Chapter 184

Li Chao Jing's face went pale, yet Li Qingluo didn't look at him at all; she lifted her skirts and flung herself toward Grandmother Pei.

Interpretation: Li Chao Jing's face turned ashen, but Li Qingluo didn't look at him at all, lifted her skirt and lunged toward Pei Lao Furen.

We need natural English: "Li Chao Jing's face turned ashen, but Li Qingluo didn't even glance at him; she lifted her skirt and lunged toward Pei Lao Furen."

Make sure we keep meaning. Use exact glossary names.

Grandmother!

She clung tightly to Grandmother Pei, and the two held each other, as if they had finally found where their souls belonged; only then did they both relax.

Translate: "She tightly embraced Pei Lao Furen, grandmother and granddaughter holding each other, as if they had finally found where their souls belonged, and only then did they both relax."

Make sure to keep meaning.

Li Qingluo had just survived this ordeal, hanging on the cliff all night; her sole concern was, if she accidentally died, what would happen to her grandmother?

Li Qingluo endured this ordeal, hanging on the cliff all night; her only worry was, if she really died by accident, what would become of her grandmother?

We'll produce: "Li Qingluo had endured this ordeal, hanging on the cliff all night; the only thing on her mind was, if she really died by accident, what would become of her grandmother?"

If she fell off the sheer cliff and was crushed to death, she would be gone, but who would her grandmother have left to care for in this world?

Translate: "If she fell off the ten-thousand‑foot cliff and was smashed to pieces, she would be dead, but who would her grandmother have left to worry about in this world?"

She worried that her grandmother would be overcome with sorrow, so she drew much of her inner strength from her grandmother.

Translate: "She feared her grandmother would be overcome with grief, so much of her mental strength came from relying on her grandmother."

Grandmother, Luo'er has something to tell you…

Translate: "Grandmother, Luo'er wants to tell you……"

We should use the glossary name for Li Qingluo; the spoken line uses the nickname Luo'er, which isn't in the glossary, so we render it as Luo'er.

Thus: "Grandmother, Luo'er wants to tell you……"

Li Qingluo took Grandmother Pei's arm and went inside the manor.

Translate: "Li Qingluo took Pei Lao Furen's arm and entered the residence."

These days she couldn't be bothered to exchange pleasantries with Li Chao Jing and Lady Qu.

Translate: "Now she couldn't even be bothered to exchange pleasantries with Li Chao Jing and Qu Shi."

Lady Qu looked disappointed, yet she kept her gaze locked on Li Qingluo's retreating figure, as if she could never get enough of seeing her.

Translate: "Qu Shi wore a look of dejection, yet she kept staring fixedly at Li Qingluo's back, as if she could never get enough."

Li Chao Jing furiously pointed at her back and yelled, "Li Qingluo! What on earth is wrong with you?! I'm still your father! Don't think that just because your grandmother shields you, you can do whatever you want—you won't even recognize me as your father anymore!"

Translate: "Li Chao Jing, however, pointed angrily at her back: 'Li Qingluo! You—what on earth is this conduct?! I am still your biological father! Don't think that because your grandmother shields you, you can act lawlessly; you now don't even acknowledge me as your father, do you?'"

We need to keep the quoted speech. We'll translate the quoted part.

Lady Qu took hold of his arm and said, "Master, Mother is still up ahead; could you tone it down a bit?"

Translate: "Qu Shi grabbed him: 'Master, Mother is still ahead; just say a little less.'"

"Luo'er has only just returned; she's surely been shaken up these past two days. Even if you want to assert your fatherly authority, you should wait a couple of days before saying anything."

Translate: "'Luo'er has just returned; these past two days she must have suffered quite a fright. Even if you want to put on airs as a father, you should wait a couple of days before speaking.'"

Note: Use Luo'er.

"Besides, Princess Qin Yu already explained that she forgot Luo'er's message and didn't come to the General's Manor to deliver the news."

Translate: "'Moreover, hasn't Princess Qinyu already explained? She simply forgot Luo'er's commission and forgot to come to the Jiangjun Fu to deliver the message.'"

Li Chao Jing shoved Lady Qu away and snapped, "You're speaking up for her today!"

Translate: "Li Chao Jing flung Qu Shi aside: 'Having you speak up for her today!'"

"Lady Qu, this is the fine daughter you raised!"

Translate: "'Qu Shi, this is the fine daughter you bore!'"

Li Chao Jing pointed at Lady Qu, his face red with anger, and said, "Since Liu Qingzhu left the General's Manor, she's lost all affection for us parents, yet you keep indulging her—now you're even thinking about how to win her favor!"

