Eure Majestät

Kapitel 8

Ouyang Han finally couldn't hold back any longer, so he rolled over and pinned Du Peiru beneath him.

The saying goes, "Do not listen to what is improper, do not look at what is improper!" You are not allowed to peek at other people's performances that are rated R!

The next morning, both Ouyang Han and Du Peiru felt awkward. They shyly avoided each other's gaze. Only Jin'er was serving them in the room. Xiao Hong and Xiao Cui had stopped helping Ouyang Han and Du Peiru with their grooming after Du Peiru's conflict with Li Mama.

Suddenly, Jin'er cried out, breaking the morning silence. Pointing to the bloodstains on the bedsheet, she exclaimed, "Miss, there's blood on the bedsheet!"

“Oh! That… uh! It’s… it’s left from swatting mosquitoes last night!” Du Peiru answered cleverly.

"How could a mosquito suck so much blood?" Jin'er was a little skeptical of what Du Peiru said.

"Yes! Yes! There were so many mosquitoes last night, and they were all huge," Du Peiru quickly replied. She even gave Ouyang Han a meaningful look, signaling him to say something to make her lie seem more believable. However, Ouyang Han was still in shock and hadn't quite come to his senses. His initial suspicions that she wasn't a virgin and that she had remained chaste for her lover were completely shattered. Last night, she was willing to give herself to him—did that mean she liked him? Thinking about it, a silly grin involuntarily crept onto his face. Seeing his absent-minded state, Du Peiru slowly moved closer to him and stepped on his foot.

"Ouch!" Ouyang Han finally came to his senses.

Just then, Jin'er was pulling out the bed sheet when she suddenly heard Ouyang Han's voice, so she asked, "Young Master, what's wrong?"

"No...it's nothing!" Ouyang Han hurriedly replied.

Jin'er, unsuspecting, continued tidying the bed while asking, "Miss, did you stay up very late last night swatting mosquitoes?"

Du Peiru wore a fake smile, but reached out and pinched Ouyang Han's waist, signaling him to speak.

Ouyang Han felt the pain and understood what Du Peiru meant, so he immediately replied, "Yes! Yes! I barely slept all night!" Heaven knows what they were doing all night!

"No wonder the young master and young lady both have dark circles under their eyes. No! We need to find an incense burner and light some incense."

Ouyang Han and Du Peiru listened silently until Jin'er took the bloodstained sheet and left the room, at which point they breathed a sigh of relief. Good heavens! Only that silly girl Jin'er would believe such a clumsy lie; thankfully, they weren't discovered. The two secretly thought to themselves.

“Um! That…” Ouyang Han stammered.

"Just say what you have to say, or shut up. Why are you beating around the bush?"

"Uh! Are you... are you still a virgin?" Ouyang Han asked boldly.

"What are you saying? Of course not!"

"Ah!" Ouyang Han exclaimed in shock, his face pale.

Sickly Hero (9)

"Last night you...you...you did that to me..." Du Peiru's face flushed red as she spoke. Suddenly, she understood what Ouyang Han meant, and her face quickly turned deathly pale. Could it be...could he have heard something? Judging from his restless state these past few days, he must know something. Could it be that he discovered I was a virgin? Impossible! Impossible! He must just be suspicious. Maybe it's because my personality is different from Yu Shan's that he's suspicious? But why would he suspect I'm not a virgin? Ah! That's right, he must have heard some news about Shen Lang and Yu Shan, that's why he asked that! Hmm! That must be it! So Du Peiru calmed down, then pointed at Ouyang Han's nose and scolded, "What...what did you mean just now? Do you think I'm a promiscuous woman? Do you think I would give myself to just anyone? You..." Du Peiru squeezed out a few tears, pretending to choke up and be unable to speak.

"No! It's really not what you think! My wife, I just... I just... uh..." Ouyang Han was extremely anxious, but he didn't know how to explain to Du Peiru.

Du Peiru pretended to cry even harder!

Ouyang Han was so anxious that he stomped his feet.

Upon seeing this, Du Peiru couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. "I'm crying! I'm crying! I'm crying, crying, crying! What else do you want to ask?" But this can't go on like this. Hmm! I need to come up with a perfect story, otherwise I might harm Shen Lang and Yu Shan!

And so, Du Peiru escaped a calamity.

Although Ouyang Han believed Du Peiru liked him, he still harbored reservations. He was also afraid that it was all just wishful thinking on his part. In his heart, he wished his wife and Li Yushan were two different people. That way, he wouldn't have so many worries. Therefore, he decided to continue his verification plan.

Chapter Five

"Yushan, the weather is so sunny today, why don't we go to the garden to admire the flowers?" Ouyang Han suggested.

