Chapter 11: A Noble Gentleman – Part 3

Translated by: Ritpoppy

Edited by: Ren

 

“Good boy!” Ming ChangYan shouted as he clapped his hands.

Huai Yu twirled his wrist as he walked down from the shooting platform. Along the way hearing the exaggerated boasts and flattery coming from the audience. The stall owner kept to his words, he promptly went to report to the master of the Zhao family, to tell them that this building is now owned under Huai Yu’s name.

Ming ChangYan ran up to him, extending his hand and he proceeded to grab the other’s left hand. Huai Yu glared at him, asking, “What are you doing!”

“‘What am I doing?’ I’m taking a look at your hand.” Ming ChangYan then proceeded to tear open his wrist brace, and as expected, there was a bloch of deep red on the other’s hand.

Huai Yu argued, “This is nothing.”

Ming ChangYan raised his eyebrows, “Such a brat, what are you flaunting over, let me see how serious it is. Your hands were clearly shaking during those last few arrows, did you think that this shaoxia wouldn’t be able to tell?”

He reached into his chest and took out a jar of ointment, twisting the lid open and smearing the contents onto Huai Yu’s wrist. Even though Huai Yu wore a face full of discontent, he didn’t decline the offer.

Ming ChangYan massaged his wrist for him while saying, “You half-sized boy, you just love to act stubborn don’t you?”

Even though Ming ChangYan says these things, in his heart he secretly thought: Even though this mischievous child appears to be 17 to 18 years old, he wears such expensive robes; no matter how I look at it, he just looks like some noble family’s young master that snuck out. Who would’ve expected that he wasn’t lacking in ability? He properly calculated the distance between the shooting platform and the building. It’s evident that he’s a master at the martial art techniques of the Central Plains and has the capability of being able to hit each target with his 49 arrows with precision and accuracy.

“Ai! You have impeccable archery skills, you’re even stronger than me! You actually managed to win the Sky Mansion! How about you teach me your archery techniques later on in the future?”

After hearing this, Huai Yu’s expression eased up a lot. Ming ChangYan looked calm and collected, trying to restrain himself from laughing: He really is a child!

After the application, he put away the ointment. He patted Huai Yu’s back and couldn’t help but pull on his hair, “Let’s go, after letting you play for a while, the sky is already darkened. LiMin-Jun and the others must’ve already arrived at the mountain stream and are waiting for us.”

Huai Yu snatched his hair back, saying, “Don’t play with my hair.”

Ming ChangYan, “Alright, alright, alright. I won’t play with it. I just saw that your hair was long, and just touched it for a bit, so stingy.”

The two walked around for a while when Ming ChangYan smiled, “We’ve arrived.”

They arrived at the end of the Flowing Mountain Stream, the stream trickling into a vast clearing, with brooks from all four directions converging together to form a big lake. This lake is precisely the Tan River.

On the shore of the ship dock, Qin YuBao yelled, “Shi-xiong!!”

Ming ChangYan replied, “Coming!”

Qin YuBao couldn’t wait any longer, striking a posture of wanting to slip away from the boat but was grabbed by the back of his collar by LiMin-Jun, “What are you running for, it’s not like your Shi-xiong is gonna get eaten!”

Ming ChangYan hopped onto the boat, after gaining a firm stance, he turned around to lend his hand out to Huai Yu but to his surprise, Huai Yu had already jumped on the boat. He took back his hand, giving the colored lantern to Qin YuBao, “Hold it!”

After receiving the colored lantern, Qin YuBao’s joy was enough to reach the heavens.

Ming Yue saw this, and he lowered his gaze to Ming ChangYan’s waist, only after seeing a jade pendant dangling from his waist did he open his mouth, “Shi-xiong.”

At this moment, from afar came a wild figure dressed in black. As he grew closer, it turned out to be a youngster, a male that had the appearance of a woman, with soft, feminine features making him extremely attractive. When he saw Ming ChangYan, he immediately shouted, “Da Shi-xiong, I want a colored lantern too!”

Ming ChangYan said, “YuLou! What are you running so fast for, don’t worry, I’ve brought you guys a bunch of other stuff.”

He felt around his bosom for a period of time and with a ding-a-ling, items scattered around the boat. LiMin-Jun picked one up to examine and saw they were just a few small rubbish play-things, nothing special about them. It was just some things that little children would like. He crouched down together with Ming ChangYan, bending his back to analyze the use of these items.

LiMin-Jun said, “Zhong YuLou, weren’t you still outside, how did you suddenly come back?”

Zhong YuLou suddenly jumped on the boat, panting, “I finished my task in advance so I came back. But nobody was on the mountain, so I assumed that you guys had gone down the mountain to celebrate the Flower Festival! Sure enough, I found you guys here!”

He picked up a monocular from the ground, closing one of his eyes and excitedly looked around.

“Da Shi-xiong, why is it that the other boats have flowers on them while ours don’t?”

Ming ChangYan picked up an intricate perfume bag, giving it to Ming Yue.

He answered, “We don’t have it? Then it must be because Er Shi-xiong forgot it.”

LiMin-Jun, “The other boats are participating in tonight’s Colored Lantern Petition, do you guys plan on participating?”

Huai Yu asked, “What’s the ‘Colored Lantern Petition?’”

After Ming ChangYan handed out the little trinkets out to everyone, he stood up and said, “Now this is going to be hard to explain.”

The Colored Lantern Petition is one of Lin’an’s local traditions. Every year in April, all the flowers would bloom, which resulted in the formation of a holiday: The Flower Festival.

The Flower Festival, Flower Viewing Banquet, and Colored Lantern Petition. Among them, the Colored Lantern Petition is an evening celebration full of dancing and singing, something that the Lin’an officials arranged together with the wealthy merchants. On the surface of the Tan River stood a large platform, blooming with tens of thousands of flower candles, the light from the candles illuminating the crystalline waters, making the scene look gorgeous and splendid.

Ming ChangYan said, “Who’s hosting the Colored Lantern Petitions this year?”

Qin YuBao lifted his lantern and replied, “I like that Shangguan family’s young lady, her performance as the flower fairy last year was fantastic.”

LiMin-Jun, “The Zhao family’s young master is very fond of that Miss deemed the Queen of Blossoms, so his older sister threw out thousands of gold pieces in order to get her to come from Kyoto to Lin’an. As a result, tonight’s Colored Lantern Petition will be hosted by Lady Li Li.”

Ming ChangYan laughed out loud, “No wonder there are more people this year in the Colored Lantern Petition than last year, so it turns out that this is the reason!” Pausing, he thoughtfully continued, “I’ve have yet to see what this legendary most beautiful woman in the world looks like.”

LiMin-Jun said, “Of course they’re going to be beautiful, we’ll get to see later on.”

Qin YuBao said, “Then our boat should get a flower, I want to participate in the Colored Lantern Petition too. Er Shi-xiong, how do we participate in the Colored Lantern Petition?”

LiMin-Jun paddled the boat a few times, handing the oar over to Ming ChangYan, letting the small boat drift on the surface of the water. He answered, “Do you see that body of water over there bordered with red silk? All the boats that want to take part in the Colored Lantern Petition arrive here. When the flower fairy brings out the glazed colored lantern, it doesn’t matter if the people aboard jump down to swim, or row their boats, in short, whoever’s able to get to the heart of the lake first and retrieve the glazed, colored lantern, whoever’s tonight’s victor.”

Huai Yu commented, “Is the glazed colored lantern a valuable object? What happens when you manage to snatch it?”

Ming ChangYan answered, “Nothing happens, it’s just like receiving a token of good luck. It’s similar to hanging colored lanterns, who said that hanging the lanterns high was the only way to get a good husband?”

After a while, Huai Yu suddenly asked, “Does the glazed colored lantern have the same meaning?”

Ming ChangYan actually didn’t know the meaning behind the glazed colored lantern, opening his mouth, he spout out a bunch of nonsense, “Of course! By the way it’s hung up so high, it most likely means that the person who’s able to pluck the lantern away will marry into a faraway family!”

Qin YuBao puzzled, “What if a man gets it?”

Ming ChangYan pondered for a bit then declared, “Then they’ll probably marry someone from this country.”

Two hours passed, and the sun had begun to disappear into the western horizon. A curtain of darkness was beginning shroud the sky while the Tan River was brightly lit, bustling with noise. On the west side of the lake, someone shouted, “It’s the Zhao family’s ship!”

Everyone looked up in unison and saw a fleet of grand ships slowly drifting their way. They were all two-storied and hundreds of feet tall. Aboard the ship was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, exhibiting a splendid banquet. Within the banquet, the people were drinking and gambling, emitting joyful cries while celebrating the happiness with songs and dances. On the exterior of the boat, servants were hurriedly scrambling around while pampered noblewomen were huddled in groups, chatting amongst themselves. By the railings, the full moon shone down on the boat, making the ship glimmer in the rays of light.

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any other repost of this is stolen and if you steal my hard work, I’m going to use the TianQing six sword techniques on you.

“Such an imposing ship!”

“Zhao family is ranked chief among the top three most influential aristocratic families and is the richest family in the Central Plains. If they’re not imposing, then who would be?”

“They have powerful connections, that Zhao family’s youngest master is deeply favored by the empress, they might as well be in a mother and son relationship!”

“Alright, alright, stop chit-chatting. There’s still a flower performance coming up.”

After LiMin-Jun heard this, he turned his head to face Ming ChangYan and said, “I remember that Zhao family’s young master really likes you.”

Ming ChangYan was sitting at the prow of the ship, teaching Qin YuBao how to properly bind colored lanterns and without much thought, said, “Really? There are too many people that like this shaoxia, I can’t remember anymore.”

LiMin-Jun, “Yup, I have a bit of an impression on him. When the child was about as tall as my waist, every year he would come to TianQing sect to register his name in order to learn martial arts. Every time he would be knocked out in the first round, often sitting at Xian Yue Mountain’s doorsteps and crying. Years after years of failure and years after years of tears, the Zhao family even tried to bribe me with money.”

Ming ChangYan smiled, “This child’s willpower isn’t bad.”

Hearing this, Ming Yue coldly stated, “It’s a pity that he was nothing but a worthless piece of trash. Even if he has willpower, in the end, it’d still be a waste of energy. Innate skill is more important than hard work.”

Yet Ming ChangYan warned, “Ming Yue, you mustn’t talk like this.”

Ming Yue outraged, “I’m not wrong!”

Zhong YuLou disdainfully snorted, “So you do know that talent is more important than hard work. Your innate skill is the same as him, if one person can get accepted into a sect, then the other person can automatically get ridiculed by someone who has inferior talent?”

Ming Yue’s face flushed red, grinding his teeth, “YOU!”

He tensiously stared at Zhong YuLou, the latter showing a face full of contempt. With both his hands crossed around his arms, he had an air of arrogance. However, this person was the capital at being arrogant. Within the inner disciples, Zhong YuLou possessed the highest talent and intelligence. Ming Yue enlisted late, plus his innate gift was weaker than him, so he couldn’t refute when being satirized by him.

Ming ChangYan grabbed a glutinous rice cake, using it to block Ming Yue’s mouth, “Alright, your mouth loves to talk the most, quickly eat.”

Zhong YuLou felt wronged, “Da shi-xiong, you’re only nice to him! You’re too biased!”

After being yelled at, Ming ChangYan immediately replied, “Hey, you little brat, how would I dare.” He extended his hand and grabbed another glutinous rice cake, stuffing it into Zhong YuLou’s mouth, “YuLou has a beautiful face and a bevelont heart, forgive this Da shi-xiong.”

Zhong YuLou offensively chewed on the rice cake. Ming ChangYan coaxed him a few more times and before long, this little child was beaming with happiness, holding the colored lantern and going to the side of the boat to play with the water.

Huai Yu was currently leaning by the hold of the ship, lost in thought, so Ming ChangYan went from the back and extended his hand, patting him once, “What are you looking at that’s making you so fascinated?”

Huai Yu replied, “Nothing to be seen.”

Ming ChangYan grasped a handful of pastries, shoving them into the other’s hands, “Eat, I got this specifically for you, no sugar.”

Huai Yu held it in his hand, hesitating for a while, as he slowly gave it a whiff, seemingly to be pondering on whether or not the pastry in his hand could be eaten. After seeing this, Ming ChangYan let out a restrained laugh, “Are you a little dog!”

Huai Yu glazed at him coldly, once again letting out a soft grunt. Ming ChangYan paused for a second, all of a sudden saying, “Huai Yu, tell me the truth, did you come to Lin’an to find me because you admire this shaoxia? I won’t laugh at you, we’re already so close, you can say it.”

Huai Yu, “Wishful thinking, I was merely curious, nothing more.”

Ming ChangYan was pleased with himself, “Quit trying to cover up the truth. Which little boys nowadays don’t adore me? I know it all, now do you know what the number one in the world is like?”

Huai Yu grunted, “Just so-so.”

Ming ChangYan raised his eyebrows, “If this shaoxia doesn’t teach you a lesson, it seems that you wouldn’t understand how powerful number one in the world is.”

He suddenly made a move, making the boat shake left and right. LiMin-Jun stood by the back end of the ship, shouting, “Ming ChangYan! You’re about to die!!”

Ming ChangYan let out a hearty laugh, Huai Yu pushed him away, taking this opportunity to go out and sit on the boat.

Zhong YuLou finished playing with the water, running from the prow of the boat towards the back end of the boat looking for him, yelling, “Da shi-xiong, the Colored Lantern Petition is about to begin, do you want to see?”

Huai Yu looked towards the lakeside and sure enough, by the lake stood a stage. On the stage, they sang the story about the Central Plain’s Princess Han Zhu and her marriage.

Zhong YuLou was sitting beside him and after looking at the play for a while, he complained, “Why is it Princess Han Zhu marriage again, they’ve already sung this for so many years! I recall that she’s already dead. Besides, do you think that the person playing the role resembles the princess?”

Huai Yu said, “I’ve never seen the princess, I wouldn’t know.”

Ming ChangYan poured himself a bowl of tea, eating a few pastries along with it, stating, “They don’t resemble her at all.”

Zhong YuLou propped his chin up, “I heard that the Princess Han Zhu was the daughter of the former emperor from the Qin Dynasty and studied under a very gifted scholar, Old Teacher Ji. She had a brother and sister relationship with the previous dynasty’s crown prince and was a widely renowned beauty with refined talent plus a high official position.”

Ming ChangYan said, “Even if she was a beauty, it’s all just matters from the previous dynasty. After the play will begin the Colored Lantern Petition, YuLou, go find a flower for me!”

Zhong YuLou questioned, “Why does Da shi-xiong need a flower?”

Ming ChangYan grinned, “Of course it’s to join the competition, to steal the colored lantern! To avoid a certain little brat that said that the world’s number one was ‘just so-so.’”

After hearing that he was going to join in the Colored Lantern Petition, Zhong YuLou immediately went to go find a flower. LiMin-Jun turned his head and said, “You want to partake in the Colored Lantern Petition? Do you still want your face, Ming ChangYan?”

Ming ChangYan’s finger twirled around a lock of his hair, smiling, “It’s a fair competition. The Colored Lantern Petition never said that the Noble Gentleman couldn’t participate in the competition.”

Ming Yue asked, “Shi-xiong, you’ve never wanted the colored lantern in the previous years, why do you want to attend this year?”

Ming ChangYan replied without thinking, “Oh, I’m picking it for Huai Yu.”

Ming Yue’s complexion became rigid, LiMin-Jun suddenly said, “They’re starting to steal the lanterns!”

