Chapter 448: with translation of chapter title

Gu Kang didn't expect Xiao Yin to come; he quickly stood and bowed, saying, "This humble official pays my respects to the Prince."

Translation: Gu Kang didn't expect Xiao Yin to come; he hurriedly stood and bowed to Xiao Yin, saying, "Official pays respects to the Prince."

I, the humble official, pay my respects to the Prince.

Xiao Yin hummed, his gaze at Gu Kang deepening with a different, intense scrutiny.

Translation: Xiao Yin grunted, his gaze toward Gu Kang gaining a few more points of deep scrutiny.

Better: "Xiao Yin grunted, his gaze toward Gu Kang deepening with a different intensity."

He had completely misjudged this person before—he wasn't just mistaken, he was blind.

Translation: He had truly misjudged this person before—not just misjudged, but completely blind.

He realized this kid was no ordinary person—ruthless, yet difficult to control.

Translation: He discovered this kid was no ordinary person—ruthless, yet hard to control.

Xiao Yin turned and signaled to Ling Feng at the door, who hurriedly shut it from outside.

Translation: Xiao Yin turned and gestured to Ling Feng standing at the door; Ling Feng hurriedly closed the door from outside.

The candle flame inside swayed slightly in the breeze, creating a heart‑pounding sense of oppression.

Translation: The flame on the candlestand inside the room swayed slightly with the breeze, giving a feeling of heart‑pounding oppression.

Xiao Yin stared at Gu Kang, half his face ghostly, the other half like bright jade, the two halves intertwining, causing a tight feeling in the chest.

Translation: Xiao Yin stared fixedly at Gu Kang, half his face like a ghost, half like fine jade, the two visages overlapping, making one's chest tighten slightly.

Besides you on duty at the Ministry of Justice tonight, I've cleared those outside spies; let's shut the door and talk.

Translation: "Besides you on duty at the Ministry of Justice tonight, I've already cleared away those outside spies; let's shut the door and talk properly."

Note: The line ends without closing quote? In Chinese it's open quote but we keep as is. We'll translate as above.

Gu Kang's eyes flickered; the Prince of Rui's stature has suddenly risen, and his influence is extending further.

Translation: Gu Kang's pupils flickered slightly; now Prince Rui's stature has suddenly risen, yet his reach grows ever longer.

The Prince of Rui's power is in the Imperial Guard, yet this time he's interfering in the Ministry of Justice's affairs.

Translation: Prince Rui's influence lies within the Imperial Guard; I didn't expect him this time to meddle in the Ministry of Justice's domain.

He smiled, but the wound on his face made the smile look less pleasant.

Translation: He smiled, but because of the wound on his face, the smile didn't look very pleasant.

He looked at Gu Jiu Ling, rose, wiped a stool with his sleeve, and said, "Elder sister, please sit."

Translation: He looked at Gu Jiu Ling, rose, and wiped a chair with his sleeve: "Elder sister, please sit."

He then invited the Prince of Rui to sit, and finally kept him company on the side.

Translation: Then he invited Prince Rui to sit, and finally kept him company at the side.

Gu Jiu Ling waved to the standing Ruo Xi: "Miss Ruo Xi, please come over and sit."

Translation: Gu Jiu Ling beckoned to the standing Ruoxi: "Miss Ruoxi, come over and sit as well."

Li Ruoxin wouldn't dare sit among them.

Translation: How could Li Ruoxin dare to sit with these people?

One is the current Prince of Rui, whose influence sways the court; another is the Rui Prince's consort, full of eight hundred schemes; and the last…

Translation: One is the Prince Rui who holds power over the court and the realm; another is the Princess Consort of Rui with eight hundred scheming hearts; the last…

Ruo Xi closed her eyes, unable to bear thinking further.

Translation: Ruoxi closed her eyes, not daring to think further.

Once a useless playboy, he has now become a powerful minister of Southern Qi.

Translation: Originally he was just a good-for-nothing playboy, but now he has transformed into a powerful minister of Southern Qi.

She had previously offended this powerful minister utterly, nearly ruining him.

Translation: The key is that she previously offended this minister thoroughly, nearly destroying him.

Though not her intention, when she ruined Gu Kang she exerted herself fully.

Translation: Although it wasn't her intention, when she ruined Gu Kang she exerted all her strength.

She initially despised Gu Kang, using him merely as a pawn to win favor with Gu Jiu Ling and the Rui Prince, eagerly helping the Rui Prince's consort to dispose of him.

Translation: She originally looked down on Gu Kang, even using him as a mere pawn to curry favor with Gu Jiu Ling and the Princess Consort of Rui, wholeheartedly cooperating with the princess to dispose of Gu Kang.

Let's see how to put this.

Translation: Let's see how this matter is to be spoken of.

