Thursday, March 12, 2015

Cold Sands (Beyond the Frore Dunes) - ch22

Translator: ayszhang
Proofreaders: Art_emis, Gwen, krabbykabbi, Luzo, Mion, Pau, LSL, and Red


Cold Sands ch22
More of the epic saga in Ancient China!
There might even be a fashion lesson at the end ;)

XXII Ascension


Before me lie the portraits of every emperor of Great Rui. They are seated on the throne, lips pursed, wearing the Twelve Ornament Regalia of the Black Flying Dragon and crowned with the Pearl Crown while looking down with stony, emotionless eyes. Thin, long candles and incense burn quietly on the altar. Faint wisps of dark smoke draw spirals in the air. Grave candles flicker eerily on my two sides like wandering ghosts.

Chong Wen Palace is the place where the portraits of the Great Rui emperors are stored and is an extremely sacred place of the entire palace. No one can enter without permission therefore it’s as quiet as hell itself.

The sombre expressions of the emperors make me uneasy. The past seems to be embedded within those thin pieces of paper, telling the heavy and bloody history of the Lin clan’s path to power.

I stare dumbly at the dancing flames as if I have been disconnected from reality. My face is still stinging painfully from the slaps.

The empress dowager’s pressing voice is still resonating by my ears: “You good-for-nothing! I just knew you would try to escape!”

I was stopped by her personal guards at the manor and then brought back to Yong An Palace in shackles.

“You knave!” was what greeted me when I stepped in.

Then she slapped me right across the face. My ears rang and my face started burning, her nails having made bloody streaks on my cheeks.

Immediately, I looked up only to see her stormy expression and before I knew it she slapped me again. “You useless coward!”

I didn’t speak or move and just let her hit me and yell at me.

Finally, she got tired and backed away to her throne, panting while scrutinizing me.

I will ask you one more time. Yes or no?”

“I refuse.”

“You whoreson! Good-for-nothing!”

She picked up a teacup from the table and hurled it at me. I tilted my head and it brushed past my cheek, crashing into the ground, shattering into a million pieces.

“Do you not have any ambition whatsoever?!”

I spoke flatly. “We all have our aspirations, and not even You, Your Graciousness, can alter them.”

“So you are telling me you don’t want to be the ruler, and you don’t want to be a son of the rich?” She glared at me. “You only want to be a peasant?”

I dropped on my knees. “Precisely, Your Graciousness. I do not desire wealth or power. I beg that You grant me a way out.”

Her eyes were icy and full of emotional turmoil like a blizzard. The hall was dead silent.

After a while, she got up, regaining her previous posture of a high-class noble lady. She walked up to me, her long sleeves dangling, swinging before my eyes.

Suddenly, she smiled, her cold forty year-old complexion still brilliant. “I suppose you won’t be needing this if you were a peasant!” Saying this, she raised her arm. I caught on to what she was trying to do and lunged forward, grabbing her legs. “No, Empress Dowager, don’t!”

In her hand was none other than the emerald green twin panlong.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to be a peasant?” She looked down at me with a cruel smirk. “A peasant would not have a panlong pendant, now would they? I am only thinking on your behalf.”

I held onto her legs, barely keeping myself up while my body started cooling down.

“But then again,” she raised the pendant up, studying it. “I don’t have to break it. The son of Duke Zhao Rui has been missing for so many years that no one would know who he is.”

I stared straight at her with nothing else to say. She looked like a stranger to me.

“If you don’t want to be the son of Duke Zhao Rui, there will be plenty of others who do. Han Xin, did you really think you could best me?”

She tipped her head back gracefully, smiling. “Duke Zhao Rui was a legendary hero yet his son is a lowlife who only wants to be a peasant!” Then she kicked me away with a look of disdain. “My niece died for nothing, too. I bet she never thought her son would be such a wimp.”

“Your Graciousness,” I crawled up from the ground, flashing a wry smile. “You’re leaving me no choice here.”

Turning away, she ignored me and I watched her thin, white figure walk towards the hall doors. “Guards! Escort Han Xin to Chong Wen Palace!”

As the doors of Chong Wen Palace were closing, I saw her standing outside. Her face was pale and the vermillion bindi only made her look all the more grave.

“Han Xin, I am going to give you one day’s time!”

I have no idea what time it is now. Neither do I know how long I’ve been in here. I peer to the side to see little sparks sprouting from the candle before Emperor Shun’s portrait at the far end. Only then do I have a sense of time.

I’m only able to sort everything out after I’ve calmed down.

The act of choosing me, the son of a traitor, to be heir over the other two proper sons reeks of her and Uncle’s long-term calculations.

The Han clan has held control of the court for so long. If one of those two kids were to become emperor, then it would still be the maternal relatives who are in control and under the current weakening state, there will surely be an uproar across the nation.

I’m just an incompetent rich kid who knows nothing—everyone knows this. If I became emperor, it would shut everyone up and I’d be easy to control.

Those eyeing the throne could easily take it from a juvenile emperor after amassing the right amount of power. If it were a mature successor, the conspirator wouldn’t act so hastily in fear of being shamed by the people.

And as long as the emperor is of adult age, even if he were a puppet, the crime of leading the country into annihilation would not go to them.

I hug my knees, chuckling drily, a complicated feeling filling my chest.

Suddenly, this all seems so ridiculous and pathetic that tears start streaming down my face.

I just wanted to be left out. All I wanted was to be normal, to live my own life. But things just happened. My past gets uncovered and I get pushed down a path I loathe.

I didn’t want to get involved in their foul and corrupt political fight but now I’ve become a pawn in the empress dowager’s power game; I didn’t want any so-called glory or authority but now I’m being forced to become the supreme ruler.

The freedom that I have been yearning for has become the most ironic ridicule.

I lower my head, too afraid to look anymore.

The empress dowager had asked me if I had the blood and pride of a royalty and I had shaken my head. I don’t know. I really don’t know. Royalty is a term that seems so far, so high above me. I’ve long forgotten what pride is and what nobility is after twelve years of lies and deceits. The cowardice of the royal family has been accumulating for so long and now they want the son of a traitor to sustain the royal pride and valour? It would be less offensive if they slapped every member of the royal family across the face.

I glance over every single portrait of the emperors—Emperor Shun, arrogant and lordly; Emperor Cheng, reserved and resolute; Emperor Ming, majestic and spirited; Emperor Mu, sophisticated and charming; finally, Emperor Wen’s miserable smile right before departing this life.

What if…. What would my destiny be if I really became emperor?

Would I expand our territories like Emperor Shun did? Would I lead our country to an era of prosperity like Emperor Cheng did? Would I be talented in the arts as Emperor Mu was? Or would I only end up as a puppet and die with regrets like Emperor Wen did?

