Chapter 447

Mu Yuanzhi sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and said, "You said his initial gaze was towards Qi Shi'an?"

Mu Yuanzhi sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and said, "You said his initial gaze was towards Qi Shi'an?"

Mu Yuanzhi, Qi Shi'an, Qi Shihuai

Xi Xi

English explanation, skip.

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Now translate each line.

We'll need to be careful to keep punctuation and quotes.

Let's do.

Mu Yuanzhi sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and said, "You said his initial gaze was towards Qi Shi'an?"

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and said, "You said his initial gaze was towards Qi Shi'an?"

But need to keep the quote exactly as Chinese? We'll translate.

Thus: 【1】 Mu Yuanzhi sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and said, "You said his initial gaze was towards Qi Shi'an?"

You said his initial gaze was towards Qi Shi'an?

Xi Xi said, "Yes, at first he was very attentive, but he only dared to do it secretly, not openly; probably because he feared the Grand Princess of their household would find out. I think he actually just wanted to curry favor with the Grand Princess, but he didn't want to give up other women useful to him."

English explanation, skip.

We need to use Grand Princess from glossary.

Thus: 【2】 "Yes, at first he was very attentive, but he only dared to do it secretly, not openly, probably fearing that the Grand Princess of their household would find out. I guess he actually just wanted to curry favor with the Grand Princess, but he didn't want to give up other women useful to him." Xi Xi said.

Mu Yuanzhi said, "You're quite perceptive."

Translation: "You're quite perceptive." Mu Yuanzhi said.

【3】 "You're quite perceptive." Mu Yuanzhi said.

Qi Shi'an is Qi Shihuai's sister; indeed, she is more worth Mu Mingcheng's effort to curry favor with than Xi Xi. He only turned to harassing Xi Xi after Qi Shi'an ignored him.

Translation: Qi Shi'an is Qi Shihuai's sister; indeed she is more worth Mu Mingcheng's currying favor than Xi Xi. He turned to harassing Xi Xi only because Qi Shi'an ignored him.

We need to keep as one line.

【4】 Qi Shi'an is Qi Shihuai's sister; indeed she is more worth Mu Mingcheng's currying favor than Xi Xi. He turned to harassing Xi Xi only because Qi Shi'an ignored him.

What a scumbag!

Translation: What a scumbag!

【5】 What a scumbag!

Xi Xi said proudly, "Of course, don't underestimate my perceptiveness!"

Translation: "Of course, don't underestimate my perceptiveness!" Xi Xi proudly said.

【6】 "Of course, don't underestimate my perceptiveness!" Xi Xi proudly said.

She took a sip of tea to soothe her throat, then asked, "Mu Elder Sister, why do you think Mu Mingcheng isn't your brother? I heard they did a blood‑relation test; could there be something wrong with it?"

Translation: She took a sip of tea to soothe her throat, then asked, "Mu Elder Sister, why do you think Mu Mingcheng isn't your brother? I heard they did a blood-drip kinship test? Could there be something wrong?"

English explanation, skip.

Thus: 【7】 She took a sip of tea to soothe her throat, then asked, "Mu Elder Sister, why do you think Mu Mingcheng isn't your brother? I heard they did a blood-drip kinship test? Could there be something wrong?"

Xi Xi lowered her voice, afraid that others might hear.

Translation: Xi Xi lowered her voice especially, fearing others would hear.

【8】 Xi Xi lowered her voice especially, fearing others would hear.

Mu Yuanzhi said, "Intuition. If he were my relative, I couldn't feel this much aversion; there's not even a hint of affection—it's strange."

Translation: "Intuition." Mu Yuanzhi said, "If he were my relative, I couldn't possibly feel so antagonistic in my heart, not even a hint of affection; that's very strange."

【9】 "Intuition." Mu Yuanzhi said, "If he were my relative, I couldn't possibly feel so antagonistic in my heart, not even a hint of affection; that's very strange."

Xi Xi nodded, saying, "Indeed, I also trust intuition. When you meet a long‑lost relative, all that remains is aversion; it's hard to explain, and ordinary people wouldn't feel aversion toward strangers, let alone toward their own kin. So how does blood‑relation testing work?"

