RATMOFANF: Chapter 88

 Glossary

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

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

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

·Qingluan (青鸾): The Ninth Princess.

·Xu Mama (徐嬷嬷): The Old Madam's personal maid.

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

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Chapter 88: The Old Madam Says, What a Calamity

After Li Ling and Jingxiu had left, seeing that Xu Mama was still trying to suppress her laughter, the Old Madam shot her a sideways glance. "My grandson has only made a fool of himself like this once in all his grown years. Look at how you're laughing at him."

Xu Mama replied, "I truly never imagined Ling'er would be so protective of his wife."

The Old Madam nodded. "He's my grandson, after all. Naturally, he's deeply affectionate and loyal."

Her tone carried a trace of pride.

Then, the Old Madam looked at Xu Mama again and asked, "Did you send someone to check on Qingluan again this afternoon? How is she?"

Xu Mama replied, "I sent someone. They said she's fine now. Imperial Physician Zhang prescribed some sedative and calming medicine. She also drank half a small bowl of the silver ear soup the small kitchen prepared for her."

Hearing this, the Old Madam felt slightly relieved. "This child's temperament is becoming more and more willful these days."

Xu Mama ventured cautiously, "Mama Zhou, whom you assigned over there, mentioned that the Princess went to Qingfeng Yuan early in the morning on the second day after her arrival, and again first thing today. She seemed unhappy each time she returned."

Xu Mama was also a perceptive person. Some people might think their actions leave no trace, but they can't escape the eyes of the observant.

However, this matter was of great importance. Even Xu Mama dared not speak carelessly in front of the Old Madam and could only hint at it.

Hearing Xu Mama specifically mention this, the Old Madam thought for a moment and asked in a lowered voice, "Could it be... this girl has other intentions?"

Xu Mama sighed, tacitly confirming the Old Madam's suspicion.

Some things are clearer to outsiders. The Old Madam viewed her granddaughter as the apple of her eye, which ironically blinded her to the truth.

The Old Madam remained silent for a long time before murmuring, "If that's really the case, what a calamity."

Xu Mama asked, "The Princess will soon be of marriageable age. Do you have any plans?"

The Old Madam had indeed considered keeping Qingluan by her side, but she had never intended for her to marry Li Ling. With a temperament like her granddaughter's, how could she shoulder the responsibilities of a household mistress? Though the Old Madam doted on her, she could not disregard the family's well-being.

The Old Madam had actually been thinking of her youngest grandson, Li Xiang.

Li Xiang and Qingluan were close in age. Moreover, her youngest grandson had a gentle temperament and could naturally be tolerant of her granddaughter.

But if their suspicions were correct—that her granddaughter harbored feelings for her eldest grandson—then this was absolutely out of the question.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Marrying her to Li Xiang while her heart belonged to Li Ling, all under the same roof... it would lead to chaos.

The Old Madam sighed. "Let it be, then. She is, after all, a princess. We may not have much say in her marriage. Let's see what the will is from above."

Xu Mama could naturally guess the Old Madam's thoughts. Hearing this, she echoed with regret, "You are considering things thoroughly, as always. It's just... a pity."

The Old Madam looked at her and said, "This child is the only remaining flesh and blood left by my poor daughter. I wholeheartedly wish for her happiness. But everything depends on fate. As for her marriage, we'll have to see her own fortune."

---

After Li Ling and Jingxiu left Anxi Tang, Li Ling stopped and asked Jingxiu as if still uneasy, "Grandmother really didn't give you any trouble?"

Seeing Li Ling protect her like this, Jingxiu was naturally very pleased. She nodded at him. "Grandmother is the most reasonable person. Don't you trust her?"

Li Ling replied, "I naturally trust Grandmother. I was just worried Qingluan might have said nonsense in front of her, misleading her."

Then, he asked again, "After I left, Qingluan didn't come over again, did she?"

Jingxiu replied, "You were so fierce this morning. Even I was scared. How would she dare come back?"

Mentioning the morning's events, Li Ling's anger was still simmering. "It's good for her to learn a lesson. If we indulge her and let her act willfully without restraint, it will lead to disaster sooner or later."

