Chapter 21 - Are You Provoking Benwang?

Qianxue’s redden translucent lips bented up— as she expected just as she anticipated, that person was eavesdropping.

“What else can be done, chanting for death*.” Gu Qianxue flashed the bowl of poison in her hands, contented, as if she was swirling a famous red wine.

*t/n interpretation: kinda like waiting for death/she’s already facing death; either way she’s going to die

The young male immediately flashed to the side, his back sweating, he felt Gu Qianxue was indeed as if the same as the general rumors, silly and stupid, with death near at head she still provokes Prince Li, His Highness.

Not a few moments later, accompanied with two soft coughs, from behind the screen paced out a person, it was not anyone else but precisely Prince Li.

As before, it is still a brocade black robe, a black belt and black jade, on his cuff as well as his collar, a gold thread is used to embroider luxurious decorative design, the brocade lining material was the best quality, under the view of dimmed light, it is still in general hold an elegant luster.

Only seeing Prince Li’s gloomy fair cheeks, and narrowed pair of eyes as cold as frost.

“Gu Qianxue, are you provoking benwang?” His voice was weak, but it also gave people a strong pressure.

Qianxue raised her eyebrow, disdainfully said, “Do you think I have nothing to do but to provoke you? Besides, I, Gu Qianxue in the capital is also considered a small person with power, what else do you hope* for, a good family’s virtuous lady?”

* t/n interpretation: what else do you expect me to be- a good family’s virtuous lady?

Prince Li was in the middle of the hall slowly sitting down on the delicate and refined high official seat, “You really believe that I do not dare to kill you?”

Gu Qianxue darted a smile, “Chanting* to be killed, kill me, once you’ve killed me, even if you don’t look upon that minister father of mine, you have had at least offended my grandfather Marshal Zhao. I had thought my mother had cheated the most out of my father, now it seems like you have ridiculously been cheated out by my father.” (*thanks plum for the help!)

*t/n interpretation: waiting for death/she’s already facing death; either way she’s going to die

Prince Li killing her is the equivalent to the Emperor who offended Marshal Zhao, if not cheated* out by my father, then what else could it be?

*t/n: cheated off of — the father is taking advantage of Prince Li because although the Gu family was the cause of the crime, they will not chase after Prince Li for Gu Qianxue’s death, however her grandfather- Marshal Zhao would, so basically whether it’s the Gu family or Zhao’s who chases this matter, the Gu family benefits from this.

Gu Qianxue lowered her eyes, the corner of her mouth held back her smile, still as before she swirled the bowl of poison.

She is not scared of Prince Li killing her, not for any other reasons, but for the reason of Consort Qin’s illness.

Prince Li’s face has yet to change in any slightest degree, only quietly looked at her, suddenly picking up his thin lips, indeed as if an iceberg cracked its corner.

“Since you claim to be able to cure the illness, why are you still repeatedly provoking benwang, exactly did you want to die or did you want to lIve?”

Gu Qianxue naturally wanted to live, but to provoke in this way is because she does not want to lose her imposing momentum.

She ben* is just weak, if she didn’t have the momentum, then it is really letting others make difficulties, if that is the case, it is better off to die directly instead.

*refers to herself in third person

Similarly, the aggressive momentum can also give people a certain confident facade. In actuality, she is not in the slightest confident about Consort Qin’s illness.

“I’d rather die with dignity than cowardly live.” Gu Qianxue spoke.

Inside the hall was deathly still, waiting for a good while, Prince Li then let out a weak light laugh, “Okay, benwang then will give you another chance, if you really are able to cure imperial mother, then I will allow you to live with dignity, otherwise.” Prince Li paused for a moment, ben then in a freezing cold voice, suddenly even colder, “benwang will then let you know, how to die even more miserably.”

Gu Qianxue raised the bowl in her hand, “If it’s said like this, this thing I do not have to drink it?”

Prince Li ignored him, refused the young male’s support, slowly stood up leaving, again disappearing into behind the screen.

(t/n: it is indeed written in the way where Prince Li does not reply to Gu Qianxue and walked away)

Gu Qianxue tilted the bowl, letting that poison be poured down onto the floor, only to see the ground of a layer of corrosive bubbles.

