Chapter 248: with translation of chapter title

When Pei Shangling asked that, Pei Shangyan finally realized he had unconsciously made that gesture.

Our translation: "Only when Pei Shangling asked that did Pei Shangyan realize he had unconsciously done such a thing."

Check: captures meaning. Good.

What's wrong with him?

Translation: "What's wrong with him?"

Good.

"Old Four, don't walk toward utter ruin."

Translation: "Fourth Prince, don't walk the path of no return."

We used "Fourth Prince". Good.

"Big brother, you don't need to persuade me; I've already made my own decision. If you want to follow the imperial edict, I won't blame you." Pei Shangling said this, but Pei Shangyan's earlier action indeed made him feel chilled.

Translation: "Older brother, you don't need to persuade me; I've already made my own decision. If you want to follow the imperial edict, I won't blame you." Pei Shangling said that, but Pei Shangyan's earlier action had indeed made him feel chilled.

follow the imperial edict, feel chilled

It turns out being treated this way by the brother he trusted and relied on is so painful.

Translation: "It turns out being treated this way by the brother he trusted and relied on is so painful."

the brother he trusted and relied on

He finally understood how Ah Zhi felt before.

Translation: "He finally understood how Ah Zhi felt before."

We used Ah Zhi (pinyin). Good.

Pei Shangyan closed his eyes, turned his back on Pei Shangling, and said, "Go away; next time we meet, this palace will show no mercy."

Translation: "Pei Shangyan closed his eyes, turned his back on Pei Shangling, and said, 'Go. Next time we meet, this palace will show no mercy.'"

this palace

"Until we meet again, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Translation: "Until we meet again, Crown Prince."

Until we meet again, Crown Prince.

Pei Shangling swooshed out the window.

Translation: "Pei Shangling fled out the window in a swoosh."

swoosh

Pei Shangyan let out a long sigh.

Translation: "Pei Shangyan let out a long sigh."

Good.

Even between the brothers, they've come to this point...

Translation: "Their brotherly relationship has come to this……"

We used ellipsis. Good.

Pei Shangyan picked up the secret edict that had fallen to the ground and clenched it tightly in his hand.

Translation: "Pei Shangyan picked up the dropped secret edict from the ground and clenched it tightly in his hand."

Good.

He couldn't believe what kind of ending they would face, what the future held for him, Old Four, and Little Sister Zhi.

Translation: "He could hardly believe what ending they would head toward, what the future would hold for him, the Fourth Prince, and little sister Zhi."

little sister Zhi

Pei Shangling returned to Li Prefecture; the first thing he did was go find Mu Yanzhi. As he had expected, he got the cold shoulder, and he stood outside speaking: "Ah Zhi, I've awakened, I've decided to defect. I know you don't want to hear me speak, and you don't care about my comings and goings, but I still have to say: whether it's one year, ten years, or a hundred years, I will persistently seek your forgiveness."

Translation: "Pei Shangling returned to Li Prefecture, and the first thing he did was go find Mu Yuanzhi; as he had expected, he got the cold shoulder, so he stood outside and said: 'Ah Zhi, I have come to my senses and decided to defect. I know you don't want to hear me speak and don't care about my comings and goings, but I still want to say: whether it's one year, ten years, or a hundred years, I will persistently seek your forgiveness.'"

Li Prefecture, got the cold shoulder, defect, persistently

Mu Yanzhi hadn't slept yet; actually, she had fallen asleep but was woken up by Pei Shangling's commotion.

Translation: "Mu Yuanzhi hadn't slept yet; to be precise, she had fallen asleep but was awakened by the commotion from Pei Shangling."

Good.

What a sick person, shouting loudly outside someone's room in the middle of the night!

Translation: "What a sick person, shouting loudly outside someone's room in the middle of the night!"

We used "What a sick person". Could also be "This person is sick". But we keep.

She turned over and pulled the blanket over her head.

Translation: "She turned over and pulled the blanket over her head."

Good.

Gu Rongjin opened his eyes and knew that Pei Shangling's dense head would eventually have an epiphany.

Translation: "Gu Rongjin beside her opened his eyes and knew that Pei Shangling's dense head would eventually have an epiphany."

dense head, have an epiphany

Pei Shangling isn't very useful, but gaining one more important figure who defects to them would increase their stature, give them another slap in the face of the court, and that's a good thing!

Translation: "Pei Shangling isn't very useful, but having one more important figure defect to them would boost their stature and give them another slap in the face of the court—a good thing!"

important figure, defect, stature, slap in the face of the court

Early the next morning, Pei Shangling went to see him and the Prince Jia, declaring his decision.

Translation: "Early the next morning, Pei Shangling went to find him and Prince Jia to declare his decision."

We used "Prince Jia". Good.

Prince Jia was naturally pleased that someone else had joined; he reached out his hand to Pei Shangling with a warm smile, saying, "Great, little nephew, we uncle and nephew ought to be united as one."