Translation: Xi Xi nodded, "Indeed, I also trust intuition! Upon meeting a long-lost relative, one's heart would only have antagonism, hard to explain; ordinary people wouldn't feel antagonistic toward strangers, let alone toward their own relatives. But how does the blood-drip kinship test work?"

【10】 Xi Xi nodded, "Indeed, I also trust intuition! Upon meeting a long-lost relative, one's heart would only have antagonism, hard to explain; ordinary people wouldn't feel antagonistic toward strangers, let alone toward their own relatives. But how does the blood-drip kinship test work?"

Mu Yuanzhi shook her head, saying, "I'm not sure either. I had someone secretly test it again, and the blood still mixed..."

Translation: "I'm not sure either." Mu Yuanzhi shook her head, "I had someone secretly perform it again, and it still blended..."

【11】 "I'm not sure either." Mu Yuanzhi shook her head, "I had someone secretly perform it again, and it still blended..."

This is truly the root of her worry.

Translation: This is truly the root cause of her worries.

【12】 This is truly the root cause of her worries.

She still couldn't fathom what Master Yuan Yan had said.

Translation: She still couldn't fathom what Master Yuan Yan meant.

【13】 She still couldn't fathom what Master Yuan Yan meant.

Xi Xi listened, bit her lip, pondered for a while, and wanted to speak but held back.

Translation: Upon hearing this, Xi Xi bit her lip, pondered for a while, wanted to speak but held back.

【14】 Upon hearing this, Xi Xi bit her lip, pondered for a while, wanted to speak but held back.

Mu Yuanzhi asked, "What do you want to say? Speak boldly—you might be right!"

Translation: "What do you want to say?" Mu Yuanzhi asked, "Speak boldly; maybe you guessed right!"

【15】 "What do you want to say?" Mu Yuanzhi asked, "Speak boldly; maybe you guessed right!"

As the saying goes, one person's plan is short, two people's plan is long.

Translation: As the saying goes, one person's plan is short, two persons' plan is long.

【16】 As the saying goes, one person's plan is short, two persons' plan is long.

Xi Xi said, "Well, I've always had a doubt: is blood‑relation testing reliable? Does mixed blood necessarily mean they're related? Let me say up front, I don't know medicine—this is just wild speculation."

Translation: Xi Xi: "Well, I actually have always had a doubt: is the blood-drip kinship test reliable? Does the blending of two drops of blood definitely mean they are relatives? Let me say first that I don't know medicine; this is just wild speculation."

【17】 Xi Xi: "Well, I actually have always had a doubt: is the blood-drip kinship test reliable? Does the blending of two drops of blood definitely mean they are relatives? Let me say first that I don't know medicine; this is just wild speculation."

"Well..." She really hadn't thought about this question.

Translation: "This..." She really hadn't thought about this question.

【18】 "This..." She really hadn't thought about this question.

Because throughout history, blood‑relation testing has been the sole way to prove kinship, she had never doubted it, let alone researched it.

Translation: Because throughout history, the blood-drip kinship test has been the sole way to prove blood relations; she never doubted it, nor did she study it.

【19】 Because throughout history, the blood-drip kinship test has been the sole way to prove blood relations; she never doubted it, nor did she study it.

Now that Xi Xi raised the issue, it actually woke her up.

Translation: Now that Xi Xi raised it, it actually awakened her.

【20】 Now that Xi Xi raised it, it actually awakened her.

Right, is blood‑relation testing really reliable?

Translation: Right, is the blood-drip kinship test really reliable?

【21】 Right, is the blood-drip kinship test really reliable?

Mu Yuanzhi nodded approvingly

Translation: "Your viewpoint is excellent!" Mu Yuanzhi nodded approvingly, "I've never thought about this question."

【22】 "Your viewpoint is excellent!" Mu Yuanzhi nodded approvingly, "I've never thought about this question."

Xi Xi never imagined that her random guess would be endorsed by such a renowned physician as Mu Yuanzhi, leaving her feeling both honored and astonished.

Translation: Xi Xi didn't expect her random speculation to be endorsed by such a renowned physician as Mu Yuanzhi, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the favor.

【23】 Xi Xi didn't expect her random speculation to be endorsed by such a renowned physician as Mu Yuanzhi, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the favor.

"Could I have unintentionally made history?"

