Chapter 74

【3】

Chinese string is same as 【2】? Actually the line after 【3】 is English explanation, but we need to translate the Chinese string if present. There is no Chinese quoted string; but there is an English explanation. However the line contains English only. To be safe, we can output the same translation as 【2】 (since it's the same Chinese). But we must not include Chinese. So we output 【3】 . We'll use the same translation.

【6】

Translation: "When she entered the city, the tall scholar handed her a letter whose contents were far longer than the letter from Sea Border City, containing much more information and detail. Scholar Luwen speculated about the city where she might be, sending ravens one after another, just so she could receive the news as soon as possible."

I don't know how much anguish Scholar Luwen is enduring as he repeatedly explains the entire process, over and over.

Translation: "One cannot know how much anguish Scholar Luwen felt as he repeatedly explained the whole process over and over."

【10】

Translation: "Besides informing her of the news, the letter's sole purpose was: hurry back, come back immediately."

In his letter, the scholar vaguely warned of the city's turmoil, noting the suspicions and conspiracies rampant within Winterfell, and added that if Mei Yi continues to be delayed outside, it could cause grave consequences.

Translation: "In the letter, the scholar vaguely warned of the turmoil within the city, mentioning the various suspicions and conspiratorial atmosphere filling Winterfell, and suggested that if Mei Yi remained delayed outside, it could lead to very serious consequences."

【14】

Translation: "How could she not know?"

She saw Lord Robes, the castellan left in charge of Twin Rivers City, in the city's great hall. His uncle is nicknamed 'the Ox', but he himself has no connection to that epithet; he is one of the seven who first accompanied Mei Yi into Winterfell.

Translation: "In the hall of Twin River City she met its castellan, Lord Robes, who was left in charge of the city. His uncle bore the nickname 'Ox,' but he himself had nothing to do with that epithet; he was one of the seven who first accompanied Mei Yi into Winterfell."

【18】

Translation: '"Congratulations, milady, on winning another few splendid battles," Lord Robes said.'

Thank you for your hard work. I'm relieved to see the ice plains wolf flag still flying over the city.

Translation: '"You've worked hard. Seeing the Ice Plains Wolf flag still flying over the walls, I feel relieved."'

【22】

Translation: "This was mere courtesy; she felt no relief at all, especially after just receiving the news from the stout scholar. She knew there was trouble in Sea Border City, but upon arriving at Twin River City she learned just how dire it was."

Haha, a few Frey brats, leading the forces they'd gathered from outside, tried to retake the city, but I defeated them. I hung several fresh corpses under the bridge—did you see? It's a shame that old Walder's flesh has completely rotted, so I can't use it. Instead, I had his bones ground up and fed some to them before hanging them. Haha, it's gratifying, though it pales compared to your victory in the south.

Translation: '"Ha, a few Frey brats gathered troops from outside and tried to retake the castle, but I defeated them. I've just hung a few new corpses beneath the bridge—did you see? It's a pity old Wade's flesh has rotted away, so I can't stuff it into them. Still, I had his bones ground up and fed some to them before hanging them. Ha, it's satisfying, though compared to your victories in the south, it's nothing."'

【26】

Translation: '"Good, I hope you haven't used it all up. I'll bring some back to Winterfell." Guest rights have become cheap these days; one must entertain guests with something special.'

Enough of this nonsense. Now that this has happened in Winterfell, what are you going to do, she-wolf? I warn you: if you plan to marry into the Boltons, you'd better hang me too, because I'll never kneel to them—I'd rather join the White Walkers! Lord Jonan Amber could no longer hold back, leapt from his seat, and shouted at her.

Translation: '"Enough of this useless talk. Now that something's happened in Winterfell, what do you intend to do? She-wolf? I must warn you: if you mean to marry into the Bolton family, you'd better hang me too, for I'd rather die than accompany you to kneel before the Boltons—I'd rather go with the wights!" Great Qiongen Amber could no longer contain himself, leapt from his seat, and shouted at her.'

