Chapter 4: Fallen Gentleman – Part 3

Translated by: Ritpoppy

Edited by: Ren

Hope you guys had a Happy Holidays! Now to the new chapter~

Edit: guys, I just now realized that a part of my translation is wrong. The sects didn’t want to “govern the common people”, they actually wanted to obtain a powerful sword that is called “The Common People’s Order”. It’s been changed now and I’m really sorry if it confused any of you.

The Moondrop Needle was one of the weapons Ming ChangYan was renowned for. Due to its sinister nature, its almost invisible killing technique was like that of a ghost’s, therefore it is known as, “The Ghost Gate’s Thirteen Needles”.

As Ming ChangYan was setting down his lantern, disheveled footsteps could be heard from outside the Bamboo House. The entrance was kicked open and the 13 Southern Guardian’s leader, Baili Deng, rushed in shouting, “The 13 Southern Guardians have been ordered to inspect this area. Nobody move!”

He hastily removes a few needles from Aunt Chun’s neck, hides them inside his sleeves and steps off to the side.

Everyone who was residing in the Bamboo House was taken to the courtyard by the 13 Guardians. Baili Deng ordered, “Immediately call upon the Imperial Doctor!”

Wang ShaoShi’s servant promptly saluted to express her gratitude, saying, “Many thanks, Mister Baili.”

Baili Deng replied, “Wang ShaoShi has been through a lot of shock, quickly bring her back to her room to rest.”

He led two guards whom where blood-relatives to examine Aunt Chun’s condition. Baili Deng lifted one of his hands, which accidentally bumped into the lantern that Ming ChangYan left behind. Peony explained, “It was left by my Mistress when she came over to check up on the situation.”

Baili Deng gave the two guards standing beside him a meaningful glance. Immediately, the two guards ignited a lighter*, bringing back the fire that was close from extinguishing, illuminating a corner of the pond. Half of Aunt Chun’s corpse was soaked in the sludge that was within the pond. Baili lifted his lantern, the dim light that reflected off of Aunt Chun’s dead face made her look even more hideous. Her throat was rotten from the ten thousand needles that were lodged in there. There were numerous scarlet lines that were tangled together along with the needles, and when the 13 Guardians looked upon the dead body, they couldn’t help but feel nauseous. Baili Deng continued to observe the body. After a short period of time, a look of understanding appeared on his face, and he brought the lantern in closer for inspection.

(TN: “火折子”; one of the earliest versions of the modern lighter. It’s sulfur coated wooden sticks were used as a catalyst to create fire. http://5b0988e595225.cdn.sohucs.com/images/20171015/007d36940168457dad5ec459fb0e95e0.png )

Looking closely at the thin black needles, there appeared to be many cotton threads that were hanging on other needles, the original needles that were supposed to be tied to those lines were nowhere to be found. Baili vigorously examined Aunt Chun’s neck, and there indeed seemed to be several pinholes on her neck, but no evidence of any black needle. Someone pulled them out? Baili’s heart became erratic, promptly moving the lantern to lighten up the ground below him. The soil that surrounding the lotus pond was moist from the bloody water from the pond. The wisps of blood were gradually vanishing, along the way pointing out who was the culprit that pulled out the needles from Aunt Chun’s neck.

At this moment, without any warnings, from the western side of the Bamboo House came Wang ShaoShi’s ear piercing howl. Baili abruptly gets up together with everyone, rushing towards the Bamboo House’s west side.

Ming ChangYan followed closely behind everyone. After arriving at Wang ShaoShi’s sleeping quarters, he and Baili both ceased their footsteps, Ming ChangYan ordered, “Peony, go in to check up on her situation.”

Peony agreed at once, wiping off her sweat, she lifted her skirt and entered the door. Just after stepping across the threshold of the door, Wang ShaoShi’s yelling could be heard once again, “Ghost…Ghost!! There’s a ghost! I saw a ghost! I saw a ghost…”

Baili Deng stood by the door and asked, “How is the Mistress?”

Peony worriedly scrambled out, “Yan ShaoShi, Mister Baili, Wang ShaoShi is delirious at the moment. It looks like she’s been startled, she’s very scared.”

Baili, “There’s something fishy going on here. I’ll decide what to do after I report this to the emperor. Eleven, Thirteen, you two are to accompany me to DaMing palace hall. The remaining people will stay here and protect the Mistress. If anything happens to the Mistress, I’ll ask you all to compensate.”

“Yes!”

Ming ChangYan stood in silence for a while, Fu Ling said, “Yan ShaoShi, let us go back inside to rest.”

Ming ChangYan snapped out of his daze and absent-mindedly replied, “Oh, there’s no rush. Wang JieJie’s body’s condition isn’t very well, I’m very worried. If you two are tired, you guys can go back and rest, I’ll stay here and stand guard by the door.”

Peony distantly looked at Fu Ling, Fu Ling questioned, “Why doesn’t Yan ShaoShi go in to check up on Wang ShaoShi?”

Ming ChangYan replied without thinking, “How is that okay? Consciously entering a woman’s sleeping quar, quarters…”

Peony looked at him uncertainly.

Ming ChangYan swallowed the words he was about to say next, waved his hands, “Bring me that little eunuch that brought me into the palace, say that I have some inquiries for him. If he doesn’t want to come, then tie him up and bring him back to the Bamboo House. To put it simply, I have to see him in fifteen minutes.

After fifteen minutes, Xiao WanZi, who was frantically trying to escape, was dragged into the Bamboo House. In front of Ming ChangYan, Peony’s usually lovely and cute personality made a complete spin around, in front of Xiao WanZi, she had a bold and shrewish expression on her face. She cocked her eyebrow, pinched Xiao WanZi’s earlobe and said, “You, go in.”

Xiao WanZi’s yelps of pain were loud enough for the heavens to hear, “Peony JieJie! Gentler! Gentler!”

Fu Ling covered Ming ChangYan with a thin cloth, “Even though it’s summer, ShaoShi must be careful of the nighttime breeze, you might catch a cold.”

Ming ChangYan sat on the stone stools within the courtyard, avoiding the 13 Southern Guardians. He opened his mouth to ask a question but something seemed to block him from forming the words. Upon seeing this, Fu Ling promptly reminded, “Xiao WanZi.”

Ming ChangYan, “Xiao WanZi, I’m going to ask you about some things and you must directly give me a response. If I hear even the slightest deception coming from you, then I’ll throw you into the pond to become chow for the tortoises.”

Peony, “ShaoShi, ask as you please. This sly boot just loves to listen to palace gossip, who knows how much gossips he keeps in his stomach. If it’s related to the imperial palace, Xiao WanZi can immediately say one or two words on the matter. If he doesn’t say the truth, then I’ll beat him up on ShaoShi’s behalf.”

Ming ChangYan stopped to listen and praise her. He questioned, “Let me ask you, do you know the “The Ghost Gate’s Thirteen Needles’?”

Peony and Fu Ling both simultaneously looked at each other, saw that he didn’t ask about palace drama, but instead asked about Jianghu, and both thought: Why is ShaoShi asking about such a weird topic?

Xiao WanZi was both terrified and astonished, not daring to lift his head, “How does Yan ShaoShi know about the ‘The Ghost Gate’s Thirteen Needles’?”

Ming ChangYan, “You don’t need to know how I know about the ‘The Ghost Gate’s Thirteen Needles,’ I’m the one asking you questions. During those two years that Ming ChangYan was dead, have you heard of anything regarding the affairs that occurred outside the palace?”

Peony gave Xiao WanZi a death glare, making him feel extremely wronged. In order to make Peony happy, immediately he knocked his head to the floor and not daring to tell a lie, began to little by little reply.

Two years ago, Ming ChangYan, while battling by the Yanbo River, drowned. It is said that the head of Guifeng Sect ordered for his corpse to be fished up from the Yanbo River, but the corpse was already swollen and rotten. Who’d dare be able to recognize that that was the face of a noble gentleman? From then on, after that incident in Jianghu, two rumors arose.

One states about how Ming ChangYan, whose martial arts was spectacular, how could he, after taking a few gulps of water, just drown in the Yanbo River? It declared that he wasn’t dead, and at any moment, was ready to make a comeback.

The second one stated that Ming ChangYan was ganged up on by the six major sects, if he wasn’t dead then he’d be disabled. Moreover, his dead body was salvaged in the presence of all of the sects, how could there be a mistake? He’s definitely completely dead.

