Chapter 74

"Then, do you have any evidence?" Pei Shanghua had been holding it in for a while, and that was all he could come up with.

Translation: "Then, do you have any evidence?" Pei Shang Hua strained for a while and finally blurted out this sentence.

We need to keep quotes and punctuation. We'll translate naturally: "Then, do you have any evidence?" Pei Shang Hua strained for a while and finally blurted out this sentence.

Make sure it's one line.

Mu Yuanzhi said, "If I had evidence, I wouldn't be standing here arguing with you for half a day."

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi: "If I had evidence, would I still be here arguing with you for so long?"

After hearing that, Pei Shanghua fell silent again.

Translation: Pei Shang Hua fell silent again after hearing that.

When he went to find his little sister, she was also implying that Ah Zhi's younger sister had changed.

Translation: When he went to look for his little sister, his little sister was also hinting that Ah Zhi had changed.

He felt that each side had its own justification, and he truly didn't know whom to believe.

Translation: He felt that each side had its own justification, and he really didn't know whom to trust.

So annoying!

Translation: So annoying!

"I'm going back to my own palace first."

Translation: "I'm heading back to my own palace."

After hesitating for a while, Pei Shanghua still decided to think it over on his own first.

Translation: After hesitating for a while, Pei Shang Hua still decided to think it over himself first.

Mu Yuanzhi didn't expect a fence-sitter to suddenly develop any ideological awareness; basically, it would be fine if he didn't come looking for trouble for the qilin.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi didn't expect a fence-sitter to suddenly gain any insight; in short, it was fine as long as he didn't come looking for trouble with the Qilin.

She entered with Xiao Nianzi and Xiao Yunzi, and the abandoned palace was clearly already cleaned, yet there wasn't a single palace servant in sight.

Translation: She, Xiao Nianzi, and Xiao Yunzi entered inside; the abandoned palace was clearly already cleaned, yet there wasn't a single palace servant.

"The qilin?!"

Translation: "Qilin?!"

"Senior sister, I'm here!"

Translation: "Senior Sister, I'm here!"

A response came from the direction of the courtyard, and she could still faintly smell the scent of medicinal herbs.

Translation: A response came from the direction of the courtyard, and she could still smell a faint scent of medicinal herbs.

Is he making medicine?

Translation: "Is he making medicine?"

"Qilin, are you preparing medicine for the Empress Dowager?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

Translation: "Qilin, are you preparing the medicine for the Grand Empress Dowager?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

The qilin shook his head: "That one's already done; now I'm making it for you."

Translation: The Qilin shook his head. "That one's already done; now I'm making it for you."

"For me? Bai Ling grass pills?" Mu Yuanzhi realized from the smell.

Translation: "For me? Hundred Spirit Grass Pill?" Mu Yuanzhi smelled it out.

The qilin nodded: "Exactly, I at least need to make you a thousand or so pills! Last time I gave one to Pei Shangling, I regretted it so much my intestines turned green!"

Translation: The Qilin nodded. "No mistake—I at least need to make you a thousand or so! Last time I gave one to Pei Shangling, I regretted it so much my intestines turned green!"

"You don't need to feel so guilty; he won't take it."

Translation: "You don't need to feel so guilty; he won't take it."

"Why?" The qilin didn't understand.

Translation: "Why?" the Qilin didn't understand.

"He may look impulsive and hot-tempered, but he is actually very calculating; he would not readily try something whose origins are unknown to him."

Wait original: "He may appear impulsive and hot-tempered, but he is actually very calculating; he would not easily try something whose origins are unknown to him."

Translation: "He may look impulsive and hot-tempered, but he's actually very scheming; he wouldn't readily try something whose origins are unknown to him."

Unless it was given by Pei Yunxi.

Translation: "Unless it was given by Pei Yunxi."

In her previous life, Pei Yunxi had already given Pei Shangling the soft-tendon powder; in the end, she even turned the blame on her, saying it was her fault. No matter how she explained it, no matter how obvious the soft-tendon powder from Pei Yunxi was, he remained unmoved, and even said that even if the poison given by his little sister were poison, he would still take it.

Translation: In his previous life, Pei Yunxi had given Pei Shangling the Relax Tendon Powder, but in the end he turned around and blamed her for it; no matter how she explained it, no matter how obvious the Relax Tendon Powder from Pei Yunxi was, he remained unmoved, and even said that even if the little sister gave him poison, he would still take it.

"Qilin, you're living in the palace now; you must always be on guard against Pei Shangling, for he will surely bear a grudge over this matter," Mu Yuanzhi reminded him again.

Translation: "Qilin, you're living in the palace now; you must always be on guard against Pei Shang Hua—this matter he will surely bear a grudge over." Mu Yuanzhi reminded him again.

