RATMOFANF: Chapter 9

 Character Glossary

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

· Li Ling (李陵): The Heir of the Zhenguo Duke Manor.

· Xu Wanning (徐婉宁): The wife of Li Ling's cousin.

· Ziyun (紫云): Jingxiu's personal maid.

· Princess Lanling (兰陵郡主): The hostess of the flower party.

· Zhou Qing (周晴): The third daughter of the Minister of Works, who is jealous of Jingxiu.

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Chapter 9: Did Li Ling Really Marry Her Out of Necessity Back Then?

The night was unbearably stuffy. Jingxiu woke up in the middle of the night, heated through.

Hearing the movement, Ziyun came in from the outer room, poured a bowl of cool tea, and handed it to Jingxiu. Jingxiu took it and drank it all in one go, only then feeling somewhat relieved.

Just as she was about to go back to sleep, Ziyun said worriedly, "Young Lady, the Young Master has returned from his engagement and is resting in the study again."

"Hmm, I know. What time is it now?"

"It's already the sì gēng (1:00 am - 3:00 am)."

Jingxiu instructed, "I'm going to Princess Lanling's flower party tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, help me select a few gifts for Lanling."

Ziyun advised, "Young Lady, the Young Master didn't come back again tonight. Is he really angry with you? In this servant's opinion, you should cancel Princess Lanling's flower party tomorrow and accompany the Young Master to General Zhou's manor instead."

Jingxiu gave a dismissive laugh. "I made plans with Sister-in-law long ago, why should I cancel? I won't change my mind about this. Don't try to persuade me further. It's late, go get some sleep."

Ziyun had no choice but to withdraw sheepishly.

The next day, after getting ready, Jingxiu went out with Ziyun. When they reached the inner gate, Xu Wanning had already arrived.

The two rode in one carriage, while Ziyun and Xu Wanning's maid, Si'er, rode in another. As the carriage driver started out the main gate, they happened to meet Li Ling returning. Xu Wanning had the driver stop.

Li Ling had slept in the study last night and hadn't come for breakfast this morning either. She had heard from the maids that he had gone to the military camp early in the morning.

Jingxiu pulled open the carriage curtain and asked Li Ling, "Why are you back again, Heir?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Came back to change clothes. This afternoon, I'm going to General Zhou's manor," Li Ling stood by the carriage, his face expressionless.

Jingxiu nodded. Li Ling said nothing more.

"Let's go," Jingxiu said to the driver.

The carriage rumbled into motion and left the manor gate.

"Something seems a bit off about Second Brother, don't you think?" Xu Wanning asked.

She glanced at Jingxiu's expression and probed, "Did you two have a quarrel?"

Jingxiu smiled. "No. You know how he is, always wearing a stern face."

"Second Brother is indeed usually unsmiling, but I thought the way he looked at you just now seemed a bit strange."

Jingxiu didn't want to dwell on the matter and changed the subject. The two chatted and laughed all the way. It took them an hour to reach the suburban villa where Lanling was hosting her banquet.

This villa was named the Línshuǐ Jū, aptly named as it faced Chang'an's Mirror Lake. Although the garden wasn't large, its charm lay in the exquisitely designed pavilions and terraces, and its proximity to the water made it an excellent place for a summer banquet.

When Lanling saw Xu Wanning and Jingxiu, she greeted them warmly. "I thought you, as the new wife of the Heir, might not be able to grace us with your presence."

Xu Wanning teased, "If it were anyone else, of course we wouldn't go out. But since it's you, Lanling, hosting, we had to come, didn't we?"

Jingxiu instructed Ziyun to present the prepared gifts and said with a smile, "Just a small token of my esteem."

Lanling had her maid accept them and replied, "You are too kind, Lady Shen."

The three exchanged pleasantries as they entered the banquet hall. Many noble ladies had already arrived, gathered in small groups, sipping tea and chatting. Seeing Lanling enter with the two ladies from the Zhenguo Duke Manor, those with close ties to the Duke Manor came forward to greet Jingxiu and Xu Wanning.

While Jingxiu was making small talk with the others, an exquisitely dressed woman walked over gracefully. She looked Jingxiu up and down and said with a sneer, "If it isn't the Eldest Young Lady of the Shen family. Such impressive attire, it nearly blinded me, I almost didn't recognize you."

Jingxiu turned to look. The newcomer was Zhou Qing, the third daughter of the Minister of Works.

She deliberately emphasized "Eldest Young Lady of the Shen family" to hint at Jingxiu's ordinary background in front of all the noble ladies.

Jingxiu's father held a fourth-rank minor position in the Censorate, naturally inferior to the third-rank Minister of Works. But she was now the wife of the Zhenguo Duke Manor's Heir. Among all the noble ladies present, how many could match her status?

Even the noble Princess Lanling was intentionally befriending her; otherwise, why would she have specifically asked Xu Wanning to invite her?

What was this Zhou Qing, anyway?

If someone had mocked her low birth and unworthiness of the Zhenguo Duke Manor in her previous life,she would certainly have felt inferior and upset.

This life was different.

