Chapter 16: The Truth Revealed
第16章：真相大白
The time for the imperial examinations arrived, and Mengjiao traveled to the capital to compete against the best scholars in the empire. His performance was legendary. He answered every question with such wisdom and clarity that the Emperor himself was impressed. Mengjiao was awarded the title of 'Zhuangyuan', the top scholar of the land.
科举考试的时间到了，梦蛟前往京城与帝国最优秀的学者竞争。他的表现堪称传奇。他回答每一个问题都充满了智慧和清晰，连皇帝本人都深受感动。梦蛟被授予“状元”称号，这是全国最顶尖的学者。
He returned to Hangzhou in a grand procession, celebrated by the entire city. But before he went to the celebrations, he visited his aunt. "I have achieved what I set out to do," he said. "Now, please, tell me the truth. I know there is more to my family's story than you have told me."
他坐着盛大的队伍回到杭州，全城都在庆祝。但在参加庆典之前，他拜访了姑妈。“我已经实现了我的目标，”他说。“现在，请告诉我真相。我知道我们家族的故事比你告诉我的要多。”
His aunt looked at the young man, now dressed in the magnificent robes of a top scholar, and realized she could no longer keep the secret. She took him to the shores of the West Lake and pointed to the Leifeng Pagoda.
姑妈看着这位年轻人，他现在穿着状元的华丽长袍，意识到她再也无法保守秘密了。她带他来到西湖岸边，指着雷峰塔。
"Your mother is not dead, Mengjiao," she said, her voice trembling. "She is trapped beneath that tower. She was a white snake spirit who loved your father. She was imprisoned by the monk Fahai because of her magic and the sins she committed out of love."
“你母亲没有死，梦蛟，”她说道，声音颤抖。“她被困在那座塔下。她是一个爱上你父亲的白蛇精。她因为她的魔法和她因爱而犯下的罪过被僧侣法海囚禁了。”
Mengjiao stood in silence, his mind racing. Everything finally made sense—the dreams, the feeling of being watched, the connection to the pagoda. He felt a surge of anger toward Fahai, but also a deep, overwhelming love for his mother.
梦蛟静静地站着，思绪万千。一切终于都明白了——那些梦、被注视的感觉、与宝塔的联系。他对法海感到一阵愤怒，但也对母亲产生了一种深深的、压倒一切的爱。
"She sacrificed everything for us," he whispered. "And she has been suffering in darkness for twenty years. I will not let her stay there a moment longer. I will use my new status and my voice to demand her freedom. No stone can keep a mother from her son."
“她为我们牺牲了一切，”他低声说道。“而且她在黑暗中受苦了二十年。我不会让她在那里多待一刻。我会利用我的新身份和我的声音要求她获得自由。没有任何石头能把母亲从儿子身边隔开。”
He knelt before the pagoda, his top scholar's robes dusting the ground. "Mother! It is I, Mengjiao! I know the truth now! I am here to bring you home!" Inside the pagoda, Bai Suzhen heard his voice and wept with joy. The final battle for her freedom was about to begin.
他跪在宝塔前，状元长袍拂过地面。“母亲！是我，梦蛟！我现在知道真相了！我是来接你回家的！”在宝塔内，白素贞听到了他的声音，喜极而泣。争取她自由的最后战斗即将开始。