RATMOFANF: Chapter 4

 Character Glossary

· Li Ling (李陵): The Heir of the Zhenguo Duke Manor. A heroic but cold and stern general.

· Shen Jingxiu / Lady Shen (沈静姝/沈氏): The female protagonist, Li Ling's wife. She has been reborn to the early days of her marriage.

· Xu Wanning (徐婉宁): The wife of Li Ling's cousin, who helps manage household affairs. She is straightforward and capable.

· Ziyun (紫云): Jingxiu's personal maid.

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

· Princess Fu Xi (福熹大长公主): Li Ling's mother, a Grand Princess. She lives separately from the Duke Manor.

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

· Ninth Princess Qingluan (九公主青鸾): Li Ling's cousin, the daughter of his paternal aunt.

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Chapter 4: Li Ling Treats Her a Little Differently

The birthday celebration for the Old Madam of the Zhenguo Duke Manor was, naturally, an extremely lavish affair.

With string music and bamboo melodies, opera performances, and storytelling, the banquet flowed like running water. It wasn't until the full moon hung high in the sky that the guests gradually dispersed completely.

The women's banquet ended earlier than the men's. Jingxiu and Xu Wanning were almost exhausted. Xu Wanning walked while rubbing her lower back, complaining, "It's truly exhausting. Thankfully you entered the household just before Grandmother's birthday. If I didn't have your help today, I'd be half-dead from fatigue."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu, however, was secretly puzzled. She had been with Xu Wanning receiving guests all day but hadn't seen Qingluan.

"It was indeed tiring. But I didn't see anyone from the palace today?" Jingxiu inquired tactfully.

If she said she was completely indifferent about the matter between Qingluan and Li Ling in this life, she would be lying. But her concern now wasn't due to the same infatuation with Li Ling as in her previous life; it stemmed from resentment, or perhaps a competitive spirit.

In her past life, during the Old Madam's birthday banquet, Qingluan had come to the manor to offer congratulations. Jingxiu had only seen her that once. She was beautiful, but her eyes held a faint sorrow, presenting a delicate and fragile appearance.

Such a soft, vulnerable woman naturally stirred a stronger protective instinct in men.

Especially in men like Li Ling.

Xu Wanning replied, "His Majesty sent the Crown Prince to convey congratulations. No female relatives came."

Jingxiu understood. The Crown Prince's presence was on the men's side; she naturally wouldn't have known.

"The Ninth Princess originally intended to come, but I heard she suddenly developed a high fever last night and couldn't get up, so she didn't come," Xu Wanning continued.

In her previous life, Qingluan, being not yet of age and a close relative of the Zhenguo Duke Manor, didn't need to strictly avoid male relatives. Although she came to congratulate her maternal grandmother that time, she only stayed at the Old Madam's place for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before finding excuses to stick close to Li Ling.

"The Ninth Princess has poor health, and her aunt passed away early. The Zhenguo Duke Manor is her only reliance. But now the Old Madam is elderly, and even if she wants to care for her, her strength is limited. The Duke and the Grand Princess are at such odds, so they naturally can't attend to her either. Ah! Though noble as a princess, she is also a pitiable person."

With a cousin like Li Ling, who would risk his life for her, what is there to pity!

It was just a shame she didn't come today. That inkstone of Li Ling's, the one with "Bite firmly on the green mountain, never relax," ultimately wasn't given away.

Seeing Jingxiu silent, Xu Wanning asked, "What's wrong? Why so unhappy? Do you have something on your mind?"

Jingxiu snapped out of her thoughts and gave Xu Wanning a faint smile. "What could be on my mind? I was just thinking, since I've just married into the manor, how should I live my life well to make it truly worthwhile."

Xu Wanning didn't expect Jingxiu to be as clear-sighted as herself. Feeling she had met a kindred spirit, she took Jingxiu's hand and said with a smile, "We women must learn to be open-minded ourselves. Only by not wronging ourselves can we live freely and easily."

The two chatted and laughed all the way back to the inner courtyard.

It was already midnight when Jingxiu reached the Breeze-Filled Courtyard. After being helped to bathe by the young maids, she went to bed. The day's busyness had truly exhausted her, and she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

In the latter half of the night, Jingxiu was awakened by the sound of the door opening, knowing it was Li Ling returning.

In the past, no matter how tired, she would have forced herself to get up and attend to him. Now, hearing him return, she just wanted to keep sleeping.

After washing up, Li Ling got into bed, leaned close to Jingxiu's ear, and asked softly, "Asleep?"