Translate: "Li Chao Jing pointed at Qu Shi, his face full of anger: 'Since Liu Qiongzhu left the Jiangjun Fu, her eyes have held less and less for us parents; you, however, have gone on indulging her, and now you're thinking how to curry favor with her?!'"

"Lady Qu, don't think I don't know what you're after!"

Translate: "'Qu Shi, don't think I don't know what you're up to!'"

At the front gate of the General's Manor, Lady Qu, treated this way, was left unable to save face.

Translate: "At the gate of the Jiangjun Fu, Qu Shi, treated this way, momentarily lost face."

"You!"

Translate: "'You!'"

She flushed crimson, glanced around, and her eyes grew red.

Translate: "She flushed, looked around, and her eyes reddened."

"Husband, we've now seen Zhu'er's true colors; shouldn't we treat Luo'er with the same sincerity we once showed Zhu'er?"

Translate: "'Husband, we have now seen Qiongzhu's true colors; we shouldn't treat Luo'er as we once treated Qiongzhu, but instead show her some sincerity, should we?'"

"Don't scheme against her or use her; if you treat her with genuine sincerity, how could she not come to accept us?"

Translate: "'Don't scheme against her or use her; if you treat her with genuine feeling, how could she not acknowledge us?'"

"I have only one son and one daughter; my son is now a wreck, just existing half-alive in his room, so this healthy daughter is all I have left."

Translate: "'I have only one son and one daughter; my son is now in such a state, living half‑dead in his room, so this is the only healthy daughter I have……'"

"We've already lost more than a decade with her, and now that I want to treat her sincerely, how can that be seen as having ulterior motives?"

Translate: "'We have already missed over a decade with her; now I want to treat her sincerely—how does that become having ulterior motives?!'"

"Unlike you, Father, who can still take a young concubine and surely have more children later…"

Translate: "'Unlike the master, who can still take a young concubine and surely will have more offspring……'"

As she spoke these words, Lady Qu's eyes filled with resentment.

Translate: "As she spoke, Qu Shi's eyes grew a bit more resentful."

Li Chao Jing's face also showed a hint of unease.

Translate: "Li Chao Jing's face also showed a hint of unease."

"What nonsense are you spouting here?"

Note: missing closing quote? We'll translate as is: "'What nonsense are you spouting here?'"

Lady Qu said, "Master, you've grown increasingly impatient with me, you ignore Chuan'er, and you're always angry with Luo'er—could it be because you've just brought a new person into the manor?"

Translate: "Qu Shi said: 'Master, you've been losing patience with me lately, ignoring Chuan'er, and always fuming at Luo'er—could it be because you've just brought a new person into the manor?'"

The truth that Lady Qu blurted out finally made Li Chao Jing feel a twinge of shame.

Translate: "The truth that Qu Shi blurted out finally made Li Chao Jing feel a bit ashamed."

"You—!"

Translate: "'You——!'"

He raised his hand; if they weren't at the front gate of the General's Manor, he would have already struck her.

Translate: "He raised his hand; if this weren't the gate of the Jiangjun Fu, he would have already swung it down."

"Stop this nonsense, jealous woman! I warn you—if Mian'er suffers any injustice before you, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Translate: "'Nonsense, jealous woman! I warn you: if Mei'er suffers any grievance in your presence, don't blame me for being ruthless!'"

After saying that, Li Chao Jing turned and swept his sleeves as he left.

Translate: "Having said that, Li Chao Jing turned and flicked his sleeves as he left."

Lady Qu stumbled back violently; if Granny Chang hadn't been supporting her, she would have collapsed.

Translate: "Qu Shi staggered backward; if not for Chang Mama supporting her, she would have collapsed."

Lady Qu's eyes were red, she gave a bitter smile and said, "We've been husband and wife for twenty years since our youth; I bore him children and managed everything in the household for him…"

Translate: "Qu Shi's eyes were red, she gave a bitter smile: 'I have been his wife for twenty years since youth; I bore him children, and I…… managed the household entirely.'"

"I know I'm not clever, and I know I've done things that let him down, but I've had no merit these years—surely I've at least endured hardship?"

Translate: "'I know I'm not clever; I also know I've done things that let him down, but these years I've had no merit—surely I've also put in hard work?'"

"Now my son is ruined, my daughter doesn't recognize us… and he treats me like this?!"

Translate: "'Now my son is ruined, my daughter doesn't acknowledge us…… and he treats me like this?!'"