As he finished his sentence, from the lake came the glow of thousands of colored lanterns, the tearful sounds of the zither, followed by the sounds of flowing water coming from the lute. The sweet melodies of traditional music mixed with the jingling of bells were like listening to heavenly music. From the flower terrace located at the heart of the Tan River arose a fair maiden, her appearance had a tactful charm to them, with a graceful body posture, her hips swaying. When she lifted her sleeves, it had the image of as if she was about to take off and fly, the ribbons around her whirling around the flower bed. This scenery and passion were like a paradise.

The dancer was precisely the most beautiful woman in the world, Maiden Li Li.

When Li Li finished her dance, she bent down and asked for the colored lantern. The glazed, colored lantern emerged from the center of the lake, she cheerfully held the lantern in both hands, hanging it on the laurel tree.

After suspending the lantern, from the lakeshore came drummers rapped on their drums three times: Dong! Dong! Dong! On the Tan River, all the boats decorated with flowers began to advance, momentarily the water made sounds of boiling, the cheers from the audience loud enough to break the horizon.

Among the contestants, there was only Ming ChangYan who didn’t row a boat, and didn’t jump down to swim, he merely stood on the boat unmoving, just like a stone statue.

LiMin-Jun laughed out loud, jeering, “Aren’t you going to go steal the glazed lantern, why aren’t you moving?! Do you not know how to row a boat? Or is it that you don’t know how to swim?”

When stealing the colored lantern, the distance between the participants and the platform located in the middle of the lake was about 100 feet, with no ground between them that could be stepped on. Recklessly trying to cross over would end in vain, unless you strap on a pair of wings and fly over. Therefore, in these past years, there arose the methods of rowing a boat or swimming.

Ming ChangYan replied, “I don’t need your methods to be able to snatch the glazed, colored lantern.”

LiMin-Jun smirked, “What kind of heinous deed are you up too, let me inform you, with so many people here, besides the common people, there are also some disciples of Jianghu sects mixed in. When you show your face, more likely than not someone will recognize you!”

Ming ChangYan retorted, “If they recognize me, then they’ll recognize me. This shaoxia is handsome, why would I be scared of being seen!”

Even though he said this, he nevertheless put on the fox mask. The corners of Ming ChangYan’s mouth jerked up as he happily grinned, “My admirable little brother Min-Jun, remember pay back the boss lady for the umbrellas!”

LiMin-Jun suddenly looked frightened, his eyes hastily sweeping around him. On his right-hand side, a lone parasol store sat by the lake shore. When his gaze had landed on it, the shop was was still full of paper umbrellas, in an instant, all the umbrellas had begun vibrating from Ming ChangYan’s spiritual energy, rising up and flying towards the direction of the lake.

LiMin-Jun felt that something bad was about to happen, opening his mouth and cursing, “Ming ChangYan! What are you doing!”

Ming ChangYan condensed his inner spiritual energy onto the palm of his hand until the yang energy was firm, its power unmatchable, resolutely launching the energy down. In a split second, all the umbrellas that had been suspended in the air were planted on the surface of the lake water by a bizarre force. With the vibration from the launch earlier, several parasols were scattered around, all of them had been opened by the tremor!

Ming ChangYan smiled, “Of course it’s to steal the colored lanterns!”

He jumped on the tips of his toes with a hand behind his back, his sleeves flying in the wind while his body rapidly flew forwards, like a spirit swaying in the air. The silhouette of the figure flashed and Ming ChangYan had already arrived at the first green parasol. The full moon was hung up in the sky while flowers fluttered down to the mortal realm, he alone was like a piece of jade, standing between the moonlight and the rippling waters. While he was busy, Ming ShaoXia found the time to turn his head around and wink at the Huai Yu who was sitting aboard.

Not far away, on the Zhao family’s decorated ship, a certain youngster’s face was blushing red, his expression full of excitement, his hands and feet moving around energetically as he shouted, “ZHU-XIONG!! ZHU-XIONG!! COME LOOK! MING SHAOXIA!!! IT’S MING SHAOXIA!!!!” When he uttered these words, the common people standing by the coastal area and the people aboard their ships finally reacted, yelling things like ‘The Noble Gentleman’, ‘Ming ChangYan, ‘Ming ShaoXia’. In an instant, the Colored Lantern Petition had become a petition of who could yell the loudest. Everyone crowded shores of the Tan River, in a short while, the whole town had arrived.

Borrowing some energy, Ming ChangYan picked up an umbrella. Needless to say, in a short period of time, he had arrived at the flower platform. Maiden Li Li softly lifted herself up, smiling, “I’ve heard of this Noble Gentleman’s fame, after seeing it today, sure enough, you’re fit for this title as number one and as the world’s most admired individual.”

Ming ChangYan walked forward in large strides, grabbing the glazed, colored lantern, cupping his hands, he said, “Modest, modest. I’ll be taking this colored lantern with me.”

Li Li responded, “Please.”

The colored lantern had been stolen from the laurel tree, marking the end of the Colored Lantern Petition. LiLi walked together with him through a secret passage, arriving at a small boat, and climbed onto the shore of the Tan River. Ming ChangYan took off his mask, putting on a cloak as he strutted towards the small mountain stream.

Along the way, the common people discussed enthusiastically:

“Of course it’s Ming ChangYan, other than him, who else would accomplish a task so easily!”

“In my opinion, you’re correct! You all saw earlier right, balancing all seventy to eighty umbrellas in the sky, beside him, who would have a powerful enough spiritual energy!”

“A Noble Gentleman! Such powerful cultivation! I’ve really seen enough for my eyes to handle! But, why is he taking the colored lantern?”

“Who knows! Maybe, he, he likes it!”

After walking the distance of three arrows, Ming ChangYan saw LiMin-Jun and the rest of the crew from the boat waiting for him by the little mountain stream. This place was directly facing the Tan River, the horizon opened up, revealing a magnificent scenery.

LiMin-Jun said, “So you came back, look at what you’ve done!”

Ming ChangYan cheerfully smiled but didn’t reply to LiMin-Jun. He took the colored lantern from his bosom, it’s light overflowing with bright colors, sparkling and translucent. It really was a peerless piece of art.

He tossed it to Huai Yu, “How is it, is it still ‘just so-so’?”

Huai Yu clenched onto the glazed colored lantern, and only after quite a while did he finally reply, “Stop with the melodramatic act.”

Suddenly, Qin YuBao yelled, “Da shi-xiong, they’re about to start the fireworks!”

As his voice fell, on the surface of the Tan River a countless number of fireworks erupted in the night sky, the loud noise almost unbearable. The two turned around and looked up at the night sky in unison. Huai Yu’s looked up then moved his gaze downward, falling on the side of Ming ChangYan’s face. The latter bent down and scooped up Qin YuBao, hugging him, resulting in YuBao causing trouble and struggling in his embrace. Ming ChangYan turned his head around, saw that Huai Yu was staring at him, and smiled.

Who knew that the other didn’t appreciate his kind gesture, turning his head the other way.

 

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any other repost of this is stolen and if you steal my hard work, I’m going to use the TianQing six sword techniques on you.

 

Gosh this chapter took forever.

Aaahhh…young love. Did you guys like this chapter?

If you see any translation/grammatical error, please comment down below. We love reading your comments!

I’m going to try and find some more fanart for this novel on Weibo later so that when a scene pops up, I’ve got juicy fanart to accompany it (*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)

Have a week full of good test results~ ✨

 

Chapter 10 : Table of Contents : Chapter 12

Chapter 10: A Noble Gentleman – Part 2

Translated by: Ritpoppy

Unedited (cause my sister’s sick and asleep right now. I’ll come back to edit this later)

 

Lin’an’s Flower Viewing Festival is organized by rich, local merchants that have great fame and prestige. It’s held during the middle third of April where numerous individuals from out of town come to take part in the action. It’s one of the many marvels of this area.

Below XianYue Mountain and out the main gate was a lively town, bustling with excitement, with an endless stream of horses and carriages. If one were to journey eastward along the Yunqi Bamboo Corridors, the east market will begin to appear before their eyes.

LiMin-Jun took out a pouch, with a clang, he gave everyone a few ingots of money. Qin YuBao waited to receive the goods before he dispersed, lost in the crowd. A right hand forcefully thrust its way in front of him. Ming ChangYan smiled, “What about my money?”

LiMin-Jun fished out a few ingots from his pouch, slapping them into the palm of his hand. Ming ChangYan opened one of his eyes, saying, “Not enough, not enough. Give me some more.”

LiMin-Jun replied, “What do you mean ‘Not enough’, what do you want to eat! Previous years, this much is enough for you to play a whole round of games.”

Ming ChangYan pointed at Huai Yu, “There’s also Huai Yu’s portion. He’s a guest, don’t tell me you want him to pay.”

LiMin-Jun hatefully scooped up a few more ingots from his pouch, “Scram, scram, scram. We’ll meet up as usual by the small mountain stream.”

Ming ChangYan took the money, taking a fox mask from a rack on the right and putting it on his face. Glancing from left to right, he was very pleased with himself. He stood in front of the vendor stall muttering to himself as he selected a particularly adorable black, glass lens. After paying for the goods, Ming ChangYan patted Huai Yu’s shoulder, the receiving party didn’t react, his eyes covered in a layer of black fog.

“Isn’t it unique? These are small playthings that were shipped from the west. Lin’an is located near the ocean and has many seaports so we have a lot of this kind of stuff.”

Huai Yu pushed the glass lenses away, callously saying, “What’s the point of me wearing this.”

Ming ChangYan let out a laugh, “Naturally it’s because you look handsome. If you don’t wear this, what am I supposed to do if, along the way, you get led away by some young lady? I have to take responsibility.”

He strolled around with one of his hands clasped behind his back as one incense stick of time passed. During this period of time, Ming ChangYan bought a colored lantern, carrying it in his hands. Along the way, an aroma drifted from the lantern, hovering itself on the tip of Huai Yu’s nose.

After a short moment of time passed, Ming ChangYan became tired from walking, finding a congee shop to drink some congee. Two bowls of fragrant and rich black glutinous rice were brought forth, Huai Yu drank a mouthful, the sweetness making his toothache. Ming ChangYan had already finished half a bowl when he saw that the other hand only has taken a bite, asking, “Do you not like to drink sweet things?”

Huai Yu replied, “My teeth hurt.”

Ming ChangYan cheerfully beckoned forth a waiter, asking for a bowl without sugar in it. This bowl wasn’t wasted either. He reached out and brought the bowl in front of him, using a spoon to scoop up a portion.

Huai Yu grunted, saying, “I’ve already drunk it.”

Ming ChangYan objected, “If you’ve already drunk this before, what are you scared of? It’s not like you poisoned it. I’ve had my fair share of leftovers before, what I hate most is when people waste food. Don’t look at me, look at the congee, if you can’t finish it, bring it with you.”

Finishing his talk, he suddenly heard an outburst of loud sound. A table was kicked over by a person’s foot, followed by a male wearing a bamboo hat with a black veil saying, “Bring me two pounds of beef!”

A waiter responded, “What are you kicking the tables for? Can’t you see that this is a congee shop? How would a congee shop have beef!”

The man suddenly broke out into a cough: *Ke! Ke, Ke!*

Beside him, there was also a small-eyed attendant. Echoing the other, he scolded, “You stupid idiot! Do you even know who our young master is?”

The waiter raised his head to take a look. Huai Yu followed the other’s actions, feeling that this arrogant and despotic young master’s clothing looked extremely familiar. He raised his eyebrows, “Covering up his face so tightly, who’s supposed to know who this moron is.”

Ming ChangYan picked up his chopsticks, tapping his bowl, he lowered his voice, scooching closer to Huai Yu, mysteriously saying, “I know who he is.”

Huai Yu squinted his eyes and gave him a glance.

Ming ChangYan replied in unison with the attendant.

“The Noble Gentleman, Ming ChangYan.”

“My family’s young master is the world’s most honorable cultivator! The Noble Gentleman, Ming ChangYan!”

Ming ChangYan let out a cheery laugh, supporting his chin, his eyes were filled with glittering tears as he looked at Huai Yu, “Wasn’t I right?”

The waiter flung the cleaning rag over his shoulder, rolling his eyes, “Here comes another one.”

The attendant had settled his hands on his waist and had been waiting for the waiter to be scared, kneeling and hitting his head on the ground. Yet all he received was a roll of the eyes, he raged, “Hey! Do you not value your life! Knowing that my family’s young master is the Noble Gentleman, you still dare to act all high-and-mighty!”

The waiter bolstered the table back up, pointing at the YuanHe shop next door, “The number of Noble Gentleman’s that ate in YuanHe shop without paying yesterday in total was fifteen. Eight of them had their legs broken. No one has been beaten up today yet, do you want to become the first?”

The attendant’s face changed, cursing, “F*ck! Our family’s young master is the real Noble Gentleman! All the others are fake!”

The waiter replied, “Go, go, go. Don’t hold up my business, so annoying! If you still don’t leave, then I’m going to close the door and let the dogs out!”

‘The Noble Gentleman’ felt indignant, after swearing together with his attendant proclaiming that he was going to find his fellow disciples from TianQing sect to come and take revenge later, he escaped with his tail between his legs.

Ming ChangYan, having seen his portion of the drama, once again turned his head to face Huai Yu’s untouched congee.

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/ any repost of this is stolen and if you steal my translations…boi ノಠ_ಠノ

Huai Yu’s clothing was exquisite and beautiful, giving him a sumptuous style. Ming ChangYan had guessed that he was some noble family’s young master that had secretly snuck out to have some fun, and wasn’t accustomed to eating these kinds of street foods.

Huai Yu said, “Why do they pretend to be you?”

Ming ChangYan smiled, “Of course it’s because this shaoxia is handsome! Come, don’t bother with these things, it’s not like I don’t have enough people in Lin’an pretending to be me. Look, the townspeople have already grown accustomed to it, what are you marveling over? Besides, the person himself is right beside you, what’s with your fake bickering. Let me bring you to see something cool.”

He picked up his colored lantern, walking in large strides on to the street. Huai Yu hurriedly stirred his bowl of congee twice, in the end choosing not to take a bite, and willingly followed behind him.

Ming ChangYan introduced, “This brook is called the Flowing Mountain Stream, if you walk along this Guanyin alley, you’d be able to reach the Tan River. Even though the Tan River is called a river, it’s, in fact, a big lake. Back when the emperor of the Central Plains came down to Jiangnan for a visit, he wrote a few characters on the Immortal Wooden Bridge located above the Flowing Mountain Stream. Oh right, after a while let’s go to the building outside and eat their brown sugared sticky rice lotus, you’ve definitely never tried it before. Little kids all love to eat these kinds of things.”

Huai Yu softly grunted, “I’m not a little kid.”

Ming ChangYan didn’t argue, “Yes, yes, yes, you’re a manly man.”

Huai Yu pointed at the curb, asking, “What are they doing?”

Ming ChangYan shifted his gaze over and saw two young ladies holding up a flower blossoming lantern, stepping on a stool as they hung the lantern on a tree.

“This is one of the traditions here, called lighting colored lanterns. After lighting the lanterns, you must hang it up as high as possible. The higher you hang it, the more happiness and longevity one has. But there’s another meaning when a maiden hangs the colored lantern.”

Huai Yu tilted his head and glanced at him, his face was small so he the glass lenses didn’t fit properly. Ming ChangYan pushed it up for him, “The higher you hang it, a better husband you’ll marry.”

Ming ChangYan saw him unable to take his eyes off the two ladies, grinning, he said, “What’s so astonishing about this, there’s an even bigger event happening tonight!”

After saying this, a vendor booth located on his right caught his eye. The booth had a horde of people, Ming ChangYan loved to join in on the fun the most, thus he brushed the people away and tiptoed to look inside. Looking, there was a large open space in front of him with large fences built around it. Above hanged a countless number of densely packed flower balls. On the vendor’s booth, a man wearing a hemp garment coaxed, “Is there anyone else that wants to come up to challenge?!”