In the few months that he was dead, there were constant disputes. Jianghu had many opposing opinions, leading to never-ending conclusions. As a result, after half a year, a massacre occurred seeking to exterminate a whole sect. In QiYun Sect, one hundred twenty-one disciples were killed using ten thousand needles. Xiaohan Temple’s chief, Daoist Ming Chen, witnessed it with his own eyes. These one hundred twenty-one disciples were pierced alive.

Martial artists that used needles as their weapon only used it to follow the recent trends, but the only person who has perfected this art is Ming ChangYan himself.

Although BoLuo Sect also used needles, it was used in the medical field to save people. This sect was honest and kind-hearted, just like the way they used the needle. Yet this noble gentleman, rather than using the needle to save people, he used them to do the complete opposite. Consequently, this caused BoLuo to hate his guts, not wanting to get involved with him at all.

This is translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any other work of this is stolen and to those who steal translations, may you get head-butted by a unicorn. 

Another example could be Ru DongQi temple, which used them as an assassination method. Although they were experts in using the needles as a concealed weapon, several years ago, a certain noble gentleman flew down from the sky and stole all their glory. They came up and tried to provoke him, but failed in their attempts, and contrary to their expectations, they were instead wiped out by Ming ChangYan.

To this day, in the entirety of Jianghu, only Ming ChangYan’s “Ghost Gate’s Thirteen Needles” were able to have people trembling in fear, wanting to avoid it at all cost.

The weapon able to kill off an entire family is the needle. There were 500 silver needles attached to those threads, all of which were pushed through the mouth until it reached the abdomen where the intestines were. The somewhat long needles would then pierce out from the throat and the chest. While the people were fast asleep, they would swallow the 500 needles and instinctively wake up from the pain. Then they would grip on the strings coming from their mouths, pulling the needles up from their stomach. This one move is able to destroy a person’s five visceras and six bowels*, allowing the person unable to possess the will to live, nor demand death. Within the time span of two hours, they will inevitably begin bleeding through the seven aperture of the human head**. The chest and belly are torn open, draining the person’s energy at the same time as their vitality, dying a painful death while still alive to witness it all happen.

(*TN: “五脏六腑”the internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen, in this case the intestines)

(**TN: “七窍” 2 eyes, 2 ears, the 2 nostrils, and the mouth)

Using the needle in such a clever and demonic way to kill while at the same time harboring malevolent thoughts, other than that demon head Ming ChangYan, who else could it be? If he dared to annihilate the entire ZhuiFeng Sect; then wiping out the QiYun Sect, how would that have been a hassle? Ming ChangYan didn’t completely die, not only did he not die, he has come back for retaliation, taking revenge. Don’t believe it? In the group of sects that went to purge Ming ChangYan by the Yanbo River, QiYun Sect was part of them, how could they explain that? Besides, the only person who’d be able to do such a trivial matter heartlessly, it’s no one else but him!

Peony suddenly covered her mouth, moved sideways and began to retch.

Fu Ling’s complexion was the color of snowy starch, her mouth opened and closed, mumbling to herself, “This…”

Ming ChangYan raised his hand, indicating for Fu Ling to be quiet, he said, “Proceed.”

Xiao WanZi dipped his head even lower, and continued, “The extermination of QiYun Sect wasn’t the end of it, rather, it was the beginning.”

On the 202th year reign of the Renhe emperor, JinYun’s chamber of commerce suffered the same massacre. On the same year in November, the entire TianLu Sect was killed by brutality. The next year in August, YaoQuan temple turned up with no survivors. In just two years, seven sects have just disappeared, all because of one person. Among them, three participated in the incident regarding the Yanbo River.

“Completely annihilated? Not a single person remaining?”

“This servant has only heard rumors. Regarding the extermination of an entire sect, it isn’t all made up. Possibly, maybe no one survived.”

Ming ChangYan finished listening and asked, “To have such a major occurrence happen, why aren’t any martial artist taking action? XiaoHan Temple, BeiHe Peak, FuRong Mountain, Chun City, these are all of Jianghu’s most outstanding and well-known sects. Back then, they were there when they went to purge Ming ChangYan. Now that that noble gentleman is revolting, they wouldn’t just idly sit by and do nothing.”

Xiao WanZi muttered, “What ‘outstanding and well-known sect’? They’re all repulsive fish and rotten shrimp, a bunch of filthy and disgusting goods! After the death of that noble gentleman, the sects lost an important figure, and with no one to quell them down, several of them began arguing, fighting never endlessly. In order to take the spot of number one, they all began smashing skulls. Before, ‘The Common People’s Order’* was temporarily safeguarded by TianQing Sect. Afterwards, since numerous sects couldn’t come to a conclusion, ‘The Common People’s Order’ was sent off to XiaoMan Mountain. They are to stay there until the sects have a contest to see which sect will be qualified to obtain ‘The Common People’s Order’.”

(*TN: a sword that will make an appearance later on in the story)

After Ming ChangYan finished listening, he was between laughter and tears, “The Common People’s Order’ has always recognized its own master, why are they having a contest over this?”

“Recognizing a master? I pei!” Xiao WanZi spits, “Why don’t XiaoHan Temple go urinate and look at their own mortality and conduct?! Just with that kind of martial art skill, do you think that ‘The Common People’s Order’ is worthy to even recognize you?!”

Ming ChangYan, “Furthermore, ‘The Common People’s Order’ may not want a master. Who could possibly have the ability to forcefully take a sword out of its sheath? Since they can’t use ‘The Common People’s Order’, then they won’t be able to obtain all the laid-back wonders that come with it. Then, the ‘The Common People’s Order’ would just be a piece of scrap metal, a complete junk. What would you do if you brought home a piece of scrap metal? Use it as a spiritual offering to burn incense and worship Buddha every day? And just like that, become number one in the entire country?”

Xiao WanZi’s complexion abruptly turned scarlet, forgetting all of the palace’s conducts, he pointed at Ming ChangYan, and said several many rows of ‘you’s’*, shouting, “You dare say that ‘The Common People’s Order’ is just a piece of scrap metal? You, you, you, you, you…you really, really are an unreasonable little girl! Not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth!”

(TN: “你”; means you but in a more informal sort of way compared to ”您” which is the formal sort of way to say ‘you’. It’s just implying that what Xiao WanZi is doing right now is very rude)

Peony turned around, suddenly pinching his ears, and cursed in rage, “You brazen piece of dog sh*t! How dare you take to Yan ShaoShi in such a manner!”

The ‘unreasonable little girl’ Ming ChangYan decided then and there to always acknowledge his faults in front of women, waved his hand and said, “Ming ChangYan has committed evil multiple times, if the sects don’t care then there must be at least a chivalrous being that want to punish wickedness and eliminate evil, right?”

Xiao WanZi’s ears were extremely red, his eyes gleaming with tears, and while breathing through gritted teeth replied, “There are, but there are too many Ming ChangYan’s , they aren’t able to catch him.”

Ming ChangYan listened to this, with a distracted look, amusingly said, “What you said now seems interesting, how are they unable to catch Ming ChangYan? Don’t tell me that he has the ability to split himself?”

Xiao WanZi, “The gentleman walked on Jianghu for ten years, always wearing black robes and had a black veil that covered his face. Sometimes it’s a mask, sometimes a bamboo hat, never showing his true appearance to anyone. In short, there are very few who have seen his true appearance. After he died, LingLong pavilion’s heartless wife Xiu LingLong took his bamboo hat, clothes, masks, even all the weapons he’d ever used, and the jade pendants he wore and made exact copies of it to sell it as merchandise. With just 500 copper coins, you could buy a pair to take home and wear. The number of people in Jianghu pretending to be Ming ChangYan is if not 1000 then at least 800. As long as they’re wearing a black veil, then everyone would deem themselves as the noble gentleman.”

Ming ChangYan burst into loud laughter, “After Ming ChangYan died, you’d think that the situation would become better! Xiu LingLong that unscrupulous businesswoman, ten years and she’s still as devious as ever. Her best friend died and she still doesn’t forget to earn some money off him. Really…”

He thought for a while, couldn’t think of a suitable description, so he dropped it.

At this moment, as the sky began to brighten up, Baili Deng along with Eleven and Thirteen returned to the Bamboo House. Ming ChangYan stood up. Before Peony could open her mouth to welcome them back, she saw the solemn expression on Baili Deng’s face, furrowing his eyebrows together, he said, “No one is allowed step outside the Bamboo House. Yan ShaoShi, sorry to be an inconvenience, but could you follow me to Zhaohe court?”

Ming ChangYan replied, “No worries, no worries. I was just about to go to Zhaohe court to have a chat with Imperial Concubine Yuan.”

Peony reminded, “ShaoShi, remember to be careful with your words.”

