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Usage of Mo and Yao body parts as materials
“The guest from the guest quarters?” Wu Ruo froze for a moment: “You mean Ling Mohan?”
Ever since he had rescued Ling Mohan back, he had never seen him, he had almost forgotten that this person was staying in Hei Manor. In the blink of an eye, the new year was almost here, Ling Mohan probably wanted to leave Gaoling City urgently. Otherwise, the emperor would think that the crown prince had already lost his life.
“Yes, madam.”
“Invite him to the main hall.”
“Yes, madam.”
Hei Gan saw that Wu Ruo had a matter to attend to, so he turned around and left with the corpse servant to go back to his rooms to change his clothes.
Hei Xin carried the child somewhere else to play.
Nu Mu also left the main hall, returning to his rooms to organize his gu parasites.
Not long after, Ling Mohan, who was dressed in resplendent blue robes, arrived at the main hall and expressed his thanks toward Wu Ruo, who was sitting down: “My thanks to the lo1Over here, Ling Mohan was about to address Wu Ruo as 公子 (gong zi), which I’ve been translating as “young master”, but can also be used as a way to say ‘my lord’ or something along those nuances.— madam for sparing me a helping hand, as well as the many days of hospitality. If not for your assistance, I’m afraid this one2Ling Mohan uses 在下 (zai xia) here to refer to himself. Not sure if I’ve footnoted this before, but this literally translates to something like “here beneath”. It’s a dated way of referring to yourself that elevates the person you are speaking to, expressing that your status is beneath theirs.
I think the general (?) application for this is either for employer-employee, or liege-follower relations? I don’t think slave-servants use this as much, they usually refer to themselves as 奴才 (nu cai)/奴婢 (nu bi) which are used for males and females respectively.
Either that or when you’re encountering someone who clearly is of higher status than you, and you want to let them know that they are of higher status than you (either as a form of modesty or sucking up). would have lost his life in the hands of others.”
During this period that Ling Mohan was staying at Hei Manor, although he hadn’t looked into the identity of the owner of Hei Manor yet, he had still noticed some of the manor’s oddities. For example, the fat man in front of him was actually the wife of another man. And, the servants in the manor seemed as though they didn’t have life force. They were spiritless, their speech and actions were especially slow, and they had unending energy3Ling Mohan says that they don’t have 人气 (ren qi) which actually translates to ‘popularity’ or ‘character/personality’, but it can also refer to the ‘qi’ or chi of a living human being. It’s essentially like life force energy that circulates in a person when they’re alive, and apparently dead people or things don’t possess this.
Then he goes on to say that they having 力气 (li qi) that doesn’t run out, which refers to your physical strength/energy. He’s referring to two different kinds of ‘energy’ here., it was just too strange.
Shi Yi poured a cup of tea for Ling Mohan.
Wu Ruo nonchalantly said: “My lord, you’re welcome4Wu Ruo is also addressing Ling Mohan as 公子 (gong zi) here, as in footnote 1. He also says 不必客气 (bu bi ke qi), which I think more often gets translated as ‘(you) don’t have to be so polite’. It’s used to mean ‘you’re welcome’ though, so that’s how I translated it in text, but I’m leaving this footnote for the nuance., at that time, no matter who had fallen in front of me, I would’ve lent a helping hand.”
“No matter what, this one still has to thank Madam. As it is, I’ve imposed on your hospitality in your manor for many days, it is also time for this one to leave.”
“You want to leave?”
“Yes.” Ling Mohan’s expression revealed hesitation, he thought for a moment, then said: “Before I leave, this one has an unreasonable request.”
Wu Ruo raised his eyebrow. A dignified crown prince ignoring his own status to speak to him meekly and subserviently; so it was because he wanted to ask Wu Ruo for help. If he hadn’t guessed wrongly, Ling Mohan wanted Wu Ruo’s help to get him back to Huangdu5In chapter 18, I left this as ‘Huangdu’ like a location name, but in the earlier chapters I’ve been translating it as ‘the capital city’. I’ve decided to leave it in as a location name from here on, because that’s how it seems like they’re referring to it in the Chinese text. The name ‘Huangdu’ literally means ‘capital city’. The capital city of Tianxing is Capital City LOL.
