin Pei Zhiheng bought at Qibao Pavilion last time was actually given to Xie Rutang.

But she subconsciously rejected it in her mind.

Will not.

Lord Pei wouldn't be that kind of person.

He is as pure as bamboo and as refined as jade, transcending worldly concerns, and naturally would not defile himself in such a way.

In just a moment, Su Yao subtly shifted her gaze away.

Since she was already the daughter-in-law chosen by Pei's mother, her status was undeniable. Ordinary people simply couldn't catch her eye, so why would she waste her energy arguing with and getting entangled with those women who were not respectable enough to be considered respectable?

Especially for someone like Xie Rutang who has been married before, it would only lower her status.

Su Yao withdrew her gaze, took a few graceful steps, exchanged a few words with Gu Zhifei, and then entered the mansion gate with elegant bearing.

After she left, Gu Zhifei frowned. "My uncle's fiancée is really arrogant. Although she is spoiled, she is very tactful when you talk to her."

"Su Yao is still young, but her mind is so deep. Her bright, grape-like eyes are already sizing people up and starting to scheme. If I really let her marry into the family, the Pei family will probably be in even more trouble than I am with such a sister-in-law."

As Gu Zhifei spoke, she didn't notice that Xie Rutang's expression was somewhat absent-minded.

Before getting into the sedan chair, Xie Rutang bid farewell to Gu Zhifei. Following etiquette, Xie Rutang also invited Gu Zhifei to visit the Shen residence another day.

Gu Zhifei smiled slightly, clearly much closer to her. "I will go. I was just fortunate enough to receive your guidance on double-sided embroidery techniques, but unfortunately, time was short and I only learned half of it. I haven't fully grasped many of the tricks yet."

After seeing her off, Gu Zhifei turned back to her residence.

……

Pei Xuannan, the eldest son of the Pei family, was Pei Zhiheng's cousin. He was reading in the study at the moment, with his beautiful concubine, You Shi, serving him by grinding ink. It was a lovely scene with a beautiful woman by his side, but Pei Zhiheng's arrival broke the tranquility.

Pei Zhiheng had just arrived and was sitting in a rosewood chair opposite the desk.

Pei Xuannan had no choice but to serve him fine tea. Madam You could only straighten her clothes, blush, and bow to Pei Zhiheng, calling him "Second Master" before leaving.

Pei Xuannan showed no embarrassment at being caught. His personality was somewhat similar to Pei Zhiheng's, leaning towards coldness and sternness. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and was handsome and upright. "What made you think of coming here?"

"By the way, it seems you've stayed at the Pei residence for far too long this time."

If you count the time, it's been almost a month.

Even if the two families are close relatives, and Pei Zhiheng is like Madam Shen's own son, it's not like he would stay here for so long. This is really not like Pei Zhiheng's personality.

Seeing that Pei Zhiheng remained silent, playing with the fine black jade at his waist.

After a while, Pei Zhiheng asked, "Was that woman just now the concubine that my sister-in-law was preparing for my brother?"

Pei Xuannan remained silent for a long time, then said in a low voice, "I was unwilling, but she insisted, so I had no choice but to agree. Perhaps your sister-in-law never cared about me at all."

"Did you see your cousin-in-law when you came over?"

Pei Zhiheng said he met Xie Rutang in the corridor in front of the mansion, but he didn't mention that he had met Xie Rutang.

Pei Xuannan personally brewed tea for him. He was dressed in a brocade royal blue casual robe, the cuffs rolled up to his wrists, his fingertips long and clean. He took the set of Ru kiln teaware with ice patterns and asked, "Are you avoiding Miss Su again?"

Pei Zhiheng's expression was icy, and upon hearing this, he raised his hand and wearily rubbed his temples.

He had just gone to his mother's room when his mother questioned him, "Yaoniang said that you went to Qibaoge a few days ago to buy a jade hairpin with dangling pearls. I originally thought you bought it for Yaoniang to win her heart, but Yaoniang said that you didn't give it to her at all, and the jade hairpin has disappeared without a trace."

"Tell me properly, which woman did you give that hairpin to? Do you know how heartbroken Yao Niang was..."

Pei Zhiheng had no other choice but to come to Pei Xuannan.

Hearing Pei Zhiheng's words, Pei Xuannan realized that Su Yao had come today to complain to Pei Zhiheng's mother.

Pei Xuannan naturally didn't believe that Pei Zhiheng was keeping a woman outside. Didn't he know what kind of person Pei Zhiheng was?

He pushed a cup of fragrant tea in front of Pei Zhiheng. "Speak, what brings you here to see me?"

Pei Zhiheng cut to the chase, asking, "Brother, do you have any ointment here that women apply after sexual intercourse?"

Pei Xuannan and Gu Zhifei have a deep affection for each other. After two years, they are still as loving as ever. They naturally have many happy moments together, otherwise their relationship would not be so good.

Pei Zhiheng was unwilling to ask the Pei family's physician for it, which would surely reach Pei's mother's mouth and cause trouble.

Pei Xuannan frowned slightly, genuinely surprised, but being a seasoned veteran of the world, he quickly composed himself and regained his composure. "Yes, I do have some, but who do you intend to use it for?"

Pei Zhiheng remained silent.

Even though he didn't say it, Pei Xuannan, who was much older than him, naturally guessed it. Pei Zhiheng was currently discussing marriage with the Su family. He had never had a concubine in his room, so who else could he have? Naturally, he would have given her to a woman outside!