Or maybe I would become the sinner of Great Rui when the country falls and get shamed on for generations to come?

I stare at the jumping flames without a word.

Father, what was it that made you so determined to start a rebellion? Was it for your own desires? Or was it really to maintain the pride and valour of the royal blood, to protect the name of the royal family?

Your son isn’t as courageous as you. He’s only thinking about himself when the country is suffering and the royal family is weak.

Could you please tell him what to do?

The candlelight before me starts to fade out and the blood-strewn battlefield materialises.

Soldiers are moaning beneath horse hooves, crying out in pain. Keen metal pierces through flesh with a muffled sound. Thick blood snakes out, slowly soaking through the soil. Hellfire has engulfed the villages and fields and is reaching for the sky. Widows and orphans let out heartrending weeps while the old and young starve or freeze to death. Corpses line the streets and wild beasts are gnawing away at them. What was originally a home where people worked and lived just a moment ago has become a living hell.

I shut my eyes, too scared to think any further of the scenes that appeared before me.

If the day really comes when the Yan army storms through the walls, then the capital will become a living hell, the men slaughtered, the women assaulted, the entire country groaning in pain beneath the Yan cavalry.

‘Twelve years. If only he had succeeded twelve years ago, Great Rui wouldn’t be what it is today….’

‘Great Rui’s establishment was based on scholarship; many of the royals are scholars. But only him, only he was skilled in martial arts, if only he was the emperor now, if only….’

I finally understand what Duke Yu Qing was wishing for before passing away.

Father has passed away. I’m his son so I have to shoulder everything. Is this really my so-called fate?

The sorry state of Great Rui has made me understand Father’s choice.

Even though he knew there probably would be no turning back from the bottomless pit, he pushed onward without hesitation. And Mother wasn’t afraid: she was right behind him no matter where he was headed, even if it were Armageddon.

Father, even though he did not succeed, had defended the dignity of the royal family.

Before I know it, my face has become wet with tears.

Father, if you were here, Father, you would want me to brace the tidal waves and take control over the empire without a second thought even if there was a way out.

I smile in self-pity as teardrops slip out of my eyes.

Is this my fate?

Inside the still inner hall, I curl up into a ball with my back against Emperor Shun’s portrait and stay there quietly. I’ve gone through so many challenges and near-death experiences but this time I won’t be able to make it.

Time slips past in the stillness and I drift to sleep.

In my dream, there are no parents, no friends, no relatives, only me and myself.

Suddenly, I’m being shaken by someone. Dazedly, I blink my eyes. I look at the person but my mind is hazy and I can’t recognize who it is.

Maid Xiu is kneeling in front of me with a disconcerted look. Her eyes redden before she gets a word out. I bite on my lip as I gaze at her worried complexion and my eyes start to burn and my vision blurs.

She reaches out with shaking hands to touch the side of my head. “I have been waiting for this day to come.”

“Maid Xiu.” I pull my legs in, laying my head on my knees. I force a smile as I look at her at an angle. “You’ve always known, haven’t you?”

She bites on her lips and tears well up in her eyes. “The duke and duchess can finally rest in peace now.”

Tears flow down my cheeks. She reaches out tenderly and wipes them away for me. “You liked to cry when you were young. Are you still going to cry now that you’re going to be the emperor?”

I chuckle. “Why must you all make me do this?”

She stays quiet for a while as her tears hit the polished tiles. “It is your destiny.”

My destiny. My destiny, huh. I suddenly feel drained, my heart having plunged down a cliff.

Her tears keep flowing. “If you don’t become emperor then how will the duke and duchess ever get their justice? Do you want the duke to be shamed as a sinner forever? When would he ever get his name cleared otherwise?”

My eyes feel so sore and my chest seems to be weighed down and suffocated by a boulder. The tears linger in my eyes, not making it out.

“When you were little,” she recounts hollowly. “The duke and duchess often joked, saying our boy would be a legendary champion and conquer the world. The duke’s biggest wish was for you to achieve the greatest and make your name known to the world!”

I can’t form words as if I’ve been struck by lightning.

I have lived in ignorance for twelve years, not only ignorant of my parents but also going against their wishes.

She wraps her arms around me, bringing my head to her lap. She bends down as she smiles affectionately with teary eyes. A faint smell of wild ginger flowers wafts from her clothes. It smells just like Mother.

“When you were little, you loved to play. And when you got tired from playing you would lie on the duchess’ lap like this so she couldn’t do anything else. She often complained but she looked so happy.”

“The duke taught you to read and martial arts but you always slacked off. The duke would try to punish you but you would go hide behind the duchess. He would get so frustrated but he couldn’t do anything….”

“Springtime in April, they would take you out to the countryside….”

“You just loved boating in the summer and the duke and duchess would accompany you until late into the night….”

Out from her mouth come strings of stories, revealing the past and uncovering my deepest scars, and the bloody fragments come flying straight at me.

My eyes flicker restlessly as I gaze at the ceiling. “Is being emperor really that big of a deal?” I mumble.

Maid Xiu pats my back lovingly. “I’ve said it already. Only if you become emperor can you clear their names; only if you become emperor can you overlook this realm; only if you become emperor can you turn things around and rescue the nation.”

Tears obscure my vision once more.

And this time, I finally understand.

My destiny never belonged to me. Never has, never will.

My parents died, leaving me as their only hope; the country is on the brink of destruction and disaster is about to strike, and I must shoulder everything. If I had to blame something, it would have to be the royal blood that flows through me. But how could I have chosen my own birth?

I let out a laugh of despair. It echoes in the empty hall. I laugh until tears come out. The founding emperor, Emperor Shun, scrutinizes me silently without a word.

That eight year old had no idea that life would be this unpredictable, that his life had been decided for him, and that no matter the challenges and trials he would face, he would one day ascend the throne.

‘The rainbow in the sky; the aroma in the room; the purple clouds in midair; the golden dragon in flight.’

My entire life had already been set in stone by those twenty words.

I’ve never once felt before that the palace was this freezing cold and that it was this menacing and sinister.

In between the ornate beams and pillars, the splendid roofs and swaying curtains of Chong Wen Palace, I can almost glimpse the spirits of the emperors. They are rushing to step out of their portraits to stand before me. They are looking down at me, at this descendant of theirs, to see what I will choose. Will I accept my destiny and save the country or will I choose to be stubborn and let myself go?

Master Liao has always said in his teachings that the victor becomes king while the defeated becomes the sinner. Even the most glorious royal families could go extinct in an instant.

If I remain stubborn and unwilling to accept, then the empress dowager will be wary of my existence and make sure that I don’t make it out of the royal city alive. I think a devious woman like her would be capable of doing that.

