#Sun Xiaoli

[animanganerd]

Everything Annoys Me And I’m (Too) Hot - Chapter 41

The Untamed / Mo Dao Zu Shi Fanfic

Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47881336/chapters/140688328

All chapters: here x

only one chapter left 😱

Chapter 41 ❖ Revenge (Part 1)

The wound Murong Zheng had inflicted on Lan Xiaoli looked as if his intestines had been thoroughly mangled after being pierced. Blood was still gushing from Lan Xiaoli’s stomach, widening the red pool at Mu Chun’s feet.

Mu Chun gently shook Lan Xiaoli a few times, but the latter didn’t react. His eyes remained closed and his body motionless save for the shallow, infrequent rise and fall of his chest.

Someone had to stop the bleeding. 

Mu Chun’s hands began to tremble, slight panic rising inside him. He had never learned how to heal another person; he only knew how to inflict violence.

His heartbeat and breathing became erratic, as if growing out of tune. The high-pitched tone in his ear returned as his eyes darted helplessly around the large hall, which seemed endlessly vast now that it was empty.

For the first time in his life, Mu Chun was deeply scared.

Of course he was no stranger to the oppressive feeling of unease, but he’d never felt so powerless before.

The only people he could think of who could help him in this situation were currently not well-disposed towards him.

The last time Mu Chun had seen Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, they hadn’t parted on good terms. Shortly after, their son had gone missing and to make matters worse, he’d been wounded.

Taking Lan Xiaoli to his dads in this condition would mean the certain death of Mu Chun. They would leave no room for explanation, true to the saying: strike first, ask questions later.

But there was no other choice. Right now, saving Lan Xiaoli was the highest priority.

Carrying Lan Xiaoli, Mu Chun rushed out of Murong Zheng’s mansion and to the guest house in which Lan Xiaoli and the others were staying. It was the same guest house from their first encounter. As he hurried there, he was careful not to aggravate Lan Xiaoli’s wound.

Wei Wuxian stood outside, one hand on his hip. With the other hand, he shielded his eyes from the sun. It looked like he was waiting for someone or something.

When he saw Mu Chun approaching with Lan Xiaoli in his arms, Wei Wuxian dropped his hands. Anger bubbled up inside him in a matter of seconds. He couldn’t believe Mu Chun would actually dare show his face again.

Ready to reprimand him, Wei Wuxian met him halfway.

“You– how dare you?!”

But Mu Chun stopped him right there. “You can beat me up all you want, but please treat him first,” he pleaded.

Only then did Wei Wuxian notice the unmistakable metallic scent in the air and the trail of dark red splodges on the ground behind Mu Chun. Lan Xiaoli’s stomach was drenched with blood which had been incessantly dripping onto the floor and formed this trail.

Wei Wuxian’s heart sank. He discarded his anger and was immediately filled with terror. “What happened?!”

Mu Chun just looked at Lan Xiaoli and shook his head, guilt and worry constricting his throat.

Wei Wuxian took Lan Xiaoli from Mu Chun’s arms and carefully placed him on one of the tables outside. Upon hearing the ruckus downstairs, it didn’t take long for the others to flock out of the inn as well.

Seeing Lan Xiaoli laying on the table, covered in blood and all colour drained from his face, Lan Wangji didn’t think twice. He grabbed Lan Xiaoli’s wrist with one hand to check his pulse, using the other to channel energy and stabilise his condition.

While Wei Wuxian was pressing down on Lan Xiaoli’s wound, Zhou Zishu quickly went to fetch some blood-stopping medicine and ordered Zhang Chengling to bring towels.

In the meantime, Wen Kexing grabbed Mu Chun and dragged him aside. All four men would’ve loved to teach Mu Chun a lesson right then and there, but three of them were busy taking care of Lan Xiaoli.

In this dire situation, Wen Kexing did everyone a favour and restrained himself as well. Instead of causing a scene, he took out his fan, flipped it open and started to leisurely fan himself.

Standing next to Mu Chun, he watched as the others treated Lan Xiaoli’s wound. Without removing his gaze from the scene, he asked, “What happened?”

His tone was much calmer than Wei Wuxian’s.

Mu Chun observed the others in a daze, still processing the shock. After a long period of blank staring, all he could mumble was, “...he saved my life.”

Wen Kexing’s fanning movement stopped as he side-eyed Mu Chun. “And why didn’t you save him?”

Mu Chun didn’t reply. He knew it was his fault. He also knew it was a long story and he didn’t have the energy to explain himself right now.

⬩ ❖ ⬩ ❖ ⬩ ❖ ⬩

While everyone else was cleaning up the bloody mess, Mu Chun could’ve taken the chance to escape, but he waited for them outside, like an obedient dog.

As soon as Lan Xiaoli was stable and put to bed, the adults went to confront Mu Chun. Wen Kexing had voted for the violent approach, but the others had overruled him.

What Mu Chun had done to them was unforgivable, no doubt. Yet, there were enough reasons not to beat the living shit out of him.

First, since Lan Xiaoli was currently unable to speak, they needed Mu Chun to tell them what had happened. Whether they trusted him or not was a whole different story.

Second, Lan Xiaoli still seemed to care about him. It would be incredibly upsetting for him to wake up and find that Mu Chun had gotten hurt with no one to defend him.

Third, the promise-binding spell. This spell couldn’t be taken lightly. If Mu Chun truly had inflicted it on himself, he deserved at least a modicum of respect. 

And lastly, since Lan Xiaoli placed so much trust in Mu Chun, they wanted to at least give him a chance to explain.

The first thing Wei Wuxian noticed outside was that the blood trail had disappeared. Mu Chun had probably taken care of it in the meantime.

Nevertheless, Wei Wuxian cracked his knuckles in a theatrical manner when they approached him. Even if they just wanted to talk, there was no harm in scaring him a little.

Mu Chun sank to his knees before they reached him, prepared for the worst.

Never in his lifetime would he have expected Zhang Chengling to throw himself in front of him with his arms stretched out to protect him. Neither did anyone else.

Zhang Chengling had not taken part in their discussion on how to deal with Mu Chun. Everyone thought he was upstairs, keeping an eye on Lan Xiaoli. No one knew he’d been standing in a corner, anxiously watching their debate.

“Please don’t hurt him! He’s not evil! It’ll only hurt A-Li if he’s gone!” he cried, his eyes screwed shut.

The others were struck speechless. Since there was no response, Zhang Chengling cautiously opened one eye.

Zhou Zishu was the first to react. He puffed a soft laugh. “We just want to talk,” he reassured Zhang Chengling.

“…Oh.” Zhang Chengling blinked a few times and slowly lowered his arms. “But… maybe we should leave them to it,” he said, indicating Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. “It’s a family matter, after all.”

Wen Kexing was not very pleased with this suggestion. He had also fallen victim to Mu Chun’s experiments, but he had no real say in the matter as Zhou Zishu and Zhang Chengling already led him away with a gentle but firm push.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji stood in front of Mu Chun, their demeanour so menacing they seemed to exude a dark aura. Mu Chun, still on his knees, cupped his hands and lowered his head.

“I’m sorry A-Li got hurt. I’m sorry for endangering you and Senior Wen. I’m sorry for using deceitful tricks. If I had known it could’ve saved A-Li from harm, I would’ve been honest from the start. I promise, I will mend my ways and never allow anything like today to ever happen again. Please accept my apology and punish me as you see fit.”

“You…” Wei Wuxian took an angry step forward. Violence suddenly sounded very enticing, but Lan Wangji held him back. “Do you really believe we’ll let you near A-Li after what you’ve done? Do you really think an apology will make up for everything?!” 

Of course, it was impossible to keep Lan Xiaoli out of harm’s way all the time, but having Mu Chun around didn’t seem to make it any easier.

Even without looking at them, Mu Chun could sense their resentment. They had every right to hate him, but if he couldn’t be with Lan Xiaoli, he wouldn’t know where else to go. He had nowhere else to go. There was no place in this world that felt more like home than being by Lan Xiaoli’s side.

Desperate, he folded his hands in front of his forehead and, as a last resort to show his sincerity, kowtowed. “Please. I’m lost without him.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened and he subconsciously straightened up. He exchanged a glance with Lan Wangji.

Their long silence caused Mu Chun’s anxiety to skyrocket. A thin layer of cold sweat covered his palms and back. “He saved my life,” he rasped in a feeble attempt to change their hearts.

One of Wei Wuxian’s eyebrows shot up. “How?”

“He showed me that, given a second chance, even people like me who have wandered astray can find their way back to the right path.”

Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji who nodded. Though his expression remained calm and collected, Wei Wuxian could tell that he was practically beaming. Apparently Lan Xiaoli had picked up a few things from their lessons after all! This was easily one of Lan Wangji’s proudest moments.

Wei Wuxian let out a long, exasperated sigh. “Fine. A-Li does seem fond of you for some reason, so we won’t resort to violence today. Consider yourself lucky. Now get up and tell us what happened.”

Mu Chun lifted his head. “...Does that mean I can stay?” he asked to make sure, his voice hoarse from the dust he’d accidentally inhaled from the ground.

Wei Wuxian crossed his arms and glowered at him. “Depends on what A-Li has to say.”

Mu Chun let out a soft, relieved chuckle. “Okay.”

Together with the other three, they gathered at a table to listen to Mu Chun’s account of the last few days.

It was a lot to digest. Wei Wuxian wouldn’t admit it, but in the end he was glad that Mu Chun had been there with Lan Xiaoli. Things could’ve ended much worse if Lan Xiaoli had faced Murong Zheng on his own.

After a long moment of silence, Wei Wuxian was the first to speak. “When we were looking for A-Li, we saw your den was burned down. Was it you?”

Mu Chun lowered his gaze. “Yes.”

“What was all that?”

“...Experiments.”

“A-Li said as much,” Wen Kexing said, visibly annoyed. “Care to elaborate?”

Mu Chun’s eyes wandered over to him. “I will explain when A-Li has recovered.”

Wen Kexing sank back against the bench’s backrest, not at all pleased with that answer. Zhou Zishu lightly patted his knee to placate him.

Mu Chun continued, “Now that A-Li has presented himself so willingly, I can imagine that Murong Zheng wants to finish what he started back then. We have the benefit that he doesn’t know where A-Li is hidden, but he’ll certainly turn every stone to find him. We should tip off the innkeeper to keep his mouth shut. Senior Wen, I recommend you also stay under the radar for the time being. Murong Zheng will most likely fuel the villagers’ hatred against white-haired people again.”

Wen Kexing was about to protest, but Zhou Zishu pinched his leg to stop him. Wen Kexing could easily fend off those measly villagers, but Murong Zheng’s foul play wasn’t worth anyone getting hurt.

Mu Chun then addressed Wei Wuxian. “Can I… stay with him until he wakes up?”

Wei Wuxian sighed. “Sure.” 

Since Lan Wangji would also stay withLan Xiaoli until he regained his consciousness, there was no need to worry.

⬩ ❖ ⬩ ❖ ⬩ ❖ ⬩

About three days later, Lan Xiaoli developed a vague sense of consciousness. His eyes creaked open, squinting against the bright sunlight streaming in through the windows. He sat up and groaned. There was a dull throbbing in his stomach. He rubbed his hands over the aching area, feeling the rough texture of bandages.

He looked down and saw that the bandages were lightly soaked in blood. The wound beneath wasn’t fully healed yet.

Remembering what had happened, his eyes snapped fully open and he blurted, “Murong Zheng!” He grasped the arm of whoever was sitting next to him, “Where is he?!”

A warm hand covered his. “Don’t worry, Senior Zhou is keeping tabs on him.”

Lan Xiaoli turned his head. “Chun-ge…?” He had expected anyone but him. “Where am I? How did I get here?”

Mu Chun smiled. “You’re back at the guest house.” He squeezed Lan Xiaoli’s hand. “How are you feeling? Do you want something to eat? Drink?”

“No,” Lan Xiaoli shook his head, “I want answers.”

While the smile on Mu Chun’s face remained, his gaze was filled with immense remorse. He lowered his eyes and nodded. “Yeah. I’m sure you have a lot of questions. And I will answer all of them, as promised.”

“I will get Wei Ying,” a deep voice interrupted.

Lan Xiaoli jumped in surprise. At the other end of the room, Lan Wangji was sitting on a chair, his posture as prim and proper as ever.

“H… have you been here the entire time?” Lan Xiaoli asked.

Lan Wangji nodded, then turned to Mu Chun. “Wait for us.”

“Of course,” Mu Chun said.

As soon as Lan Wangji had left the room, Lan Xiaoli leaned closer to Mu Chun, ignoring the pain in his stomach. “How are you not dead??” he asked in a whisper.

Mu Chun chuckled, but before he could reply, Wei Wuxian already entered the room.

“Well, well, well. Would you look at that! Another Lan falling for a bad guy,” Wei Wuxian teased.

Lan Wangji, who was right behind him, slightly frowned at his comment.

The pair was followed by Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu and Zhang Chengling, all eager for Mu Chun to spill the tea.

Lan Xiaoli felt Mu Chun’s palms getting a little sweaty and lightly squeezed his hands to reassure him. When their eyes met, Lan Xiaoli gave him a comforting smile.

Once everyone had settled down, Mu Chun’s nervous gaze swept over the small crowd. “Where should I start?”

“The experiments!” Wen Kexing threw in, impatient.

Mu Chun sighed. “To explain them, it’s best to start from the beginning.”

Everything Murong Zheng had said about Mu Chun’s past was true.

Mu Chun had lost his parents at a very young age, wandering around with no place to call home. At a time when everyone was preoccupied with their own misery, he bumped into Murong Zheng. While no one else spared Mu Chun even a glance, Murong Zheng was the only one to show the slightest bit of concern.

The two had found each other when they were at their lowest. Mu Chun had just lost his parents to some monsters, barely able to escape himself. With no background in cultivation, the simple farmer’s family naturally stood no chance against those monsters. When Murong Zheng learned of this, he explained to Mu Chun that this was all the doing of his brother, Murong Qiang.

Murong Zheng also told Mu Chun that he himself had suffered a great loss at the hands of his brother, painting him as this greedy, obstinate villain. And Mu Chun believed every single word. To the naïve and inexperienced eyes of his younger self, Murong Zheng seemed to be an honest and respectable man. He had no reason to doubt him.

