RATMOFANF: Chapter 53

Glossary

· Shen Jingxiu: The female protagonist, Li Ling's wife.

· Li Ling: The Heir of Zhenguo Duke Manor, Shen Jingxiu's husband.

· Wang Shi: Shen Jingxiu's stepmother.

· Shen Jinglan: Shen Jingxiu's younger sister.

· Shen Xing: Shen Jingxiu's younger brother.

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Chapter 53: Why Stand on Ceremony With Me?

Jingxiu returned to the small courtyard from her maiden days. Naturally, it couldn't compare to the Qingfeng Yuan she shared with Li Ling at the Zhenguo Duke Manor, with its carved beams, painted rafters, and magnificent towers.

However, although the courtyard was small, it was indeed neatly tidied up by Wang Shi, just as her father had said. The winter plum trees she had planted in the small western flower bed before her marriage were already budding. A light frost and snow lay over the yard, and the green brick path had been meticulously swept clean.

She pushed open the door to her old bedchamber. All the furnishings inside were just as they had been during her maiden days. The furniture and decorations had been carefully maintained, clean and without a speck of dust.

The charcoal fire in the wall furnace was burning fiercely, warming the room cozily. She lay down on her back on her old bed.

She was back in her own home, with no need to deliberately humor anyone.

It felt wonderful!

The fatigue from the previous night still lingered in her limbs. She gently closed her eyes and, lying on her old bed, fell asleep.

She was sleeping deeply when she felt someone blowing warm puffs of air by her ear. She opened her eyes to find Li Ling lying beside her, mischievously blowing into her ear. Seeing her awake, he teased with a laugh, "You haven't been back for half a year, and all you wanted to do was come back to sleep?"

Jingxiu sat up, gathering her loosely tied hair, and looked at Li Ling. "You've already finished your audience with the Emperor and returned?"

Li Ling gestured towards the water clock. "It's already well past noon."

She had actually slept for the better part of the day.

Jingxiu quickly got out of bed and urged Li Ling, "Let's hurry to the front for the birthday banquet. Father and Mother will be waiting anxiously."

Li Ling lay on his back on her small bed, lazily saying, "No wonder you slept so soundly. This little bed of yours is really quite comfortable."

Jingxiu patted him, urging him, "Let's go, quickly."

But Li Ling rolled over, pressing his face down into the pillow where she had just been lying. It still carried the faint scent of her hair. Muffled by the pillow, he said, "I want to lie here a bit longer."

Seeing that urging him was useless, Jingxiu lost the patience to argue. She directly stepped forward and pinched his ear hard. "Let's go! Now!"

Li Ling grimaced in pain, covered his ear, and shot her a reproachful look. "Can't you watch the strength? Are you trying to murder your own husband?"

Jingxiu didn't bother arguing with him further. She left him behind and walked out of the room. Just as she pushed the door open, she saw Nanny Zhou, who served Wang Shi, coming to find them. "Eldest Young Lady, the Master and Mistress sent this old servant to invite you and the Young Master to the main hall for the meal."

Jingxiu nodded and turned to see Li Ling emerging from the inner room.

His posture was ramrod straight, his face completely serious, having resumed that dignified and noble demeanor of his. Not a trace of his earlier playful laughter remained.

Nanny Zhou nodded in greeting to the new son-in-law. Li Ling nodded back at her gently and followed Jingxiu out of the room.

Nanny Zhou tactfully walked ahead, while Jingxiu led Li Ling, chatting with him about this and that as they walked.

"Look at that big pear tree. The pears it bears are so sweet. When I was little, I often sneaked away from the adults to climb it and pick pears to eat."

His little wife was very different back in her parental home. Shedding the restraints of being the mistress of the Zhenguo Duke Manor, she had regained the liveliness of a young girl her age.

Li Ling looked down at her and smiled. "I never imagined you were such a little scamp when you were young."

Jingxiu retorted, "Weren't you mischievous when you were young? Were you always this serious and proper from birth?"

Li Ling raised an eyebrow and replied, "I was naturally mischievous when I was little. I climbed trees too, and even fell out of them."

Jingxiu blurted out, "When you fell from a tree, did you tell the adults?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Li Ling looked at her and couldn't help but laugh. Jingxiu then realized he had been tricking her again. Angry, she secretly pinched him and said with a sidelong glance, "For your information, although I was naughty as a child, I never once fell out of a tree."

Li Ling held back his laughter and replied, "Then you are indeed better than me. I used to fall often."