After all, the Rui Prince's household and Minister Gu are blood siblings, sharing the same lineage and name; despite any estrangement, they remain siblings when spoken of openly, while what is she?

Translation: After all, the Prince Rui's mansion and Minister Gu are blood siblings, sharing the same lineage and surname; even if there had been some estrangement, now that it's been laid bare they remain siblings—so what is she?

Seeing Gu Kang again, she felt he had changed, seeming frightening and even a bit eerie.

Translation: Seeing Gu Kang again this time, she always felt he had changed, giving off a frightening, even gloomy aura.

No, thank you, Princess Consort.

Translation: "No, no, thank you, Princess Consort."

Ruo Xi waved her hands, stepping back; she didn't want Gu Jiu Ling to rise, grab her cold hand, and press her to sit, laughing: "Miss Ruo Xi, you needn't be formal; we're all sitting here to discuss things. In private there aren't so many formalities, so don't be too stiff."

Translation: Ruoxi waved her hands repeatedly, stepping back, not wanting Gu Jiu Ling to rise and grab her icy hand, pressing her onto the chair and smiling: "Miss Ruoxi, you needn't be formal; now we all sit together to discuss matters. Privately there aren't that many formalities, so don't be too restrained."

Note: There's a stray period after colon; we keep as is.

Ruo Xi sat down cautiously.

Translation: Ruoxi sat down carefully.

Xiao Yin looked at Gu Kang: "If I'm not mistaken, Minister Gu, you're going to reopen the Seven Kill Valley case, right?"

Translation: Xiao Yin looked at Gu Kang: "If I'm not mistaken, Minister Gu, you intend to reopen the case of the Seven Killings Valley, is that right?"

Xiao Yin now feels particularly uneasy about his brother‑in‑law, feeling he's getting a bit too big for his boots; if not for Gu Jiu Ling's sake, he'd have already suppressed him.

Translation: Xiao Yin now feels especially uneasy about his brother‑in‑law; he senses this fellow is getting a bit too big for his boots, and if it weren't for Gu Jiu Ling's sake, he would have already suppressed him.

Xiao Yin has already looked into this kid's background and discovered a hidden mastermind pulling the strings.

Translation: Xiao Yin has already investigated this kid's background and discovered there is a hidden master guiding him.

He suspects Mr. Wen, but can't confirm; what exactly is Mr. Wen's motive?

Translation: He suspects it's Mr. Wen, but can't determine Mr. Wen's true motive.

In any case, this person isn't someone Xiao Yin can use; though he's his brother‑in‑law, he refuses to follow him.

Translation: Anyway, this person cannot be used by Xiao Yin; although he is his brother‑in‑law, he turns his elbow outward and has no intention of following him.

If this had arisen earlier, when such a formidable figure appeared at court and refused to follow him, Xiao Yin's simplest, crudest solution would be to kill him.

Translation: If this had happened earlier, with such a formidable figure suddenly appearing at court and refusing to follow him, Xiao Yin's simplest, crudest solution would be to kill him.

But now he can't kill him, fearing his little consort would hate him.

Translation: But now this person cannot be killed, for he fears his little princess consort would hate him.

Xiao Yin has already shown great patience toward Gu Kang.

Translation: Xiao Yin has already shown great patience toward Gu Kang.

Gu Kang slowly shook his head: "It's not the Seven Kill Valley case; it's the Duan family's land‑clearance case in Pingcheng."

Translation: Gu Kang slowly shook his head: "It's not the Seven Killings Valley case; it's the case of the Duan family's land clearance in Pingcheng."

As soon as Gu Kang spoke, Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling both froze.

Translation: As soon as Gu Kang's words left his mouth, both Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling stared in surprise.

They had thought that with the Duan family's downfall, they could bring the Seven Kill Valley case into the open and investigate it properly.

Translation: They had thought that with the Duan family's downfall this time, they could bring the Seven Killings Valley case into the open and investigate it properly.

But this time, the Emperor has entrusted Gu Kang with full authority over the Duan family case.

Translation: But this time, the investigation of the Duan family's case has been fully entrusted to Gu Kang by Emperor Longqing.

Those outsiders have no say; to put the Seven Kill Valley case on the agenda, they must go through Gu Kang, the Minister of Justice.

Translation: These outsiders can't get a foothold; if they want to put the Seven Killings Valley case on the agenda, they must go through Gu Kang, the Minister of Justice.

Otherwise, even if Xiao Yin himself proposed it, the process couldn't proceed.

Translation: Otherwise, even if Xiao Yin himself proposed it, the procedure couldn't be followed.

Xiao Yin now needs a chance to bring the case into the open, to lay it before the world; as for the outcome, he already anticipated it.

Translation: Xiao Yin now needs an opportunity to bring the case into the light, to lay it before the world; as for the outcome, he already guessed it.

