Chapter 367

Zu Liya: "You lunatic, what the hell are you trying to do?"

Translation: Zu Liya: "You lunatic, what exactly are you trying to do……"

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If you want revenge on me, why not just kill me?

Translation: "If you want to take revenge on me, wouldn't it be simpler just to kill me?"

Why be so ruthless?

Translation: "Why be so ruthless——"

Li Qingluo: "Kill you? After all the wicked things you've done, merely killing you isn't enough."

Translation: Li Qingluo: "Kill you? You've committed so many evil deeds—how could merely killing you be enough?"

You murdered Lady Pei the Twelfth, then gave her the Maitreya poison before she died, so she was conscious while you dismembered her and bled her out.

Translation: "You killed Pei Shier Niang, and before she died you gave her the Maitreya poison, letting her awake and then dismember her and drain her blood."

For years you tormented the butterfly, using her as a living medicine doll, infecting her with poisonous insects and making toxins from her blood.

Translation: "For years you abused Hudie, treating her as your medicinal person, giving her poisonous insects to ingest, using her blood to concoct poison."

You didn't even spare your own relative, Lian Qiao; you used a soul‑transfer art to fake your death and flee.

Translation: "You didn't even spare your own relative Kulianqiao; by means of a soul‑exchange technique you faked your death to escape."

Zu Liya, you're not even worthy of being human!

Translation: "Zu Liya, you aren't even fit to be human!"

Letting you die so easily would be unjust.

Translation: "If you were allowed to die so easily, how unfair would that be?"

So, just endure it!

Translation: "So, just suffer properly!"

Li Qingluo didn't expect her to provide an antidote either.

Translation: Li Qingluo didn't expect her to provide an antidote either.

With Zu Liya's malicious and crafty disposition, bargaining with her gets you nowhere.

Translation: Given Zu Liya's vicious and cunning nature, negotiating with her would yield no benefit.

It would be better to make her experience the same suffering she inflicted on others.

Translation: Better to let her taste the same pain she inflicted on others.

Seeing the despair in her expression, Li Qingluo withdrew.

Translation: Seeing the despair on her face, Li Qingluo then stepped back.

Zu Liya, this is what you deserve.

Translation: "Zu Liya, this is what you deserve."

Just wait for the poison to kick in!

Translation: "Just wait nicely for the poison to take effect!"

Li Qingluo finished speaking and glanced at Kill One.

Translation: Li Qingluo finished speaking and looked toward Sha Yi.

Take her down before dark; don't let her be hanged before the poison takes effect.

Translation: "Take her down before nightfall, don't let her hang herself before the poison acts."

Imprison her in the stone cell, and each day bring her out to hang for three hours.

Translation: "Lock her in the stone cell, and each day bring her out to hang for three hours."

If the poison takes effect early, send me and Your Highness an immediate pigeon message.

Translation: "If the poison acts early, send me and Your Highness an immediate flying‑pigeon message."

Kill One: "Yes, miss!"

Translation: Sha Yi: "Yes, Miss!"

As Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi turned to go down the cliff, they encountered Qingyangzi on the cliffside.

Translation: When Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi turned and descended the cliff, they instead encountered Qingyangzi on the cliff wall.

He looked dazed, his face deathly pale as he leaned against the cliff.

Translation: He looked dazed, his face deathly pale as he leaned against the cliff.

Jia'er... did she really die a living death, being dismembered and bled out by her?

Translation: "Jia'er…… did she really die alive, being dismembered and bled out by her?"

It's her, this poisonous woman, who murdered Jia'er!

Translation: "It's her, this poisonous woman, who killed Jia'er!!"

Duan Rongshi had already learned the truth about this case from Pei Sanlang earlier.

Translation: Duan Rongshi had already learned the truth of this case from Pei San Lang earlier.

However, since Duan Rongshi hadn't yet been reinstated as Minister of Justice, and Pei San had already defected and been posted far away to the northern desert, the case remained open at the Ministry of Justice.

Translation: However, because Duan Rongshi had not yet been reinstated as Minister of Justice, and Pei San had already defected and been transferred far away to the Northern Desert, the Dali Temple had not closed the case either.

