RATMOFANF: Chapter 80

 Glossary

·Xu Wanning (徐婉宁): Li Xian's wife.

·Li Xian (李显): Li Ling's elder brother.

·Kun Ge (坤哥儿): Son of Li Xian and Xu Wanning.

·Zhuang Jie (庄姐儿): Daughter of Li Xian and Xu Wanning.

·Meiniang (媚娘): Concubine of Li Xian.

·Old Madam Li (老夫人): The matriarch of Zhenguo Duke Manor.

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Chapter 80: Meiniang Challenged Her Dignity

During the New Year period, the festive atmosphere was everywhere—auspicious couplets, bright red lanterns, the constant crackling of firecrackers, children in new clothes laughing freely... Everywhere was filled with bustle and joy.

Li Xian, however, had been preoccupied with heavy thoughts these past few days. While the whole family celebrated the New Year joyfully, his birth mother was alone in the Family Temple.

Missing loved ones more during festive times—on this joyous occasion, he missed his mother all the more.

He was a filial son.

Xu Wanning was in her room playing with Kun Ge and Zhuang Jie when Li Xian pushed the door open and entered. She was taken aback for a moment, and the smile on her face immediately stiffened.

"Why do you have so much free time today?" She glanced at Li Xian, then lowered her head again to continue playing with the children.

Li Xian didn't respond. He sat down on a chair and simply stared blankly at his wife and children.

Xu Wanning handed the daughter in her arms to the wet nurse nearby. Looking at him, she said, "If you have something to say, say it."

Li Xian motioned to the wet nurse with his eyes. After the wet nurse carried Zhuang Jie out, leading Kun Ge by the hand, he looked at his wife and said, "It's already the eleventh today. Let's go to the Family Temple to see Mother."

Xu Wanning's corner of her mouth twitched. She snorted coldly. "So now you remember me. Why don't you have that siren accompany you?"

Li Xian stood up, walked over to sit in front of her, took her hand, and said, "You are my wife. How can others compare?"

Xu Wanning jerked her hand back sharply. She let out a cold laugh, looking at Li Xian with sarcasm on her face. "When you favored that wretch right in front of me, you didn't treat me as a wife then."

Li Xian's eyes darkened. He stammered, "That was so long ago. Why do you hold such a grudge?"

"B*llsh*t! You did something as egregious as favouring a concubine and destroying the wife, and you expect me to just forget it like I have no heart?" Xu Wanning trembled with anger, pointing a finger at Li Xian. She said sorrowfully, "Let me tell you, the only reason I've endured this humiliation and stayed with you is for the sake of our two children."

Seeing his wife was upset, Li Xian stepped forward and put his arm around her slightly trembling shoulder. He said in a low voice, "It was all my fault."

Xu Wanning wouldn't have any of it. She angrily pushed his hand away and turned her head aside.

Li Xian took her hand again, speaking humbly, "We are husband and wife. Please forgive me for the children's sake, alright?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Xu Wanning was silent for a long time. She sniffled, turned to look at Li Xian, and said, "I can let this page be turned, but you have to promise me one thing."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Li Xian quickly asked, "What is it?"

"Tell me.As long as I can do it, even if it were a hundred things, I would agree."

Xu Wanning said, "Send that wretch away from the manor. Either to a manor estate, or set up a separate residence for her outside. As long as she's not under my nose, I won't pursue this any further."

Li Xian looked troubled. He said, "You're not someone who can't tolerate others. Why do you dislike Meiniang in particular?"

Xu Wanning truly wasn't a woman who couldn't tolerate others. Among their class of noble sons, it was common to keep concubines. Apart from Meiniang, Baitang Ju also housed two other concubines. One was a former maid named Wang-shi who had served Li Xian. In the second year of Xu Wanning's marriage, when she was pregnant with Kun Ge, she had agreed to Li Xian's request and took the maid into his chamber. The other was named Caiping, sent over by Li Xian's mother, Guo-shi, when Xu Wanning was pregnant with Zhuang Jie.

