RATMOFANF: Chapter 77

 Glossary

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

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

·Xu Wanning: Li Xian's wife.

·Qingluan: Ninth Princess, Li Ling's cousin.

·Old Madam Li: The matriarch of the Zhenguo Duke Manor.

·Li Xian: Li Ling's elder brother.

·Kun Ge: Son of Li Xian and Xu Wanning.

·Zhuang Jie: Daughter of Li Xian and Xu Wanning.

·Ziyun: Shen Jingxiu's maidservant.

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Chapter 77: Cousin Climbed the Tree to Pick Fruit for Me

On the tenth day, it began to snow again. The heavy snow fell like drifts of cotton, shrouding the heavens and the earth.

The Old Madam, dressed in a lake-blue ceremonial robe embroidered with gold thread and a hundred blessings pattern, led all the women of the household to wait eagerly by the main gate early in the morning, watching for her granddaughter's imperial carriage.

In the distance, amidst the swirling snowflakes, the royal carriage with its colorful curtains finally appeared, moving slowly. Supported by Nanny Xu, the Old Madam eagerly rushed forward to meet it.

The gilded and jewel-adorned five-colored imperial carriage came to a stop before the main gate of the Zhenguo Duke Manor. A eunuch placed a footstool below the carriage. A female official stepped forward, opened the carriage door, and carefully assisted Ninth Princess Qingluan as she alighted.

A princess naturally could not casually show her face in public. Qingluan wore a veiled hat. Supported by the female official, she walked slowly to the Old Madam.

The Old Madam grasped her granddaughter's hand. Before she could even speak, tears welled up and streamed down her face, falling warm and wet onto the back of Qingluan's hand.

From behind the veil, the girl also began to sob and weep.

Everyone soothed the two and escorted the Ninth Princess first to the Old Madam's Anxi Tang.

Naturally, grandmother and granddaughter needed to have a private talk first. After settling the Ninth Princess and the Old Madam, Jingxiu and Xu Wanning dismissed everyone else, leaving only Nanny Xu inside to attend to them.

In the afternoon, a reunion banquet to welcome the Ninth Princess had been arranged. Therefore, Li Ling also returned early from the camp. Li Ling and Jingxiu had gotten ready well in advance, but then a messenger came from Anxi Tang saying the Princess was tired. The Old Madam had ordered the family banquet canceled. She and the Princess would dine alone in Anxi Tang, instructing Li Ling and Jingxiu to go over after they had finished their own meal.

Li Ling glanced at Jingxiu's expression and asked, "Did you see the Ninth Princess?"

In the past, every time Qingluan was mentioned, the two of them would end up unhappy. Now that Li Ling understood his wife's feelings, he had never brought up his cousin in front of her again. However, now that she was actually staying in their home, it was impossible to avoid.

Jingxiu shook her head, replying mildly, "She went straight to be with Grandmother as soon as she arrived. We didn't get to see her."

Seeing his wife's indifferent expression, Li Ling felt somewhat uneasy. He looked at her and asked directly, "You don't like her coming here, do you?"

Naturally, she didn't like a woman who harbored feelings for her husband staying in their home. But this wasn't just her and Li Ling's home alone. Qingluan was coming to stay with her maternal grandmother; what right did she have to stop her? Moreover, as a princess, even if she wanted to stop her, she couldn't.

Jingxiu was displeased and saw no need to hide it from Li Ling. She answered honestly, "I truly don't like her coming."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

She had expected Li Ling would surely urge her to be more tolerant, emphasizing that it was his cousin, how pitiful and dependent she was, and that the Zhenguo Duke Manor was her only support.

Unexpectedly, Li Ling said, "She'll only be staying for a few days. If you don't like her, just avoid going to Grandmother's place for this period."

Hearing Li Ling say this, Jingxiu felt quite mollified. She smiled and said, "It doesn't have to go that far. I am the hostess, she is the guest. What kind of hostess hides away when a guest arrives?"

With that, she called for Ziyun and began to dress carefully.

Didn't she send a female official to scrutinize me a few days ago? Today, she would let her see properly, radiant and dazzling.

After Jingxiu finished dressing, she and Li Ling had their dinner, then left Qingfeng Yuan together for Anxi Tang.

As soon as they reached the entrance, an announcing matron came forward to greet them, smiling as she offered her greetings. "The Eldest Master and Madam have also just gone in. The Old Madam was just inside, speaking of the Heir and Madam."

The two entered the main hall. Sure enough, Li Xian and Xu Wanning with Kun Ge and Zhuang Jie were already there. The Old Madam sat at the head, chatting warmly with them. Beside the Old Madam sat a young woman dressed in palace attire who looked delicate and frail.

This was Ninth Princess Qingluan.

Seeing Li Ling enter, Qingluan instinctively stood up. Her large, watery eyes seemed to eagerly fix directly on Li Ling.

The viewing stand during the military review had been quite distant. Seeing Li Ling up close now, he was even more strikingly heroic and imposing.