The murderer is Zu Liya, without a doubt.

Translation: The murderer is Zu Liya, beyond doubt.

Duan Rongshi never told Qingyangzi.

Translation: Duan Rongshi did not tell Qingyangzi.

Now that he heard the truth, Qingyangzi couldn't bear the shock and burst into hysterical laughter.

Translation: Now that he heard the truth, Qingyangzi could not bear the blow and burst into manic laughter.

Afterward, he staggered, clinging to the cliff wall, heedless of the falling rocks; several times he nearly slipped, and in a daze he made his way down the mountain.

Translation: Thereafter he staggered, leaning on the cliff wall, ignoring the falling rocks at his feet, and though he several times nearly fell, he descended the mountain in a dazed state.

Duan Rongshi shook his head.

Translation: Duan Rongshi shook his head.

It is I who am indebted to him.

Translation: "It is I who owe him."

If Duan Rongshi hadn't allowed Qingyangzi to go along and become entangled with Lian Qiao, Lady Pei the Twelfth wouldn't have been poisoned and collapsed due to Lian Qiao's scheming.

Translation: "If it hadn't been for Duan Rongshi letting Qingyangzi go along with Kulianqiao's entanglement, Pei Shier Niang would not have fallen victim to Kulianqiao's scheming and been poisoned."

Perhaps then she could have avoided disaster.

Translation: "Perhaps then she could have escaped disaster."

Li Qingluo gently took Duan Rongshi's hand: "Your Highness, perhaps this is fate's doing."

Translation: Li Qingluo gently took Duan Rongshi's hand: "Your Highness, perhaps this is fate's doing."

If Qingyangzi had early on released his engagement to Lady Twelve, wouldn't this have been avoided?

Translation: "If Qingyangzi had early on freely released his engagement to the Twelfth Lady, wouldn't this have been avoided?"

However, I cannot disclose that Nan Jia has accidentally been reborn in Pan Li's body.

Translation: "However, I cannot reveal that Nanjia has accidentally been reborn in Pan Li's body."

This is Nan Jia's secret.

Translation: "This is Nanjia's secret."

And it marks the beginning of her rebirth.

Translation: "And it is the beginning of her renewed life."

Thinking of Nan Jia, Li Qingluo sighed.

Translation: Thinking of Nanjia, Li Qingluo sighed in her heart.

I've been swamped, and I don't know how Nan Jia and the Princess of Nanping have been lately.

Translation: "I've been busy nonstop, and I don't know how Nanjia and the Princess of Nanping have been lately."

Before leaving, she had already written a letter to the princess's residence, mentioning the Jiang family affairs and also asking about the Princess of Nanping.

Translation: "Before she left, she had already written a letter to the Princess Residence, asking about the Jiang family affairs and also inquiring about the Princess of Nanping."

It's been a long time since they last met, and Li Qingluo still misses her dearly.

Translation: "Not having seen her for a long time, Li Qingluo still misses her quite a bit."

Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi, carrying the remaining three poison pellets, hurried back to Jinling.

Translation: Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi, carrying the remaining three poison pills, hurried back to Jinling City.

However, in his disheveled state he couldn't go straight back to the Xiuli General's Manor.

Translation: "However, in our disheveled state we cannot directly return to the Xiuli Jiangjun Fu."

Li Qingluo therefore went to the Gui Garden to freshen up first.

Translation: Li Qingluo therefore went to the Osmanthus Garden to first clean herself up.

Seeing her standing there alive and well, the mute servants were dumbfounded.

Translation: Seeing her standing there alive and well, the mute servants were dumbfounded.

Last time, wasn't the young lady already killed ruthlessly by His Highness?

Translation: "Last time, wasn't the Miss already killed by Your Highness in a heartless, ruthless manner?"

Is she a returned spirit or feigning death?

Translation: "This… this, is the Miss a returned soul or a feigned corpse?"

Duan Rongshi: "What are you all crowding for? Get down."

Translation: Duan Rongshi: "What are you crowding for? Get down."

The mute servants crowded forward one by one; this time none of them wanted to obey.

Translation: The mute servants each pushed forward, this time none wanting to obey.

