Song in the Clouds c28

Xu Ping Jun looked at Yun Ge, her face full of excitement and happiness. “Yun Ge, I really must toast you on behalf of all the Han women. I’m really so happy to have such a sister like you.” Yun Ge happily took the wine cup from Xu Ping Jun, then said teasingly. “I bet, having such a sister like me is no big deal. Your happiness must come from having such a husband like Da Ge right?” Xu Ping Jun cast her gaze in the direction of Liu Bing Yi, looking slightly embarrassed but unable to hide her smile.

Yun Ge picked up a chopstick full of food, but before the food reached her lips, a palace maid brought a wine cup to her. “This is the wine Miss Huo would like to toast missy.” Yun Ge glanced sideways, Huo Cheng Jun was looking at her; she raised the wine cup in her hand, making a ‘toasting wine’ gesture.

Yun Ge smiled lightly, took the cup from the palace maid and was about to drink it when the scared Mo Cha tried to take it away from her. “Missy, don’t drink.” Yun Ge pushed Mo Cha’s hands away, Mo Cha quickly added. “Let your servant take a sip first.” Yun Ge looked at Mo Cha, her eyes full of rebuke. “Is she toasting you, or me?” As she said that, she tilted her head back, finishing the wine in one shot. Yun Ge turned the cup upside down in Huo Cheng Jun’s direction, indicating that she had finished it, then bowed slightly, expressing her thanks.

Huo Cheng Jun looked at her for a moment, smiled sweetly then turned away. Yun Ge glimpsed the blood tinting Huo Cheng Jun’s lips, and suddenly the cup in her hand felt like it weighed a ton, almost falling to the ground. What was it like for her looking up at everything on stage just now? She must have bit her lips very hard in order to force herself not to make a sound! Yet her sweet smile didn’t seem forced.

A cold wind whooshed through Yun Ge’s heart; Huo Cheng Jun was no longer the girl who would crack her horse whip, wanting to hit people when she got angry. Xu Ping Jun stared at the dazed Yun Ge, then snuck a glance at the smiling Huo Cheng Jun, and she only grew more confused. Yun Ge wasn’t talking to Meng Jue any more, when Huo Cheng Jun saw Brother Meng, her face was blank, as if they’ve never met; but Huo Cheng Jun and Yun Ge…..

Brother Meng seemed to have seen the scene just now; she wondered how he would have felt? And Yun Ge and the Emperor’s relationship…..

Xu Ping Jun had a whole lot of questions she wanted to ask Yun Ge, but because of the palace maids and eunuchs behind them, she couldn’t say a word, and so they remained trapped behind her lips. Then she thought, times have changed; in the past they could talk and laugh the whole day, now Yun Ge was buried deep within the palace, it was difficult just even trying to catch a glimpse of her. If she missed the chance today, she didn’t know when they would meet again. Yun Ge was alone in Chang An, with only her and Bing Yi as the closest thing to relatives. If they didn’t worry for Yun Ge, who would? When she thought of that, Xu Ping Jun said softly to Yun Ge, “This is the first time I’ve visited the palace. I have no idea when would my next time be. Yun Ge, show me around!” Yun Ge smiled and said “Sure.”

“But… Yun Ge, although Brother Meng and Miss Huo had something going on in the past, but now….” Yun Ge covered her ears. “I don’t want to listen, I just don’t want to! Jie Jie, I know you are good friends with him, but if you want to keep talking about him, I’m going to leave.” Xu Ping Jun had to choice but to say “Alright, I’ll stop, let us talk about your Ling Ge Ge instead, you won’t mind right?”

Xu Ping Jun thought Yun Ge would feel happier talking about him, but unexpectedly, Yun Ge’s brow still remained furrowed. Yun Ge linked her arm through Xu Ping Jun’s and walked wordlessly for a while before saying “I don’t want to talk about him either. Could we talk about happier things, please?”

Xu Ping Jun replied. “Yun Ge, you don’t have any other close relatives in Chang An but for us. Since you call me Jie Jie, then I am your sister. Everyone knows what kind of place the palace is. Would I not worry for you when you remain inside? Sometimes, during the still of the night, I get so flustered just thinking about these things. Bing Yi’s and yours…..I don’t understand, weren’t we normal, common folk? How did we randomly connect ourselves to the imperial family? I really wish everything was but a dream.

