Young widow in her boudoir

On the night of the first day of the lunar new year, everyone in the mansion gathered in the main hall for dinner. It was unusually quiet all around. Xie Rutang found a corner in Cuiwu Courtyard and quietly burned paper money for her deceased husband.

The paper money shrank and charred when it came into contact with fire. Xie Rutang looked at the firelight as if he were talking to Shen Yuan when he was still alive.

"My mother-in-law still sets rules for me. Since you left, she has been treating me harsher every day. But I don't resent her. My mother-in-law is grieving the loss of her beloved son and has nowhere to vent her pain. It is only right that I suffer some grievances."

"I listened to you, ate well, and took good care of myself."

"My mother-in-law recently found me a relative named Shen Shuming. He is a refined and cultured scholar, just like you, and he looks somewhat like you. However, I have started my period these past few days, so I cannot have him come to my room."

Xie Rutang picked up a piece of paper money, raised her hand and gently placed it into the fire. The faint firelight reflected her gentle and elegant eyebrows and eyes.

The woman's voice was initially kind and understanding, but gradually her eyes reddened and her words became resentful.

"Why did you leave so early, leaving me all alone? Everyone in the manor bullies me. I almost couldn't take it anymore and was about to have an affair with that Young Master Shen! Yuan Cheng, if you resent me and feel sorry for me, then come back and see me, okay...?"

At this moment, her pale fingertips paused.

In the end, she didn't tell Shen Yuan about her relationship with Pei Zhiheng.

Anyway, it's all in the past.

"Besides my brother and sister-in-law, you were the only person in the world who was the best to me. After you left, I kept your clothes and the pillowcase you used. I couldn't bear to bury you. I would take them out when I missed you. But it's been two months since you left, and your scent on them is getting fainter and fainter. I can hardly smell it anymore..."

"These days, I can't help but recall the first time we met. You'll never know until your death that I deliberately approached you and intentionally seduced you. But your character was so good, and over time, I eventually fell in love with you, warmed by your pure and noble nature. Tell me... isn't this God's retribution for me?"

Xie Rutang murmured, "Yuancheng, if you truly have a spirit, then appear in my dream. At least let me know if you resent my decision. If you do, then go find your mother; she forced me to have a child born after my death..."

After saying so much, there was no response in the dark and lonely night, only the firelight and the cold wind blowing by.

After saying this, the woman's long-suppressed emotions collapsed. Two months after Shen Yuan left, Xie Rutang could no longer hold back her tears and could only bury her head and sob softly.

The night wind whistled through the branches in the backyard. Jin Yue, standing under the pomegranate tree in the corner, felt a pang of heartache and silently covered her face with her sleeve.

When the master married his wife, which woman in the capital didn't envy her?

In the dead of winter, Shen Yuan personally pulled Xie Rutang's clothes tighter. When the man returned home from court and saw his wife waiting at the door, he warmed her hands by tucking them into his sleeves and led her back into the house. When he went on official business to other provinces, he would bring back jewels, rouge, and local products collected from various places.

When Xie Rutang was crying so hard she was about to faint, Jin Yue helped her up and took her back to the house. She then buried the ashes under the flowers and trees by the wall, leaving no trace.

……

At night, Xie Rutang burned paper money in the courtyard to pay respects to her deceased husband. She was already in poor health, and the night wind further affected her, causing her to develop a high fever in the middle of the night.

As daylight approached, the fever gradually subsided, but the herbal medicine still had to be continued.

Xie Rutang lay on the daybed, holding a medicine cup in his hand. Just as he was about to swallow the bitter medicine, his gaze inadvertently fell to the window and he saw a rare pale blue butterfly resting on the carved window.

Her eyes suddenly reddened.

She thought that perhaps Shen Yuan really had come to visit her.

On the day Xie Rutang first met Shen Yuan at Xuanlu Mountain, Shen Yuan was wearing a sky-blue round-necked robe.

The woman's voice was very soft, "Is that you?"

Upon hearing this, the butterfly slowly opened its wings, and the sunlight shone on its thin wings, creating a dappled, colorful glow.

The butterflies on the window frame seemed to understand human nature, lingering there, reluctant to fly away.

Xie Rutang burst into tears again, nearly breaking the medicine bowl.

The news quickly spread throughout the Shen family mansion, and everyone in the mansion was talking about it in private. They all said that Shen Yuan missed his deceased wife and couldn't bear to part with her, so he turned into a butterfly to visit her.

