Chapter 501: with translation of chapter title

Five million taels of silver is definitely not a small amount.

Translation: "Five million taels of silver is absolutely not a small amount."

Even though Xiao Yin is wealthy enough to rival a nation, it's unclear how much money he has stashed away, but producing such a sum for Gu Kang still warrants careful thought.

Translation: "Although Xiao Yin is rich enough to rival a country, no one knows how much money he has hidden away, but after all, taking out this much money for Gu Kang still requires some consideration."

Gu Jiu Ling chuckled quietly, "Old brother, what do you need all that money for?"

Translation: "Gu Jiu Ling laughed softly: 'Old brother, what are you doing with so much money?'"

Gu Kang smiled at Gu Jiu Ling: "Elder sister, there's no need to ask further; I have my own use for this money."

Translation: "Gu Kang smiled at Gu Jiu Ling: 'Elder sister, no need to ask more; I have my own use for this money.'"

"Brother-in-law, if this audit overlooks something, I'll pretend I didn't notice; the money you give me is hush money, and whether I live or die when I return to the capital, I'll bear the responsibility myself."

Translation: "'Brother-in-law, even if this audit missed something, I'll pretend I didn't see it; giving me money counts as hush money, and when we return to the capital, whether I live or die, I'll take responsibility myself.'"

Gu Jiu Ling was left speechless; this kid is getting more and more mysterious.

Translation: "Gu Jiu Ling was momentarily speechless; this kid is becoming more and more mysterious."

Xiao Yin snorted coldly: "Fine, it's a deal."

Translation: "Xiao Yin gave a cold laugh: 'Good, deal!'"

Gu Kang lifted his tea cup and said, "Brother-in-law, I'll substitute tea for wine and offer you a cup; you are indeed generous."

Translation: "Gu Kang lifted his teacup in a toast: 'Brother-in-law, Gu Kang offers tea instead of wine, toasting you a cup; you are indeed generous.'"

Xiao Yin fixed him with a steady gaze and said, "Gu Kang, your sister is here; out of respect for her I won't trouble you, but if one day you really offend me…"

Translation: "Xiao Yin, however, fixed his stare on him, word by word: 'Gu Kang, your sister is here now; out of respect for her, I won't make things difficult for you, but if one day you really provoke me…'"

Xiao Yin left the rest unsaid, but Gu Kang understood; Gu Jiu Ling sighed quietly, wondering why these two are always incompatible.

Translation: "Xiao Yin didn't finish the rest; Gu Kang naturally understood, while Gu Jiu Ling sighed silently beside them: why are these two always at odds?"

This audit has practically fed these two imperial envoys; even if they keep a share, the rest they bring back to the capital would instantly replenish the treasury.

Translation: "However, this audit has practically fed these two Imperial Envoys; even if they pocket a portion, the remainder taken back to Shang Jing will instantly fill the national treasury."

Xiao Yin carefully collected the ledgers and said, "Spend three days reviewing the accounts thoroughly."

Translation: "Xiao Yin slowly gathered the ledgers: 'Take three days to go through the accounts once more.'"

"Leave in three days; on the road back to the capital you must be extra cautious, as Marquis Cao will probably not let this rest."

Translation: "'We'll depart in three days; on the road back to Shang Jing, you must be extra careful—Duke of Cao probably won't let this go.'"

Marquis Cao's son died young, leaving only his grandson, Cao Mao Lin.

Translation: "The Duke of Cao's son died early, leaving only one grandson, Cao Maolin."

They regarded Cao Mao Lin as the apple of their eye, nurturing him with great care.

Translation: "They treated Cao Maolin as the apple of their eye, carefully nurturing him."

Now that Cao Mao Lin has died at their hands, how could Marquis Cao possibly let this rest?

Translation: "Now Cao Maolin is dead at their hands—how could the Duke of Cao possibly let it rest?"

This return trip to the capital is bound to be far more dangerous than the outward journey, since a blood feud has already been forged.

Translation: "This return journey to the capital is likely far more perilous than before, already a blood feud."

Xiao Yin slowly stood up and left the office with Gu Jiu Ling.

Translation: "Xiao Yin slowly rose, taking Gu Jiu Ling with him as they left the government office."

Gu Kang's men remained to continue directing the transfer of the ledgers inside.

Translation: "Gu Kang's people stayed behind to continue directing the moving of the ledgers inside."

After all, this imperial envoy mission is mainly Gu Kang's duty—he gathers the evidence and will report back—so Xiao Yin is happy to relax.

