Chapter 526

Chen Wujie got drunk.

Translation: Chen Wuji got drunk.

Before he completely passed out, the only clear thing he remembered was just one thing.

Translation: Before he completely passed out, the only sober thing he remembered in his mind was one thing.

Before he completely passed out, the only clear thing he remembered was just one thing.

Don't talk nonsense!

Translation: Don't talk nonsense!

You can ramble on, but you must never spout nonsense and reveal Hezhou's military secrets.

Translation: Idle chatter is fine, but absolutely no nonsense that leaks Hezhou military secrets.

In the moment he collapsed, he kept recalling his earlier slurred speech, and only after making sure he hadn't said anything nonsense did he settle down steadily on the couch.

Translation: At the instant he fell, he was still carefully recalling the words he had spoken earlier with a thick tongue, until he confirmed he really hadn't spoken nonsense, then he steadily lay down on the couch.

As for what happened later, he had no idea.

Translation: As for what happened afterward, he didn't know.

……

Translation: … (ellipsis). Keep as "……"? Usually we translate as "…". We'll output "……"? The instruction: Render onomatopoeia/sound effects as English sound words. Ellipsis is not sound effect; we can keep as "…". We'll output "……"? Better to output "…". But we need to keep each translation on a single line. We'll output "【7】 …". However the source line is "……". We'll translate as "…". Let's do that.

Late at night, in Zhang Xiu'er's room, there was a scene of military chaos.

Translation: Late at night, in Zhang Xiuer's room, a scene of chaotic turmoil.

Late at night, in Zhang Xiu'er's room, there was a scene of military chaos.

The famed courtesan Ruo Su of Taohua Yuan, who had been rumored to be redeemed less than half a month ago, directed several maidservants as they moved things in; canvases, racks, inkstone, brushes and ink were arranged before the couch like a battle formation.

Translation: The Taohua Yuan's famed courtesan Ruo Su, who had been rumored to be redeemed less than half a month ago, directed several maidservants as they moved things inside—canvases, stands, inkstone platform, brushes and ink—laying them out before the couch in battle formation.

The famed courtesan Ruo Su of Taohua Yuan, who had been rumored to be redeemed less than half a month ago.

She directed several maidservants moving things in; canvases, racks, inkstone, brushes and ink were arranged before the couch like a battle formation.

Let's produce: The Taohua Yuan's famed courtesan Ruo Su, who had been rumored to be redeemed less than half a month ago, directed several maidservants as they moved things inside—canvases, racks, inkstone platform, brushes and ink—laying them out before the couch in battle formation.

On the opposite couch, Chen Wujie snored loudly, completely unaware.

Translation: Meanwhile, on the opposite couch, Chen Wuji slept with snores rising, unconscious.

"Princess Nine, if he suddenly wakes up and sees this scene, it'll be hard to explain," Zhang Xiu'er said, furrowing her brows and speaking softly.

Translation: "Ninth Princess, if he suddenly wakes up and sees this scene, it might be hard to explain…" Zhang Xiuer furrowed her brows and whispered advice.

Ruo Su stood with hands on her hips, imposing and fierce, saying: "Call me Ruo Su; you're the boss, why won't you listen? It's fine, just put your heart at ease—we know how much he drank, he definitely won't wake up now, relax, relax."

Translation: Ruo Su stood with hands on hips, imposing and vigorous, "Call me Ruo Su; you're the shopkeeper, why do you keep not listening? It's fine, just put your heart at ease in your belly—we both know how much he drank, he definitely won't wake now, rest assured, rest assured."

"But with him like this, you probably won't get to do anything tonight."

Translation: "However, with him like this, you probably won't get to do anything tonight."

Zhang Xiu'er's face flushed slightly, "You... what nonsense are you talking? I don't want that..."

Translation: Zhang Xiuer's face turned slightly red, "You… what nonsense are you spouting? I don't want to…"

"Just pretend then," Ruo Su said with a sly grin, "I'm also experienced now; before trying this, I thought it was too vulgar and didn't want it, but after trying, I think those who call it vulgar just haven't met the right man—they're like people who can't get grapes and say they're sour."

Translation: "Just pretend then." Ruo Su smirked, "I'm also experienced now; before trying this, I thought it was too disgraceful, I wouldn't! But after trying, I think those who call it disgraceful just haven't met the right man, each of them unable to get grapes and saying they're sour."

"It really feels great, doesn't it, Xiu'er?"

Translation: "It really feels great, doesn't it, Xiuer?"

The faint blush on Zhang Xiu'er's cheeks gradually deepened into a rosy glow, appearing even more intense than Chen Wujie's drunkenness, with her ear tips and neck suffused with a crystalline red.

