Friday, May 8, 2015

Cold Sands (Beyond the Frore Dunes) - ch33

Translator: ayszhang
Proofreaders: krabbykabbi, Luzo, Pau & Red


Cold Sands ch 33
 Is it Murong Yu and his army?!?!




XXXIII Virtiginous



I snap to attention and shoot up, the howl of the horn reverberating in my ears. 

Dashing out the door, I startle the Golden Guardians standing guard but immediately, they run after me.

A sprinting soldier approaches me and gets down on one knee. “Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“Auditor Song led several dozens of other auditors in throwing out supplies to the refugees at An Shang Gate and caused a mob. The refugees and our soldiers were in a light scuffle when the Yan suddenly attacked.”

“What is the situation now?”

“The Yan started attacking Zhong Shan Gate while the auditors are fighting with the lieutenant. Things are chaotic now and Marshal Heng is on his way over there.”

My stomach twists anxiously.

Song Ruoming, why did you have to pick An Shang Gate out of all the gates?!

I get dressed speedily with the help of the servants and by the time I finish, a eunuch has already brought over a horse. I race through the city while my guards yell at the people to clear the path. The rickety ride rocks my mind back and forth into a mess.

An Shang is the weakest gate of the capital since it was completely ruined by warfare many years ago. Afterwards, the Ministry of Works never paid much effort into rebuilding it due to corrupt politics. The defensive requirement was ignored: no barbicans were built and the gate serves little purpose. Although we have dedicated a lot into repairing it, it takes more than a few cold days for a glacier to formit couldn’t possibly be fixed over just a day or two.

I pucker my brows as I try to figure this thing out: was it Song Ruoming who chose An Shang Gate or was it the Yan?

Song Ruoming does not know much about warfare. Everything he has done is according to his own will. He must have chosen to pass out the clothes and food when he saw that there were a lot of refugees near An Shang.

Why would all the refugees be there out of the twelve gates?

The Yan could herd the refugees as they wished so…

I tighten my grip on the reins.

Then there is only one possible answer.

As I approach An Shang Gate, I see fires blazing and hear deafening roars. The walls are in chaos: the armed soldiers are in deadlock with a bunch of auditors wearing their court uniforms. Neither side backs down. A person, most likely the lieutenant, is pointing a nocked bow at the field outside the gate, and across from him is none other than Song Ruoming.

I don’t even know what to say about these auditors. All they do is stir up trouble when there is none and add to the problem when there is one.

The shrieks down there are mixed in with howls and the sound of heavy impact. The Yan must be hitting the gate with a battering ram.

The order to shoot down refugees caused a large uproar when it was announced and some elderly officials even exclaimed, “How coldblooded!” under their breaths.

The situation today is that the Yan are amongst the refugees so our soldiers can’t shoot recklessly. Not to mention, there are a bunch of auditors mixed in the ordeal.

The lieutenant’s veins bulge out on his forehead out of frustration. He draws the bow back more but Song Ruoming stands there, self-composed with his back to the crenel.

I can’t hold it in any longer. “Get out of my way!”

This startles everyone and they turn in my direction before getting down on their knees. Only Song Ruoming remains standing with his lips clipped. I step over all the kneeling people and lean out on the crenel.

The refugees below have formed a stampede, scurrying around like blind bats. There are some elderly and children amongst them. The land a bit farther away looks as if it has been plowed through. Many corpses are scattered about, dabbed with the colour of dirt and trampled over so much that no feature remains distinguishable.

The soldiers were already unhappy about the shooting order and now with these reckless auditors, they are not shooting at all. The Yan have taken this time to attack.

The escalades have already been set up against the smooth wall and footmen are rushing to charge up. Under the cover of shieldmen, the battering ram builds up momentum and smashes into the gate again and again with incredible power.

The two rows of bowmen are all ready but I can see the conflicting conscience in their eyes.

I hiss between clenched teeth, “Song Ruoming, get out of my way.”

“I can’t do that, Your Majesty!”

The earth starts to tremble rhythmically and a deep, dull sound resonates from below.

A line-up of heavy cavalry equipped with impenetrable armour that covers their horses as well seems to form a solid wall underneath the sunshine, even casting a thick shadow on the ground. They are not galloping at high speeds but are instead advancing one step at a time at a unified and collected pace, beating against the heart not too quickly nor too slowly.

“Kill!” The cavalrymen start to howl in unison, all collected as one.

They aren’t looking to charge forth. Instead, they are going to push the refugees towards the city and use them as their human shield.

“Help!” One person shouts. Instantly, the scream starts multiplying like a virus. Every refugee is scampering towards the city to escape from the metal hooves of the cavalry. They mingle in with the soldiers, desperately clawing at the flat wall.

The gate shakes and clangs with each impact, the metal chains clinking nonstop. Soldiers are yelling as they run amidst the flying swords and blood. Meanwhile, I, those auditors, the lieutenant and Song Ruoming seem to be in an alternate reality as we stay locked in this confrontation. It is actually so silly.

I am saying this one last time, Song Ruoming. Move.”

He stubbornly shakes his head, his eyes filled with the iron-willed look I’m familiar with. He is making a meaningless request of mercy for those refugees with his own life.

Should I be glad or sad to have such an auditor?

He hasn’t changed but I have.

“Guards,” I speak through gritted teeth. “Send Auditor Song back to his manor.”

The soldiers beside me lunge forth. Song Ruoming struggles as he is being dragged away. His voice is almost hoarse. “No! Your Majesty! No!”

I already have the title of being coldblooded. Why not give them the whole package?

I snatch the bow from the lieutenant and dart over to the edge of the wall, nocking the arrow. The people behind me gasp out loud, to which I snap around and glare at them. “If you are too scared to shoot, I will do it with you!”

They all stare in bewilderment at me.

I scan them and scoff. “Are you all deaf or blind? Did you not hear my orders? Can you not see what is going on down there? If they do not die, we will!”

The next second, I release and the arrow shoots out as a bright flash, zooming through the air towards its target.

