Chapter 223

Under Qin Zhanhong's repeated urging, the two went up the mountain.

Translation: Under Qin Zhanhong's repeated urging, the two went up the mountain.

Check: "the two" refers to Chen Wuji and Qin Zhanhong. So "the two went up the mountain". Good.

Chen Wuji did not bring the two Yuan Jinshi brothers today.

Translation: Chen Wuji did not bring the two Yuan Jinshi brothers today.

But "the two Yuan Jinshi brothers" means "the two brothers who are Yuan Jinshi"? Actually Yuan Jinshi is a title; "the two Yuan Jinshi brothers" likely means "the two brothers, Yuan Jinshi". Could be "the two Yuan Jinshi brothers". We'll translate: Chen Wuji did not bring the two Yuan Jinshi brothers.

Qin Zhanhong missed the pond on the mountain and wanted to relive that day's time; naturally, they couldn't bring a light bulb.

Translation: Qin Zhanhong missed that pond on the mountain and wanted to relive that day's time, so naturally they couldn't bring a light bulb.

But "this naturally meant they couldn't bring a light bulb" refers to the situation: because they wanted to relive the past, they couldn't bring a light bulb (i. e., couldn't bring an electric light). So translation: Qin Zhanhong missed the pond on the mountain and wanted to relive that day's time; naturally, they couldn't bring a light bulb.

Qin Zhanhong's nature was somewhat wild; in the mountains and wilderness, Chen Wuji, though he didn't want to put it that way, really resembled a free-spirited donkey colt, frolicking with abandon.

Translation: Qin Zhanhong's nature was somewhat wild; in the mountains and wilderness, Chen Wuji, though he didn't want to describe it that way, really resembled a free-spirited donkey colt, frolicking with abandon.

We need to keep meaning: "and this vigor of frolicking" means "and this vigor of frolicking". So translation: Qin Zhanhong's nature was somewhat wild; in the mountains and wilderness, Chen Wuji, though he didn't want to put it that way, really resembled a free-spirited donkey colt, frolicking with abandon.

Everything she saw was fresh, and she had a heart eager to try; whenever she saw wild fruits and mushrooms, she wanted to put them in her mouth.

Translation: Everything she saw was fresh, and she also had a heart brave enough to try; upon seeing wild fruits and mushrooms, she wanted to put them in her mouth.

This really frightened Chen Wuji.

Translation: This frightened Chen Wuji greatly.

"Little ancestor, not everything in the mountains is edible; some things will kill you if you eat them. Where do you get the courage to try anything? I'll tell you what's edible and what's not." Chen Wuji exclaimed helplessly.

Translation: "Little ancestor, not everything in the mountain is edible; some things will kill you if you eat them. Where do you get the courage to try anything? I'll tell you what's edible and what's not." Chen Wuji shouted helplessly.

Qin Zhanhong pursed her lips and said displeased: "Am I that stupid? I'll spit out anything that doesn't taste good; I'm just taking a tiny taste. Shennong could taste the medicinal properties of all herbs; I just want to try a little to see if it's edible—isn't that simple?"

Translation: Qin Zhanhong pursed her lips, displeased, saying: "Am I that stupid? I'll spit out anything that doesn't taste good; I'm just taking a light taste. Shennong could taste the properties of all herbs; I just want to see if it's edible—how hard is that?"

Chen Wuji's mouth twitched slightly.

Translation: Chen Wuji's mouth twitched slightly.

"Not everything that tastes good is non-toxic; there's a fruit in the mountains called lovesick seed, with a pleasant name, attractive appearance, and decent taste, but a single one can cost you your life. Shennong could taste the medicinal properties of all herbs—do you have his abilities?"

Translation: "Not everything that tastes good is non-toxic; there's a fruit in the mountain called lovelorn seed—its name is pleasant, it looks attractive, and it tastes decent, but one seed can cost you your life. Shennong could taste the properties of all herbs; do you have Shennong's ability?"

Qin Zhanhong stared blankly, "You can't judge it like that!"

Translation: Qin Zhanhong stared, saying: "Can't we judge it like that?"

"Then what do you think? Keep up." Chen Wuji shook his head, lifted his leg to cross the small stream, and walked toward the mountain.

Translation: "Then what do you think? Keep up." Chen Wuji shook his head, lifted his foot to cross the stream, and walked toward the mountain.

Qin Zhanhong looked at the few red little fruits in her palm, hesitated repeatedly, but still threw them into the stream, though her eyes were full of reluctance.

Translation: Qin Zhanhong looked at the few red little fruits in her palm, hesitated repeatedly, then threw them into the stream, though her eyes were full of reluctance.

