Chapter 164

If you want to capture the imperial fugitive, that's your business. If you're trying to frame me, you need to produce evidence; without evidence, there's nothing to discuss.

Translation: "If you want to apprehend the suspect, that's your business; if you want to frame me, you need to produce evidence, and if you have no evidence, there's nothing to discuss."

Make sure to keep quotes? The Chinese includes quotation marks. We should keep them? Probably keep the quotes as part of translation. Use English quotes. We'll keep double quotes.

Yang Jun looked at Zhou Tian, still wearing an expression of disbelief.

Translation: Yang Jun looked at Zhou Tian, still wearing an expression of indifference.

Given that the situation has already occurred, the only thing to do is to resolve it.

Translation: Since the matter has already happened, we just need to resolve it.

Yang Jun now appears increasingly mature, handling any matter with a calm and composed demeanor.

Translation: Yang Jun now appears increasingly mature, facing any matter with a calm and composed demeanor.

"Yang Jun, now that it's come to this, do you still want to make excuses? I'm telling you, it's useless."

Translation: "Yang Jun, now that it's come to this, do you still want to quibble? I tell you, it's useless."

"Search!"

Translation: "Search!"

Zhou Tian waved his hand, and the troops of the Jingzhao Yin's residence behind him, as well as the city guards, were about to step forward.

Zhou Tian waved his hand, and the troops of the Jingzhao Yin's residence behind him, as well as the city guards, were about to step forward.

We should translate 'Jingzhao Yin Fu' as 'the Jingzhao Yin's residence', since it lacks a glossary entry and we must render meaningful place names in English.

"Let's see who dares!"

Translation: "Let's see who dares!"

Yun Xi Yue was furious and trembling, pointing her finger at Zhou Tian, while Yang Jun wore a gentle expression and pulled her into an embrace.

Translation: Yun Xi Yue was furious, her trembling finger pointing at Zhou Tian, while Yang Jun wore a gentle expression and pulled her into an embrace.

Yang Jun adopted a calm and steady demeanor, then said:

Translation: Yang Jun appeared composed and spoke calmly:

"Deputy Commander Zhou, you need to think this through: you are framing me, yet you cannot produce solid evidence—so how do you intend to resolve this?"

Translation: "Deputy Commander Zhou, you need to think this through: you are framing me now, yet you cannot produce solid evidence—so how do you intend to wrap this up?"

"I am the Grand General; no one here can escape."

Translation: "I am the Grand General; no one here can escape."

Zhou Tian snorted coldly and waved his hand again.

Translation: Zhou Tian snorted coldly and waved his hand again.

The soldiers surged in, while Yang Jun held Yun Xi Yue tightly and did not resist.

Translation: The soldiers surged in, and Yang Jun held Yun Xi Yue tightly, not resisting.

"Zhou Tian, you bastard, we were blind to follow you!"

Translation: "Zhou Tian, you bastard, we were blind to actually follow you!"

Leng Qingyue returned, saw Zhou Tian, and flew into a rage, shouting angrily.

Translation: Leng Qingyue returned, and upon seeing Zhou Tian she flushed with anger and shouted curses.

Leng Qingyue is truly furious, and since she is already Yang Jun's person, she naturally stands on his side.

Translation: Leng Qingyue is truly furious now; besides, she already belongs to Yang Jun, so of course she stands on his side.

That scoundrel Zhou Tian once still had some old ties with his master's sect.

Translation: This bastard Zhou Tian originally still had some old ties with the sect.

But now that scoundrel has betrayed Mo Qingyan for his own selfish gain.

Translation: But now this bastard has, for his own selfish gain, even betrayed Mo Qingyan.

So how could she possibly endure this now?

Translation: So at this point, how could she possibly endure it?

"Zhou Tian, today I sever all ties with you, you bastard!"

Translation: "Zhou Tian, today I sever all ties of gratitude and righteousness with you, you bastard!"

Leng Qingyue opened her mouth to curse, her face filled with anger.

Translation: Leng Qingyue opened her mouth to curse, her face full of anger.

