RATMOFANF: Chapter 48

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.

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Chapter 48: I'll Have to Trouble My Wife to Prepare Some Extra Meals for Me

The stars twinkled, and the night deepened. Li Ling sat beside his spacious rosewood desk, engrossed in handling official documents.

Jingxiu pushed the door open and entered, smiling as she asked, "It's so late. Haven't you finished yet?"

Li Ling looked up. Seeing it was Jingxiu, a look of surprise crossed his face. "What brings you here?"

Jingxiu placed a food box on the desk and replied, "You've been busy so late. I was worried you might be hungry, so I brought you some supper." As she spoke, she took out the food items made by Ziyun from the box one by one and arranged them before Li Ling.

Li Ling put down the documents in his hand, his brow relaxing. He said with a smile, "Thank you for your trouble, Wife."

"Eat quickly while it's hot," Jingxiu urged.

Li Ling picked up a piece of pastry, looked at his young wife sitting opposite him, and asked, "Did you make this for me yourself?"

Jingxiu paused for a moment, gave a slight smile, and nodded gently.

Li Ling took a bite and praised, "The taste is truly excellent!" Then, he looked at Jingxiu with a half-smile and teased, "Getting to eat pastries made by my wife's own hands is truly not easy."

Jingxiu didn't respond to that. She reached out to ladle a bowl of milk custard for Li Ling, pushed it towards him, and said, "The pastries are dry. Have this with them."

With that, Jingxiu stood up. "Finish up and go back to rest early. I'll head back first."

Li Ling looked at her, patted the stool beside him, and motioned for Jingxiu to come sit closer.

Jingxiu walked over slowly but didn't sit down. She just stood in front of him and said, "You carry on with your work. I haven't finished sorting out today's accounts yet. I'll still have some work to do when I get back."

Li Ling took her delicate hand and made her sit down beside him. "Another moment won't make a difference. Keep me company for a while."

Jingxiu smiled faintly, freed her hand from his, looked at the thick stack of documents on the desk, and asked, "Are you still busy with the year-end military review?"

Li Ling nodded.

Looking into his young wife's bright eyes, clear as autumn water, Li Ling said, "Once I handle this assignment well, I will request the Emperor to grant you an official title."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Hearing this, Jingxiu's eyes lit up. She looked at Li Ling and said, "I'm still young and lack seniority. Will it be possible?"

In every dynasty, once a woman is granted the title of Imperially Ordained Lady, she can enjoy a court salary, similar to men who enter official service. Her husband's family cannot divorce her, even if she makes mistakes. Furthermore, if she violates the law, local officials have no authority to punish her; they can only report to the Emperor and await his judgment.

Therefore, receiving this title brings a woman many privileges and is considered her greatest honor.

In her previous life, Li Ling had also requested this title for her, after he quelled the northwest rebellion and achieved merit. That was three years after she had married him.

Li Ling said, "As long as I perform my duties well, why wouldn't it be possible?"

Jingxiu gave him a sweet smile, taking the opportunity to sat down closely beside him, rested her head on his shoulder, and said leisurely, "In that case, I'll wait to benefit from my husband's achievements."

Rarely seeing her so gentle and compliant, Li Ling felt satisfied inside. The corners of his eyes curved as he looked at his young wife leaning against him.

After a long moment, Jingxiu raised her head, pointed to the documents on the desk, and said to Li Ling, "Husband, you should get back to work quickly..."

You must handle this assignment well, so you can request that title for me!

That was indeed what she thought,but Jingxiu naturally wouldn't voice it aloud. She gave a winsome smile and said to Li Ling, "Finish up, so you can go back and rest earlier."

His young wife had bright eyes and white teeth. Joy brought a sweet smile to her face, making her look gentle, compliant, and utterly captivating. It made one's heart itch.

Li Ling said with a smile, "It'll be finished soon. Stay here with me for a while. When I'm done, we can go back together."

Jingxiu readily said, "Alright." She reached out to trim the wick of the desk lamp, pushed the documents closer to Li Ling, and said, "Husband, get back to work."

