#Mǔqīn

[rigelmejo]

Concept: Chinese by the Nature Method

Today I worked on seeing if a Chinese by the Nature Method type of textbook could be made, I used the English by the Nature Method textbook, and added Hanzi and pinyin. Ideally I would change names, add a younger brother too so that I could use didi, and I would to put a Chinese/English vocabulary list at the end of each chapter for reference. I think this kind of format would emulate The Nature Method textbooks best if: the first time a new word is shown, there is an English translation for the word in the sentence, but then afterward there is no English translation above the word for the rest of the book (you must go to the vocabulary list to check). However, for initial formatting, and to explain some grammar, I decided to just include the English translation for the whole sentence. Maybe I could make the exercise sections have no English translations...

Please tell me thoughts, if you're into the idea of a nature method type textbook for Chinese.

The First (1st) Chapter.

第一章

Dì yī zhāng

(THE) FAMILY

家庭。

Jiātíng.

Mr. Smith.

史密斯先生。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng.

Mrs. Smith.

史密斯夫人。

Shǐmìsī fūrén.

John.

约翰。

Yuēhàn.

Helen.

海伦。

Hǎilún.

Baby.

婴儿。

Yīng'ér.

Mr. Smith is a man.

史密斯先生是一个男人。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng shì yīgè nánrén.

Mrs. Smith is a woman.

史密斯夫人是一个女人。

Shǐmìsī fūrén shì yīgè nǚrén.

John is a boy.

约翰是一个男孩。

Yuēhàn shì yīgè nánhái.

Helen is a girl.

海伦是一个女孩。

Hǎilún shì yīgè nǚhái.

(The) Baby is a girl.

婴儿也是一个女孩。

Yīng'ér yě shì yīgè nǚhái.

Helen and (the) baby are girls.

海伦和婴儿是女孩。

Hǎilún hé yīng'ér shì nǚhái.

Mr. Smith is (a) father.

史密斯先生是父亲。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng shì fùqīn.

Mrs. Smith is (a) mother.

史密斯夫人是母亲。

Shǐmìsī fūrén shì mǔqīn.

John is a child.

约翰是一个孩子。

Yuēhàn shì yīgè háizi.

Helen is a child.

海伦是一个孩子。

Hǎilún shì yīgè háizi.

Baby is a child.

婴儿是一个孩子。

Yīng'ér shì yīgè háizi.

John, Helen, and baby are children.

约翰、海伦和婴儿是孩子。

Yuēhàn, Hǎilún hé yīng'ér shì háizi.

John is a boy.

约翰是一个男孩。

Yuēhàn shì yīgè nánhái.

Helen and the baby are girls.

海伦和婴儿是女孩。

Hǎilún hé yīng'ér shì nǚhái.

Helen and (the) baby both are girls.

海伦和婴儿都是女孩。

Hǎilún hé yīng'ér dōu shì nǚhái.

是 shì is/are

和 hé and

dōu both/all

one (1) girl 一个女孩 yīgè nǚhái

two (2) girls 儿个女孩 érgè nǚhái

one (1) child 一个孩子 yīgè háizi

two (2) children 儿个孩子 érgè háizi

Helen is a girl.

海伦是女孩。

Hǎilún shì nǚhái.

Helen and the baby are girls.

海伦和婴儿是女孩。

Hǎilún hé yīng'ér shì nǚhái.

Helen and the baby are both girls.

海伦和婴儿都是女孩。

Hǎilún hé yīng'ér dōu shì nǚhái.

Mr. Smith is the father of John.

史密斯先生是约翰的父亲。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng shì Yuēhàn de fùqīn.

Mr. Smith is the father of Helen.

史密斯先生是海伦的父亲。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng shì Hǎilún de fùqīn.

Mr. Smith is the father of the baby.

史密斯先生是婴儿的父亲。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng shì Yīng'ér de fùqīn.

Mr. Smith is the father of the children.

史密斯先生是孩子们的父亲。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng shì háizimen de fùqīn.

Mrs. Smith is the mother of John, Helen, and the baby.

史密斯夫人是约翰、海伦和婴儿的母亲。

Shǐmìsī fūrén shì Yuēhàn, Hǎilún hé Yīng'ér de mǔqīn.

Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith are the parents of the children.

史密斯先生和史密斯夫人是孩子们的父母。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng hé Shǐmìsī fūrén shì háizimen de fùmǔ.

John is the son of Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith.

约翰是史密斯先生和史密斯夫人的儿子。

Yuēhàn shì Shǐmìsī xiānshēng hé Shǐmìsī fūrén de érzi.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of John.

史密斯先生和史密斯夫人是约翰的父母。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng hé Shǐmìsī fūrén shì Yuēhàn de fùmǔ.

Helen is the daughter of Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith.

海伦是史密斯先生和史密斯夫人的女儿。

Hǎilún shì Shǐmìsī xiānshēng hé Shǐmìsī fūrén de nǚ'ér.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of Helen.

史密斯先生和史密斯夫人是海伦的父母。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng hé Shǐmìsī fūrén shì Hǎilún de fùmǔ.

The baby is also the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

婴儿也是史密斯先生和史密斯夫人的女儿。

Yīng'ér yě shì Shǐmìsī xiānshēng hé Shǐmìsī fūrén de nǚ'ér.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of the baby.

史密斯先生和史密斯夫人是婴儿的父母。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng hé Shǐmìsī fūrén shì Yīng'ér de fùmǔ.

Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith, John, Helen, and the baby are a family.

史密斯先生、史密斯夫人、约翰、海伦和婴儿是一家人。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng, Shǐmìsī fūrén, Yuēhàn, Hǎilún hé Yīng'ér shì yī jiārén.

There are five (5) persons in the family.

家庭里有五个人。

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu wǔ gèrén.

"a" is not used - (one) (个)counter-word

一个

yīgè

this (个)counter-word

这个

zhège

these

这些

Zhèxiē

John is a boy.

约翰是一个男孩。

Yuēhàn shì yīgè nánhái.

The boy is John.

这个男孩是约翰。

Zhège nánhái shì Yuēhàn.

Helen and the baby are girls.

海伦和婴儿是女孩。

Hǎilún hé Yīng'ér shì nǚhái.

The girls are Helen and the baby.

这些女孩是海伦和婴儿。

Zhèxiē nǚhái shì Hǎilún hé Yīng'ér.

of

的

de

The father of the children.

孩子们的父亲。

Háizimen de fùqīn.

child

孩子

Háizi

children

孩子们

Háizimen

Mr. Smith is a person.

史密斯先生是一个人。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng shì yīgè rén.

Mrs. Smith is a person.

史密斯夫人是一个人。

Shǐmìsī fūrén shì yīgè rén.

John is a person.

约翰是一个人。

Yuēhàn shì yīgè rén.

one (counter) person

一个人

yīgè rén

person/people

人

rén

five (counter) people.

五个人

wǔ gèrén

Helen is a person, and the baby is also a person.

海伦是一个人，婴儿也是一个人。

Hǎilún shì yīgè rén, Yīng'ér yě shì yīgè rén.

also

也

yě

How many persons are there in the family?

家庭里有多少个人？

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu duōshǎo gèrén?

There are five (5) persons in the family.

家庭里有五个人。

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu wǔ gèrén.

Who are the five (5) persons in the family?

家庭里有五个人，他们是谁？

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu wǔ gèrén, tāmen shì shéi?

They are the father, the mother, the son, the daughter, and the baby daughter.

他们是父亲、母亲、儿子、女儿和婴儿女儿。

Tāmen shì fùqīn, mǔqīn, érzi, nǚ'ér hé yīng'ér nǚ'ér.

How many children are there in the family?

家庭里有多少个孩子？

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu duōshǎo gè háizi?

There are three (3) children in the family.

家庭里有三个孩子。

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu sān gè háizi.

Who are the three (3) children in the family?

家庭里有三个孩子，他们是谁？

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu sān gè háizi, tāmen shì shéi?

They are the son, the daughter, and the baby daughter.

他们是儿子、女儿和婴儿女儿。

Tāmen shì érzi, nǚ'ér hé yīng'ér nǚ'ér.

