Chapter 212: then title translation, then ===GLOSSARY=== with list of named entities appearing in these lines

Prince Zhou smiled and said, "Since I have given her to you, you can afford her, are you afraid you won't be able to explain it to your future father-in-law? Don't worry, I'll talk to him."

Hu Xiaotian now began to suspect Zhou Wang's motives; could it be that because I didn't help you matchmake with Xi Yan, you're using this method to trap me? If that's really the case, this Seventeenth Prince is quite scheming.

Regardless of Zhou Wang's true intentions, Hu Xiaotian could not refuse politely; he could only accept with a smile and take this Western beauty away.

Wei Sa draped herself in a golden cloak, silently following behind Hu Xiaotian, knowing in her heart that this was her new master.

The Guards beside Prince Zhou saw Hu Xiaotian leaving with such a beautiful treasure, and each of them showed an expression of extreme envy; this guy really picked up a gem, they followed Prince Zhou, painstakingly protecting his safety, yet in the end none of them got such a good benefit.

Hu Xiaotian brought Wei Sa out of the east wing, and directly encountered Wan Yuanwai Wan Boping. Wan Boping saw Hu Xiaotian bringing out a golden-haired, blue-eyed exotic beauty from inside and was also startled. Behind Wan Boping followed a pretty maid. Coincidentally, this maid Hu Xiaotian had seen before; she was exactly the one Wan Boping intended to give him, but Hu Xiaotian had refused her at the time. Now bringing this maid here, there's no need to ask—this old fellow is surely repeating his old trick, intending to give the maid as a gift to Prince Zhou.

Hu Xiaotian himself had no particular feelings for this maid, but he deeply despised Wan Boping's manner of conduct. In today's era, women's status is still quite low; in many occasions they are regarded as gifts and commodities, becoming a means of communication, so Wan Boping's practice is not blameworthy.

Murong Feiyan - Murong Feiyan

Xi Yan - Evening Face

Wan Boping waved his hand, and the maid stepped aside; Hu Xiaotian gave Wei Sa a look. Although this girl didn't understand their language, she was very clever, good at reading expressions; seeing Hu Xiaotian's gaze, she understood and also stepped back a few paces, silently turning her back.

Seeing her so sensible, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help secretly praising this girl's cleverness.

Wan Boping whispered, "Sir Hu, has Your Highness rested yet?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I hadn't rested when I left."

Wan Boping glanced toward Wei Sa; this guy has always been an old lecher. Although Wei Sa was draped in a cloak and veiled, her graceful figure could not be concealed. Wan Boping still had some aesthetic judgment, concluding that this lady must be an unparalleled beauty. In fact, when Wan Boping received the Shajia envoy earlier today, he had already seen Wei Sa from afar and been attracted by her alluring figure, and Wan Boping said, "That lady is……"

Hu Xiaotian said, "It's a gift from Prince Zhou Your Highness."

Wan Boping's eyes shone with admiring lust. Besides the lust, there was also a hint of respect; it seems the relationship between Prince Zhou and Hu Xiaotian is indeed not ordinary, otherwise he wouldn't give away such a beautiful beauty. His tone carried a hint of... "Exotic charm, Sir Hu, you have boundless fortune and blessings."

Hu Xiaotian hehe laughed twice, seeing that Wan Boping seemed to have recovered from his low spirits of the past two days, because Prince Zhou had come to reside at his mansion, giving him a sense of petty triumph; Hu Xiaotian's heart immediately rose with the idea of suppressing this guy. He deliberately said, "Just now, Prince Zhou Thousand Years mentioned you."

Monthly Ticket - Monthly Ticket

Guaranteed Monthly Ticket - Guaranteed Monthly Ticket

Wan Boping smiled with brows relaxed, saying, "That's what a commoner should do." He felt a hundred gratitudes toward Hu Xiaotian, fortunate that Hu Xiaotian gave him this opportunity to get close to Prince Zhou.

Hu Xiaotian also said, "Your Highness knows you are loyal and devoted. So there is a matter I want you to handle."

Longye Qing - Dragon Flame Celebration

Hu Xiaotian said, "Your Highness said that the painting he bought at the charity auction hasn't been paid for yet, and he wants you to advance the payment for him, to be reimbursed later."

"Uh... this..." Wan Boping's forehead broke out in sweat; he wasn't stupid, Hu Xiaotian was obviously trying to trap him, and he couldn't believe Prince Zhou would say such a thing. Thinking of two thousand gold, his liver trembled: "Sir Hu, did Your Highness really say that?"

Hu Xiaotian coldly said, "If you don't believe me, let's go ask Your Highness together." He grabbed Wan Boping's arm, making a move to go inside; Wan Boping panicked and waved his hands, saying, "Sir, sir, I believe, I believe!"

Hu Xiaotian secretly rejoiced, old fellow, if I don't give you a little color to see, you won't be honest. Looking at Wan Boping's unwilling, resentful expression, he couldn't help but actively sprinkle more salt on his wound, saying, "Any news about the Grand Duke?"

Wan Boping said, "Thanks to your favor, sir, yesterday they sent another letter letting me prepare three thousand taels of silver to ransom the person."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "It's fine as long as nothing happens; spending money to ward off misfortune— as long as the Grand Duke returns safe and sound, losing a little wealth is nothing."