Translation: "Prince Jia was naturally pleased to have another recruit; he extended his hand to Pei Shangling with a warm smile: 'Excellent, little nephew, we uncle and nephew ought to be united as one.'"

warm smile, little nephew, united as one

Gu Rongjin chuckled inwardly, thinking, "Now we're uncle and nephew? What about before?"

Translation: "Gu Rongjin chuckled inwardly: Now we're uncle and nephew? What about before?"

Good.

Pei Shangling took that hand, feeling a bit awkward, and shouted, "Hot-mouthed royal uncle!"

Translation: "Pei Shangling took that hand, feeling a bit awkward, and shouted, 'Hot-mouthed royal uncle!'"

hot-mouthed royal uncle

"All right, you're finally reunited as a family!" Gu Rongjin smiled with narrowed eyes.

Translation: "All right, you're finally reunited as a family!" Gu Rongjin smiled with narrowed eyes.

smiled with narrowed eyes

Prince Jia said, "Aren't we a family?"

Translation: "Prince Jia: 'Aren't we already a family?'"

Good.

Gu Rongjin cleared his throat and solemnly declared, "Of course not; we have no blood relation."

Translation: "Gu Rongjin cleared his throat and solemnly declared: 'Of course not, we have no blood relation.'"

Good.

Pei Shangling nodded, saying, "Only I and Ah Zhi are a family."

Translation: "Pei Shangling nodded: 'Only Ah Zhi and I are a family.'"

Good.

"What I mean is, your wife and you are not a family; stop switching concepts here!" Gu Rongjin truly admired Pei Shangling's thick-skinned cheek.

Translation: "'Meaning your wife and you aren't a family—stop twisting concepts here!' Gu Rongjin truly admired Pei Shangling's thick-skinned cheek."

truly admired Pei Shangling's thick-skinned cheek

Pei Shangling said, "One day makes a family, a lifetime makes a family; I and Ah Zhi are a family."

Translation: "Pei Shangling: 'One day makes a family, a lifetime makes a family; Ah Zhi and I are a family.'"

Good.

"You shameless Fourth Prince."

Translation: "Shameless, Fourth Prince."

We used "Shameless, Fourth Prince." Could also be "You shameless Fourth Prince." But we keep.

"All right, all right, I hope not being a family is better than being one." Prince Jia raised his cup.

Translation: "All right, all right, I hope we're not a family but better than one." Prince Jia raised his cup.

better than being a family

Gu Rongjin also didn't know whether Prince Jia knew about their grudges; he thought he did, because Prince Jia had never called Xiao Yanzhi his niece, and if it weren't for knowing she disliked it, he couldn't think of any other reason.

Translation: "Gu Rongjin also didn't know whether Prince Jia truly understood their grudges; he thought he did, because Prince Jia had never called Xiao Zhiyan his niece—if not for knowing Xiao Zhiyan disliked it, he couldn't think of another reason."

We used Xiao Zhiyan pinyin. Good.

So Prince Jia's saying this now is also because Pei Shangling likes him!?

Translation: "So Prince Jia's saying this now is also because Pei Shangling likes it!?"

We kept the questioning tone. Good.

This guy who's good at manipulating hearts!

Translation: "This guy who's good at manipulating hearts!"

good at manipulating hearts

Gu Rongjin shook his head inwardly.

Translation: "Gu Rongjin shook his head in his heart."

Good.

This Prince Jia, when cut open, is indeed black; his belly full of ink is actually black water!

Translation: "This Prince Jia, when cut open, is indeed black; his belly full of ink is actually black water!"

when cut open, is indeed black; his belly full of ink is actually black water

After finishing military discussions, Gu Rongjin remembered the corpse left out in the great prison—Ah Zi.

Translation: "After finishing military discussions, Gu Rongjin remembered the corpse—Ah Zi—left hanging in the great prison."

great prison

So he returned to his room and summoned Mu Yanzhi: "My wife!"

Translation: "So he returned to his quarters and summoned Mu Yuanzhi: 'Wife!'"

Good.

"Why are you here again?" The one who opened the door was Qilin.

Translation: "'Why are you here again?' The one who opened the door was Qilin."

Good.

"I should be asking you that. Don't keep bothering your senior sister; you're not a kid—if you want to play, find someone else." Gu Rongjin shoved aside the blocking Qilin with disdain, saying, "It's only natural for your brother-in-law to look for your sister; what do you mean, why are you here again—are you even making sense?"

Translation: "'I should be the one asking you that. Don't pester your senior sister over nothing; you're not a kid—if you want to play, find someone else.' Gu Rongjin flicked aside the blocking Qilin, saying, 'It's only natural for your brother-in-law to look for your sister; what do you mean, why are you here again—are you even making sense?'"

It's only natural for your brother-in-law to look for your sister; what do you mean, why are you here again—are you even making sense?

Qilin complained, "Senior sister promised to take me out shopping today."