Translation: "Could I have inadvertently created history?"

【24】 "Could I have inadvertently created history?"

Just thinking about it still makes me a bit happy!

Translation: Just thinking about it still makes me a bit happy!

【25】 Just thinking about it still makes me a bit happy!

Xi Xi stroked her chin, pondering, "But no one questions whether blood‑relation testing is reliable; how would we prove it isn't?"

Translation: "But, no one would doubt whether the blood-drip kinship test is reliable; how could we prove it unreliable?" Xi Xi stroked her chin, pondering.

【26】 "But, no one would doubt whether the blood-drip kinship test is reliable; how could we prove it unreliable?" Xi Xi stroked her chin, pondering.

Mu Yuanzhi bit her lip and said, "This is indeed a major problem."

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi bit her lip: "This is indeed a major problem."

【27】 Mu Yuanzhi bit her lip: "This is indeed a major problem."

To challenge such a longstanding authority, we need substantial evidence to back it up.

Translation: To challenge the authority of ages past, one must have sufficient evidence to support it.

【28】 To challenge the authority of ages past, one must have sufficient evidence to support it.

Mu Yuanzhi asked, "I have another question: how would Mu Mingcheng know that his blood could mix with yours, Mu Elder Sister? Could he have stolen your blood somewhere?"

Translation: "I have another question: where did Mu Mingcheng learn that his blood could blend with yours, Elder Sister Mu? Could he have stolen your blood from somewhere?"

【29】 "I have another question: where did Mu Mingcheng learn that his blood could blend with yours, Elder Sister Mu? Could he have stolen your blood from somewhere?"

"Exactly, I wasn't in the capital when he arrived, and after I returned I never saw him; I went straight to the palace and had the blood test done then. So where could he have gotten my blood beforehand?"

Translation: "Yes, when he came to Jingcheng I wasn't there; after I returned I never saw him, and upon returning I entered the palace and had the blood test done then. Could he have obtained my blood from somewhere earlier?"

【30】 "Yes, when he came to Jingcheng I wasn't there; after I returned I never saw him, and upon returning I entered the palace and had the blood test done then. Could he have obtained my blood from somewhere earlier?"

Mu Yuanzhi really couldn't recall when she might have accidentally let someone take her blood—perhaps when Xiao Yichen captured her? But that's impossible, since Xiao Yichen himself can't leave Juechen Valley.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi really couldn't recall when she might have inadvertently let someone take her blood? Could it have been when Xiao Yichen seized her? But that's impossible, as Xiao Yichen himself cannot leave Juechen Valley.

【31】 Mu Yuanzhi really couldn't recall when she might have inadvertently let someone take her blood? Could it have been when Xiao Yichen seized her? But that's impossible, as Xiao Yichen himself cannot leave Juechen Valley.

Blood isn't refrigerated, so it would quickly lose its effectiveness—sending it by carrier pigeon is impossible.

Translation: Blood without refrigeration quickly loses its efficacy; sending it by carrier pigeon is impossible.

【32】 Blood without refrigeration quickly loses its efficacy; sending it by carrier pigeon is impossible.

After thinking it over, Mu Yuanzhi still couldn't figure out where someone might have taken her blood.

Translation: After thinking it over, Mu Yuanzhi still couldn't figure out where someone might have stolen her blood.

【33】 After thinking it over, Mu Yuanzhi still couldn't figure out where someone might have stolen her blood.

It's really giving her a headache.

Translation: It's really a headache.

【34】 It's really a headache.

Xi Xi picked up her chopsticks to grab some food and said, "Let's not dwell on it—you came out to relax, right? Let's eat quickly and unwind; maybe inspiration will strike!"

Translation: "Don't think about it now; you came out to relax, didn't you? Let's eat quickly and go relax; maybe inspiration will strike!" Xi Xi said, picking up her chopsticks to grab a dish.

【35】 "Don't think about it now; you came out to relax, didn't you? Let's eat quickly and go relax; maybe inspiration will strike!" Xi Xi said, picking up her chopsticks to grab a dish.

Mu Yuanzhi agreed, saying, "You're right—let's eat first, then go out. Today we're here to unwind," and she set aside those worrisome thoughts.

Translation: "That's right, eat first then stroll; today we're here to relax." Mu Yuanzhi also pushed these headache-inducing thoughts aside.