Ming ChangYan quickly asked, “Challenge? What are we challenging?”

A young man that was watching them in the crowd began, “An archery competition.”

Ming ChangYan’s eyes gleamed, the young man pointed at the tall building beside them, “Do you see that large building?”

Ming ChangYan replied, “I’m not blind, of course I can see it. Wasn’t that built some time ago?”

The young man answered, “Yes. Sky Mansion is very big, it’s a great marvel during the Mid-Autumn festival. If one were to stand at the building’s highest point, they’d be able to reach their hand out and snatch the moon out from the sky. Many years ago, this building was bought by the master of the Zhao family. This person loves to play around, so he ordered a few people to hang flower balls upstairs, saying that whoever is able to shoot them all down would gain ownership for the building!”

Ming ChangYan looked to the distance, the shooting platform was approximately 100 meters away from the building. It wasn’t difficult to shoot the flower balls on the fence, what was hard was hitting the flower balls located within the building. Altogether, the building had 7,749 windows, with a flower ball hanging from each window. The competitor was only required to shoot down 49 of them. When shooting them, the contestant could only win if the shots were continuous.

The young man continued, “It’s already awfully hard to hit the flower balls within the building, if they want us to use the 49 arrows to shoot down all of them, then it’d just be adding a layer of difficulties onto something already so challenging. They’d ascend to heaven!”

Another man said, “Exactly! This theme is really too tricky, if only Ming ChangYan was nearby! Otherwise, who would be able to accomplish such a task!”

Ming ChangYan listened, modestly replying, “This sir is mistaken with his praise.”

The man was confused, “I’m praising Ming ChangYan, what are you answering for?”

After getting choked by this man, Ming ChangYan smiled, “Okay, okay, okay, how do you participate in the competition?”

The young man replied, “500 copper coins for a try.”

Ming ChangYan said, “So expensive? Then I want eight tries! Oh, by the way, didn’t you say that there were flower balls located within the building, why don’t they hang them out?”

The young man responded, “There’s no need for them to bring them out, to be able to shoot down a few on the railings is already pretty good. There’s just simply no one shooting the ones within.”

Ming ChangYan paid the fee, the stall owner found him a good bow, picked up eight good arrows, and sent him onto the shooting platform.

Ming ChangYan walked up to the shooting platform, suddenly he turned around, leaning on the fencing as he happily smiled at the Huai Yu standing in the audience, “Ai, little Huai Yu, look over there. Is there anything that you like?”

Huai Yu had his hands resting around his arms as he looked towards the direction Ming ChangYan pointed out. There, piled a few bizarre stuff, such as jade pendants and jewelry. Those that were able to hit a flower ball were permitted to choose something among them to bring home. He remarked, “Only little kids like that stuff.”

Ming ChangYan propped up his chin, smiling, “Don’t be so cold, whatever you like, I’ll shoot them down for you!”

Huai Yu turned his head, choosing to ignore him.

Ming ChangYan could only drop the subject, went on the stage and drew his bow. He launched eight arrows, all of them landing 100 meters away. The little servant that was assigned to pick up the flower balls squeezed into the railings, in a short moment of time, he yelled, “All of them hit it! All of them hit it!”

The audience was in an uproar.

The stall owner cupped his hands and him, commenting, “This young master has great archery skills!”

While unhitching the bow, Ming ChangYan replied, “You’re too kind, too kind. Ah yes, Huai Yu, I told you to pick something you liked, did you pick one?”

The stall owner, “Why don’t this young master give a go at shooting the flower balls located in Sky Mansion? If you shoot them down, then this whole building will be yours!”

Ming ChangYan saw this building was brilliantly crafted and extremely beautiful, his heart was itchy as it restrained itself. But in the end, he was helpless. He specialized in needles, and didn’t delve deeply into archery, he was just caught up in the moment, and consciously shot a few flower balls. He just wanted to receive a few trinkets to play with while getting some small gifts to give as a present for his younger disciples.

He responded, “I’m in a hurry, I’m gonna stop shooting.”

Suddenly, a hand abruptly slapped itself on the table. Once the hand backed off, a bead made of pure gold caught the attention of everyone around him. The stall owner suddenly trembled, raising his head for a look, Huai Yu said, “Prepare the arrows.”

Ming ChangYan was silent, turning his body around, he went to pick up the gold bead up from the table, “How many times are you planning to shoot, just use spare silver, what are you doing with so much money!”

Huai Yu confidently replied, “I don’t have spare money, only this.”

Ming ChangYan’s tooth became sore, thinking: As expected from a wealthy young master, doesn’t even remember to bring pocket money when going out.

“That won’t do, that won’t do, you’re really damaging your family too much! Take it back!”

Ming ChangYan was about to stuff the gold bead back into the other’s bosom when Huai Yu impatiently held his hand, taking this opportunity to stuff the gold bead into Ming ChangYan’s chest instead as he took out another gold bead, slamming it on the table.

The stall owner’s eyes and hands were quick this time, snatching the gold bead, grinning, “This young master to really too generous. Today, you can use this place’s arrows however you like, shoot as you please, no limit!”

Huai Yu responded, “I don’t want the ones on the fence, bring out the flower balls from the building and hang them up.”

The stall owner stared at him, immediately smiling, saying, “This young master wants to shoot the flower balls within the building, this has never been done before, there’s some difficulty.”

Huai Yu continued, “If I tell you to hang them up, then hang them up.”

Needless to say, in a short period of time, from within the building, the 49 windows each had a flower ball hanging from them.

Ming ChangYan smiled, “Can you really do it? When you miss a target, don’t come crying to me.”

Huai Yu ignored him, standing on top of the shooting platform. When the audience heard that this young man was going to shoot the flower balls located in the building, one by one they arrived from all different directions, wanting to take a quick glimpse. There were people cheering, saw that Huai Yu was young, singers and performers also joined in on the fun. Contrary to what one might expect, before going up on the stage, Ming ChangYan had been afraid that he might not be able to shoot it, but after arriving on the platform, the one cheering the loudest was him.

“Huai Yu! Focus your eyes then shoot! No need to rush!”

A man standing on the side saw him leaning on the railings, his whole body almost falling over, carefully warned him, “Sir, be careful. Is that your little brother?”

Ming ChangYan was unable to steer his gaze away from Huai Yu, half-heartedly replying, “Eh? Ah, eh, eh eh.”

The man patted Ming ChangYan’s shoulders, pointing towards the shooting platform across from them.

Turns out, there was another man competing in the archery competition, shooting the flower balls hung on the fences. His delicately pretty wife was wearing a small muslin dress, standing by the railings, half her body almost falling on to the stage, waving her handkerchief while shouting, “Husband! Keep your eyes focused before shooting! By all means, don’t rush!”

Ming ChangYan, “…”

At this moment, Huai Yu had already pulled back the bow, Ming ChangYan promptly held his breath and fixated his gaze on the arrow in his hand. In a split second, the bowstring was released, the arrow shot forwards with an irresistible force as if piercing through the clouds and shooting the moon, hitting a flower ball located right at the center of the building. Everyone in the audience didn’t even have enough time to inhale the cold air, Huai Yu didn’t even pause to take a breather, once again releasing three arrows in unison. The arrows shot towards the heart of the building, each shot ending in unfailing accuracy and precision.

With the three arrows shot in this way, an hour had barely passed before only 1 arrow remained. Huai Yu once again drew out his bow, this time with some strain. Currently, not a sound could be heard, everyone’s attention was concentrated on the young man standing on the stage. He let go, the last arrow flying through the air. The 49 windows were completely empty! On the large building, there was not a single flower ball in sight.

The servant in charge of picking up the flower balls was dumbstruck, both frightened and astonished at the same time. Only after a while did he come back to life, yelling, “All, all of them have been shot down!!!”

 

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/ any repost of this is stolen and if you steal my translations…boi ノಠ_ಠノ

 

Yay! No translator notes this chapter! ╭( ･ㅂ･)و

Not yet edited cause I got my sister sick and cause it’s 3 am in the morning plus I have an appointment tomorrow. This came out later than usual cause my cold got worse during the weekend so I was in no shape to translate.

What do you guys think of this chapter? If you see any grammatical/translation errors, please comment down below! We love reading your comments, they fuel me to produce more chapters!

Hope you have an exotic weekend~

 

 

Chapter 9 : Table of Contents : Chapter 11

Chapter 9: A Noble Gentleman – Part 1

Translated by: A sick Ritpoppy

Edited by: Ren

 

The Lin’an waterways, the Clear Sky Mountains, white walls and ink-colored roof tiles accompanied by the lush green willow trees. Large pavilions with lustrous pearls dangling by the doorway with wine and tea shops close by while shipping boats drifted back and forth. It was a flourishing town with a peaceful atmosphere surrounding it.

There were corridors that swirled around the coastal area of the Yanbo river* where tall, ivory buildings gazed down at the river below. Upstairs, there were guests bustling and lively, with buildings around three to five stories high. Downstairs, the guests made sounds similar to a horse’s cry, overflowing the lobby and filling the roads while several slammed their hands on their tables all as a crowd gathered to watch the scene. The storyteller’s spittle splattered around using his hands and mouth to convey emotion all while still eating and drinking. Just when he was getting to the climax, something very disgraceful appeared, making the people around them look on in dissonance.

(*TN: Honesty, I had no idea how to properly translate this into English so that you guys could properly get a mental image, so here’s a picture. Please note that the town looked much grander than this image is showing! https://img1.qunarzz.com/travel/d2/1706/ee/1eb0a2308ba2c3b5.jpg_r_720x480x95_cb5e53a4.jpg )

It was a woman, a very insane woman appeared.

To be precise, it wasn’t an insane woman, but an insane man. Saying this isn’t because of other factors, but because everyone could plainly see that this person was a young man. He was nevertheless wearing a dress made of tulle, his face covered in makeup, parading himself across town, attracting the shocked gazes of the people around him.

If a disciple from TianQing sect had passed by, they would’ve recognized that this “crazy woman” wasn’t just a somebody, but precisely the world’s most powerful cultivator, whose prestige is unmatched by anyone, an idol in everyone’s hearts, TianQing sect’s head disciple, the Noble Gentleman Ming ChangYan, Ming ShaoXia.

While Ming ShaoXia was captivating the women, he giggled continuously while putting on air, completely and utterly shameless. But in his heart, he fiercely cursed: LiMing-Jun that old son of a b*tch, when this shaoxia returns to TianQing, you better believe that I’m going to pull out all your hair!

A month ago, Ming ChangYan had made a bet with a younger disciple, LiMing-Jun. Once he won by competing with the other party at a drinking game, he thought of a mischievous idea and ordered LiMing-Jun to cross-dress as a woman. Wearing the cheongsam of his junior female disciple, he went to TianQing sect’s training grounds and danced for the senior male and female disciple’s enjoyment.

Who would’ve imagined that LiMing-Jun was so open-minded—this event had nothing to do with the fact that he was responsible for overlooking the money in TianQing sect. People who love money usually fuss over the smallest affairs. After a month passed, the two once again played the drinking game, but this time, it was Ming ChangYan who lost. LiMing-Jun saw this as a time for revenge and immediately threw a dress towards Ming ShaoXia, ordering him to go down the mountain and bring a man back with him. If he couldn’t find one, then it would be because Ming ChangYan didn’t have the ability to do so.

When remembering this, Ming ChangYan regretfully gritted his teeth, reached out and grabbed a weak-looking scholar. The scholar has never seen a six-foot-tall woman before, but even though Ming ShaoXia was born with a good-looking face, the scholar repeatedly tried to pry open the strong grip that was tightly bound on his hand. His whole body trembled as he continuously uttered: “This young lady please spare my life!”

Ming ShaoXia asked, “Does this young lady look pretty?”

The scholar replied, “Yes…”

Ming ShaoXia continued, “Since I’m so good-looking, then you should come back home with me.”

The scholar’s eyes widened, screaking, “Good…Good person, please spare my life!!!”

Ming ChangYan cocked his eyebrows, releasing his grip, the scholar ran away like he’d just seen a ghost. He thought: This shaoxia is so charming and handsome, what’s there to be scared of?

Thinking of this, he once again cursed at his Li shi-di: I’ve never treated him badly before, yet he has the guts to hold a grudge for so long, capable of treating his head disciple this way. If I don’t seek my revenge, then I’m not worthy of the Noble Gentleman title!

Luckily, in the many years that Ming ChangYan has been in Jianghu, if he wasn’t wearing a bamboo hat, then he’d be wrapped in a black veil, his appearance nothing but a mystery no one can attain. It’s because of this that he dares to strut around, dressed up in woman’s clothes, and flamboyantly stride across the bottom of TianQing sect’s XianYue Mountain.

Ming ChangYan thought that he was exceedingly handsome, so even if he were to disguise himself as a woman, he would be the world’s most beautiful woman. So to have no one recognize this fact, seemingly uninterested in him, he could only practice the art of narcissism.

As a result, Ming ShaoXia was very annoying.

As he strode forwards in wide steps, passerbys would all move aside to let him pass. As the sun began to set west, Ming ChangYan still hasn’t been successful in finding a man, his heart began to pent up with frustrations.

Naturally, if he were to go back to TianQing empty-handed, no one would have the guts to scold him. It’s just that Ming ChangYan was somewhat arrogant. If he claimed that he was going to become the number 1 cultivator in the world, he must never admit defeat and always push himself forwards. Even if he were to make a bet, he cannot lose to other people. He was at wit’s end when he let out an “Ai” and blamed the gods. Just as he was cursing his younger disciple, from Lin’an’s city gate walked out a young man. He was riding a horse in an extravagant attire, his sleeves tucked inside his wrist cuffs with long boots on his legs. His hair was up in a high ponytail with a very elegant aura surrounding him.

Suddenly, thunder erupted in the sky. Ming ChangYan lifted his eyes to take a quick look, his heart felt a sudden and devastating encounter happening and reached his hand out and grabbed an umbrella from a street vendor, saying: “Charge the money to TianQing’s LiMing-Jun, go demand for the money later.”

After finishing his sentence, heavy rain suddenly began to pour down, Ming ChangYan walked forwards in the direction of the young man.

This person was precisely Huai Yu.

Ming ShaoXia supported his umbrella as he walked over to offer him a good time.

“It’s raining outside so why isn’t this young government official heading back home?”

Huai Yu gave him a cold glance. Ming ChangYan could only rely on his shameless face as he edged his way up to the other’s face, saying in a childish manner, “Could it be that you don’t have a home to go to? How about you come to my place to drink some tea?”

The space beneath the umbrella was relatively small so no matter how much Huai Yu turned around, he would be drenched in the rain. Ming ChangYan’s height was similar to his, wrapping his arm around the other’s shoulders, he had a tone that was similar to talking to someone he was familiar with, saying, “Based on your clothing I can tell that you’re not native to Lin’an. Are you from elsewhere?”

Huai Yu did not say a single word, but this didn’t affect Ming ChangYan’s mood to talk.

“Visiting relatives? Friends? Viewing the scenery? Or just passing by?”

Huai Yu opened his mouth, the loud echo of raindrops hit the bamboo leaves as he said, “I’m looking for a person.”

Ming ChangYan cheerfully smiled, “Who are you looking for? I’ll help you look for them. There’s no one in Lin’an that I don’t recognize!”

Huai Yu muttered to himself for a bit, and then proceeded to say a single name, “The Noble Gentleman, Ming ChangYan.”

Hearing this, Ming ChangYan suddenly burst out laughing. After he had finished laughing, he said, “Then you’ve found the right person! I know where Ming ChangYan is, come with me.”

Huai Yu replied, “If you lie to me, I’ll kill you.”

