Chapter 351

Gu Rongjin nodded, "Exactly, this is something I've always found strange. Little Yuanzhi, what do you think?"

Little Yuanzhi, you?

Thus line translation: Gu Rongjin nodded, "That's right, this is something I've always thought strange, Little Yuanzhi, what do you think?"

We need to keep punctuation and quotes? The source includes Chinese quotes 「」. We should keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully; we can replace with English quotes? Usually we keep the meaning; we can use English quotation marks. We'll use double quotes.

Thus: Gu Rongjin nodded, "That's right, this is something I've always thought strange, Little Yuanzhi, what do you think?"

Make sure to keep the comma after nodded? We'll follow.

"Perhaps His Majesty is trying to flush out a snake?" Mu Yuanzhi pondered for a moment, then said doubtfully.

Translate: "Perhaps His Majesty is drawing the snake out of its hole?" Mu Yuanzhi pondered for a moment, then said doubtfully.

Mu Yuanzhi

pondered for a moment and said doubtfully.

Thus: "Perhaps His Majesty is drawing the snake out of its hole?" Mu Yuanzhi pondered for a moment, then said doubtfully.

But that's not right either, unless the Deposed Emperor actually harmed the New Emperor; otherwise, killing the Deposed Emperor would invite criticism, and later generations would make groundless speculation.

Translate: But that's not right either, unless the Deposed Emperor truly inflicted actual harm on the New Emperor; otherwise, killing the Deposed Emperor would invite criticism, and later generations would also make groundless speculation.

The deposed emperor and the new emperor's actual harm invites criticism and groundless speculation.

Thus: But that's not right either, unless the Deposed Emperor truly inflicted actual harm on the New Emperor; otherwise, killing the Deposed Emperor would invite criticism, and later generations would also make groundless speculation.

"Could His Majesty be testing us?!"

Translate: "Could it be that His Majesty is testing us?!"

We keep the exclamation and question marks.

Thus: "Could it be that His Majesty is testing us?!"

Upon realizing this, Mu Yuanzhi suddenly felt enlightened.

Translate: Upon realizing this, Mu Yuanzhi suddenly felt enlightened.

Thus: Upon realizing this, Mu Yuanzhi suddenly felt enlightened.

If that's the case, everything makes sense.

Translate: If that's the case, everything makes sense.

Thus: If that's the case, everything makes sense.

The New Emperor is testing them; whether it's ability or loyalty, both can be fully demonstrated in this matter.

Translate: The New Emperor is testing them; whether it's ability or loyalty, both can be fully demonstrated in this matter.

Thus: The New Emperor is testing them; whether it's ability or loyalty, both can be fully demonstrated in this matter.

After all, the National Teacher letting the Deposed Emperor go is no small matter; with another ruler, who knows how the National Teacher would have been dealt with.

Translate: After all, the National Teacher previously letting the Deposed Emperor go is no small matter; with another ruler, who knows how the National Teacher would have been dealt with.

Thus: After all, the National Teacher previously letting the Deposed Emperor go is no small matter; with another ruler, who knows how the National Teacher would have been dealt with.

It's only natural for the New Emperor to test them.

Translate: It's also understandable for the New Emperor to test them.

Thus: It's also understandable for the New Emperor to test them.

Gu Rongjin: "You and I thought alike."

Translate: Gu Rongjin: "You and I thought alike."

Thus: Gu Rongjin: "You and I thought alike."

"Fortunately we went to the Astral Observatory that day..." Mu Yuanzhi said, "Right, how is the National Teacher now?"

Translate: "Fortunately we went to the Imperial Observatory that day..." Mu Yuanzhi said, "By the way, how is the National Teacher now?"

Thus: "Fortunately we went to the Imperial Observatory that day..." Mu Yuanzhi said, "By the way, how is the National Teacher now?"

"I don't know; I'm too busy to worry about old friends. Besides, His Majesty won't find out about that day's events on the surface, and no one would believe the Deposed Emperor's word alone." Gu Rongjin said.

Translate: "I don't know, I'm too busy to worry about old friends. Besides, on the surface His Majesty won't know what happened that day; just based on the Deposed Emperor's word, no one would believe him anyway." Gu Rongjin said.

Thus: "I don't know, I'm too busy to worry about old friends. Besides, on the surface His Majesty won't know what happened that day; just based on the Deposed Emperor's word, no one would believe him anyway." Gu Rongjin said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Exactly, the important thing now is to capture Pei Shangyan. Have you found their hideout in the capital or anything?"

