Chapter 256

【3】

Translation: "The more Pei Lao Furen spoke, the more agitated her emotions became." But we need to be concise. As Pei Lao Furen spoke, her emotions became more and more agitated. We'll translate: "Pei Lao Furen grew more agitated as she spoke." That captures meaning. Keep same info: she spoke, emotions agitated. We'll output: 【1】 Pei Lao Furen grew more agitated as she spoke.

【7】

We need to keep quotes. Use English quotes. We'll translate: "\"Back then, I went to the battlefield to save Lu'er's grandfather; the last time I donned armor and took command to the frontier, I never saw Zayinna's figure… No, it was when we left Jinling—by then my elder brother's side already lacked Zayinna's presence! \"" Need to keep the ellipsis and exclamation. We'll produce: "【2】 \"Back then, I went to the battlefield to save Lu'er's grandfather; the last time I donned armor and took command to the frontier, I never saw Zayinna's figure… No, it was when we left Jinling—by then my elder brother's side already lacked Zayinna's presence! \""

Note: "Lu'er" is a nickname for Li Qiongluo, the protagonist; we will keep it as "Lu'er".

【10】

Translation: "\"I had wondered back then: those two were always inseparable, and Zayinna originally preferred frontier life, so why didn't she come along that time? \""

「Back then I didn't think much about it, so I never asked my elder brother… But now, thinking about it, his illness might really be related to that witch. 」

Translation: "\"Back then I didn't think much of it, so I never asked my elder brother… But now, thinking about it, his illness might truly be related to that demoness! \""

【14】

Translation: "Luo Shenyi saw Pei Lao Furen so anxious, still first poured her a cup of tea, watched her drink it, then slowly said: \"That witch doctor is indeed her. \"" Need to keep quotes. We'll output: "【5】 Luo Shenyi saw Pei Lao Furen so anxious, still first poured her a cup of tea, watched her drink it, then slowly said: \"That witch doctor is indeed her. \""

However, judging by the timeline, she likely hadn't met Old Duke Pei yet back then; she was just a free‑wandering witch‑doctor.

Translation: "\"However, judging by the time, back then she probably hadn't yet met the Old Duke Pei; she was merely a wandering witch doctor. \""

Do you still want to hear me go on?

Translation: "\"Do you still want to hear me continue? \""

【19】

Pei Lao Furen quickly replied: "Of course! Hurry up and speak, stop beating around the bush!"

【22】

Translation: "Luo Shenyi sighed: \"Back then, my master and I temporarily settled in the mountains, but to understand this disease, merely studying documents wasn't enough. \"" Output: "【9】 Luo Shenyi sighed: \"Back then, my master and I temporarily settled in the mountains, but to understand this disease, merely studying documents wasn't enough. \""

We went down to the village several times, trying to observe or even capture a mad‑blood patient to bring back, but each attempt failed.

Translation: "\"We several times risked going down the mountain to the village, wanting to observe or simply capture a mad-blood patient to bring back, but each attempt failed. \"" Output: "【10】 \"We several times risked going down the mountain to the village, wanting to observe or simply capture a mad-blood patient to bring back, but each attempt failed. \""

【26】

Translation: "\"Later, we spotted Zayinna's figure. She walked, shuttled, and even lived in that village like an ordinary person, seemingly trying to concoct medicine and treat these people, yet strangely, no one attacked her. \"" Output: "【11】 \"Later, we spotted Zayinna's figure. She walked, shuttled, and even lived in that village like an ordinary person, seemingly trying to concoct medicine and treat these people, yet strangely, no one attacked her. \""

Why is she the exception? My master and I are extremely curious.

Translation: "\"Why was she the exception? My master and I were extremely curious. \"" Output: "【12】 \"Why was she the exception? My master and I were extremely curious. \""

【30】

Translation: "\"So, taking advantage of an opportunity, we found Zayinna as she left the village and asked her how she managed it. \"" Output: "【13】 \"So, taking advantage of an opportunity, we found Zayinna as she left the village and asked her how she managed it. \""

She produced a glazed glass bottle from her person and showed it to us, asking, "Guess what's inside this bottle?"

