Chapter 433

line: "Heng Xian leapt from the bed, noticing the jealous anger on Ji Yuyue's lovely face, his mind raced and he said, "I was just about to give you a sachet!"" Contains apostrophe and quotes but no Chinese.

Translation: Heng Xian jumped out of bed, seeing the angry, jealous look on Ji Yaoyue's pretty face, his mind turned, and he said: "I was just about to send you a sachet!"

We need to keep punctuation similar? We'll produce natural English.

Make sure we keep the quote marks as in Chinese? We'll use English quotes.

"Now line 【2】 casually pulled out a sachet of unknown year from the storage bag." Contains brackets and numbers but fine.

Translation: He casually pulled out a bottle of unknown-year sachet from his Storage Bag.

He casually pulled a sachet of unknown year from his Storage Bag.

"Ji Yuyue took it, her expression relaxing; she didn't question further, put it away, and sweetly smiled, saying, "I thought you were secretly meeting another girl again!"" fine.

Translation: Ji Yaoyue took it, her expression eased, she didn't press further, put it away, and sweetly smiled: "I thought you were secretly meeting another girl again!"

"\"How could that be?" Heng Xian took her hands and said, "With a wife like you, what more could a husband ask for? No girl could match even half of your excellence."" fine.

Translation: "How could that be?" Heng Xian grasped her hands, "With a wife like you, what more could a husband ask for? Which girl has half your excellence?"

"\"You're the only one who knows how to talk! \"" fine.

Translation: "Only you know how to talk!"

"Ji Yuyue pressed her lips, her face slightly flushed, and said, "Just now you made a child defeat the Qin chess master Hu Ye Ming using his technique; it's truly astonishing—it not only saved Great Zhou's dignity but also dealt Qin a heavy humiliation."" fine.

Translation: Ji Yaoyue pursed her lips, her face slightly red, and said: "Just now you made a child win against Qin State's chess master Hu Yeming's technique—it truly was eye-opening, not only saving Great Zhou's dignity but also heavily humiliating Qin State!"

Note: Need to keep line as one sentence? We'll keep as is.

"\"You've rendered such great service; you can't just let the court take it for free—at the very least, you must squeeze the emperor and his ministers dry. \"" fine.

Translation: "You've rendered such great service; it cannot be cheaply taken by the court—at the very least we must squeeze dry the father emperor and that bunch of chancellors!"

father emperor and the chancellors

line: "Heng Xian said, "You can rest assured; your family's people are unscrupulous, and we won't play nice with them either—let them seek fame and profit on their own."" fine.

Translation: Heng Xian said: "You can rest assured; those people of your natal family are unscrupulous, and we won't play fair with them either—let fame, fortune, and profit come to them on their own!"

line: "\"Cough, cough. \"" fine.

Translation: "Cough—cough..."

line: "Outside, a sudden bout of coughing erupted." fine.

Translation: Outside suddenly a bout of coughing sounded.

line: "Ji Yufan, Jiang Xiaoyu, Sun Qianqian, Luo Xuan, and the glowering Granny Su stood outside the door, unsure whether to enter or leave." fine.

Translation: Only see Ji Yaofan, Jiang Xiaoyu, Sun Qianqian, Luo Xuan and others, together with the tiger-eyed Granny Su, standing outside the door—neither coming in nor staying out.

line: "Ji Yuyue quickly pulled her hand free, turned, and smiled, asking, "Do you still want me to let you in?"" fine.

Translation: Ji Yaoyue quickly broke free from the held hand, turned back and smiled: "Do you still want me to let you in?"

line: "The group then chuckled, somewhat hesitantly, and walked into the room." fine.

Translation: The group then laughed, somewhat hesitantly walked into the room.

line: "After exchanging greetings, Jiang Xiaoyu circled Heng Xian over and over until Ji Yuyue grabbed him, then said, "Heng Xian, literarily you can compose poetry and essays that shake antiquity and the present; militarily you can surpass ranks to kill three intermediate elemental dan cultivators. We already held you in high esteem, but we never imagined you could, without showing yourself, direct a snot‑nosed child to defeat the Qin sacred chess player in forty moves."" fine.

Translation: After exchanging greetings, Jiang Xiaoyu circled Heng Xian again and again until Ji Yaoyue grabbed him, then said: "Heng Xian, literary talent can shake antiquity with poetry, prose, and lyrics; martial prowess can defeat enemies above your rank—slaying three Middle-stage Nascent Soul cultivators—we already held you in high esteem, yet we never imagined you could, without showing yourself, direct a snot-nosed kid to annihilate the Qin State's Saint Hand in forty moves!"

line: "Sun Qianqian's eyes gleamed: "Even defeating the Qin chess master who is a chess king and sage, once this gets out, you, Heng Xian, could certainly become famous throughout the world."" fine.

Translation: Sun Qianqian's eyes gleamed: "Even defeating the Qin State's Saint Hand who is a Chess King and Chess Saint, once this gets out, you, Heng Xian, could fame under heaven!"

line: "Luo Xuan also laughed: "Not only will you be famous worldwide, but the history of the Great Zhou dynasty will surely record a substantial chapter."" fine.