Ming ChangYan stared back, raising his eyebrows, he abruptly reached out his hand and flicked his forehead but Huai Yu slanted his head away before he could do so. He said, “How old are you? You don’t even seem 17 yet, but here you are talking about murder.”

He asked, “What do you want with Ming ChangYan?”

Huai Yu let out a light snort, “Isn’t he number 1 in the entire world? I ought to see what number 1 in the entire world looks like.”

Since Ming ChangYan never shows his true appearance, this type of person that comes here to try to get a glance at his face isn’t uncommon in Lin’an, so he saw no abnormalities in the other’s response. Ming ChangYan touched his nose and shamelessly boasted, “What kind of face should he have? Of course, he’d look like any other human being. But if you want to talk about something distinct about him, then, in that case, he’s extremely handsome!”

He looked at Huai Yu with wholehearted fascination, “What do you want to do with Ming ChangYan? Are you here to challenge him? Pardon my bluntness, but there is a constant flow of people who come to Jianghu to challenge him and I’ve never heard of a single person winning.”

The two shared an umbrella and went in the direction of XianYue Mountain.

On the road, Huai Yu held it in, but finally couldn’t keep holding it in any longer, asking, “Why are you wearing a dress?”

Ming ChangYan replied, “Hm? Dress? Ah, yes, yes, yes, dress. I like wearing dresses, is there anything wrong with that?”

Huai Yu pursed his lips and subtly turned his head to one side.

Ming ChangYan paid no mind to his dress, walking with the wind on his foot, they arrived at TianQing sect in the it took to burn an incense stick.

Just as they reached the stone steps, a white figure flew in their direction, bumping against Ming ChangYan’s bosom.

“Da shi-xiong*! You’re back!”

(*TN: Shi-xiong is the term of address when talking to a senior who’s in the same sect as you. Qin YuBao said, “Da shi-xiong” which means that Ming ChangYan is the head disciple of the sect, not technically the oldest, but has the highest power. Later on, he says “Er shi-xiong” which means second elder brother.)

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, please don’t repost this anywhere else but here or you might catch tuberculosis.

Ming ChangYan picked him up with an “Ai!”, flicking the other’s forehead, “Qin YuBao, did you finish your classwork yet?”

Qin YuBao replied, “Finished, Da shi-xiong, who is he?”

Ming ChangYan, “Him? He is…”

Huai Yu indifferently responded, “Huai Yu.”

Ming ChangYan went along with the other, saying, “Huai Yu. A good friend of mine.”

Qin YuBao’s age was no more than 8 to 9 but he was born with impeccable smarts. His face looked as if it was carved out of jade and he was extremely adorable.

Suddenly, from within TianQing sect’s gateway came bright laughter, a man clad in grey hurriedly walked out. While walking, he yelled, “Has Ming ChangYan come back! Did he bring his man back with him! Hahahahahaha! With his getup, I reckon someone used a stick to beat him back here!”

Qin YuBao delightfully shouted back, “Er shi-xiong.”

LiMin-Jun took this opportunity to reply, “YuBao, why are you stuck to his body again. Ming ChangYan, I advise you to properly admit defeat. If there’s a single man in this world that saw your face and agreed to come home with you, then today I will go down the mountain…and-”

He suddenly paused, alarmed, he stared wide-eyed at Huai Yu, “Who is he!?”

Ming ChangYan laughed till his stomach hurt. After finishing, he raised the corner of his eyes giving himself a look of accomplishment, “As you can see, he’s my man!”

LiMin-Jun had an emaciated look on his face, with a deflated look he grunted, “Nonsense!” He cupped his hands in front of Huai Yu and bowed, blushing with shame, “Gong-zi please forgive me, today was cause me and my fellow classmates were joking around with each other. He didn’t mean it, you shouldn’t lower yourself to argue with him.”

Ming ChangYan threw a bag of medicine on to the other’s bosom, “What are you doing here speaking some kind of rubbish, I got the medicine for you, go deliver it later to the young lady Hua. Qin YuBao, where are you running off to, find your younger shi-xiong’s and go practice your swords techniques!” He turned and met face to face with Huai Yu, “This, this good friend Huai Yu, didn’t you want to find Ming ChangYan? Here I am.”

He went to the pond within the courtyard and cupped some water up, wiping off the rouge that was on his face, revealing two eyes filled with passion, pure facial features that seemed to brighten every autumn.

LiMin-Jun, “Quickly go take off your dress. You’re a complete disgrace. Yu Nan! Help your Da shi-xiong by bringing him some clothes!”

In a flash, Ming ChangYan changed into a black attire with a thick cloak embroidered with dark threads hanging around his shoulders. He tied his hair with a rope, looping it three times. It was half tied, half loose, allowing it to dangle down to his waist.

Huai Yu asked in curiosity, “Where’s your bamboo hat?”

Ming ChangYan replied, “Why should I wear a hat at home, that be terribly bothersome.”

Huai Yu was somewhat astonished, “Aren’t you afraid that I might reveal your true appearance out to the world?”

Ming ChangYan sat down, pouring himself a bowl of tea, he grinned, “Then that would be great. Since I’m so handsome, I look forward to the day that the entire world learns of my appearance. So to avoid all those disgraceful, old bastards that play dress up as this shaoxia, thinking they can put on a black veil and use their ugly mucks to try to deceive people by exploiting my name.”

Huai Yu couldn’t believe that the world’s number 1 had such poor conduct, knitting his eyebrows together and asking, “Are you really The Noble Gentleman?”

Ming ChangYan peeled a peanut and threw it into his mouth, “The one and only.”

Huai Yu was young and a bit arrogant. He opened his mouth and questioned, “Someone like you, how did you become number 1 in the entire world?”

Ming ChangYan responded, “Naturally if someone comes to fight me, I’ll fight them. If two people come to fight me, then I’ll fight them too.”

While talking, that rain outside began to gradually quiet down.

Outside in the mountains, a youth dressed in white holding an umbrella arrived. In the room, Qin YuBao said, “Ming Yue shi-xiong has come back.”

Ming ChangYan teased him, “What? Aren’t you going to go out and welcome him in?”

Qin YuBao replied, “Ming Yue shi-xiong is always really gloomy and doesn’t talk to me, I don’t like him.”

As Ming ChangYan laughed, Ming Yue shi-xiong had already arrived at the entrance. The first thing he did when he arrived was politely greet Ming ChangYan. After exchanging greetings, he hesitated for a short period of time before taking a quick glance at Huai Yu.

Huai Yu was eating refreshments and drinking tea, unconcerned at the hostile gaze that was aimed in his direction.

Ming Yue pulled out a delicate jade pendant from his bosom and place it on the table. Ming ChangYan put down the peanuts, asking, “Such a nice fragrance. Since the flowers have begun to bloom, the Lin’an Flower Viewing Festival should begin soon, right?”

Ming Yue nodded his head, “It begins tomorrow afternoon.”

Qin YuBao exclaimed, “Da shi-xiong, I want to go to the Flower Viewing Festival, I’ve already mastered TianQing sect’s six major sword techniques, please bring me along with you!”

Ming ChangYan patted his hands, “Sure, I just happen to have some free time these days, I’ll bring you all down the mountain to have some fun.”

Ming Yue turned around and began to walk out the door, Ming ChangYan called him back, “Ming Yue, where are you going? Come along with us tomorrow!”

Ming Yue solemnly answered, “I’m fine, I’m too slow-witted, not at all like the gifted YuBao who’s already mastered the six major sword techniques of TianQing sect. Asking me to go have fun interferes with me learning my cultivation. In the future, I won’t even be able to stand at the same level as disciples younger than me, wouldn’t that cause me to lose face for TianQing sect.”

If discussing disciples under TianQing sect that have the most innate talent, apart from another disciple that was currently out at this moment, then there was only youngest one here, Qin YuBao. However, since Ming Yue was accepted to enter this sect, his talent likely isn’t lacking either. Compared to the pile of mediocre cultivators from other cultivation sects, he was already a whole lot better. Ming ChangYan knows that Ming Yue has high ambitions, along with the fact that he’s utterly unsociable. Thus, in the group of children within the sect, he had the most patience with Ming Yue and attentively looked after him.

Ming ChangYan stood up, moved to the other party’s side, and flicked his forehead. Ming Yue hissed in pain, rubbing his forehead.

Ming ChangYan, “That’s right! How old are you, why are you pretending to be so sophisticated? Everyone’s going out to have fun yet only you don’t want to go, how senseless is that!”

Ming Yue mumbled, “I don’t like it.”

“How would you know that you don’t like it if you’ve never seen it before.” Ming ChangYan patted his back, “Go back and rest, heighten your spirits. You’re not allowed to practice your cultivation, I grant you the permission to be lazy today.”

Huai Yu asked, “What is this ‘flower viewing’.”

LiMin-Jun said, “You’re not from here so you don’t know of Lin’an’s Flower Viewing Festival held during April, it’s conducted at the Peach Blossom Hut and Guanyin Temple down below by the river. Besides admiring flowers, there’s also a temple fair, with vendor stalls that have lots of good food. Ask Ming ChangYan to bring you, he loves these kinds of lively events.”

Ming ChangYan fiddled with his hair, saying, “I’ll go if I want to go.”

LiMin-Jun picked the jade pendant up from the table and threw it at Ming ChangYan, “When you leave, put this on. If you don’t, then I’m afraid that your good Ming Yue shi-di will get touchy again.”

Ming ChangYan happily hanged the jade pendant on his waist, “What, are you jealous? Since he didn’t give it to you, you’ve become unhappy?”

LiMin-Jun sneered, “What am I supposed to be unhappy about, I’m not your man.”

Ming ChangYan took a quick glance at Huai Yu, recalled the bet he had made with LiMin-Jun, rubbed his nose and said, “Oh, sorry, I forgot. When we go down the mountain tomorrow I’ll buy one and give it to my little friend, Huai Yu.”

LiMin-Jun said, “Since you brought this guy here, you should set up arrangements that you see fit.”

Ming ChangYan, “You’re always the one to set up arrangements, why should I plan it this time!”

LiMin-Jun argued to back up his convictions, yelling, “He’s your man, not my man!”

Ming ChangYan was fuming with hatred at the other’s remarks. After a while, he clicked his tongue, saying, “If I’m setting up arrangements, then I’ll set up the arrangements, just look at your stingy face. Ah, I heard that people who deal with money are all petty people, does that mean that as time goes on you’ll become more and more petty?”

LiMin-Jun, “Not saying a few words would choke you to death.”

Ming ChangYan burst out in a hearty laugh, swinging his arm Huai Yu’s shoulder, “Do you like flowers? I like them quite a lot, what’s this translucent stone around your neck? It looks rather pretty…”

 

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, please don’t repost this anywhere else but here or you might catch tuberculosis.

 

Sorry fellas, I was sick and couldn’t post this on Wednesday. I’m still coughing a whole bunch, but overall okay.

Did you enjoy this chapter? I couldn’t stop laughing while translating x)

Check out this fanart of the umbrella scene! Super cool, I love this artist: https://mobile.twitter.com/causticsoda4/status/1031889837555511296

If you see any grammatical/translation errors, please comment down below! We love reading your comments~

Anyway, I hope you have a lazy day (As instructed by Ming ChangYan)~ (ᴗ˳ᴗ)

 

 

Chapter 8 : Table of Contents : Chapter 10

Chapter 8: Fallen Gentleman – Part 7

Translated by: Ritpoppy

Edited by: Ren

 

Zhao XiaoLan replied, “Teacher Liu has always been very kind towards everybody, Elder Brother Lu got number 1 on the exam, teacher always liked you the best. If someone were to ruin the reputation of the academy, I’m sure with Elder Brother Lu’s competence, you’d be able to pull yourself from the crisis!”

Lu HangJiu’s complexion was a switching from red to white, seeing how Zhao XiaoLan had said this without a change in his expression, it’s doesn’t seem like it was said to satirize him, but the speaker had said it so unintentionally, that it caused the listener to think he was deliberately trying to mock him. He angrily thought: Absurd! Simply absurd! The empress merely pampers him, yet this stupid idiot that depends solely on women, dares to straddle over me!

Zhao XiaoLan cupped his hands in respect, “Elder Brother Lu, I still have stuff to do, so I’ll have to leave first.”

Seeing that his back was turned, Lu HangJiu took this chance to kick Zhao XiaoLan into the Golden Pond. He had just lifted his leg when he suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream, “Ow!”

His close friend Zhong said, “Elder Brother Lu?! What’s wrong? Ah! Your leg!!”

Lu HangJiu looked down and saw that on his right leg, there pierced a needle that had come out of nowhere, currently dripping blood. Then all of a sudden, his two legs wouldn’t listen to his commands and began running wildly into the Imperial Golden Pond.

The people around him shouted, “Elder Brother Lu! Holy mother! Why are you running!”

Lu HangJiu cried, “I don’t know! My legs are moving on their own!”

A person screeched, “It can’t be a ghost, right?! I heard that recently, the Imperial Palace has been haunted!”

Another person exclaimed, “It’s Ming ChangYan! Look at the needle that’s coming out of his leg! It’s definitely Ming ChangYan’s vengeful spirit!”

Zhao XiaoLan’s complexion changed, raising his voice, and said some harsh words that rarely come out of his mouth, “You, you guys are all saying nonsense!”

Lu HangJiu was running around wildly, in one moment he was jumping around, then was whirling around for the next. He howled till his throat became dry, “Save me! Save me!! Zhao XiaoLan!!”

Zhao XiaoLan widened his eyes, “It’s not me!”

A classmate of his that was in Lu HangJiu’s gang of scoundrels suddenly pointed his finger at him and accused, “It was Zhao XiaoLan, that person loves to mimic that something gentleman’s corrupted practices, always using needles. All day long idolizing some Jianghu hero, if it wasn’t you then who else could it be!”

“The words you said are terrific! Zhao XiaoLan, you’re really too malicious, you merely learned a few useless, no good techniques and yet here you are bullying your fellow classmates. Do you not have any sense of shame?! Here you are bantering about becoming a chivalric hero, I pei!”

“You’re right, this kid adores Ming ChangYan, too bad that they’re number 1 for being the best in the entire world, and he’s number 1 for being worst in the entire world!”

Zhao XiaoLan was extremely embarrassed hearing these words, but without a doubt, he truly was the worst in the entire world, thus he was unable to refute and could only dully stand there with a red face.

Lu HangJiu danced like a madman on the shore of the Golden Pond for a while, looking as if he had been possessed, before finally falling forwards into the pond. As he choked on the water, Lu HangJiu yelled, “I don’t know…I don’t know how to swim…I don’t know! I…*gurgle*”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Zhao XiaoLan turned his head around, Ming ChangYan had appeared from behind a rock garden, laughing uncontrollably. When he finally finished, he said, “I want you to see for yourself how high the water level is in the Imperial Golden Pond!”

Lu HangJiu struggled for a while before he slowly stood up: The water level in the Imperial Golden Pond had only reached his waist.

Ming ChangYan saw this scene, and began to laugh even more savagely. Lu HangJiu was ashamed to the point of anger and cursed, “Who are you!”

Ming ChangYan, “Me?” He turned his head, “Zhao XiaoLan, you? You’re Zhao XiaoLan, right? Look closely, today I’ll teach you a move, this move is one of TianQing Sect’s six major sword techniques called: Beating a drowning dog.”

Zhao XiaoLan widened his eyes, Ming ChangYan picked up a stick from the ground, situating it in his hand and tapped it a few times, then proceeded smack the buttocks of the Lu HangJiu that had just crawled out from the pond. Lu HangJiu has been alive for this long and has never been hit on the butt by anyone. His face immediately turned deathly pale, it seemed as if he had been knocked out of his adolescence, and lay dead on the ground, dazed*.