【30】

Translation: "From Lord Robes's expression, Mei Yi could roughly guess that the count had also been arguing with him."

Lord Count, what on earth are you thinking?

Translation: '"My lord Count, what exactly are you thinking?"'

【36】

Thus:

Lord Count, what on earth are you thinking?

Translation: '"Lord Count, what exactly are you thinking?"'

【41】

Translation: '"Oh, my heir Little Qiongen is already dead, but I still have other sons. If you are willing to marry any of them, I will naturally lead the Hearthfire City troops to aid you, woman! However, if you marry me directly, that is not impossible either. I hope I can still live another ten or so years."'

Mei Yi gave a grim smile. 'I think you still have too many fingers.'

Translation: "Mei Yi gave a grim smile. 'I think you still have too many fingers.'"

【46】

Translation: '"Your brother Robb's wolf, though fierce, could only gnaw off two of my fingers," he said, showing Mei Yi his maimed hand. In truth, the wolf had bitten off just the tip of that finger, "Do you perhaps have an even fiercer wolf?"'

"Your brother Luo Bo's wolf, so fierce, could only gnaw off two of my fingers," he showed his disabled fingers to Mei Yi. Actually that wolf had bitten off the tip, "Don't you have a fiercer wolf?"

Yeah, you have no wolves, you have no wolves—how can you command obedience? Maybe you just want to strip naked before some Bolton to breed a pack of little flayers? Am I right? You'd better tell me I'm mistaken, otherwise, 'woman' is my term of respect for you, while 'bastard's whore' is the insult I've got ready. He burst out laughing.

Translation: '"Yes, you have no wolf, and without a wolf how can you command obedience? Perhaps you just want to strip naked before some Bolton and breed a brood of little flayers? Right? You'd better tell me I'm wrong, otherwise, woman is my term of respect for you—'bastard's whore' is the phrase I've prepared." He laughed loudly.'

"Yeah, you have no wolf, you have no wolf—how would you get people to obey? Perhaps you just want to strip naked in front of some bodun? Go ahead and spawn a bunch of little skin‑people. Right? You'd better tell me I'm wrong, otherwise, 'woman' is my term of respect for you, the kind of word raised by a bitch—that's what I've got ready." He laughed loudly.

【51】

Translation: "Her officers also had their hands on their swords, awaiting her command."

I won't marry you, or any of your sons—his name is Jonan Amber? He's studying at the Citadel? By the laws of the realm, you owe me fealty, or else you'd rather swear fealty to Roose Bolton.

Translation: '"I will not marry you, nor any of your sons—is he called Jon Amber? He studies at the Citadel, I suppose? By the laws of the realm, you owe me fealty, or perhaps you wish to swear allegiance to Roose Bolton?"'

【55】

Translation: '"Damn it, Jon Amber can come back at any time to be my heir—his brother died, the burden fell on his shoulders, and whether he likes it or not he must bear it. His age is about the same as yours, dammit, don't you need a man? I tell you, without a man you cannot bear children, and without children, who will inherit your Winterfell?"'

Lord Eddard still has other children; I will always have an heir, I can take my time picking one. Now, swear fealty to me. I don't have time.

Translation: '"Lord Eddard still has other children; I will surely have an heir, I can take my time choosing. Now, swear fealty to me. Tell you, I have no time to waste."'

【59】

Translation: '"You're being lazy! Damn it! You won the tourney championship at twelve—you should pass on your advantages through your children! Fuck! Our Amber line has giant's blood; you ought to consider that every child you bear will be big and strong and able to fight!" He shouted incoherently.'

Mei Yi gripped her sword, feeling only impatience.

Translation: "Mei Yi pressed her hand to her sword, feeling only impatience."

【63】

Translation: "The nearby soldiers, hearing this, also felt strange, and they lowered their swords and looked at Mei Yi."

This is none of your business. Mei Yi replied.

Translation: '"This has nothing to do with you," Mei Yi replied.'