He asked calmly, maintaining his composure: “What matter might that be?”
Ling Mohan said: “This one would like to borrow a few bodyguards with strong spiritual energy from Madam.”
On the journey back to Huangdu, there would definitely be a lot of people waiting to take his life. However, his body currently hadn’t fully recovered yet, there was no way he could deal with so many people.
Wu Ruo narrowed his eyes: “Pardon me for being unable to fulfill your request.”
“This one understands your misgivings, but rest assured, this one only wants to ask your bodyguards to accompany me home.”
“My lord, you should know that your request will make things difficult for me. I don’t know what status you have, and I don’t know if you’re really just asking my bodyguards to accompany you home. If you borrow my people to go and commit some unlawful things, then wouldn’t that just implicate all of the people living in my manor?”
Ling Mohan also knew that his own request was a little too much, but he had no other solution. If he still didn’t go back, it was possible that the position of crown prince would be snatched away by his second brother6Ling Mohan uses 二弟 (er di) here, ‘second younger brother’. I’ve left it translated into text for better flow. This form of address indicates that Ling Mohan is the oldest son. Not all oldest sons are automatically selected as crown prince, but usually if he’s qualified enough, the oldest son gets first dibs..
He was silent for a moment, then he decided to take a gamble: “Madam, I’m actually Tianxing’s crown prince, Ling Mohan. During an incognito inspection tour, I fell prey to assassination attempts, that’s how I ended up in these dire straits.
“As it’s almost new year’s, I hope that Madam can lend me a helping hand to get me back to Huangdu. In the future, I will definitely heavily reward Madam. If you don’t believe me, I have this jade pendant and this palace token7皇宫令牌 (huang gong ling pai) or the ‘palace token’ is basically a pendant that proves that Ling Mohan has free passage in and out of the palace. It’s normally bestowed to princes of the first rank, and as crown prince, Ling Mohan is qualified to carry it around.
If you don’t have this palace token, like in the case of princes of the second rank, you will only be allowed into the palace on designated days, or if you’ve formally sought permission from the emperor to do so. In modern cultural context, the palace token is like an NFC card that allows you to tap into the palace LOL here as proof.”
Ling Mohan presented the jade pendant and the palace token to Wu Ruo.
Wu Ruo turned the things over in his hand and said: “I don’t recognise these things, so I have no way of distinguishing if the things you’ve said are true or false. However, if you really want to go back to Huangdu, I do have an idea, but I don’t know if you’ll dare to give it a shot.”
Ling Mohan hurriedly asked: “What idea?”
As long as he could return to Huangdu, he dared to do anything.
“The Gaoling City Wu family has a distinguished guest who should be returning to Huangdu in a few days. When the time comes, you only have to mix into his entourage, then you should be able to safely return to Huangdu.”
The moment Ling Mohan heard ‘Wu family’, he was internally on guard: “The distinguished guest would be…”
Wu Ruo smiled slightly: “Guoshi Wu’s great-grandson, Wu Yanlan.”
The new year was almost here, Wu Yanlan still made a special trip here to Gaoling City, he was most likely here to capture Ling Mohan. There was an old adage: ‘the most dangerous place is the safest place’. If Ling Mohan hid amongst his entourage, he would definitely be able to return to Huangdu safely.
Ling Mohan’s expression abruptly darkened. “Since he is the guoshi‘s great-grandson, then his itinerary should be a secret. How would Madam know that he’s here at the Gaoling City Wu estate?”
Wu Ruo laughed: “My lord has stayed here for a period of time. Could it be that you don’t know I’m someone from the Wu family?”
Ling Mohan was stunned, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. But immediately, he reconsidered it. If this person had any intentions to harm him, there was no reason at all for him to tell Ling Mohan that he was someone from the Wu family. And, there was no need to say that Wu Yanlan was in Gaoling City. He would only need to kill Ling Mohan directly or send him over to Wu Yanlan.