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Yun Ge and Xu Ping Jun walked along the green rock path that winded by the side of the hall, talking, walking and admiring their surroundings, absent mindedly walking to the Blue River. Yun Ge said “I made a high platform of ice there, it is very fun. Although Jie Jie you don’t seem to have much interest in playing, but it should overlook the grand banquet in the hall now, so it is still worth going up on it.”

Despite casting aside the unhappiness of being made fun of earlier and marveling at the elegance and grandeur of the hall, Xu Ping Jun was so nervous she didn’t dare to take a closer look. When she heard that she could overlook the grand banquet, she quickly urged Yun Ge to bring her there.

They climbed up the ladder to the dragon head. Mo Cha and Fu Yu both knew space was limited up there, and since both Yun Ge and Xu Ping Jun were chatting away excitedly, they probably wouldn’t want them to interfere, so they remained at the bottom of the ice dragon.

Standing on high ground, Xu Ping Jun saw the tens of thousands of lanterns, shining brightly, the shadows of those dancing and singing, their movements graceful, like the mythological Peng Lai. As they were standing far away, sometimes they could catch the vague tinkling of chimes travelling with the breeze, adding a sense of beauty to this scene.

Standing on the wide, empty Blue River, with the night sky above them and the mythological Peng Lai in front of them, they both felt stunned and dizzy, not really sure of where they were exactly.

Suddenly, Yun Ge heard a slight movement behind her and turned around smiling thinking it was Mo Cha. “You’ve come up too? Quick, come over here, it is as pretty as a fairyland.” But it turned out to be two men she didn’t recognize, although they were still some distance away, she could already smell the strong stench of alcohol on them. Yun Ge quickly called out “Mo Cha, Fu Yu.”

No one answered below; her voice was quickly swallowed by the dead silence of the night.

Yun Ge quickly urged Xu Ping jun to sit down. ‘Jie Jie, quick sit and slide down along this path.”

Xu Ping Jun had caught sight of both men too and knew something was wrong; so she quickly followed Yun Ge’s instructions and sat, but when she saw how high up she was, she hesitated, not daring to slide down.

The man who got to the top first was dressed like a nobleman; his eyes brightened when he saw Yun Ge, and grabbed her with a smile. “Feng Zi Du [1] wasn’t lying. You truly are a beauty.” The other man reached to grab Xu Ping Jun, “My little sweet, trying to run away? Not that easy.”

Yun Ge aimed a kick at Xu Ping Jun’s back, kicking her down the slide, but just as Xu Ping Jun’s body started to fall, a big burly man grabbed hold of her arm and so she hung midair, unable to go up or down. Xu Ping Jun was a very brave woman; she screamed for help as she grabbed for that man with her free hand, not showing any sign of weakness. In a moment of negligence, that man’s face was scratched by Xu Ping Jun until it bled. He was a rough man, and a soldier who killed like it was just a simple matter of chopping wood at that; his anger fuelled by the alcohol in him, he didn’t even calibrate the strength of his hand, the hand that held Xu Ping Jun’s arm suddenly moved, and with a crash, Xu Ping Jun was flung onto the ice pillar.

A very clear cracking sound was heard, Xu Ping Jun’s arm was broken and ribs were injured too. She immediately fainted under the extreme pain.

Yun Ge initially to distract them with her paltry martial arts, fighting with the men while screaming for help, then quickly

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This time she was the one that brought Xu Ping Jun into this matter, Xu Ping Jun was the innocent party.

Just as she was about to exert force, she suddenly glimpsed a familiar figure flying towards her on ice. There were about ten imperial guards behind him trying to stop him, to catch him. She saw that his tidy robe was now littered with blood stains. Meng Jue saw Yun Ge and Xu Ping Jun hanging from the side of the high platform, swaying as if about to topple, his heart sunk like lead. He shouted. “Yun Ge, wait for me, I’ll be there really soon.”

Wait for him? What could happen if she waited for him?

At the moment it was already like a tower facing impending collapse, no mortal could save her now.

