Chapter 373

【5】

Translation: "Inside Rong Qing Tang."

Inside Rong Qing Tang.

【9】

Translation: "As the personal troops arrived, the atmosphere became somewhat solemn and heavy."

personal troops

【14】

Translation: "\"General Lu has arrived! Where is Jing Ge'er? \""

Note: Use double quotes inside? The Chinese uses 「」 which we can render as English quotes. We'll use double quotes.

Lady Jia, aided by Mandarin Duck, was the first to step into the hall, facing Xuanwu squarely, and greeted him with a hoarse voice, tinged with worry.

Translation: "Jia Mu, supported by Yuan Yang, was the first to walk into the hall, facing Xuanwu directly, and greeted him with a slightly worried, hoarse voice."

【21】

Thus: "Jia Mu, supported by Yuan Yang, was the first to walk into the hall, facing Xuanwu directly, and greeted him with a slightly worried, hoarse voice."

hoarse voice

【25】

Translation: "Xuanwu bears the surname Lu; outwardly, he is the commander of Jia Jing's personal troops, succeeding Zhu Que, and thus Jia Mu addresses him as General Lu."

commander of personal troops

【29】

Translation: "Jia Zheng also stepped forward at this point, his originally grim visage easing somewhat, and he called out with clasped hands:"

called out with clasped hands

【32】

Translation: "\"General Lu! \""

Although Xuanwu's rank is not high at the moment, everyone knows his future is limitless; after all, only someone capable of commanding the personal troops could be Jia Jing's trusted confidant.

Translation: "Although Xuanwu's current rank is not high, everyone knows his future is limitless, after all, one who can command the personal troops must be Jia Jing's confidant."

【37】

Translation: "Moreover, Zhu Que's case stands as proof: formerly, Zhu Que too came from Jia Jing's household guards, yet now he has attained the rank of martial marquis in the imperial court."

the rank of martial marquis in the imperial court

【40】

Translation: "Xuanwu clasped his hands toward Jia Mu and Jia Zheng, without further ado, and spoke in a deep voice:"

"Grandmother, Second Lord, the Duke has just been summoned by the Emperor into the palace and is no longer in the mansion."

Translation: "\"Grand Lady, Second Lord, the State Duke was just summoned by His Majesty into the palace; he is no longer in the mansion. \""

【44】

"He has heard that in Xi Fu, Jia Baoyu has again fallen into madness, breaking the ban, smashing jade and throwing the whole household into turmoil."

Translation: "\"He has heard that here in the West Mansion, Jia Baoyu has again fallen into madness, violating the prohibition, smashing jade and causing unrest throughout the household. \""

【51】

Thus: "\"He has heard that in Xi Fu, Jia Baoyu has again fallen into madness, violating the prohibition, smashing jade and causing unrest throughout the household. \""

Xi Fu

Thus: "\"He has heard that in Xi Fu, Jia Baoyu has again fallen into madness, violating the prohibition, smashing jade and causing unrest throughout the household. \""

【57】

Translation: "\"He ordered me to come and detain him, making him kneel in the ancestral hall, to reflect and repent his faults before the two ancestors of Rong Ning. \""

Ancestral Hall of the two ancestors of Rong Ning

Thus: "\"He ordered me to come and detain him, making him kneel in the Ancestral Hall, to reflect and repent his faults before the two ancestors of Rong Ning. \""

【63】

Translation: "\"Wait until tomorrow when we summon the clan, then we will jointly deal with the clan's unworthy descendants, to purge the turbid and exalt the pure, and to sweep away the clan's corrupt influences! \""

The clan purges the turbid and exalts the pure, sweeping away corrupt influences among its unworthy descendants.

【67】

Translation: "Xuanwu's words rang out like metal on stone, instantly causing everyone's faces in Rong Qing Tang to change dramatically."

rang out like metal on stone

【72】

Translation: "\"Kneel in the ancestral hall? Summon the clan to deal with it? \""

We need to keep the questioning tone. Use quotes? The line is a rhetorical question. We'll output as: "\"Kneel in the Ancestral Hall? Summon the clan to deal with it? \""

Although everyone guessed that Jia Jing had sent the personal troops this time specifically to deal with Jia Baoyu's jade-smashing incident, they even thought this punishment might not be as lenient as last time's ten blows.

Translation: "Although everyone guessed that Jia Jing's dispatch of personal troops this time must be to deal with Jia Baoyu's jade-smashing incident, and even thought this might not be as lenient as last time's ten blows."

【76】

But no one expected that the punishment would be as severe as kneeling in the Ancestral Hall!

Translation: "But no one expected that it would be such a severe punishment as kneeling in the Ancestral Hall!"

【80】

Translation: "For one must know that kneeling in the Ancestral Hall is not as simple a corporal punishment as spanking."

Being beaten at home is at most just a bout of physical pain, with nothing else beyond that.

Translation: "At home, spanking amounts to nothing more than a bout of bodily pain, with nothing else beyond that!"

