RATMOFANF: Chapter 27

 Character Glossary

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

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

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

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

· Bilü (碧缕): Another of Jingxiu's maids. Young and somewhat naive.

· Xu Momo (徐嬷嬷): Old Madam Li's personal, trusted attendant.

· Zhang Taiyi (张太医): An imperial physician.

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

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

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Chapter 27: Let's Just Focus on Doing Our Best

This night was without wind or rain, and Jingxiu slept surprisingly well.

When she woke, it was another clear, sunny day. Seeing the empty space beside her, she realized she had slept so soundly she didn't know if Li Ling had returned last night.

She called Ziyun in to wash and dress. As the two were doing her makeup before the mirror, Li Ling strode in, dressed in his dark, close-fitting martial attire.

It seemed he had returned last night after all and had gotten up early to practice martial arts.

Ziyun was styling Jingxiu's hair. Seeing Li Ling enter, Jingxiu didn't turn around but said to his reflection in the mirror, "The Young Master has returned."

Li Ling, who had been walking towards them, paused at her words. After a moment of silence, he nodded and said, "Have them serve breakfast. I need to leave early today."

Jingxiu slightly turned her head and signaled to Danzhu with her eyes. Danzhu immediately turned and went to the kitchen to have the meal served.

Shortly after, breakfast was laid out.

The hairstyle Jingxiu was having done today was intricate. Seeing the food was ready, she said towards the outer room, addressing Li Ling's reflection in the mirror, "Qiè shēn (this wife) isn't finished yet. Young Master, please eat first. There's no need to wait for me."

Li Ling did not reply.

Jingxiu said no more, sitting quietly before the mirror, occasionally whispering with Ziyun about which hairpin to use, which floral ornament to wear, focusing solely on adorning herself.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

A good while later, Jingxiu was finally ready.

She was truly radiant, her beauty enough to outshine the moon and put flowers to shame.

Jingxiu walked unhurriedly into the outer room and saw Li Ling sitting upright at the table, but he hadn't touched his bowl or chopsticks. Jingxiu sat down at the table and asked curiously, "Wasn't the Young Master in a hurry to go out? Why haven't you eaten quickly?"

Only then did Li Ling pick up his chopsticks, replying, "It's not so urgent as to rush this moment. Let's eat together."

Jingxiu signaled with her eyes to Danzhu, who was serving the meal, "Quickly serve the Young Master his soup and rice. After eating, the Young Master has important matters to attend to."

Danzhu assented and stepped forward, filled a bowl of rice porridge for Li Ling, and respectfully placed it before him, then served Jingxiu as well.

The two ate facing each other. Li Ling asked, "Was the journey back smooth yesterday?"

Jingxiu nodded. "The weather has been clear these two days, the standing water on the road has dried up. It was quite smooth."

Li Ling scooped a spoonful of porridge and looked at Jingxiu. "I returned late yesterday and saw you sleeping deeply. You must have been exhausted these past couple of days."

Jingxiu lowered her head, eating her food, and replied tonelessly, "It was alright."

Li Ling put down his spoon. "If you're tired, you don't need to go pay your respects to Grandmother today. I'll have someone inform her later."

Jingxiu finally looked up, smiled slightly, and said, "That won't be necessary. I'm not tired. I haven't seen Grandmother for several days; I'm concerned about her too. I'll go see her in a little while."

Hearing this, Li Ling didn't insist further. He took a napkin from the tray held by Bilü, wiped the corners of his mouth, and said, "Then I'll go attend to my duties first."

Jingxiu nodded. "Please go ahead, Young Master."

Li Ling looked intently at Jingxiu for a moment, his thin lips moved slightly, but glancing at the young maids serving nearby, he closed his mouth again, stood up, and headed out.

Reaching the door, he turned back and said to Jingxiu, "I'll try to return early today. If I'm late, I'll send someone back to inform you."

Jingxiu put down her chopsticks, looked up at Li Ling, and said calmly, "Young Master, please focus on your duties without worry. If you are late, there's no need to trouble someone to come back and report it. Your official duties come first."

Li Ling said no more, turned, and left, striding purposefully away.

When Jingxiu arrived at the gate of Ānxī Táng, she happened to meet Xu Momo leading Zhang Taiyi in from outside. Jingxiu's heart sank with a bad feeling.

The only person in Ānxī Táng who warranted a visit from an imperial physician was the Old Madam.

Jingxiu hurried forward and asked, "Nanny Xu, why have you invited the Imperial Physician?"

