Chapter 13: with translation of chapter title

Wei Bing'an started, stopping the beast bell in his hand; everyone saw the Ning Prince's mansion's young master draw a knife, and they all came forward to shield their own master in the middle.

But we need to be concise, not add extra. Let's translate literally:

Wei Bing'an startled, lowered the beast bell in his hand; as everyone saw the Ning Prince's son draw a knife, they all rushed to shield their own master in the middle.

Wei Bing'an startled, stopped the beast bell in his hand; everyone saw the Ning Prince's mansion's young master move a knife, and they all came forward to protect their own master in the middle.

We need to keep "beast bell" as beast bell? Could be "beast bell". We'll translate as "beast bell". Good.

Now line 【2】:

Tuan Tuan peeked out from behind Xiao Ningxuan, tugged his sleeve, and said, "Brother, I'm fine." She then turned to look at the snow leopard, which had stopped lunging at the fence when the bell fell silent.

Tuan Tuan poked her small head out from behind Xiao Ningxun, tugged at his sleeve: "Brother, I'm fine." Then she turned her head to look at the snow leopard that, because the bell sound stopped, was no longer lunging at the fence.

We need to keep "snow leopard" as snow leopard.

Line 【3】:

Tuan Tuan approached the fence and whispered reassuringly: "It's okay, don't be afraid—it's just a noise, it can't hurt you."

Tuan Tuan walked to the edge of the fence and softly comforted: "Good, don't be afraid, it's just a sound, it can't hurt you."

Line 【4】:

The snow leopard kept panting heavily, growling at her without pause.

The snow leopard still panted heavily, lowly growling at her without cease.

Line 【5】:

Tuan Tuan frowned, sympathizing with the big cat. "You poor thing, you're frightened! How can I calm you down? Oh! Dried meat!"

Tuan Tuan's little face scrunched up, poor big kitty, it got scared! How can I make it not be afraid anymore? Right! Jerky!

Line 【6】:

She pulled a tiny piece of dried meat from her little pouch—a snack she'd packed that morning hoping to feed the animal, though the keeper had forbidden feeding, leaving her feeling she'd brought it in vain.

She lowered her head and took out a small piece of jerky from her little sachet; that was what she had put in this morning, intending to feed it, but the keeper said feeding was not allowed, and she thought she had brought it for nothing.

Line 【7】:

She put the dried meat in her palm, took a sniff: "Smells wonderful!" She wrinkled her nose and extended her hand through a gap in the fence: "Hey big kitty, give it a sniff—does it smell good? Want a bite?"

She placed the jerky in her palm, first smelled it herself: "So fragrant!" She wrinkled her nose, reached her hand toward the gap near the fence: "Big kitty, smell it, is it fragrant? Want to eat?"

Line 【8】:

The snow leopard's nostrils flared with each sniff—"huff, huff"—as it tried to make sense of the scent, its golden eyes fixed on the small puffball that hadn't yet reached its height.

The snow leopard's nostrils flared, huffing, puffing as if discerning something; its golden eyes lowered to gaze at this little dumpling not yet as tall as it.

Line 【9】:

The keeper gasped: "Miss, stop that at once!"

The keeper exclaimed in shock: "Miss! Stop quickly!"

Line 【10】:

The snow leopard's growl softened into a whine; although its head couldn't extend, its tongue pushed through the gap, drawing the dried meat from Tuan Tuan's hand into its mouth.

The snow leopard's low growl gradually turned into a whimper; though its head couldn't stretch out, its tongue strained to reach through the gap, rolling the jerky from Tuan Tuan's hand into its mouth.

Line 【11】:

Its rough, barbed tongue licked her palm, making it tingle; she laughed happily: "Brother! Look—it ate my dried meat!"

The rough, hook-laden tongue licked, making Tuan Tuan's palm itch; she laughed happily: "Brother! Look! It ate my jerky!"

Line 【12】:

The keeper stood stunned; despite looking after the snow leopard for more than a year, he had never gotten this close—how did this little girl manage it?

The keeper stood frozen on the spot; he had cared for this snow leopard for over a year, yet never been able to get this close—how did this little child manage it?

Line 【13】:

The others were equally shocked, exchanging bewildered glances and standing frozen to the side.

Others also stared, dumbfounded, standing aside blankly watching.

Line 【14】:

Tuan Tuan fed it all the dried meat from her pouch—she hadn't brought much—and the snow leopard quickly devoured the last piece, its eyes still locked on her hand.

Tuan Tuan fed each piece of jerky from her sachet to it; she hadn't brought much, and the snow leopard quickly finished the last piece, its eyes still fixed on her hand.

