Chapter 294

Qilin: "At least he saved Pei Di, didn't he?"

Translation: Qilin: "At least he saved Pei Di, right?"

We need to keep punctuation? We'll translate naturally.

Qi Shihuai: "This might just be because he and Xiao Di have a past."

Translation: Qi Shihuai: "This might just be because he and Xiao Di have old feelings."

Note: Xiao Di is Xiao Di (nickname). We'll translate as "Xiao Di". Keep as is.

Pei Di pressed their lips and said, "Don't say it so strangely! My relationship with him isn't good."

Translation: "Don't say it so strangely!" Pei Di pressed her lips, "My relationship with him is not good."

He constantly gives him a hard time; it could even be said to be a childhood shadow.

Thus line 3: "Don't say it so strangely!" Pei Di pressed their lips, "My relationship with him is not good."

Gu Rongjin: "It might just be that your wishful thinking is off."

Translation: Gu Rongjin: "Maybe it's just your one-sided wish that's not good."

Wishful thinking?

Translation: One-sided wish?

Hehe.

Translation: Hehe.

Pei Di doesn't think so.

Translation: Pei Di does not think so.

He clearly gives him a hard time everywhere; it could even be called a childhood trauma!

Translation: He clearly makes things difficult for him everywhere; it can even be said to be a childhood trauma.

Note: The two "he" could refer to different people.

Because of the Ninth Prince, he walks on thin ice at the palace gate; each time he sees the Ninth Prince he is terrified to death, fearing he might be killed at any moment, dying silently.

Translation: Because of the Nine Thousand Years Old, he walks on thin ice in the palace gate; every time he sees the Nine Thousand Years Old, he fears for his life, afraid he might be killed at any moment, dying silently.

Or perhaps it's due to some ulterior motive that the Ninth Prince saved him.

Translation: Or perhaps it's because of some vested interest that the Nine Thousand Years Old saved him.

After all, he is nominally the Crown Prince of Great Zhou; perhaps he just doesn't want to antagonize Great Zhou.

Translation: After all, he is nominally the Crown Prince of Great Zhou; perhaps he just doesn't want to turn against Great Zhou.

In short, this matter can only be temporarily put aside; they can't just act against the Ninth Prince without logical coherence or any evidence.

Translation: In short, this matter can only be temporarily put to rest; they can't just do something to the Nine Thousand Years Old without logical coherence or any evidence.

Or perhaps the situation really is as the Ninth Prince said.

Translation: Or perhaps the matter is indeed as the Nine Thousand Years Old said.

Their lives have returned to calm; the turmoil at the palace gate is none of their concern. Who becomes the new emperor of Yingxu is not their business, since real power always lies in the Ninth Prince's hands, and the relationship between Great Zhou and Yingxu should remain as before.

Translation: Their days have returned to calm; the turmoil in the palace gate has nothing to do with them. Who becomes the new emperor of Yingxu Kingdom is not their concern, because ultimate power always lies in the hands of the Nine Thousand Years Old, and the relationship between Great Zhou and Yingxu Kingdom should remain as before.

The residual death-vine toxin in Mu Yanzhi's body has been mostly cleared; she and Pei Di take their medicine on schedule, and their condition is good.

Translation: The residual death-vine water in Mu Yuanzhi's body has been mostly cleared; she and Pei Di take their medicine on schedule, and their condition is good.

The fetus is also unaffected and very healthy.

Translation: The fetus is also unaffected, very healthy.

Pei's treatment is faster and better than she expected; within seven days they can return to Great Zhou.

Translation: The Pei clan's treatment is faster and better than she imagined; within seven days, they can return to Great Zhou.

Pei Di is happy every day; seeing her mother's spirit renewed, she can't help but imagine their family's happy future.

Translation: Pei Di is happy every day; seeing her mother's spirit renewed, she can't help but imagine their family's future happy life.

Mother's illness from overwork is entirely due to staying in the Yingxu imperial palace; if she weren't the wife of a hostage, she wouldn't have been so overworked.

Translation: Mother's illness from overwork is entirely due to staying in the Yingxu Imperial Palace; if she weren't the wife of a hostage, she wouldn't have labored so much.

Whenever he thinks of this, he deeply resents his father.

Translation: Whenever he thinks of this, he feels extreme resentment toward his father.

What wife does a hostage take? He's just delaying some poor girl!

Translation: What wife does a hostage take? He simply delays someone's maiden!

