Chapter 276

Qiqi said: "I already told you that one day I'll make you regret it."

Translation: Qiqi said: "I already said that one day I will make you regret it."

Qiqi said: "I already said that one day I will make you regret it."

Make sure not to add extra.

Hu Xiaotian just stared and didn't speak.

Translation: Hu Xiaotian stared with his eyes but said nothing.

Hu Xiaotian just stared with his eyes and didn't speak.

Qiqi said: "Why aren't you speaking?"

Translation: Qiqi said: "Why aren't you speaking?"

Hu Xiaotian simply closed his eyes as well.

Translation: Hu Xiaotian simply closed his eyes as well.

Qiqi angrily said: "All right, you Hu Xiaotian, pretending to be mute with me." She shoved Hu Xiaotian's shoulder hard, and he swayed on the beam, looking like a hanged ghost on a willow tree.

Translation: Qiqi angrily said: "Fine, you Hu Xiaotian, pretending to be mute with me." She shoved Hu Xiaotian's shoulder hard, and he swayed on the beam, looking like a hanged ghost on a willow tree.

Qiqi angrily said: "All right, you Hu Xiaotian, pretending to be mute with me." She shoved Hu Xiaotian's shoulder hard, and he swayed on the beam, looking like a hanged ghost on a willow tree.

Qiqi found it funny and laughed, she pushed him several times, but Hu Xiaotian still pretended to be mute. This little girl loves to play too much; she's the type who pushes her luck. I'll just ignore you, I'll bore you to death.

Translation: Qiqi found it amusing and laughed, pushing him several times in a row, but Hu Xiaotian still pretended to be mute; this little girl loves to play too much, she's the type who pushes her luck, I'll just ignore you, I'll bore you to death.

Qiqi found it funny and laughed; she pushed him several times, but Hu Xiaotian still pretended to be mute. This little girl loves to play too much; she's the type who pushes her luck. I'll just ignore you, I'll bore you to death.

We'll translate: Qiqi found it amusing and laughed, pushing him several times in a row, but Hu Xiaotian still pretended to be mute; this little girl loves to play too much, she's the type who pushes her luck—I'll just ignore you, I'll bore you to death.

Qiqi saw that Hu Xiaotian still ignored her and felt a bit bored, she stopped shaking him and said: "You have no conscience; if I hadn't pleaded for you before the emperor, your Hu family would have been exterminated long ago." Seeing Hu Xiaotian still silent, she gritted her teeth and said: "Fine, you won't speak, then I'll hit you with the Seven-Day Soul-Severing Needle."

Translation: Seeing Hu Xiaotian ignore her, Qiqi felt a bit stifled, stopped shaking him, and said: "You have no conscience; if I hadn't pleaded for you before the emperor, your Hu family would have been exterminated." Seeing Hu Xiaotian still silent, she gritted her teeth and said: "Fine, you won't speak—I'll hit you again with the Seven-Day Soul-Severing Needle."

Qiqi said: "You have no conscience; if I hadn't pleaded for you before the emperor, your Hu family would have been exterminated long ago." Seeing Hu Xiaotian still silent, she gritted her teeth and said: "Fine, you won't speak, then I'll hit you with the Seven-Day Soul-Severing Needle."

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian was shocked and quickly opened his eyes, saying: "Who lacks conscience? Who painstakingly sent you to Xiezhou? Who risked life and death to save you from the wolf pack? And who repaid kindness with enmity, shooting me with poison needles?"

Translation: Hu Xiaotian, hearing this, was shocked and quickly opened his eyes: "Who lacks conscience? Who painstakingly sent you to Xiezhou? Who risked life and limb to save you from the wolf pack? And who repaid kindness with enmity, shooting me with poison needles?"

And who repaid kindness with enmity, shooting me with poison needles?

Qiqi's bright eyes gazed at Hu Xiaotian as she smiled like a flower and said: "So you're not mute after all; you can speak!"

Translation: Qiqi looked at Hu Xiaotian with her bright, sparkling eyes, smiling like a flower, and said: "So you're not mute after all—you can speak."

"You're the mute one? Knowing you is my bad luck for eight lifetimes."

Translation: "You're the mute one? Knowing you is my bad luck for eight lifetimes."

Qiqi seemed startled by his words, covering her mouth: "Oh! You actually want to be my father? Hu Xiaotian, you're really bold and reckless. Do you know who I am? Do you know that saying that is lese-majesty? Based on that alone I could report to the emperor and have your whole Hu family executed."

