RATMOFANF: Chapter 46

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.

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

· Xu Wanning (徐婉宁): Li Xian's wife.

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

· Meiniang (媚娘): The palace courtesan bestowed upon Li Xian.

· Kun Ge'er (坤哥儿): The Eldest Young Master, son of Li Xian and Xu Wanning.

· Zhuang Jie'er (庄姐儿): The Eldest Young Miss, daughter of Li Xian and Xu Wanning.

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Chapter 46: Shoulder Massage

When Jingxiu returned to Qingfeng Yuan, Li Ling was already back. Seeing Jingxiu return alone, he asked, "Where is the maid who was with you?"

Jingxiu replied, "I sent Ziyun to take care of something."

Li Ling poured a cup of tea, pointed to a chair, and said, "Come over and rest for a while first."

Jingxiu went over and sat down, took the hot tea Li Ling handed her, drank a couple of sips, looked up, and asked, "Will you be able to free up time on the eighth? The Third Young Master of the Fourth Branch from the Yongyi Marquis residence is getting married and has invited us to attend the ceremony."

Li Ling replied, "We'll see. If I can't free up the time, you can just go with Elder Brother and his wife."

Jingxiu said, "If you're unavailable, I'll go with Eldest Sister-in-law and the others. But if you can find the time, it naturally looks better if we all go, since it's Eldest Sister-in-law's own cousin."

Li Ling nodded.

Jingxiu put down the teacup, raised her hand to rub her own shoulder, and muttered to herself, "Sitting all day, my back and shoulders ache."

Li Ling, sitting in his chair, casually helped massage her shoulders, but chided her, "You, the matriarch, seem even busier than me, the Commander of the Military Headquarters."

Jingxiu shot him a reproachful look. "Such a large household, with big and small matters—there are at least several dozen a day, all trivial and scattered. Did you think it was that easy?"

Seeing how tired she was, Li Ling said with a stern face, "Then you don't need to handle everything personally. You can delegate those sesame-and-mung-bean-sized (small) matters."

Seeing him trying to drag her down again, Jingxiu replied, "Oh, I've just taken over the household, haven't I? It'll get better after a while." With that, she got up and went to the bathing area.

When she came out from the bath, Li Ling was already in bed, leaning against the headboard reading a book. Jingxiu got into bed, lay face down on her pillow, and said in a muffled voice, "Those couple of massages you gave me earlier were quite comfortable. Give me another one, please."

He had just given her a couple of rubs earlier seeing how hard she worked, and now she was actually getting addicted to it.

Have him, a grown man, serve a little woman?

Li Ling turned his head,staring fixedly at his young wife beside him. Just as he was about to scold her a few words, his young wife half-lifted her head, her utterly exhausted little face turned towards him, and she asked softly, "Is that alright?"

A pair of almond eyes, clear as water, seemed to carry a hint of being spoiled towards him.

So, Li Ling put down the book in his hand, and his large hand gently pressed onto her back.

Her figure was slender. His rough, large hands didn't dare use too much force, gently kneading her shoulders, her spine, and her waist, soft as a willow branch...

"This feels really good,"Jingxiu murmured into the pillow, her eyes closed.

Under his massage, she felt her whole body slowly relaxing. She was so comfortable she was growing drowsy when suddenly a weight settled on her—Li Ling heavily pressed down upon her.

Jingxiu turned her head with effort and said with feigned displeasure, "Stop fooling around. Give me a proper massage."

——

Li Xian had just returned from an audience with the Emperor at the palace.He entered the West Courtyard and headed directly towards Chénxī Gé. Halfway there, he happened to see two young maids bringing the Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Miss back from the garden.

Li Xian asked, "It's so late. Why are you still taking the children to the garden?"

The young maids, seeing it was Li Xian, hurriedly replied, "The Young Master and Young Miss wanted to watch the Madam perform swordplay. This servant is taking them back now."

Swordplay?