Mu Yanzhi, who came out to bask in the sun, asked, "Xiao Di, what are you thinking with that expression?"

Translation: "Xiao Di, what are you thinking with that expression?" Mu Yuanzhi, who came out to bask in the sun, asked.

Pei Di smiled and said, "Nothing, just thinking of annoying things; better not mention it. Mu sister, would you like to go for a walk?"

Translation: Pei Di smiled: "Nothing, just thinking of annoying things; better not mention it. Mu Elder Sister, are you coming out for a walk?"

Mu Yanzhi sat down beside Pei Di and said, "The weather is nice, so I came out to clear my mind."

Translation: "The weather is nice, so I came out to clear my mind." Mu Yuanzhi sat beside Pei Di.

Pei Di asked, "Mu sister, the Marquis Jin seemed to be nothing more than a spoiled rich kid; why were you willing to marry him?"

Translation: "Mu Elder Sister, back then Young Master Jin seemed nothing more than a spoiled rich kid; why were you willing to marry him?" Pei Di asked.

Mu Yanzhi said, "Back then, marrying him was the best choice, and he treated me very well."

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi: "At the time, marrying him was the best choice, and he treated me very well."

Pei Di furrowed their brows and said, "The best choice?"

Translation: "The best choice?" Pei Di furrowed their brows.

Mother probably thought the same, right? Back then, marrying Father was the best choice.

Translation: Mother probably thought the same? Back then, marrying Father was the best choice.

As the daughter of a hostage's guard, Mother's status and situation were very poor; marrying Father really was a good choice, wasn't it?

Translation: As the daughter of a hostage's escort guard, Mother's status and situation were very poor; marrying Father really was a good choice, right?

……

Translation: ……

After asking, "Now then? Do you regret it? Do you like Marquis Jin?" Pei Di felt they were asking a pointless question.

Translation: "Now then? Do you regret it? Do you like Young Master Jin?" After asking, Pei Di also felt they were asking nonsense.

They're so loving; how could they regret it?

Translation: They are so loving; how could they regret it?

But are the emperor and empress consort loving?

Translation: But do Father Emperor and Mother Consort love each other?

Pei Di furrowed their brows even more.

Translation: Pei Di furrowed their brows even deeper.

Mu Yanzhi, already knowing what Pei Di was agonizing over, laughed and said, "Your parents have their own choices; don't worry so much, lest you also worry yourself."

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi already knew what Pei Di was agonizing over; she smiled: "Your parents have their own choices; don't worry so much, lest you also burden yourself."

Pei Di suddenly said, "You're right, Mu sister; if my mother ever wants to run away, I'll find a way to let her do so."

Translation: "You're right, Mu Elder Sister; if my mother one day wants to run away, I must find a way to let her run away." Pei Di suddenly said.

Mu Yanzhi whispered, "... Xiao Di..." feeling this child was anything but ordinary in their obstinacy.

Translation: "... Xiao Di..." Mu Yuanzhi felt this child was truly not an ordinary nitpicker.

She could see that the Pei family was full of anticipation and longing to return to Great Zhou and to be by the new emperor's side.

Translation: She could see that the Pei clan was full of anticipation and longing for returning to Great Zhou, to the side of the new emperor.

This child is probably caught up in the situation, huh?

Translation: This child is probably a victim of being in the midst of the situation.

It's as if he always feels his position as crown prince is merely a smokescreen, a means for his father to protect the true heir.

Translation: It's as if he will always feel that his Crown Prince position is merely a smokescreen, a means for his father to protect the true heir.

Mu Yanzhi couldn't help but say, "Xiao Di, actually, the one who chose to save me instead of you that day was General Qi."

Translation: "Xiao Di, actually, the one who chose to save me instead of you that day was General Qi." Mu Yuanzhi still couldn't help but say it.

Even if the new emperor has some unspeakable reason, they haven't forbidden anyone from talking about it, right?

Translation: Even if the new emperor has some unspeakable reason, they didn't forbid others from speaking, did they?

Upon hearing this, Pei Di's face filled with confusion and they said, "Mu sister, what are you saying?"

Translation: Upon hearing this, Pei Di's face was full of confusion: "Mu Elder Sister, what are you saying?"

Mu Yanzhi said, "That's a human-skin mask, used to deceive A Zi and Pei Yunxi. The one who came with Rongjin that day wasn't your father; your father later came and jumped in to save you without hesitation."

