Chapter 177: with translation of chapter title

~21 min read 4,009 words

Gu Jiu Ling and Xiao Yin were in Panlong Temple, constantly accompanying Empress Dowager Ning'an in worshipping Buddha, holding Buddhist services, and donating incense money……

After finishing the whole set, she returned to Prince Rui's residence and rested in the warm pavilion, but Gu Jiu Ling never got to see how Empress Dowager Ning'an would treat her.

Translation: "After completing the whole set, they returned to Prince Rui's residence, rested in the warm pavilion, but Gu Jiu Ling never got to see how Empress Dowager Ning'an would treat her."

After finishing the whole set, she returned to Prince Rui's residence and rested in the warm pavilion, but Gu Jiu Ling never got to see how Empress Dowager Ning'an would treat her.

Thus: "After completing the whole set, they returned to Rui Wangfu, rested in the warm pavilion, but Gu Jiu Ling never got to see how Empress Dowager Ning'an would treat her."

Gu Jiu Ling felt something was odd, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was odd.

Translation: "Gu Jiu Ling felt something was odd, yet couldn't pinpoint what was odd."

She felt she had exerted all her strength to bear Empress Dowager Ning'an's heavy blow, never expecting her punch to land on cotton; the other party sincerely invited her and Xiao Yin to a three-day outing at Panlong Temple.

Thus: "She felt she had exerted all her strength to withstand Empress Dowager Ning'an's heavy blow, never expecting her punch to land on cotton; the other party sincerely invited her and Xiao Yin to a three-day outing at Panlong Temple."

Soon it was the day for Su Wanrou's betrothal; these days, aside from the people at Panlong Temple before and after being palace personnel, she couldn't monitor Su Wanrou, and for the rest of the time she sent maids to inquire at Tan Chun Garden.

Translation: "Soon it was the day for Su Wanrou's betrothal; these days, aside from the people in and out of Panlong Temple being palace folk, she couldn't monitor Su Wanrou, so she sent maids to inquire at Tan Chun Yuan."

"Master! Nothing strange has been happening at Tan Chun Garden these days; everyone inside and out is busy with Su Wanrou's wedding."

Thus: "Soon it was the day for Su Wanrou's betrothal; these days, aside from the people coming and going at Panlong Temple being palace folk, she couldn't monitor Su Wanrou, so she sent maids to inquire at Tan Chun Garden."

"Master! Nothing strange has been happening at Tan Chun Garden these days; everyone inside and out is busy with Su Wanrou's wedding."

Translation: "\"Master! Over at Tan Chun Garden these days nothing unusual has happened; inside and out they're busy with Su Wanrou's wedding. \""

We need to keep quotes? Probably keep as is but translate content. We'll output the line with quotes? The instruction: keep each translation on a single output line. We'll translate the quoted speech into English, preserving quotes maybe. We'll keep double quotes.

Thus: "\"Master! Over at Tan Chun Garden these days nothing unusual has happened; inside and out they're busy with Su Wanrou's wedding. \""

Gu Jiu Ling raised her eyebrows slightly and asked, "What is the host doing?"

Translation: "Gu Jiu Ling raised her eyebrows slightly: \"What is the bride doing? \""

Jiu Yue hurriedly said: "Replying to the mistress, according to news from Tan Chun Garden, Su Wanrou spends each day embroidering and practicing calligraphy, very proper; she hasn't even stepped out of the gate of the second courtyard."

Translation: "Jiu Yue hurriedly replied: \"Reporting to Master, according to news from Tan Chun Garden, Su Wanrou spends each day embroidering and practicing calligraphy, very proper; she hasn't even stepped out of the second courtyard gate. \""

Thus: "Jiu Yue hurriedly replied: \"Reporting to Master, according to news from Tan Chun Garden, Su Wanrou spends each day embroidering and practicing calligraphy, very proper; she hasn't even stepped out of the second courtyard gate. \""

"Hiss..." Gu Jiu Ling sucked in a breath of cold air, feeling that something wasn't quite right.

