Chapter 140: Rebuking Du Ruo

Chapter 140: Rebuking Du Ruo

The following day.

Cheng Yunshuo went to attend to his duties on time.

Du Ruo had breakfast in Lu Lingyun's courtyard. Lu Lingyun moved the abacus beads, checking the submitted accounts.

The maids, including Frost Red, Spring Apricot, and Spring Wheat, among others, had nothing to do and stood by Lu Lingyun's side, each with her own sewing basket, embroidering small clothes, pants, and tiger-head shoes.

These were all made for the three children.

Within the inner quarters, Qiu Ling, Qiu Kui, and even Ling Long would make some clothes for the children.

The sun was lazy, and the spring breeze was gentle.

Sitting here, Du Ruo felt so bored that she was restless.

"If you have nothing to do, come over and I'll teach you how to review accounts," Lu Lingyun raised her head and said to Du Ruo.

Du Ruo was, after all, a proper official's daughter and would be a legitimate wife in the future. Lu Lingyun, having taken the initiative to bring her over and teach her how to manage and check accounts, was truly doing her best.

If she left her household, Du Ruo's whole family would have to say a word of gratitude to her.

Hearing this, Du Ruo hurriedly shook her head, "No, no, I don't understand it."

"That's why you need to learn; didn't your aunt teach you how to keep accounts?"

"She did, but I couldn't learn it," Du Ruo said without hesitation, "Managing the household isn’t a good job. In the future, whoever wants to manage can do it. I'm not going to. Let those who can take on responsibilities take them. Let them exhaust themselves."

Lu Lingyun: "..."

"Shiniang, I'm not criticizing you. I’m always straightforward and didn’t mean anything by it."

Lu Lingyun looked at her and thought, this person really lacks insight.

Pretending for too long, she has truly become that way.

"Why don’t you try some needlework to practice? You’ll need to do it for your own children someday," Lu Lingyun found something else for Du Ruo to do.

Upon hearing this, Du Ruo stood up, "Never mind, Mistress, I'll go out and play by myself. You don't need to worry about me."

"Are you going out of the manor?"

"I'll just stroll around the garden."

Upon hearing this, Lu Lingyun didn’t say much more, "If you get bored and want to go out, just tell An Mama. She'll arrange the carriage and servants to accompany you."

"I know."

Du Ruo left Lu Lingyun's courtyard.

"Mistress, I feel that Miss A’Ruo lacks sense," said Shuang Hong.

"What do you mean she lacks sense? Haven't you seen how well she gets along with the young master?" Chunxing snorted.

"That’s true, she just doesn’t fit in with us women in the inner quarters," Chunhe also scoffed.

Over the past two days since Du Ruo entered the estate, the servants had observed everything she said and did.

What did everyone think?

They had seen bold and unconventional women, like Xing Dairong at the start of her time here. But Xing Dairong was particularly friendly to Qiukui at first. She only targeted women who got close to and had affairs with Cheng Yunshuo.

As a result, the women found Xing Dairong less disagreeable. Even now, Qiukui still speaks fondly of her.

But none of the maids liked Du Ruo.

Du Ruo’s straightforwardness was reserved for men, while she looked down on and despised other women.

She often said that women were troublesome and exhausting to interact with.

She could chat and laugh with some of the young servants, and when Cheng Yunshuo returned, she would chat freely and extensively with him.

Naturally, the maids mocked and looked down on her for this behavior.

If Du Ruo dressed more provocatively, she would have been scolded for being shameless. Luckily, her constant male attire and sword, along with her self-proclaimed straightforward and dashing nature, left everyone momentarily at a loss for words to criticize her.

Meanwhile, after leaving Lu Lingyun's courtyard, Du Ruo happily walked through the garden.

Take a look at this flower and watch those fish over there, it’s very soothing.

She sat carelessly by the edge of the pond, looking at the flowing water, and then took off her shoes and socks, planning to play in the water.

At this moment, a voice sounded from behind her, "Oh, isn't this Miss Du Ruo?"

Du Ruo turned her head and saw Qin Shaojing and her entourage arriving.

"Miss Shaojing," Du Ruo said, finding it inconvenient to stand after removing her shoes and socks, "You're also out for a stroll in the garden?"

"I’m just taking a walk," Qin Shaojing said, raising an eyebrow at Du Ruo’s bare feet and socks. "What are you doing here, Miss Du Ruo?"

"The water in the pond looks nice today, and I feel like playing in it," Du Ruo said, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Qin Shaojing. "Miss Shaojing, why don’t you join me?"

Qin Shaojing burst into laughter.

"Miss Shaojing, why are you laughing?" Du Ruo said seriously. "Walking barefoot in the water is very comfortable. There are fish in the water as well. We can catch them together and have some fun."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Haha!"

Qin Shaojing and the maids and nurses behind her all laughed along.

Qin Shaojing laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face. "Miss Du Ruo, do you often play this way?"

"Yes, when I go on spring and autumn excursions with my brother and his friends, they do the same. They take off their shoes and go into the water, having a great time."

"A young lady like you also takes off her shoes?"

"Yes, we don't have so many restrictions. If you hesitate like that, people will find it bothersome." Du Ruo said proudly, as if thinking that Qin Shaojing's ladylike behavior was embarrassing.

Hearing this, Qin Shaojing frowned. "People find me bothersome?"

Du Ruo looked Qin Shaojing up and down. "Yes, from our perspective, you're the type to be disliked."

"You're too proper. There's nothing wrong with playing in the water. If you're hesitant and fussy over nothing, we'll think you’re putting on airs, which seems very fake."

"Audacious!" Qin Shaojing's nursemaid scolded harshly.

"Miss Shaojing, look at your people, they act high and mighty, we find this behavior the most detestable," continued Du Ruo, "None of us like ladies who put on airs, you're stuffier than the old nannies at home."

Upon hearing this, Qin Shaojing's anger surged, and without regard for her usual subtle sarcasm, she directly cursed, "If you don't like me, you must like harlots!"

"I am no harlot!" Du Ruo raised her eyebrows and raised her voice.

"You!" Qin Shaojing sneered and began to curse, "A girl like you, not even married, consorting with men and taking pride in it—what difference is there between you and a harlot?"

"How dare you insult me like this!" Du Ruo was furious when she was insulted in this way. "You don't know anything. We are all pure, not as dirty as you think!"

"Ha! Clean? I've never seen a girl in my life who can still be considered clean after letting a group of men gawk at her feet!"

"Indeed! Even courtesans in brothels know that men can't see their bare feet without paying, yet some 'clean' girls let people see their feet for free!"

"Who knows what else men have seen? They might have seen every inch of her body."

"If this isn’t being a harlot, what is? Even a harlot would be ashamed to be ogled by so many men!"

"You're not ashamed, yet you claim to be pure? You're a born harlot, a shameless slut!"

Qin Shaojing's maids and nursemaids, all cursed in unison.