Chapter 038: It’s like she’d be struck by lightning if she dared to refuse

Chapter 038: It's like she'd be struck by lightning if she dared to refuse

After dinner, as soon as Ruan Qinghuan returned to Changchun Garden, Wei Mingxi arrived with a bamboo basket of embroidery. The colorful threads inside were neatly arranged and ready for use.

"Sis-in-law, Auntie praised me for being mature at dinner. From now on, I'll never defy you again. I'll do whatever you say."

"No need. I don’t usually teach or lecture others."

"Sis-in-law, I just instructed the servants to come and check your room later. The other day, I heard a creaking sound in your room. There might be mice."

Ruan Qinghuan nearly tripped. "When did you hear this?"

"It was quiet last night, so I’m sure I heard it right."

Just as she was about to sit on the bed, Ruan Qinghuan changed her mind, grabbed a random book from the nearby table, and sat on the soft couch instead.

"Madam, could you show me the embroidered pouch you made? I'd like to use it as a reference."

Wei Mingxi didn’t believe that Ruan Qinghuan's embroidery skills could be much better. Even if they were slightly better, with enough practice, she was confident she could surpass her.

Ruan Qinghuan had never actually embroidered such things. "I don’t know where His Lordship has placed them. You can just embroider however you like."

Xia Lian didn’t like Wei Mingxi. On her first day, Wei Mingxi had acted all high and mighty, but now her sudden change in attitude made everyone uneasy.

Wei Mingxi had been going out of her way to win over Madam, probably hoping to get closer to Lord He An.

She couldn’t figure out why Madam trusted her so easily.

After nearly an hour, seeing that Ruan Qinghuan wasn’t saying anything, Xia Lian decided to take charge. "Miss, it's getting late. Madam is about to rest. Would you mind returning to your room?"

Wei Mingxi's embroidery was far from complete, and besides, her cousin hadn't returned yet. She didn’t want to leave.

But since Madam's maid had spoken up, if she stayed and angered Ruan Qinghuan, she might badmouth her to her cousin again. With this in mind, she had no choice but to get up. "If that’s the case, I’ll come by earlier tomorrow."

It was only the first day; there would be many more days to come. She would find a way to make her cousin see that she was better than Ruan Qinghuan.

"Xia Lian, let her stay as long as she wants tomorrow. No need to mind her." Ruan Qinghuan hadn’t expected Xia Lian to chase her away. She actually thought having Wei Mingxi around might make He An sleep in the study.

As expected, no sooner had Wei Mingxi left than He An returned.

Recently, Ruan Qinghuan didn’t know why, but whenever she saw He An, her legs would go weak.

After dismissing Xia Lian, He An stayed with her for a chat, talking about this and that, clearly beating around the bush. Before long, the bath was ready.

He An coaxed, "Madam, it's getting late. Shall we bathe and rest?"

"He An, you know about the bed issue, right? Why don't you sleep in the study instead?" Ruan Qinghuan carefully suggested.

"It's alright. As long as we sleep peacefully, there won't be any noise." He An helped her up. "Tomorrow, I'll have someone repair it."

He An gave the pearwood bed a disdainful look. When he lived alone earlier, he hadn’t noticed how unstable it was. This time, he was determined to get a better one.

The idea of sleeping peacefully sounded reasonable, but Ruan Qinghuan still felt uneasy in her heart.

Having been taken advantage of by He An many times, Ruan Qinghuan had learned to be more cautious.

Just as she was about to close the door to the bathhouse, He An stepped in behind her. "I've sent Xia Lian to rest. Today, let your husband help you wash."

"No need. I'll just take a quick wash. Perhaps, you should go first… ah…"

Before she could finish her sentence, He An had already lifted Ruan Qinghuan into the bath tub.

Ruan Qinghuan then realized that the original bath tub was gone, replaced by a larger one, big enough for two people to soak in.

Seeing He An sit down opposite her, Ruan Qinghuan warned, "He An, you promised, tonight we sleep peacefully."

"Madam is right, after we return to the room, we will sleep peacefully," He An replied.

He said he would help her wash her back, but he got closer and closer. Ruan Qinghuan felt like crying but couldn't, "He An, are you sick?"

Ever since he crossed the line, he seemed to be addicted. Every time he came up with excuses she couldn't refuse, and only when he was satisfied would he stop.

"I don't know, I just miss you," He An said, pulling her into his arms. The water in the bath tub splashed outside, wetting the floor. "In a few days, I will have to go to Lu City, madam, can you... not refuse?"

Ruan Qinghuan: "..."

It was as if refusing him would bring down thunder and lightning.

Though it sounded like a plea, when had he ever listened to her?

Angry, Ruan Qinghuan could barely move, and in no time, He An kissed her so fiercely that she was left breathless and disoriented, the water in the bath tub sloshing until less than half remained.

Ruan Qinghuan didn't dare make a sound, but He An, whether on purpose or not, became more and more bold, until she could no longer hold back and let out a soft cry.

"You're crazy, the neighboring courtyard... there are people."

Recalling Wei Mingxi's joke about rats, Ruan Qinghuan's face flushed even more, but in He An's eyes, that made her look even more alluring and captivating, making him even more unable to resist...

In the end, they did sleep peacefully and obediently, with Ruan Qinghuan lying still like a dead fish, while He An patiently dried the remaining water droplets on her body.

Just as Ruan Qinghuan was about to fall asleep, a cool sensation came from below, startling her. As she was about to get up, He An pressed her down again, "Madam might be injured, applying this will help you heal quickly."

Whether in modern times or since her transmigration, as someone who had always been independent, Ruan Qinghuan had never imagined that one day she would need to apply medicine...

The next day, it was past mid-morning before Ruan Qinghuan was awakened by voices outside. It was Xia Lian and Wei Mingxi.

"Cousin, by Lord's order, no one is to disturb Madam before she wakes up."

"But I had agreed with my sister-in-law last night that I would come early today. This is my third attempt, and you still won't let me in."

"It's not about the number of attempts, it's Lord's command. Madam didn't rest well yesterday, Lady Wei should go back."

Once the commotion outside died down, Ruan Qinghuan called Xia Lian to assist her with her morning routine. Xia Lian complained, "This cousin is really lacking in manners. If the Young Madam doesn't speak to Madam about her, she'll continue without any sense of propriety."

"How can we bring this up? She's taking the initiative to be close. If we push her away, it wouldn't be right. After all, she's a guest, let her be."

Ruan Qinghuan didn't want to involve her mother-in-law in this, as it might make her look petty or jealous.

After breakfast, while Wei Mingxi hadn't arrived yet, Ruan Qinghuan took Xia Lian out of the estate, planning to check on the renovation progress of a shop in East City. If all went well, by the time He An left for Lu City, she could peacefully prepare for the opening of the pawnshop.

The streets were bustling, and as they were about to reach East Street, the sound of hurried hoofbeats came from behind. Not just one horse, but several.

Turning back in panic, Ruan Qinghuan saw Chu Li, her face flushed, galloping towards her with several guards close behind. When Chu Li spotted Ruan Qinghuan standing frozen in the middle of the road, she hastily yanked the reins.

At the last second, He An yanked her out of the way just as the horse's hooves were about to strike her.

Looking back, Ruan Qinghuan met He An's icy gaze.

Though he said and did nothing, the intense anger was unmistakable. After checking to ensure she wasn't hurt, He An tightly held her in his arms.

Ruan Qinghuan: "..."

Is He An out of his mind? We're in the middle of a crowded street!