Chapter 248

Back then, the Old Duke returned from the battlefield, and suddenly his temperament changed drastically. He went to the palace, faced the emperor, resigned his post as the state‑guarding Great General, and handed over all the military authority he held. It is said that at the time the entire court and populace were shocked and found it hard to understand.

That was command of several ten thousand troops! It is said that on the battlefield back then, whenever enemy soldiers heard they were facing a son of the Pei family, they would retreat three‑tenths even before fighting, morale would plummet, and they often lost without a battle.

The Pei family's name, its power to intimidate and awe, is not mere bluster.

Every generation of the Pei family produces peerless military talent; they have even produced a beautiful female general like your grandmother, yet they have never harbored rebellious intentions, each swearing to die loyally defending the state, with descendants serving in the army generation after generation. The sons who have fallen on the battlefield are indeed as Pei Sanlang said—several dozen over the past few decades. How could it not be tragic?

Such a Pei family, yet suddenly they are to relinquish the military power they hold—who would not suspect? Everyone in the court must surely wonder what the Pei family is plotting.

It is said that the emperor once kept watch on the Pei Duke's mansion for a full ten years, until he saw the old duke indeed growing increasingly ill and mad, and after the old dukes passed away one after another, the entire Pei Duke's mansion gradually declined, fell into complete ruin, with few successors in court and hardly any Pei influence left in the army, whereupon the surveillance over the Pei family was gradually relaxed.

But Twelve Niang knows that the Pei family is certainly not as simple as it appears on the surface.

The old duke fell gravely ill upon his return because he had been poisoned by a strange toxin.

For the first few years, when it was ordinary, he could still act like a normal person. But once the toxin flared up, he became like a madman—he would kill, bite, or directly crave blood.

The servants in the old duke's residence changed year after year, then month after month, and later, aside from one or two fixed attendants, no one dared to wait on him any longer.

And he himself gradually appeared less and less in public.

Once, when Twelve Niang was young, she happened to see the old duke go mad, lose control, and rush out of his residence, sword in hand, chasing a servant covered in blood; if Twelve Niang's father had not appeared in time, she might have been killed.

Later, her father repeatedly warned her, over and over, never to approach the old duke's residence again. In fact, aside from Twelve Niang, all the young women of the Pei household were strictly forbidden to come within even half a step of the old duke's quarters.

Even if they saw the old duke, they were best to make a detour.

Even when playing and frolicking, they were not allowed to draw near—this was a deadly order!

Thus, even if Twelve Niang was bullied as a child, no one dared to push her in that direction, for fear of truly angering the elders.

When Twelve Niang was young, she asked her father why her great-grandfather had become so terrifying—was he not a great national hero? He was an admired paragon, yet now he had become a madman that inspires fear.

At that time, Twelve Niang's father replied: He was poisoned by a treacherous scheme on the battlefield for the sake of the State of Liang, so the Pei family must support him, lest they be unworthy of their ancestors.

Twelve Niang simply did not understand. Why would her great-grandfather, who harms innocents and kills so many, have the family willing to risk decline just to keep supporting him?

Fortunately, the second branch's second courtyard had always been far from the main branch, and as Twelve Niang grew up, the distance between the three branches grew ever greater.

Twelve Niang's father, too, was steadily excelling in the Ministry of Revenue, even gaining the emperor's favor; he had said that once the great-grandfather passed away, their second branch could completely move out of the Pei family, thereafter freeing themselves from the disputes of the main line.

But could they truly sever ties cleanly? Twelve Niang later learned a secret: her aunt, Lady Guan, before entering the Pei household, had been disliked by her future mother-in-law, who constantly schemed to drive a wedge between her and Pei Yuan; thus, the elder brother's wife from the main branch conspired to lure Lady Guan into the old duke's residence.

Fortunately, on that occasion the old duke was lucid, merely staring at Lady Guan like a predator eyeing prey for a long time, which frightened her so much that she fell seriously ill after returning home.

After that incident, Lady Guan was terrified to the core, and for the first time she felt reluctant toward her beloved.

Had Pei Yuan not learned the truth, he would have drawn his sword and caused a great scene at the main branch, making the whole Pei household aware of it, and even reaching the old duke's ears.

In the end, it was the old duke himself who stepped forward to punish the eldest son's wife, after which the matter finally rested.

After that incident, the old duke became increasingly unseen, until a few years ago he hardly ever left his residence.

However, his complete loss of sanity has only occurred in the past two years. To outsiders, it seems only that his health is worsening, but no one knows he has long been a madman.

