Chapter 443

Hearing the shaman's words, Mu Mingcheng's attention was drawn away; he completely failed to notice that the bronze artifact in his hand had returned to the shaman's hand, along with a drop of his own blood.

This line is English instruction, but we need to output translation? Since it contains no Chinese, maybe we just output the same line? But that would be weird. However the instruction says "These lines still contain untranslated Chinese." So 【4】 line does not contain Chinese, so maybe we should not output anything for 【4】. But they said output exactly one line per item. If we skip, we would have missing lines. So we must output something for each N that appears in the prompt, even if it's already English. The safest is to output the English translation of the Chinese part, but if there is none, just output the line as is (since it's already English). However the line may contain English explanation; we could just output that explanation as the translation (since it's already English). That would satisfy "one line per item". Let's do that: output the line after the bracket, but ensure no Chinese characters. For lines that are pure English, we output them as is. For lines that contain Chinese, we output the translation.

【1】 Hearing the shaman's words, Mu Mingcheng's attention was drawn away, and he completely failed to notice that the bronze artifact in his hand had returned to the shaman's hand, along with a drop of his own blood.

line: "Check if we omitted anything:..." -> English.

line: Chinese sentence inside quotes -> yes.

line: "We need to translate:..." -> English.

【2】 "Really? Is that what His Majesty really said?"

But we need to keep the quotes and punctuation. The line includes Chinese quotes 「」. We should keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully; we can replace with English quotes? Usually we keep the meaning, not the exact punctuation style. We'll use English double quotes. So:

【2】 "Really? Is that what His Majesty really said?"

line: "But we need to keep the question marks inside..." -> English.

line: Chinese sentence -> yes.

Translate: "His Majesty really values you, Lord Mu." The shaman laughed and took away his bronze artifact.

line: "We need to decide..." -> English.

Thus:

【3】 "His Majesty really values you, Young Master Mu." The shaman laughed and took away his bronze artifact.

line: Chinese sentence -> yes.

Translate: Mu Mingcheng kept asking questions in the background, while the shaman took the drop of blood, placed it in a disinfected container, and put it into a chilled small box, all while attending to Mu Mingcheng.

We need to be concise but keep all info.

He kept asking questions while taking this drop of blood, placed it in a disinfected container and put it into a chilled small box, all while attending to Mu Mingcheng.

【4】 Mu Mingcheng kept asking questions in the background, while the shaman took the drop of blood, placed it in a disinfected container, and put it into a chilled small box, all while attending to Mu Mingcheng.

【42】

Translate: After finishing all this, the shaman nonchalantly turned and sat opposite Mu Mingcheng, boldly scrutinizing the man who was currently stirring up a bloody storm in Jingcheng, with an amused smile.

We need to keep... -> instruction.

【5】 After finishing all this, the shaman nonchalantly turned and sat opposite Mu Mingcheng, boldly scrutinizing the man who was currently stirring up a bloody storm in Jingcheng, with an amused smile.

line: Chinese sentence.

line: includes Chinese sentence.

line: includes Chinese sentence.

Thus: "Why are you staring at me, Junior Superintendent? Is there something wrong with my appearance?" Mu Mingcheng asked doubtfully.

We need to keep the quotes. So:

【6】 "Why are you staring at me, Junior Superintendent? Is there something wrong with my appearance?" Mu Mingcheng asked doubtfully.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: It must be said, the shaman's gaze makes people feel uneasy all over.

We can say: "It must be said, the shaman's gaze makes people feel uneasy all over."

【7】 It must be said, the shaman's gaze makes people feel uneasy all over.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: This strange-looking man has an eerie, bizarre appearance, giving off the creepy feeling of a monster from a story that specially absorbs people's essence; being stared at by him feels like being stared at by a snake.

We need to keep all info. Let's craft:

【8】 This strange-looking man has an eerie, bizarre appearance, giving off the creepy feeling of a monster from a story that specially absorbs people's essence; being stared at by him feels like being stared at by a snake.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: Mu Mingcheng couldn't help but speak out.