Just as the two were bantering, a snowball suddenly flew out from behind the rockery, hitting Li Ling squarely.

The two stopped and looked together towards the rockery.

A moment later, Shen Jinglan, dressed in red, walked out from behind the rockery. She said to the two of them, "Father and Mother are waiting for you two, and here you are, taking your sweet time being lovey-dovey."

Then, she looked at Li Ling and said, "I've long heard that Brother-in-law's martial skills are exceptional. How come you didn't even dodge my little snowball just now?"

Li Ling smiled politely at her and looked down at Jingxiu. "This is your younger sister?"

Jingxiu nodded and chided Shen Jinglan, "The older you get, the less manners you have. Apologize to your brother-in-law properly."

Shen Jinglan walked up to the two with a smile and said to Li Ling, "Brother-in-law is magnanimous; surely you won't blame me for my recklessness."

Li Ling smiled slightly but did not reply. He looked at Jingxiu and said, "Let's hurry. We mustn't keep your parents waiting any longer."

It was less of a grand birthday banquet and more of a family reunion dinner. No outsiders had been invited, only Shen Jingxiu's parents, her siblings, and the couple, Li Ling and Jingxiu.

Li Ling had already eaten at the Shen residence during the third-day wedding huimen visit, so he wasn't entirely unfamiliar with Shen De'an. Although Li Ling wasn't much of a talker, Shen De'an, being a civil official, was naturally quite eloquent.

When the Zhenguo Duke Manor came to propose the marriage, Shen De'an, though he agreed to the match due to concerns over his beloved daughter's compromised reputation, had been inwardly anxious, fearing she would suffer in such a prestigious family. He never expected that she would take over managing the household within just three months of marriage. Seeing how affectionate his son-in-law was towards her, he felt greatly relieved.

Because he was happy, Shen De'an had a lot more to say. As the father-in-law talked taotao bujue, Li Ling listened respectfully and patiently. Seeing that his son-in-law, though noble, was a humble and polite young man, Shen De'an became more and more enthusiastic. The two, one speaking and one listening, buzhi bujue finished an entire jar of wine.

Seeing her father was drunk and worried that he, at his age, couldn't handle the alcohol, Jingxiu and Li Ling finally managed to persuade and help him back to his quarters.

After settling her father and bidding farewell to Wang Shi and her younger siblings, the two finally boarded the carriage to return to the Duke Manor.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Li Ling asked, "Is your brother, Xing'er, studying at a family school?"

"His father is only a fourth-rank official, and our family has no other branches. How could we afford to run a family school?" Jingxiu explained. "My father has some friendship with Official Zhang from the Censorate. Xing'er studies at their family school."

Li Ling said, "I noticed that despite his young age, he seems to love studying."

Jingxiu asked, "Xing'er is indeed very diligent. But you've only been here for half a day; how could you tell?"

Li Ling looked at her and said, "When I arrived at noon, I chatted with your father and Xing'er for quite a while. Xing'er told me about his studies. He's already studied the Four Books at such a young age. What's rare is that he has his own unique insights after reading."

Jingxiu had been sleeping in her room at that time and didn't know about his conversation with her father and brother. She smiled and said, "I thought you came looking for me as soon as you arrived."

Li Ling shot her a sidelong glance. "You're quite the one for wishful thinking."

Seeing the anger flash in his little wife's almond-shaped eyes, he smiled apologetically and said, "What would it look like for a grown man like me to always be clinging to a woman? Especially here at your niangjia parental home. What would your father think of me?"

Jingxiu finally relaxed and replied, "I think Father likes you quite a bit."

A hint of pride appeared on Li Ling's face. He said to her, "The reason I asked about Xing'er's studies earlier was to discuss something with you. I was thinking of sending him to the official academy to study. The teachers there are more experienced, which would be more beneficial for his progress."

Jingxiu said in surprise, "Is that possible? Our family—"

That was the place where the sons of the imperial relatives, princes, nobles, and generals studied. How could a son from a family of their status enter the official academy?

Li Ling said, "The Chancellor of the National University, Cai Lun, is my former classmate. I will visit him tomorrow and ask him to make an exception."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu's eyes sparkled like little stars. Looking at Li Ling, she said with a smile, "In that case, I really must thank you."

Li Ling pulled her into his embrace. "With me, why stand on ceremony?"

(End of Chapter)

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Translator's Note: check out my other work— My Younger Sister Insisted On A Marriage Exchange Wanting To Make Me The Wife Of A Marquis (⁠*⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡

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