"Third Young Lady has a discerning eye. This Suzhou embroidery fabric was bestowed by my grandmother," she said, then looked at Lanling beside her. "It was the old lady's kind thought. If not for attending your banquet today, I wouldn't have dared to wear it."

The Old Madam of the Zhenguo Duke Manor was the most renowned among the noblewomen of the capital. She came from the Murong family, the only non-imperial princes of the Great Qi.

Even the current Emperor showed her some respect.

The Old Madam Li's birthday had caused a sensation throughout Chang'an. The fact that the Old Madam had favored this new granddaughter-in-law at the banquet had long been circulated among the noblewomen's circles.

Who would dare look down on her when she had such backing so soon after entering the household?

Hearing Jingxiu's words, Lanling quickly helped smooth things over. "I was wondering why this Suzhou embroidery looked more refined than what we usually buy in the shops. So it was bestowed by the Old Madam. The Old Madam's maternal family is in Jiangnan. This must be the most authentic Suzhou embroidery."

Xu Wanning joked with a smile, "You know your goods. Speaking of which, the Old Madam of our family is also your cousin-aunt. If you like this material, shouldn't you take this opportunity to beg our Second Lady to put in a good word for you in front of the Old Madam, and ask the old lady to bestow a couple of bolts on you for clothes?"

Lanling replied, "If you had reminded me earlier, I would have begged you to get some for me long ago."

Xu Wanning said, "Begging me is useless."

Lanling covered her face with a smile. "What? Now that the Old Madam has a new granddaughter-in-law, she doesn't dote on you, the eldest granddaughter-in-law, anymore?"

Xu Wanning pretended to be displeased. "Isn't that so? Who told me I'm not as beautiful as her?" As she spoke, she pulled Jingxiu over. "Look, everyone, at my sister-in-law. Isn't she more beautiful than the Ninth Heaven Mystic Maiden?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Everyone saw how Jingxiu had dismissed Zhou Qing with a few words and heard Xu Wanning's implications that Jingxiu was favored by the Old Madam in the manor. They couldn't help but think: This wife of the Zhenguo Duke Manor's Heir seems quiet, but she's truly not someone to be trifled with.

They all chimed in verbally: "Lady Shen was already famous for her beauty in her maiden days. Now that she's become the Heir's wife, hasn't she gained even more nobility?"

Zhou Qing saw everyone following Xu Wanning's lead in flattering Jingxiu. Her heart soured with jealousy, feeling very uncomfortable. She had a reason for targeting Jingxiu publicly.

Zhou Qing, confident in her beauty and good family background, was extremely arrogant and had originally set her sights on Li Ling too.

When her parents learned of her feelings, they also wishfully thought their daughter's beauty could help them climb the high branch of the Zhenguo Duke Manor. Lady Zhou had once asked someone to sound out the Old Madam. The Old Madam hadn't refused outright at the time. But two days later, the intermediary replied that the Old Madam had asked her grandson's opinion.

It was Li Ling who refused!

Zhou Qing was heartbroken. She had originally thought Li Ling looked down on her family background: she had also heard he might marry the Princess.

If he had really married the Princess, she would have accepted it. But he later married Shen Jingxiu, whose family background was far inferior to hers.

Zhou Qing had locked herself in her room and cried for days.

She really couldn't swallow this injustice!

"Sister Zhou,don't you think our Second Lady is beautiful?" Zhou Qing had publicly embarrassed Jingxiu; Xu Wanning clearly had no intention of letting her off.

All eyes gathered on Zhou Qing. Her face turned pale then red, and she stammered, not knowing how to respond. She prided herself on her beauty, but next to Jingxiu, even she had to admit she was truly outshone.

She had once firmly believed that Li Ling had only married Jingxiu out of necessity because she had lost her reputation. She had even secretly regretted it: If I had known that was all it took to marry Li Ling, I would have made my move sooner.

Now, staring at the radiant Jingxiu, a sudden thought occurred to her.

Did Li Ling really marry her out of responsibility back then?

A guest is a guest. Although Lanling resented Zhou Qing for not knowing her place, since she was hosting, she had to take care of all her guests. She changed the subject. "Speaking of Suzhou embroidery, I really have prepared a fine treat for everyone today."

She paused, then continued, "I had someone bring back a few dancers from the south recently. Today, they'll perform a dance for everyone's enjoyment."

Everyone agreed.

Lanling signaled to an attendant. Moments later, over ten young dancing girls entered. The hall was instantly filled with singing and dancing, silk sleeves flying everywhere.

Although the weather was hot, being near the water and with ice containers cooling the hall, it was quite comfortable. The noble ladies drank wine, enjoyed the feast, and chatted idly, having a comfortable and pleasant time.

Unknowingly, evening arrived. Just as everyone was about to leave, a few claps of thunder sounded, and a light rain began to fall.

Everyone stood under the eaves watching the rain, hoping it would stop so they could return to the city.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

In the distance, a young maid hurried over holding an umbrella. She bowed slightly to Lanling and said respectfully, "Reporting to the Princess, the Heir of the Zhenguo Duke Manor is outside. He says he's here to pick up Lady Shen."

(End of Chapter)

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Translator's Note: 

· 清风苑 previously translated "Breeze-Filled Courtyard" will be Qingfeng Yuan

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