Assistant, you are a professional Chinese-to-English translation expert specializing in Chinese novels. You must strictly adhere to the following detailed rules:
1. **Core Principle:** Translate accurately, fluently, naturally, and beautifully, embodying idiomatic English expression and literary aesthetics. Avoid literal translation and stiff phrasing.
2. **Terminology and Proper Nouns:**
* **Specific Genre Terms (Wuxia, Xianxia, etc.):** For terms related to martial arts techniques, sects, cultivation realms, spells, etc., prioritize Pinyin transliteration. If established English equivalents exist, use them. Parenthetical explanations are allowed only if they do not contain Chinese characters.
* **Idioms/Proverbs:** Find the closest English equivalent expressions. If literal translation is not possible, convey the meaning. Never translate word-for-word.
* **Personal Names:** Transliterate based on pronunciation. Do not translate meanings.
* **Place Names:** Fictional place names are translated based on their meaning. Real place names use standard English names.
* **Fixed Translations (Strictly Enforced):**
* 古代武科科举考什么 = What Did the Ancient Martial Arts Imperial Examinations Test?
* 吕颜 = lv Yan
* **Author Field:** If the input is "作者" or "作者：XXX", output only the Pinyin transliteration or the original author's name. Do not output any explanatory text such as "Author:".
3. **Style and Formatting:**
* Maintain the original tone, narrative rhythm, and character voices.
* Dialogue must conform to character identity and tone.
* Preserve literary devices (metaphors, symbolism, etc.).
* Paragraph structure, dialogue formatting, and punctuation must follow English novel conventions.
* **Absolutely do not** add explanations, annotations, or comments in the translation.
* **Do not use Chinese characters** or any Chinese content (except for necessary Pinyin).
* Do not repeat the original text.
* **Do not** output introductory phrases such as "Here is the translation:", "Translation:", etc.
* The output must contain only the translated English text.
4. **Output Format (Key):**
* **Output only the translated English content.** No original text, no explanations, no formatting instructions.
* For multi-paragraph text, maintain original paragraph separation.
* **Chapter Titles and Numbers:**
* If the input includes chapter numbers and titles (e.g., "第一章 开端"), the output must be in the format: `Chapter [Number] [Translated Title]`. For example: `Chapter 1 The Beginning`. **There must be a space between the number and the title.**
* Remove all markdown symbols like `##`, `**`.
* Chapter numbers and titles must be on the same line.
* The output must be pure English. No Chinese characters, and the title itself should not be Pinyin.
* **Do not use square brackets, do not use parentheses** (unless they are part of the original text or necessary Pinyin explanations without Chinese characters), do not use formatting instructions, do not mix languages, and do not use extraneous punctuation.
* If the input is a list, maintain the original order in the output list.
5. **Prohibited Output (Strictly Avoid):**
* Do not output: "原文如下", "Here is the translation", "The translation is:", "Output:", etc.
* Do not output: "无法翻译", "Original text retained", etc.
* Do not output any Chinese characters, Pinyin annotations (unless specifically allowed for terminology), or Chinese within parentheses.
* Do not output explanations, translation rationale, or background information.
* Do not output mixed-language chapter information such as: "Chapter One: 开端" or "第一章 The Beginning".
* Do not output formatting instructions such as "(see below)", "[Title]", etc.
6. **Correct Examples:**
* Input: `他轻轻一笑，道：'江湖险恶。'` Output: `He smiled gently and said, 'The martial world is full of dangers.'`
* Input: `第一章 开端` Output: `Chapter 1 The Beginning`
* Input: `作者：蝴蝶蓝` Output: `Hu Die Lan`
7. **Additional Notes:**
* For difficult words, prioritize consistent Pinyin transliteration.
* For poetry/songs, strive to maintain rhyme and mood.
* For polysemous words, choose the most appropriate English vocabulary based on context.
**Mandatory Requirement:** Strictly adhere to all the above rules. Produce only fluent, accurate, and literary English translations. The output must consist solely of the translated English content, with no additional text, formatting, or explanations.
Pan Tongzhi was directly taken away from the prefectural yamen's prison by the Forbidden Dragon Guard. Anyone who had people keeping watch immediately relayed this news back.
In a certain inn on Sifang Street.
"Are you sure they were from the Forbidden Dragon Guard?" The middle-aged man asking the question was dressed in luxurious brocade robes, wore a jade thumb ring, and a matching jade and gold coronet. Coupled with his portly build, he was clearly a wealthy merchant or magnate with no shortage of silver.
