Chapter 3: with translation of chapter title

Zhang Mama's face flashed with surprise, "Young lady… really? But earlier, weren't you in a hurry to return to the manor to visit the general and the lady? Why are you suddenly not in a hurry now?"

Li Qingluo had indeed been very eager about meeting her birth parents before.

His attitude suddenly shifted, which is indeed suspicious.

Translation: Her sudden change in attitude is indeed suspicious.

Her sudden change in attitude is indeed suspicious.

Li Qingluo sighed and said, "To be frank, I just had a dream."

Translation: Li Qingluo sighed and said, "To be frank, I just had a dream."

Li Qingluo sighed and said, "To be frank, I just had a dream."

"In the dream I seemed to see an old white-bearded man holding a whisk; he first berated me, calling me an ungrateful, stupid fool! Although I could clear my name and return to my family, I forgot the origin of all this credit."

Translation: "In the dream I seemed to see an old white-bearded man holding a whisk, who first scolded me loudly, saying I was an ungrateful, foolish lot! Although I could clear my lineage and return to the clan, I forgot the source of all this merit."

We need to keep the quote marks.

"In the dream I seemed to see an old white-bearded man holding a whisk, who first scolded me loudly, saying I was an ungrateful, foolish lot! Although I could clear my lineage and return to the clan, I forgot the source of all this merit."

"I am truly frightened; even after waking, my heart still races… Zhang Mama, I blame my earlier foolishness—I was so anxious just to clarify my origins."

Translation: "I really feel frightened; even after waking up I still have lingering fear... Grandma, blame me for being so muddle-headed before, eager only to settle my origins."

Zhang Mama

"I really feel frightened; even after waking up I still have lingering fear... Zhang Mama, blame me for being so muddle-headed before, eager only to settle my origins."

"But I really ought to visit my grandmother first. Without her, I am just a wild country girl; I fear that in two months they might sell me to some lame, blind man, ending my miserable life—how could I have today otherwise?"

Translation: "But I indeed should first go visit my grandmother. Without her, I am merely a wild village girl in a mountain hollow; I fear that in another two months they might arbitrarily sell me to a lame blind man, ending my miserable life! How could I have today otherwise?"

We need to keep the exclamation.

"But I indeed should first go visit my grandmother. Without her, I am merely a wild village girl in a mountain hollow; I fear that in another two months they might arbitrarily sell me to a lame blind man, ending my miserable life! How could I have today otherwise?"

Li Qingluo's words ultimately moved Zhang Mama.

Translation: Li Qingluo's words ultimately moved Zhang Mama.

Li Qingluo's words ultimately moved Zhang Mama.

She smiled and nodded, "Green Pine Temple isn't far from here; just an hour's walk and we'll arrive. If you wish to go, let me, the old servant, take you to pay your respects—how about that? Though I cannot guarantee whether the Old Lady will agree to see you."

Translation: She smiled and nodded, "The Green Pine Temple isn't far from here; after a little while we can arrive. Miss, if you wish to go, I, the old servant, will take you to pay respects—how about that? However, I cannot guarantee whether the Old Lady will agree to see you."

Green Pine Temple, I the old servant, Old Lady

She smiled and nodded, "The Green Pine Temple isn't far from here; after a little while we can arrive. Miss, if you wish to go, I, the old servant, will take you to pay respects—how about that? However, I cannot guarantee whether the Old Lady will agree to see you."

Although the steward and the servant boy had some objections, Zhang Mama's status was clearly not low, so they could only obey, turning the carriage and temporarily diverting toward Green Pine Temple.

Translation: The steward and the servant boy had some objections, but Zhang Mama's status was clearly not low, so they could only obey orders, turning the carriage and temporarily diverting toward the Green Pine Temple.

steward, servant boy, Green Pine Temple

The steward and the servant boy had some objections, but Zhang Mama's status was clearly not low, so they could only obey orders, turning the carriage and temporarily diverting toward the Green Pine Temple.

Only when the carriage stopped outside Green Pine Temple did Li Qingluo alight and gaze upon the Daoist temple before her, finally feeling a genuine sense of reality.

Translation: Only when the carriage stopped outside the Green Pine Temple did Li Qingluo alight and gaze upon the Daoist temple before her, finally feeling something concrete in her heart.

Daoist temple

Only when the carriage stopped outside the Green Pine Temple did Li Qingluo alight and gaze upon the Daoist temple before her, finally feeling something concrete in her heart.

