RATMOFANF: Chapter 75

Glossary

·Li Ling (李陵): The male protagonist, heir of Zhenguo Duke Manor.

·Shen Jingxiu (沈静姝): The female protagonist, wife of Li Ling.

·Liu Yunzhi (柳韵之): The scholar from Jiangnan.

·Liang Jin (梁进): Li Ling's deputy and attendant.

·Third Young Lady (三姑娘): Li Ling's younger sister, Li Jinyan, style name Jinyan.

·Cai Lun (蔡伦): Chancellor of the National University.

·Jianjun Wangfu (简郡王府): The Jianjun Prince Manor.

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Chapter 75: This Subordinate Was Rash

According to the Great Qi dynasty's customary practice, civil and military officials did not need to attend to their official duties until after the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. However, Li Ling could not afford leisure. The City Patrol Office was responsible not only for the capital's defense but also for maintaining public order within the city.

Therefore, even during the New Year, they could not relax their vigilance.

That day, after finishing breakfast, Li Ling and Jingxiu went their separate ways—one busy managing affairs in the front hall, the other heading out to attend to his duties at the yamen.

Li Ling had just passed through the second gate when he saw a gatekeeper hurriedly entering from outside. Seeing the visitor's card in the gatekeeper's hand, Li Ling asked, "Who is calling so early?"

The gatekeeper presented the card and replied, "It is Master Liu Yunzhi from the official academy. He is waiting outside the gate, saying he wishes to pay his respects to the Second Mistress."

Li Ling took the card. Seeing it was indeed that Liu Yunzhi from Jiangnan, his face darkened with displeasure. "No need to inform the mistress in the inner courtyard. I will go meet this person myself."

The gatekeeper assented and withdrew respectfully back to his post. Li Ling strode out the main gate and indeed saw a young man standing outside.

"Are you Master Liu?" Li Ling asked from the entrance porch.

Hearing this, Liu Yunzhi looked up. Seeing the other man's impressive bearing and the military official robes of the second rank, he guessed this person was the Zhenguo Duke heir, Li Ling, the Commander of the City Patrol Office whom Cai Lun had mentioned to him.

His expression mild, Liu Yunzhi clasped his hands in greeting. "I am indeed Liu Yunzhi. A few days ago, I unfortunately met with misfortune and was generously rescued by your esteemed wife, Madam Shen. I have come today specifically to pay a visit and express my gratitude."

Li Ling did not return the greeting. His face cold, he said, "My wife has always been kind-hearted. Even if you were not a teacher at the academy attended by my younger sister and brother-in-law, but an unrelated person, she would still have offered help. It was a trivial matter. Master Liu need not trouble yourself over it."

The implied meaning was that Jingxiu would have helped any random person in distress; Liu Yunzhi was reading too much into it.

How could Liu Yunzhi fail to grasp the meaning in Li Ling's words? He smiled faintly. "General Li, having long been on the battlefield, is accustomed to life and death. Such a minor matter would naturally not weigh on your mind. But for me, Madam Shen's action constitutes a great kindness. I cannot but hold it in my heart."

He paused, looking at Li Ling, and continued, "This great kindness from Madam, I will not only hold in my heart but also never forget in this lifetime."

Hearing him speak like this, Li Ling's hands under his wide sleeves gradually clenched into fists. He replied coldly, "My wife is very busy today and has no time to receive you. Master Liu, please do as you see fit."

With that, Li Ling was about to turn and leave.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Unexpectedly, Liu Yunzhi replied unhurriedly, "It's no matter. If Madam Shen is busy at the moment, I can simply wait here a little longer."

"As you wish." Although Li Ling felt extremely displeased, he could prevent the man from entering the manor but could not stop him from standing outside the gate, could he?

He angrily tossed out this remark, then mounted his horse and galloped away with Liang Jin.

After riding a distance, Li Ling suddenly stopped again. Turning to Liang Jin, he instructed, "Go back and tell the gatekeepers it is my order. They are not to send any more visitor cards from this Liu Yunzhi to the mistress. From now on, whenever he comes again, they are not to admit him at all."

Liang Jin, who had been waiting outside the gate earlier, had vaguely overheard their conversation. He said indignantly, "That fellow surnamed Liu truly doesn't know his place, General. How about I go give him a good beating right now and then drive him out of the capital?"

Liang Jin originally came from a family of officials for generations. However, his grandfather had inadvertently become entangled in the succession strife during Emperor Wu's reign while in office. After losing power, the entire family was punished, and the adult males were conscripted into the army.

Liang Jin was originally assigned to serve in a remote border region in the north. Later, he repeatedly distinguished himself with merit in the army and gained a reputation as a young talent, earning Li Ling's appreciation. Li Ling managed to have him transferred to the City Patrol Office. Within a few years, relying on his abilities, he became Li Ling's trusted deputy.

His adolescent experiences shaped Liang Jin into a man of few words and meticulous nature, one who never showed his emotions readily.

Hearing these words from him so suddenly, Li Ling frowned slightly, staring at Liang Jin in surprise. "What's the matter with you today?"

Liang Jin quickly clasped his fists. "This subordinate was rash."

Li Ling snorted coldly. "He's just a frivolous weakling who couldn't tie up a chicken. Giving him a closed door is enough. He's not worth this much trouble."

Li Ling could see the intentions of this man surnamed Liu at a glance. A man's admiration for a woman cannot be hidden, especially when the object of admiration was his own wife.