How many girls are there in the family?

家庭里有多少个女孩？

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu duōshǎo gè nǚhái?

There are two (2) girls in the family.

家庭里有两个女孩。

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu liǎng gè nǚhái.

Who are the two (2) girls in the family?

家庭里有两个女孩，她们是谁？

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu liǎng gè nǚhái, tāmen shì shéi?

They are the daughter and the baby daughter.

她们是女儿和婴儿女儿。

Tāmen shì nǚ'ér hé yīng'ér nǚ'ér.

How many boys are there in the family? (Family inside has how many boy(s)?)

家庭里有多少个男孩？

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu duōshǎo gè nán hái?

have

有

yǒu

how many

有多

duōshǎo

in (within)

里

lǐ

There is one (1) boy in the family. (Family in has 1 (counter) boy).

家庭里有一个男孩。

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu yīgè nán hái.

How many?

多少？

Duōshǎo?

How many girls are there in the family?

家庭里有多少个女孩？

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu duōshǎo gè nǚhái?

There is

有一个

Yǒu yīgè

There are

有

Yǒu

There is one boy in the family.

家庭里有一个男孩。

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu yīgè nán hái.

There are two girls in the family.

家庭里有两个女孩。

Jiātíng lǐ yǒu liǎng gè nǚhái.

Who?

谁？

Shéi?

He

他

Tā

She

她

Tā

They

他们

Tāmen

Who is John?

他是儿子。

Tā shì érzi.

Who is Helen?

她是女儿。

Tā shì nǚ'ér.

Who are Helen and the baby?

她们是女儿们。

Tāmen shì nǚ'ér men.

they (girls/women)

她们

Tāmen

they (boys/men/multiple genders)

他们

Who is the boy? (Boy is who?)

Tāmen

男孩是谁？

Nánhái shì shéi?

who

谁

shéi

boy

男孩

Nánhái

(The) boy is Johhn, He is the son of Mr. Smith.

男孩是约翰；他是史密斯先生的儿子。

Nánhái shì Yuēhàn; tā shì Shǐmìsī xiānshēng de érzi.

Who is the girl?

女孩是谁？

Nǚhái shì shéi?

girl

女孩

Nǚhái

(The) girl is Helen; she is the daughter of Mr. Smith.

女孩是海伦；她是史密斯先生的女儿。

Nǚhái shì Hǎilún; tā shì Shǐmìsī xiānshēng de nǚ'ér.

That man is Mr. Smith; he is the father.

那位男士是史密斯先生；他是父亲。

Nà wèi nánshì shì Shǐmìsī xiānshēng; tā shì fùqīn.

that

那

Nà

counter for person

位

wèi

That woman is Mrs. Smith; she is the mother.

那位女士是史密斯夫人；她是母亲。

Nà wèi nǚshì shì Shǐmìsī fūrén; tā shì mǔqīn.

woman

女士

nǚshì

That man and the woman are Mr. and Mrs. Smith; they are the parents.

那位男士和女士是史密斯夫妇；他们是父母。

Nà wèi nánshì hé nǚshì shì Shǐmìsī fūfù; tāmen shì fùmǔ.

man

男士

nánshì

husband (and) wife

夫妇

fūfù

father (and) mother

父母

fùmǔ

John is the older brother of Helen.

约翰是海伦的哥哥。

Yuēhàn shì Hǎilún de gēge.

older brother

哥哥

gēge

Helen is the younger sister of John.

海伦是约翰的妹妹。

Hǎilún shì Yuēhàn de mèimei.

younger sister

妹妹

mèimei

The baby is the younger sister of John and Helen.

婴儿是约翰和海伦的妹妹。

Yīng'ér shì Yuēhàn hé Hǎilún de mèimei.

The baby and Helen are sisters.

婴儿和海伦是姐妹。

Yīng'ér hé Hǎilún shì jiěmèi.

sisters

姐妹

jiěmèi

John and Helen are brother and sister.

约翰和海伦是兄妹。

Yuēhàn hé Hǎilún shì xiōngmèi.

brother (and) sister

兄妹

xiōngmèi

Mr. Smith is the husband of Mrs. Smith.

史密斯先生是史密斯夫人的丈夫。

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng shì Shǐmìsī fūrén de zhàngfū.

husband

夫人

fūrén

Mrs. Smith is the wife of Mr. Smith.

史密斯夫人是史密斯先生的妻子。

Shǐmìsī fūrén shì Shǐmìsī xiānshēng de qīzi.

wife

妻子

qīzi

Who is Mr. Smith?

史密斯先生是谁？

Shǐmìsī xiānshēng shì shéi?

He is the husband of (his) wife and the father of three children. (He is wife's husband and (the) three (counter) children's father).

他是史密斯夫人的丈夫和三个孩子的父亲。

Tā shì Shǐmìsī fūrén de zhàngfū hé sān gè háizi de fùqīn.

of/'s

的

de

Who is Mrs. Smith? She is Mr. Smith's wife and (the) three (counter) children's mother).

史密斯夫人是谁？她是史密斯先生的妻子和三个孩子的母亲。

Shǐmìsī fūrén shì shéi? Tā shì Shǐmìsī xiānshēng de qīzi hé sān gè háizi de mǔqīn.

The three (3) children are Smith husband-wife's son, daughter, and little daughter.

三个孩子是史密斯夫妇的儿子、女儿和小女儿。

Sān gè háizi shì Shǐmìsī fūfù de érzi, nǚ'ér hé xiǎo nǚ'ér.

son

儿子

érzi

daughter

女儿

nǚ'ér

little/younger

小

xiǎo

The father, the mother, the son, the daughter, and the baby daughter are a family of five (5) persons.

父亲、母亲、儿子、女儿和小女儿是一家五口。

Fùqīn, mǔqīn, érzi, nǚ'ér hé xiǎo nǚ'ér shì yī jiā wǔ kǒu.

one family (a family)

一家

yī jiā

5 (persons) mouths

五口

wǔ kǒu

a family of 5.

一家五口

yī jiā wǔ kǒu

[avalentina]

My newest fic, this one will most likely end up being published as a series. For now it is in my Harry Styles page on my Masterlist. I'm not sure how long it will be, and I'm still working on the story itself so it might be a bit before I post more, but the poll showed that about 2/3 of you wanted it now. So without further ado ...

Word count: 4,074

Warnings: bits of anxiety, depression, feeling overwhelmed; Robin Twist's death, grief; unnamed douchebags who want you for your money and title

Noble!Harry (Peerage!Harry) x Princess!Y/N

Note: This story features certain words in multiple languages mainly traditional Chinese, but I have put the English word or phrase in parentheses directly after the translated word or phrase.

Ex: Mǔqīn (Mother)

The Princess's Lover

Zero: Enchanted Love

(any and all pictures are not mine, all I do is collage them, pictures of Harry are a reference for his appearance during the specific moment, all other pictures are only for the purpose of an outfit/hairstyle/accessory, Y/N can look however you would like her to)

I remember the day as though it was just yesterday. Hard to believe it was closer to five years ago now.

(FLASHBACK)

I was at yet another ball, sometimes it feels like my parents, the King and Queen of MiraZhou, host one every week. I'm 19 year old Princess Y/N, the only girl to graduate from my private high school without ever being kissed. I've had a few offers for courtship, none of which I've accepted, all of them just a family's desperate attempt to increase their wealth, status, and favor in the eyes of my parents. I'm being the perfect princess, as I usually tend to be. I've never found anything I wanted to rebel for, I mean I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have more choice in my life, but I guess you could say I'm terrified to actually find out what that would really entail.

This ball tonight was a masquerade, not that it actually made a difference in my case, seeing as I’m stuck wearing a tiara. The one I'm wearing may be my second favorite tiara, and my favorite formal tiara, but it does a wonderful job at making it known exactly who I am. For that reason, I've actually been trying to avoid talking to anyone at tonight’s ball.