Translation: "\"Hiss... \" Gu Jiu Ling sucked in a breath of cold air, feeling that something wasn't quite right."

Given Su Wanrou's nature of staying out of trouble, how could she be so obedient?

Translation: "Given Su Wanrou's mischievous nature, how could she be so obedient?"

Xiao Yin might be a bit slow in romance, but she could see that Su Wanrou likely loves him deeply; how could she possibly accept the Zhao family's marriage so placidly?

Thus: "Xiao Yin, being a big man, may be a bit slow in matters of love; she could see clearly that Su Wanrou likes Xiao Yin, perhaps to the bone, so how could she possibly accept the Zhao family's marriage so calmly?"

She had no standing to offer Xiao Yin any advice on this matter; Su Wanrou is Xiao Yin's sister, and her father is Xiao Yin's lifesaver. If she interfered too much, it would cause Xiao Yin to resent her, and he might think she couldn't tolerate his sister.

Translation: "She had no standing to offer Xiao Yin any advice on this matter; Su Wanrou is Xiao Yin's sister, and Su Wanrou's father is Xiao Yin's lifesaver; if she interfered too much, Xiao Yin might grow resentful, and might even think she couldn't tolerate his sister."

Thus: "She had no standing to offer Xiao Yin any advice on this matter; Su Wanrou is Xiao Yin's sister, and Su Wanrou's father is Xiao Yin's lifesaver; if she interfered too much, Xiao Yin might grow resentful, and might even think she couldn't tolerate his sister."

"Keep an eye on things; there aren't many days left, and she'll be married off at the start of next month—what a pity."

Translation: "\"Keep an eye on her; it's only a few days left, she'll be married off at the start of next month—what a pity……\""

Sheng Nuo silently sighed; Xiao Yin's kindness toward Su Wanrou and his favor toward Young General Zhao might ruin the Zhao family.

Shen Nuo silently sighed; Xiao Yin's kindness toward Su Wanrou and his favor toward General Zhao Xiao might ruin the Zhao family.

Xiao Yin's kindness toward Su Wanrou and his favor toward Young General Zhao might ruin the Zhao family.

Thus: "Shen Nuo silently sighed; Xiao Yin's kindness toward Su Wanrou and his favor toward Young General Zhao might ruin the Zhao family."

Clearly knowing it was improper, yet she had no standing to intervene at all.

Translation: "Although she knew it was improper, she had no standing to intervene at all."

She is a person who crossed over from modern society; although Xiao Yin is kind-hearted, he is ultimately a person of this era, bound by its customs and worldview.

Translation: "She is a person who transmigrated from modern society; although Xiao Yin is kind, he is ultimately a person of this era, with its customs and worldly principles to follow."

As long as Tan Chun Garden remains calm and everything proceeds smoothly, just avoid provoking Gu Jiu Ling.

Translation: "As long as Tan Chun Garden doesn't cause trouble, just go smoothly; don't provoke Gu Jiu Ling."

The twenty-plus days at the end of the month flew by, and before she knew it, the day of Su Wanrou's wedding had arrived.

Translation: "The twenty-plus days at month's end passed quickly; in the blink of an eye it was the day of Su Wanrou's wedding."

Zhao Lang's residence is an emperor-bestowed general's mansion; not very large, located in the eastern part of the city, it is a four-courtyard, four-building compound, yet still impressive.

Thus: "Zhao Lang's residence is an emperor-bestowed general's mansion; not very large, located in the eastern part of the city, it is a four-courtyard, four-building compound, yet still impressive."

The Zhao family's origins are humble; most of their ancestors were merchants and artisans, with Zhao Lang being the sole outstanding talent.

Translation: "The Zhao family's origins are humble; most of their ancestors were merchants and artisans, only Zhao Lang emerged as such talent."