Li Xian was skeptical, then suddenly remembered that Xu Wanning did seem to know some martial arts.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Born a noble lady, she was utterly ignorant of the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but perversely liked those vulgar pastimes. A wave of disdain rose in his heart. He was just about to lift his leg and leave when the Eldest Young Master looked up at him and asked, "Father, where are you going?"

Li Xian retracted the leg he was about to step out with, looked at his son, and replied, "Your father just returned from the palace."

Hearing this, the Eldest Young Master walked up to Li Xian, looked up at him, and asked, "Father, is the palace fun?"

Li Xian bent down, pinched his son's little face, and replied, "The palace is very fun."

The Eldest Young Master asked, "Can you take me to the palace someday, Father?"

Li Xian said with a smile, "You need an official position to enter the palace. When Brother Kun studies well in the future and becomes an official, you won't need Father to take you; you can enter the palace yourself."

The Eldest Young Master replied, "Father, I can already read characters now."

Li Xian looked at his three-year-old son doubtfully. "My Kun'er can read at such a young age? Who taught you?"

The Eldest Young Master said with a smile, "Mother taught me. I know lots of characters. If you don't believe me, Father, go ask Mother."

Hearing her brother mention Mother, the just one-year-old Zhuang Jie'er broke free from the maid's embrace, toddled over to Li Xian, and babbled, "Father, hold me. Father, take me to find Mother."

Li Xian's heart stirred. Since his last argument with Xu Wanning over Meiniang, he hadn't seen her. He picked up his soft, delicate little daughter and coaxed, "Alright, Father will take Zhuang Jie'er to find Mother."

Xu Wanning had just returned from practicing swordplay in the garden and hadn't had time to change her clothes. Seeing Li Xian enter carrying their daughter and leading their son, she was very surprised.

Since that Meiniang entered the household, he had never set foot in Bì Táng Jū at night.

Xu Wanning put down the sword in her hand, threw back her head and finished a bowl of tea, then looked askance at Li Xian and sneered, "Has the Eldest Master been drinking today?"

Hearing her sarcastic tone, Li Xian felt displeased. But for the sake of the young children present, he restrained his temper and said, "I just returned from an audience with the Emperor at the palace. I haven't even had a hot meal yet. When would I have had time to drink?"

Xu Wanning made a dismissive sound, her face cold. "Since you're not drunk, how did you take the wrong path and come here?"

Li Xian, patience wearing thin, said to her half-jokingly, "What? Is my wife going to push me out?"

Xu Wanning said without any courtesy, "That vixen reeks all over. Since you've touched her, don't come here again. You might not find it disgusting, but I do!"

Li Xian could no longer hold back. Glaring at her, he snapped sharply, "Lady Xu! Could you show some restraint in front of the children? Behave like a noblewoman!"

Xu Wanning, hearing his harsh words, slammed the table with a "smack!" and sprang to her feet. Pointing at Li Xian, she shouted, "You have the nerve to mention the children in front of me? You were away on duty for two or three months. After returning, you only fool around with that vixen. When did you ever remember the children? You don't even deserve to be a father!"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Li Xian's face turned crimson with anger, veins bulging on his forehead. He said sternly, "Lady Xu! If you dare spout such nonsense again, I will divorce you!"

Zhuang Jie'er was still in Li Xian's arms. Frightened by their arguing, she started crying with a "Waaah!". Brother Kun, being a little older and somewhat understanding, came over and hugged Li Xian's leg, saying tearfully, "Father, don't divorce Mother. Father, don't divorce Mother."

Xu Wanning came over, took her daughter, and pulled her son to her. Glaring viciously at Li Xian, she said, "If it weren't for the children, do you think I'd be willing to live with a lecher like you? Get out! If I ever see you set foot in this Bì Táng Jū again, I'll split you in two with my sword."

Li Xian, his face livid with rage, retorted, "Do you think I care about coming here?" With that, he flicked his sleeve and stormed out of Bì Táng Jū in a rage.

(End of Chapter)

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