Yes, I understand. I am a professional Chinese-to-English translator specializing in Chinese novels. I will strictly adhere to all the rules provided to ensure accurate, fluent, natural, and elegant translations that capture the idiomatic English expression and literary beauty of the original text. I will avoid literal translations and awkward phrasing.
Here is the translation based on your rules:
"Yes, this subordinate understands. I will ensure Yan'er is used for Xiliang's benefit." To save her life, Madam Sun had no choice but to comply with Baili Xi's every wish.
"Come, take her down to change into clean clothes and then escort her out."
As Baili Xi finished speaking, a maidservant emerged from a side door and led Madam Sun away through it.
"Here are clean clothes and wound medicine. Apply the medicine yourself and change, then you may leave."
"Thank you, miss." Madam Sun's demeanor was exceedingly humble, even servile. The arrogance she once displayed as the Prime Minister's wife was nowhere to be seen.
Madam Sun, enduring the pain, changed out of her tattered clothes. The stark red whip marks stood out even more vividly against her bloody skin. After quickly applying some medicine and changing, Madam Sun dared not linger for a moment, fleeing as if pursued.
...
"Reporting to Young General, Madam Sun returned to the Feng manor only to be knocked unconscious and taken away. This subordinate followed with men to the vicinity of the post station but then lost their tracks."
Lu Shi, acting on Ling Mo Han's orders, had been keeping watch outside the Feng manor. He had personally witnessed Madam Sun entering the manor and then being knocked unconscious and taken away.
"Continue to monitor Madam Sun, and also Baili Xi."
It was now largely confirmed that Madam Sun was Baili Xi's operative. As for their true intentions, they would need to continue surveillance to make a decision.
"This subordinate obeys!"
As Lu Shi was about to depart, Ling Mo Han's voice called out from behind him, "Increase surveillance on the Third Prince's manor as well. Report their every move."
"This subordinate obeys!"
After Lu Shi bowed and acknowledged the order, he directly withdrew and left.
"It seems Madam Sun is truly one of Baili Xi's people."
Feng Jin, who had been hiding behind a screen, stepped out. She had overheard everything Lu Shi had just reported.
She hadn't expected Xiliang to have planted a spy in Dong Chu as long as twenty years ago, and for that spy to have become the Prime Minister's wife. Truly... truly capable.
"It is basically confirmed that Madam Sun wants the border troop deployment map, likely at Baili Xi's command."
Baili Xi harbored ambitions of revenge for his grandfather and aimed to reclaim the Shanhai Pass. Without eliminating Baili Xi, the Dong Chu border would never know peace.
"Madam Sun is from Xiliang... then could she... could she be..."
Feng Jin rested her chin in her hand, her brow furrowed. The words on the tip of her tongue, however, remained unspoken.
"You hesitate to speak, have you thought of something?"
"This... this is really difficult to say..."
"There are still things you are embarrassed to say? It is only the two of us here, so speak freely."
Feng Jin paused, then took a step forward and whispered into Ling Mo Han's ear, "I was just thinking, since Madam Sun is from Xiliang, is Feng Ruoyan truly Feng Yuan Ping's biological daughter..."
If not, wouldn't Feng Yuan Ping's head be adorned with an extremely dazzling, verdant halo.
Ling Mo Han's brow furrowed deeply upon hearing this. How could she have thought of such a thing? Looking at Feng Jin's expression, she seemed rather eager for Feng Yuan Ping to be cuckolded.
"If she truly isn't Feng Yuan Ping's daughter, then he'd have been raising someone else's child for all these years for nothing. That's quite a long-term green hat to wear."
Thinking of this, Feng Jin's smile became uncontrollable, and she burst into laughter.
"No matter what, he is still your father. It doesn't seem quite right for you to be discussing him like this."
He had truly never seen a daughter speak of her father's affairs. Feng Jin was certainly the first. If Feng Yuan Ping were to know Feng Jin's thoughts, he would likely be infuriated to death.
"I am merely stating facts. If she isn't his biological daughter, it's best to know early. Why continue to be a green-headed turtle raising another's child?"
Feng Jin put on an air of self-evidence. While her words were unpleasant, they were indeed logical, and for a moment, even Ling Mo Han couldn't find a rebuttal.
Ling Mo Han shook his head and sighed helplessly. Anyone who had such a daughter would truly be angered to death.
He had originally considered having another daughter, but seeing Feng Jin like this, he dared not bring it up, fearing that if their daughter had the same temperament as Feng Jin, he would truly be driven to death.
At this moment, he even worried if Da Bao would grow up to have the same temperament as Feng Jin.
"What is that expression? Have I said something wrong?"
"No, of course you haven't said anything wrong." Fearing Feng Jin might get angry, Ling Mo Han quickly changed the subject. "It's getting late. Let's return to our room to rest, and you can continue to research this matter tomorrow."
Ling Mo Han eagerly pulled Feng Jin back to their room. The moment the door was closed, his hands became restless, beginning to explore Feng Jin's body.
"What are you doing... Let go... mmm... mmm..."
Before she could even finish her protest, her lips were sealed, and the words in Feng Jin's mouth turned into muffled sounds.
Seeing that the woman in his arms had quieted considerably, Ling Mo Han directly swept her up and tossed her onto the bed. His robust body pressed down upon her.
Without giving Feng Jin any chance to react, the man's hands began to remove her outer garments.
...
After fleeing back to the Feng manor, Madam Sun felt as if she were being watched, her heart filled with unease. She hurried to the Third Prince's manor to find Feng Ruoyan.
"Mother, why are you here at this particular time? What has happened again this time..."
Upon seeing Madam Sun, Feng Ruoyan's words abruptly stopped. Her mouth fell open in shock. "Mother... your face... what happened to your face..."
There were bruises around her mouth, and her eyelids were slightly darkened. Feng Ruoyan quickly helped Madam Sun to sit down.
"I... I'm fine, Yan'er..."
Madam Sun glanced at the people standing around, her eyes filled with hesitation. She swallowed the words that had reached her lips.
"You may all withdraw!"
Sensing Madam Sun's embarrassment, Feng Ruoyan dismissed everyone.
"Mother, it's just the two of us, mother and daughter. Speak whatever you wish to say."
Madam Sun grasped Feng Ruoyan's hand, her eyes brimming with tears, and revealed the secret that had weighed on her heart for years: "Yan'er, Feng Yuan Ping is not your biological father."
"Mother, what nonsense are you speaking? How could I not be Father's child!"
Feng Ruoyan flung Madam Sun's hand away, convinced that her mother had lost her mind and was speaking gibberish.
"I know you won't believe me, but what Mother says is the truth. Your biological father is not Feng Yuan Ping. I was already pregnant when I married into the Feng manor!"
"No... this isn't true... it isn't..."
Feng Ruoyan slumped onto the chair, her voice choked. The father she had called for years was not her biological father after all.