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redwineconversation · 2 years ago

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The Michele Kang Dilemma

Is it still doomsplaining if your concerns are legitimate? Something to think about.

Blah blah it's posted in the public sphere but if you're gonna post it elsewhere pls hyperlink instead of a mass copy/paste. Thanks mates xx

THE MICHELE KANG DILEMMA

Anyway, let's chat about Olympique Lyonnais and Michele Kang, shall we? I do love a proper discussion. So let's work through this situation.

First of all, I listened (live) to John Textor's press conference this morning. [Here is the link posted to YouTube but I will note it has the French simultaneous translation, which will make it difficult for English speakers to understand].

The press conference did nothing really to alleviate my concerns. Textor barely mentioned the women's section, but it must also be said that he also wasn't really asked about it. He did however say a few things of note: (1) he had talked with head coach Sonia Bompastor about what she wanted/needed in order to be successful; (2) Michele Kang will indeed be taking over the women's section under Eagle Football; (3) Olympique Lyonnais will be looking for not one "but probably 3-4" individuals who will take over the position of Director General. He didn't give a timeframe as to when (2) will be happening but according to Le Progres sources, that could happen "this week".

We're only Tuesday, so the week is still young, and I feel the news dump regarding the most successful women's club in the world isn't over.

So that's the news part out of the way. Let's chat about Michele Kang now.

I discussed it a little in this post when the news first broke. While I think Michele Kang's intentions are in the right place, I have concerns about whether her approach will work with a team like Olympique Lyonnais.

I know she did a lot of good for Washington Spirit, and I am by no means downplaying that. She got them out of a shitty situation, poured a lot of money into them, and gave them an essential support structure. These are all really good things, and I think are commendable. It shows she's an owner who cares and is invested in women's football, which was not the situation for Washington Spirit's previous owners.

The problem here is that Olympique Lyonnais Feminin was not in the same situation as Washington Spirit. They did not have absentee parents, to keep with the child of divorce metaphor, but a father who loved them. Aulas has always been a part of Olympique Lyonnais Feminin. He trusted them and believed in them and invested in them long before it was cool to do so in women's football. Aulas was standing in the rain with 20 other people in 2004 and built a dynasty.

Lyon already had that support system, is what I am trying to say. They had the infrastructure and the money and excellent conditions. They had a parent who cared, and then Textor came and took their parents away from them.

This team will be on the back foot with Michele Kang, and rightfully so despite her history with Washington Spirit. Lyon knew that Aulas cared because Aulas was always there. He attended every home game, he would travel to away games with them. He would get into fights with national federations for them so the players wouldn't have to be in the direct line of fire.

Will Michele Kang do that? Realistically, she can't. She just can't be in two places at once. If Michele Kang wants Lyon to perform for her, she needs to be there for them, and that will require a much greater sacrifice on her part than Washington Spirit demanded.

If the sale to Michele Kang happens this week - and we will see if it does, since the sale is so complex in large part due to the structure of the club - then it is fundamental she shows up for the remaining games of the season. She needs to be in Orleans on Saturday - and I would even argue she needs to be there even if the sale hasn't been finalized -, she needs to be in Paris on May 21 and she needs to be at Groupama Stadium on May 27.

Again, this causes a conflict with Washington Spirit: they play against Angel City on May 13, against Orlando on May 20, and against Gotham on May 28.

Let's say Kang decides to attend the Lyon games, which I maintain is fundamental for gaining the trust of the Lyon players. What message does that send, though, to the Washington Spirit players, that they will have to share their mom with a new stepkid, a bright stepkid, the one who everyone knows will be the golden child?

Kang has made it known she wants to own a team in every league. Again, I applaud her ambition, but how would the management work?

Aulas worked well with Lyon players because he was accessible to them. They could go to him, close the office door, and say "you and me, we need to hash things out." But Kang can't do that from Florida. In order to be accessible to them, she needs to be there, in Lyon.

And if not, then she needs to put someone Lyon both knows and trusts, who can be. And what then does that message send to the Lyon players? "Yeah, I bought your team, yeah, the person who always been on your side may be gone, and yeah, I'm in a completely different country ... Don't call me, call this person instead."

I've seen people talk about a mass exodus for players, and while I think it's understandable why people want to entertain that theory, as things stand on May 9, I think that's a little premature. The exodus will be contingent on certain factors - 1) if/when Michele Kang takes over and 2) whether she successfully proves herself when she does.

In terms of recruitment, I do hope Le Progres' sources were right when they said it would happen "this week" because I think as soon as the situation is stabilized the recruitment can continue. In times of uncertainty, players are going to be looking elsewhere. Having a firm plan in place as soon as possible will settle things out.

I also think the speculated mass exodus overlooks that so many players are up in June 2023, and also that Bompastor already said there won't be that many renewals. It's the 2024 contracts which will be more reflective of the state of affairs: Ada Hegerberg, who has the most influence over the locker room and I think will be the hardest for Michele Kang to win over; Tiane Endler; Griedge M'Bock. Damaris and Perle Morroni are also 2024 contracts but don't hold the same level of influence as the players I just cited. Others of influence will be in later years: Selma Bacha (2025), Wendie Renard (2026). [Carpenter (2026) and bane of my existence Malard (2026) are not high enough in the hierarchy to have the influence discussed].

I talk about the power players in the Lyon locker room because it's imperative that Michele Kang convinces them her vision of Lyon is aligned with theirs - which again, I think will be very difficult for her to do if she cannot be there physically. These players have a strict code of ethics. Throwing money at them is great - the more investment the better! - but that won't change their moral code, not when Lyon is already used to being treated well. This is why the break with Washington Spirit is so important to understand: Washington was in a bad situation and Michele Kang made it better. Lyon was in a good situation and Textor and Kang made it worse.

The point about influence is important too because despite the money and well intentions of Michele Kang, she still lacks influence. I brought this up in a previous post. Aulas went to war for his players. But can Michele Kang even do that? Not really. As I said, outside of Washington Spirit, no one really knows what she has done. Her name doesn't carry weight the way Jean-Michel Aulas' does. As I said, FIFA won't pick up the phone for her, UEFA won't, FIFPro won't, etc.

You want the Lyon players on your side? Intentions are not enough, money is not enough. They need to believe you are on their side. Can Michele Kang even go to war with UEFA for them? Would she even want to? Squabbling with UEFA or a national federation is a lot different than sitting in a deposition for a report on the NWSL.

How do you convince a team whose previous owner built them from scratch that you are not the bad guy for having removed him? How do you get players like Hegerberg, like Renard, like Endler to be on your side? Win over the Hegerbergs and Renards and Endlers and the locker room will fall in line.

But how do you do that? By showing up, obviously, but also by listening to them, by having actual conversations, open dialogue. This is another point of concern of mine - the language barrier. Renard and Aulas were able to get on the same page so easily because they were both French. Renard's English is subpar to be generous. Michele Kang does not speak French. How do they overcome the language barrier? [An interpreter, obviously, but this does mean Renard cannot just pick up the phone whenever she has an issue and call Kang so they can hash things out].

Let's look at Hegerberg, then. There isn't the language barrier, but Kang will have to win over Hegerberg's strict moral code. How do you convince a player who has been so set in doing right by the club she loves so much that you want to do right by the same club? Any discussion Kang has with Hegerberg will have a simple follow-up question: "and then what?" What will Kang do to help Lyon maintain its dominance with the void left by Aulas? How will Kang convince Hegerberg the gulf is not as big as Hegerberg fears?

Michele Kang has the money to invest in Lyon. She fundamentally cares about women's football. She wants to do right by the sport. All of those are extremely commendable.

But Lyon is perhaps the only team who can test how much she actually means that, because this is a team that will bury bodies for you, but you have to convince them to be monsters first.

#all good love stories start in the rain #Michele kang #olympique lyonnais

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meowmageddon · 1 year ago

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August Reading Check-In!

Is it a little late? Yes, mind your business 😹

I want to move my bookish updates back here since I'm not about training Elon Musk's AI. This update is gonna be a mix of mini-reviews, the current reading list, recent acquisitions, and a few upcoming releases to watch out for.

It's gonna be long, so keep reading if you dare. Or jump around to the bits you like!

Mini Reviews for July's Reads

Black Ghost of Empire by Kris Manjapra - 5 stars

A look at slavery and the emancipation processes across North America and the Caribbean in particular, as well as some of the colonization of Africa itself. Examines the way emancipations prioritized compensating slave-owners for lost "property" rather than restoring justice and reciprocity to the enslaved people who lost their labor, lives, and histories. Super informative, super vital, because they didn't teach this in US history. Just be prepared for an emotionally tough read.

The Veiled Throne by Ken Liu (The Dandelion Dynasty #3) - 3 stars

This is where the series finally ran into pacing issues for me, as many multi-POV epic fantasy series do. Mostly in the latter half. We had a very high-stakes storyline getting a slim chapter between multiple thick chapters about an all new setting and characters with a much lighter tone. I know heavy stuff needs to be broken up, but this was more frustrating than cathartic.

I am keeping in mind that TVT is technically the first half of what was supposed to be the final book, but the trilogy became a tetralogy because a 2000-page book would be ludicrous. Still, I feel it could've been broken down further, and we really need to allow more BIPOC writers the freedom to have sweeping, several-book-long series the way white authors can.

Get In Trouble by Kelly Link - 4 stars

These stories were quite a ride. Many featured messy people, places, and things. If we're being honest, the rating could bump up to 5 stars on a reread. There's just so much to unpack, and I'd need a closer reading, like studying scripture.

Current August Reads

• Trans-Galactic Bike Ride ed. by Lydia Rogue - As the subtitle reads, it's "Feminist Bicycle Science Fiction Stories of Transgender and Nonbinary Adventurers," written by queer authors. Technically I've actually already finished reading it, but I'll post about it separately at a later time!

• Babel by R.F. Kuang - BookTube's darling about a department at Oxford dedicated to translation and working silver- and translation-based magic for the glory of the empire. Problem is, some of the students and faculty are people from places on the receiving end of the empire's injustice. Down to the last 100 pages of this one!

• Speaking Bones by Ken Liu (The Dandelion Dynasty #4) - Despite my frustrations with the third book's pacing, I wouldn't dream of DNFing the series. The world is so lush and full, and the characters endearing. But there's another 1000 pages ahead, so this'll be on Current Reads lists for a while. 💀

• Lone Women by Victor LaValle - A young woman leaves her family home in flames and seeks a new life homesteading in Montana, a mysterious trunk in tow. I read LaValle's The Ballad of Black Tom a few years back, and really needed to read more of his stuff.

• Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection Vol. 1 ed. by Hope Nicholson - Was very excited to see this at the library, as I've wanted to read it for a long time. The stories vary in genre, and I believe there are illustrated stories, individual art pieces, and even a song or poem by Buffy Sainte-Marie in addition to regular comics.

Recent Acquisitions

• Loot by Tania James - I actually won this print copy in a Goodreads giveaway! This is why I encourage those who are able to enter for anything they're interested in; it can happen to YOU lmao. Anyways, it's a book about a boy in India who constructs an automaton tiger for the Sultan, only to have it seized in war by the British. He goes to England to try to retrieve it.

• Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas - My August Book of the Month pick. I enjoyed her debut, The Hacienda, and look forward to this one. Described with "Vampires and vaqueros face off on the Texas-Mexico border." I've seen reviewers describe it more as magial realism/historical fiction with vampires, rather than horror, though.

Upcoming Releases

No guarantee I'll pick these up... but here's some cool stuff coming out in the next month or so!

• From A Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi (August 29th) - Third collection of 40 short stories celebrating the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, this time inspired by elements of Return of the Jedi! I realized I still have to pick up the second collection, from The Empire Strikes Back, oh no!

• The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White (September 5th) - YA horror featuring a trans autistic teen protagonist who can commune with the dead. He attempts to escape an arranged marriage, is sent to a Sanitorium & Finishing School, and is urged by the institution's ghosts to expose its dark secrets.

That's all for now! If you read all this... just know that I love you. 🥰

#Kitty's Reading List #long post #books #TBR #August 2023 tbr

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chikarikotranslations · 7 years ago

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Source: KOUGI | @kougiw Please support the artist by liking and retweeting the original art or following!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! I hope it’s filled with love and goodness ^^

#Love Live! Sunshine!!#love live sunshine #ChikaRiko #Chika Takami #Riko Sakurauchi #KOUGI #kougiw #translation #I say so cheerfully even though this comic is so bittersweet aaah #anyway...I see it's already been translated on dynasty #but some friends wanted to see mine as well ^^;;#I hope that's ok!#I hate having to compete with other translators #but I'm happy that some of you out there like my translations uwu #and finally I have an awesome announcement to make at the end of the week!#please look forward to it! ^^

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garden-ghoul · 2 years ago

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happy gushiwensday FRIDAY let’s have a big fat poem from the gothmaster supreme, Li He!! It’s called The Song of the Departure of the Gold and Bronze Immortal.

the autumn wind brings young liu to the flourishing tomb. night hears his horse whinny but at dawn there's no trace of footprints.

he drew balconies around the hanging osmanthus, the scent of autumn--- thirty-six palaces now overgrown with jade-green moss.

a wei official escorts the carriage a thousand long miles through the eastern pass where a sour wind rushes into their eyes.

the sky leaves room for the Han moon rising over the palace gate; the clear memory of the emperor brings on tears like liquid lead.

fading orchids in white see off guests along the chang'an road--- if heaven cared at all it would be long grown old by now.

he leaves alone with the plate of dew under a desolate moon. chang'an grows distant and the river's voice small.

LOTS of notes under the cut this time.

《金铜仙人辞汉歌》

茂陵刘郎秋风客，夜闻马嘶晓无迹。

画栏桂树悬秋香，三十六宫土花碧。

魏官牵车指千里，东关酸风射眸子。

空将汉月出宫门，忆君清泪如铅水。

衰兰送客咸阳道，天若有情天亦老。

携盘独出月荒凉，渭城已远波声小。

So normally we don’t have time for all that much research, and there’s some REALLY good stuff---I wanted to write up some of what Laurence found. To appreciate how bonkers this poem is it requires a little background, some of which the poet himself provides in his foreword. Li He writes near the end of the Tang Dynasty---he KNOWS the end of the Tang Dynasty is near---about events during the Wei Dynasty, where Emperor Ming orders a statue to be removed from his palace and driven elsewhere. The statue, the eponymous immortal, is of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. So we have three layers of history in addition to the one where we’re reading it. Now let’s see some translation notes!

young liu --- Liu-lang is a staggeringly informal way to address Liu Che, Emperor Wu of Han. The tomb is his tomb, which he started constructing at age 16 according to Laurence’s researches; he’s already preparing to be buried. At this place his life and death, his past and future, are condensed to a single point. The flourishing tomb. In the next line we’ll see just how ephemeral he is.

he drew balconies --- here it says 画栏, “draw/paint railing.” They could be brightly colored painted railings to contrast the decay evident in the next line, but I liked it as another of Liu-lang’s big plans that’s eventually been overtaken by the weight of time.

a wei official --- now we’ve had our little flashback, the statue is leaving in a carriage, escorted by an official of the Wei Dynasty.

the sky leaves room --- some fascinating word choices in this line! This phrase is 空将, “sky/emptiness leads/invites.” Normally when you see 空 you’re on alert for Buddhist Connotations, but in this case I think Mr Li has a different reason for using it. Anyway, because of the word choice I kind of imagined the sky as a stage, and the moon as the player who’s about to step out.

the han moon --- according to Laurence, this is a phrase coined during the Three Kingdoms period (which broke up the Han Dynasty and was immediately followed by the Wei Dynasty!) to evoke the nostalgia of the undivided empire (Laurence’s words). And people would just call the moon that.

tears like liquid lead --- Baike claims that this means the tears and the heart that cried them are heavy, but molten lead also has the important characteristic of being hot enough to burn. The other interesting thing here is, who would cry metal tears? Why not a metal statue? I like the idea of the statue crying as it remembers the person it represents but isn’t identical with. Either way, the Han moon and the Han Emperor are practically one and the same here.

fading orchids in white --- 衰 is delicious because it can mean both declining/waning and mourning clothes depending on how you choose to pronounce it. So yes, the flowers of summer are withering because it’s autumn, but mortal lives are also withering---maybe they’re seeing people off from this life? I don’t know enough about whether funeral processions are a thing.

the chang’an road --- it actually says Xianyang road, but for clarity I’ve replaced the name of the road with the name of the place the road is in.

if heaven cared at all it would be long grown old by now --- a SUPER interesting line, and one much-cribbed. Literally reads something like “heaven like have emotions, heaven also old.” Here 天 stands in direct contrast to 空 from a couple lines ago. They’re both the sky, but 天 is also Heaven, the dispassionate arbiter of mortal fates. So we think Heaven is also being contrasted to the mortal orchids---they wither because they care. Feeling emotion is what kills us, and lacking it makes you immortal. Heaven is, of course, also the only dynasty that will not eventually fall. I couldn’t help thinking about that post about apocalyptic prophecies as an assurance that no empire lasts forever except Heaven’s. Li He looks into the past and predicts the imminent future of his own Tang Dynasty.

plate of dew --- a plate held by the statue, which is explained in the foreword. I believe it’s for holding dew from the clouds, which has some kind of valence of conferring immortality. So here it almost feels like the statue is the one who got up and walked out of the Wei palace of its own volition.

a desolate moon --- by way of contrast to the Han moon?

chang’an grows distant --- it actually says Wei City here, referring to the city on the Wei River (different spelling than the dynasty). But this is an interesting way to refer to the capital! Poets seem to hate calling Chang’an by its actual name (maybe all cities?) and it has quite the flourishing collection of epithets. Here the city is defined by the river, not by any human activities that take place there. The river will still be there when every earthly dynasty has fallen and Heaven is the only thing left to look down on it.

#gushiwensday #li he

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shijiujun · 4 years ago

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ANOTHER REC from the author who wrote The Wife is First 妻为上! I’ve actually read like six of her novels so far (will do a compilation soon heh) and 绿野千鹤 (the author) is very fond of transmigration, going back in time, reincarnation, revival and everything, and she’s also very fond of historical settings where men can marry men, in varying degrees, and this is one of them!!!! This is a very feel good novel, just like The Wife if First - considered a sweet, not complex novel.

(And for those asking about reading difficulty levels, this is actually not very complicated, so if y’all wanna read in Chinese, you can actually try this!)

- Part of Min’s ‘Why You Should Read’ Series -

Summary:

At his deathbed in his 20s, emperor Yu Jin Tang tells his male empress Song Xiao to die with him right before he passes away from a severe injury sustained from war. Devastated and also willing to die with him, Song Xiao is about slit his own throat when Jin Ling, Jin Tang’s younger brother who’s next in line for the throne, reads out the imperial decree to have Song Xiao be given a wangye title and assist Jin Lin in his rule, a decree that Jin Tang made before he died, of course not expecting Song Xiao to die with him.

Song Xiao slits his own throat anyway after killing the man who dealt his husband with the fatal blow, and wakes up in 16 year-old Song Xiao’s body in the modern world. He’s in the hospital after an accident, and is entirely confused with this world. He also wonders where Jin Tang is, if he also travelled to this world after his death, but Song Xiao first has to get used to the modern world, to his father, who is the CEO of an entertainment company, unofficial stepmother (who is an actress under the company and had an affair with Song Xiao’s father) and stepsister.

After recovery, Song Xiao gets to school and becomes tablemates with someone who looks exactly like Jin Tang, called Yu Tang, who is the heir to the wealthy Yu family.

Cue Yu Tang and Song Xiao trying to test each other out to see if they really transmigrated to this world and have memories of their past life, navigate their families and find other transmigrated people from that dynasty in their current timeline. Yu Tang and Song Xiao also reaffirm their love for each other after clearing up the misunderstanding that led Yu Jin Tang to go off to war suddenly that year, which inadvertently led to his death after.

Read:

Novel (Online) | Novel (Print) - Not Available | Novel Translations | Manhua

Characters:

1. 宋箫 Song Xiao - In his past life he was a scholar who first met YJT at a palace feast, and YJT fell in love with him at first sight and was adamant on marrying him as his empress. The previous emperor caught wind of this and wanted to execute Song Xiao, but his grandfather begged the emperor to spare his grandson in exchange for his life. He loves YJT but in his past life was always carrying the burden of the empress title and was never close to YJT in public, and in private, he repeatedly refused to sleep with YJT because he was scared of the pain, but also did not tell YJT that this was the reason for his rejection, leading to YJT thinking that Song Xiao must really hate him/not love him.

After he commits suicide and transmigrates to the modern world, he’s the 16-year old son of the CEO of a huge entertainment company, and lives with his father, stepmother and stepsister. Before he transmigrated, the current him was diagnosed with autism and he was non-verbal, until his stepmother/stepsister hurt him and led to him being in a coma. He wakes up from the coma having transmigrated after, and is so confused at all the nurses, plus he has all his ancient traditional habits - the way he talks, his hand gestures etc. He was caught calling his stepmother a concubine LMAO in public, and only has two months to get used to the modern world before he’s tossed into school, where he meets YJT again. And as expected he forgets himself frequently and ends up greeting people traditionally like this LOL:

Considered to be a real pretty boy HAHAHAHA as expected, but before he transmigrated he was often the subject of bullying. He ends up rooming with YJT, and they start second-guessing whether each other has transmigrated. It’s hilarious because even before confirming that he is indeed YJT, Song Xiao is so used to things like feeding YJT chicken wings, helping him with his clothes etc. from back in his days as empress, and YJT in modern world is also like used to it and then when they realize their actions they’re like ???? hold on, are you...

