TDLC Chapter 53

Translated by yuuki
Edited by Spade

Terms used in TDLC Chapter 53

xiucai(秀才) – a person who has passed the county level imperial examinations
lao’ye (老爷) – master of a household.
dajia (大家) – in this context, it refers to an expert of a certain art.
xiaosheng (小生) – a traditional category of young male actors in Chinese opera, who tend to sing in high falsetto and tenor.
lang (郎) – a suffix of endearment, usually from a woman to her paramour.
xiaojie (小姐) – young lady, with implications of being noble or one’s master.
shi (氏) – a suffix placed after a woman’s patronymic, kind of like -san.
Furen (夫人) – the official/legitimate wife.
Hou’ye (侯爷) – Marquis.
benhou (本侯) – a self-address used by a Marquis.
min’nü (民女) – commoner girl.
guniang (姑娘) – young lady.
gonggong (公公) – an old and/or high-ranking eunuch.
Shizi (世子) – heir apparent of an aristocratic family.
xiaoren (小人) – a self-address used by a person of low social status, to humbly refer to themselves.

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“Died from an illness half a year ago?” Huò Wēi Lóu’s brows scrunched together, “What illness?”

Voice trembling, Steward Qian replied: “It was tuberculosis, it couldn’t be fully treated. For a smaller part of the year, doctors were invited and prescriptions were opened to treat him, but nothing could be done and he still died half a year later. Truthfully speaking, among the few scholars, Lao’ye had high hopes for him, and wished that he could write a few more opera scripts, but who could have thought that he wouldn’t have that fortune…”

“And Lǐ Yù Chǎng proceeded to possess Returning Soul Record opera script after he died, declaring that it was written by him?”

TDLC Chapter 52

Translated by yuuki
Edited by Spade

Terms used in TDLC Chapter 52

Hou’ye (侯爷) – Marquis.
benhou (本侯) – a self-address used by a Marquis.
min’nü (民女) – commoner girl.
gonggong (公公) – an old and/or high-ranking eunuch.
xiaojie (小姐) – young lady, with implications of being noble or one’s master.
zaixia (在下) – myself (humble).
xiaoren (小人) – a self-address used by a person of low social status, to humbly refer to themselves.
shi (氏) – a suffix placed after a woman’s patronymic, kind of like -san.
lao’ye (老爷) – master of a household.
dajia (大家) – in this context, it refers to an expert of a certain art.
xiaosheng (小生) – a traditional category of young male actors in Chinese opera, who tend to sing in high falsetto and tenor.
lang (郎) – a suffix of endearment, usually from a woman to her paramour.

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A chill went down Bó Ruò Yōu’s back and shoulders almost simultaneously.

She could not resist speaking up, “Who is outside?”

Her voice echoed in the narrow hallway, but her only reply was the soft creaking noises of the small door. Bó Ruò Yōu’s brows knitted as she gripped onto the teapot in her hand tightly, before she lifted her foot and walked towards the balcony.

TDLC Chapter 51

Terms used in TDLC Chapter 51

Hou’ye (侯爷) – Marquis.
benhou (本侯) – a self-address used by a Marquis.
min’nü (民女) – commoner girl.
guniang (姑娘) – young lady.
gonggong (公公) – an old and/or high-ranking eunuch.
zaixia (在下) – myself (humble).
xiaoren (小人) – a self-address used by a person of low social status, to humbly refer to themselves.
lao’ye (老爷) – master of an household.
dajia (大家) – in this context, it refers to an expert of a certain art.

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This question made Lú Qīng falter momentarily before he gave a respectful reply: “Zaixia has performed some operas with the few actresses in the troupe, hence his relationship can be regarded as intimate and friendly.”

Despite his own eyes darkening slightly, Huò Wēi Lóu continued to question him in a calm and collected manner: “When [you] saw Liǔ Huì Niáng escorting Lǐ Yù Chǎng back, what was the situation like?”

TDLC Chapter 50

Terms used in TDLC Chapter 50

Hou’ye (侯爷) – Marquis.
benhou (本侯) – a self-address used by a Marquis.
min’nü (民女) – commoner girl.
guniang (姑娘) – young lady.
gonggong (公公) – an old and/or high-ranking eunuch.
gongzi (公子) – a noble’s son.
Shizi (世子) – heir apparent of an aristocratic family.
zaixia (在下) – myself (humble).
xiaoren (小人) – a self-address used by a person of low social status, to humbly refer to themselves.
lao’ye (老爷) – master of an household.
jiejie (姐姐) – older sister.
xiaosheng (小生) – a traditional category of young male actors in Chinese opera, who tend to sing in high falsetto and tenor.