Even when the old lady of Shou'an Hall heard about this, her usually sharp and mean face was unusually lost in thought for a long time. When Xie Rutang dragged her sick body to pay her respects, the old lady was unusually kind to her and her tone was no longer so harsh.

"Since you are unwell, you don't need to come to my side to serve you for the next two days. However, there is one thing: you must hurry up and have children, so that Yuan Cheng can rest easy in heaven..."

Xie Rutang pursed her lips and said, "Yes."

The news that Grandpa Shen Yuan had transformed into a butterfly naturally reached Su Xue Ju.

Within the Su Xue Ju Garden, winding paths lead to secluded spots, with vines entwining the stones. Under the blazing sun, the verdant greenery is shrouded in mist. Chun Ying and Zhu Lan are sitting under the eaves, making knots.

Upon hearing what had happened at Cuiwu Courtyard that day, Chunying said, "Master and Madam are truly loving and affectionate. It's said that the butterfly is still sitting in the courtyard and won't fly away..."

Zhu Lan laughed mockingly and remained silent.

Everyone else thought Xie Rutang was well-behaved and virtuous, but only she knew that Xie Rutang had somehow obtained a box of Jade Skin Cream from the Second Master. Unable to bear the loneliness in the inner courtyard, she actually wanted to use it to get close to the Second Master.

Fortunately, she exposed Madam Shen's true colors.

I don't know if Xie Rutang thinks that way, or if she's just naturally dissolute! Her second master is Shen Yuan's good friend!

The two grew up together, sharing food, clothing, and housing, and were as close as brothers.

Pei Zhiheng is a man of lofty character and noble integrity, a rare and precious person, far beyond the reach of a woman who has already been married.

His friend's wife was even more forbidden to be touched; the Second Master always adhered to rules and etiquette, and his mind was as clear as still water.

……

Before he had fully recovered, Xie Rutang was summoned again by the Dali Temple because of Zhang's mother's case.

July is a rainy month, and today it's been raining continuously, with the sky hanging very low.

Raindrops pierced the eaves and fell along the pillars of the Dali Temple. Xie Rutang stepped down from the carriage, opened a blue oil-paper umbrella, and stood alone in the rain.

When Yan Wenzhao arrived, he saw Xie Rutang sitting alone in the room, the sunlight through the window dim.

The light blue jacket with white floral print that she was wearing was noticeably looser, probably because she had been missing her deceased husband and had difficulty eating, causing her to become increasingly thin and frail, like a willow branch swaying in the wind.

Even Yan Wenzhao, who had no particular feelings for her, couldn't help but feel pity for the woman upon seeing her.

After Yan Wenzhao entered, he coughed lightly. "I am Yan Wenzhao, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review. You must be Madam Shen, Lord Pei's widowed sister-in-law?"

Upon seeing this, Xie Rutang quickly stood up and gave him a ladylike bow, saying, "Lord Yan."

Yan Wenzhao sat down, opened the file, and said, "Lord Pei is not here today. The transcript you left last time still has some omissions and the whole story could not be clarified. Today, I will question you."

Xie Rutang was stunned, raising her watery eyes filled with tenderness.

She clearly saw Pei Zhiheng's golden-roofed carriage parked outside the Dali Temple gate; he was there on duty today.

She pursed her lips for a moment.

Indeed, after she said those things, it's understandable that any man would harbor resentment. It's only natural that Pei Zhiheng wouldn't want to see her.

The dampness from the rain had seeped into her sleeves. Sitting in the interrogation room, Xie Rutang felt a little cold and quickly pulled her plain white clothes tighter.

After the statement is taken.

Xie Rutang gripped her sleeve tightly, a wave of fear washing over her. Her eyelashes trembled weakly. "Lord Yan, I wish to ask, in the end, what will be the consequences for me in this case?"

Yan Wenzhao put down his brush, closed the file, and calmly looked at her pale and weak face. "Madam Shen can go back now."

"You previously went to great lengths to raise money and pawn your dowry to save your brother. Although you considered bribery, you ultimately failed. Your actions are understandable, and this case is hereby dropped."

"The case has been closed, Madam Shen may leave now. The rain is still pouring outside, please be careful on the road."

A faint ripple appeared in Xie Rutang's eyes as she suddenly realized something.

Pei Zhiheng seemed to have secretly let her off the hook.

Since he had touched her body, Pei Zhiheng would still give this married woman some benefits before ending this casual affair.