Who would have thought Gu Kang wants to investigate the land‑clearance case, which seems deliberately separate from the Seven Kill Valley case—what does this mean?

Translation: Who would have thought Gu Kang actually wants to investigate the land‑clearance case, which appears deliberately separated from the Seven Killings Valley case—what does this mean?

Xiao Yin's face instantly darkened; even with Gu Jiu Ling beside him, his killing intent toward his brother‑in‑law could no longer be contained.

Translation: Xiao Yin's face instantly darkened; even with Gu Jiu Ling beside him, his killing intent toward his brother‑in‑law could no longer be restrained.

Are you blind? So many memorials have been sent to you and you don't even look? So many died in Seven Kill Valley—could they all have died in vain? How can you not even conduct a thorough investigation?

Translation: "Are your eyes blind? So many memorials have been sent to you and you don't look? So many died in Seven Killings Valley—could they all have died in vain? How? You can't even conduct a thorough investigation?"

Gu Jiu Ling slowly said: "Gu Kang, give me a reason why you can't bring up the Seven Kill Valley case."

Translation: Gu Jiu Ling said slowly: "Gu Kang, give me a reason why the Seven Killings Valley case cannot be brought forward."

That way we two can talk properly and find out how our maternal grandfather really died.

Translation: "That way we two can talk properly and find out how our maternal grandfather really died back then."

I've always suspected our maternal grandfather's death is related to Seven Kill Valley; now that the Duan family has fallen, this is the perfect opportunity, isn't it?

Translation: "I've always suspected our maternal grandfather's death is related to Seven Killings Valley; now that the Duan family has collapsed, this opportunity is the best—isn't it?"

Gu Jiu Ling also grew anxious; she had long been unsettled by those rumors about her maternal grandfather, and now with the map in hand.

Translation: Gu Jiu Ling also grew anxious; the secrets about her maternal grandfather had already made her restless, and with the map in her hand…

Many truths are about to surface; at this moment her own brother says he won't investigate Seven Kill Valley?

Translation: Many truths are about to surface, yet at this moment her own brother says he won't investigate the Seven Killings Valley?

What nonsense is this? Could it be that he hasn't received the benefits his maternal grandfather gave him?

Translation: What nonsense is this—could it be that he hasn't received the benefits his maternal grandfather gave him?

Gu Jiu Ling endured, then looked at Gu Kang and said: "If we bring up the Seven Kill Valley case, land annexation, land clearance, the massacred civilians of Pingcheng, or the tens of thousands of soldiers buried alive in Seven Kill Valley—all their grievances could be investigated together."

Translation: Gu Jiu Ling endured, then looked at Gu Kang and said: "If we drag out the Seven Killings Valley case, the land annexation, the land clearance, the civilians slaughtered in Pingcheng, or the tens of thousands of soldiers buried alive in Seven Killings Valley—all their grievances could be investigated together."

If we only investigate the Duan family's land clearance and don't mention Seven Kill Valley, this case will become a cold case, never to be raised again.

Translation: "If we only investigate the Duan family's land clearance and omit Seven Killings Valley, the case will become a cold case, never to be mentioned again."

Gu Kang, as your sister I'm asking—can you submit the Seven Kill Valley case?

Translation: "Gu Kang, as your sister I beg you—can you submit the Seven Killings Valley case for consideration?"

Gu Kang slowly shook his head: "No."

Translation: Gu Kang slowly shook his head: "No."

The Prince of Rui could no longer hold back; with a swish he drew his Longquan sword, pressing it to Gu Kang's neck, and coldly laughed: "You brat, if it weren't for your sister's sake, I'd have already replaced you as Minister of Justice."

Translation: Prince Rui could no longer restrain himself; with a swish, he drew his Longquan sword and pressed it to Gu Kang's neck, coldly laughing: "You brat, if it weren't for your sister's sake, I would have long since replaced you as Minister of Justice."

Don't think that just because you're standing here, occupying the latrine without defecating, you can escape with your life.

Translation: "Don't think that just because you're occupying this seat like a latrine you won't defecate in, you can escape with your life."

Gu Kang showed no fear; instead he slowly turned his face, giving Gu Jiu Ling a wronged, pitiful look.

Translation: Gu Kang showed no fear on his face; instead he turned his face away, looking at Gu Jiu Ling with a wronged expression.

Gu Jiu Ling grabbed Xiao Yin, shoved him back into his chair, and said: "Let's talk properly—why are we fighting among ourselves?"

Translation: Gu Jiu Ling grabbed Xiao Yin, shoved him back into his chair, and said: "Let's talk properly—why are we still fighting among ourselves?"

Xiao Yin gave Gu Kang a cold stare: "Speak, this is your last chance—why can't you mention Qi Sha Gu?"

Gu Kang gave a light chuckle: "That's because of you!"