Someone lets out a painstaking scream but it quickly gets engulfed in the crowd.

“Release!” I bellow.

The lieutenant raises an arm and the bowmen step forward with eyes about to pop out from their sockets. Immediately, a shower of glistening arrowtips flies out over the people outside the city.

One round.

And then another.

It has become the land of the dead down below. Refugees and soldiers alike fall like dead weeds before they even realise what is going on. Dust dances in the air. Wails shake the heavens.

I close my eyes and the bow falls from my hand, hitting the ground with a crisp sound.

I can even hear the hissing sounds of hot blood spraying out. I don’t want to look at anyone’s eyes, whether they have guilt, blame or anger in them. It has nothing to do with me.

My hands have been stained once again with the blood of the innocent.

I shuffle forward stiffly.

I’ll just leave this to them. I’ve already done my share. Don’t need to worry about soldiers disobeying my orders again.

They clear a path for me. Everyone bows their heads and holds their tongues respectfully wherever I go.

Do they respect me or my identity? Or just my cold-hearted, callous ways?

I don’t want to look and I don’t want to think. I just want to get away from here. Away from this hell.

My personal guards trail far behind me quietly.

Amidst the lightheadedness, I can’t see anything and all I feel is this cold chill spreading from the bottom of my heart. I take a hard fall as I turn the corner of the stairs. I fall limp and slump against the city wall. Feeling the cold sweat dripping down my back, I close my eyes. I don’t want to see anything.

The guards haven’t drawn near, leaving me alone, panting.

“Murong Yu…” I mumble. I don’t even know what the hell I’m saying anymore.

Someone is calling for me. I can faintly hear ‘Your Majesty’ but I don’t want to listen. I just pant while holding onto the wall for support.

The person is still moving in front of me as a strange voice enters my ears. Suddenly frustrated, I stagger forward a few steps while holding onto the wall. I just want to get away from him but the person keeps following me. With my back against the cold wall, I slide down to the ground.

This is the first time I shot someone since ascension. My hands are stained with the blood of Rui citizens.

The Xie family, the Xu family, the disobedient officials and those maids and attendants—I’ve killed plenty and I had felt guilty, but never regretful.

But now, I regret it.

I slowly lower my hands from my eyes and stare dumbly at them. For a split second, I think I see rusty red on them.

I’m not a good emperor.

I can’t save everyone.

I’m tired.

There seems to be a bit of despair that begins to extend from my heart to the rest of my body.

The person reaches out as though to help me up. I shake my head. A light sigh enters my ears and a shadow looms over me. Before I know it, I’ve been pulled up and someone’s warm hand is holding tightly onto mine. I’m led away by him like that to somewhere.

It’s as if I’m walking through a foggy night. Bright signal torches suddenly appear before me, glowing in a sickly green colour. From the skies above, an ocean of blood comes roaring towards me to drown me.

Where are you, Murong Yu? Why have you still not come yet?

I don’t want anything. I just want you to come and take me away from this terrible nightmare.

It’s his figure reaching out his hand from afar. I reach out to grab it but I lose my vision. The pull of gravity disappears for a moment and I snap my eyes open. Drapes are pulled low around the bed; I’m in my sleeping quarters and Murong Yu is nowhere to be seen.

I spring up to find my outer robes gone, leaving only the inner ones.

Recalling the dream earlier, I still feel my body temperature fluctuating wildly and the sweat wetting my clothes.

Liu An lifts up the drapes. “Ah, You’re awake.”

I let out a deep breath and jump off the bed. Liu An quickly helps me into an outer robe.

“How long was I asleep for?”

“Two hours.”

I walk over to the window and push it open, a cool breeze bursting in. I suddenly remember what had happened and can’t help but sigh. How could I be so stupid and lose my composure when there are so much for me to do? But I am curious as to whose hand it was that held mine.

I accidentally glance past the screen and see the figure standing in the other part of the room.

It’s

“Your Majesty left and was gone for quite some time. It was Marshal Heng who brought You back,” he tells me quietly. “You were not Yourself at the time and did not recognize anybody. The cleaning and changing were all done by him.”

I stand there, too stunned for words.

He’s standing right there, his presence like a silent guardian.

I give my face a rub as I walk out. “Marshal,” I call.

His frame shakes before he spins around. He doesn’t perform the rituals and just smiles. “Good morning.”

I smile back. “I owe You much for today.”

Heng Ziyu doesn’t show any surprise. “I’ve said, I will be by Your Majesty’s side no matter what.”

I nod and he flashes a toothy grin, looking at ease, which is rare to see. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him as relaxed as he is now. I always remember him having a frown and tightly pressed lips.

He’s still there, standing at a reachable distance away from me.

“How are things at An Shang?”

“We have temporarily held off the Yan’s attack.”

“How are the men?”

“In good spirits.”

I take a deep breath to steady my mood. “Marshal, what do you think of my actions?”

His gaze darkens and he sighs. “I understand Your difficulties, Your Majesty.”

I turn my head away to not see those concerned eyes. A short sigh and four little words make me want to look into those eyes of his. There is a weak bond of trust. There is a secret alliance. However, he’s been standing behind me without a complaint, like how he is still on my side now no matter how much the others blame and curse me.

Maybe I should say thanks to him even if it’s out of political appropriateness.

I’ve changed and I’ve lost many things along the way. The ones that remain after going through so many hardships seem all the more precious.

He takes a step closer. “Your Majesty, if I may, I ask that You come to the battlements now.”

I look back at him, at the face I’m so familiar withthe sharp, contrasted features, strong brows, animated eyes—and I feel as though the dizziness earlier never even happened.

He holds my hand in his and explains earnestly, “You lost composure at the battlements and although I escorted You back, it would be the best to go again now that You are all right to reassure the soldiers and the people.”

His hands move to my shoulders and he keeps his keen gaze on me. I open my mouth but I have nothing to say.

Indeed, I should go. It’s my responsibility.

The warmth that comes from his body drives away my shivers. I close my eyes and say with fatigue, “Okay.”

