RATMOFANF: Chapter 35

 Character Glossary

· Shen Jingxiu (沈静姝): The female protagonist, Li Ling's wife. The new matriarch of the Zhenguo Duke Manor.

· Li Ling (李陵): The Heir of Zhenguo Duke Manor. Shen Jingxiu's husband, a cold and stern general.

· Ziyun (紫云): Shen Jingxiu's chief personal maid, loyal and observant.

· Qingluan (青鸾): The Ninth Princess, Li Ling's cousin.

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

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Chapter 35: Have Her Keep His Beloved Company to Relieve Her Boredom?

When Li Ling returned and found the room empty, he turned back to the courtyard and asked the matron sweeping the corridor, "Where is the Madam?"

The matron replied respectfully, "The Madam and the maid Ziyun are in the small kitchen making pastries."

Li Ling went back inside, changed out of his official robes by himself, and put on regular clothes.

He had been tired all day, but his heart felt light.

Recently, his young wife seemed to have been brooding over the incident at Lù Yuán, feigning compliance and showing impatience towards him. But today, she had personally gone to the kitchen to make pastries for him.

He liked it when she was gentle and obedient towards him. The corners of Li Ling's mouth curved upwards as he sat down and poured himself some tea.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

A short while later, he saw his young wife return. The maid following behind her was indeed holding a small bamboo basket specifically used for carrying pastries.

Feeling pleased internally, Li Ling kept his expression neutral and asked, though he already knew the answer, "I didn't see you when I got back. What were you doing?"

Jingxiu glanced up at him and replied, "I was in the small kitchen making some pastries." Then, she turned back and instructed Ziyun, "Leave the pastries on the table to cool for a while. If we box them directly, the texture will be ruined."

Ziyun assented and placed the small bamboo basket containing the pastries on the table. Noticing Li Ling staring at them, Ziyun said with a smile, "The Madam made all these herself. Would you like to try one, Heir?" As she spoke, she picked up a piece and offered it to Li Ling.

The pastry was shaped like a lotus flower, with layer upon layer of flaky, paper-thin crust wrapped around red bean paste. It looked extremely delicate and, being freshly made, emitted a rich, milky fragrance.

Li Ling took it and asked casually, "What is this called?"

Ziyun smiled and replied, "The Madam calls this pastry 'Lotus Pastry'."

Just as Li Ling was about to take a bite, Jingxiu, who had just come out from the inner room, snatched it from his hand.

"These are for Mother."

Her movement was swift, her delicate face carried a hint of anger, and her tone held a note of reproach.

Li Ling was stunned.

Ziyun hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "The Heir saw the pastries you made were exquisite and wanted to try one, Madam. There are plenty here, enough to send to the Princess tomorrow."

Jingxiu also became aware of her own loss of composure. She explained, "The Heir doesn't care for sweet food. These pastries have honey in them."

Li Ling forced a smile and said, "It's fine. I don't completely avoid sweet things either."

He looked at Jingxiu, then glanced at the pastry she had taken from him.

But Jingxiu placed the pastry back into the bamboo basket and, as if she hadn't heard him, said to Ziyun, "Go check if Danzhu and the others have brought the pastry boxes. I think they've cooled enough now. Let's pack them."

Ziyun, apprehensive, glanced at Li Ling's expression and stammered, "This servant will go hurry them along."

A short while later, several young maids brought the pastry boxes. Jingxiu carefully began packing the pastries into them herself, one by one.

She packed five boxes in total.

She made five boxes of pastries, and wouldn't spare a single piece for him to taste.

Li Ling's heart sank heavily. But then, looking at his young wife's taut little face, he felt somewhat unwilling to be angry with her.

She was still young. He, a grown man, needn't get upset over such a small matter with a woman.

Li Ling stood up and strolled to the desk. Seeing the stack of account books, he flipped through a couple casually and asked, "I heard Grandmother has put you in charge of the household."

Jingxiu, wholly focused on packing the pastry boxes, nodded and said yes, her expression still detached.