It’s not until I’m summoned to my parents’ side for the formal ‘thank you for hosting’ part of the night that my care for this particular event heightens. My family knows everyone in our court based on their voices alone. As a family of four gets to the front of the line. I recognize the voices as Duke Desmond, Duchess Anne, and Lady Gemma of Duchy Holmeshire, but it’s their son that I can’t say I’m familiar with. As they make their approach, I catch eyes with him, the soft green of them is mesmerizing, I feel as though I could get lost in them and just be happy.

“And I see Lord Harry has returned from University, Cambridge in England correct?” My father asks Lord Harry directly.

“Yes, your majesty, uh sir.” Lord Harry replies, fumbling his words slightly probably to do with being away for so long, but he has an english accent that he must’ve developed during his time abroad, and it definitely suits him well.

“It’s good to have you back in MiraZhou Lord Harry.” My mother says, offering him a gracious smile. “I don’t believe you’ve formally met Princess Y/N?” she adds.

“I have not, It’s a pleasure to formally meet you, your highness.” Harry says to me as we make eye contact again and he does another short bow.

I can’t help the wide smile that appears on my face as I return the introduction. “Likewise Lord Harry,” I say and offer him my hand to kiss. A gesture I don’t give out lightly, and you can tell that by the tiny gasp that slips out of my mother’s mouth before she stifles it, and the way Duchess Anne’s smile grows a tad bit wider.

As the Styles family of Holmeshire takes their leave so the next group of nobles can greet us, Harry and I caught eyes one more time and I mouthed silently ‘bye’ with yet another wide smile.

After the “thank you’s” were over, my mother and father turned to each other. I heard my mother tell my father, “I’ll invite them to the palace for dinner one day next week.” I smiled to myself and excused myself for a brief restroom break, that I spent staring at where Harry had kissed my hand, remembering the softness of his lips, and how I really hope he didn’t have any other potential matches. Harry and I didn’t get another chance to talk that night, but we always seemed to be catching each other’s eyes, even from across the large ballroom.

“Y/N, darling, the Duke and Duchess of Holmeshire will be joining us for dinner tomorrow night.” My mother said at breakfast that following Tuesday morning. My attention perked up at that.

“Are Lady Gemma and Lord Harry joining them?” I asked, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

“Not this time, but they both will be joining their parents here for dinner on Thursday night.” She said with a smile that I returned. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up about a courtship dear. Tomorrow night will allow your father and I to find out about Lord Harry’s current status, and any potential matches he may already have.”

“I know Mǔqīn (Mother), thank you, and I apologize for my obvious reaction, I’ll work on those some more.” I say, apologizing.

“Xiǎo jiāhuo (little one), we're happy you're actually excited about a possible courtship. I saw the way you lit up that night, it reminded me of how happy the first few conversations I had with your mother made me. Which is why you, Lizabeth, and Helena will be having dinner in the slumber party suite you used to enjoy. That way we can shield you from whatever potential hurt there may possibly be.” Father adds to mother's comment.

“And darling, your expressions are wonderful, a princess should not be void of emotion, nor always show indifference, your emotion shows your honesty in that feeling and that is what makes you an amazing princess. Your manners and etiquette are exactly where they should be. True feeling is just as important as manners and etiquette. Now run along, you have classes to get to.” Mother finishes out our conversation. I love attending University, it's the only time I'm allowed to wear jogger pants and hoodies in public. With no makeup or tiara or heeled shoes. I am intentionally supposed to look unimportant, because it does help me blend in a little bit more and instead of eight guards I only have three, all dressed down to appear as students as well.

My midnight violet Lamborghini centenario topless with ‘gongzhu (princess)’ as the license plate is the closest resemblance to royalty I get. After my classes for the day are done, Creyton, who is my lead guard, and I head to my favorite nearby pizza truck for a slice each before we return to the palace. Our usual nearby chess table is taken today and when I look again, it's none other than Lord Harry and a friend of his playing while enjoying a slice as well.

I elect to take the table next to them which happens to be open. As Creyton and I begin our setup and start talking, Harry turns to me, having probably recognized my voice.

“Your highness, what brings you out into the city today?” He asks quietly, careful to avoid drawing attention to me. He turns to Creyton and offers a handshake.

“I attend university in the city, so classes, but my lead guard, Creyton here, and I usually stop for a slice or two and a few plays on a chessboard before heading back.” I say with a small smile.

“We really should be going Y/N.” Creyton comments, now that I've been ‘recognized’ we have to head straight back or risk breaking protocol, and I like having Creyton around too much to let him get fired for something as simple as a protocol violation.

“I'll see you at dinner on Thursday night H.” I say to him, not wanting to compromise his lunch either. With that I head back to my car. Creyton follows me closely and we met up with the other two members of my security team. They share a very brief ten to fifteen second report before we get into the cars and head back to the palace.

“Princess, you know you're not supposed to talk to anyone besides me during that time, and you're definitely not allowed to advertise my name and who I am.” Creyton says to me during the quiet drive back to the palace.

“I know, I'm sorry Creyton, I wasn't expecting Lord Harry to be there, let alone at our usual table. It won't happen again, and I fully understand any repercussions that arise.

Lizabeth and Helena were not the best of distraction that night. Especially considering all they talked about was Lord Harry's return from England, and how attractive he is.

“Ladies, please, his parents are downstairs having dinner with my parents.” I say aloud and both girls turn to me.

“He's here? Lord Harry is here? Y/N please you have to introduce us.” Lizabeth practically begs.

“He, is not here, just his parents, and I will consider introducing you after they find out if he's available for a match. And if he is, I've pretty much already got dibs, I hope. Did you two miss the candids of him kissing my hand and the wide, stupid smile on my face.”

“Oh my God, Y/N has a crush! It's about time.” Lizabeth squeals.

“And on that note, we promise to back off, but if he has any extremely attractive friends please promise to introduce us.” Helena states and I smile.

“I know he has at least one semi-attractive friend. But he definitely wasn't from here. His accent sounded way too Irish.” I said and they both just looked at me. “I’ll look into it, I promise, just not right now.” They both grumbled a bit, but agreed.

It was late Thursday morning when my mother and father both entered the study I use for my schoolwork. I have three different 20 page essays due next week so I decided to have one of the kitchen staff bring breakfast to my study. I just finished finalizing and submitting one, and was polishing the second when they knocked. I closed my laptop so I wouldn’t be distracted by my essay while they told me whatever it is they have to say.

“Look at you, working hard on your economics degree.” Father said, smiling proudly.

“But that’s not why we’re here Damien.” Mother interrupts before he can continue on that line of topic further. “We’re here because we thought you might want to know more about Lord Harry Styles before dinner tonight.” She continued.

“He is not currently courting anyone, and Duchess Anne mentioned that he asked her to help him get up to speed on where you’re at and what has been keeping you occupied lately.” Father said and I legit squealed. It felt like hundreds of thousands of butterflies were dancing in my stomach. “We figured that would be your reaction and wanted to make sure you had ample time to put your finest princess foot forward for dinner tonight. We’ve arranged a walk through the rose garden for the two of you before dinner starts. Lord Harry will be here at four, and dinner is at six.” He finished saying.

“So in girl terms, you might want to start getting ready now.” Mother added with a smile and I quickly excused myself and hugged them both before taking off towards my rooms at nearly a full sprint.

“Mel, Marie, Helga!” I hollered into the staff door from my entry room. Mel and Marie are my new ladies maids and Helga is assisting them in learning everything before she officially retires next month. The girls tie half of my hair up into a braid and a bun, and then curl the remaining pieces, I have a simple gold and diamond tiara, gold gladiator flats, and a one shoulder golden gown. I ended up on the gold because i knew it would reflect in the sun during our walk, and it’s also a color I’ve always loved wearing. Plus it’s proven to be a confidence booster, and I have a feeling i’m going to be in need of a lot of that tonight. Other than my title, I have no idea what I have going for me in regards to why I’d make a good match. Though I’d rather he like Y/N, rather than just Princess Y/N. I needed to be radiant tonight, for myself, although, who wouldn’t want to look golden?