Slowly, I sit up straight and silently face Emperor Shun’s portrait.

Ancestors of the Lin clan, is this your punishment for me?

The candle in front of him flickers, embers bursting forth, and suddenly goes out.

The sky has begun to whiten, casting the faint morning glow through the windows. Wordlessly, Maid Xiu gets up and drops on her knees behind me.

I speak through clipped lips. “Maid Xiu, it was the empress dowager’s idea for you to come, too, right?”

She quickly kowtows, pressing her forehead to the floor. “But the words were from the bottom of my heart!”

Footsteps disturb the stillness. There is more than one pair. Messy and sporadic, it holds within it the heavy scraping of boots and the clinking of armour and weapons. Maid Xiu looks up at me with fixed eyes.

Alas, they’ve come.

The doors are pushed open with a bang. An emotionless senior attendant who serves the empress dowager strides in and stops while many fully armed soldiers rush in from behind. Another attendant steps out from behind holding a cup of wine with his head bowed. I get up without a word and turn to face them.

The older attendant asks in a sharp voice. “Have you reached a decision?”

Tiny flakes of gold float in the amber wine. Gold flaked wine—the generous demise bestowed upon royalty. I glance at the cup and sneer. I’m so flattered.

Maid Xiu lets out a sorrowful weep as she lies on the floor quivering.

The attendant squints as he scrutinizes me. I scoff and knock the cup down. The amber wine splashes on the ground and the gold cup tumbles away. The soldiers immediately step forward and unsheathe their swords halfway.

“Eunuch,” I call out. “You are no longer needed.”

He lowers his head with a knowing smile and steps aside. A soldier who had been behind him strides forth with a bowed head, holding a scarlet tray, and bows down on one knee. They are all young, able-bodied men wearing bright red armour, a dark red cape and a helmet with red feathers. On the tray is a black Nine Ornament Regalia and a dragon soars within with its claws drawn. There is also a Nine Pearl Crown, the nine strings of pearls clinking against each other.

“May I implore that Your Majesty change into the ceremonial raiment? The empress dowager is waiting.” The attendant requests respectfully.

Alas, my fate has finally come.

I reach out and touch the robe without speaking.

Then I guffaw, pick up the robe, unfurling it, and put it on myself. Cautiously, the attendants assist me with the robe. They place the crown on with such care as though they were serving the emperor. I hold myself upright and let them dress me.

The soldiers open the palace doors and bow down at the waist. I stride out. The sun has risen, the dawn light hitting me on the face.

Everything that follows is a bit of a blur. The empress dowager summons the officials and announces: ‘The eldest son of Duke Zhao Rui.’

‘The son is also a descendant of Emperor Ming,’ she says. ‘The young child was not to be blamed for the duke’s treachery. Given the current state of affairs, he is the closest descendant and he is clever, quick and skilled, thus I name him the successor in hopes of continuing the empire.’

I laugh when she says this. The history is always written by the victor. Oh, how unjust my father’s death was!

All the officials express agreement. Heng Ziyu submits as well. But I catch him raising his head as he kneels down and shooting me a cold and playful look.



♚♔

The Sixth Year of Nan Jing, Emperor Wen returned to heaven.

In less than a month, the successor ascended the throne.

On the tenth day of the tenth month, an auspicious day, the ceremony of ascension for the new emperor took place at Tai Qing Palace.

The Sun shone brightly and the sky was solid azure.



♚♔

Music is reverberating throughout the royal city. The princes, dukes and officials have gathered at the bottom of the steps of Tai Qing Palace to welcome me with the kowtow ceremony. After three whip cracks, the Minister of Rites steps forth and reads the empress dowager’s decree on his knees. The Archduke, Han Jun, and the Protector of the Seas, Heng Ziyu, lead the three kneeling and nine knockings ceremony.

The ascension ceremony is being held at Tai Qing Palace. The flag of the Lin clan billows in the air. Ceremonial incense burns from a massive censer.

Wearing the Twelve Ornament Regalia and Twelve Pearl Crown, I stand amidst swirls of aromatic smoke at the bottom of the steps. I tilt my head back a little.

With the azure Welkin as background, the main building of the royal city, Tai Qing Palace, is well-defined and seems all the more gigantic and majestic. The towering steps are carpeted with bright red silk all the way to the very top, seeming almost endless. The square behind me is lined with officials flattened to the ground on their hands and knees, not making a sound.

I’m standing here yet I feel lonely for some reason.

Han Xin—or should I say Lin Xin—are you really ready for this?

Finally, I step onto the red silk and ascend the steps.

The people at my two sides bow and kneel down as I pass, lowering their heads and holding their breaths.

The pearls of the crown swing before my eyes, clinking furiously. The October sunlight is dazzling and blinds me as it dances off of the beads. My eyes water and everything I see through the glaring halo seems so transient and surreal.

With the blaring drums and acoustics and the melodious voices of court singers, why is it that I feel this overwhelming loneliness?

The steps seem to be boundless. The people beside me are still kneeling down in turn like a wave.

I look up only to see a figure in dark green. It’s the empress dowager. She’s dressed in a pheasant plume regalia and a Nine Dragon Nine Phoenix Pearl and Emerald Crown. The intricate and splendid layers, the wide sleeves, the broad belt, the exquisite embroidery on the dark green gown and the brilliant cosmetics make her look extraordinary. She maintains a calm face, showing not one bit of fatigue or sorrow but only the strength that no ordinary woman could come close to matching.

I inhale deeply before lifting up my regalia and continue my slow climb.

Now that it has come to this, I cannot be vulnerable or hesitant. An emperor is always august and self-possessed.

I hold myself straight and my head high and remain this way as I approach the top, unflustered and dignified. It’s as if I were born a king: I display all the etiquette and comportment that a king should have precisely and absolutely.

When I finally reach the top of the elevated steps of Tai Qing Palace, I quietly look down at everything below me. The entire royal city lies before my eyes, the beauty of the capital, too, and the blurred ebony mountains in the distance as well. I can actually see beyond the land straight to the frontiers out in the desert.

The howling wind whips by my ears. White birds flutter trippingly across the horizon like white shooting stars. They cry out crisp notes before disappearing into the clouds.

I wonder if Emperor Wen has reincarnated into the commoner’s world and will lead the free life of a peasant as he had wished.

By now, freedom is something I can only reach for in my dreams.

“Your Majesty.”

The empress dowager gently calls from behind. I glance back to see her nodding at me, signalling with her eyes. I pull a smile and move my gaze back to the square. Raising my arms, I regard them all—all of the cowering officials at the bottom of the steps and all of my subjects in this land—with a smile.

“Long live the emperor!”

“May he live ten thousand years!”

“And ten thousand more!”