Totally doesn’t get Math (like all of us), but luckily he’s so smart and picks up all his academic material quickly.

2. 虞锦堂/虞堂 Yu Jin Tang/Yu Tang - Went against laws and his father in his past life to marry Song Xiao, and really, really loves him. He always doubts that Song Xiao loves him back, however, because of the way he basically forced Song Xiao to marry him, and did not take in any concubines etc. in the year they spent together before he died. They argued over this, which led to him going to war in anger, and to his eventual death. On his deathbed, out of spite and anger at his impending demise, he asks Song Xiao to die with him, but does not mean it, having already planned Song Xiao’s future for him.

He wakes up in his new body as an 11 year-old named Yu Tang, 5 years before Song Xiao transmigrates despite their deaths being minutes apart. At some point he goes to read historical books and is furious and devastated when he reads that Song Xiao killed himself after he died, and wonders if it’s because Jin Lin didn’t tell Song Xiao about the decree.

He’s been waiting for Song Xiao to turn up, and when he does, Yu Tang finds himself testing Song Xiao to see if he really has his memories or not, and even plots for Song Xiao to room with him because Yu Tang gets pissed at the thought of someone else seeing Song Xiao’s body as he comes out of the bath everyday HAHAHA.

In this modern world, he no longer has to deal with the burden of country etc., and one of the possible heirs to the Yu fortune and empire, he now only has to deal with greedy relatives and a grandfather who may oppose same-sex relationships, but smart Yu Tang knows what he’s doing and is more than familiar with fighting for the throne in his past life, and now in this life. Because he lost so much in the previous life, he’s now plotting to keep everything, including Song Xiao.

3. 虞锦麟 Yu Jin Lin - YJT’s younger brother, who also transmigrated to the modern world the year Song Xiao does, but in his past life he dies much later than his brother and Song Xiao did out of natural causes. He is reborn as Yu Tang’s baby brother, and this baby has ALL THEM MEMORIES.

4. 独孤暗 Du Gu An - Yu Tang’s current same-age bodyguard, was picked up from the streets by Yu Tang when they were both younger. He was the head of YJT’s secret army in his past life, who transmigrated over.

Other Things I Like in the Novel:

In private, Yu Tang and Song Xiao refer to each other frequently as emperor and empress, but they’re conscious to not say it in public because they know people will wonder if they’re insane hahaha

Yu Tang ran for President of the Student’s Club, won, and then changed all the names of the different committees in school (cleaning committee, disciplinary committee etc.) into historical ministry names like, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Justice etc. hahaha

They acknowledge each other quite early on in the book and it’s so sweet from then on! Technically even though they’re 16 year-olds here in spirit they’re like... they’ve lived another lifetime together, so Yu Tang refers to Song Xiao as his wife and empress, and keeps stealing kisses etc.

The man who killed YJT in his past life was reborn as Yu Tang’s literal dog in the modern world, and a lot of characters transmigrated/were reborn as well, including YJT’s eunuch gonggong, who is actually a high-ranking butler now in the main Yu family branch and who has also been waiting for YJT to turn up in the modern world. When Song Xiao first meets him, his eyes automatically go to the butler’s crotch LMAOOO

YJT’s sister was also reborn as his sister, and because he wasn’t able to protect her in his past life, he’s very thankful that he can do so now

It’s really cute because there’s even an overseas academic exchange part. Outside of school they also try to navigate their relationships with their families, and it’s impressive to see how Song Xiao and Yu Tang deal with their pesky relatives, work etc.

Song Xiao has to defend himself (with the help of Yu Tang) against his stepmother, and another woman that his Dad had another affair with etc., but all these tactics are elementary to him as he recalls how his siblings in his past life were much more merciless and scheming than this towards him LOL

#danmei #danmei recs #emperor don't bother me #皇上别闹 #绿野千鹤 #huang shang bie nao #another one for yall!!!#min's why you should read #written by the same author who wrote the wife is first

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fwoopersongs · 3 years ago

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送清上人归苕溪 - Seeing off Venerable Qing as he returns to Taixi

by 释行海 (Shi Xinghai, 1224 - ?)

寻常送客尚多愁，况是天涯寂寞秋。 xún cháng sòng kè shàng duō chóu, kuàng shì tiān yá jì mò qiū. Ordinarily, seeing off a guest already rouses sorrow, what's more, on a lonely Autumn's day, to a faraway land.

晓别蛩声黄叶寺，夜分渔火白苹洲。 xiǎo bié qióng shēng huáng yè sì, yè fēn yúhuǒ bái píng zhōu. Parting at dawn amidst chirping crickets, yellowed leaves, a temple; at midnight, in the firelight of fishing boats, the river’s banks are white.

病余骨肉添新林，归后风烟忆旧游。 bìng yú gǔ ròu tiān xīn lín, guī hòu fēng yān yì jiù yóu. After illness, flesh and bone add to a forest, new; upon returning, wind and mist spark reminiscence of our past travels.

何处何时又相见，青山长在水长流。 hé chù hé shí yòu xiāng jiàn, qīng shān cháng zài shuǐ cháng liú. Where and when will we meet again? The verdant mountains shall always stand; running water flows ever on.

...................................................................................................

I actually came across this poem before while translating 《送灵澈上人》 Seeing off Venerable Ling Che by Liu Changqing, but didn’t really pay a lot of attention beyond thinking, ‘oh nice, very atmospheric first line’. More recently, a friend from discord started a conversation on the common chinese drama and novel farewell line ‘青山不改，绿水长流’ // roughly: verdant mountains do not change, emerald waters flow ever on, that was falsely attributed to the poem 《离别》, which was in turn falsely attributed to the Tang Dynasty poet, Bai Juyi.

As an aside, questions such as: 1. So what is the TRUE origin of this sentence? (findings inconclusive, but it has existed in this exact form since at least Lois Cha’s novels from the 1950s and 60s, and with similar phrasing and meaning since the Song Dynasty) 2. When and how exactly did the line get misattributed? (this is a super impressive piece of detective work - the author traces internet posts all the way back to 2006 with screenshots! do check it out if you’re comfortable reading chinese.) have already been answered very thoroughly by amused, curious, confused and outraged Chinese netizens. xD Lo and behold, the remarkable chaotic energy of the internet ~

And from our English speaking areas of cnovel fandom: 1. What is the Bai Juyi connection anyway? Has been answered by @hunxi-guilai. 2. What does the line really mean though? Has been answered by @wrecklwj. Righto, so with all that out of the way, I’ll start off by saying, yes! This poem was identified in the replies to the post on the phrase’s origins because of its last line to which the ‘parting phrase’ is somewhat similar in both form and intent. See for yourself below:

青山不改绿水长流 qīng shān bù gǎi, lǜ shuǐ chángliú verdant mountains do not change, emerald waters flow ever on

青山长在水长流 qīng shān cháng zài, shuǐ chángliú verdant mountains will forever be here, water flows ever on

Pointing this out is all I have to say on the topic.

Shi Xinghai, the poet, lived in the Song Dynasty. We do not know his date of passing, but his birth year of 1224 CE can apparently (according to the poet’s quick bio which is the only thing about him available all over the internet) be approximated from this book by the title of ‘Spring of Gui You, Visiting and Staying At Wuwei Temple’s Guiyun Storeyed Pavilion, Using Age 15 to Present Age of 50’s Travels as a Monk as Loose Inspiration for Casually Writing Ten Poems’ 《癸酉 / 春 / 侨居 / 无为寺 / 归云阁 / 以十五游方今五十 / 为题 / 信笔十首》.

By the way, I have no idea how the person who wrote this description arrived at the conclusion of 1224 as his birth year, because the closest Gui You year to 1224 would be the 13th year of Jiading (under Emperor Ningzong of Song), which is 1213.

Having been ordained as a Buddhist monk at a young age, he lived in Jiaxing’s Xianfu Temple and was originally from Shan 剡, which is part of present day Shengzhou. Shi Xinghai’s art name was Xuecen, and he was a prolific writer with at least three thousand poems to his name. But when Lin Xinyi 林希逸 (119 to 1271), Neo-Confucian of the Southern-Song Dynasty, compiled Shi Xinghai works, he could only pick two hundred out of the original twenty epics and three thousand short poems which he then published as ‘Xuecen The Monk’s Works, Continued’《雪岑和尚续集》.

And now for the poem itself, which should be a fast one ~

寻常送客尚多愁 | Ordinarily, seeing off a guest already rouses sorrow, 况是天涯寂寞秋 | what's more, on a lonely Autumn's day, to a faraway land.

My choice of 'seeing off a guest' for 送客 is somewhat inelegant, but given that this may range from anything between simply bidding farewell and actually accompanying this visitor right up till you can't go any further, I do hope to be excused xD. In any case, the slightly surprising connection of 'an ordinary farewell' and 'sorrow' is explained very well with the next sentence, because it is Autumn - ever the season for melancholy as the liveliness of Summer fades (In fact! The word for sorrow 愁 is made up of the radical for Autumn 秋 and the word for heart 心) - this guest is likely a good friend to have travelled so far to pay him a visit, and now will go away back home to 'the edge of heaven', which is a dramatic way of saying… somewhere far far far away. Of course it is lonely.

晓别蛩声黄叶寺 | Parting at dawn amidst chirping crickets, yellowed leaves, a temple; 夜分渔火白苹洲 | at midnight, in the firelight of fishing boats, the river’s banks are white.

The first thought that popped into my mind was that this poem was very atmospheric and I stand by what I said! From setting the scene and filling it with this reluctance to part, and painting it in Autumn's colours, the dawn farewell in the warm sunlight, the yellow leaves, the gentle hum of insects - the goodbye was beautiful. But afterwards, there is only the dark night and the white riverbank. A little less beautiful, 'a little' less light, no longer warm.

病余骨肉添新林 | After illness, flesh and bone add to a forest, new; 归后风烟忆旧游 | upon returning, wind and mist spark reminiscence of our past travels.

There are two ways from what I can see to interpret this, maybe more. The first, being that the poet fell ill after seeing off his friend, but made a quick recovery (from his sadness also) with renewed vigor and life, and returned home, the sight of mist in the wind causing him to revisit fond memories of their times together. 旧游 can be travels, can be places travelled to and can also be the companionship on a journey. The first option marks this as a positive turning point. The second option goes a little dark, with 病余骨肉添新林 being understood as, 'illness has left flesh and bone from which a new forest sprouts' which is pretty self explanatory… and 归后 simply being an euphemism for death.

