RATMOFANF: Chapter 85

 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.

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

·Danzhu (丹朱): Shen Jingxiu's personal maid.

·Bilü (碧缕): Shen Jingxiu's personal maid.

·Zhaolu (朝露): Qingluan's personal maid.

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

·Li Xiang (李翔): Third son of the Li family (mentioned).

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

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Chapter 85: Qingluan is Reprimanded by Li Ling

Both Jingxiu and Li Ling were taken aback by the announcement.

Li Ling motioned with his chin toward the outer chamber. Since Jingxiu was already properly dressed, she left the bathing room and went out.

Qingluan was sitting on a rosewood chair in the outer room. Seeing Jingxiu come out, she did not rise, merely lifting her head to look at her. "Calling on you so early, Sister-in-law, I hope I'm not disturbing you."

Jingxiu glanced at the breakfast that had just been laid out in the outer chamber, thinking to herself, So you do know coming this early is a disturbance?

Seeing Jingxiu remain silent, Qingluan offered an awkward smile. "It seems my early visit is indeed unwelcome. In that case, I shall take my leave."

With that, she made as if to stand up, but unexpectedly, Jingxiu spoke up, her tone mild. "Take care on your way, Cousin."

Qingluan had only been trying to provoke Jingxiu, putting on airs deliberately, but she hadn't anticipated Jingxiu's countermove. Now, she found herself in an awkward position, unable to advance or retreat.

She had come to see her cousin. How could she bear to leave just like that?

Qingluan put on a smiling face and addressed Jingxiu. "I was only joking with you just now, Sister-in-law. It's precisely because I find you so amiable that I came over regardless of the hour. Please don't actually be annoyed with me."

Jingxiu matched her smile, replying calmly, "What are you saying, Cousin? You are an honored guest. Who in this household would dare neglect you?"

The words were laced with hidden barbs. Qingluan, being a sensitive and overthinking person, could not miss the underlying meaning.

She smiled awkwardly. "I had heard earlier that although Sister-in-law is not the daughter of a prince or a duke, you are a person of impeccable manners. After interacting with you these past couple of days, your conduct truly impresses me, little sister. You do seem superior to some of those noble-born young ladies from prominent families."

Every word dripped with a sarcastic, disdainful tone.

How could Jingxiu fail to catch Qingluan's implication?

It was nothing more than a dig at her lowly birth.

In her past life, she had indeed been hung up on this, unable to hold her head high. In this life, just like before, there were still plenty of people, openly or covertly, saying her birth was unworthy of the Zhenguo Duke Manor. But she would no longer dwell on it.

Those who gossiped about it were simply jealous of her!

So what if her birth was lowly? Wasn't she now doted on by Li Ling, held in the palm of his hand? Hadn't she become the legitimate mistress of this household, the youngest imperial decree consort in all of Chang'an?

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu's expression remained unchanged as she replied frankly, "The capital is filled with numerous wealthy and noble families, as plentiful as carp crossing a river. Coming from a modest family, how could I compare to the daughters of princes and dukes in terms of pedigree? I dare not accept such praise from you, Cousin."

She gave a faint smile, her tone meaningful. "That a woman from a humble family like mine could have today is only due to your cousin mistakenly favoring me, relying on his willingness not to look down on me."

"How could I ever look down on you?" With these words, Li Ling strode out from the inner chamber.

He had already finished dressing himself. The sharply tailored military uniform he wore only accentuated his stern and solemn demeanor. As he approached, Qingluan's words had just reached his ears, and now his face was frighteningly dark.

The entire Zhenguo Duke Manor felt a sense of debt toward this imperial cousin. As the current head of the household, protecting her and being her support was his duty. Li Ling had never imagined it would lead her to develop other intentions.

Yesterday, when Jingxiu told him that Qingluan adored him, he had been only half-convinced, still thinking his little wife was hung up on the incident in the garden during summer and merely throwing a petty tantrum. But when his wife showed him the poem written in Qingluan's own hand, his heart had chilled.

The little cousin he had always strived to protect was actually so unaware of propriety. He was deeply disappointed in her.

Now, seeing her come here early in the morning to insult his wife, his anger was genuine.

He walked over to his wife, his gaze unconsciously softening as he looked at her. "To have a wife like you is the fortune of three lifetimes for me, Li Ling."

Though the words were directed at Jingxiu, anyone with ears could tell they were meant for Qingluan.

