RATMOFANF: Chapter 21

 Character Glossary

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

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

· Chuán Pó (船婆): The boatwoman.

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Chapter 21: Let Me Catch a Fish for You

Li Ling led Jingxiu away from Yǎsòng Jū (Elegant Ode Residence) and towards the lake shore.

The steward in charge of the lake had already received the order and had someone row the boat from the middle of the lake to the shore.

Li Ling helped Jingxiu onto the boat.

The boatwoman had seen this handsome Heir before, but this was her first time seeing his wife.

With just one glance at Jingxiu, she was stunned speechless.

Most of the servants working here had come from the palace, and this boatwoman was no exception. Although she had been a lowly maid in the palace, she had still spent the better part of her life there and had seen countless beauties of all kinds.

But none were more stunning than the Heir's wife before her.

To say this young lady looked like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens was no exaggeration at all.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"No service is needed here. You may go," Li Ling instructed the boatwoman.

Only then did the boatwoman snap out of her daze, hurriedly shifting her gaze away from Jingxiu. "This old servant was ordered to attend to the Young Master and Madam properly," she said, apprehensively.

Li Ling took the bamboo punt pole. "This Heir knows how to pole a boat. I will manage it myself."

The old woman urgently protested, "Such rough work should be left to this old servant." Even as she spoke, her eyes kept darting to survey the "celestial beauty" standing at the bow of the boat.

Li Ling stood at the bow. Though silent, the look he directed at the old woman turned cold.

Seeing the Heir's unfriendly expression, the old woman finally relinquished her hold. She replied with a forced, ingratiating smile, "Since the Young Master has no need for this old servant, I shall take my leave."

With that, the old woman disembarked awkwardly. As she was about to step onto the shore, she still couldn't resist looking back at Jingxiu.

Such a beauty—the more one looked, the more one wanted to look, never getting one's fill.

It was just too bad the Young Master wouldn't let her serve on the boat; otherwise, she could have feasted her eyes to her heart's content. Muttering to herself, the boatwoman, in her inattention, caught her foot on the gunwale while disembarking.

"Grandmother, be careful!" Jingxiu hurriedly called out.

Hearing Jingxiu's warning, the old woman quickly grabbed the mast, staggering but managing not to fall.

Her heart still racing from the fright, she looked at Jingxiu, her face crinkling into a smile like a chrysanthemum. "Thank you for the warning, Madam, thank you," she replied effusively.

"You are too kind, Grandmother," Jingxiu said to her with a slight smile.

A person who looked like a celestial maiden, with a voice even more pleasant than an oriole's song, and so kind-hearted too.

Such a "celestial beauty" was truly endearing.

After reaching the shore, the boatwoman still couldn't resist looking back towards the boat.

It was just a pity that once Li Ling saw she had left the boat, he pushed off and positioned his tall frame squarely in front of the celestial beauty, blocking her completely.

She couldn't steal another glance even if she wanted to.

The boat was exquisitely crafted and moved very steadily. Being new, a faint scent of wood still lingered around the bow.

The lake water was so clear you could see the bottom. The boat moved slowly across the sparkling, rippling surface. The various fish reared in the lake, accustomed to being fed, followed the boat in a competitive swarm.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Sitting at the bow, watching the shimmering green waves, Jingxiu suddenly remembered that she and Li Ling had first met in the water.

That year during the Dragon Boat Festival, she was enjoying the lake on a painted pleasure boat with her father, stepmother, younger brother, and sister. Her younger sister had pulled her to the bow to watch the fish when, unexpectedly, the boat's railing gave way. Her sister nearly fell into the water. She reacted swiftly and caught her sister, but somehow, she herself fell into the lake.

She didn't know how to swim. Panic-stricken, she flailed wildly in the water when, in her dazed state, she glimpsed someone swimming towards her. Then, a strong, powerful arm firmly held her, half-lifting her out of the water. She gasped for air. Once her life was no longer in immediate danger, she realized the person holding her was a man, and in her panic, her arms were wrapped around his neck.

She quickly let go, but her heart felt as if it had plunged into an ice cellar.

She had been rescued by a man, in such a manner.

Her reputation!

She was a well-known young lady of good family in Cháng'ān. After such an incident, how was she supposed to live on?

She was only sixteen. Her life was utterly ruined because of this accident!

Afterwards, as expected, the story of her falling into the water and being rescued by the Heir of the Zhenguo Duke Manor became the hottest gossip in Cháng'ān. All sorts of rumors ran rampant.

She stayed behind closed doors all day, even fell seriously ill because of it. Her heart thought: Why did he save her? It would have been better to let her drown in the lake.

Back then, young and proud, she had genuinely wished for death.

Unexpectedly, not long after, someone from the Zhenguo Duke Manor came—to propose marriage.

Her parents naturally had no reason to refuse.

In terms of family status, it was a genuine case of her marrying up.

If not for this incident, she could never have married into such a prominent family.

Some, jealous of her misfortune turning into fortune, deliberately slandered her reputation, saying she fell into the water on purpose, scheming to entrap Li Ling.

She was deeply hurt when she heard this. Back then, she thought that if the Zhenguo Duke Manor hadn't proposed, if Li Ling hadn't married her, she truly couldn't have gone on living.

Those rumors and gossip would have been the death of her.

Back then, she felt immensely grateful to Li Ling. She thought to herself: Since Li Ling was willing to take responsibility and marry her, she would be good to him, be perfectly obedient and good to him.

He had saved her. Twice.

It was just a pity that, in the end, in her previous life, she still hadn't managed to be with him without any regrets or resentment.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"What are you thinking about? So lost in thought." The boat had reached the center of the lake. Li Ling set down the pole, walked over to Jingxiu, and sat down close beside her.

Jingxiu turned her head, looked at him, and smiled. "Nothing much."

Li Ling saw her clear, almond-shaped eyes were glistening moistly. He drew her into his embrace and, gazing at the boundless lake, asked as if speaking to himself, "Has marrying me... not brought you happiness?"

Jingxiu lifted her head from his chest and looked at him. "Husband, why do you say that?"

Li Ling turned his gaze to his little wife. "It seems to me you always have a weight on your mind."

In this life, he actually cared about her this much.

In her previous life, she was gloomy and unhappy every day, even more melancholic than now, and he had never noticed.

To be fair, Li Ling had treated her quite well in this life. She shouldn't remain immersed in the accumulated resentment from her previous life.

It wouldn't be fair to Li Ling.

Nor could she herself find joy that way.

One must always look forward.

"Husband, you are a pillar of strength, a truly good man. You are considerate and protective of me. Marrying you has not been unhappy. On the contrary, I feel very fortunate," Jingxiu said, resting her head on his shoulder.

Hearing this, the corners of Li Ling's mouth curved upwards. The arm holding her tightened slightly, but he couldn't find the right words to reply.

He was silent for a long while, then suddenly said, "The carp in this lake are the most delicious. Let me catch one for you to eat."

With that, Li Ling got up and went into the cabin. A moment later, he returned with a fishing rod. His tall, graceful figure stood before Jingxiu, a trace of excitement appearing on his resolute, handsome face. His burning gaze fixed on her as he said, "Wait for me. I'll catch a fish for you right now."

His demeanor and words actually carried a hint of childish eagerness.

(End of Chapter)

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Li Ling: For you, I would pluck the moon from the highest heaven, or catch a fish from the deepest lake.

Jingxiu: I want neither the moon nor the fish. I only want you to treat me with true sincerity.

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