“It was the Murong family’s fault that my parents died. That was reason enough for me to hate them with all my heart, but when I saw Murong Zheng – and the other villagers – being mistreated by Murong Qiang, I snapped. I thought if the family didn’t exist, it would end everyone’s misery. So I…” Mu Chun stopped. A lump in his throat prevented him from speaking further, and he swallowed hard to fight it.

“Burned down the house,” Wen Kexing finished the sentence for him, loudly snapping his fan shut and throwing him a glance sharp enough to cut through the thick air.

Mu Chun nodded and continued, unfazed, “Of course I had never burned anything down before and didn’t think ahead. By burning down the house, I accidentally set most of the village on fire. Murong Zheng knew I only had good intentions, so he sorted out the aftermath for me. Grateful for my devotion, he offered to take me in. In return, I did whatever he wanted me to do. I became his henchman and errand boy, responsible for ‘taking out the trash’.”

Wei Wuxian narrowed his eyes. “Taking out the trash?”

“Yep. You know how he wants to build his own empire? People who disrespect him, or disagree with him in any way, or prove to be an obstacle on his way to success have to be eliminated. And I am in charge of that. I never questioned his kindness toward me, so I did as I was told.”

“So he raised you?” Zhang Chengling blurted.

Mu Chun hemmed and hawed a little. “Weeell, we hardly ever saw each other. We mainly communicated through the requests he’d leave me. Like the list I showed you,” he said, turning to Lan Xiaoli.

Lan Xiaoli mulled over the piece of paper Mu Chun had shown him in the den. “That was quite a long list. Does he always collect a number of people before passing the message on to you?”

“Pretty much. He travels from place to place and makes a note of everyone who pisses him off. When he gets home, he gives me the list.”

“So Sun Zongxi, Ling Baoxi and Lu Yunli were all people who had opposed him?”

“Correct.”

Lan Xiaoli knitted his brows. There was one thing he couldn’t quite wrap his head around. “But why Sect Leader Lu? Why did he have to die? He was not even the lord of Jiaolong City when you received the list.”

Mu Chun patted Lan Xiaoli’s hand. “That’s true. Murong Zheng already had Jian Mingzhi on his side. As you know, the two of them shared a pretty similar mindset. But Murong Zheng doesn’t only curry favour with political people in high positions.

“Remember in his hometown, how we got into his residence because you’re from the Gusu Lan clan, a highly respected sect? Murong Zheng wanted the Lu sect to become one of his sponsors, but Sect Leader Lu had the audacity to disagree with him.

“I never anticipated that he’d become the next lord of Jiaolong City, nor that he’d save you…,” Mu Chun shook his head with a bitter smile. “Saviour or not, I had to finish my job. Murong Zheng’s trust in me was essential to my initial plan, so I couldn’t let him grow suspicious. That’s why I couldn’t spare Lu Yunli.”

“The bodies in the den were all people Murong Zheng wanted dead?” Zhou Zishu asked.

“Yes. I’ve never killed anyone outside of that.”

“What about Lord Zhu?” Zhang Chengling interjected. “He didn’t oppose Murong Zheng, did he?”

Mu Chun’s gaze darted to Zhang Chengling, wishing he could pierce him with a glare. “That was an exception. A-Li was in danger.”

Oblivious to Mu Chun’s annoyance, Zhang Chengling continued, “He was also in danger when we fought against Yu Xuanyi.”

Mu Chun rolled his eyes internally. “I know. Of course I considered killing him, but like I said, I don’t usually just kill people.”

“Why didn’t you come clean sooner?” Wei Wuxian cut in.

Mu Chun took a deep breath before answering. “Because I hoped we’d get rid of Murong Zheng before any of my secrets met the day of light.”

Lan Xiaoli snorted. “You are an idiot to think that I would’ve never found out.”

Mu Chun responded with a cheerless smile.

“There is just one thing I still do not understand,” Lan Xiaoli continued. “Why did you offer to help in the first place?”

Mu Chun’s eyes wandered away from Lan Xiaoli. “...I didn’t really want to help, at first. Though I’d never seen you in person when we were children, of course I knew about the boy with white hair from Murong Zheng’s stories. So when you bumped into me and it turned out you were looking for him, I was certain you had to be that boy. Once my suspicion was confirmed, I thought it would be fun if the two of you met. But… you could say I had a change of heart.”

“When?” Lan Xiaoli asked, his eyes glazed over.

Mu Chun’s eyes wandered back to Lan Xiaoli. “When you told me your side of the story. Since you didn’t know who I really was I knew it had to be true. That was when I realised Murong Zheng had deceived me all my life, and I came to despise him. From that point on, I sincerely wanted to help you. But the fact that I’d develop genuine feelings for you was a surprise, even to me.”

The last part earned a sharp glance from Lan Wangji, which Mu Chun blissfully ignored.

A grave silence fell over the room.

After processing what had just been said, Wen Kexing piped up again. “Still doesn’t explain your den. Were these experiments also requested by Murong Zheng?”

“No,” Mu Chun replied. He paused for a moment before continuing. “But I learned in Tianxuan that he sold the serum behind my back.”

“Wait, what serum?” Wei Wuxian asked, his expression wary.

“Ah, right… Well, apart from ‘taking out the trash’, I didn’t have much to do, so I grew kind of bored. After hearing the tales of the Yiling Laozu, I wondered if it was possible to control living humans as well.

“…So I started working on a serum to control other people’s spiritual energy. For that I needed people to test it on. I had a long list of people that I had to get rid of. Didn’t mean I had to kill them right away. I just had to make them disappear, then I could use them to my heart’s content.”

Wei Wuxian scoffed. “Don’t you dare drag me into this. I have experienced many horrible things in my life, I never would’ve dreamt that I would have to go through something so cruel again. Being fully conscious but not being able to control your body or knowing what’s happening is fucking terrifying. I would’ve never forgiven myself if I had hurt – or worse, killed – Lan Zhan or anyone else in this state.”

Wen Kexing grumbled in agreement.

“I am truly sorry,” Mu Chun said. “You can beat me up if it makes you feel better.”

Wei Wuxian just gave him a false smile. Wen Kexing, on the other hand, seriously considered it.

However, before the latter could act, Zhou Zishu suddenly spoke up. “And you succeeded…” His voice was low and his expression pensive.

“Kind of,” Mu Chun replied. “It still needs some fine-tuning.” 

Feeling Lan Xiaoli’s intense glare on him, he quickly added, “But it doesn’t matter anymore, I promised A-Li that I’d stop.”

What Mu Chun had accomplished was indeed remarkable, but given the fury within them, the others didn’t have the resources to appreciate his achievement.

“You better. It’s a terrible invention. Have you ever tried it on yourself?” Wen Kexing asked.

Mu Chun’s eyebrows scrunched up and he shook his head. “It’s activated by a spell, which someone needs to break to get out of that… state,” he mumbled.

Wei Wuxian continued the interrogation. “So the rumour about the guy who abducts people really is about you?”

Mu Chun nodded.

“Then why did no one warn us when they saw us with you?”

“Well, for one, it’s a rumour after all. And for another, the villagers aren’t stupid. They noticed that the people disappeared when they crossed Murong Zheng. I was obviously the harbinger of death, which could only mean you had to be my next prey. By warning you, wouldn’t they be afraid of being targeted next?”

Mu Chun sighed. “In the end, the rumours are nothing but horror stories to scare people. And it works. The message is loud and clear: Don’t mess with Murong Zheng.”

“...but aren’t they true? You are conducting experiments on people who cross Murong Zheng,” Zhang Chengling remarked.

“Yes, but have you heard the stories? I didn’t do any of that.”

The stories ranged from dissecting brains, cutting up bodies and sewing them back together, to skinning people alive. The worst Mu Chun had ever done was to inject the serum to try and figure out the perfect composition and dosage.

They continued their conversation until everyone’s curiosity was quenched and they finally allowed Lan Xiaoli some privacy with Mu Chun.

After their entire back-and-forth, and all the grave revelations, neither of them knew what to say. They both just awkwardly stared at their intertwined hands.

“So your real name is Murong Yi?” Lan Xiaoli finally broke the silence.

Mu Chun’s eyes widened slightly. Of all the things Lan Xiaoli could’ve said and asked, this was the last question Mu Chun had expected. He chuckled.

“No. It’s Mu Chun.”

[stay-tiny2021]

Dad!AU NCT Children

These are the children I will write about for each member when writing Dad!AU prompts!

moon taeil

Moon Baek Hyun (문백현)

Moon Eun Ji (문은지)

johnny suh

Seo Young Mi/Grace Suh (서영미)

Seo Min Jae/Daniel Suh (서민재)

lee taeyong

Lee Ji Young (이지영) & Lee Hana (이하나) (identical twins)

nakamoto yuta

Nakamoto Kiyomi (中本清美)

Nakamoto Haruto (中本ハルト)

qian kun

Qian Xiaoli (錢小麗)

Qian Chunhua (錢春華)

kim doyoung

Kim Eun Joo (김은주) & Kim Jun Seo (김준서) (fraternal twins)

chittaphon leechaiyapornkul

Brandon/Boon-Mee Leechaiyapornkul (บุญมี ลี้ชัยพรกุล)

Amelia/Amara Leechaiyapornkul (อมรา ลี้ชัยพรกุล)

jung jaehyun

Jung Jin Sang/Lucas Jung (정진상)

Jung Moon Byeol/Chastity Jung (정문별)

dong sicheng

Dong Mei (董梅)

Dong Chaoxiang (董朝祥)

kim jungwoo

Kim Chan Yeol (김찬열)

Kim Nara (김나라)

mark lee

Lee Hwa Seong/Caleb Lee (이화성)

Lee Sung Hyo/Charisma Lee (이성효)

xiao dejun

Xiao Jinghua (肖景華)

Xiao Bocheng (肖伯承)

wong kunhang

Wong Bojing (黃柏晶)

Wong Zihao (黃子豪)

huang renjun

Huang Meili (黃美麗)

Huang Lihua (黄丽华)

lee jeno

Lee Mi Sun (이미선)

Lee Tae Hoon (이태훈)

lee donghyuck

Lee Yong Sun (이용선)

Lee Ji Soo (이지수)

na jaemin

Na Seul Gi (나슬기)

Na Hye Jin (나혜진)

Na Sun Mi (나선미)

liu yangyang

Carter Liu/Liu Haoxuan (劉浩軒)

Kimberly Liu/Liu Meilian (劉美蓮)

zhong chenle

Zhong Yaozu (鐘耀祖)

Zhong Xiyang (鐘希揚)

Zhong Jiayi (鍾嘉義)

park jisung

Park Young Jae (박영재)

Park Ji Hyo (박지효)

[spacenutspod]

The Nova-C lunar lander is seen in the high bay of Intuitive Machines Headquarters in Houston, before it shipped to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for integration with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for launch as part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign.Credit: Intuitive Machines NASA is gearing up for a commercial robotic flight to the Moon under the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign. Intuitive Machines will launch its Nova-C lander on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than Wednesday, Feb. 14, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission will carry six NASA payloads targeted for the South Polar region. The group of NASA instruments aboard IM-1 will conduct scientific research and demonstrate technologies to help us better understand the Moon’s environment and improve landing precision and safety in the challenging conditions of the lunar south polar region, paving the way for future Artemis astronaut missions. The payloads will collect data on how the plume of engine gasses interacts with the Moon’s surface and kicks up lunar dust, investigate radio astronomy and space weather interactions with the lunar surface, test precision landing technologies, and measure the quantity of liquid propellant in Nova-C propellant tanks in the zero gravity of space. The Nova-C lander will also carry a retroreflector array that will contribute to a network of location markers on the Moon that will be used as a position marker for decades to come The Nova-C lander is targeted to land Thursday, Feb. 22, in a relatively flat and safe area near the Malapert A crater, in the south polar region of the Moon. The six NASA payloads aboard Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission include: LN-1 (Lunar Node 1 Navigation Demonstrator)A small, CubeSat-sized flight hardware experiment that integrates navigation and communication functionality for autonomous navigation to support future surface and orbital operations. Principal investigator: Dr. Evan Anzalone, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center LRA (Laser Retroreflector Array)A collection of eight retroreflectors that enable precision laser ranging, which is a measurement of the distance between an orbiting or landing spacecraft to the reflector on the lander. LRA is a passive optical instrument and will function as a permanent location marker on the Moon for decades to come. Principal investigator: Dr. Xiaoli Sun, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center NDL (Navigation Doppler Lidar for Precise Velocity and Range Sensing)A Lidar-based (Light Detection and Ranging) descent and landing sensor. This instrument operates on the same principles of radar but uses pulses from a laser emitted through three optical telescopes. NDL will measure vehicle velocity (speed and direction) and altitude (distance to surface) with high precision during descent to touchdown. Principal investigator: Dr. Farzin Amzajerdian, NASA’s Langley Research Center RFMG (Radio Frequency Mass Gauge)A rocket propellant gauge used to measure the amount of spacecraft propellant in a low-gravity space environment. Using sensor technology, RFMG will measure the amount, or mass, of cryogenic propellants in Nova-C’s tanks, providing data that can help predict propellant usage on future missions. Principal investigator: Dr. Greg Zimmerli, NASA’s Glenn Research Center ROLSES (Radio-wave Observations at the Lunar Surface of the Photoelectron Sheath)Four antennas and a low-frequency radio receiver system designed to study the dynamic radio energy environment near the lunar surface and determine how natural and human-generated activity near the surface interacts with science investigations. It will also detect radio emissions from the Sun, Jupiter, and Earth, as well as dust impacting the surface of the Moon. Principal investigator: Dr. Nat Gopalswamy, NASA Goddard SCALPSS (Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies)A suite of four cameras to capture stereo and still images of the dust plume created by the lander’s engine as it begins its descent to the lunar surface until after the engine shuts off. Principal investigator: Michelle Munk, NASA Langley Intuitive Machines is one of 14 vendors eligible to carry NASA payloads to the Moon through the agency’s CLPS initiative, which began in 2018. CLPS is an innovative approach connecting NASA with commercial solutions from American companies to deliver scientific, exploration, and technology payloads to the Moon’s surface and into lunar orbit. Through CLPS, NASA aims to gain new insights into the lunar environment and expand the lunar economy to support future crewed missions under the Artemis campaign. Learn more about NASA’s CLPS initiative at: https://www.nasa.gov/clps/ Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services Artemis Commercial Space Humans In Space

[anumberofhobbies]

Laser Instrument on NASA's LRO Successfully 'Pings' Indian Moon Lander by Lonnie Shekhtman for GSFC News Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jan 19, 2024 For the first time at the Moon, a laser beam was transmitted and reflected between an orbiting NASA spacecraft and an Oreo-sized device on ISRO's (Indian Space Research Organisation) Vikram lander on the lunar surface. The successful experiment opens the door to a new style of precisely locating targets on the Moon's surface. At 3 p.m. EST on Dec. 12, 2023, NASA's LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) pointed its laser altimeter instrument toward Vikram. The lander was 62 miles, or 100 kilometers, away from LRO, near Manzinus crater in the Moon's South Pole region, when LRO transmitted laser pulses toward it. After the orbiter registered light that had bounced back from a tiny NASA retroreflector aboard Vikram, NASA scientists knew their technique had finally worked. Sending laser pulses toward an object and measuring how long it takes the light to bounce back is a commonly used way to track the locations of Earth-orbiting satellites from the ground. But using the technique in reverse - to send laser pulses from a moving spacecraft to a stationary one to determine its precise location - has many applications at the Moon, scientists say. "We've showed that we can locate our retroreflector on the surface from the Moon's orbit," said Xiaoli Sun, who led the team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, that developed the retroreflector on Vikram as part of a partnership between NASA and ISRO. "The next step is to improve the technique so that it can become routine for missions that want to use these retroreflectors in the future." Only 2 inches, or 5 centimeters, wide, NASA's tiny but mighty retroreflector, called a Laser Retroreflector Array, has eight quartz-corner-cube prisms set into a dome-shaped aluminum frame. The device is simple and durable, scientists say, requiring neither power nor maintenance, and can last for decades. Its configuration allows the retroreflector to reflect light coming in from any direction back to its source.