But now Zhao Lang's status is not ordinary; according to Southern Qi custom, marriage requires first going to the ancestral temple to pay respects to ancestors; only after worshiping the ancestors is one considered officially entered into the Zhao family.

Thus: "But now Zhao Lang's status is not ordinary; according to Southern Qi custom, marriage requires first going to the Gu Zong Ci to pay respects to ancestors; only after worshiping the ancestors is one considered officially entered into the Zhao family."

Usually, the ancestral temples of aristocratic families in the capital's suburbs are close by, but the Zhao family were mere commoners—where would they have a family ancestral temple?

Translation: "Generally, the ancestral temples of aristocratic families in Shang Jing are close to the suburbs; the Zhao family used to be commoners—where would they have a family ancestral temple?"

Usually, the ancestral temples of aristocratic families in the capital suburbs are nearby; the Zhao family used to be commoners—where would they have a family ancestral temple?

Thus: "Generally, the ancestral temples of aristocratic families in Shang Jing are close to the capital's suburbs; the Zhao family used to be commoners—where would they have a family ancestral temple?"

They had no choice but to look among near and far relatives who bore the Zhao surname, anyone they could connect with, to see if there was someone presentable.

Translation: "Having no choice, they could only look among distant and close relatives of their ancestors, even if they bore the Zhao name, anyone they could connect with, to see if there was anyone presentable."

Having no choice, they could only look among distant and close relatives who bore the Zhao name, anyone they could connect with, to see if there was anyone presentable enough.

Thus: "Having no choice, they could only look among distant and close relatives of their ancestors, even if they bore the Zhao name, anyone they could connect with, to see if there was anyone presentable."

After searching, they found only a tribute student from the Imperial Academy, or rather a minor official whose father had paid silver to have him donated as such.

After searching, they found only a tribute student from the Imperial Academy, or rather a minor official whose grandfather had paid money to have him donated as such.

Thus: "After searching, they found only a tribute student from the Imperial Academy, still a minor official whose position was bought by his grandfather with silver."

His great-great-grandfather and Zhao Lang's great-great-great-grandfather were paternal cousins, so there is some connection.

We need to parse: "His great-great-grandfather and Zhao Lang's great-great-great-grandfather are paternal cousins; so going down that many generations, there is some connection."

We'll translate: "His great-great-grandfather and Zhao Lang's great-great-great-grandfather are paternal cousins; going down that many generations, there is some connection."

Finally they found the family temple of that lineage in Wuzhou; that Imperial Academy tribute student's family later declined, and now only a dilapidated ancestral temple remains.

Thus: "Finally they found the family temple of that lineage in Wuzhou; that Imperial Academy tribute student's family later declined, and now only a dilapidated ancestral temple remains."

Zhao Lang then sent people there to repair the ancestral temple, preparing to bring Su Wanrou to pay their respects when they got married.

Thus: "Zhao Lang then sent people there to repair the ancestral temple, preparing to bring Su Wanrou there to worship after their marriage."

The Zhao family still valued Su Wanrou highly, not neglecting the rites expected of a capital aristocratic woman; in their view, a lady from Prince Rui's residence who consented to marry beneath her status into their family deserved proper treatment.

Thus: "The Zhao family still values Su Wanrou greatly; they observe all the rites due to an aristocratic lady of Shang Jing, and in their view, a young lady from the Prince Rui's residence who consents to marry into their family deserves proper treatment—how could they not treat her well?"

The Zhao family still held Su Wanrou in high regard, observing all the rites expected of a capital aristocratic woman; to them, a lady from Prince Rui's residence who agreed to marry beneath her status into their family deserved proper treatment.

Thus: "The Zhao family still values Su Wanrou greatly; they observe all the rites due to an aristocratic lady of Shang Jing, and in their view, a young lady from Rui Wangfu who consents to marry beneath her status into their family deserves proper treatment—how could they not treat her well?"