【67】

Translation: '"How can it have nothing to do with me? This concerns my grandson," he shouted.'

Say what you will. If you refuse to swear fealty to me, when I return to Winterfell I'll go ask the crows and the ghouls whether they're interested in Hearthstone. Besides, your little son Jonan Amber doesn't need to keep bearing burdens for you; I'll support his studies at the Citadel. You should know I have plenty of gold, and I'll make him a fine scholar.

Translation: '"Say whatever you like. If you refuse to swear fealty to me, when I return to Winterfell I'll ask the crows and the whores whether they're interested in Hearthfire City. Moreover, your little son Jon Amber need not bear any burden for you; I'll support his studies at the Citadel, you know—I have plenty of gold, and I'll make him a fine scholar."'

【71】

Translation: '"Fuck his mother, I'm not dead yet—it's not my uncles' turn." His voice rang loud, echoing through the hall of Twin River City.'

I can act as if I never saved you.

Translation: '"I could pretend I never saved you."'

【75】

Translation: '"Do you really want me to kneel before a woman?"'

Kneeling before me isn't a disgrace; whether you kneel or not, it's all the same—just swear fealty to me. I'm short on time.

Translation: '"Kneeling before me isn't disgracing you, but whether you kneel or not makes no difference—just declare your fealty. I'm pressed for time."'

【79】

Translation: '"Hmph, I won't swear an oath under this roof! I'll say it when I get back to Winterfell, woman!"'

Her soldiers all wore teasing smiles.

Translation: "Her soldiers all broke into mocking smiles."

【83】

Translation: "This is indeed a good reason. Mei Yi has achieved her aim and needs no further coercion."

All right, my lords, my stay in Twin Rivers City is over; I'll depart tonight and return to the North. Lord Amber, please return to the North with Lord Robes when the time comes.

Translation: '"Well, my lords, my stay in Twin River City is over; I will set out tonight and return to the North. Lord Amber, please return to the North with Lord Robes when the time comes."'

【88】

Translation: "Having said that, Mei Yi ignored Count Amber, turning her gaze to Lord Robes: 'Ser Brynden Tully should arrive shortly to take over the castle; he knows our time is short and won't delay. In the meantime, please hold the castle. Also, I need you to arrange men and a small boat for Halwyn—he's going to look for Lord Reed of Greywater Watch.'"

Mei Yi finished speaking, then ignored Count Anbo, turning her gaze to Luobosi. "Bulindeng Tuli should soon come to take over the castle; he knows our time is pressing and won't delay long. During this time, please continue to guard the castle. By the way, I need you to arrange manpower and a small boat for Haerwen. He is going to look for Lord Lyde of Greywater Watch."

Just one person. More would only slow me down. Mei Yi said, then left the hall and walked toward the courtyard.

Translation: '"Alone. More people would only slow me down." Mei Yi said this, already leaving the hall and heading toward the courtyard.'

【92】

Translation: "Hopefully, while she spoke, the servants had already fed her horse."

She waited in the courtyard while the stableboy readied her travel horse.

Translation: "She waited in the courtyard for the stableboy to ready her travel mount."

【96】

Translation: "Looking back at the castle where she had fought, she felt strangely alien, as if the events had happened ages ago—though she knew it had been no more than two months."

In such a short time, the corpses originally hanged beneath the bridge have scattered; some are reduced to dark lumps, while others remain taut, still hanging from the rope, but the bodies have grown thin, swaying back and forth on the water even in a light breeze.

Translation: "In that short span, the corpses originally hanged beneath the bridge have become scattered—some reduced to dark lumps, others still hanging taut from the rope, though emaciated, swaying slightly in the breeze over the water."

【100】

Translation: '"Farewell, Freys! I will pay my respects to the Boltons on your behalf," she thought as she mounted.'

She no longer rode the black iron horse, but mounted a yellow piebald horse prepared by the stableboy.