Translation: "\"She took out a glass bottle from her person and showed it to us. Guess what's inside? \"" Output: "【14】 \"She took out a glass bottle from her person and showed it to us. Guess what's inside? \""

【33】

Pei Lao Furen lost patience again: "Guess my ass, just spit it out!"

【36】

Translation: "Luo Shenyi smiled: \"Don't rush. The bottle is packed with a slick worm—flesh‑pink, no distinct head or tail, eyeless, only a mouth. \"" Output: "【16】 Luo Shenyi smiled: \"Don't rush. The bottle is packed with a slick worm—flesh‑pink, no distinct head or tail, eyeless, only a mouth. \""

Zayna feeds it with her own blood, a drop each time, and the worm wriggles happily inside the bottle.

Translation: "\"Zayinna feeds it with her own blood, a drop each time, and the worm wriggles happily inside the bottle. \"" Output: "【17】 \"Zayinna feeds it with her own blood, a drop each time, and the worm wriggles happily inside the bottle. \""

【40】

Translation: "\"Zayinna said she fished this worm out of a well outside the village. All the poisoned villagers contracted mad‑blood disease because they accidentally ingested the worm's eggs. \"" Output: "【18】 \"Zayinna said she fished this worm out of a well outside the village. All the poisoned villagers contracted mad‑blood disease because they accidentally ingested the worm's eggs. \""

After she retrieved the worm and wore it on her person all day, strangely, the afflicted villagers stopped attacking her; even when they were on the verge of dying from pain during an outbreak, they dared not come near her.

Translation: "\"After she carried the worm with her at all times, strangely, the diseased villagers stopped attacking her. Even when they were on the verge of dying from pain, they dared not come near her. \"" Output: "【19】 \"After she carried the worm with her at all times, strangely, the diseased villagers stopped attacking her. Even when they were on the verge of dying from pain, they dared not come near her. \""

【44】

Translation: "\"So she stayed, hoping to uncover more secrets of the mad‑blood disease and even research an antidote. \"" Output: "【20】 \"So she stayed, hoping to uncover more secrets of the mad‑blood disease and even research an antidote. \""

A healer who ventures into danger to seek the truth of illness is admirable; moreover, as a woman navigating this world, it is even more difficult.

Translation: "\"As a healer, venturing into danger to seek the truth of suffering is commendable—especially for a woman navigating this world, which is no easy feat. \"" Output: "【21】 \"As a healer, venturing into danger to seek the truth of suffering is commendable—especially for a woman navigating this world, which is no easy feat. \""

【48】

Translation: "\"My master and I originally praised Zayinna, but later we discovered she used fresh human blood as a medicine primer, obtained by deceiving healthy people from the mountains or other villages. \"" Output: "【22】 \"My master and I originally praised Zayinna, but later we discovered she used fresh human blood as a medicine primer, obtained by deceiving healthy people from the mountains or other villages. \""

Her methods made even me and my master shudder.

Translation: "\"Her methods made both my master and me shudder. \"" Output: "【23】 \"Her methods made both my master and me shudder. \""

【52】

Translation: "\"Meanwhile, the diseased villagers downhill, under Zayinna's bewitchment, began using various tricks to lure their mountain kin down, then kill them to harvest blood for her. \"" Output: "【24】 \"Meanwhile, the diseased villagers downhill, under Zayinna's bewitchment, began using various tricks to lure their mountain kin down, then kill them to harvest blood for her. \""

My master and I wanted to save the villagers, but we could barely protect ourselves, let alone rescue those who knowingly go down the mountain where tigers lurk, as if entering a tiger's den.

Translation: "\"My master and I wanted to save those villagers, but we could barely protect ourselves, let alone rescue those who, knowing tigers lurked downhill, still chose to descend into the tiger's den. \"" Output: "【25】 \"My master and I wanted to save those villagers, but we could barely protect ourselves, let alone rescue those who, knowing tigers lurked downhill, still chose to descend into the tiger's den. \""

【56】

Translation: "\"Meanwhile, we also sensed the disease's uncanny nature, so we immediately decided to stop probing it and fled that place overnight. \"" Output: "【26】 \"Meanwhile, we also sensed the disease's uncanny nature, so we immediately decided to stop probing it and fled that place overnight. \""

Li Qiongluo wondered, however: "The symptoms and the life‑extending Blood‑Congealing Pill she takes are exactly the same as Old Duke Pei's. But what about the butterfly? She seems to have mad‑blood symptoms, yet not entirely."