Translation: Luo Xuan also laughed: "Not only fame under heaven, the Great Zhou's national history will surely record a heavy stroke!"

line: "Heng Xian shook his head, modestly saying, "It's just part of the gentleman's six arts—not worth boasting about."" fine.

Translation: Heng Xian shook his head, modestly: "It's just the Six Arts of a Gentleman—nothing worth boasting about!"

line: "After saying that, he felt a bit pretentious." fine.

Translation: After saying that, he felt a bit pretentious.

line: "Ji Yuyue almost laughed out loud; as a sect disciple, they never talk about the gentleman's six arts." fine.

Translation: Ji Yaoyue almost laughed out loud; sect disciples never talk about the Six Arts of a Gentleman!

line: "After chatting a while longer, Jiang Xiaoyu and the others took their leave, leaving only the Ji Yuyue siblings and the resentful, wary Granny Su in the room." fine.

Translation: After chatting a while longer, Jiang Xiaoyu and the others took their leave, leaving only the Ji siblings and a resentful, wary Granny Su in the room.

line: "Seeing that there were no outsiders, Ji Yufan poured himself a cup of tea and said, "Defeating the Qin chess master, regaining face for Great Zhou, is just like earning merit on the battlefield; even if the emperor and court are stingy, tomorrow's rewards ought to be granted."" fine.

Translation: Seeing no outsiders, Ji Yaofan poured himself a cup of tea and said: "Defeating the Qin State's Saint Hand, regaining face for Great Zhou, is no different from the merit of defeating Qin on the battlefield; even if the father emperor and court are stingy, tomorrow's ennoblement ought to be granted!"

line: "\"Brother-in-law, you can not only avenge past shame and clear the recent slander, but also press on to seize real power in one fell swoop. \"" fine.

Translation: "Brother-in-law, you can not only wipe away past shame, cleanse the recent slander, but also build on it to seize real power in one fell swoop!"

line: "\"More importantly, you must crush the Qin second prince and rescue us siblings from dire straits. \"" fine.

Translation: "More importantly, we must crush the Second Prince of Qin and rescue our siblings from fire and water!"

line: "Heng Xian said, "Regarding your sister's matter, I have my own discretion; what do you mean by 'rescue you'?"" fine.

Translation: Heng Xian said: "I'll handle your sister's matter myself; what do you mean by 'rescue you'?"

line: "The great general Ji Yufan's eyes reddened instantly: "The Qin State's Duke of Wei wants to marry me; I've looked into that girl—she's spoiled, willful, and not even that good-looking."" fine.

Translation: General Ji Yaofan's eye sockets reddened instantly: "The Duke of Wei of Great Qin wants to marry me; I inquired about that girl—she's willful and capricious, and not much to look at!"

line: "\"Even setting aside her character and looks, I just fought desperately with her older brother not long ago; now to marry her, I can't get past that hurdle in my heart—it's agonizing. \"" fine.

Translation: "Even setting aside personality and appearance, I just fought desperately with her older brother; now to marry her, I can't get past that hurdle—it's agonizing!"

line: "Heng Xian rubbed his nose and said, "Why don't you change your approach?"" fine.

Translation: Heng Xian rubbed his nose and said: "Why don't you change your approach?"

line: "Ji Yufan perked up: "What approach? Brother-in-law, you tell me!"" fine.

Translation: Ji Yaofan perked up: "What approach? Brother-in-law, you speak!"

line: "Heng Xian said,

Translation: Heng Xian said: "If we marry, we marry; a taming record for a willful wife—letting her wash your feet and rub your back every day is not without value for national conquest!"

Ji Yufan thought carefully, then his face fell again: "But I don't like her; I like Li Cangyu of the Li family in Beicanghai; my maternal uncle's family is already arranging it."

Translation: Ji Yaofan thought carefully, then his face fell again: "But I don't like her; I like Miss Li Cangyu of the Li Family in North Storage Sea—my uncle's family is already working on it!"

"Li Cangyu? Is she pretty?" Heng Xian asked.

Translation: "Li Cangyu? Very pretty?" Heng Xian asked.

Ji Yuyue, who had been listening to the two's nonsense on the side, lightly laughed and said, "In the Beicanghai region, among the young prodigies, there is a saying: 'The Wu Duke's poisonous journey, the ghost's tonsure, Cangyu accompanies the lovely plum for a night.'"

Translation: Beside them, Ji Yaoyue, who had been listening to their nonsense, lightly laughed: "In the North Storage Sea region, among the younger generation of geniuses, there's a saying: 'Wu Gong's poisonous journey, Ghost Barber's shave; Cangyu spends a night with the lovely plum.'"

"The Wu Duke refers to the Wu Prince of Saiwu Mountain; the ghost's tonsure refers to Ghost Seven, the son of the coffin shop; Cangyu is indeed Li Cangyu of the Li family in Beicanghai; and the lovely plum refers to Ye Zimei of the Meishan Pavilion."