“Going after a few more hours’ rest is fine, too, if Your Majesty still feels tired,” he adds gently.

I open my eyes and look into his eyes. They are void of the usual hawk-like air but are instead warm and full of earnest worry like he truly cares for me.

“You don’t look too well,” he says as he reaches towards my face.

I hurriedly step back, leaving his hand in midair. He shows some surprise but it disappears from his face in an instant.

But I saw it. That fervent gaze in which the usual calmness and control is nowhere to be found. He was like a totally different person.

“If You could just step aside momentarily, I am going to get dressed.” I lower my eyes and turn away from him.

He opens his mouth to say something but in the end he leaves without a word.

I sigh. I really hope I am mistaken.

A gaze like that is too reckless and taboo; it is not what a subject should have for his ruler.

After washing up, I don the armour again and head to An Shang Gate on horse with Heng Ziyu.

I tell him about my speculations along the way and he frowns as he listens.

“So what You’re saying is that it was not a coincidence that the refugees gathered at An Shang Gate,” he confirms in a low voice.

I nod. “That is why I suspect that it’s likely that there are Yan agents in the city.”

“We have been searching for agents since the beginning but the population is so high it is almost impossible to go through everybody,” he analyses. “Not to mention, the agents must have been planted a long time ago if the Yan are bent on absorbing Great Rui.”

I glimpse the civilians cowering on the side of the road and sigh. How troublesome. It’s likely that what happened today will happen again if there are agents. Additionally, their actions would directly affect the civilians.

I remember Murong Yu saying that the city might be dead but the people in it are alive. This is what he must have meant.

As we approach An Shang Gate, a pungent odour of blood stings my nose. Many army doctors are carrying heavily wounded soldiers down. Broken weapons and limbs are scattered everywhere and the stairs are coated with blood.

After I get to the top, I let out a loud gasp. The moat is stuffed with floating corpses whose faces cannot be discerned. Bodies are strewn all over the vast plains a bit farther off in the distance, most of which are defenseless refugees and not Yan soldiers. The smell of dead bodies circulates in the air below like ghouls with a strong grudge.

There are even some moving amongst the piles of corpses. They extend out their bony hands and painstakingly crawl across a surface made of blood and broken bones. The battlefield exudes a foul odour from the rotting bodies of the past few days. Bones peek out from underneath the armour of the deceased soldiers and their weapons stay stuck in the soil, forming a sparsely grown forest.

Our soldiers are dirty and grimy as though they’ve just come back from hell. They are quivering but they stay upright like statue. The eyes that are shadowed by their helmets are wild and bloodshot.

The Yan army are still there in the distance. Without attacking, the cavalry succeeded in making the refugees run around like crazed bulls simply by coordinating the rhythm of their steps. The sunlight dances wildly off of their steel black helmets as they stand there in silence, forming a massive line of offense that stretches for several li like obsidian statues or a solid metal wall.

The endless, black ocean starts to stir from the nearby plains and a black flag rises into the wind, the emblem of an eagle blazing brightly.

An emblem with an eagle—the soaring bird was on his armour as well.

“The emblem of the eldest prince of Yan.” Heng Ziyu’s eyes darken. “A man like the eagle.”

The ocean that is the Yan army suddenly scatters out as though in fear of something. Two people come forth on horses, one ahead of the other, until the forefront. The man in front is wearing the familiar, glistening silver armour and is mounted on an ink black warhorse. Wielding a zhanma sabre, he draws closer from afar. His cape billows wildly in the brisk wind, appearing august and awesome as he approaches.

My heart is pounding furiously and I feel as if an invisible hand is choking my neck. I glue my gaze on that slowly moving figure and shudder.

It’s him. It’s him. It’s

The black ocean of cavalry moves along with him, making the earth below shake with fury and driving up dust and dirt into a yellow storm. The ground quakes with every step, as if everything is going to crumble into pieces underneath their hooves. Whether it be bodies or bones, everything will be pulverised.

I close my fist tightly while a deep melancholy rises from the bottom of my heart, putting so much pressure on me that I can’t breathe.

I’ve pictured countless times what it would be like meeting again but I would have never thought it would be in the presence of thousands of soldiers. Seeing a figure that resembled him was enough to make me collapse but now that the real thing has come, I’m still standing tall on the battlement.

I still cannot distinguish his features from this distance so I trust that he cannot see mine either.

I just want to leave. You can call me weak or you can call me spineless, I just don’t want to stay here waiting for that heartrending moment to come. But my feet are glued to the ground. I can’t budge a single inch and can only watch dumbly as he gets closer and closer.

I’m not mistaken. It is him in the flesh.

In that moment, he looks up. We gaze at each other from afar and it’s as if there is a million miles between us.

I whisk my head around, unable to continue.

“Your Majesty?”

I shake my head while breathing hard, evading Heng Ziyu’s eyes. I start backing away. I do not have the courage to keep looking. A wave of dizziness hits me and a bitter emotion eats into my heart.

There are so many other people here. I don’t need to be here. Let me go. Let me go

Heng Ziyu grabs my wrist extremely hard. “What’s the matter with You, Your Majesty?”

I fling his hand away as the world before me turns fuzzy. My mind is blank. There is only me left in this whole universe. A chill starts to creep through my body and lingers stubbornly.

“Your Majesty, please keep it together!”

Yes, I want to keep myself together, too. Could someone teach me how? I grit my teeth and push the garbled feelings down into my heart that feels like it is being shredded to pieces. Didn’t I already know this moment was going to come? But why am I still so fearful?

I close my eyes and sigh.

Oh well. Fate has decided everything and you have accepted your fate, right?

I just hope to face this while calm and collected so as to not put shame on my name and the royal blood within me.

Slowly, I open my eyes. He has halted his horse. He’s too far and all I can tell is that he has a serious expression.

Murong Yu, I only ask that you don’t recognize that this person is me.

Our deadlock is momentary and eternal.