Qingluan's cheeks flushed slightly.

Then her gaze shifted to the person beside him.

The moment she saw Jingxiu, she was stunned.

"Come quickly and meet your imperial cousin. Jingxiu only recently entered the household, so you haven't met yet," the Old Madam greeted them cheerfully.

Jingxiu stepped forward, a smile on her face. "I hope our imperial cousin is well."

The melodious, oriole-like voice reached Qingluan's ears, snapping her out of her daze. She hurriedly replied, "Greetings, Cousin's Wife."

Li Ling took a seat on a chair and made polite conversation. "It's been years. Our imperial cousin has grown quite a bit taller."

Hearing this, Qingluan looked at Li Ling again. She said coyly, "Cousin, why do you sound so old-fashioned? I'm about to come of age, already an adult. How can you still use words meant for coaxing a child to speak to me?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The Old Madam pulled Qingluan to sit beside her, smiling. "In the blink of an eye, it's been four years since Qingluan last visited. It seems you siblings haven't seen each other for many years. Your cousin naturally still sees you as a child."

Qingluan twisted the gold-threaded handkerchief in her hands, glanced up at Li Ling, and said to the Old Madam in a sweet, affected tone, "Three years ago, for Aunt's birthday, she invited us unmarried princesses to play at the Princess Manor. I saw Cousin then too."

Having said that, she couldn't help but glance at Li Ling again.

Li Ling, however, picked up a teacup and began drinking his tea, not responding.

Qingluan looked at Li Ling with affected shyness and continued, "There's a large pear tree in Aunt's Princess Manor. That day, Cousin even personally climbed the tree to pick pears for me to eat."

Seeing Li Ling still didn't respond, Qingluan looked at him with a smiling face, then at Jingxiu sitting beside him, and pressed, "Cousin, do you remember?"

Li Ling glanced up at Qingluan, then turned to look at his wife beside him. Coincidentally, Jingxiu was also looking at him.

Jingxiu's expression was neutral. She spoke to Li Ling, who was looking at her somewhat foolishly. "Our imperial cousin is asking you a question."

Li Ling smiled at Jingxiu, rubbed his nose, and stammered, "When was that? I don't remember anymore."

Jingxiu looked at Qingluan, a cordial smile on her face, and said, "Your cousin is good in every way, except for his poor memory. Something from so many years ago—it's remarkable that you, cousin, still remember it, while he has forgotten it completely."

With these few words, Jingxiu finally made the persistently pressing Qingluan close her mouth with a look of chagrin. Hearing Jingxiu's indirectly allusive remark, her face paled, her previously bright eyes dimmed, and she sat glumly by the Old Madam's side, falling silent.

As everyone was chatting, little Zhuang Jie toddled over to Jingxiu, holding up her small hands. "Auntie hug, Auntie hug."

Jingxiu bent down, picked up Zhuang Jie, and sat her on her lap to play with her. Xu Wanning said with a laugh, "The little girl really likes my sister-in-law. She always seeks her out whenever she sees her."

Hearing this, Li Ling leaned over, patted Zhuang Jie's head, and asked with a smile, "Zhuang Jie, why do you like Auntie?"

Zhuang Jie was already two years old and could speak in full sentences. She looked at Jingxiu, grinning, and said in a childish voice, "Because Auntie is pretty. Auntie is the prettiest."

The innocent words of the adorable, jade-like little child made all the adults laugh. Li Ling looked at his wife beside him, his eyes holding a gentle smile with a hint of ingratiation. He whispered to Jingxiu, "Our niece is praising you."

Jingxiu gave him a indifferent look and didn't respond, lowering her eyes to play with the child in her arms again.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Meanwhile, Kun Ge, who had been playing nearby, ran over to Li Ling's side. Tipping his little face up, he looked at him and said, "Second Uncle, can you teach me how to lead troops into battle?"

Li Ling patted his nephew's head and replied, "You're still too young. When Kun Ge grows up, Second Uncle will teach you."

Kun Ge, with his bright and lively look, retorted, "I am grown up! After this New Year, I'll be four years old!"

Li Ling picked up his nephew, stood up, and hefted him, laughing as he teased him. "That's right! After the New Year, Kun Ge really has gotten heavier. You really are growing up."

Kun Ge giggled. "Then Second Uncle, teach me how to lead troops into battle soon!"

Xu Wanning looked at Li Ling and Jingxiu and teased with a smile, "You two like children so much. You should hurry up and have one yourselves."

As soon as Xu Wanning finished speaking, they heard a soft "Oh!" from Qingluan, who had been sitting silently by the Old Madam's side.

Though the sound was soft, because she and the Old Madam sat at the head of the room, everyone present noticed. Their gazes couldn't help but turn towards her in unison.

Qingluan hurriedly put down the teacup in her hand, covering her mouth with her handkerchief as she stammered, "This tea... this tea is a bit too hot."

(End of Chapter)

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