Li Qingluo wondered, however: "The symptoms and the life‑extending Blood‑Congealing Pill she takes are exactly the same as Old Duke Pei's. What about Hudie? She seems to have mad‑blood symptoms, yet not entirely."

【60】

Translation: "So far, Hudie only goes mad upon seeing the opposite sex; if no opposite sex appears, she does not go mad." Output: "【28】 So far, Hudie only goes mad upon seeing the opposite sex; if no opposite sex appears, she does not go mad."

Luo Shenyi shook his head: "As far as I know, a mad‑blood patient's first outbreak is followed by a second after a whole month, then every half month, then every ten days, then every five days."

Translation: "Luo Shenyi shook his head: \"As far as I know, a mad‑blood patient's first outbreak is followed by a second after a full month, then every half month, then every ten days, then every five days. \"" Output: "【29】 Luo Shenyi shook his head: \"As far as I know, a mad‑blood patient's first outbreak is followed by a second after a full month, then every half month, then every ten days, then every five days. \""

【64】

Translation: "\"In the end, if more than three days pass without consuming human blood, they will die in extreme agony! \"" Output: "【30】 \"In the end, if more than three days pass without consuming human blood, they will die in extreme agony! \""

That's why the mad‑blood patients in that village would only brandish knives and slash at each other when they had an outbreak.

Translation: "That is why the mad‑blood sufferers in that village, when they attack, grab knives and slash at each other." Output: "【31】 That is why the mad‑blood sufferers in that village, when they attack, grab knives and slash at each other."

【68】

Translation: "Even if they eat each other, the taste is horribly foul and bitter, but it's still better than doing nothing and waiting to die." Output: "【32】 Even if they eat each other, the taste is horribly foul and bitter, but it's still better than doing nothing and waiting to die."

Old Madame Pei felt uneasy.

Translation: "Pei Lao Furen felt quite uneasy." Output: "【33】 Pei Lao Furen felt quite uneasy."

【72】

Translation: "So, my elder brother has suffered this disease for thirty years of torment?" Output: "【34】 So, my elder brother has suffered this disease for thirty years of torment?"

Given his nature, this disease has turned him into something neither human nor ghost, and he has even harmed the lives of many innocent women; he would not survive in the world.

Translation: "Given his nature, this disease has turned him into something neither human nor ghost, and he has even harmed countless innocent women—he would never linger in the mortal world!" Output: "【35】 Given his nature, this disease has turned him into something neither human nor ghost, and he has even harmed countless innocent women—he would never linger in the mortal world!"

【76】

Translation: "What, then, is he clinging to life for?" Output: "【36】 What, then, is he clinging to life for?"

Old Madame Pei felt very sorrowful.

Translation: "Pei Lao Furen felt deeply sorrowful." Output: "【37】 Pei Lao Furen felt deeply sorrowful."

【80】

Translation: "She knows she may never see her elder brother again." Output: "【38】 She knows she may never see her elder brother again."

She also knew that even if her elder brother met a miserable end, it would be what he deserved.

Translation: "She also knows that if her elder brother meets any miserable end, it is what he deserves." Output: "【39】 She also knows that if her elder brother meets any miserable end, it is what he deserves."

【84】

Translation: "But thinking of how such a peerless hero once was, now reduced to this fate… Pei Lao Furen has only this one brother—how could she not be grief‑stricken?" Output: "【40】 But thinking of how such a peerless hero once was, now reduced to this fate… Pei Lao Furen has only this one brother—how could she not be grief‑stricken?"

Seeing her grandmother's grief‑stricken expression, Li Qiongluo hurriedly asked Nan Gongdi: "Could it be that Master also knows about this disease? Did he perhaps encounter a mad‑blood illness before?"

