RATMOFANF: Chapter 90

 Glossary

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

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

·Liu Yunzhi (柳韵之): The scholar from Jiangnan.

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Chapter 90: Li Ling Gets Jealous

The two of them went out by carriage. The earlier disruption caused by Qingluan had completely ruined Li Ling's initially good mood.

Jingxiu glanced at Li Ling's face, which was cold enough to freeze over, and said, "Although our cousin acted rather absurdly, she has shown a bit of improvement during these past couple of days staying here."

Li Ling sat upright in the carriage, snorted coldly, and replied with a tone of deep frustration, "What improvement? I don't see any."

"She's gotten bolder!" Jingxiu leaned in close to Li Ling, saying with a completely serious expression, "That day you yelled at her, she was so frightened her face turned pale. But look just now—I saw she wasn't flustered at all. That's a big improvement from last time. If you scold her fiercely a few more times in the future, our cousin's courage might actually be trained, and she won't be so delicate and prone to crying over every little thing."

She tugged on Li Ling's sleeve. "If you really manage to correct her, perhaps His Majesty will reward you."

Li Ling couldn't help but laugh. He turned to look at his young wife, reached out, and pinched her ear. "It seems your own courage keeps growing, daring to tease me now."

Jingxiu took the chance to cup his face with both hands, giving it a vigorous rub. Suppressing a mischievous smile, she asked, "Have you ever asked your father and mother if your face was born looking this stern?"

"It's stern to begin with, and looks even more intimidating when I get angry."

Li Ling seized the opportunity to pull his young wife into his embrace. "That's precisely why I never truly lose my temper with you. I'm afraid of frightening you."

"So does that mean, no matter what mistake I make, you'll never really be angry with me?" Jingxiu nestled against Li Ling's chest and murmured.

Li Ling looked down at the young wife in his arms and said nothing, but his expression was no longer as cold and severe as before, his eyes now filled with gentleness.

Even he himself didn't understand it. No matter how angry he was, a few words from his wife could quietly dissolve all the fury in his heart.

As long as he was with her, he always felt relaxed and happy.

By the time the carriage arrived on the main street, though dusk had just settled, the streets and alleys were already bustling with activity.

Colorful lanterns of every description hung on both sides of Chang'an Street. The enthusiastic cries of street vendors rose and fell, and the road was packed with a continuous flow of people.

It was a splendid scene of vibrant human life.

The coachman stopped the carriage by the roadside. Li Ling jumped down and reached out a hand to his wife inside.

Jingxiu bent down and stepped out of the carriage, only to be swept right up into Li Ling's arms. Instead of setting her down immediately, Li Ling carried her all the way onto the street before finally placing her on her feet.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

He looked at his young wife teasingly. "You should eat less from now on. You seem to have gained quite a bit of weight recently; I'm finding it hard to carry you."

Jingxiu shot him a reproachful glance. "If you think I'm fat, then just cast me aside. Hmph! There are plenty of talented young gentlemen here. I'll just go with whoever doesn't find me fat." With that, she twisted away and melted into the endless stream of people.

Li Ling caught up in two or three strides and grabbed her small hand. "You dare entertain such thoughts? Just wait until we get home; I'll teach you a lesson then."

Jingxiu looked at him sideways. "Maybe you find me unsatisfactory, but does that mean I can't have a change of heart?"

Li Ling wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "You are not allowed to have a change of heart. You are mine in this life, the next life, and the life after that."

Chatting and laughing, the two followed the flow of the crowd forward. The Chang'an Street square was the most lively spot.

The full moon had risen into the sky, and thousands upon thousands of festive lanterns lit up one after another. A riddle hung beneath each lantern. Guessing different numbers of riddles would win corresponding prizes. Whoever guessed ninety-nine riddles would be crowned the champion and win the Lantern Festival's top prize—a crystal lotus flower lantern.

Many people guessing riddles had gathered here. Li Ling and Jingxiu also stopped. While admiring the lanterns, they started a competition to see who could solve more riddles.