[beonhwarp]

beonhwa bids farewell to . . .

kang eunjoo, house of mugunghwa's second born

meng xiaoli, market vendor

lee kai, 2nd class knight

the following are now re-opened:

jung chaeyeon, actress/former dia

marigold canon

sun zhenni, snh48

kim jongin (kai), exo

snapdragon canon

[bexiaoli]

it was rare xiaoli found himself having had such a sound night's sleep. most nights he slept only a few hours at most nowadays, but having some else around seemed to help sometimes. it was hit or miss, not always consistent he realized. it depended a lot on the person. a random person he took to bed wasn't going to help him sleep more through the night, but those he spent extended amounts of time with, trusted, and maybe even considered friends would help fend off the reoccurring flashbacks and dreams that usually plagued him through the night.

sarang was someone who made him feel content and comfortable enough to drift off to dream land and stay there for more than an hour or two at a time. xiaoli was warm and comfortable with the other laying next to him. even if he woke up in the middle of the night the familiar scent of the other's shampoo and presence were things that brought him back down to earth.

admittedly, xiaoli had been up on and off for the last hour, body refused to drift back to sleep one more time, though he kept his eyes closed in attempt. it didn't register first what was going on as the weight of another was on top of him, but a small smile tugged on his lips as he felt the forehead kiss and heard sarang's voice.

brown eyes opened, blinking slowly to adjust to the sun light. "i'm awake," he confirmed, voice heavy with sleep, hands moving to sit comfortably on sarang's knees. "did you sleep well?" he asked. it was always a worry that his inability to sleep through the night would disturb the other, but he didn't recall jolting awake last night at any point.

COOL WITH YOU 염사랑 → 샹샤올리 2023년 10월 / 서울

this has been a thing for them for quite sometime now, and every time he's here—his head on xiaoli's chest, their legs entangled, bodies draped in sheets that accentuate their shapes beautifully—sarang feels safe. it's something he can't really explain. this bed-frame, these pillows, and xiaoli himself have become somewhat of a diary to him. he's not only been a great source of pleasure for him. over time, he's grown into more than that.

nowadays, sarang views him as a close friend; a confidant. for some reason, it's so easy to tell xiaoli his thoughts, and secrets. his solidity, and even his sensitivity, allow sarang to discuss topics that he doesn't often voice to others; considerations he has, but chooses to fester on instead of share. here, he allows himself to explore them, and for that, he's grateful.

his and xiaoli's relationship has grown rather strong, but still maintains its playful roots, which sarang deeply appreciates. it only goes to prove to him that, friends can become physically intimate with one another without foundation breaking their foundation. maybe some people have a harder time with that than they do, but they at least show that it's possible, that there are success stories out there.

after roughly seven hours wrapped up in xiaoli, sarang's lashes bat open; the sunlight streaming in from the windows drenching the scene in delicate morning light. thankfully, it's his day off from training, so he doesn't have to worry about rising anytime soon. for now, he rolls on-top of the man beside him; making a seat out of his lap. leaning forward, he stamps a kiss on xiaoli's forehead.

"hey..." he whispers softly, smiling. "are you awake?"

[braham-is-bi]

🖊 TALK ABT MY WIFE XIAOLI!!!!

Oh geez uh okay I'm just gonna ramble no structure we die like clowns

If she has the time to focus and aim, she can bring down an airship by summoning a bolt of lightning from the sky above the ship

She'll deny it if you ask but she totally snorts if someone makes her laugh hard enough

She's 6'1 and also likes to wear heels/boots

Learned an arcane spell that allows her to transmute her shoes from one type to another purely so she can wear cute heels but also not trip and die if she needs to fight

Her most recent attire is actually designed to enhance her aura spells, giving them more power. It also has clawed gloves but that's just cause that's sexy

Despite being proficient in several weapons, she just summons a lightning whip

[rainbowsky]

Just wanted to fact check if you or any of your followers happened to know the answer! So while it has been confirmed that GG and DD had each other added on Weibo prior to filming, is there any confirmation that DD had added any other X Nine members added at the same time? Or was it only XZ? I think that would be very telling 👀

Hi, Anon, there’s a lot of info here so I’ve put it under a cut.

First of all, are you talking about Weibo or Wechat? There are many rumors about GG and DD becoming connected on WeChat right after the XNINE DDU episode in 2017 - long before filming. I wrote about that a while back.

In terms of Weibo, he started following GG in April 2018, around the same time he began following other CQL actors at the beginning of filming. He does follow one other XNINE member, Yan Xujia, but as far as I can tell he didn’t start following him until 2019.

But you did make me curious to see who all DD follows on Weibo. Complete list follows.

DISCLAIMER: this is a very rough list. I’ve pulled together little tidbits of information about each person and their connection to DD, and anything I personally remember about some of them, but it’s just a casual list and not by any means a definitive reference for all these relationships. If anyone has additional information that might help clarify the relationships on this list, let me know.

Wang Zheng - Actor

Han Hong - Singer

Zhao Xuan - Actor Being A Hero

Fu Dongyu - Director of Being A Hero

YIBO-OFFICIAL

Zhang Yuqi - Actor Being A Hero, Oath of Love

Chen Xiao - Actor Being A Hero

Tang Lu Jing - Actor Being A Hero

Fan Chengcheng - Actor, singer, brother of Fan Bingbing

Wang Jinsong - Actor Being a Hero

Sun Jian - Actor LOF, Luoyang, Faith Makes Great

Zhang Huiwenwen - Actor and director

Zhou Jieqiong - Singer and actor LOF

Zhang Xinyu - Actor LOF

Chen Ruoxuan - Actor LOF, Faith Makes Great

Leng Ji Yuan - Actor LOF

Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Offical Weibo

Liu Qian - Taiwanese magician

Xu Zheng - Director, actor, screenwriter, producer, DD sang the song "Mom" for one of his films

Xie Wenkai - Pro skateboarder, Team China

Zhao Liying - Actor LOF

Oasis Official Weibo

China Fire - Official Weibo of the Fire Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Emergency Management

Sun Honglei - Actor

Paco Tangier - Magazine publisher

Xiaoli - Executive Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar

Chen Jialin - CQL director

Douyin Official Weibo

Li Zong - China superbike championship driver

Bian Jiang - Lan Wangji voice actor

Xia Yu - Actor

SINA Entertainment Offical Weibo

Xu Minghao - SEVENTEEN member, has appeared on DDU

Angelica Zhang Yu - Former Editor-in-Chief of VOGUE Magazine

Lele Yang - Wang Han's wife

People's Daily Offical Weibo

F1 World Championship Offical Weibo

Elvis-Konishi - CEO of Yue Motor (Beijing) Racing Promotion Co., Ltd.

VOGUEplus Offical Weibo

DAINESE China - Motorcycle clothing company

Li Zhengpeng - Yamaha team driver

Yan Yuhao - Actor Gank Your Heart

Yan Xujia - XNine member

Wang Zixuan - Actor Gank Your Heart

Zeng Yijun - Actor Gank Your Heart

Yan Haoyuan - Actor Gank Your Heart

Ding Guansen - Actor, Gank Your Heart

Weibo Member Customer Service

Song Zuer - Actor, has appeared on DDU

League of Legends Official Weibo

Gao Bo - Founder of Keep On Dancing China

Official Weibo of Wanlida Yamaha Team

Weibo Member Official Weibo

Yamaha China Offical Weibo

Happy Camp Offical Weibo

Hu Xia - Singer, actor, has appreared on DDU

Meng Ziyi - CQL actor - Wen Qing

Long Zijia - Jewelry designer

Xuan Lu - CQL actor - Jiang Yanli

Yamy - Singer, Produce 101, has appeared on DDU

Wu Xuanyi - Singer, Produce 101, has appeared on DDU

Lui Yanchen - Singer, has appeared on DDU

Yueyue - Singer

Cheng Xiao - Singer, actor, Yuehua artist

KWIN - Singer, has appeared on DDU

DIDI - Singer, has appeared on DDU

Fan Toutiao - News and information platform

RNGLetme - Chinese pro gamer

UziQAQ - Chinese pro gamer

RNGMing - Chinese pro gamer

Cai Xukun - Singer, songwriter, rapper, has appeared on DDU

Liu Haikuan - CQL actor - Lan Xichen

Wang Zhuocheng - CQL actor - Jiang Cheng

Fan Bingbing - Actor

Yubin - CQL actor - Wen Ning

Xiao Zhan - Husband

Zhang Jie - Host, Produce 101

Hu Yanbin - Host, Produce 101

Ella Chen - Host, Produce 101

Huang Zitao - Singer EXO, host of Produce 101

Du Haitao - Host, Happy Camp

Zeng Shunxi - Singer and actor, has appeared on DDU

Neo Hou - Singer, actor, Faith Makes Great, has appeared on DDU

Yijia Photography Studio

Shen Xin - Producer, DDU

Wang Mengli - Actor, My Strange Friend

Zhang Nan - Actor, My Strange Friend

Xiao Xu - Actor, My Strange Friend

Xing Xiao - Director, My Strange Friend

Lou Yi Xiao - Actor

Extraordinary Talent Official Weibo

Lensborough - Design blogger and photographer

He Jiong - Host, Happy Camp

Tian Tian - Motorcycle racer

Mike Angelo - Singer, actor, has appeared on DDU

Ruixi Erin - Author

Motorcycle Magazine Offical Weibo

Riley King - Actor, singer, starred in Private Shushan Academy with DD

Chen Yu Qi - Actor, starred in Private Shushan Academy with DD

Pei Zitian - Actor, starred in Private Shushan Academy with DD

Guan Xiao Tong - Actor, singer, recorded "A Little Happiness" with DD in 2017

Private Shushan Academy Offical Weibo

Hua Chenyu - Singer, musician (I am a big fan) has appeared on DDU

Yin Zheng - Good friend of DD, got him into motorcycle racing

Weibo Video Official Weibo

Da Zhangwei - Needs no introduction - former DDU brother

Ashin - Singer/songwriter, author, founder of clothing line StayReal

Chen Mingzhang - Director, Love Actually

Tong Dawei - Actor, Love Actually

Love Actually Offical Weibo

Joe Chen - Actor, Love Actually

Qiu Jirong - Dancer, choreographer, Beijing opera actor

Zhang Yixing - Needs no introduction, long time friend and colleague

Han Han - Multi-talented blogger, author, racing driver, singer, music producer

Jung Yong Hwa - Korean singer, songwriter, producer and actor

Hwang Chi Yeul - Korean singer and TV show host

Peng Yuchang - Actor, singer, Produce 101 guest - famously performed a fake kissing scene with DD on a Chinese talk show

Kim Eun-sung - Korean singer and actor, former DDU brother

Qian Feng - Needs no introduction - former DDU brother

TTXS Offical Weibo

Xu Hao - Actor, famously called DD sexually frigid in a variety show appearance

Ryan Zhu - Actor, has appeared on DDU

Zhang Yijie - Actor, My Strange Friend

Hanch Brothers - K-pop duo

Kim Dong Suk - Korean model and actor

Liu Qiang - Chairman of Blue Phoenix Culture Development Co., Ltd.

Du Hua - CEO of Yuehua

Xie Nan - Actor and TV host

Zhang Chao - Singer and actor

Zhang Yao - Actor, Yuehua artist

Han Geng - Actor, singer, SDOC captain, Yuehua artist

Liu Zhenwei - Director, A Chinese Odyssey part three

Yao Chen - Actor, MBA Partners - DD's first onscreen kiss

Li Wenhan - Uniq brother and 'childhood sweetheart'

Zhou Yixuan - Uniq brother

Woodz - Uniq brother (and one of my fave boys)

Kim Sungjoo - Uniq brother

UNIQ_OFFICIAL

And before anyone asks me to do the same list for GG, maybe one day, but not today! This took me hours to pull together, and GG follows a lot more people than DD does. 😅

[winglesswriter]

Manuscript Search Tag

OMG I can’t believe I was tagged by the amazing @dragonthusiast AND I COMPLETELY MISSED IT!!! 😭

Anyway now when I found it I’m so happy to do it. Thank you so much for tagging me!

