Chapter 108

Translation

Make sure each line is a single line, no line breaks inside.

We'll need to be careful with punctuation.

Let's translate.

Impossible! This dream was his doing—how could Mu Yuanzhi possibly know?

Translation: Impossible! This dream was his doing—how could Mu Yuanzhi possibly know?

Impossible! This dream was his doing—how could Mu Yuanzhi possibly know?

She must just be used to disliking him—that's why she's acting this way.

Translation: She must just be used to disliking him, that's why she's acting this way.

She must just be used to disliking him, that's why she's acting this way.

Pei Yunxi didn't know why Pei Shangling wanted to personally interrogate the Qilin, but it's fine—if Older Brother Ling does the interrogation, it'll be easier for her to take action!

Translation: Pei Yunxi didn't know why Pei Shangling wanted to personally interrogate the Qilin, but it's fine—if her older brother Ling does the interrogation, it'll be easier for her to make a move!

Pei Yunxi didn't know why Pei Shangling wanted to personally interrogate the Qilin, but it's fine—if older brother Ling does the interrogation, it'll be easier for her to make a move.

It'll be easier for her to act.

Thus: "Pei Yunxi didn't know why Pei Shangling wanted to personally interrogate the Qilin, but it's fine—if older brother Ling does the interrogation, it'll be easier for her to act!"

They were all waiting for the emperor to speak; the emperor pondered for a moment, then agreed to Pei Shangling's request: "Fine, I'll leave it to you to interrogate him—take him back with you."

Translation: They were all waiting for the Emperor to speak; the Emperor pondered for a moment, then agreed to Pei Shangling's request: "Fine, I'll leave it to you to interrogate—take him back."

We need to keep quotes. Use double quotes as in original? We'll use English quotes.

Thus: "They were all waiting for the Emperor to speak; the Emperor pondered for a moment, then agreed to Pei Shangling's request: 'Fine, I'll leave it to you to interrogate—take him back.'"

The emperor's words struck her like a thunderbolt, making her tremble uncontrollably.

Translation: The Emperor's words struck her like a thunderbolt, making her tremble uncontrollably.

In her past life, the very same words from the very same person had plunged the Qilin into eternal damnation!

Translation: In her previous life, when the same words came from the same person's mouth, the Qilin fell into eternal damnation!

eternal damnation

No! She absolutely cannot let this happen!

Translation: No! She absolutely cannot let this happen!

"Father Emperor! I, your subject, am willing to stake my life on the Qilin's innocence—please withdraw your order; once I've investigated this matter thoroughly, I will certainly give you, and the Grand Empress Dowager, an explanation!" Mu Yuanzhi's expression was one of resolute sacrifice.

Translation: "Father Emperor! I, your subject, am willing to stake my life on the Qilin's innocence—please withdraw your order; once I get to the bottom of this, I will surely give you, and the great-grandmother, an explanation!" Mu Yuanzhi's expression was one of resolute sacrifice.

"Father Emperor! I, your child, am willing to stake my life on the qilin; please withdraw your order. After I investigate this matter thoroughly, I will certainly give you an explanation, and also give an explanation to the great-grandmother." Mu Yuanzhi's expression was one of resolute sacrifice.

Thus: "Father Emperor! I, your subject, am willing to stake my life on the Qilin's innocence—please withdraw your order; once I get to the bottom of this, I will surely give you, and the great-grandmother, an explanation!" Mu Yuanzhi's expression was one of resolute sacrifice.

"No!" the Qilin was the first to object: "This has nothing to do with my senior sister—whether you investigate, interrogate, or decide, I'll follow your wishes!"

Translation: "No!" the Qilin objected first: "This has nothing to do with my senior sister—whether it's detention, interrogation, or whatever, I'll follow your wishes!"

We need to keep quotes. We'll translate: "No!" the Qilin objected first: "This has nothing to do with my senior sister—whether it's detention, interrogation, or whatever, I'll follow your wishes!"

Mu Yuanzhi was both anxious and angry—this Qilin, despite being repeatedly warned not to get near Pei Shangling, doesn't realize he's walking into a trap?!

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi was both anxious and angry—this Qilin, despite being repeatedly warned not to approach Pei Shangling, doesn't realize he's walking into a trap!

We need to keep the exclamation and question mark. We'll translate: "Mu Yuanzhi was both anxious and angry—this Qilin, despite being repeatedly warned not to approach Pei Shangling, doesn't realize he's walking into a trap!"

The emperor's face clearly showed he was very displeased, yet Mu Yuanzhi remained stubborn and unmoved; she refused to back down, for retreating would leave her with lifelong regret!