Is it sulphuric acid or hydrochloric acid? If this thing was to be drunk, in order– the oral cavity, esophagus, etc, and all the other organs will one by one corrode, indeed very ruthless.

Prince Li left, the young male turned back, “Young Miss Gu, please follow me to the backyard then.”

Gu Qianxue while holding the bowl tossed it, a sound of something breaking, only the bowl broke.

She stared coldly at the broken medicine bowl on the floor, the corners of her lips were hooked with determination— she, Gu Qianxue’s life is firmly strong, to let her die, how can it be this easy?

The hall’s front entrance was reopened, right when Gu Qianxue stepped out, Yu Lian and Yu Cui, the two people were boo-hoo crying, while crying they also discussed what death method they should use to be buried with Young Miss.

Gu Qianxue darted a smile, reached her hands and placed it on the two maids’ foreheads knocking lightly on each person’s head, “I did not see that you two are still pistachios* ah, originally my mood was a little depressed, but seeing you two, ben young lady’s mood is brightened up.

*pistachios: amusing

“Young Miss Gu, this way please.” Jun’An*’s attitude was more respectful than it used to be.

*Jun’An is the young male who guided Gu Qianxue, the author never truly introduced his name till now, (t/n: I swear lol I even went back to the previous chapter to check, she did tease him but he never said it >< )

The danger has passed, Gu Qianxue unexpectedly once again with a flash of understanding, rose from the dead*, “Jun 小哥 (little brother*), I will have to trouble you.”

*idiom as translated

*Jun 小哥 (little brother) will be named as Little Jun when referred

Jun’An frowned slightly, but also did not say anything, only focused on guiding the way.

Gu Qianxue followed, Yu Lian and Yu Cui hurriedly waited to *serve left and right.

*waiting around

“Young Miss, are you alright now? Prince Li, His Highness is no longer killing you?” Even if she saw Young Miss safe and sound, Yu Lian’s heart was still firmly clenched.

“For the time being, there are no matters, but if I cannot treat Consort Qin, I’m afraid I will die an even more miserable death, it will not simply just be a matter of a bowl of poison anymore.” Gu Qianxue’s tone was light.

Yu Lian was once again deeply worried and sick at heart, Yu Cui however was optimistic, “Young Miss will definitely be able to, Young Miss’s magical hands bring the dying back to life*, from dry bones to become muscles, you can bring back my sister from the gates of hell, even more will absolutely be able to cure Imperial Consort Qin.”

*idiom as translated

Gu Qianxue couldn’t resist from releasing a smile and said, “Fool, how is Yu Lian considered an illness? It is only an open wound that was infected that caused her to have a high fever, nothing much, if you change to any random Great Doctors* they will also be able to treat.”

*common household doctors

Jun’An who was guiding the way could not help but turned his head to glance at Gu Qianxue, from before till now the news he has heard of Minister Gu’s Eldest Young Miss *not an ink on the chest, not a single thing was right, however now it seems rumors also cannot all be fully believed.

*did not have any single thought that was right// everything about it was wrong

During speaking, they had already stepped into the backyard of Prince Li’s Residence.

Prince Li’s Residence took up a large space, the landscape was unusual, each and every grass and wood are made from a master’s hand, all the bricks and tiles were gorgeously incomparable, the same small bridge over a flowing stream, but in the middle of Prince Li’s Residence, there was indeed a sense of a grand momentum.

Perhaps, it was polluted by the owner of this temperament.

Prince Li is twenty five years old, unmarried, it is said he also does not even have a single concubine, although it is the backyard, however indeed feels like it is missing not a few mansion houses, only in comparison to the front yard, it was a lot gentler.

Gu Qianxue also could not help but to sigh with sorrow, Prince Li is although strange, but he is a filial son.

“We have arrived, Young Miss Gu, this Nanshan Courtyard is precisely the courtyard that Imperial Consort Qin resides, you for the time being will stay inside the hall to rest, in a little while there will a *Momo (same as Mama) in the front to take care of you.” Jun’An said.

*Mama, Momo: elder female servant, high ranking

Gu Qianxue brought Yu Lian and Yu Cui to enter the residence hall, just sat down, and already some servants offered hot tea and desserts.

“Alright, thank you for troubling you again Little Jun.”

Gu Qianxue voice just fell, Jun’An immediately even without turning his head escaped and exited the courtyard.

