RATMOFANF: Chapter 20

 Character Glossary

· Li Ling (李陵), style name Bóyuē (伯约): The Heir of the Zhenguo Duke Manor.

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

·Chang Gongzhu (长公主): The Princess, Li Ling's mother.

·San Guniang (三姑娘): The Third Young Lady, Li Ling's younger sister.

·Ziyun (紫云): Shen Jingxiu's personal maidservant.

·Ju Momo (菊嬷嬷): The Princess's personal maid.

---

Chapter 20: Like Glue and Lacquer

Newlyweds, stuck together like glue and lacquer.

It wasn't until a knocking sound came from outside, followed by Ziyun's tentative voice—"Young Master, Madam, the Princess has sent word, asking you to join her for the morning meal"—that the couple was interrupted.

Jingxiu hurriedly pushed Li Ling, urging him, "Get up quickly, we mustn't keep Mother waiting."

Only then did the two rise. After they had made themselves presentable, Jingxiu called Ziyun in to prepare water for washing.

The sun was already high in the sky. The Princess had sent for the two of them earlier, but Ziyun, waiting in the outer room, had heard the continuous sounds of amorous activity from within.

It really wasn't a good time to disturb.

Ziyun had been so anxious she felt like fire was burning the roof. It was only because the hour was truly late that she finally blushed and called out.

When the two arrived at the Princess's Yàsòng Jū, sure enough, the Princess had been waiting for them for some time. Even the Third Young Lady, who was usually the last to arrive, was already there.

Seeing the two, the Third Young Lady exclaimed, "I'm usually the one who loves to be late. I never thought Second Brother would be late too."

Li Ling's expression remained fairly composed as he replied, "You certainly weren't late this morning."

Having rarely caught her elder brother at a disadvantage, the Third Young Lady wouldn't let it go. "I arrived early! Mother and I have been waiting for you for almost a shíchen (two-hour period)." She then looked at Jingxiu. "Second Sister-in-law is never late; today she was held back by you."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Since the family banquet where the Third Young Lady had spoken disrespectfully of the Fourth Master, Li Ling had been stern with her to teach her a lesson. Today, intending to ease the tension, he smiled and coaxed her, "Should the magistrates be allowed to set fires while the common people are forbidden even to light lamps? You are late every single time, yet you make such a fuss the one time I am late."

The Third Young Lady pouted and appealed to the Princess. "Mother, look! Second Brother was clearly the one who was late, yet he turns the tables on me."

"I told you,he just loves to bully me."

The Princess smiled and mediated, "Alright, alright, your Second Brother is just teasing you. Weren't you just saying you were hungry? Let's eat." She then gestured to Li Ling and Jingxiu. "You two, come sit down."

After the morning meal, the Princess brought up with Jingxiu the matter of brewing tea with hélù (lotus dew) that they had discussed the previous day.

Jingxiu asked Ju Momo, "Was the hélù gathered this morning?"

Ju Momo replied with a smile, "This old servant had them gather it early this morning. We collected two full jars. They have been sealed and are settling in the sun."

The Princess asked, "Has it been a shíchen yet?"

Ju Momo replied, "It has."

The Princess said eagerly, "Then fetch it quickly."

Shortly after, a maid brought the jar of dew. The Princess took it, examined it, and then handed it to Jingxiu. "What do you think? Has it settled well enough to use?"

Jingxiu took it, looked it over carefully, then brought it closer to smell it. "Replying to Mother, this hélù has settled quite well. The tea brewed from it will certainly be exceptionally fragrant and mellow."

"Then come with me to the tea room quickly," the Princess said eagerly, calling to Jingxiu.

"I want to come too!" The Third Young Lady wasn't particularly interested in the art of tea, but seeing her mother and Jingxiu so enthusiastic, she cheerfully insisted on joining.

The Princess looked at Li Ling, who had been silent. "Some fine horses were sent as tribute from the Western Regions recently. I had them kept in the Bǎi Mǎ Yuán. It's rare for you to have leisure today; have someone take you later to select a few."

Li Ling replied, "Mother, there's no need to trouble yourself over me. I will go out for a stroll by myself later."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The Princess took Jingxiu and the Third Young Lady into the tea room. The room was furnished with simple elegance: the walls adorned with authentic works by famous masters of successive dynasties, the tea table and chairs crafted from high-quality golden nanmu wood, and the various tea utensils were exceedingly refined.

After washing her hands, Jingxiu carefully filtered the settled hélù through gauze three times. She then used the cháwù (tea stove) to boil the water, transferred it to a chádǐng (tea cauldron) to let it cool, then poured it back into the cháwù to boil again, repeating this process multiple times.

The Princess watched Jingxiu boil the water while skillfully washing the tea leaves herself.

The two occasionally spoke softly to each other, at other times each expressing their own views.