Privately, Li Ling quite agreed with Liang Jin's suggestion; he truly wished he could give him a sound thrashing. But doing so would truly be lacking in风度 (grace and poise).

After all, the man had only come to express his thanks.

"This subordinate will return to inform the gatekeepers immediately." With that, Liang Jin turned his horse around and galloped back the way they had come.

Li Ling's earlier question—"What's the matter with you today?"—had caused Liang Jin's usually calm, placid heart to suddenly twist violently. Fortunately, he had suppressed it again without showing a trace.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Liang Jin gripped the reins tightly. The fine steed beneath him raced like the wind. The bone-chilling cold wind of the winter morning, however, could not cool the hot sweat continuously beading on his forehead.

Jingxiu was busy in the administrative hall until noon. Just as she was about to return for lunch, the Third Young Lady came running in excitedly from outside. Before even entering, she called out towards the inside, "Second Sister-in-law! Second Sister-in-law! Guess who's here?"

Jingxiu stood up to meet her. "Who is it? Look how excited you are."

The Third Young Lady ran up to Jingxiu. Jingxiu took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat. The Third Young Lady said to her excitedly, "Master Liu is here! I was just about to go out and happened to run into Master Liu waiting outside the main gate."

Jingxiu asked, "Why leave a guest waiting outside? You should invite him in quickly."

The Third Young Lady said, "I've already invited Master Liu into the reception hall." As she spoke, she couldn't help pouting. "Master Liu had been waiting outside all morning, and no one came in to announce him. I was so angry I scolded the gatekeepers. The people at the gate actually said they had come to report it this morning, but Second Brother intercepted the visitor's card. They also said Second Brother instructed them not to let Master Liu enter."

Then, the Third Young Lady couldn't help complaining about Li Ling. "How could Second Brother be so rude to Master Liu? It's really too much. Second Sister-in-law, you must talk to him properly when you go back."

What Li Ling had done was indeed quite excessive.

Thinking this inwardly, Jingxiu still couldn't help making excuses for Li Ling verbally. "There must be some misunderstanding."

Then, she took the Third Young Lady's hand and headed out. "Let's go. Since Master Liu has come to visit, we should go see him."

Having endured the bitter northwest wind outside the Zhenguo Duke Manor gate all morning, Liu Yunzhi finally warmed up after being invited into the reception hall by the Third Young Lady and drinking two cups of hot tea.

Jingxiu entered the reception hall with the Third Young Lady. Seeing Liu Yunzhi, she greeted him politely. "I was unaware of Master's visit and failed to welcome you properly. I hope you will forgive the oversight."

Liu Yunzhi stood up and replied, "I have made an abrupt visit. I hope Madam does not take offense."

After everyone was seated, Liu Yunzhi said, "A few days ago, I was injured by the malicious servants of the Jianjun Wangfu. Thank you, Madam, and the Third Young Lady for your righteous assistance."

Mentioning this, the Third Young Lady said angrily, "Those lackeys bully others by flaunting their master's power; they are truly detestable. Servants committing violence outside is also a sign of the master's lax control over his household. Why have those civil officials who are always so quick to submit memorials of remonstrance all become mute now? They actually tolerate the Jianjun Wangfu acting like this."

Seeing the Third Young Lady's indignant expression, Jingxiu said to Liu Yunzhi with a smile, "My young sister-in-law speaks without restraint. Please don't mind her, Master."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Liu Yunzhi laughed heartily. He said to the Third Young Lady genially, "Jinyan's clear distinctions between love and hate are rather similar to her teacher's."

Hearing her teacher praise her, the Third Young Lady didn't act coy. She seized the opportunity directly. "Master, how about gifting me one of your poetry collections as a reward?"

Hearing this, Liu Yunzhi replied, "That would require you to compose a poem that satisfies your teacher before I can make such a gift."

Hearing this, the Third Young Lady immediately wilted. Jingxiu looked at her and smiled. "You should study diligently under the Master. If you learn well, the Master will naturally make a refined gift, won't he?"

Liu Yunzhi nodded. Then, he took a book from his sleeve. He said to Jingxiu, "Madam's righteous assistance, for which Liu Yun is immensely grateful. This is a travelogue I compiled over the years while journeying to various places. I gift it to Madam for your perusal and amusement. I hope you will not find it unworthy."

"It was merely a small effort on my part. Master truly need not trouble yourself over it." As she spoke, Jingxiu took the book Liu Yunzhi offered. After flipping through it in her hands, she exclaimed in surprise, "Master has actually traveled to so many places."

Liu Yunzhi replied, "I, Liu Yun, am unburdened by official duties, a free and idle man. When I have leisure, I enjoy seeing various places."

The book not only documented the landscapes of Great Qi but also contained detailed accounts of the customs and features of the various states surrounding Great Qi.

Jingxiu closed the book and offered it back to Liu Yunzhi. "This book embodies Master's painstaking effort. I cannot accept it."

Liu Yunzhi did not reach out to take it. Instead, he said with a smile, "It is but a small token of my regard, hardly expressing the depth of my respect. Please accept it, Madam, as a token of my gratitude for your rescue."

Since Liu Yunzhi put it that way, Jingxiu could not decline further. She accepted the travelogue and replied, "In that case, I shall accept it. Thank you, Master."

(End of Chapter)

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