Chapter 15

Hu Tianxiong said: "Sir, Xichuan is over three thousand li from the capital; this matter may not reach there."

Hu Tianxiong said: "Sir, Xichuan is over three thousand li from the capital; this matter may not reach there."

Make sure to keep punctuation? We'll output as one line.

Hu Buwei said: "If you want something to stay unknown, don't do it yourself; in this world there will always be those who stir up trouble and kick someone when they're down." Recalling Tang Wen Zheng's angry, resentful gaze as he left, Hu Buwei realized the Tang family would never swallow this insult lightly; given the chance, they would surely seek revenge. Having served as an official for many years, the number of people he has offended in the capital alone is countless. One can easily imagine that his political rivals, upon hearing this news, would treasure it like a priceless gem and would not miss the opportunity to slander and retaliate against him.

Check we kept all info. Need to ensure we didn't add. "those who stir up trouble and kick someone when they're down". Good.

The marriage between the Hu and Li families was obviously arranged for mutual benefit; everyone could see that. If the union proceeds smoothly, both Hu Buwei and Li Tianheng would gain enormous advantages—one as the Minister of Revenue who controls the state's finances, the other as a regional commander garrisoning the southwest and dominating the area. Their alliance would undoubtedly boost their political influence, and many would envy their partnership.

Translate: "What purpose does the marriage between the Hu and Li families serve? Everyone can see it clearly. If this marriage goes smoothly, both Hu Buwei and Li Tianheng will reap huge benefits: one is the Minister of Revenue who controls Dakang's financial power, the other is a regional commander who garrisons the southwest and dominates the region. Their union will surely boost their political influence; who knows how many will envy their alliance?"

Check: "regional commander who garrisons the southwest and dominates the region". Good.

Watching his son's recent outburst of fury, Hu Buwei naturally understood his son's dissatisfaction with the marriage; no one would willingly marry a hideously ugly woman paralyzed from the waist down, which would be somewhat cruel for his son. Yet marriage is not a child's game; it requires reason and realism, considering not only the partner's personal qualities but also her family background. Even if Li Tianheng's daughter were extremely ugly, she would not lack suitors, for their family's social standing is already well established by matchmakers.

Translate: "Seeing his son's recent outburst of madness, Hu Buwei naturally understood his son's dissatisfaction with this marriage; no one would want to marry a woman hideously ugly and paralyzed from the waist down, which is rather cruel for his son. However, marriage is not child's play; it requires reason and reality, not only judging the partner's personal condition but also evaluating their family background. Even if Li Tianheng's daughter were extremely ugly, she would not have trouble finding a match, for it is said their family's threshold has long been trampled flat by matchmakers."

Check: "woman hideously ugly and paralyzed from the waist down". Good.

Hu Tianxiong said: "Sir, the young master's illness is gradually improving; why not find him a minor official post?"

Translate: "Hu Tianxiong said: 'Sir, the young master's illness is gradually healing; why not secure him a minor post?'"

After being reminded by him, Hu Buwei's eyes lit up, but then quickly dimmed; he was still unsure whether his son had fully recovered, for such sudden joy could cause indigestion. However, today the son's performance greatly shocked him; though pleased, Hu Buwei kept his absolute rationality, thinking perhaps the display was just a flash of inspiration. He said softly: "Let him rest a bit more since he's just recovered from a serious illness."

Translate: "Upon his reminder, Hu Buwei's eyes lit up, but then quickly dimmed. He was still unsure whether his son had fully recovered; such sudden joy could cause indigestion. Yet today his son's performance had greatly shocked him. Though pleased, Hu Buwei kept absolute rationality in mind, perhaps today's performance was just a flash of inspiration. He said softly: 'Let him rest a bit more after his initial recovery before we talk further.'"

Check: "such sudden joy could cause indigestion". Good.

Hu Xiaotian wasn't ill; over the past six months he had transitioned from a fool to a normal person, and aside from himself, no one knew exactly what had happened. In fact, when he first arrived in this land, he was quite satisfied with his life: his father was the Minister of Revenue, wielding power and influence; the family owned a house and a carriage, had hundreds of slaves, lived in comfort, dressed in fine clothes and ate well, enjoying a life where clothes appeared at a gesture and food at a call.