Ming ChangYan pretended to be deaf, disregarded her words and asked Baili, “Just by looking at your hurried appearance, I can guess that an accident occurred in ZhaoHe court.”

Baili Deng answered, “Correct, this Mistress is exceptionally intelligent and exquisitely clever. This servant looks forward to accompanying this Mistress.”

Fu Ling asked, “What happened in ZhaoHe court? Why is ShaoShi the only one going? Have they called anyone else?”

Baili replied, “ZhaoHe court’s Li GongGong died a quarter hour ago. Cause of death being…”

He lifted his head and looked at Ming ChangYan, then immediately lowered his head and continued, “Ten thousand needles piercing his throat.”

This is translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any other work of this is stolen and to those who steal translations, may you get head-butted by a unicorn. 

If you see any grammar mistakes or translation errors, please comment and we’ll change it! Comments are always welcome here.

Hope you guys had a good Christmas! And to those who don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you have an enchanting and magical day ✩°｡⋆⸜(ू｡•ω•｡)

Chapter 3 : Table of Contents : Chapter 5

Fallen Gentleman – Part 2

Translated by: Ritpoppy

Edited: Ren

Notice: Sorry for being gone for such a long time ಥ_ಥ
I’ve got no excuses for why it took so long. But here it is! This chapter was significantly longer than the other two.

Also, finals week is coming up (AKA Hell Week) so the next chapter will come out during Christmas break, so in like two weeks (???)

Anyway, enough of the chit-chat here’s A Seductive Gentleman Chapter 3~

Peony and Fu Ling looked at each other in dismay, Fu Ling said, “Shaoshi, perhaps doesn’t understand, after entering the palace, if you want to be called upon by the emperor, he must first flip over your plaque *. Apart from this, the concubines within the palace are forbidden to secretly meet with the emperor. The rules in the palace are very strict, there has never been any concubine that have served the emperor without getting called on first. Shaoshi…”

*(TL: In Ancient China, if the emperor wants to spend the night with one of his concubines, then he would be presented with a stack of names on tablets and he would choose which one he wanted to sleep with.) 
 

Ming ChangYan cut her off, “Rules are meant to be broken! I’m going to meet him today so that everyone else gets a chance tomorrow. Come, come, come, my dear Peony, step aside, step aside. If you guys don’t take me, then I’ll just go myself.”
After saying that, his body nimbly got up and walked between Peony and Fu Ling’s body. Before the two could react, he slipped on his shoes and began running so fast it looked like he was flying. With a whoosh, his figure disappeared from the doorway of the Bamboo House.

Peony and Fu Ling’s complexion changed, and they immediately chased after him.
While running, the two loudly shouted “ShaoShi” and “Miss”, never stopping as panic arose within them while they pursued their mistress.
Although Ming ChangYan lost all of his cultivation, he still ran like a wild horse. Uncontrollable. The palace maids that he encountered along the way all hastily moved aside for him to pass through.

After wildly rushing out of the Bamboo House and rotating around 4 to 5 hallways, he entered a stone carved arched doorway. After going through ten doors, the terrain suddenly opens up. Ming ChangYan slowed down his footsteps, and in front of him, he saw an expanse of endless jade-green lotus leaves. The sweet fragrance of the white lotuses hits him in the face, dispelling away the summer heat.

Ming ChangYan promptly moved forward two steps. After crossing the bridge, he noticed there was someone standing on the bridge. The person didn’t seem to have had a passing of age party yet*. He had the conduct of a proper man, a splendid-looking face, skin the color of white jade, with his hair tied up with a golden headdress. This person must be one of those immortals.

*(TL: 不到弱冠, bu dao ruo guan, in Ancient China, when a man reached twenty of age, they would hold a ceremony to show that they were adults. Ming ChangYan is basically saying that hot guy on the bridge is not yet ready for that ceremony.) 

The person held a jar of fish food on his right hand, while his left hand threw the fish food into the lotus pond. Even after Ming ChangYan hastily burst in, the other person’s complexion never changed, his imposing body motionless. His gaze didn’t even move an inch from the pond.

After Ming ChangYan hurriedly ran in into this foreign place, he realized his mistake. Not being able to find where the Emperor’s bedroom was, Ming ChangYan shamelessly cupped his hands together in greeting and said, “This Young Master, do you perhaps know where the Emperor lives?”

The Young Master, didn’t apparently seem to hear him which causes Ming ChangYan to think: Is this man deaf?

“Hey! I’m talking to you, Young Master! Xiao Gege! Little Husband*! How come you’re ignoring me? Ey, are you deaf?”

*(TL: 小相公, xiao xian gong, could mean other things but I chose the gayest one, plus it fits the timeline the most.) 
At that moment, Fu Ling and Peony managed to finally catch up to him. The two panted heavily, their posture slacking. Looking at Ming ChangYan shamelessly pestering the young man, they once again were frightened and astonished. With a swoosh, their entire complexion turned deathly pale. It seemed that the Heavens were shooting lightning down at them. The two’s faces look haggard and withered. In the moment of turmoil, they kneel on the ground and hit their heads on the ground.

“Please spare our lives, Immortal Yun Qing! This Shaoshi just entered the imperial palace and has never met an Immortal before! Even though she provoked this immortal, please spare the Shaoshi!”

While kneeling and hitting their heads on the ground, Fu Ling grabbed the hem of Ming ChangYan’s robes, trying to pull him down to kneel with them.

Ming ChangYan thought: Immortal Yun Qing? Why does that name sound so familiar? Could this man be one of the troops that he saw earlier pass through the entrance?
He pretended to be ignorant and said, “Peony, what are you grabbing at my robes for? I already kneeled for him this morning, why do I have to kneel for him again without a good reason to? What? Do you want us to perform the kneeling ritual to become husband and wife and pay respects to his parents while at it*?”

*(TL: It’s an old wedding ritual where the bride and groom do three bows, first one for the heavens, second for the family, and the third one for each other. Search it up if you’re curious about it.)

After hearing Ming ChangYan shoot his mouth off, not once, but twice offending Immortal Yun Qing, she was afraid that even dying ten thousand times wouldn’t be adequate. She blinked as teardrops flowed down her cheeks. Her body began trembling, trying not to let out a sound, and started crying.

Ming ChangYan seeing Fu Ling cry as if her liver and guts were being cut up, was astonished, and thought: What is this charming youngster’s influence? If he really did meet and brought the devil’s incarnate, to be born just to die, wouldn’t it be a huge misfortune?

Before becoming a cultivator Ming shaoxia was a jack-of-all-trades for a short while. If he couldn’t win he fled, if he couldn’t flee then he would bow to protect his life. In addition, he could bow and submit, his face sturdy, merciful and flattering words flowed out of him the moment he opened his mouth. No one could ever think that one of JiangHu’s most powerful martial artist and gentleman could suck up to people with this much skill.

Many people have preposterous reasoning, thinking that when someone becomes a hero, they can also commit treacherous evil-doings. The times are different and so are the situations they’re in. Only those who are able to recognize recent trends can be chivalrous heroes.

For the elite Ming ShaoXia—forget about committing evils, he has already dressed up as a woman, what’s the worse he could do? Kneel for a child? For a gentleman like him, revenge is a dish best served cold. When he gets a hold of the Immortal Grass and regain his golden core, then he’d come back and settle accounts with him.

Ming ChangYan promptly lifts up his skirt, and humbly knelt down, “Ok, ok, ok. Good jiejie*, there’s no need to cry. I spoke without thinking, if you want me to kneel, I’ll kneel. I’m kneeling, really kneeling, do you see?”

(TN: Means older sister in Chinese, also an intimate way to call a woman who’s older than you) 

That Yun Qing Immortal paused for a second, finished feeding the fish, and finally opened his mouth to speak, “What part of the palace is this person from?”

Peony didn’t have much guts, after bowing her head once, she was so frightened that her entire body was shaking. She replied, “In—In the Bamboo House. She just became a ShaoShi today. She was shouting saying she wanted to see the emperor, saying—saying that she was going to find her husband. This servant couldn’t stop her in time, allowing her to trespass into the Lotus Terrace. This servant should die a thousand times! A thousand times!”

Yun Qing glanced at her, and said, “No need to meet him. Bring her back.”
Fu Ling and Peony while pushing and hauling, dragged Ming ChangYan up from the floor, and hurriedly rushed him out of Lotus Terrace.

After walking approximately 15 minutes, the Lotus Terrace had completely disappeared from the three’s line of sight, Ming ChangYan turned to Fu Ling and asked, “Peony, who is that Yun Qing Immortal?”