Translation: The faint red on Zhang Xiuer's cheeks gradually deepened into a flush, appearing even higher than Chen Wuji's drunkenness, with a crystalline red spreading to her ear tips and neck.

"What are you talking about? I don't understand." She turned her head, afraid to engage, as this topic was truly too much for her delicate heart to bear.

Translation: "What are you even talking about? I don't know." She turned her head, unwilling to engage; this topic was truly too much for her little heart to bear.

Ruo Su waved her hand dismissively, saying, "We're all our own people—what's there to be shy about? These little ones don't get it, do you still not understand? After not seeing each other for a few days, aren't you already craving it?"

Translation: Ruo Su waved her hand dismissively, "We're all our own people, what's there to be shy about? These little ones don't understand, you still don't? Haven't seen each other in days—are you already craving it?"

"It's really aggravating—my husband told me today he has to go to Qing County on official business in two days, and this trip might last one or two months. If I didn't have my own obligations, I would have gone with him."

Translation: "It's really hateful—my husband told me today he has to go to Qing County on official business in two days, and this trip might last one or two months. If I didn't have my own matters, I'd go with him."

"Xiu'er, help me think of a way—he's in Qing County, I'm in Hezhou; how can we meet up comfortably every few days? But first, let me be clear: I won't look for other men, nor will I go after your husband."

Translation: "Xiuer, help me think of a way—he's in Qing County, I'm in Hezhou; how can we meet every few days to be comfortable? But first, I won't look for other men, nor your man."

Zhang Xiu'er: …

Translation: Zhang Xiuer: …

"Qing County and Hezhou aren't that far—just a half-day journey; you could just go!" Zhang Xiu'er muttered softly, so embarrassed she wished she could dig a hole and hide.

Translation: "Qing County and Hezhou aren't that far—just a half-day journey; you could just go!" Zhang Xiuer muttered softly, so embarrassed she wished she could dig a hole and hide.

She couldn't understand how, despite being born into an aristocratic family and raised on sage classics, she could so easily utter such vulgar words.

Translation: She couldn't understand—born into an aristocratic family, raised on sage classics since childhood, how could she utter such licentious words so easily?

Moreover, she had only experienced that sort of thing a few days ago.

Translation: Moreover, she had only experienced that sort of thing a few days ago.

Isn't that moving a bit too fast?

Translation: Isn't this moving a bit too fast?

"But I find it troublesome—I can't be expected to run to Qing County every other day!" Ruo Su said, vexed.

Translation: "But I find it troublesome—I can't possibly run to Qing County every other day!" Ruo Su said, vexed.

Zhang Xiu'er said resentfully, "Then let your fiancé make more trips."

Translation: Zhang Xiuer said resentfully, "Then let your future husband make more trips."

"No, no, he has official duties; I can't interfere with his work."

Translation: "No, no, he has official duties; I can't interfere with his work."

"Then there's nothing we can do."

Translation: "Then there's nothing to be done."

Ruo Su wilted like a flower, saying vexedly, "Fine, if I really can't avoid it, I'll just run more; if I get tired, I'll endure it, hold it in."

Translation: Ruo Su wilted like a flower, vexed, saying, "Fine, if it's really impossible I'll just run more; if I get tired I'll endure it, hold it in."

Zhang Xiu'er: …

Translation: Zhang Xiuer: …

Ruo Su turned her head and glanced at the maidservant beside her who was painting a self-portrait of Chen Wujie, saying, "Hurry up, hurry up—make sure the eyes, nose, everything is drawn clearly enough."

Translation: Ruo Su turned her head to glance at the maid beside her who was painting a self-portrait of Chen Wuji, "Hurry up, hurry up—eyes, nose, whatever—make sure it's clear enough."

"Also, remember to write in the blank space when this painting was made. For example, 'Master Chen's night banquet with the Three Prefectures' military commissioner Yang Yu; they talked happily and got drunk!'"

Translation: "Also, remember to write in the blank when this painting was made. For example, Young Master Chen feasted with the Triple Prefectural Pacification Commissioner Strategist Yang Yu, they talked happily and got drunk!"

"Here!" the painting maidservant replied, her eyes fixed on the canvas.

Translation: "Here!" The painting maid stared at the canvas without blinking and gave a soft reply.

Ruo Su's dark eyes shifted, and she nudged Zhang Xiu'er with her elbow, saying, "Xiu'er, how about we paint a picture of you and Master Chen later—naked, lying together?"

Translation: Ruo Su's dark eyes shifted, she nudged Zhang Xiuer with her elbow, "Xiuer, how about later we paint you and Lord Chen together—naked, lying side by side?"

"Oh dear, you guys go ahead and paint—I'm leaving!" Zhang Xiu'er exclaimed, turning to bolt, but Ruo Su swiftly caught her.