At exactly 3:56 pm I make my way towards the main palace entrance, it’s a solid five minute walk from my rooms, and it usually takes guests anywhere between fifty and seventy-five seconds to go from the drive, up the stairs, and finally step inside the doors. Which means that if I timed this correctly he should be just stepping inside the doors as I step off the last step to get to the entry foyer.

I maintain my normal pace and arrive to the front entry in exactly five minutes. However when I get there, Harry is already waiting for me in a mostly black suit, a bit of gold on the shirt, and a black suede hat.

“My apologies Lord Harry, it took a bit longer to get ready than I had anticipated.” I said to him as soon as I had made my approach.

“Well, it was well worth the minute long wait, you look radiant your highness.” He says back with a bow. “Shall we?” He suggests and holds his arm out for me to take.

“You’ll have 12 feet of privacy.” My mother informs us as I take his arm and we depart. I wave a small goodbye to my mother and father before turning all of my focus onto my walk with Harry.

“You’re going to have to guide me, I’m afraid I have absolutely no idea where we’re supposed to be going.” He says with a small chuckle.

“I suppose, though getting lost does sometimes lead to finding something unique, fascinating, and totally unexpected. A left at the spiral hedge just up ahead.” I say.

“That’s true, it’s an adventure, that much is for sure.” He replies with a smile.

We walk in silence for a minute or so as we enter the rose garden. He pauses just before the first fountain.

“Why me?” He asks a few seconds after we stopped. He’s staring into my eyes and I can’t help but stare back. “My mum told me that you have a habit of turning down courtships, and being very selective about who you let kiss your hand, so why let me? I mean you could have your choice of princes from distant lands, lords with so much more wealth, and fame than myself, the male heirs of duchies that make mine look infintesimal.”

“I hope this isn’t awkward of me to say but to be honest, the first time we caught each other’s eyes, I felt like I could be lost in the soft green of them for eons and be happy for each second of that time. That’s not a feeling i’ve ever had before.” I say, he smiles and the way it lights up his entire being is pure magic. I can’t help but smile too. “It’s actually why I wore gold today, I knew I would struggle to say what I wanted to…”

“And you needed the confidence boost?” He finished my exact thought. I nodded and he smiled again. “Me too, I knew I would need it to even manage to say a word to you.” He continued as we started walking again. “I can't help but feel leagues below you.”

The conversation flowed so easily from there, it was one of the easiest conversations I've ever had. We talked about university, our degrees, our families, our childhoods, my dogs, our favorite books, movies, shows, anything and everything. As we approached the entrance again he paused one more time.

“I’d like to have another outing with you soon, and I also want to aopolgize for making you violate protocol in the park the other day.” He says to me, and I have never met someone who means everything so genuinely, who is so kind hearted, and it just feels almost right to be around him.

“I’d like that as well, and as far as the other day is concerned, that is my fault, I know not to engage with the public while undercover like that, I couldn’t stop myself though, because it was you and I wanted to have a conversation with you.” I say back, desperately hoping it’s not too much.

“May I?” he asks and begins to reach for my hand. I gladly let him take it and press his soft lips to it once again. I feel the blush rising in my cheeks, and I smile as he offers me his arm once again. We make our return in silence, just sharing smiles with each other.

Harry and I had about two outings each week for the next couple of months, but he still hadn’t asked for permission to court me. It was beginning to stress me out to the point where my parents took us down to one outing every other week. We would text in between, but I was still terrified that he would never ask me, that he didn’t see in me what I saw in him. The every other week outings turned into two outings over a three month period, the texts had stopped, and I was afraid that I was going to have to accept a courtship out of obligation rather than want. It might sound weird, but after almost seven months of knowing Lord Harry Styles, I was in love with him. I was in love with someone who didn’t even want to court me.

The Styles family joined us for dinner on a Monday night, and I was to tell Harry that a courtship was no longer an option, I was to be courting another Lord within the week. I was at least happy my parents agreed to let me tell him privately with a chaperone just twenty feet away.

When they arrived that night, something felt different between all of them, something had happened to them. I was dressed in a ruby red and gold Qipao with a gold plated ruby and diamond tiara, my hair was pulled back into a woven ponytail style with curls for volume. Harry was in all black except for his shoes which were a camel color, and his long hair was also pulled back. It was the first time I had seen it that way, and it was definitely doing something for me, no matter how much I wished it hadn’t. When he finally removed his sunglasses for dinner, I had initially wondered why he was wearing them in the first place, but I saw firsthand why, when he politely removed them before dinner. His normally bright, soft green eyes were slightly puffy, he had definitely been crying.

Dinner was terribly quiet, no one felt like talking, Harry seemed to be trying to avoid eye contact with me and it felt like everything was seriously ending. I excused myself for a few moments which I used to try and compose myself, what I was about to do was beginning to feel overwhelming and almost painful. As I went to make my return, Harry was already waiting for me in the rose parlor as my family called it. It looked out to the rose garden and the vases were filled with roses of all colors.

“Harry? Did something happen? Your entire family was quiet during dinner, it worries me.” I asked him quietly.

“Yes, I’m not sure how much you actually know, but my parents aren’t actually together. My mum maintained her title when they split just because of how loved she was by the people of Holmeshire, your parents actually had to approve it. I was only seven when they split, and have maintained a relationship with both of them, my mother moreso though. She has had two relationships since, one which none of us speak to anymore, and the other, Robin, he passed from cancer a little over three months ago. It was getting progressively worse and I just knew I needed to be there for my mum, which is why I stopped texting you, and why it was hard to find time to see you. You have to believe me when I say I wanted to see you, Robin was a good man, he made sure I had good values, and taught me that it’s actually ok for a man to cry.” Harry explains to me, I just sit and listen quietly, knowing he just needs to get all of this out. “My mum has been trying to slowly reconnect herself back to my father over the past six weeks and while it is definitely an adjustment for all of us, I want to start doing things for myself again, rather than just doing things for my family, I want to get back to spending more time with you.” He finishes speaking, and the tears I have been trying to force down, overflow.

“Harry, we can’t, my parents are expecting me to start pursuing other potential matches at tomorrow night’s ball. I’m supposed to tell you that,” I cry while trying to explain it all to him. Harry being the gentle and beautiful soul he is, uses his thumbs to wipe away my tears. I take a few deep breaths before continuing, “Harry I’m to tell you that courtship is no longer an option for us, I’m meant to tell you goodbye, and it breaks my heart to say that to you. I… I need to go.” I say and attempt to rush out but Harry stops me with one word, “wait.”

“Y/N it’s not tomorrow yet, let me try one thing.” He says and steps closer to me.

“Harry, we shouldn’t, I can’t, you can’t do anything Harry, our chaperone is right there, just twenty feet away, and my father…”

“Relax, I’m not going to do anything like that, I want to ask for permission to court you in front of everyone, tonight.” He says with a smile.

“I suppose it’s worth a try, I don’t want to say goodbye to you Har.” I say softly.

“Then it’s settled, and we’re doing this now.” He offers me his arm and I take it, hoping it won’t be the last time.

When we get back to the dinner parlor where everyone else is, still sitting in silence. Harry grabs their attention immediately.

“Excuse me your majesties, Princess Y/N has just informed me of everything, and it upsets me greatly, especially because with my family’s recent loss of Robin, I needed to take time to put them first, and put their well being above my own, even though I would have much rather been spending that time with her highness. Which is why since it’s not tomorrow yet, I’d like to ask you for your formal permission to begin a courtship with her highness Princess Y/N.” Harry announces.

“I suppose you are correct Lord Harry, it is not tomorrow yet, and I suppose…” my father begins, turning to look at my mother, who nods at him, before continuing. “I suppose that my wife and I can excuse your recent absence and forgive you for upsetting our daughter.” he wraps up.

“And as long as it’s what the Princess wants…” My mother picks up and looks at me, I nod eagerly, a wide, bright smile returning to my face for the first time in months.

“It is, it’s everything I want.” I say happily.

“Then you have our permission, and our blessing to court Princess Y/N.” My father announces. I’m just so happy that I was wrong about Harry not wanting me, I hug him. He’s surprised at first, but hugs me back almost immediately. It’s the best feeling in the entire world, to be in his strong arms, I'm impossibly happy.