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi: "Also, the important thing now is to capture Pei Shangyan; have you found their stronghold or anything in Jingcheng?"

Thus: Mu Yuanzhi: "Also, the important thing now is to capture Pei Shangyan; have you found their stronghold or anything in Jingcheng?"

"No, I guess they have no base in either the capital or Weicheng, just like Qi Shihuai, whose secretly raised soldiers were also far away in the Black Sea."

Translate: "No, I guess they have no base either in Jingcheng or Weicheng, just like Qi Shihuai, whose secretly raised troops were also as far away as the Black Sea."

Thus: "No, I guess they have no base either in Jingcheng or Weicheng, just like Qi Shihuai, whose secretly raised troops were also as far away as the Black Sea."

Mu Yuanzhi nodded repeatedly, and suddenly an idea popped into her head: "I think the Ninth Lord might just be a smokescreen placed here by the Yingxu Kingdom."

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi nodded repeatedly, and suddenly an idea popped into her head: "I think the Nine Thousand Years Old might just be a smokescreen placed here by the Infant Void State."

Thus: Mu Yuanzhi nodded repeatedly, and suddenly an idea popped into her head: "I think the Nine Thousand Years Old might just be a smokescreen placed here by the Infant Void State."

"A smokescreen?" Gu Rongjin didn't understand.

Translate: "A smokescreen?" Gu Rongjin didn't understand.

Thus: "A smokescreen?" Gu Rongjin didn't understand.

"It means to disrupt our investigative sight; actually the Ninth Lord is just a feint."

Translate: "The meaning is to disturb our line of sight in the investigation; actually, the Nine Thousand Years Old is merely a feint."

Thus: "The meaning is to disturb our line of sight in the investigation; actually, the Nine Thousand Years Old is merely a feint."

"Could the Yingxu Kingdom's emperor have been won over by the Deposed Emperor?" Gu Rongjin thought that if so, the Yingxu Kingdom's emperor must truly be mad.

Translate: "Could it be that the Infant Void State's emperor was won over by the Deposed Emperor?" Gu Rongjin thought, and if that were the case, then the Infant Void State's emperor would truly be mad.

Thus: "Could it be that the Infant Void State's emperor was won over by the Deposed Emperor?" Gu Rongjin thought, and if that were the case, then the Infant Void State's emperor would truly be mad.

However, throughout history, military generals haven't been very clever in political struggles; only a few like the old Qi are truly crafty.

Translate: However, since ancient times, military generals haven't been very clever in political struggles; only a few like the old and crafty Qi are the exception.

Thus: However, since ancient times, military generals haven't been very clever in political struggles; only a few like the old and crafty Qi are the exception.

"No, such a mind shouldn't be fit for an emperor; I think he just wants to stir up trouble and increase our Great Zhou's burdens, like when he previously suggested I go for a marriage alliance—he actually doesn't care about me, nor about the alliance or not." Mu Yuanzhi analyzed.

Translate: "No, such a mind shouldn't be fit to be emperor; I think he simply wants to stir up trouble, increasing various burdens on our Great Zhou, just like when he previously suggested I go for a marriage alliance—he actually doesn't care about me at all, nor about whether the alliance happens or not." Mu Yuanzhi analyzed.

Thus: "No, such a mind shouldn't be fit to be emperor; I think he simply wants to stir up trouble, increasing various burdens on our Great Zhou, just like when he previously suggested I go for a marriage alliance—he actually doesn't care about me at all, nor about whether the alliance happens or not." Mu Yuanzhi analyzed.

Gu Rongjin: "... Then he really hasn't forgotten his original intention."

Translate: Gu Rongjin: "...... Then he really hasn't forgotten his original intention......"

Thus: Gu Rongjin: "...... Then he really hasn't forgotten his original intention......"

Are you that idle?

Translate: Are you that idle?

Thus: Are you that idle?

He actually became a bit curious about what the relationship between the New Emperor and the Yingxu Kingdom's emperor really is.

Translate: He actually became a bit curious about what exactly the relationship is between the New Emperor and the Infant Void State's emperor.

Thus: He actually became a bit curious about what exactly the relationship is between the New Emperor and the Infant Void State's emperor.