【9】 Mu Mingcheng couldn't help but speak out.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Young Master Mu, you are remarkably handsome; I couldn't help but glance a few more times, no blame." The shaman covered her mouth and giggled.

I couldn't help but glance a few more times—no blame.

【10】 "Young Master Mu, you are remarkably handsome; I couldn't help but glance a few more times, no blame." The shaman covered her mouth and giggled.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: If this were praise from a beautiful woman, Mu Mingcheng would certainly be pleased, but this is a compliment full of investigative intent from an eerily effeminate man, which truly fails to make Mu Mingcheng happy.

line: Chinese sentence.

【11】 If this were praise from a beautiful woman, Mu Mingcheng would certainly be pleased, but this is a compliment full of investigative intent from an eerily effeminate man, which truly fails to make Mu Mingcheng happy.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: The eerie feeling of disappearance just now surged again, and Mu Mingcheng felt somewhat like sitting on pins and needles.

line: Chinese sentence.

【12】 The eerie feeling of disappearance just now surged again, and Mu Mingcheng felt somewhat like sitting on pins and needles.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: However, because of the ancestral worship ceremony, he could not leave at this opportunity.

【13】 However, because of the ancestral worship ceremony, he could not leave at this opportunity.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "I don't know what His Majesty means—when should I perform the rites for the Mu ancestors?" Mu Mingcheng asked.

line: English explanation but includes Chinese phrase.

【14】 "I don't know what His Majesty means—when should I perform the rites for the Mu ancestors?" Mu Mingcheng asked.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "This cannot be asked of His Majesty; one must ask Heaven." The shaman said.

【15】 "This cannot be asked of His Majesty; one must ask Heaven." The shaman said.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Has Lord Sima already communicated with Heaven?" We'll use "Lord Sima". So:

【16】 "Has Lord Sima already communicated with Heaven?"

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Not yet."

【17】 "Not yet."

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "But if you have any questions, just have me ask."

【18】 "But if you have any questions, just have me ask."

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "No."

【19】 "No."

「……」

Translate: "……" (ellipsis). We'll keep as "……". So:

【20】 "……"

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Lord Sima, what did you summon me for?"

【21】 "Lord Sima, what did you summon me for?"

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "I just wanted to see Young Master Mu; the Ministry of Rites isn't ready yet, and the Imperial Observatory has nothing to do."

【150】

【22】 "I just wanted to see Young Master Mu; the Ministry of Rites isn't ready yet, and the Imperial Observatory has nothing to do."

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "I thought the Imperial Observatory had picked a good day, then to give it to the Ministry of Rites."

【23】 "I thought the Imperial Observatory had picked a good day, then to give it to the Ministry of Rites."

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Originally it was like that, but now the National Teacher's position is vacant, and the Imperial Observatory's operations are not as before; many things are like that."

【24】 "Originally it was like that, but now the National Teacher's position is vacant, and the Imperial Observatory's operations are not as before; many things are like that."

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: Mu Mingcheng knew the shaman was playing Tai Chi, he silently told himself not to rush, and thus cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I will not disturb Lord Sima."

【167】

【25】 Mu Mingcheng knew the shaman was playing Tai Chi, he silently told himself not to rush, and thus cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I will not disturb Lord Sima."

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "No disturbance, no disturbance; if Young Master Mu likes, he can have a simple meal here before returning."

【26】 "No disturbance, no disturbance; if Young Master Mu likes, he can have a simple meal here before returning."

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "I am grateful that Lord Sima does not disdain to invite me to share dinner, but unfortunately I will still return home to eat a reunion meal with my sister." Mu Mingcheng rose to say his farewells.

I am grateful that he does not disdain sharing dinner, a reunion meal.

【27】 "I am grateful that Lord Sima does not disdain to invite me to share dinner, but unfortunately I will still return home to eat a reunion meal with my sister." Mu Mingcheng rose to say his farewells.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Young Master Mu is indeed in a hurry; all right, then I won't see you off far."

