Chapter 184

Not the same.

It is not the same as the unrestrained and arrogant that Du Shanü had imagined before.

However......

It seems it's not that good either!

Especially when she saw Ruan Jintian solemnly scanning her up and down, obviously evaluating her, Du Shanü's slight discomfort, etched in her blood since she learned to read, reached its peak.

In this world, could there really be someone who isn't afraid of teachers?

Really?

Really?

Du Shanü showed a pained expression and quietly asked Yu Baobao behind her:

"You returned from Dun Cheng to Cang Cheng, could it be... because of this person?"

Yu Baobao: "Exactly!"

Upon first seeing him, this person cited classics and broadened arguments, insisting that it is extremely shameful for men to manage the household while women wander outside.

He also revealed that, although his grandfather intended for him to come here with the design of 'taking over the magpie's nest,' he, having read sage books since childhood, would certainly not act in such a way.

Furthermore, he even questioned him back: if his grandfather had such intentions, does that mean this path is feasible, and how many people are around the Wife Master—are they fickle and promiscuous individuals......

Nonsense!

Utter nonsense!

The Wife Master shines brightly; others love and respect her—isn't that natural?

Besides, the Wife Master's affairs cannot be called fickle and promiscuous!

That is the Wife Master loving all under heaven, wishing to give everyone a home!

He truly dislikes hearing this person speak, so he packed up his things and returned to Cang Cheng.

But he never expected that this person would insist on following him back to Cang Cheng!

All day long, this person nags in his ear, bothering even such a lazy person like him, so lately he hasn't had a good nap......

It's simply endless!

Pressed by the circumstances, Yu Baobao, sticking close to her own family, gave a long story in short.

Du Shanü, however, seized the most crucial point from this litany of complaints——

Ruan Jintian directly and frankly told Yu Baobao that his grandfather harbored the intention of 'taking over the magpie's nest'?!

Then he and Ruansizong must be of the same mind, right?

No wonder, no wonder.

She had just been thinking, since Afang said this person had been inquiring everywhere about her backyard, why, upon meeting, is he so stiff and lifeless......

It turns out this person is the one who initially had a bad impression of her!

Du Shanü collected herself, and Ruan Jintian, who had been standing in the corridor observing her for a while, at this moment just withdrew his gaze.

He seemed to have finally made a decision, his long brows tightly knit, his expression solemn, and he strode forward:

"Although already married, to be this affectionate in such a public setting—what propriety is this?"

"One must abide by rites and laws, know to keep oneself within bounds. Such frivolous and wanton behavior, disregarding decorum and dignity—what sort of appearance is this? Quickly restrain these improper actions!"

So proper..... so proper......

What a proper old-fashioned flavor!

If this person didn't claim to be Ruansizong's grandson, Ruansizong himself might have to call him grandson.

Du Shanü, suffering a headache from the scolding, simply set aside her thoughts about the Ruan family's internal affairs and greeted him solemnly:

"Are you Sir Ruan?"

"I have been away on official business these past days, thus unable to entertain; may I ask......"

By rights, this speech is neither meritorious nor faulty, already quite courteous.

The two exchanged greetings, exchanged a few words, and that was that.

Du Shanü originally planned to wait a few days, then devise a pretext of bandit raiding to drive this Ruan family scion away.

But who could have imagined that, before she finished speaking, Du Shanü saw a crack of astonishment appear on that stern, steady face not far away.

Indeed, a 【crack】.

Such a person, mouth full of classics, pedantic and stale, a scholar from an aristocratic family, whose every step and movement is orderly, even the corners of his clothing pressed immaculately......

How could such an expression appear on his face?

Du Shanü didn't understand, but even more puzzling was what followed: her throat had, since earlier, felt a faint dryness; in order to speak, after swallowing hard a few breaths, she inexplicably felt a faint pain......

And, an incongruous sweet-bloody sensation.

This situation had never occurred before; Du Shanü instinctively wanted to cough, but as soon as she parted her lips slightly, a stronger metallic taste flooded her mouth.

Du Shanü instinctively raised her hand to wipe beneath her nose, and what met her eyes was a smear of bright red——

Blood.

Blood.

So much blood, blood that cannot be staunched.

Du Shanü couldn't react in time, with Yu Baobao and Chinu behind her, yet it was the most proper Ruan Jintian who first responded.

On his steady, stern face, shock could not be concealed; even his whole body trembled, and he could not suppress his volume:

"You, you...... you are actually so lustful, just seeing me once, you......"