Yu Cui curiously asked, “Young Miss, why did this servant feel that person is really scared of Young Miss?”

Gu Qianxue shrugged, “I also do not know, perhaps it’s because I slightly took some liberties with him.”*

*interpretation: somewhat like molested but she only slightly flirted/seduced him

Yu Lian and Yu Cui both opened their mouth wide, using the expression of seeing a ghost to look at Gu Qianxue.

“What sort of expression is that?” Qianxue only felt it was hilarious.

Yu Lian spoke, “Young Miss you really changed, from before till now you although.. cough, somewhat without learning or have the skills, however when it comes to the male and female matters you were always very cautious, constantly you expect yourself to be for the identity of the Crown Princess, don’t even talk about talking to other men, even if it is to look once, you are not willing to look.”

“Oh.” Gu Qianxue raised her tea carried with both hands, slowly took a mouthful, “there are plenty more fish in the sea, if the Crown Prince is intended to marry me, and if we do not get married, you can hand over a purse* is also fine, however to completely ignore me for so many years, don’t tell me I need to hang myself off the crooked tree to death*?”

*hand over a purse: pay her money

*hang oneself off the crooked tree: put yourself to something you will not get

In reality, Gu Qianxue has not yet said it, this marriage basically cannot happen. First, not to say about the other Gu Qianrou’s display to the Crown Prince of her willingness to cement old ties by marriage with their brothers and sisters* relation. A single sentence — will the Emperor allow the Crown Prince to have such tremendous power?

*cousin/relatives relation

As a doctor in the previous life, Gu Qianxue did not understand any history and tactics, but as common sense, she in fact knew that emperors liked the art of checks and balances, balancing the forces of all sides to achieve the effect of mutual restraint.

The Crown Prince already has the Prime Minister as his mountain of support, don’t tell me he also wants to pull Marshal Zhao? One military and the other civil, could it be the Emperor is just not afraid of the consequences of his own son’s power?”

Furthermore, the Emperor is still very young, he has not even hit fifty years old.

Exactly who suggested this marriage? Who arranged this? Is the Emperor harboring evil intentions? Could he be trying to sound out something?”

Too many unknown problems surfaced in Gu Qianxue’s mind, she only felt that her head hurt. Coming to this strange time and place of two days , she already faced so many problems, she does not know how many brain cells have already sacrificed themselves.

Sighing, Gu Qianxue decided to throw whatever Crown Princess marriage to the back of her head, she should first deal with Consort Qin’s illness, or else she does not have the life to be any Crown Princess.

Thinking of this, she took a sip of tea one after another.

At this present moment, an old woman brought a few servants along quickly entered the hall.

The old woman’s age is below sixty, white hair, face full of wrinkles, but her pair of eyes are indeed fierce, her whole body appears to show she is capable, experienced and has strength, with even a glance, one can tell she is in charge.

“This person must be Young Miss Gu, this old body’s family name is Shen, others all call this old body, “Shen Momo.” Shen Momo’s face did not have a slightest smile, even more *to open the door and see the mountain,she is not willing to go the slightest to give her a polite greeting.

*idiom: to get right to the point

Gu Qianxue stood up and bowed her body, “Qianxue has now met Shen Momo, the Imperial Concubine’s (niangniang/depending on their title) conditions are urgent, I will have to trouble Shen Momo to bring Qianxue to see the Imperial Concubine.”

Gu Qianxue suspected, this Momo is indeed not an ordinary role, the other person from the start looked down on the Gu Residence’s Eldest Young Lady, just by chance to see that, by exchanging a polite greeting to have enough to meet the need is also not her specialty, it might be better off to be straightforward and receive what’s to come and be patiently endure.

(t/n: meaning that Shen Momo’s status is high enough where she does not need to give basic courtesy greetings to Gu Qianxue and if she’s not giving her face that means it’s better for Qianxue to just take it in full on instead of passive aggressively. )

Shen Momo blankly stared, soon after, there was some appreciation in her eyes, “Alright, *Miss Gu this way please.”

*will interchangeably use Miss/Young Miss Gu for convenience

Gu Qianxue brought Yu Lian and Yu Cui, who followed Shen Momo to her left and right, she brought them to the front of a house, taking the medicine box from Yu Lian’s hands, Qianxue personally brought the medicine box into the room, directly hitting a strong smell of medicine.