"I've told you so many times, don't call me Yushan, but you just can't get it right!" Du Peiru said, clearly annoyed. Can you imagine your husband holding you in his arms while calling someone else's name? Could you tolerate that?

However, Du Peiru forbade Ouyang Han from calling her Yushan, which gave Ouyang Han another reason to suspect her.

"Oh! My wife, are you going to go admire the flowers or not?"

"Enjoying the flowers? That's fine! I have nothing else to do anyway!"

So Ouyang instructed Jin'er to set out some snacks and fragrant tea in the pavilion in the garden.

"My lady, the scenery here is so beautiful, why don't we play a tune on the zither to liven things up?" Ouyang Han suggested.

"Play the zither?" Du Peiru looked anxiously at Jin'er and gave her a wink.

Upon seeing this, Jin'er quickly replied, "Young Master, why don't I play a piece? I've been learning from Miss for a while now, and I'd like to ask you for some pointers!"

So Jin'er didn't wait for Ouyang Han's reply before fetching her zither and playing a piece of music.

Sickly Hero (10)

After listening, Ouyang Han nodded and praised, "Very good! Very good! I didn't expect Jin'er's musical skills to be so high!"

"That's because Miss taught her so well!" Jin'er deliberately attributed the credit to Du Peiru.

"Oh! So your musical skills are even more advanced, my lady? Would you be so kind as to play a piece for me?"

"Ah!" Du Peiru and Jin'er exclaimed in unison.

Du Peiru immediately replied cleverly, "Actually, my zither playing is nowhere near as good as Jin'er's! Jin'er has surpassed her teacher! You'd better not listen to my playing, lest it offend your ears!"

“Yes! Yes! If the young master wants to hear it, then this servant can play another piece!” Jin’er immediately echoed Du Peiru.

"In that case, why don't we let Jin'er play the zither, and we can listen to the music while we play chess? What do you say?"

"Ah!" they both exclaimed again.

Du Peiru immediately replied, "Alas! Husband, it's not that I don't want to play chess, but today is the anniversary of the death of my chess teacher, and I swore before his spirit that I would never play chess on his death anniversary, in order to commemorate him!" Who knows if her chess teacher has even been reborn! So cursing him to die shouldn't incur divine retribution!

"Oh! It's rare to see my wife so respectful of her teacher!" Ouyang Han said, feigning surprise.

“Yes! Yes! My young lady respects that master very much, and that master is very kind to my young lady. They are like father and daughter!” Jin’er quickly replied.

After a while, Ouyang Han said again, "Wife, I've heard you're quite good at painting! I wonder if you could paint a portrait of me?"

“Young master, you want a portrait? Then I’ll do it!” Jin’er had also learned to be clever and took on the task before Du Peiru could even speak.

Du Peiru thought, "I can't drag this out forever." So she had no choice but to confront him. Of course, she wouldn't reveal her true colors! Heh! Heh! You want to expose me? No way!

"Jin'er, don't take it all on! I think the young master knows I'm not good at music, chess, calligraphy, or painting! Let's lay everything out on the table today!" Du Peiru said, seemingly helpless.

"Miss, you can't tell!" Jin'er said anxiously.

“Jin’er, even if we can dodge the first day of the month, we can’t dodge the fifteenth. The son-in-law will find out about this sooner or later!” Du Peiru said while desperately trying to wink at Jin’er.

"But...but...Miss, have you forgotten what Miss said..." Jin'er wanted to say something more, but Du Peiru glared at her and interrupted her loudly, "Jin'er! Shut your mouth!" She was really exasperated with her. She had given her so many meaningful glances, and she still didn't understand. "Have you forgotten what Miss instructed you?"

"Miss told me to listen to you!" Jin'er said, pouting.

When Ouyang Han heard them talking about "Miss" this and "Miss" that, he was completely confused.

"Alright! Now shut your mouth, and go outside the pavilion to keep watch. Don't let anyone near!"

"Yes!" Jin'er pouted, then went to stand guard outside the pavilion and listened intently to what they were saying.

Sickly Hero (11)

"I can't play the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting! I've never been good at them since I was little! And I don't want to learn them either! Although my father hired four tutors to teach me so that I could become a talented woman and marry into a wealthy family, I just couldn't learn them because I lacked the talent. By chance, I discovered that Jin'er had a lot of talent in these areas. So, to please my father and to make my life a little easier, I had Jin'er learn these things for me. Because I always wore a veil, the tutors didn't notice when I had Jin'er go in my place. My father never checked my progress; he only let me play the zither upstairs behind the curtain when he entertained guests. If it was chess or painting, I would have Jin'er wrapped up tightly while I hid in my own courtyard. That's how I fooled everyone! Now you know I can't play the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting, and I'm not gentle either. If you want to divorce me, then write the divorce letter now!"