Translation: "Li Qingluo saw her grandmother's anguish barely concealed and quickly asked Nan Gongdi: \"Could it be that Master also knows of this disease? Did he ever encounter mad‑blood disease? \"" Output: "【41】 Li Qingluo saw her grandmother's anguish barely concealed and quickly asked Nan Gongdi: \"Could it be that Master also knows of this disease? Did he ever encounter mad‑blood disease? \""

【88】

Translation: "Nan Gongdi looked at Luo Shenyi and kicked him: \"Keep going. \"" Output: "【42】 Nan Gongdi looked at Luo Shenyi and kicked him: \"Keep going. \""

While Luo Shenyi was still looking at Old Madame Pei, he suddenly got kicked in the foot and winced in pain.

Translation: "Luo Shenyi was still looking at Pei Lao Furen when he suddenly got kicked, and it hurt a lot." Output: "【43】 Luo Shenyi was still looking at Pei Lao Furen when he suddenly got kicked, and it hurt a lot."

【92】

Translation: "\"You oaf! Are you trying to kick my bone to break? \"" Output: "【44】 \"You oaf! Are you trying to kick my bone to break? \""

"You're obviously supposed to answer your disciple, yet you refuse to speak—what a lazy person."

Translation: "\"You're supposed to answer your disciple, yet you won't even speak—you're just lazy. \"" Output: "【45】 \"You're supposed to answer your disciple, yet you won't even speak—you're just lazy. \""

【96】

Translation: "\"Eh, whatever—I've already said this much; what's the harm in continuing? \"" Output: "【46】 \"Eh, whatever—I've already said this much; what's the harm in continuing? \""

Luo Shenyi continued: "After my master and I fled the village overnight, we unexpectedly encountered Nan Gongdi on the road, who was searching for his missing junior brother."

Translation: "Luo Shenyi continued: \"After my master and I fled that village overnight, we unexpectedly encountered Nan Gongdi on the road, who was searching for his missing junior brother. \"" Output: "【47】 Luo Shenyi continued: \"After my master and I fled that village overnight, we unexpectedly encountered Nan Gongdi on the road, who was searching for his missing junior brother. \""

【100】

Translation: "\"Lu'er, this is when I first met your master, so our friendship has spanned over thirty years. \"" Output: "【48】 \"Lu'er, this is when I first met your master, so our friendship has spanned over thirty years. \""

At that time, we suspected your master's junior brother—oh, the one you would later call uncle—had also been tricked into going to that village, so we accompanied Nan Gongdi back there.

Translation: "\"Back then, we suspected your master's junior brother—oh, the one you'll later call master‑uncle—had also been lured to that village, so we accompanied Nan Gongdi back there. \"" Output: "【49】 \"Back then, we suspected your master's junior brother—oh, the one you'll later call master‑uncle—had also been lured to that village, so we accompanied Nan Gongdi back there. \""

【104】

Translation: "\"But upon returning, we found that every mad‑blood sufferer in the village had been slaughtered to the last. \"" Output: "【50】 \"But upon returning, we found that every mad‑blood sufferer in the village had been slaughtered to the last. \""

Li Qiongluo exclaimed in shock: "The village was slaughtered? Could it be that uncle?"

Translation: "Li Qingluo gasped: \"The village was slaughtered? Could it have been master‑uncle? \"" Output: "【51】 Li Qingluo gasped: \"The village was slaughtered? Could it have been master‑uncle? \""

【108】

Translation: "Nan Gongdi: \"You guessed right—it was your master‑uncle. He couldn't stand the village's squalor, so with one swipe he wiped out all the harm. \"" Output: "【52】 Nan Gongdi: \"You guessed right—it was your master‑uncle. He couldn't stand the village's squalor, so with one swipe he wiped out all the harm. \""

However, I later found him, and he said that the witch‑woman fled with that worm.

Translation: "\"However, I later found him, and he said the witch woman fled with that worm. \"" Output: "【53】 \"However, I later found him, and he said the witch woman fled with that worm. \""

【112】

Translation: "Li Qingluo: \"Ah, I see—so Master also knows of the mad‑blood disease. \"" Output: "【54】 Li Qingluo: \"Ah, I see—so Master also knows of the mad‑blood disease. \""

Old Madame Pei: "Zayna must have returned to the Western Regions then. She was carrying that worm, and later my elder brother contracted this illness—it must be connected to her."