Since she was pretending, she should see it through. Jingxiu kept her eyes closed and didn't speak.

Li Ling lay down close to her, and a large hand slipped inside her sleeping robe.

The fire she had stirred in him this morning had left him feeling restless all day. Though tired from a day of socializing, he still desired her.

After all, they were still newlyweds.

"I'm sleepy, I want to sleep," Jingxiu mumbled, removing his hand.

Huh? She was actually refusing him!

Li Ling's hand froze mid-air, displeasure rising in his heart. Remembering how she had been perfunctory and impatient with him in the morning, his anger flared even more.

He wanted to just pull her into his arms, but he stared at the slender back she presented to him and managed to restrain himself for the moment.

She had been busy all day.

Perhaps she really was tired today.

When Jingxiu woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

Yesterday was the Old Madam's birthday; according to custom, she should have gone to Anxi Hall to pay her respects this morning. She had actually overslept.

Seeing Ziyun enter from the outer room, Jingxiu couldn't help but complain, "It's so late, why didn't you wake me earlier?"

Ziyun smiled and replied, "The Young Master said you were too tired yesterday and told us not to disturb you."

Jingxiu could hardly believe that Li Ling would say such a thing.

"Did someone send word to the Old Madam's place?" Although the Old Madam was generally tolerant towards the younger generation, etiquette could not be neglected.

"The Young Master told this servant that he would explain it to the Old Madam himself when he went to pay his respects."

Only then did Jingxiu feel relieved.

She had been truly exhausted from the previous day's efforts. Although she felt somewhat recovered after a night's sleep, her body still felt stiff. "Prepare the bath water. I want to bathe properly and relax."

Ziyun called Bilü inside. The two prepared warm water in the bathtub, added scented drops, and scattered skin-nourishing flower petals. Everything was ready in a short while.

Jingxiu soaked in the warm, silky water for a long time, only getting out after her muscles and bones had loosened up.

Ziyun brought a bathing cloth to dry her. Seeing the smile on Ziyun's face, Jingxiu asked, "What are you thinking about? You look so happy."

"This servant is happy for you, Young Lady. When you first married, I saw how cold the Young Master's nature was and worried he wouldn't be considerate to you in the future. Now it seems I worried too much. The Heir might appear cold, but he seems to be caring for you more and more."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Ziyun was an observant person. Li Ling's act of not letting anyone wake her this morning was indeed somewhat unusual. Since their marriage, he got up early every day, and she followed suit. When had he ever cared whether she was tired or not?

In this life, if Li Ling didn't go too far, she still had to continue living with him.

Divorce was a last resort. It was disruptive and would implicate her family. Unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn't take that step.

After her bath, Danzhu brought a bowl of bird's nest porridge. After finishing it, Jingxiu lay on the reclining couch by the window and began reading.

She was proficient in the lute, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In her previous life, without her husband's affection and with little social interaction, she had relied on these pursuits to sustain herself through the long, lonely days.

She had only read a couple of pages when she heard Li Ling outside asking, "Is the Lady awake yet?"

"She's awake, she's inside," came Ziyun's voice.

Li Ling quickened his steps into the main room, pushed the door open, and saw Jingxiu wearing a moon-white sleeping robe, her bare slender feet resting on the couch as she read a book. Her half-dry hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

She presented a picture of lazy, delicate maidenhood.

Seeing Li Ling enter, Jingxiu raised her eyes. "Has the Young Master not gone to the military camp? Why have you returned?"

"Many birthday gifts arrived from outside yesterday. Grandmother said you worked hard yesterday and asked me to pick out some jewelry for you." He spoke as he walked towards her.

This morning, Old Madam Li had instructed that the noteworthy jewelry gifted by distinguished guests yesterday be set aside. The daughters-in-law from the two branches and the granddaughters who came to pay their respects were each to choose a few pieces.

When the Old Madam heard from Li Ling that Jingxiu was unwell this morning due to overexertion the previous day and couldn't come to pay respects, she felt not a hint of displeasure but was instead very distressed for her granddaughter-in-law. She asked Li Ling to select a few pieces of jewelry on her behalf, as a token of her appreciation, as the grandmother, for Jingxiu's efforts during the birthday banquet.

Li Ling walked up to Jingxiu and handed her the box containing the jewelry.

Jingxiu took the box and said politely, "You could have had the maids bring it over. Why trouble the Young Master to make a special trip?" She glanced at the water clock. "It's getting late. Young Master, you should hurry to your office. Don't delay any further."

"There's time." Li Ling motioned with his chin for her to open the box.