Translation: "After all, this Imperial Envoy mission is mainly Gu Kang's—he gathers the evidence, he'll handle the report back, and Xiao Yin is happy to stay out of it."

Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling got into the outside carriage, and the number of hidden guards around them had doubled.

Translation: "Xiao Yin helped Gu Jiu Ling into the carriage outside, with the hidden guards around them now more than double what they were before."

He now walks through Yangzhou with Gu Jiu Ling, every step taken with anxiety.

Translation: "Now, as he walks with Gu Jiu Ling through Yangzhou, every step he takes is filled with trepidation."

He only hopes to return to the capital safely, so the protection is naturally stringent.

Translation: "He only hopes this trip will return safely to the capital, so protection is naturally very strict."

Ling Feng rode up to the carriage on horseback, and Xiao Yin lifted the curtain.

Translation: "Ling Feng rode his horse up to the carriage, and Xiao Yin lifted the carriage curtain."

Ling Feng handed Xiao Yin a box; though its exterior revealed nothing, a faint scent of blood lingered.

Translation: "Ling Feng held up a box and presented it to Xiao Yin; although the box's exterior showed nothing, a faint smell of blood could still be detected."

"My lord, the item you wanted is already inside this box."

Translation: "'Your Highness, the item you wanted has already been placed inside this box.'"

Xiao Yin nodded: "Deliver it to Miss Zheng, go swiftly and return swiftly; don't inquire about anything else, and don't speak of it."

Translation: "Xiao Yin nodded: 'Take it to Miss Zheng, go quickly and return quickly; don't ask or say anything else.'"

Ling Feng acknowledged, turned, mounted his horse, and rode off into the night with the box.

Translation: "Ling Feng acknowledged, turned, mounted his horse, and galloped with the box into the night."

Shortly after, Ling Feng on horseback entered a narrow alley, dismounted, hurried through two more alleys, and stopped before an unremarkable house, where he gently knocked on the door.

Translation: "Not long after, Ling Feng rode his horse into a narrow alley, dismounted, slipped through two more alleys, and stopped before an inconspicuous household, lightly tapping the door."

The door opened from within, revealing a kind-faced middle-aged woman.

Translation: "The door was opened from inside, revealing a kind-faced middle-aged woman."

That woman and the hidden forces in Yangzhou are all widows of the Seven Killing Valley.

Translation: "That woman, as well as the hidden forces in Yangzhou, are all widows of the Qi Sha Gu."

They are fiercely loyal to Xiao Yin and also hope he will someday aid them.

Translation: "They are extremely loyal to Xiao Yin and also hope that one day he will help them."

Everyone works hard for Xiao Ying; the middle-aged woman leaned out, saw it was Ling Feng, and her expression flickered slightly.

Translation: "Everyone works diligently for Xiao Ying; the middle-aged woman poked half her body out, saw Ling Feng, and her expression flickered with surprise."

Ling Feng glanced left and right, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped down holding a sandalwood box.

Ling Feng looked left and right, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped down holding a sandalwood box.

Ling Feng exchanged a secret signal with the woman, and upon hearing it she grew even more respectful toward him.

Translation: "Ling Feng exchanged a secret signal with the woman; after hearing it, she became even more respectful toward him."

These people are the lord's closest confidants, so naturally their standing among them is high.

Translation: "These people are the chief confidants of the Prince, and naturally their standing among them rises high."

The woman stepped aside to let Ling Feng in; he glanced around and walked into the courtyard.

Translation: "The woman turned sideways to let Ling Feng in; he looked around, then entered the courtyard."

The carriage he rode in drove out of the alley, leaving no trace.

Translation: "The carriage he rode in drove out of the alley, leaving not a trace behind."

As in the southern part of the capital, mechanisms were installed in the courtyard; the person they sought was not in the middle of this courtyard but appeared in another inconspicuous small courtyard.

Translation: "Just like the southern part of Shang Jing, they had installed mechanisms in the courtyard; the person they sought was not in the middle of this courtyard but appeared instead in another inconspicuous small courtyard."

As soon as Ling Feng entered, the maids attending on both sides came out to greet him.

Translation: "As Ling Feng had just entered, the maids attending on both sides came out to greet him."

"Commander Ling!" These two serving maids are also hidden guards beside Xiao Yin.

Translation: "'Commander Ling!' These two maids serving are also hidden guards beside Xiao Yin."

They attend to Zheng Yan with utmost dedication, and guards sent by Xiao Yin are hidden around, making the place as secure as an iron barrel.

Translation: "They attend to Zheng Yan with utmost diligence, and guards sent by Xiao Yin are hidden around, so the place is sealed tight like an iron barrel."