Peony said, “Yan ShaoShi, I’m Peony, she’s Fu Ling.”

Ming ChangYan turned around, “Fu Ling, then you answer.”

Peony who seemed to have been choked by him, slowly explained, “Immortal Yun Qing is the last blood-related disciple of Prime Minister Chang, and is also called the Young Prime Minister. Different from other cultivators, the Young Prime Minister grew up in the palace, his food, clothing, and conduct are equal to that of a prince. The emperor has always been infatuated with the idea of cultivation, resulting in his status within the palace to be extremely high. Forget about a lowly ShaoShi, even an Imperial Concubine has to show him proper courtesy. ShaoShi must remember to never contradict him again like today.”

Ming ChangYan said, “I was only asking for directions, how does this count as contradicting him when all I did was ask a question? It’s only because you two didn’t tell me where the emperor was that I slandered with that, that Yun Qing or whatever!”

Peony covered her mouth, stunned, “How could ShaoShi talk this way.”

Ming ChangYan, “It’s because you two jie- jie look so pretty that I talk this way, if it were others, I wouldn’t dare speak to them.”

Peony and Fu Ling glanced at each other, grabbed Ming ChangYan’s arm and persuaded, “While ShaoShi is in the palace, you must be very careful, especially when it comes to talking. Just now, the way you called us, must not be heard by others and you should never call us by that again. In the palace, you’re the mistress, we’re the servants. What kind of mistress calls their servants jiejie?”

Ming ChangYan took his hand out from between the two and spurt out a few words of security, “I can walk by myself, no need to trouble these two jiejie.”

He asked, “Then doesn’t that mean that this Yun Qing Immortal is able to enter harem by himself?”

Fu Ling, “No one else is able to, but he is the only one who has the privilege to do so. The harem is full of womenfolk. Usually, without the consent of the Imperial Bodyguards, going into the palace harem could get your head cut off.”

Ming ChangYan thoughtfully nodded his head. Fu Ling, seeing that he was unwilling to be lent a hand for support, thought that her mistress’s temperament was extremely weird. After realizing she was falling behind a few steps, she immediately followed after them and said, “There’s still enough time for ShaoShi to return to the harem to freshen up. At around 5-7 pm, all newly entered concubines are to pay a formal visit to the Imperial Concubine Yuan.”

Ming ChangYan returned to the Bamboo House together with the other two. While Peony was selecting hairpins and cosmetic powders, the other person already had their eyes closed, sleeping soundly. After they had finished applying makeup on, and only after some pushing did he wake up.

The amount of rouge and face powder Ming ChangYan had brought throughout his life and the number of young ladies that he would give them to was all because they were following a fashion trend. He never thought that one day this kind of cute thing would end up on his face.

Peony said, “Yan ShaoShi. Let us go together with Wang ShaoShi from the western side of the Bamboo House to formally greet Imperial Concubine Yuan.”

Wang ShaoShi was born with an egg face and perfect eyebrows, who walked while swinging her hips side to side and had an incomparable flirtatious behavior.

Ming ChangYan exited through the door, stepped forward and said, “Wang jiejie, sorry to make you wait.”

Wang ShaoShi covered her mouth and delicately smiled, her fan swaying back and forth, “The way you talk is so interesting.”

Ming ChangYan smiled, “I have something even more interesting. What kind of perfume does Wang jiejie have on? Just smelling it is intoxicating.”

Wang ShaoShi, “That mouth you have says the sweetest things. This is a special perfume from my hometown Yanjing*. If you like it, then I can send someone over later to give you one. But there are so many people that use perfume in the palace, mine isn’t all that special compared to others. When that happens, don’t regret it.”

(TN: Present day Beijing) 

Ming ChangYan questioned, “There’s a lot of perfumes in the palace? If everyone uses perfumes in the palace, does that mean that the men wear it too? Since Yanjing produces an abundance of perfumes, has Wang JieJie ever smelled a perfume similar to a lotus yet refreshing as winter snow? Just smelling it makes one’s heart flutter and the mind unable to calm down.”

Wang ShaoShi’s blushed, displeasing said, “Where on earth would there be a perfume like that? The effect that you said is no different from the drug that is unrequited love. Please never say those words again.”

Ming ChangYan smiled embarrassedly, “I know. Does Wang jiejie know why we’re paying respects to Imperial Concubine Yuan instead of the empress?”

Wang ShaoShi whispered, “The empress went to Dahan temple to burn incense and is going to return after half a month. Nowadays, the harem is under Imperial Concubine Yuan’s supervision. Let me just say, Imperial Concubine Yuan’s is arrogant and bossy, you and me both have to be extremely careful. We mustn’t say any nonsense and get on her bad side.”

Ming ChangYan absentmindedly nodded his head, “Of course, of course. Throughout my life, I’ve always hated having to dispute over mindless things.”

The number one gentleman, Ming ChangYan, never liked arguing with people. If someone had an objection, he’d fight them. If they still had complaints, then he’d beat them. Until the other party changed their mind. This kind of method worked better than any heavenly elixir. Ming ChangYan knew this after experiencing it many times back in JiangHu.

The two gracefully walked together, passing through two long conjoined corridors. Turning, they entered the Inner Palace. The Inner Palace was splendidly decorated, the soothing sound of water flowing could be heard. Though after walking ahead a few steps, quarreling could be heard from the distance.

Wang ShaoShi frowned, “Who dares to make a racket in ZhaoHe Court?”

Ming ChangYan walked forwards, yet only saw two concubines intertwined in the distance, in the middle of grabbing each other. Yanking at the flowers in their hairs and using their palms to slap at each other. They shouted accusations at the other party and began to fight them. Ming ChangYan was scared and surprised at the same time: These two women’s bones are different from what I expected! Their posture whilst fighting have surpassed what the human body is capable of! This gentleman can’t help but admire them!

The two were lying on the floor when someone said, “Slut!” Another person said, “Foul wrenches! Without even saying three sentences, they already created a more anger some way to let out your rage than yelling at each other. They were trying to reach an agreement, but just when they began to mutually talk, the two began spitting in each other’s faces!”

Wang ShaoShi reminded, “You better not mind other people’s businesses. It’s best to avoid disasters.”

Just as her voice fell, within ZhaoHe Court, a palace eunuch shouted loudly, “Who dares disturb the Imperial Concubine dine!”

A moment later, from within ZhaoHe palace came a palace maid. It was Imperial Concubine Yuan’s paternal aunt, Aunt Chun. Besides her, there was also an old palace eunuch, surname Li, everyone calls him Li GongGong*. Li GongGong followed behind Aunt Chun and said, “Quickly, pull these two apart!”

(TN: “公公”; means old man, or could be used to called eunuches) 

Two palace eunuchs heard the order, their movements nimble and their arm strength strong. While pulling the two apart, the two were still blood-curdling screaming at each other. The old eunuch eccentrically opened his mouth, “Block up their mouths for me, the Imperial Concubine’s perfectly good dinner time was ruined by these two who don’t seem to understand rules. If you can’t block their mouths, then beat their mouths till they can’t speak. Anything better than to hear their screeching.”

Ming ChangYan’s heart jumped up and terrifyingly thought: Such an angry palace eunuch. Such angry women. But to have their mouths beat up till they can’t speak over a few words, that Imperial Concubine Yuan sure has the guts to punish someone over selfish reasons.

The two concubine’s mouths were beaten by a wooden board until they were drenched with blood. Their saliva mixed in with the blood, making the blood watery; sparsely dripping from the corners of their mouths down on the floor. Aunt Chun sealed her nose, waved her hand and said, “Quick, Quick, Quick! Drag them to the punishment chamber and kill them! Just looking at them makes my eyes hurt.”

Ming ChangYan stared blankly while Wan ShaoShi promptly smiled at her and greeted, “Aunt Chun.”

Aunt Chun was born with almond-shaped eyes with the inner canthus pointing down and the inner canthus pointing up and a shrewd face, with thin lips. Ming ChangYan saw her raise her head and thought that this Aunt Chun was about to use her nostril to poke him to speak. Luckily this Aunt Chun wasn’t born with such a gift, but if she was able to it would be awe-inspiring. She opened her mouth to speak, “You guys must be the new concubines.”

Wang ShaoShi smiled, “Aunt Chun, has Imperial Concubine Yuan finished dining? Yan ShaoShi and I are here to pay respects to her.”