The space between his eyebrows creased tightly.
This was truly a dangerous bet. If he won, he would be able to successfully return to Huangdu. If he lost, he would immediately die here.
Wu Ruo wasn’t eager for his response either, leisurely taking a sip of hot tea.
Ling Mohan asked: “Then, can you help me to mix into his entourage?”
Wu Ruo didn’t answer him.
Ling Mohan was smart, he knew at one glance that Wu Ruo had a condition: “What might Madam need me to do?”
Wu Ruo’s lips curled up, smiling: “If you really are the crown prince, then come over here.”
Ling Mohan hesitated for a beat, then walked forth to lean forward to listen.
Wu Ruo whispered softly into his ear in low tones.
Ling Mohan looked at him in shock: “You really want me to do that?”
Wu Ruo smiled and didn’t say anything.
Ling Mohan asked again: “Would Madam be willing to tell me your name?”
Wu Ruo surveyed him indifferently: “I’m called Wu Ruo. Stay here patiently for another two more days, I will find an opportunity for you to mix into Wu Yanlan’s entourage.”
“I will thank Madam here first.” Ling Mohan turned around and left the main hall.
Suddenly, a loud ‘peng’ sound came from outside the building. Following after, he could hear Hei Xin anxiously shouting: “Little Young Master Dandan, the building is about to collapse, hurry and get out of there.”
Wu Ruo: “…”
He suspected that if things went on this way, in no more than a month, Hei Manor would be razed to the ground by this child.
Shi Yi couldn’t help laughing as he said: “Madam, Little Young Master is really energetic.”
Wu Ruo rolled his eyes.
This child’s energy was overboard.
When it was time for dinner, the child was finally tired from playing, and fell asleep, obediently flopped over Hei Xin’s shoulder.
Wu Ruo and Nu Mu took a look at his innocent and cute sleeping face, and all those lecturing words were stuck in their throats.
“After this little brat falls asleep, he’s a little sprite that everybody dotes on. After he wakes up, he’s a little demon that gives everyone a headache. He’s so mischievous, in future, the two of you will be in for it.”
It was as if Hei Xuanyi didn’t hear his words, watching the child as he continued eating.
Nu Mu clicked his tongue: “Doting parents result in spoiled children8In the novel, Nu Mu says: “慈父慈母容易出多败儿”, whereas the original phrase should be “严父出孝子，慈母多败儿”. The original translates to something like: a stern father results in a filial child, a doting mother results in a spoiled child. According to my Baidu search, the ‘doting mother’ here refers less to someone who is loving and affectionate to their children, and actually means someone who excessively spoils their child.
Nu Mu means, if they both spoil Dandan without disciplining him properly, he’s going to grow up super willful and naughty/without morals. He doesn’t necessarily mean discipline as in corporal punishment, but more like you have to sit down and actually parent the kid instead of just letting him run wild., the two of you need to discipline him properly. Otherwise, you are the one who’s going to end up in tears.”
“Master, I also want to discipline him properly, but look at this body of mine.” Wu Ruo had an expression of helplessness: “It’s hard to even carry him, let alone talk about trying to grab a hold of him for a proper lecture.”
Nu Mu thought about it and agreed: “You’ve already soaked in the medicated bath for a full month by now, it’s about time to force the gu parasites in your body out. Little Hei, tomorrow I’ll teach you the method for forcing out the gu parasites.”
“Hn,” Hei Xuanyi hummed indifferently. After he finished eating, he continued making weapons.
Wu Ruo went to soak in his medicated bath. When he was done with the medicated bath, he went straight into his nest of blankets: “Shi Jiu, the things that I told you to prepare this morning, have they been prepared?”
“They have.” Shi Jiu took out a black money pouch that had been soaked in a Mo’s blood and red thread made from the fine sinews of a Yao, as well as a thin needle made from rare materials, and placed them in front of Wu Ruo. Finally, he took out a brush made from a Yao beast’s fur and red cinnabar made from its blood.