A man like Li Ling rarely spoke such sweet words to her. Naturally, this pleased Jingxiu, but hearing it now, she only felt anxious.

At yesterday's banquet, Li Ling merely cutting up a spring chicken for her had caused Qingluan to lose control in public. Now, with Li Ling saying such things to her in front of Qingluan, Jingxiu truly feared Qingluan might be angered to the point of fainting on the spot.

Although she disliked Qingluan, she was, after all, a princess, the apple of the Old Madam's eye. If she were actually angered to death right here, Jingxiu would likely be in serious trouble.

Jingxiu looked at Li Ling in surprise, then turned her head uneasily toward Qingluan.

Sure enough, Qingluan was stunned speechless by Li Ling's words. She stood there rigidly, her face frighteningly pale.

"Cousin..." Jingxiu truly didn't know what to do to prevent a tragedy.

Li Ling finally turned to look at Qingluan. His face was icy, his gaze heavy as he looked at her.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

This demeanor was terrifying enough to the delicate Ninth Princess. Even someone as thick-skinned as Li Xiang or as mischievous and sharp-tongued as the Third Young Lady would immediately wilt in fear whenever they saw their elder brother like this.

Sure enough, seeing Li Ling like this, Qingluan's small shoulders immediately slumped. She hung her head, stealing glances at Li Ling, and whimpered, "Co-cousin..."

Her voice was soft, light, and pitiful.

Li Ling kept a stern face, his tone cold as he asked, "In this freezing cold, instead of staying properly in your rooms, what are you doing running over here first thing in the morning?"

A man who had long held high command, led thousands of troops, and walked through fire and sword on the battlefield, when truly angered, exuded an intimidating aura. Coupled with that bone-chilling, cold tone, it was truly soul-shaking.

As expected, seeing Li Ling like this, Qingluan burst into tears. Her thin, weak shoulders shook violently with sobs, as if she might stop breathing at any moment.

But Li Ling showed no softness. He walked to the door and called out to the maid Zhaolu, who was waiting outside. "Come here!"

Zhaolu stood outside, unaware of what had happened inside. Seeing Li Ling's intimidating appearance, she mustered her courage and approached. "Heir, do you have instructions for this servant?"

Li Ling glanced at her and stepped aside from the doorway. "Take the Princess back. From now on, while in this residence, you must take good care of her. Don't indulge Her Highness to run about everywhere."

With that, he shot a cold look at Qingluan, who was weeping as if her heart would break. "Although the rules here are not as strict as in the palace, there is still proper decorum."

Qingluan's face flushed with shame, then turned ashen. She turned and walked out the door, crying to her bewildered maid, "Let's go! We're returning to the palace right now."

After Qingluan left, Li Ling's face remained taut with anger. Although Jingxiu had seen him angry before—even to the point where he often threatened her with family discipline—compared to now, those instances were trivial.

When this guy was truly angry, it was genuinely frightening.

Throughout the entire breakfast, Jingxiu, along with Ziyun and the other two young maids, were so intimidated by Li Ling they hardly dared to breathe.

Fortunately, Li Ling finished his breakfast with a cold expression and then left coldly for his official duties.

Seeing Li Ling gone, Ziyun patted her chest. "That's the first time I've seen the Young Master like that. It scared me to death."

Danzhu stuck out her tongue, complaining, "People like us, who have no connection to the imperial family, always thought those princesses, delicate as golden branches and jade leaves, must be incredibly aloof and noble. Who would have thought she'd be like this?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Ziyun also disapproved of Qingluan and couldn't help chiming in. "I also thought princesses were all like the Grand Princess."

Bilü, hearing them discuss Qingluan, asked in confusion, "I really don't understand why the Ninth Princess always comes over here so early in the morning. And why was the Young Master so angry this morning?"

While the three young maids chattered among themselves, Jingxiu's heart was in turmoil. If Qingluan left for the palace in such a state of anger, the Old Madam would surely blame her and Li Ling. Li Ling might be fine; he was, after all, the Old Madam's own grandson.

But what about her?

Although the Old Madam usually treated her well, how could she, a newlywed granddaughter-in-law, compare to that granddaughter who was the apple of her eye?

Furthermore, if Qingluan returned to the palace and made false accusations about her to the Emperor, would His Majesty revoke her consort title without even asking for the facts?

Ah! Getting involved with someone like this was truly vexing.

(End of Chapter)

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