I'm inclined to believe the first interpretation is what Shi Xinghai is going for, because of the tone of the final line though.

何处何时又相见 | Where and when will we meet again? 青山长在水长流 | The verdant mountains shall always stand; running water flows ever on.

Where shall we meet? When will we meet again? There are so many chances ahead still - just like how the mountains will always be right there, and the rivers flow on and on... for sure! that day will come.

#送清上人归苕溪 #释行海 #Shi Xinghai #farewell poetry #lmao why why why do i always gt so invested in my rabbit holes #Poems #commentary

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vivianweasley · 4 years ago

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Someone Better (Prologue)

Pairing: Draco Malfoy X Reader, Fred Weasley X Reader

Summary: You always thought that Draco was the one for you, but the war changed everything. After the war, you were trying to find yourself, but Fred Weasley seemed to find you first.

Warnings: angst, mentions of blood, war, anxiety, poor writing

Word count: 1.2K

A/N: Hi guys! So I’m making this into a series. I don’t know if anyone would want to read the whole series but I will still keep writing it lol. Part 1 is angsty but the rest would probably all be fluff? Also, Fred is going to be in the next part! Oh and I was listening to “Dynasty” by Miia while writing this part. Anyways, hope you guys would like it:)

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Epilogue

Please do NOT repost my work or translate it on another site without permission! Thank you! Reblogs and comments are always welcomed:)

You guess people could say that you and Draco Malfoy were what the muggles would call high school sweethearts.

You and Draco grew up together since your parents were friends.

But you two weren’t always friends. You could still remember when you two first met, you both rolled your eyes at each other. You even made fun of him the entire second year for falling off his broom during quidditch.

You two bickered and fought, but you’ve never separated from each other. You would always eat, go to your classes, and do your school work together. And before you could know, a feeling other than friendship started to grow in your hearts.

One month before the Yule ball, Draco confessed his feelings to you and you were overjoyed that your feeling for him were reciprocated. You then went to the Yule ball as his date and his girlfriend. While he was holding you and you two were dancing the night away, you thought the rest of your life was probably going to be like this, without a doubt.

During fifth year, you even joined Umbridge’s Inquisitorial Squad with Draco, even though you’ve never agreed with anything that pink toad had to say. When the Weasley twins blew up the school with fireworks, you even cheered a bit when no one could see you. But Draco wasn’t so happy that day. He held you in his arms and complained about the incident for hours.

At that time, you never even thought about being with anyone else. Draco Malfoy was there with you for your entire childhood and almost your entire adolescence. So of course he was going to be with you for the rest your life, right?

But real life wasn’t some romantic comedies. High school sweethearts would eventually take on separate paths. And the one for you turned out to be just another passer-by in your life. And Merlin, you all knew there was a war coming.

Beginning from sixth year, you felt like Draco was turning into a different person. During the summer, he didn’t come visit you and he didn’t even write to you.

What was worse was that even your parents told you to stay away from him. You were scared and you started to lose sleep. How could you sleep peacefully when you were constantly worrying about that something bad might happen?

You thought going back to school and finally seeing him could help alleviate your anxiety, but you were wrong. Draco started to avoid you and sometimes he would even skip classes. Even when you two were finally facing each other, he still didn’t talk much and he sounded so cold, so distant.

Every time when you asked him if everything was alright, he would always shrug it off and say that everything’s fine. But you could see for yourself. You could see he was getting skinnier and skinnier. His already pale skin was turning into a sickly grey tone and everyone could see the dark circles under his tired eyes. Yet he refused to tell you anything, leaving you to keep torturing yourself with all the anxiety and terribly vivid imaginations in your mind.

Then you saw the dark mark on his arm. Your breathing stopped for a few seconds. It all made sense now. Your parents were friends with the Malfoys, but they were no death eaters. So it made sense for them to tell you to stay away from Draco.

You were so scared. Not because he was a death eater, but because you were afraid that something bad would happen to him. You felt like you were counting down everyday, until one day he would finally leave you forever.

And one day, what you feared finally came true. You heard people talking in the Great Hall that Draco and Harry Potter was dueling in the sixth floor boy’s bathroom. They said Potter almost killed Draco. They said that Draco was lying in a pool of blood and there were several long and deep cuts on his body. If Snape didn’t find him on time, he would be dead within a few minutes.

You ran to the hospital wing as fast as you could, but Madam Pomfrey didn’t allow anyone to visit. So you just waited outside.

You didn’t know how long you’ve waited. It seemed like it was already evening and maybe even pass dinner time. It was a few hours, but you felt like you’ve waited for years.

When Draco finally walked out, you ran to hug him. You were very careful and gentle for you were afraid that his wounds might rip apart again. You buried your face in his chest, trying to feel his heart beat, his warmth, everything that could prove that he was still alive.

“Draco, what did you do? Why would Potter do this to you?”

The hand that was gently rubbing your back stopped abruptly, “Y/N, I...”

You knew he was trying to come up with an excuse again and you just couldn’t take this anymore. You dragged him to a deserted hallway, “What are you doing lately, Draco? Please, please just tell me! Do you know how worried I am for you?” Your hand were gripping tightly on his arm for you were afraid that he might run away again.

He sighed, “I can’t tell you. You could be in danger. You could die. Do you understand?”

“I already feel like I’m dying.” You weren’t lying. It has been month that you haven’t ate properly or slept without tossing and turning for hours. Even when you did fall asleep, you were having nightmares about terrible things happening to Draco. But he was too occupied by that thing that he couldn’t tell you, and failed to notice that you were also hurting.

“Draco, I know this is about You-Know-Who, but you don’t have to face this alone. We can face this together! We can think of a way together! There has to be another way!” Tears were forming in your eyes, but you managed to keep them at bay. You wanted to look like a logical person who can face those problems with him.

“No Y/N...There’s no other way.” He broke free from your grip, “If I don’t do this, my family...even you...you could all be dead! He chose me, Y/N, I have to do this!”

His body was trembling and his eyes were red, looking like he was also trying to hold back his tears.

You have secretly followed him before and saw him crying in the bathroom, but you cowered at that time. You didn’t walk over to him and give him a hug because you knew he didn’t like to show his vulnerability to anyone.

But you hugged him this time, trying to make up for all the times before that he has cried alone. He hugged you too and for a moment you thought everything was finally fine, that he was finally going to open up to you, that you could finally face this together. But after the longest minute in your life, you just heard him say, “I’m sorry Y/N...but I...we can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry...you...you deserve someone better.”

And before you could even understand what he meant, he just let go of you and walked away.

That was it, the end of the relationship that you thought would last a life time.

And it took you years to finally begin to understand what it meant for someone as proud as Draco Malfoy to say something like “you deserve someone better”.

#draco malfoy #draco malfoy x reader #draco malfoy imagine #fred weasley #fred weasley x reader #fred weasley imagine #draco malfoy angst #draco malfoy fanfic #fred weasley fanfic

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mintseesaw · 5 years ago

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Aurora | 1

aurora - n. dawn Pairing: jungkook!general x reader!princess Genre: angst, fluff, historical au, joseon dynasty au, established relationship au, secret love affair au Warnings: heavily themed angst, mentions of corresponding punishments for certain committed misdeed, cursing Word count: 7.5k Summary: A story which centers on a forbidden love in the midst of centuries-long battle of power and greed. Disclaimer: based on King Sejong’s time but is fictional and not historically accurate Note: If you are not familiar with korean historical setting, you may refer to the translations I provided at the end of some terms used in the fic that may sound unfamiliar to some.

one | two

*unedited

Fate is a mere imaginary force, perhaps, created by entities living in this world, as fictitious as happiness, as treacherous as love. While hope brings you a strong faith of anticipation to the uncertain, the endless cycle of waiting only gives you the bittersweet acceptance in return.

There was no regret behind the years of your wasted youth amidst the inescapable obligation of being an object of possession under a political truce— the truth that you have to live from the guise of a royal birth.

You kept your promise, and until time and your royal duty comes in between, you will stay faithful to your words.

Two years after ascending to the throne, King Namjoon started establishing ports and posts alongside strict military power on the borders of Joseon. However, the immeasurable extent of the rising mutiny on the northern border further pushed the ruler to multiply the military presence on each border, of which was kept hidden from the commoners to prevent stirring fear in his constituents.

The news spread like a wildfire inside the palace, and into the households of the government officials, bearing in mind the warning the message it carries, it being a confidential matter.

When the king made the official pronouncement, the princes, and military officials, alongside the ruler’s advisors, were all present in the courtroom.

Learning about the king’s decision, Prince Taehyung ought to keep the news from the princess— the youngest child of the present ruling queen, the Queen Mother, and the late king.

However, the unavoidable presence of the court ladies who are serving the royal family, made it seem difficult to hide the truth from you.

Two days after the edict was released, one of the court ladies, who happens to be a second degree cousin of General Jeon innocently shared the information to you, not knowing it will affect you, greatly. Your relationship with him has been kept for a long time, anyway.

“W-What did you say?” The same court lady, who was currently serving you a cup of tea, freezes midair as she caught up the tone in your voice. As you notice the reluctance in her expression, you didn’t wait for her to repeat what you had clearly heard the first time.

You rose from your seat with urgency, waving your hand in a dismissive gesture toward them as you quickly strutted out of your chamber. Although shocked by your sudden action, the servants quickly caught up with you, tailing behind as you took the direction to your brother’s study.

Shortly after, you arrive before his study, Prince Taehyung’s servants immediately bowed to you as form of greeting.

The prince was occupied on his canvas, determined to finish the piece before the midnight rolls when he heard Officer Sung announced the arrival of his sister. The brush locked between his fingers as he was about to stroke its end on the canvas halted midair.

When the doors flew open, he was met with your frown and a clearly disturbed disposition. He stood, abandoning his piece of work, waiting for the servants to leave them alone inside before he began talking.

“What brings you at this hour, little flower?” He asks in a curious tone. Deep inside, he already had a clue why.

“You knew, didn’t you?” You whisper, choking the tears that were threatening to pour onto your cheeks.

Taehyung stares at you for a while, surveying the hurt evident on your face before deeply sighing.

“I understand it would affect you this way.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? J-Jungkook… Tell me he isn’t part of the—“

There’s no use to keep it anymore when you already heard pieces of it. “The king designated him to lead the northern border.” He warily announces, although he knew it wouldn’t matter how cautious he’d reveal it because it would hurt you, regardless.

Your eyes widening, palms fly toward your mouth to cover your gasps, hearing the answer you hoped you wouldn’t hear.