Translation: Qiqi seemed startled by Hu Xiaotian's words, covering her mouth: "Oh! You actually want to be my father? Hu Xiaotian, you're really bold and reckless—do you know who I am? Do you know that saying that is disrespect to superiors? Just based on that, I could report to the emperor and have your whole Hu family executed."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do whatever you want; I'd rather be dead than alive. If you want, just chop off my head—eighteen years later I'll still be a good man." He figured Qiqi wouldn't do anything to him.

Translation: Hu Xiaotian said: "Do whatever you want; I'd rather be dead than alive—if you want, chop off my head, and in eighteen years I'll still be a good man." He figured Qiqi wouldn't do anything to him.

Qiqi smiled and said: "I never would have guessed you have some backbone."

Translation: Qiqi smiled and said: "I really didn't expect you to have some backbone."

"I have plenty of backbone!"

Translation: "I have plenty of backbone!"

Qiqi said: "Having athlete's foot is useless; it's the wise who know the times that become outstanding."

Translation: Qiqi said: "Having athlete's foot is useless—wise people adapt to the times."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What do you want from me? I'm already in this miserable state, yet you keep haunting me. Did I offend you in a past life?"

Translation: Hu Xiaotian said: "What exactly do you want? I'm already in this miserable state, yet you cling to me like a lingering ghost—did I offend you in a past life?"

Upon hearing his profanity, Qiqi wasn't angry but felt very novel, blinking her beautiful eyes as she said: "Hu Xiaotian, let me tell you a secret: for some reason, seeing you in misfortune makes me genuinely happy."

Translation: Hearing him curse, Qiqi wasn't angry but felt very novel, blinking her beautiful eyes as she said: "Hu Xiaotian, let me tell you a secret—I don't know why, but seeing you unlucky makes me happy from the bottom of my heart."

"Pervert!" Hu Xiaotian muttered under his breath.

Translation: "Pervert!" Hu Xiaotian muttered under his breath.

Qiqi suddenly drew a short sword, pressing it to Hu Xiaotian's throat, and said: "Bold madman, you dare insult me? Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?"

Translation: Qiqi suddenly drew a short sword, pressing it to Hu Xiaotian's throat, and said: "Bold madman, you dare insult me? Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?"

Hu Xiaotian closed his eyes and said: "I only ask for death, a swift death, and to be fulfilled."

Translation: Hu Xiaotian closed his eyes and said: "I only ask for death, a swift death, and to be fulfilled!"

Qiqi said: "The more you want to die, the less I'll let you die; I just want to torment you, to see you suffer worse than death."

Translation: Qiqi said: "The more you want to die, the less I'll let you die—I just want to torture you, watching you wish you were dead."

Hu Xiaotian, finding himself unable to deal with this strange, willful princess, knew that the more he engaged with her, the more energetic she became; so he simply closed his eyes, ready to accept whatever she did—kill or scrape—just refusing to engage with her.

Translation: Hu Xiaotian really had no way to deal with this weird, capricious princess; knowing that the more he engaged her, the more energetic she became, he simply closed his eyes, leaving it to her whether to kill or scrape him—basically, he just wouldn't deal with her.

Qiqi was about to devise new ways to torment Hu Xiaotian when she suddenly heard a little eunuch outside reporting that the empress was summoning her.

Translation: Just as Qiqi was preparing to torture Hu Xiaotian in various ways, she suddenly heard a little eunuch outside reporting that the empress was summoning the princess.

Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize that the place he had entered was not the Fragrant Tranquility Palace at all; it was clear that the little princess and her palace maids and eunuchs had conspired to bring him here, and this chamber must be the princess's quarters.

Translation: Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize that the place he had entered was not Fragrant Tranquility Palace at all; clearly the little princess and those palace maids and eunuchs had conspired to bring him here, and this chamber must be the princess's residence.

Fragrant Tranquility Palace

Qiqi responded with a sound, reached out and tapped Hu Xiaotian's forehead: "You're like a block of wood, not fun at all. I'm going to pay respects to the empress mother; you, just stay hanging here."

Translation: Qiqi responded with a sound, tapped Hu Xiaotian's forehead, and said: "Like a block of wood, not fun at all. I'm going to pay respects to the empress mother; you, just stay hanging here peacefully."

