RATMOFANF: Chapter 28

 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.

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

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

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

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

· Zhang Taiyi (张太医): The Imperial Physician.

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Chapter 28: Anxiety Springs from Concern

At noon, Xu Momo came over again. Jingxiu personally decocted the medicine, and the two of them repeated the morning's routine—one supporting the Old Madam, the other feeding her.

After taking two doses of medicine, the Old Madam slept until evening before waking up.

Seeing the Old Madam regain consciousness, Xu Momo was so overjoyed she shed tears. "Thank heavens, you've finally woken up."

The Old Madam smiled faintly. "It's just the same old ailment again. It's nothing serious."

Xu Momo said, her voice choked with emotion, "You've been unconscious the whole day."

Jingxiu hurriedly brought over a teacup and approached the Old Madam's daybed. "Grandmother, have some tea first to moisten your throat."

Only then did the Old Madam notice Jingxiu. "Shū'er, when did you return?"

Xu Momo looked at Jingxiu, then turned back to the Old Madam with a smile. "The Second Madam only returned last night. She came to pay her respects this morning, learned you were ill, and has been caring for you here ever since, never leaving your bedside."

Upon hearing this, the Old Madam closed her eyes for a moment and let out a soft sigh. "Good child, your grandmother's body is still hardy. It's nothing serious. You should go back and rest."

Jingxiu, while blowing on the tea to cool it, said with a smile, "Grandmother tries to shoo me away as soon as you wake up. Are you already tired of me?"

The Old Madam managed a weak smile. "I just hate to see you tiring yourself out."

"How could your granddaughter-in-law be so delicate as to tire so easily?" As she spoke, she handed the tea to Xu Momo and, just as when feeding the medicine, gently helped the Old Madam sit up, letting her lean against her.

Xu Momo fed the tea to the Old Madam. After taking a sip, the Old Madam said softly, "What tea is this? It tastes quite refreshing."

Xu Momo replied, "This was specially brewed for you by the Second Madam. It's been kept warm in hot water, waiting for you to wake up and drink it."

Jingxiu answered, "Qiè shēn (this wife) used chuānbèi (fritillary bulb) and xuě lí (snow pear) juice to brew green tea. It's very effective for clearing heat and reducing internal fire."

The Old Madam patted Jingxiu's hand. "Shū'er, you are very thoughtful."

After finishing the tea, the Old Madam lay back down. She was still weak. Addressing Jingxiu, she said, "I'm fine, don't worry. I just still feel sleepy and need to sleep a little more. You should go and rest too."

Xu Momo asked, "The congee has been kept warm for you in the small kitchen. Please have a little before you sleep."

The Old Madam shook her head slightly and said in a low voice, "I have no appetite."

Xu Momo tucked the quilt around the Old Madam and followed Jingxiu out of the room.

In the outer room, Xu Momo said to Jingxiu, "Second Madam, you've been here toiling all day. Please go back and rest now."

Seeing that the Old Madam had regained consciousness, Jingxiu felt somewhat relieved. She said, "Then I'll go back for a short nap. I'll come to relieve you during the night."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

When Jingxiu returned to Qīngfēng Yuàn, Li Ling had not yet returned. As Ziyun helped Jingxiu change clothes, she said, "The Young Master sent word back saying he's busy today and will return late."

Jingxiu said, "Have them bring me a bowl of hot congee."

A short while later, Danzhu brought plain congee and a few side dishes. Jingxiu ate hastily and then instructed Ziyun, "Wake me at hài shí (9-11 PM). I'm going to sleep for a while."

Ziyun asked in surprise, "You've been watching over her there the entire day, and you're going back tonight too?"

Jingxiu replied, "Although Grandmother has woken up, she doesn't seem to have much energy. I'll take turns watching with Nanny Xu."

Ziyun said with heartfelt distress, "Then you must seize this chance to sleep for a while."

Perhaps because she was worried, Jingxiu woke up before hài shí and got up to get ready by herself.

Hearing the noise, Ziyun hurried into the inner room. Seeing Jingxiu already up, she said, "It's not time yet. Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

Jingxiu replied, "I can't sleep anymore. I'm going over now."

