Chapter 275: then translation of title

~21 min read 4,008 words

The clouds part and the mist clears, leaving the sky bright and clear.

Translation: "The clouds dispersed and the mist cleared, the sky's light bright and clear."

We need to keep meaning, not add. Could be: "Clouds opened, mist withdrew, the heavenly light was limpid." But natural English: "The clouds parted and the mist settled, leaving the sky's light clear and limpid." Let's aim: "The clouds opened and the mist withdrew, the heavenly light clear and limpid." That's fine.

After a night of bloodshed, only a lingering, icy, murderous aura remains between heaven and earth.

After a night of bloodbath, the world retained only a lingering chill of killing intent that would not dissipate.

Better: "After a night of bloodbath, only a lingering chill of killing intent remained in heaven and earth, impossible to dispel." Let's produce: "After a night of bloodbath, heaven and earth retained only a lingering chill of killing intent that would not dissipate."

Once the reception hall of the prefecture, today an old man stands there, about sixty, his temples fully white, his hair neatly combed, dressed in an immaculate cyan vice‑prefect's robe.

The place that once received guests in the government office now stood an old man, about sixty, his temples completely white, his hair neatly combed, wearing a pristine, orderly cyan official robe of a vice prefect, without a speck of dust.

We need to keep details: "Once the reception hall of the prefecture, today an old man stands there, about sixty, his temples fully white, his hair neatly combed, dressed in an immaculate cyan vice‑prefect's robe."

Translation: "Where the government office once received guests, today an old man stood, about sixty years old, his temples fully white, his hair neatly combed, wearing a neat cyan vice‑prefect's robe, spotless."

This man is the Yongzhou vice prefect, Ruansizong.

This person is precisely the Vice Prefect of Yongzhou, Ruansizong.

We need to use glossary: Yongzhou, Ruansizong.

He has been entrenched in the Zhoufu bureaucracy for decades, having witnessed several turnovers of prefects.

He has been rooted in the Zhoufu bureaucracy for decades, weathering several changes of prefect.

He has been entrenched in the Zhoufu bureaucracy for decades, having witnessed several turnovers of prefects.

Formerly, no matter how the officials above him changed or how corrupt they became, not even a shred could shake his seat.

Previously, no matter how the officials above him changed or how corrupt they were, they could not shift his seat in the slightest.

We need to keep nuance: "Formerly, no matter how the officials above him changed or how corrupt they became, not even a shred could shake his seat."

Translation: "In the past, no matter how the officials above him rotated or how corrupt they became, they could not budge his seat by even a fraction."

In theory, as long as he secures this post, as long as the Zhoufu stands, no matter how many new prefects or forces eyeing Yongzhou appear...

According to reason, as long as he held this position steady, as long as the Zhoufu remained intact, no matter how many new prefects came, no matter how many forces eyeing Yongzhou hungrily...

We need to keep the ellipsis? The source has ".....". We should preserve as "......". Probably keep three dots? We'll output "......". So: "According to reason, as long as he secured this position, as long as the Zhoufu remained unbreached, no matter how many new prefects arrived, no matter how many forces eyeing Yongzhou hungrily......"

Whether dragon or serpent, all must coil before him and submit.

Whether dragon or snake, they all had to coil before him and behave.

Translation: "Whether dragon or snake, they all had to coil in his presence and behave."

But how could a Zhoufu be easily taken?

If the Zhoufu itself is taken, haven't the surrounding cities already fallen?

If even the Zhoufu were breached, wouldn't the surrounding cities have already fallen?

Translation: "If even the Zhoufu were breached, wouldn't the surrounding cities have already fallen?"

The Zhoufu ought to be safe and sound!

The Zhoufu, naturally, should be even more secure and worry‑free!

Translation: "The Zhoufu, naturally, should be all the more secure and carefree!"

However, however.

We keep repetition: "However, however."

It just so happens to be that coincidental.

It just so happened to be that coincidental.

Translation: "It just so happened to be that coincidental."

Last night, a sudden upheaval struck—thunder rang out, and the Yongzhou prefecture abruptly changed hands...

Last night a sudden drastic change occurred, thunder clapped, and the Yongzhou city‑government that had long held sway abruptly changed hands......

We need to keep ellipsis. So: "Last night a sudden drastic change occurred, thunder clapped, and the Yongzhou city‑government that had long held sway abruptly changed hands......"

Unbelievable.

Seeing ghosts.

Unbelievable

Really unbelievable.

Really seeing ghosts.

Translation: "Truly unbelievable."

He had earlier guessed that the Young Emperor and his allies might act, but that guess was merely an attempt to win him over with emotion and reason, offering him great fame and riches to coax him into submission.