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Bó Ruò Yōu was awoken by the sound of knocking on her door. She opened her eyes to look outside the window, only to see that the sky had not fully brightened. For a moment, she was slightly dazed; there was nothing pressing in the days where they were travelling by boat, why was someone calling for her when the sky wasn’t even bright yet?

“Peng peng peng,” the knocks sounded at her door again.

TDLC Chapter 49

Terms used in TDLC Chapter 49

Hou’ye (侯爷) – Marquis.
guniang (姑娘) – young lady.
gonggong (公公) – an old and/or high-ranking eunuch.
jiejie (姐姐) – older sister.
xiaosheng (小生) – a traditional category of young male actors in Chinese opera, who tend to sing in high falsetto and tenor.
lao’ye (老爷) – master of an household.
dajia (大家) – in this context, it refers to an expert of a certain art.
shi (氏) – a suffix placed after a woman’s patronymic, kind of like -san.
Shizi (世子) – heir apparent of an aristocratic family.
gongzi (公子) – a noble’s son.
xiaojie (小姐) – young lady, with implications of being noble or one’s master.
zaixia (在下) – myself (humble).

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“Save them.”

Huò Wēi Lóu commanded with zero hesitation. Lù Kē immediately led the embroidered emissaries and rushed towards the side of the ship.

Upon reaching the ship’s side deck, two young maidservants could be seen gazing into the Lancang river with intrepid expressions. Both of them were the closest to Sòng Mèi Niáng, and witnessed her jump into the river, so their eyes had turned red due to the fright.

TDLC Chapter 48

Terms used in Chapter 48

Hou’ye (侯爷) – Marquis.
benhou (本侯) – a self-address used by a Marquis.
min’nü (民女) – commoner girl.
gonggong (公公) – an old and/or high-ranking eunuch.
gongzi (公子) – a noble’s son.
zajia (咱家) – I; me [often used in vernacular fiction]
Shizi (世子) – heir apparent of an aristocratic family.
lao’ye (老爷) – master of an household.
dajia (大家) – in this context, it refers to an expert of a certain art.
jiejie (姐姐) – older sister.
meimei (妹妹) – younger sister.
xiao’ye (小爷) — refers to, or is the self-address of a young master of an aristocratic household.
zaixia (在下) – myself (humble).

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While Bó Ruò Yōu was curious about why she couldn’t listen, she issued a light hiss. Huò Wēi Lóu released her with narrowed brows, before rolling her sleeve upwards to immediately expose the scalded area.

His irises darkened, “You burned yourself as well?”

Bó Ruò Yōu retracted her hand. “It is of no consequence,” she said before leaning forward, “Is there someone inside the room?”

TDLC Chapter 47

Terms used in TDLC Chapter 47

Hou’ye (侯爷) – Marquis.
benhou (本侯) – a self-address used by a Marquis.
min’nü (民女) – commoner girl.
gonggong (公公) – an old and/or high-ranking eunuch.
Shizi (世子) – heir apparent of an aristocratic family.
gongzi (公子) – a noble’s son.
xiaguan (下官) – a self-address that an official uses before his superior.
laonu (老奴) – old slave.
zajia (咱家) – I; me [often used in vernacular fiction]
Yifu (义父) – foster father.
shao dongjia (少东家) – the son of a landlord/employer/boss/business owner.
lao’ye (老爷) – master of an household.
dajia (大家) – in this context, it refers to an expert of a certain art.
jiejie (姐姐) – older sister.

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As that exquisite and supple tactile sensation placed pressure on the hegu acupoint (between the first and second metacarpal bones), the young lady might feel like she was exerting enough force, but to him, it did not count for much, except those measured, gentle caresses pressing down on him were gradually inciting the fire at the bottom of his heart.

Was Huò Wēi Lóu truly incapable of appraising beauty?

Of course not.