You are aware of the suspected cases of mutiny on the borders and along the waters where traders and merchants meet. The political scholars do not keep these significant issues from you during your studying sessions, regarding the possibility of being a future queen of another nation, literacy in every field has also been supplied to you alongside your brothers, the princes and the king.

“Princess, it couldn’t be avoided. It’s Jungkook’s duty to protect our nation.” He tries to console, closing the distance to give a comforting hug.

“He is guarding the palace— the royal family… the king. Isn’t that a part of his duty?” You wept in his embrace, mumbling in despair, “He didn’t even tell me, do I not matter to him, anymore?”

“Hush, little flower. Of course, that punk loves you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t hesitate to leave the capital to carry out his duty.” He says, not releasing you. He could only hope he could take away the pain in your heart.

Among everyone living in the palace, it was only him who had witnessed how your love for his best friend has blossomed through time. Unlike Jungkook who had been admiring you from a far long ago, you shamelessly admitted your feelings for him when you were 14.

Several years later, Jungkook still owns your heart despite the complicated situation, and the path he chose to take only made it more twisted than ever. Jungkook’s father died while in his duty protecting the king against officials who once challenged the ascension. Following his father’s footsteps, he partook the military.

His decision deeply scarred you because it only means it will be impossible to marry him, unless the king has consented it. However, it is rare for a ruling monarch to allow such because it’ll only mean losing their birthright in exchange of their betrothal with a low-ranking official.

Little rendezvous, love letters and stolen kisses didn’t stop the two of you following Jungkook’s promotion as the general of the national defense a year ago. But today, the horrid thought of him being in imminent danger in the battlefield dreads you.

Prince Taehyung escorted you back to your chamber once you had calmed down. He didn’t want to leave you while you are grieving, but he figures you needed the time alone.

That night, you couldn’t sleep with the heaviness of your heart.

You need to see him.

“Your Majesty,” you softly greeted once you entered the courtroom, lowering your head with grace before lifting your eyes back up to the throne where the king was busy reading the council’s daily reports.

He lightly nods his head, acknowledging your presence. “Princess, you should be resting by now.” It was late, and you initially went to his chamber only to realize that the king was still in the courtroom, fulfilling his duties.

“As you should, Your Majesty.”

The king smiled, listening to the delicate voice of his little sister. He realizes, he missed being graced your refreshing presence. He had been used to it before, you lurking around in the bookshelves in his study while he was occupied, searching for books which he had all read, asking him numerous questions about certain literary works you had grew fond of like himself until he was too tired to answer anymore. After ascending his throne, he is only able to see his family on special gatherings, unless they purposely visit him.

“Perhaps, you have something to tell your brother?” He inquires, his eyes remain on the scroll as they skim over the texts written in the paper.

With soft monotonous tone, you proceeded to speak. “If you’ll allow me, Your Majesty.”

“Go on,”

“I read a particular decree dated three days ago. I have questions, if you will hear me, Your Majesty.” You asserted generally to avoid suspicion from the other attentive ears inside the courtroom.

It was that time when he lifted his gaze to meet your nervous ones.

He turns to the eunuch who was quietly standing on your right, his side facing you. “Leave us.” Officer Han lifted his head, surprise to hear the sudden command of the king. He quietly obeyed, gesturing to the advisors to follow the king’s order.

“I see, you’ve learned about the news. I may have to order your teachers not to let you dwell much on these political matters. You are a delicate flower in our family and I still wish to witness you blossom more.” It may be necessary for you to have a clear overview on the politics for your future fate, but the king would want you to enjoy your time as the princess in your own home before you’re married off to another prince.

“I appreciate your care, Your Majesty.” You lower your head, lips quivering.

King Namjoon leans his back on his seat, scrutinizing the figure in front of his throne. It was not too hard to recognize the state you’re in, similar to the officials he meets here when they are being questioned.

“Princess, tell me what bothers you.” There, he used his brotherly tone, the one which used to be his way to coax you to open up to him before.

You stayed silent, thoughtful on how to address the purpose of your visit. It took a while before you gain the strength to utter the name of the man you dearly love. “General Jeon… w-will lead the north?”

Hearing your words, the king’s shoulders tensed. “We have talked about this before. Did you defy your brother to proceed your affair with General Jeon?” His expression hardens at your silence.

“I-I…” You stammer, eyes wide innocently.

He throws the scroll on his table, now fully directing his attention to you, drawing a long sigh like your father once did, when you were once caught wandering outside the palace.

“You did,” He confirms to himself in a whisper, before his head tilted back as his eyes momentarily closed to control his frustration. “I must punish General Jeon on your behalf.”

Your eyes widened, chills running down your spine. “Your Majesty!” You exclaimed, horrified by the king’s conclusion to the matter.

“The Great Queen Dowager is protective of you. Grandmother will not accept an order from me to punish you, herself, for your misbehavior. You are not to get involved with any man, ______.” He reminds you. Not only was the queen dowager adores the lone princess, but their father, as well.

You are aware of that. Perhaps, it was the reason why the palace, your supposed home, became a sickening form of solitude for you. You wish you had been treated the same way as your brothers, while they grew up in a rough setting as a form of their training, you envy their mental toughness aside from their trained physical skills and strength. Perhaps, it was the reason behind your father’s endearment for you, little flower. Because you’re a weak princess.

Being favored is not a privilege when you are expected to be good at all costs. Jungkook, despite the social status that separates you both, became your sense of euphoria. He allowed you to see the glimpse of his life, the horrible and ugly side of his life. He showed tenderness in his affection towards you, but he sees you beyond your status.

Jungkook, leaving the capital to guard the borders without the assurance of making it out alive, will cause you in complete desolation.

A dull but prominent numbness spreads on the king’s heart as the air fills the suffocating silence, while seeing your welled-up eyes.

“Why the tears, little flower? You are making me feel like I’m a heartless brother.”

“Can you.. Can you stop him from leaving?” You falter, swallowing the lump forming in your throat.

“General Jeon already knew his fate, Princess. He will eventually leave the palace to be where he is— on the battlefield. Just like you are here in the palace. Why you have hoped in pursuit of his love, is beyond me.”

The tiny hope you carry before you have entered the courtroom vanishes along the feeble strength you gathered to control your emotions.

Even with your crumbling facade, he continues to speak, choosing to be a wise king rather than your caring brother. “Heed my advice when I tell you your connection with General Jeon will do more harm to him than to you. The inner court will always be merciful to you, but the state council will not be as forgiving to the young general.”

The truth struck you harshly more than ever, pain swallowing you whole as the impact of his words resonated within you. You waited until the king dismissed you.

It was wrong from the start, you have hoped for it.

Jungkook will never be yours.

In a rare circumstance, Jungkook has been staying in the Jeon household for three days straight. Because of his post at the north, the king was kind enough to give the soldiers some time off their duties, as if it is a farewell for their families. In Jungkook’s case, he doesn’t see it as his death. He sees it as his duty to protect the nation, and he’ll make sure to come back for his family, for you.

Jungkook is wiping his sword clean using a piece of rug cloth, killing some time off before coming to the palace to visit you in particular, a bunch of freshly picked peonies from his mother’s garden lying beside the stool where he was seated. He will give it to his princess when the sun sets under the guise of seeing his friend, Prince Taehyung.

His time off was duly spent through fulfilling heavy chores to help his mother. While she bought food supplies and new sets of threads and fabrics in the market for her weaving, he carried her purchases. After that, he did small repairs on the house to strengthen its foundation and trekked to the mountain to gather firewood, and luckily caught a few freshwater fish from the river along his way home.

He didn’t mind that his body is now covered with excessive perspiration or his grey faded clothes are stained with all kinds of grease and dirt there are. But when he caught sight of the familiar petite figure dressed in a simple, ivory colored hanbok in front of the household, he wished he had cleaned himself up when his mother prepared his warm bath earlier.

The thought, however, was briskly replaced with worry.

His wide doe-like eyes locking with yours. His long and glorious legs only took a couple steps to reach your hand and drag you inside before closing the wooden barrier from any possible prying eyes.

“Y/N, what are you doing here?” It was the first thing Jungkook has said to you since you arrived. You’ve been standing there awkwardly for a while, watching him as he was in a deep reverie, hesitant to come inside in case Jungkook has other guests inside his home.

Your lips jutting in an adorable pout, “You didn’t receive my letter?”

You had no intention to raise the matter to him, because you’d like for him to believe you’re clueless so you could make the most of your time with him filled with good memories.

His frown slowly turns into an endearing smile at the cute display in front of him. “I did, I was supposed to meet you there. You can’t be outside, especially…” He stops mid-sentence for a moment, “I mean, you should have told me prior if you wanted to go out of the palace.” He gently prompts as he keeps a good amount of space in between, much to your displeasure.

You try to reach out his grease covered large hands, only to look up at him when he quickly steps back, maintaining the distance.

“What is the matter?” You question out of confusion.

He turns his head to the side, avoiding your curious stare. “I have not taken a bath, yet, Jagi.” He mumbles under his breath.

A smile slowly spreads in the corners of your lips, as a bubbly giggle resonates on your throat, “It’s alright, you don’t smell that bad.” You taunted, covering your nose with your palm to tease him.

“Y/N,” He whines, raising his arms alternatively to smell himself. The act only made you laugh even more, to which earns a playful glare from him.

“I’m kidding,” you managed to say when you finally recovered from your laughter, plastering a sweet smile which he could never resist.

He sighs dramatically, “What am I going to do with you?”

“Can I stay here?” You suddenly ask.

He stops in his tracks, uncertain if he heard you right. “What?”

“You’re right, I want to go out of the palace for a while. Will you accommodate me as a guest?” You shyly continue.

Jungkook stares at you in wonder. “Y/N, you know I’d gladly have you here if I only can.”

Maidens are not supposed to stay with an unmarried man under a roof, especially a princess like you.

“No one will know.” You try to convince.

“Your brother?” He prods, referring to the younger prince, his friend.

You didn’t say anything, avoiding his gaze.

“Love, you’re going to put us both into trouble.” He sighs, but silently giving in to your request.

Catching a beautiful bunch of flowers in sight behind him, you quickly averted your attention into it to change the subject, realizing there’s no point of pushing it further if he would not allow you to. “A-Are those flowers? Can I have a look?”

His eyes follow you as you’re left mesmerized with the flowers, similarly like he is to you. “They’re yours, love.”

“They are?” You repeated, lost in daze at the beauty of the light colored pink petals of the peonies.

Jungkook didn’t attempt to raise your previous concern, silently admiring you from a short distance. However close his proximity to you, it does not change the fact that you’re a thousand miles within his reach.