Jingxiu opened the box. Inside were two fine white jade hairpins, a pair of South Sea pearl earrings, and a pair of openwork carved gold bracelets—all naturally good items, but not particularly rare. However, the blood-red coral bracelet was indeed a rare treasure.

Jingxiu picked out the bracelet and put it on her wrist. She raised her arm, examined it carefully, smiled with satisfaction, revealing two shallow dimples on her fair cheeks.

This was the first time Li Ling had seen his wife smile.

Her lovely, radiant smile was indescribably charming and adorable.

He couldn't help but lean down, scoop up his little wife from the couch by her waist.

Jingxiu was startled by his sudden action.

In her previous life, after five years with him, although he enjoyed intense intimacy in bed, he had never held her like this.

"What are you doing?" Jingxiu asked in surprise.

"It's cold by the window. You're lightly dressed; be careful of catching a chill."

But it's the sixth month???

After a dizzying spin, she found herself deposited on the bed.

Her bath earlier was wasted.

After their amorous encounter, Li Ling got up and dressed himself. He put on his inner garments, then his official robe embroidered with crimson pythons, and fastened his rhinoceros horn and jade belt.

Properly dressed and full of vigor, he once again looked every bit the serious, authoritative official, showing no trace of the vigorous activity he had just engaged in.

"I'm leaving," he said to his little wife, who was buried in the blankets.

"Mmm," Jingxiu replied weakly, acknowledging him.

"I'll be back for dinner. Wait for me."

Li Ling was a man of strong desires. When he was in the mood at night, he sometimes exhausted her so much she couldn't get out of bed the next day. Fortunately, it was broad daylight now, and he had to rush to his duties, so he hadn't been too excessive. Even so, he had still worn her out. Right now, she was so tired she just wanted to sleep and couldn't be bothered to speak. She squinted and merely nodded slightly at him.

Seeing her curled up in the blankets like a little kitten, looking soft and docile.

Li Ling couldn't help feeling stirred again.

But he had important matters to attend to in the military camp; he couldn't delay any longer!

He leaned over,tucked the blanket more securely around her, then turned and left briskly.

---

In the afternoon, Xu Wanning came to the Breeze-Filled Courtyard.

Princess Lanling was hosting a flower appreciation party at her residence in seven days. Xu Wanning was on good terms with Lanling and was naturally invited.

Xu Wanning asked Jingxiu, "Lanling would like to invite you to join us as well. She's just worried you might be unwilling to go out so soon after marriage. She asked me to see if you'd be willing to come along."

Although Jingxiu wasn't close friends with Lanling, they were acquainted. In this life, she wouldn't confine herself within the deep confines of the manor, never stepping out. She wanted to socialize.

Jingxiu readily agreed to Xu Wanning. "I happen to be free these next few days. I'll go to the banquet with you, Sister-in-law."

After settling the matter of attending the flower party, the two sat on the couch, sipping tea and chatting. Xu Wanning happened to see the coral bracelet on Jingxiu's wrist and remarked casually, "Now that's a fine piece. Did Second Brother give it to you?"

Jingxiu took off the bracelet and handed it to Xu Wanning. "Where would he get it? The Old Madam bestowed it this morning."

Only then did Xu Wanning recall the Old Madam having everyone select jewelry this morning.

She herself had overslept this morning and arrived at Anxi Hall after everyone had dispersed. She only heard the Third Young Lady complaining to her, saying she had her eye on a fine coral bracelet but Second Brother had taken it.

It must be this one.

Xu Wanning took the bracelet and examined it carefully. The coral was a fresh, blood-red color, glossy and seemingly dripping with moisture—a top-grade specimen among corals. She said with a smile, "It's truly a fine piece. This should be one of the items bestowed from the palace yesterday."

As she spoke, she looked at Jingxiu teasingly. "Being married makes a difference. Who would have thought that ice block Second Brother could also be considerate."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Imagining the ever-stern, serious-faced Heir competing with a teenage girl like the Third Young Lady for a bracelet struck Xu Wanning as both comical and amusing.

Giving gifts to one's wife was the most normal thing, and besides, the Old Madam had asked him to choose the jewelry for her. He was merely presenting a Buddha with borrowed flowers—taking credit where it wasn't entirely due.

But such an ordinary thing, when done by someone like Li Ling, felt remarkable not only to Xu Wanning but even to Jingxiu herself.

In this life, Li Ling's treatment of her was indeed a little different.

(End of Chapter)

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Jingxiu: You performed quite well today!

Li Ling: Thank heavens, I finally did something right.

Jingxiu:Don't get proud. I'll be watching your future performance.

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