He has stopped outside the range of the bowmen with heavy cavalry on either side of him, as well as the shieldmen in position. Behind him, Yuwen Yuan raises his saber and the ocean of cavalry starts to boil. Some hit their spear hilts against the ground while others knock their sabers and bows against their saddles, roaring, “Kill!”

Their deafening roar completely overwhelms everything else around them. Low and daunting, it is even making the walls vibrate.

That eagle is still soaring in the wind.

Slowly, Murong Yu raises his hand and they all fall quiet in an instant, leaving an uncomfortable silence.

He announces in a booming voice, “This is the Prince Royal of Yan, Prince Lie, Murong Yu. Presently, our army has surrounded this city and victory is inevitable. There is no benefit for you to fight as it only serves to stall your deaths. Surrender the city at once, or else,” his voice suddenly rises, “the day the city falls will be the day you perish!”

Everyone looks to me.

I take a deep breath and shout back, “Hear my words, Prince Lie of Yan down below, there is no need for chitchat. We welcome your attack for we shall die before surrendering! I stand here today, if the capital dies, then I shall die alongside every soldier and every citizen in this city! If God forbids and the city falls, we shall make you crawl through your own blood every step of the way! Better to die in glory than to live in vain!”

My passionate voice echoes while he stays quiet and looks in my direction. I can’t see his expression or his eyes clearly. Once the words left my mouth, I actually feel calm and composed, as if I have nothing to fear.

It’s so quiet it seems everything around me is frozen.

Suddenly, he yanks hard on the reins to charge forth but Yuwen Yuan is one step ahead of him and grabs him.

No kidding. Of course he can tell that from my voice.

I feel my eyes getting wet but I want to laugh for some reason.

This moment has finally come.

“Warriors, hear my orders! Those who back away are not sons of Great Rui; those who let even one Yan soldier past our gates will be the shame of Great Rui. And those who sacrifice themselves today shall be heroes!”

I feel his piercing gaze on me, as sharp as a blade, as bright as lightning, threatening to puncture my armour and penetrate my soul.

“If so, we shall see it through to the end and see who gets the last laugh!” Yuwen Yuan sounds as cold as always but I think he’s smiling. “I look forward to our meeting then!”

I clench my teeth and pull back, the soldiers taking my place immediately.

Any more talk now is only futile. We cannot go back to before. We have already become enemies of one another. Well, more accurately, we were enemies since the beginning. What happened before is just a story of the past.

I didn’t have the courage to think what kind of distress meeting him would cause. Only when, out of nowhere, he was really standing before me did I truly understand that the times past cannot return just as yesterday will never come again.

No, never again.

I can’t help but take one more look. He has already turned his horse around and rode into the mass of soldiers. The thin flake of snow that is his silver helmet is quickly engulfed by the black, metallic ocean, gradually leaving without a trace.

He disappears from my sight without even once turning back to look.

In a few moments’ time, he has already gone from loving to hating me.

I’ll just blame it on my being thin on love. I’ll…

Just let him hate me from now on so I can wait for that day, if it does come, when I can die without a single regret or worry for this world.

By the end of the day, the Yan army of two hundred thousand strong has gathered at the capitalnow only a stranded island.


_____________

ayszhang: Hehe, I know you guys are probably feeling cheated >u> Who else was disappointed that Yuwen Yuan stopped Murong Yu from charging up to Han Xin?

Chapter 32
Creative Commons Licence
Cold Sands - English Translation by ayszhang is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

97 comments:

  1. Oh the glorious return of Murong!!!!

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  2. You havent even read it yet ! >o<

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  3. Almost first for the third time :o I hate how I have to wait several hours until I can read this chapter. It's torture Dx

    ~Michaela

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  4. XD Almost but not quite hahaha
    It's ok~~~ The chapter will be here when you get back and I will be waiting too <3

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  5. I skimmed for parts that said "Murong" lol. Basically I read the last part first hahah.

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  6. Oops made a new comment instead of replying to this thread. Have to read the chapter more thoroughly during my lunch break but I was too exited for Murong's return so I skimmed heheheeh.

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  7. Hope Murong will not jump to conclusion that HX betrayed him purposely. Can't wait for next chapter. Sure It going to be long agonizing week waiting for new chapter. Does YY already know HX's identity? He is really pain in the ass. And Heng again got spotlight for saving poor HX at his most vulnerable time. Kind of ironic to show up when HX was calling MY and held his hand

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  8. Oh no what is this tight clenching in my heart??
    Brb checking myself into a hospital. This is too much. THEY DON'T DESERVE THIS, whyyyYYYyyyyyyyyyyyyyYYyyYyyYyYyy

    ): URGH

    I ship it Han x Murong so hard, Lucifer's Dick forbids that a bad ending occurs, otherwise... I would probably just cry and throw a giant tantrum. T__T

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  9. Argh! My heart can't handle this, omg
    Just... I had to just stop reading and take a break 3/4 of the way through, to stop for 2 mins and continue, it was just too much, man XD
    My eyes became moist reading this >.>
    asdfghjkl, the intensity is rising.
    K.... I think i'm calm now, phew...
    Amazing chapter :D

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  10. So Murong Yu lost his senses and Yuwen Yuan had to intervene and had the final words... I wish the next chapter was done with Murong Yu as the subjective narrator. I am so dying to know what he was thinking and what he is going to do after finding out Xin's situation. And Ziyu! Poor guy! I was almost jumping when I read "I tell him about my speculations along the way and he frowns as he listens. ", because I thought HX would finally stop being so slickery and ask Ziyu about the meaning of his "taboo gaze". But then, again, that was just my wishful thinking! The speculations were about the gate, not about Ziyu's behavior... But I am still happy with the drama-filled chapter :) Glad the author cares about the plot.

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  11. AZ, another chapter that caused me to cry a river of tears so I will be needing your shoulder again.


    I thought that HX would take the bow and arrow and shoot SR first instead of refugees, I would have. I think that HX shouldn't give SR an inch because if you give someone an inch, they will take a mile.


    HX just trying to console himself by believing MY hate him so if he go on fighting MY and receive death, he will have no regret and and so would MY.