The words she spat out grew ever more foul.

Translation: The words coming from her mouth grew filthier the more she cursed.

Zhou Tian clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with anger.

Translation: Zhou Tian clenched his fists, his eyes also blazing with anger.

Being cursed like this, especially by his former senior sister, was something he could hardly bear.

Translation: Being cursed like this, and moreover by his former senior sister, he really could hardly bear it.

"It's you who have brought this upon yourselves; I am merely solving the problem."

Translation: "It's you who have sunk into depravity; I am solving the problem."

Zhou Tian snorted coldly, his face icy.

Translation: Zhou Tian snorted coldly, his face full of chill.

"You are nothing but a beast, a shameless scoundrel!"

Translation: "You are nothing but a beast, a shameless scoundrel!"

Leng Qingyue trembled with rage, exchanged a glance with Yang Jun, and had already told him that Mo Qingyan had left.

Translation: Leng Qingyue trembled with rage, she and Yang Jun exchanged a glance, and she had already told Yang Jun that Mo Qingyan had left.

Zhou Tian took a deep breath, finally calming his emotions.

Translation: Zhou Tian took a deep breath, finally calming his emotions.

"Senior sister, everything I have done is for your own good."

Translation: "Senior sister, everything I have done is for your own good."

"Shameless villain, despicable!"

Translation: "Shameless villain, despicable!"

Yun Xi Yue shouted a curse, cutting off Zhou Tian's words.

Translation: Yun Xi Yue shouted a curse, cutting off Zhou Tian's words.

"Yang Jun, if you have any ability, don't just hide behind a woman."

Translation: "Yang Jun, if you have the ability, don't just hide behind a woman."

Zhou Tian was furious; this matter was truly beyond his ability to handle easily.

Translation: Zhou Tian was very angry; this matter, he truly could not easily deal with.

"Don't you have a woman?"

Translation: "Don't you have a woman?"

Yang Jun spoke calmly, but Zhou Tian, unable to contain his anger, merely stepped back, almost losing his footing.

Translation: Yang Jun said calmly; Zhou Tian, unable to contain his anger, merely stepped back, almost losing his footing.

This situation is utterly hurtful.

Translation: This matter is really too hurtful.

Zhou Tian raised his hand and pointed angrily at Yang Jun.

Translation: Zhou Tian raised his hand and pointed angrily at Yang Jun.

At this moment, he was nothing but impotent rage.

Translation: But at this moment, he is nothing but impotent fury.

"Wait and see; as soon as I capture Mo Qingyan, you're as good as dead!"

Translation: "Wait, as soon as I capture Mo Qingyan, you'll be dead!"

Zhou Tian roared, and to him this was nothing less than the greatest opportunity.

Translation: Zhou Tian roared; to him, this is also the greatest opportunity.

Although the Governor of Jingzhao was following along, he did not step forward.

Translation: Although the Jingzhao Yin followed, he did not step forward.

Anyway, these matters have nothing to do with him.

Translation: Anyway, these matters have nothing to do with him.

Since it does not concern him, there is certainly no need for him to involve himself.

Translation: Since it's unrelated to him, of course there's no need to meddle.

Zhou Tian carried the imperial decree, merely acting in accordance with it and offering only assistance.

Translation: Zhou Tian carries the imperial decree; he is merely acting in accordance with it, assisting only.

In any case, these things are unnecessary; they would only stir up trouble and invite blame upon himself.

Translation: No matter what, these things are unnecessary—creating trouble only invites scolding.

Seeing Zhou Tian being cursed in such a disgraceful manner, he felt a secret sense of relief.

Translation: Seeing Zhou Tian being cursed in such a disgraceful way, he felt a secret relief.

He was glad he had not stepped forward.

Translation: He was glad he had not stepped forward.

Soon afterward, the soldiers returned to report.

Translation: Soon, the soldiers returned to report.

Furthermore, all the household members of the prince's residence were brought over as well.

Translation: Moreover, all the household members of the Prince's Mansion were also brought over.