Mu Yuanzhi: "But that's just my guess; we'll know after we find Xiao Di and ask."

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi: "But that's also just my guess; we'll know when we find Xiao Di and ask."

Thus: Mu Yuanzhi: "But that's also just my guess; we'll know when we find Xiao Di and ask."

Speak of the devil, and Pei Di arrived shortly after.

Translate: Speak of the devil—just as we were talking about him, Pei Di came over shortly after.

Thus: Speak of the devil—just as we were talking about him, Pei Di came over shortly after.

"Mu elder sister!"

Translate: "Mu Elder Sister!"

Thus: "Mu Elder Sister!"

As soon as Pei Di entered, he seemed to see only his Mu elder sister; Gu Rongjin cleared his throat to assert his presence, and Pei Di, appearing to have just noticed him too, nodded at him: "Young Master Jin is here as well."

Translate: As soon as Pei Di entered, he seemed to see only his Mu elder sister; Gu Rongjin cleared his throat to show his presence, and Pei Di, appearing to have just noticed him also there, nodded at him: "The Young Master Jin is also here."

Thus: As soon as Pei Di entered, he seemed to see only his Mu elder sister; Gu Rongjin cleared his throat to show his presence, and Pei Di, appearing to have just noticed him also there, nodded at him: "The Young Master Jin is also here."

"I, your humble servant, am certainly here, though the Crown Prince hasn't noticed." Gu Rongjin smiled.

Translate: "Your humble servant is certainly here, though the Crown Prince hasn't noticed." Gu Rongjin smiled.

Thus: "Your humble servant is certainly here, though the Crown Prince hasn't noticed." Gu Rongjin smiled.

"Mu elder sister, I went to see the Ninth Lord today." Pei Di, seemingly unaware of Gu Rongjin's sarcasm, directly spoke to Mu Yuanzhi.

Translate: "Mu elder sister, I went to see the Nine Thousand Years Old today." Pei Di, seemingly unaware of Gu Rongjin's sarcastic tone, directly spoke to Mu Yuanzhi.

Thus: "Mu elder sister, I went to see the Nine Thousand Years Old today." Pei Di, seemingly unaware of Gu Rongjin's sarcastic tone, directly spoke to Mu Yuanzhi.

Gu Rongjin also turned serious, asking him: "How did the talk go? Is he still practicing Tai Chi as usual?"

Translate: Gu Rongjin also turned serious and asked him: "How did the talk go? Is he still practicing Tai Chi as usual?"

Thus: Gu Rongjin also turned serious and asked him: "How did the talk go? Is he still practicing Tai Chi as usual?"

"He told me he's staying here with no duties; their emperor only has him periodically write letters to report what's been happening recently in the Great Zhou capital." Pei Di frowned, saying, "At first I didn't really believe it, but he showed me all the reply letters, and the handwriting is definitely genuine."

Translate: "He told me he stays here with no particular duty; their emperor only has him regularly write letters to report what's recently happened in Jingcheng, the Great Zhou capital." Pei Di frowned, saying, "At first I didn't really believe it, but he showed me all the reply letters, and the handwriting is indeed correct."

Thus: "He told me he stays here with no particular duty; their emperor only has him regularly write letters to report what's recently happened in Jingcheng, the Great Zhou capital." Pei Di frowned, saying, "At first I didn't really believe it, but he showed me all the reply letters, and the handwriting is indeed correct."

Mu Yuanzhi exclaimed in shock: "He actually gave you all the reply letters? It seems our guess was correct."

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi was shocked: "He actually even let you see the reply letters? It seems our guess was correct."

Thus: Mu Yuanzhi was shocked: "He actually even let you see the reply letters? It seems our guess was correct."

"What did we guess?"

Translate: "Guess what?"

Thus: "Guess what?"

"We guessed that the Ninth Lord being here is merely a dummy pawn, a pretense to increase our burden, actually serving no special purpose." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Translate: "I guess the Nine Thousand Years Old is merely a dummy pawn placed here, a pretense to increase our burden, actually serving no special purpose." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Thus: "I guess the Nine Thousand Years Old is merely a dummy pawn placed here, a pretense to increase our burden, actually serving no special purpose." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Pei Di thought for a moment, then cursed: "He really is sick!"

Translate: Pei Di thought for a moment, then cursed: "He really is sick!"

Thus: Pei Di thought for a moment, then cursed: "He really is sick!"