He’d never thought in his lifetime you would spare a single look at him, one day when you accidentally saw your brother and him were practicing through a sword fight. And when he thought it was enough for him, aware that you knew he existed, you bravely confessed your admiration to him weeks after.

Of course, he knew it was just a simple crush. He couldn’t entertain the infatuation you had with him because you were still young and your feelings would soon waver when you’ve passed the adolescence period. You would realize he’s far from the prince charming that you ought to marry, someday.

Perhaps, the memory he bears of the day he came from his military training could forever be engraved in his mind.

A bunch of letters sat on the table in his small room, to which his mother must have kept them there the entirety of his absence. Each letter was intentionally left unaddressed from the sender.

He knew. Just by the neat penmanship that indicates the person being literate, and the letters sealed inside envelopes in lavish colors tell him that the letters were from someone in a noble family. But what easily brought him to the conclusion of you having been sending the letters to his household while he was away is an image of a little peony grazing each paper just below the written intricate texts. Only the royal family and the attentive servants in the palace knew you’re the king’s favorite child, the little flower he calls in the royal family.

He’s not as fond of reading literary works like yourself. Like Taehyung, he sees paintings and portraits as the closest thing he could comprehend of in terms of art.

It took him days reading every single one of the letters, and weeks before he had come to comprehend the underlying messages of the passages deliberately written in a figurative language enough to not only make his heart hurt but his head as well.

You longed for him.

The same fucking way he has been to you. There was not a single day that passed without the thought of you crossing his mind through the years. In this time of war, he should not entertain that side which could stir weakness from him. He should be a wise soldier, and for him to be one, he should forget you and anything that reminds him of you.

Through time, he had learned to admire you from afar while intentionally avoiding your longing stares to have you thinking that he doesn’t return your affection on him. He could not let you be aware of his personal struggles in order to keep a safe distance from you, he does not have the heart to make you suffer because of the hierarchical disparity between you.

Almost a year before the king died from an illness, you were abducted by foreign rebels who had had their way inside Joseon to gather and urge commoners from the inside to stir rebellion.

The danger you had come to witness yourself at a young blossoming age led him to reconsider his thought of allowing his feelings to be confessed to you. It would not last, he reassured himself. When your feelings for him have been exhausted, soon enough you would learn to forget him.

However, he only made the situation worse. Because for the past two years, nothing has changed, making it only harder for him to let you go. His dark, selfish thoughts buried deeply in him always manipulate him to persist, even if it means you will lose the life you have, your birthright.

After he had urged you inside a small room to rest while he cleaned himself up, he took you into the capital market. Sweet delicacies inside a folded linen clasp in his hand which he bought prior to arriving in front of a women’s shop.

The pure admiration visibly painted in your face over the numerous variety of hair accessories, and pieces of jewelry laid in front of you seemed to do the trick for you. He had not ever brought you here and he regretted not taking you here before.

Over the cumulative noises from the bustling crowd, you heard Jungkook chuckle. You took a peer from your side.

“You can buy anything you like.” Jungkook encourages, not knowing the internal war zone going on inside your mind as you survey the most beautiful things you have ever laid eyes on. These bargain accessories may not be as equally expensive as your own collections, but they are surprisingly immaculate and exceptional pieces.

You sadly smile, “I didn’t think of bringing any....”

“You have me.” He beams, showing several gold coins above the few notes inside his hand. Your face lights up.

By the time you were through, he barely had any currency left in his pocket. He could have felt remorse by how much all the accessories and jewelry you purchased had cost, but the satisfied smile painted on your face as the two of you walk hand in hand while eating the sweets is enough to make himself shrug away your lavish spending.

Jungkook recalls your request. The large and calloused pads of his fingers clutch your wrist, tugging your hand softly. “You’ll go back to the palace, right?”

Your lips only protruded, saying nothing to him as you kept going forward even when he already stopped walking.

“Y/N,” He tries to call but you only pretend not to hear anything. Three long strides were enough to catch up with you, taking one of your arms to turn you in front of him in a subtle manner.

Sighing, you choose to break your silence. “I’ll find somewhere to stay—“ Jungkook already knew what you were about to say, so he cut you off.

“There’s no way I will let you out of my sight. It’s dangerous here.” He stubbornly argues back.

You weakly smile, “It doesn’t mean it’s safe there, either.”

His forehead creases, eyebrows meeting in a form of line.

The palace is the most heavily guarded state in the nation, but danger does not only pertain to swords and the opposition. It could mean other things, particularly the harm that could be inflicted among the royal family.

“What do you mean?”

“You know what it is like inside,” you briefly asserted.

Jungkook pulled you into his embrace. He is aware of the extreme constraints inside the palace.

“I’m here, you can tell me what is bothering you.” He mumbles beside your ear, his hold tightening in your silence. If only he could change his fated obligation. Leaving you would be as painful as being physically inflicted with deep wounds, only that this feeling would not heal any time soon.

“I just feel lonely. It’s natural to feel that way when you’ve been isolated since the day you were born.” You expressed, meaningfully.

“The cruel world does not deserve a pure soul like you, my love.” He murmurs breathlessly.

You pulled back, stepping away to peer up from him. Jungkook caught the look on your face.

“Jungkook—“

“You’re not going to look for another place to stay. You’re out of your mind if you even think I’ll let you alone by yourself.” He says in a dismissive tone.

He’s right, after all. You would not want him to be punished if anything were to happen to you.

It was already dark while the two of you were still left along the way toward his household. The shining stars from your view give the moonless sky a breathtaking image of darkness and sparkles. You tug his hand, as you two reached the end of the woods, encouraging him into the nearby lake you recall seeing earlier.

The protective instinct of him surveyed the grass filled expanse before he succumbs to your offer. Through the peaceful atmosphere of the nature, a soft giggle naturally releases from you.

Jungkook didn’t speak for a moment, allowing you to enjoy the majestic beauty above. If it weren’t for him, the pitch black surrounding would somehow frighten you. The breezes swishing around and through your bodies get colder as the night progresses.

Through the darkness, Jungkook could barely make out the features of your face, but the subtle shivers coursing through your body didn’t go unnoticed to him. When he clasped his hands around yours, he felt the freezing contact of your skin through his palm. This led him to shift on his seat, pulling you on his lap.

“Jungkook…”

He only hums in response, rubbing your hands together through his palms.

“Can we stay here forever?”

Jungkook‘s chuckle resonates against your back, “If you want to, we can. I’ll even give you the stars from up there.” He jests.

Entwining your fingers with his, you leaned back in his embrace. “What if…”

��Hmm?” He encourages you, attentively waiting for what you will say next.

In a subtle, almost, innocent tone, you asked. “What if I want to be your wife?”

The answer is already there, dictated by your birthright and his duty. Truly a hopeless case. But it wasn’t patience that made you wait for him for years. It is hope, an endless amount of hope that led you where you are now. Him, your soulmate in this lifetime, and the truth as the main conflict of your life.

“You may lose everything because of me. You will hate me for taking you away from your life, jagiya.”

“I wouldn’t waste my time waiting for so long if I only care about the life I have. I’m ready... I’m willing to change if you will… h-have me.” You mumble in grief.

He didn’t answer for a while, letting his tightening hold around your body to speak for itself. It took all of him not to beg for your hand, and locked you in a secret engagement because it’s the only way he can make you exclusively his.

He doesn’t want to let you go.

Jungkook never uttered a word about his departure and you silently wonder if he will ever. Perhaps, that’s how it should end for the two of you. This may be the last time you’ll see him.

You really wanted to stay longer, here, even with the darkness sucking tiny hints of light as the night progresses. However, your stubbornness failed to match his persistence to get you home, in his own home.

Once you two have gone inside his home, the thought of his mother and why she’s not around crossed your mind, though you chose not to speak of it while he prepares the dinner for the two of you. It was not long after you two had eaten and finished the stew and rice he cooked.

Your cheeks heated at the sight of him preparing your bath, embarrassed by the fact that you barely know a single chore other than preparing refreshment and herbal teas. Inside the vicinity of his home, Jungkook continues to disappear and reappear from here and there in long, rapid strides. You didn’t know what it was all about, confused at his sudden engagement to the chores. Until he laid the folded linen in your lap, that you silently realized it was for a fresh set of clothes.

He was attentive and patient as he made himself occupied while he waited for you to finish cleaning up. You’re not used to doing this in a different setting and you were relieved enough that you had dressed up alone without making a fool out of yourself.

When you opened the miniature door in the small quarter he showed you earlier, you found him on the floor crouching, preparing for your sleeping cot.

“Is this to your liking? It is not as comfortable as the beddings in your chamber and it’s—“

“Jungkook, it’s perfectly fine. Stop worrying,” You reassure, a smile slowly creeping into your face.

“It’s your first time to sleep outside—“

“It’s definitely not my first time.”

He stops dead in his tracks, blinking. “What?”

Amused by the growing confusion on his face, you prompt. “Will you stay longer?”

Jungkoo’s eyes widened a little, rubbing the back of his neck, nervously. Stuttering, “I-I… Y/N, you’re putting me in an awkward situation.”

You look at him incredulously. “We’ll only talk, you pervert.”

He tilts his head to the side, “Did you just call me…” He trails but you quickly cut him off.

“No, I meant handsome. General Jeon “Handsome” Jungkook.” A sweet smile stretches on your face.

His face slowly twists into a wide smile, shaking his head at your sweet but teasing answer. “You’re such a naughty princess.”

Two days later, the queen was bewildered to find the princess’ chamber empty. Every single servant under your care was interrogated. No one can tell where you were.

You were abducted, again. That was the only conclusion they could come up with in your unnoticed disappearance.

Except for Prince Taehyung. It would not take your servants two days to realize you’re missing. Unless, you have given them a specific order to hide your whereabouts from your family.

He immediately mounted his horse to rush to the Jeon household, to inform his best friend about the disappearance of the princess.

Somehow, along his way, there was a tiny feeling there that tells him Jungkook knew where his sister is. But seeing it himself, with his own pair of eyes, as the two of you were dazed with your own worlds, he was betrayed by his friend. He rushed towards their direction and swung his fist into Jungkook’s face.

A shriek broke out from you in utter surprise. With your trembling body, you struggle to get in between the strong, towering bodies.

“Orabeoni!”

“Fuck you, Jungkook! I trusted you!” Seethed Prince Taehyung, his hands fisting Jungkook’s collar.

“Orabeoni, please, stop it! It’s my fault,” you gasp, weeping helplessly. Taehyung was panting from anger.

“It’s all on me! It’s me who should be spanked!”

You exhale harshly, shuddering at the thought of receiving punishment from the Queen Dowager, but it’s what you deserve after putting Jungkook into this situation. And as if a magic wand was tipped in his direction, Prince Taehyung instantly stopped in his tracks, tilting his head to the side.