TDLC Chapter 46

Terms used in TDLC Chapter 46

Hou’ye (侯爷) – Marquis.
benhou (本侯) – a self-address used by a Marquis.
min’nü (民女) – commoner girl.
guniang (姑娘) – young lady.
gonggong (公公) – an old and/or high-ranking eunuch.
Shizi (世子) – heir apparent of an aristrocratic family.
Dianxia (殿下) – Your Highness.
Daren (大人) – title of respect towards one’s official superiors.
gongzi (公子) – a noble’s son.
xiaojie (小姐) – young lady, with implications of being noble or one’s master.
laonu (老奴) – old slave.
Yifu (义父) – foster father.
Yimu (义母) – foster mother.
Lao Tai Jun (老太君) – referring to the old matriarch of the family, or the grandmother.

 

General Notes for Three Strains of Charm, which has a background in opera:

Boudoir-role Actress (闺门旦; gui men dan) – refers to actresses who play the role of the virtuous lady, who are usually young and unmarried women of a high social status.

Xiaosheng (小生) – A general category of male roles in traditional opera, which represents young students, scholars, or soldiers. Xiaosheng actors never wear a beard, and they sing in a mixture of high falsetto and tenor.

Dajia (大家) – in this arc’s context, it refers to a highly skilled / critically acclaimed actors and actresses. The most similar and frequently used term in media would be ‘-sensei’.

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To be able to make Fu gonggong say such words, it meant that he was either related to the inner palace, or he had served as an official in court before; at worst, he had to have some connections to the prominent old families and influential officials within the Capital. Huò Wēi Lóu muttered irresolutely to himself for a moment, “As a daughter of the Bó clan, the people who can become her foster parents will naturally come from the Capital nobility. Check them one by one. Additionally, have the people in the Capital keep an eye on the situation, the case has been handed over to Lín Huái, but Lín Huái has become slightly affected by the pedantic and unimaginative atmosphere in the officialdom as he handles more official errands. If he starts stagnating, have Níng Xiāo intervene in a thing or two.”

TDLC Chapter 45

Terms used in TDLC Chapter 45

Hou’ye (侯爷) – Marquis.
benhou (本侯) – a self-address used by a Marquis.
min’nü (民女) – commoner girl.
guniang (姑娘) – young lady.
gonggong (公公) – an old and/or high-ranking eunuch.
laonu (老奴) – old slave.
Shizi (世子) – heir apparent of an aristrocratic family.
gongzi (公子) – a noble’s son.
Yifu (义父) – foster father.
Yimu (义母) – foster mother.
Furen (夫人) – the official/legitimate wife.
zaixia (在下) – myself (humble).

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Irrespective of how many storms and waves Huò Wēi Lóu had witnessed, there were still instances where he was rendered speechless, but he was quick to frown as he said: “She has been in Qingzhou for ten years, and she is returning to the Capital with her foster father now, why isn’t the Bó clan coming over to fetch her?”

Fu gonggong shook his head, “Laonu does not know either. Our people said that this account was taken from one of the neighbours, who said that roughly eight or nine years ago, someone from the Capital did look for them. Allegedly, they got into a terrible dispute, and one of the neighbours stepped forward to make inquiries. The visitor displayed their identity, rather self-importantly, in fact, which allowed the others to learn that Yōu Yōu’s family was related to an old and prominent family within the Capital.”

TDLC Chapter 44

Terms used in TDLC Chapter 44

Hou’ye (侯爷) – Marquis.
benhou (本侯) – a self-address used by a Marquis.
min’nü (民女) – commoner girl.
guniang (姑娘) – young lady.
gonggong (公公) – an old and/or high-ranking eunuch.
laonu (老奴) – old slave.
Daren (大人) – title of respect towards superiors.
xiaguan (下官) – a self-address that an official uses before his superior.
zui’chen (罪臣) – this guilty official.
Shizi (世子) – heir apparent of an aristrocratic family.
Ben Shizi (本世子) – a self-address used by the heir apparent of an aristrocratic family.
gongzi (公子) – a noble’s son.
xiao yatou (小丫头) – usually a deprecating way to say ‘ little girl’, but it can be used endearingly.

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How did an unconscious person manage to shriek miserably all of a sudden?

Shocked by that scream, Bó Ruò Yōu’s heart throbbed with terror. Beside her, Fu gonggong said: “If he wasn’t going to die, Hou’ye would have given him the chance to speak properly, but now that he’s about to die, Hou’ye will naturally think of a way to extract a bit of information out of him.”