    By the time I saw the chapter is up, there were already 8 comments and by the time I finished reading it and commenting, it showed 10 comments.



    AZ, thank-you again for another heart pounding and sad chapter, well at least it is to me. Now got to run to go to work.

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  12. Ok now that I read through everything Theres so much to comment on. First, stupid auditor Song! I thought Xin would shoot him with an arrow for being so aggravating (he really should have). Second, Heng Ziyu...just stop lol. Not that I dislike him but Xin obviously has no interest. And if I think about it, he's actually not really showing any respect for Xin as an emperor since he's always so brazenly touching him and looking at him (even changed his clothes!!). Third, I just wish there was ore of Murong in this chapter haha.

    Thanks for the triple release.

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  13. so sad for them..thank you for update

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  14. As a Heng Ziyu number one fan, I just want to push him to Han Xin every time they are together. His self control is just to adfdsfhdjkhh... All he can do is only held Xin's hand and it happened countless times hahahaha how sweet ><
    And Murong Yu is coming yay! Can't wait for the next chapters!!! Thank you ayszhang love you~~~ <3

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  15. WAAAAAAAAAAH!! This chapter! So much is happening!! Makes me SO frustrated! 😭 I'll come back to comment later after i calm down.

    Anyway thanks Ayszhang for this chapter!

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  16. aaaaarrrgggghh i am conflicted, i am happy heng ziyu x han xin had more airing time but meeting scene between murong yu x han xin also heart-wrenching. daaaamnnn... now i have to wait another week for update... *shivers*

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  17. Wow thanks for triple release.

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  18. oh lala! How is this going to end? I see no way out for them!


    Thank you!

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  19. Omg yeah I was secretly hoping that he would shoot Song Ruoming... But he is (was) his best friend so I don't know if he can shoot his best friend.

    Yesss omg that's exactly what I felt like when I first read this. I was like wtf stop harassing Han Xin >:(
    But if you really read it carefully he acted similarly with Murong who also was harassing him (pretty much).

    D: There really was no way to see more of him. With the war and the armies... 💔

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  20. Aww noooo, Murong Yu doesn't really hate Han Xin, does he?! :O Dx

    Also, does Yuwen Yuan know it's Han Xin now? Before, he said that he thought Han Xin was familiar, but when he stopped Murong Yu from charging forward, he was smiling....hmmm <.<

    I went into deep thought, for some reason, about how Murong Yu would react when meeting Hen Ziyu and how Han Xin would explain himself XD

    Murong Yu: "Han Xin, who is this?"

    Han Xin: "Well, you see....uh...you were gone for so long...and uh, I got lonely so-"

    Heng Ziyu (to Murong Yu): *smuggly* "I was there for Han Xin when you weren't."

    Murong Yu (to Han Xin): "What kind of lover are you?!"

    And then Murong Yu would probably want to punish Han Xin (sexually X3)

    Then Hen Ziyu would get mad because he doesn't want his Han Xin to be hurt....but he would probably also want to "punish" Han Xin too.

    And so, this is how the threesome starts, hahaha

    Thank you!!! <333

    ~Michaela

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  21. whaaaaaaaa..........the tension is depressing...........wonder if Murong knows that the king is Xin

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  22. Omg >_< *nose bleeeed*

    I'm pretty sure Yuwen Yuan could tell it was Han Xin before in ch 31(?) but even he couldn't be 100% sure. But I think he told Murong his suspicions! Which is why he was so quick to stop Murong >A< (I was like nooooo why cant you just let him charge up there and the two can just gallop into the sunset (lol Dairytea's exact words)

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  23. YES! That's the word! Irony! I was trying to come up with that word while translating but it slipped my mind! Hahha thanks for reminding me.

    I think Yuwen knows or at least is suspicious. But he obviously doesn't know Han's voice as well as Murong does (duhhhh!)

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  24. :( 💔 poor Han Xin. I'm just glad Heng Ziyu is there for him

    Feel better soon~ XD be sure to check out of the hospital before tomorrow to read the new story <3

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  25. Oh my D: then you better prepare for ch 35!!! I nearly cried translating it!

    Thank you :)))) glad you liked it

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  26. Hahahha omg that wouldn't be like Han Xin if he confronted Heng about the heated gaze XD remember how hard it was for him to recognize his feelings for Murong?!

    Yay! Glad you liked it :D

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  27. :( aww you poor baby. *brings eye44can1's head

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  28. Omg did u not notice?!?! He changed Han Xin's clothes! And wiped him down!!!!!!!! Kyaaaaa

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  29. \ (>A<) / *waits for you*

    And you're welcome <3

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  30. My heart broke for Xin a little bit there D: I feel as though Murong is having very mixed feelings right now as well! Poor Heng though... I have a feeling he won't be getting any Han Xin in this life >.>

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  31. i❤PassionFruitMay 8, 2015 at 6:56 PM

    Okay, I'm finally ready. Took me quite a while haha....Anyway.........i love the part where Murong realize the emperor of Rui was Han Xin! 😍 but it was too bad that they didnt get to really talk because of all the people around them and especially yuwen yuan.[ 😠💁like what the heck yuwen yuan? Why are u interupting this for us audience!!!] Heng was sweet in the chapter. ☺❤ while Han Xin was sick i wonder if he was calling Murong's name b/c if he did that means heng probably knows something now. (This would totally sweeten up all the drama in this chapter! 😜) Also I'm starting to dislike his friend Song Ruoming. I understand his point of view but he should really try to understand Han Xin instead of calling him cruel. That really hurt Han Xin. 😭 He made it seem like Han Xin was the bad guy while he's the good guy who got the supplies for the refugees. Damn him! He even made the situation worst and emotionally scarred Han Xin deeply.