(*TN: Don’t get it? Here’s a gif to help you get a better mental image: http://www.233xiao.com/tup/%E6%99%95%E6%AD%BB.jpg )

Everyone who had been around them said, “You, You, You, You, You really have the guts!”

Ming ChangYan cheerfully smiled, “You, You, You, You, You, when did you become a stutterer?”

Lu HangJiu repeated tried to crawl back to shore but every time he would be smacked back into the water by Ming ChangYan. He tried to restrain his anger before finally cussing, “Zhao XiaoLan! Do you have a mental disorder?!”

Zhao XiaoLan touched his nose, feeling as if he’s been wronged, he corrected him, “Elder Brother Lu, I’m not the one hitting you, you’re accusing the wrong person!”

After the pulverized Lu HangJiu was spanked by Ming ChangYan a few more times using the stick, he finally admitted he was wrong, crawling out of the pond, and scrambled away with his body trembling.

Ming ChangYan threw the stick aside and patted his hands together. Promptly, Zhao XiaoLan stepped forward and cupped his hands together in respect, “Many thanks to this…this…”

Fu Ling replied, “This is Yan ShaoShi.”

Zhao XiaoLan respectfully exclaimed, “Many thanks to Yan-jiejie for lending your hand to help.”

Ming ChangYan said, “Don’t mention it, don’t mention it!” He heedlessly paused before asking, “Are you a student at Egret Academy?”

Zhao XiaoLan nodded his head. Ming ChangYan seemed to mutter something to himself before unexpectedly making a bright, smiling expression, “XiaoLan-xiong*, I heard from your fellow classmates that you really like Ming ChangYan?”

(*TN: “兄”; this is the same character that Zhao XiaoLan uses to address Lu XingJu, but I thought to have Ming ChangYan call him “Elder Brother XiaoLan” just didn’t fit too well, so I’ll just use the ping yin. Please tell me if you want me to change it if you guys dislike it. Xiong is a term of respect towards an older male friend.)

Zhao XiaoLan’s eyes lit up, “Yes, Ming ShaoXia is the number 1 hero in the entire world, I…I really admire him!”

“What a coincidence!,” Ming ChangYan patted his hands together eagerly and said, “I also really like Ming ChangYan!”

The Noble Gentleman Ming ChangYan, the junior that was famous worldwide, who made a name for himself for ten years. There were many who hated him, and even more of those who loved him. His position in Jianghu was exceptionally high, his cultivation prominent, unrivaled even by the heavens. For a period of time, he retained The Common People’s Order and commanded TianQing sect. He was only twenty-four years old when he accomplished these tasks so naturally, he would possess some brainless followers.

Zhao XiaoLan had always been alone within the palace. The imperial ancestral temple had always been lofty and as a result, he had never met such a person in the palace that had the same mindset as him, thus he excitedly said, “You also like Ming ShaoXia?! What do you like about him?”

Ming ChangYan shamelessly replied, “Me? I like his handsome face!”

Zhao XiaoLan let out a laugh and innocently answered, “But no one has ever seen the appearance of Ming ShaoXia?”

After listening to this, Ming ChangYan mysteriously responded, “Who said that no one’s ever seen his appearance? You? Me? Or him?”

Zhao XiaoLan was puzzled.

Ming ChangYan snatched a fan from Fu Ling’s hands, putting on an act that gave him an aura of profound mystery, and said, “In reality, I’m actually Ming ChangYan.”

Zhao XiaoLan’s had his mouth opened wide. Ming ChangYan calmly continued, “—foreign Shidi’s Aunt’s Son’s younger sister.”

“Little sister?” Zhao XiaoLan asked.

“Correct, that’s right, little sister! Come, come, come, now that we’re mentioning this, I actually know quite a few pieces of information regarding Ming ChangYan, do you want to hear them?”

Zhao XiaoLan’s grip tightened around his books, his Adam’s apple bobbed, a blush slowly made its way on his face. Immediately, like a little chick pecking at rice on the floor, he viciously nodded his head.

Ming ChangYan smiled, “Now that’s right! But since I’m informing you about Ming ChangYan’s affairs, as retaliation, shouldn’t you exchange some information with me as well?”

Zhao XiaoLan, “No problem, I am aware of everything everyone is doing!”

Ming ChangYan nodded, “Alright, then begin.”

Zhao XiaoLan tilted his head, questioning, “But you haven’t said anything yet?”

Ming ChangYan astonishedly replied, “I’ve already said it!”

“What?”

Ming ChangYan grinned, “Little sister. I’ve already told you, Ming ChangYan has a little sister.”

After hearing this, Zhao XiaoLan restrained the impulse to jump up in excitement, and asked in a trembling voice, “Ming ShaoXia has a little sister?”

“Mn! How could he not have one? A twin little sister that looks exactly like him, isn’t that surprising! Ai, what’s with that expression, stop it, even though he has a little sister, she would never marry you.”

Zhao XiaoLan shook his head, “I, I didn’t say…”

He eagerly opened the booklet that he was holding, took out his writing brush, licked it twice, then proceeded to record something down on the newest blank page in the booklet: On some year, some month, and someday, It turns out that Ming ShaoXia has a younger sister born from the same parents that are identical in appearance to him. They must surely be a very distinct beauty.

Ming ChangYan began, “What are you writing down?’

He directly reached out his hand and seized the book from Zhao XiaoLan’s grasps. Flipping it over, on the front cover were four large characters:《The Noble Gentleman Way》

Ming ChangYan took one look at it and began roaring with laughter. He wiped away his tears, asking, “Where did you get this thing?”

Zhao XiaoLan snatched the booklet back, flipped over the treasured object and said, “I bought it at the Jeweled Pavillion.”

The book《The Noble Gentleman Way》was something that Ming ChangYan carelessly made up when he was bored. There weren’t many words in it. Who would’ve thought Xiu LingLong brought the book to the Jeweled Pavillion and sold it to Zhao XiaoLan. He rummaged through the book, the majority of the context in the book was complete nonsense, filled with frivolous phrases and unbridled descriptions of his outstanding life. It was a lousy book that he wrote in a short period of time that shouldn’t be taken seriously.

Zhao XiaoLan exclaimed, “This was personally written by Ming ShaoXia, in it there contains his personal experiences in the past few years, I spent several thousand taels to purchase it. After I’ve finished studying the contents of this book, I will be able to become part of the new generation heroes, and become number 1 in the entire world!”

After hearing the price of that book, Ming ShaoXia’s heart ached, saying, “It looks like you really like Ming ChangYan. But it seems that your foundation is very weak, it may be difficult to become number 1 in the entire world. Someone like you must’ve been constantly beaten up when walking the path towards Jianghu.”

Zhao XiaoLan quickly answered, “It’s alright! I have this very good friend of mine, he’s very powerful. I’ve never been beaten up before!”

Ming ChangYan felt embarrassed for him, thinking: Little children truly don’t understand the immensity of heaven and earth, so adorable.

Zhao XiaoLan continued, “Yan-jiejie, the tricks that you had performed on Elder Brother Lu a few moments ago, how did you do that? How did his legs move on their own?”

Ming ChangYan fished out a few threads of string from his bosom, laying them on his hands for a while to show him, “Of course it’s with a needle and thread.”

Since he was using the strings as a weapon, the thin object is difficult to detect, attaching themselves to Lu HangJiu’s two legs. Manipulating them, making the receiving party unable to do anything to stop it.

“The thread and needle!,” Zhao XiaoLan exclaimed, “This is Ming ShaoXia’s weapon of choice!”

“This little child seems to be worthy of being taught. Seeing that you really want to learn, since I’m not a stingy person, I will teach this technique to you for the time being. But before I can teach you this trick, I need you to help me inquire about a place and a person.”

Zhao XiaoLan looked attentively at the needles and thread in Ming ChangYan’s hands, repeating, “No need to worry Yan-jiejie, leave it to me. Who is it that you want to inquire about?”

Ming ChangYan replied, “The Ninety-Ninth Temple’s Immortal Yun Qing, ah, that Young Prime Minister.”

Zhao XiaoLan stared at him blankly, blurting out, “Huai Yu-gege?”

After listening to this, Ming ChangYan’s smile froze on his face, paused for a full 3 seconds and repeated, “Huai Yu?”

Zhao XiaoLan asked, “Why does Yan-jiejie want to inquire about Huai Yu-gege?”

Fu Ling witnessed this scene. Seeing how Ming ChangYan was standing there foolishly, she thought that his old habit of forgetting names had once again flared up. Thus she walked forward and reminded, “ShaoShi, this is the Young Prime Minister’s birth name.”

Ming ChangYan suddenly turned around, his face turned pale from fear, it seemed like thunder had crashed down upon him, “Huai Yu? He, he he he he he’s Huai Yu?!”

Zhao XiaoLan was puzzled and questioned, “Could it be that Yan-jiejie knows Huai Yu-gege?”

Ming ChangYan’s heart was in turmoil, he bitterly yelled in sorrow in his mind. Why is it that instead of good things happening to me, they’re always bad things?! It really is this little brat!

Not only did he know him, when the two had met all those years ago in XianYue Mountain, Ming ShaoXia had lost one of the biggest faces in the history of his life since he had been born!

 

 

 

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, please do not read this any other websites except this. And if you do, then what a sad life you have.

 

 

 

 

And now we shall be entering cute flashback scene~

I’m freezing over here (curse you polar vortex), but I don’t have to go to school tomorrow so ԅ( ˘ω˘ԅ)

I’m kinda happy that the number of translator notes for each chapter is getting less and less (?) Anyway if you find any translation/grammatical errors, please comment down below! We love every comment that you all post~

Please stay warm and be cautious when driving!

Have a cozy day!

 

 

Chapter 7 : Table of Contents : Chapter 9

Chapter 7: Fallen Gentleman – Part 6

Translated by: Ritpoppy

Edited by: An extremely tired Ren

 

Fun Fact of the Day: Remember how the GongGong in Li GongGong meant grandpa? Well in Ancient China, the position of Gong Gong, which only applies to males, was to serve the individuals in the Imperial Harem. To make sure that the male wouldn’t do anything funny to the concubines, they all had to be castrated (AKA they got their testicles removed).

 

Ming ShaoXia nearly began wailing.

“You mustn’t! You mustn’t! Young Prime Minister, you must reconsider!!”

Yun Qing wasn’t very old, yet his hand grip had the strength ten times that of an ordinary human. No matter how much Ming ChangYan jumped and rolled around, making a fuss, the right hand that was grasping his arm wouldn’t move a single joint.

Ming ShaoXia was tired from jumping around, accepting his fate, he crouched down, picked up the half eaten steamed bun and stuffed it back into his chest. Yun Qing took this opportunity to grasp his left hand, until finally colliding with his fingers. Ming ChangYan’s whole body trembled, his ten fingers forming two fists.

“Such a high official! Such a vicious man! You really have no face! You have no sense of shame! A single man and woman alone, you’re taking advantage of my weak physique since I have no strength to fight back. Young Prime Minister, you sure have the guts!”

Yun Qing glanced at him, seeing how Ming ChangYan’s dress has been ripped to shreds, his chest missing half a piece, having been rolling around on the ground, dust fluttered around him, his hair messy and disheveled, it was rather quite pitiful.

Ming ChangYan wiped his face, suddenly, he went to grab something from his chest, appearing like he was about to take out a concealed weapon, Yun Qing raised his hand to cover his face. Ming ShaoXia’s leftover steamed bun smashed itself onto Yun Qing’s chest. He immediately turned around and broke into a run, leaping on the roof. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared at the doorway of ChangPing Palace Hall.

Within the Listening Lotus Terrace, a window was quietly opened, a person fluttered into the room.

Ming ChangYan held the steamed bun in his hand, he chewed on it while pouring himself some tea. The feeling of being grabbed just now has dissipated, he lit a light, slowly opening up his palm. His hand was fine and slender, his fingers refined, but on each finger, there were tiny scars.

He knitted his eyebrows together, and conveniently stretched his hand to lightly touch the nape of his neck, finding that there was an uneven scar there too. Furthermore, there was a faint ache where the scar was, the skin slightly bumpy, it seemed as if there was something bound up inside it.

Ming ChangYan shook his head, refreshing his mind, and poured a few more cups of the tea, but was still very hungry. He subconsciously touched his chest, only to discover that he had used the remainder of the steamed bun as a weapon, and thrown it at the Young Prime Minister. When Ming ShaoXia recalled that Young Prime Minister, he angrily cursed: That little bastard is really hateful, to have the impertinence to humiliate this ShaoXia. When I get back my cultivation, I’ll definitely, definitely…

Ming ShaoXia let out a humph, and ate the fruit that had been placed for gods in the room. He laid on the bed, chewed on a pear, and once again smelled the familiar, muddled fragrance. It seemed like a moment ago, he had been too close to Yun Qing, which caused him to rub some of the perfume onto him. That little brat, although his temperament is a bit shameful, his perfume that he uses is very much to my tastes, causing Ming ShaoXia to love it so much, he doesn’t want to part with it.

He sleepily thought: In the future, before I teach him a lesson, I need to ask him what kind of perfume he puts on.

Many years ago, Ming ChangYan was formerly friends with a little child with exceptional medical skills, an appealing appearance, and was like a tail, always following him around. It was extremely amusing. After he calmed down, he began to think that this Young Prime Minister looked more and more familiar. Previously, he had already begun to suspect him back at ZhaoHe court when he had just merely glanced at him. If it is truly him, then that little child has grown up to look more and more beautiful.

But this Ming ShaoXia has always been blind, it’s a common occurrence for him to relate a person to another, which causes him to pull in a lot of hatred from people. In all honesty, he doesn’t have much confidence in recognizing other people’s faces and doesn’t dare to rashly make a decision.

This fault in his had even once been written on Jianghu’s daily newspaper and spread the word that: The Noble Gentleman is so arrogant that he believes that no one else matters!

Completely wronged, Ming ShaoXia doesn’t look down on people, rather he just can’t remember anyone’s face. In a single day, the number of individuals that he’s fought with could match the number of carp in a river. All of them were just two eyes and a mouth to him, even if Ming ShaoXia racked his brains, he still wouldn’t be able to distinguish one from another. As a result, every true hero of Greenwood*, Ming ShaoXia would use needles to examine.

(*TN: “绿林好汉”: refers to groups of people, similar to bandits, that live in the wilderness and reject social orders and ruling classes. They resist government power and are sort of like a “rebel hero”. Something that’s similar to this would be Robin Hood.)

If they could be disposed of with one needle, they would collectively be known as: One Needle.

If they could be disposed of with two needles, they would collectively be known as: Two Needles.

And so on. All the people who’s ever fought Ming ShaoXia were awarded the title of “the number of needles”. So much so that everyone in Jianghu would constantly argue about this matter. For example: You’ve challenged the Noble Gentleman, I’ve also challenged the Noble Gentleman. You’re called “Three Needles”, I’m called “Two Needles”. The Noble Gentleman need three needles to dispose of you and used two for me. Doesn’t that mean that my cultivation is lower than you? How is that okay?!

On the surface, there were people who seemed to disregard this criterion, but secretly can’t help but use The Ghost Gate’s Thirteen Needles as a way to measure one’s cultivation. The more needles that were used on someone, the more face they had. They were admired by many in Jianghu, who all surreptitiously thought: This person is actually able to make Ming ChangYan use 17 needles, this person’s cultivation must be unfathomable and beyond belief. They must truly be an outstanding genius.

Ming ShaoXia slept till daybreak before he even had enough time to fully awaken, Fu Ling suddenly knocked on the door.

“ShaoShi! You must quickly wake up!”

Ming ChangYan swiftly pulled down his bed curtain, and casually put on his outer robe.