Translation: The Emperor's face clearly looked very bad, but Mu Yuanzhi remained steadfast, refusing to yield—she knew that backing down would leave her with lifelong regret.

We need to keep meaning. We'll translate: "The Emperor's face clearly looked very bad, but Mu Yuanzhi remained steadfast, refusing to yield—she knew that backing down would leave her with lifelong regret."

Seeing this, Pei Shangyan spoke: "Father Emperor, Little Sister Zhi is worried her junior brother is too young—if he were punished, he couldn't bear it, which is why she's acting

Seeing this, Pei Shangyan said: "Father Emperor, Little Sister Zhi is worried her junior brother is too young—if he were punished, he couldn't bear it, which is why she's acting this way."

Little Sister Zhi

Thus: Seeing this, Pei Shangyan said: "Father Emperor, Little Sister Zhi is worried her junior brother is too young—if he were punished, he couldn't bear it, which is why she's acting this way."

"Am I the kind of person who would abuse private punishment?" Pei Shangling defended himself.

Translation: "Am I the type to abuse private punishment?" Pei Shangling defended himself.

We need to keep quotes. We'll translate: "Am I the type to abuse private punishment?" Pei Shangling defended himself.

Mu Yuanzhi sneered, "Fourth Prince, can you guarantee that?"

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi sneered, "Fourth Prince, can you guarantee that?"

We need to keep quotes. We'll translate: Mu Yuanzhi sneered, "Fourth Prince, can you guarantee that?"

"I already said I wouldn't—what more guarantee do you want?!" Pei Shangling flared up; he wasn't interrogating the qilin for its sake or hers, yet she was being so pushy!

Translation: "I already said I wouldn't—what more guarantee do you want?!" Pei Shangling flared up; interrogating the Qilin wasn't for the Qilin or her sake, yet she was being so pushy!

We need to keep meaning. We'll translate: "I already said I wouldn't—what more guarantee do you want?!" Pei Shangling flared up; interrogating the Qilin wasn't for the Qilin or her sake, yet she was being so pushy!

But then the image of Mu Yuanzhi kneeling and begging him flashed in his mind, extinguishing his anger. He gritted his teeth and said: "If I so much as touch a single hair of his, I'll leave it entirely up to you to deal with—does that work?"

Translation: But the image of Mu Yuanzhi kneeling and begging him flashed in his mind, extinguishing his anger; he gritted his teeth and said, "If I so much as touch a hair of his, you can decide what to do with me—would that work?"

We need to keep meaning. We'll translate: But the image of Mu Yuanzhi kneeling and begging him flashed in his mind, extinguishing his anger; he gritted his teeth and said, "If I so much as touch a hair of his, you can decide what to do with me—would that work?"

Mu Yuanzhi: "Empty words aren't proof; we need a written pledge!"

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi: "Empty words aren't proof—let's have a written agreement!"

We need to keep quotes. We'll translate: Mu Yuanzhi: "Empty words aren't proof—let's have a written agreement!"

"All right!" Pei Shangling hurried off to fetch the four treasures of the study.

Translation: "Good!" Pei Shangling hurried off to fetch the Four Treasures of the Study.

We need to keep quotes. We'll translate: "Good!" Pei Shangling hurried off to fetch the Four Treasures of the Study.

The emperor remained silent, watching them; no one else dared speak for fear of offending him.

Translation: The Emperor stared at them in silence, while no one else dared to speak for fear of offending him.

Pei Shangling quickly wrote up the pledge and angrily handed it to Mu Yuanzhi.

Translation: Pei Shangling quickly finished the guarantee and angrily handed it to Mu Yuanzhi.

Mu Yuanzhi took Pei Shangling's pledge and only then reluctantly agreed.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi took Pei Shangling's guarantee and only then reluctantly agreed.

Everyone was present, even the emperor; surely he wouldn't dare go back on his word.

Translation: Everyone was there, the Emperor included—I'm sure he wouldn't dare go back on his word.

We need to keep meaning. We'll translate: Everyone was there, the Emperor included—I'm sure he wouldn't dare go back on his word.

If there's any movement, she'll rush over and kill—no matter what, she must save the qilin.

Translation: If there's any movement, she'll rush in and kill—no matter what, she must save the Qilin!

"Your Majesty! The medicine is ready!" a eunuch carrying the medicine hurried over, breaking the strange atmosphere.

Translation: "Your Majesty! The medicine is ready!" a eunuch rushed over holding the bowl, breaking the strange atmosphere.

We need to keep quotes. We'll translate: "Your Majesty! The medicine is ready!" a eunuch rushed over holding the bowl, breaking the strange atmosphere.