Yun Ge felt the ice pillar on her leg shatter, looked deeply at Meng Jue in the distance, her arms moved, her body started to sway like a swing, when she reached the highest point, she abruptly flung Xu Ping Jun to the slide at the side.

As Xu Ping Jun flew, the ice pillar shattered and Yun Ge’s body suddenly started to fall.

Meng Jue who had been staring at her all these while, stiffened, his face ashen, shouting “Yun Ge”, blood spurting from every point his blade touched, in the haze of the blood splatter, Meng June flew towards the platform like a flying arrow.

Yun Ge’s skirt was wide, her skirt billowed in the wind, when she swung to the highest point then suddenly dropped, the remains of the ice pillar on the platform caught on her skirt. Yun Ge’s falling figure slowly stopped her descent. The broken ice railing was uneven, with some parts jutting out sharply, as sharp as a knife, the silk slowly started to tear bit by bit pulled down by the force of gravity. With the sound of silk tearing, Yun Ge’s body started to fall bit by bit.

Just then, seemingly for a very faraway place, another person’s shout travelled to her ear. “Yun Ge---“

Yun Ge sighed, Ling Ge ge, you shouldn’t have come! I wouldn’t want you to see me uglified.

Meng Jue below had on a very calm expression, dark inky waves rolling in the depths of his eyes; he even smiled when he looked at Yun Ge, raising his voice to say “I will never let you die.” At that moment, Yun Ge felt like she didn’t hate Meng Jue anymore. Meng Jue did give her a lot of grief and pain, but he also brought her lots of joy and happiness. All the happiness she experienced previously couldn’t be rejected and erased just because of the later pain she experienced. After all, her life once sparkled because of him.

Yun Ge gazed at Meng Jue, smiling at him. Her smile was gentle, just like when they first met. Meng Jue called out. “Yun Ge.”

Yun Ge was no longer looking at him, but that figure in the distance, her heart ached with longing. At that very moment, her heart was exceptionally clear, at the last moment of her life, she only thought of him, all her regrets were for him. Ling Ge Ge, please don’t stand alone by the railing, please stop gazing upon the stars, please forget me…. So this was how much she couldn’t bear to leave, her tears flowed from her heart to her eyes.

One drop, one drop, and yet another drop….

Longing, yearning, regret, sorrow.

So this was how much she had wasted all those times they could have spent together. Did an afterlife truly exist? If it really did exist, she could live life more fully…

The skirt caught on the edges of ice ripped completely, Yun Ge fell to the ground like a falling star. Just then, with a loud boom, the whole ‘ice dragon’ started to crumble from the top, ice shards flew everywhere, some as big as millstones, others as small as snowflakes, like an avalanche, breaking apart with a huge groan that shook the heavens and the earth.

Yun Ge gazed at Liu Fu Ling, then slowly closed her eyes, her tears falling freely, allowing the most glorious flight of her life to take her from life itself.

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This was a carriage that really lived up to its name of being the carriage used by the Emperor. The horses cantered the whole way after leaving the palace, but sitting inside, it was a smooth ride, no swaying or shaking at all.

He heard the eunuch driving the carriage saying, “Lord Meng is up in front.”

Liu Bing Yi quickly lifted the curtains and saw Meng Jue walking alone in the dark, his robe stained with blood. Liu Bing Yi ordered the eunuch to slow down. “Meng Jue.” Meng Jue ignored him so Liu Bing Yi continued “If you are spotted in this manner by the night guards on patrol, how are you going to explain yourself?”

Meng Jue looked at Liu Bing Yi, wordlessly getting on the carriage.

In the horse carriage, Xu Ping Jun lay quietly. Liu Bing Yi and Meng Jue faced each other silently. Liu Bing Yi noticed that Meng Jue’s neck wound was starting to bleed again because of the earlier fight. “Your neck is bleeding.” He hastily took a piece of white silk and started to bandage Meng Jue’s wound again. Meng Jue looked unconcerned, simply reaching for a bottle of powered medication and dabbing it on his wound. He looked at the unconscious and gravely injured Xu Ping Jun. “What do you plan to do?” When Liu Bing Yi was done tending to Meng Jue’s wound, he reached for a white handkerchief to wipe off his blood, calmly saying “Calm, slow planning is key.”

