Chapter 031: A Virtuous Man Can’t Resist a Temptress

Chapter 031: A Virtuous Man Can't Resist a Temptress

She felt his restraint, and Ruan Qinghuan didn’t dare to meet his eyes.

He An’s expression showed a hint of disappointment as he gently set her down and began using his inner strength to resist the effects of the drug coursing through his body.

But the result was that the nosebleed, which had stopped, started flowing again.

Outside, the guards were inspecting the carriage as they entered the city. Once through the gates, the road smoothed out, but Ruan Qinghuan’s anxiety only grew as He An’s condition worsened.

She shouted to the driver, "To the villa."

In He An’s disappointed eyes, a glimmer of surprise appeared. Ruan Qinghuan avoided his gaze. "Don’t read too much into it. I just… I just…"

She couldn’t just stand by and let him hurt himself, even if this wasn’t the first time.

Ruan Qinghuan was carried down from the carriage by He An. As they entered the courtyard, she instructed Jiang Ming to close the gate, making sure no one else could come in.

Ruan Qinghuan buried her head in his chest, unsure if her decision was the right one.

They were married, after all. This kind of responsibility seemed unavoidable.

But soon, she regretted it.

"He An, are you… better?" Ruan Qinghuan felt all her strength drain away, leaving her at He An’s mercy.

"Not yet."

The room was pitch black, well past dusk. They had arrived shortly after noon, but hours later, He An was still going strong.

What kind of drug was this? It was driving him wild.

In the darkness, they couldn’t see each other, but their bodies clung together, seeking comfort in the chaos. The poison inside He An had already been neutralized, but he just couldn’t stop. After being married for so long, this was only the second time they had shared the same bed, and he wanted to make up for all the lost time.

Ruan Qinghuan’s worry deepened. "If this keeps up, you’ll wear yourself out."

"Don’t worry, I’m tougher than I look. You’ve been amazing today, my love."

By the time they finally sat down to eat, it was nearly midnight. Ruan Qinghuan, too exhausted to even lift a spoon, kept shaking her head. She wanted to rest, not eat.

He An held her in his arms, feeding her spoonful by spoonful, coaxing, "Be good, have a little."

Just when she thought she could finally rest, that guy He An pressed up against her again. "My dear, your husband is still feeling uncomfortable..."

"He An," Ruan Qinghuan glared at him, "You just ate and drank. You’re obviously fine now."

"No, I’m still uncomfortable. Really, if you don’t believe me, feel for yourself..."

Ruan Qinghuan was so angry her teeth ached. "Then go find another woman to solve it. I’m not serving you anymore."

"It has to be you, please, just this once."

His words sounded like a plea, but his actions were anything but desperate. Ruan Qinghuan snorted and pinched his leg hard. He An didn’t cry out in pain but instead gently kissed her forehead.

This time, it wasn’t the wild, drug-fueled passion from before. Instead, it was a tender, almost reverent touch.

That night, Ruan Qinghuan woke and slept, only to be disturbed again and again until dawn. Outside, Jiang Ming’s voice called out, "Sir, it’s almost time for court."

Ruan Qinghuan sighed, knowing another long day awaited her.

Finally, the night was over.

Watching He An move so effortlessly, Ruan Qinghuan couldn't help but feel that life wasn't fair. She was so tired she could barely catch her breath, while he seemed as energetic as ever despite not sleeping a wink.

After washing up, just before leaving, He An kissed her on the lips and said, "Today, Madam should rest here. I will come to fetch you and take you home after I return from court."

Ruan Qinghuan closed her eyes; she was truly exhausted.

**

"Gone for a night?"

In the dining hall, waiting for her son and daughter-in-law to have breakfast, Meng Suqiu frowned after hearing the servant's report and said to He Qizhang, "If He An had stayed out all night, I could overlook it, but why is Qinghuan doing the same?"

He Qizhang was unconcerned. "Why bother about them? If Qinghuan isn't at the Prime Minister's residence, then she's at the Ruan residence."

"That's exactly what worries me. If they keep living like this, when will we ever hold a grandchild?"