The emperor personally took the medicine bowl to feed her, and Mu Yuanzhi leaned in to check on the grand empress dowager's condition.

Translation: The Emperor personally took the medicine bowl to feed her, and Mu Yuanzhi also leaned in to check the Grand Empress Dowager's condition.

Pei Shangling took the qilin away.

Translation: Pei Shangling took the Qilin away.

He interrogated the qilin for a day with no result; that little imp insisted he knew nothing, insisting someone must have switched his palace's medicinal ingredients.

Translation: He interrogated the Qilin for a whole day with no result; that little devil insisted he knew nothing, insisting someone must have switched the medicine in his palace.

We need to keep meaning. We'll translate: He interrogated the Qilin for a whole day with no result; that little devil insisted he knew nothing, insisting someone must have switched the medicine in his palace.

"Did you see any suspicious person?" Pei Shangling asked.

Translation: "Did you see anyone suspicious?" Pei Shangling asked.

The qilin shook his head: "If I had seen anything, I would have said so already; why wait until now?"

Translation: The Qilin shook his head: "If I had seen anything, I would have said so long ago!"

Pei Shangling felt a wave of relief—if he hadn't seen anything, it meant it wasn't his little sister!

Translation: Pei Shangling breathed a sigh of relief—since he didn't see anything, it couldn't be the little sister!

His little sister was merely coincidentally outside the Nameless Palace!

Translation: The little sister just happened to be outside Wuming Palace!

"You look relieved—could it be that you're involved in this too?" the qilin mocked sarcastically.

Translation: "You look relieved—could it be that you're involved in this too?" the Qilin sneered.

"How impudent!" Pei Shangling snapped to his feet: "Don't think I dare not act against you!"

Translation: "How dare you!" Pei Shangling snapped to his feet: "Don't think I don't dare to touch you!"

"What are you going to do to me? Don't forget you pledged in writing before the emperor that you wouldn't touch a single hair of mine!" Obviously, the qilin had disregarded Mu Yuanzhi's earlier warning and was being extremely arrogant.

Translation: "What are you going to do to me? Don't forget you swore before the Emperor and His Majesty that you wouldn't touch a hair of mine!" Obviously, the Qilin had ignored Mu Yuanzhi's earlier warning and was being extremely arrogant.

We need to keep meaning. We'll translate: "What are you going to do to me? Don't forget you swore before the Emperor and His Majesty that you wouldn't touch a hair of mine!" Obviously, the Qilin had ignored Mu Yuanzhi's earlier warning and was being extremely arrogant.

Pei Shangling gritted his teeth in frustration—this little imp used to call him "brother" back and forth when they first met, but now he's nothing but a snarling beast, borrowing the tiger's might.

Translation: Pei Shangling seethed with hatred—when they first met, this little devil kept calling him "brother" back and forth, but now he's nothing but a snarling beast, borrowing the tiger's might!

We need to keep meaning. We'll translate: Pei Shangling seethed with hatred—when they first met, this little devil kept calling him "brother" back and forth, but now he's nothing but a snarling beast, borrowing the tiger's might!

"Fourth Prince, if you're just acting, I advise you not to waste your scheming—here, I'm the only audience. If you're truly stupid and don't realize that your sister Yunxi is the real culprit, I can only say you're at this level."

Translation: "Fourth Prince, if you're just acting, I advise you not to waste your scheming—here I'm the only audience. If you're truly stupid and don't realize your younger sister Yunxi is the real culprit, I can only say you're at this level."

We need to keep meaning. We'll translate: "Fourth Prince, if you're just acting, I advise you not to waste your scheming—here I'm the only audience. If you're truly stupid and don't realize your younger sister Yunxi is the real culprit, I can only say you're at this level."

As soon as the qilin finished speaking, someone suddenly seized his throat in a vicious grip.

Translation: As soon as the Qilin finished speaking, someone grabbed his throat violently.

He noticed it but didn't dodge; instead he laughed: "Go ahead, choke me—if you use force, you'll break your earlier promise."

Translation: He sensed it but didn't dodge—instead he laughed: "Go ahead and choke me; if you use force, you'll break your earlier promise."

Pei Shangling flung his hand away in anger and stormed out.

Translation: Pei Shangling flung his hand away in anger and stormed out.

"You're so angry—do you also think I'm right, you idiot prince?" the qilin, emboldened by his guarantee, shouted from behind without fear.

Translation: "You're so angry—do you also think I'm right, you idiot Prince?" the Qilin, feeling safe, shouted from behind.