    I want to say more but I'm too tired from all the drama. Looking forward to the next chapter! ☺🌺

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  32. i❤PassionFruitMay 8, 2015 at 7:38 PM

    I agree. 😳

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  33. 😘 thanks for the long comment~

    I think Yuwen might have told Murong his suspicions but he didn't want to believe it but when he finally saw (or shud I say heard) Han Xin he was so mad and angry he forgot he was leading a 200k men army!!! That's how much he cares for Han Xin 😭

    Plz come back tomorrow for the new story❤️

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  34. What part do u agree with?!?! 😨

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  35. Aaaaahhhhhhhhh ! This story is killing me 😕😒 *long sight of frustration*
    I languish for the real meeting between Murong and Han Xin. Face to face, eyes into eyes.
    This last chapter put a veil of sadness on my heart. As if something was definitively lost. I don't know. I fear for the two lovers. Fear that fate will not allow them to be together again. I am so sad. 😢

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  36. i❤PassionFruitMay 8, 2015 at 8:29 PM

    Wouldn't miss!😊

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  37. why is everybody trashing yuwenyuan? though i absolutely hate his guts. i doubt there would be any galloping through the sunset if yuwenyuan didn't stop murongyu. if he proceeded onwards he would have been within the archer's range.
    if heng changed xin's clothing does that mean he might have seen the jade token?
    and thanks for the updates! this week has been a pleasant surprise! too bad i wasn't online for a while, i would have loved participating on the 300 comments thing.

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  38. Cuz everyone just wants Murong and Han to be together 😭 so they gotta find someone to blame.

    Yeah...thats so true! Heng would have told the archers to shoot! D:

    I missed you <3333 hope everything is going well for you

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  39. Lol!! I mean the part about my heart breaking for Han Xin and the part saying that Heng won't get Han Xin

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  40. Michaela, as I stated on my reply to AZ's reply on the last chapter, 3 some is a wishful thinking on our part. With both MY and ZH jealousy characteristics, it is impossible. And, MY's type of punishment to HX, HX would scream "DAMNIT! GIVE ME MORE OF YOUR PUNISHMENT!" that is after he kill ZH and drag HX to bedchamber for punishments.

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  41. everything's great! im on a break now. so i've been binge reading all the books i've wanted to read that i haven't had the time to during school. and i've been in front of computers all day long during school that i've gotten too sick staring at it.
    you always seem to be busy. and now you have summer classes! i've never really liked summer classes since its terribly boring and with the heat and all that i avoid it like i would a plague.
    and oh. are the updates in the next days be the new project that would replace coldsands?
    yeah. i could totaly imagine heng giving the order. it seemed like a really good opportunity to shoot murongyu down. ohmygod. im totally a heng fan now i've even welcome the idea of murongyu being riddled with arrows. and hey its not everyone! there are 91 people in the hengziyu camp!

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  42. Well, I think that this time is a good reason because not only SR endangered himself, Emperor, army and all ordinary citizens inside the Capital even after HX had explained to him why HX can't do what SR had asked. And here I thought SR that SR a well educated person who would understand that is the ploy of the Yan to weaken the defense from within. You don't have to be an expert in the art of war to know this is most use strategy in war.

    Maybe the soldiers would agree with my thinking of shooting SR not to kill him but only to get him out of the way and stay out of this war and situation with the refugees.

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  43. Yeah, alright. They sit down and talk. In which MY would say "In this relationship, I am the top dog and you are the bottom dog, and everyone else is obsolete. So, let go to the bedchamber instead, and we could let our bodies do the talking."

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  44. Thank you. I know we readers are demanding. Always asking for next chapter but that is how much we are addicted to the story. And really thankful to you and proofreaders for amazing translation.

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  45. T_T so everything she said...*sigh* I kinda feel bad for translating this story now cuz it's making you guys sad

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  46. There, there. We can always dream of a threesome >u<

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  47. Well, >o< that's why Han Xin made his guards drag Song down and the "back to his manor" part means the guards would make sure he stays in the manor hahaha. Imprisonment ;)

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  48. YOU'RE SO NAUGHTY EYE44CAN1!!! >A<
    *pulls eye44can1 down on lap and spanks her*

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  49. Waaaaaahhhhh, it not my fault that I am so naughty. I am usually a pretty mild person but you can blame my naughtiness (wild imaginations) on my earlier years when I started to read all those really smutty books by those American queens of smut writers. When I read those details smutty novels, I can get all the real images in my mind from those words just like your translation of this novel. It feels like I am right there witnessing all the events that are happening.

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  50. Yeah I noticed it, but there's no more after that. I was like "Come on Zeng!!! just jump on him!!!"
    Oh waittt could it be Heng Ziyu did something but Xin didn't realized it???!!! hahahah We want moreeeeee ><

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  51. Hehe Xin put up some resistance but he wasn't in a position where he could escape from Murong's advances >=D muahaha

    After reading so many comments supporting Heng I must say I'm pretty debated about him. I think he treats Xin well and he cares for the people but something feels off. Like the casual way he acts with Xin makes him seem pretty full of himself. I don't think any loyal subject would approach the emperor the way he does. And in earlier chapters it mentioned Heng was always trying to gain power over the royal family (from what I remember?) so there can definitely be ulterior motives. Xin also always mentions Heng's inappropriateness and their thin facade of loyalty. I can see him playing nice now because they have a common goal and made a 'deal' but how about in the future? No wonder Master Liao said you can't fully trust him. Maybe if we had a narrative from his POV it'll make me be more pro-Heng .

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  52. Marishi, I believes HX know ZH's ulterior motive, and HX just ignoring it because right now he needs ZH's strength, and command of the soldiers to fight for the war. At the beginning when HX took over as Emperor, he didn't have any strong backing and had to use ZH's military strength, therefore, we should feel a little sorry for ZH being used.

    In this chapter there was a part where HX quickly pull his hand back when ZH tried to touch him, it like HX telling ZH "My body and every parts of my body is a temple. You can look but you can't touch.", and in his mind, he is saying "All of my body belong and reserve for MY only." (I had to throw that in).

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  53. ;D it's okay i like you naughty hehe

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  54. Yeah >u> he was so dead he wouldn't have noticed anything! :oooo maybe he even kissed him. But we may never know...