After she left, Hu Xiaotian secretly exerted himself; although the ten years of power transmitted by Quan De'an had not been fully integrated, it was still remarkable—how could a mere rope hold him? He thrust his arms outward, and with a bang the rope snapped, Hu Xiaotian fell to the ground. He rubbed his slightly sore and numb arms, having been hung upside down for half a day, his head also a bit congested. Seeing a pot of fragrant tea on the table behind the curtain, he didn't think twice, picked it up and drank. Recalling Qiqi's earlier actions, he silently cursed: "Want to torment me? I merely pity you for being underage; otherwise, heh heh..."

Translation: After she left, Hu Xiaotian secretly exerted himself; the ten years of power transmitted by Quan De'an, though not fully integrated, was still astonishing—how could a mere rope bind him? He thrust his arms outward, and with a bang the rope snapped, Hu Xiaotian fell to the ground; he rubbed his slightly sore and numb arms, having been hung upside down for half a day, his head also a bit congested, seeing a pot of fragrant tea on the table behind the curtain, he didn't think twice, picked it up and drank, recalling Qiqi's recent actions, he silently cursed: Want to torture me? I just pity you for being underage, otherwise hehe…

After she left, Hu Xiaotian secretly exerted himself; although the ten years of power transmitted by Quan De'an had not been fully integrated, it was still remarkable—how could a mere rope hold him? He thrust his arms outward, and with a bang the rope snapped, Hu Xiaotian fell to the ground. He rubbed his slightly sore and numb arms, having been hung upside down for half a day, his head also a bit congested. Seeing a pot of fragrant tea on the table behind the curtain, he didn't think twice, picked it up and drank. Recalling Qiqi's earlier actions, he silently cursed: "Want to torment me? I merely pity you for being underage; otherwise, heh heh..."

... Just then footsteps sounded outside; Hu Xiaotian's heart jumped—he hadn't expected Qiqi to return so quickly—and he hurriedly hid behind the curtain.

Translation: …At that moment footsteps suddenly came from outside the door; Hu Xiaotian's heart jumped—he hadn't expected Qiqi to return so quickly—and he hurriedly hid behind the curtain.

The footsteps drew nearer; Hu Xiaotian had already made up his mind: you take the first, I'll take the fifteenth—today I won't let this willful princess off without a lesson; you don't know how formidable I am. Of course he also figured that Qiqi was just playing around, not truly intending to harm her, otherwise she wouldn't have had Quan De'an intervene.

Translation: Those footsteps drew nearer, and Hu Xiaotian had already made up his mind: you take the first, I'll take the fifteenth; today I won't let this capricious princess off without a lesson—you don't know how formidable I am. Of course he also figured Qiqi was just playing around, not really intending to harm her; otherwise she wouldn't have had Quan De'an step in to help.

A lake-green silhouette had just passed the curtain when Hu Xiaotian lunged forward, grabbing her shoulders with one hand, and his Profound Darkness Yin Wind Claw already latched onto her throat.

Translation: A green‑clad figure had just passed the curtain when Hu Xiaotian lunged forward, one arm around her fragrant shoulders, his Profound Darkness Yin Wind Claw already locked onto her throat.

A lake-green silhouette had just passed the curtain when Hu Xiaotian lunged forward, grabbing her shoulders with one hand, and his Profound Darkness Yin Wind Claw already latched onto her throat.

As Hu Xiaotian embraced her, he sensed something was off; although Qiqi wasn't short, she was still an underage girl—he remembered her chest used to be as flat as an airport runway—so why had it suddenly developed so fully?

Translation: As Hu Xiaotian held her, he already felt something was off; although Qiqi wasn't short, she was still an underage girl—he remembered her chest used to be as flat as an airport runway—how had it suddenly become so well‑developed?

The green-clad girl was frightened by the sudden turn of events, her face paling, but she quickly composed herself; her beautiful eyes flashed with angerless authority, and her brows bore an icy, inviolable aura.

Translation: The green‑clad girl was frightened into pallor by this sudden situation, but she quickly steadied herself; her beautiful eyes flashed with unspoken authority, her brows filled with an inviolable, stern aura.

Hu Xiaotian realized he had grabbed the wrong person; being hung upside down by Qiqi for so long had likely impaired his judgment. He also hadn't expected a strange girl to enter this palace chamber, hence the mix‑up, but whatever the case, the mistake was already made.

Translation: Hu Xiaotian realized he had grabbed the wrong person; being hung upside down by Qiqi for so long must have impaired his judgment. He also hadn't expected a strange girl to enter this palace, so this mix‑up occurred—but no matter what, the mistake had been made.