Words: tree, sun, smile, breath 

Tree

Jan stares at him, still in shock. Shi Saxe unloads the gun and throws it to one side, the magazine to the other. He looks at Jan Xiaoli. "Now. You are going to calm down. And we are going to talk."

Jan's knees are weak. His wrist is throbbing. He drops to his knees and fixes his eyes on the bright plants shooting through dead leaves.

"You did it," he says. His voice is barely louder than a whisper and it sounds hollow.

"Yes," Shi Saxe breathes out. He leans heavily against a tree.

Jan blinks. He feels tears on his cheeks. The sound of the explosion still in his ears.

"What the fuck were you doing there, Jan?" Shi Saxe asks on an exhale. He sounds shaky too

Sun

By the time he’s free to enjoy the Market, the sun is high in the sky. He stops at one end of the plaza looking down the main aisle between the stands and takes a deep breath. The Market always gives the city a special smell. Various fragrant foods from spices to dried fish mix with the smell of livestock and people. And of course, there's the smoke from the fires keeping everyone warm which ties all the smells together in the crisp autumn air. It's a comforting smell for Jan Xiali - the smell of happy memories, of excited expectations.

Smile

“Why did you lie to me?”

The smile again, the bitter kind. They are too close, where did they get so close?

“Because you care too much, Jan Xiaoli. And at that moment, you couldn't afford to waste time and energy on that. So I took that responsibility off your hands.”

Jan Xiaoli frowns. The strange tension he feels this close to Shi Saxe shifting into anger.

“I don't need that,” he growls.

“Need what? Being protected? Being cared for?”

“Hm.”

Breath

"Arms around my waist," Saxe instructs.

"What?"

"Oh for fuck's sake," he splutters and grabs Jan's wrist, tugging it in front of his body and putting it on his belly. Jan makes an undignified sound, but he does the same with his other arm. He intertwines his fingers to get a firm grip.

"Good boy," Shi Saxe mutters under his breath and kick starts the bike.

I tag @skygraypigeon,  @helpbutton95, @inessencedevided, @hantisenovel, @mr-writes and anyone who wants to do it!

Words: fine, cry, overwhelmed, sweet

[pawsnread]

Untamed Fall Fest Day 12: Change

Another additional to the Where We Come Alive ficlet series. It’s 20 years since they left Lan Academy. Before the reunion, Xiao Xingchen and his childhood friends take a moment to reminisce and wonder.

“The more things change…”

“Are you getting all sentimental on us?”

Xiao Xingchen turned away to hide his smile as Lan Xiaoli and Mateo Cormac began bickering with one another, just as they had when the three of them were still students.

“Some things never change,” he murmured quietly to himself. It wasn’t quiet enough as Xiaoli suddenly turned in his direction, sharp eyes narrowing.

“Now don’t you start getting all weepy on us, Xingchen,” she chided. But there was a pleased smile on her face as Xiaoli hooked an arm with each of her companions and towed them along as they walked the grounds of Lan Academy. For a little while, none of them spoke as they let the memories and the nostalgia wash over them.

“Twenty years,” Mateo mused. “It’s like nothing has changed. And yet…”

“Everything has,” Xingchen finished. Despite her words earlier, Xiaoli could only sigh in agreement, her hold on both men tightening. They stopped in front of the library, the place they had all first met, an identical wistful expression passing over each of their faces.

It had been twenty years since they had set foot on the grounds as students. The three of them had met as adolescents, each of them as different as children can be, and yet somehow had become the closest of friends. They had dreams that, at the time, seemed so farfetched and so far away; there were various points in their lives where they lamented to one another about the possibility of never achieving the goals they set for themselves.

And yet now those dreams were behind them now. An Olympic fencer, a restauranteur, a state district prosecutor - they had each fought hard and won, achieving far more than they had intended.

“Sometimes,” Xiaoli said, voice slightly hoarse as she fought some tears, “I think back to those days. When I get frustrated, I think back to the time when we were kids and all we had to worry about was the next history essay.”

“Things seemed so difficult back then,” Xingchen said. “But it was actually so much easier.”

“Hakuna matata,” Mateo hummed.

“Would you go back to those days if you could?” Xiaoli asked.

“Yes,” Mateo replied with little hesitation. “I’d go back and cook for the dorm myself. The food was terrible back then.” He let out a laugh as Xiaoli rolled her eyes. The two of them turned to Xingchen, who appeared more thoughtful.

“Yes and no,” Xingchen replied. “There are some moments…I don’t wish I could take them back. Sometimes I think ‘if only I could do that one thing differently’. But then…”

“What?”

Xingchen’s face brightened, his lips beginning to curve upwards as he caught sight of Song Lan walking towards them. He had a smile on his face and eyes only for Xingchen as he took long strides in their direction, the late afternoon sun gilding him in fiery gold.

“But then I realize that if I changed anything from my past, I wouldn’t have what I have now.” Turning, Xingchen gave Xiaoli and Mateo a bright smile. “And the life I have now, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

“What are you three conspiring about now?” Song Lan teased as he drew near. Wrapping an arm around Xingchen’s waist, he pulled his husband in close and pressed a soft kiss to his temple.

“Yeah, nothing’s changed between them,” Xiaoli said with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. Her face split into a grin as she managed to deftly dodge Song Lan’s swipe. “Is the reunion prep almost finished?”

“Looks like. Jiang Cheng just pulled Xichen away to get ready. We should all do the same.”

“Twenty years,” Mateo repeated his earlier words. “The more things change…”

Xingchen’s own laughter mingled with Song Lan’s, the sounds echoing across the grounds as Xiaoli began to chase Mateo, the two of them still bickering like pre-teens.

[animanganerd]

Everything Annoys Me And I’m (Too) Hot - Chapter 36

The Untamed / Mo Dao Zu Shi Fanfic

Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47881336/chapters/138397498

All chapters: here x

Chapter 36 ❖ Handsome stranger

Lan Xiaoli scurried down a forest path, giddy with excitement. Sunlight broke through the leaves of the trees, covering the path with erratic sun spots. The scent of fresh pancakes wafted from the warm box Lan Xiaoli held in his hands.

On the way to their next stopover, a larger city called Jiaolong City, they had passed by a village famous for its pancakes. When Lan Xiaoli had heard this rumour, his eyes had grown so wide that everyone could tell he wanted to try them, without him having to say a word.

As they were in a hurry to return to Linguang, they didn’t have time for a proper stop, so the others had sent Lan Xiaoli to fetch some while they waited for him at the crossroads.

Lan Xiaoli couldn’t wait to get a mouthful of this delicious joy. The mere thought of it caused him to drool. Glad that no one could see him right now, he swiftly wiped the saliva from his mouth, when a voice called out from behind him.

Lan Xiaoli turned around and faced two men who appeared to be bandits. Their clothes were ragged, their dishevelled hair tied up into messy buns. One of them was missing teeth, while the other wore a crooked smile. Lan Xiaoli wouldn’t judge them for their appearance – it was their stench and griminess that caused his nose to scrunch up.

“Hey young fella, you look like you could help us,” the man with the crooked smile said, as the two casually approached Lan Xiaoli.

Lan Xiaoli was aware that his own appearance must have attracted them. Although he didn’t have much money on him, his attire suggested otherwise.

Lan Xiaoli slowly backed away. He didn’t want to be prejudiced, but he knew they meant trouble. For as the men came closer, he could clearly see something silver flash in one of their hands. The man with the missing teeth was trying to hide a dagger behind his back, unaware that its blade was reflecting the sunlight.

Just as Lan Xiaoli was about to say something, he suddenly bumped into someone behind him. Startled, he instantly whipped his head around, afraid it was an ambush and that he’d run into one of their friends.

However, he was looking up at a very beautiful and elegant man in light blue robes.

The man gave him a warm and reassuring smile, his features refined yet gentle. It felt as if Lan Xiaoli was gazing at the face of a deity. Mesmerised by the stranger’s captivating beauty, Lan Xiaoli couldn’t help but blush.

As the man lifted his eyes, the tranquil expression on his face became stern, and with a light flick of his wrist, he sent the two bandits flying. Lan Xiaoli was amazed at how effortless this fellow cultivator made the use of spiritual energy look.

The bandits crashed to the floor and scrambled to flee. They uttered unintelligible curses under their breaths, too scared of what might happen if the man in blue heard them.

Lan Xiaoli hadn’t moved an inch, gaze still fixed at the man that had saved him. A yank on his wrist pulled him back to reality – and away from the handsome stranger.

The yank came out of nowhere and surprised Lan Xiaoli so much that he almost dropped the pancake box. He managed to securely sandwich it between his free arm and his body. Right now, this box was more important to him than his dear life.

“You sure like bumping into things… and people.”

Still captivated by the handsome features of the man in blue, it took Lan Xiaoli a moment to realise it was Mu Chun who was speaking to him. He also didn’t notice how tightly Mu Chun’s hand was clamped around his wrist. 

“What are you doing here?” Lan Xiaoli asked, slightly dazed.

“You took so long, I couldn’t help but worry.”

“No need,” Lan Xiaoli gestured at the other cultivator, “This kind man has just saved me. Do we have something to give him as thanks?” he asked.

Mu Chun smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m afraid not, Young Lord, except our eternal gratitude,” he replied in a clipped tone. He then cupped his hands and bowed to the man in courtesy.

“We have to go now,” he said and grabbed Lan Xiaoli to drag him away from the stranger before the latter could respond.

The man blinked a few times. If this young man was indeed a servant, he certainly was a… peculiar one.

Lan Xiaoli finally wrenched his hand out of Mu Chun’s tight grip. “Why are you pulling me like this? It hurts!”

Mu Chun stopped in his tracks and grumbled, “Thanks for treating me like an actual servant.”

Lan Xiaoli looked at him, genuinely baffled. It had never bothered Mu Chun before. “I thought that was our thing?”

“...” Mu Chun shook his head in disbelief and walked away.

The question marks that had formed on Lan Xiaoli’s face grew bigger and bigger, until his expression suddenly lightened up. He quickly caught up to Mu Chun and said, “Are you jealous??”

“You blushed!”

“I did not!”

“Yes you did!”

Lan Xiaoli couldn’t help but grin. He used his free hand to fan air to himself and took a whiff. “Hmmm…”

Mu Chun raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“You are really good at hiding that smell.”

“What smell?”

“Vinegar!”

Lan Xiaoli burst out laughing while Mu Chun tried to pinch him in response.

“Hahahah, you have nothing to worry about!” Lan Xiaoli said as he dodged Mu Chun’s pinching fingers. He caught Mu Chun’s wrist to pull him close and continued in a suggestive tone, “I would never touch anyone else like that.” He then wiggled his fingers that had touched Mu Chun like that and winked at him.

This took Mu Chun by surprise. He halted, then cleared his throat and straightened his back.

Without another word, he moved on like nothing had happened, but failed to suppress the satisfied smile that formed on his lips. He didn’t want to admit it, but it did make him feel better.

⬩ ❖ ⬩ ❖ ⬩ ❖ ⬩

Jiaolong City was only a few days’ travel away.

The broad main street bustled with carriages weaving through, pedestrians walking in fast paces and vendors energetically hawking their wares. If one wasn’t careful enough, it was easy to get lost in this lively atmosphere, so Lan Xiaoli and the others stayed close together.

There was so much going on, it was hard to decide what to focus on first. But the attention of the group was quickly drawn to a commotion happening not far from them.

Following the clamour, they found themselves in the heart of the city. A few youngsters were causing a ruckus in front of a large and glamorous estate. Its name, elegantly engraved on a golden establishment plaque, read Qingtian Estate.

“What is going on?” Lan Xiaoli wondered aloud.

Wei Wuxian pointed at the group of boys, all dressed in robes of light blue colour. “Aren’t they…,” he looked at Lan Wangji who nodded.

Interest piqued, Lan Xiaoli asked, “Who are they?”

“They’re disciples from the Xinan Lu sect. Their residence should be located near this city,” Wei Wuxian replied. He quickly stopped a local passerby. “Excuse me, can you tell me what the matter is?”

The man rolled his eyes and grunted. “Ugh, these kids have been demonstrating here ever since their master got sentenced to death by Lord Jian.”

Wei Wuxian’s expression turned serious. “Why was he sentenced to death?”

“According to rumours, he was spreading lies about the Lord.” The man shrugged. “But I don’t follow the news, and frankly, I don’t care.”

Just then, the protesting voices grew louder. Multiple guards had rushed out of the estate to arrest the disciples. They quickly tied the young men up and escorted them away.

“About time!” the man said and walked away, shaking his head. 

Wei Wuxian looked at the other three men of his group with a meaningful smirk. This smelled like a new case for the kids. But since they had just arrived, the teens were allowed to rest for the day and start their investigation tomorrow.

Still caught in the clutches of Lan Wangji’s harsh punishment, Lan Xiaoli had to sit down and copy the sect’s precepts every spare moment. It would take him the entire rest of the journey to write them down 500 times, but at least he wasn’t alone. Mu Chun always kept him company, which made it all bearable.

To reward himself for diligently copying the rules, Lan Xiaoli snuck into Mu Chun’s room almost every night. The warm embrace that awaited him filled him with so much joy that he’d become a frequent visitor in Mu Chun’s bedroom.

It had turned into such a habit that Lan Xiaoli could no longer fall asleep on his own.

At night, Lan Xiaoli would lay on his bed, facing the ceiling. He didn’t even bother closing his eyes. As soon as it was past hai time and he could be certain that his father was asleep or otherwise occupied, he’d silently sneak out of his room and over to Mu Chun’s, no matter how far apart their rooms were.

This night, however, was a little different. When Lan Xiaoli opened Mu Chun’s door, he saw Lan Wangji sitting on a chair opposite Mu Chun’s bed. Lan Wanji’s back was straight and his countenance as calm and collected as ever. His gaze unhurriedly shifted over to Lan Xiaoli, and once their eyes met, Lan Xiaoli swiftly shut the door again.

Although his brain screamed at him to run back to his own room, his feet remained nailed to the ground. The shock sat too deep. Had he been too careless? Did he slip up? Did his dad rat him out?

As he continued to wonder, the door was yanked open by Lan Wangji. Lan Xiaoli’s back was instantly awash in cold sweat. He was done for.