Translation: "Wu Gong refers to the Young Master Wu Gong who rivals Mount Wu; Ghost Barber is the Ghost Seventh Young Master of the coffin shop; Cangyu is Li Cangyu of the Li Family in North Storage Sea; and Lovely Plum refers to Ye Zimei of Plum Mountain Pavilion."

"Yufan has always liked Li Cangyu; that girl is cold and aloof—an older‑sister type, with fair skin and long legs."

Translation: "Yaofan has always liked Li Cangyu; that girl is icy cold, a... older sister type, with fair skin and long legs!"

"The term \"older sister\" was something Ji Yuyue learned from Heng Xian; Heng Xian couldn't help but glance at Ji Yuyue, realizing that when she's with him she shows a bit of a little‑girl demeanor, but elsewhere she's utterly an older sister."

Translation: "The term 'older sister' was learned by Ji Yaoyue from Heng Xian; actually, Ji Yaoyue shows a bit of a little-girl demeanor when with him, but elsewhere she's utterly an older sister!"

Ji Yuyue also said, "What a pity! Li Cangyu has clearly stated she dislikes the constraints of the court and hopes Prince Wu will understand."

Translation: Ji Yaoyue added: "Too bad! Li Cangyu has clearly expressed that she dislikes the restraints of court, hoping Prince Wu will understand!"

"I couldn't possibly understand—she, Li Cangyu, is destined to be mine for life!" Ji Yufan said earnestly.

Translation: "I couldn't possibly understand; Li Cangyu in this lifetime is destined to be mine!" Ji Yaofan said earnestly.

Granny Su, who had been watching on the side, could no longer bear it and coldly said, "Your Highnesses, please don't make things difficult for this old servant; please return to the palace."

Translation: The watching Granny Su couldn't bear it any longer, coldly said: "Your Highnesses, please don't make things hard for this old servant; please return to the palace!"

Ji Yuyue had no choice but to rise and say to Heng Xian, "Tomorrow is the Empress's birthday; it will take the whole day. If the emperor issues an edict, you must go immediately—I'll be waiting for you."

Translation: Ji Yaoyue had no choice but to rise, saying to Heng Xian: "Tomorrow is the Empress's birthday, a whole day; if the father emperor issues an edict, you must go there at once—I'll be waiting for you!"

Heng Xian nodded.

Translation: Heng Xian nodded.

The brother and sister left with Granny Su.

Translation: The sibling pair left with Granny Su.

The princess's residence grew quiet.

Translation: The Princess's residence grew quiet.

Yet the imperial capital remained sleepless all night.

Translation: Yet the capital remained sleepless through the night!

These past days, the affair of the Great Qin envoy even covertly overshadowed the Empress's birthday itself—

First it arrived suddenly, then demanded a marriage alliance between the two Highnesses, finally laying out a State and Altar Chess board!

Especially the "State and Altar Chess" platform, it beheaded all of Great Zhou's chess players, causing Great Zhou to lose all face, leaving the populace panicked!

At the critical moment, the "Poetry Sage" Heng Xian directed a little kid in forty moves to kill the Great Qin chess player!

This maneuver was too dramatic! Too breath‑taking! Also too exhilarating!

All night long, everyone talked about this; whenever they mentioned the bare‑bottomed kid playing chess, those of a more temperamental disposition would excitedly slap the table!

As for the earlier slander against Heng Xian, it had long been forgotten in the back of people's minds.

Just before dawn, the storytellers in the taverns and pleasure quarters had already devised three segments and began setting up their stalls!

Dawn first appeared.

The capital, already sleepless all night, instantly became more lively; people streamed through streets and alleys, everyone wearing new clothes, styling new hair; buildings were draped with lanterns and banners, longevity couplets and lanterns hung everywhere,

Even fastidious households set up before their gates "Longevity Mountain," longevity peaches, longevity flowers…

In the Imperial Palace it was even more so—endless halls decked out in bright colors, blessings and longevity intertwined without end; tens of thousands of palace maids and eunuchs hurriedly tidied the Celebration Hall for the birthday celebrations!

Truly a celebration shared by all under heaven!

Just before the sun rose, a group of eunuchs rushed from the palace straight to the Princess Tai Ping's residence to proclaim the edict: "……Specifically enfeoff Heng Xian as Champion Marquis, ranking above the three thousand marquises, with a fief of nine thousand households, five famous swords, twenty sets of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, three sets of gold and jade chessboards……"

His Majesty the Emperor and the Chancellor truly lived up to their word—once spoken, not even four horses could retract it, and they played no tricks!

They merely didn't mention letting Heng Xian enter the palace to offer birthday wishes!

Heng Xian happily enjoyed his carefree ease, politely accepted the decree, and received the reward.

"Champion Houjou", marrying Ji Yaoyue, seems not to be considered humble anymore, right?

Seeing off the emissary Tàijiān, he was just preparing to return to practice swordsmanship when the female official hurried over: "Houjou, Lord Houjou, outside there is a young master seeking an audience, saying he is an old friend of yours from the Pill Refining Alliance."

(End of chapter)