Tag: cyrrene

Translated by Uhei and edited by Cyrrene.

“What are you doing here?” Luo Wei asked in Long Xuan’s direction, unconsciously trying to protect Wei Lan by placing him behind himself, but when he reached out his hand, Wei Lan had already moved in front of him.

“Your flute playing’s not bad.” Long Xuan said.

Using the scant moonlight, Luo Wei saw what seemed to be a smile, “I daren’t accept your praise,” But Luo Wei wasn’t in the mood to joke with Long Xuan: “I was just casually blowing a tune for Wei Lan to hear. Now it’s already late in the night, why is HisYour Highness still in the streets?”

“Aren’t you in the streets too?” Long Xuan said: “And you even have the mood to play the shepherd’s flute.”

“It’s late,” Luo Wei, “Your Highness should return early to rest, I am also going back now.”

“This Yunguan Pass isn’t as safe as your brother said that lost items are not picked up and where people can leave their doors unlocked at night,” Long Xuan saw Luo Wei was leaving, and said: “One of my guards has gone missing, do you know about this?”

“This city has a lot of soldiers on night patrol,” Luo Wei said: “All along the way here I didn’t see any suspicious people. Whether this guard of Your Highness’s has been harmed by others or has run away by himself, Your Highness should check thoroughly. The crime of improper governance, Your Highness had best not casually press onto my eldest brother’s name.”

Long Xuan moved to the side to give them leeway.

“This lowly subject bids their leave,” Luo Wei joined his hands in a greeting and then immediately hopped onto horseback and crossed from Long Xuan’s side, intentionally separating Wei Lan from Long Xuan, not giving the two of them a chance to speak.

Long Xuan watched Luo Wei and Wei Lan walk into the distance, and then looked at the ground. The shepherd’s flute that Luo Wei had just been holding was already thrown to the roadside by him. Long Xuan dismounted his horse, and bent at the hip to pick up that shepherd flute made of blue-green bamboo.

“Your Highness,” The personal guard ran up to Long Xuan’s rear, and yelled a greeting to Long Xuan as he dismounted to kneel on the ground. “Has the person been found?” Long Xuan asked.

“Replying to Your Highness, we subordinates have turned over that entire courtyard, but we haven’t found the person.”

“So it’s like that ah.”

The guard said: “We subordinates discovered a prison cell built underground, with blood stains that haven’t been dry for long, but we didn’t find the prisoner.”

“How did that family’s head explain it?”

“They said it was a servant within the residence that did something wrong, and they’d just finished discipling him.”

“Did you see the servant that had been tortured?”

“Saw him, there is such a servant. When this subordinate went in to see him, there was a physician attending to his wounds.”

“I’ve got it,” Long Xuan said: “Go back, you no longer need to keep watching this family anymore.”

“Yes,” The guard stood up, and asked Long Xuan: “Should this subordinate first escort Your Highness back?”

“Is your martial skill above mine?”

“This subordinate bids leave,” The guard hastily left. Staying there any longer, he feared that he would be another person being given capital punishment tonight.

Long Xuan fiddled with the shepherd flute in his hand, “…played the flute really pleasing to the ear,” Long Xuan mumbled to himself facing the flute: “Just that if it wasn’t played for that shadow guard to hear, then it would be even better.” Tonight he was already thinking of turning in, but after Fu Yun stirred up that racket, he lost all trace of sleepiness, and came out for a casual stroll. Unexpectedly, he‘d heard the sound of the flute drifting from the distance, and when Long Xuan followed the sound of the flute seeking its source he then saw Luo Wei playing the flute for Wei Lan to hear. At this time of the night the cold moonlight only has its reflection in water for company, but these two were all smiles, carefree and worry-less. This was too piercing a sight for his eyes, even that jaunty, uplifting sound of the flute took on a different note in Long Xuan’s ears.

Long Xuan mounted the horse to return to his temporary residence, a shepherd flute lay ditched on the road behind him, broken in two.