As Meng Jue bent down for a closer look at Xu Ping Jun’s injuries, Liu Bing Yi quickly passed him Physician Zhang’s prescription. After reading it, Meng Jue said “Physician Zhang possesses a good set of medical skills even if this prescription might seem to be a little too safe. Then again, a little safety never hurts, just follow this prescription! When I get back, I’ll ask San Yue to deliver the medicine to your house, she knows a bit about medicine, get her to stay at Yun Ge’s old place so that it’ll be more convenient for her to look after Ping Jun.”

Xu Ping Jun would have trouble moving and so she would definitely require someone to look after her. Liu Bing Yi wasn’t like before, now saddled with official duties, he couldn’t stay at home to look after her. Now, they had money but it would be very hard to find a suitable maid they could trust in such a short notice, so Liu Bing Yi accepted Meng Jue’s help, clasping his hands together in a salute. “Many thanks.”

Meng Jue checked the casts and bandages Physician Zhang had wrapped around Xu Ping Jun’s limbs to join the bones back together and felt they could hold up. “I’ll find some time to go over every day so I could check on Ping Jun.”

After he was done examining Xu Ping Jun, Meng Jue returned to his seat and silence fell upon them once again. Liu Bing Yi broke the silence after a while with a smile, asking. “Why didn’t you take Ke’er Dada’s life? Do you know Qiang people? Or was your mother…..” Meng Jue remained silent, not answering his question. Liu Bing Yi hastily added “If you don’t wish to talk about it, pretend I’ve never asked this question.”

“During the end years of the late Emperor’s reign, Western Qiang attacked Han with a force of ten thousand, I was in Fu Han[5]” Meng Jue started, then stopped, his thoughts going back to the past. Liu Bing Yi said. “I was old enough to remember things back then, and have some impression of this. The force of ten thousand from Western Qiang attacked Jin Ju, An Gu [6], Xiongnu attacked Wu Yuan, then they both combined forces to lay siege to Fu Han. The late Emperor ordered General Lee Xi, Leader of the Gentlemen of the Palace Xu Zi Wei to lead ten thousand to counter attack. In the end though Han prevailed, but they suffered heavy losses, losing half of their force of ten thousand.” Meng Jue lowered his eyes, smiling slightly. “They lost half of their ten thousand soldiers, but do you know how many civilians died?"

Liu Bing Yi was rendered speechless. Every time a war broke out, the first to be tallied were the deaths of soldiers, but civilians…

“Wherever the Western Qiang and Xiongnu’s horses galloped past, they practiced attrition warfare, killing all the Han, regardless of age and gender. The area between Jin Ju and An Ge were practically turned into ghost towns. The long awaited Han army came, but General Lee Xi wanted to use Fu Han to wear down the strength of Western Qiang, scattering the armies of Western Qiang from the side, so he refused time and again to send forces to rescue Fu Han. When the siege finally broke, the Qiang were angry because of their own heavy losses and released all their anger on the civilians. The males were beheaded and their heads displayed in public for all to see regardless of age; the females were beheaded if they were old, the young ones were raped before they were beheaded, and even the pregnant ones weren’t spared. Their newly born infants were thrown from horses…..” Meng Jue paused for a long while, then continued lightly. “This was just hell on earth.”

Despite Meng Jue’s calm delivery, Liu Bing Yi could feel the strong stench of blood wafting under his nose. His fist clenched, and he said through clenched teeth. “The Qiang are indeed destestable!”

A vague smile appeared on Meng Jue’s lips, either mocking or one of pity he couldn’t tell. “Qiang have a deep hatred for Han too. After Han won, in order to reduce the Qiang combative force, they massacred all the Qiang men above the age of twelve in Xian Ling, Feng Yan, Lao Jie. [7] That year when I walked past Xian Ling, the corpses of females, aged and the children littered the streets, all having died from starvation. Although the Han upheld the teachings of Confucius, sparing the aged, womenfolk and the young, but after they have lost their strong able men, many of them couldn’t survive the bitter cold winter.” Liu Bing Yi wanted to say something, but didn’t say it aloud. Han weren’t in the wrong. The late Emperor was sickly, with internal strife erupting frequently; could Han have the ability to withstand another big round of attacks? If they didn’t treat the Qiang the way they did, the ones dead would be Han.