One can wear any clothes, but bearing cannot be faked—as the saying goes, wearing a dragon robe doesn't make one a crown prince. From the noble bearing of this green‑clad girl alone, it's clear she must be a royal princess; it's not hard to guess, since only someone of high status can freely come and go in the inner palace. Hu Xiaotian couldn't yet tell whether she was a consort or a princess; he placed his right hand on her neck and whispered: "Dare to call out, and I'll choke you!" He too was caught in a bind—he couldn't just let her go and say he was joking.

Translation: One can wear clothes casually, but bearing cannot be faked—as the saying goes, wearing a dragon robe doesn't make one a crown prince. Just from the noble bearing of this green‑clad girl before us, we can tell she must be imperial nobility; it's not hard to guess, since anyone who can freely come and go in the rear palace certainly isn't an ordinary family's daughter. Hu Xiaotian still couldn't tell whether she was a consort or a princess, so he placed his right hand on her neck and whispered: "If you call out, I'll choke you!" He too was in a bind—he couldn't just let her go and say he was joking.

The green‑clad girl looked quite surprised; in the palace she had never seen such a bold servant. Her clear, limpid eyes blinked, clearly telling Hu Xiaotian that she would not call for help.

Translation: The green‑clad girl looked quite surprised; in the imperial palace, such a bold servant was something she'd never seen before. Her clear, limpid beautiful eyes blinked, clearly telling Hu Xiaotian she wouldn't call for help.

Hu Xiaotian whispered: "I mistook you for that crazy girl who just had me strung up and beaten." He then relaxed his grip a little, but the green‑clad girl's pink neck already bore five clear fingerprints from his grip—he really had a heavy hand.

Translation: Hu Xiaotian whispered: "I mistook you for someone else—just now that crazy girl had me strung up and beaten, I thought you were her." He then loosened his right hand a little; the green‑clad girl's pink neck already bore five clear fingerprints from his grip—this guy's grip was also pretty brutal.

The green‑clad girl caught her breath and whispered softly: "You have incredible gall—don't you want to live?" Her eyes fell on the broken rope on the floor, recalling Hu Xiaotian's earlier words, and she could roughly guess what had happened.

Translation: The green‑clad girl caught her breath and whispered softly: "You've got a lot of nerve—don't you want your life?" Her gaze fell on the broken rope on the ground, recalling Hu Xiaotian's earlier words, and she roughly guessed what had happened.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I harbor no intention to harm you."

Translation: Hu Xiaotian said: "I harbor no intention to harm."

The green‑clad girl replied: "You treat me like this and still dare say you mean no harm?"

Translation: The green‑clad girl said: "You treat me like this and still dare say you harbor no intention to harm?"

Hu Xiaotian was about to explain when he heard Qiqi's voice outside; he panicked at once. Seeing his flustered state, the green‑clad girl couldn't help wanting to smile—a faint smile that could topple kingdoms—but after laughing she felt it improper and quickly composed herself.

Translation: Hu Xiaotian was about to explain when he heard Qiqi's voice from outside; he instantly panicked. Seeing him so flustered, the green‑clad girl couldn't help but want to smile—a faint curl of her lips would be enough to overturn kingdoms, but after laughing she felt it improper and quickly composed herself.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sorry!" He covered the green‑clad girl's mouth and retreated backward, trying to find a hiding place, but unfamiliar with the surroundings he didn't know where to go. He searched everywhere, his gaze landing on the jade bed—not to hide on it, but to crawl underneath it.

Translation: Hu Xiaotian said: "Sorry!" He covered the green‑clad girl's mouth and retreated backward, trying to find a hiding place, but unfamiliar with the surroundings he didn't know where to go. He searched here and there, his eyes landing on the jade bed—not intending to hide on it, but to crawl underneath to hide.

The green‑clad girl understood his intent, making an equivocal sound as if she wanted to say something, then she signaled with her eyes. Following her gaze, Hu Xiaotian saw another door inside; he led her through it and discovered it was a study, its walls lined with shelves full of books. Against the west wall stood a wooden ladder leading to an upper loft, and he ushered the green‑clad girl up onto the loft.

Translation: The green‑clad girl sensed his intent, making an equivocal sound as if she wanted to say something, then signaled him with her gaze. Following her gaze, Hu Xiaotian saw another door inside; he brought the green‑clad girl in, and only upon entering did he see it was a study, its four walls lined with full bookshelves; beside the west wall stood a wooden ladder leading to an upper loft, and he had the green‑clad girl climb up to the loft with him.

