RATMOFANF: Chapter 55

 Glossary

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

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

· Ziyun: Shen Jingxiu's maidservant.

· Danzhu: Shen Jingxiu's maidservant.

· Bilü: Shen Jingxiu's maidservant.

· Lingxiao: Li Ling's attendant.

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Chapter 55: He Said He Would Keep His Distance From Now On

Everyone turned to look. Li Ling was standing behind the screen, his face was dark, his expression indescribably grim.

"Everyone, out!" Li Ling commanded.

His tone was icy, laced with barely suppressed rage.

The three maidservants looked at each other, hesitant upon seeing Li Ling's expression.

Seeing Li Ling like this, Jingxiu guessed he had overheard their conversation. Her heart was in chaos for a moment, but she quickly steadied herself.

So be it. Perhaps it was better to lay everything out today. It would relieve them both. From now on, he could pine for his imperial cousin, and she would focus on being a proper mistress of this noble house.

From this point on, they would go their separate ways.

"You may go now," Jingxiu said calmly to the young maids.

Ziyun, still uneasy, glanced worriedly at Jingxiu before reluctantly leading the two younger maids out.

After the three left, Li Ling kicked the door shut with a loud 'bang' and strode directly to where Jingxiu stood.

Jingxiu also rose from the daybed. It wasn't that she feared him greatly, but with a proud nature like Li Ling's, now that he knew she had been going through the motions with him, he would certainly not let it rest easily. She did not want to be at a disadvantage from the start in terms of presence.

Jingxiu stood before him, a small woman yet radiating a stubborn strength.

Li Ling stared at her for a long moment, then said through gritted teeth, "So, what you care about most in your heart is actually this position as the high-ranking mistress."

Hearing this, a sudden ache shot through Jingxiu's heart.

She had loved him sincerely once, had considered him her most important person. But he had failed her, time and again.

How could she dare to give him her true heart again!

Jingxiu turned her head away,suppressing the sourness in her throat, and replied, "The me of now indeed values this position as mistress the most." With that, she lifted her head and stared at Li Ling, enunciating each word clearly, "The Young Master has his own most valued things too, does he not?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Li Ling stared fixedly at Jingxiu. Hearing her say it with her own mouth, his eyes gradually turned crimson, and the veins on his forehead bulged prominently. Li Ling's hands clenched into tight fists inside his wide sleeves, but in the end, he said nothing more. He turned around furiously and left.

He reached the door in two or three strides, then turned back once more. He looked coldly at Jingxiu and said, "Since you have no fondness for me, there's no need to go to such trouble to go through the motions anymore. I will keep my distance from you."

He looked at her indifferently, with a trace of disdain in his tone. "Rest assured, the position of the Young Master's wife will always be yours. You can focus on being the proper mistress of this noble house."

With that, he pushed the door open with a 'smack' and strode away without a backward glance.

The vast, dark night seemed endless. The winter wind and snow beat against Li Ling as he galloped wildly on his horse. His body grew colder with each passing moment.

At this moment, the scene from years ago suddenly surfaced in his mind: his mother resolutely leaving the Zhenguo Duke Manor. He, only eight years old at the time, leading his younger brother and holding his baby sister, standing at the main gate watching his mother's carriage disappear into the distance.

His younger siblings had cried their hearts out when their mother left. He hadn't cried, but the feeling of peculiar discomfort in his heart was overwhelming.

That was the first time he had felt the bitter taste of being abandoned.

His steed carried him all the way to the military camp. Li Ling dismounted. Perhaps because the wind was strong and the snow heavy tonight, his face was icy cold. He wiped his face with his hand and led his horse desolately towards the camp gates.

After Li Ling left in anger, Ziyun quietly pushed the door open and entered. Jingxiu had already lain down.

Seeing it was Ziyun, Jingxiu propped herself up and said to her, "The weather is colder now. Tomorrow, instruct the night watchwomen in each courtyard to stay alert during their shifts."