Liu Bing Yi sighed. “War, maybe from the civilians’ perspective, doesn’t have true victors, only broken lives and families, the old preparing the funerals of the young.”

Meng Jue didn’t say a word, only smiling slightly.

In the past, all Liu Bing Yi saw in Meng Jue’s slight smiles were indifference, even ruthlessness. This time, however, under all that indifference and ruthlessness, he saw the helplessness of what he had experienced, and pity that even Meng Jue himself would deny.

If Meng Jue’s sword had pierced through the Central Qiang king’s heart, would the brave, fearless Qiang not take revenge? Then the hell on earth Meng Jue had once witness would happen all over again, how many would die this time? Twenty thousand? Thirty thousand? How many other cities would become earth’s version of hell…..

In the end, Meng Jue pushed his blade down, avoiding Ke’er Dada’s heart. He might even despise his own choice, but he chose to do so nonetheless. Ke’er Dada is a smart man, in a matter of seconds, he understood much. Although Meng Jue didn’t want another war to break out, but if war really did happen, Meng Jue will definitely not just kill those young men above twelve this time in order to prevent another war.

Grand Marshal estate.

Huo Shan, Huo Yun were knelt on the floor, Huo Yu was sprawled on the willow bench, and two servants were beating him with sticks. Huo Yu clenched his teeth, not uttering a sound. Huo Guang looked at the two servants coldly, under his cold observation; they both didn’t dare to reduce their strength, beating Huo Yu with all their might. Soon, Huo Yu’s buttocks were dyed red.

Madam Huo was outside the house, crying out loud “Master, Master, if you kill him, then I wouldn’t have any need to live any longer….” as she struggled to enter the house. The servants guarding the house didn’t budge, denying her entry. Huo Cheng Jun’s eyes were red rimmed as she held her mother’s arm, trying to counsel her mother. “Father is already very angry, if Mother keeps on crying like that, you will only provoke his anger.” She didn’t expect her mother to turn and give her a tight slap across her face. “I told you not to associate yourself with Meng Jue, you refused to listen. Look at the catastrophe you’ve brought upon us, if your brother is hurt in any way, I will hate myself for giving birth to you…..” Huo Cheng Jun staggered backwards, almost falling over if not for her maid Xiao Qing’s quick reflexes. Since young, Huo Cheng Jun had enjoyed her father’s favour and love, never on the receiving end of tough words, but ever since Meng Jue… Her mother always faced her with disgust, her brother always mocking and scorning her.

Just a few days ago that person still went with her to buy rogue, and assisted her off her carriage with such warmth, but in an instant, he ruthlessly pushed her off into the deep abyss. Her pain in her heart kept her awake at night, her insides screaming in agony, but she couldn’t even cry because she deserved everything, courted it, even.

She stared dazedly at her howling mother beating her chest; she didn’t even shed a single tear.

Huo Shan, Huo Yun saw that Huo Yu had already fainted but Huo Guang’s eyes remained icy cold. As long as he hadn’t given the command, the two servants didn’t dare to stop; only sweating bullets as they continued to beat him with all their strength.

Huo Shan, Huo Yun kowtowed, crying as they begged. “Uncle, uncle, this was all your nephews’ fault. We know we were wrong, please punish us instead.”

Madam Huo heard the cries of Huo Shan and Huo Yun, and knew that if the beatings continued, Huo Yu would either face death, or be paralyzed from waist down. She wailed and tried to smash open the doors with her head. “Master, master, I beg you, beg you, I beg you…….”

Huo Cheng Jun pushed Xiao Qing’s hands aside, her gaze sweeping coldly across all the standing servants. “Assist madam to her own room.” When they hesitated, she smiled. “Did you not hear what I just said? Do you all want to pack your belongings and be sent home?”

Huo Cheng Jun’s mannerisms and expressions resembled Huo Guang’s, under the smiles stood a cold, calculative presence; the servants shivered unconsciously, several of them moving forward to drag Madam Huo away. Madam Huo’s forehead was bleeding, she kicked and screamed, but under the severe gaze of Huo Cheng Jun, they dragged Madam Huo away forcefully.