【84】

Translation: "Moreover, kneeling in the Ancestral Hall requires a long kneel before the ancestral tablets, during which one may not speak or eat, and more importantly, it damages one's reputation."

Just as before, when beating at home, whether it was Jia Jia teaching his son or Jia Jing teaching his brother,

Translation: "Just as before, when spanking at home—whether Jia Zheng teaching his son as a father, or Jia Jing teaching his brother as an elder brother—"

【88】

Translation: "this belongs to family-internal education, posing no hindrance to Jia Baoyu's reputation!"

But the Ancestral Hall, being the clan's most sacred place, to be punished by kneeling before the ancestral tablets means that Jia Baoyu has already been marked at the clan level.

Translation: "But the Ancestral Hall, being the clan's most sacred place, to be punished by kneeling before the ancestral tablets means that Jia Baoyu has already been 'marked' at the clan level."

【92】

This stain will be recorded in the clan, affecting Jia Baoyu's future inheritance of the family business and participation in clan affairs.

Translation: "This stain will be recorded in the clan, affecting Jia Baoyu's future inheritance of the family estate and participation in clan affairs."

【96】

Translation: "Even later, should any good or bad event occur in the clan, clan members can cite this as grounds for gossip."

Moreover, this matter will surely spread, and the prominent households throughout the divine capital will know that Jia Baoyu has been punished by the clan.

Translation: "Furthermore, this will surely spread, and the great households throughout Shenjing City will all know that Jia Baoyu has been punished by the clan."

【100】

This will hinder his future marriage and friendships; one could say his reputation now truly bears a blemish.

Translation: "This will hinder his future marriage and friendships; one could say his reputation has thus truly acquired a blemish!"

【105】

Translation: "Upon hearing Xuanwu's words, Jia Mu was as if bereaved of her parents; her spirit shuddered, her face turned as white as paper, she felt her limbs turn icy, and her heart sank straight to the depths."

as if bereaved of her parents

【108】

Translation: "She never imagined that after enduring Jia Zheng's trial with great effort, her own grandson would turn out to be even harsher and more ruthless."

Once Baoyu is taken to kneel in the Ancestral Hall, it will truly cement his reputation for disrespecting elders and being dissolute and worthless.

Translation: "Once Baoyu is taken to kneel in the Ancestral Hall, it will truly cement the infamy of disrespecting elders and being dissolute and worthless."

【112】

Translation: "She cannot conceal it; thereafter, his reputation within the clan will be utterly ruined!"

Lady Jia opened her mouth, looking at the stern-faced Xuanwu before her, and exclaimed urgently:

Translation: "Jia Mu opened her mouth, looking at the cold, stern Xuanwu before her, and spoke urgently:"

【116】

Translation: "\"General Lu, Baoyu is still just a child! He's merely having a minor sibling squabble, nothing serious. \""

"Young Master Jing must have misunderstood; could you not take him away for now, and wait until Young Master Jing returns so I can speak with him?"

Translation: "\"Jing Ge'er must have misunderstood; could you not take him away for now, wait until Jing Ge'er returns, and then I will go speak with him? \""

【120】

Translation: "\"Even if it's scolding or beating, let him be; how could such a trifle deserve to alarm the ancestors……\""

At this moment, Lady Jia's face was filled with panic, her words soft and submissive, already carrying a hint of pleading.

Translation: "At this moment, Jia Mu's expression was fearful, her words low and deferential, already carrying a hint of pleading."

【124】

Translation: "Unlike when facing Jia Zheng, Jia Mu could still somewhat suppress her feelings by standing on the grounds of motherhood and filial duty."

Faced with Jia Jing, she truly had no recourse!

Translation: "But when facing Jia Jing, she truly has no recourse at all!"

【128】

Translation: "Because Jia Jing is not only the State Duke, the person in charge of Jia Family's external affairs, but more importantly, a few days ago he was unanimously recommended by several clan elders as the new clan chief of the Jia Clan."

As the embodiment of clan order, the clan chief deems it proper and fitting for any unworthy descendant in the clan to kneel in the Ancestral Hall.

Translation: "As the embodiment of clan order, the clan chief, it is proper and reasonable for any unworthy descendant in the clan to kneel in the Ancestral Hall."

【132】

Translation: "Even though Jia Mu is an elder, she cannot stop it, and it is even impossible for someone from the inner quarters to openly interfere in external clan affairs!"

Lady Wang beside her also turned pallid, her body swaying as Lady Li supported her, feeling her heart wrenched as if cut by a knife, barely able to breathe.

Translation: "Beside her, Lady Wang also turned deathly pale, her body supported by Li Wan trembling slightly, feeling as if her heart were being torn apart, barely able to breathe."

【136】

Translation: "She could not understand what had happened."

Our Baoyu merely smashed a piece of jade—how could it be as serious as violating heavenly law?