"Report, General Zhou: the imperial fugitive has not been found!"

Translation: "Report, General Zhou, no suspect found!"

The soldiers' report caused Zhou Tian to frown.

Translation: The soldiers' report made Zhou Tian furrow his brows.

He glanced over the household members before him and saw that Mo Qingyan was not among them.

Translation: He glanced over the Prince's Mansion household before him; Mo Qingyan was not among them.

Having arrived so suddenly, no one could easily escape.

Translation: He came suddenly; no one could easily escape.

Therefore, it is likely that Mo Qingyan used the 'floating pavilion' technique to disguise herself as a household member.

Translation: So it seems Mo Qingyan very likely used the "Empty Tower Pavilion" technique to disguise herself as a household member.

If that is the case, then the solution is simple.

Translation: Since that's the case, it's simple.

Zhou Tian stepped forward, grabbed a middle-aged man, and shouted a sharp 'Hey!'

Translation: Zhou Tian stepped forward, grabbed a middle-aged man, and shouted a "Hey!"

"Hey, you idiot, I was still washing vegetables—why did you drag me out here to do what?"

Translation: "\"Hey\" your hammer, hey—I was still washing vegetables, why drag me out for this?"

The middle-aged man spoke with a strong Sichuan accent, making Zhou Tian so angry he wanted to hit someone.

But Zhou Tian did not give up; he stepped forward again, pulled out a middle-aged woman, and examined her carefully.

Everyone in the Prince's Mansion looked at Yang Jun.

Yang Jun acquiesced; although everyone was angry inside, they had no choice but to cooperate.

Zhou Tian examined carefully here, one after another, checking the past production in this way.

In the end, however, there was still no trace of Mo Qingyan.

"Are all the people here?"

Zhou Tian was unwilling, and he shouted loudly at his subordinates.

"There's still one, one person!"

The subordinate answered, but his face was tense.

"Since there is one, why not hurry and bring them over?"

"I, I will now invite the Prince over."

The city guard's subordinates sat silently, terrified; how should this matter be handled?

Zhou Tian, however, was choked up, his face looking very grim.

He turned his head and glared angrily at Yang Jun.

"Yang Jun, you're good, you really know how to hide, that's why—but do you think you can hide? Let me tell you, I have witnesses!"

Zhou Tian said this, then turned his head to look at Lin Qingyue.

This Senior Sister Lin has always been dissatisfied with Yang Jun.

Since she is inside the Prince's Mansion, she must have grasped many clues.

Furthermore, he should also be able to find Mo Qingyan.

As long as we capture Mo Qingyan, I will have a chance to overthrow Yang Jun.

Lin Qingyue stepped forward, her face icy cold.

"Yang Jun, you too have today!"

At this moment, the hearts of Leng Qingyue and Yun Xi Yue tightened suddenly.

Especially Leng Qingyue, her eyes fixed on Lin Qingyue with a pleading gaze, staring at her and gently shaking her head.

Yun Xi Yue's eyes were full of anger; she might accept Yang Jun having other women, but she could not tolerate these women's betrayal of Yang Jun—this is intolerable.

Seeing this, Zhou Tian was overjoyed; such a thing is indeed effective.

Lin Qingyue in the Prince's Mansion also played the greatest role.

At this critical moment, Lin Qingyue is the most crucial witness.

Yang Jun, it seems you are now doomed to die!

"Please, Princess Lin Qingyue, tell me where the imperial convict is hiding, capture Mo Qingyan, and punish the imperial convict."

Zhou Tian clasped his hands toward Lin Qingyue and spoke sincerely.

Lin Qingyue glanced proudly at Yang Jun and gave a faint smile.

Yang Jun's heart gave a sudden jolt.

"This woman is indeed not a good person."

"Well, now at this critical moment you actually want to step forward and stab me in the back?"

"Fine, you're playing dirty, huh?"

"Alright then, when the time comes I will flatly deny it—I won't admit anything at all; let's see what you can do to me."

Yang Jun's heart gave a slight start; to settle these matters properly seems indeed not easy.