On the second day at daybreak, Luo Qi immediately asked Luo Wei as soon as he rose.

“Lan came to leave word already,” Ye Xiu said as she assisted Luo Qi in putting on his robes: “Little Uncle, he wants to sleep a little longer today.”

“Then he’s not even eating breakfast?” Luo Qi said.

Ye Xiu said: “Lan will serve him to eat, there’s no need for you as an older brother to worry about something like this.”

Luo Qi thought of something then, and said to Ye Xiu: “Xiao Wei truly treats Lan with more sincere kinship than others.”

“Lan is the person who serves him closely, wouldn’t he treat him as sincerely as kin compared to most others?” Ye Xiu clasped buttons for Luo Qi, “I’ve long said Lan is a steady person, only with him at Little Uncle’s side, that puts people at ease.”

“I can’t make heads or tails with you,” Luo Qi said.

The wet nurse carried the pair’s little son and walked in.

“Baobao¹ has woken up ah,” Ye Xiu no longer bothered with Luo Qi, and walked over to pick up her son from the wet nurse’s arms and hold him.

“Why’s he crying?” Luo Qi heard his son crying something fierce, and asked the wet nurse, putting the doubts he had about Wei Lan’s relationship with Wei Lan aside for the time being.

Luo Wei slept all the way until the sky was dark, rose to comb and wash, then came to see Luo Qi. Entering the room he first prodded his little nephew sleeping on the bed, and asked Luo Qi: “Big brother, what is this little nephew of mine called ah?”

“Dad picked it for him already,” Luo Qi said. “Didn’t I tell you about this?”

Luo Wei really couldn’t remember Luo Qi saying this to him, “I don’t know ah, what kind of name did Dad pick for him?”

“I I didn’t say?” Luo Qi asked Ye Xiu.

“Something between you brothers, how would I know?” Ye Xiu gave these two brothers an eyeroll each.

“Then take it that I didn’t commit it to memory,” Luo Wei said: “What sort of name did Dad pick for Baobao ah?”

“Dad said he arrived on this world when we were at Black Frost City,” Luo Qi said: “So Dad picked the word ‘Shuang²’ for him.”

“Luo Shuang?” Luo Wei tried reading this name aloud once.

“What do you think of this name?” Luo Qi asked Luo Wei.

But anything to do with snow, Luo Wei didn’t like, so he returned a question to Luo Qi: “Does Big brother like this name?”

“It’s not bad ah,” Luo Qi said: “As long as Dad’s happy with it, a name is just a mark someone calls, I’m not too picky about it.”

“Luo Shuang is just a little girly,” Ye Xiu spoke up at this time: “It seems like this name can also be used for a little girl.”

“Is that so?” Luo Qi asked Luo Wei.

 Luo Wei said: “Black Frost City （乌霜城）, rather than calling him Luo Wu (罗乌), why not call him Luo Shuang (罗霜),” He pinched the fat little child’s cheek, and asked him: “Shuang’er, wouldn’t you say so?”

“Then let him be called Luo Shuang,” Luo Qi said: “Dad has already picked this name out, there’s no use in us talking more about it,; Luo Shuang then Luo Shuang it’ll be.”

“Big brother, I’ll be leaving early tomorrow morning,” Luo Wei pulled a face at little Luo Shuang, and only when he saw Luo Shuang laugh, did he look up and talk to Luo Qi.

“Returning to the capital?” Luo Qi asked, even Ye Xiu paused in the needlework she was currently busying her hands with, looking towards Luo Wei.

“En, I can’t get used to living here at Big brother’s, it’s too cold,” Luo Wei found an excuse.

The Luo Qi husband and wife pair looked at Luo Wei, they’d already put on their spring clothing, while Luo Wei was still dressed from head to toe in winter wear. “Just because of that?” Luo Qi said: “It’s not because there’s still something in the capital you need to attend to, is there?”

“There’s a lot of matters going on in the capital ah, his Third Highness is going to take an official wife, and it’s better to settle Zizhou’s marriage with Fu Wei earlier.”