With that, Li Ling took Jingxiu's hand and headed toward Qingfeng Yuan.

---

After dinner, Li Ling said to Jingxiu, "After the first month passes, His Majesty has ordered me to go to Nanjun to inspect the city defenses there."

Nanjun bordered the state of Gaoshan and was the territory of Great Qi adjacent to it. It was a journey of a thousand mountains and rivers, a very long and distant road.

Jingxiu thought for a moment and asked, "Will going to Nanjun require passing through Chaozhou?"

Chaozhou was the location of Jingxiu's maternal family. The current garrison commander of Chaozhou was Jingxiu's own maternal uncle. She spent her childhood living in Chaozhou with her mother. After her mother passed away in the capital, her maternal grandparents, worried her father couldn't care for her, brought her back. They only sent her to her father's side after she was older and more sensible. Therefore, Jingxiu had very deep feelings for her maternal family.

Li Ling nodded and replied, "The Prefect of Chaozhou, Jiang Zhao, is your uncle. Do you have any messages or letters you'd like me to deliver?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu said happily, "I want to go with you."

Li Ling refused outright. "Absolutely not!"

Jingxiu hurriedly said, "You're passing by there anyway. Once I reach Chaozhou, I'll go to my grandparents' house. It won't affect your official business in Nanjun. What's the problem?"

Li Ling looked at her and said, "The year before last, the garrison commander of Yunzhou, Wang Ren, defected and joined Gaoshan, causing the loss of five cities south of Yunzhou. Now, to get to Chaozhou, one must take a detour. The journey is over high mountains and long roads. How could you endure it?"

If he hadn't mentioned it, it would be one thing. But now that Chaozhou was brought up, Jingxiu felt an urgent desire to see her maternal family. She quickly replied, "It's fine! I'm not afraid of hardships on the road."

Li Ling still refused. "To get there now, you even have to cross a stretch of desert. Carriages can't even go through. Put this idea out of your head."

Jingxiu pouted. "If you all walk, I'll walk with you. If you ride horses, I'll ride with you. Just take me with you, that's all."

She tugged at Li Ling's sleeve, pleading. "Please? Is that okay?"

Li Ling remained resolute in his refusal. "This trip to Nanjun—the difficult travel is one aspect. Furthermore, I'm on official business. Taking you along is inappropriate."

"I just want to go." Jingxiu held onto Li Ling's sleeve, gently shaking it as she cooed. "I'm begging you. I promise I won't cause you any trouble. You just need to drop me off at my grandparents' house. It won't delay your duties."

"Please? Is that okay?" She continued to shake his sleeve, pleading relentlessly.

When it came to matters of principle, Li Ling would not compromise. He still refused. "I said no, and that's final. Don't bring this up again."

Jingxiu lowered her eyes, biting her lip. Her long eyelashes grew moist.

Li Ling looked coldly at his little wife. "Even if you cry and make a scene, I won't take you with me."

Seeing that this tactic wasn't working, Jingxiu had to try another approach. She pouted and said, "We've been married for so long, and you've never taken me anywhere."

Li Ling said, "Didn't I say I'd take you to see the lanterns for the Lantern Festival? Tomorrow is the fifteenth. I'll come back early to go out with you."

Jingxiu replied with a wooden expression, muttering, "What's so interesting about that? It's the same few lanterns every year. I'm long tired of them."

"Then we won't go see them." With that, Li Ling pulled away from her and, without even looking back, walked out of the room.

---

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

That evening, after her bath, Jingxiu specifically put on a new sleeping robe and went to bed early. When Li Ling returned, extinguished the lamp, and lay down, she proactively nestled against his chest.

A faint, sweet fragrance wafted over. Li Ling's heart stirred. He reached out to undo the sash of her robe and leaned over her.

Looking down at his little wife, who was as docile as a kitten beneath him, he stated, "Let's be clear. I can't take you on this trip."

Jingxiu immediately wilted, pushing him away angrily. "Why are you so stubborn and impossible to persuade?"

Li Ling looked at his little wife, sighed, and said with an awkward smile, "I said I can't take you, and that's that. Even if you use all thirty-six stratagems, I won't change my mind."

(End of Chapter)

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