《一世真》中英翻译 CH. 8
请给我发勤劳小蜜蜂的勋章~~ ^O^
又是以景琰为主的一章啦，真心虐死我景琰宝宝咯。。。剧情越来越快，翻译也越来越难了hhh，果然这个坑是挖给自己作死的么
我懒，前文翻归档吧。
原文章节 点我啦
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One year later.
The first birthday of a child is always accompanied by a traditional ceremony of“zhuazhou", where the child would pick from a range of objects to signify his fortunes in life. At the birthday ceremony of Prince Qi's son, the emperor himself is in attendance, and has even added several precious gifts to the pile, including some freshly baked cookies from the palace. The little prince is surrounded by things like arrow, pen, and dagger.
Jingyan watches emotionlessly as the beaming emperor teases the baby. Last life the emperor had no idea that this child was even alive, and this time, had the Chiyan conspiracy happened again, no doubt he would have condemned the baby to the same fate. Yet now grandfather and grandson are playing as if they were just an ordinary family.
He had planned to give the child a gift for his birthday-- a simple scented and blessed pouch, with two tiny letters sewn carefully into the inner seam. Two letters that were his name in the past life, the only link between them, but would no longer mean anything now.
He never gave him the gift. In this life, Lin Shu will not become Mei Changsu, and this child would no longer be Tingsheng.
The baby crawls around the table, grabbing one object after the other and stuffing them all into the emperor's hands--all except the cookies. The emperor is greatly amused and chuckles, rustling the little baby's hair, “You gave grandaddy everything except the food! I get it I get it, you can relax and have a carefree life, just leave all the troublesome things to grandaddy!”
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The emperor left with everything the baby gave him, in such good mood that he gifted Prince Qi many other precious items. After the royal entourage is completely gone, Jingyan takes out the other gift he prepared-- a woven vest made of the softest steel.
Prince Qi eyes the gift with a frown on his face, knowing its significance and protests, "He is but a child, who would do him serious harm? This is too precious for him, give it to Xiaoshu instead, he has been moving around so much lately fighting one unrest after another. He would need it more.”
Without even realizing it himself, Prince Qi no longer smiles in the same way in front of his brother anymore.
Jingyan lowers his gaze, expression unreadable, “It's....the thought that counts.”
Prince Qi is about to refuse again when he sees that his child has his little fists clutched tightly around the vest, clearly liking it a great deal. His heart softens a bit. He can never refuse either of them, his son or his brother. This past year in court Jingyan and he have had their fair share of arguments, he feels more and more distanced from his brother, yet he cannot truly begrudge him.
“Your uncle has given you such a nice gift, you must remember to thank him when you grow up,” he says to his son, taking the vest into his hands.
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Prince Mu has been ill for two years, but he insisted on going to battle when the Southern Chu invaded the borders. He fell to enemy swords. The twenty-year-old Princess Nihuang solemnly dons her armour over the mourning robes and goes to war. The emperor gives a royal decree that orders the Princess to take full control over her father's troops, as well as the house of Mu until her young brother Mu Qing comes to age.
Jingyan feels the familiar chill of fear creep up his spine when he hears of the decree. He thought that the late Prince Mu could have avoided such an early death this time. If he made it alive until Mu Qing inherits his title, Nihuang would not have become the female military commander, then perhaps she and Xiaoshu could still be together.
Perhaps it is just a coincidence.
Or perhaps it is fate forcing everything back to its original track.
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“Your Highness, Consort Jing is busy brewing medicine for the Noble Consort Chen, she does not have time to see you,”bows a servant to Prince Jing outside the consort's residence.
“Please tell Mother that I shall remain kneeling here if she refuses to see me.”
Two maids from Noble Consort Chen's palace walk past Jingyan as he is kneeling on the cold tiles; they drop to a quick curtsy towards him, yet their eyes are filled with disdain as they glance back at his straight back.
“Everyone in the palace knows that Prince Qi had a huge argument with His Majesty yesterday because of Vice Commander Lin Shu's petition to go to the South to fight in the battle against the Southern Chu, Prince Qi begged His Majesty to let Lin Shu go, and His Majesty was furious!”