The subjects exclaim at the top of their lungs. The lasting echoes resonate in every corner of the royal city, reaching up to the heavens and startling flocks of birds. Their ceremonial gowns and fancy belts flitter in the wind, appearing like one massive ocean wave.

The wind is slightly chilly and lifts the edges of my garments into the air. The exquisite beads hanging from the crown have also been disturbed and are tinkling nonstop.

A bronze bell is rung. High-spirited notes blast forth from horns, low and dissonant.

The red sun has risen high above the horizon, radiating continual rays that dab golden brilliance upon the realm.

This unreachable place has been one of curiosity for me for twenty years. I’ve seen countless times on the roofs of Tai Qing Palace life’s complexity, zest, sadness, joy, farewells, reunions, happiness, anger and everything in between, but who would have known that one day I would be standing here with the entire nation beneath my feet, beholding the land as the almighty emperor.
_____________________________
Emperor Wu of Han (left) and Wanli Emperor of Ming (right), dressed in ceremonial regalia.

 (//o\\) I just had to include these. They're just so cute~

Portrait of Empress Wang Xijie (left). This is the empress dowager's regalia in this chapter.

While we're at it, let's take a look at some other clothing of characters in the story.
First up, palace guards' uniform (left) and Rank One officials' court uniform (right).

 Next up, palace maids' uniform and attendants' uniform.

_______________________________
Dairytea's comment: Oh gosh, I could feel the tension that's building up! Poor Han Xin~
=> Look forward to oodles of releases next week in celebration of St. Patrick's Day! *is excited*
Also, disqus will be applied to the rest of our site on tabbed pages such as the request and link pages. Once applied, the old comments will be cleared on those pages. This will be done on Saturday and we'll reply to the comments on those pages before then.

Chapter 21
Creative Commons Licence
Cold Sands - English Translation by ayszhang is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

76 comments:

  1. first time posting a comment here. i just wanna say. wow. thanks for all you work! this chapter just made me feel that the preceeding ones are something to really look forward to...
    cant wait till the 15th. thanks really.

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  2. This is the first time I thought that becoming the emperor is just pitiful....Wow...God...Murong's reaction to this will be ahem...no words to say about that..Han Xin is going to have real troublesome times ahead attempting to trump those selfish idiots who underestimate him..Thanks for the translation ^^

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  3. Thank you!!!! Such nice illustrations. (they inspire me to watch "Empress Ki" series ...have you seen them?

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  4. Thank you! Love the explanations you always have at the end. This time they're super cute.

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  5. I'm back!!!ehehehehehe <3
    And I'm seriously thinking to come back when there was at least 3 chapters released.. I don't like cliffhangers TT_TT It makes my heart race in anticipation for what's going to happen next, and I won't be able to sleep just thinking about it XD

    but as expected, I can't resist~ ~(>_<)/

    Now off to reading~

    Blue_Tears

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  6. i think that lin xin and murong yu won't be together at the end of the novel!i don't want that :((((

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  7. :'D Thank you for the comment!! I reall appreciate it <3

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  8. </3

    Not to worry. Remember when Murong and Han played chess (ch 8)? Han has the abilities; it's just a matter of using it or not!

    Thanks for reading and commenting :)

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  9. Will this be a happy ending? ; A;

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  10. No I haven't :o It looks interesting though! But traditional Korean clothing was influenced mainly by clothing in the Tang Dynasty (the ones in these pics are from the Ming Dynasty, but they share a lot of the basic features as the ones mentioned in the story). It took me a while to find these but some lovely computer programmer made a whole book's worth of these cartoon models with clothing from the Ming of commoners to the emperor! So expect more in the future :)

    Thanks for reading and commenting!

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  11. XDD I know right!!

    Thanks for reading and commenting ~

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  12. *waits for comment* x3

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  13. MY GOD !!!!!!!!! i'l the last !!!!
    i was here checking since the morning and i forgot and now i'm like the last TT^TT , why do i forget alot ??? the worst luck ever!!!!

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  14. :( I don't want it either wahhh

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  15. There are spoilers on the main info page (the one with the synopsis)

    (/_;)

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  16. Awww there there. It's ok ~ as long as you make it here

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  17. Can you tell me how to see spoilers on the info page?

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  18. hold on a sec.. does that mean they are won't e for each other !!!! *dead*
    ir's sad after all ha >< .. * cries cries*
    if they are not for each other i'm definetly killing you both !!!!! and the author !!! and ... and ... i have no idea but i'll defietly kill somebody if they are not for each other !! *over exaggerating*
    naaaaah, i don't doubt it , they HAVE to be together at the end , it is a MUST !!!!

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  19. Stop making me think it's a sad ending o(╥﹏╥)o ... you're making me cryyyyy !!!!! *over axaggerating again ><*

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  20. There's a line of text that say "highlight the text above

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  21. They will be together in a sense :3

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  22. which means.. nobody is going to be killed by me...






    however there is far more danger on everyone including myself and i believe this danger hates me the most which is....




    Heng Ziyu !!!!!! *applause applause*
    he'll kill you all !!!!!!! i won't talk about myself cause the chance of me surviving is 0000000.0000000% !!
    you know why?? cause if i gave Han for Heng Ziyu.. the fans will definetly kill me !!!! and olet's not forget the Xiao and on top of them all and the most important one ..




    our beloved devil Murong Yu *Applause Applause*


    suddenly a shoe hit my face to the extant that my face split from my and fell on the ground.. "what just happened ????.. face .. face where are you ??? face?? my face where have you gone to??"
    "i'm over here useless body!! over here.. where are you?? all i see is cold sands.. it's cold litterly !! " complains my face.


    " serves you right nii_san .. " says Han Xin i mean Lin Xin.. umm Murong Xin ??? the point here is that i'm dead anyway whether it is Heng, Murong, xin, the fans, the Xiao i'm tottaly dead (espicially when i say beloved or my love or what ever is related to Xin or Yu !!.. )


    soo run while you can.. i'll cover you up guys.. i won't let you die!! i'll die for you !!!!!!!!! KILL MEEEEEEEEEEE (now that's a joke, i'd like to stay alive and know the ending and then you can kill me all you want !!!!!!)


    see you in my comment in a few minutes.. maybe??

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  23. Another hilarious comment X3

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  24. D: nuuuhhh don't do it if you can't handle spoilers!!

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  25. Boooo hooooo hoooo (TT_TT)
    Han Xin! Murong Yu! My heart feels the pain for the both of you! I sooo hate that freaking empress!