In this life, from this moment on, nothing is the same anymore.

Translation: In this life, from this moment on, things are no longer the same.

In this life, from this moment on, things are no longer the same.

However, the Old Lady truly refused to see her, something Li Qingluo had not anticipated.

Translation: However, the Old Lady truly refused to see her, which Li Qingluo had not expected at all.

However, the Old Lady truly refused to see her, which Li Qingluo had not expected at all.

"Miss, the Old Lady says that knowing you have come is already her intention; let me, the old servant, send you back to the Li Family to acquaint yourself with the relatives, and stay at the manor for a while until everything settles, after which I will return."

Translation: "Miss, the Old Lady said that knowing you have come is already her kindness; she has me send you back to the Li family to acquaint you with the relatives, to let you stay in the manor for a while, and I will return once everything is settled."

Li Family manor

"Miss, the Old Lady said that knowing you have come is already her kindness; she has me send you back to the Li Family to acquaint you with the relatives, to let you stay in the manor for a while, and I will return once everything is settled."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingluo's heart was greatly astonished!

Translation: Upon hearing this, Li Qingluo's heart was greatly astonished!

Upon hearing this, Li Qingluo's heart was greatly astonished!

In her previous life, Zhang Mama never accompanied her into the manor!

Translation: In her previous life, Zhang Mama certainly did not accompany her into the manor!

In her previous life, Zhang Mama certainly did not accompany her into the manor!

Let alone her offering guidance in the manor or speaking of staying a few days!

Translation: Let alone giving her guidance in the manor and speaking of staying a few more days!

Let alone giving her guidance in the manor and speaking of staying a few more days!

Who would have thought that, merely coming to the Daoist temple without even having seen her, the Old Lady would already show her such kindness…

Translation: Who would have thought that, merely coming to the Daoist temple and not yet having seen anyone, the Old Lady would already treat her with such kindness...

Who would have thought that, merely coming to the Daoist temple and not yet having seen anyone, the Old Lady would already treat her with such kindness...

This Old Lady and the rest of the Li Family are indeed somewhat different.

Translation: This Old Lady and the rest of the Li Family truly are somewhat different.

This Old Lady and the rest of the Li Family truly are somewhat different.

Since Li Qingluo has come, how could she lightly give up?

Translation: Since Li Qingluo has come, how could she lightly give up?

Since Li Qingluo has come, how could she lightly give up?

She immediately declared her stance: "Zhang Mama, I will not go back. I have sincerely come to pay respects to my grandmother; if she refuses to see me, I will wait until she is willing. Please help me arrange to stay at the Daoist temple for a few days."

Translation: She immediately declared her stance: "Zhang Mama, I will not go back. I have sincerely come to pay respects to my grandmother; if she refuses to see me, I will wait until she is willing. Please, Zhang Mama, help arrange for me to stay a while at the Daoist temple."

Daoist temple

She immediately declared her stance: "Zhang Mama, I will not go back. I have sincerely come to pay respects to my grandmother; if she refuses to see me, I will wait until she is willing. Please, Zhang Mama, help arrange for me to stay a while at the Daoist temple."

Li Qingluo sideways bowed to Zhang Mama; although the gesture was clumsy, it conveyed the intended respect.

Translation: Li Qingluo turned sideways and gave Zhang Mama a slight bow; although it was clumsy, the intention was there.

Li Qingluo turned sideways and gave Zhang Mama a slight bow; although it was clumsy, the intention was there.

This surprised Zhang Mama greatly.

Translation: This surprised Zhang Mama greatly.

This surprised Zhang Mama greatly.

This stubborn refusal to give up, coupled with an unconstrained demeanor, somewhat resembles how the Old Lady was in her youth…

Translation: This stubborn, unyielding, yet unpretentious aura somewhat resembles how the Old Lady was in her youth...

This stubborn, unyielding, yet unpretentious aura somewhat resembles how the Old Lady was in her youth...

It remains uncertain whether she can persist for several days.

Translation: It's just unknown whether she can persist for several days.

It's just unknown whether she can persist for several days.

After Li Qingluo settled in at the Daoist temple, the steward and the servant boy clearly could not sit still.

Translation: After Li Qingluo settled in at the Daoist temple, the steward and the servant boy clearly could not sit still.

Daoist temple

After Li Qingluo settled in at the Daoist temple, the steward and the servant boy clearly could not sit still.