"I'm not afraid of him at all, senior sister; rest assured, a dream is just a dream, and dreams are the opposite of reality!" The qilin comforted her.

Translation: "I'm not afraid of him at all, Senior Sister, rest assured—dreams are just dreams, and they're the opposite of reality!" the Qilin comforted her.

But that isn't a dream.

Translation: "But that isn't a dream."

Mu Yuanzhi sighed in her heart.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi sighed inwardly.

"I'm going to see the state preceptor shortly; are you coming?" she asked.

Translation: "I'm going to see the National Teacher in a moment; are you coming?" she asked.

The qilin shook his head: "I don't believe in those things."

Translation: The Qilin shook his head. "I don't believe in that stuff."

"Then be careful on your own."

Translation: "Then be careful on your own."

"All right, senior sister, don't treat me like a child; you're the one who needs to be careful."

Translation: "Alright, Senior Sister, don't treat me like a child—you're the one who needs to be careful."

"I'm not a child either."

Translation: "I'm not a child either."

Before leaving, the qilin pressed many Bai Ling grass pills into Mu Yuanzhi's hand and personally watched her take one before he felt reassured.

Translation: Before leaving, the Qilin stuffed Mu Yuanzhi with many Hundred Spirit Grass Pills and personally watched her eat one before he felt reassured.

When Mu Yuanzhi arrived at the Imperial Observatory, she happened to see the emperor leaving; she didn't want to greet him, so she hid a bit, fortunately the emperor seemed lost in thought and didn't notice her.

Translation: When Mu Yuanzhi arrived at the Imperial Observatory, she happened to see the Emperor leaving; she didn't want to greet him, so she hid a little—fortunately the Emperor seemed lost in thought and didn't notice her.

As a bride-to-be, Mu Yuanzhi was required by protocol to visit the state preceptor to have him divine her recent fortunes and determine whether she was suitable for the role of bride escort.

Translation: As a bride's attendant, Mu Yuanzhi was supposed, by protocol, to come here to have the National Teacher calculate her recent fortune to see if she was fit to be this bride's attendant.

"The princess has arrived," the state preceptor said, smiling warmly.

Translation: "The Princess has arrived." the National Teacher came out with a smiling face.

Though barely twenty, he had already become a pivotal state preceptor of the empire, young and promising; if not for the tradition that state preceptors remain unmarried for life, he would surely be even more popular among young women than Xiao Yichen.

Translation: Though barely twenty, he had already become the empire's weighty National Teacher; young and promising, were it not that National Teachers of all dynasties remain unmarried for life, he would surely be even more popular than Xiao Yichen in the dreams of young maidens.

After all, this state preceptor truly is a graceful gentleman, warm and smooth like jade.

Translation: After all, this National Teacher truly is a graceful gentleman, warm and smooth like jade.

Mu Yuanzhi smiled and nodded at him, then asked: "Did my father just come to ask you about me and my younger sister marrying together?"

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi smiled and nodded at him, asking: "Did Father Emperor just come to ask the National Teacher about me and my little sister marrying together?"

"The princess is perceptive, exactly so." The state preceptor greeted Mu Yuanzhi, invited her to sit, and personally brewed her tea: "This is hot tea made from snowmelt water from Kunlun Mountain in winter; it is exceptionally fresh and pleasant—princess, please try a sip."

Translation: "The Princess is perceptive, exactly so." the National Teacher greeted Mu Yuanzhi, had her sit, and personally brewed her tea: "This is hot tea boiled with winter snow water from Kunlun Mountain—it's the most fragrant and refreshing; Princess, please try a sip."

The state preceptor is indeed a person who pays attention to detail.

Translation: The National Teacher indeed is a person who pays attention to details.

Mu Yuanzhi usually at most concerns herself with where the tea leaves are produced.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi usually at most cares about where the tea leaves are produced.

While brewing the tea, the state preceptor continued: "Just now His Majesty ordered me to give some, saying to send it to Changle Palace for Princess Yunxi; I couldn't bring myself to part with it, after all, good tea should be reserved for those who can appreciate it."

Translation: While brewing tea, the National Teacher continued: "Just now His Majesty ordered me to give some, saying to send it to Changle Palace for Princess Yunxi; I couldn't bear to part with it, after all, good tea should be given to those who can appreciate it."

He had a hidden meaning, which Mu Yuanzhi naturally understood.

Translation: He had a hidden meaning, and Mu Yuanzhi naturally understood.

Indeed, a person like the state preceptor would neither be bewitched by Pei Yunxi nor be bribed by her.

Translation: As expected, this sort of National Teacher would neither be bewitched by Pei Yunxi nor be bribed by her.