He releases Jungkook with a hard push, enough to make Jungkook almost lose his balance. Jungkook’s strength is incomparable. Compared to the prince in front of him, he was physically more built brought by his experience in the military. But the words that he just heard suddenly made his legs jerked, and as he regained his balance he caught a glimpse of fear in your eyes.

He couldn’t take it.

The prince stared at you. “You came to him?”

Jungkook steps in, “I took her in.” He attempts to shift the attention away from you.

Prince Taehyung darted his eyes back at him. “Shut the fuck up.” He sneers at the young general. Jungkook, however, does not seem fazed by his anger. He had seen a worse case than the wrath of a warm-hearted prince.

Jungkook’s composed disposition didn’t sit well with the prince, to which is a stark comparison to the expression you transparently give away.

Clouded with anger toward the friend he has trusted all his life, Prince Taehyung dragged you out of the state.

“Let’s go,” he utters in a harsh tone.

Jungkook watched you helplessly as you’re being taken away from his reach. He could easily fight the prince to keep you safe in his home, but it would only worsen the situation. He had already anticipated the mess he had coaxed you to partake in, but not the ire of the prince.

“Orabeoni, it’s not his fault. Please, don’t direct your anger at him. I wanted to see him before he leaves.” You attempted to explain while he continued to drag you away, far away from Jungkook’s manor.

He frowns, clearly dismayed by your escape, “You should have told me, I could have done something to cover you up.”

“I didn’t want to drag you into this mess.” You say with guilt seeping through your tone. His large strides gradually halted, turning sharply o face you.

“He took advantage of your weakness, Y/N! How do you think I’d react to see you with him all this time? In his home? Gods, were you not thinking? Do you know how your stupid actions would turn back on you?” He gritted, unable to control the emotions manipulating his mind.

He would later regret losing his control but he needed to say something, after what he had done for the two of you. He did his best to protect you and this affair. You just wasted all of your chances. It’s nearly over now.

“Im sorry. He didn’t. I-I... we didn’t do anything.” You blinked, finally realizing the mayhem you had caused.

“You should be, everyone will assume otherwise.” The prince only whispers through the air before bringing you home to the grieving queen.

When the royal prince and princess entered the palace, the queen’s eunuch who was awaiting for their arrival, immediately relayed the queen’s order to the prince. You didn’t know what it was about, until he led the way into the queen’s quarters.

In your admittance to her chamber, you were met with her anguished state, the servants immediately leaving the three of you inside to give you privacy.

Guilt courses through you, painfully listening to her worries. Her soft cries welled up your own . And you’re thankful that your brother was with you the whole time. Amidst his fury, he’s the one between you two who is in the right state of mind to console the queen while you were mentally breaking down.

Despite the queen’s effort to keep your escape a secret from the palace, the king had immediately learned of your return. Soon after, Officer Han came to her quarters carrying the king’s message.

You may have anticipated the king’s disappointment over your reckless action prior to entering his chamber. But nothing could have prepared you of what you would have your eyes to endure as the doors reveal the vicinity of the chamber.

Color immediately drains out of your face, your shrinking strength stutters your steps on your entry. Jungkook remained unmoving on his knees under the mercy of the king’s death glare.

The deafening silence becomes too much to bear, agonizingly waiting for the king to tell his piece of predictive condemning of your recklessness.

King Namjoon’s immeasurable dismay over learning the rumors has affected his rational capability to keep his focus on the more disturbing issues in the nation, particularly the rising tension in the borders. This matter should be the least of his concern, but his brotherly instincts ruled out the wise king in him. He deeply cares for his family, that includes his sister.

Your eternal faith over the young general’s affection may only validate his reasoning of refusing betrothal in a similar situation from his parents. The late king dearly loved the queen all his life, and until his last breath, his mother’s welfare was his dying wish, but to his surprise, it also included the princess’ happiness.

Seeing you in the trouble you have willingly created, he wondered what his father would do if he were alive. But he needed not to think further, because it is without a doubt that his father would be merciful to his favorite child. Perhaps, he should set his father’s wish aside for now and allow the princess to reflect on her lack of regard to her royal duty.

After a moment of deafening silence, King Namjoon’s painfully calm voice fills the frightening atmosphere.

“I warned you about this, princess.” He begins, the grief in his eyes flashes in a second before it vanishes with the coldness of his stare.

“Do you understand the gravity of your actions, Y/N?” He prods further, and somehow, his tone strangely sounds like the younger prince bearing the same amount of agony and frustration.

Your eyes only remained glued on the flooring, frightened to even dare speak or meet his eyes. You are already aware that what you did has stirred rumors inside the palace. And being here only meant you and Jungkook will face the inevitable consequences.

“General Jeon, I hope you understand my disapproval of you is nothing personal. I will make this easy for you as a relevant official in the military. I will let this thing go if you deny the rumors that you took advantage of the princess’ vulnerability.”

Your breath shortens, eyes squeezing shut, mortified by the severity of the situation. A weird feeling sits there in the corner of your heart, disturbing your thought process.

Despite the predictable outcome, Jungkook did not regret it ever happening, or allowing it to happen. However, your well-being matters to him other than his selfish reasons. To preserve the purity of reputation from the scrutinizing eyes of the palace women is all he cares of, as these predators could challenge your title for their personal interests.

Barely affected by the king’s wrath, he embraced his fate in the hands of his nation’s ruler. And as he finally spoke, he only proved your instinct right.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. I will gladly accept any punishment you may order, but I cannot deny that I took the Princess in my household.” Jungkook answered with a controlled tone.

Your eyes darted back at him, appalled by the manner of his admission as if it were his pure intent, “Jungkook! That’s a lie, I came to you!” You quickly interfered, convincing him otherwise. Panic audibly hinted in your voice, and even with your silent plea for him to take back his words, he dares not spare a single glance back to you.

With trembling hands, you turn to face the merciless king. You wish you could see the brotherly side of him, the one that cares for you. The one in front of you is nothing like your brother, but a king you wish he wasn’t.

Your lips quivering as you protest, “I chose to flee on my own accord, Your Majesty. He didn’t force me.”

But even with your words, his dark scrutiny was already fixated at the young general.

“Very well, then. Your betrayal to your king would only conclude your willful commitment to treason. Am I right General Jeon?”

Despite tracing no single emotion in his expression, his chilling voice manifests his anger.

Your frightened eyes went round. “Jeonha!”

Without hesitation, Jungkook willingly succumbs. “If it is your will, Your Majesty.” He expresses, refusing to see the horror in your eyes. If it means you will be pardoned from this mess, he will accept anything on your behalf.

A sharp gasp left your mouth, “J-Jungkook, w-what are you saying? You had nothing to do with this, it’s my fault—“

“Han!” You hear the king’s booming voice that made you stop.

Upon the eunuch’s entry, the king concluded your fate. “Escort the princess in her chamber. You are to make sure she doesn’t leave her chamber until I tell you. No one is allowed to see her but me, do you understand? I will deal with the queen dowager, myself.”

The shimmering tears in your eyes trickle down through your cheeks, “Orabeoni,” you helplessly plead, meeting his sharp glare, abhorring his callousness.

You could care less if you would be given a heavy spanking from the queen dowager, but Jungkook certainly didn’t commit treason. The king is not a fool to not understand that the scandal was caused by your selfishness but he chose to dismiss the truth.

Your eyes eagerly sought for Jungkook’s as you were being taken away. You need to see him, at least, for the last time. Jungkook didn’t turn on your way, not even when you disappeared from their sight.

After you were escorted out in the courtroom, the king simply ordered General Jeon to go back to his household and prepare for the military’s forthcoming departure. Even with utter confusion, Jungkook left the palace bearing the last image he had caught glimpse of you— he only hoped his last memory of you wouldn’t be replaced by your beautiful, bright smiles. He would have his way to see you, again.

The catastrophe has shattered you into pieces, and as painful as it deeply wounded you, you didn’t know it was all part of the king’s act to teach you a lesson.

The palace became tense for the past few days. True to the orders of the king, no other members of the royal family were able to reach out to the princess. Not until the worry of the queen became too much for her to bear. Realizing that the king does not have an intention to lift the punishment just yet, the queen begged the king, his son, to allow you to serve the extent of your punishment in her state in the east where your maternal grandparents live.

Whether or not the king has approved of it, you have no power to defy his order, regardless.

Few hours had passed since you had departed from the palace, the moving palanquin seemed to have stopped, until it flew open, revealing your personal servant and from behind— Jungkook!

Your servant stepped back, giving Jungkook a room to see you closer. What is he doing here?

“Jungkook, w-what are—“

“Hush, my love. I’m alright.” He reassures in between rapid intakes of breaths.

“You’re leaving…”

He surveys your face, brushing your stubborn tears away with his fingers, frowning. “I am, but your tears are piercing my heart, jagiya. You’re crying as if I won’t come back.”

You have high hopes he’ll survive the battle, but there’s clearly no hope for the two of you. You could sacrifice your title for him, but you can’t afford any adversity coming back at his tail for your selfishness.

“You’ll wait for me, Y/N?”

I will only give you misfortune, you silently thought further.

His forehead rests against yours, his eyes clenching shut as a painful smile stretches on his face. “I know… I understand you can’t. But I’d like to think you’ll be waiting for me when I return.”

With your harsh multiple nods, a sob uncontrollably releases from your throat, and another, and another, until the pain in your chest trickles up through your throat that your cries couldn’t be stopped any longer.

“Please, come back to me, Jungkook. I-I… I’ll be a good princess. I will go to the temple everyday to pray for you. And… If you… If you realize you don’t want me anymore— it’s fine,” you weakly smile, “I just need you to come back alive... for your mother, for Taehyung—“

“Marry me.”

Your heart suddenly stops, “W-What?”

“Be my wife.” Jungkook repeats with firm persistence.

“Jungkook, h-how— you’re leaving…” You stammer with the right words. He can’t, no serving military soldier in Joseon can marry the princess. Your brother made it clear to you.

But for the first time, Jungkook lied and promised you his world, the only thing you will never have in this lifetime. “When I return, I’ll marry you, if you’ll have me.”

With all the strength left in you, you nodded. “I’m yours, Jungkook.” You promised back, failing to recognize the obligation it weighs in your future.

Jungkook plants a longing, bittersweet kiss in your lips before he parts from you. Your eyes attentively watch his figure skillfully vanish from your sight.