Translation: "Oh dear, you guys keep painting, I'm leaving!" Zhang Xiuer exclaimed, lunging for the door, but Ruo Su caught her swiftly with sharp eyes and quick hands.

"What are you running from? This is all good stuff—what's there to be shy about?" Ruo Su explained earnestly, "Think about it: when you're both old and gray, you won't be able to reenact such things; you'll only be able to look back. Then you can take out these paintings to admire, seeing your former beauty and grace—how wonderful."

Translation: "What are you running from? This is all good stuff, what's there to be shy about?" Ruo Su explained earnestly to Zhang Xiuer, "Think about it—when you're both old and gray, you won't be able to reenact that; you can only look back. Then you can take out these paintings to admire, seeing your former flower-like beauty and graceful bearing—how wonderful."

Zhang Xiu'er found that reasoning quite convincing, and felt a little flutter of emotion.

Translation: Zhang Xiuer found this reasoning quite convincing, and felt a little flutter of temptation.

But actually letting her do that was absolutely impossible.

Translation: But actually letting her do that was absolutely impossible.

Even though the painters were all female comrades, close sisters who had spent half a year together, she still couldn't undress in front of them.

Translation: Even though the painters were all a regiment of daughters, her close sisters of half a year, letting her undress before them was still something she couldn't do.

Letting her be like that would be better off just killing her.

Translation: Making her do that would be better off just killing her.

"How thin-skinned can you be? I'll have them make me and my husband a painting—no, a whole set, with all sorts of poses; come over and watch!" Ruo Su declared proudly.

Translation: "How thin-skinned can you be? I'll have them make me and my husband a piece—no, a set, with various poses, each one a piece—come over and watch!" Ruo Su declared proudly.

"I'll give you a good example; once you see my paintings, you might just accept it!"

Translation: "I'll give you a good sample; once you see my paintings, you might just accept it!"

Zhang Xiu'er immediately shook her head like a rattle-drum, saying, "I definitely don't want that!"

Translation: Zhang Xiuer immediately shook her head like a rattle-drum, "I definitely don't want to!"

"I don't want to paint or look; you go paint yourself, don't drag me into it."

Translation: "I don't want to paint or look; you go paint yourself, don't drag me along."

Ruo Su pursed her lips disdainfully, saying, "We women are all beauty that fades to bone; our youthful looks last only about a decade or so, so you should learn to let things go."

Translation: Ruo Su pursed her lips disdainfully, "We women are all beauty that fades to bones; our youthful looks last only about ten years or so—you should learn to let things go."

"I can let other things go, but I really can't accept this!" Zhang Xiu'er declared firmly.

Translation: "I can let other things go, but this I truly cannot!" Zhang Xiuer declared firmly.

"Alright, then I won't press you—just keep an eye on things for me; I need to tell my husband, and he'll surely agree to the portrait later."

Translation: "Alright, then I won't persuade you; you keep an eye on things—I need to tell my husband, and when it's time to paint, he'll surely agree."

……

Translation: …

When Chen Wujie woke up in the morning, he felt dazed, as if someone had hit him with a blunt stick.

Translation: When Chen Wuji woke up in the morning, he felt dazed as if someone had hit him with a blunt stick.

He hadn't blacked out, but many events from last night required him to think hard before they came back faintly, and then he slowly pieced them together into a continuous memory.

Translation: He hadn't blacked out, but many things from last night required him to recall carefully for a long time before he could faintly remember them, then slowly piece them into continuous memory.

To recover the memories he almost lost, Chen Wujie stared out the window in a daze for a while, until the fair-skinned, smooth-skinned person beside him turned over and snuggled into his arms, at which point he snapped back to awareness.

Translation: To retrieve those memories he almost lost, Chen Wuji stared out the window in a daze for a while, until the person beside him with snowy-white, smooth skin turned over and snuggled into his embrace, then he came to.

"Was I carried back by you last night?" Chen Wujie asked.

Translation: "Was I carried back by you last night?" Chen Wuji asked.

Zhang Xiu'er, nestled in his embrace, gave a slight nod, saying, "You were so drunk you weren't conscious."

Translation: The Zhang Xiuer nestled in his arms lightly nodded, "You were so drunk you weren't conscious."

"I remember, that old geezer can really drink," Chen Wujie said. "After I fell asleep, there was a period when the room was noisy, as if many women were around—what's going on?"

Translation: "I remember, that Lao Deng Tai could really drink." Chen Wuji said, "After I fell asleep there was a period when the room was noisy, like there were many women—what was going on?"

Zhang Xiuer, who had not yet fully awakened, heard these words and instantly woke up, "It... it's a maid."