The two stared at each other for a moment, one expressionless, the other panicked, until Lan Wangji grabbed Lan Xiaoli by the wrist and dragged him towards the teen’s own room.

Lan Xiaoli resisted the pull with all his might, trying his best to shake off Lan Wangji’s hand. “We are not doing anything!”

This was the truth. Apart from cuddling and the occasional kiss, nothing else had ever happened.

Lan Wangji did not respond. Being much stronger, he barely took notice of Lan Xiaoli’s resistance and kept walking with ease. Yet, Lan Xiaoli continued his futile struggle.

“You have to believe me! Please, father!” he whined, “You can trust us, I promise! Please! I don’t want to be alone!”

Hearing the last sentence, Lan Wangji came to an abrupt halt, causing Lan Xiaoli to slam into his back. Confused, Lan Xiaoli looked up at Lan Wangji who appeared to be frozen for a split second. Then, he suddenly let go of Lan Xiaoli, and, with long strides, walked back to Mu Chun, who was standing in the doorway of his room.

When Mu Chun saw Lan Wangji’s figure approaching, he quickly tried to hide behind his door – to no avail.

A cold, sharp glare was fixed on Mu Chun, almost as if Lan Wangji was trying to take him out with two icy knives. Lan Wangji came incredibly close to Mu Chun, their faces only inches apart. He intently stared at Mu Chun in silence for a long while.

“Do not touch him,” he finally said in a calm, yet dangerous tone.

Mu Chun swallowed hard. Literally and metaphorically driven into a corner, he frantically nodded in acknowledgment.

Lan Wangji then walked back to Lan Xiaoli, telling him once again to be careful, and returned to his husband, who was eagerly awaiting him.

Lan Xiaoli was at a loss for words. While his eyes were fixed at the retreating back of his father, his legs already moved towards Mu Chun.

Mu Chun exhaled a long and shaky breath. He flopped down onto his bed, exhausted from the tense atmosphere. “Well, that was awkward.”

“How long has he been here?” Lan Xiaoli asked with an apologetic face.

“Since you went to bed,” Mu Chun said, looking like he just fought a long and hard battle. “He just sat there and glared at me…”

Lan Xiaoli, on the other hand, was beaming. “Do you know what that means?!”

“...That he hates me?”

“No! He has given his approval! We are officially allowed to share a room!” Lan Xiaoli said.

The deep frown on Mu Chun’s face eased into a weary smile. He hugged Lan Xiaoli tightly, who had already snuggled up to him like he did every night.

“So what’s the plan?” Mu Chun asked after the trio had assembled the next morning.

“We should question Lord Jian,” Lan Xiaoli suggested.

Mu Chun snorted. “You really think he’ll just let us walk in and discuss one of his prisoners? You know that your forehead ribbon isn’t a free pass to any establishment you wish to enter, right? Just think of Tianxuan–”

Unable to stand any more of Mu Chun’s nitpicking, Lan Xiaoli grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into a kiss to shut him up.

And it worked – Mu Chun was struck speechless. While Lan Xiaoli finally felt comfortable enough to take the initiative, Mu Chun was not quite used to it yet.

Lan Xiaoli then turned on his heel with a self-satisfied smile. “Let us go to his estate first and take things from there,” he said and walked away like nothing had happened.

Mu Chun subconsciously lifted his fingers and traced over his lips, his expression indescribably soft.

Zhang Chengling, who was unlucky enough to witness all of this, almost choked. It was like an accident – he didn’t want to look, but he couldn’t help staring. “...What the heck?”

Once Mu Chun regained his senses, he cleared his throat and smirked at Zhang Chengling. “I did it!”

Zhang Chengling quirked his eyebrows. “You… did it?? What exactly did you accomplish? I thought you stuck around because you wanted an apology from him!”

Shaking his head, he followed Lan Xiaoli. 

Mu Chun was stunned into silence once more. Huh… Somewhere along the way he had forgotten about that apology.

As he stood there, the other two had already moved quite a distance away from him. He shrugged and quickly caught up with them.

When he brushed his hand against Lan Xiaoli’s, the latter didn’t protest and let Mu Chun entwine their fingers. Thanks to their sleeves, it was ambiguous enough whether they were holding hands or not.

The outside walls of Qingtian Estate were painted with huge, colourful murals which, presumably, depicted how Lord Jian became the current lord of this city. The crowd in front of the estate had been so packed that Lan Xiaoli hadn’t seen these elaborate images the day before.

While the trio looked at them in silent amazement, a young man approached them. The youth turned out to be a storyteller, who stood on site the whole day, ready to tell the great story of Lord Jian to anyone who showed interest.

This wasn’t who Lan Xiaoli wanted to talk to, but hearing the story from a third party – albeit likely to be biassed – couldn’t hurt.

The storyteller led the three of them along the murals as he recounted the tales with great enthusiasm.

“Our esteemed Lord Jian Mingzhi was born into an ordinary farmer family and led a simple life, free of worries. However, tragedy marred his childhood when, at the tender age of eight, he suffered the loss of his beloved mother.

“Shortly after her death, his father remarried, and the new wife gave birth to his younger brother and sister. Unfortunately, that woman harboured selfish desires and wanted Lord Jian’s half-brother to become the rightful heir to the father’s land.

“In front of her husband, she played the role of a loving and doting stepmother. But since he was out and about most of the time, she soon revealed her true nature to Lord Jian, subjecting him to arduous labour – be it farming, cooking, washing, or cleaning; whatever there was to do, she made him do it. In return, he only received the worst food and beatings.

“Lord Jian’s father, oblivious to the mistreatment, took his son’s diligent efforts for granted. He never questioned how their household was running so smoothly when his wife and youngest children showed no signs of hard work, ignorant of the calluses on Lord Jian’s hands.

“In the rare cases when something went wrong, the father of course listened to his wife’s woes, who blamed it all on Lord Jian. He never learned of his son’s misery, and had no idea that his new wife and kids were leaning back while they used Lord Jian as a drudge.

“Despite the harsh conditions, Lord Jian endured silently, treating his family with unwavering respect and kindness. When his half-brother burned down their barn, Lord Jian shouldered the blame and, in turn, was kicked out of his home. 

“As he wandered the countryside lost and forlorn, he fell victim to bandits who took what little he had. Lord Jian just barely managed to escape and sought refuge in the nearby village of Linghai. The locals were kind enough to take him in and accept him as part of their community. As thanks, he helped them with all sorts of chores.

“When Lord Jian expressed his admiration for Gao Baixun, the former lord of Jiaolong, the villagers encouraged him to go work for Lord Gao. Even though Lord Jian was hesitant at first, he ultimately heeded their advice – thank the heavens!

“Lord Jian approached Lord Gao, offering his services, which the latter gladly accepted. The two led a content life as servant and master, until Lord Gao heard of Lord Jian’s remarkable tales. 

“Frustrated by his own useless son, Gao Yutong, Lord Gao was looking for a more suitable heir to his throne. Despite the widespread belief that Lord Jian was destined for greater things, Lord Gao remained sceptical. He challenged Lord Jian, who was willing to undergo a trial. He volunteered to govern a district of Lord Gao’s choice to prove his capability.

“Lord Gao was merciless and chose a particularly difficult district. The residents of said district were divided into two factions that, due to long-standing disputes over resources, hated each other to death.

“But with his compassionate nature and his innate leadership skills, Lord Jian was an incredible mediator, who swiftly restored order in the district. He taught the people that kindness and the sharing of resources were more efficient than their constant quarrelling. 

“Lord Gao was impressed by his achievements but it wasn’t enough to appoint him to be his successor yet. Instead, Lord Jian got promoted to a city official with important political and military responsibilities.

“It wasn’t until Lord Gao was poisoned by his very own wife that Lord Jian officially inherited the throne. After Lord Gao died, his wife was sentenced to death, and everyone agreed that since Lord Jian had been so close to Lord Gao, it was only natural for him to be the next in line. Lord Jian initially declined in favour of Young Master Gao Yutong, but when the latter’s lack of competence became evident, Lord Jian eventually assumed the duties.

“During his reign, Lord Jian was very popular with the people and maintained a modest lifestyle despite his newfound status. One of his decrees was to send away Lord Gao’s useless son, hoping to turn him into a responsible and contributing member of society. To achieve this, Gao Yutong needed to leave the comfort of his home and experience the hardships of humble, less fortunate people.

“Due to his success, Lord Jian’s step-mother was eaten up with envy and eventually died of heart failure. Lord Jian’s father had already passed away a few years prior. Forgiving as Lord Jian was, he knew how much his half-brother depended on his mother, so he helped him secure an office in the city.

“His half-brother quickly rose to the position of minister and would currently be working as prime minister, if he hadn’t disappeared. It is believed that he could no longer live with the guilt and shame, and ran away.

“Presently, Lord Jian faces vile rumours, spread by Xinan Lu’s Sect Leader Lu Yunli,” the storyteller concluded.

The murals depicted each stage of Jian’s career. The last one in particular caught Lan Xiaoli’s attention. It showed a group of people worshipping Lord Jian, which reminded him very much of Murong Zheng. Instant fury blazed in Lan Xiaoli’s chest and he clenched his hands to fists to suppress the sudden surge of rage.

Mu Chun caught him staring at the painting in a daze. Seeing Lan Xiaoli wreathed in a dark haze – the same one that had surrounded him in the magistrate’s office in Tianxuan – Mu Chun quickly grabbed his hand to snap him out of it.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Lan Xiaoli blinked before regaining his senses the next moment. He smiled at Mu Chun and said, “Yes, I am fine.”

Mu Chun wasn’t convinced. Even though Lan Xiaoli smiled, his eyes remained vacant. Mu Chun knew something was off, but he couldn’t put the finger on it – it was the same unsettling feeling that had troubled him in Tianxuan.

Oblivious to Mu Chun’s concern, Lan Xiaoli walked over to Zhang Chengling, who gave the storyteller a generous tip to thank him for his time.

“Can you tell us more about the rumours?” Lan Xiaoli asked.

The storyteller scoffed. “It’s said that Lord Jian used underhanded methods to gain the seat of leadership, but it’s all just baseless hearsay and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Some people just can’t handle their jealousy.”

Lan Xiaoli nodded pensively before thanking him and turning to the other two. “Let us go.”

Mu Chun’s objection turned out to be correct. They couldn’t enter Qingtian Estate without an appointment. With a heavy sigh, Lan Xiaoli admitted defeat. Yet, it was too early to give up.

“What should we do now? The story and murals didn’t really provide much information…” Zhang Chengling asked.

“Since we cannot talk to Lord Jian, maybe the members of Xinan Lu sect can enlighten us,” Lan Xiaoli proposed.

The other two agreed and the trio headed out straight away.

The Xinan Lu sect was located near Xinan, a small town neighbouring Jiaolong City. The sect members lived in seclusion on a serene mountain at the end of a tranquil bamboo grove. Towering high above the three youths, the thick cluster of bamboo stalks grew remarkably tall, their leaves gently rustling in the breeze.

Once they arrived, they didn’t even have to justify their visit. The Lu disciple that was standing guard at the entrance recognised Lan Xiaoli as a member of the Gusu Lan clan and let them in right away, no questions asked.

Inside, they were warmly welcomed by the disciples that hadn’t partaken in the demonstration outside of Qingtian Estate. Among them was the head disciple, who introduced himself as Lu Fengxi. He had a scholarly countenance, his expression was friendly, his demeanour gentle.

“I assume you are here because of what happened yesterday?” he asked with a placid smile.

“We heard your master was sentenced to death and hoped you could tell us the reason,” Lan Xiaoli said.

Lu Fengxi remained silent for a moment, his smile fading not one bit. “How about I answer your questions over a nice cup of tea?”

The sect’s settlement was surrounded by a majestic bamboo forest, its placid expanse interrupted by a high waterfall in the distance. Lu Fengxi led the three guests along a white limestone path to a pavilion.

Painted in pristine white with a contrasting dark roof, the pavilion sat beside a river that flowed from the cascading waters. With the lush greenery and the resplendent waterfall as a backdrop, the scene was nothing short of magnificent and reminded Lan Xiaoli very much of the Cloud Recesses.

As soon as everyone was seated, Lu Fengxi began to explain, “Our master has discovered the truth about the current ruler of Jiaolong City, Jian Mingzhi. However, when our master dared to confront Lord Jian, he dismissed it as baseless slander.”

“What exactly is ‘the truth’?” Mu Chun inquired.

Lu Fengxi sighed. “We don’t know for certain, but our master claims that Lord Jian rose to power by dubious means. He is convinced that Lord Jian killed his predecessor, then banished the rightful heir to attain his position more easily.”

“These are some serious allegations that could severely tarnish Lord Jian’s reputation,” Lan Xiaoli remarked. “Don’t you think it’s natural for him to react like this?”

“It certainly is, but if there is no concrete evidence, why didn’t he just disregard our master or write him off as a lunatic? We’ve come to the conclusion that Lord Jian was afraid of our master proving his claims, so he sentenced him to death as a precaution, on the charge of being a rebel.”

The trio exchanged meaningful glances.

Up to this point, Lu Fengxi’s narrative aligned with the storyteller’s recount of the story. 

However, it was evident that the storyteller had overly glorified Lord Jian’s achievements. To figure out how much of his career was embellished, Mu Chun wanted to hear it from another perspective.

“What’s the official story then? How did Lord Jian obtain his position?”

“There is this great tale about him, how the previous lord, Gao Baixun, was so impressed with his achievements that he passed the mantle of leadership to him, rather than his own son,” Lu Fengxi said. “Of course that’s not impossible, but if it were true, why would Lord Jian go to the trouble of executing our master? Wouldn’t it have been enough to lock him up or banish him?”

“Are you aware of any evidence?” Lan Xiaoli asked. 

“Unfortunately not. Our master didn’t tell us the whole story. All we know is that he was friends with Gao Baixun’s son, Gao Yutong. He went looking for him, and when he returned, he was immediately incarcerated. We had no chance to talk to him,” Lu Fengxi answered. With another sigh, he continued, “He is condemned to die on the fifteenth of this month and we have no idea how to get him out of this.”