Translation: "Qilin sullenly said: 'Senior sister promised to accompany me shopping today.'"

Good.

"She's not free; she wants to go with me to see Ah Zi."

Translation: "'She's not free; she has to go with me to see Ah Zi.'"

Good.

Upon hearing that, Mu Yanzhi counted on her fingers and realized it had already been three days, exceeding twenty-four hours.

Translation: "Mu Yuanzhi heard that, counted on her fingers, and realized it had already been three days, exceeding twenty-four hours."

Good.

No matter how you play dead, you couldn't possibly keep it up for that many days, could you?

Translation: "No matter how you play dead, you couldn't keep it up for that many days, could you?"

Good.

She got up and said, "Indeed, we should go take a look."

Translation: "She rose: 'Indeed, we should go take a look.'"

Good.

Leaving a corpse out in the open isn't right.

Translation: "Leaving a corpse out in the open isn't right."

Good.

Qilin said, "I'm going too!"

Translation: "Qilin: 'I'm coming too!'"

Good.

Gu Rongjin said, "You're too clingy, Qilin."

Translation: "Gu Rongjin: 'You're too clingy, Qilin.'"

Good.

"I'm at least half a doctor!"

Translation: "'I'm at least a half-doctor!'"

Good.

"At a time like this, we need a coroner; what good are you?"

Translation: "'What's needed now is a coroner; what use are you?'"

Good.

Mu Yanzhi said, exasperated, "All right, stop bickering—let's go together."

Translation: "Mu Yuanzhi speechless: 'All right, stop bickering, let's go together.'"

Good.

Qilin snorted at Gu Rongjin in annoyance.

Translation: "Qilin snorted angrily at Gu Rongjin."

Good.

Gu Rongjin said, "I've noticed you, little brat, weren't this annoying before?"

Translation: "Gu Rongjin: 'I've noticed you little brat weren't this annoying before?'"

Good.

Otherwise, why would he have taught his secret techniques to this little brat?

Translation: "Otherwise, why would he have passed all his secret arts to this little brat?"

Good.

Really, teaching the apprentice starves the master!

Translation: "Really, teaching the apprentice to starve the master!"

Good.

Qilin chuckled, "You should reflect on yourself!"

Translation: "Qilin hehe: 'You ought to reflect on yourself!'"

Good.

"I just yelled at you a few times, and you're holding a grudge this long?" Gu Rongjin was speechless.

Translation: "'I just snapped at you a few sentences, and you're holding such a grudge to this day?' Gu Rongjin was speechless."

Good.

Qilin said, "Don't play dumb; it's clearly because you protected Ah Zi too much, and you almost got played by those flirtatious women spreading tea fragrance, just like those scumbags, spinning in circles!"

Translation: "Qilin: 'Don't play dumb; it's clearly because you protected Ah Zi too much, almost ending up like those scumbags, duped by a woman whose tea fragrance spreads everywhere, spinning in circles!'"

protected too much; tea fragrance spreads everywhere; spinning in circles

Gu Rongjin didn't want to continue this topic, lest his significant other recall unpleasant things.

Translation: "Gu Rongjin didn't want to continue this topic, lest his significant other recall unpleasant things."

significant other

Okay okay okay, my mistake, Qilin sir, you're magnanimous—don't stoop to my level.

Qilin continued to snort coldly, not bothering to argue with Gu Rongjin.

Watching them make a fuss, Mu Yuanzhi could only resign herself to stepping ahead first.

Seeing that, the two immature brats hurriedly followed after.

In the great prison, Azhi didn't move a bit, just as they had left her before, lying there.

Gu Rongjin had ordered that, as before, the guards and patrols be strengthened, and not to be negligent.

Moreover, to prevent the corpse from rotting, he had people turn this place into an ice cellar; leaving it for a few days should be fine.

Now the only prisoner here is Azhi; Pei Yunxi has escaped, and Pei Shangling has left.

"Strange, she has no scent at all?" Qilin crouched down.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Maybe she's holding something in her throat."

She pried open Azhi's mouth, inserted a long needle to the throat, felt around and found a lump-like piece of iron, took some effort to pull it out; she had never seen such a thing, and asked Gu Rongjin: "Do you know what this is?"

Gu Rongjin nodded, "In the past, roughly two generations ago, a woman of the Frost Descent invented this thing; she said she hoped that even after death she would remain fragrant."

Mu Yuanzhi: "How fond of beauty!"

But she felt a little moved.

"That's impressive?" Qilin, who only dared to touch it while wearing gloves, took it over to examine, "What's the principle behind it?"

He also wanted to study it further.

I had thought this woman could fake death for so long, but it turns out it's because of this that she doesn't emit a foul odor.

"What should we do now? Should we take her to be buried?" Mu Yuanzhi asked Gu Rongjin.

Gu Rongjin gazed at the peaceful, stiff corpse and said, "Let's bury her; at least we've met."