Aunt Chun adjusted her hairpin, rolled her eyes hauntingly, turned her back to walk back into the Inner Palace and said, “You guys can wait. The Imperial Concubine just sat down to eat. Just having anyone simply coming into the palace is wreaking havoc. Xiao TingZi, keep an eye out these days, don’t let any of these bitches enter ZhaoHe Court. As to avoid them disrupting the Imperial Concubine.”

Ming ChangYan pulled out half a piece of sweet bun from his bosom, sat on a lump of rock on the floor, and unselfconsciously began eating it, “Wang JieJie, I think this Imperial Concubine Yuan will be eating for a while. Are you hungry? I’ll give you half of my bun.”

Wang ShaoShi rejected his kind offer, giving Ming ChangYan a complex look instead. He was sitting improperly on the ground, and after he finished eating his bun, he went to ZhaoHe Court’s carp pond to wash his hands. He found a green foxtail and began teasing a tortoise in the pond.

“Tortoise ah, tortoise. If you want to eat then eat, why must you have me accompany you here? You’re really are a bad person.”

After listening to the two’s conversation, Wang ShaoShi let out a “pfft” and began laughing.

“If it was someone else’s crab, then it can tyrannize people all they want. Why is it that you, a tortoise, took on that role instead?” Ming ChangYan reached his hand out and grabbed a small tortoise, turned his upside down, happily smiled and said, “Let’s see if you’re a male or a female.”

Wang ShaoShi in a low voice said, “Is it male or female?”

Ming ChangYan put the green foxtail between his lips, didn’t even look and based on its behavior alone exclaimed, “Female.”

Wang ShaoShi made an unable to speak gesture, indicating that his words shouldn’t be so brash. After finishing paying their respects, they returned to the Bamboo House. Fu Ling went up to Ming ChangYan wanting to help him undress, resulting in him becoming startled, almost jumping three chi* high.

(TN: “尺”; a Chinese foot, one-third of a meter) 

“No, no, no. Myself, I can do it myself.”

He grabbed his belt, laughed and began to retreat as Peony walked in holding basin of fresh water, “ShaoShi is really strange, everyone else would love to have their servants do everything for them. Yet you seem to think everything of yours is precious, I don’t want this, I don’t want that. If other people saw this, they’d think that you’re disgusted with us two dirtying your stuff.”

Ming ChangYan redressed them, “Impossible, you two JieJie are kind, virtuous, and graceful. There’s not enough time to list all your good traits, how could I be disgusted.”

While speaking, he had already finished dressing behind the screen.

Peony wrung the handkerchief, handed it to Ming ChangYan, and said, “Imperial Concubine Yuan truly is spoiled and arrogant, to have the emperor permit her to have the power to kill other concubines, this is murder!”

Ming ChangYan thought: Turns out that even killing someone has to be reported to the emperor first. If you want to kill, kill, why is there a need to report this to the emperor? That’s rather uncanny.

Fu Ling spread out the quilt, straightened her back, “Yan ShaoShi, let me say one thing, your mood is refreshing. You don’t treat us like servants, so we will sincerely remind ShaoShi, you mustn’t commit an offense towards Imperial Concubine Yuan. Her father is the highest in the five orders of nobility and has the power to overturn society, Zhao HongGuang. Her mother’s side of the family is the second most powerful aristocratic families, their clan name Qin. Their emphasis on trading and business led them to power. Often at times, they gang up on merchants and commerce. They truly aren’t a force to be reckoned with. You also saw it today, they said they were going to kill those two concubines, and they did. Henceforth, the likelihood of these things will decrease, but you must be careful.”

Peony lowered her voice and said, “Nowadays the crown prince has been acting very imminent, the emperor won’t allow the eldest prince to become the heir to the throne. Because of this matter, Imperial Concubine Yuan has already killed many people.”
Ming ChangYan took a book from within the cupboard and leaned against the bedside.
Peony saw that the book was called《Admonitions for Women》, contently thought: This Yan ShaoShi’s way of conduct always seems as if she wanted to escape somewhere. She is extremely free-willed, so reading《Admonitions for Women》might constrain her a little bit.

Ming ChangYan, “No need to worry, I will act appropriately. It’s getting late, there’s no need for you guys to accompany me to bed. You guys go sleep in the west side room, I’ll stay here.”

He flipped over a page in his book, on it wrote: How to make love between husband and wife. Look shy and timid. Make faint breaths when doing so. There is ten thousand flirtatious expression that you can wear to appear alluring. It truly is a pleasurable feeling.

Ming ChangYan sighed twice, and with great interest, he raised the lantern and began to attentively read the book.

Before Peony was going to withdraw, saw that he was still reading《Admonitions for Women》, reminded him, “ShaoShi should rest early, if you read too long, it might damage your eyes.”

He threw the book aside, blew out the candle, and lied down to sleep.
After two shichen*, he woke up to Wang ShaoShi’s screaming. Ming ChangYan was a light sleeper. He was custom to being vigilant even in the evenings. After hearing the noise, Ming ChangYan turned over and rose up out of his bed. Fetching the lantern and his outer clothing, he hurriedly walked towards the West Wing of the Bamboo House.

(TN: two hours in case anyone forgot) 

Wang ShaoShi’s body was limp from head to toe, her head was covered in sweat and she sat beside a lotus pond. Ming ChangYan shouted, “Peony, help Wang ShaoShi up!”

When Peony and Fu Ling heard the orders, their faces looked like they had both just woken up and had rushed to put on their outer garments. Peony helped the incessantly crying Wang ShaoShi, while Ming ChangYan raised his lantern to look at the closely bunched together lotus on the surface of the lotus pond. His expression worsened.
Wang ShaoShi shrieked, scared and anxious, crawled into Fu Ling’s embrace. Peony and Fu Ling looked at the scenery of the lotus pond before them, recoiled while covering their mouths, looking as if they were about to vomit.

Ming ChangYan knitted his eyebrows while lifting his lantern to further examine.
Inside the lotus pond, Aunt Chun’s face appeared malevolent, her eyes and mouth opened widely. Her body, which had been soaking in the pond water, was completely swollen while the pond was drenched in blood, which gave off a fishy stench.

Ming ChangYan thought that this wasn’t the most disgusting part of Aunt Chun death, but instead were the hundreds of needles that were interlaced on her neck. The needles went in from the mouth, went out through the throat and the needles were pierced from inside out. It looked like someone had swallowed hundreds of needles that then impaled outwards. Every needle had thin, scarlet cotton threads tied to them, the threads having been soaked by the blood. The tips of the needles dripped blood, which flowed down the cotton thread and into the lotus pond.

Ming ChangYan reached out his hand and pulled one of the needles out.

Wang ShaoShi finally ceased her shrieking and fainted. Peony cried, “ShaoShi! You…you!”

He used the weak fire in his lantern to observe more closely. These black needles were forged from DaYue Nation’s black iron and were indeed exactly the same as those he used back in the day, the Moondrop Needle!

This is translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any other translation of this is stolen work and if you read stolen work, may all your bacon burn

I hope ya’ll do good on your finals! Don’t stress too much, I believe in you. My worst subject is English so if you see any grammatical errors, please feel free to comment down below and I’ll fix it!

We love reading your comments!

Thank you so much for reading and have a weird day~ (″･ิ_･ิ)っ

Chapter 2 : Table of Contents : Chapter 4

Chapter 2: Fallen Gentleman – Part 1

Translated by: Ritpoppy

Edited by: Ren

The sedan chair bumped up, Ming ChangYan’s head met the yellow ceiling and he woke up.

He lifted the curtain up and looked outside just in time to see them arriving at the entrance of Da Ming Hall.

The palace was getting closer.

These recent years, Ming ChangYan’s body has suffered great difficulties. The sedan bumped tremendously, and his stomach shook with it, making him nauseous*. He wanted to complain endlessly.

*(TN: “翻江倒海”; “overturning seas and rivers” It’s an idiom that means overwhelming, but in this case, it was uncomfortable to his stomach)

To the four eunuchs that were lifting the sedan, Kua*! The items in the sedan were missing 100 grams**, resulting in the equilibrium not being great. This caused the four eunuchs to sway the sedan all over the place***. Repeatedly moving from left to right, the four eunuchs were the splitting images of four wooden poles.

*(TN: “胯”; “crotch” Sound effect to sound sarcastic.)

**(TN: “下的东西少了二两” (?) I translated it just like it was said. Does this mean that since the sedan is light, it’ll be easier to shake?)

***(TN: “四仰八叉”; “sprawled on your back” Ever seen those images of cats sleeping underside up? Here’s a picture: http://www.negui.com/s/tm/tmbgt.jpg Just another idiom about walking crookedly)

Ming ChangYan lifted up the curtain and grudgingly said, “These four good brothers, could you walk properly and stop with the swaying.”