Wan Boping said, "Having experienced so much, I, Wan, have long regarded everything lightly; wealth and riches, you can't bring them in life or take them in death— nothing compares to family safety." Although he said it lightly, thinking of how he had been extorted another two thousand gold by Hu Xiaotian for no reason, it really hurts.

Courtyard - Courtyard

Wan Boping said, "His body recovered quickly, but he still can't remember anything from the past." He then sighed and said, "Actually, as long as he can live well, I'll be satisfied; even if he never recognizes me for the rest of his life, it's fine." Those words were truly his heartfelt feelings.

Hu Xiaotian didn't intend to have a long talk either; after exchanging a few words, he left with Wesa.

Wan Boping watched Hu Xiaotian's receding back, his expression gradually turning complex and grim.

Hu Xiaotian somehow picked up a Western beauty; Wesa followed closely behind him, the ornaments on her body tinkling pleasantly, drawing many onlookers wherever they went. Fortunately, Hu Xiaotian didn't live far, and after just a few steps they arrived at his residence on Sande Lane.

Hu Xiaotian pointed to his own gate and said, "I live here." Only after speaking did he remember that Wesa couldn't understand him. Arriving at the door, he found it locked; apparently Murong Feiyan hadn't returned yet, likely still handling affairs at the government office.

While unlocking the door, Hu Xiaotian thought, "I brought back a foreign girl today; I wonder how I'll explain this to Murong Feiyan later."

Wesa followed Hu Xiaotian into the courtyard; her pair of ice‑blue eyes gazed at him nervously in the moonlight, a strange master and strange surroundings making her feel tense.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "You don't need to be afraid; I'm Hu Xiaotian. What's your name?" Although he already knew Wesa's name, he still wanted to ease the atmosphere this way.

Wesa bit her cherry lips.

Hu Xiaotian thought she couldn't understand him, so he pointed to his own chest and said, "My name is Hu Xiaotian." Then he pointed at Wesa and asked, "What's your name?"

Wesa remained silent.

Hu Xiaotian felt a bit dizzy; could this foreign beauty be mute? He furrowed his brow; after all, he knew a few languages, so he tried another, thus Hu Xiaotian uttered the most common phrase: "What's your name?"

Upon hearing Hu Xiaotian's sudden utterance, Wesa's pair of beautiful eyes instantly became unusually bright; from her delighted expression Hu Xiaotian could tell, it was like a blind cat finding a dead mouse—he had hit the mark.

Indeed, that was the case; immediately Wesa replied fluently: "mynmesvs！"

Language is absolutely the simplest and most direct means of overcoming barriers between people. After many twists and turns, Wesa had been sold to the Kingdom of Sha Jia; because of the language barrier she could not communicate with anyone, yet she never expected to encounter a man who understood her native tongue in this distant land. Hu Xiaotian's English was already at an expert level; handling such everyday conversation was no trouble for him. He just hadn't imagined that this language would still be useful in this time and space—as the saying goes, many skills never weigh one down, and learning more is always beneficial.

Because they shared a language, Wesa quickly forgot her fear and began chatting with Hu Xiaotian. Hu Xiaotian knew Wesa came from a distant Western country; her parents were nobles of the Yingchao Principality, but due to war their nation was destroyed, and Wesa fled southeast with her parents, only to lose them along the way. Unluckily she then encountered successive wars, ending up as a female slave. Thanks to her outstanding beauty and exceptional dance skills, she managed to survive; her slave master had her specially trained, deeming her a rare find, and sent her to the Fayya Principality. However, before she could be presented to the king, Fayya was conquered by Sha Jia; the soldiers captured Wesa and then offered her as a gift to the Sha Jia khan Sangmu Zha. Yet Wesa's wanderings did not end there—Sangmu Zha again sent her as a gift to Dakang. This ill‑fated woman had just arrived in Dakang when she was immediately given by Moyali to Prince Zhou Longye Qing; who would have thought that Prince Zhou would promptly re‑gift her to Hu Xiaotian.

Wesa said through tears, "From now on I will surely be loyal to my master and serve him well."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "You needn't be afraid here; I won't force you to do anything, nor will I treat you as a slave."

Wesa said, "Master, you are my master; I am your slave, and you have the right to make me do anything." Her pair of azure‑blue eyes finally dared to meet Hu Xiaotian's gaze. Having endured endless hardships, she held no expectations for her future; her former hopes had become luxuries. If she could encounter a generous master and no longer be trafficked, living a stable life would already be her greatest wish.

Hu Xiaotian almost blurted out, "Do you warm the bed?" but he still had some scruples, so the words on his lips changed to, "Can you wash clothes and cook?"

Wesa nodded repeatedly.

Hu Xiaotian said, "There are many rooms here; you can pick one for yourself. As for what you should do, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

Wesa bit her cherry lips; seeing Hu Xiaotian's warm smile, she finally realized she had met a good person today. Crystal‑clear tears shimmered in her ice‑blue eyes, evoking a moving, heart‑stirring beauty.

Third update, please guarantee the monthly ticket! (To be continued…)