Duan Rongshi's face darkened: "Even my words you won't obey?"

Translation: Duan Rongshi's face sank: "Even my words you won't heed?"

The mute servants, one by one, began to fearfully prepare to retreat, but Li Qingluo couldn't bear it and reached out to stop them.

Translation: The mute servants only then timidly prepared to retreat, but Li Qingluo couldn't bear to stop them and reached out to block them.

She gestured to explain: "That 'me' from last time was actually a fake. Today's me is the real Li Qingluo."

Translation: She gestured and explained: "That 'I' last time was actually false. Today's I am the true Li Qingluo."

You, Your Highness, have not mistaken the person.

Translation: "You haven't mistaken the person, Your Highness."

Although they didn't know exactly what had happened, after hearing the explanation the mute servants each opened their eyes in delighted surprise.

Translation: Although they didn't know exactly what had happened, after receiving the explanation the mute servants each opened their eyes in delighted surprise.

They surged forward to surround Li Qingluo, each gesturing nonstop with their hands, looking like a chorus of seven voices all talking at once, leaving Li Qingluo dizzy.

Translation: They surged forward to surround Li Qingluo, each gesturing nonstop with their hands, looking like a babble of voices all speaking at once, making Li Qingluo's eyes dizzy.

Duan Rongshi reached out and pulled her back from the crowd.

Translation: Duan Rongshi reached out and pulled her back from the crowd.

Leaning in one's own arms.

She said not a word, only narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at the group of mute slaves.

The mute slaves covered their lips, each sneaking a laugh, and then hurriedly dispersed.

Li Qingluo couldn't help laughing, "They're all so cute. Your Highness, I really like them."

Li Qingluo looked up at Duan Rongshi, expressing her fondness for the mute slaves.

Duan Rongshi: "What about me?"

"Me or them, who do you like more?"

Li Qingluo was startled: …

How can he even swallow this kind of jealousy?

Both were extremely exhausted and soon went back to their own rooms separately.

Li Qingluo took a hot shower first; Que'er and Zheng Mama then came in to attend to her and wring her hair dry.

Que'er looked sullen.

Li Qingluo asked her, "What's wrong?"

Que'er: "Miss, the little guard named Zhui Yu by Prince Su's side is really annoying!"

"He said the slave's face looked like she'd knocked over your paint palette!"

"You couldn't help punching her…"

"He, after him, will he retaliate against the slave?"

Li Qingluo, hearing this, was curious, "Why a paint palette?"

Zheng Mama stifled a laugh, "Your painting palette is literally multicolored, isn't it?"

Que'er's bruises from the injury have not fully faded yet.

Li Qingluo gently patted Que'er's face with concern.

"Don't compare yourself to him; watch how I deal with him!"

Que'er pressed her face into Li Qingluo's palm, plaintively: "Just knew you'd stand up for me."

Zheng Mama shook her head silently: This guard Zhui Yu must be missing a string in his brain? I really don't know which girl will go blind for him in the future, tsk, such a decent person yet he just has a big mouth.

Li Qingluo stepped out of the room again, fresh and decisive, and happened to run into Zhui Yu.

Zhui Yu ran over cheerfully, calling her, "Miss."

Li Qingluo saw one side of his eye socket was dark and couldn't help letting out a "hiss—".

Que'er's hand wasn't light this time either.

Look, Zhui Yu didn't gain any advantage either.

Li Qingluo couldn't help looking at Que'er the same way.

Que'er, still huffing with anger, thrust her small waist out and stared fiercely at Zhui Yu.

Zhui Yu was carefree and heartless, never intending to argue with Que'er, the little girl; when he saw her glare, he wore a bewildered expression.

He thought they were even.

Little did he know Que'er still held it in her heart.

Zheng Mama struggled to keep a smile beside them.

Li Qingluo's scalp went stiff; how could she be so partial?

She had to skip the matter, pretended not to know and asked the side, "Zhui Yu, where is Your Highness?"

Zhui Yu: "Oh, right, Miss. I, your subordinate, came specifically to tell you that after washing, Your Highness has already entered the palace."

