RATMOFANF: Chapter 36

 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.

· Xu Wanning (徐婉宁): Li Xian's wife. Brisk, capable, straightforward, and friendly towards Jingxiu.

· Li Xian (李显): Li Ling's cousin, the eldest grandson. A high-ranking official.

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

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

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

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

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Chapter 36: We Are Husband and Wife, We Should Be of One Mind

Li Ling remained silent for a long while, then sat down in the chair opposite her. "You seem to dislike Qingluan," he said.

His face was calm, but his tone carried a hint of coldness.

Jingxiu looked up, glanced at Li Ling, and smiled slightly. "Why would you say that, Heir? Since marrying into the household, I haven't even met her. How can one speak of liking or disliking?"

Li Ling said, "I remember last time I asked you to give her the purple-gold inkstone, you refused. Now, I ask you to accompany Grandmother to visit her in the palace, and you refuse again. Why?"

Jingxiu sneered coldly. "So, according to you, Heir, anyone you like, I should also like? Whatever your wish, I should blindly obey, is that it? Once I became your wife, I can no longer have my own opinions?"

She paused slightly, struggling to suppress the indignation within her, then continued, "I am also a person. I have my own thoughts, my own feelings."

"Has anyone ever cared about mine?"

By the end, her forcibly restrained emotions were becoming somewhat uncontrollable, a hint of a sob in her voice.

So, after all this, she was still resentful about him leaving without a word that day in the garden.

It was an emergency. Why couldn't she understand?

Li Ling lost his patience.His tone cold, he said, "I'm not asking you to obey me in everything. But we are husband and wife. We should be of one mind."

Jingxiu threw down the account book in her hand. The thick ledger landed on the desk with a heavy thud.

She stared at Li Ling and said, "I would like to be of one mind with you, but that requires you, Heir, to treat me with undivided loyalty first."

Li Ling's face was cold as he retorted, "How else do you want me to treat you? Search your heart and ask yourself, since you married me, have I ever treated you unfairly?"

Li Ling thought indignantly: Why was this woman so unwilling to be content?

He was angry, and his tone of voice was sharp as well.

Both were furious, sitting facing each other across the table, their locked gazes burning with the fire of anger.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Finally, it was Jingxiu who averted her gaze first. She picked up the account book she had just thrown on the desk and continued reading.

Seeing her indifferent attitude towards him, Li Ling's heart was full of rage with no outlet, stifling him until his internal organs felt as if they were on fire.

He couldn't resist wanting to argue with her further, but he saw that although his young wife opposite seemed to have quieted down, her small chest was rising and falling slightly rapidly, and even her slender shoulders were trembling faintly.

The words he wanted to use to argue with her stuck in his throat.

The two were silent for a long while. Li Ling scratched his head and tried to speak. "I... I have a quick temper. My tone was too harsh just now." He glanced down at her expression opposite him and stammered, "Don't be angry."

Jingxiu did not respond, continuing to look at the accounts.

Li Ling regretted his severity towards her just now.

He knew he had a stern face, and when angry, he was even more intimidating. Even his own younger siblings were wary of him.

Had he frightened her?

She was still young and delicate.How could she withstand his harsh words?

Li Ling felt deep regret but didn't know how to ease the tension.

Just as he was at a loss, Ziyun pushed the door open and entered. Seeing the strained expressions between the two, she momentarily didn't know how to speak.

Li Ling, seeing her enter, felt as if he had encountered a savior. "What is it?" he asked.

Ziyun looked at Li Ling, then stole a glance at Jingxiu's expression, and said in a low voice, "The Old Madam just sent someone with a message, asking the Heir and Madam to come over."

Li Ling, not knowing how to reconcile with Jingxiu, looked at her upon hearing this and said, "I wonder what Grandmother wants us for?"

Seeing Jingxiu still ignoring him, he scratched his head helplessly. After a moment of silence, he turned to Ziyun and asked, "Did the messenger say what it was about?"

Ziyun shook her head. "No."

Jingxiu stood up, not even looking at Li Ling, her face wooden. "We'll know when we get there," she said. Then, she went to the clothes rack, took her outer garment, and put it on herself.

Li Ling walked towards Jingxiu with an awkward smile. Reaching her, he rubbed his nose and stretched out his hand, clumsily trying to tie the ribbons of her shawl for her.

But he fumbled awkwardly, unable to tie it properly.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu impatiently turned aside, deftly straightened her clothes herself, and, with a wooden face looking straight ahead, walked past him. She only looked at Ziyun and said, "Bring the pastries too."