Translation: "She no longer rode the black warhorse, but instead took the dun mare the stableboy had prepared for her."

【104】

Translation: '"May all go well, ser," the little stableboy said shyly to her.'

Thank you. You too! she replied.

Translation: '"Thank you. The same to you!" she replied.'

【108】

Translation: "She mounted, rode forth from the gate she had taken, passing through the woods she had once patrolled, the road she had trodden with thousands of warhorses."

It was evening again.

Translation: "It was evening again."

【112】

Translation: "The sunset remained beautiful, but the wind had grown stronger, bringing a hint of northern frost."

From Twin Rivers City to the Neck Causeway, hundreds of miles of wilderness lay empty, without a wisp of smoke or a sign of life.

Translation: "From Twin River City to the Neck causeway, hundreds of miles of wilderness lay without a wisp of smoke or a sign of life."

【

Translation: "Besides the two horses following behind her and a lone goose, the vast world held only her in every direction."

Endless wilderness, stretching on and on.

Translation: "Endless plains, endless plains."

As the sun sank fully westward, a crescent moon rose quietly.

Translation: "As the sun sank completely westward, a crescent moon rose quietly."

Mei Yi rode with half-lidded, dazed eyes, speeding along the three‑hundred‑mile long causeway of the Neck, heading north.

Translation: "Mei Yi rode on, half-asleep, blankly galloping along the three-hundred-li causeway of the Neck, heading north."

Mei Yi's eyes were half-closed with sleep, she dazedly galloped along the three-hundred-li long dike of Neck Marsh, heading north all the way.

She knocked open the gate of Kalin Bay in the deep night.

The guards lit torches, spent several hours before finally confirming her identity, changed her horse, and let her pass.

By then she realized she was the first among those heading south to return to the North.

When she passed the checkpoint, the North had already begun to snow lightly.

Under normal riding, from Karhold to Winterfell takes at least four to five days; if one travels nonstop day and night, it takes two days; as for Meiyi, it would take only a day and a half, but the snow still delayed her a bit.

After passing Karhold, in the snow she returned to Winterfell the following evening.

Winterfell is majestic, but it no longer has the lovely appearance it had when we set out.

Ice and snow decorated the castle, making it icy cold.

When the soldiers wearing the Stark family colors slowly pushed open the massive gate, producing an awkward sound, she finally awoke from her travel-induced daze.

The faint smoky scent of Winterfell drifted through the gate straight toward her.

She set aside the distant thoughts of the journey, and her repressed anger was released again.

She held onto her passion, entering the city covered in ice and snow.

She went nowhere else, heading straight to the great hall, where she waited for the five council members.

"My lords, the facts are already clear. The assassin killed his host beneath our roof."

The only thing she miscalculated was her brothers' direwolves.

She sat high in the seat originally reserved for the lord of Winterfell, her passion laid across her legs.

The old scholar's eyes were sunken, having lost all vigor. Ser Rodrik also suffered greatly, his hand gripping his sword tightly, his teeth clenched, uttering no word, as if punishing himself through these.

"Ser Meiyi, what should we do?" Ser Luofugelofu asked.

Meiyi appreciated the title. When she entered the city, many had already changed their way of address, constantly reminding her that her brothers were dead.

This is a cold question.

The actual hall was also freezing enough to make one shudder.

A few weak torches burned, sending up thick black smoke, only able to illuminate a corner of the hall.

The hall as a whole appeared dim and lifeless.

Meiyi had always felt this place too large, and today the feeling was even stronger.

"Defeat the Boltons." She replied. Best not to talk about marriage alliances.

"What about the murderer?" he asked.

"The murderer will pay for his actions."

"Sir, do you know the murderer's identity?" he asked, not even wanting to say what kind of murderer he was.

"The murderer still wears my brother's face, so of course I know his identity."

"Then what are you going to do about it?"

"Hang him."

Burn their temples to ashes, sink their titans into the sea, let their cities crumble to dust, and make their followers relive the fear of being ruled by the dragon king.