To take care of this greedy and curious guy, Chen Wuji walked along, paying attention to the surrounding wild fruits, and whenever he saw something edible, he plucked it for Qin Zhanhong.

Translation: To take care of this greedy and curious guy, Chen Wuji walked while paying attention to the surrounding wild fruits, pulling down any edible ones for Qin Zhanhong.

Until the small backpack they brought was half-filled, Qin Zhanhong finally felt satisfied.

Translation: Until the small basket they brought was more than half full, Qin Zhanhong felt satisfied.

In order to find wild fruits, Chen Wuji led Qin Zhanhong on a winding path for an hour before they finally reached the pond where they first met, which was also Chen Wuji's usual spot for harvesting mountain and river produce.

Translation: In order to find wild fruits, Chen Wuji led Qin Zhanhong on a winding detour for an hour before finally reaching the pond where they first met, which was also Chen Wuji's usual spot for harvesting mountain and river produce.

Upon seeing the pond, Qin Zhanhong's happy smile suddenly faded.

Translation: Upon seeing the pond, Qin Zhanhong's happy smile suddenly faded.

She set down her backpack, lifted her skirt, bent over to gently stir the clear, bottom-visible pond water, and suddenly asked out of the blue, "You must be wondering why I didn't kill you after that incident, right?"

Translation: She set down the basket, lifted her skirt, leaned over to gently stir the clear, bottom-visible pond water, and suddenly asked out of the blue, "You must be curious why I didn't kill you after that incident, right?"

"It's not because of your addiction..." Chen Wuji's words trailed off, he suddenly stopped, shook his head, and said, "I actually still can't figure it out."

Translation: "It's not because of your addiction..." Chen Wuji's words trailed off, he shook his head, "Actually I still can't figure it out."

Qin Zhanhong had mentioned this question before; the answer could barely hold up, but it was somewhat hasty.

Translation: Qin Zhanhong had brought up this question before; the answer could barely hold up, but it was somewhat hasty.

"Because you gave me a chance to choose again." Qin Zhanhong blurted out.

Translation: "Because you gave me a chance to choose again." Qin Zhanhong blurted out.

"If it weren't for your coercion, I would definitely follow the path my family chose for me, even if unwilling; I couldn't bring myself to actively seek a man like that."

Translation: "If it weren't for your coercion, I would definitely follow the path my family chose for me, even if unwilling, I'd have to go along; I couldn't take the initiative to find a man like that."

"Has your family already arranged your marriage?" Chen Wuji asked.

Translation: "Has your family already arranged your marriage?" Chen Wuji asked.

Qin Zhanhong's words made it clear: her family had already arranged her marriage, but she didn't like this match and had been avoiding it.

Translation: Qin Zhanhong's words made it clear: her family had already arranged her marriage, but she didn't like this match and had been avoiding it.

Qin Zhanhong gave a light, mocking nod, "Aristocratic families are just this sort of messed-up affair."

Translation: Qin Zhanhong gave a light, mocking nod, "An aristocratic clan, and that's all this rotten affair amounts to."

"Tell me something unhappy to make me happy. Actually, I didn't kill you because I was spiting you, and besides, you're not that unpleasant to look at."

Translation: "Tell me something unhappy to hear, so I can feel happy. Actually I didn't kill you because I was spiting you, and also I find you not so displeasing to the eye."

As she spoke, she suddenly turned her head to look at Chen Wuji, smiling like a charming little fox, "If you want to get angry, just be angry for a while; but don't think I'm using you—it's you who started being unreasonable. I'm telling you this only because we all call you husband; if this isn't made clear, some people might hold a grudge for a lifetime."

Translation: As she spoke, she suddenly turned her head to look at Chen Wuji, smiling like a charming little fox, "If you want to get angry, just be angry for a while; but don't think I'm taking advantage of you—it's you who started unreasonably. I'm telling you this only because we all call you husband; if this isn't made clear, some people might hold a grudge for half their lives."

Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, "What do I have to be angry about? Actually, I feel fortunate… and honored, well, 'honored' is about right."

Translation: Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, "What do I have to be angry about? On the contrary, I feel somewhat fortunate, and... honored, well, 'honored' fits."

He needs to pay for his own leniency.

Translation: He needed to pay for his own leniency.

And fortunately, Qin Zhanhong has experienced the same.

Translation: Fortunately, Qin Zhanhong had experienced the same.

This matter has been twists and turns, but precisely because of those twists and turns, it seems to perfectly fit the word "fate".

Translation: This matter was winding and twisting, but precisely because of its winding nature, it seemed to exactly match the character for "fate."