Ziyun assented and walked to the table where the pastries were. Looking at the pastry boxes, she asked, "How many should I bring?"

Jingxiu replied, "Take two boxes for Grandmother, and one box for San Guniang." Then, pointing at the remaining two boxes, she continued, "As for these last two, keep them for tomorrow's visit to Mother's place. Have them stored properly in a cool place."

Ziyun called Danzhu and had her put away the remaining two boxes of pastries. Then, carrying the three boxes intended for the Old Madam and San Guniang, she followed Jingxiu out the door.

She made five boxes of pastries. Some for Grandmother, some for Mother, even his sister got a share. But when he wanted just one taste, she refused.

Li Ling followed behind, not too close, not too far. He hung his head, just able to glimpse Ziyun carrying those three pastry boxes swaying before his eyes.

It swayed until he felt upset and confused.

Halfway there, they happened to meet Xu Wanning and the Eldest Master, the couple. Jingxiu stopped, a faint smile on her face as she greeted the two of them.

She had only seen the Eldest Master, Li Xian, once during the family reunion meal on her wedding day. Afterwards, Li Xian had been ordered to supervise water conservancy projects in the south and had only returned to the manor a few days ago.

The Li family men all had good looks, and Li Xian was no exception. He was the eldest among their generation. Although only around thirty, he carried the demeanor of an eldest brother. Being a civil official, his movements bore an air of refinement.

Seeing his elder brother, Li Ling quickly caught up. Exchanging pleasantries with Li Xian, he said, "Elder Brother, you've been busy ever since returning. I haven't had time to visit you yet."

Li Xian replied, "Just got back. There are many duties to report to the superiors. I haven't had many peaceful days at home either."

The two brothers walked ahead, talking as they went. Li Xian asked, "I heard the Emperor intends to review the city defenses at year's end and has appointed you as the commander this time."

Li Ling confirmed it was so.

Li Xian gently tapped the jade-ribbed fan in his hand and praised, "This is a chance to shine. Second Brother, you must grasp it well."

Li Ling said mildly, "I'll do my best." Then he asked Li Xian, "Elder Brother, your efforts in managing the southern floods were a great achievement. This time, regarding the Grand Secretariat..."

Li Xian smiled slightly, mysteriously. "That still depends on the Emperor's intention." He paused, his fan snapping open with a "swish." He waved it twice, leaned closer to Li Ling's ear, and said, "According to internal inquiries, the Emperor should have approved."

The two brothers exchanged a smile.

Jingxiu and Xu Wanning followed behind. The brothers' conversation naturally reached their ears. Jingxiu remembered that in her previous life, during her five years at Zhenguo Duke Manor, Li Xian had also made great achievements in flood control but ultimately failed to enter the Grand Secretariat. As she hadn't been close to any branch of the household in her previous life, she hadn't paid much attention to these matters.

Hearing Li Xian's words now, it seemed the matter was almost certain.

Perhaps in this life, some things would change.

Jingxiu shot Xu Wanning a meaningful glance and teased her in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Congratulations, Eldest Sister-in-law. Elder Brother is about to be promoted again."

Xu Wanning glared fiercely at Li Xian's back and muttered quietly, "If such a womanizer can enter the Grand Secretariat, I'd truly admire the Emperor's discernment."

In her previous life, although Jingxiu wasn't this close to the Eldest Branch, she had also heard about the Emperor bestowing a palace courtesan upon Li Xian. She also heard that Xu Wanning had quite a falling out with this beauty. Later, within a few months, the palace courtesan died suddenly from an acute illness.

When a subject achieved merit, why bestow anything but a woman? Now, Xu Wanning even resented the Emperor for it.

Jingxiu quickly tugged at her sleeve, signaling her to stop. Xu Wanning also realized she had spoken carelessly and reluctantly closed her mouth.

To voice resentment against the Emperor was a serious crime.

But she truly had a bellyful of pent-up frustration that she had to vent.

Jingxiu was thoughtful and understanding. Xu Wanning loved sharing her innermost thoughts with her. She looked at Jingxiu and said, "Grandmother has put you in charge of the household. You'll be quite busy for a while. Will you still have time to come to my place for tea tomorrow?"

Jingxiu replied, "I'll come find you once I finish the most urgent matters in the next couple of days."

"Promise?" Xu Wanning looked at Jingxiu plaintively.

Jingxiu nodded and replied, "I'll hurry."

As they spoke, the four of them arrived at Anxi Tang.

(End of Chapter)

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