RATMOFANF: Chapter 41

 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.

· Grand Princess Fu Xi (福熹大长公主): Li Ling's mother, a powerful and revered figure living separately.

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

· Ju Momo (菊嬷嬷): The Grand Princess's personal maid.

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

---

Chapter 41: I Really Don't Know What's in Her Heart

Li Ling had sent someone ahead to inform his mother of their visit before they left.

As soon as the three of them stepped into the main hall, Ju Momo came out to greet them with a smile. "The Princess has been waiting for you for a while now."

Upon hearing this, San Guniang couldn't wait and ran towards the inner chamber. Li Ling and Jingxiu followed, one after the other, into the Grand Princess's inner chamber.

The three paid their respects to the Grand Princess. She raised her eyes and saw her children standing before her.

Her son was heroic and noble; her daughter was playful and adorable, seeming to have grown taller in just a few days; her daughter-in-law was beautiful, intelligent, and dignified.

Her gaze swept over the three of them, and a smile appeared on her face. "Sit down quickly," she said to them. "I just finished brewing tea. Your timing is perfect."

Ju Momo brought tea and served it to each of them in turn. When she reached Jingxiu, she said with a smile, "Since learning the method of brewing tea with lotus dew from you, Madam, the Princess has fallen in love with it. Now she can't go a day without this lotus dew tea."

San Guniang took a sip and said, "This tea today was also brewed by Mother using lotus dew, right?" Then, she took another delicate sip and praised with great seriousness, "A light, fragrant taste upon entering the mouth. It's truly excellent."

As if she knew so much about it!

Li Ling glanced up at his sister but said nothing,quietly drinking his tea on the side.

Jingxiu looked at the Grand Princess with a bright smile and said, "When winter comes and the frost falls, this wife will come again to brew tea with the frost collected from plum blossoms together with Mother. It will have a unique flavor all its own."

The Grand Princess smiled and nodded.

San Guniang looked at Jingxiu with admiration and said sincerely, "Second Sister-in-law is truly clever and deft." Then, she turned to the Grand Princess and said, "Oh, right, Mother. Second Sister-in-law made pastries by hand again yesterday and brought some for you today."

Hearing this, the Grand Princess looked at Jingxiu with a smile and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Shu'er."

Ju Momo, standing nearby, also looked at Jingxiu and said, "The Princess really enjoyed the pastries you made last time, Madam. Yesterday, when she had some made by the palace chefs here, she mentioned that the texture wasn't quite as good as yours."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu signaled Ziyun behind her with her eyes. Ziyun presented the two boxes of pastries they had brought to Ju Momo. Ju Momo opened one box, glanced inside, and exclaimed in surprise, "These pastries are exquisitely made."

Hearing this, the Grand Princess involuntarily craned her neck to look at the box of pastries.

Ju Momo quickly brought the opened box of pastries to the Grand Princess and said with a smile, "Look, Your Highness. The Madam has made different varieties this time." Then, she looked at Jingxiu and said, "This old servant sees that the ingredients are different from last time too."

Jingxiu explained slowly, "Last time, I used cooling ingredients like mung beans and lotus seeds. Now that it's autumn, the weather is dry, and one is prone to internal heat. This time, I used dough made from five-color rice, lily bulbs, Sichuan fritillary bulb, and snow pear juice. It promotes salivation, moistens the lungs, strengthens the spleen, and aids digestion."

Ju Momo looked at Jingxiu and replied, "The Madam is truly clever and virtuous." Then, she picked up a pair of chopsticks and said to the Grand Princess, "Your Highness, please try some quickly."

The Grand Princess took the chopsticks, picked up a piece herself, took a small bite, looked at Jingxiu, and praised, "It really is excellent!"

San Guniang, hearing this, leaned forward, reached into the box, picked up a piece, and said, "Second Sister-in-law's skill goes without saying! The best in the world!" With that, she sat down beside the Grand Princess and began eating with relish.

Li Ling glanced at his sister and said, "Didn't your Second Sister-in-law send some to you yesterday as well? These are for Mother."