“Big Uncle can really recognise Zizhou as a son-in-law?” Luo Qi asked. Ning Fei hadn’t talked about this, but the personal troop that followed Ning Fei already told all of this to Luo Qi.

Luo Wei smiled and didn’t answer, what ability did that old master of the Fu family have to stop something he wanted done? And it was even Fu Wei who liked Ning Fei, Luo Wei didn’t think this was something difficult at all.

“Then that’s fine,” Luo Qi wanted to keep Luo Wei with him, but also knew that the weather at Yunguan was cold, Luo Wei wouldn’t be able to take it here. So he didn’t dare to make Luo Wei stay here longer, and said: “Today brother will send you off with a wine banquet, let’s have a good meal together.”

“Alright,” Luo Wei smiled saying: “Big brother should also quickly settle things here, and bring back Sister-in-law and Shuang’er to the capital so you can all see Dad and Mom.”

When Long Xuan received news that Luo Wei was going to return to the capital first thing in the morning tomorrow, he simply told Fu Yun to go pack up the luggage.

“What do you even call this?” Fu Yun complained: “Him that third young master just says he’ll leave, and Your Highness has to follow him to leave, doesn’t he know to discuss with Your Highness first?”

Long Xuan waved his hand to make Fu Yun leave. Luo Wei was in a hurry to return to the capital, and he also was in a hurry to return to the capital; they both had many things to do still. The return of Black Frost City to their territory, to the country, was a very big matter, but to he and Luo Wei, it was just like a page they’d finished reading, and after flipping it, there was no need to look at it again.

At this time, Luo Wei sat together with his eldest brother Luo Qi, eating the home-cooked dishes Ye Xiu made personally. Long Xuan leaned against the window with his eyes closed listening to the music played by a few entertainers in the courtyard, thinking back to the sound of Luo Wei’s flute playing under the moon last night. Both of these two people still didn’t know, what was about to happen when they returned to the capital.

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T/N: Sorry for the delayed update. Happy Chinese New Year!

1.宝宝 – cutesy nickname meaning ‘treasure’.

2. 霜 – ‘Frost’

Translated by Uhei and edited by Cyrrene.

The Eastern City of Yunguan is the area where ​​wealthy merchants gathered, most of which are mansions with single-family houses, not on par with the grandeur of the officials’ residences, but at least it looked plenty wealthy to the eye.

    Luo Wei walked into one of the mansions.

    “Master,” the owner of the mansion greeted him; it was Uncle Hong from Ye Xiu’s former stockade. Now Jifeng Fort has become an escort bureau, and just within these few years, it has already made a lot of money. In the eyes of outsiders, Uncle Hong was already a wealthy man with a successful career. However, Uncle Hong glanced at Luo Wei who was standing in front of him, the real owner of the Jifeng Escort Bureau was Luo Wei.

    “Where’s the person?” Luo Wei looked at the house and the walkways around the fake mountain¹—it was all quite elegant.

    “In the cell,” Uncle Hong said, “Young Master, please come with me.” 

Luo Wei followed behind Uncle Hong, and only then did he ask, “Uncle Hong, how have you been?” 

“Thanks to the Young Master for his concern,” Turning to Luo Wei, he smiled and said, “This little old man ‘s body has always been tough.” 

“Did that person confess anything?” Luo Wei asked again. When dealing with such a sophisticated person as Uncle Hong, Luo Wei felt saying a single polite word was enough.

    “This person is from Mingjian Villa,” said Uncle Hong, “and on his person is the waist-token of Mingjian Villa.”

    “Was anything else confessed?”

    “Only said that his Second Highness asked him to tell his family’s Villa Master that everything was fine, and tell his family’s Villa Master not to worry.”

    Luo Wei stopped in his tracks, “His Second Highness asked him to pass on words like that?”

    Hong Shu said: “I do not believe it either, but this person doesn’t look like he’s lying.”