Zhang Chengling quickly did the maths in his head and came to a grave conclusion. “That’s in less than two weeks…”

Lan Xiaoli looked at the other two, then back at Lu Fengxi. “We can help you to get to the bottom of this.”

Lu Fengxi’s eyes widened and his smile waned in surprise. Lan Xiaoli even thought he saw a flash of tears.

Now that the majority of the Lu sect, including their master Lu Yunli, had been imprisoned, the Lu sect was left greatly decimated and any help was welcome. Lu Fengxi quickly schooled his expression and said, “That would be greatly appreciated.”

At the foot of the mountain, the trio discussed how to proceed.

“Lord Jian sure sounds shady,” Zhang Chengling commented.

“It is only one side of the story; we cannot be certain it is true,” Lan Xiaoli said.

“Then how do we find out the truth?”

“By seeing if we can verify the stories about him,” Mu Chun replied.

“How do we do that?” Zhang Chengling asked.

“Since talking to Lord Jian isn’t an option, all we can do is talk to the people involved in those stories.”

Lan Xiaoli nodded, his expression grave. They had never worked on a case with a time limit before. “We have to act fast. We should split up to save some time.”

They had to figure out the truth before Sect Leader Lu’s death!

Zhang Chengling was to go through the bureaucratic process of getting an appointment with Lord Jian, while Mu Chun went to interrogate the Linghai villagers that had sheltered Lord Jian in his youth, and Lan Xiaoli sought out Lord Jian’s half-sister.

If Lan Xiaoli still wanted to talk to her today, he had to travel fast. It was more likely she’d be willing to answer his questions when he arrived during daylight. Visiting a young woman at night time could be wildly misinterpreted by outsiders, and Lan Xiaoli wanted to spare them both any major misunderstandings.

Luckily, Lord Jian’s half-sister lived in the small town of Xinan. It wasn’t the original home of the Jian family, but after their parents had died and her brothers had moved to Jiaolong City, she wanted to be close to them.

Her name was Jian Xunuan. She still led a farmer’s life, even though she could easily be a member of royalty. Not only due to her brother’s status, but also because of her appearance and demeanour.

She was of small and slender build, her manner meek and courteous. Her face was pretty, with large eyes, rosy cheeks and jade-like skin. However, she held deep respect for royalty and preferred to stick to the humble lifestyle she knew.

When Jian Xunuan opened the door, Lan Xiaoli cut straight to the chase. He knew she’d certainly let him in if he came up with a cheap excuse, but he didn’t want to get the information under false pretences.

“May I ask a few questions about your eldest brother?”

Jian Xunuan was slightly taken aback by his directness, but quickly recovered her composure and put up a polite front. Yet, a trace of sadness remained in her expression. “Is it regarding the man that got imprisoned?”

“Yes. I just need confirmation on some details. Anything you are willing to share.”

Jian Xunuan hesitated briefly, but then opened the door further and motioned for Lan Xiaoli to come in. She led him to a table by a window overlooking a splendid field of flowers. The flowers bloomed in all kinds of colours and sizes, truly beautiful to behold.

However, there was no time to appreciate the view for too long. Lan Xiaoli sat across from Jian Xunuan and continued his straightforward approach.

“Rumour has it that he was mistreated by your mother and brother. Is this true?”

Jian Xunuan was silent for a moment. She still seemed reluctant to talk, but something in her pushed her to speak. “They… didn’t treat him very kindly. I never understood why. I even pleaded with mother to be nicer to him, but she always dismissed me. I brought Mingzhi some decent food at night, but I couldn’t do it too often. If I was caught by mother, she would lock me away.”

“Was he really as forgiving as others claim?”

Jian Xunuan averted her eyes and lightly shook her head. “He resented our family. He hated what they did to him. He left the family as soon as the abuse became unbearable.”

Lan Xiaoli paused. “...So he was not thrown out?”

A small frown cracked Jian Xunuan’s soft countenance. “No. He left of his own volition.”

So Lord Jian’s tragic story had been embellished after all, Lan Xiaoli thought.

“Why?” he asked.

“After the barn burned down, Mingzhi stood up for himself, but father sided with mother. He refused to believe Mingzhi’s story and claimed he was a liar. This was the first time their argument turned violent. After their brawl, Mingzhi had enough and left for good.”

“That was right before he was taken in by Linghai village, correct?”

“I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to him ever since.”

Lan Xiaoli slowly nodded as he processed the information. He then continued, “Your other brother has disappeared, do you know where he went?”

Jian Xunuan shook her head again, then let out a bitter laugh. “He probably ran away because he was too scared of Mingzhi.”

“He was scared? Even though he did the bullying?”

“He is much smaller and weaker than Mingzhi. He stopped the bullying after Mingzhi… well, let’s say after he returned the unkindness once.”

“What happened?”

Jian Xunuan pursed her lips. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

Lan Xiaoli sensed that Jian Xunuan was starting to feel uncomfortable. She probably realised that she had revealed too much information to a stranger. Lan Xiaoli quickly tried to change the subject, but Jian Xunuan interrupted him.

“It’s getting late, I think it’s best for you to leave.”

It wasn’t even dark yet, but Lan Xiaoli knew he had dug too deep – just not deep enough! But since he was in a woman’s house, he could do nothing but obey and leave.

When Lan Xiaoli returned to their inn, Zhang Chengling and Mu Chun already awaited him.

Zhang Chengling had bad news. “I couldn’t get an appointment with Lord Jian before Sect Leader Lu’s planned execution,” he said, dejected.

Mu Chun’s update wasn’t much better. “The villagers of Linghai confirmed the story we heard earlier. They had no additional information.”

Lan Xiaoli hadn’t expected to be the only one to return with anything close to a success. Though they were just miniscule cracks in Lord Jian’s perfect story, they seemed to confirm that there was some truth to Sect Leader Lu’s claims. Lan Xiaoli gave a brief summary of what Jian Xunuan had told him. 

“I think she realised that she has already said too much. I do not think we can question her again,” he concluded. “She could have been a good lead, but I was too hasty and drove it into a deadend.”

“It’s fine. We can still interrogate the people of that district – the one he governed?” Mu Chun suggested.

It was a good idea, but it was getting late, so the trio visited the district Lord Jian had united the next day. Unfortunately, the locals confirmed the story as well and had nothing bad to report about Jian Mingzhi.

Lan Xiaoli and the others decided to deepen their investigation for several days by interrogating all kinds of people.

The (literal) deadline was fast approaching, but no matter where they went, they only heard good things about Lord Jian.

That Gao Baixun had appointed him to his current position based on his competence; that he had been treated unfairly all his life, yet was always kind and respectful; that he never placed blame on others and was very forgiving.

People also believed this was why Lord Jian tolerated the Lu disciples’ protests for so long instead of sending them straight to prison.

The few cracks Jian Xunuan had scratched into the solid structure of Lord Jian’s story remained the only ones. Yet, they were not clear enough to count as evidence.

After another long and fruitless day of interrogations, Zhang Chengling and Lan Xiaoli collapsed onto a bench in the dining hall of their inn, visibly exhausted. With all the villagers, townspeople and local residents seemingly in agreement, the boys were at their wit’s end.

“If the majority agrees, what’s the point in continuing the investigation?” Zhang Chengling lamented.

Lan Xiaoli nodded, a weary expression on his face. “I agree, but I do not want to give up…” Something was off about Lord Jian, but Lan Xiaoli was not sharp enough to interpret Jian Xunuan’s words and behaviour in a helpful way.

Mu Chun sighed at their fragile determination.

“We just haven’t asked the right people yet. If Lord Jian is as kind and compassionate as everyone claims, what reason would Sect Leader Lu have to spread these rumours? Is it jealousy? What would he gain if Lord Jian lost his position? It’s not as if Sect Leader Lu is the next in line for the throne. The Lu disciples have a point, why did Lord Jian lock him up? If we want to help Sect Leader Lu, we need the answers to these questions.”

“But who else can we ask?” Zhang Chengling asked, his tone desperate.

Mu Chun smirked. “Well, the only way to find out what really happened to Gao Baixun is to ask the man himself, of course!”

Lan Xiaoli raised an eyebrow. “How are we supposed to do that?”

“We’ll ask his spirit,” Mu Chun said with a self-explanatory smile that explained nothing at all.

“And how are we supposed to do that?” Lan Xiaoli asked flatly, unconvinced.

“Isn’t your clan well known for Inquiry?” Mu Chun countered.

Lan Xiaoli’s face turned blank for a moment. How could he forget? 

“Well… yeah, father taught me a bit, but I am not as good as him,” he mumbled, his fingers picking on some loosened wood of the bench. “If we want to do that, we should ask him for help.”

[writinggeisha]

Ah Cy…lovely

Ah Kum…good as gold

Ah Lam…peace

Ai…love, affection

Alix…dignified

An…peace

Annchi…angelic peace

Bai…crystal clear

Bao…treasure

Baozhai…precious hairpin

Bi…green jade

Bik…jade

Bingqing…clear as ice

Biyu…jasper; semi-precious stone

Bo…precious

Caihong…a rainbow in the sky

Chan juan…the moon; graceful; ladylike

Chang…free; uninhibited

Changchang…flourishing

Changying…flourishing and lustrous

Chao-xing…morning star

Chen the…morning

Chenguang…morning light

Chow…summertime

Chu Hua…chrysanthemum

Chun…springtime

Chunhua…spring flower

Chuntao…spring peach

Chyou…sweet autumn

Cuifen…emerald fragrance

Da Chun…long spring

Da-Xia…long summer

Dai-tai…leading a boy in hopes

Daiyu…black jade

Dandan…cinnabar red

Diu…one who is down to earth and is a practical person

Dongmei…winter plum

Ehuang…beautiful; august

Eu-fùnh…playful phoenix

Eu-meh…especially beautiful

Fan…mortal

Fang…fragrant; sweet-smelling

Far…flower

Fenfang…fragrant

Feng…maple

Fung…bird

Genji…who is most valuable as gold

Gho…responsible and inspirational

Guan-yin…goddess of mercy

Guang…glory

Hee…lotus

Heng…constant; steady; persistent

Hien…persevering

Holea…holy

Honf…sign of good luck

Hop…agreeable; consistent

Howin…a loyal swallow

Hu…tiger

Hua…flower

Hualing…flourishing herb

Huan…happiness

Hui ying…bright; intelligent

Huian…obliging and quiet

Huian…kind peace

Huifang…kind and fragrant

Huifen…wise and fragrant

Huilang…wise jade tinkling

Huiliang…kind and good

Huiqing…kind and affectionate

Huizhong…wise and loyal

Hwei-ru…wise and intelligent

Jia…beautiful

Jia li…good and beautiful

Jiahui…nice person

Jiao…dainty or lovely

Jiayi…household fitting

Jiaying…household flourishing

Jie…cleanliness

Jilpa…a teacher of life

Jin…gold

Jing…crystal; sparkling

Jing…small bird

Jingfei…still fragrance

Jinghua…situation splendid

Jinghua…leek flowers

Ju…chrysanthemum

Juan…graciousness

Jun…truth

Kuai hua…mallow blossom

Kwong…broad

Lai…future

Lan…orchid

Lanfen…orchid fragrance

Lanying…indigo lustrousness

Lanying…blue glitter or blue quartz

Lee…plum

Li…upright

Lì húa…beautiful pear blossom

Li mei…beautiful plum blossom

Li ming…beautiful and bright

Li na…beautiful and graceful

Li qin…beautiful stringed musical instrument

Li rong…beautiful lotus

Li wei…beautiful rose

Lian…the graceful willow

Lien… lotus

Liena…a woman as beautiful as a lotus flower

Lifen…beautiful fragrance

Lihua…beautiful and flourishing

Lijuan…beautiful and graceful

Liling…beautiful jade tinkle

Liling…white jasmine tinkling

LiMei…beautiful plum flower

LiMing … who is pretty and bright

Lin…beautiful jade

Ling…compassion and understanding

Linqin…beautiful zither

Liqiu…beautiful autumn

Liu…flowing

Lixue…pretty and pure as snow

Loi…thunder

Luan…upswing

Luli…dewy jasmine

Mayleen…beautiful

Méh-è…beautiful posture

Méh-fùnh…pretty or beautiful phoenix

Mei…beautiful plum

Mei Lien…beautiful lotus

Mei Xiang…beautiful fragrance

Mei Xing…beautiful star

Mei Zhen…beautiful pearl

Mei-yin…very beautiful or beauty.

Meifen plum…fragrance

Meifeng…beautiful wind

Meihui…beautiful wisdom

Meili…beautiful

Meilin…plum tree

Meiling…beautiful and delicate

Meirong…beautiful countenance

Meixiang…plum fragrance

Meixiu…beautiful grace

Meiying…beautiful flower

Meizhen…beautiful pearl

Mey…gorgeous or pretty or stunning.

