RATMOFANF: Chapter 6

 Character Glossary

· Li Ling (李陵): The Heir of the Zhenguo Duke Manor. A heroic but cold and stern general.

· Shen Jingxiu / Lady Shen (沈静姝/沈氏): The female protagonist, Li Ling's wife.

· Li Xiang (李翔): Li Ling's younger brother.

· Xing'er (杏儿): The maid involved with Li Xiang.

· Wang Po (王婆子): A stewardess in the manor.

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Chapter 6: Men Shouldn't Be Indulged

After dealing with Li Xiang, Li Ling said to Wang Po, "Drive that unruly little maid out of the manor."

Wang Po assented and was about to bow and withdraw when Li Xiang hurriedly grabbed her. "Second Brother, this was all my fault. I beg you, don't make things difficult for Xing'er."

Seeing his brother actually protecting the maid infuriated Li Ling even more. He waved impatiently at Wang Po. "Drive her out. From now on, anyone else who dares to be improper will also be driven out."

"Second Brother, please! Punish me instead, beat me if you must! It really wasn't her fault." With that, Li Xiang knelt at Li Ling's feet, the young man crying pitifully.

Furious, Li Ling pulled him up by his collar, scolding him in frustration. "Look at how spineless you are!"

"Second Brother, Xing'er has no family outside. If you drive her out, it's a death sentence for her! Please!" Seeing Li Ling remain unmoved, Li Xiang wiped his tears and looked towards Jingxiu, his eyes full of entreaty.

He wanted his new sister-in-law to plead for his illicit lover's sake.

Jingxiu's heart softened.

She looked at Li Ling and said, "Although the maid was at fault, her crime doesn't warrant death. Since she has no family outside, driving her out would indeed force her onto a path of no return."

Seeing his sister-in-law willing to help him, Li Xiang looked at Jingxiu with tearful, grateful eyes.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Perhaps send her to one of the estate's farms instead. Just forbid her from ever returning to the main manor."

Li Ling's anger was directed at his brother's lack of ambition, not necessarily at persecuting a mere maid. Seeing his wife speak up, he just went along with it and said, "Fine, as you suggest, send her to a farmstead." Then, he looked back at Li Xiang. "But you must promise me you will never see her again."

"Yes, yes! I promise everything," Li Xiang nodded repeatedly.

"Go now."

His little lover was finally safe. Overjoyed and relieved, Li Xiang, forgetting for the moment his impending hardships in the army and the strict tutorship awaiting him, breathed a sigh of relief.

Reaching the doorway, Li Xiang turned back and said gratefully to Jingxiu, "Thank you, Sister-in-law." Catching sight of Li Ling's cold face, he belatedly added haltingly, "And... and Second Brother."

After his hopeless brother left, Li Ling glanced at Jingxiu and said resentfully, "You certainly know how to win people over."

Jingxiu neither affirmed nor denied it. She walked to the dressing table and began removing her makeup, preparing to wash up.

Seeing her indifferent attitude towards him, Li Ling remembered their earlier argument.

This little wife of his was becoming increasingly bold in defying him!

"Did you thoroughly study the 'Admonitions for Women' and 'Lessons for Women' during your maiden days?" Li Ling asked, sitting in a chair and watching his wife's back as she removed her makeup.

Jingxiu immediately understood his implication. She slowly turned around and replied, "Naturally, I have studied them thoroughly. Would you like this wife to recite them for you, Heir?"

Seeing her nonchalant expression, Li Ling said displeased, "Then you naturally understand that gentleness and obedience are a woman's virtues."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Mmm, this wife knows," Jingxiu responded flatly, then turned back around and continued removing her makeup.

Li Ling felt like he had punched cotton; his frustration mounted.

Watching his little wife's back as she unhurriedly attended to her own tasks, completely disregarding him, his anger flared.

"Shen Shi! If you continue to be this insolent, don't blame me for disciplining you according to the family rules!"

Hearing Li Ling threaten her with family punishment, Jingxiu felt a stir of panic. He was her husband; he truly had that authority.

"You wouldn't dare—" she pouted.

"Just try me," Li Ling said with a cold face.

Li Ling was not one who knew how to be gentle with women. If he really decided to punish her according to the family rules, he probably wouldn't go easy.

Jingxiu was indeed somewhat afraid, but she quickly came to her senses: this was their first conflict since their marriage. She couldn't show weakness. If she let herself be intimidated into submission now, she would just repeat the pattern of her previous life, forever suppressed by Li Ling.

She needed to curb the thinking of a traditional man like Li Ling!

Men shouldn't be indulged!