Well, those are some old secrets of the duke's mansion for now; now let us speak of the death of Pei Twelve Niang.

Speaking of the fifth day, Twelve Niang usually took a nap after her afternoon medicine, but that day she actually woke up at the shi hour (3–5 pm).

But she heard the servants speaking softly in the courtyard and corridors, and quietly listened to the sound of falling snow; suddenly she felt strength return to her whole body, and she herself rose lightly from bed.

Twelve Niang had been confined for too long in her small four‑sided courtyard, to the point she thought she would die there. But that day she suddenly felt strength throughout her body, as if she had come fully alive again, and she wanted to go out for a walk.

So she placed a pillow under the blanket, then slipped out the window herself.

That day it was snowing; she glanced back and saw that the snow would soon cover her footprints.

Originally she only wanted to go to the plum garden to have a look, pluck a bunch of blossoms to bring back for her aunt, and let the maidservants in the courtyard see how well the plum trees were flowering this year.

She wore a cloak, passed through the long lane, and on her way back from the plum garden she inadvertently heard servants from another residence say that Pei Sanlang had returned today.

Twelve Niang felt a sudden urge to go see her third brother.

Last time she was seriously ill, her third brother had brought back many strange and fun things, and he had looked quite worried about her.

Among her siblings, she had always been closest to Pei Sanlang since childhood, so she wanted to give him a sprig of plum blossoms as well.

But when she arrived at Pei Sanlang's courtyard, she found no one guarding the gate, and he was there speaking with a stranger she had never seen before.

Twelve Niang had intended to leave straight away, but she heard that person say, 'If Pei the Minister refuses to comply, we will kill him when necessary to eliminate future trouble!'

Someone wants to kill her father? Twelve Niang anxiously listened on, but then heard the other say, 'If the old duke continues to delay, this matter cannot wait any longer—by the end of February at the latest, if he still refuses to cooperate and hand over the final ten chapters, we will completely cut off his medicine.'

Medicine? What medicine?

She knew her great-grandfather had been taking medicine all along, but who is this person, and why can they order her third brother to cut off the old duke's medicine?

Twelve Niang had intended to slip away quietly, but she did not expect to be discovered by a little servant who had gone somewhere and come back, who cried out in alarm, 'Miss Twelve!'

Twelve Niang was knocked unconscious, and when she awoke she found herself in the dungeon.

In a daze she heard someone say, 'She is the old master's finest elixir; if her blood is made into a clotting pill, taking it can clear his mind for a few days.'

However, there are people from Prince Su's mansion in the household now, so Miss Twelve cannot remain missing for too long.

Pei Twelve Niang came fully to her senses; she saw someone enter with a lantern, and on the wall there was a lamp rack—a mechanism that could allow escape. But she had no strength to climb up, so she could only watch as the person approached and fed her a pill named 'Maitreya's Toxin'.

The person said, 'Rest assured, Miss Twelve. You will pass peacefully, without much pain. Your sacrifice today is also for the future prospects of your entire Pei family.'

Pei Twelve Niang asked in terror, 'Why must I be killed? My third brother—I want to see my third brother…'

The person replied, 'You heard us, didn't you? We intend to kill your father, Pei the Minister. Who let him be obstinate, insisting on his own way and refusing to submit to us?'

Since you have heard our secret, you naturally cannot live.

As for your third brother, he is right outside. He cannot bear to see you killed, so I have come myself.

Twelve Niang: 'Who exactly are you? I don't believe your words, I don't believe my third brother would let you kill me! Third brother—save me—save Jia'er—'

Her voice gradually weakened.

She did not know what was happening.

She could only anxiously look at the person before her.

That person wore a mask, their voice giving no clue as to gender, and Twelve Niang could not even discern their identity.

He seized the axe nearby and, without a word, severed one of Twelve Niang's arms.

Shi'er Niang felt intense pain, her muscles twitching all over, yet she realized she could no longer make a sound.

Translation: "Twelve Niang naturally felt great pain, her whole body's muscles twitching, yet she discovered she could no longer make a sound."

Shi'er Niang

But we also need to list in glossary after translation: list every character etc. So we need to include "Shi'er Niang" as a character. The glossary entry format: 【{"raw_term":"EnglishName","original_term":"ChineseChars"},...】. So raw_term is the English form we used in translation. So we need to output raw_term as the English name we used (pinyin). original_term is the Chinese characters.

