RATMOFANF: Chapter 12

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.

· Old Madam Li (李老夫人): Li Ling's grandmother, the matriarch.

· Guo Shi (郭氏): The wife of the second branch, Li Xian's mother.

· Third Young Lady, Jin Yan (三姑娘瑾嫣): Li Ling's younger sister.

· Xu Mama (徐嬷嬷): Old Madam Li's personal attendant.

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

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Chapter 12: Finally, Someone Who Can Tame Him

It was the rainy season, and the drizzle fell continuously without end. After breakfast, the two went to the front courtyard to pay their respects to the Old Madam.

As usual, Ziyun walked ahead holding an umbrella for Jingxiu, while Li Ling followed not far behind, holding his own umbrella.

Entering Anxi Hall, they found Guo Shi from the second branch and the Third Young Lady already there.

The husband and wife paid their respects to the Old Madam and Guo Shi, then took their seats below them.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Only the Old Madam, Guo Shi, the Third Young Lady, and Li Ling and his wife were in the room, yet Jingxiu felt the atmosphere was strange.

The Old Madam seemed displeased today, Guo Shi appeared awkward, and even the usually lively and talkative Third Young Lady was unusually quiet.

After everyone sat in silence for a while, Guo Shi found an excuse and left.

Jingxiu chatted with the Old Madam for a few more moments, then followed Li Ling out of Anxi Hall.

After everyone had dispersed, the Old Madam leaned back in her chair, her expression growing even more unpleasant.

Her personal attendant, Xu Mama, hurried forward, offered a bowl of ginseng tea, and persuaded, "You know full well what the Second Wife's nature is like. Please don't upset yourself over her, Old Madam. Your health is what matters most."

The Old Madam took the tea, sipped it, set it aside, and sighed. "This Guo Shi is like mud that can't be plastered onto a wall. She's a grandmother herself now, how can she be so foolish? Constantly playing underhanded tricks against her daughter-in-law, isn't she afraid of becoming a laughingstock?"

Xu Mama advised, "Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. This servant advises you to focus on taking good care of yourself. Let the younger generations sort out their own troubles."

"I'd like to wash my hands of it, but can I? Just take this matter she stirred up: forcibly taking the Eldest Young Master to raise by her side. If she were truly sensible, I wouldn't interfere in such matters. But she's so muddle-headed, what kind of child will she raise?"

"She just dotes on her grandson; she doesn't have bad intentions."

The Old Madam snorted. "Dotes on her grandson? I've been her mother-in-law for thirty years; I know her too well. She just tries every possible way to make the Eldest Wife's life difficult."

The Old Madam caught her breath and continued angrily, "For the sake of her own sordid motives, she actually uses a three-year-old child as a pawn. What kind of person does that?"

Seeing the Old Madam getting angrier the more she spoke, Xu Mama quickly changed the subject to something she enjoyed hearing. "The Second Wife is already middle-aged; her temperament can't be changed. Fortunately, both your granddaughters-in-law are sensible people. The days of prosperity for our Zhenguo Duke Manor are still ahead."

Xu Mama had served the Old Madam her entire life and knew her temperament best.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Old Madam's anger subsided by a third. She turned and asked, "Did Ling'er go back yesterday?"

Xu Mama hurriedly replied, "He went back. I heard that yesterday, when the Second Lady went out with the Eldest Wife to attend a banquet, the Heir personally went to pick her up."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The Old Madam was genuinely surprised upon hearing this, a trace of a smile appearing on her face. "Good heavens, who would have thought that our Heir would be so different after getting married."

"Exactly! Who would have imagined our stern-faced Heir also knows how to be considerate."

The Old Madam nodded with satisfaction and sighed emotionally. "Marital harmony is the true path to a flourishing family!"

Thinking of her eldest son and his wife, who were at odds like fighting cocks, almost becoming enemies, and how her eldest son, once so mighty, had his health broken before fifty... Then thinking of her second son, who passed away early, driven to his grave by his wife... the Old Madam felt even more sorrowful.

Marital discord inevitably leads to the collapse of the household.

Seeing the Old Madam's sadness, Xu Mama knew she must be recalling painful memories again. She comforted her, "One generation may be meek, the next joyful. You didn't have the luck to have good daughters-in-law, but in your old age, Heaven has bestowed upon you such excellent granddaughters-in-law. Consider it compensation."

The Old Madam shared a knowing smile with Xu Mama, then thought of her legitimate grandson again. "You know, I thought our Heir had more backbone than this. Who would have thought he couldn't endure even two nights in the study?"

Xu Mama laughed heartily. "Our Heir has a stubborn temper like an ox. But now, it seems he's finally met his match."

After leaving Anxi Hall, Li Ling said he had matters to attend to and left the manor.

He was not one to stay idle. In her previous life, after five years with him, she had never seen him peacefully rest at home for a single day. Lazing in bed for an extra hour this morning was already unprecedented.

Jingxiu headed back with Ziyun when the Third Young Lady came running up from behind.

Jingxiu stopped and asked, "Where are you off to?"

The Third Young Lady, panting from running, replied, "Didn't you say last time you'd take me out of the manor to get clothes made? When are we going?"

Last time, to placate her, Jingxiu had only said it casually. She hadn't expected the Third Young Lady to take it to heart.

It wasn't a big deal. Jingxiu smiled and agreed, "Whenever you're free, I'll take you."

"Then let's go today," the Third Young Lady said, looking at Jingxiu with a smile. "Do you have anything to do today, Sister-in-law?"

"Not really, but should I inform Grandmother before taking you out?"

"I already told Grandmother yesterday that I'd wait for you to be free to take me to get clothes made. Grandmother agreed."

Jingxiu hesitated. "Then I'll go tell Grandmother we're going today."

The Third Young Lady came over and linked arms with Jingxiu. "Sister-in-law, don't go now. Grandmother is still fuming."

Jingxiu had also sensed the Old Madam's displeasure during the morning greetings. She asked, "Why is Grandmother angry?"

The Third Young Lady walked arm-in-arm with Jingxiu towards Qingfeng Yuan, replying as they went, "It's another quarrel with Second Aunt. I heard it's because Grandmother checked the accounts yesterday and found many discrepancies."

The Third Young Lady said with a sneer, "Second Aunt manages the household accounts. She must have taken the money again to support some poor relative in her natal family. Grandmother was very angry and said she would punish her by sending her to the family temple for a while, to reflect on her actions before she's allowed back."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu knew this Second Aunt to some extent. She lacked broad vision and was naturally timid. While she did engage in lining her own pockets, she wouldn't dare embezzle too much.

The Old Madam's account checking was just a pretext; her real intention was to send Guo Shi to the family temple.

Once Guo Shi went to the family temple, the Eldest Young Master would naturally return to Xu Wanning's side.

The real reason for the Old Madam's anger was her resentment that Guo Shi had taken Xu Wanning's son. She found this excuse to send her away. If she had openly demanded Guo Shi return the child, Guo Shi wouldn't have dared refuse, but she would have known that Xu Wanning had complained to the Old Madam, and would have subsequently treated her daughter-in-law even worse.

Thus, it was clear that the Old Madam, for the sake of the Eldest Young Master and her granddaughter-in-law, had thought this through with great care and effort.

(End of Chapter)

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