Fu Ling shouted, “Imperial Concubine Yuan has become insane!”

Ming ChangYan paused, raising his eyebrows, he replied, “Insane?”

He slowly put on his clothes, and fastened his belt, “I thought it was some important matter, what business of mine is it if she’s gone insane? Wasn’t she just fine yesterday?”

Peony helped him comb his hair, “But do you know how she became insane?”

Ming ChangYan answered, “I don’t know. If JieJie tells me, then I will know.”

Peony’s face paled, clearly still recovering from the Imperial Concubine Yuan incident. She cleared her state of mind, and said, “She became insane early this morning.”

Imperial Concubine Yuan’s insanity was different from other cases of insanity. Earlier this morning, the emperor woke up in Zhaohe court to discover sleeping beside him was an aged and feeble, gray-haired old woman. The emperor was greatly alarmed and called upon the Imperial Bodyguards at once. But after entering the room and flipping over the elderly person to get a better look, they were able to identify through their appearance that it was indeed Imperial Concubine Yuan.

After listening to this part, Ming ChangYan paused, and indifferently replied, “Such a mysterious occurrence, I reckon they called upon that Young Prime Minister. Did he go?”

Fu Ling explained, “Yes, in the time it took for half an incense to burn, the Young Prime Minister had already rushed to Zhaohe court. However, when he arrived, the Imperial Concubine had already become insane.”

For a young and pretty woman, to wake up early in the morning to find they had turned into a dying and extremely aged and wrinkled old lady, how could you not fall into madness? Imperial Concubine didn’t just go crazy, after 30 minutes, she began rolling and crawling around the room in a disoriented state. She began to scratch at her neck with her sharp fingernails when all of a sudden, a needle pierced its way out her wrinkled neck.

And then another, and a third…coming from the throat all the way to the chest, all densely packed together, there were needles everywhere! The pain was intolerable for Imperial Concubine Yuan, who began to pull at the strings that were coming from her mouth. In a single pull, her five viscera and six bowels were ripped into pieces, her belly split open.

At this moment, everyone was finally aware of how Li GongGong and Aunt Chun died: They all simply died from their own Lingchi*!

(*TN: “凌迟”; a slow and agonizing way to die. It is also known as a lingering death, or death by a thousand cuts. This method of torture/death was mostly practiced Asia, where the prisoner would be bound together while people used a knife to cut off small portions of your body until you eventually die.)

“It’s needles again,” Ming ChangYan murmured.

Fu Ling was only half done talking before she ran outside the door and began vomiting.

Ming ChangYan said, “You go look after her and give her a fresh cup of tea.”

Peony followed his orders and began to attend to Fu Ling while replying to Ming ChangYan, “Imperial Concubine first went insane, then 4 hours later, she suddenly died in Zhaohe court. The Young Prime Minister was already unable to reverse the situation. The emperor is currently heartbroken and grieving, and with the Sixth Palace unsupervised, they could only order the empress to return to the palace. At 1:15 pm, we have to go to Yongxian Palace and welcome her return.”

Ming ChangYan, “The empress? I thought since the emperor really loves and pampers Imperial Concubine Yuan, that there was no empress.”

Fu Ling answered, “Yan ShaoShi will understand when we get there.” She looked out the doorway, saw that there was no one around, and informally said, “ShaoShi seems to be unaware, but Imperial Concubine Yuan is actually the empresses patrilineal cousin. It’s due to her resemblance towards the empress that the emperor holds her to such high regards.”

Ming ChangYan, “Strange, then why didn’t the emperor just go directly to the empress?”

Fu Ling replied, “ShaoShi, don’t ask too much about palace affairs, just remember that the empress’ position is exceptionally high. By all means, you mustn’t act impudently.”

Ming ChangYan nodded his head in response and began to walk towards YongXian Palace. On the way, the news about Imperial Concubine Yuan’s death had already spread around, the palace maids and court eunuchs were all mourning as if they lost their mother.

Fu Ling said, “After the death of Imperial Concubine Yuan, the disturbance coming from the souls of murderous and vengeful spirits within the palace has grown more and more severe. Originally, they were able to use the Young Prime Minister’s name to suppress the spirits, but now even the Young Prime Minister is unable to control them.”

Ming ChangYan responded, “Murderous and vengeful souls? Who’s soul? Who’s murderous?” Then suddenly realized, “Ming ChangYan, the Noble Gentleman?”

Peony replied, “It’s him. Before Imperial Concubine Yuan’s death, she was screaming and shouting his name, if it wasn’t his soul then whose soul would it be.”

Ming ChangYan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “I don’t know any other souls, but I’m certain that this isn’t Ming ChangYan’s. Maybe Imperial Concubine Yuan thought that he looked handsome, and yelled out his name due to the obvious.”

In the middle of his speech, the two had already arrived at the doorway of YongXian Palace. The empresses royal guards were spread out left and right, Ming ChangYan stood the furthest back and wasn’t able to see her face. About a quarter of an hour went by, Ming ChangYan yawned and had the desire to leave. He claimed that he needed to change, and thus brought Peony and Fu Ling and escaped towards the Imperial Golden Pond.

While they were walking, he thought: This shaoxia has never committed a shameful deed, yet there are ghosts stubbornly coming to knock up on my door.

There have been too many events occurring within the palace that seemed like too much of a coincidence, and every event seemed to all be pointing towards him, Ming ChangYan. Ming ShaoXia plucked up a piece of grass, put it between his lips, and snorted coldly: It seems that there’s someone who’s using the me who’s been dead for two years as a blade to hurt people.

After bypassing a corridor, Ming ChangYan all of a sudden heard someone shouting, “Zhao XiaoLan, you better stop!”

Fu Ling said, “ShaoShi, you better spit out the grass hanging from your mouth.”

Ming ChangYan simply moved the grass in a different direction, Fu Ling’s heart throbbed, “When you’re with us, there’s no need for you to maintain your etiquette, but in presence of outsiders, you mustn’t forget it.”

Ming ChangYan replied, “Outsiders? Who?”

The three of them moved sideways, and saw on the shore of the Golden Pond, there stood a few seventeen to eighteen-year-old youngsters.

Among them, there was a child that was standing a few distances away, his whole body clothed in white, haired tied up using a wooden hairpin, making his appearance look noticeably beautiful. His style was expressive and refined, his image lively and cute, like a snow white dango.

Fu Ling said, “Yan ShaoShi, that child is XiaoLan gongzi*.”

(*TN: “公子”; the son of nobility, used to address someone who’s greatly respected.)

Peony continued, ”Yan ShaoShi is new to the Imperial Palace, and probably doesn’t know him. This Xiao Lan gongzi is the son from the empress’ former home, the Zhao family, and is thus the empress’ nephew. He had been raised in the palace since he was a child, and are childhood sweethearts with the fair Princess Ning, the empress dotes and pampers him. XiaoLan gongzi has a gentle and lovable, not only did the empress adore him, even Imperial Concubine Yuan deeply cherished him. The emperor granted him permission to enter and exit the Imperial Harem whenever he chooses, accompanying the empress on any occasion. These past few days, the empress has been at Dahan Temple burning incense, it’s possible that she had brought XiaoLan gongzi with her, and returned to the palace together with the empress.

Ming ChangYan sees that this XiaoLan is indeed very lovable, resembling his Shidi* back at Tianqing sect. Making Ming ShaoXia feel awfully amiable towards the kid.

(*TN: “师弟”; I’m pretty sure people already know this term, but to those that don’t, Shidi refers to a younger disciple that’s studying under the same master as you.)

At this moment, Zhao XiaoLan was stopped by a youngster wearing grey, “It’s been several days since you’ve been to the Academy, the teacher assigned you to copy lesson text, have you finished copying?”

The grey-clothed youngster was very overbearing, clearly ill-intentioned, with both his hands resting on his hips, he proceeded, “Or have you been evaluated and ranked number 1? You might as well just copy it without going back to correct yourself and just stop reading the books altogether.”

Ming ChangYan asked, “Who’s this?”

Fu Ling answered, “That’s Lu gongzi, called Lu HangJiu, the prince of that Liang Nation. He’s been living in the palace for quite some time now.”

Ming ChangYan seemed to understand: It’s actually Liang Nation’s prince.

Zhao XiaoLan cupped his hands in front of him and bowed, innocently he replied, “Elder brother Lu’s words are wrong, I didn’t mean to get ranked number 1. If it wasn’t for Xiao Chen gongzi absence, I would’ve been ranked second place.”

“You yourself got ranked number 1, yet you blame it on the fact that another person quit school!”

Zhao XiaoLan scratched his head, “I’m not blaming Xiao Chen gongzi, it’s merely because the other didn’t arrive, that I got temporarily ranked number 1.”

Lu HangJiu signed, “There are undoubtedly people that teacher tends to brush off, seeing that they have a powerful background, he gives them just enough face. Nevertheless, useless individuals, such as I, are not worth teacher’s authenticity! Later on in the future, who should we blame on those who affect the reputation of Egret Academy?”

Ming ChangYan’s ears moved, “Egret Academy?”

Egret Academy was a well-known academy for learning the classics, funded by the Imperial Palace, it supplied education for the younger generation of aristocracy and nobility. Even the famous discernible records from Jianghu from the ZhongYuan originated from Egret Academy. The records were renewed once every 3 years, within the documents there were written accounts of masters who’s cultivation ranked the highest in the past 10 years. Among them, the Noble Gentleman, Ming ChangYan’s name would be located at the very top.

However, in the past 2 years, he’s been more or less dead, whether his name was still on the written records were hard to tell.

Ming ChangYan’s heart stirred, but it wasn’t because of JiangHu’s discernible records, rather in Egret Academy, he had a friend that he must never appear in front of.

 

 

 

 

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any repost of this is stolen work and if you steal translations from others, ｡*ﾟ+.*.｡(っ ͡° ل͜ ͡°)っ✂╰⋃╯

 

 

 

It’s 12 am. I’m exhausted ＿ﾉ乙(､ﾝ､)＿

If you see any grammar/translation errors, please feel free to comment! We love reading your comments, they really motivate me.

I hope you have a lazy week (like me)~

 

 

Chapter 6 : Table of Contents : Chapter 8

Chapter 6: Fallen Gentleman – Part 5

Translated by: Ritpoppy

Edited by: Ren

 

 

 

Wang ShaoShi was seized by the 13 Guardians and after a while was escorted back to the Bamboo House.

Ming ChangYan’s attitude was stirred and was clutching onto a thigh, his pretty face tear-stained as he wailed, “I don’t want to go back to the Bamboo House!”

The emperor had always liked beautiful women, seeing that Ming ChangYan’s face was glistening with teardrops, he softheartedly said, “If you don’t want to return to the Bamboo House, then where do you want to go?”

Ming ChangYan, “As long as it’s not the Bamboo House, I can go anywhere else. Ming ChangYan caused two people within the palace to lose their lives, and had Wang JieJie scared senseless, I believe that the next person he’s going to harm will be me!”

The emperor replied, “You and Ming ChangYan have no grudges with each other, why would he harm you?”

Ming ChangYan urged, “How would I know? Maybe, he’s jealous of my beauty.”

The emperor let out a hearty laugh, “You sure are interesting, it’s been many years since I ascended the throne, but there has never been a palace concubine who’s spoken to me like this before.”

Ming ChangYan cupped his hands together and bowed with his hands held in front of him, “Your Majesty has a generous personality, please allow me to go live somewhere else. Apart from the Bamboo House, anywhere will do.”

The emperor gazed at him in fascination, and said, “Anywhere will do?”

Ming ChangYan happily smiled, “Of course, even the firewood shack will do, I won’t complain.”

The emperor replied, “Then tonight you and I….”

Imperial Concubine Yuan let out a delicate cry and fainted in the emperor’s embrace. This caused the other half of the emperor’s sentence to be cut off, wide-eyed, he shouted, “Call upon the Imperial Doctor! Yun Qing, come over here to take a look, see if the Imperial Concubine has been infected by the malicious gas!”

Yun Qing abided to his orders and stepped forward, with quick steps he stood in front of Imperial Concubine Yuan’s living room. He pulled out some rolled up red string from his chest, “Would the eunuchs who have no fixed duties at this time please go out? To avoid getting infected by the Imperial Concubine’s malicious gas. Your Majesty’s body possess a great number of gold*, you musn’t remain here, take care of your dragon body**.”

(*TN: “万金之躯”; a term to describe someone who’s of value and is respected.)
(**TN: “龙体”; Chinese dragons symbolize power, wealth, prosperity, and strength. Often used on those who are worthy and have a high status in society.)

Ming ChangYan’s gaze was fixated on “The Common People’s Order” that Yun Qing was grasping on to as all sorts of feelings welled up inside his heart.

That blade has been following him for 18 years, nowadays it’s being held in the other’s hand. It seemed that just a few years ago Ming ChangYan was flushed with success, within a single day, he fell in the water and became a worthless dog. The fact that these days, he can’t even defeat an Imperial Bodyguard, really makes him want to sigh endlessly.

At 5 to 7:15* in the morning, Ming ChangYan carried his bags, and moved into Lotus Terrace’s small Listening Lotus Building.

(*TN: “酉时”; Could either be at 5:15 or 7:15 in the morning, whichever one you want to use.)

Peony plucked a few lotuses from Lotus Terrace and brought the wet lotuses into the Listening Lotus Building, “I’m going to place these lotuses in the room, ShaoShi likes the smell of flowers, and so do I. It smells better than incense.”

He heard that this small Lotus Building has been uninhabited for ages. Palace eunuchs received orders and arrived an hour in advance to tidy up the Listening Lotus Building. Ming ChangYan pushed the door open and entered, ordered both Fu Ling and Peony to withdraw, and eagerly laid down on the bed. Resting his hand behind his head, while crossing his legs, his mind glanced over the information behind the ZhaoHe court matter, and thought:

This Wang ShaoShi is truly strange and bewildering, why insist that I’m the murderer? I’m 80% sure she’s just acting as a fool. This shaoxia is very well still here! Where did this ghost come from? How come I didn’t know! There’s definitely something weird going on.

He switched his legs, grabbed a steamed bun from his chest, and while chewing thought: That Moondrop Needle indeed looked quite like mine, not in least lacking in any aspects. If I wasn’t the person himself, I’m afraid that I too would blame this matter on Ming ChangYan. It’s a pity that I didn’t grab more needles a few moments ago, unlucky, unlucky.

Ming ChangYan sat up, stuffed the half eaten bun back into his chest, and deeply pondered: Why would she cause trouble for me without a good reason and thinks of me this way? Is it possible that this shaoxia owes her a love dept, and had once disappointed her?

Ming ShaoXia believed that throughout his entire life, he never purposely chased after girls. The number of young ladies that he’s disappointed in the first half of his life, even just for the rich young ladies, if there isn’t ten thousand, then there would at least be eight thousand. Since he gets a headache from just thinking about other people’s faces, he might as well not think of them at all. He shouted towards the doorway, “Fu Ling JieJie, I’m thirsty, is there anything to drink?”

Fu Ling poured him a cup of flower tea, he drank the tea like he was drinking alcohol, undoubtedly wasting good tea. After drinking all of it, he wiped his mouth and asked, “Ai, Fu Ling JieJie, I’m so scared.”

Fu Ling repiled, “Why are you scared? You weren’t the ones who killed them, injustice will be served and debts paid, even if they want revenge, it wouldn’t concern our ShaoShi.”

Ming ChangYan, “Then those two people that died, where are they?”

Fu Ling answered, “If someone were to die within the palace, if they have a family, then they’d notify their family members to come pick up the body. If they don’t have any family members, then they’d find a time to drag the body outside and throw it in the river or the Burial Mounds.”

Ming ChangYan sighed.