He had earlier guessed that the Young Emperor and his ilk might act, but that speculation was nothing more than trying to sway him with emotion and reason, promising him great fame and profit to lure him into submission and service......

We need to keep ellipsis. So: "He had earlier guessed that the Young Emperor and his ilk might act, but that speculation was nothing more than trying to sway him with emotion and reason, promising him great fame and profit to lure him into submission and service......"

But where did they get all those troops from?

But now, where on earth did they get all those troops and horses?

Translation: "But now, where on earth did they get all those troops and horses?"

Golden spears and iron horses shattered the gate; a night of bloody battle changed the situation.

Now that they've chosen to storm the city, how will the leftover defenders be dealt with?

Having chosen to breach it, how will the remnants formerly in the city be treated?

Translation: "Having chosen to breach it, how will the remnants formerly in the city be treated?"

And what about this old man who used to be of the Zhoufu—what should become of him?

Ruansizong has spent half his life in the bureaucracy, adept at reading the times and preserving himself.

Ruansizong has spent half his life in officialdom, excelling at reading the times and preserving himself through prudence.

Translation: "Ruansizong has spent half his life in officialdom, excelling at reading the times and preserving himself through prudence."

In former days, when the prefect's authority was firm and the situation peaceful, he well understood the doctrine of the mean, lay low, lived peacefully, and sought livelihood for the Ruan Clan.

When the situation was peaceful and the prefect's authority firm in former days, he well understood the doctrine of the mean, lay low beneath it, lived peacefully, and sought livelihood for the Ruan Clan.

But now the city has fallen, the world turned upside down, chaotic times have arrived—there's no room for the slightest complacency.

But now the city has changed hands, the world turned upside down, the chaotic era's shift has already arrived—naturally there is no room for the slightest slack or complacency.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "But now the city has changed hands, the world turned upside down, the chaotic era's shift has already arrived—naturally there is no room for the slightest slack or complacency."

But after just one night, he belatedly realized that the Young Emperor's power might be greater than he had imagined.

But after just a single night, he belatedly realized that the Young Emperor's power might be greater than he had previously imagined.

Translation: "But after just a single night, he belatedly realized that the Young Emperor's power might be greater than he had previously imagined."

The old dynasty is gone, its favors ended.

The old dynasty is gone, its favors no more.

We need to keep period. So: "The old dynasty is gone, its favors no more."

If he still puts on airs, waiting for his lord to make the three visits to the thatched cottage, he'll likely end up like Li Yu.

If he still puts on airs, waiting for his lord to make the three‑visit thatched‑cottage gesture, he'll likely end up like Li Yu.

If he still puts on airs, waiting for his lord to make the three visits to the thatched cottage, he'll likely end up like Li Yu.

Precisely because he had thought it through, this afternoon he promptly dressed and came, calling on the true master who had newly seized Yongzhou Prefecture.

However, after a long wait, the front hall was empty—no one in sight, the guards were unfamiliar, upright and stern, their armor solemn, their aura icy, utterly unlike the lazy, lax guards of before.

However, after waiting a while, the front hall was empty and deserted; the on‑duty soldiers were all unfamiliar faces, upright and stern‑eyed, their armor solemn, their aura icy—utterly different from the former lax and complacent guards of the government office.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "However, after waiting a while, the front hall was empty and deserted; the on‑duty soldiers were all unfamiliar faces, upright and stern‑eyed, their armor solemn, their aura icy—utterly different from the former lax and complacent guards of the government office."

No one stepped forward to greet him, nor to drive him away; they simply stood silently on either side, watching him, this old minister of the Zhoufu, without a word.

Ruansizong ignored the soldiers' stares; his mind was in turmoil, unable to settle.

Ruansizong had no mind to notice the soldiers' gazes; his thoughts were in turmoil, unable to calm.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "Ruansizong had no mind to notice the soldiers' gazes; his thoughts were in turmoil, unable to calm."

He walked with hands behind his back across the spacious front hall, his steps slow but unceasing, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the sleeve's pattern, his mind swiftly calculating the present situation and what he would say.

He walked with hands behind his back, slowly pacing the spacious front hall, his steps light yet ceaselessly repeating, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the sleeve's pattern, his mind swiftly calculating the present situation and what he would say later.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "He walked with hands behind his back, slowly pacing the spacious front hall, his steps light yet ceaselessly repeating, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the sleeve's pattern, his mind swiftly calculating the present situation and what he would say later."

His former lord is dead, his old troops scattered; though he commands no heavy forces, he has deep roots in Yongzhou for decades, intimately familiar with local sentiment, administration, grain, and defenses—this is a weighty bargaining chip in his hand.