Li Ling walked over to her and said with a smile, "Managing the household means you're the matriarch now, the mistress of this manor."

Jingxiu looked up and said, "This wife fears her abilities are limited and she may not perform well."

She was merely offering a perfunctory remark, but Li Ling, hearing her words, opened up.

He said, "You haven't been in the household long, and you're still young. Don't feel burdened. If you don't do well, Grandmother won't blame you."

"Besides, you have Uncle Xiang and Uncle Fu below you. Before, when Second Aunt managed the household, she didn't worry about every single thing either. The two stewards handled all matters and only reported to her afterwards. You don't need to attend to everything personally."

"Uncle Xiang mainly handles external affairs, like the estates and shops. Uncle Fu manages internal manor affairs. If there's anything you don't understand, go ask them directly. Or, if you're worried about being young and unable to command respect from those below, if anyone dares to disobey you, just come tell me. I'll handle it for you. Also—"

Jingxiu, her mind focused solely on the task, finished tying the pastry boxes. She offered Li Ling a faint smile, interrupting him, "I understand. Thank you for the advice, Heir."

Li Ling, in the middle of his incessant talk, was abruptly cut off. He reluctantly closed his mouth and looked down at her.

Jingxiu looked up and asked, "Why is the Heir staring at this wife?"

Li Ling took her hand and looked at her. "Why are you addressing me like that again?"

Jingxiu replied, "I'm used to it. I can't change it right away."

The light in Li Ling's eyes dimmed. He said in a low voice, "Are you still angry with me about what happened that day?"

Jingxiu asked, "What matter does the Heir refer to? This wife does not understand."

Li Ling knew she was playing dumb. Holding her hand, he urgently explained, "That day, it was truly an emergency. I—"

What emergency? Are you a divine physician? Could your rushing over save a life?

Just like in their previous life, when Qingluan was forced into a political marriage, he had thrown all caution to the wind for her too.

She was his weakness.

He was just too concerned about her!

In her previous life,Jingxiu had been trapped by this matter, unable to resolve it. Now, she saw things clearly. If he cared for another woman in his heart, so be it.

Since she had married him, she would establish her footing in this household and be a proper matriarch.

If she couldn't obtain his deepest love, so be it. But the status that rightfully belonged to her, she would defend with all her might.

"I already told you, I haven't taken that day's events to heart. The Heir is overthinking it," Jingxiu said.

Li Ling said gloomily, "I feel you haven't been treating me the same as before lately."

Jingxiu sat down at the desk, picked up an account book, and said casually, "There's been too much going on lately. First, Grandmother fell ill, and now I have to learn how to manage the household..." She pointed at the small mountain of account books in front of her and continued, "Look, just these accounts alone will take me several days to review."

Li Ling stood beside Jingxiu, casually patting the stack of account books. "You can look through these things slowly in your own time. There's no rush."

"A few days ago, I submitted a request to the palace for Grandmother to visit Qingluan. This morning, someone from the palace came with a reply, saying the manor may send two female family members tomorrow."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Hearing Li Ling's words, Jingxiu's gaze moved from the account book to his face.

Li Ling looked at Jingxiu and said, "I thought it would be good for you to accompany Grandmother the day after tomorrow."

"You think I'm suitable?" Jingxiu asked him back, her expression blank.

Li Ling replied, "Why wouldn't you be suitable? According to protocol, women without official titles generally cannot enter the palace. But since the palace has granted this favor, you should go with Grandmother."

He looked at Jingxiu and said with a smile, "You've never been to the palace, have you? It would be good for you to see it. There are many rare and interesting things in the palace. Let Qingluan accompany you and Grandmother for a stroll. She must be terribly bored all alone in the palace."

Have her keep his beloved company to relieve her boredom?

How on earth did he come up with that!

"I'm not going!" Jingxiu replied.

Her tone betrayed no emotion, but Li Ling clearly sensed her displeasure.

"Why not?" he blurted out.

"I don't want to go." With that, she lowered her head and resumed reading the account book.

(End of Chapter)

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