When he entered the palace, unlike the other palace concubines, he didn’t give sufficient silver to the palace eunuchs.

Even though Ming ChangYan’s hands were clean of demonic practices, he became penniless. Forget about giving these eunuchs enough silver, being able to feed himself every day is already a problem itself.

If you don’t give the eunuchs money, the eunuchs won’t treat you well. He got what he deserved as the sedan shook even more furiously. Ming ChangYan sighed, with the way the four obligated* eunuchs were shaking the sedan, taking on the job of head cook for QingHe Lane isn’t a problem.

*(TN: “少二两肉” Literal Meaning: “Lost 100 grams of meat” It’s an idiom that pretty much means if they don’t complete something, they won’t feel satisfied. In this case, if the four eunuchs don’t cause misery upon Ming ChangYan, they won’t be happy ^^)

After repeatedly arguing back and forth, Ming ChangYan thought of an idea, lifting up the curtain again, he smiled and said, “These four brothers, aren’t you afraid that I’ll come back to settle scores with you guys once I’ve risen up in the palace?”

The eunuch on the left said, “Shaoshi being able to succeed in the palace will always be a good thing to these eunuchs, but those who want to enter the palace as concubines will range from one thousand to thirty thousand. Shaoshi should be more concerned if you’ll be able to survive in the palace than to settle scores with us.”

Shaoshi*, Ming Changyan thought, is what is used to address concubines who have just entered the palace.

*(TN: “少侍”; “Young Attendants” Attend to what, you should all know.)

Ming ChangYan states, “Does brother know that to shake a sedan this way, you could disturb the ghouls and demons below the earth? If that happens, then we all won’t be able to live so freely.”

The four eunuchs all seemed to be affected by this statement, one of them said, “Shaoshi should stop talking rubbish. The emperor has already secured the palace grounds. Ghouls and demons wouldn’t dare rebel against the emperor.”

The eunuch seemed to have said something by mistake, his hold on the sedan seemed to relax.

Ming ChangYan saw that his trick worked and went back inside his sedan. He thought, “There’s definitely something wrong with the imperial palace. There’s so much gossip to about, but just speaking a few words about the ghouls could frighten people to such a great extent.”

The four steadily walking for a while, but once again began to cause trouble.

The eunuchs laid the sedan down in an orderly manner, lifted the curtains, the eunuch on the right side quickly dusted off his clothes, and kneeled in front of the sedan.

Ming ChangYan looked around and found that all the other sedans that were walking with them halted to a stop. A portion of the concubines that wanted to enter the palace had already begun to climb out of the sedan. They stepped on the eunuch’s back while servant girls assisted them out.

When he put his foot on the eunuch, the eunuch grunted.

Even though Ming ChangYan is disguised as a woman, he wasn’t at all light. His female confidante had helped him find a magical panacea. The legendary medicine was called “Turn Old into New Pill”. Just like its name, the pill has the ability to shrink the bones and turn someone into their younger self by seventy percent. One’s appearance will also change into a sixteen to seventeen-year-old version of themselves.

This work is translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/. Any repost of this work is stolen and should go to the time-out corner to think about your actions.

The Turn Old into New Pill must be consumed every 6 months, and the process of shrinking one’s bones felt like knives being stabbed into you. It was so painful that you wished you were dead. During these 6 months, the effects of the pill will slowly fade and one’s appearance and stature will also begin to rapidly grow. A second pill can be consumed after the 6 months.

After all, the medicine is going against the natural order of the world, thus there will be harmful side effects after consuming it. If he was to write it down all by himself, it would have become a full-fledged book*!

*(TN: “单独领出来都能成册” Not exactly sure about what this means, it just translates to; “If he were to do it himself, it could become a book/novel” I’m bad at understanding some Chinese idioms, so if you have any guidance, please do tell me :>)

His female confidante urged him three times to not take the pill, but Ming ChangYan was stubborn and did it anyway. He went through a thousand obstacles to enter the Inner Court after consuming the pill, so he’s determined that his plan to get the Immortal Grass doesn’t end in vain.

After being severely stepped on, the eunuch was resentful but didn’t dare say it out loud.

The eunuch yanked at Ming ChangYan’s sleeves instead, his body stumbled and Ming ChangYan nearly lost his footing.

“This Shaoshi! You’ve really got the nerve to not kneel when an Immortal is passing through! Ai*! Kneel! Do you want to die?!”

*(TN: “唉”; It just means to sigh but I thought to put in sigh would ruin the tone. Tell me if I should change it)

Ming ChangYan genuflected and kneeled on the ground, and while everyone was bowing their heads, he lifted his eyes to take a peak. He saw was a line of guards walking towards them, their wide sleeves flowed like skirts, their clothes rippled in in the wind, expressions solemn and attentive, they all had the aura of an immortal.

Behind the immortals, there were troops of soldiers wearing helmets and armor.

Ming ChangYan quietly whispered, “Who are they?”

The eunuch replied, “The Immortals of the Ninety-Ninth Temple.”

Ming ChangYan said, “I was talking about the soldiers behind them.”

The eunuch said, “The 13 Southern Guardians. Stop asking me questions, just worry about yourself.”

The eunuch didn’t want him to continue asking questions, but Ming ChangYan contrarily continued to ask, “What the heck are the 13 Southern Guardians?”

The eunuch dipped his head down, shut his mouth, and refused to say any more.

Only when two rows of troops entered Da Ming Hall, did everyone raise their heads.

The eunuch got up and glowered, “Pei*! Those bastards looked down on everyone. So what they were given a badge** from the Emperor? Showing such an absurd display, I pei!”

*(TN: “呸”; to spit. Cause when you spit you make a “pei” sound. I thought it’d be pretty weird to just write “Spit!” when he was talking xP)

**(TN: “腰牌”; It’s a badge that determines a person’s role. Here’s a Wikipedia page that I found that could help: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paiza )

Ming ChangYan asked, “If the palace has 13 Southern Guardians, are there 13 Northern Guardians?”

After seeing the 13 Guardians leave, the eunuch replied, “The 13 Southern Guardians are the imperial guards within the palace. The Northern Guardians and the Southern Guardians are divided. Those who accompanied the Immortals are responsible for protecting and defending the order within the palace, and the 13 Southern Guardians are responsible for protecting the Emperor. The 13 Northern Guardians are in charge of guarding the border of the Imperial City. When Shaoshi entered the palace, did you see the two who were guarding the gateway? They were the 13 Northern Guardian’s men.”

A high ranked eunuch glanced at him and grunted, “You should stop talking, the 13 Southern Guardians used to be royal guards, they have the power to kill without having to report it first. You have the guts to talk behind the 13 Guardian’s back, do you no longer wish to live?”

The one being pointed out said, “What about the 13 Guardians? In the palace, they strut around showing off, but if they were to go to Jiang Hu, they’d be the first ones to die! If not for…”

“Even if Ming ChangYan was still alive, he wouldn’t fly 800 li* to come avenge you! Though you have a noble hero’s heart, doesn’t mean that you’ll have the life of a hero! You and I are merely servants in the palace that are to be ordered around, we’re not equal to those 13 Guardians. Xiao WanZi**, please stop daydreaming about unrealistic ideas. Attempting to enter Tianqing Sect every day, this person has already been dead for two years! Do you want to go dig him a grave?!”

*(TN: “里”; about 500 meters)

**(TN: “小丸子”; “small balls”….please understand why I couldn’t just translate it.)

Ming ChangYan questioned, “Ming ChangYan? Which Ming ChangYan?”

Xiao WanZi who had been stabbed by the hurtful words furiously said, “Mind your own business! Get on the sedan!”

Ming ChangYan replied, “Ai, why can’t I listen to what you guys are saying? Who doesn’t know that Ming ChangYan was a gentleman? He died two years ago at Yanbo river, but do you guys know why he died?”

Xiao WanZi unwillingly assisted Ming ChangYan onto the sedan, lowered the curtain, but he popped his head out from the windows.

“How else would he have died? He murdered Guifeng sect’s master Wan QianQiu, then wiped out the entire Zhuifeng Village using those 13 demonic needles of his. With thousands of needles pierced through their throats, the elderly, women and children, and infants were all fastened together in their rooms using silver string. Any sort of movement would cause the strings to dismember their bodies, it was extremely ruthless.”