Ziyun hurriedly helped Jingxiu dress. Just as they were finishing, Li Ling entered. Seeing Jingxiu fully dressed, he asked, "It's so late. Where are you going?"

He had left early in the morning and didn't yet know about the Old Madam's illness.

Jingxiu replied, "Grandmother wasn't feeling well today. I'm going to check on her."

Li Ling asked, "Is it serious? Was a doctor called?"

"Zhang Taiyi came to see her. He said it's her old ailment, nothing serious, and prescribed some medicine."

Hearing this, Li Ling felt slightly relieved. "Wait for me. Let me change out of my official robes, and we'll go together."

Jingxiu was already ready. "You go ahead and change. I'll go on ahead."

With that, she walked out of the room by herself and headed towards Ānxī Táng.

Seeing Jingxiu, Xu Momo asked, "Second Madam, why have you come back?"

Jingxiu said, "I'll keep watch here. Nanny, please go and rest for a while."

Xu Momo could also see that Jingxiu was genuinely concerned about te Old Madam, not just putting on a show. She didn't decline further and agreed, "Then please keep watch here. I'll come relieve you after midnight."

Xu Momo had barely left when Li Ling arrived. He went into the inner room to check on his grandmother, then returned to the outer room. Looking at Jingxiu, he said, "I heard from Ziyun that you've been watching here the entire day. Go back and sleep. I'll keep watch here."

Jingxiu replied, "I'm not tired."

Li Ling was about to speak again, but seeing her indifferent expression, he swallowed his words of persuasion.

The two sat in silence, one by the daybed, the other on a chair.

The water clock dripped steadily. Jingxiu glanced towards the inner room from time to time, checking on the Old Madam.

Finally, Li Ling spoke. "That day, Liang Jin came to find me on urgent business. That's why I left in such a hurry without having a chance to tell you."

His voice was very low, and he looked at Jingxiu with a hint of apology in his eyes.

Jingxiu didn't look at him, her eyes straying towards the inner room. She replied offhandedly, "Qiè shēn is aware."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Li Ling paused, then continued, "When I left, I instructed that boatwoman to bring you back once the rain stopped. I don't know if you got drenched on the way back..."

Mentioning that boatwoman, Jingxiu felt nausea rise from the depths of her heart again.

She turned her head and looked at Li Ling.

Her gaze was cold.

After a long moment, she interrupted him. "After the rain stopped, qiè shēn returned. It was nothing major. The Young Master need not trouble himself over it. Let's not mention this matter again."

Li Ling, his sentence cut short and seeing Jingxiu's attitude, stopped speaking. He stood up, walked over to her, and looked at her. "Are you... angry with me?"

Jingxiu gave a cold laugh. "Why would I be angry about that?"

Li Ling sat down opposite her, reached out, and took Jingxiu's fair hand. "That day, Qingluan's life was in danger. I was anxious, so I didn't have time to explain to you."

Jingxiu slowly withdrew her hand, her face perfectly clear and calm. She smiled faintly and said, "The Young Master need not explain. Qiè shēn has heard all about it."

Li Ling's sword-like brows furrowed slightly. He continued, "Someone put crushed peanuts in her food. She's allergic to peanuts. Fortunately, she didn't eat much, so her life was spared." As he spoke, he glanced at Jingxiu's expression. Seeing her face remain impassive, Li Ling added, "Do you know? If a person is allergic to a certain food, accidentally eating it can cause various reactions. In severe cases, it can truly be life-threatening."

He was not a man of many words, yet he chattered on about the severity of food allergies, merely wanting to elicit her sympathy, to make her care for and sympathize with Qingluan just as he did.

This was a classic case of 'anxiety springs from concern'.

She was the one held dear in his heart. The slightest harm to her made him lose his composure, making him abandon his wife, leaving her alone to suffer the insult from that vile woman without cause.

Did he still expect her to care for the one in his heart just as he did?

She wasn't a Bodhisattva.

What did the life or death of the one in his heart have to do with her?

Jingxiu patiently listened until Li Ling finished. Her face still showed no expression. She only replied perfunctorily and faintly, "I'm going in to check on Grandmother."

(End of Chapter)

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