We need to keep meaning. We'll translate: "You're so angry—do you also think I'm right, you idiot Prince?" the Qilin, feeling safe, shouted from behind.

Pei Shangling walked even faster, not knowing where he was rushing to, and nearly bumped into Pei Shangjue head-on.

Translation: Pei Shangling walked even faster, not knowing where he was rushing to, and nearly bumped into Pei Shangjue.

Pei Shangjue frowned, seeming displeased but holding back.

Translation: Pei Shangjue frowned, seeming displeased but not lashing out.

Pei Shangling glanced at him irritably, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

Translation: Pei Shangling glanced at him irritably, wanting to speak but holding back.

"If you want to say it, just say it."

Translation: "If you want to say it, just say it."

"I..." Pei Shangling flicked his sleeve, finally deciding to speak up about that day's matter; he wanted Pei Shangjue to scold him harshly and wake him up.

Translation: "I..." Pei Shangling flicked his sleeve, finally deciding to speak those words from that day—he wanted Pei Shangjue to scold him harshly and snap him out of it.

Pei Shangjue listened to Pei Shangling's words, then fell silent.

Translation: Pei Shangjue listened to Pei Shangling's words, then fell silent.

"Say something!"

Translation: "Say something!"

Although he knows his second older brother couldn't even fart if beaten with a stick, he still voiced those suspicions about his little sister—doesn't he deserve a good scolding?

Translation: Although he knows his second older brother couldn't even fart if hit with a stick, he's said all those suspicions about the younger sister—isn't he worth a good scolding?

We need to keep meaning. We'll translate: Although he knows his second older brother couldn't even fart if hit with a stick, he's said all those suspicions about the younger sister—isn't he worth a good scolding?

Pei Shangjue didn't know what he was thinking, until Pei Shangling snapped that he was leaving, and then he grabbed him.

Translation: Pei Shangjue didn't know what he was thinking until Pei Shangling snapped that he was leaving, whereupon he grabbed Pei Shangling.

"Actually, I've gone through the same thing myself." Pei Shangjue's tone carried an imperceptible inner conflict.

Translation: "Actually, I've gone through the same thing." Pei Shangjue's tone held an unnoticeable turmoil.

"What do you mean?" Pei Shangling didn't understand.

Translation: "What do you mean?" Pei Shangling didn't understand.

Pei Shangling pursed his lips before continuing: "Do you still remember the explosion at the Ministry of Works, when Yuanzhi was injured?"

Translation: Pei Shangling pursed his lips before continuing: "Do you remember the explosion at the Ministry of Works, when Yuanzhi was injured?"

Do you remember the explosion at the Ministry of Works, when Yuanzhi was injured?

"Of course I remember." How could I not?

Translation: "Of course I remember." How could I forget?

"That day, only my little sister went in there, and she even touched Yuanzhi's glove." Pei Shangjue said slowly: "Back then I thought she was interested in these hidden weapons, so……"

Translation: "That day, only the little sister went in there, and she even touched Yuanzhi's glove." Pei Shangjue said slowly: "Back then I thought she was just interested in those hidden weapons, so..."

Thus: "That day, only the little sister went in there, and she even touched Yuanzhi's glove." Pei Shangjue said slowly: "Back then I thought she was just interested in those hidden weapons, so..."

"Why didn't you speak up?"

Translation: "Why didn't you speak up?"

"Would speaking up make everyone suspect my little sister?"

Translation: "Would speaking up make everyone suspect the little sister?"

His words left both of them silent.

Translation: His words left both of them silent.

They would indeed suspect; deep down they actually harbored doubts, but they were unwilling to admit them.

Translation: It's true they'd suspect—deep down they actually do, they just don't want to admit it.

Sometimes coincidences are just like that! They kept convincing themselves of that.

Translation: Sometimes coincidences are just like that! They keep convincing themselves that way.

But once or twice are coincidences—could there really be that many coincidences?

They couldn't help but dredge up every past event concerning Pei Yunxi and Mu Yuanzhi from their memories.

The little sister was injured by Mu Yuanzhi's hidden weapon, the Lantern Festival kidnapping, the Vermilion Bird Lake red spider, and so on—these coincidences are just too many.

They had never once doubted before.

"But... but this makes no sense!" Pei Shangling refused to believe: "My little sister is so kind; I've seen all of this with my own eyes!"

Pei Shangjue didn't speak; he was obviously also caught in great turmoil.

After a long while, he finally said: "Unless there is substantive evidence, our suspicion of the little sister would be unfair to her."

Pei Shangling nodded in deep agreement. Exactly, unless there is evidence, they shouldn't suspect the little sister.

But once suspicion arises, it's hard to dispel.