“Okay, that’s long enough.” My mother says as my father wraps an arm around her waist.

“Sorry mother,” I say, breaking apart from Harry. He takes my hand and kisses the back of it though.

The conversation for the night livens up after that. Harry and I are allowed to sit next to each other on one of the couches. We’re holding both of each other’s hands and whispering to each other for the entire rest of the hour. Just before we go our separate ways for the night he whispers the best phrase in the entire world to me.

He simply says, “I love you,” squeezes my hands again, kisses them both, and heads towards the Velychnyy (Majestic) Suite.

Hope you enjoyed!

As a quick reminder as of 1/17/24, I'm still working on this story, I don't want to post any of it until I'm finished writing it (mostly potential format changes) so please be patient with me and let me know if you'd like to be tagged in future The Princess's Lover (TPL) posts by commenting below!

-Ava

[sunalearnschinese]

Part 1 Reading Husky and his White Cat Teacher 二哈和他的白猫师尊 + learning Chinese

Hello new blog!! I'm going to start 🌸fresh 鲜 🌸

Ok. I have read this book in English before, and I know absolutely NO ONE in the history of ever has tried learning Chinese through this book. I already have some experience (up to HSK3 lmao 🐣) but I'm determined. Fight me I'm doing it. ¯\_( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)_/¯

How I decided on this was a few years back I wanted to read Husky and His White Cat Teacher 二哈和他的白毛师尊 but it was all fan translated. After a certain point, the fan translators wanted me to support the author, so I bought the original Chinese copy and sent them a picture as proof of support, then I got the document of the translation to continue reading. I sobbed so hard and felt so many more feelings than ever before, and despite the dark side of the book, it became my favorite instantly. Now I bought the official translated book and am excited to collect them all like Pokémon. 

*book cover -why are they so beautiful pls my heart-*

However, I still have that one Chinese book, and I'm an impatient b!tch so I decided to read it in the meantime. Except I don't want just a translation, I want to READ and UNDERSTAND ok. Grab your pen and tea, here we go 🍵

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Here goes the translation for the first two sentences of the book. If i got anything wrong or you'd like to add something, please comment!!

TAGS: Xianxia, Rebirth, Action, Conspiracy, Angst, 1?v1 HE, NSFW 

WARNINGS: Swearing

•─────────•°•❀•°•─────────•

墨燃还没当皇帝的那会儿，总有人骂他是狗。

掌柜骂他狗儿子，客人骂他狗崽子，堂弟骂他狗东西，他母亲最厉害，骂他狗娘养的。

Before Mo Ran became emperor, people always called him a dog. 

The manager called him a 'son of a bitch', the customers called him a 'bitch pup', his little cousin called him a 'shitty dog', and his mother was the best, saying he was raised by a bitch.

•─────────•°•❀•°•─────────•

VOCABULARY + grammar:

🐶墨燃 Mo Ran is the name of the main character of the novel.

1. 还没当 - not yet - Hái méi dāng

还有 - also; furthermore; in addition - Hǎi yǒu 还是 - had better; nevertheless - Hǎi shì 还好 - furthermore; not bad - Hǎi hǎo

2. 皇帝 - emperor - Huángdì

Idiom:

皇帝不急太监急 - Huángdì bù jí tàijiàn jí fig. The observers are more anxious than the person involved. lit. The emperor is not worried, but his eunuchs are.

3. 那会儿 - at that time - Nà huì er

那 - that (e.g. 看那 Will you look at that?) When you are thinking of something, in English you would say 'uhm' or 'uhhh', while in Chinese the equivalent term would be 那个 (nàgè). 这 zhè/ 那 nà + Measure Word + Noun

4. 总有 - always/ inevitably there will be - Zǒng yǒu

5. 骂 - to curse/ to shout abuses - mà 6. 掌柜 - shopkeeper - Zhǎngguì 7. 客人 - client/customer - Kèrén 8. 母亲 - mother - Mǔqīn 9. 最厉害 - great (-est, both positive and negative) - Zuì lìhài

It is somewhat similar in usage to the word 'great' in English, with the following meanings: Impressive or skilled: 他的功夫非常厉害。= He is very skilled in martial arts. 太厉害��，他是怎么做到的？ = Very impressive, how did he manage to achieve that? formidable: 厉害的角色 = A formidable figure (not one to be messed around with). 厉害的手段 = formidable tactics (in a sporting game, or as part of political intrigue) severe: 某某股跌得太厉害了 = Stock X has taken a severe fall (in value) 厉害 can also mean a few things when describing a person and relies heavily on the context. For example the sentence: 他是很厉害 Has numerous possibilities and it would be wrong to assume something without further explanation. Some examples: This person is very strict or harsh This person has a sharp personality This person is very skillful/capable The same with the use of 太厉害. This could have a positive or negative connotation. It could describe someone who is amazingly skillful or someone that is overly strict.

10. Multiple ways to say 'son of a bitch':

狗儿子 - (Dog's son) Gǒu érzi

狗崽子 - (son of dog) gǒu zǎizi

狗东西 - (dog thing) gǒu dōngxī

狗娘养的 - (lit. "raised by a dog mother") gǒu niáng yǎng de 

The fact that many insults are prefaced with the Mandarin Chinese word for dog attests to the animal's low status.

•─────────•°•❀•°•─────────•

PRACTICING:

Some of my notes are mixed in with previous practices.

[lore-of-fanren]

The Kingdom of Huocheng

The kingdom of Huocheng is a peaceful and benevolent kingdom, ruled by an equally peaceful and benevolent Queen. Founded ages ago, the kingdom of Huocheng is arguably the oldest kingdom.

The kingdom's symbol is a gold lotus flower encircled by their protector, Mǔqīn, who borne the kingdom from her own flesh and blood in hopes of making a safe space for the feeble mortals whom have captured her heart.

Huocheng is admittedly the most welcoming kingdom of the five nations, but in the past it was not the same. When the kingdom was first created, other ancient nations attempted taking over in hopes of being able to control the nation made directly from a dragon's flesh and blood, or so is said in the legends.

The kingdom's most noticed detail isn't the kindness of the people or the legends, but it's the knowledge. The Grand Library sits underneath the Palace where the Queen's family resides, holding more books and records than any place in Fanren. The library is accessible to all, even outsiders who come from abroad to study.

Short stories:

.

Other:

Setting

Culture

History

Economics

Playlist:

Huǒchéng's liveliness

Name meanings:

Mǔqīn: Mother

Fanren: Mortal

Huocheng: Fire City

Tag list: @juniper-bunch , @shopping-for-casino-rats , @creatorbiaze

[filthy-mudeoki]

First snow

Like their first night in the snow, they makes wishes for each other. With their wedding around the corner, tonight’s snowfall is all the more special. 

Tagging: @kairadiamond Thank you for the prompt!! I had a lotta fun with this one!

Just be warned, it gets just a lil steamy at the end ... nothing too hectic.

Sang Zhi is under the covers, showered and comfortable, yet sleep evades her. Their pre-wedding party had come to an end some time ago. Her friends had whisked her away for the night, with the plans of pampering the bride come morning. Her stomach leaps with excitement at the thought that she’ll be getting married in only a matter of hours. 

But strangely enough, it’s not the excitement of her wedding that keeps her up now. It’s the thought of her groom that makes her worry. For the sake of propriety, Jiaxu was not staying at the same hotel as her. Still, it was only a five-minute drive, but it’s enough distance to leave her feeling slightly uneasy. She twists and turns and tries to talk herself out of it. 

She glances around the room and is blessed to see her friends fast asleep. Grabbing a pen and paper, she scribbles them a quick note. She doesn’t intend to stay out too late but she rather not altogether disappear on them. 

Sang Zhi is out the door and into the waiting taxi in no less than ten minutes. She’s had the same repetitive thought now and all it serves to do is make her sad. Because while her family have been in fully attendance tonight and all the days leading up to their wedding, Jiaxu has only had by his side, her and Sang Yan. 

She’s asked Jiaxu about the family he wanted to invite to their wedding and his answer broke her heart. 