Ming Yue…bright moon

Ming-huá…tomorrow’s flower

Mingmei…bright and beautiful girl

Mingxia…bright glow through the clouds at dawn

Mingxia…clear halo

Mingyu…bright jade

Mingzhu…bright pearl

Mu lan…magnolia blossom

Mu tan…tree peony blossom

Na…elegant or smooth

Ngo-Kwang…beautiful; august

Ning…tranquility

Ninghong…tranquil red

Niu…a girl

Nuan…wholehearted

Nuo…graceful

Nuwa…mother goddess

Nuying…female flower

O-Huang…august

Pangfua…clouds in the shape of flower

Peijing…admiring luxuriance

Peizhi…respectful

Peizhi…admiring iris

Ping…duckweed

Qi…fine jade

Qiang…rose

Qiànrú…nice smile

Qiao…skillful

Qiaohui…skillful and wise

Qiaolian…skillful always

Qing…dark blue

Qing…yuan clear spring

Qingge…clear pavilion

Qingling…lucky years

Qingyuan…a clear spring or deep water

Qingzhao…clear illumination/understanding

Qinyang…sunshine of my heart

Qiuyue…autumn moon

Renxiang…benevolent fragrance

Rong…martial

Rong…beautiful; elegant

Rong…honor, glory

Rou…gentle, mild

Rùfen…nice fragrance

Ruiling…auspicious jade tinkling

Ruolan…like an orchid

Ruomei…like a plum

Shan…virtuous

Shaoqing…young blue

Sheu-fùh…elegant phoenix

Shihong…the world is red

Shu…fair

Shu fang…kind; gentle and sweet

Shuang…frank; open-hearted

Shuchun…fair; pure

Shui…one who is like a water

Shun…smooth

Song…pine tree

Suyin…plain and unadorned sound

Syà…summertime

Sying…star

Tao…peach; symbol of long life

Tè…special

Teegan…good-looking

Ting…slim and graceful

Tu…jade element in earth cycle

Tung-Mei…winter plums

Ushi…the ox

Wan…gentle; gracious; beautiful; lovely

Wei…valuable; precious

Weici…preserving love

Wen…refinement

Wenling…tinkling sound of refined jade

Wenquian…refined matter

Xia…rosy clouds

Xia…glow of the sunrise or sunset

Xia…the summer lotus; pure and elegant

Xiang…fragrant

Xiao chen…early morning; dawn

Xiao hong … rainbow

Xiaodan…little dawn

Xiaofan…little and ordinary

Xiaohui…little wisdom

Xiaohui…morning sunlight

Xiaojian…healthy

Xiaojing…morning luxuriance

Xiaoli…morning jasmine

Xiaolian…little lotus

Xiaoling…morning tinkle

Xiaoqing…little blue

Xiaosheng…little birth

Xiaotong…morning redness

Xiaozhi…little iris

Xifeng…western phoenix

Xin qian…happy and beautiful

Xingjuan…arising grace

Xiu…fine; beautiful

Xiu Mei…beautiful plum

Xiulan…beautiful orchid

Xiurang…elegant countenance

Xiurong…beautiful glory

Xiuying…beautiful flower

Xue…snow

Xueman…snowy grace

Ya…graceful

Yan…swallow bird; gorgeous

Yáng…sun

Yanmei…Beijing plum

Yanmei…flattering and seductive

Yanyu…Beijing jade

Yenay…she who loves

Yet Kwai…beautiful as a rose

Yi jie…happy and pure

Yi min…happy and smart

Yi ze…happy and shiny like a pearl

Yín…silver

Ying…clever or eagle

Yingtai…flower terrace

Yow…feminine

Yu…jade or rain

Yu-jun…from Chongching

Yuan…original

Yuanjun…Yuan River ruler

Yubi…jade emerald

Yue…moon

Yue wan…happy and gentle

Yue ying…happy and smart; kind

Yue you…happy and friendly

Yuèhai…beautiful moon

Yuèqín…moon-shaped lute

Yuke…jade

Yun…cloud

Yunru…charming seeming

Yusheng…jade birth

Yüying…jade flower

Zhaohui…clear wisdom

Zhenzhen…precious

Zhilan…iris orchid

Zhu… bamboo

Zi…graceful; beautiful

Zongying…taking heroes/flowers as a model

[spacenutspod]

NASA is using a simple but effective technology called Laser Retroreflective Arrays (LRAs) to determine the locations of lunar landers more accurately. They will be attached to most of the landers from United States companies as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) initiative. LRAs are inexpensive, small, and lightweight, allowing future lunar orbiters or landers to locate them on the Moon. NASA is using a simple but effective technology called Laser Retroreflective Arrays (LRAs) to determine the locations of lunar landers more accurately. They will be attached to landers sent to the Moon as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) initiative. LRAs are inexpensive, small, and lightweight.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Scientific Visualization Studio James Tralie (ADNET Systems, Inc.). Lead Producer Xiaoli Sun (NASA/GSFC): ScientistThis video can be freely shared and downloaded at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14517. These devices consist of a small aluminum hemisphere, 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter and 0.7 ounces (20 grams) in weight, inset with eight 0.5-inch-diameter (1.27-centimeter) corner cube retroreflectors made of fused silica glass. LRAs are targeted for inclusion on most of the upcoming CLPS deliveries headed to the lunar surface. This photograph shows a mockup laser retroreflector array (LRA) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, demonstrating the basic design: a metallic semi-hemispheric disc, with eight silica glass cubes embedded in its surface.NASA/Goddard LRAs are designed to reflect laser light shone on them from a large range of angles. Dr. Daniel Cremons of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, deputy principal investigator for the LRA project, describes this as being similar to the reflective strips featured on road signs to aid in nighttime driving here on Earth. “Unlike a mirror where it has to be pointed exactly back at you, you can come in at a wide variety of angles and the light will head directly back to the source,” he said. By shining a laser beam from one spacecraft toward the retroreflectors on another and measuring how long it takes for the light to get back to its source, scientists can determine the distance between them. “We have been putting these on satellites and ranging to them from ground-based lasers for years,” said Dr. Xiaoli Sun, also of NASA Goddard and principal investigator for the LRA project. “Then, twenty years ago, someone got the idea to put them on the landers. Then you can range to those landers from orbit and know where they are on the surface.” This photograph shows the Laser Ranging Facility at the Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory at NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, shining ranging lasers at NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.NASA It is important to know the location of landers on the surface of another planetary body and these LRAs act as markers that work with orbiting satellites to establish a navigation aid like the global positioning system (GPS) we take for granted here on Earth. Laser ranging is also used for docking spacecraft, like the cargo spacecraft that are used for the International Space Station, pointed out Cremons. The LRAs light up when you shine light on them which helps to guide precision docking. They can also be detected by lidars on spacecraft from far away to determine their range and approach speed down to very tight accuracy ratings, and free from the need for illumination from the Sun, which allows docking to happen at nighttime. He adds that the reflectors could allow spacecraft to accurately range-find their way to a landing pad, even without the aid of external light to guide the approach. This means that LRAs can eventually be used to help spacecraft land in otherwise pitch-dark places close to permanently shadowed regions near the lunar South Pole, which are prime target areas for crewed missions because of the resources that might exist there, such as water ice. Since LRAs are small and made of simple materials, they can fly on scientific missions as a beneficial but low-risk add-on. “By itself, it’s completely passive,” said Cremons. “LRAs will survive the harsh lunar environment and continue to be usable on the surface for decades. Additionally, besides navigating and finding out where your landers are, you can also use laser ranging to tell where your orbiter is around the Moon.” This means that, as more landers, rovers, and orbiters are sent to the Moon bearing one or more LRAs, our ability to accurately gauge the location of each will only improve. As such, as we deploy more LRAs to the lunar surface, this growing network will allow scientists to gauge the location of key landers and other points of interest more and more accurately, allowing for bigger, better science to be accomplished. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is currently the only NASA spacecraft orbiting the Moon with laser-ranging capability. LRO has already succeeded in ranging to the LRA on the Indian Space Research Organization’s Vikram lander on the lunar surface and will continue range to LRAs on future landers. Under Artemis, CLPS deliveries will perform science experiments, test technologies, and demonstrate capabilities to help NASA explore the Moon and prepare for human missions. With Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. The agency will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, NASA will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars. By Nick Oakes NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Share Details Last Updated Feb 13, 2024 EditorWilliam SteigerwaldContactNancy N. Jonesnancy.n.jones@nasa.govLocationGoddard Space Flight Center Related TermsArtemisCommunicating and Navigating with MissionsMissionsTechnology Explore More 3 min read NASA Collaborates in an International Air Quality Study Article 18 hours ago 4 min read NASA Solar Sail Technology Passes Crucial Deployment Test Article 18 hours ago 5 min read Meet NASA’s Twin Spacecraft Headed to the Ends of the Earth Article 22 hours ago

[ashlinyack]

Forbidden Phoenix Chapter 4

Yongzheng sat within the Imperial Garden, enjoying the early afternoon sun, as he pondered his next move in the game before him. Across from him, sipping the oolong tea from the dark porcelain cups that had been brought by a palace maid, was his brother Prince of the Second Rank Long Xiaoli. The game of Go was just as strategic as their moves on the battlefield. One wrong move could be the end of the game if one was not careful in their planning. Xiaoli was the more enjoyable one to play with, a challenge at best. It woke up the mind and allowed for ideas to flow more freely that might have not come before hand.

               “Have you taken in many of the beauties sent yet?” Xiaoli posed the question as he set the cup down, taking a handful of seeds to slowly enjoy. “I have heard from a few of the guards patrolling that there are many lookers. I am sure you will find something to enjoy among them, Brother.” A soft chuckle escaped from Xiaoli as Yongzheng looked up with a furrowed brow from his concentration on the game. Taking a game piece, he flicked it precariously at his brother’s forehead, missing ever so slightly as the younger brother moved ever so slightly to the right to avoid the flying projectile.

               “Now, now, Your Majesty! I am simply being honesty. I know the troubles in the Harem are simply adding to your stress. Having a new face that is not about the infighting like the others will be refreshing, I am sure. I just wish to know if you had a chance to look at them yet or if you are waiting till you see them at the end.” Xiaoli popped a few of the seeds into his mouth, occupying his mouth for the moment to bring silence back to the pavilion they sat in. Within the garden there were many such pavilions but this one was private and reserved specifically for the Emperor for when he wished to have tea with someone. Yongzheng’s father, the previous Emperor, had put much work into the garden to make it a beautiful escape not only for himself but for his consorts. A place to wander and enjoy lush flowers year-round, a soft river flowing through from one end to another, and plenty of seating to enjoy tea and cakes in the warm sun.

               Yongzheng finally made his move on the board, picking up the cup of tea beside it after to take a slow sip as he sat back in the chair. The soft breeze that blew through the garden brought the soft smell of peonies on the breeze with the sandalwood incense nearby. Letting a soft sigh out, he set his cup back down upon the table and looked to his brother who was now pondering the board. “I did in fact look at the beauties last night when they had arrived. I did not give notice that I was there, wanting to simply observe them. However, I did meet one outside the pavilion – the one I had wanted to come most especially. I have already spoken to the Matrons regarding her, that she is to make it to my final assessment and the banquet there after.”

A smirk played on Yongzheng’s lips at the thoughts of his plans slowly coming into place, just as the moves upon the cheese board. Each piece moved particularly well to ensnare and trap those who had been against him since the beginning, and to give him his kingdom back in full. Slowly he had moved the first pieces into place, now he began to move the next. Only he and those paying the game would know the movements.

Xiaoli blinked, staring at his brother and his positioning of delight there in the chair – as though he had already found a trophy hunt in the forest. A boisterous laugh escaped from him, a slap across the thigh being heard in the pavilion soon after from one brother to the other with one barely even knowing the truth of what was at play. “Well done Brother! You have become more daring in your years. You were never this adventurous with Shi Meixiu when you were first courting and married. It was always firm and proper with her. Now you are venturing forth. Capturing the prey. Letting your nature out!” Another loud chuckle escaped from Xiaoli in delight at his brother’s escapade in the banquet the night before, eyeing up the potential girls for his Harem.

Finally glancing at the board after a drink of his tea, Xiaoli frowned as he looked over the maneuver his brother had made. He realized that no matter what move he made would be the end for him – his pieces were trapped completely. “You have trapped me! This is why I do not play with you, and it is better to play with Xiang. He actually allows me to win a game or two unlike you! You trap me each time. Bah! Enough Go. Mother has been nagging to see me, so why not us both wander over to The Palace of Worlds Divine to see her. I am sure she would be delighted to see both her sons.”

Yongzheng scoffed as he poured himself another cup of tea, swirling it lightly in the cup. “Mother will raise questions regarding the selection process no doubt and what my process will be for selecting a proper beauty for the harem will be. I have never been delighted with the women she has thrown at me, so the fact that I am now selecting my own for the Harem will make her question everything that I am doing. You go and visit Mother and send her my wishes. I wish to go and meet with one of my ministers just now regarding the battle to the south.” Taking a long drink of the tea, he enjoyed the deep flavours that had developed over the time of the tea leaves soaking in the water, letting its richness pass over his tongue.

Pushing from his chair, he gave a nod to his brother and headed from the garden back to his own palace. In truth, he wanted to get an update on how the selection process was going, who had been eliminated thus far and what was to occur this afternoon. If Yongzheng remembered correctly, the Empress would be meeting with the candidates for the Harem to assess their ability to make tea. While this was a unique procedure to have in the selection process, he knew it was needed to have a relationship with his Mother.

He expected by the end of today, the number of candidates for the selection would be down quite a bit from the thirty-five he had invited. How much though he wished to know. Then he could arrange the groups for his own inspection the day after tomorrow. With the banquet the day following that, he wanted to ensure that whichever group she was in, he made it clear that she was going to be selected. Not only in that moment but after.

Smirking, he took a detour from heading towards to his palace and began to head in the direction of the Department of Imperial Affairs. They handled everything for the palace, and he wished to begin selecting the jewelry he wished to gift this woman that would be by his side soon. Which jades would she like? Which pieces of gold and silver? Would she like emerald or sapphire? These were all questions that suddenly tickled at his mind, and it brought a chuckle to his lips as he strolled along.

“Your Majesty, might I ask what is so funny? I have not seen you this chipper in many days – I honestly cannot recall a day when you were this cheerful or laughing freely. It has me worried for your health. That something may be amiss, and I have not been diligent in my care for you as I should. Please do tell me so I can be of any assistance.” Fu Gei was truly concerned for his Master’s health and wellbeing that he did not know whether the Emperor was loosing his mind or he had missed something over the last few days since the edict was released to hold the selection. It was making him worried about everything that was occurring.

“Do not fret my friend. I am as healthy as can be. My game has begun its moves and now I am about to start the bigger moves. The ones to ensnare some of those who have been evading my reaches for to long. And while I do it, I get to enjoy some happiness in my life. I can not help but express my delight!” Another chuckle escaped Yongzheng’s lips as he turned a corner on the pathways of the palace to head to the Department he wished within his palace. “I want all the finest brocades gathered up and set aside. No one is to touch them. Not the Empress, not the Noble Consort, nor those from the Departments of Imperial Attire. They will be gifted to the one I have chosen after the banquet the day after tomorrow.”

Yongzheng stopped for a moment, turning his gaze to the side as he looked at the area he was now beside. “Also have the best horse found from among the Department of Imperial Horses. A black one preferably. And have one of my weapons masters craft an elegant bow – it can be standard size. She knows how to use it. But I want to the made of the finest wood and carved elegantly, ready for me to gift to her when I see fit.” He waved his hand in the air lightly as he thought out the items he wished to give her – recalling everything she enjoys from those that were closes to her.