The prison cell is built underground, and one would have to walk down hundreds of stone steps to reach it.

    “This is it?” Luo Wei stood at the door to the cell. The stone door was closed, but the stench of blood and burnt meat still came from the crack of the door.

    “This man’s tight-lipped,” Uncle Hong thought that Luo Wei was simply afraid of the goriness, and explained to Luo Wei, “You can’t pry his mouth open without torture.”

    “Open the door,” Luo Wei said.

    The messenger from Mingjian Villa, who had just taken orders from Long Xuan not long ago, was now tied to a high rack. After being tortured, one could not find a piece of good skin on this person’s body and he was holding onto his last breath.

    “Aren’t people in the Jianghu capable of enduring punishment?” Luo Wei looked at the messenger and asked Uncle Hong, “Why is this person beaten to this state?”

    “If we destroy his kungfu first, then this person wouldn’t be able to stand it,” said Uncle Hong in an old-fashioned manner.

    Wei Lan at the back erupted in goosebumps. What kind of prison was this, it is clearly a torture chamber with all kinds of torture tools.

    “Wake him up,” Luo Wei stepped back and stood down.

    A basin of ice water was poured over the messager, and he was startled awake by the basin of ice water.

    “What word does his Second Highness want you to take to Villa Master Luo?” Luo Wei asked when he saw that the man was awake.

    The messenger couldn’t lift his head, so he had to effortfully roll his eyes upward.

    “You don’t know me, it’s useless to look,” Luo Wei said, “Answer my question.”

    “You are the third young master Luo,” Yet the messenger recognized Luo Wei after taking a single look at him.

    “Have you seen me?” Luo Wei asked.

    “Capable of catching,” the messenger said with difficulty, and would take a break when he said a few words, “me in Yunguan, except, except for the third son, there is no one else.”

    “You are not stupid,” Luo Wei said: “What did his Second Highness say to you?”

    “Just say, everything is fine.”

    “Just this sentence?”

    “Everything, wait for him to return to the capital and then it can be re-discussed.”

    Luo Wei paced back and forth in front of the messenger. After taking a few steps, he stopped and asked, “When you left, did His Highness not remind you to be more careful?”

    “He said so,” said the messenger.

    Luo Wei turned around suddenly and walked out of the cell quickly.

    “Young master,” Uncle Hong followed closely behind Luo Wei, “is there something wrong?”

    “This person can’t be kept, melt the body for me.” Luo Wei told Uncle Hong.

    “What?” Uncle Hong immediately said, “We got caught in a trap?”

    “Do things quickly, I’ll go out through the back door,” Luo Wei said, “Watch your subordinates’ tongues, don’t say I’ve been here.”

    “Yes,” Uncle Hong went back to the cell again.

    “Let’s go,” Luo Wei said to Wei Lan.

    Luo Wei hurried out of the mansion through the corner gate, and before he and Wei Lan could walk out of this street, they heard loud voices coming from Uncle Hong’s mansion. The two of them sat atop the horses and looked over, and saw that there were people holding torches up high, and the flames were almost connected into a long winding line.

    “Young master?” Wei Lan asked Luo Wei hurriedly, not knowing what happened.

    “Let’s go first,” Luo Wei turned the horse around, cracking the whip and rushing to the west end of the street.

    Uncle Hong rushed to the gate and saw that the leading general was someone from the Yunguan Lieutenant’s residence, the one who usually followed Vice-Commander Chang Ling around, “General Zhao,” Uncle Hong walked in front of the general, bowed and smiled. “What do you want here today?”

    “I didn’t have any other way,” General Zhao had come here with great reluctance. In Yunguan, who didn’t know that this old man Hong was from the Commander General’s wife’s maiden family? “The people from the Second Highness,” General Zhao pointed to a few guard-like people standing not far from him, “Said that one of the guards under his Second Highness disappeared, and someone saw that it was a man from your³ old escort bureau who nabbed him.”