“I … don’t have anyone to invite,” he told her. Sang Zhi noticed that he had looked a little embarrassed by that. “You’re my family, Zhizhi.” 

She had held him close that night. They had not spoken further on that for a while until she asked again, if there was no one he wanted to invite. In the end, Jiaxu settled for a few far lost distant relatives but he had made it a point to tell her that everyone he wanted at his wedding had already been invited. Sang Zhi thinks about her parents on the drive over to Jiaxu’s hotel. Their excitement and happiness has made every moment more memorable. Her heart aches, knowing that Jiaxu is without his parents today of all days. She can’t imagine not having her mǔqīn and fùqīn with her.  Ever since they bid each other goodnight, she’s worried about him going back to his hotel room alone. She knows he must be thinking of his mother today. They had flown back to Yihe two weeks ago, and left flowers at her grave. Jiaxu had been a little more morose on their way back, but she understood why.  

In the elevator, she pulls out her phone and calls his number. He answers on the second ring. 

“Wéi,” comes his soft answer. 

She hears it immediately in his voice. The soft heartbreak he’s been holding on to all night. She knows then that she’s made the right choice coming to him tonight. 

“Wéi, Jiaxu,” she replies. She looks up and sees the elevator almost glacially climbing to his floor. 

“Why aren’t you sleeping, Sang Zhi?” 

“I couldn’t sleep,” she tells him. 

“Why not?” 

She pauses for a beat, “Because you’re sad.” 

He chuckles softly, like he wants to laugh it off. But they both know she’s right. “I’m not,” he tells her nonetheless. 

“Jiaxu.” 

She hears him exhale into the phone, picturing him hunched over, alone in his hotel room. She silently urges the elevator to go faster. 

“Jiaxu,” she gently urges him, “it’s okay.” 

“I don’t want to be sad on our wedding day, Sang Zhi,” he admits. “I didn’t think it would hurt this much to not have them here. It’s been years now but …” 

‘They’re still your parents. You’re allowed to miss them as much as you want, whenever you want,” she tells him. 

“I know.” His answer is still too quiet for her liking. “It’s just today of all days, I’m feeling … it a little more.” 

He doesn’t need to clarify what the ‘it’ is. It is the absence of parents; it is a lifetime of loneliness that has only just been cured. It is the part of a family that he will never get back.

Jiaxu doesn’t get melancholy often and she knows their wedding has brought forth some of the things he didn’t even know he missed. But she wants to remind him, that despite it all, he is not alone. There will always be a family waiting for him on the other side and together they will honour, and miss and remember his parents. 

Duan Jiaxu is not without his family. 

“Didn’t I tell promise your māmā that you would not be alone anymore?” She asks him. Finally, the elevator climbs to his floor and it dings softly. She all but runs out, looking for his room. “Jiaxu?” 

“You did,” he answers slowly. 

“Are you not my family, Duan Jiaxu?” 

She hears the stocky intake of breath and knows he’s fighting back his tears now. “I am.” 

“We’ll miss them together. You’re not alone, Jiaxu,” she tells him. Holding the phone, a little tighter, she whispers, “It’s okay.” 

She’s standing before his door now and gives him a moment before she knocks. “It’s okay, Jiaxu,” she repeats as she knocks once more. 

She can hear the rustle of his clothes as he gets up. “One minute,” he says. “Someone is at the door.” 

Sang Zhi’s still got the phone to her ear, when he opens the door. His eyes are slightly red, his cheeks tinged with just the barest hue of pink. 

“Sang Zhi,” Jiaxu breathes out in surprise. Absently he cuts the call. “What are you doing here?” he asks as he leans out to look up and down the corridor. 

Before she can reply, he pulls her into the room. She kicks off her shoes as he guides her through the hotel room towards the couch. 

“Sang Zhi, what are you doing here so late? Did you come alone?” he asks worriedly. 

She smiles, reaching for him. He pauses and looks down at her. Sang Zhi’s fingers brush against his cheek and she can feel the dampness there. He doesn’t move away and she takes that as a good sign. 

“I told you. I couldn’t sleep. Not when I know you’re sad … and in pain.” 

“It’s not painful, really.” He tries to dissuade. 

“You’re missing your parents, Jiaxu. Anybody would feel the pain of their absence.” 

She is desperate that he understands this. So, she guides him to the couch, making him sit as she kneels before him. Her hands go to his face once more and this time, he closes his eyes, leaning into her touch. 

“No matter what, you’re not alone, Jiaxu. You have people that love you,” she tells him. “And your parents – your māmā and bàba will always be with us.” 

He pulls her closer, burying his face into the crook of her neck and she does nothing but hold him tighter. 

“Xièxiè Sang Zhi,” he finally says. He pulls back a little so he can look at her. Brushing aside some of her hair, he grasps her face in his warm hands, “for coming to me tonight. For knowing what I wanted even before I realised it myself.” His thumbs swipe across her cheeks as he speaks, “Xièxiè for making me a better man.” He tips her chin up, their lips the barest distance apart, “Xièxiè for loving me more than I deserve.” 

He steals whatever reply she might have with a soft kiss. He pulls her up and onto the couch beside him. He wraps his arm around her, tugging her closer and for the moment, they both sit quietly, watching the night sky. It’s a beautiful scene, she sees through the floor to ceiling window that his hotel room has. But it’s not the night sky she’s focused on, it’s their reflection in the glass. Huddled together on the couch, she can barely tell where he starts and she ends. 

“You know if you had been just a few minutes earlier, you’d have run into Sang Yan,” Jiaxu tells her. 

Sang Zhi smiles. She loves that her brother was there. That he probably guessed as much as she did that Jiaxu would be a little lonely tonight. 

“I’m just surprised he actually left. You know he’s been having difficulty lately, sharing you,” she quips and Jiaxu laughs. 

“He’s going to have to get used to it.” 

“Hmm.” 

She closes her eyes and she knows she’s never felt more at peace than in this moment. Jiaxu is gently playing with the ends of her hair. She can hear the gently rhythmic beat of his heart beneath her ear and if she’s not careful, it will be enough to lull her to sleep. 

“Zhizhi,” he finally says breaking the silence. 

She looks up at him, but he’s looking out the window. 

“It’s snowing.” 

She sits up immediately, looking excitedly out the window. She can see it too now. 

The first snowfall. 

She had been warned by a few people that having a wedding so close to winter would mean weather not ideally suited for a wedding, but the first snowfall had always been special to them. But she never actually thought she’d get the first snowfall on the eve of her wedding. It was almost too perfect. 

Without realising it, she’s standing before the window, watching the snowfall. She feels Jiaxu behind her as he wraps his arms around her, tugging her back so he can rest his chin on her shoulder. 

“I remember our first snowfall,” he tells her. “I was already in love with you and didn’t even know it.” Sang Zhi smiles as he continues speaking. “I am grateful for many things, but that first snowfall … that’s something special.” 

“It was.” She agrees. Looking at their reflection in the window, she catches his eye, “Want to make a wish? All wishes made on the first snowfall come true.” 

Unexpectedly, he frowns a little, “I don’t know what more I could wish for. I have everything right here.”  

There’s a warmth rushing up her cheeks but she insists. “One wish Jiaxu.” 

“Fine. One wish.” Without moving away from her, he brings his hands together at her front, like a prayer and closes his eyes. She watches him, still in the reflection and she’s tempted to ask what he wishes for. 

She knows what she wants. 

Him. Them. Together, healthy and happy for all the years to come. 

So, she closes her eyes and places her hands over his as she makes her wish. When she opens her eyes again, he’s already looking at her. Intently, and with deep seeded desire. She knows that look, feels it to the very depths of her bones and it always sets her alight. 

“What did you wish for?” he asks. He turns over their hands, intertwining their fingers. 

“I can’t tell you that, it won’t come true,” she teases. He pouts slightly and she chuckles. “What did you wish for?” 

“You,” he whispers as he kisses her cheek. 

 “You didn’t have to wish for that. You already have me.” 

He places another kiss to her cheek but he doesn’t move away. His lips move slowly down and Sang Zhi moves to give him a little more room. 

“I wished for you to be happy, always,” he murmurs against her flushed skin. 