“Yeah, who would have guessed that Prince Jing actually disagreed with Prince Qi, and he argued the case against him! After the audience yesterday His Majesty came to the Inner Palace and promoted Concubine Jing to a Consort. That's clearly a slap in the face for Prince Qi and the Noble Consort!”
“I heard that Prince Qi stood in his courtyard all day yesterday, and later in the night developed a high fever.”
“Our Lady the Noble Consort was so worried when she heard the news that she had no appetite for two meals. Thanks to Consort Jing who came later and persuaded her to eat something small.”
“I think Consort Jing truly cares about our Lady, but Prince Jing....how disappointing!”
“Serves him right to kneel outside, but who knows if he is just putting on a filial front…”
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Four hours later, Consort Jing finally tells Jingyan to come in. She is dressed in elaborately embroidered robes befitting her new status, yet there is no warmth in her eyes.
Mother and son gaze into each other’s eyes for a long moment. She searches his for any sign of discontent, grudge, or regret. There isn't. There is nothing. In a flash, she sees his persistence and understands his reasons for doing so.
Although she doesn't fully know the details of everything, she is sure that Jingyan is still the same Jingyan, his feelings towards her, towards Prince Qi and Xiaoshu have not changed. Yet as a mother, her heart gives a painful lurch at the realization of what he is planning to do.
After a long pause, she swallows around the knot in her throat, “...You should do what you think is right. But you have to understand, while you have your reasons, I also have my difficulties in my position. If I pretend not to know anything, it would not be beneficial to you or to the things you are planning. Since the Noble Consort has always been in poor health, I will ask His Majesty for permission to go to one of the royal mansions in the countryside, where it is quieter for her to recuperate. I may not see you for a long time.”
Jingyan's hands tighten into fists as he tries to stop their quivering, “.....And I cannot come to see Mother?”
Consort Jing finds herself at a loss for words. As a mother, she does not have the heart to say no, “When the time comes for us to meet again, we will,” she turns her face away as the light flickers and dies in Jingyan's eyes.
Jingyan kneels and bows in a formal goodbye, before turning to leave.
“Jingyan......!”
“Yes, Mother?” his expression under control once again.
“You...please take care,” she searches for words and finds none, “please take care of yourself.”
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News of an unfortunate development from the frontlines of the South reaches the capital. The enemy used a naval strategy that decimated the Liang armies who had very minimal experience on the water. At the same time, the emperor hears that Captain Nie Duo lost half of the military horses he was supposed to be transporting to Bianzhou, where Lin Shu is stationed.
“It's a short journey of less than 1000 miles from here to Bianzhou, clearly he was incompetent and lost the horses, yet he told me that they fell ill and died! Now he is hiding at Lin Shu's place, hah! He thinks he can evade punishments?”fumes the emperor.
“Father, perhaps...perhaps Lin Shu prevented him from coming back? Maybe we should investigate...?”ventures Prince Xian, glancing at Jingyan's blank face and adds, "now the conflict in the South has intensified, we should be more cautious. Maybe it's best to summon Nie Duo back to the capital for questioning? But I am afraid that Lin Shu would not easily let him go if we do not send something persuasive enough.....”
The emperor raises an interested eyebrow, “You mean only Jingyan can do this? Jingyan, are you willing to go?”
“......”
Before Jingyan could formulate a reply, the emperor adds,“Bring my imperial decree and take Nie Duo back with you; take this chance also to see Lin Shu, you two haven't parted for this long since you were children, right?”
Jingyan meets his Father's eyes, anger still flaming in their depths, something Mei Changsu said suddenly resonates in his mind:
'A good strategist would have a million ways to react no matter what situation he is in. A good conspirator is also the same. A conspiracy is called such because usually you only see the tip of the iceberg, when one strike fails, it would always follow with second and third strikes. Your Highness, please remember that you can never let your guard down, even after you have just evaded one strike. Please be extra careful when I am not around to advise you.'
Jingyan lowers his eyes and lifts his arms in a formal bow, saying in a clear voice,“I shall be honored to go as Your Majesty's envoy.”
'Of course, when you are not here, I am always careful.'