【36】 "That's right, eat first then stroll; today we're here to relax." Mu Yuanzhi also pushed these headache-inducing thoughts aside.

As the saying goes, haste makes waste; she couldn't let herself worry to death first.

Translation: Haste makes waste; she couldn't let herself die of worry first.

【37】 Haste makes waste; she couldn't let herself die of worry first.

After spending a day strolling with Xi Xi, Mu Yuanzhi did relax considerably; returning to the Grand General's mansion and not seeing Mu Mingcheng improved her mood even more.

Translation: After strolling the streets with Xi Xi all day, Mu Yuanzhi indeed relaxed considerably; returning to the Grand General's manor, she didn't see Mu Mingcheng, and her mood improved even more.

【38】 After strolling the streets with Xi Xi all day, Mu Yuanzhi indeed relaxed considerably; returning to the Grand General's manor, she didn't see Mu Mingcheng, and her mood improved even more.

At that moment, Gu Rongjin also returned.

Translation: At that moment, Gu Rongjin also returned.

【39】 At that moment, Gu Rongjin also returned.

Mu Yuanzhi asked, "What did General Qi say to you?"

Translation: "What did General Qi say to you?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

【40】 "What did General Qi say to you?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

Gu Rongjin sat down, picked up a snack, and mumbled, "Forget it—that guy is just trouble. He rushed to call me over just to tell me not to let Mu Mingcheng keep harassing his sister! Really, couldn't we have mentioned this at court?"

Translation: Gu Rongjin sat down, picked up a snack to eat, and spoke indistinctly: "Forget it, that guy is a trap; he urgently summoned me just to tell me not to let Mu Mingcheng keep harassing his sister! Really, couldn't such matters be said at court?"

【41】 Gu Rongjin sat down, picked up a snack to eat, and spoke indistinctly: "Forget it, that guy is a trap; he urgently summoned me just to tell me not to let Mu Mingcheng keep harassing his sister! Really, couldn't such matters be said at court?"

Mu Yuanzhi said helplessly, "I only found out today that he's been harassing Qi Shi'an too; Xi Xi told me that Mu Mingcheng originally wanted to curry favor with General Qi's daughter, but when she ignored him, he changed tactics."

Translation: "I also only learned today that he went to harass Qi Shi'an; Xi Xi told me, saying Mu Mingcheng initially wanted to curry favor with General Qi's daughter, but she ignored him, so he changed tactics!" Mu Yuanzhi said speechlessly.

【42】 "I also only learned today that he went to harass Qi Shi'an; Xi Xi told me, saying Mu Mingcheng initially wanted to curry favor with General Qi's daughter, but she ignored him, so he changed tactics!" Mu Yuanzhi said speechlessly.

Gu Rongjin shook his head and said, "I wouldn't believe it even if you beat me to death—that guy claiming to be your brother!"

Translation: Gu Rongjin shook his head: "I wouldn't believe even if beaten to death that such a person is your brother!"

【43】 Gu Rongjin shook his head: "I wouldn't believe even if beaten to death that such a person is your brother!"

Mu Yuanzhi said, "Today Xi Xi raised a fresh perspective that cleared my mind!"

Translation: "Today Xi Xi raised a very fresh viewpoint that enlightened me!" Mu Yuanzhi said.

【44】 "Today Xi Xi raised a very fresh viewpoint that enlightened me!" Mu Yuanzhi said.

"What perspective?"

Translation: "What viewpoint?"

【45】 "What viewpoint?"

"She said, 'Is blood‑relation testing definitely reliable?'"

Translation: "She said the blood-drip kinship test is definitely reliable?"

【46】 "She said the blood-drip kinship test is definitely reliable?"

Gu Rongjin pondered, then clapped his hands firmly and said, "Exactly! Is that thing reliable?! I also have doubts—what's the principle? Is it just based on tradition?"

Translation: Gu Rongjin pondered for a moment, then clapped his hands firmly: "Exactly! Is that thing reliable?! I also have doubts; what's the principle? Just relying on age-old convention?"

【47】 Gu Rongjin pondered for a moment, then clapped his hands firmly: "Exactly! Is that thing reliable?! I also have doubts; what's the principle? Just relying on age-old convention?"