“That won’t be too hard, not if you’re with me,” Sang Zhi says. “Right?” 

“Right.” He shifts her a little so he can look at her more clearly. 

She knows what he’s going to say, but she needs him to hear it first. “Wǒ ài nǐ, Jiaxu,” Sang Zhi says. It’s a soft declaration but it echoes beautifully in the quiet of their hotel room. “From our first snowfall to our last, I will always love you.”

 He grasps her face gently in his hands, pushing back her hair as he leans in closer.  

“Wǒ ài nǐ, Zhizhi.”  

He doesn’t let her say anything more, gently tipping her chin up so he can kiss her. It’s a soft kiss but when his fingers find purchase in her hair, as he pulls her closer with his other hand, it sets her heart racing. She pushes up against him a little more urgently.  

She’s breathless when they pull apart. Her fingers have twisted the fabric of his sweatshirt and she’s not ready to let go.  

His fingers are caressing her cheeks and she leans into his touch. Looking up, to meet his eyes, she’s fallen in love all over again.  

There’s a small mischievous little smile that is playing on his lips and she can’t help the breathy little chuckle that escapes her.  He teasingly raises a brow and she loops her arms around his neck.  

“I can’t stay,” she murmurs as he kisses down her neck once more.  

“Hhmm,” comes his response.  

She loses all coherent thought when he hoists her up. Instinctively, she wraps her legs around his waist. He holds her against him as if she weighs nothing. She giggles when he walks them into the bedroom and there is no argument to heard from either of them then. She impatiently tugs at his shirt and he drops her onto the bed, quickly pulling it off himself. Sang Zhi is all breathy little moans when Jiaxu comes back down to kiss her.

It’s the first snowfall with her first love on her final night before she becomes his wife. Sang Zhi could not have asked for a more perfect end.

mǔqīn - mother

fùqīn – father

Wéi – hi

Xièxiè – thank you

Wǒ ài nǐ – I love you

[tragicpixels]

Trigger Warning: Abusive Parents, Verbal Abuse, and Slut shaming

The dinner

Translations: Māmā: Mom (Mandarin) Fùqīn: Father (Cantonese) Mǔqīn: Mother (Cantonese) Qīn'ài de: Dear one (Mandarin)

[lernzufluchthagennachhilfe]

Chinesisch Vokabeln Grundwortschatz

Hier ist eine Liste mit grundlegenden chinesischen Vokabeln, die dir helfen, einfache Gespräche zu führen und im Alltag zurechtzukommen: Personen und Familie 我 (wǒ) – Ich 你 (nǐ) – Du 他 (tā) – Er 她 (tā) – Sie 我们 (wǒmen) – Wir 父亲 (fùqīn) – Vater 母亲 (mǔqīn) – Mutter 哥哥 (gēge) – Älterer Bruder 姐姐 (jiějie) – Ältere Schwester 弟弟 (dìdi) – Jüngerer Bruder 妹妹 (mèimei) – Jüngere…

[timeguardians]

“Talk to me.” (@familyxxdutyxxhonor, Zhou for Mulan )

Mulan cautiously picks her way out of the shadows to step into a shallow swath of light in the ancient ancestrial temple. Her prayers had fallen silent once more. Her lips were pursed, caused by the unpleasant pressure penting up upon her shoulders.

There's a scroll outstretched in her trembling, porcelain fingers. "It would seem that I am being summoned for, again." She confesses in low-tremulous voice. The ebony-haired Hero of China has only been returned home for less than a month. She knows that she is not required to make the next statement to her Baba, but does so anyways. "Baba, I will have no choice but to re-enlist." That meant her marriage to Shang would have to be put on hold indefinitely. "I don't know where they're going to deploy me, but it will happen tomorrow. I didn't wish to worry you or Mǔqīn."

[arianshariaty]

Notes from February 5th

While there isn't a single word that is identical across all languages, one word has the most similarities due to common sounds or concepts: "Mama or Mother."

In many languages, variations of "mama" or "mum/mom" are used to refer to mothers.

English: "mama," "mom," "mum"

Spanish: "mamá," "mamá," "mami"

French: "maman"

Russian: "мама" (mama)

Mandarin Chinese: "妈妈" (māma)

Arabic: "ماما" (mama)

While the exact pronunciation and spelling may vary, the similarity in sound is striking and reflects the universality of the concept of a mother and the sounds babies tend to make early in their language development.

The word "Mother" in different languages that sound similar or share common letters/sounds.

English: mother

Spanish: madre

French: mère

German: Mutter

Italian: madre

Portuguese: mãe

Russian: мать (mat')

Mandarin Chinese: 母亲 (mǔqīn)

Japanese: 母 (haha)

Korean: 엄마 (eomma)

Arabic: أم (umm)

Hindi: माँ (mā̃)

Bengali: মা (mā)

Urdu: ماں (mān)

Turkish: anne

Dutch: moeder

Swedish: mor

Danish: mor

Norwegian: mor

Finnish: äiti

Greek: μητέρα (mitéra)

Polish: matka

Czech: matka

Slovak: matka

Hungarian: anya

Romanian: mamă

Bulgarian: майка (mayka)

Thai: แม่ (mɛ̂ɛ)

Vietnamese: mẹ

Indonesian: ibu

Malay: ibu

Filipino: ina

Swahili: mama

Hausa: uwar matar

Yoruba: ọmọdé

Igbo: nne

Zulu: umama

Xhosa: umama

Afrikaans: moeder

Tamil: த���ய் (tāy)

Telugu: తల్లి (talli)

Kannada: ತಾಯಿ (tāyi)

Malayalam: അമ്മ (amma)

Marathi: आई (ā'ī)

Gujarati: માં (mān)

Punjabi: ਮਾਂ (mā̃)

Nepali: आमा (āmā)

Sinhala: මාත්‍රවංශයේ (māthravaṃśayē)

Kurdish: dayika

Icelandic: móðir

[littlethingsrae]

“Well it’s hard to choose—“

“There’s my Mǔqīn (Mother), and my Xiōngdì (Brother)…”

“But there’s another person; A Goddess who gave me my life.”

“…A Goddess I’ve never even met.”

…

..

“I don’t believe anyone has.”

———

:3c ehe

Flower fam is back in business—

LMK OC COMPETITION - QotD

Who is the most important person in your life?

[timeguardiansarchive]

‘ I got you some tea. ’ [familyxxdutyxxhonor, Fa Li for Mulan]

Night had yet to withdraw it's frosted breath from the fields. Swirling white plumes clung heady to the entire atmosphere, almost as if they were tethered to the earth.

With the enchanting bewitchment had come wraiths, memories Mulan desires to forget. The chorus of crickets did little to dispel the warrior's rattled nerves. It takes considerable efforts to remind herself that VICTORY had been obtained. She needn't be seeking out the enemy. At least, not within the confines of her own home.

She startles briefly at the approach of her darling mother. Quavering, porcelain fingers extend to accept the heated cup. "Thank you, Mǔqīn." Words softly escape her. Amber orbs sweep over the woman, suddenly overly attentive rather than blissfully ignorant. "D--- Did I wake you?"

[jonathanmoya1955]

Raise the Red Lantern, Take Down the Blue Lantern

Image: Painting by Lee Weng Fatt The wooden shutters must be flung opento scatter the doves on the ledge to the sky.Hang up that red lantern long reserved for all.Put it in the brightest spot to release the most joy.Take down that old blue lantern put up on the eaveswhen Mǔqīn (Mother) flower began to wilt in winter. for today, she has joined all our ancestors!

[anemxvisions]

@starsdescent asked:

[ TEA ]: sender prepares a mug of hot tea for the receiver. / guizhong & xiao!

Xiao watched Guizhing with rapt attention, even though he’s seen her do this countless times this instance she was making the cup of tea for him. Despite his young appearance Xiao was old enough to drink tea if he pleased, but when under the oppression of the cruel god the only thing he consumed were dreams. Now the only thing that could be close to the taste and texture was almond tofu.

Though that didn’t mean Xiao couldn’t have other foods or drinks.