    “Nothing like that happened ah,” Uncle Hong immediately called out as if suffering great injustice, “Isn’t this someone wanting to make trouble for an old man like me?! I’m just a runner for an escort bureau, dare I stir trouble with a prince or imperial grandson? I’ve lived to such an old age, would I only think of seeking death today?”

    “You don’t need to be anxious,” General Zhao pulled Uncle Hong aside and said, “I don’t believe this is something you would do, but those people don’t agree ah. Look, why don’t we do it this way? You go find your wife, and I’ll be waiting here?”

    “What time is it?” Uncle Hong said, “If I run to find my wife right now, haven’t I lived enough?”

    “Have you finished talking?” Long Xuan’s bodyguard came over and said impatiently, “Are you trying to delay time?”

    “Ol’ master guard,” General Zhao was displeased with these guards. If his Vice-Commander hadn’t told him to listen to these instructions, would he come here to offend people instead of going to sleep at night? “We always have to make things clear to the person involved, right?”

    “The way I see it, you guys are trying to delay the time so that you can destroy the corpse and any traces?”

    “You!”

    “No, no,” Uncle Hong stopped General Zhao who was about to throw a fit and said to the guard: “No such thing, we are all ordinary commoners here, and we can’t afford to say that.”

    “Are you a commoner ?” The guard said.

    “What can this little old man be if he is not a commoner?” Uncle Hong had a smile on his face. “Did milord² official misunderstand this little old man?” 

“When can we search?” The guard asked General Zhao. Speaking to Uncle Hong, seemed to be detrimental to his standing.

    General Zhao gave Uncle Hong a troubled look.

    “Grandpa,” A little girl ran out of the house, and when she saw so many people outside the door, she was so frightened that she froze in place and didn’t dare to move.

    “Milord officials, please,” Uncle Hong invited General Zhao and others to enter, while pulling the little girl to his side, saying, “Don’t be afraid, girl, these master officials are just going into the residence to find someone.”

    Long Xuan’s guards were the first to enter the courtyard.

    “It’s all done,” the little girl whispered to Uncle Hong.

    “It’s none of your business here, go back to your room,” Uncle Hong said aloud to the little maiden, then walked to General Zhao’s side. Kidnapping the prince’s bodyguard, that was a great crime worthy of losing one’s head. As Uncle Hong was chatting with General Zhao, he was thankful that Luo Wei was vigilant.

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1.假山 – Large pointed, free-standing rock that rich people put in their rock gardens. In their courtyards. For elegance.

2. 官爷 – respectful address for an official.

3. 您 – respectful form of “you”.

Translated by Cyrrene and edited by Uhei.

After Chang Ling had left, Long Xuan saw that the table of dishes was only missing a bit of wine, and ordered a subordinate, “Throw them all away.”

After the servants had withdrawn from the banquet and the central room had been tidied up, a middle-aged man walked into the central room.

“Forego the formalities,” Long Xuan did not allow the middle-aged man to salute, nor did he even raise his eyes to glance at the middle-aged man.

“Your Highness,” the middle-aged man was dressed in the fashion of a person from the Jianghu². Although Long Xuan had said to forego formalities, this person still knelt down right there on one knee, calling out to Long Xuan.

“How fares the Ning Villa?” Long Xuan asked.

“My Villa Master is safe and sound,” the courier from Mingjian Villa responded to Long Xuan’s query.

“Report to him that I will tell him everything after I return to the capital,” Long Xuan said, “There is no need to worry about Qilin Villa for now.”

After the courier heard Long Xuan’s message, it was as if a weight had fallen off his chest³. He said to Long Xuan with delight, “This lowly one will return to report to my Villa master.”

“Go then,” Long Xuan threw a few ingots of silver at the courier, and said to the courier, “This place is Yunguan. You’d best be careful.”

The courier held Long Xuan’s reward, and after kowtowing to Long Xuan, his figure left quickly in a flash.

After this courier had left, Long Xuan finally showed an exhausted appearance, his hand holding his forehead, leaning on the small tea table⁴ nearby.