Huo Cheng Jun went up to knock on the door. “Father, it is Cheng Jun. Your daughter has some words to say.”

Huo Guang viewed Huo Cheng Jun differently as compared to all his other daughters and when he heard her calm voice with no edge of panic, he actually felt a sense of comfort. He raised his hand, allowing the servants to open the doors. When he caught sight of her swollen face, hatred for his wife welled up in his heart. “Cheng Jun, get some maids to help you apply some ointment to your face first….”

Huo Cheng Jun knelt down in front of Huo Guang. “Father, please command those who aren’t Huo to leave.”

Those two servants holding the sticks stared at Huo Guang immediately and Huo Guang nodded as he gave Huo Cheng Jun a long look. All the servants promptly left the house, closing the door tightly behind them. Huo Shan, Huo Yun stared at Huo Cheng Jun in shock, their begs and cries were useless; they didn’t know how Huo Cheng Jun was going to say to diffuse Huo Guang’s anger.

Huo Cheng Jun looked up at her father. “Maybe Da Ge’s plans had some flaws, but he wasn’t in the wrong, how could we just accept it when you are meting out a more severe punishment than warranted?” Huo Shan, Huo Yun quickly shouted “Cheng Jun!”, then fearfully said “Uncle…” Huo Guang shot them a look that clearly meant for them to shut up, then coldly asked “Why can’t you accept it?”

“First, Huos position today solely hinges on a crown prince, only then could we guarantee the future and peace of our clan, if not his majesty, or even the future crown prince would think of ways to weaken the Huos, or even get rid of us entirely. Yun Ge currently has the Emperor’s favour, if she bears a prince first, even if she was a low birth, with the example of Empress Wei Zifu, it is possible that he might give her the title of Empress. Once Empress Shang Guan is stripped of her title, it will be like cutting off a limb of the Huos. How then, were Da Ge’s plans wrong? Second, if the prince Yun Ge bears is named Crown Prince, gaining the hearts of the officials and the acknowledgement of all, then us Huos will be in a very precarious position. Da Ge was only doing this to protect our family, how was he wrong? Third, his majesty has been delaying his consummation with the Empress time and time again, to at the state banquet, she could only sit below, who is the empty seat beside his majesty for? His majesty was like giving the Huos a tight slap in front of everyone. If we only take this in quietly, then all those officials are court who only bully the weak and fear the strong would bully us should anything happen in future. Letting his majesty and his officials know that a tiger’s whiskers should not be plucked so easily, how was he wrong? Fourth, Da Ge was meticulous; those two men who tried to rape Yun Ge have fallen to their deaths instantly. Even if the guards investigate, they can only trace is back to Feng Zi Du’s command. Everyone knows that Feng Zi Du has beef with Meng Jue, it is only logical that he wanted to get rid of Meng Jue’s ex-lover. Your daughter can bet that Feng Zi Du [8] has already ‘committed suicide overcome by guilt’, so the trail would run cold. Even if his majesty knows that the Huos were behind this, without concrete evidence, what else can he do? Would he dare make life difficult for Father all because of a mere palace maid? Wouldn’t he be afraid of carrying the name of ‘muddleheaded emperor of no values, getting rid of his good and loyal subjects’ for generations to come? Even if he doesn’t want to be a wise and good Emperor, he must also consider that a muddleheaded one would force his subjects to revolt!” Huo Cheng Jun spoke coldly; anyone who heard her would forget that she was a girl not yet twenty.

Huo Guang laughed coldly. “My plans have all been messed up by Yu’er’s brash actions, now according to you, he is blameless?”

“Of course Da Ge is to blame, his mistake lies thus – since he had made the move, then he shouldn’t have come home empty-handed. Da Ge chose tonight to get rid of Yun Ge, was weather and timing couldn’t have been more perfect, but he was too reckless. Da Ge should have notified Father, asking for help to keep everyone in the hall, not allowing anyone to leave as they wished, and not allowing any form of news to be passed into the hall. If this had happened, then Da Ge wouldn’t be beaten up right now, but on the receiving end of toasts from his brothers and sisters in our own family banquet. Father should take half the responsibility for his mistake though. If he had known Father would support him to get rid of Yun Ge, then would he not inform Father? It is precisely because he couldn’t guess Father’s thoughts that he chose to take things into his own hand.”

