RATMOFANF: Chapter 16

 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.

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

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

· Danzhu (丹朱): Another of Jingxiu's maids.

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

· Meizi (梅子): The Third Young Lady's chief maid.

· Liang Jin (梁进): Li Ling's attendant.

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Chapter 16: You Can Tell Me If You Have Difficulties

Perhaps because she was tired, Jingxiu slept until the sky was fully bright before waking. The space beside her was already empty. Ziyun, hearing the noise, came in from the outer room.

Jingxiu asked, "Has the Heir not returned from his morning martial practice yet?"

Ziyun replied, "The Heir did not go for martial practice this morning. He went directly to the camp."

"Did something urgent happen at the camp?"

Ziyun replied, "The Heir didn't mention anything."

Ziyun drew open the window curtains. Seeing the steady drizzle outside, Jingxiu didn't rush to get up. Leaning against the bed, she murmured to herself, "It's raining again."

"Yes, it's been raining for most of the night. Although not heavily, water has accumulated on the roads. The Young Lady plans to go to the suburban Lù Yuán with the Third Young Lady today; I'm afraid the journey will be difficult."

Jingxiu got out of bed and started dressing. "It shouldn't be a major issue. In a moment, instruct them to prepare two smaller carriages; they'll be more maneuverable."

Ziyun assented and went out. Danzhu and Bilü attended to Jingxiu as she washed up and had breakfast.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Shortly after breakfast, the Third Young Lady arrived. Seeing Jingxiu, she asked impatiently, "Second Sister-in-law, I heard from the stables that you had them prepare the carriages early this morning. Shouldn't we leave sooner?"

Seeing her anxious look, Jingxiu suppressed a laugh. "The moment there's talk of going out, you get this impatient. Didn't spending most of yesterday outside satisfy you?"

The Third Young Lady said with a smile, "Oh, Second Sister-in-law, you don't know, but Lù Yuán is a wonderful place. I like it very much." As she spoke, she glanced around the room and said with a wooden face, "I heard Second Brother went out on business early. Good, otherwise I'd worry he might not let us go out in this rain."

"Your Second Brother knows you're eager to go. He won't stop you." Jingxiu noticed the Third Young Lady was still brooding over Li Ling scolding her at yesterday's family banquet and instinctively tried to smooth things over for Li Ling.

The Third Young Lady pursed her lips. "Someone as cold as my Second Brother... it must be hard for you, Second Sister-in-law."

Although Jingxiu also disliked Li Ling's nature, hearing others criticize him displeased her. She changed the subject. "Leaving early is fine. But have you finished packing on your end?"

The Third Young Lady nodded yes. Jingxiu's side had also had people pack the necessary items last night. So, the two set out with their maids.

Jingxiu and the Third Young Lady rode together in one carriage, while Ziyun and Meizi followed in another. The carriage driver slowly guided the carriage away from the manor.

The roads were indeed heavily waterlogged, and the carriage couldn't move quickly. A journey that usually took two hours had only covered half the distance by noon.

The Third Young Lady, being impatient, grew somewhat annoyed. She pushed open the carriage door and repeatedly urged the driver to go faster.

Pressed hard, the driver replied helplessly, "Third Young Lady, it's not that this old man won't go faster. It's just that the suburban roads are slippery, and I dare not drive too fast."

Jingxiu comforted her. "Don't be impatient. We'll arrive in the afternoon regardless. Going too fast isn't safe. It's better to be cautious."

Just as she spoke, the sound of galloping hooves came through the rain. Bored, the Third Young Lady pulled open the window curtain and looked out in the direction of the sound. She said in surprise, "The one chasing us from behind looks like Second Brother!"

Hearing this, Jingxiu was startled. She also looked out the window. Through the curtain of rain, two riders galloped towards them, one after the other. The one in front was indeed Li Ling.

Jingxiu was very surprised!

The driver stopped the carriage. Li Ling and his attendant Liang Jin reined in their horses before the carriage.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The Third Young Lady was also very surprised. "Second Brother, why have you come?"

Li Ling didn't answer. Sitting on his horse, he leaned down and looked into the carriage, spotting Jingxiu. Only then did he speak. "Weren't you supposed to leave at noon? Why did you set out early?"

Jingxiu replied, "We were worried the roads would be bad in the rain, so we left early."

Li Ling looked at the driver and instructed, "There are mountains ahead, the path is narrow. Be careful."

The driver hastily assented. The whip cracked, and the carriage slowly started moving again.

Seeing Li Ling riding alongside the carriage with no intention of leaving, the Third Young Lady asked, "Second Brother, are you coming with us?"

Li Ling, however, did not answer.

Seeing her elder brother ignore her, the Third Young Lady pulled the carriage curtain shut in a huff. She looked at Jingxiu and, annoyed, said "Second Sister-in-law, you don't think Second Brother will also stay at Lù Yuán with us, do you?"