“Your Highness,” Fu Yun, who hurried here from the capital to give Long Xuan Emperor Xingwu’s familial correspondence, carried over some hot tea and several platters of light refreshments for Long Xuan.

“That person has left?” Long Xuan asked.

“He left,” Fu Yun poured tea for Long Xuan. “This slave saw that person leave the residence with his own eyes.”

Long Xuan took a sip of hot tea, and suddenly let out a sigh.

“If your Highness is tired, please rest.” Fu Yun hurriedly said. This sigh from Long Xuan was reminiscent of one belonging to a person who had long been unable to rise from a lower position—not at all easy, venturing to the fullest extent with all his might—heaving out this one sigh made those who heard it think that this sigh was let out with great difficulty.

“Dispatch an additional messenger to Mingjian Villa,” Long Xuan held the teacup in his hand, treating it as a hand warmer.

“Didn’t the courier from Mingjian Villa just leave?” Fu Yun asked.

“That person cannot live,” Long Xuan said, “Dispatch someone to tell Luo Tingchao: Mingjian Villa cannot be secured; have him make preparations as soon as possible.”

“Mingjian Villa will meet with a mishap?” Fu Yun simply⁵ could not believe Long Xuan’s words; with nothing happening to the Mingjian Villa even after how the Qilin Villa contended with the Mingjian Villa, could it really fail to be secured just like that?

“This time the authorities have appeared,” Long Xuan shook his head while saying, “It’s no longer the petty skirmishes among the people of the Jianghu.”

“This slave will order someone to handle it.” Fu Yun hurriedly replied.

“As soon as possible, that way maybe Ning Shuying can flee in time,” Long Xuan got up and left the central room.

Outside the room, the wind was sweeping up the yellow sand, making it almost impossible for people to keep their eyes open.

Long Xuan handed the tea cup in his hand over to Fu Yun, who was following behind him. “Luo Wei is right here. When all of you walk around outside, be careful, don’t provoke him.”

Fu Yun carefully took the teacup that Long Xuan had only taken a sip from and said, “Your Highness, this time is the third young master angry with you again?”

“All because of Wei Lan, he can hardly wait for me to die,” Long Xuan used his hand to shield his eyes and said to Fu Yun, “I’ll go rest. If there is any news, report to me anytime.”

“Yes,” Fu Yun said and bowed.

Long Xuan walked towards the rear garden.

Fu Yun hesitated for a moment, but still chased after Long Xuan and said, “Your Highness, today this slave brought a theatrical troupe into the residence, would your Highness not want to take a look?”

“You’ll have me watch a play?” Long Xuan turned his head and fixed Fu Yun with a cold glare.

Fu Yun shrunk his neck in slightly, gathered his courage, and smiling apologetically⁶ at Long Xuan he said, “The kids in that troupe are pretty good, the performance is also good. This slave is thinking, your Highness has toiled much in the expedition this time. This slave wants for your Highness…” before Fu Yun finished talking, he saw Long Xuan walking forward. “Your Highness,” Fu Yun took another two steps.

“Shut up,” Long Xuan uttered a remark.

“This slave will then arrange for someone to deliver the letter.” Fu Yun dared not speak more.

“Make that troupe of actors¹ scram,” Long Xuan added.

“Yes,” Fu Yun’s head had lowered until it nearly reached his chest. “This slave will make them scram.”

Long Xuan walked towards the rear garden, but before he even took a few steps, he saw several people kneeling at the side of the path. From their statures they all looked to be youths.

“Hurry and leave,” Fu Yun took a few urgent steps forward, caught up, and said to these people, “Go to the back with the leader of your troupe and wait, I’ll pay you for your services in a bit. Don’t stay here hindering my master’s eyes.”

Several youths rose from the ground in a flurry. Among them a bold one raised his head and curiously looked towards Long Xuan.

“Go on!” Fu Yun urgently shooed away these few youths.