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  55. >;D That's so true though hahahahaha. Murong just made him take it! hehe
    Yeah...that's true. I felt the exact same way and didn't like Heng. Buuut after extra 3 you might think differently *cough*cough*

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  56. In HX's delirious mind, maybe he thinking and dreaming that MY is kissing him.

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  57. <3 You are officially my favourite reader ever, eye44can1. I love the inner thoughts you write for the characters XDDD and do you have premonition or something? :O 'Cause the two quotes actually appear in the story later on!!! (Well not those exact words but the same idea)

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  58. That totally could have happened!!! =u= but Han Xin was too tired. Poor baby finally got two (?) hours of sleep

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  59. Oh, thank-you AZ, you make me very happy for praising my inner thoughts, usually people would say that I have very dirty mind.

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  60. My city has a really mild climate and we only get about 2-4 days a year that reach higher than 30 degrees (celcius). And I love the major, and subsequently the courses that I take so it's not too bad! And the fact that the two courses I'm taking this summer will be the last of my psych major!!! >_< wooot wooot!

    No this will be a short story and will probably end around the same time as cold sands :)

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  61. If what you have is a dirty mind then I love dirty minds ;) Srsly they're so entertaining and spot on!

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  62. Yeah, when I read written materials, I usually tried to analyze what it is that the authors want us, the readers, try to guess, analyze and solve what is it the messages that they trying to tell us as well as they tried to entertain us with their imaginations.

    I know that before the authors write any story (especially the historical ones), they do a lot research on it that is why I like to read a lot (all kinds of materials). I also like to read all the comments because I like to know all the commentators' thoughts on the chapter/story.

    Sorry, old habits are hard to die. I am like this because of my high school English teacher who had made each of the student in class to stand up and give the interpretation of each chapter of the story.

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  63. Hey that's a good habit!!! :ooo But sadly a lot of internet writers don't do that *cough*fiftyshades*cough*
    .
    ANYWAYYYS
    .
    I've been doing tons of research as I'm translating this too! :p found out lots of stuff I never knew about China before haha.
    I appreciate your effort >u< so I'm going to put in more effort and pay more attention to details and nuances so as to allow for a better interpretation~

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  64. i❤PassionFruitMay 9, 2015 at 4:15 AM

    I'm willing to be sad because i an't stop loving this story! Plus its not all sad. 😊

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  65. no wonder you don't seem to mind summer classes. i love majors and electives after all it would be something that i chose. but they never offer it during the summer only general education. its not really that hot here i suppose. the average temperature here is 32c. but i could never get used to spending summer in the city. it feels hot and stiffling even when its not.
    and the climate there sounds nice... hopefully the next place i settle into would have a nicer climate.

    oh. i was hoping it was. so which one is it? have you decided already? im kind of excited! hmmm... it was either till death do us part or another historical novel, right? ohgod. im being overly eager am i? im trying to redirect my excitement from reading the latest release.

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  66. Oh that's too bad :( I guess the situation varies school to school.
    The avg temp here in July is 22 celcius. XD so much cooler than where you are.
    .
    Hahaha. I haven't leaked any information about it save for some well-hidden transparent notes in certain posts (I won't tell you which :p) which a few readers found by accident. Anyhow, it's a modern one! The first chapter will be posted in about 5 hours <3

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  67. Oohh sounds like Heng will make a move on Xin and he'll be flat out rejected by Xin's love confession for Murong. I hope Xin finally tells Murong he loves him (maybe in chapter 36 when they have their talk?)

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  68. Yea I'm sure Heng knows Xin is using him for his military strength but I don't feel bad for that since he's a citizen of Rui and he should be protecting his country. He'll also be getting power from it too. But I think he uses the knowledge that Xin has to rely on him to his advantage and just hangs around him without ceremony ( it's amazing how he just pops out of no where all the time around Xin). But I guess all in all he isn't a bad guy. He just better keep his hands to himself if he doesn't Murong to come and chop them off XP

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  69. Yes I am eagerly waiting for the next update! Thank you so much for translating this at such a speedy rate and posting the climatic parts in such quick succession!! I visit this site at least twice a week, even if the update says that there's nothing up because I am so impatient kekek

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  70. XDDDD rofl @ the last part!!!
    Yeah he must have some sort of 'Han Xin radar' or something!

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  71. Awww <3 thank you for the support~
    Life's complete when one has lovely readers like you. Will continue to work hard and translate speedily for you all :)

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  72. Well, HX is also the citizen of Rui but we all feel bad for him when we read that he was being used by the DE and his uncle. I know that you might say it is ZH's duty as an army general so he has to be used but I am pretty sure that no one like to be used whether he is a general or the citizen of that country. Just like HX doesn't like to be used by the DE and his uncle for their goal.

    ZH already has the power even before he met HX, and I am sure he would still have the power even when HX became the emperor because he didn't have to backup HX when HX became the new emperor. It is only when he started to have verbal spars with HX that he wanted HX all to himself. If HX didn't have ZH's military backing, I pretty sure HX would still be the puppet Emperor under DE's power.

    If MY came and chop his hands off, he just hope that MY only do that, and not chop off anything else like the opposite end of his brain.

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  73. More like the invisible ninja. You don't know that he is right there until out of nowhere he is right beside or in front or behind you. Waaaaahhhhhhh, so scary.

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  74. Preach it eye44can1. I think Heng is okay with Han Xin using him thouh >3< cuz like you said, Han Xin is like a temple/shrine. You can look but you cant touch hahaha.

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  75. But we also should consider the fact Han Xin has never been in the best condition since he came back to the capital. He was troubled by headaches because of the palace steps and the memories related to it. Then after he became emperor he barely got sleep :s and Heng is the only person that would still approach Han because I would think that after all the killing everyone would be too scared of Han Xin. Indeed, other than Master Liao (his teacher) and Liu An (his personal servant), Heng is the only one.

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  76. Waaaahhh. Don't remind me of HX unwilling to kill. I kind of let flow it out of my mind right now because I don't want to cry again until maybe the next chapter or 2?