Having made up her mind,Jingxiu slowly turned around again. Looking at Li Ling without shame or anger, she replied, "Might I ask how this wife has been insolent, Heir? This wife has clearly explained her reasons for not being able to accompany you to General Zhou's manor."

She paused, then continued, "The family rules of the Zhenguo Duke Manor do not include a clause stating that a wife must be punished for not accompanying her husband to social engagements."

Her long eyelashes fluttered, her apricot eyes looking at Li Ling with a hint of a mocking smile. "If my husband wishes to punish me using the family rules, you must provide a proper justification."

Li Ling had originally been irritated and frustrated by his disappointing brother. Seeing his wife's defiance in front of him, he had spoken of punishment in a moment of anger.

He had only meant to scare her.

Confronted with his wife's seemingly reasonable arguments, he was left momentarily speechless. He truly didn't know how to handle her now.

Li Ling softened his tone and argued, "A wife's disobedience to her husband is a failure of virtue. You should study the rules properly."

According to custom, a new bride should have her mother-in-law set the rules and guide her. But the situation in their manor was special. His princess mother didn't even bother with her own children most of the time, let alone have the spare energy to instruct a daughter-in-law.

Therefore, it was understandable that his new bride's grasp of the rules might not be perfect.

Seeing his wife sullenly fall silent again, he stood up and walked over to her. He patiently advised, "You are my wife. In the future, this household will be entrusted to you for management. As the future matriarch and a model for those below, you naturally must be well-versed in etiquette and rules."

"How about this: in a few days, I will request an etiquette matron from the Palace Ceremonial Directorate. They instruct the imperial consorts and princesses, so their etiquette is naturally comprehensive. You can learn properly from them."

Was he finding fault with her? Comparing her to the women of the palace?

Hmph!The one he probably considered perfectly well-mannered was Qingluan, wasn't she?

Jingxiu's face darkened. She suddenly turned around, her eyes filled with anger, and snapped at Li Ling without any courtesy, "Since the Heir finds the women of the palace so understanding of rules and etiquette, why didn't you marry a princess instead? Why did you have to marry me?"

This was the first time Li Ling had seen his wife lose her temper. Hearing her utter such nonsensical words left him momentarily at a loss. He didn't even know which of his words had angered her so.

She just knows he's thinking about Qingluan!

Seeing him silent, Jingxiu fumed inwardly.

Seeing his wife's small face flushed red with anger, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with rage, Li Ling lost any desire to continue arguing with her. He simply stood silently before her.

Jingxiu was full of rage. Li Ling wore a troubled expression. Husband standing, wife sitting—to an unknowing observer from outside, it might look like the man had done something wrong and was being severely scolded by his wife.

The two confronted each other for a while. Seeing her slender shoulders shaking with anger, Li Ling, feeling helpless, rubbed his nose and said, "If you don't want to learn, I won't force you. Why get so angry?"

Jingxiu ignored him. She turned back to the bronze mirror and began noisily removing the hairpins and ornaments from her hair.

Anger made her hands clumsy. The intricate work of a hollow gold hairpin got tangled in the hair at the back. Frustrated, Jingxiu tried to pull it out. Because it was at the back and she couldn't see clearly in the mirror, the more force she used, the more tangled it became.

Seeing her struggle, Li Ling moved closer to help her remove it. Just as he approached, Jingxiu, in her annoyance, gave a sharp tug. The hairpin came free, along with a few strands of hair, but the sharp end of the pin happened to scrape against Li Ling, who was leaning over.

A sharp pain shot through Li Ling's neck. He couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath, instinctively touching the side of his neck. His fingers came away stained with a trace of fresh red.

Jingxiu forgot her anger in an instant. She quickly stood up to look at the wound on Li Ling's neck. There was a cut about half a foot long on the side of his neck. It wasn't deep, but it was bleeding.

Li Ling shot a helpless, exasperated look at his willful little new bride.

Jingxiu shrugged, giving him an awkward smile. Searching for words, she said, "The Heir has experienced countless battles, seen mountains of blades and seas of fire on the battlefield. This... this little injury... is nothing, right?"

Was that the same thing?

She had hurt him and was actually standing there laughing heartlessly. Li Ling was so angry he genuinely felt like spanking her.

But with her delicate little frame, how could she withstand even one slap from him? He definitely couldn't bring himself to hit her.

But he was truly furious with her.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Shrew!"

Gritting his teeth, Li Ling spat out these words and stormed out of the room in a huff.

(End of Chapter)

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Li Ling (feeling wronged): You made me bleed! Waaah--

Jingxiu: Serves you right! Let's see if you dare be harsh with me again.

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