RATMOFANF: Chapter 82

Glossary

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

·Li Ling (李陵): The male protagonist, Shen Jingxiu's husband.

·Qingluan (青鸾): The Ninth Princess.

·Third Young Lady (三姑娘): The third daughter of the Li family.

·Old Madam Li (李老夫人): The matriarch of the Li family.

·Xu Wanning (徐婉宁): Wife of Li Xian.

·Li Xian (李显): Eldest son of the Li family.

---

Chapter 82: Sister-in-law Truly Knows How to Manage Her Husband

Accompanied by the gentle, flowing notes of a zither from behind the screen, the welcoming banquet for Qingluan officially began.

Sitting beside Li Ling, Jingxiu glanced at Qingluan, who was next to the Old Madam.

Qingluan's gaze was fixed on Li Ling. Even when the Old Madam or Xu Wanning occasionally made small talk with her, she would deal with it perfunctorily before turning her blatant, longing gaze back toward him.

No woman would feel comfortable seeing another woman covet her man like this, and Jingxiu was no exception.

Jingxiu lost her appetite. She set down her chopsticks and met Qingluan's gaze directly. Though inwardly annoyed by the other's lack of propriety, she maintained a polite smile on her face. "Cousin, does the elegant music played by the musicians today suit your taste?"

Qingluan's face was wooden. She replied with just two faint words: "It's acceptable."

Seeing her cool and indifferent demeanor, Jingxiu simply smiled slightly and said no more.

She turned her head to look at Li Ling sitting beside her. He was sitting upright and proper, drinking by himself. His fingers tapped lightly on his thigh in time with the elegant music, completely engrossed in the melody. The brief exchange between his wife and Qingluan seemed not to have reached his ears at all. From start to finish, he had not once glanced toward his cousin at the head of the table, who had been stealing looks at him the whole time.

"Cousin." Qingluan finally couldn't hold back and called out to Li Ling.

Li Ling remained deeply immersed in the beautiful music, unable to extricate himself. Qingluan's soft call did not pull him back.

"Cousin." Qingluan raised her voice to call him.

This time, everyone in the banquet hall heard Qingluan's voice. Li Ling could no longer pretend to be deaf and mute.

He set down his wine cup and stopped the tapping of his fingers, but his gaze fell on his wife beside him as he asked, "What is it?"

When they came to the banquet, she had warned him to talk less to Qingluan and to look at her less, but this wasn't quite what she meant by "less." Faced with this husband of hers who could be so obtuse at times, Jingxiu was truly at a loss.

Seeing Li Ling direct his question to Jingxiu, everyone's gaze unconsciously shifted to her as well. Jingxiu shot Li Ling a reproachful look. "It was Cousin calling you."

Qingluan's eyes dimmed. She offered an awkward smile and looked at Li Ling. "I remember that Cousin never particularly cared for music, song, or dance. Today's piece is rather ordinary. Why are you listening so intently?"

Li Ling was silent for a moment. His gaze shifted from Jingxiu, but it did not land on Qingluan. Instead, it rested emptily on a spot ahead of him as he replied flatly, "Your sister-in-law enjoys elegant music. I suppose... I'm just loving the crow because I love the rook."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

After saying this, he turned his head aside, picked up his wine cup, and once again began tapping his fingers in time with the music with an air of great seriousness.

His manner was one of infinite enjoyment and a clear attitude that bystanders should not disturb him.

Seeing Li Ling like this, Qingluan's eyes, already moist, nearly overflowed. She bit her lip tightly, afraid her tears would betray her and fall. She no longer had the courage to speak to the cousin she yearned for.

The Third Young Lady sitting beside the Old Madam, however, was stunned speechless by Li Ling's words.

For her stern and solemn second brother, such a man, to publicly say something like "loving the crow because I love the rook" was truly astounding.

Her second sister-in-law was indeed formidable!

It wasn't just the Third Young Lady. Li Xian and Xu Wanning were also quite surprised by Li Ling's words.

Li Xian looked at his second brother, thinking indignantly: No wonder he was willing to jeopardize his own career prospects a while back just to please his wife. It seems now he's truly bewitched by this Shen woman. Even a romantic scholar like himself, no matter how infatuated he was with a beauty like Meiniang, would never dare to utter such words as "loving the crow because I love the rook" in public.

Pathetic! Who would have thought this brother would become so spineless after marrying.

Xu Wanning was outspoken. Hearing Li Ling's words, she chuckled and teased, "I never would have thought the 'block of ice' in our family would change so much after taking a wife."

Li Ling smiled sheepishly at his elder sister-in-law. "What change? Please don't tease me, Elder Sister-in-law."

Xu Wanning covered her mouth with a laugh, shifting her gaze from Li Ling to Jingxiu beside him, and continued her teasing. "Sister-in-law truly knows how to manage her husband."

Before Jingxiu could respond, the Third Young Lady at the head of the table exclaimed in surprise, "Cousin, what's wrong? Are you... crying?"

Everyone looked toward Qingluan in unison. Qingluan hurriedly covered her face with a handkerchief and brushed off the concern. "I'm perfectly fine. Why would I be crying?"

Frowning, she offered an awkward smile to the group. "It's the wine. It's too strong. It burned my throat."

The Old Madam patted her granddaughter's back with concern and instructed the serving matron, "Go and fetch a pot of light fruit wine for Her Highness."

The matron hastily assented and left. The Old Madam continued, "And have the musicians stop. This kind of music makes one feel melancholic. Bring in something more festive."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

At the Old Madam's command, the flowing melody came to an abrupt halt. Moments later, the lively clanging of gongs and drums began. Following the beat, an actor in blue robes emerged from behind the screen with graceful stage steps. The pearls on his head trembled, his long silk sleeves twirled, and he began to sing in a high, melodic voice.

The Old Madam doted on her granddaughter and felt she could never do enough for her. As for what music to listen to or what entertainment to watch, no one would quibble over such minor matters. After all, this imperial cousin was a guest who would only be staying for a few days before returning to the palace. As long as it pleased their grandmother, everyone was willing to go along with it.

With the entertainment changed, Li Ling could no longer pretend to have such wide-ranging interests. He simply turned to the side and focused on drinking his wine.

Earlier, when the elegant music was playing, Jingxiu had tried to speak to Qingluan and was met with a cold shoulder. She naturally had no desire to invite further snubs.

Moreover, seeing how Qingluan had been upset to tears by Li Ling, she didn't dare provoke her again. If Qingluan lost control and started crying in front of everyone, the Old Madam would surely blame her.

Jingxiu did not care for wine, so she focused on the food. The servers, knowing she liked roast spring chicken, brought a plate and placed it before her.

The golden-brown meat glistened faintly with oil, sprinkled with crushed sesame seeds and peanuts. It looked mouthwatering.

Jingxiu picked up a small knife from the plate, cut off a slice, and tasted it. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, it was indeed delicious. She was about to cut another piece when Li Ling, seeing this, naturally took the small knife from her hand. With practiced ease, he carved thin, delicate slices from the chicken, placing them one by one on the small plate in front of her.

Jingxiu ate with relish, looking up at Li Ling with a bright, smiling gaze.

Seeing his little wife's greedy for food expression, Li Ling's own eyes curved into a smile. He asked in a low voice, "Is it good?"

Jingxiu nodded at him, but before the word "delicious" could leave her lips, they heard the Old Madam at the head of the table exclaim in concern, "Good heavens, what's the matter now?"

This was followed by the Third Young Lady's teasing, mocking voice: "Elegant music makes you sad, and now opera makes you cry too? Cousin, your tears really aren't worth much, are they?"

(End of Chapter)

← prev next →