"If it weren't for my Qu family back then, what kind of good family could she have married into?"

Translate: "'Back then, if it weren't for my Qu family, what good match could he have married?'"

"My Qu family has also helped him quite a bit over the years, hasn't it?"

Translate: "'My Qu family has also helped him quite a bit over the years, hasn't it?'"

"And yet he has turned so cold-hearted!"

Translate: "'And yet he turns around and acts so heartless!'"

"If he truly is the old general's biological son, then he's nothing but a heartless, unrighteous breed!"

Translate: "'If he truly… really is the old general's own son! They're all heartless and unrighteous stock!'"

Granny Chang was terrified out of her wits and wanted to cover her master's mouth.

Translate: "Chang Mama was terrified to the point of near death, wishing she could cover her master's mouth."

"Madam, please stop speaking, please stop…"

Translate: "'Madam, please stop speaking, please stop……'"

"Someone come! The mistress is unwell—hurry and help her back to Chunzai Hall!"

Translate: "'Someone! Madam is unwell—hurry and help her back to Chun Zai Tang!'"

Li Qingluo still didn't know what had happened at the back gate after she left, but she did encounter Li Chao Jing's new concubine in the garden.

Translate: "Li Qingluo still didn't know what had happened at the back gate, but she encountered Li Chao Jing's new concubine in the garden."

Her figure swayed like a willow, her movements light as a breeze.

Translate: "Her figure was like a willow swaying, her movements light as a breeze."

Her lovely face blossomed like flowers, her charm endless.

Translate: "Her lovely face bloomed like flowers, her charm myriad."

It seems the people sent by Granny Deng did not train her in vain.

Translate: "It seems the person Deng Mama sent was not trained in vain."

But Liu Mian'er—when did she enter the manor?

Translate: "But this Liu Mei'er—when did she enter the manor?"

Liu Mian'er, upon seeing Grandmother Pei and Li Qingluo, immediately knelt and said, "I have paid my respects to the old lady and to the eldest daughter."

Translate: "Liu Mei'er, upon seeing Pei Lao Furen and Li Qingluo, immediately knelt and paid her respects: 'This servant has greeted the Old Lady and the Eldest Miss.'"

Li Qingluo acted as if she had never seen her before, and deliberately asked, "Who is this…?"

Translate: "Li Qingluo acted as if she had never seen her before, even deliberately asking: 'This is……'"

Grandmother Pei glared at her and said, "Your father's new concubine, Lady Liu."

Translate: "Pei Lao Furen glared at her: 'Your father's new concubine, Lady Liu.'"

The meaning in Grandmother Pei's eyes was plain: you don't even know how your father came by this concubine.

Translate: "The meaning in Pei Lao Furen's eyes was blunt: 'You don't even know how your father acquired this concubine, do you?'"

Li Qingluo smiled but said nothing.

Translate: "Li Qingluo smiled but said nothing."

As it turned out, Grandmother already knew about this.

Translate: "As it turned out, grandmother knew about this."

Moreover, she did not stop her from doing anything, which made Li Qingluo very happy.

Translate: "Moreover, she did not stop me from doing anything, which made Li Qingluo very happy."

Upon returning to Jingci Hall and just stepping into the courtyard, Granny Deng and Que'er knelt and shouted excitedly, "Miss!!"

Translate: "Upon returning to Jingci Tang, as soon as she entered the courtyard, Deng Mama and Que'er knelt and shouted excitedly: 'Miss——!!'"

Seeing the two of them looking so wan, Li Qingluo was startled.

She immediately rushed over and embraced the two of them, full of anguish: "You both get up quickly! Grandmother, Li Qingluo's matter this time truly has nothing to do with them; if they could have followed Li Qingluo, they certainly wouldn't have abandoned Li Qingluo! The truth is that the circumstances then… were somewhat special, and they were also forced."

Li Qingluo even felt quite fortunate that the two of them did not go with her that day to see Prince Su.

Otherwise, facing the spectacle that night, they would probably have lost their lives.

The master and the two servants embraced each other, and seeing that everyone was safe, tears glimmered in their eyes.

Pei Lao Furen glared: "Old Deng, speak for yourself! Did I make you and your grandchild kneel!?"

Deng Mama wiped the corner of her eye and hurriedly said, "No, no, no. Old Lady certainly didn't make the old servant and Que'er kneel; we wanted to kneel ourselves. We were worried about the young lady, unable to eat or sleep, and this worry actually steadied our hearts."

"Now the young lady has returned, we will get up, so please don't misunderstand Old Lady."