Some high-born mistresses of the household harbored jealousy and often mistreated concubines. However, Xu Wanning had never used her position as mistress to make things difficult for Li Xian's other two concubines.

Partly because she wasn't that kind of malicious person. More importantly, those two concubines understood their place, knew how to stay in their lane, and had always conducted themselves properly as concubines, never daring to show disrespect to the mistress.

But that palace songstress, Meiniang, had challenged Xu Wanning's dignity as the mistress.

Li Xian's favoritism towards Meiniang in her conflicts with Xu Wanning had pushed past Xu Wanning's bottom line.

She might not be a petty person, but she was someone who drew clear lines between gratitude and grievance.

Xu Wanning didn't believe Li Xian didn't understand her nature. She looked at Li Xian and retorted coldly, "What do you think?"

Li Xian naturally understood. He hung his head and muttered, "Meiniang was bestowed by His Majesty. Don't make things difficult for me."

That she was bestowed by the Emperor indeed made her different from other concubines. But placing her outside the main residence was something even the Emperor couldn't find fault with. Besides, although Xu Wanning was a woman, she didn't believe an emperor had nothing better to do than to pay attention to where an insignificant palace songstress he had bestowed as a gift ended up being housed.

Li Xian simply couldn't bear to part with her.

Xu Wanning sighed and said, "Since you find it difficult, then don't come to trouble me either. You know your mother has never liked me. If you want to visit her, go by yourself. I won't go."

If he couldn't give her, the rightful wife, the respect she deserved, what right did he have to ask her to uphold his face and fulfill her filial duties for him?

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Seeing his wife's resolute attitude, Li Xian pondered for a while. Finally, he mumbled, "Alright, I promise you. After the New Year celebrations are over, I'll send Meiniang to a manor estate."

Xu Wanning also hoped for family harmony. Even for the children's sake, she didn't want to remain cold with Li Xian indefinitely. Now seeing Li Xian was finally willing to compromise, she looked at him and said, "Then it's settled. After the New Year, she leaves."

Li Xian nodded. "I promise you." Then he sighed and said, "Let's go. It's getting late. The mountain roads are snowy and hard to travel. Let's get ready and set off now."

Xu Wanning called for the maids and instructed, "Pack some snacks and fruits that the Second Madam likes. Also, from those new brocade clothes I made before the New Year that haven't been worn yet, pick two sets in sober, dignified colors and wrap them up."

She paused, then added, "Also pack two sets of thick, new bedding. It's cold on the mountain; she might need them."

The maids promptly agreed and went to prepare. Li Xian stepped forward and put his arm around his wife, saying gratefully, "Thank you."

His wife, though rough around the edges and not entirely to his liking, was, Li Xian understood in his heart, someone without ill intentions. He also knew his mother had always treated her harshly. Though she had complaints, she still had filial piety in her heart.

Xu Wanning shot him a glare. "Don't give me that useless talk."

Though her words were still sharp, she didn't push her husband's hand away this time.

The couple, with their children—a family of four—were just about to head out when a messenger matron from the Old Madam's quarters happened to enter. Seeing them about to leave, she asked, "Are the Eldest Master and Madam going out?"

Xu Wanning said with a smile, "We were just about to go to the Family Temple to see Mother-in-law. Did Grandmother have some instructions, Matron?"

Although the visitor's face still wore a smile, her expression visibly cooled. She replied, "This old servant was ordered by the Old Madam to come and inform the Eldest Master and Madam that she will host a banquet in Anxi Tang tonight to welcome the Ninth Princess. She requests your presence."

A banquet should have been held for the Ninth Princess when she arrived yesterday, but it was canceled upon hearing she was tired. Now, the Old Madam clearly still didn't want to forgo the proprieties and insisted on making it up to her granddaughter.

Xu Wanning looked at Li Xian. Li Xian replied to the messenger, "We'll return before the evening banquet."

After the matron agreed and withdrew, Li Xian led his wife and children out of Baitang Ju. They boarded a carriage, left the manor gates, and headed towards the Family Temple.

(End of Chapter)

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