Line 【15】:

Tuan Tuan opened her palms to show they were empty, then pouted: "That's all I've got! Next time I'll bring you plenty more."

Tuan Tuan spread her hands, showing it her empty palms, pouted her little mouth: "That's all! Next time I'll bring you lots more!"

Line 【16】:

The snow leopard seemed to comprehend; it stopped fixating on her hand, pressed against the fence, lay down slowly, and reached a paw through the gap toward her.

The snow leopard seemed to understand, no longer staring at her hand but instead pressing against the fence, lying down slowly, extending a paw through the gap toward her.

Line 【17】:

Xiao Ningxuan put away his dagger, knelt, and grabbed his sister's hand, worried the snow leopard might scratch her.

Xiao Ningxun put away his dagger, crouched down, grabbed his sister's hand, worried the snow leopard might scratch her.

Line 【18】:

Tuan Tuan brushed it off: "Brother, it likes me—it won't hurt me."

Tuan Tuan, however, didn't care: "Brother, it likes me! It won't hurt me."

Line 【19】:

Her two small hands clasped the snow leopard's extended paw—soft and enormous—so she could only grip two of its toes.

Two small hands held the snow leopard's extended paw; that paw was soft and huge, Tuan Tuan's two small hands could only grasp two of its toes.

Line 【20】:

Tuan Tuan burst into laughter: "Brother! Look how big its paws are!"

Tuan Tuan laughed happily: "Brother! Look! Its paws are so big!"

Line 【21】:

The snow leopard allowed her to knead its paw, letting out a contented purr; then it rolled over, belly up, tail stretched out on the ground, eyes half‑closed, looking completely at ease.

The snow leopard let her knead its paw, its throat emitting a contented rumble; finally it rolled over, exposing its belly to Tuan Tuan, tail flat on the ground, eyes half-closed, looking very relaxed.

Line 【22】:

Wei Bing'an gave a dismissive snort, whereas Lu Qingjia's eyes shone with envy.

Wei Bing'an snorted, while Lu Qingjia's eyes lit up with envy plainly visible.

Line 【23】:

Xiao Ningxuan looked at Tuan Tuan's small hands, then his gaze drifted to the snow leopard's heaving white belly.

Xiao Ningxun looked at Tuan Tuan's small hands, then fell upon the snow leopard's rising and falling white belly.

Line 【24】:

He remembered the previous day in the main hall, when it was those very small hands that had clasped his— that warm sensation was definitely not just his imagination.

Recalling yesterday in the main hall, it was precisely these small hands that had grasped him; that warm current was certainly not his imagination.

Line 【25】:

This little girl—could she actually be a little immortal?

This little sister, could she perhaps be… a little immortal?

Line 【26】:

Please forgive my intrusion; per the garden's rule, a wild animal has been startled today, so the Lingling Garden is closed effective immediately. Everyone, please return to your homes. Lord Wei, kindly hand over the beast bell for me to take charge of.

"Please excuse my rudeness, everyone; according to the garden's custom, today a wild beast has been startled, so Wanlingyuan is closed immediately; please each return to your mansions. Kindly have Wei young master hand over the beast bell for me to keep."

Line 【27】:

The keeper felt annoyed, yet he lowered himself further and spoke respectfully, though his words were far from gentle.

The keeper felt angry inside, his body lowered even more, his tone respectful, yet his words were not soft at all.

The keeper felt resentful inside, though he lowered his body even more and spoke in a respectful tone, his words were anything but soft.

Line 【28】:

Wei Bing'an's face flushed: "What gives you the right to take my beast bell? My father—" He still wanted to keep playing with the beast bell, but the keeper had already snatched it away; though his grip was light, his strength was firm.

Wei Bing'an's face flushed: "What right do you have to take my beast bell? My father—" He still wanted to keep fiddling with the beast bell, but the keeper had already stepped forward, grabbed it; though the motion was light, the force was not small.

Line 【29】:

Being young, Wei Bing'an was no match for the keeper's strength and lost the beast bell; he apologized repeatedly: "Sorry, sorry. The garden's rules are set by the imperial household—I wouldn't dare violate them."

Wei Bing'an, being young, was overpowered by the keeper's strength and lost the beast bell; he repeatedly apologized: "Sorry, sorry. The garden's rules are set by the imperial household; I dare not break them."

Line 【30】:

"You!" Wei Bing'an snapped, pointing at the keeper but unable to think of a retort.

"You!" Wei Bing'an fumed, pointing at the keeper but unable to find a reason to retort.