So when he asked Guizhong for some tea she was more than happy to prepare some for him. This tea smelt sweeter than the green tea he seen her and Rex Lapis share. Guizhong beautifully poured the tea into the mug and Xiao was eager to have a sip.

Before he took a sip Xiao had remembered Rex Lapis always blows on his cup. So Xiao blew gently on the cup before taking a sip.

It wasn’t bitter but it wasn’t sweet, overral not bad.

“It’s good, thank you Guizhong.”

[ask-underfazverse]

Lucifer ends up getting thrown off and he...

Falls...

The air in his lungs freeze, as he opens his mouth and tries to scream. Nothing comes out, but a desperate choke.

The sharp whistling of air blows past him, his muscles tense agonizingly. Blood pumps faster, as his heart starts to flutter, starts to try and fly away, but HE CAN'T. Out of the corner of his eye, the blood from the wounds in his back rushes past him, taking to the air, only to fall with him in a red rain. The moonlight reflects off the droplets, and his vision begins to blur.

Everything seems to freeze, but his body burns. He looks to the moon and is blinded. By tears or its light, he can not tell, but he might as well be staring into the sun instead of the reflection of the lime light.

Everything seems so loud, yet so quiet.

So painfully hot, yet so cold.

He feels everything, every ounce of his body is in agony, yet he feels so numb.

Is the sky black, or is it blue? Is that vulture above him, or a fleeing hand that refused to show mercy? Has his life truly happened, or has he been falling this whole time.

His mind races, but goes nowhere. He keeps trying to scream, but his teeth are clamped shut, bleeding as they peirce his gums.

Then everything hits him at once, as he breaks the lower part of his spine. A wave of memories come in, crashing down upon his broken body.

He sees flames everywhere, but the roars are replaced by that of water for a few flickering moments, then wind begins to scream, he hears the whistles of doom from man made suns falling upon the innocent, and the sickening, bombing roar of the aftermath of those bombs. But one thing remains the same throughout these visions.

Screams.

In so many tongues blending together, he hears it.

Mater! Pater! Hahaoya! Chichioya! Mǔqīn! Fùqīn! Al'umu! 'Ab! Inay! Ama! Maĭko! tatko! Mère! Père! Bojo! Nejo! Mitéra! Patéras! Mother! Father!

The voices keep echoing, the cries of so many children, roaring, then going silent. Over and over... the sea of grief comes and goes like a tide, eroding his mind. Past and present rip at his sanity, as the screams blend with whatever sounds are here now.

Pain. Regret. Guilt. Shame. Betrayal. Pain.

He feels so many things at once...

Imma! Abba! Yemma! Baba! Mai! Puk! Appe! Amme! Äiti! Isä! SoS! Vav! Ko’mekh! Sa’mekh! Amye! Atar! Gad! Hul! Ieiu! Ukr!

The voices keep crying out, he can barely hear the actual screams and roars from his brother. Finally, his own voice joins the screams, but he only feels the burn of his own roar. He tries to stand, but his legs do not work. So he crawls... he crawls on his hands, trying to find some control in the chaos.

He looks around, trying to ground himself, but all he sees are so many faces. Mortals... angels... demons... some burning, some smiling, others screaming and crying. Many reach for him, start grabbing at his face. Trees twist and warp in his eyes to many things. Towers, walls, clouds, weapons, and even trees of different species. Reality is crashing down around him, falling apart at the seams. The only thing that is real in this moment, is one fact.

People are in danger, and he is once again powerless to stop it.

The most recent of faces flash in his mind, his most recent of failures.

Those children he tried to rescue from The Mother... prophecy bierce... now he's going to fail again.

Fear consumes him, as his mind goes into overdrive, connecting everything, every unnecessary little thing.

His mind flashes with every bird he's ever seen, every gory child, every delusioned person, every God, every phrase he's ever heard.

In the eternal milliseconds, that stretch on for centuries in his mind, he makes a horrific discovery. One that he should have made years ago.

The obsession with death... the bird motifs... the madness... what prophecy bierce had said during their most recent confrontation...

This is The Mother's domain... Nowhere is her's.

A painful scream erupts from him again, but he still cannot hear his own voice. His tears, so numerous, they abuse the earth beneath him, eroding the dirt and stone like heavy rain.

Satan grabs him, but lucifer cannot see. He is blinded by the past, and the true horrors of the present. His stomach churns at the thought of the future. He roars, with a disgusting gag, and violently starts to vomit as he sobs.

The adrenaline in his veins are making him unstable, but he doesn’t care. He doesn't care how Satan is screaming and begging for him to listen. He doesn't care for how his little brother is crying too. He doesn't care for how his brother's claws grab at his face, trying to get him to focus on anything real at the moment.

He doesn't care.

All that matters is he saves someone, anyone, from the chaos. From The Mother.

He crawls, dragging Satan with impossible strength. He doesn't even care that his lower body is currently paralyzed. He's going to save someone, ANYONE, and he will do it with every ounce of strength he has.

He is going to break himself to make sure no one dies to vulture.

...and he knows he probably already failed...

The multiverse is full of infinite possibilities...

Most worlds tend to connect through similar builds. Through stories, people, themes...

It's no surprise seeing a stranger to the multiverse. What IS surprising, however, was his condition. Covered in deep wounds, limbs twisted and torn, and he appeared to be drowning in his own blood by the time he was found. Holy weapons were embedded in his skin, and the flesh sizzled liked bacon around it.

He had red skin, gray hooves, horns that looked far too round and circular to have normally grown out of his head. His long pointed tail is covered in hand prints, and there are bones exposed out of his back. He lays face first in a pool of his own boiling blood, barely breathing or moving.

@ask-underfazverse

Cry’s come from the mass amounts of strangers, many just back away to cowedly to do anything, but a few step up, and begin to heal him. Mainly the younger, less evil Malak’s, a few Doug’s that are just simply concerned, and only one Bierce.

Dream Malak very hurriedly takes him to his hospital, with the help of the others.

[yeiyeisj]

Mǔqīn jié kuàilè Mommy ko

Mǔqīn jié kuàilè Mommy ko

Laging may lungkot sa aking puso kapag mother’s day. Sobrang namimiss ko kasi ang Mommy ko na umuwi na sa heaven. Namimiss ko yung time na kasama pa namin siya and masaya kaming nag-di-dinner sa Max’s or sa Savory tapos mag-e-emote siya kapag ibinigay na namin yung gifts namin. Haay Mommy I super miss you as in! Happy Mother’s Day in Heaven Mommy ko! I love you so much! 母亲节快乐 Mǔqīn jié kuàilè…

[starsfic]

94. light of a full moon with traffic light trio kids

I wasn't sure if you were asking for bitty Traffic Light Trio or Chimera children... so I decided to go with the latter.

The moon was full and bright outside.

Red sat alone on the couch, his knee bouncing nervously as he continued to glance upstairs. Occasionally, a cry would drift downstairs, making him wince. He wanted to be up there, he did. But the midwives had said he was too nervous.

He patted his hair, which had started to smoke. Maybe they had a point. But these were his partners! He-

Two wails cut through the silence.

"Your highness?"

One of the midwives stood at the top of the stairs. The cries had died down. Instead, little coos drifted from the bundles in their arms. "Is that them?" Red asked. Before they could finish their nod, he was up the stairs.

"Mǔqīn and Bàba are resting right now," the midwife explained, shifting the green and orange blankets in their arms. "It's why we came to you first. Which one-"

"Yes."

Red was passed both bundles, carefully shifting around until he could hold them both securely as he sat down in an armchair. The light of the full moon drifted across the two little faces he was greeted with. "Mǔqīn said that this one," the midwife said, pressing a finger to the baby in orange. "Is Long Qiong. And this one," The green baby made a little noise. "Bàba said was Qi Xuangna."

"Thank you," Red managed out. The midwife patted his head fondly before walking away, letting him take in his little bundles of joy. Xuangna already had a soft tuft of dark hair, red gleaming underneath. And Qiong's eyes were open, revealing dark green eyes that stared at her father curiously.

"Hello there," he managed out, ignoring the crack in his voice. "I'm your Bàmā."