Early the next morning, the steward first returned to Jinling, claiming to report back, yet left the servant boy behind to keep watch.

Translation: Early the next morning, the steward first returned to Jinling, claiming to go report back, yet he left the servant boy here to keep watch.

Jinling

Early the next morning, the steward first returned to Jinling, claiming to go report back, yet he left the servant boy here to keep watch.

Li Qingluo gave a cold smile.

Translation: Li Qingluo gave a cold smile.

Li Qingluo gave a cold smile.

How come, since she isn't rushing back, Li Jingzhu's self-immolation act can't go on?

Translation: How come, since she isn't hurrying back, the scene of Li Qingzhu's self-immolation can't go on?

self-immolation

How come, since she isn't hurrying back, the scene of Li Qingzhu's self-immolation can't go on?

In her previous life, Li Jingzhu left a final letter on this day and then self-immolated to death.

Translation: In her previous life, Li Qingzhu left a final letter on this day and then self-immolated to death.

In her previous life, Li Qingzhu left a final letter on this day and then self-immolated to death.

It burned more than ten rooms of the Li Family, leaving several charred maidservants and her own corpse…

Translation: It burned more than ten rooms of the Li Family, leaving a few charred maidservants and her own charred corpse...

Li Family

It burned more than ten rooms of the Li Family, leaving a few charred maidservants and her own charred corpse...

The entire Li Family was plunged into grief, a tragedy beyond compare.

Translation: The entire Li Family was grief-stricken to the point of not wanting to live, a tragedy beyond compare.

The entire Li Family was grief-stricken to the point of not wanting to live, a tragedy beyond compare.

In this life, Li Qingluo is not in a hurry to return; we shall see whether Li Jingzhu is still eager to self-immolate.

Translation: In this life, Li Qingluo not hurrying back just means we'll see whether Li Qingzhu is still eager to self-immolate.

In this life, Li Qingluo not hurrying back just means we'll see whether Li Qingzhu is still eager to self-immolate.

Li Qingluo had Cui Er keep an eye on the city's movements, while she herself settled in peacefully at the Daoist temple.

Translation: Li Qingluo had Cui Er help keep an eye on the city's movements, while she herself settled in peacefully at the Daoist temple.

Cui Er, Daoist temple

Li Qingluo had Cui Er help keep an eye on the city's movements, while she herself settled in peacefully at the Daoist temple.

However, for three consecutive days, the Old Lady showed no intention of seeing her.

Translation: However, for three consecutive days, the Old Lady also showed no intention of seeing her.

However, for three consecutive days, the Old Lady also showed no intention of seeing her.

Moreover, the Old Lady resides behind a tranquil bamboo grove, with a few elderly attendants guarding the gate; Li Qingluo cannot simply barge in.

Translation: Moreover, the Old Lady's residence lies behind a tranquil bamboo grove, with several elderly attendants guarding the gate; Li Qingluo cannot simply barge in.

elderly attendants

Moreover, the Old Lady's residence lies behind a tranquil bamboo grove, with several elderly attendants guarding the gate; Li Qingluo cannot simply barge in.

She also had no such rash intention.

Translation: She also had no such rash plan.

She also had no such rash plan.

Zhang Mama, on the other hand, came to visit her once each day.

Translation: Zhang Mama, on the other hand, comes to see her once each day.

Zhang Mama, on the other hand, comes to see her once each day.

Li Qingluo borrowed some paper and brush; each day she stayed in her room, forcing herself to sit quietly for an hour, then practiced writing in a clumsy, uneven manner.

Translation: Li Qingluo borrowed some paper and brush; each day in her room she forces herself to sit quietly for an hour, then practices writing in a crooked, twisted manner.

an hour

Li Qingluo borrowed some paper and brush; each day in her room she forces herself to sit quietly for an hour, then practices writing in a crooked, twisted manner.

Her handwriting was truly terrible.

Translation: Her handwriting is truly awful to look at.

Her handwriting is truly awful to look at.

Zhang Mama secretly kept a sheet and took it back for the Old Lady to see; upon looking, the Old Lady's brows furrowed deeply.

Translation: Zhang Mama secretly kept a copy and took it back for the Old Lady to see; upon looking, the Old Lady's brows furrowed tightly into deep grooves.

Zhang Mama secretly kept a copy and took it back for the Old Lady to see; upon looking, the Old Lady's brows furrowed tightly into deep grooves.

Pfft—

Translation: "Pfft—"

We need to keep the sound effect.