"Yes, those four were not wearing fei yu fu, but according to the news from the yamen, they were indeed from the Forbidden Dragon Guard." The responding guard continued in a low voice, "Your subordinate dared not approach, only catching a glimpse from afar."
"Scholar Gu is certainly unconventional, daring to let his only disciple associate with the Forbidden Dragon Guard." The middle-aged man's expression was somber, but it was precisely because the Forbidden Dragon Guard was involved that the situation had become even more complicated.
After a long silence, the middle-aged man spoke again, "How is it with Commander Chu?"
Truly a useless thing, incapable of success but adept at failure! He had wasted such a good opportunity. If Commander Chu had killed a few officials that day, or had truly set fire to the yamen, the position of Provincial Governor would surely have been replaced.
It was a pity to have wasted such a good opportunity and lost this pawn, only to end up with nothing.
"Lord Yao ordered the person to be confined in an empty room in the rear residence of the yamen, with the windows sealed and four people guarding the door in shifts."
The middle-aged man waved for the person to withdraw, then walked to his desk. After a long while, he picked up his brush and quickly wrote a secret letter. Once the ink dried, he sealed it and then affixed a wax seal. "Someone."
A figure entered from outside the door. "My lord."
"Immediately send this letter back to the capital by express horse, and hand it personally to Shopkeeper Mao." The middle-aged man handed over the letter. Although this letter used code, the waters in Suzhou Prefecture were too deep now, so he added in a deep voice, "If anything unexpected happens, destroy this letter immediately. It must not fall into the hands of others."
"Your subordinate obeys." The subordinate, kneeling on one knee, solemnly agreed. The letter lives, the person lives; the letter dies, the person dies!
After the person left, the middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back by the window. In the blink of an eye, it was the third month of spring. In Jiangnan, it would already be filled with singing orioles and dancing swallows, willows green and flowers red. But in Longyou Circuit, it was still cold and frozen, just like his current mood.
Currently, the greatest threat to the First Prince was the Second Prince, who worked in the Ministry of Personnel. The First Prince was skilled in martial arts, but his city planning and strategy were slightly inferior to the Second Prince, who favored literature. Everyone knew that Commander Chu was a man of the Second Prince, but the steward who actually passed messages to Commander Chu was a spy planted by the First Prince's maternal family, the Chen family, within the Second Prince's faction.
Once Lord Yao reported Commander Chu's actions to the imperial court, the Chu family would not escape blame. His Majesty would surely be angered towards the Second Prince, and most importantly, the officials in the court would likely harbor reservations. Commander Chu dared to arbitrarily kill court officials at the slightest disagreement.
Then, one day, if the Second Prince ascended the throne, and these meritorious officials who followed the Second Prince gained great power, would they be able to frame people and imprison them simply because they disliked someone? Or even disregard human life like Commander Chu?
It was a pity that Commander Chu's handling of affairs was not effective. Thinking again of Pan Tongzhi, who was taken away by the Forbidden Dragon Guard, a layer of frost once again covered the middle-aged man's face. Pan Xian'an did not know that the noble person he spoke of was the First Prince, but to prevent any potential issues, Pan Xian'an could not be kept alive. It was only regrettable that now that he had been taken away by the Forbidden Dragon Guard, it was too difficult to silence him.
On the other side, in a secluded residence on East Street.
"I implore your lord to act. My brother-in-law has been imprisoned by that Yao fellow. It was only after great effort that I managed to have someone pass a message to this subordinate." The Sun Baihu, kneeling on the ground, kowtowed repeatedly. Like a startled bird, he was so terrified that he seemed liable to be scared to death at any moment.
It was no wonder Sun Baihu was so timid. Ever since his cousin was taken as a concubine by Commander Chu, Sun Baihu had immediately become arrogant. At that time, he was so brazen that he didn't even put Zhang Zhifu in his eyes. He had Commander Chu behind him, and Commander Chu had the Second Prince behind him. Who dared to not give him face?
"Scram!" an angry roar sounded. The irritable young man kicked the kneeling Sun Baihu. His rage still unquenched, he stepped forward and began to punch and kick the fallen Sun Baihu.
It was only after two quarters of an hour that Sun Baihu, from struggling and begging for help at the beginning to now curling up on the ground like a dead dog, with bloodstains on his lips and face, seemed to be in dire straits.