Translation: "That's a human skin mask, used to deceive A Zi and Pei Yunxi. The one who came with Rongjin that day wasn't your father; your father later came and jumped in to save you without regard for his own safety." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Pei Di stood up, stared at Mu Yanzhi in disbelief, their expression very complex, wanting to speak but stopping themselves several times, humming and swallowing their words, finally leaving without a word.

Translation: Pei Di stood up, looking at Mu Yuanzhi in disbelief; their expression was very complex, wanting to speak but stopping, several times humming and then swallowing their words, finally leaving without a word.

Mu Yanzhi sighed and shook their head.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi sighed and shook their head.

Gu Rongjin, missing his wife, got anxious and came over, sniffing, and asked, "What's wrong, little Yanzi, sighing and shaking your head alone here?"

Translation: "What's wrong, Little Yuanzhi, sighing and shaking your head alone here?" Consort Rongjin, missing his wife, grew anxious, came over and sniffed.

Mu Yanzhi said, "Nothing, I was just being a big sister to the kids."

Translation: "Nothing, I was just being a confidante sister to the little one." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Gu Rongjin said, "Pei Di? What's wrong with them?"

Translation: Consort Rongjin: "Pei Di? What's wrong with him?"

Mu Yanzhi said, "I told them that the person who saved them that day was General Qi, not their father, and then they left."

Translation: "I told him that the person that day was General Qi, not his father, and then he left." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Gu Rongjin said, "They probably need time to process, or maybe they went to find Qi Shihuai. By the way, we have a few days left before we set off for Great Zhou; do you want to go out and stroll? We've been here so long and haven't properly explored the streets."

Translation: "He might need time to digest, or maybe he went to find Qi Shihuai." Consort Rongjin said, "By the way, we have a few days left before we set off for Great Zhou; do you want to go out and stroll? We've been here so long, we haven't properly gone out for a walk."

Mu Yanzhi said, "Sure, let's go!"

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi: "Sure, let's go!"

The serial murder case was solved with high marks; the court produced a death row inmate as a scapegoat to take the blame, and Yingxu's capital revived its former vigor. They strolled until evening, and the streets were still bustling.

Translation: The serial murder case was solved with high marks; the court produced a death row inmate as a scapegoat to take the blame; Yingxu Capital regained its former vigor; they strolled until evening, and the streets were still bustling.

The local customs and sentiments differ greatly from those of Great Zhou; Mu Yanzhi browsed nonstop, buying many little trinkets, and she and Gu Rongjin ate and drank along the way, their moods improving considerably.

Translation: Here the local customs differ greatly from Great Zhou; Mu Yuanzhi browsed nonstop, buying many little trinkets, and with Consort Rongjin they ate and drank along the way, their mood improving considerably.

I heard the Child-Giving Guanyin Temple is very effective; I came all the way from out of town just to pay my respects!

Translation: "I heard that the Child-Giving Guanyin Temple is very effective; I specially came from afar just to pay my respects to it!"

Really? I'm also from out of town and haven't heard of it.

Translation: "Really? I also came from elsewhere, and I've never heard of it."

Locals told me it's truly effective; even the general's wife went to pray, and after years of marriage with no luck, she conceived after one visit!

Translation: "Locals tell you it's truly effective; even the general's wife went to pay respects, and after years of marriage with no news, one visit and she became pregnant!"

It's that effective; let's hurry over!

Translation: "So effective, let's hurry over."

Several groups of ladies chatted and laughed as they walked past them.

Translation: Several ladies came in groups, chatting and laughing as they passed by them.

Gu Rongjin found it funny, "Sure enough, everywhere is full of people who believe in these superstitions."

"Do you want to go pay a visit?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

Gu Rongjin: "What am I supposed to pay respects to? I can't give birth!"

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help laughing: "Of course I'm referring to myself, do you want a little heir?"

"It's already formed, can it still change gender?" Gu Rongjin teased.

"Or maybe it could, or are you saying you want a little princess?"

"My wife is supposed to bear children for me, and I'm still being picky?" Gu Rongjin embraced Mu Yuanzhi: "How ungrateful!"

He continued: "But I've already thought of names for our two treasures!"

Mu Yuanzhi asked curiously: "What name did you think of? Let me hear it; who knows how good your naming skills are?"

"Should be fine? I came up with a name that works for either gender!" Gu Rongjin said confidently: "Let's call it Mu Yumo!"

"This first one belongs to our old Mu family, right?"