Thus, Mu Yuanzhi felt considerably more at ease.

Translation: In that case, Mu Yuanzhi felt much more reassured.

"The state preceptor makes sense," Mu Yuanzhi said, lifting her teacup and taking a sip; her eyes instantly brightened: "Delicious, I've never tasted tea this good before!"

Translation: "What the National Teacher says makes sense." Mu Yuanzhi lifted her teacup, took a sip, and her eyes instantly brightened: "Delicious—I've never tasted tea this good before!"

The state preceptor, who enjoys tea tasting, saw Mu Yuanzhi's sincere praise and his smile widened: "The princess truly knows how to appreciate tea; in that case, may I ask, Your Highness, do you wish for double blessings, or not?"

Translation: The National Teacher, who enjoys tea tasting, saw Mu Yuanzhi's sincere praise and his smile widened: "The Princess truly knows how to appreciate tea; in that case, I might ask the Princess: do you wish for double blessings, or not?"

Upon hearing that, Mu Yuanzhi raised her eyes to look at him, thinking the state preceptor had already spoken with the emperor.

Translation: Upon hearing that, Mu Yuanzhi raised her eyes to look at him, thinking the National Teacher had already spoken to the Emperor.

Turns out he hasn't yet?

Translation: "Turns out he hasn't yet?"

"Yes." Mu Yuanzhi said, setting down her teacup.

Translation: "Yes." Mu Yuanzhi set down her teacup and said.

"Have you made up your mind to marry Master Jin, Princess?" the state preceptor asked again, his expression turning serious.

Translation: "Princess, have you decided to marry Heir Apparent Jin?" the National Teacher asked again, his expression turning serious.

Mu Yuanzhi didn't know whether he believed Gu Rongjin was a frivolous playboy or suspected he hid his true abilities, which is why he asked that.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi didn't know whether he believed Gu Rongjin was a spoiled noble or suspected he hid his true nature, which is why he asked that.

For her, regardless of what kind of person Gu Rongjin is, marrying him is her only current option.

Translation: For her, regardless of what kind of person Gu Rongjin is, marrying him is her only way out at present.

"Such a lifelong matter has naturally already been decided."

Translation: "A lifelong matter—of course it's already been decided."

"It seems I asked unnecessarily," the state preceptor said, topping off a little more tea in Mu Yuanzhi's cup.

Translation: "Looks like I asked unnecessarily." the National Teacher topped up a little more tea in Mu Yuanzhi's cup.

The cup was half tea, half wine; he poured only half and then stopped.

Translation: "Half tea, half wine"—he poured half and then stopped.

Mu Yuanzhi suddenly asked: "State preceptor, do you know who saved me when I nearly drowned in the Imperial Observatory that day?"

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi suddenly asked: "National Teacher, do you know who saved me when I nearly drowned at the Imperial Observatory that day?"

After she finished speaking, she keenly noticed that the state preceptor's hand, which had been withdrawn, paused for a moment.

Translation: After she finished speaking, she noticed with sharp eyes that the National Teacher's withdrawing hand paused for a moment.

They know!

"National Teacher, do you know if it is?" Mu Yuanzhi asked urgently again.

National Teacher smiled and said, "Isn't it the Crown Prince?"

"Does the National Teacher have difficulties?"

If it truly was Gu Rongjin who saved her, why would Gu Rongjin conceal it, and the National Teacher also conceal it?

What exactly in this cannot be told to outsiders?

Could it be that Gu Rongjin and the National Teacher have dealings but cannot let people know?

Besides this, Mu Yuanzhi temporarily couldn't figure it out.

The National Teacher picked up his tea cup but did not drink for a long time; he stroked the cup and said, "The princess actually already has the answer—why bother asking me?"

Indeed it is Gu Rongjin!

As expected, yet it still made Mu Yuanzhi's emotions fluctuate.

It really is him, it is Gu Rongjin!

Mu Yuanzhi couldn't say whether she was happy or what.

He does everything for her, treats her so well, she fears she will again become accustomed to this kindness, become dependent, even succumb.

This is too terrifying!

Those unknown fears hidden somewhere will seep out, making her recall past events, recall the scene of her miserable death.

Mu Yuanzhi's scalp went numb, her stomach cramped, she felt like vomiting; she quickly drank a sip of hot tea to suppress the shock.

Perhaps noticing her abnormality, the National Teacher rose to change the incense; the new incense lit in the censer, its calming scent quickly spread.

Mu Yuanzhi felt better, curiously asking, "What incense is this?"

"It is calming Tibetan incense; smelling it makes one forget pain," the National Teacher said.

"Forgetting pain? That's not a good thing," Mu Yuanzhi murmured.