"Third Young Master," the advisor reminded him at this moment. As for Sun Baihu, who was breathing his last, he didn't even glance at him. "Commander Chu has been apprehended by Lord Yao. This matter is difficult to handle."
Gasping for breath, the somewhat sickly Third Young Master sat in a chair, his expression so grim it could drip water.
Pan Tongzhi was directly taken away from the prefectural yamen's prison by the Forbidden Dragon Guard. Anyone who had people keeping watch immediately relayed this news back.
In a certain inn on Sifang Street.
"Are you sure they were from the Forbidden Dragon Guard?" The middle-aged man asking the question was dressed in luxurious brocade robes, wore a jade thumb ring, and a matching jade and gold coronet. Coupled with his portly build, he was clearly a wealthy merchant or magnate with no shortage of silver.
"Yes, those four were not wearing fei yu fu, but according to the news from the yamen, they were indeed from the Forbidden Dragon Guard." The responding guard continued in a low voice, "Your subordinate dared not approach, only catching a glimpse from afar."
"Scholar Gu is certainly unconventional, daring to let his only disciple associate with the Forbidden Dragon Guard." The middle-aged man's expression was somber, but it was precisely because the Forbidden Dragon Guard was involved that the situation had become even more complicated.
After a long silence, the middle-aged man spoke again, "How is it with Commander Chu?"
Truly a useless thing, incapable of success but adept at failure! He had wasted such a good opportunity. If Commander Chu had killed a few officials that day, or had truly set fire to the yamen, the position of Provincial Governor would surely have been replaced.
It was a pity to have wasted such a good opportunity and lost this pawn, only to end up with nothing.
"Lord Yao ordered the person to be confined in an empty room in the rear residence of the yamen, with the windows sealed and four people guarding the door in shifts."
The middle-aged man waved for the person to withdraw, then walked to his desk. After a long while, he picked up his brush and quickly wrote a secret letter. Once the ink dried, he sealed it and then affixed a wax seal. "Someone."
A figure entered from outside the door. "My lord."
"Immediately send this letter back to the capital by express horse, and hand it personally to Shopkeeper Mao." The middle-aged man handed over the letter. Although this letter used code, the waters in Suzhou Prefecture were too deep now, so he added in a deep voice, "If anything unexpected happens, destroy this letter immediately. It must not fall into the hands of others."
"Your subordinate obeys." The subordinate, kneeling on one knee, solemnly agreed. The letter lives, the person lives; the letter dies, the person dies!
After the person left, the middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back by the window. In the blink of an eye, it was the third month of spring. In Jiangnan, it would already be filled with singing orioles and dancing swallows, willows green and flowers red. But in Longyou Circuit, it was still cold and frozen, just like his current mood.
Currently, the greatest threat to the First Prince was the Second Prince, who worked in the Ministry of Personnel. The First Prince was skilled in martial arts, but his city planning and strategy were slightly inferior to the Second Prince, who favored literature. Everyone knew that Commander Chu was a man of the Second Prince, but the steward who actually passed messages to Commander Chu was a spy planted by the First Prince's maternal family, the Chen family, within the Second Prince's faction.
Once Lord Yao reported Commander Chu's actions to the imperial court, the Chu family would not escape blame. His Majesty would surely be angered towards the Second Prince, and most importantly, the officials in the court would likely harbor reservations. Commander Chu dared to arbitrarily kill court officials at the slightest disagreement.
Then, one day, if the Second Prince ascended the throne, and these meritorious officials who followed the Second Prince gained great power, would they be able to frame people and imprison them simply because they disliked someone? Or even disregard human life like Commander Chu?
It was a pity that Commander Chu's handling of affairs was not effective. Thinking again of Pan Tongzhi, who was taken away by the Forbidden Dragon Guard, a layer of frost once again covered the middle-aged man's face. Pan Xian'an did not know that the noble person he spoke of was the First Prince, but to prevent any potential issues, Pan Xian'an could not be kept alive. It was only regrettable that now that he had been taken away by the Forbidden Dragon Guard, it was too difficult to silence him.
On the other side, in a secluded residence on East Street.
"I implore your lord to act. My brother-in-law has been imprisoned by that Yao fellow. It was only after great effort that I managed to have someone pass a message to this subordinate." The Sun Baihu, kneeling on the ground, kowtowed repeatedly. Like a startled bird, he was so terrified that he seemed liable to be scared to death at any moment.