The former lord is dead, his troops scattered; though he commands no heavy forces, he has cultivated Yongzhou for decades, intimately knowing the populace, administration, grain supplies, and defense—this is a weighty bargaining chip in his hand.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "The former lord is dead, his troops scattered; though he commands no heavy forces, he has cultivated Yongzhou for decades, intimately knowing the populace, administration, grain supplies, and defense—this is a weighty bargaining chip in his hand."

Whoever wants to stabilize the situation and pacify the people must rely heavily on him.

Whoever it is, if they wish to stabilize the situation and pacify the people thereafter, they must certainly make heavy use of him.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "Whoever it is, if they wish to stabilize the situation and pacify the people thereafter, they must certainly make heavy use of him."

If he simply bows and submits, a path to secure his position will surely open at once.

If he simply bows and pledges allegiance, surely a path to establish himself will immediately appear......

We need to keep ellipsis. So: "If he simply bows and pledges allegiance, surely a path to establish himself will immediately appear......"

As he paced, a soft, measured footstep suddenly came from behind the screen—steady and resolute—instantly breaking Ruansizong's train of thought.

As he paced, a soft, shuffling footstep suddenly came from behind the screen in the front hall—neither hurried nor slow, bearing a steady, resolute aura, instantly breaking Ruansizong's train of thought.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "As he paced, a soft, shuffling footstep suddenly came from behind the screen in the front hall—neither hurried nor slow, bearing a steady, resolute aura, instantly breaking Ruansizong's train of thought."

He's here.

He has come.

We need to keep period. So: "He has come."

The Young Emperor is here.

The Young Emperor has come.

We need to keep period. So: "The Young Emperor has come."

Ruansizong stopped in his tracks, looked up, and his gaze suddenly froze; he instinctively held his breath—

Ruansizong halted his steps, lifted his gaze, only to have his eyes suddenly fix, and he unconsciously held his breath—

We need to keep em dash? The source ends with an em dash? It has "——". We'll keep em dash. So: "Ruansizong halted his steps, lifted his gaze, only to have his eyes suddenly fix, and he unconsciously held his breath——"

He had long known of the Young Emperor's wedding last year, and that the Young Emperor had married the daughter of the deposed Crown Prince Huang.

He had long known of the Young Emperor's wedding last year, and that the Young Emperor had joyfully united with the daughter of the Deposed Crown Prince Hui...

We need to keep ellipsis. So: "He had long known of the Young Emperor's wedding last year, and that the Young Emperor had joyfully united with the daughter of the Deposed Crown Prince Hui......"

He had even devised some shady schemes, sending his grandson to seduce her, preparing a fallback for the future Ruan clan.

He had even devised some shady little schemes, sending his grandson to seduce her, preparing to leave a backdoor for the future Ruan Clan......

We need to keep ellipsis. So: "He had even devised some shady little schemes, sending his grandson to seduce her, preparing to leave a backdoor for the future Ruan Clan......"

But he never imagined that the one who seized the city was not the Young Emperor, but that woman!

But he never imagined that the person who seized the city here was not the Young Emperor, but that woman!

We need to keep exclamation. So: "But he never imagined that the person who seized the city here was not the Young Emperor, but that woman!"

At this very moment, Ruansizong finally recalls a detail he had long overlooked, or rather never even considered.

At this very moment, Ruansizong finally recalled a detail he had long overlooked, or rather, never even kept in mind.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "At this very moment, Ruansizong finally recalled a detail he had long overlooked, or rather, never even kept in mind."

Back when Chinu came to see him, he recommended the Wise Lord, but never said that person was the Young Emperor!

It is he—he had always assumed that anyone seeking power must be the Young Emperor.

It was him, him always having preconceived that anyone seeking to seize power could only be the Young Emperor.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "It was him, him always having preconceived that anyone seeking to seize power could only be the Young Emperor."

It is he—he had always thought the Young Emperor was useless before, and now unsure of what he could achieve, he kept his distance, unwilling to submit lightly.

It was him, always having preconceived that the Young Emperor had been so useless before, not knowing what he could achieve this time, thus he had kept his distance, unwilling to readily submit.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "It was him, always having preconceived that the Young Emperor had been so useless before, not knowing what he could achieve this time, thus he had kept his distance, unwilling to readily submit."

But now it's not the Young Emperor at all—what should he do?

But now, it's not the Young Emperor at all—what should he do?

We need to keep punctuation. So: "But now, it's not the Young Emperor at all—what should he do?"

Strange.

We need to keep period. So: "Strange."

Too strange.

We need to keep period. So: "Too strange."

What's the story with the bloodline left over from these two dynasties?

What on earth is going on with the bloodline remnants of these two Yin dynasties?

We need to keep punctuation. So: "What on earth is going on with the bloodline remnants of these two Yin dynasties?"

The woman handles external affairs, the man internal?

We need to keep question mark. So: "The woman handles external affairs, the man internal?"

