RATMOFANF: Chapter 2

 Character Glossary

· Li Ling (李陵): The Heir of the Zhenguo Duke Manor. A heroic but cold and stern general.

· Shen Jingxiu / Lady Shen (沈静姝/沈氏): The female protagonist, Li Ling's wife. She has been reborn to the early days of her marriage.

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

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

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

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

· Ninth Princess Qingluan (九公主青鸾): Li Ling's cousin, the daughter of his paternal aunt.

· Eldest Sister-in-law, Xu Wanning (大嫂徐婉宁): The wife of Li Ling's cousin, who manages household affairs.

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Chapter 2: Back to the Newlywed Times

Jingxiu was awakened by the rustling sound of someone dressing. Opening her eyes, she found herself leaning over a bathtub, wearing only a pink silk bellyband, her whole body immersed in water. Li Ling, with his back to her, was putting on his clothes.

What was going on? Last night, Li Ling had clearly abandoned her for his study.

The bathroom floor was splashed with water, and sleep robes were scattered messily about. It looked like they had just been intimate.

"When did you come back?" Jingxiu's mind was a muddled mess as she looked at Li Ling in surprise.

Li Ling, now fully dressed, turned his head. "What are you talking about?"

It was the face of a young man, slightly youthful yet brimming with heroic spirit.

It was how he looked when she first met him, or more precisely, when she had just married him.

What was happening? Was she dreaming? Full of doubt, Jingxiu pinched her thigh hard. The sharp pain told her this was definitely not a dream.

"I'm going for martial practice. Finish up early; we need to go wish Grandmother long life soon," Li Ling said before striding out.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Young Lady, let this servant help you up." Moments later, a familiar figure lifted the bath screen and entered.

It was Ziyun, her chief maid.

Ziyun had entered the Zhenguo Duke Manor with her less than a year ago. When Ziyun's old mother fell critically ill, Jingxiu had sent her home to care for her. A year later, after her mother passed away and Ziyun reached marriageable age, Jingxiu had given her a sum of money and released her to marry.

"How are you back?" Jingxiu asked, puzzled.

"This servant has always been on night duty in the outer room. Why do you ask?" Ziyun brought a bathing cloth and continued, "The Young Master asked me to help you get ready quickly. Today is the Old Madam's sixtieth birthday. After breakfast, we must go to the front to receive guests."

Old Madam Li's sixtieth birthday?

Wasn't that just one month after she and Li Ling married?

She clearly remembered being married to Li Ling for five years, living a stifled life, and proposing a divorce. Now, she had actually returned to the early days of her marriage to Li Ling!!!

Jingxiu felt disoriented and at a loss.

Ziyun brought the cloth to dry her mistress: Her Young Lady's body was truly beautiful, her skin so smooth water droplets barely clung, her waist softer than a willow branch.

Even as a woman, she admired this figure, let alone the vigorous Young Master. No wonder, every night she was on duty in the outer room, the inner chamber was always filled with the sounds of intimacy? Seeing the faint red marks on Jingxiu's body, Ziyun felt a pang of heartache: The Young Lady was more delicate than a flower, how could she withstand the Young Master's robust and endless demands night after night?

"Young Lady, I'll have the small kitchen prepare a bowl of bird's nest for you later." Bird's nest nourished yin and was very fortifying.

Once properly dressed, Jingxiu walked out of the bathroom in a daze, surveying the room. The carved window lattice still bore the bright red double happiness characters.

As she tidied the bed, Ziyun said, "The Young Master asked me to tell you that the Ninth Princess will attend the banquet today. He wants you to go to his study to fetch the Purple Gold Inkstone after you're up. When you see the Ninth Princess today, you are to present it to her."

Just like her previous life!

In her past life,shortly after she married into the Zhenguo Duke Manor, it was also the Old Madam's birthday. That morning, Li Ling had entangled himself with her in bed for a long time before finally stopping. Later, when she went to bathe, he followed her in and pressed her for another round in the bathtub.

After she got up, Ziyun relayed the message to fetch the inkstone. That Purple Gold Inkstone was extremely valuable; Li Ling usually treasured it so much he didn't allow anyone else to touch it. Hearing he wanted to give it to Qingluan, although she felt displeased at the time, she didn't dare to question it.

Thinking back on her past life with him all those years, when had he ever given her a gift?

Jingxiu sullenly went to the study,picked up the Purple Gold Inkstone on Li Ling's desk, and turned it over in her hands.