"Is Miss Zheng all right?" Ling Feng carried the box toward the inner hall.

Translation: "'Is Miss Zheng all right?' Ling Feng carried the box toward the inner hall."

A clever-looking maid hurried to keep pace with Commander Ling and whispered, "Miss Zheng herself has a strong will to live; she not only takes the medicine prescribed by the princess consort on schedule, but these days she's been eating noticeably more food than before."

Translation: "A clever-looking maid hurried to keep pace with Commander Ling, whispering: 'Miss Zheng herself has a strong will to live; she not only takes the medicine prescribed by the Princess Consort on schedule, but these days her meals are noticeably more than before.'"

Ling Feng walked while listening to the little maid's chatter, then nodded, went to the outer warm pavilion, composed himself, pushed open the door and entered.

Translation: "Ling Feng walked while listening to the little maid's chatter, then nodded, steadied himself outside the warm pavilion, pushed the door open, and went inside."

"You two, step aside! Order of the lord!" Ling Feng produced Xiao Yin's waist tablet, and the two maids hurriedly retreated.

Translation: "'You two, step aside! Order of the Prince!' Ling Feng produced Xiao Yin's waist tablet, and the two maids hastily withdrew."

The room was dim and filled with a pungent medicinal smell.

Translation: "The room was dim and filled with a pungent medicinal smell."

Ling Feng slowly stood before the bed.

Translation: "Ling Feng slowly stood firm before the bed."

He lifted half of the bed's canopy, revealing Zheng Yan sitting upright, leaning against the bed.

Translation: "He lifted half of the bed curtain, revealing Zheng Yan sitting upright leaning against the bed."

Although her eyes were ruined and her tongue cut off, Zheng Yan is being well cared for now, and her complexion is much improved.

Translation: "Although her eyes had been ruined and her tongue cut off, at this moment Zheng Yan was well cared for, her complexion much better than before."

Ling Feng stood before her; Zheng Yan turned her face toward the sound of his approaching footsteps.

Translation: "Ling Feng stood before her; Zheng Yan turned her cheek toward the sound of his footsteps as he approached."

Whenever Ling Feng sees the pitiful woman's face before him, his heart still gives a slight jolt.

Translation: "No matter when Ling Feng encounters this pitiful woman's face, his heart still gives a slight jolt."

Then Ling Feng placed the sandalwood box in Zheng Yan's hand, leaned to her ear, and whispered, "Feel it."

Translation: "Then Ling Feng placed the sandalwood box in her hand, leaned to her ear, and whispered softly: 'Feel it.'"

Zheng Yan froze at once; she recognized Ling Feng's voice, knowing he was a close aide of Xiao Yin, but had no idea what he wanted her to touch.

Translation: "Zheng Yan froze there; she recognized Ling Feng's voice—he is a close aide of Xiao Yin—but she didn't know what he wanted her to feel."

Zheng Yan touched the wooden box; as soon as she opened it, a strong smell of blood rushed out.

Translation: "Zheng Yan touched the wooden box; as soon as she opened it, a strong smell of blood assailed her."

As soon as Zheng Yan's fingers touched the head inside the box, they trembled.

Translation: "As Zheng Yan's fingers touched the head inside the box, they trembled."

The head's face was upward; Zheng Yan's hand immediately touched that face, and a long-lost sense of familiarity surged.

Translation: "The head's face was upward; Zheng Yan's hand landed on that face, and a long‑lost sense of familiarity washed over her."

Surrounded by waves of fear, Zheng Yan suddenly let out a soft, eerie hehehe laugh; her expression was intensely agitated—whether sorrow, joy, or despair.

Translation: "Surrounded by waves of fear, Zheng Yan suddenly let out a low, eerie hehehe, her expression wildly agitated—mixed with grief, joy, and despair."

Zheng Yan seemed to have gone mad; her hands repeatedly stroked Cao Mao Lin's head over and over, her face flashing with immense delight as well as deep anguish.

Translation: "Zheng Yan seemed to have gone mad, her hands incessantly rubbing Cao Maolin's head, her face flashing with intense pleasure as well as deep anguish."

They Zheng family and the Cao Clan used to be neighbors, and when she was young she also often played with Cao Maolin.

At that time, Cao Maolin was just a little fatty, taking her to catch fish by the river and dig bird eggs from trees.

Although Cao Maolin later became good-for-nothing, in Zheng Yan's heart he remained that little boy who accompanied her through a happy childhood.

She never imagined that marrying Cao Maolin would be the darkest moment of her life.