Translation: "Pei Lao Furen: \"Zayinna must have returned to the Western Regions then. She carried that worm, and my elder brother's contracting this disease is surely linked to her! \"" Output: "【55】 Pei Lao Furen: \"Zayinna must have returned to the Western Regions then. She carried that worm, and my elder brother's contracting this disease is surely linked to her! \""

【116】

Translation: "\"Moreover, didn't Pei Bu say my elder brother always had his own physician by his side? That physician must be Zayinna. \"" Output: "【56】 \"Moreover, didn't Pei Bu say my elder brother always had his own physician by his side? That physician must be Zayinna. \""

But this time, despite the major incident at the Pei Duke's mansion, there's no trace of her; I heard that Pei Sanlang took only my elder brother away, so where did Zayna go?

Translation: "\"But this time, when the Pei Duke's mansion suffered such a calamity, she left no trace; I heard Pei Sanlang took only my elder brother away, so where did Zayinna go? \"" Output: "【57】 \"But this time, when the Pei Duke's mansion suffered such a calamity, she left no trace; I heard Pei Sanlang took only my elder brother away, so where did Zayinna go? \""

【120】

Translation: "Li Qingluo thought of Pan Li." Output: "【58】 Li Qingluo thought of Pan Li."

Ask her, and perhaps we'll find a clue about Zayna.

Translation: "Asking her might yield a clue about Zayinna." Output: "【59】 Asking her might yield a clue about Zayinna."

Li Qingluo thought of Hudie again.

Hudie's age doesn't match, so she is not Zha Yina.

But who could Hudie be then?

Li Qingluo was still worried that Hudie might suddenly fall ill, so she rose and hastily bade farewell to the three elders, then hurried back to Free Abode.

Fortunately, Hudie still did not fall ill.

Li Qingluo was considering whether to put a shackle on Hudie.

But what difference is there between that and imprisoning her in a dungeon?

"Forget it, for these few days let's first confine her to a room, wait ten days or so, and then talk if she doesn't fall ill."

Li Qingluo immediately gave the order, and Que'er also dared not neglect it, hurriedly going to handle it.

Fortunately, after moving a large pile of fun novelties she had never seen before for Hudie, she obediently went into the room without fuss.

Li Qingluo was busy again the whole day.

By nightfall, Prince Su's pair of large shoes had been washed spotless by her own hands and were hung to dry under the windowsill.

Moonlight spilled onto the shoe uppers, causing the silk satin to reflect a faint moon-white sheen.

Li Qingluo rested her chin on her hands and stared blankly at the pair of shoes.

Suddenly Que'er knocked on the door and poked her head in.

"Miss, do you still want to hear the rest of the story the servant hadn't finished telling today?"

"If you don't listen, the servant hasn't finished, and I simply can't sleep."

No servant is ever allowed to keep watch before Li Qingluo's bed.

She is accustomed to it, and she also prefers having the nighttime room to herself.

However, tonight perhaps an exception could be made.

Li Qingluo: "Why aren't you coming in yet?"

Li Qingluo lay on the bed and let Que'er also crawl into her blankets.

The two lay side by side, and Que'er eagerly continued recounting the day's events.

"Miss, didn't I just mention that the servant Wu Da, who was locked up, was the only one not beaten to death with a rod?"

Li Qingluo: "Right. Then what?"

Que'er gave a hehe laugh: "Then, yesterday, I heard that the madam returned to her natal home."

"You don't know, miss, but before the old lady and you had returned, the madam, due to the steward's inadequacy, would always invite that Old Lady Qu—namely, your maternal great-grandmother Lady You—to come over from time to time to help manage the inner household affairs."

Li Qingluo: "How stupid! That's how the Qu family's influence reaches into Jiangjun Fu."

Que'er: "Isn't that right? I heard that back then Lady You strutted about in Jiangjun Fu, acting as if she were the lady of the manor."

"But after our own old lady returned, she dared not come anymore, especially after that Mid-Autumn incident when she was humiliated and thus dared not cause trouble again."

"This time the eldest legitimate son of the manor ran into trouble, and with the master absent and no one in charge, who would have thought the madam would actually run back to her natal home to ask her mother for advice?"

"But this time the madam's return to the Qu family didn't turn out well."

"I heard that when the Qu family's senior lady of the main branch, Lady He, heard of her arrival, she summoned her to the main house, and afterward the madam returned to Jiangjun Fu with five red slap marks on her face, looking embarrassed."