The inkstone was cast from high-quality purple gold, adorned with two vividly carved pine trees. The edge was inscribed with a line of poetry: "Bite firmly on the green mountain, never relax."

What a fine "Bite firmly on the green mountain, never relax." Li Ling's feelings for her certainly ran deep.

Presumably, in her past life, Li Ling was wary of propriety between men and women and couldn't conveniently give this item to Qingluan himself, so he used her as a go-between: making his wife help him pass tokens to his beloved!

Did Li Ling think she was dead?Did he care for her feelings even a little?

She had been extremely foolish back then. Clearly unhappy, but to curry favor with Li Ling, she had deluded herself into making excuses for him: It's perfectly normal for an elder brother to give a gift to a younger sister; don't be petty.

After fetching the inkstone, Jingxiu returned to the Breeze-Filled Courtyard, her mind full of worries.

The young maid Danzhu came up to her and asked, "Young Lady, the kitchen sent word that the bird's nest is ready. Shall we prepare some shrimp cakes too?"

"Didn't we just have shrimp cakes yesterday? Why have them again today?" Bilü, another maid, pouted.

"Young Lady had osmanthus cake yesterday. You were the one who had the shrimp cakes, you silly goose," Danzhu said, tapping Bilü on the head.

"You know I'm forgetful, and you keep tapping my head! You'll make me even more forgetful!"

While the young maids were chatting and laughing, Li Ling entered.

He practiced martial arts for two hours every morning, a habit unshaken by harsh winters or hot summers.

The young maids immediately fell silent, bowing their heads, lowering their eyes, and respectfully withdrawing.

Li Ling was cold by nature, usually stern and unsmiling, and valued rules above all, so the servants were all afraid of him.

This had its good points; she never had to worry about ambitious maids attempting any bed-climbing schemes. The maids in the manor would detour around him. If they couldn't avoid him, they kept a distance of two zhang (about 6-7 meters). In his presence, they were like mice seeing a cat—utterly docile.

Li Ling entered the room, hung his Green Gang sword on the wall, and went straight into the bathroom.

After a moment, seeing Jingxiu hadn't followed, he leaned out and called to her, "Come in!"

He had many peculiarities and disliked having maids serve him closely. Since their marriage, matters like bathing had been attended to by her personally.

Jingxiu followed him into the bathroom. Li Ling had already taken off his martial arts practice clothes and was standing shirtless, his upper body glistening with sweat, waiting for her to help him wipe down.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu hadn't fully processed this sudden change. She numbly took the damp towel from Li Ling and began wiping his back.

He was tall and well-built, and from years of martial practice, had developed broad shoulders and a narrow waist—a very fine figure.

Unfortunately, at the moment, Jingxiu's mind was in turmoil, and she had no inclination to appreciate this living, breathing image of a handsome man. She merely wiped mechanically.

Seeing she was rubbing the same spot repeatedly, Li Ling turned, took the towel from her, re-wet it in the water basin, and handed it back to her. Then he faced her, spreading his arms slightly, indicating she should wipe his front.

He couldn't reach his back, but couldn't he do his front himself? Looking at him, so accustomed to being waited on, Jingxiu thought resentfully: What was it about such a stinky man, aside from his good looks, that made women fight over him?

"What are you doing?"

Jingxiu's mind was wandering, distracted. Hearing Li Ling's call, she snapped back to attention and saw that, due to her inattention, the dripping wet towel in her hand had soaked the lower part of Li Ling's trousers.

Li Ling glanced at the distracted Jingxiu and said displeased, "Be more careful."

He wanted her to serve him and still nitpicked? This was a habit she had spoiled him with in her past life!

Jingxiu shoved the towel at Li Ling,her face wooden. "We must hurry to the front soon. This wife will go get ready now." With that, she walked out of the bathroom without looking back.

Jingxiu returned to the bedroom and called the young maids to help her dress and do her makeup.

Sitting in front of the mirror, looking at the flower-like, delicate face reflected back at her, and comparing it to the haggard, worn-out version of herself from later years, her heart was filled with a whirlwind of emotions.

To hell with Li Ling! To hell with the gossip and rumors! And to hell with that Qingluan! Since she had been given a second chance, she would live well, for herself.

In her previous life, after losing her reputation and marrying into the Zhenguo Duke Manor, she, who had always loved beauty, stopped adorning herself. She wore the plainest, most matronly clothes and the simplest hairstyles. Back then, she was terrified of the gossip, always worried that if she dressed too brightly, it would confirm the rumors, make people laugh at her, and embarrass Li Ling.