"Pfft—"

The maid Ying'er beside them also laughed.

Translation: The maid Ying'er beside her also laughed.

"Old Lady, this young lady's handwriting truly resembles a caterpillar. Look, there are big ones and small ones."

The maid Ying'er beside her also laughed.

The Old Lady, angry, turned the paper over and slammed it heavily onto the table.

Translation: "Old Lady, this miss's handwriting really looks like a caterpillar. Look, there are big ones and small ones."

caterpillar

"Old Lady, this miss's handwriting really looks like a caterpillar. Look, there are big ones and small ones."

"No laughing!"

Translation: The Old Lady, angry, flipped the paper over and slammed it heavily onto the tabletop.

The Old Lady, angry, flipped the paper over and slammed it heavily onto the tabletop.

Ying'er quickly lowered her head, daring not to make a sound.

Translation: "No laughing!"

"No laughing!"

But the reverse side of this page is even worse than a caterpillar—it's practically dog's crawl!

Translation: Ying'er hastily lowered her head, daring not to make a sound.

Ying'er hastily lowered her head, daring not to make a sound.

The Old Lady involuntarily twitched the corner of her mouth.

Translation: But the reverse side of this page is even worse than a caterpillar... it's practically chicken scratch!

caterpillar, dog's crawl

But the reverse side of this page is even worse than a caterpillar... it's practically dog's crawl!

Zhang Mama also glared at Ying'er, "Get out! Stop talking back!"

Translation: The Old Lady involuntarily twitched the corner of her mouth.

The Old Lady involuntarily twitched the corner of her mouth.

"Old Lady, if I may say, her having this much determination is already good. Since childhood she has never held a brush; she's only held fire sticks, hoes, sickles, and axes. You haven't seen her hands—they're not even as good as those of the kitchen servants."

Translation: Zhang Mama also glared at Ying'er, "Get out! Stop talking back!"

Zhang Mama also glared at Ying'er, "Get out! Stop talking back!"

"'She is only sixteen this year.'"

Translation: "Old Lady, if I may say, for this miss to have such determination is already quite good. Since childhood she has never held a brush; she's only held fire sticks, hoes, sickles, axes. You haven't seen her hands—they're not even as good as those of the rough workers in the kitchen."

fire sticks

"Old Lady, if I may say, for this miss to have such determination is already quite good. Since childhood she has never held a brush; she's only held fire sticks, hoes, sickles, axes. You haven't seen her hands—they're not even as good as those of the rough workers in the kitchen."

"'She ought to be a young lady of privilege, yet she still cannot recognize a single character. The old servant sees her trying to copy the Daoist inscriptions on the wall; although her writing is… truly ugly, she herself does not feel ashamed—isn't that daring to go all out?'"

Translation: "She is only sixteen this year."

"She is only sixteen this year."

"The Old Lady gave a cold huff: 'You're good at speaking well for her. Whether she dares to go all out remains to be seen.'"

Translation: "She ought to be a young lady of noble birth, yet now she can't even recognize a single character. This old servant sees her learning to write by copying the Daoist inscriptions on the wall; although her writing is... truly ugly, she herself doesn't feel ashamed—isn't that daring to go all out?"

Daoist inscriptions

"She ought to be a young lady of noble birth, yet now she can't even recognize a single character. This old servant sees her learning to write by copying the Daoist inscriptions on the wall; although her writing is... truly ugly, she herself doesn't feel ashamed—isn't that daring to go all out?"

"'However, her handwriting is so ugly it's unfit to be seen! Go fetch that enlightenment copybook from my cabinet and give it to her. Don't let her waste more paper.'"

Translation: The Old Lady gave a cold huff: "You certainly know how to speak well for her. Whether she dares to go all out remains to be seen."

The Old Lady gave a cold huff: "You certainly know how to speak well for her. Whether she dares to go all out remains to be seen."

"Zhang Mama chuckled, 'Hehe.' 'Indeed, Old Lady, you are hard-mouthed but soft-hearted—clearly you dote on the young and like ambitious children. That copybook was the one you prepared for the General back then, wasn't it? Too bad it went unused those years.'"

Translation: "However, her handwriting is truly ugly to the point of being unfit to be seen! Go, fetch that enlightenment copybook from my cabinet and give it to her. Don't let her waste paper any further."

enlightenment copybook

"However, her handwriting is truly ugly to the point of being unfit to be seen! Go, fetch that enlightenment copybook from my cabinet and give it to her. Don't let her waste paper any further."