San Guniang had already finished the pastry in her hand and picked up another piece from the box. She replied to Li Ling, "I finished the portion Second Sister-in-law gave me long ago. Seeing them now has just made me crave them again."

Jingxiu secretly shot Li Ling a reproachful look and said with a smile, "Let Third Younger Sister eat if she likes them. There are plenty more." As she spoke, she stood up, picked up a pair of chopsticks from the table, and offered them to Ju Momo. "If you don't mind, Momo, please also try this wife's humble handiwork."

Ju Momo looked flustered and glanced at the Grand Princess. "How could that be proper!"

The Grand Princess slowly swallowed the pastry in her mouth and replied, "These pastries are very good. Momo, have some too."

Although Ju Momo was the Grand Princess's wet nurse and held a status akin to half a mistress within the Princess's residence, and behind closed doors, she and the Grand Princess interacted without strict master-servant distinctions, in front of the younger generation, she was hesitant to overstep.

Seeing her hesitation, the Grand Princess added, "Go ahead, Momo. There are no outsiders here."

Only then did Ju Momo take the chopsticks from Jingxiu's hand, saying with a smile, "Then this old servant will overstep today." With that, she picked up a piece of pastry, took a bite, and nodded repeatedly towards the Grand Princess, praising, "The texture is truly excellent. No wonder the Princess liked it so much after just one taste last time."

After eating a piece of pastry, Ju Momo's face blossomed into a smile. She looked at Li Ling and said, "The Heir is truly fortunate to have married such a virtuous wife."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Li Ling set down his teacup and said leisurely, "When it comes to enjoying good food, I'm not as fortunate as you are, Momo."

As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Jingxiu, his tone laced with a sour note.

Ju Momo asked in surprise, "What? You haven't tasted the pastries the Madam made yet?"

Ju Momo had watched Li Ling grow up. Although he was now an adult, in her eyes, he was still a child she doted on.

Hearing Li Ling say this, she moved to pick up the pastry box to offer it to him.

The Grand Princess said, "Have you forgotten, Momo? Bo Yue has never liked sweet foods since he was a child."

Ju Momo suddenly remembered, "Look at me, I'm really getting old. I actually forgot that." As she spoke, she set down the pastry box she had just picked up.

The Grand Princess ate a few pieces, satisfying her craving, then pointed to the remaining pastries in the box and said to Ju Momo, "Have them store the rest in this box, and the other unopened box, properly. I'll have more tomorrow."

Ju Momo assented, collected the remaining pastries, and went out holding them. As she passed by Li Ling, she noticed him looking at the pastries in her hands. Ju Momo smiled at him and muttered, "This old servant really did forget that you've never liked sweet foods since childhood."

The corner of Li Ling's mouth twitched. His face darkened slightly, but in the end, he said nothing.

Ziyun was standing behind Jingxiu and took in Li Ling's expression. She recalled the other day when the Heir had wanted to try a pastry but her young lady had snatched it from his hand; he had worn the same expression then too.

She couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle softly.

Then, she saw Li Ling shoot a cold, dagger-like glance her way. Ziyun was so startled she shivered, immediately lowering her brows and eyes, standing properly and decorously.

Li Ling gave her a heavy look, then turned his gaze to Jingxiu beside him.

Jingxiu felt Li Ling's gaze and turned to meet it.

This little woman made so many pastries. Even Ju Momo got to enjoy them, but she wouldn't give him any. He really didn't know what was in her heart.

He, a grown man, wasn't necessarily craving that one bite of pastry. It was just her action that made him feel very displeased.

Li Ling felt resentful. Suddenly seeing Jingxiu look at him, he unexpectedly felt a lack of confidence.

His gaze involuntarily softened, and, rather shamelessly, he even offered Jingxiu a slightly ingratiating smile.

(End of Chapter)

---

Li Ling: I really don't understand. You made so many pastries, why won't you let me taste one?

Jingxiu: My pastries are only for those who treat me with true sincerity.

Li Ling: Do I not treat you sincerely enough?

Jingxiu: Hmph! Think for yourself where you went wrong!

← prev next →