"Honored? Oh, I see you've always felt that way." Qin Zhanhong jumped up, the corner of her mouth lifting in a sly arc, leaning against Chen Wuji, "Then… could you let me feel honored too?"

Translation: "Honored? So you've always felt that way." Qin Zhanhong jumped up, the corners of her mouth lifting in a sly arc, leaning against Chen Wuji, "Then... could you let me feel honored too?"

Chen Wuji suddenly felt a bit nervous, "You… what are you going to do?"

Translation: Chen Wuji suddenly felt a bit nervous, "You, what are you going to do?"

"What else could she do, right?" Qin Zhanhong pursed her lips, her smile growing more alluring.

Translation: "What else could she do, right?" Qin Zhanhong pursed her lips, smiling ever more alluringly.

Rip.

Translation: Rip— (sound of fabric tearing). We'll render as "Rip—".

With a crisp sound, Chen Wuji's clothes flew up.

Translation: A crisp sound rang out, and Chen Wuji's clothes flew up.

"Whoa, wait a moment, wait..."

Translation: "Whoa, wait a moment, wait a moment..."

Chen Wuji was stunned.

Translation: Chen Wuji went numb.

These women hold grudges a bit.

Translation: These ladies are a bit vengeful.

"Stop yelling, get in!" Qin Zhanhong tapped her toes, pulled Chen Wuji, and they fell into the pond.

Translation: "Stop shouting, get in!" Qin Zhanhong tapped her toes, pulled Chen Wuji, and they fell into the pond.

Rip.

Translation: Rip!

Rip.

Translation: Rip!

"Hey hey hey, you're doing this, I won't have any clothes to wear down the mountain!" Chen Wuji shouted anxiously.

Translation: "Hey hey hey, you're doing this, I'll have no clothes to wear down the mountain!" Chen Wuji shouted urgently.

This is truly shortening my life.

Translation: Really, it's shortening my life.

How can this woman be so audacious.

Translation: How can this woman be so audacious.

Rip.

Translation: Rip!

Rip.

Translation: Rip!

Gurgle gurgle...

Translation: Gurgle gurgle...

Chen Wuji gave up trying to save his clothes, since they were already completely torn.

Translation: Chen Wuji gave up trying to save his clothes; they were already completely torn.

Well, enjoy it.

Translation: Fine, enjoy it.

Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets their mind to it; when the car reaches the mountain, there will be a road; we'll consider the clothing issue later.

Translation: Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets their mind to it; when the car reaches the mountain, there will be a way; we'll consider the clothing issue later.

He lowered his head and glanced.

Translation: He lowered his head and took a glance.

Qin Zhanhong's bragging skills are improving; it's just that her posture isn't very graceful.

Translation: Qin Zhanhong's boasting skill had improved, just her posture wasn't that graceful.

Probably to reenact that day's scene, she's a bit rough, and her posture now looks somewhat like wolfing down food.

Translation: Probably to reenact that day's scene, she was a bit rough, and her posture now looked somewhat like wolfing down food.

……

Translation: ……

After about half an hour.

Translation: After about half an hour.

Chen Wuji leaned sideways against the large stone by the pond's edge, throwing crab after crab onto the shore.

Translation: Chen Wuji leaned sideways against the large stone by the pond, throwing crab after crab onto the shore.

After washing, it should be fine.

Translation: Wash them, should be fine.

"So you joined the Royal City Guard to escape your marriage, then out of spite chose me, preparing to show your family your attitude?" Chen Wuji asked.

Translation: "So you joined the Imperial City Department to escape your marriage, then out of spite chose me, ready to let your family see your attitude?" Chen Wuji asked.

Qin Zhanhong stared intently, his eyes bright, at the yellow eel that occasionally swam by in the water.

After Chen Wuji told her it was delicious, she started competing with the eel inside.

"You got one thing wrong—I didn't choose you out of spite; I let you go out of spite. Originally, actually… we two… uh, I originally didn't plan to have any follow‑up. I was going to tell my family I'd found a little hunter and have them cause trouble for you, and then it would be over." Qin Zan Hong narrowed his eyes and said.

"But the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. As a proud Marriage Official of the Imperial City Department, I was actually forced by a little hunter into the water and turned into a woman—this is utterly outrageous. I figure, since this has already happened and I can't turn back into a maiden, why not vent my anger? I'll first play you to death, then tell my family—two birds with one stone."

Chen Wuji:...

There's no need to say it so directly.

Qin Zan Hong's eyes flickered dazedly for a moment, a blush suddenly rose on his cheeks, he pursed his lips and said: "Who knew that playing around… would turn for real? Oh well, forget it—I can't even explain this myself. Anyway, you've gotten the advantage, so just be happy about it."