RATMOFANF: Chapter 65

Glossary

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

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

· Third Young Lady: Li Ling's younger sister.

· Li Yu: Li Ling's half-brother, the Fourth Young Master.

· Cai Lun: The Chancellor of the National University.

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Chapter 65: Such an Outstanding Young Man Could Only Be Matched by a Daughter of the Shen Family

When Li Ling returned, Jingxiu had just finished reviewing the day's accounts. She handed the account books to Ziyun to take to the administrative office, then went to Li Ling's side and personally helped him change his clothes.

Li Ling had been undoing his buttons himself. Seeing Jingxiu come to attend to him, he immediately dropped his hands to his sides, stood up straight, and wore an expression of enjoyment. "Did you take Xing'er to the official academy today?"

Jingxiu took off his official robe and casually hung it on the clothes rack. "Yes, I did. I also took Xing'er to meet Official Cai."

As she spoke, she bent down to undo his belt. Li Ling glanced at his little wife bustling around him, his heart softening. He reached out and took her hand. "Did Cai Lun agree to look after Xing'er more closely?"

Jingxiu stood gracefully before him, looking up at him slightly. "Even just for your sake, Official Cai will take good care of Xing'er." She then stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed his thin lips, blinking playfully at him. "Thank you."

Li Ling looked directly at his little wife and asked with a smile, "And how do you plan to thank me?"

Seeing his little wife's delicate face blush slightly, Li Ling tightened his arm around her soft waist, bent down, and passionately captured her cherry lips. He delved deep, the kiss growing increasingly fervent, as if he wished he could meld the little wife in his arms into his very being.

Jingxiu finally broke free from his ardent kiss and chided, "Stop fooling around. Stewards might come to report any moment. Be careful someone sees."

Li Ling craned his neck to glance towards the outer room, saw the door was closed, and pulled his little wife back into his embrace. "Even if someone comes, wouldn't they have to announce themselves from outside? Who would be bold enough to just barge in?" Having said that, he moved towards those glistening red lips again.

Just as the two were being affectionate, they heard the outer room door bang open. Jingxiu, startled, quickly pushed Li Ling away.

Then came the Third Young Lady's voice: "Elder Sister-in-law, are you here?"

Jingxiu called out an acknowledgment while hurriedly straightening her clothes. But the Third Young Lady, hearing the noise, had already run in. She was now ten years old and understood a little about matters between men and women. Seeing the state of the two, she gave an awkward smile. "I... I'm not interrupting, am I?"

Li Ling shot his younger sister a glare and, with a cold face, went to the outer room.

Seeing her elder brother's dark expression, the Third Young Lady stuck her tongue out at Jingxiu and shrugged her shoulders in explanation. "I didn't see anyone at the door just now. I thought the maids were all in the outer room, so I came right in."

Jingxiu said, "Ziyun just went to the front hall to deliver the account books." She led the Third Young Lady to the outer room and asked, "It's so late. Did you need me for something?"

The Third Young Lady replied, "Master Liu taught us poetry writing in class today. But I've composed a few poems myself, and none of them look right to me. I know you have quite a few poetry collections here, Elder Sister-in-law. I wanted to borrow a few to study."

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Jingxiu said with a smile, "As the saying goes, 'After reading three hundred poems thoroughly, one can chant poems even if one cannot write them.' Reading more will naturally be a great help." She led the Third Young Lady to the bookshelf in the outer room. "These are the ones I often read in my spare time. Pick whichever you like and take them back to read."

The Third Young Lady thanked her verbally, pulled out a book, and opened it. A thin slip of paper fell out from within the pages. The Third Young Lady picked up the paper slip, unfolded it, and saw it was a short poem.

It was the "Dreamlike Song" that Jingxiu had composed that summer when she and Li Ling were boating on the lake.

"'Often I remember sunset o'er the arbor, Drunk, we couldn't find the way home...'"

The Third Young Lady read it aloud casually. After finishing, she looked at Jingxiu in surprise. "This is Second Brother's handwriting. Did he write this?"