Shi'er Niang

Pei Family

Pei Family

Your Highness

old master

Family Head

older brother

women

women's blood

Blood-Congealing Pill

axe

blood

Now any place names? None.

Pei family

Any technique? None.

Any beast? None.

Any realm? None.

Now we need to output each line translation with 【N】 prefix.

Let's translate each line faithfully.

Shi'er Niang felt intense pain, her muscles twitching all over, yet she realized she could no longer make a sound.

Translation: "Shi'er Niang naturally felt great pain, her whole body's muscles twitching, yet she discovered she could no longer make a sound."

naturally felt great pain

her whole body's muscles twitching

yet she discovered she could no longer make a sound

She couldn't even cry out, and she had no strength left to struggle or resist.

Translation: "She couldn't shout, and even her whole body had no strength left to struggle or resist."

Better: "She couldn't call out, and even her whole body lacked the strength to struggle or resist."

She couldn't shout, and even her whole body had no strength left to struggle or resist.

She was like someone awake yet asleep, the pain so intense it felt as if her whole self were splitting apart, yet she couldn't shout.

Translation: "She was like someone awake yet asleep, clearly in pain so intense her whole self felt split apart, yet unable to scream."

She was like someone awake yet asleep, obviously in pain so intense her whole self felt split apart, yet unable to shout

She could only watch helplessly as her blood flowed everywhere.

Translation: "She could only watch helplessly as her blood flowed everywhere."

She could only watch helplessly as her blood flowed everywhere

The man gleefully grabbed a basin to catch it, then started chattering: "Do you know how strange your old master's illness is? Only a Blood-Congealing Pill made with women's blood as a primer can keep him clinging to life."

Translation: "That person, however, gleefully took a basin to catch it and began chattering on: 'Do you know how strange this old master of your family's illness is? Only a blood-congealing pill made with the blood of women in this world as a primer can keep him clinging to life.'"

We need to keep quotes. Let's translate: "That person, however, gleefully took a basin to catch it and began chattering: 'Do you know how strange this old master of your family's illness is? Only a blood-congealing pill made with women's blood as a primer can keep him clinging to life.'"

Blood-Congealing Pill, women's blood, old master

Of course, he could also drink human blood directly, but that would be too wasteful, and nowadays sending these women of no identity or origin to your Pei family has become increasingly difficult.

Translation: "'Of course, he could also drink human blood directly, but drinking human blood is too wasteful, and nowadays sending these women of no identity or origin to your Pei family has become increasingly difficult.'"

sending these women of no identity or origin to your Pei family

So we need to conserve the Blood-Congealing Pills. Hiss—alas, don't waste it—don't waste all that good blood of yours, let it flow slowly.

Translation: "'So, the blood-congealing pills must be used sparingly. Hiss—alas, we can't waste it, we can't waste your good blood any longer, let it flow more slowly.'"

Hiss—alas,

If it weren't for needing to hurry and throw you out, I wouldn't be so rushed to bleed you this way. Blame it on your older brother for urging haste.

Translation: "'If it weren't for needing to hurry and throw you out, I wouldn't be so anxious, using this method to bleed you. If there's blame, blame your older brother for urging haste!'"

your older brother

Actually, the most effective thing for your old master in this world is a woman related to him by blood—like the young women of your Pei family; one is worth three or four of those other women, and if he could drink a few mouthfuls of your blood, he'd surely regain clarity for several days.

Translation: "'Actually, the most effective thing for your family's old master in this world is a woman related to him by blood—like the women of your Pei family, one of whom is worth three or four of those other women; if he could drink a few mouthfuls of your blood directly, he would surely regain consciousness for several days.'"

Young women, one is worth three or four of those other women

Although his mind has been addled by poison over the years and isn't very useful anymore, it hasn't been completely ruined, and it's still useful to Your Highness.

Translation: "'Although his mind has been poisoned these years and is now not very useful, it hasn't been completely abolished, and it's still useful to Your Highness.'"

We must use "Your Highness". Good.

It's just a shame that the family head of your Pei family refuses to sacrifice your daughters.

Translation: "'It's just a pity that the head of your Pei family refuses to sacrifice these daughters of yours.'"

the family head of your Pei family

Otherwise, why go through all this trouble?

Translation: "'Otherwise, why go through all this trouble?'"

Today you're just unlucky—who let you run into this?

Translation: "'Today it's just your bad luck—who let you run into this yourself?'"

After speaking, the person raised the axe again and with one blow cut off Shi'er Niang's other arm.