Translate: "Hu Xiaotian wasn't ill; over the past six months he had transitioned from fool to normal person, and aside from himself, no one knew what exactly had happened. In fact, when he first arrived in this land, he was quite satisfied with his life: his father was the Minister of Revenue, wielding power and influence; the household had houses and carriages, hundreds of slaves, lived in comfort, dressed in fine clothes and ate well, enjoying a life where clothes came at a gesture and food at a call."

Check: "hundreds of slaves". "lived in comfort". "dressed in fine clothes and ate well". "clothes came at a gesture and food at a call". Good.

In his previous life he was exhausted; in this life he can finally enjoy waking up naturally. As for counting money until his hands cramp, if he wishes, as the sole son of the Minister of Revenue he could easily go to the Money Law Hall or the Treasure Spring Bureau to count coins; the copper coins minted there are so numerous he could never finish counting them in a lifetime.

Translate: "In his previous life he was overworked; this life he can finally enjoy waking up naturally. As for counting money until his hands cramp, if he wishes, as the sole son of the Minister of Revenue he could easily go to the Money Law Hall or the Treasure Spring Bureau to count coins; the copper coins minted there are so many he could never finish counting them in a lifetime."

Check: "Money Law Hall". "Treasure Spring Bureau". Good.

After the bride‑abduction incident at Cuiyun Lake, Hu Buwei noticeably increased the guards around his son, adding two new protectors—Li Jin Hao and Shao Yijiao—to the original four household servants; both are said to be capable of taking on ten opponents each.

Translate: "After the Cuiyun Lake bride-abduction incident, Hu Buwei noticeably strengthened the guards around his son; besides the original four household servants, he assigned two new guards, one named Li Jin Hao and the other Shao Yijiao, each said to be worth ten men."

Check: "Cuiyun Lake". "bride-abduction incident". Good.

After Hu Xiaotian's request to break off the engagement was rejected by his father, he never brought it up again. His master's degree in psychology was not earned for nothing; from his father's demeanor he saw that Hu Buwei is a determined and obstinate man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, placing political gain above all else. To him, his foolish son is merely a tool on his path forward, and any familial affection must yield to his political ambitions. Since he cannot change this, there is no point in adding further worry.

Translate: "After Hu Xiaotian's proposal to break off the engagement was rejected by his father, he never brought it up again. His master's degree in psychology was not for nothing; from Hu Buwei's demeanor he could see that Hu Buwei was a determined and obstinate man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, placing political interests above all. He regarded his own foolish son merely as a tool on his path forward, any kinship having to yield to his political ambitions. Since he could not change this, why add needless worries?"

Check: "would stop at nothing to achieve his goals". Good.

With time to spare, Hu Xiaotian devoted most of his days to exercise and study; he is not a natural-born scholar, and after his rebirth he has little desire to recall his previous life's busy work. He simply wants to be an ordinary, carefree wealthy young man, yet he eventually realizes that everyone has worries, even if he were to live again.

Translate: "Having time, he should enjoy life more; thus Hu Xiaotian devoted most of his time to fitness and study. He was not a natural-born study maniac; after his rebirth he hardly bothered to recall his previous life's busy work. He just wanted to be an ordinary person, a carefree rich young master, but he eventually realized that everyone has worries, even if he lived again it would be the same."

Check: "carefree". Good.

The subjects he studies are highly important in today's world—such as the rites of the state of Dakang, and the history and geography of this relatively novel continent for him. He also practices horseback riding and archery, which are directly relevant to his future life; to survive one must first learn self‑defense. Studying archery aims to boost combat ability, while learning horsemanship is meant to facilitate escape.

Translate: "What he studies is highly important in this era—for example, Dakang's etiquette, and the history and geography of this continent, which is quite novel to him. Even horseback riding and archery he must learn; these are closely tied to his future life. To live well, one must first learn self-defense; studying archery aims to boost combat ability, while learning horsemanship is for the sake of easier escape."