Eager to go out for his morning walk with the birds, He Qizhang hastily said, "Then wait for He An to return, and you can urge him."

"Urge him..." Meng Suqiu looked unhappy. Could this kind of matter be rushed?

As she thought about it, she became more troubled and decided to get some fresh air in the courtyard. Just then, Jiang Ming returned to the residence to fetch items needed for court. Meng Suqiu called him over and asked, "Your master stayed in the palace overnight again?"

"No, Madam. The master stayed at the villa last night."

"The villa?"

"Yes, Madam." Jiang Ming, in a hurry, said, "The master is waiting outside. I'll take my leave now."

Before Meng Suqiu could ask more, Jiang Ming hurriedly left the courtyard.

Why did her son go to the villa?

Her daughter-in-law had returned to the Ruan residence, and He An had moved to the villa... Was something about to go wrong?

"Quick, quick, quick! Go stop the master and ask him to come with me to the villa." Meng Suqiu instructed the maid while preparing to return to her room to change clothes.

Just then, Yingxue replied, "Madam, the master has already left the house."

"Whenever something important comes up, he's nowhere to be found. All he cares about are his birds. It's maddening!"

Chen Po, unaware of the situation, asked curiously, "Madam, what has upset you so much?"

"Qinghuan has returned to the Ruan residence, and He An has moved to the villa. What could this mean?"

Chen Po instinctively said, "Madam, are you suggesting that the master has someone outside?"

Meng Suqiu sighed.

She knew her son wasn't the philandering type, but the thought of Liu Yueru offering herself the other day made Meng Suqiu feel like a thorn was stuck in her throat. A good man can be tempted by a flirtatious woman. Who knows what might happen?

At the villa, Ruan Qinghuan forced herself to eat some breakfast and instructed Xia Lian, "No matter what happens today, don't wake me up, even if the world ends."

Xia Lian, seeing how exhausted the young Madam looked, couldn't help but smile wryly. "Alright, alright. The master already gave orders before he left. You must sleep until you naturally wake up."

After the door was closed, Ruan Qinghuan soon fell asleep.

With not much to do at the villa, and knowing that the young Madam was sleeping, Xia Lian decided to wash the clothes by the well.

Meng Suqiu arrived at the villa, and Chen Po knocked on the gate. The guard at the door was Tong Qi, who was in his seventies. He had previously served at the Prime Minister's residence but had been sent here to retire due to his age.

This guy is great, but he’s hard of hearing.

Chen Po asked him twice who had spent the night with the Prime Minister last night, but he answered, "The yard is clean because he cleans it every day."

This nonsense frustrated Meng Suqiu. "Forget it, we’re not getting anywhere. Let’s go check it out ourselves."

Entering the backyard, they soon arrived at the main room in the east courtyard.

Noticing the wet patches at the courtyard entrance, Meng Suqiu figured that if it was just for a quick wash, it wouldn’t need this much water.

Meng Suqiu’s expression turned grim, and she gave Chen Po a knowing look. Though it wasn’t the same courtyard where Liu Yueru was caught, Chen Po’s no-nonsense attitude was the same. She stormed forward and shoved the door open, which slammed against the wall with a loud bang.

Half-asleep, Ruan Qinghuan jolted upright in bed. She moved so quickly that the sash of her simple clothes loosened, exposing one shoulder.

When she saw her mother-in-law standing there, Ruan Qinghuan thought she must be dreaming.

Similarly, Meng Suqiu also thought she was dreaming. Her voice was slightly off as she spoke, "Qinghuan, how is it you?"

"Mother... what is this..."

With the door wide open and the room brightly lit, Meng Suqiu’s eyes fell on Ruan Qinghuan’s body, which was covered in marks, even on her neck and ears. This... this...

Noticing her mother-in-law’s gaze, Ruan Qinghuan quickly tightened her simple clothes and got off the bed, saying, "Mother, it’s not what you think... no... it’s that Lord... he yesterday... we didn’t..."

Ruan Qinghuan was so embarrassed that she wished she could sink into the ground.