Mu Yuanzhi happily said, "You feel the same way, right? Assuming blood‑relation testing isn't reliable, it would mean Mu Mingcheng somehow found out that his blood could mix with mine, which is why he dared to pull off this whole act."

Translation: "You feel the same way, right?" Mu Yuanzhi happily noted that Gu Rongjin agreed with her, "Assuming the blood-drip kinship test is unreliable, it means Mu Mingcheng somehow learned that his blood and mine could blend, and thus dared to stage this charade boldly."

【48】 "You feel the same way, right?" Mu Yuanzhi happily noted that Gu Rongjin agreed with her, "Assuming the blood-drip kinship test is unreliable, it means Mu Mingcheng somehow learned that his blood and mine could blend, and thus dared to stage this charade boldly."

Gu Rongjin's expression turned serious as he asked, "But when would anyone have stolen your blood? How would I not know?"

Translation: "But when did you have your blood stolen? How would I not know?" Gu Rongjin's expression turned solemn.

【49】 "But when did you have your blood stolen? How would I not know?" Gu Rongjin's expression turned solemn.

"I don't know either—it's utterly bizarre."

Translation: "I myself don't know; it's too bizarre."

【50】 "I myself don't know; it's too bizarre."

Gu Rongjin said, "But that's not the point now; the point is how we can prove blood‑relation testing isn't reliable. We need a convincing argument, otherwise it's impossible to overturn the deeply rooted belief of the masses."

Translation: "But this isn't the current focus; the focus is how we can prove the blood-drip kinship test unreliable." Gu Rongjin said, "We must have a convincing argument; otherwise, it's basically impossible to overturn the deeply rooted popular belief."

【51】 "But this isn't the current focus; the focus is how we can prove the blood-drip kinship test unreliable." Gu Rongjin said, "We must have a convincing argument; otherwise, it's basically impossible to overturn the deeply rooted popular belief."

"Exactly, this has been the method of recognizing kinship for thousands of years; it's not easy to overturn."

Translation: "That's right; this has been a kinship-recognition method passed down for thousands of years, hard to easily break."

【52】 "That's right; this has been a kinship-recognition method passed down for thousands of years, hard to easily break."

Gu Rongjin handed Mu Yuanzhi a pastry and said, "Don't lose heart—at least we now have a goal. Come, eat the snack and think it over slowly."

Translation: "Don't lose heart; at least we now have a goal." Gu Rongjin handed Mu Yuanzhi a pastry: "Come, eat the snack slowly, think it over."

【53】 "Don't lose heart; at least we now have a goal." Gu Rongjin handed Mu Yuanzhi a pastry: "Come, eat the snack slowly, think it over."

Mu Yuanzhi took the pastry and said, "Exactly, we still have a couple of months; I just don't believe we won't find a way!"

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi took the pastry and said, "Yes, we still have over two months; I simply don't believe we can't find a method!"

【54】 Mu Yuanzhi took the pastry and said, "Yes, we still have over two months; I simply don't believe we can't find a method!"

Chinese line.

Translation: The next day, the steward came running early in the morning to knock on the door: "Princess, Prince Consort! Prince Ling has arrived, saying he urgently seeks you regarding the Eldest Son's matter!"

【55】 The next day, the steward came running early in the morning to knock on the door: "Princess, Prince Consort! Prince Ling has arrived, saying he urgently seeks you regarding the Eldest Son's matter!"

The steward shouted so loudly because Mu Mingcheng had gone out.

Translation: The steward shouted so loudly because Mu Mingcheng had gone out.

【56】 The steward shouted so loudly because Mu Mingcheng had gone out.

Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin, still in bed, exchanged a glance, and their drowsiness vanished.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin, still not risen, exchanged a glance; even their sleepiness fled.

【57】 Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin, still not risen, exchanged a glance; even their sleepiness fled.

Gu Rongjin yawned and got up, wondering, "Could this guy just be looking for an excuse to see you again?"

Translation: "That guy won't just be looking for an excuse to see you again, will he?" Gu Rongjin yawned as he got up.

【58】 "That guy won't just be looking for an excuse to see you again, will he?" Gu Rongjin yawned as he got up.

"If that's the case, he'd better not even think about entering this door." Mu Yuanzhi said.