Every detail was personally overseen by the Zhao family patriarch; concerned that the Zhao family's modest gate would make Su Wanrou's marriage seem dull and upset her, he spent silver to bring the entire Zhao household to Wuzhou, determined to make the wedding lively and festive.

Thus: "Everything is personally arranged by the Zhao patriarch; worried that the Zhao household is small and Su Wanrou's marriage would seem dull, upsetting her, he spent silver to invite all the Zhao family members, young and old, to Wuzhou, determined to make the wedding lively."

Soon the Zhao family's betrothal gifts were brought into Prince Rui's residence, each item carefully selected; though the Zhao family were of humble origin, they had been in trade for years and had some money, and they spared nothing for their new daughter-in-law, giving everything they had.

Thus: "Soon the Zhao family's betrothal gifts were carried into Rui Wangfu; each item was carefully selected. Although the Zhao family's origins are low, they have been in trade for generations and have some money, and they held nothing back from the new daughter-in-law, giving everything wholeheartedly."

The betrothal gifts were prepared splendidly, rivaling those of noble great clans.

Thus: "The betrothal gifts were prepared splendidly, comparable to those of great noble houses."

They even learned that Su Wanrou liked camellias, so they hastily dug a pond and planted flowers in the general's mansion backyard, creating a camellia garden; even the greenhouse was built personally by Young General Zhao, shirtless.

Thus: "They even learned that Su Wanrou likes camellias, so in a short time they dug a pond and planted flowers in the backyard of the general's mansion, built a camellia garden; even the greenhouse for the flowers was erected personally by Young General Zhao, shirtless."

Xiao Yin invited Su Wanrou to the East Garden to discuss the dowry; as the lady of the house, Gu Jiu Ling had to accompany them.

Thus: "Xiao Yin invited Su Wanrou to the East Garden to discuss the dowry; as the mistress of the household, Gu Jiu Ling had to accompany them."

The dowry was funded by Xiao Yin's money, not hers; he gave as much as he decided, and she had no say in it.

Thus: "The dowry is funded by Xiao Yin's silver, not her money; he gives as much as he wishes, and she has no say over it."

Gu Jiu Ling held her tea cup, acting as a docile listener.

Thus: "Gu Jiu Ling held her teacup, acting as a docile listener."

Soon after, Su Wanrou entered, graceful and elegant, supported by the maidservants, and bowed to Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling.

Thus: "Soon after, Su Wanrou entered gracefully, supported by the maidservants, and bowed to Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling."

Xiao Yin hadn't visited her in these days; when he looked up now, he was startled to see how much she had waned.

Thus: "These days Xiao Yin hadn't visited her; upon looking up now, he was startled, feeling she had grown quite wan."

"Sit down, and let me tell you about the dowry."

Thus: "\"Please sit; now let's talk about the dowry. \""

Su Wanrou nodded, sat on a side cushion, and gazed at Xiao Yin with caution.

Thus: "Su Wanrou nodded, sat on a side cushion, and looked at Xiao Yin with caution."

Xiao Yin took out a list and first handed it to Gu Jiu Ling, asking, "Have you looked over this dowry list?"

Thus: "Xiao Yin took out a list and first handed it to Gu Jiu Ling: \"Have you looked over this dowry list? \""

Gu Jiu Ling smiled, pushed the list aside, and said, "It's not silver from a concubine's person; Prince, if you think it's appropriate, then it's appropriate."

Thus: "Gu Jiu Ling smiled, pushed the list aside, and said: \"It's not silver from a concubine's person; Prince, if you think it's appropriate, then it's appropriate. \""

Xiao Yin laughed and said, "What's mine is also yours; as the lady of the house, how much money you spend is also your responsibility."

Thus: "Xiao Yin laughed: \"What's mine is also yours; you are the mistress of the household, so how much silver you spend is also your responsibility. \""

However, seeing that Gu Jiu Ling didn't take the list, Xiao Yin passed it to Su Wanrou.