Ziyun chided gently, "At a time like this, and you're still thinking of such things?" She walked to the bedside, looking at Jingxiu with a worried expression. "This servant heard from Lingxiao that the Young Master left on horseback."

Jingxiu was silent for a long moment before replying, "He probably went to the camp."

"Miss, the Young Master was truly very angry this time."

Jingxiu said lightly, "Let him be angry. He said himself that the position of the Young Master's wife will always be mine."

Jingxiu believed he was a man of his word.

"Miss, how can you still say such angry words at a time like this? This servant doesn't believe you married the Young Master just for the position of a high-ranking mistress. Search your heart, do you truly not care for the Young Master at all?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"I'm tired, I want to sleep!" With that, Jingxiu burrowed back under the covers.

"Miss!"

"Go now. Don't forget to instruct the servants about the night watch tomorrow." Having said that, Jingxiu closed her eyes.

After Ziyun withdrew helplessly, Jingxiu slowly opened her eyes again. Perhaps it was the winter night's chill; even with the heated floors, she still felt a coldness seeping into her. She wrapped the quilt tighter around herself and half-buried her head under the covers, but still felt somewhat cold.

Perhaps she had grown accustomed to sharing a bed with him every night. Suddenly sleeping alone, she found it hard to settle.

She would get used to it slowly. She had to make herself gradually accustomed to sleeping alone.

Li Ling had made himself very clear before leaving: he would keep his distance from her from now on.

She was certain he would keep his word as well.

An inexplicable restlessness churned in Jingxiu's heart. She tossed and turned, failing to find proper sleep all night.

Having slept poorly, Jingxiu was somewhat listless the next day when she went to the front courtyard to manage affairs. After handling the urgent matters, she returned to the Qingfeng Yuan, intending to rest for a while to regain her energy. Perhaps she was too tired and sleepy, for once she lay down, she slept until the setting sun cast its golden light.

Ziyun came in to help her get up and wash. As she did, she chattered, "It's already dinnertime, and the Young Master still hasn't returned. Miss, perhaps you could send someone to the camp with a message for him?"

Jingxiu gave a cold laugh. "What message would I send him? Begging him to come back?"

As she spoke, Jingxiu sat down at the dressing table and began powdering her face. "If he does not wish to return, even if I begged him daily, it would be futile."

Ziyun wanted to persuade her further, but Jingxiu cut her off. "Enough. Don't try to persuade me anymore. The issues between us cannot be resolved in a word or two. This is just as well. He can be busy with his affairs, and I with mine. The well water does not interfere with the river water."

After dinner, Jingxiu proceeded as usual to review the day's accounts. Ziyun, seeing that the night was deepening and the Young Master had still not returned, grew increasingly uneasy.

The couple had had their disagreements since marrying, but the Young Master had never been this angry before. Remembering the terrifying expression on the Young Master's face when he overheard their conversation, Ziyun still felt a lingering fear.

And one could hardly blame the Young Master. The words her mistress had spoken were truly hurtful. How could someone as proud and concerned with face as the Young Master endure them?

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

After some thought, Ziyun brought a cup of ginseng tea and placed it before Jingxiu. She then reached out to trim the lamp wick, bustling around Jingxiu.

Jingxiu looked up at her and asked, "Is something the matter?"

Ziyun smiled apologetically and replied, "This servant already instructed the night watch early this morning to stay alert. I was planning to make a round later to check if anyone is slacking off, drinking, or gambling."

Jingxiu nodded and continued burying herself in the accounts. Ziyun glanced at her and ventured, "Miss, the weather has turned cold these past two days. I wonder if the Young Master has thick blankets in the army camp."

Without looking up, Jingxiu replied, "He's a grown man; would he let himself suffer? Don't trouble your heart over him. Ensuring the night watch is done properly is what's important."

Ziyun withdrew dejectedly. She called Danzhu and Bilü over and said, "You two, go to the side room and find a set of thick, new bedding from the quilt cabinet."

(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 and The Marquis’s Beloved is a Black-Hearted Lotus (⁠*⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡

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