    My death will be certain when Murong You and Han Xin confronts each other in war. I know I won't be able to take it..
    It would be even better if they elope:D or anything as long as they'll be together (>_<)

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  26. Aww *pats on head*
    I really dislike her too Dx
    But it wouldn't really be Han Xin if he just left it behind. He recognizes his responsibilities now and will face them. :S I wish Murong could have forced him to stay T___T

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  27. Oh my gosh, I almost forgot today was Thursday!!! :O I am getting so bad at this, I am not on top of my game anymore, gaaahh XD Not as bad, though, as that one chapter that I was a week late on reading

    Poor Han Xin :( I think Han Xin needs to call Dr. Murong in for a "check up". Dr. Murong would make Han Xin feel all better ;3

    I'm really hating the Empress Dowager. She has no redeeminbg factors that could save her from all the hate, hahaha

    Let's see if the next set of updates will catch me by suprise. Thank you!!!! :D

    ~Michaela

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  28. while reading this chapter I keep seeing the face of the actor from korean drama Empress ki..I mean the handsome emperor the one who play healer..I like this chapter feel like watching drama

    thank you for sharing & love you
    xena

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  29. Bahaahaha XD It's okay~I'm happy that you like this story that much >3<
    Yeah :( poor Han Xin... ;D hehehe I wonder what kind of "checkup" it would be
    <_< No she doesn't! Han Xin won't go easy on her. We'll see in about two chapters of Han Xin's retaliation!
    >u< I think you will like the St. P's special~
    Thanks for reading and commenting!

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  30. >O< I'll take that as a compliment! Hehe
    I think someone else also mentioned Empress Ki below!
    Thanks for reading and commenting <3~

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  31. Yes.. It makes me realize how hard the responsibilities of the emperors in ancient times are, and am a little bit thankful that it didn't continue up until today(own opinion :)).
    If you don't mind me asking, how many chapters/volumes are left until this novel ends?? Though the events make me sad, I really wish this novel will still have a long way :D

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  32. Yeah I'm glad too! But nowadays monarchs like the British Queen still get the benefits of being rich and don't have to work a day in their lives... >_<
    It's listed on the info page, but there are 41 chapters and 4 extras (but the third one is split into two parts because of its length). ^^

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  33. Is this my fate? My destiny,huh. It doesn't belong to me, never has and never will be. Is this my ancestors punishment?

    Yeah, I can feel the tension...you won't be a puppet Xin. You can outwit them.trust me. :'(

    Yu, I'll await for your reaction on this one... X-(

    Damn,this is becoming too realistic...too angsty..but yah,I love how I imagine Xin wearing the regalia.it looks very sophisticated and such. I really love ancient China's clothiing...so beautiful. :)

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  34. Dx Those quotes are probably the most heartrending ones for me at least :(
    Yesss let's cheer him on!!! \(>A<)/
    Yes...Murong's reaction...though quite a while away will be a big one ;D
    I said so didn't I? Soon there's gonna be a bloodbath, too. I look forward to all of your reactions to it :)
    I know =u= very very complex and exquisite.
    Thank you for reading and commenting ~

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  35. .../riversandoceansofinnertears. B-B-But whyyyyyyy??? Is this subjective?

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  36. Well, I think it's classified as a XX because the two main characters do not actually "end up together" as in spend the rest of their lives lovey-dovey together. That's what makes it a XX I guess. But IMO, they are together in another sense. >.<

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  37. Poooooooooooooooor Xin.. what a suffer.. but before anything else

    how dare that Dowager slap Xin !!!!!!!!

    get ready Dowager Xin's fans won't stand here watching you hit him as if he was a trash can !!

    and since i am a female myself i know where it hurts most, so we'll give you special treatment, this time not in 'you know where' but...

    Fans get your hand ready cause we're gonna pluck some hair !!!

    the scene:

    the Dowager running and screaming:"guards !!! there assasins chasing me !! someone dispose these lowly lives !!!!!!!"

    the fans running behind her wih their hands ready or holding sceserse or anything sharp you can think of.

    nii_san incourages on a horse: "Ladies and the gentlemen who are a fans of this novel, we can not let something like this happen, we can not let Xin be treated this way, we as a fans must protect Xin, Murong is depending on us since he can't show up at the moment we have to protect him by all means necessary! Lets go take revenge from the Dowager."

    the gaurds on the other hand are watching the show with some pop corn in hand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    *Breaking News*

    the empress Dowager of the novel 'Cold sands: beyond the frore dunes' has resined due to personal issues, the rumors say that she has been attacked by unknown assasins who mercilessly cut her hair and turnd her bold..

    a nii_san was found beaten up after the assasins attack, it is said that she was almost killed for her noble doing of protecting the Dowager..

    ( 'what really happened to nii_san':

    nii_san was shouting and incouraging the fans to take their revenge when suddnely and out of no where she was hit to the extent that she fell of the hprse to the ground!!

    she raised her haid to see who was the idiot that hit her like that and her face immediatly turned pale !!!!

    "NII_SAN, you dare to steel my horse?! I the almighty Heng Ziyu? you shall face the concequances" yeeled heng ziyu at her, he stared beating her and she was crying despiratly:"please.. stooop, i'll do anything !!!"

    he suddenly stopped and grinned:"you'll do anything??"

    nii_san :"anything.."

    hang ziyu laughed his evil laugh and whisperes to her what to do, at first she was surprised but his threatning eyes made her nod in agreement)

    [ the chapter where Heng Ziyu's plan is revealed will follow up next week perhaps.. or when ever nii_san finishes it, get ready for the surprise ^-^]

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  38. OMFG THIS MADE ME CRY FROM LAUGHING HAHAHAHAHA!!! XDDD started laughing uncontrollably starting from the "get ready to pluck hair" part XD
    I was actually starting to think that theres a story brewing...>u> and it appears I am right hehe. ^^ I am looking forward to it~~~

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  39. (oops it seems like I logged into the wrong account haha)
    OMFG THIS MADE ME CRY FROM LAUGHING HAHAHAHAHA!!! XDDD started laughing uncontrollably starting from the "get ready to pluck hair" part XD
    I was actually starting to think that theres a story brewing...>u> and it appears I am right hehe. ^^ I am looking forward to it~~~

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  40. now back to commenting, i know it was so hard on Han Xin but the feeling you get by standing on top of everybody like that must ba amazing. The chapter showed so much emotions i loved it so much. But whatever it is that Dowager is thinking, she shouldn't even think about controlling Xin after he bacame the emperor.

    Also, that heng Ziyu and his playfull snikers, he really deserves a puch on the face, seriously he's starting to get on my nerves, however i really want to know what he is planning to do.