Fe Gui sped up quickly to stop the Emperor from moving forward another inch. “Please Your Majesty! You must explain to me who this mystery woman among the candidates is that you are already preparing such extravagant gifts for! I can not allow you to have the rage of the Harem on you this quickly before the selection is over if I do not know who I am doing it for! If I am to take a pot of tea to the face once again, I must have a reasoning behind it!” The sternness in the plump Eunuch’s eyes looked fatherly and firm, his horse tail wand pointed up in the Emperor’s face sternly to make his point even more serious than he wished it to be.

Yongzheng froze for the moment, both taken aback by how sharp Fu Gui had suddenly become in the moment and realizing he had failed to mention who he was going to bring to his side in this battle he was waging. Bowing his head, he placed a hand on the wand to lower it from his face, before placing another on the eunuch’s shoulder to of Fu Gei for support and comfort. “The beauty I wish to rise above all others, that has filled my dreams since the last time I saw her is the only daughter of Minister Li. She is currently apart of the selection process; however, I have told the Matron’s she will be joining my Harem whether the Empress is impressed with her or not. The selection is a formality to get her here, by my side. And to give me the happiness I do deserve in my life. Please forgive me my friend for not explaining this to you as soon as I should have. I did not wish to put her at any risk before I needed to. Seeing as the Empress is currently doing the tea test with them though, I am all but assured that she will be safe. However, I will ask that you send four of my specially trained guards to patrol her room tonight, to prevent anyone from either the Empress or other candidates from harming her.”

Fu Gei nodded his head at the words of the Emperor, sighing softly as he hung his head with a bit of shame. “I should trust you to make sound decisions when it comes to not only your life but also that of the empire’s. I still see you as the young Crown Prince some days, unsure of where to place his foot in these times of war. And yet here you are, planning to overhaul everything around you. Your father would be most proud of you, to see you taking initiative to safeguard the palace, and the empire at all costs. And I will do as you wish.” Fu Gei bowed deeply to the Emperor before rising, stepping to the side to allow the continued walk onto the Department of Imperial Affairs.

Once arriving at the Department of Imperial Affairs, both the Emperor and Fu Gei were met by the head eunuch of the department, Xiong Boqin, and the Minister in charge, Hao Weiyuan. The two bowed respectively to the Emperor and to Fu Gei before Hao Weiyuan spoke. “Good Afternoon, Your Majesty. May I inquire as to what brings you to the Department of Imperial Affairs today? Is something a miss with the last report I sent you?”

Yongzheng waved his hand, dismissing the notion regarding the problem with the report. In truth nothing was wrong in the report. He knew everything regarding the buildings, the food stock, the upkeep, and the management of the palace was well to do. He had placed the right people in position to take care of his palace when he had taken the throne, not wanting things to be overlooked or mismanaged at any time in his reign. “Thank you, Lord Weiyuan. Nothing is a miss in the report. In truth, I want a record of all the treasures we currently have. I wish to select a few for my new consort that will be selected from the beauties at the selection process this week to be sent to her as gifts tomorrow. I have already informed Fu Gei that I wish for all the top brocades of silk to be gathered and placed aside for her, as well as one of my top mares. Do we have a record of the top pieces that I can easily sift through?”

Xing Bogin moved back to one of the desks and began shifting a few of the books on the top before pulling one out and handing it to the Emperor. “This is a list of all the pieces of jewelry, coral, and rare items, classified from most expensive to least, with the date it was received and if it has been given to one of the members of the royal family or one of Your Majesty’s consorts. We have not let anything leave the warehouses without proper documentation in the last two years. We also have one for the furs – did you wish to examine that one?” Eunuch Xing seemed prideful at his record keeping and it brought a small smile to Yongzheng’s face as he opened the record book and began to read each piece within the book. He was indeed impressed at the record.

“I want one white fox fur if we have one, and two of the black bears from my past winter hunt. I see the rose jade bracelet is still within the walls of the warehouse. I will take that now and have someone personally deliver it tonight. I however wish for you gentleman to select six of the top pieces in your mind to be gifted to her at the end of the week when she enters her palace.” Yongzheng flipped the book closed and handed it back to Eunuch Xing, smiling at him and Minister Hao. “I trust the two of you can come to a compromise on which pieces are worthy of a favoured consort’s approval. And they must be the best. She will be by my side for some time. And I wish to make her truly happy.”

Eunuch Xing took the book and bowed, while at the same time saying “Yes, Your Majesty.” At the same time as Minister Hao. Yongzheng ventured deep into the depths of the warehouse to find the bracelet he wished to give his consort-to-be, his heart feeling like it was beating faster than it ever had in his lifetime. Excitement and joy were understatements at how he felt in this moment, knowing fully that he was going to have someone that was not here for the games but to be with him finally.

Now it was only just a matter of getting through the next few days and having it all be ready in time.

[beonhwarp]

INTRODUCING, MENG XIAOLI OF BEONHWA !

the TWENTY-SIX year old is said to look a lot like SUN ZHENNI and resides in the THIMBLE HOME. they are best known as THE GOLDEN FLOWER VENDOR. look! i think they're headed this way! but make sure to read this CHECKLIST before you go.

a look further into their life . . .

PAST

i am worthy of a destiny so much bigger than I was given. 

the tiny girl no older than seven told herself this every night as she watched the stars before drifting off to sleep. her family had so very little, barely enough to eat and hardly ever a place to call their own. the one thing they did have, however, were each other. her father and older brothers worked their hands to the bone wherever they could– farming, construction, any type of hard labor. her mother and grandmother would weave garments so beautiful, so luxurious that xiaoli felt as if she wasn't even worthy to gaze upon them. the embroidery and lace work was impeccable and it'd be a long while before you came across anyone who could even begin to imitate their work. but the money from the garments went fast and they could never seem to keep their heads above water for long. 

that is until word reached beonhwa of foreign women who could turn common thread into something so beautiful that even the head of the three houses had never seen such splendor. the meng family was called upon and asked to appear before the families to show their work. the houses were once more in agreement, the quality of the work stunning, something worthy of the three houses of beonhwa and those in their lands who could afford such beauty and extravaganza. they were given land and supplies to become a vassal house to magnolia in exchange for undying fealty and a contract to provide all houses with whatever clothing was needed for celebrations and official or political ceremonies. though a house in name, the meng family was made sure to never forget that it was not an act of altruistic kindness that earned them their place and that they would certainly never carry any real power. they would never be included in politics or matters of law, no one would arrange marriages with their children. but still, it was a life of comfort none of the family could've ever imagined before. 

life was suddenly so much more than xiaoli could've ever asked for. the town was bustling and the festivals they had were what dreams were made of. there was a library! a beautiful tea house! a school even she could attend! she would no longer be the simple country girl who was destined to slave away in the fields and work her hands to the bone until her body gave out. she could be so much more. she had been right all those nights she pleaded and demanded the universe before sleep. it was hard work at first, trying to find her place within a cultural and place that was so distinctly misaligned with everything she knew. she knew constant movement, constant hardship, constant struggles but in what felt like an instant, it was gone. 

hard work found her excelling at beonhwa academy, especially in more artistic and scientific endeavors. the first part wasn't surprising, it was what raised her family to the status they had, after all. the tough of a woman in the meng family was something spoken about as a gift from the gods and she seemed to have it after all, though she wasn't much a fan of embroidery or sewing, finding the skills tedious no matter how often her mom tried to convince her that it was a labor of love. instead, she found interest with her father, a man who seemed to have an encyclopedic knowledge of all the plants and herbs he had even come in contact with. it fascinated xiaoli that he knew what herb would cure fevers or what mixture to pack a wound with to keep disease from spreading. a talent equal to the fine clothing her mother and grandmother produced, she thought with fervor.

after graduating she took after her maternal line, much to her chagrin. evenings filled with finger pokes, repetitive movements, the idle gossip of her mother and grandmother about what they had heard in town. the same pale shades that represented the three main houses haunted her dreams and soon she couldn't take it anymore. instead she begged her parents for money to start a business of her own, to find her own destiny. it took months of pouting and sadness from their only little girl but eventually they relented as long as she did something respectable. she agreed and it did start out that way. she used knowledge from her dad to make salves, balms, remedies, and tonics. as her business made money and expanded she was eventually able to trade money for goods to make special and luxurious perfumes that were one of a kind that reminded her of her home. deep musks, bright citruses, magnificent florals, unique spices, and warm, cozy woods. 

though success found her it did seem to change the young woman. she became more shrewd and pragmatic, more business minded. she didn't have time for family and celebrations, for stopping to smell the flowers or enjoy tiny moments that once flooded her life and filled her being with so much joy and contentment. her grandmother had been of declining house upon their arrival to beonhwa but was as strong as she was stubborn and held on until xiaoli’s adulthood. maybe, in the back of her mind, xiaoli assumed she would always be there, just a visit away but reality was much less kind. not long after xiaoli had turned 22, her grandmother passed and xiaoli felt such shame in neglecting her in her last few years. a shame so deep she didn't attend the visitation or burial, afraid to face the truth of who she had become. 

not two years later she received news her mother had fallen ill and passed away unexpectedly. the news hit xiaoli like a ton of bricks and she felt as if everything around her had shifted. this time she attended the visitation and burial but from a distance, still so full of shame, anger, and regret. she had loved them, so very much. she wasn't ashamed of them or where they came from, who they were, she had simply been under the illusion that there was more time. she'd be able to visit and make it up to them. she'd be around for the next birthday or celebration. there was supposed to be more time. 

now all she had was her business. her dad couldn't bear to look at her and her brothers now had their own families. she had gotten everything she wanted but at what price?

PRESENT

home is where the heart is, they say but the concept is still so foreign to xiaoli. she loves her family dearly. loved them. still loves what is left but she doesn't have them anymore due to her own choices. she's given up comforts of the heart for comforts of her pocket. having chosen to double down, she works tirelessly to try and grow her business and make it her version of her family's garments; a luxurious must have that is wanted by all. the price is a bit steep but she'll offer a sample to anyone who asks.  her remedies, herb mixtures, balms, salves and the like are available in a range from all prices for all maladies. under the smooth talking salesman who tries to swindle the higher up and part them from their gold is a young woman who still does have good in her and hopes to help anyone she can. 

FUTURE

betrothal, whether for true love or just trying to gain more power. can be a one sided thing, both sides, zero sided.  to find a career she really loves that isn't so suspicious.  become a mother, whether through a husband or adopting a young child.  grappling with her place in beonhwa as an outsider.  finally coming to terms with the death of her grandmother and mother and not blaming herself for leaving.  making a life for herself free of expectations that makes her and those around her she cares about happy. 

written by yiska (she/her), 20+ in the gmt-6 tmz. personal triggers: n / a

[realmonstersrp]

MUUIDO

Just south of Incheon floats an island that is around 3 miles long and 3 miles wide, known for both its golden, sun-kissed beaches and its plentiful shellfish. Being only a shortl ferry trip away, it's the perfect place for a summer getaway, or better yet:

Gumi's first annual summer camping trip.

BACKGROUND

The university has done excursions of this type for so long that it's practically tradition; the purpose naturally being to promote camaraderie among the legacies and—with the beginning of the fall semester coming up real fast—allow their students to create some memorable experiences as August draws to an end.

Every year it's always been somewhere different, but it's this time around that they have decided to allow the initiates—just freshly scouted from orientation way back in early June—to tag along for the ride.

LOGISTICS

While Muuido may be a seafarer's paradise, Gumi students will be residing in small cabins further inland near Horyonggoksan Mountain. Standing 807ft (246m) tall and densely covered in towering, deep green pine trees, it offers a beautiful hiking course with a sea view as one climbs.  Temperatures for this week will be in the low 80°F (~26°C) range, with relatively clear skies and calm winds, though there may be a chance of scattered showers near the end of this week. Local specialties include fresh shellfish such as clams but of course, among the supplies students and staff have lugged along with them, there are other other options available. Please make sure your rations last as long as possible, but in the case of emergencies, there is a small shack that is a two-mile walk away if anyone has forgotten any bare-bone necessities.

EXPECTATIONS

Welcome to PART ONE of Real Monster's opening event! Students will be split into groups of five (5) or more randomly—together, for the duration of the trip, they will be staying in a modest cabin. The list is below, take this as a chance to interact with those who may not necessarily be from your legacy! Rapid-fire, ice-breaker threads are the key here. We will be updating this with a little surprise very shortly. Oh—first cabin to get a thread up gets to earn some easy points for their legacies! NOTE: It doesn’t have to be a group thread, simply a 1v1 (or 3 members etc etc) with your fellow cabin mate works as well!

CABIN BLUE

Min Jiwoo

Song Jaemin

Kang Miyoung

Chalai Suramongkol

Moon Sungmin

CABIN PURPLE

Ryu Maya

Bae Yeonjin

Park Sejun

Harukawa Mitsuru

Nam Junseo

Xu Junhao

CABIN GREEN

Mun Jeyun

Choi Hyejin

Yoon Mina

Jang Danbi

Cho Taejoon

CABIN YELLOW

Yoo Jangmi

Nam Daeil

Tak Solbi

Lee Hayan

Min Moonsik

Shin Junghyo

CABIN RED

Nam Jaehwan

Kim Yeseul

Noh Yejin

Han Jiwon

Yue Wenyan

Yoon Jongil

CABIN BLACK

Cheon Jaein

Zhou Xiaoli

Cody Kang

Kim Yejun

Kim Yujin

Lim Yunseo

CABIN ORANGE

Yao Chenhui

Stacey Chan

Ji Gunwoo

Jung Harim

Moon Kiha

CABIN PINK 

Kim Haneul

Min Hyunjin

Han Jiyul

Hamaguchi Kou

Yang Minjun

Himemiya Sayuri 

CABIN TEAL

Kwon Taeoh

Ryu Saebyul

Lee Minguk

Kim Seokwoo

Choi Sua

CABIN WHITE 

Takahashi Akari

Lu Qifang

Kittichai Watakeekul

Kim Nari 

Ryu Jiyoung

OSPREY’S FANCY GUESTHOUSE

Lim Aeri

Moon Jiyeon

Shim Jaehyun

Faye Chen