Ming ChangYan’s chest became heavy, this kind of savage tactic, just listening to it made his blood run cold. After taking a dip in Yanbo river, his head was full of water, and he couldn’t remember if he committed such a horrible crime. Although the statement from the eunuch wasn’t much different from the rumors that he’d heard around, he had always had a good relationship with Wan QianQiu, and they often paid visits to each other. This affair definitely wasn’t something he could’ve done. Taking a few steps back, let’s say he really was the one who did all that, why would he kill all those innocent people without a good cause?

Xiao WanZi said, “Wan QianQiu’s death was odd. After he died, many of the same baseless massacres occurred in Jianghu sect, and they were all killed in the same style. Many cultivators couldn’t understand why this happened, I think that Wan QianQiu wasn’t killed by Ming ChangYan. Maybe Ming ChangYan was just treated unjustly by all the six great sects, and after being persecuted, his heart was full of resentment and became a malicious spirit to come take revenge!”

Throughout Ming ChangYan’s life, he’d taken a countless amount of lives, the people he killed all had a low status and were all sinister beings. Everyone was eager to see him become a master and kill all the evil-doers on this world, so no one was willing to become an inconvenience to him. But then, Ming ChangYan killed a hero from the Jianhu sect whose status was very high. When killing a bad person, that’s called purging the world from evil; but when killing a good person, then that’s called slaughtering an innocent. So, after the hero-Wan QianQiu- was killed by Ming ChangYan, Ming ChangYan was attacked by all of the well-known cultivators.

On May 29th in the 20th year of the Renhe emperor’s reign*, the six main sects crusaded into Tianqing sect, told Tianqing sect that they were here to purge Ming ChangYan, and asked Ming ChangYan to come fight with them at Jianghu River. He was suppressed by the hoard of cultivators, fell into the river, and his was body lost forever.

*(TN: “仁和帝二十年”; what that heck is this saying???)

A disciple from Guifeng sect pondered over the hero and guarded Yanbo river for seven days and seven nights, but didn’t see Ming ChangYan’s body flow up onto the shore. Since they couldn’t find a body, the disciple didn’t know how to face the cultivators. So he personally went to Banpo village, found someone else’s gravestone, and then proceeded to straightforwardly dig up the body of a youth. What the sect disciple was doing was inhumane, thus he could only secretly dig up the body. He soaked the body in the water for two days and to the point where the body was so pale and swollen, even the corpse’s own mother wouldn’t have been able to recognize the body.

After inspecting the body and thought that it was enough, he patted his sleeves and gave the corpse a new name: “A Noble Gentleman.”

The circle of cultivators came to a conclusion: The noble gentlemen, Ming ChangYan has died! He had an outstanding life and died in an embarrassing way. His entire body was soaked to the point where it was swelling and he looked like a steamed, white dumping.

Ming ChangYan had control over the common people, and after suppressing his cultivation for several years, he was easily killed. Jianghu was corrected to follow the righteous path and everyone was joyous. Everyone celebrated by drinking and eating for 3 days and 3 nights, visiting friends and relatives, and posting announcements. They had a worldwide celebration.

Outside of the sedan, Xiao WanZi said, “It’s a pity that Ming ChangYan was so talented before he withdrew from worldly affairs (became an immortal/cultivator). He was a lord within the common people for forty years and had just begun to mature. His achievements those days in the Central Plains was astonishing even among cultivators, making his name world-famous. I once got to meet Tianqing Sect’s Zhong shaoxia, and heard about the time when Ming ChangYan appeared. He wore black clothes and had a black veil covering his face. He never showed his true appearance to others, very few people are able to see his real face. After he died, the common people were unable to identify him, and Tiangqing sect was at a lost too. During these past two years, Jianghu river has been in chaos. I think it would’ve been better if he lived, rather than have cultivators cower in fear, not daring to go and stand up to Ming ChangYan’s malicious spirit.”

Ming ChangYan sat silently in the sedan chair for a long time before closing his eyes and indifferently sighing.

After lighting an incense stick and gaining the support of a palace maid, he walked through two corridors*. On his way, he met Imperial Concubine Yuan’s Aunt Chun. She did not greet the other concubine and with her right hand gripping on a basket, Aunt Chun pretended to not see Ming ChangYan. Xiao WanZi didn’t dare to speak up, lowered his head and quickly scurried past. After taking a left at the end of the long corridor, Ming ChangYan was separated from everyone else and was headed towards the Bamboo House.

*(TN: They’re actually quite pretty. I walked through one when I visited China: http://scenic.cthy.com/UploadPic/editorUpload/20121226111738757.jpg )

The Bamboo House had three openings and two exits. Its courtyard had a lotus pond that was the home to tortoises and red carps. As soon as Ming ChangYan entered, the carps were frightened and quickly swam off. The two palace maids had been waiting for him for a long time. One was called Peony and the other was called Fu Ling; the two greeted him and led him into the living room. In the living room, there was a square table full of plates of food, and on the left and right sides of the table there two chairs with handles on them. In the inner part of the living room, there was a bed that had a screen* that showed a picture of the East China Sea.

(TN:https://img11.360buyimg.com/n1/jfs/t20848/38/648666740/463996/c6ad7b0b/5b14b2a5N3efc92f6.jpg Like this, but just imagine the East China Sea on it.)

Ming ChangYan asked, “Why did you guys put this image in the bedroom?”

Peony answered, “Shaoshi, this screen was bestowed to you by the emperor, every concubine who enters the palace receives one. It is used to dispel the evil spirits that the concubines might have brought into the palace.”

Ming ChangYan chuckled a little and walked towards the screen. He discovered that behind the screen there was a long desk. On the desk, there was an incense burner, a fruit and vegetable platter, incense sticks, talismans, and a stack of cinnabar*.

*(TN: A makeup product back in ancient China. Was also used as a dye: http://pic.pimg.tw/kaymeimei/1310797143-632440060dba348ecdf0fc418cef3e3a.jpg )

“This was also given to me by the emperor?”

Peony faintly lifted her body, “Yes, Shaoshi. These were personally arranged by the Immortals. Every residence has them, they wanted every Shaoshi within the palace to be satisfied and to not be subjected to mistreatment.”

Ming ChangYan went up and grabbed a snow pear, wiped it on his clothes, and took a bite out of it, juice splattering everywhere.

Peony saw him brazenly eating the snow pear and was startled. She took a step back. Astonished, she said, “Shaoshi, you, you dare to eat the items that were bestowed upon you by the Immortals?”

Ming ChangYan grinned and said, “The Immortals are generous, if they were to visit me, I should treat them to a meal. Ai, Fu Ling, that emperor, where is the Emperor’s bedroom? I’m here to become his wife. I want to see this husband of mine’s face, how should I go see him?”

This work is translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/. Any repost of this work is stolen and should go to the time-out corner to think about your actions.

Here’s chapter 2! Sorry, the male lead didn’t appear in this chapter. My sister miscalculated (cause she’s dumb).

If you have any corrections you want to be made on for this chapter or anything you want to say, please comment! I love reading comments :>

See you later! ヾ(＠＾▽＾＠)ﾉ

Chapter 1 : Table of Contents : Chapter 3

-Introduction*

Translated and Edited by: Ren

*(TL: 楔子xiezi, roughly translates to a wedge. I think it’s slang that represents a small wedge breaking into the beginnings of a story. If I’m wrong please correct me ^^)

No words could be used to describe Ming ChangYan. He was born with nice skin, a handsome face, and amazing skill.

His original name was made up of a string of difficult to understand Da Wen characters, hard to pronounce. After he came to Zhong Yuan, some people called him Ming shaoxia*, some called him Ming dage**, others called him a gentleman, either way, he’d already forgotten his original name.

*(TL: young cultivator) **(TL: big brother)

When Ming ChangYan was born―murder, arson, evil. Adultery―he obviously never done it.

He had a great number of affairs and flirted constantly with the opposite sex*, he also did a great number of prodigious and amazing things.

*(TL: 招蜂引蝶, zhao feng yin die, lit. means to attract bees and butterflies.)

After Ming Shaoxia lived on Cangsheng for nearly ten years, his talent outshone, his martial arts surpassed all boundaries, and no one under the heaven could beat him. He fully deserved the title as number one.

Whether it was Zhong Lian Sect or a master at Xi Yu, they were all terrified of him, and no one dared to oppose him. Therefore, the JiangHu sect was peaceful, free of quarrels. But, the life that everyone lived was far too comfortable and watching Ming Shaoxia receive praise from the world at such a young age, they were all envious, so they all tried to find a way to bring problems towards him.

On May 29th, the people accused him of doing evil, of committing a sinister crime, he killed a discipline from the Jianghu Sect that was beloved by all, whose looks made flowers bloom and was a respected to the utmost degree hero. This matter made people furious, and despite his high prestige and skill in martial arts, he was unable to quench the flaming rage in people’s hearts.