Her every movement released waves of a fresh, sweet scent from her person, constantly disrupting the strings of Li Ling's heart. Fortunately, he was a man of firm will. He picked up the cup of cooled tea on the desk, took a sip, steadied his mind, and picked up the memorial to read seriously.

By the time he finished reading the last page of the memorial in his hand and turned to look at the person beside him, his young wife was already asleep, slumped over the desk.

Li Ling took a cloak, wrapped her up securely, picked her up, left the study, and headed towards the main room.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Having been out socializing and managing household affairs all day, she was utterly exhausted. Jingxiu only woke up drowsily when Li Ling was halfway back, carrying her.

Finding herself in Li Ling's arms, she instinctively struggled and said, "Put me down. I can walk myself."

Li Ling replied, "You were sleeping warmly. Getting down now and catching the cool wind will make you sick." As he spoke, his arms holding her tightened.

Having slept soundly just moments before, she simply stopped insisting. Tucked inside the cloak, she buried her head against his solid chest and closed her eyes, dozing off.

Even after entering the room, Li Ling didn't put her down. He carried her directly to the bed and said, "Sleep."

Jingxiu murmured, "I haven't taken my clothes off yet."

Li Ling reached out, removed her outer garment, took off her socks, tucked her under the covers, and said, "Now sleep properly."

The entire way back, she had been wrapped in his cloak, not chilled at all. Now, inside the warm bed, she felt even cozier. Jingxiu closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

When she woke the next day, Li Ling had already returned from his martial arts practice, tidied up by himself, and was sitting at the dining table in the outer room waiting for her.

Jingxiu glanced at the water clock and saw, indeed, that it was already late. She hurriedly called Ziyun to help her wash, dress, and do her hair. Coming into the outer room, she looked at Li Ling and said, "You've been so busy lately; you should have eaten first so you could leave earlier."

Li Ling looked at her, smiled, and replied, "I'll be drilling troops in the camp these days and won't be back for the evening meal. So, I'll have breakfast with you in the mornings."

Jingxiu smiled at him, a bit embarrassed, and said, "Husband, you are so considerate."

Li Ling stretched out his hand towards her. Jingxiu placed her hand in his large palm. Li Ling held her delicate hand, looked at her, and said, "Since my wife is so considerate towards her husband, I naturally must also care for my wife more."

Just then, Ziyun came in from outside with two young maids carrying the breakfast. Li Ling quickly released her hand, suppressed his smile, sat upright in his chair, and resumed a completely serious expression.

Jingxiu personally ladled soup for him and said with concern, "Husband, you'll be having your evening meals in the camp these days. I'm afraid the camp food might be too coarse for your taste."

Although Li Ling came from a wealthy and noble family, he was a military man. Having campaigned and fought for years, there was no hardship he hadn't endured. Therefore, he wasn't picky about food.

Hearing Jingxiu say this, he replied, "The camp food naturally can't compare to that at home. It's merely enough to fill one's stomach." Then, he looked at Jingxiu. "The supper you made last night suited my taste perfectly. If I can't eat well in the camp from now on, I'll have to trouble my wife to prepare some extra meals for me when I return."

Hearing this, Ziyun, who was serving the dishes nearby, trembled, her jade chopsticks shaking. She glanced guiltily towards Jingxiu.

Jingxiu, however, remained unperturbed. She looked at Li Ling with a smiling, bright face and said, "If it pleases you, Husband, this wife will make some for you every day."

The corners of Li Ling's mouth turned up. Looking at her, he replied, "In that case, I'll be troubling my wife."

After seeing Li Ling off, Jingxiu also needed to hurry to the front hall to manage affairs. Remembering Li Ling's request for her to make supper, Jingxiu instructed Ziyun, "From now on, make him a late-night snack every evening. Don't forget."

Ziyun said uneasily and hesitantly, "The Young Master wants you to make it personally. It probably isn't good for this servant to do it instead."

Jingxiu, straightening her clothes, replied, "It's fine! Didn't you make it last night? And he still praised it for suiting his taste. Just remember to make it for him in the evenings from now on."

(End of Chapter)

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