Line 【31】:

Lu Qingjia smirked at him: "Wei Bing'an, he's right—let me tell you, I know this inside out."

Lu Qingjia grinned carelessly at him: "Wei Bing'an, what he said is true; let me tell you, I know this inside out!"

Line 【32】:

The little myna in his sleeve poked its head out and squawked: "I know this! I know, know, know!"

The little myna in his sleeve poked its head out and loudly repeated: "I know this! I know, I know, I know!"

Line 【33】:

Wei Bing'an glared, stomped his foot, and strode off.

Wei Bing'an glared at him, stomped his foot, and turned to stride away quickly.

Line 【34】:

Lu Qingjia glanced at Tuan Tuan, then at Xiao Ningxuan: "Xiao Ningxuan, your sister is incredible—next time you come, be sure to invite me!"

Lu Qingjia glanced at Tuan Tuan, then at Xiao Ningxun: "Xiao Ningxun, your little sister is amazing! Next time you come, remember to call me too!"

Line 【35】:

Xiao Ningxuan snorted and didn't respond; Lu Qingjia wasn't annoyed, turned to pursue Wei Bing'an: "Why are you walking so fast? Wait up!"

Xiao Ningxun snorted, gave no reply; Lu Qingjia wasn't annoyed, turned to chase Wei Bing'an: "Why are you walking so fast? Wait for me!"

Line 【36】:

Seeing them walk off, the keeper turned, bowed to Xiao Ningxuan and Tuan Tuan, and said: "Thank you both—thanks to you, the Lingling Garden avoided trouble today."

Watching them walk away, the keeper finally turned, bowed to Xiao Ningxun and Tuan Tuan: "Thank you both; thanks to you two, today nothing went wrong in Wanlingyuan."

Line 【37】:

His gaze settled on Tuan Tuan: "Miss, you and this snow leopard share a rare connection. Its mind is made up now—please head home and come again another day."

His gaze settled deeply on Tuan Tuan: "Miss, you and this snow leopard are truly fated—rare indeed. Its heart is set now; please return to your mansions, come again another day."

Line 【38】:

Tuan Tuan waved her little hand at the snow leopard, reluctant to leave: "Big kitty, I'm going home now—I'll come visit you again soon. Be good, listen, and eat well."

Tuan Tuan reluctantly waved her little hand at the snow leopard: "Big kitty, I'm heading home! Next time I'll come see you—be good, listen, and eat well."

Line 【39】:

The snow leopard gave her a look, got up, and walked to the corner of its pen, where it started digging at the ground with a clatter.

The snow leopard glanced at her, rose, and walked to the corner of the enclosure, beginning to dig with a clank, clank.

Line 【40】:

Tuan Tuan stared, confused, then turned to the keeper: "Hey, what is it doing?"

Tuan Tuan looked puzzled at it, then turned to the keeper: "Keeper! What is it doing?"

Note there is an extra quote at end; we keep as is.

Line 【41】:

Everyone laughed; the keeper flushed and shook his head: "Miss, I'm not called 'little'—I'm……" He sighed, "I have no idea what it's doing."

Everyone laughed; the keeper embarrassedly shook his head: "This little miss, I'm not called 'little one', I'm…… sigh," he let out a breath: "I also don't know what it's doing."

Line 【42】:

The snow leopard dug for a moment, unearthed a deep pit, pulled something out, walked over to Tuan Tuan, opened its jaws, and dropped the item—a clump of dark brown, pebble‑like substance.

The snow leopard dug for a while, dug out a deep pit in the ground, pulled something out with its mouth, walked toward Tuan Tuan, opened its mouth, and the thing fell to the ground—actually a clump of dark brown, like small pebbles.

Line 【43】:

It looked at Tuan Tuan, nudged the pebble with its claw, pushing it outside the fence, and kept grumbling.

It looked at Tuan Tuan, poked the little stone with its paw, pushing it outside the fence, while its throat kept rumbling.

Line 【44】:

Tuan Tuan squatted, picked it up, and looked at the snow leopard: "Is this for me?"

Tuan Tuan squatted, picked it up, looked at the snow leopard: "For me?"

Line 【45】:

The snow leopard rolled on the ground, as if to say yes.

The snow leopard rolled on the ground, as if saying yes.

Line 【46】:

Tuan Tuan lit up, holding it out to Xiao Ningxuan: "Brother! Look—this is a present from the big cat!"

Tuan Tuan became happy, held it up toward Xiao Ningxun: "Brother! Look! This is a gift from the big kitty!"

Line 【47】:

Xiao Ningxuan took it, gazed at his sister, and smiled tenderly: "Exactly—the snow leopard gives gifts to no one but Tuan Tuan."