"Your Highness said he'll bring gifts tonight to visit the Old Lady at Xiuli Jiangjun Fu. Miss, please reserve a meal for him."

Li Qingluo instantly understood Duan Rongshi's meaning.

He couldn't wait.

He needed to formally visit his grandmother.

She blushed and replied, "Alright, I understand."

After Li Qingluo left with Que'er, Zhui Yu hurriedly called the mute slaves out.

Then, in high spirits, he announced, "Your Highness is about to have great joy; let's open the storeroom—prepare the gifts!"

The whole Osmanthus Garden erupted into noise at once.

Everyone's face was filled with abundant joy…

Duan Rongshi, dressed in a red‑black coronet robe embroidered with a jiaolong motif, cradling a three‑foot‑long brocade box, strode up the steps toward the Purple Palace.

Grand Eunuch Wang He, seeing him arrive, hurried forward: "Prince Su, Your Highness, you're here."

"Didn't you just go back this morning? Why so hurriedly come back to the palace to see the Emperor?"

"It's just that the Emperor is still not fully lucid and cannot meet people…"

Duan Rongshi grabbed Wang He by the collar and pulled him close: "If the Crown Prince can enter, why can't I?"

"Wang Gonggong, the realm has not changed hands yet; are you too eager to claim the throne? Be careful…"

His manner made Wang He uneasy.

Wang He's expression changed, "You… the Crown Prince is inside…"

"You, even if you go in, what could you say to the Emperor?"

Duan Rongshi: "That's my business!"

After speaking, he shoved Wang He aside; Wang He staggered and fell to the ground.

"You—"

Wang He, angry and ashamed, lunged forward as the junior eunuchs nearby swarmed him.

The Imperial Guard each drew their swords, eyes like tigers.

Leng Dian and two other guards immediately stepped forward, shielding Duan Rongshi.

Wang He forced his anger down and had not yet gotten up.

The Imperial Guard walked over.

His Majesty commands Prince Su to appear.

Prince Su, please—

Duan Rongshi glanced at Yang Qinwu.

He remembered this person had dealings with Luoer.

Yang Qinwu nodded slightly, knowing that even if he did not step forward today, Wang He would not dare to block Prince Su.

He was merely making a convenient excuse.

Prince Wang, the Crown Prince has been assisting with state affairs before the throne these days.

Now, most of the palace is already in the hands of the Crown Prince and the Empress and her son.

When you act, please be careful.

Yang Qinwu finished speaking softly and stepped back.

Duan Rongshi entered the hall.

A strong scent of sandalwood wafted in, even suppressing the smell of medicine.

Duan Rongshi furrowed his brows tightly, seeing the Crown Prince and the Empress seated before the curtain, carefully attending to the newly revived Yan Di.

Yan Di's gaunt hand reached out from the curtain.

Yan Di lifted his hand lightly: "Xiao Wu, come here."

Duan Rongshi walked straight forward.

Your servant bows to Father Emperor, Mother Empress, Crown Prince.

The Empress smiled with concern at him: "Xiao Wu, you have also worked hard these days. I heard you knelt outside the hall all night last evening; such worry for your Father Emperor's health is truly filial piety."

His Majesty, Xiao Wu is deeply concerned for you; his hardships these days are no less than Xuaner's.

Although Xuaner has been attending to the illness day and night, hardly closing his eyes, Xiao Wu and the others are also very filial.

At least you have finally awakened; they can now be a bit more at ease.

Especially Xiao Wu, who was helped back this morning; now he comes to see you again, surely extremely worried.

Xiao Wu, why don't you step forward quickly? So your Father Emperor can see you.

The palace attendant stepped forward and raised the curtain high.

Yan Di's murky gaze fell on Duan Rongshi.

Seeing the brocade box Duan Rongshi held, Yan Di's eyes paused.

Xiao Wu, what are you holding?

Crown Prince Duan Rongxuan had already taken notice of the object in Duan Rongshi's hand.

He glanced subtly at his mother; Empress Gao's expression unintentionally showed a hint of tension.

Duan Rongshi slowly opened the brocade box, and inside lay a decree that had been sealed for many years…

Your servant wishes to present a decree to Father Emperor.