RATMOFANF: Chapter 11

 Character Glossary

· Shen Jingxiu / Lady Shen (沈静姝/沈氏): The female protagonist, Li Ling's wife.

· Li Ling (李陵): The Heir of the Zhenguo Duke Manor.

· Ziyun (紫云): Jingxiu's personal maid.

· Bilü (碧缕): Another of Jingxiu's maids.

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Chapter 11: Newlywed Bliss

During the dinner hour, Li Ling got up and nudged Jingxiu, calling out, "Time to get up and eat."

Jingxiu rolled over and mumbled, "You go ahead. I want to sleep more."

Li Ling dressed himself and went out to eat alone.

When Ziyun saw Li Ling come out alone, she felt both happy that the couple had reconciled and heartache for her young lady: She didn't even come out to eat; she must have been thoroughly worn out by the Young Master again.

Bilü, seeing her young lady hadn't emerged, was also extremely worried, thinking to herself: Did the Young Master hit her too hard? Could he have injured her?

Li Ling glanced at the two maids with their varied expressions and instructed, "Tell the kitchen to prepare some bird's nest porridge later. When the Lady wakes up, serve it to her."

Ziyun hastily assented and went to do so. After Li Ling finished his dinner alone, he went out.

By the time Jingxiu woke up, the moon was already hanging over the willow tips.

Ziyun brought the bird's nest porridge. After finishing it, Jingxiu handed the bowl back to Ziyun, stretched her waist languidly, and said wearily, "You may go rest. I want to sleep a bit more."

Ziyun advised, "You've just eaten. Would you like to get up and walk around a little to aid digestion?"

No sooner had she spoken than she regretted it. If she couldn't even get out of bed to eat, how could she possibly have the strength to walk?

Looking at Jingxiu lying listlessly on the pillow, Ziyun said with heartache, "I advised you earlier not to sulk with the Young Master. See? In the end, you're the one who suffers."

Jingxiu buried her face in the pillow, closed her eyes, and simply didn't want to speak anymore.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"But the fact that the Young Master personally went to pick you up today... you should have seen how envious those noble ladies were." As she spoke, she leaned closer to Jingxiu's ear and whispered, "Especially that Third Young Lady from the Zhou family. She was so consumed with envy she couldn't tear her eyes away. I saw her still staring intently, pulling her carriage curtain aside, even after your carriage with the Young Master had started moving."

"He was just passing by," Jingxiu murmured.

"What's rare is the Young Master's thoughtfulness. With you and the Young Master quarreling like that, this servant was truly worried you might lose his favor because of it."

Just as they were speaking, Li Ling entered. Ziyun immediately fell silent and respectfully withdrew.

Li Ling walked to the bedside, took off his outer robe, and hung it on the clothes rack at the foot of the bed. "Feeling better?" he asked.

How could he even ask? When he was entangled with her in bed, he hadn't given a thought to being gentle with the fairer sex.

Jingxiu didn't answer and turned her head away.

Li Ling said no more. He went into the bathroom to wash up, then got into bed.

Seeing she only presented her back to him, he embraced her from behind, pressed close to her ear, and asked softly, "Haven't recovered yet?"

"What do you think?" Jingxiu retorted.

Li Ling was silent for a moment, then replied, "I lost control."

As he spoke, he gathered her into his arms, turned her face towards him, and said, "These past two days you left me in the study, I was badly bitten by mosquitoes. Let's call it even, alright?"

Jingxiu raised her head, her almond eyes glaring at him reproachfully. "You're shifting the blame! How did I drive you to the study? You went there yourself!"

Li Ling retorted, "It amounts to the same thing. If you hadn't made me angry, would I have gone to the study?"

Jingxiu scoffed. "Me not accompanying you to the General's manor counts as making you angry? You're just petty."

She actually called him petty?!

This new bride was truly difficult to deal with!

Afraid of angering her again like last time,Li Ling chose not to argue further.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

But Jingxiu wouldn't let it go. "If you prefer sleeping in the study, I'll have them go hang the mosquito net properly now. You can settle there from now on."

With that, she broke free from his embrace, moved her pillow further inside, and turned her back to him again.

Li Ling moved closer and embraced her from behind, his face pressed against her neck. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Don't be angry anymore, alright?"

The last words were spoken very softly, as if coaxing her.

Jingxiu turned to face him and said earnestly, "If you ever throw a tantrum and move out again, don't come back."

"En," Li Ling nodded solemnly.

Then, he drew her back into his embrace and repeated in her ear, "I understand."

Jingxiu believed he would keep his word. Since he had already sought reconciliation like this, she truly wasn't angry anymore. She nestled obediently in his sturdy embrace, allowing herself to be held.

Li Ling held her for a while, then his large hand, resting over her sleeping robe, asked, "Does it still hurt?"

Jingxiu said in a low voice, "It seems a bit swollen."

Li Ling was silent for a moment, then pressed his face against her hair and said softly, "I'll go find Imperial Physician Zhang tomorrow to get some medicine."

Hearing he actually intended to seek out an imperial physician for medicine, Jingxiu lifted her head and quickly stopped him. "What kind of medicine? There's no need! It'll be fine after resting for a couple of days."

How embarrassing would it be to seek medicine from an imperial physician for this!

"Sleep now," Li Ling patted her head.

The night was quiet, the moonlight hazy. The newlywed couple fell asleep in each other's arms.

When Jingxiu woke in Li Ling's arms, the sky was just beginning to lighten. She glanced at the water clock, rubbed her eyes, and asked, "Why didn't you go for martial practice today?"

Usually, by this time, he would have long been gone for his practice, and when she woke, his side of the bed was typically empty.

"It's raining outside," he replied.

Morning martial practice was his unshakable habit, regardless of wind or rain.

Hearing this, she didn't want to inquire further. Simply burying her head against his chest, she said, "Since there's no practice today and it's your day off, why not sleep a bit longer?"

Seeing his little wife's languid appearance, Li Ling agreed verbally, but his arm encircled her soft, slender waist, and his other hand began to wander mischievously under the covers.

Jingxiu wasn't fully awake yet. Groggily, she grabbed his hand and said, yawning, "Stop fooling around. I want to sleep."

He finally behaved a little better, leaning closer to ask in her ear, "Is it better now?"

Better? What was better?

It took Jingxiu a good while in her drowsy state to comprehend his meaning. Startled fully awake, she quickly sat up and said to him, "Today is the fifteenth. We have to go pay our respects to Grandmother. Get up, quickly."

(End of Chapter)

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