Xiao Ningxun took it, looked at his sister, a gentle smile appearing on his face: "Exactly, the snow leopard gives nothing to anyone else, only to Tuan Tuan!"

Line 【48】:

Tuan Tuan smiled proudly, reached into the fence, and gently stroked its big ears, hating to leave: "Big kitty, thank you—I'll come by often and bring you plenty of good food."

Tuan Tuan smiled proudly, reached her hand into the fence, gently stroked its big ears, very reluctant: "Big kitty, thank you! I'll come visit often! I'll bring you lots and lots of tasty food!"

Line 【49】:

The snow leopard loved her petting, rolling over and over in delight.

The snow leopard, rubbed by her, felt extremely comfortable and rolled over several more times.

Line 【50】:

Xiao Ningxuan presented the object to the keeper: "Do you know what this is?"

Xiao Ningxun handed the thing to the keeper: "Do you recognize this?"

Line 【51】:

The keeper shook his head: "I've never seen anything like this. Today's encounter between the little miss and the snow leopard is beyond my imagination. Though beasts aren't human, they possess spirit. Since the snow leopard gave this to the little miss, you should take it back to your manor and have an expert look at it."

The keeper shook his head: "Never seen before. Today's encounter between the little miss and the snow leopard is beyond my imagination. Though beasts are not human, they have spirituality. Since the snow leopard gave this to the little miss, you might as well take it back to your mansion and have an expert examine it."

Note there is a stray quote after 「」? We'll keep as is.

Line 【52】:

Xiao Ningxuan nodded, put the item into his sister's empty pouch, and carefully tied the strings: "Tuan Tuan, let's go home—we'll come again another day."

Xiao Ningxun nodded, placed the item into his sister's empty sachet, tied the strap securely: "Tuan Tuan, let's go home; we'll come again another day."

Line 【53】:

Tuan Tuan reluctantly pulled her hand away from stroking the big cat, looked at the keeper, and said: "Please make sure to feed it well."

Tuan Tuan reluctantly withdrew her hand from rubbing the big cat, looked at the keeper: "Please feed it well!"

Line 【54】:

"That's my responsibility."

"That is my duty."

Line 【55】:

"Thank you, little one!" Tuan Tuan said earnestly; the keeper stopped resisting and resigned himself to being called 'little.'

"Thank you!" Tuan Tuan said sincerely; the keeper gave up struggling, "little one" is fine.

Line 【56】:

Xiao Ningxuan took his sister's hand, and the party climbed aboard the carriage back to their estate.

Xiao Ningxun took his sister's hand, and the group boarded the carriage back to the mansion.

Line 【57】:

Along the way, Tuan Tuan was buzzing with excitement from having touched the big cat, chattering away nonstop.

On the way, Tuan Tuan, excited beyond belief from having touched the big cat, chattered nonstop with her little mouth.

Line 【58】:

"The snow leopard's fur is so soft! Brother—next time we'll bring it piles of treats, and you should give it a pet too, okay?"

"The snow leopard's fur is so soft! Brother! Next time we'll bring it lots and lots of good food, and you should also pet it, okay?"

Line 【59】:

"The snow leopard's head is enormous! It's surely older than me and even taller than I am!"

"The snow leopard's head is so big! It must be older than me, even taller than me!"

Line 【60】:

Xiao Ningxun and Grandma Liu laughed and listened, their affection for Tuan Tuan all showing on their faces.

Suddenly, Tuan Tuan's gaze fixed on brother's face: "Brother! You're so impressive today! But why are you so skinny! So skinny like a bamboo pole! Even a snow leopard is fatter than you!"

"Bamboo pole?" Xiao Ningxun's ears reddened again; he wanted to say "no," but didn't know how, and finally let out a muted "hm," unsure whether he was responding to "impressive" or to "bamboo pole."

"From now on I'll feed you delicious food every day! I'll make you fatter than a snow leopard!"

"Okay." Xiao Ningxun looked at her indulgently: "Brother, from now on you'll eat earnestly, just eat what Tuan Tuan feeds you! Okay?"

"Hm!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, satisfied.

When they returned to the manor it was past noon; the two youngsters heard a servant say that the Princess Consort was currently at Yangzheng Pavilion, and Tuan Tuan tugged Xiao Ningxun: "Brother, mother is in father's courtyard; let's go too."

"Alright!" The two youngsters entered Yangzheng Pavilion, but saw that beside Prince Ning's sickbed stood another person—a senior physician of the Imperial Medical Institute, Guo Taiyi.