    Since i was shocked yesterday by reading that spoileri couldn't comment cause i actually spent the whole night crying !!!

    i didn't think that the previous comment would be so funny glad you liked it ( i thought it might be less lively then the previous ones !!)

    anyway i learned my lesson, i'll never read sopilers again! i'll let the ending come as it is not knowing is always better..

    and since we're talking about it, i've been imagining the worst case senario like one of the m dying 'Xin r Yu' or Xin ending up with heng Ziyu which isn't likely to happen, or each of them marrying thus can not be togetehr !!

    too bad it would,'t be like 'war prisoner' whereboth of them married however, each story has its own plot and settings which is good.

    i just hope that i get over whatever is meant to happen, you know once i read the novel'the blind concubine' and when i reached the last chapter i was sooooooooooo sad ! it was not the last chapter though, but just the thought of the emperor staring at the concubine from afar regretting what he did as a child for the rest of his life was so tragic, i went to sleep later but it took me like 3 to 4 hours to do so!! you can say i didn't sleep at night at all !!! i was crying like crazy, when i love a story i just enter the mode and as if it is playing in front of me or i am living i feel every little emotion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    But later in the morning i saw the eoilogue and i was sooo relieved it was a happy ending luckily..

    anyway, a sad story once in a while isn't bad and as you since you said that they would be together in a different sense then it's okay, i trust you competely :)

    And lastly a declaration: i'll be posting my fanfics starting summer probably soo , get ready * sparkly eyes* i'm soo exited, say cheers for mee, i'll work hard as a fan of Bl novels ☆*:.。. o(≧▽≦)o .。.:*☆

    thank you for translating and posting, sorry for the lzte comment though.

    And be prepared to see Heng Ziyu's scheme
    ←~∋(。Ψ▼ー▼)∈

    (as soon as nii_san figures out what it is!! cause she is stupid and lazy she still hadn't thought of it ! )
    See you next tiiime

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  41. oh and forgot to mention, the explaining is soooooo goooood .. thank you for your hard work at explaining things, such hard working peaple, unlike me (a super lazy person!!) keep it up *thumbs up*

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  42. ^_^ you're welcome~~~

    Looking forward to that fanfic hehe <3

    Yeah, I think it would be a really awe-inspiring experience. You would feel so invincible! But of course, it comes with a price. And yeah, I'm sure Han Xin would retaliate in one way or another even without knowing what happens next. Like I commented elsewhere, we have witnessed Han's talents already :) the sword/xiao fight, the chess game, the chase on horseback, the recollection of him leading the 3 thousand men...

    Anyways, as someone who knows what's going to happen, I must say the next few chapters are going to be pretty intense. A lot of things are going to change.

    ;) I'll leave it at that.

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  43. hello~ it's been a while since i last comment here,i just read all last 3 chapter at once XD

    now my comment is...

    THAT EMPRESS DOWAGER, I HATE HER *RAWR but i dont think the stubborn Han Xin (or should i say Lin Xin now XD) wont comply as you wish *evilsmirk
    but still, i wish he'll get his happy ending with Murong Yu <3

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  44. i know riiight ??
    that dowager really deserved the hair Plucking we fans did to her in my comment >:)
    Meeee 2222, i hope he gets his happy ending


    oh and , see one of my previous comments discused the name of Xin, waaaah, i was surprised that it turned into a baseball game..
    i just don't get it , why am i always the victem ????

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  45. *SHOCK*

    i just read the schedule and i found out that it is 4 or 5 whole days of posting chaptre and i'm like ((((;゜Д゜)))

    *faints* ....




    i'm in heaven!!!

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  46. Hi~ Long time no see!
    Hehe I like binge reading too :3 Best to get it all done in one go right XD
    I think I'm still gonna call him Han Xin...or just Xin .. *confused*
    >A< Let's pluck her hair out!!!!

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  47. I think you guys will like the special release ;D

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  48. i'm going to call him whatever first comes to mind XD



    i'll glady join you people plucking her hair out and show her who's the boss!! >:)


    HAHAHAHA THAT WAS SO FUNNY! LOL poor you niisan! *petsyourhead*

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  49. ohhhhh.. thanks..
    *tears of happines* For the first time someone by my side..
    i'm sooo touched..


    Glad you liked the plucking >:D she deserves it Muahahahahahahahahhahaaaaaaaaa
    see ya later :)

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  50. <3 Always good to see familiar names~
    Haha, it's okay! It's never too late >3<
    No, in Ancient China normally one of two things happen. One, the previous emperor lives a fairly long life and by the time he dies, the crown prince is already married so the crown princess becomes empress when the crown prince takes the throne. Two, the previous emperor dies suddenly or young before the crown prince gets married and there is no empress when the crown prince takes the throne, in which case the emperor is to be married as soon as he reaches the age of adulthood. This age was usually around twenty but there was some variation throughout the dynasties as to what is acceptable ^^ Hope that helps.
    *gasp* Such sharp eyes!!!
    Haha, I didn't think any one would wanna see Han Xin with women XDDD

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  51. oh. I've always wanted to join in the discussions. but I feel bad for not being able to reply immediately.
    and that's plenty helpful. thanks. I've only recently enjoyed reading chinese novels... and I've still lots to learn.
    it's all thanks to how they run life inside the palace. i think it's very interesting.
    I would have thought that they'd marry off the emperor immediately. after all I don't think there's any scarcity of women inside the palace...
    if i'm not mistaken, there was no mention of an empress. only the dowager empress... and i think that the previous emperor should have been at an acceptable age to have had an empress... if it was due to the Han clan's meddling and not because he was of poor health, the extent of their influence must be really great... Han Xin's sure to have a tough time eh...
    well... I don't really like seeing Han Xin with women either...but I think that the mess it would create is what makes it fun...

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  52. XD Nahhh, don't worry. Comment whenever~
    I see! :D I've had great interest in Ancient China since I was a kid and I love watching historical films/tv, so if there's anything specific you're curious about just ask away^^
    Yeah, the palace is a complicated place indeed. The inner palace (the harem ;) ) is so full of drama. There's been so many stories/tv/films based on drama between women (and sometimes men) in the inner palace. Of course, the politics and warfare is also very interesting 8D This story focuses more on the latter haha.
    Oooh. I haven't noticed that before (probably cuz Han Xin is too charismatic XD) My guess would be that they were leaving the spot of empress for a powerful player to help them amass more power. It is mentioned in a later chapter that he has concubines. The position of empress can be a great incentive for many people so cases like these were also observed, where the emperor either can't make a choice between his many concubines (concubines also have ranking like court officials), or the spot is being reserved for future purposes. I don't think health is an excuse he could use XD in some extreme cases, other men are used to impregnate the empress/concubines to ensure continuation of the "royal bloodline" or at least an illusion of, but emperors must have a wife or concubines or else people would start talking >u>

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  53. oh boy...the mess would be quite "fun" I'd imagine!
    I'm just imagining Murong's face if he finds out (//o//) and the events that ensue such a face...hehehehe