He used to think that way; although he hadn't met him many times, that person practically had "sick" written all over him.

Translate: He's always felt that way; although he hasn't met him many times, that person practically has "sick" written all over him.

Thus: He's always felt that way; although he hasn't met him many times, that person practically has "sick" written all over him.

Gu Rongjin: "But that Ninth Lord doesn't look like someone who would just let others push him around; didn't he resist? Keeping him in another country is basically stripping him of his authority, right?"

Translate: Gu Rongjin: "But that Nine Thousand Years Old doesn't look like someone who'd just let others push him around; hasn't he resisted? Putting him aside in another country, is that stripping him of his authority?"

Thus: Gu Rongjin: "But that Nine Thousand Years Old doesn't look like someone who'd just let others push him around; hasn't he resisted? Putting him aside in another country, is that stripping him of his authority?"

Killing two birds with one stone?

Translate: "Two birds with one stone?"

Thus: "Two birds with one stone?"

Pei Di: "He might also find this amusing; for him, as long as it's interesting, everything else seems secondary."

Translate: Pei Di: "He might also find this fun; for him, as long as it's interesting, everything else seems secondary."

Thus: Pei Di: "He might also find this fun; for him, as long as it's interesting, everything else seems secondary."

Before he didn't understand, but now he seems to grasp it a little.

Translate: Before he didn't understand, but now he seems to grasp it a little.

Thus: Before he didn't understand, but now he seems to grasp it a little.

Mu Yuanzhi rested her chin on her hand: "Well, if that's not a clue, then if it's not the Ninth Lord, which expert is secretly helping the Deposed Emperor and his group?"

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi propped her chin: "But if we discard this clue, if it's not the Nine Thousand Years Old, then which expert is secretly helping the Deposed Emperor and his group?"

Thus: Mu Yuanzhi propped her chin: "But if we discard this clue, if it's not the Nine Thousand Years Old, then which expert is secretly helping the Deposed Emperor and his group?"

"Today near the Ninth Lord's temporary palace I saw a suspicious person!" Pei Di said, "More precisely, I saw a suspicious mask; the person flashed by."

Translate: "Today near the residence where the Nine Thousand Years Old stays, I saw a suspicious person!" Pei Di said, "More precisely, I saw a suspicious mask; that person flashed by."

Thus: "Today near the residence where the Nine Thousand Years Old stays, I saw a suspicious person!" Pei Di said, "More precisely, I saw a suspicious mask; that person flashed by."

Mu Yuanzhi: "Is the mask you're talking about like this?"

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi: "Is the mask you're talking about like this?"

Thus: Mu Yuanzhi: "Is the mask you're talking about like this?"

She casually took a piece of paper, swiftly drew half a mask, and handed it to Pei Di to look at.

Translate: She casually took a piece of paper, swiftly drew half a mask, then handed it to Pei Di to look at.

Thus: She casually took a piece of paper, swiftly drew half a mask, then handed it to Pei Di to look at.

Gu Rongjin praised from the side: "No wonder you're my wife; every casual sketch is so lifelike!"

Translate: Gu Rongjin praised from the side: "As expected of your wife, every casual sketch is so lifelike!"

Thus: Gu Rongjin praised from the side: "As expected of your wife, every casual sketch is so lifelike!"

Mu Yuanzhi was made to laugh by his sudden flattery, still being cheeky at this time.

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi was made to laugh by his sudden flattery, still being cheeky at this time.

Thus: Mu Yuanzhi was made to laugh by his sudden flattery, still being cheeky at this time.

"Exactly like that!" Pei Di exclaimed excitedly, "Who is it? Mu elder sister, do you have any clues?!"

Translate: "Exactly like that!" Pei Di exclaimed excitedly, "Who is it? Mu elder sister, do you have any clues?!"

Thus: "Exactly like that!" Pei Di exclaimed excitedly, "Who is it? Mu elder sister, do you have any clues?!"

That masked person looks like no good at first glance.

Translate: That masked person looks like no good at a glance.

Thus: That masked person looks like no good at a glance.

"It's Si Ma." Mu Yuanzhi said, "He wears such a mask to appear mysterious; he previously revealed it to me."

Translate: "It's Sima." Mu Yuanzhi said, "He wears that kind of mask to appear mysterious; before he had revealed it to me."