This time, she would not wrong herself anymore.

When Li Ling saw Jingxiu leave him behind and walk out on her own, he felt somewhat displeased. His new bride had always been gentle since entering the household. Today, she actually gave him attitude. Could it be that all her docile demeanor during this first month of marriage had been an act?

After finishing his wash,Li Ling left the bathroom with a stern face. But when he returned to the inner chamber and saw his wife, his eyes lit up.

Jingxiu was already ready. She wore a white under-dress with scattered flower patterns, covered by a outer robe as brilliant as the morning clouds. A light green silk belt cinched her waist, outlining her graceful figure. Her cloud-like black hair was piled high, adorned with a nine-tailed golden phoenix hairpin. Her eyebrows were finely drawn, her lips like cinnabar.

The young woman looked like a celestial being who had descended to earth, as dazzling as a bright pearl, indescribably beautiful and captivating.

Aside from her wedding day when he had seen her dressed in full splendor, she had kept a low profile in her attire throughout this first month of marriage. His new bride was extremely beautiful; even simple clothes and minimal makeup couldn't hide her looks, but she couldn't compare to how radiant she was when adorned.

"Come have breakfast. Don't we need to hurry to the front?" Jingxiu called.

Li Ling made an affirmative sound and walked towards her.

The maids set out breakfast. Jingxiu and Li Ling sat facing each other at the table. Li Ling habitually waited for his new wife to serve him soup and dishes, but unexpectedly, after Jingxiu served herself, she simply began eating on her own, paying him no mind.

Displeased, Li Ling was about to instruct her when, glancing at her peach-blossom face, beautiful yet cold, he swallowed his words and served himself the soup.

"You needn't worry. Since you're new to the household, Eldest Sister-in-law will handle the female guests today. Just stay with Grandmother," Li Ling said, thinking his new wife' unusual behavior was due to anxiety about receiving guests later.

Jingxiu snorted inwardly. How rare for him to actually consider her.

In her past life, she had married into the Zhenguo Duke Manor and immediately encountered the Old Madam's birthday. As a new bride, plagued by rumors, how anxious and uneasy had she been? And he hadn't given her a single word of guidance then.

She wasn't familiar with anyone in the household yet. During the bustling banquet, she was neither guest nor host, as uncomfortable as being tortured. The noblewomen looked at her with cold, mocking eyes. She, who had always been strong-willed, was so ashamed she felt like dying.

In the end, it was the busy Eldest Sister-in-law, Xu Wanning, who couldn't stand it any longer and led her to the Old Madam's side.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

That night, ashamed and angry, she buried herself under the covers, crying her heart out from grievance. When he returned late and saw her like that, he even asked reproachfully, "Why are you crying on such a joyous day?"

Full of grievances, she didn't dare complain to him. Afraid he would be angry, she bit her lip and sobbed that she was homesick.

He didn't have the patience to ask more. Getting into bed, he, as usual, endlessly pestered her.

Now he came to guide and arrange for her, but she didn't need it anymore!

Starting over, she had figured it out. She didn't need to deliberately please anyone. She hadn't done anything wrong, and there was no need to care about the deliberately slanderous rumors.

"Although I am a new bride, I am also the wife of the Heir. For such an important event as Grandmother's birthday banquet, how can I let Eldest Sister-in-law manage it alone while I hide in the back? I will help Eldest Sister-in-law receive guests together today."

This Eldest Sister-in-law was Li Ling's cousin's wife. In Li Ling's generation, there were four brothers: one cousin, one full younger brother, and one half-brother from a concubine.

Li Ling hadn't expected her to be so assertive.

He picked up a shrimp cake and placed it in Jingxiu's bowl. "Fine, then you follow Eldest Sister-in-law and let her guide you."

"As for the Purple Gold Inkstone, this wife has already retrieved it for the Young Master. I placed it on the small table by the couch in the outer room."

Li Ling took a sip of soup and said indifferently, "Hmm, thank you. When Qingluan comes today, you can just give it to her."

Jingxiu lowered her eyes and replied coldly, "I'm afraid this wife cannot do that for you."

Li Ling paused at her words, put down his soup bowl, and asked, "Why?"

Jingxiu replied with a wooden face, "This wife is not acquainted with her. If the Young Master wishes to give her a gift, you should do it yourself."

(End of Chapter)

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