Upon hearing Du Peiru's words, Ouyang Han hurriedly pulled her into his arms, saying, "No! I won't divorce you! No matter if you're skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, no matter how gentle you are, I'm determined to have you! But... but... I'm afraid... I'm afraid..." Ouyang Han trembled, unable to speak. He had never been so afraid before, not even when someone tried to poison him!

"What are you afraid of?" Du Peiru asked curiously.

"I'm afraid you won't want me, I'm afraid you'll leave me, I'm afraid you won't like me!" Ouyang Han said excitedly.

"Silly boy!" Du Peiru hugged him tightly and said, "I know what you're afraid of! You must have heard the rumors about me and Shen Lang!"

Ouyang Han did not deny it and nodded.

Du Peiru gently patted his back and said, "When I was little, I suffered bullying from my stepmother and my half-siblings. One day, I couldn't take it anymore, so I ran away wanting to end my life and go with my mother. So I jumped into the river. Shen Lang happened to be passing by then, so he rescued me. He gently comforted me and cared for me! He was the only person besides my mother and Jin'er who was kind to me, so I often went to him to receive his love. I depended on him and trusted him. All along, I thought this was love. But it wasn't until I married you that I realized it wasn't love, but the affection a younger sister has for her older brother!"

"How do you know your feelings for him aren't love?" Ouyang Han asked jealously.

"Because when I see Shen Lang, although I feel happy, I don't blush, my ears get hot, or my heart races, but when I see you, I do; when I see him sick, I worry about him, but I don't feel heartache, but when I see you sick, I do; when I see him, I don't want to kiss him, but when I see you, I do! Is that enough?" Du Peiru said, blushing.

"Hmm!" Ouyang Han responded with satisfaction, then rested his head in the crook of Du Peiru's neck.

"I told you how I feel about you, but you haven't told me how you feel about me yet!" Du Peiru said coquettishly.

"No need! You know perfectly well!" Ouyang Han said awkwardly.

Sickly Hero (12)

"No way! Don't expect me to talk to you if you don't tell me!" Du Peiru pushed Ouyang Han away and turned her back to him.

"But Jin'er is here!" Ouyang Han said embarrassedly.

“I already said it in front of Jin’er, why can’t you?” Du Peiru said stubbornly.

"Actually, there's something I'm keeping from you too!" Ouyang Han said, changing the subject.

"What?" Upon hearing this, Du Peiru forgot about demanding Ouyang Han confess his feelings and instead pointed at his nose, shouting, "Tell me! Do you have another woman on the side?"

"No! No! Of course not!" Ouyang Han hurriedly denied.

"Then what is it?"

"Actually, actually I was faking my illness!" Ouyang Han stammered.

"Pretending?" Du Peiru said strangely, "Why would you pretend to be sick for no reason? Do you think it's fun? It makes me worry about your illness all day long. Humph! No wonder you're so energetic in front of me, but suddenly become sickly when someone comes! Tell me! Are you happy to see others worry about you?" Du Peiru was very dissatisfied with Ouyang Han's behavior.

"When I was ten years old, I fell ill! My father consulted countless famous doctors, but none of them could find the cause! Until one day, a miraculous doctor came to the capital, who could cure all kinds of difficult and complicated diseases. When my father found out, he immediately went to invite him back to treat me. As soon as he took my pulse, he discovered that I was suffering from a chronic and rare poison. This poison piqued his interest, so he stayed at our house to prepare an antidote for me. Later, seeing that I was clever and quick-witted, he secretly took me as his apprentice. My master treated my illness while teaching me martial arts. He stayed at our house for four years, finally concocting an antidote. During those four years, he taught me a lot. He taught me to be tolerant and to be patient. He also said that if we wanted to find the murderer, we had to wait for the murderer to reveal himself. And he also told me to continue to pretend to be sick. So I pretended to be sick for four years!" Ouyang Han told Du Peiru everything in detail.

"Then, has the medicine you drink every day been poisoned?" Du Peiru asked anxiously.

"Yes! But don't worry! I always carry the antidote with me, and I add it every time I drink it!" Ouyang Han smiled involuntarily when he saw how worried Du Peiru was about him.

"Oh!" Du Peiru patted her chest and continued, "Have you investigated the person who wanted to harm you?"

"No!"

"No?" Du Peiru raised her voice. "You're not even going to investigate the person who harmed you? You...you want to drive me crazy, don't you?"

“I don’t want to investigate! I’m afraid of the outcome, I’m afraid it will cause Yu-di to lose his mother!” Ouyang Han said solemnly.