Lustful?!

What lustful?

Chinu: "?"

Yu Baobao: "?"

Du Shanü: "(? `Д')!!"

Nonsense, utter nonsense!

This is a tremendous injustice!

Never mind this life; even in the next life she wouldn't develop any affection for a teaching director so bland and flavorless!

But, but, what's going on with this nosebleed?

Yu Baobao poked her head out doubtfully, saw the blood on Du Shanü's hand, and was instantly startled:

"Wife Master?! Wife Master, are you okay?"

"I, I, am I going to be widowed!"

Pah pah pah!

More nonsense!

Du Shanü was utterly helpless, but since the speaker was Yu Baobao again, she naturally couldn't bear to reproach her.

Yu Baobao made a racket, even dragging Ouyang Yan from the back courtyard and A Chou, who was practicing martial arts, out with her; seeing Du Shanü's nosebleed, the two were also somewhat dumbfounded.

The latter said to find a government doctor; the former seemed to be about to go crazy from playing mahjong, immediately spat and said, "Where could we afford a government doctor when we're so poor it makes a tinkling sound?"

The crowd was in an uproar, but in the end it was Chinu, who had been quietly staying in the corner, who stepped forward, pushed aside the flustered Yu Baobao, and stabilized the situation:

"...... Go to the medical clinic."

Ruan Jintian didn't even have time to rebuke the second sentence before he saw several people in front of him panic and rush back along the way they came.

Ruan Jintian heard the clamor fade away, and after a long while he finally pulled himself out of that stunned astonishment.

Before, he hadn't inquired about the details of this 'head of household,' but now seeing her attended by retinue, he understood——

This woman is clearly a wanton, flirtatious woman.

Perhaps everyone around her has been intimate with her, which is why she previously kept silent about private matters with him!

Who knows, this woman might be of the effeminate sort, fond of manipulating power and innately licentious...

However, however.

Besides this long-held doubtful suspicion, at this moment Ruan Jintian's mind uncontrollably added another lingering thought——

Could it be that he was born so well?

Otherwise, how could she, upon seeing him, just...... just......

Ruan Jintian stood blankly under the eaves for the time it takes to burn an incense stick; the servants didn't know what was happening and were about to step forward to ask when he saw his own second young master suddenly flare his sleeve and angrily scold:

"...... Truly licentious!"

Indeed, far too licentious!

Du Shanü naturally had no idea of the commotion behind her.

Her nosebleed surged violently, yet she still had to open her mouth to comfort the flustered Yu Baobao:

"It's all right...... truly won't die......."

She has, after all, seen some storms!

How could she possibly be killed by a mere nosebleed?

Du Shanü spoke sincerely, but Yu Baobao didn't believe her, and Chinu didn't either.

Several people again hurriedly went to find the familiar Hei Lao Daifu.

In Hei Lao Daifu's medical clinic, as usual it was just the grandfather and grandson, everything peaceful.

Hei Lao Daifu, as always conscientious, after taking her pulse, ponderingly asked:

"Have you recently taken any strong tonics?"

Du Shanü froze, recalling the matter of those three 'Ginseng Nourishing Vitality Pills,' and felt her mind clear up:

"Yes yes yes, I did take a few Ginseng Pills...... Ah, Yu Baobao, I've said it, I'm truly fine!"

So it was because of the ginseng...

Yu Baobao obviously sighed in relief, but the next moment Hei Lao Daifu suddenly asked abruptly:

"However, it's not entirely a matter of the strong tonic."

"I'm asking about some things; I hope you won't avoid talking about illness out of fear of treatment——"

"I ask you, have you had sexual intercourse these past few days?"

Really? Sexual intercourse?

A Chou: "?!"

Ouyang Yan: "?!"

Chinu: "......"

Several faces showed astonishment, but Hei Lao Daifu instead let out a sigh of relief, appearing as if he'd seen big scenes before.

"I observe that your under-eye area is dark and bluish, your hands and feet are cold, the tip of your tongue is dry and parched, your qi and blood are declining...... all are signs of excessive sexual activity."

"Excessive sexual activity harms the kidneys of both men and women, with women suffering more obvious loss; moreover, after the act you took strong tonics, your deficiency cannot absorb them, naturally causing your blood and qi to surge......"

Du Shanü couldn't take in the rest of the words.

Her mind now holds only one thought——

Alas, alas!

Today, I'm afraid I really will have to meet my end here.