    By the way, I have a very X-rated version of MY punishment for HX. Do you want to read it?

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  77. I hadn't meant to preach. I know ZH don't mind him being used by HX because all he wanted was HX all to himself.

    I, myself, had shipped HX with MY. It is that I am just feeling a little bit sorry for ZH. I know at the beginning, he is kind of a jerk and a bully from his 1st & 2nd meetings with HX but still a strong and standup straight general. But now, I just think he is a pitiful person because of how he behave in front of HX. It is like he is a static-clinging door mat for HX exclusive use.

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  78. QAQ the way you put it...awww poor Heng...
    .
    I guess he just doesn't know how else to get Han Xin?... (ahh i mustn't let it out!!!) i'll just say Extra 3 is all about Heng...*tears up remembering the extra* / _ ;

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  79. OMG YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES PRETTY PLEASE WITH CHERRIES ON TOP1!!!!!!

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  80. Okay, will do but it going to be a long one. If blood is gushing out from you nose, and it causes to faint for the lost of blame me, okay. So here it goes.

    MY being very jealous of HX relationship with ZH (eventhough, it is all a very innocent relationship), he kills ZH then drag HX to the bedchamber for punishments for one whole day & night, in which HX will shout "DAMNIT! GIVE ME MORE!" (okay, the next few paragraphs will be X-rated. So, for those who read this comments section & see this & don't like, please don't read because it is for my own personal pleasure & entertainment & also for AZ).

    Since MY has been punishing HX for a whole day & night, and HX still wanting more, MY is exhausted and pantingly say to HX "HX, you have milked me completely dry, and I can't give you more. Please spare me.", and in return, HX reply to him by saying "MY, you are my man, and we haven't see each other for so many months. You should have a lots store in you, right? And, it is especially all for me just like I stores a lots of it in me just so I can give it all to you, so we both could enjoy my punishments. Since you can't continue to punish me to our hearts content, I'll punish me myself on your behalf.". HX pushes MY flat on his back on the bed, then ties both of MY's arms & legs (in an eagle-spread fashion" to the bed posts. HX gets down on his knees, facing MY's cock and proceed to do a fellatio on MY in help to get a rise out from MY's worn out cock. When MY is hard, HX sit down on MY, and put it in him and proceed moving up & down toward crescendo. In the process, they both are panting heavily and moaning "mmmm...nnnn.....ooooooh.....ahahahahah and OMG!", and finally descent from the greatest peak by shouting together "OMG! I'm cuuuuummmmming!" with MY shooting up inside of HX, and HX return the favor by spewing all over MY's chest and then collaspe on MY.

    They both rested for about 10 minutes, then goes for the next punishment. HX wanted to do the 69 and proceed to it in which MY has no choice but to do it with HX.

    They both locked themselves in the bedchamber for 7 days & nights to do the punishments, and only stop/pause long enough to eat, sleep & bathe but even in the bath, the punishment continue.

    While they are locked in the bedchamber, outside the bedchamber, the palace is in an uproar & chaotic everywhere. With YY relentlessly furiously pacing in the hallway in front of the bedchamber while waiting for the couple to emerge from the bedchamber.

    Finally, after 7 days of punishments paradise, the bedchamber door open, and the couple from within walk out (with each has their arm around each other waist and gazing into each other with dreamy eyes. Both are rosy-cheeks, and their necks showing a lots of red love-bites all over their necks.

    YY rushes over toward the couple and almost trip over his own 2 feet (I wanted to put this in). Seeing their looks and the multiple love-bites on their necks, he turns his head toward MY to give his respect greeting and asks "Your highness, what about your fiancee, the Duchess & and our goal?" In which, MY reply "What fiancee? What Duchess? and what goal?" Hearing this, YY turns his murdering gaze toward HX as if saying "This is all your damn fault that my prince's mind has turned to mush!", and in return, HX gives YY a Cheshire-toothy grin as if saying "Good for me." The End.

    Those who read this and are still living with your family, please don't let you r parent/parents see & read this because they will probably say "You filthy gutter-minded person! Are you trying to influence our innocent minded child/children with you obscene mind?", and proceed to chase me with their yardsticks.

    So, AZ, what do you think? Maybe a little too much or not enough? Do you think that they will censor my comments from now on?

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  81. This chapter is making my heart pound//>
    BE STRONG HAN XIN!!!

    A million thanks to u for the 3 chpter release>⊙⊙<

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  82. >u< I enjoyed that hehehehe~ Thank you very much!
    .
    But there can never be too much smut >;)
    And nah, I won't censor your comment (see, cuz i'm the sheriff mwahaha I call the shots 'round here)

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  83. YES! BE STRONG! ~\ (>A<) /~
    You're very welcome :)

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  84. my previous school's different to the one i'm going to now as well. but apparently the one i'm in now has the more typical curriculum. you're currently in uni right? you seem to enjoy it very much.

    it never gets that cold here! even in the cooler months.
    the only upside in the climate here is that it never gets extreme weathers.

    i wanted to sift through the comments but its too much of pain when i'm using mobile. and reading the comments are always really fun. i feel like i've missed a lot now. argh. and i might get busy again soon enough. :(

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  85. Awww :( it's okay~ Just remember to drop a comment or two <3 and you can always read it on desktop when you have time ~~~
    .
    Ah, I have mild climate here too. We rarely get below zero in winter.
    .
    Yes, I just finished enough credits to be promoted to fourth year (or senior in USA) ^^

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  86. Hhhh tear just rolling down my eyes ..... I hate it ....

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  87. Double update....thank u so much

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  88. ΟΔΟ

    w..was that my comment?

    woaaaaah now that's what you call 'nii_san's magnificanltly long comment' !!

    sooo, did i beat up the record ? did i beat the novel's leingh??? (say yes say yes say yyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssss )

    wooooooooooooooohoooooooo, nobody's going to beat me in comment never agaaaaaaaaaaiin!!!

    umm, does.. does that work out as an excuse for being late??

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  89. XDDDD you are the undefeated champion nii_san

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