Check: "combat ability". Good.

Hu Buwei has so many governmental affairs to attend to that he is constantly out early and late; Hu Xiaotian rarely sees his father, and father‑son communication remains scarce. Days pass in this manner.

Translate: "Hu Buwei had too many state affairs to handle, leaving early and returning late each day; Hu Xiaotian rarely saw him, and father-son communication remained scarce. Days passed in this way, one after another."

The rear gate of the Minister's residence has been repaired, the garden refurbished, and no trace remains of the former chaos after it was smashed; only the grass pavilion in the garden was not rebuilt, because Hu Xiaotian used it to confuse perception and falsely accuse Tang Tiecheng of rebellion. From this Hu Buwei drew inspiration: that inconspicuous grass pavilion, if left standing, could someday become a major trouble, for privately establishing a court is a heinous crime punishable by the execution of the entire clan.

Check: "smashed". "grass pavilion". "privately establishing a court". "execution of the entire clan". Good.

Hu Xiaotian had wanted to learn a flamboyant movement technique involving leaps, front and back somersaults, and a 720‑degree twist, but the family's foremost expert in lightness skills, Hu Tianxiong, had been sent to Xichuan on business; reportedly his errand is somehow connected to Hu Xiaotian himself.

Translate: "Hu Xiaotian originally wanted to learn a flashy movement technique involving a leap, front somersault, back somersault, plus a 720-degree twist, but unfortunately Hu Tianxiong, who excelled in the Hu family's lightness skills, had gone to Xichuan on business; it is said the reason for his trip is still somewhat related to him."

Check: "a flashy movement technique involving a leap, front somersault, back somersault, plus a 720‑degree twist". Good.

These past two days, Hu Buwei has been summoned by the Emperor to accompany him to the Eastern Capital for relaxation, while Hu's lady has returned to her natal home in Gold Hill to visit relatives. Left alone in the Minister's residence, Hu Xiaotian enjoys a carefree existence without parental restraint—either exercising at home or leading a group of household servants on leisurely outings around the capital. He need not work nor worry about money; the greatest perk of being an official's second‑generation scion is never having to settle accounts, and with the Hu family's status and wealth, his dissolute lifestyle should pose no problem.

Translate: "These past few days, Hu Buwei had been summoned by the Emperor to accompany him to the Eastern Capital for relaxation, while Hu's lady returned to her natal family in Gold Hill to visit relatives, leaving only Hu Xiaotian in the Minister's Residence. Free from parental restraints, Hu Xiaotian led a leisurely life—either training at home or leading a group of servants to sightsee around the capital. Since he need not work nor worry about money, the greatest perk of being an official's second generation is never having to settle accounts; with the Hu family's status and wealth, this second-generation scion could muddle through life without issue."

Check: "Emperor". "Eastern Capital". "Gold Hill". "second-generation scion". Good.

Seeing the old steward Hu An bring in two bundles of fresh reed leaves carried by a servant, Hu Xiaotian suddenly realized that the fifth day of the fifth lunar month was approaching; Dakang also observes the Dragon Boat Festival. A few days earlier he had glanced through history and learned that this land, too, had produced such great works, and had once boasted a great patriotic poet, Qu Yuan, who, like him, was born in the state of Chu and, unable to serve his country, drowned himself in the Miluo River filled with sorrow.

Translate: "Seeing the senior steward Hu An bring in two bundles of fresh reed leaves carried by a servant, Hu Xiaotian suddenly realized that the fifth day of the fifth month was approaching; Dakang also observes the Dragon Boat Festival. A few days earlier he had just glanced through history and then learned that this land, too, had produced such a great work, had once had a great patriotic poet, Qu Yuan, who, like his counterpart, was born in Chu State and ultimately, unable to serve his country, filled with sorrow, plunged into the Miluo River."

Check: "reed leaves". Good.

Hu Xiaotian had no desire to ponder the connections and differences between the two histories; he simply wanted to live comfortably and enjoy as many Dragon Boat Festivals as possible.