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  54. I recall that just after Murong and Han Xin(I'm gonna stick with Han instead of Lin, I like being stubborn about it) got separated, somebody asked when they're gonna meet again.. and it was said to be in the 20s chapter... and I was like- perfect time for this kinda mess.
    well... there's a lot of chinese movies being shown here. but I think it's always too short to fully appreciate the complicated life ancient people have lived...
    though there's a lot of korean series being shown here... its still mostly about war and politics.
    I guess if I really want to, I could just google stuff. but I really enjoy discussions and reading novels instead of just plainly reading facts up.
    the inner court is the empress's territory isn't it? but the dowager empress is totally meddling with politics instead, so I guess the inner court part of palace life would be completely disregarded here. well... they are at war after all.
    women at the inner court have it bad eh...

    so, if Han Xin had an empress, who would have greater dominance? the empress or the dowager empress? hmmm... I'm trying to figure out how the story will proceed. that's what tides me over in between the chapter updates.
    so, I'll be troubling you in the future... oh. I guess I should say this beforehand. Thanks for indulging me... ^ ^

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  55. NOT ME !!!! i don't want a women to interfere between Murong and Xin's relationship ( sorry ladies including myself, no one other then Murong is having Xin, and that's it, end of the story, nobody tries to oppose me OR ELSE... i'll Xiao and Heng and Murong about you all.. then i won't be the only one getting beaten up in my comments >:D hahahahha.... i'm watching you, if you say something wrong you'll have to face the concequances Muahahahha cough cough.. waoh evil laughs sure are hard )

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  56. My MY ... you guys are having such a smart discussion here huh (understands nothing at all !!) .. i'll be reading your discussions from the background (i'm starting to learn new stuff here )
    i too would love to know more about china.. i started reading chinese novels like last summer or something soo i'm very interested.. never knew china was this great !!

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  57. Hmm it is true Murong and Han Xin will appear together before ch 30 but it will be in an extra. They actually meet again in the main story in ch 3x ;)
    Yeah I guess you're right XD I was born in China so I watched whatever they showed on TV there hahaha. But one thing I cant stand about inner palace TV shows is that they're so long-winded v___v Also, the majority of film/tv is set in Ming or Qing dynasty (the last two dynasties, approx. 14th cent~1912) so a lot of the older dynasties don't get enough exposure. Mainly it's because archaelogical evidence/records are more abundant for the more recent ones but I personally like the older ones ;D especially Han (1st cent BC~3rd cent) and Tang (618-907). Anyyywayyys I'm getting off topic here
    The inner court should be the empress' territory but in reality if the empress dowager (who is usually the emperor's mother or "mother" if the emperor was born to a concubine of the previous emperor) wants to exert control she won't be stopped. This is because elders must be respected so the empress dowager is technically the head of the family. The empress and emperor has to visit her every morning to pay their respect. Ofc she isn't supposed to meddle in politics or the outer court like our empress dowager in this story is. In most inner court dramas, you will see the lower-ranking concubines vying for protection either from the empress or from the empress dowager.
    And yeah, you're right. I don't think there will be much inner palace stuff if our story is told from the emperor's perspective XDD Normally the emperor is kept in the dark of all the drama and if the emperor got involved it usually meant someone is gonna lose their position...
    Sooo in conclusion, since our empress dowager in this story is so overpowering, she will likely have more power than the empress... at least it seems that way now ;D

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  58. All I can think about while reading this chapter is Hanxin and Murongyu becoming rivals. Noooo!!! I don't want that.

    Thanks for the translation.

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  59. =A= I don't want it either D;
    I'm sure they'll figure something out :s
    Youre welcome <3 Thanks for the comment! Love seeing new faces(names lol)

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  60. Why didn't I notice this update earlier?!//(ㄒoㄒ)// Anyways, thank you for your hard work again!~(*^0^*) It seems they're right that 'its lonely at the top' (poor han xin ToT) I just hope that Murong won't turn his back against him (x_x)

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  61. oh. I've always thought that stuff like paying respects before the dowager empress is merely symbolic rather than an actual recognition to her authority. huh. so, a dowager empress has true power eh...
    dowager empress kinda reminds me of either an evil stepmother or mother-in-law...
    and also, i've always thought that there would be a lot of records regarding ancient china...

    I recall that somebody documents everything that happens to the emperor... like a court documentor of some sort. and I was in awe knowing that they do that. no wonder historical accounts of china are so much richer! too bad artifacts degrade and are so hard to preserve. so we get less than what was actually initially written... that kind of makes me sad.



    hi nii_san! i've just started last winter (tho' snow doesn't fall here >x< ) so I guess you're my senpai in this regard. So, if u have any recommended titles be sure to share them with me!
    and oh. who cares about Xiao and Heng! but be sure to tell Murong about Han Xin's 'harem'! The look on his face will be quite a sight!

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  62. Haha XD every Thursday until the end, my friend, expect to see an update hahaha.
    Yeah :(( very lonely indeed.
    Thanks for reading and commenting ^^

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  63. Yes, in reality the emperor still has to listen to her opinions (if she has any) because you must respect your elders. But she runs the risk of being shamed for meddling with "men's affairs." (Lol China was and still is fairly sexist >_<) But in this story, she has the background and support to meddle...so she does... >_>
    Oh yes, that person would be the imperial historian (this is the term I use in my translation). Hm, it is true there are many artifacts, as early as ~2000 BC but it is not enough to make a movie/tv show out of, because many things must be known such as culture, language, clothing, what has and has not been invented... The earliest stories, to my knowledge, to be made into film/tv is probably based on the Zhou dynasty (~1000BC~256BC). Quite a few famous emperors and stories have been passed down from that time, at least enough to make a show out of it XDD Then the Qin/Han would be the second earliest, followed by the Three Kingdoms (tons of shows on this). But I have to say the most common ones are the more recent dynasties. Reason being vernacular literature really went boom in the Ming dynasty, so many novels written in that time has been made to screen. The problem is that most records are on the high-class so not much detail are known about the lower-class (which made up 99% of the population..)
    Oh my...I went on rambling again didn't I D; nii_san, you're rubbing off on meeeee!!! OAO

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  64. oooooooooooh.. you can't imagine how much times i read this comment.. the word senpai is truelly powerfull, it's like music in my ears (❁´▽`❁)*✲゚*

    Okayyy my cute little kohai.. i don't know if you read these but i love them soo much:

    the first one i read is 'hua hua you long' the perfect story if you asked me and the fanfics are awesome !!

    the second one i read is 'feng yu jiu tian' not all the volumes are finished is this one i believe, the forsth volume is not finished but there are summeries and you can download the pdf files for the rest of the volumes..

    there's also 'war prisoner' one of the best stories too, a very good one you must read if you haven't.

    and ofcoure 'the blind concubine' it is a great story but keep some tissues beside you cause you may cry now and then.

    and 'Mo flower' but i don't think it's finished yet.. i don't think its too long too but it good as well.

    and the one full of smutty scenes 'jus Primae Noctis' but the ending may or may not satisfy you because it was kind of rushed you'll notice once you read it..