"It has feet but cannot walk, a mouth but does not speak. Its face cannot be washed, for washing makes it ugly."

Li Ling scratched his head and muttered, "What thing is that?"

Jingxiu reached up and plucked the riddle slip, replying calmly, "It's a clay doll."

Li Ling suddenly understood, letting out an "oh." Glancing at his wife's smug expression, he said, refusing to admit defeat, "That's a trinket for young girls. Guessing it is no great feat."

Jingxiu glanced at him. "Then let's have a proper contest. The loser must accept the consequence. How about it?"

Li Ling agreed readily. "Fine! What should the wager be?"

Jingxiu pointed to a multi-story building not far away. "The loser treats the winner to a meal at the Fortune Tavern."

Li Ling rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Alright!" With that, he impatiently moved to another lantern and began studying its riddle intently.

"It has a surface but no opening, legs but no hands. Although it has four legs, it cannot walk on its own." The moment Li Ling finished reading it quietly to himself, Jingxiu spoke up first. "That one is a table."

Li Ling replied with chagrin, "How is it a 'table'? I thought it was a 'frog'."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu retorted reproachfully, "Can't a frog walk?"

Li Ling countered, "A frog doesn't walk; it hops."

"And a frog has a mouth, doesn't it?" So saying, Jingxiu plucked the riddle slip again, waving it before Li Ling's eyes. "I win again."

Li Ling's face darkened. He shot Jingxiu a reproachful look, turned away, and went to guess another.

"Do not fall for the beauty's trap." This time, Li Ling didn't read it aloud. He pondered silently for a moment, then said excitedly, "I know this one! It refers to the virtue of a gentleman."

Jingxiu made a dismissive sound. "It should be 'Guard against lust'." She took down the riddle slip and, looking at the stunned Li Ling, added with a touch of pity, "'In youth, when the blood and vital forces are still unsettled, guard against lust.' That's from the Analects."

She patted Li Ling's shoulder earnestly. "Husband, you haven't read enough books."

Li Ling replied disdainfully, "I had that memorized by age five. I was just momentarily confused and didn't recall it."

They walked and guessed. After covering half the square, Jingxiu already held over thirty riddle slips in her hand, while Li Ling clutched only four or five.

Jingxiu glanced at Li Ling, whose expression was growing darker by the minute, and teased with a smile. "It's just a matter of buying a single meal. Should the mighty Commander of the City Patrol Office be such a sore loser?"

Li Ling gave his young wife a reproachful look and made a scoffing sound. "It's not over until the end. Who loses and who wins is still undecided."

Just as they were locked in their competitive riddle-guessing, a man approached from a distance. He bowed deeply to Jingxiu. "Madam Shen, it has been a long time. I trust you have been well."

Jingxiu looked up and saw it was Liu Yunzhi. She returned the greeting with a smile. "What a coincidence, to meet Master Liu here."

Li Ling, who had been intently focused on riddles not far away, heard the voice and came over in a few strides, positioning himself squarely in front of Jingxiu. He said to Liu Yunzhi mildly, "So it's Master Liu."

Liu Yunzhi glanced at Li Ling, who was standing solidly in front of Jingxiu. The corner of his mouth twitched as he replied, "The last time I paid a visit to your manor, General Li shut the door on me. I hadn't expected you to remember me."

Noticing the few riddle slips in Li Ling's hand, a trace of disdain flitted across Liu Yunzhi's face. He said with a cold laugh, "I hadn't imagined the General possessed such a refined hobby."

Li Ling weighed the pitifully few slips in his hand and replied coldly, "These things are merely childish games." Then, glancing at the thick stack of slips Liu Yunzhi held, he added disdainfully, "Master Liu seems exceptionally skilled at this."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Seeing the two men were already at odds, Jingxiu tugged at Li Ling's sleeve. She smiled at Liu Yunzhi and said, "My husband and I are on our way to the Fortune Tavern for a drink. We shall take our leave now. Farewell."

(End of Chapter)

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