Long Xuan scanned them with a glance, and happened to make eye contact with the youth who had raised his head. After the youth met Long Xuan’s icy-cold gaze that lacked even a trace of warmth, it was as if he suffered a fright, he quickly⁷ ducked his head back down, and was about to leave with the rest of his fellows.

“Halt,” Long Xuan spoke up again at this moment.

“Stop,” Fu Yun called to these few youths, “Don’t leave just yet.”

Long Xuan walked up to the youth who had raised his head to look at him, stretched out his hand, and lifted up the youth’s chin.

“My Lord⁸,” the youth strenuously revealed a well-trained smile for Long Xuan to see.

Long Xuan looked at this youth; this youth at first glance bore several parts resemblance to Luo Wei, and was also similar in age. “Is this the reason why you had them come over?” Long Xuan asked Fu Yun beside him.

Bending at the waist, Fu Yun furtively stole a glance at Long Xuan’s expression, wanting to see if his attempt at ingratiating himself had pleased Long Xuan this time.

“He does have several parts resemblance,” Long Xuan carefully examined the youth’s features⁹.

The youth’s smile was frozen upon his face; no one could smile under Long Xuan’s type of cool, shady gaze.

“As long as your Highness likes it,” Fu Yun fawned at Long Xuan.

“An actor?” Long Xuan’s hand briefly touched the youth’s lips, stained with bright red rouge; this youth had even applied makeup.

“Yes, yes,” this youth did not know what thoughts Long Xuan had for himself; although he was frightened to death in his heart, he still continued to make himself smile.

“Your Highness,” Fu Yun asked Long Xuan in a hushed voice, “Do you want him to serve?”

Long Xuan withdrew his hand, simultaneously turned around, and ruthlessly gave Fu Yun a slap in the face.

Fu Yun was struck by Long Xuan such that his entire body went flying. He did not dare count how many more teeth he lost this time, and he also did not dare wipe away the bloodstain at the corner of his mouth. He got up, and kneeled upon the ground, not daring to move.

Several youths had long been so frightened they knelt back down again on the ground.

“You dared to compare him to an actor?” Long Xuan’s voice carried a ruthless tone when his temper flared. Fixing his gaze at Fu Yun with his hands clasped behind his back, he said, “What do you even consider yourself to be?!”

“This slave deserves death! This slave deserves death!” Fu Yun kowtowed a few times so hard the skin on his forehead split open, “This slave does not know what possessed him and could not think clearly, begging your Highness to spare this slave’s worthless life! Your Highness, have mercy! This slave will never dare do it again.”

Long Xuan walked until he was right in front of the youth. The youth was backed up against a pillar of the varanda, with nowhere to retreat, and could only continuously implore Long Xuan. Long Xuan stared at the youth; it was not known how many times his thoughts shifted, before he finally uttered a single word, “Scram.”

Several youths scrambled up from their hands and feet all at once, and ran away at lightning speed.

“If you weren’t still of use to me,” Long Xuan glanced at Fu Yun again, “I would definitely take your wretched life!”

A long time after Long Xuan had left, Fu Yun finally relaxed his body, and collapsed on the ground.

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1. 戏子: a derogatory term to refer to an opera singer, or an actor.

2. 江湖: literally “rivers and lakes” usually refers to wuxia martial communities.

3. 心里一块石头落了地: stone in his heart had been dropped behind on the ground.

4. 茶几: a very small side table.

5. 死活: although the words are literally “in life and in death” but used as adverb, it is closer to meaning “simply.”

6.赔着: can also mean to make good on a loss, to pay for.

7. 飞快: is “at lightening speed” but sounds very odd in English when used to describe him lowering his head.

8. 爷: a way to address an official, someone with status, or a master, sometimes appended to the end of a title (like 王爷 “wangye”, or 侯爷 “houye”). It can also mean father or grandfather.

9. 眉眼: literally brows and eyes, but is often used to refer to their overall appearance or facial features.

10.狗命: meaning his life is as worthless as a dog’s.