Wu Ruo nodded his head, satisfied: “Very good, everything’s been prepared. You may leave, I’ll do it myself.”
“Understood.” Shi Jiu produced a piece of clean white cloth and spread it out by Wu Ruo’s side, then he placed everything that he’d bought onto it before he turned around to leave.
Wu Ruo first placed the black money pouch to his right, then he dipped the fur brush into the red blood cinnabar. After that, he drew talismans and charms onto each side of the money pouch. Because his hand was too fat, he couldn’t hold the brush properly, so the talismans and charms that he’d drawn were crooked. However, if one squinted, they could still tell what it was supposed to be.
After he waited for the red blood cinnabar on the money pouch to dry, he picked up the red thread and needle. Because the eye of the needle was too small, and his arms couldn’t move about flexibly, so it took him a lot of effort before he could finally thread the red thread through it.
“Hu,” Wu Ruo exhaled heavily, wiping at the sweat on his forehead, saying: “If I’d known, I would’ve told Shi Jiu to thread the red thread first before leaving.”
He rested for a while before he picked up the black money pouch, the needle and thread.
Wu Ruo had just threaded the needle into the black money pouch when he heard the room door being pushed open by someone, thereafter, that person entered the inner room.
He looked through the gaps of the screen and saw that Hei Xuanyi had returned; he was alarmed. He hurriedly stuffed the money pouch between the nest of blankets, before grabbing the white cloth that Shi Jiu had set out by his side, speedily wrapping it up and stuffing it into the little gap beside his pillow. After that, he smiled and said to the person who had entered: “You’re back.”
Hei Xuanyi seemed to have noticed his little actions, and the space between his brows wrinkled slightly.
“It’s already late, you should rest early.” Wu Ruo guiltily lifted up the blankets to lie down. Suddenly, as if his butt had been stabbed by a needle, he felt a sharp pain.
“Ah…” he moaned in pain.
Damn it, his ass had definitely been stabbed by the needle on the money pouch.
Wu Ruo stretched his hand behind himself to feel around, but his body was too fat, his hand couldn’t even reach around to his back.
Hei Xuanyi laid down on the bed after removing his outer robes, but saw that Wu Ruo kept pawing behind himself with his hand. His eyes flashed with uncertainty: “What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” Wu Ruo simply couldn’t bring himself to say that his butt had been stabbed by a needle.
Hei Xuanyi saw that Wu Ruo was forcing a smile onto his face; it didn’t seem like there was nothing going on.
Wu Ruo hurriedly closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.
Hei Xuanyi stared at him for quite some time, before he extinguished the candlelight and closed his eyes.
With the room in darkness, Wu Ruo instantly opened his eyes, and resumed grabbing at the needle and thread on his ass, but he just couldn’t reach it.
Hei Xuanyi couldn’t fall asleep because Wu Ruo kept moving around, so he turned to his side to look at Wu Ruo.
Wu Ruo met those eyes that were still bright amidst the darkness, and felt that if he still didn’t speak up, the only one in pain would be himself.
He said, close to tears9In text, the phrase is 欲哭无泪 (yu ku wu lei): it means not being able to cry, even though you really want to, and is meant to express extreme pain and helplessness.: “I… I stabbed my butt.”
If it wasn’t because he really couldn’t reach it, he wouldn’t have bothered asking Hei Xuanyi.
Hei Xuanyi blinked; he thought that he’d misheard Wu Ruo.
Wu Ruo saw that Hei Xuanyi wasn’t reacting, and gritted his teeth as he said again: “My ass has been stabbed by a needle. Could you please help me take it out?”
Hei Xuanyi: “…”
Notes: sorry to everyone following this for disappearing for so long! My health was pretty bad for that period of time and I struggled to get back to translating. For now, I hope I’ll be able to at least fix every other Sunday as a ‘I will definitely get an update out, unless there are extenuating circumstances’ posting status, but if I can get chapters out faster/earlier, I will also post them as and when I can.