Peony helped remove hairpins from him, spotted that he lost half of his breast, hesitated and stopped all of a sudden, and said, “Both Aunt Chun and Li GongGong were murdered, and it involved supernatural beings. Imperial Concubine Yuan isn’t willing to let this matter go, and His Majesty spoils her, their bodies definitely haven’t been handled recklessly. This servant thinks that Aunt Chun’s body must be stored in ChangPing Palace Hall.”

He yawned, stood up, and walked from the vanity table to the side of his bed. Ming ChangYan rolled down on the spot, hugged the quilt and bundled himself into a ball.

Ming ChangYan said, “Where’s ChangPing Palace Hall?”

Both Fu Ling and Peony didn’t reply, their movements seemed to stop as well.

Ming ChangYan said, “Oh, I just asked without thinking. I’m tired, I want to rest. These two good JieJie, there’s no need for you to serve me, I’m going to sleep.”

After 4 hours, the night sky was dark, from the Listening Lotus Building, a window was pushed open.

ChangPing Palace Hall is located in the northernmost area of QiYang Palace, it’s the most desolate place and has the most heavy negative energy. This building was originally Imperial Concubine Xi’s palace, but after her death, it became the Cold Palace. All year round, it is used to store dead bodies, thus the resentful energy skyrocketed, the fog and gloomy clouds made people feel faint, and the cold air dense. Even palace eunuchs on night shift distanly pass by and quicken their pace to leave faster.

However, at this moment, there was a person fumbling outside of ChangPing Palace Hall, looking in all directions, finding an opportunity to enter: This person is precisely Ming ChangYan.

Even though Ming ShaoXia was a chivalrous hero, in his early years, because TianQing Sect was in poverty, he dragged a few youngsters, and in order to feed his family, he became skilled in sneaking around and stealing. When he was younger and used the needle to kill, after a wealthy family died, Ming ShaoXia had to look past the hardships and went to pick up the needles that he threw out, washed it so it could be used again later. Unless the needle broke itself, Ming ShaoXia was able to use the needle for up to 10 years.

The terrain within the palace was arduous, he did not have any weapons to protect himself with. This matter of stealing needles must be imperative.

Leaping over ChangPing Palace Hall’s high walls, with a whoosh, Ming ChangYan’s movements were not in the slightest bit sloppy, and as light as a feather, he landed on the ground. He patted his hands, stroked his hair coquettishly, and sighed in regret: Even though this ShaoXia lost all of his cultivation, his skill and agility are was still elegant, I’m so amazing.

Ming ChangYan lifted his skirt and quickly flipped it, realizing that more than half of the thin cloth was ripped from climbing over the wall. Realizing this, Ming ChangYan simply tied the remaining parts below his hip, revealing the pants within. After he finished handling the dress, he raised his head and saw that in the distant lobby, there were two corpses: This must be Aunt Chun and Li GongGong.

Ming ChangYan carefully walked over towards the table. The two’s corpses were closely covered using a white sackcloth, the dirty blood from their throats soaking through the cloth and creating a pool of blood. He promptly lifted the white cloth and found that the Moondrop Needle was no longer on their necks. The canthus of her eye as split open, her mouth and nose were opened wide, and in her mouth was filled with rotten flesh, making it hard to look straight at it. Anyone who saw this dead body in the middle of the night would be terrified. Ming ChangYan knitted his eyebrows together, set the white cloth down, and resolved to go find the Moondrop needle first.

He deeply pondered: The Moondrop needle is an important object, they wouldn’t carelessly place it somewhere, I need to look closely.

If Ming ShaoXia said he’d do it, he’d definitely do it. The already messy ChangPing Palace Hall, after being disheveled by him, became even more disorganized and dirty. Finally, he found the needles in the southern corner of the lobby on a worn down table. It was evident that the Moondrop Needle was pulled out from the corpses with force, the needle had the remains of both flesh and blood, making it very nauseating.

Yet Ming ChangYan ignored that fact and happily stored the needles away into his bag. The needles were still his weapon of choice, and seeing it at this moment, he had an exceptionally amiable feeling inside him. While Ming ShaoXia cleaned the needles, at the same time, he removed the strings on the needles, looking like what he picked up was a treasured object.

Suddenly, his ears picked up a faint voice, “What do you think of this needle?”

From head to toe, all of Ming ChangYan’s body hairs stood up, his scalp began to feel numb, and he jumped 3 feet in the air. He hurriedly took five huge steps back, resulting in him sliding a few meters backward, unable to properly stabilize his body in time, he dropped to the floor. In this room, besides himself, there are only two corpses. It can’t be zombies, right? Is this place haunted?!

He lifted his head to take a glance, but all he saw was a young man standing in front of him, flamboyantly wearing bright golden clothing in the middle of the night, obviously very confident with his cultivation skills. After looking again, this person…seems familiar.

The night was dark and the wind was extensive, no one bothered to light the lamps within ChangPing Palace Hall, Ming ShaoXia could only rely on the feeble moonlight to look at the baseless figure of the young man.

He was still in shock and in doubt, but after figuring out that the person was alive, he let out the breath he had been holding in.

Immediately, Yun Qing walked towards Ming ChangYan, “It’s pitch black in here, and you’ve decided to come to this sort of place to steal.”

After Ming ChangYan heard this, he diffidently thought: Steal? How is this called stealing? The Moondrop needle was originally mine, I’m taking my stuff back, how is that stealing!

Ming ShaoXia said, “Who stole? Why are you also here?!”

Yun Qing gently snorted, “Why are you asking about me?”

He bent down and looked down at the tattered Ming ChangYan, and while carrying somewhat of a smiling expression, said, “How daring of you to be able to steal stuff from a person’s corpse, are you not afraid that the feral ghosts will come eat you?”

“Feral ghosts? Who? You? Hahahaha, if a peony flower died*, wouldn’t that be beautiful?”

(*TN: “牡丹花下死”; this beginning part of the phrase is from a Chinese saying called “牡丹花下死，做鬼也風流” The peony that’s stated in this sentence describes beauty that attracts the attention of many people. What this basically says is (in a more understandable way) is “Wow look at this beautiful woman, even if she kills me, I’d still be a content ghost.” I guess what Ming ChangYan is saying in that sentence is how even if this handsome young man was a feral ghost and kills/eats him, at least he’d die in the hands of a pretty person.)

“Hand over the items.”

Although Ming ChangYan feels guilty for being a thief, when he’s trying to take something, he’s bold and self-confident. He could guess that 80% of his body is no match for this man, deciding to use his identity as a female to trick this man. The “Da” in the word “Dage*” had just come out, before footsteps could be heard from the doorway.

(*TN: “大哥“; an older brother. I’m wondering if I should change it to older brother or have it just stay ping yin. Anyway, older brother in Chinese is similar to Korea’s “Oppa” or Japan’s “oniisan”. Used when wanting to affectionately talk to someone.)

His expression went cold, he pounced forward, immediately bringing Yun Qing down with him, and hid behind a coffin.

It turned out to be the 13 Southern Guardians striding into ChangPing Palace Hall, Baili ordered, “Go check out the situation inside.”

Suddenly, a dim yellow light faintly flared within ChangPing Palace Hall, Ming ShaoXia heart began beating rapidly, promptly withdrawing half a step back.

Ming ChangYan was concentrated, staring intensely at the lantern that the guard was holding. After walked around the area, stopped by the entrance, the guard holding the lantern began conversing with Baili.

He twitched his nose and picked up a lovely and beautiful fragrance. This fragrance has disturbed Ming ShaoXia for many days, it seems to be here, yet at the same time not, continuing to linger beside his body.

What kind of perfume was this person wearing, that smells so nice?

Ming ChangYan twirled his thumb, and pinched the other’s clothes, once again regretful: What kind of material, so soft?

If this “feral ghost” was a female, and at this moment, Ming ChangYan was over here, informally leaning towards this tender fragrance, not knowing a reason why. He couldn’t stop himself and caressed a few more times. Suddenly, the other person grabbed his hand, catching him red-handed.

The warmth from the other person’s palm steadily flowed into his own, Ming ChangYan felt that his hand was about to be sautéd alive, his face burning up, hastily trying to shake the other off. Who would’ve thought that even after trying to shake the other person off, they wouldn’t let go?!

Yun Qing solemnly gestures telling him to be quiet, “Shh.”

The breath was blown beside Ming ShaoXia’s ear, causing his head to turn to mush, his brain completely crashing.

Outside the entrance, Baili and the guard haven’t left yet. The two were unwilling to give up, after walking around the hall again, and couldn’t find anyone, the guard said, “It must’ve been one of the palace’s feral cats.”

Baili nodded his head, “Let’s go.”

Ming ChangYan looked like he had just come in contact with green vitriol*, using all his might to pull his hand out. Yun Qing abruptly ceased his strength, causing Ming ShaoXia to fall heavily backward. Before he could get a headache and his eyes the time to blur, he stuttered, “You, You, what are you grabbing my hands for!”

(*TN: A ancient Chinese medicine that’s still used today and is mainly used to treat iron deficiency and Chlorosis/Anemia. It’s a small poison and is said to taste sour.)

Yun Qing said distainly, “I’ve already grabbed them, why are you still asking for a reason why?”

Ming ShaoXia had a breath of frustrations pent up in his heart, immediately becoming aloof, unexpectedly unable to find a reason to refute.

Yun Qing stood up, Ming ChangYan looked towards him, only now discovering that this person was very tall, and with is current height, he could probably only reach his chest. If he was to fight him—he’d most definitely lose. He clenched his teeth together, his heart in distress, thought that even though this Ming ShaoXia was a distinguished and accomplished individual—he wasn’t very well-behaved. After living for so long, he hasn’t even held hands with a girl, let alone intimately touching someone in this way.

For a moment, he was a bit sullen and depressed, but he suddenly made a stern expression, “You touch me? You’re here in the pitch dark, touching me, doesn’t that make you womanizer?!”

Yun Qing replied, “If I’m a womanizer, then what are you supposed to be?”

Ming ShaoXia doesn’t bother with trifles when putting on air, completely ignoring his reply, tearing up his clothes till there was little left, and happily smiled, “This Young Prime Minister had an affair with a palace concubine, if people were to find out about this matter, both of us wouldn’t end up well. From what I see, wouldn’t it be better if the two of us pretend that tonight’s matter never occurred, how about it?”

Yun Qing slightly narrowed his eyes, and said, “You’re threatening me?”

Ming ChangYan crossed his arms around his chest, “If you don’t say anything, I won’t say anything.”

He was pleased with himself for a long time before Yun Qing suddenly rose in revolt, grabbing his right hand, dragging him out of the palace hall. Ming ChangYan’s smiling expression became rigid, stumbled, the half-eaten steamed bun that was used as a breast rolled onto the ground. He turned pale from fear, unable to struggle free.

Yun Qing ceased his footsteps, turned around, shot a glance at the steamed bun on the floor, and raised the other’s arm. The two stared at each other’s face, Ming ChangYan shifted his neck and took a step back.

At last, Ming ShaoXia was able to clearly see his face. Beneath the moonlight, there was a distinct chill as his face had the look of frost and snow.

Ming ChangYan made the mistake to be terrified, squeezed out a smile, and said, “This Young Prime Minister, what are you trying to do?”

Yun Qing replied, “Didn’t you say you wanted to have an affair with me?”

 

 

 

 

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any repost or translation of this work is stolen. If you steal translations, I hope you get eaten by a feral ghost.

 

 

 

 

…and scene.

What did you think of this chapter? I personally loved the ending ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Sorry, this took so long! But it’s out now.

If you see any translation/grammatical errors, please comment down below. We love reading your comments!

 

Anyway, I hope you have an incredible day and let us meet again in Chapter 7~ (*ゝω・)ﾉ

 

 

Chapter 5 : Table of Contents : Chapter 7

Chapter 5: Fallen Gentleman – Part 4

Translated by: Ritpoppy

Edited by: Ren

 

This is translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any other repost or translation of this is stolen and if you steal translations then may you never be able to read BL again.

 

Notice: Happy New Year!🎊🎊 I realized I made a mistake in my previous chapter. “Governing the common people” was supposed to be a powerful sword called “The Common People’s Order”. It’s fixed now and if you want to go back to chapter 4 to read over the part, it’d make some parts in this chapter clearer.

Now without further ado, here’s chapter 5 of “A Seductive Gentleman”~

 

 

There were already two rows of palace maids kneeling from the exterior of ZhaoHe court.

The structure’s cornice was raised up. The building was made up of red bricks while the roof tiles were black, not a single voice could be heard. Ming ChangYan was lead by Baili, passing through the two rows of palace maids, directly entering ZhaoHe court’s Relaxing Chrysanthemum courtyard. Within the courtyard, there were 11 imperial bodyguards, 20 palace eunuchs, and a few palace maids. They were all squeezed together, causing him to become incapable of thinking clearly and muddle-headed.

Baili announced, “Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine Yuan, Yan ShaoShi has arrived.”

Ming ChangYan straightens his posture and moved his eyes around to examine his surroundings.

Li GongGong died in the Relaxing Chrysanthemum courtyard, his violent death identical to that of Aunt Chun. Under the bright light, it was easy to see that the bottom half of his corpse was undamaged while his upper half was drenched in blood, obviously caused by the intake of needles. Before his death, it was evident that Li GongGong struggled vigorously. Kua!* There was a disgusting pool of blood surrounding his body. His ten fingers must’ve been firmly grasping onto the floor tiles, causing his fingernails to get stuck to the crevices of the floor tiles, ripping them off. The fingernails must’ve then disorderly fell to the ground.

(*TN: “胯”; 胯: means crotch, but this passage had nothing to do with that so I thought that his must’ve been Ming ChangYan’s own thoughts mixed in with the description. “Kua” could be an onomatopoeia, in this case, expressing his bewildered disgust.)

On the left side of the corpse, there was a young man fascinatingly observing it.

Ming ChangYan paused to look at him, based solely on his clothes he could guess that it was that Yun Qing that he met yesterday at the Lotus Terrace. Only that this man was wearing a light golden outer garment, on his waist matched a girdle that had a strip of black jade strapped on it, with golden buttons that fasten it all together. Each hanged 8 total strips and they were all made of leather. On the garment were a pair of cranes with their wings spread wide open while flying through clouds, it was like a cloud-traced crane. His sleeves had the same crane pattern, but they were black. A golden headdress bound his hair together, his appearance seemed like it came straight out of a painting, he had a defined nose, a thin lip that looked like he applied cinnabar to, a charming immortal beauty, and had a distinguished and outstanding rank.

As he continued to look on, he unexpectedly began to feel that the man was familiar-looking. Ming ChangYan’s body tilted back while his gaze faced forwards and withdrew a step. Just when he wanted to take a closer look, Baili reminded him, “Madam, his Majesty is calling upon you.”

Ming ChangYan humbly corrected his posture and made an “eh?” sound. His gaze still fixated on golden gowned youngster’s face. The more Ming ChangYan observed, the more familiar he looked. In his heart, an answer just about appeared. The Imperial Bodyguard that stood beside the golden gowned youngster cupped his hands together in obeisance and said, “Does Immortal Yun Qing have a general idea of what happened?”

Ming ChangYan looked like he suddenly saw the light, and promptly lifted his two arms while barging into the crowd, “I do! I do!”

Baili Deng turned pale from fear while shouting, “What do you have!”

Ming ChangYan smiled happily and pushed the crowd of palace eunuchs away, stood in front of Yun Qing, grinned and said, “Whatever you want, I can give you!”

Just then the emperor and Imperial Concubine Yuan walked together down the stairs. Ming ChangYan cupped his hand and bowed to them, “Your Majesty, Imperial Concubine Yuan, I hope you’re both doing well.”