Seeing it was Jingxiu, Xu Momo let out a slight sigh and replied, "When the Old Madam got up this morning, she said she wasn't feeling well. This old servant was worried her old ailment was acting up. It so happened that Zhang Taiyi was not on duty today, so I asked him to come take a look."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu said to Zhang Taiyi, "In that case, we trouble you, Imperial Physician Zhang."

Zhang Taiyi hurriedly replied, "You are too kind, Heir's Wife."

The three of them entered Ānxī Táng together. The Old Madam was lying on the daybed, her eyes closed, her complexion also very poor.

Xu Momo led Zhang Taiyi forward. Zhang Taiyi took out his pulse pillow and carefully felt the Old Madam's pulse. Once they were out of the inner room, Jingxiu urgently asked, "Imperial Physician, is Grandmother's condition serious?"

Zhang Taiyi stroked his graying beard and replied, "The Old Madam is suffering from internal and external anxiety and agitation, leading to an upsurge of fire. It's not seriously dangerous. However, the Old Madam is advanced in years and must avoid further stimulation, otherwise it could greatly harm her health."

Jingxiu said, "Then please proceed to prescribe medicine for Grandmother."

Zhang Taiyi picked up his brush, wrote the prescription, and handed it to Jingxiu.

Xu Momo saw Zhang Taiyi out, while Jingxiu sent a reliable person to purchase the medicine according to the prescription.

A short while later, the medicinal ingredients were bought back. Jingxiu carefully selected the ingredients according to the prescription, placed them in a medicine pot, set it over the fire to decoct, and then brought the finished brew into the Old Madam's bedroom.

Xu Momo was attending to the Old Madam. Seeing Jingxiu personally handling everything, she felt a complex mix of emotions, truly touched.

Although the Old Madam was noble and privileged, having enjoyed all the wealth and honor the world could offer, she had also had a hard life.

Her two daughters had entered the palace one after the other, yet neither met a good end. Her eldest daughter-in-law, a Princess, was estranged from her son—how could she be expected to serve at the bedside? The second daughter-in-law was even less reliable.

Whenever she fell ill, this Second Madam, who had only recently married into the family, was the first to be able to show filial piety at her side.

Xu Momo took the medicine bowl. "You should let the servants handle this."

Jingxiu didn't say much, only stating, "I've fanned the medicine until it's lukewarm. It's just right to drink now." As she spoke, she sat by the daybed, gently helped the Old Madam up, and let her lean against herself. "I'll support Grandmother. Please feed her the medicine, Nanny."

Xu Momo assented and carefully fed the medicine to the Old Madam sip by sip.

After the medicine was finished, Jingxiu gently settled the Old Madam back onto her pillow and said to Xu Momo, "Nanny, you've been busy all morning and must be tired. Go rest for a while. I'll stay here and watch over her."

Xu Momo wasn't afraid of tiredness, but she knew the Old Madam would be pleased to see such filial devotion upon waking. She said with relief, "This old body of mine really isn't of much use anymore. In that case, I'll trouble you, Second Madam."

Jingxiu replied, "Rest assured, Nanny. Go take a short nap. If anything comes up when Grandmother wakes, I'll send someone to find you."

A little while later, San Guniang arrived. Entering the main room and seeing the Old Madam lying on the daybed with her eyes closed, she asked anxiously, "I heard Grandmother is sick? What's wrong? Is it serious?"

Jingxiu made a shushing gesture, pulled her into the outer room, and replied, "The imperial physician came this morning. He said it's nothing serious and prescribed some medicine."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Only then did San Guniang breathe a sigh of relief. "It's good that it's nothing serious."

Jingxiu took the opportunity to say, "The physician said Grandmother is old and can't withstand stimulation. From now on, you mustn't make Grandmother angry anymore, understand?"

San Guniang nodded, but then seemed somewhat indignant. "Although I've been mischievous and made Grandmother angry before, I'm always better than our royal cousin. She might seem well-behaved, but every few days it's either some ailment or her crying and sobbing, constantly making Grandmother anxious and upset."

"Hmph!Grandmother's illness this time must be because of her too."

Jingxiu looked at San Guniang and chided, "We should compete in being filial, not in upsetting the elderly. She is her, and you are you. Let's just focus on doing our best."

Hearing this, San Guniang felt much better.

Second Sister-in-law had referred to her and herself as "us," meaning they were on the same side.

At the very least, that royal cousin couldn't snatch away her beloved Second Sister-in-law.

(End of Chapter)

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San Guniang @Qingluan: Haha, Second Sister-in-law loves me the most. You can't snatch her away.

Qingluan: Silly girl, why would I want to snatch your Second Sister-in-law? I want to snatch your Second Brother!

San Guniang: Not while I'm around! Don't even think about it!

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