Inside the room, she only saw a gorgeous large decorative carved pattern bed, lying in the bed was a female in a light purple cheongsam. The female’s age is thirty five, the appearance of six*, her appearance is beautiful and benevolent, between her brows and eyes, unexpectedly is very similar to Prince Li.

*referring to her beauty, appearance of six people

These two days, Gu Qianxue fantasized not a few times about the conditions of Consort Qin, perhaps auditory hallucinations and illusions, perhaps to laugh foolishly and talk to oneself, perhaps hitting people and destroying objects, but how did she not yet think of, Consort Qin, the Imperial Concubine is only quietly lying on the bed, as if she was sleeping.

Qianxue blanked, turned around and asked Shen Momo, “If I may ask, Momo, on an ordinary day how does the Imperial Concubine work and rest, were there any abnormal behavior?”

Shen Momo’s gaze sank down to the ground looking towards Consort Qin’s bed, “Imperial Concubine only has been quietly lying, her hands and feet are rigid, to not say a word.”

“Hands and feet are rigid? Didn’t outside widely spread that the Imperial Goddess* has been ill because of madness?” Gu Qianxue was shocked.

*will interchangeably use Goddess and Concubine for Consort Qin

Shen Momo sighed a breath, and said, “I will not conceal this from young lady(*guniang), when the Imperial Goddess first onset with the illness, I have always felt that on her side there were tangible and intangible moving abouts, very often will hear someone calling her name, now and then even more one cannot help but to cry and laugh, however this condition continued for an year, an year later she has changed… to today’s appearance.”

Gu Qianxue nodded her head, “I understand, Shen Momo, can I immediately diagnose and treat the Imperial Goddess?”

Shen Momo’s face looked with expectations, “This would be for the best.”

Gu Qianxue also did not pay her greetings, and immediately went to the front, the many servants in front of the bed bowed their bodies and excused themselves, Qianxue then started examining Consort Qin’s situation.

Everyone was surprised, because this Gu family’s Eldest Young Miss’s diagnosis is quite strange, it was not like the other Great Doctors of that sort that feels the pulse, but to also pry open the eyes and also to pry open the mouth, and to also use a kind of bamboo pipe placed on Imperial Goddess’s front chest, now even more used a bamboo hammer to hit Imperial Goddess’s knees.

What exactly does Miss Gu want to do?

The glimmer of hope in Shen Momo’s eyes were completely shattered, she ben thought Young Miss Gu could have ‘real knowledge is not showy*’ and now it seems, it turns out she is a madwoman. Who in this way diagnoses other people?

*idiom as translated (t/n interpretation: it seems Momo think Qianxue is pretending by doing miscellaneous actions as to examine her, and does not acquire real knowledge)

In reality, Gu Qianxue is using modern Western medicine’s method to diagnose, at this time she is doing the knee jump reaction test.

After conducting a complete set of examination, Gu Qianxue can be sure that Consort Qin, the Imperial Goddess is not at all ill with madness, exactly at this time, she is suffering from a sort of illness similar to the modern frozen illness, only her reaction is her entire body and muscle is rigid, with slow blood flow.

She dares to be certain, overtime, when the muscles of Consort Qin’s internal organs become rigid, it is precisely the day she will lose her life.

Shen Momo’s voice was frigidly cold, her tone brought a faint impatience, “Young Miss Gu, Imperial Concubine’s illness, are you able to cure it?”

Her back to the crowd, Gu Qianxue bit her lips, there was a sort of feeling like she was driven to join the Liangshan Mountain*.

*to drive to revolt; to force her to desperate action

When she stood up and turned her body around, she had already changed to a confident expression, “This illness, of course I can cure.”

Footnote:

yiniang/ niang niang can be used interchangeably depending on their position and title

Yiniang = aunt, mother, concubine, goddess, empress

Consort Qin

to the Emperor/imperial family/people: Imperial Concubine

to the people due to her reputable status: Imperial Goddess

to her son, Prince Li: Imperial Mother

depending who Consort Qin is being referred to; to which identity, her title changes.

Eldest Young Miss, Gu Qianxue

Young Miss

Miss Gu