Imperial Concubine Yuan had a gloomy complexion, her mood seemed to be worried and the flat area between her eyebrows seemed to be letting out a cloud of black gas*. She didn’t look “well” at all. The emperor was sentimental, seeing how Ming ChangYan looking lively and elegant, his appearance above average, couldn’t help but ask, “Who are you?”

(*TN: like this, but sadder: https://avvesione.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/barakamon-10-seishuu-panic-distress-gloom-shadow_over_eyes-comedy.jpg )

Baili hastily kneeled down and answered, “Reporting to Your Majesty, this is Yan ShaoShi from the Bamboo House.”

The emperor waved his hands, “Bring Yan ShaoShi a chair, she seems to be frightened. She mustn’t be allowed to stand at this moment.”

A little eunuch carried over a chair. Just when he set it down, the sound of footsteps could be heard from outside ZhaoHe court.

“ShaoShi, you mustn’t! You mustn’t!”

Wang ShaoShi was soaked in sweat as she stepped into ZhaoHe court. Ming ChangYan gave a shocked expression and thought: How is Wang ShaoShi well once again?

The servant girl that followed behind Wang ShaoShi fell down as she entered the door, kowtowed while crying out, “This servant, this servant was unable to stop Wang ShaoShi.”

As soon as Wang ShaoShi arrived, she immediately pinpointed Ming ChangYan’s position, ran towards him and hide behind his back. While crying and making a ruckus at the same time, she said, “I saw a ghost…I saw a ghost!”

Ming ChangYan made an “ai!” sound, and situated Wang ShaoShi onto the chair.

“Wang-jiejie, if you say there’s a ghost, then could you tell me what kind of ghost?”

Imperial Concubine Yuan, “Aunt Chun never mistreated anyone. Yesterday, it was due to those two concubines not knowing the immensity of their actions and failed to recognize their own morals. Aunt merely gave them a small disciplinary punishment, who knew that the servants in the punishment chamber could be so relentless. Don’t tell me that their deaths should be blamed on her! Their injustice should not become the other party’s dept. Even if those two could become ghosts, it would be impossible for them to come to ZhaoHe court. Your Majesty, this subject has been together will Aunt Chun since childhood, we were like sisters, if we’re unable to have the truth come to light, this subject will, wil…”

The emperor promptly began to appease his Imperial Concubine, turned his head and asked the golden gowned youngster, “Yun Qing, do you sense anything improper, like resentful energy, a ghost’s vital energy, things like that.”

Ming ChangYan saw that Yun Qing was just about to reply so at once he snatched his opportunity and said, “Of course, how could there not be any. This, Wang ShaoShi already claimed that she saw a ghost, seeing is believing. Your evidence is already there, it’s definitely those two palace concubines that came back to take revenge. I think it’d be better for this, this Immortal Yun Qing to beckon and call upon the soul, then wouldn’t the whole truth be revealed?!”

Imperial Concubine Yuan used her beautiful eyes to glare at him and criticized, “What the heck are you!”

The emperor nodded head, “Your words are rational. Yun Qing, you will call upon the soul right here.”

Immortal Yun Qing shot a glance a Ming ChangYan, and replied to the emperor’s words, “Calling upon the soul requires preparation. Your Majesty, please wait a moment.”

Ming ChangYan took a step back, crouched down and examined Li GongGong’s corpse.

Baili, “ShaoShi has great courage and proper insight.”

Ming ChangYan responded, “So-so, so-so. When did Li GongGong die? Was anyone present at the time of his death?”

Baili answered, “There was no present at the time of his death, but because of the huge commotion, it caught the attention of a palace eunuch that was just passing by.”

After a short period of time, alchemists were brought over from the Ninety-Ninth Temple and set out to arrange Spirit Altars for the inner parts of ZhaoHe court. The Spirit Altar was arranged on three doors, with 18 long roots and 10 short roots. Every door’s altar had a distinct color, and altogether there were blue, red, and white. ZhaoHe court was sealed shut, everyone was centralized within the lounge, so they could only leave through the southern detached palace gate.

Scripture, incense, and a lantern were placed in a good position for the ritual. Immortal Yun Qing had already changed into golden silk immortal robes adorned with jacquard weaves. On it was an embroidery made from golden threads depicting lingzhi mushrooms and red-crowned cranes, with brilliant lights and vibrant colors, his spiritual energy fluttered around him.

Ming ChangYan was hidden among the crowd of palace maids. When Peony saw this, she finally saw an opportunity to step forward, her heart was really frightened as she patted her stomach, “ShaoShi, do you know that the tone of your voice, while you were speaking to His Majesty, was sufficient to dying ten thousand times? If it wasn’t for Imperial Concubine Yuan being startled and His Majesty not in the mood to further interrogate you, then you and I would have already seen the gates of heaven and hell.”

Ming ChangYan let out a laugh and said, “Why should I be scared of the gates of heaven and hell? There’s plenty of rare treasures in the Imperial Palace, there’s bound to be a medicine that has the power to bring back someone from the dead. Fu Ling, you’ve already stayed in the palace for many years, have you ever heard of a medicine like that?”

Fu Ling took a step forward and answered, “ShaoShi, you imagine the wildest things. Where on this earth will there be a medicine that can bring someone back from the dead? Even if there was, it would be the grass used by Immortals.”

Ming ChangYan, “Smart! Precisely the Immortal Grass, have you guys heard of this medical herb?”

Fu Ling shared a look with Peony, Fu Ling replied, “I’ve never heard of it before. However, hundreds of countries from around the border annually offer gifts to the Central Plains. Foreign countries may have this panacea.”

Ming ChangYan asked, “Do these two JieJie know where these types of things are located?”

Peony answered, “This servant does not know. If ShaoShi really wants to know, you can go ask the Minister of Rites, Master XiaoCheng. He’s the one who’s officially in charge of the tributes we receive.”

After listening, Ming ChangYan questioned, “If the Immortal Grass is an extraordinarily valuable treasure, it’s unlikely that it’ll be located outside the palace. The Minister of Rites, Master Xiao Cheng…Peony, let me ask you, is there someone in the palace who has poor health, or perhaps someone who all year round requires the consumption of medicine to keep them alive, while at the same time holds a high position?”

After muttering to herself of a brief period of time, Peony responded, “Imperial Concubine Wan has never had a good body composition, and required medicine every day to recuperate. But many years ago, she had a heart failure, and her position wasn’t particularly high.”

Fu Ling, “If ShaoShi doesn’t include the Imperial Harem, then this servant knows a person, and his position is considerably high. It’s just that that person’s health is quite well, but still daily comes into contact with medicine.”

Ming ChangYan smiled, “This kind of prodigy still exists?”

Fu Ling wanted to cover up his mouth, “You mustn’t make these senseless remarks.”

Ming ChangYan, “Ok, ok, ok. I won’t make them anymore. Then JieJie quickly tell me, who is this person?”

Fu Ling replied, “This person is the Young Prime Minister*, Immortal Yun Qing. He studied under Prime Minister Chang and understands the five phases of Chinese philosophy and the eight divinatory trigrams of the Book of Change, ancient Chinese divination, at the same time use horoscopes to refine medicines. He doesn’t lack vitality and presently, no one is able to control him. Tomorrow, all the nations will offer tributes to us. Our young Prime Minister will be left with the task of selecting materials from the gifts to be used to refine elixirs. The Immortal Grass that ShaoShi was talking about may just be located within the Ninety-Ninth Temple.”

(*TN: “国相”; the highest executive rank in Ancient China)

Ming ChangYan’s heart stirred, the tip of his nose suddenly picked up a bizarre fragrance. He twitched his nose twice and asked, “Do you guys smell a weird fragrance?”

Fu Ling replied, “One can open an altar as long as they burn incense. The incense that the young Prime Minister is using must be the most valuable soul summoning incense.”

Ming ChangYan said, “No, it doesn’t smell like soul summoning incense. I smelled this once back in Lotus Terrace. This fragrance smells a bit bitter, like the scent of medicine, but with a hint of lotus.”

The two shook their heads, “We don’t smell it.”

When he inhales this fragrance, his heartbeat begins to quicken and is unable to control himself as he begins to become infatuated with the scent. Ming ChangYan promptly waved his hands in the air to disperse the smell.

Within the soul altar, the Immortal Yun Qing said, “In the dark, night light, I bring life back upon the soul.”

Ming ChangYan listened closely, the ceremonial chant that he was saying was from《LingBao YuJian》, a book that is used to summon the soul, something that even after getting beat multiple times by a bamboo stick, you still wouldn’t be able to obtain.

Originally, Ming ShaoXia was somewhat astonished after hearing it, but the longer he listened to this Yun Qing Immortal—the more outrageous it began to sound!

The Immortal’s first few phrases were properly spoken, but afterward, he began to ramble incorhertanly, it was a complete joke! He absent-mindedly recited some chapters from《Flying Flowers》and《The Romantic Words of PingShan*》, mixing these dishonest practices together and leaving Ming ChangYan completely dumbstruck. Those two novels are bedside reading materials for him, after studying them every night, of course he’s going to thoroughly understand it.

(*TN: Both of these two books—after some thoughtful google searches—are lustful novels full of obscenities about the relationship between men and women. The first one talks about scholars and women and their sexual experiences, often times depicting some people’s personal scenes. The second one is more poetic and goes on to say stuff about the joy of love-making but is still explicit.)

Ming ChangYan carefully examined this young Prime Minister, who when tricking the emperor is full of big words and sincerity, but behind his back is actually listless.

The emperor was holding his breath while waiting on him and at the same time solemnly giving him his full attention. He had the appearance of a revered god.

Ming ChangYan began to laugh hysterically, thinking that this Immortal Yun Qing is really a bold and audacious person! This youngster isn’t all that sensible to be over here fooling the emperor and the imperial concubine.

Peony gave him an annoyed look, “ShaoShi, you dare laugh!”

Ming ChangYan replied, “I’m just laughing a bit, it’s not like it matters.”

But the next second, he became unable to laugh, his complexion immediately becoming rigid.

After Immortal Yun Qing finished reciting the gibberish that was supposed to summon the soul, in the blink of an eye, he pulled out a 2-foot long machete from his back. The entire blade was black, with a faint dark aura surrounding it. The handle of the blade had black jades embedded into it. This blade is precisely the blade that was supposed to be at XiaoMan Mountain, The Common People’s Order!

Ming ChangYan suddenly stood up, his gaze cold and unwavering as he stared at Yun Qing.

At the same time, Wang ShaoShi let out a scream, rolled off the chair, and began crawling towards the soul alter. The servant girl was scared to the point her own soul was leaping out from her body, Wang ShaoShi once again yelled, “Ghost…there’re ghosts! I saw a ghost!”

Imperial Concubine Yuan covered her nose with her hand and recoiled, frightened again and again. The emperor held her hand while frowning and ordered, “Why hasn’t anyone caught Wang ShaoShi for I* yet!”

(*TN: “朕”; the imperial way that emperors addressed themselves.)

A few maids and palace eunuchs began to flock her, but Wang ShaoShi seemed to have baselessly acquired an uncanny power, giving her extraordinary strength. After struggling for a while, everyone was unable to do anything to her.

The emperor hurriedly said, “Yun Qing! Why haven’t you caught the ghost!”

Yun Qing answered, “Your Majesty doesn’t need to worry, this servant will try to the most of his ability.”

Wang ShaoShi’s hair was disheveled, fleeing in all different directions, and was making different gestures and motions. The palace eunuchs and maids saw that she was a Mistress, therefore not daring to excessively apply force on her. Thus everyone in ZhaoHe court began a closely-fought contest, a bunch of people chasing after Wang ShaoShi, it was extremely amusing.

Wang ShaoShi ran whilst wailing. After running in front of Immortal Yun Qing, Yun Qing, without consideration, firmly smacked her head. The hit caused her to sway three times before falling heavily on the floor. From his mouth, he recited a long and tedious incantation and grabbed a bit of ash from the incense before sprinkling it on Wang ShaoShi’s forehead.

He indifferently said, “The malicious spirit has been eliminated.”

The emperor was hugging Imperial Concubine Yuan, who was both alarmed and afraid. He opened his mouth, “That, it was that easy?”

Immortal Yun Qing cupped his hands together in respect, “Your Majesty is perhaps unaware, the incantations that regular cultivators use are just dishonest practices. Killing ghosts ought to be quick and precise.”

The emperor said, “Just like that?”

He calmly replied, “This is only the first step, first bring her back to the Bamboo House to rest for a few days. You’ll serve Wang ShaoShi three bowls of talisman water*, she’ll fully recover after a week.”

(*TN: “符水”; they burned talismans into water and then drink it hoping to have the talisman take effect on their body.)

Wang ShaoShi suddenly met such calamity, her eyes were dimmed. She lied face down on the floor for a brief moment of time before abruptly beginning to tremble, her gaze staring at the air. Wang ShaoShi pointed her finger at the midair, and shrieked, “He’s here…He’s here! I saw it…I saw it, he’s wearing black…with a black veil…blood, it’s all blood, it’s—it’s—”

Baili’s expression changed and yelled, “13 Guardians! Protect His Majesty!”

The Southern 13 Guardians listened to his orders, completely surround the emperor.

The emperor angrily retorted, “What are you guys doing!”

Baili abruptly knelt down, his face paled, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the person Wang ShaoShi is describing, that ghost is…is Ming ChangYan!”

After Yun Qing finished listening, he moved The Common People’s Order from his left hand to his right hand.

The emperor inquired, “Who is Ming ChangYan?”

Baili lowered his head, “The Noble Gentleman.”

The emperor was astonished, “Him? How is he involved in this matter?”

Imperial Concubine Yuan’s legs became soft and tumbled into the emperor’s embrace. Baili summoned up the courage and replied, “Reporting to His Majesty, the noble gentleman was purged by the 6 major sects, and in addition, there was also a division in the imperial troops that went on the purge. The team was known as ‘Mountain Column’. The eldest prince led them and went to annihilate this noble gentleman.”

After Ming ChangYan finished listening, his heart was startled: I didn’t expect that back then when he was crusaded upon by the sects, people from the imperial household were in the mix too.

He softly asked, “Who is this eldest prince?”

Fu Ling replied, “The eldest prince is Imperial Concubine Yuan’s son.”

Wang ShaoShi gave out a blood-curdling scream, “It’s him! It’s him! He killed people…he killed people…I saw him…”

Wang ShaoShi’s maid hurriedly embraced her while weeping, “Miss, Miss better stop scaring me!”

Wang ShaoShi was trembling as she curled up in her maid’s embrace and terrifyingly said, “Little Apricot, I saw him, his whole body was covered in rotten flesh, right there! Right there!”

Imperial Concubine Yuan shouted, “Nonsense!!!”

Ming ChangYan yelled in his heart: Well said!

If he himself was covered in rotten flesh, he wouldn’t be able to bear it. After hearing these sentences, he almost couldn’t tolerate it and let his words slip out. He hatefully grinded his teeth together: This shaoxia is of a distinguished and talented generation, even if he was a ghost, he’d be the most beautiful ghost! I have never heard of this ugly ghost! This really is a violation towards me!

 

 

 

This is translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any other repost or translation of this is stolen and if you steal translations then may you never be able to read BL again.

 

 

 

Happy New Year~~

I hope that your year has been a good one. It sure was a rocky 2018 for me, full of ups and downs. Remember to take care of your family and most importantly yourself, health is important fellas!

If you see any translation errors, please comment or email me. We love reading your comments! They always make my day ♡＾▽＾♡

Stay up as late as you want tonight (it’s the only night where your bedtime doesn’t matter)

Have a fabulous 2019 _(┐「ε:)_❤

 

 

Chapter 4 : Table of Contents : Chapter 6

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