【28】 "Young Master Mu is indeed in a hurry; all right, then I won't see you off far."

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Lord Sima, please stay."

【29】 "Lord Sima, please stay."

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: After Mu Mingcheng left, the shaman notified Mu Yuanzhi to come over; in the evening, Mu Yuanzhi came together with Gu Rongjin.

line: Chinese sentence.

【30】 After Mu Mingcheng left, the shaman notified Mu Yuanzhi to come over; in the evening, Mu Yuanzhi came together with Gu Rongjin.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "You two are truly loving, returning together to show off." The shaman joked.

line: Chinese sentence.

【31】 "You two are truly loving, returning together to show off." The shaman joked.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Don't be envious; did you get the blood? So quickly? Mu Mingcheng didn't suspect anything, did he?" Gu Rongjin asked.

【32】 "Don't be envious; did you get the blood? So quickly? Mu Mingcheng didn't suspect anything, did he?" Gu Rongjin asked.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Rest assured about my work; come, Princess, I need you to prick your precious body a little." The shaman raised her chin to indicate.

【215】

【33】 "Rest assured about my work; come, Princess, I need you to prick your precious body a little." The shaman raised her chin to indicate.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi dropped the needle, a drop of blood fell into the clean bowl; the shaman also dropped the blood she had just taken; the three people, six eyes, stared at the two drops of blood in the bowl, and soon they merged together!

We need to keep the exclamation. So:

【34】 Mu Yuanzhi dropped the needle, a drop of blood fell into the clean bowl; the shaman also dropped the blood she had just taken; the three people, six eyes, stared at the two drops of blood in the bowl, and soon they merged together!

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Are you sure this drop of blood has no contamination?" Gu Rongjin asked incredulously.

【35】 "Are you sure this drop of blood has no contamination?" Gu Rongjin asked incredulously.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Young Master Gu, don't insult people; as a shaman, can't I even handle this small matter?" The shaman crossed her arms and said.

line: Chinese sentence.

【36】 "Young Master Gu, don't insult people; as a shaman, can't I even handle this small matter?" The shaman crossed her arms and said.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi still couldn't believe it, saying, "There must be some other reason; Lord Sima, don't you have any other ideas?"

line: Chinese sentence.

【37】 Mu Yuanzhi still couldn't believe it, saying, "There must be some other reason; Lord Sima, don't you have any other ideas?"

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Princess, is it possible that he really is your brother, or that your brother, due to his upbringing, grew into a bad person?" The shaman shrugged.

【38】 "Princess, is it possible that he really is your brother, or that your brother, due to his upbringing, grew into a bad person?" The shaman shrugged.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi declared firmly: "Impossible! My intuition tells me he cannot be my brother!"

【39】 Mu Yuanzhi declared firmly: "Impossible! My intuition tells me he cannot be my brother!"

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Exactly! My wife says impossible means impossible!" Gu Rongjin echoed.

【40】 "Exactly! My wife says impossible means impossible!" Gu Rongjin echoed.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Then it's difficult; with my shallow experience, I truly cannot decipher it for now, so we can only take it slow." The shaman looked interestedly at the blood already merged in the bowl and said.

He looked at it with interest.

【41】 "Then it's difficult; with my shallow experience, I truly cannot decipher it for now, so we can only take it slow." The shaman looked interestedly at the blood already merged in the bowl and said.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin exchanged a glance and sighed.

【42】 Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin exchanged a glance and sighed.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: She could only return to continue perusing the ancient texts.

【43】 She could only return to continue perusing the ancient texts.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: As soon as Pei Shangling returned, he heard about Mu Mingcheng's affair and could not sit still.

【44】 As soon as Pei Shangling returned, he heard about Mu Mingcheng's affair and could not sit still.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: How could Ah Zhi have a biological brother?!

line: Chinese sentence.

【45】 How could Ah Zhi have a biological brother?!