Huo Guang remained silent. A depressing silence that bespoke of a storm brewing descended upon the house.

Huo Cheng Jun only continued to fix her eyes silently on Huo Guang. She never once averted her eyes or showed fear. Huo Shan and Huo Yun suddenly looked at this girl they have known from young with different eyes, respect mixed with fear.

After a while, Huo Guang turned to Huo Shan and Huo Yun, telling them. “Call the servants him to carry your brother to his room to be treated.” Huo Shan, Huo Yun both breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly kowtowed “Yes.”

Once Huo Yu was carried away, Huo Guang mentioned for the kneeling Huo Cheng Jun, Huo Shan and Huo Yun to rise. Huo Shan and Huo Yun gingerly took their seats. Huo Cheng Jun managed to dissipate Huo Guang’s anger in a few words, saving Huo Yu, but not a trace of happiness could be found on her face. As she sat, she actually looked dazed and hurt.

Huo Guang turned to Huo Shan and Huo Yun. “Just as Cheng Jun had guessed, I have already ordered for this matter to be settled quietly, his majesty cannot link this back to us. What should we do next? Tell me your opinions.” Huo Shan and Huo Yun exchanged glances, after a while, Huo Yun ventured. “This would have put his majesty on guard; it wouldn’t be easy trying to lay a finger on Yun Ge in future, looks like we can’t achieve this in a short time. If Yun Ge falls pregnant in the next two or three months, then….” Huo Yun sighed, then continued. “Nonetheless, imperial guards only guard the doors of the palace, and can’t enter the inner palace at will. Besides, the eunuchs are all Yu An’s men. Although we do have several palace maids, but they are only obedient servants, none of them are sharp. The Empress is almost fourteen, logically, she could already be controlling the harem, but she shows no interest in these matters. Unless we have an Empress within and us on the outside, then we can prevent the birth of princes even if his majesty continues to rest with other women.”

Huo Guang sighed, Huo Yun was absolutely right. Although Xiao Mei was the Empress, but she was only an accessory to the Huos, of no proper help at all. She carried the title of the Empress, and could allow the Huo to control the harm through her, but today the Huos couldn’t do anything about it. Huo Guang had other ideas, but Cheng Jun, she…. She was different from all his other daughters, he was afraid if he forced her, the results would be contrary to his expectations.

Huo Cheng Jun expressionlessly said. “Father, your daughter is willing to enter the palace.” Huo Shan, Huo Yun were first shocked, then happy, asking for confirmation, “Sister, you mean….”

Huo Cheng Jun squeezed out a smile when she met Huo Guang’s searching gaze. Many images flashed through her mind.

When she was young and playing with her female companions, acting out weddings, she would say, full of confidence. “My future husband would be the best of the best.” The surprise and happiness she felt when she first met Meng Jue, then meeting him again…. Her shyness, her joy. When she sat behind him riding a horse, he thoughtfully assisted her to get on the horse. When he played the zither for her, his smile when their eyes met. When she served him cakes and snacks she made herself, he praised their taste. The flowers he once picked for her. Their laughter and joy when they walked under the moonlight. The first time he held her hand, the first time they hugged, their first kiss…That heart that thumped so skittishly, if she had known what would happen today, would she still dive in headfirst? When he turned his back so ruthlessly, he had buried her girlish heart. From now on, these belonged to her past life, now dead. Now, her life would be….

Although her smile was weak, her eyes were contained the determination only found after falling apart. “Father, your daughter is willing to enter the palace, to hold up the harem for the Huos.”

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Passions of the Cut Sleeve: The Male Homosexual Tradition in China by Bret Hinsch

[3] These are all martial arts moves

[8] Looks like Tong Hua is going to tweak history here then, offing Feng Zi Du in advance. I looked him up and besides dying in 66BC, nothing else is recorded of his death, so it is safe to assume he died of natural causes I guess.

Chapter end