"Seeing the Old Lady's unpleasant expression, Zhang Mama stopped speaking further."

Translation: Zhang Mama chuckled "hehe", "Yes. Old Lady, you have a hard mouth but a soft heart; you clearly dote on the youngsters and also like promising children. That copybook was the one you prepared for the General back then, wasn't it? Too bad those years it went unused..."

hard-mouthed but soft-hearted General

Zhang Mama chuckled "hehe", "Yes. Old Lady, you have a hard-mouthed but soft-hearted nature; you clearly dote on the youngsters and also like promising children. That copybook was the one you prepared for the General back then, wasn't it? Too bad those years it went unused..."

"She took the copybook and immediately sent it to Li Qingluo."

Translation: Seeing the Old Lady's unpleasant expression, Zhang Mama then stopped speaking further.

Seeing the Old Lady's unpleasant expression, Zhang Mama then stopped speaking further.

"Li Qingluo felt overwhelmed by the favor."

Translation: She took the copybook and immediately sent it to Li Qingluo.

She took the copybook and immediately sent it to Li Qingluo.

"After receiving it with both hands, she made all kinds of promises, vowing to keep it safe and cherish it absolutely."

Translation: Li Qingluo felt overwhelmed by the favor.

Li Qingluo felt overwhelmed by the favor.

After taking it with both hands, I promise to keep it safe and cherish it absolutely.

Translation: After receiving it with both hands, she made all kinds of promises, vowing to keep it safe and cherish it absolutely.

After receiving it with both hands, I make all kinds of promises, absolutely will keep it safe and cherish it.

Zhang Mama saw her becoming more and more sensible, not in a hurry to leave, but instead sighed deeply.

"Miss, do you know... why the Old Lady has lived year-round in the Green Pine Temple, yet does not return to Jiangjun Fu?"

Li Qingluo, in her previous life, had heard some of the reasons while in the Jiangjun Fu, but she knew those were not the full story.

So, at this moment she naturally shook her head, pretending not to know anything.

Zhang Mama, perhaps having also seen Li Qingluo's determination to see the Old Lady these past few days, genuinely wanted to give her some guidance, and thus personally recounted the events that had occurred in the Jiangjun Fu among the previous generation.

As it turned out, the Old Lady was originally a miss of the founding general's marquis manor, the Pei clan; although she also studied literature and calligraphy from a young age, she preferred wielding swords and spears.

Thirty-seven years ago, after marrying into the Li family, the Pei lady carried a pregnancy for ten months and gave birth to a son, namely Li Qingluo's father, Li Chao Jing.

But before the infant in swaddling clothes could grow up, an urgent report came from the frontier passes, saying that Li Chao Jing's father had encountered an enemy army encirclement, his whereabouts unknown, his life or death uncertain.

Longing for her husband and also to salvage the war situation, the Pei lady had no choice but to abandon her eight-month-old child, don armor, take up command, receive the imperial order, and personally go to the frontier passes to support and rescue her husband.

Li Chao Jing was entrusted to the elderly lady of the Li household, with the husband's former concubine, later the Deng concubine whom the Pei lady had personally brought up, helping to personally care for him.

Who would have known that this departure would last five years before she returned.

When she finally returned, Li Chao Jing no longer recognized the Pei lady as his birth mother; he only wanted the Deng concubine, and had completely severed his heart from her.

Although the Pei lady's position was unshakable, the fact that her sole legitimate son had become estranged left her feeling uneasy.

She exhausted all her efforts, yet could not win back her son's true heart.

When she herself fell ill, Li Chao Jing would come to inquire after her, but if the Deng concubine fell ill, Li Chao Jing would rush back and forth, serving tea and water, personally attending to her, making eight hundred trips a day to check on her, and would even kneel in the Buddha hall to pray to the gods and buddhas.

Such matters naturally made the Pei lady angry.

She believed that it was the Deng concubine meddling from behind the scenes that caused Li Chao Jing to not recognize her as his birth mother, and to regard a mere concubine as more important than his own mother.

The Pei lady originally intended to personally send away the Deng concubine, letting her spend her life in the Buddha hall with the ancient Buddha of the green lamp, or even sell her off.

But Li Chao Jing instead resisted with his life.

He even shouted, "If you dare to separate me and the Deng wet-nurse alive, I will hate you for the rest of my life! Even if you die, I will never offer you a single stick of incense!"