Unknowingly, a shíchen passed.

The Third Young Lady had initially waited with curiosity and patience, but after sitting idly for a long time without any tea appearing, she grew restless and couldn't help complaining, "Why is it so slow? If Mother and Sister-in-law brew tea like this, I'm afraid I'll die of thirst waiting here!"

The Princess looked at her impatient daughter. "Why do you lack patience in everything you do? You should learn from your Second Sister-in-law, to be able to settle your heart and mind."

The Third Young Lady muttered, "I couldn't do it." Then, staring at the Princess, she asked, "Was Mother like Second Sister-in-law at her age?"

The Princess let out a barely perceptible slight sigh. "I also lacked patience when I was young. Now that I'm old, I've changed."

"Then I must take after Mother?"

The Princess said,"You are my daughter, of course you are like me."

"But everyone says I resemble Father," the Third Young Lady said unintentionally.

Hearing this, the Princess's hands, which had been busy, paused briefly. Her face darkened.

Jingxiu, standing nearby, smiled and changed the subject. "Mother, look, the tea is slowly changing color. When the tea water becomes a clear, light yellow, the tea will be ready."

The Third Young Lady, aware of her slip of the tongue, also chimed in, "After all this effort, we'll finally get to drink it."

"Second Brother must have gone to the stables to choose a horse by himself.What a pity he misses out on this treat."

Just as she said this, Li Ling strode in. "Who says I miss out? Isn't my timing perfect?"

The Third Young Lady, not expecting her brother to return, teased him with a smile, "I thought you'd be stuck there with those horses."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Li Ling replied, "No matter how good the horses are, they can't compare to the fragrance of tea."

While the two were bantering, Jingxiu had already poured the tea. She first offered a cup to the Princess, then gave cups to Li Ling and the Third Young Lady, before finally picking up a cup herself to savor slowly.

"Mmm, truly excellent!" the Princess praised after taking a sip.

Li Ling also savored it carefully. "What tea is this? It has such a clean, fragrant taste."

The Third Young Lady didn't understand tea and couldn't discern anything special, but she put on a knowledgeable face and said to Li Ling, "Count yourself lucky. This was brewed by Mother and Second Sister-in-law using dew from lotus leaves. It took a great deal of effort—of course it's fragrant!"

As she sipped her tea, the Princess said to Jingxiu, "This method of brewing tea is truly wonderful. Tomorrow I'll have them gather more hélù."

"But I'm afraid it might rain tomorrow," Jingxiu replied, looking at the sky outside.

The Princess also looked outside and, indeed, saw dark clouds drifting in the misty sky. She said, as if to herself, "It's going to rain again. What a pity."

Jingxiu said, "It's alright. We can gather more after the rain stops."

Li Ling said, "I saw a boat on the lake earlier, its design extremely unique. Did Mother have it newly built?"

The Princess nodded. "That was built by craftsmen from Jiangnan on the Emperor's command and shipped here. Only three were made in total. One is kept here, one was given to the Crown Prince, and another was given to the Prince of Jin."

Putting down her teacup, the Princess looked at Li Ling, then turned her gaze to Jingxiu. "Bóyuē rarely has free time today. You should go take that boat out on the lake later."

"Wonderful! I want to go too!" Before Li Ling could agree, the Third Young Lady exclaimed eagerly.

The Princess said, "Why would you tag along? This Princess will take you horseback riding later."

"I want to go boating with Second Sister-in-law!"

Ju Momo signaled to the Third Young Lady with her eyes. "Overcast days are for riding; sunny days are for boating. It's rare without sun today. Among the new horses brought to the stables, there's a fine steed that's pure white all over. Doesn't the Third Young Lady want to see it?"

"Yes," the Princess said. "This Princess originally intended to give that horse to you. I'll take you to see it later."

After all that talk, the point was simply that they didn't want her to go boating!

Though young, the Third Young Lady understood a thing or two about matters between men and women. She agreed sullenly, "Alright then."

Li Ling subtly breathed a sigh of relief, his stern expression softening.

"I knew it! The moment you show up, you snatch her away from me!" The Third Young Lady shot Li Ling a glare, slightly angry. "Then tomorrow I absolutely must have Second Sister-in-law accompany me on the lake!"

Ju Momo smiled and said vaguely, "Alright, alright, my dear Third Young Lady. Tomorrow the Young Master will be on duty. The Second Madam will still be yours to cling to."

(End of Chapter)

---

Third Young Lady: I knew it! The moment you come, you're bound to snatch her away from me!

Li Ling: This is my wife.

Princess: Shū'er, accompany this Princess to brew tea.

Jingxiu: Yes, Mother.

Princess(smugly): Let's see who can outdo this Princess when it comes to snatching someone!!

← prev next →