Study

Just as they hid, they heard Qiqi already entering with several palace maids and eunuchs; seeing the broken rope on the floor, she was visibly startled and exclaimed: "Where is that brat? Hey! You actually let him go?"

Translation: Just as they hid, they heard Qiqi already leading several palace maids and eunuchs inside; seeing the broken rope on the floor, Qiqi was visibly startled and exclaimed: "Where's that brat? Hey! You actually let him go?"

... The palace maids and eunuchs hurriedly knelt, explaining: "Little Princess, we just went with you to see the empress; we had no idea he would escape."

Translation: …The several palace maids and eunuchs hurriedly knelt, explaining: "Little princess, we just went with you to see the empress; we didn't know he would escape."

Qiqi looked disinterested, stamping her foot: "This is no fun at all; I had wanted to really mess with that little eunuch, but the empress interfered."

Translation: Qiqi looked bored, stamped her foot, and said: "Not fun at all—I had wanted to really mess with that little eunuch, but the empress interfered."

A little eunuch suggested: "Little Princess, why don't we go to the Imperial Gardens Bureau and seize that eunuch again, so you can have your fun to your heart's content?"

Translation: A little eunuch suggested: "Little princess, why don't we go to the Imperial Gardens Bureau and seize that little eunuch again, so you can have your fill of fun?"

Imperial Gardens Bureau

Hu Xiaotian heard this and silently cursed: "Playing with your mom's head, I'm not a toy—what's there to play with?" Although the green‑clad girl's mouth was covered by him, she heard the conversation clearly, and her beautiful eyes flickered with a hint of sympathy for the unfortunate eunuch.

Translation: Hu Xiaotian silently cursed at this: "Screw your mom's games—I'm not a toy, what's fun about that?" Although the green‑clad girl's mouth was covered by him, she heard the conversation clearly, and her beautiful eyes involuntarily flickered with a hint of sympathy for the unfortunate little eunuch.

Qiqi pursed her lips: "I'm not playing anymore; later my aunt will come to find me, and it would be bad if she saw this."

Translation: Qiqi pursed her lips: "I'm not playing anymore—later my aunt will come looking for me, and it wouldn't be good if she saw."

A eunuch said: "Princess Anping said she'd come, but for some reason she hasn't arrived yet."

Translation: A eunuch said: "Princess Anping said she'd come, but for some reason she hasn't arrived yet."

Upon hearing the name "Princess Anping," Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted; he had first heard her name from Prince Zhou Wang Longye Fang, knowing she was his sister, yet he never imagined meeting her under such circumstances. He moved his hand from her lips and gestured for her to speak separately; in truth, Hu Xiaotian had already resigned himself to fate—if Princess Anping were to shout now, he could only submit to capture.

Translation: Hearing the words "Princess Anping," Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted; he had first heard that princess's name from Prince Long Yefang, knowing she was the prince's full‑blooded sister, yet he hadn't expected to meet her under such circumstances. He moved his hand from Princess Anping's lips, making a gesture indicating she should not speak; in truth Hu Xiaotian had already resigned himself to fate—if Princess Anping now shouted, he could only be captured.

Princess Anping's beautiful eyes gazed at him, as gentle as stars in the night sky, seeming not to blame his rudeness. Before this gentle‑as‑water princess, Hu Xiaotian felt a little ashamed; the more others are tolerant and noble, the more they highlight his own baseness and pettiness—a contrast too stark. Yet both Princess Anping and Qiqi are direct‑line royalty; why is the gap so vast?

Translation: Princess Anping's beautiful eyes gazed at him, as gentle as stars in the night sky, seeming not to blame his rudeness. Before this gentle‑as‑water princess, Hu Xiaotian felt a little ashamed— the more others are tolerant and noble, the more they highlight his own baseness and pettiness, the contrast stark. Yet Princess Anping and Qiqi are both of the imperial direct line—why is the gap so huge?

Qiqi was clearly a restless girl, pacing downstairs and muttering: "Why hasn't my aunt come yet? Come on, let's go out and see."

Translation: Qiqi was clearly unable to stay idle, pacing downstairs and muttering: "Why hasn't my aunt come yet? Come on, let's go out and see."

A group of people set out again.

Translation: A group of people went out again.

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