    And what you are reading now 'cold sands' !!! you know it's great no need to tell you about it ^-^


    that's about all i read until now.. that's if you haven't read them yet.. i started reading last summer and at fidt i was reading manga and i passed by Hua Hua You long, it was kinaka too much scenes for me (imagine me nosebleeding !!) but it wasn't finished so i checked the comments and i found that it was a novel and from then on i started reading :)




    And abou the Xiao. he is actually trying to help Han and Murong be together .. if you check my comments you'll understad.. (however for some 'unknown' reason i'm always a target for them... probably cause i'm acting too lovey dovey when mentioning Xin or Murong, then i end up being beaten up, or dead !!!!!!!! but eventually come back to life ! ) there you go my dear kohai~


    i'm a senpai *tears of happiness*

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  65. Oh and i'm also reading 'a cruel romance' but i haven't finished it yet and i'm not even sure if it is finished..

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  66. senpai~
    this is kinda fun... > <
    glad to have made your day!
    so, how should I address you? nii-senpai? nii_san-senpai... O O? ahahaha. I guess that would be a mouthful tho'.


    well, for me it was the manga feng yu jiu tian. then I found out that theres a novel. and there you have it!
    and oh I've been reading those... but not so much with Mo Flower and Jus Primae Noctis, I just couldn't get really interested in it.
    and i'm actually fine with reading non BL too.


    this 'unknown' reason... what could it be?... hmmm... if this were a BL manga, me being your kohai would have to say - it's because your just too cute, senpai~<3! and then there would be plenty of flowers floating around. And you might have to be a little bit creeped out and slowly back away...
    so, how about it? did I successfully capture the typical BL setup?

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  67. oooooh .. (≧∇≦) i'm soo happy my kooohaiii~

    welll .. as long s i am a senpai any name is great for me ^^

    oh i also saw feng yu jiu tian a manga first then i searched for the novel.. since hua hua you long was a novel theni imediatly thought that feng yu jiu tian is a novel too .. too bad it is unfinished.. i believe that from the froth volume are summeries *sad face* i just love this novel.. feng ming is really intelligent, it have soo much informations i really really love it

    i'm also fine with reading non-BL.. that's what i always read before i even knew that the word 'gay' even existed !! but i'll start in summer, but what i usually read is neither Bl nor non-Bl, it probably has nothing to do with romance.. i read about crime and mistery and now i'm here ^-^, but it's woth it right ?

    ohhhh.. you're making me blush (//o//)

    here have a kiss ( ˘ ³˘)♥

    noo worries .. i'll be a huge surprise to me, and when the flowers float around in such a romantic way i'll imediatly faint !!!!
    but if i was a boy i'd probably be creeped out !! i'd probably won't even be here (because i know as i girl i don't want to see or read anything about two gorls making out !!! so if i was a boy i'd feel the same way towadrs two boys making out and you'll see me womewhere where girls are doing it !! or i could be here who wares , the stories are perfectly perfact with the perfect bishies there !)

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  68. tho' I agree with it, I've always thought that the concept of respecting one's elders can be a bit too much at times... we pretty much have the same ways here.
    and speaking of sexist. I've been reading 'A step into the past' another chinese novel. I wonder if you're familiar with it? I like it quite a lot. but it's just too sexist at times. well, most of the time actually... oh well, just throwing that thought out. and I like how in cold sands, the author didn't make Han Xin effeminate. I dislike how men in BLs are sometimes made to resemble women. the weaker and reliant side of women that is.


    I'm been quite impressed with how you've been throwing out those dates and dynasties! I'm familiar with them but I could never keep track which is which.
    records about the lower class... it might be a bit too much to say, but those records would probably be lacking in color and historical importance compared to the upper class which is filled with glamor and intrigue which makes it understandable why theres a lack of records. I guess, no one really likes writing about how many people died of starvation and plague in their country. I seem to have the impression that this is a commonality to the lower class during those periods.
    and I like people who rambles! I'm the type that likes listening more after all, so don't think badly of me when my responses might be inadequate!
    rambling is an adorable trait ya know! and I get to learn a lot with it!


    and oh the update's almost here! I guess I'll be lurking around for the next few hours! I'm certainly looking forward to it! Thank you in advance!

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  69. I guess I'll have to find a kohai of my own. so senpai can have a grand-kohai... and then a great grand-kohai and so on... nyahhhhhh... I guess I'm also having quite a fun with this. ^ ^
    but I suck at making faces. so you'll have to bear with your uncute kohai, senpai.
    If I have to choose, my fave BL would be feng yu jiu tian. for now. since there's quite a lot of progress in the story already. and im looking forward to feng ming's growth after his travels! tho' right now I like Han Xin better, since his character is already well composed and mature compare to feng ming's.
    I've never really read much mystery and crime before. not so much with romance either until I came across BL. im more into scifi and fantasy. and any kind of read is definitely worth it!
    I wouldn't be here if i were a guy either! well, except if i have that kind of interests...
    this is why i sometimes think that being a girl is fun. since we could mess around like this. while guys gets easily weirded out by each other.

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  70. Yeah it definitely is. I don't agree with it but it's what the culture has been for over a millenium (there is debate over this but it is widely acknowledged that the Warring States period saw near equality between men and women!) later on Confucius thought perpetrated the "women have certain expectations and men have certain responsibilities" kinda idea so...yeah :/

    Hahaha Thats because I did part of my elementary and secondary schooling in China and we have to memorise all that for History class. There's quite a bit of emphasis on Classical studies. We read lots of poetry, literature and historical records so it's helpful to know the chronical order XD A ton of idioms involve the emperor and the court and every idiom has a story behind it so in the end you end up using something that happened 279491 years ago in daily life. It's kinda amazing now that i think about it. We like quoting...a lot >u>

    Oh yesss ch 23~ i believe it's been posted as of this comment haha enjoy~~~

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  71. Aw nooo~ something ominous is brewing! Don't tell me--- the author plans to make the two lover fight as kings!? o_O

    Although that would be epic but... i don't want those two boys to cry anymore huhuhu

    I want to see how they would fight in warfare but... I don't want them to be so drifted apart huhuhu

    Impending angst is incoming! I'll definitely bawl my eyes out but the novel would be more awesome~

    Thanks for the chap! :-D

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  72. Dx Our boys are men! They won't cry that easily :s
    Thanks for the support <333 I look forward to the battle too :D

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