Translate: "Hu Xiaotian couldn't be bothered to ponder the connections and differences between the two histories; he just wanted to live comfortably, carefree, and enjoy several more Dragon Boat Festivals."

Check: "comfortably". Good.

Steward Hu An approached the strange young master with respect, saying: "Young master, why are you up so early?" In fact, everyone in the Minister's residence, from top to bottom, considered the young master odd after he woke up, but each kept their thoughts to themselves, daring not to speak them openly.

Translate: "Hu An saw this odd young master and approached respectfully: 'Young master, why are you up so early?' Actually, everyone in the Minister's Residence thought that since regaining consciousness the young master had become exceedingly strange, but each person could only keep their opinion to themselves; no one dared voice it openly."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "The sun is already shining on my backside—it's not early!"

Translate: "Hu Xiaotian chuckled: 'The sun's already scorching our backsides—it's not early!'"

Hu An forced a smile: "Young master, where are you off to play today?" Idle, pleasure‑seeking, eccentric, moody, and erratic—this is how the Hu household describes Hu Xiaotian.

Translate: "Hu An smiled apologetically: 'Young master, where are you off to play today?' Idle, loafing, of eccentric temperament, moody and unpredictable, crazy—this is how the Hu household views Hu Xiaotian."

Hu Xiaotian yawned: "I haven't decided yet; it seems I've already visited all the fun places in the capital, except the palace—I don't know whether I need a ticket."

Translate: "Hu Xiaotian yawned: 'Haven't decided yet; it seems I've been to all the fun spots in the capital, except the Imperial Palace—I don't know if tickets are needed.'"

"A ticket?" Hu An exclaimed, taken aback.

Translate: "\"Tickets? \" Hu An blinked in surprise."

Hu Xiaotian realized he had misspoken; in this era there is no concept of tickets—no matter how beautiful a scenic spot, people may simply enter, and there is no such thing as admission fees.

Translate: "Hu Xiaotian realized he had misspoken; in this era there is no concept of tickets—no matter how beautiful the scenic spot, people simply enter if they wish, and there is no such thing as tickets."

However, the Hu family's servants have long grown accustomed to the young master's odd behavior; Hu An laughed: "Young master, the palace is not a place you can come and go as you please; if you wish to enter, wait until you obtain a minor official post, then you may naturally gain an audience with the sovereign."

Translate: "However, the Hu family members have long grown accustomed to the young master's odd words and deeds; Hu An smiled: 'Young master, the Imperial Palace is not a place you can just waltz in and out of; if you wish to go, once you obtain a minor post you may naturally enter to see the Emperor.'"

Hu Xiaotian drawled: "The palace isn't much to see—dark and sunless; I think the Dakang palace is not much different from the Forbidden City."

Translate: "Hu Xiaotian drawled lazily: 'The Imperial Palace has nothing much to see, gloomy and sunless; I think Dakang's Imperial Palace is not much larger than the Former Palace.'"

"The Forbidden City?" Hu An looked clearly bewildered.

Translate: "\"Former Palace? \" Hu An obviously looked bewildered."

At that moment a guard came forward to report: "Young master, the Vice Minister of Revenue, Xu Zhengying, has arrived."

Translate: "At that moment the gatekeeper servant came forward to report: 'Young master, Vice Minister of Revenue Xu Zhengying, Sir Xu, has arrived.'"

Hu Xiaotian had met Xu Zhengying a couple of times; Xu Zhengying is the deputy to his father Hu Buwei in the Ministry of Revenue. The ministry has only one Minister—Hu Buwei—plus two Vice Ministers, of whom Xu Zhengying is one. As a Vice Minister, he ranks third in authority within the ministry, overseeing the Money Law Hall and the Treasure Spring Bureau, which handle the minting and issuance of Dakang's currency. Xu Zhengying is also adept at cultivating connections; he frequently visits the Hu residence under the pretense of discussing affairs, but his real aim is to ingratiate himself with the Minister. Despite his frequent visits, his relationship with Hu Buwei remains superficial, for the Minister is deeply suspicious and keeps his subordinates at arm's length.