Thus: "However, seeing that Gu Jiu Ling didn't take the list, Xiao Yin handed it to Su Wanrou."

Su Wanrou rose, thanked him, took the list and gave it a brief glance, then lowered her eyes and bowed to Xiao Yin, saying, "Thank you, elder brother, for handling this for me."

Thus: "Su Wanrou rose, thanked him, took the list and gave it a brief glance, lowered her eyes slightly, and bowed to Xiao Yin, saying: \"Thank you, elder brother, for managing things for me. \""

Xiao Yin, seeing how well-behaved she had been these days, softened: "That's fine; when you marry, later have a son and a daughter, and you'll fulfill General An Lao's dying wish—he can rest in peace in heaven."

Thus: "Xiao Yin, seeing her obedience these days, felt much relieved: \"This is fine; when you marry, later bear a son and half a daughter, it will also fulfill General An Lao's dying wish; even in spirit he can rest in peace. \""

"In a few days it will also be your betrothal day—from now on, live happily with Young General Zhao."

Thus: "\"In a few days it will also be your betrothal day; from now on, live well with General Zhao Xiao. \""

Su Wanrou's fingers tightened slightly on the dowry list, her expression grew more respectful, and she bowed again, saying, "Su Wanrou still has a humble request."

Thus: "Su Wanrou's fingers gripping the dowry list tightened slightly, her expression grew more respectful, and she bowed again, saying: \"Little Wan still has a request. \""

Xiao Yin nodded and said, "Go ahead."

Thus: "Xiao Yin nodded: \"Speak! \""

Su Wanrou thought and said, "I'm not afraid of brother laughing at me, but a maid earlier gave me General Zhao's portrait to look at."

Thus: "Su Wanrou thought and said: \"Little Wan isn't afraid of Brother's laughter; earlier, a maid beside me sent over General Zhao's portrait for me to see. \""

Xiao Yin blinked, then the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and he understood.

Thus: "Xiao Yin froze, then the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and he understood."

Unmarried women are always a bit curious about their future husbands, and some noble ladies like to secretly keep the man's portrait to look at first.

Thus: "Unmarried women always harbor some curiosity about their future husbands, and some noble ladies like to secretly keep the other's portrait to look at first."

Su Wanrou took a breath and said, "Thank you, brother, for choosing such a good person for me; I really like him."

Thus: "Su Wanrou took a breath and said: \"Little Wan thanks Brother for selecting such a fine person for me; I like him very much. \""

"She also heard that the Zhao family values her health and that on the wedding day they would not first pay respects to the ancestors, which she thinks is inappropriate."

Thus: "\"Little Wan also heard that the Zhao family values her body; on the wedding day they would not first go to worship ancestors, which she feels is inappropriate. \""

"In the capital, brides must first visit the ancestral hall to pay respects; how can Su Wanrou, just because she's from Prince Rui's residence, pressure the Zhao family to concede?"

Thus: "\"In Shang Jing, women getting married must first go to the ancestral hall to pay respects; how can Little Wan rely on her status from Rui Wangfu to force the Zhao family to yield? \""

"Su Wanrou asks Brother to explain to the Zhao family that she is willing to first go to Wuzhou to pay respects to the Zhao ancestral temple, then return to the capital."

Thus: "\"Little Wan asks Brother to explain to the Zhao family: she is willing to first go to Wuzhou to worship the Zhao ancestral temple, then return to Shang Jing. \""

Xiao Yin froze,

Thus: "Xiao Yin froze at that moment, wondering when she had become so sensible."

Even Gu Jiu Ling thought it was strange—could this woman have been possessed? Being so sensible is a bit over the top.

Thus: "Even Gu Jiu Ling found it strange; could this woman have been possessed? Her sensibility seems a bit exaggerated."

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