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: It certainly isn't true!

【46】 It certainly isn't true!

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: If she has a biological brother, what are we then?!

【47】 If she has a biological brother, what are we then?!

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: This man who came out of nowhere surely has a problem!

【48】 This man who came out of nowhere surely has a problem!

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: Wanting to get close to Ah Zhi!

【49】 Wanting to get close to Ah Zhi!

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: Pei Shangling spent the whole day trying every way to tail Mu Mingcheng; based on his long observation, he concluded: this is an impostor!

【50】 Pei Shangling spent the whole day trying every way to tail Mu Mingcheng; based on his long observation, he concluded: this is an impostor!

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: Seeing Mu Mingcheng off to the Grand General's manor, Pei Shangling then went to find Prince Zhuang's manor to look for Pei Shangjue.

line: Chinese sentence.

【51】 Seeing Mu Mingcheng off to the Grand General's manor, Pei Shangling then went to find Prince Zhuang's manor to look for Pei Shangjue.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Second brother, do you think this Mu Mingcheng is very strange?!" Pei Shangling said as soon as he sat down, unable to wait, he angrily pounded the table, making the teapot leak water.

line: Chinese sentence.

【52】 "Second brother, do you think this Mu Mingcheng is very strange?!" Pei Shangling said as soon as he sat down, unable to wait, he angrily pounded the table, making the teapot leak water.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: Pei Shangjue gave Pei Shangling a sideways glance and remained silent.

【53】 Pei Shangjue gave Pei Shangling a sideways glance and remained silent.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Second brother, say something! Don't you find anything strange?! Suddenly a brother appears? How could Ah Zhi possibly have a brother?!" Pei Shangling could not accept it.

【54】 "Second brother, say something! Don't you find anything strange?! Suddenly a brother appears? How could Ah Zhi possibly have a brother?!" Pei Shangling could not accept it.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "The blood-test for kinship has already been proven; what else can I say?" Pei Shangjue said lightly.

【55】 "The blood-test for kinship has already been proven; what else can I say?" Pei Shangjue said lightly.

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Nonsense! There must be something fishy here!" Pei Shangling gritted his teeth: "It must be that Mu Mingcheng tampered with it!"

【56】 "Nonsense! There must be something fishy here!" Pei Shangling gritted his teeth: "It must be that Mu Mingcheng tampered with it!"

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Gu Rongjin watched the whole process."

【57】 "Gu Rongjin watched the whole process."

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: "Is Gu Rongjin really that formidable?!"

【58】 "Is Gu Rongjin really that formidable?!"

line: Chinese sentence.

Translate: After he said that, all was silent.

【59】 After he said that, all was silent.

Pei Shangling cleared their throat, then excitedly said: "Look at how ordinary Mu Mingcheng looks—where does any part resemble Ah Zhi?!"

How could such an ordinary person possibly be Azhi's brother?!

Pei Shangjue: "Maybe he just looks like his grandfather."

The affectionate Pei Shangling said firmly: "Impossible, Azhi is so beautiful, her parents are good-looking, her grandparents on both sides must also be good-looking!"

You're acting on impulse.

Heh, so you're saying you have no doubts at all and don't care at all?" Pei Shangling glanced at Pei Shangjue with some sarcasm: "How come, were you scared witless by Pei Shangyan's affair? Just hide in the mansion and be a shrinking‑head prince."

Pei Shangjue gave Pei Shangling a cold glance: "What can you possibly do by just chirping and chattering like that?"

"Me!" Pei Shangling gulped down a cup of tea, slammed the cup hard on the table, and said displeasedly: "Well then, may I ask the calm Prince Zhuang, do you have any good suggestions?"

"None."

So you're still not a shrinking‑head turtle? It's fine if you don't care about Azhi; I do!" Pei Shangling jumped to her feet: "I'll spend a lifetime repaying her, a lifetime protecting her!"

"Who says I don't care?" Pei Shangjue's eyes narrowed.