Translation: "Our own Baoyu merely smashed a piece of jade—how could it be as if he had violated heavenly law?!"

【141】

Translation: "Not to mention the lord shouting for beatings and killings, that illegitimate son of the eldest branch actually wants him to go kneel in the Ancestral Hall, and tomorrow he also intends to summon the clan to deal with him."

Lord, illegitimate son of the eldest branch

【144】

Translation: "Just such a trifling matter—how could it have caused such an earth-shaking uproar?"

Of course, after Jia Zheng's earlier reprimand, Lady Wang now lacks the daring to interject recklessly again.

Translation: "Of course, given Jia Zheng's earlier scolding, Lady Wang now lacks the daring to interject recklessly!"

【148】

Translation: "Meanwhile, Feng Jie, watching Lady Wang's legs nearly go limp, saw a hint of glee and relief appear on her charming face."

Indeed, I was not mistaken; times have changed, and now everyone is serious.

Translation: "I was indeed not mistaken—times have changed, and now everyone is serious!"

【153】

Translation: "Usually, the Third Younger Brother doesn't mind the Old Lady and Lady Wang's frolicking, but once he touches his line, a heavy blow is sure to follow!"

Third Younger Brother, Old Lady, Lady Wang

【156】

Translation: "Perhaps the Old Lady and Lady Wang still think that Baoyu's smashing of jade is just a trifle, unaware that this minor matter is a taboo the Third Younger Brother explicitly declared he would never allow again!"

Therefore, this is no longer merely a matter of big or small issues; it is completely disregarding what the Third Younger Brother said.

Translation: "Therefore, this is no longer merely a question of big or small matters, but rather a complete disregard for what the Third Younger Brother has said."

【160】

Translation: "If you insist on playing opposite the Third Younger Brother, who else should be disciplined if not you?"

Inside the side chambers,

Translation: "Inside the side chambers,"

Note: line ends with a comma; we keep as is.

【166】

Translation: "Yuan Chun tightly pursed her cherry lips, her plump, beautiful countenance bearing a touch of sorrow,"

Upon hearing that Baoyu would be taken to kneel in the Ancestral Hall, tears welled in her eyes; she could no longer hold herself up, and on her lotus-like face, as beautiful as rosy clouds and moonlight, tears streamed down.

Translation: "Upon hearing that Jia Baoyu was to be taken to kneel in the Ancestral Hall, tears welled up in her eyes, she could no longer hold herself back, and on her face like hibiscus in the glow of rosy clouds and moonlight, tears streamed down."

【170】

Although she clearly knew that Baoyu's indulgence was excessive and deserved a stern reprimand,

Translation: "Although she clearly knows that Jia Baoyu's indulgence is excessive and deserves a stern reprimand,"

We need to output for each of these Ns. Some Ns like 【1】, 【3】, 【4】, 【7】, 【8】, 【11】, 【12】, 【13】, 【15】, 【16】, 【18】, 【19】, 【20】, 【23】, 【24】, 【27】, 【28】, 【31】, 【33】, 【35】, 【36】, 【39】, 【41】, 【42】, 【45】, 【46】, 【48】, 【49】, 【50】, 【52】, 【53】, 【55】, 【56】, 【58】, 【59】, 【61】, 【62】, 【65】, 【66】, 【69】, 【70】, 【71】, 【73】, 【74】, 【77】, 【79】, 【81】, 【83】, 【85】, 【87】, 【89】, 【90】, 【93】, 【95】, 【97】, 【98】, 【101】, 【103】, 【104】, 【107】, 【109】, 【111】, 【113】, 【115】, 【117】, 【119】, 【121】, 【123】, 【125】, 【127】, 【129】, 【131】, 【133】, 【135】, 【137】, 【139】, 【140】, 【143】, 【145】, 【147】, 【149】, 【151】, 【152】, 【155】, 【157】, 【159】, 【161】, 【162】, 【163】, 【165】, 【167】, 【168】, 【171】 are not present; we ignore them.

Translation: "but after all, he is the dear younger brother she raised from childhood, akin to a mother and son; how could she possibly not feel anguish seeing him endure such torment?"

Tan Chun, seeing the situation, took a measured step forward, steadied Yuan Chun's arm, handed over a handkerchief, and urged:

Elder sister, Second Brother, after experiencing this, if he can gain wisdom from a setback, it might not be a bad thing!

Yuan Chun's heart felt sorrowful; she tightly clutched her handkerchief and said sadly:

"I never thought that, after these years in the palace, Baoyu would become so spoiled; he wasn't like this before……"

Baichai pursed her lips, her expression paused, and she spoke softly:

"Precious Brother is ultimately young and inexperienced; Jing...... Third Brother, even though he punishes him, does it for his own good."

"This time, let him gain a lesson; from now on, let him study hard and make progress, just walk the right path!"

After Baichai finished speaking, Daiyu beside her couldn't help but slightly knit her brows!

Hearing these words...... they sound rather grating!