Pei Lao Furen: "Did you hear that? How could I dare touch your people? When you return, wouldn't you get angry with me?"

Li Qingluo then smiled, stood up, and tightly embraced Pei Lao Furen: "Grandmother, it was the granddaughter who misunderstood this matter. The granddaughter will atone; whatever Grandmother wants, the granddaughter will do!"

Pei Lao Furen: "What do I want? I just want you to live well; in the future, don't scare Grandmother like this again!"

Prince Su's Residence.

In the splendid, luxurious bedroom, Prince Su lay on the couch, rubbing his forehead vigorously.

Several physicians knelt on the ground, their faces solemn, and one by one approached to take his pulse.

Sha Lei, Leng Dian, and the close attendant Wu Gonggong stood anxiously nearby; seeing the physicians unable to reach a diagnosis, they grew impatient.

Wu Gonggong snapped, "What kind of poison has our Prince been infected with that it's so hard to determine?"

"Or are you all incompetent doctors, unable to see it at all?"

"You worthless lot, we even brought you one by one to the palace, feeding you well, claiming your medical skills surpass the imperial physicians, yet now you can't even detect a minor poison…"

Leading the group, Doctor Du stepped forward trembling and replied, "Your Highness Prince Su, the poison you contracted this time is the Mandala toxin introduced from the Western Regions."

Leng Dian gasped, "Mandala toxin?"

Doctor Du: "Could it be that Guard Leng Dian also knows what poison this is?"

Leng Dian: "Your Highness, I indeed know this poison, because my parents and brothers all died from it back then… I have studied this toxin for years, so I am somewhat familiar with it."

Sha Lei and Wu Gonggong exchanged a surprised glance, genuinely not expecting such a tragic truth about Leng Dian's past.

Prince Su: "Is this poison highly toxic?"

Leng Dian nodded, "It is said this toxin is one of the top ten poisons of the Western Regions; those who are poisoned have a nine‑to‑one chance of dying, and even if one miraculously survives, they become a mindless fool."

"If Your Highness were poisoned, you wouldn't appear so clear‑headed now. Moreover, the poison should have manifested long ago!"

"Audacious! Are you unable to determine the poison in Your Highness's body, yet seeing him temporarily fine, you casually use the name of this toxin to deceive Your Highness?"

The renowned physicians, led by Doctor Du, shouted accusations of injustice.

Doctor Du: "The toxin is indeed as Guard Leng Dian described, extremely potent. We are also puzzled why Your Highness appears so healthy, showing only symptoms like dizziness and blurred vision."

"But just now we also indeed examined Your Highness's injuries; the poisoned area, all surrounding skin turned purple, and after feeling the pulse and observing Your Highness's complexion, there is still a considerable amount of residual toxin in the body, but Your Highness…"

"Now there is only one explanation: someone treated Your Highness in time; the medicinal herbs applied to the wound were appropriate, thus temporarily suppressing the toxin completely."

Everyone instantly looked at Duan Rongshi.

Sha Lei and Leng Dian were even more surprised in secret: Could it be Miss Li?

But how could she have any medical skill?

Or perhaps someone else saved the Prince's life between the Prince and Miss Li?

Duan Rongshi, however, only stared at a hexagonal hidden weapon in his palm.

"This is the hidden weapon that wounded me; do you have a way to completely eliminate the residual toxin in my body?"

Doctor Du took the hidden weapon to examine it: "We will certainly give it our all! However, we need to ask Your Highness what symptoms have occurred in the meantime."

"Also, Your Highness's wound and its surroundings were treated extremely cleanly and promptly, so the flesh did not continue to rot, and the herbs applied were appropriate. We have one or two questions we wish to ask this divine physician…"

Duan Rongshi: "Divine physician?"

He raised his eyebrows high, then gave a slight smile and shook his head.

Sha Lei, Leng Dian, and Wu Gonggong:!!!

Your Highness smiled??

Your Highness actually smiled!!

Who exactly did Your Highness think of?

This is too bizarre!

When Your Highness smiles, it's even scarier than not smiling!

Duan Rongshi, regardless of others' horror, calmly said, "No need to see that person; she is not a divine physician. My survival is indeed due to her merit, but all of this should just be a coincidence."

"As for the symptoms, I may have… at times stopped breathing, and also suffered high fever."

"Also, the medicine bottle on my body is empty. If I'm not mistaken, I must have taken an entire bottle of this medicine."

Everyone wore a shocked expression:!!!

Your Highness, you truly are hard to kill.