Thus: "It's Sima." Mu Yuanzhi said, "He wears that kind of mask to appear mysterious; before he had revealed it to me."

"Pervert!" Gu Rongjin cursed.

Translate: "Pervert!" Gu Rongjin cursed.

Thus: "Pervert!" Gu Rongjin cursed.

"Si Ma? He still hasn't given up his thieving heart?!" Pei Di narrowed his eyes.

Translate: "Sima? He still hasn't given up his thieving heart?!" Pei Di narrowed his eyes.

Thus: "Sima? He still hasn't given up his thieving heart?!" Pei Di narrowed his eyes.

"But he said he only wanted fame and profit? Helping the Pei clan was just out of necessity? Later he turned coat to help us, and I really can't understand why he'd help the Deposed Emperor—did his brain short-circuit? Otherwise Mu Yuanzhi couldn't think of a second possibility."

Translate: "But he said he only wanted fame and profit? Helping the Pei clan was also just out of necessity? Later he turned coat to help us, and I really can't understand why he'd help the Deposed Emperor—did his brain short-circuit?" Otherwise Mu Yuanzhi couldn't think of a second possibility.

Thus: "But he said he only wanted fame and profit? Helping the Pei clan was also just out of necessity? Later he turned coat to help us, and I really can't understand why he'd help the Deposed Emperor—did his brain short-circuit?" Otherwise Mu Yuanzhi couldn't think of a second possibility.

Gu Rongjin smirked: "Simple, I'll go meet him and see if he has any ideas."

Translate: Gu Rongjin curled his lips: "Simple, I'll go meet him and see if he has any ideas."

Thus: Gu Rongjin curled his lips: "Simple, I'll go meet him and see if he has any ideas."

"Alright, be careful." Mu Yuanzhi cautioned.

Translate: "Alright, be careful." Mu Yuanzhi instructed.

Thus: "Alright, be careful." Mu Yuanzhi instructed.

However, when Gu Rongjin returned, he indicated he had come up empty-handed: "That damned pervert said he wanted to talk with you, not with me—who knows if he's plotting against you!"

Translate: However, when Gu Rongjin returned, he indicated he had come up empty-handed: "That damned pervert, saying he wants to talk with you, not with me—who knows if he's scheming against you!"

Thus: However, when Gu Rongjin returned, he indicated he had come up empty-handed: "That damned pervert, saying he wants to talk with you, not with me—who knows if he's scheming against you!"

Pei Di had already returned to the Eastern Palace; Mu Yuanzhi had just finished her meal and was about to have a snack when she saw Gu Rongjin storm in, gritting his teeth.

Translate: Pei Di had already returned to the Eastern Palace; Mu Yuanzhi had just finished her meal and was about to have a snack when she saw Gu Rongjin storm in, gritting his teeth.

Thus: Pei Di had already returned to the Eastern Palace; Mu Yuanzhi had just finished her meal and was about to have a snack when she saw Gu Rongjin storm in, gritting his teeth.

"Don't keep thinking about all that nonsense; maybe I'm just more approachable?" Mu Yuanzhi teased.

Translate: "Don't keep thinking about all that nonsense; maybe I'm just more approachable?" Mu Yuanzhi joked.

Thus: "Don't keep thinking about all that nonsense; maybe I'm just more approachable?" Mu Yuanzhi joked.

"I don't deny that." Gu Rongjin sat beside his wife, opened his mouth and said "ah" to ask for food.

Translate: "I don't deny that." Gu Rongjin sat beside his wife, opened his mouth and said "ah", asking to be fed.

Thus: "I don't deny that." Gu Rongjin sat beside his wife, opened his mouth and said "ah", asking to be fed.

Mu Yuanzhi obediently fed him a lotus flower pastry, then brushed off the crumbs from her hand and stood up, saying: "I guess I have to personally go visit Magistrate Si Ma."

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi obediently fed him a piece of lotus flower pastry, then brushed off the crumbs from her hand and stood up, saying: "I guess I have to personally go visit the Sima Chief Clerk."

Thus: Mu Yuanzhi obediently fed him a piece of lotus flower pastry, then brushed off the crumbs from her hand and stood up, saying: "I guess I have to personally go visit the Sima Chief Clerk."

I'm going with you; I'm not at ease letting you meet him alone.

"It's just going to the Imperial Observatory, what's there to worry about? Besides, if you have time, go investigate the case, don't waste time."

"... Alright."