Over the course of one day, the number one gentleman, Ming ChangYan, was viewed upon as a demon, and several sects combined together to purge him in Yangbo River.

With a wave of his hand, he was unbeatable.

In his heart, there was only one opening, the other nine orifices on his body were closed*

*(TL: There are nine openings in the body, it’s basically saying that, except the hole in his heart, the rest of his body remained closed. I hope this makes sense. ^^; Does it sound wrong?)

However, Ming shaoxia was not killed by the sects that ganged up on him, but, in the heat of the battle, he didn’t know that someone was planning to push him, lost his balance and fell into Yanbo River.

Ming Changyan, the newly promoted demon head, was killed in such a manner.

His body was washed away by Yanbo River’s large currents, and every sect leader looked at each other in dismay: You look at me, I look at you, without looking for his body, they waved their hands and all loudly acclaimed to the world: Dead! Completely dead!

The completely dead, Ming Changyan, stood up and made himself a gravestone.

The currents of Yanbo River washed away half his life; but, luckily Ming shaoxia’s willpower was strong, the currents were fierce, and after drifting him back and forth, it finally drifted his not-dead body on land.

Just when he was on solid ground, the whole world was saying: Ming Changyan has died! Ai! How could he just die! It’s a shame that Tianqing Sect and Mingmen Zhen Sect nurtured such a demon!

The demon, Ming Changyan, drank some water from the Yanbo River, water filled his head, and he forgot half of his memories.

While setting up his gravestone, he could only think and sigh.

Ming Shaoxia could only remember his glorious achievements, and couldn’t remember him doing any evil and unforgivable crimes, from here it could be seen that he was a false shaoxia*

*(TL:由此可见，他是一个虚伪的少侠. I honestly have no idea what this line means. I think it means that, due to his forgetfulness, he couldn’t even be counted as a shaoxia?? If you know, please tell me…)

This translation is by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any repost of this work is stolen and are to be executed in the name of fujoshis.

However, when writing his own gravestone, only knowing his accomplishments isn’t a bad thing, Ming shaoxia slowly carved on his gravestone: Ming shaoxia, date of birth unknown, location unknown, talented and attractive, full of righteousness, joined the Qing Sect on an unknown date, served the number one sect under the heavens, ordered by the common people on an unknown date*, was ordered by all the sects under the heavens….

*(TL: I’m possibly the worst translator you’ve ever seen, but the sentence某年某月得苍生令, I could only understand half of it. The literal translation was: On some year of some month was ordered by the common people, which I cannot understand;; If you know, please tell me…)

………..

On an unknown year, in an unknown month, on an unknown day, a small beauty with a soft and delicate body gave itself up to the heavens…

Carving to this point, Ming shaoxia’s female confidant couldn’t watch any longer, and stated: “If you’re going to continue carving like this, even ten gravestones won’t be enough for you to use.”

If Ming shaoxia wasn’t a shaoxia, and if he wrote a book, he would definitely become one of Jianhu’s daily newspaper writers. He would quickly be promoted throughout the road, and come to be a well-renowned author and poet.

His female confidante’s last name was Hua, YunChang, these two letters was their courtesy name.* What their real name was**, Ming shaoxia forgot.

*(TL: In Ancient China, people were given courtesy names when they reached 20, and it was considered more polite to call people by their courtesy names instead of their birth names.)

**(TL: 字了个什么——叫明少侠忘了. I think I translated the first part right, what do you think? ~-~;)

After he crawled onto shore, the first thing he did was to try to find this good friend of his.

Ming Changyan really did attract bad luck. After he woke up, his martial arts was destroyed, his yin yang withered and broken, he narrowly escaped death, and his body had poison in it.

Ming shaoxia thought to himself: How unlucky.

The martial arts were all his, and those ten years of training were all put to waste. His heart and feelings were both hurt, but he could only cry tears for himself, not able to do anything about it, wring his hands in despair, being the only one creating ballads and poetry about himself, himself becoming a Lin Daiyu*, and weakly ate three large bowls of plain rice.

*(TL: Lin Daiyu is a character from a classic and famous Chinese novel, Dream of the Red Chamber. She’s portrayed as an emotional and well-educated beauty. She was known for her affinity with literature and sickly health.)

After he ate, and his stomach was full, Ming shaoxia emptied out his thoughts. He wondered how he fell into Yanbo River and how, in front of everyone, rolled down to his death in such an astounding way.

The more he thought about it, the more sullen he got. As an extremely coquettish gentleman, he can’t die in such a ridiculous way.

So, the gentleman blinked both of his eyes, and with no time to wash his face with tears, he went to find Hua YunChang and discuss how to restore his martial arts.

Hua YunChang had some medical expertise, but she’s never met someone who’s as unruly as Ming Shaoxia―when a cultivator’s yin yang energy is shattered, how are you supposed to revive their martial arts? Unless it’s some divine and legendary medicine, then they couldn’t possibly revive their yin yang energy like a withered tree who suddenly meets spring.

His female confidant racked her brains for a few days to find a solution, before finally remembering a certain type of medical herb.

The herbal medicine’s name was Immortal Grass, it was gifted from the royal family in the XiYu Region to the Zhong Yuan Region as a tribute. The rumors say it could cure all illnesses, bring the dead back to life, it could heighten beauty and maintain youth, and lengthen your lifespan to centuries.

Ming shaoxia didn’t care much for the last two functions, his naturally flaunted beauty doesn’t need any improvement. Regarding the lifespan benefit: An escape from calamity is sure to bring luck afterwards. This was a principle that was passed down for centuries, Ming shaoxia didn’t fully die, so there was probably some large fortune waiting for him.

Him living for centuries was set by the Heavens and a logical affair.

Therefore, Ming shaoxia only paid attention to the first two attributes, with his mindset, the two plotted aboard a decorated pleasure boat* and made up their mind to steal the treasure from the imperial palace.

(TL: Basically it looked like an ancient Chinese house but on a boat.)

However, he wasn’t as well-regarded as before and was now half a handicapped person. With such an important issue at hand, how was he supposed to enter the imperial palace without people coming near him?

Ming shaoxia pondered for some time before coming up with an extremely brilliant and rotten idea: To enter the imperial palace, he’ll disguise himself as a concubine and become the emperor’s wife.

The author has something to say: (They’re basically saying how this novel has been edited and been going on and off inside they’re head. They worked very hard on the beginning, going through 4 to 5 different beginnings before finally going with this one. The author hopes to write the story into a good one and hopes that everyone will enjoy and support it.)

An important note: The gong* isn’t the emperor! The gong is an immortal/cultivator!! He will appear next chapter!

(TL: Gong is just the Chinese term for, seme. It means that they are the top of the relationship. Shou is basically the Japanese term, uke. Meaning that they are the bottom of the relationship.)

This translation is by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any repost of this work is stolen and are to be executed in the name of fujoshis.

____

Raws: http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3193505

Any thoughts? :3 We love reading your comments and if you have any grammar corrections you want to be made on this, please comment below.

See you in Chapter 2 ★~(◡ω◡✿)

-Ritpoppy

Table of Contents : Chapter 2

“A Seductive Gentleman”

Raws: http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3193505

Summary:

The person with the best martial art skill in the world, whose prestige is unparalleled. The head disciple of Tianqing Sect, the leading sect of all Six Great Sects, and JiangHu’s number one, Ming ChangYan shaoxia.

During a decisive battle, he slipped and fell.

His ten years of cultivation was completely annihilated and reduced to a normal human.

Fortunately, he was lucky enough to have fate decide that his life shouldn’t end there, and he survived.

The doctor told him, “To gain back your cultivation, enter the palace as a concubine!”

In order to get the medical herb that was given to the emperor by the XiYu Region, the immortal’s grass, Ming shaoxia could only wear a skirt, apply makeup, endure the humiliation, suffer patiently, and join the palace drama.

Ming ChangYan: This shaoxia is shameless.

Unfortunately, just as he dressed up in drag and entered the palace, he meets the man he once picked up from under a mountain.

…..

Ming ChangYan: I was joking just now…..this is too shameless!

If I were to be found out by him, my (old) number one reputation would go down the drain!

This is our first translated novel! ≧◡≦ I’ll be working with my sister on this translation, so we can kill two birds with a stone and get the chapters out faster.

The first chapter will be out in a few days, so please be patient! She’ll be translating the first chapter and I translated the second. Our Chinese can sometimes be lacking in a few areas, but please correct us if we’re wrong in any way!

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ See you in Chapter 1!