Even the Young Emperor agrees?

The Young Emperor actually agrees?

We need to keep question mark. So: "The Young Emperor actually agrees?"

Then what if they truly seize the world?

Then if they truly seize the world thereafter, what will be done?

We need to keep question mark. So: "Then if they truly seize the world thereafter, what will be done?"

Could it be...?

Could it be......?

We need to keep ellipsis. So: "Could it be......?"

Two sages holding court?

Two sages presiding over court?

We need to keep question mark. So: "Two sages presiding over court?"

Then, wouldn't her offspring's bloodline be even more useful?

We need to keep question mark. So: "Then, wouldn't her offspring's bloodline be even more useful?"

Ruansizong's thoughts raced; in just a few breaths, the woman had already approached him.

Ruansizong's thoughts raced; in just a few breaths, the woman not far away had already approached.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "Ruansizong's thoughts raced; in just a few breaths, the woman not far away had already approached."

The woman wore a simple black combat outfit—fabric fitted and sharp, cut clean, devoid of ornate patterns, yet it added an aura of icy, lethal resolve.

The woman wore a starkly simple black combat outfit, the fabric fitted and crisp, the tailoring clean, devoid of any ornate pattern, instead adding an air of icy, decisive lethality.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "The woman wore a starkly simple black combat outfit, the fabric fitted and crisp, the tailoring clean, devoid of any ornate pattern, instead adding an air of icy, decisive lethality."

Her figure was slender and upright like a pine, lacking the gentle grace of ordinary official ladies, devoid of any softness, only the cold sharpness left after battle.

Her figure was slender and upright like a pine, lacking the gentle softness of ordinary official‑lady women, devoid of any femininity, leaving only the cold sharpness honed by slaughter.

We need to keep punctuation. So: "Her figure was slender and upright like a pine, lacking the gentle softness of ordinary official‑lady women, devoid of any femininity, leaving only the cold sharpness honed by slaughter."

At a glance, it seemed one could see through people's hearts, perceiving every scheme and selfish motive hidden deep within.

Ruansizong stood in place, his heart repeatedly shocked, he secretly sighed.

He originally retained some contempt and arrogance toward the Young Emperor, but at this moment they all vanished like smoke; only a weighty reverence and apprehension remained in his heart, and he no longer dared to hold even a hint of contempt.

And this sight, as seen by Du Shanü, was quite another scene.

Ruansizong before her was past sixty, his beard and hair half-white, his face gaunt, his brows and eyes bearing the distinctive dignified and refined air of an aristocratic scholar.

He hailed from a literary family, generations of literary inheritance, having immersed himself in officialdom for decades; every word and action, every gesture, carried the proper solemnity of an old-school official, his every move reflecting the decorum and dignity accumulated over years in the bureaucracy.

Even though his eyes now held some unresolved anxiety and he concealed a sense of unease, his stature remained straight, without a hint of embarrassment or baseness.

Du Shanü's gaze swept lightly over him; she said nothing, her expression calm and undisturbed, giving no sign of joy or anger.

She walked slowly into the center of the front hall, her bearing composed and unhurried, ignoring Ruansizong standing in wait, and went straight to the main seat, sitting down lightly.

The broad chair set off her posture, making it even more upright and aloof, her aura growing ever more steady and imposing.

After sitting, she raised her hand and lightly took the warm celadon tea cup from the table, her fingertips slender and clean, she steadied the base and took a sip of clear tea.

The tea was clear and refreshing, with a lingering sweetness, it soothed the residual killing intent and made the silence in the front hall even deeper.

The soundless silence was most grating; Ruansizong stood where he was, feeling the air around him grow ever more stagnant, his apprehension growing ever heavier.

Earlier, while pacing outside and in the front hall, he had already rehearsed in his mind a whole set of remarks; yet facing this person in charge who was utterly different from what he had expected, every perfunctory word seemed utterly out of place.

Just by looking at this person's aura one could tell; if he still dared to speak such hollow, evasive, polite pleasantries...

Such clumsiness would be laughable, but worse, it might well bring disaster upon himself!

After a brief stagnation, Ruansizong quickly gathered his composure, suppressing all the surprise and apprehension in his heart, he performed a bow with hands folded, executing a standard official ceremony, his posture utmost respectful, his tone humble and steady:

Old subject Ruansizong greets Your Highness.

Your Highness, with thunderous resolve, settled the situation; in a single night you pacified Yongzhou, quelled the turmoil, stabilized the city, allowing the people to eke out a living—truly a blessing for all the people and for Yongzhou.

?? Come on, come on, babies, today is number one, eh~

? Could everyone please check the ticket box, see if there are any new tickets, please leave them for me, okay? Thank you very much (〃'▽'〃)

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End of Chapter

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