As she spoke, she looked inquisitively at Li Ling, who was drinking tea not far away.

Li Ling lifted his eyes and gave his sister a helpless look. "With your level of appreciation, you still want to learn how to write poetry like others?"

As soon as the words were out, the Third Young Lady realized her blunder: How could a serious man like her second brother compose such a delicate, feminine piece?

She looked back at Jingxiu. "Elder Sister-in-law, did you write this?"

Jingxiu smiled and nodded. "I wrote it idly when I had nothing to do. Please don't laugh at me."

The Third Young Lady looked at Jingxiu with admiration. "Elder Sister-in-law, you're truly amazing. You're good at everything." She then tugged at Jingxiu's sleeve and begged, "Dear Elder Sister-in-law, please compose a couple of poems for me. I'll take them for Master Liu to see. He's sure to be satisfied."

Jingxiu said with a laugh, "How can you have someone else do this for you?" Then she picked out a few more poetry collections. "Take these back with you. Ponder them yourself. What you learn yourself is true skill."

The Third Young Lady nodded in agreement, waving the paper slip with the "Dreamlike Song" in front of Jingxiu. "Then, Elder Sister-in-law, you must give this to me."

Jingxiu smiled and nodded.

The Third Young Lady, holding the poetry collections, glanced at her elder brother, then said to Jingxiu cheerfully, "Then I won't disturb you two here any longer. I'm going back now to study and write poetry."

Jingxiu saw her to the door with a smile. The Third Young Lady held onto Jingxiu's arm and said in a low voice, "Elder Sister-in-law, I've already told Xia Cai, the maid in Fourth Brother's courtyard, that from now on, she doesn't need to pay attention to Fourth Brother's every move anymore, and she doesn't need to report to me either."

A warmth spread in Jingxiu's heart. She reached out and put her arm around the girl's small shoulders, replying gently, "You really are a good child."

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The Third Young Lady looked up at Jingxiu and gave a slight smile.

Hearing the Third Young Lady mention the Fourth Young Master Li Yu again, Jingxiu thought of that slender, scholarly young man. Returning to the main room, she asked Li Ling, "I see that Fourth Brother also has the makings of a scholar. Why didn't you arrange with Official Cai for him to also study at the official academy?"

Li Ling put down his teacup and replied, "I mentioned it to Cai Lun long ago. It was Fourth Brother himself who didn't want to go."

Hearing this, Jingxiu was first surprised, but then, thinking of the gloominess between the young man's brows, she understood his reason for not wanting to enter the official academy.

It must be because of his status, and out of adolescent pride, he was unwilling to study alongside those noble sons.

"Fourth Brother is a child who carries heavy thoughts." Mentioning Li Yu, Li Ling also wore a troubled expression.

Li Ling sighed. "Fourth Brother is exceedingly intelligent, but his nature is stubborn. Even towards Father, he holds a grudge. As his elder brother, I don't know how to guide him properly. I can only hope he resolves his inner conflicts himself when he grows up."

Jingxiu nodded and asked further, "Third Brother has been in the army for over half a year now. How is he doing?"

Li Ling replied, "He has made some progress, but he's still immature."

Jingxiu said, "Third Brother is only fourteen or fifteen, still a child. We shouldn't be too hasty in all matters."

Li Ling said with a smile, "Fourteen or fifteen and still a child? When I was that age, I was already following General Zhou into battle."

Jingxiu teased, "Who can compare to you? Today at the official academy, Official Cai was still praising you, saying you excelled in your studies back then." As she spoke, Jingxiu stood up, walked behind him, wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, half-leaning on his back, and brought her face close to his ear. "My husband is accomplished in both literary and military arts. What other man can compare?"

This was the first time Li Ling had heard his little wife praise him like this. Although it seemed partly teasing and flattering, hearing it made him indescribably comfortable.

He placed his large hand over his wife's delicate one, turned his head, and replied with a smile, "Such an outstanding young man could only be matched by a daughter of the Shen family."

(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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