Translate: "Hu Xiaotian had met Xu Zhengying a couple of times; Xu Zhengying, the Vice Minister of Revenue, is his father Hu Buwei's deputy. The Ministry of Revenue has only one Minister, the top position held by Hu Buwei, plus two Vice Ministers, of whom Xu Zhengying is one. As a Vice Minister he is a deputy; in the Ministry's hierarchy he ranks third, overseeing Dakang's coin casting and issuance, with the Money Law Hall and Treasure Spring Bureau under his jurisdiction. Xu Zhengying is also adept at maneuvering; he often visits the Hu residence under the pretense of consulting on affairs, but his real aim is to ingratiate himself with the Minister. Although he frequents the place, his relationship with Hu Buwei remains distant—Hu Buwei is deeply suspicious, keeping this subordinate at arm's length."

Although Hu Xiaotian knows Xu Zhengying, they have never really talked; he told the servant: "Tell him my father is accompanying the Emperor to the Eastern Capital."

Translate: "Although Hu Xiaotian knew Xu Zhengying, they had never spoken. He told the servant: 'Tell him my father is accompanying the Emperor to the Eastern Capital.'"

The servant replied: "Sir Xu has come this time to request an audience with the young master."

Translate: "The servant replied: 'Sir Xu has come this time to request an audience with the young master.'"

Hu Xiaotian frowned slightly; he and Xu Zhengying have little acquaintance, yet it occurred to him that as a Vice Minister of Revenue Xu Zhengying cannot possibly be unaware of his father's whereabouts. Showing up now to seek an audience might be an attempt to bypass Hu Buwei—perhaps his goal is to get Hu Xiaotian to do something for him. Since he seeks a favor, some benefit is sure to follow; let's see what gift he brings, no harm in that.

Translate: "Hu Xiaotian blinked in surprise; he and Xu Zhengying had hardly any rapport. Then it occurred to him that as a Vice Minister of Revenue Xu Zhengying could not possibly be unaware of his father's whereabouts; showing up now to request a meeting might be to avoid Hu Buwei—could this fellow's aim be to get him to do something? A roundabout way to save the state? Since he seeks something from him, there will surely be some benefit; heh, seeing what gift this fellow brings is no problem."

Hu Xiaotian thought and said: "Please have him speak in the Lotus‑Viewing Pavilion."

Translate: "Hu Xiaotian thought and said: 'Please have him speak at the View Lotus Pavilion.'"

The Lotus‑Viewing Pavilion is an octagonal cool pavilion built beside the pond in the rear garden of the Minister's residence; all around is lush green grass, drooping willows, warblers singing, swallows chir

Translate: "The View Lotus Pavilion is an octagonal gazebo built beside the pond in the rear garden of the Minister's Residence; all around is lush green grass, drooping willows, warblers singing, swallows chirping, tender lotus leaves not yet fully unfurled, curled up, swaying gently in the breeze; the fragrance of the lotus leaves mingles with the cool water vapor, refreshing the heart and pleasing the spirit. Leaving that aside, this rear garden alone is far larger than the public gardens of ordinary residential complexes."

Xu Zhengying is 43 years old, a fourth‑rank official, seven chi tall and somewhat stout; today he wears a gray casual outfit and is trailed by a servant in blue clothes and a small cap. In this era, it would be shameful to go out without one or two attendants.

Translate: "Xu Zhengying is forty-three years old, a rank-four official; he stands seven chi tall, slightly stout, today dressed in a gray casual outfit, with a servant in a blue cloth cap following behind. In these days, it would be embarrassing to go out without one or two attendants."

Hu Xiaotian saw Xu Zhengying coming over, got up to greet him, and from a distance made a bow; after all, Xu Zhengying was his father's colleague, so basic courtesy had to be observed: "Uncle Xu, nephew failed to welcome you from afar, hope you will forgive." This guy, from his appearance, is still quite well-behaved; every gesture shows politeness.