She had originally planned to have a good time playing at Lù Yuán with her amiable sister-in-law. Suddenly, her Second Brother shows up and is bound to compete with her for Jingxiu's attention. Moreover, with such an icy person tagging along, she wouldn't be able to enjoy herself fully.

Jingxiu saw through her little worries and replied, "Your Second Brother might just see us there and then leave. He probably won't stay. He's busy with official duties; he doesn't have time for leisurely stays."

Hearing this, the Third Young Lady let out a long sigh of relief. "Then I'm reassured."

Jingxiu picked up a piece of pastry from the tea table and handed it to her. "It will probably take a while longer to arrive. Have something to eat first to stave off hunger."

The Third Young Lady took the pastry and ate a few bites. Suddenly remembering Li Ling's attitude towards her just now, she grew uneasy again. Looking at Jingxiu, she said, "Second Brother was dismissive and ignored me just now. He must still be angry with me over what happened at yesterday's family banquet."

Jingxiu had also noticed that Li Ling was indeed still holding a grudge about the matter. Although she, like Li Ling, disapproved of the Third Young Lady looking down on the Fourth Master because of her status as a legitimate daughter, she felt somewhat partial towards this younger sister-in-law.

Not to mention this life, where the younger sister-in-law was close to her. Even in her previous life, when she was often unable to let go of many things and lived unhappily, paying little attention to this younger sister-in-law, she remembered that this legitimate younger sister-in-law had repeatedly extended a warm hand to her.

She clearly remembered, in her previous life after her miscarriage, while her husband was fighting bloody battles for another woman, it was the Old Madam, Xu Wanning, and this younger sister-in-law who visited her frequently. The Third Young Lady, though young and unaware of the full situation, noticed her melancholy and advised her to be more open-minded, saying things like, "A little nephew will come again later."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Although it was childish talk, in her circumstances back then, she was genuinely and deeply touched.

Jingxiu lifted the window curtain and looked out at Li Ling riding protectively beside the carriage. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Perhaps she had been hurt too deeply in her previous life. In this life, she truly didn't dare to place her full hopes on him again.

"Second Sister-in-law, do you think Second Brother will find an opportunity to punish me someday?"

The Third Young Lady remembered that this elder brother had just punished Third Brother Li Xiang. Even if he didn't use family punishment on her like he did with Third Brother, making her copy the 'Family Rules' and 'Admonitions for Women' or confining her to her room for reflection would be punishment enough for her.

The Third Young Lady tugged at Jingxiu's sleeve, her face full of worry.

Only then did Jingxiu snap out of her thoughts. Although she also didn't approve of the Third Young Lady bullying the Fourth Master based on her status as the legitimate daughter, she couldn't bear to see Li Ling punish her. Seeing her wronged at the banquet yesterday, she couldn't help but feel distress for her, but she couldn't speak up in front of everyone. If Li Ling were to pursue the matter and punish her relentlessly, she definitely wouldn't stand by and do nothing.

Jingxiu mentally calculated while verbally comforting the Third Young Lady with a smile. "He won't. Although your Second Brother appears stern with you, you are his only full sister. Who would he dote on if not you?"

The Third Young Lady pouted. "I don't see him doting on me. Fourth Brother and I are only a year apart. Whenever we have a disagreement, Second Brother always sides with him and scolds me."

Jingxiu said, "You are the legitimate daughter. You have Grandmother, parents, elder brothers and sisters-in-law who love you. You are the object of everyone's affection, getting whatever you want, having everything one could wish for. But what does Fourth Brother have?"

"His status is inherently awkward. Even prominent, well-regarded servants in the manor might have more face than he does. He is also a pitiable person. Your Second Brother, as the elder brother, naturally has to show more concern for him on the surface. Towards him, your Second Brother's attitude stems from his responsibility as the head of the household. But towards you, it's genuine kinship. How can they be compared?"

The Third Young Lady lowered her eyes and said softly, "Who told him to be born from that mistress? If not for him, Mother wouldn't have abandoned us."

"The grievances from the previous generation were caused by Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, and Fourth Master's birth mother. What does it have to do with Fourth Master? He is also an innocent person! If he had a choice, would he choose to be an illegitimate child, suffering the scorn of others?"

Seeing the Third Young Lady fall silent, Jingxiu continued in a gentle tone, "Besides, Mother-in-law didn't abandon us. If not for Mother-in-law, would the imperial family bestow so much favor upon the Zhenguo Duke Manor, allowing us to enjoy wealth and honor? And how would we have the good fortune to visit a royal mountain villa like Lù Yuán for leisure?"

The Third Young Lady's eyes grew slightly moist upon hearing Jingxiu's words. She nodded silently.

(End of Chapter)

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