I’ll wait for you.

terms

orabeoni - endearment used for older brother/sister jeonha - your majesty inner/internal court - a separate body in the palace governed by the female members of the royal family responsible to control the palace women’s affairs to which the king cannot intervene about queen mother - endearment used for the king’s mother/queen dowager great queen dowager - mother of the deceased king palanquin - a covered litter/large box with two horizontal poles carried by humans as a means of transportation

credits to the rightful owner (Jeesung Kim) of the image used

#jungkook x reader #jungkook angst #jungkook fluff #jungkook fanfic #jungkook x you #bts fanfic #bts angst #bts fluff #jk x reader #jungkook scenarios #jungkook imagines #jungkook au #bts historical au #bts imagines #bts scenarios #bts joseon dynasty au

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faroreswinds · 4 years ago

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覇道 vs 王道 - By Someone With Limited Knowledge and a Short Attention Span

In light of the resurgence of the terminology used in the Nintendo Dream interview regarding 3 Houses, I wanted to take a little bit of a deeper look into "Hadou" (覇道) and "Oudou" (王道).

Again.

The Kanji Breakdown

Before we get into the actual words themselves, I wanted to break out the kanji that form them. Let's start with oudou. Oudou consists of two kanji, "ou" (王) and "dou" (道). This are very basic kanji. "Ou" means "king" and "dou" means path or road. With kanji, the makeup of the kanji can often (but not always) allude to the meaning of the word it represents, in this case something akin to "King's Path".

Similarly, we have 覇道 (Hadou). We have already discussed "dou" but "ha" (覇) means supremacy (over a nation), hegemony, domination, leadership. The combination of these two kanji alludes to a meaning of "domination road" or "hegemony path".

Great, but what do the words actually mean?

That's a bit tricky, because there is a lot of history, philosophy, and cultural subtleties to understand.

At their core, "Oudou" means righteous path, righteous government, just path, kingship, rule of right; "Hadou" means military rule.

Interestingly, oudou can also refer to "classic" in regards to games like rpgs, where the prince saves the princess, that sort of thing. It can also mean "short cut" or the "easy way" but we aren't really here for those particular definitions today.

Origin of Oudou and Hadou

Finding anything in English regarding these terms has proved to be a... difficult task. From what I can understand, though, is that these words find their origin from Confucius and his philosophy.

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher born in 551 BCE, and by all accounts seems to have been an ambitious man. Ambitious to correct the world. It would take a lot to dissect Confucius’ life story, so I only want to focus on the important parts that are related to the origins of Hadou and Oudou.

Simply put, Confucius is considered the founder of Confucianism, a philosophical relating to a system of thought and behavior. It is meant to dictate a way of life, a way of governing, tradition, etc. It rests on the fundamental belief that human beings are good and teachable, and focuses on the cultivation of virtue in a morally organized world.

Confucius had been a poor man and wished to find a way to restore a kind of socio-political order that had prevailed sometime in the beginning of the Zhou dynasty. His work over his lifetime would set in motion the teaching of Confucianism.

There is a very strong focus on humanness and morality in this school of thought. Rulers must cultivate themselves in this morality, lead by moral example rather than rule of law and threat of punishment. One who cultivates themselves to a virtue that is worthy of a prince is indeed a prince, but a prince who does not cultivate himself is not worthy of being a prince. This morality include the famous “golden rule” - do not treat others as you would not want to be treated yourself.

Confucius was very focused on “virtue” in leaders and people, but the evolution of Confucianism did not end with his death. Mencius, a Confucian philosopher born in 372 BCE, often described as the ‘second sage’ (second to Confucius himself), would expand on many of these ideologies Confucius had developed.

Mencius was more aggressive in his beliefs. He believed that a ruler who forsakes ethical behavior and engages in extreme misrule can and should be removed, even executed. Mencius believed that a ruler’s success was directly tied to the leader’s ability to win the hearts and minds of the people. The ruler needed the people, and the people were the heart of the power that the ruler had. The people gave legitimacy to the ruler. AKA, the common people were the focus.

Mencius would go on to disguise the difference between 徳化, inspired by virtue, and 武力, armed force, and made a distinction between the ‘royal road’ and ‘supremacy’.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much I can find in English that really goes into depth with Hadou and Oudou from here.

Confucianism in Japan

As with many things from ancient China, Confucianism found its way into Japan and was incorporated into the culture and history of the country, and this includes the mentality surrounding the political climate.

With the very conditional perspective that Confucianism affirmed in relation to governing, it would be no surprise to anyone that the teachings circulated the ruling elite first and foremost. A wider teaching would have posed more challenges to the ones in power, after all.

There was also the famous “Mandate of Heaven”, which I won’t go into too much depth here. But, I will put the relate bit here, source linked here:

According to numerous passages in the History, if a ruler repeatedly abandoned his concern for the people, heaven would eventually give the mandate to rule to a new line, one that distinguished itself on the basis of concern for the people. In this process, the role of the people was instrumental. One passage in the History even states that heaven and the people are nearly the same: “heaven sees with the eyes of the people, and hears with the ears of the people.”

Ultimately, as with many philosophies, the ways of governing did not fully embrace these teachings, as in so much as they were adapted. If you are interested in more, go ahead and read the link, but it’s really not too important for this post. However, what is important is that eventually, the teaching did make it to Japan, and were adapted to some degree.

Modern Use in Japan

As language does, words change and adapt.

Oudou and Hadou retain a lot of of their original meanings, but they do have modern uses that go beyond their meanings of forms of ruling.

Here is the link I originally had posted long ago regarding these usages. WARNING: Japanese only.

We have already discussed some meanings of Oudou beyond the ‘right way to rule’, including ‘classic’ or ‘short cut’ or ‘the right way to do something’, and of the two has required the most new usages; however, the connotations of these words have not changed.

Hadou and Outou are antonyms of each other. Hadou is very much a negatively connotated word, used most frequently to express someone’s abuse of power.

According to this article, politics really possess both Outou and Hadou. To quote the article with a bit of translation:

Both politics have a royal side and a supremacy side. Especially in diplomacy called power games, there is a reality that we have to rely on supremacy. However, if all politics becomes a "dominance", it will become a society of weak meat and strong food, devouring this finite earth, destroying the environment and driving it to the brink of destruction.

In other words, Outou is an idealist view of how governing should work. However, realistically you need both Outou and Hadou, but too much Hadou will lead to destruction. A balance is needed.

In Relation to Three Houses

When talking about this interview, we mean this one here. Unfortunately, I’m having a hard time finding the actual Japanese version, but according to the translated version, this is said:

Kusakihara: Edelgard’s route’s theme is literally “military rule.” It’s the route where you have your own cause and convictions, and even if people you know stand in your way, you mow ‘em down. In contrast, Dimitri’s route began with the idea to make it “righteous,” the easy approach. It’s just, at the beginning, poor sensitive Dimitri ends up like that because of the circumstances… We sprinkled in juxtapositions like that.

Everyone: (laughs)

Kusakihara: Once he’s fallen, he goes through some twists and turns and awakens to the true king’s path. I wanted to write the righteous route as the conquest route’s opposite [TN: lit. “paradox”].

This is pretty self explanatory. Hadou and Outou are two different ways to rule. In according to Mencius, Outou is the virtuous, right way; Hadou is the forceful, wrong way. They are opposites, and that is exactly what Kusakihara used them for. The routes are opposites of each other. Dimitri is the ‘right way’, the way of the people, for the people, the vitreous way. Edelgard is the destructive way, the forceful way, not the way of the people.

Actually, this does really line up even with their own beliefs. Edelgard believes in a strong leadership, that everyone should pull themselves up by their bootstraps, and only those who can keep up will find themselves in power. Dimitri, however, believes rulers serve the people, are only as strong as the people, and needs the people.

Kusakihara really did put thought into it... even if the story didn’t fully deliver. But the intent was there.

ANYWAYS

Thanks for coming to my ted talk about Hadou and Oudou. I could have gone into deeper depth but... Well, I don’t want to make a super big essay.

Thanks for reading.

Yes, I took writing shortcuts.

EDIT:

YOOOOOO, thanks to @nilsh13 for linking me to the original Japanese interview!

And yeah, they use 覇道 and 王道! Excellent!

Thank you so much!

#my thoughts #translation #3h discourse #hadou #oudou

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necromancy-enthusiast · 3 years ago

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Oh hello my fellow Fire Emblen fans, I see you guys are interested in the latest Fire Emblem Warriors game. May I perchance interest you in the core series that inspired the gameplay called Dynasty Warriors?-Wait wait wait, before you collectively drop kick me into oblivion, hear me out.

So yeah the latest installment, dw9 is universally reviled. Everyone hates it. I've yet to find a single person that actually likes it or even feels anything but neutral bordering on negative about it. The only thing its good for, in my opinion, is practicing your Mandarin Chinese, because it took them NINE main series installments to add official Chinese dubs and a translation that's easily accessible in the West. Trust me, if I could easily find Chinese translations of the earlier games and the core game hadn't gone free to play on Steam, I wouldn't even bother with it. Ever.

But! Most of the other games are good!... But not dw6. Dw6 is also awful, and it ruined my favorite character because she used to be super cool but now she's uh... Anyway before I delve too far into the 13 year long grudge I've been harboring over that, dw1 is fine but really it's just a generic Street Fighter-esque fighting game. But other than those three, it's a good series.

Also! The newest fe warriors is based off of Fire Emblem Three Houses! Fire Emblem Three Houses was heavily inspired by the historic novel that Dynasty Warriors is based off of called Romance of the Three Kingdoms. So you know, if you want to learn more about the cultural and historical background that inspired Three Houses, Dynasty Warriors is a good way to start, because I do like the novel but it is... Very dense, and the author is not at all shy about inserting historical revisionism or political propaganda that may be hard to pick out if you're not already familiar with the actual history, and he's also not shy about playing favorites (holy shit does he play favorites) whereas Dynasty Warriors tends to be fairer. In fact he's the probably worst case I've ever encountered. So you know. *Cough*

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cheri-translates · 5 years ago

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[CN] Shaw’s 2020 Birthday R&S

🍒Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for an R&S which has not been released in EN!🍒

[Prologue]

The birthday event begins with MC in an antique store, in search of a moderately priced antique. She had asked Shaw for help since she’s been having difficulties finding one

Unexpectedly, Shaw gives her the keys to an antique store the next day, telling her to take whatever she wants

Even though MC knew early on that Shaw used to have a mentor who owned an antique store, she still feels strange about it - she’s unable to associate antiques, which are filled with rich history and culture, with Shaw

She wonders if Shaw visited this antique store regularly in his childhood

She notices that a drawer is open:

There are several yellowed exercise books lying inside, and “Shaw” is written on the bottom right corner of the covers in pencil.

MC: Could these be Shaw’s exercise books when he was young?

Curious, I take out these “major discoveries” from the drawer, my mind whirring with countless questions.

At the back of my mind, I have a feeling that this place has a special meaning to Shaw.

MC: Maybe, for Shaw’s birthday…

While I’m thinking, something else in the drawer attracts my attention.

There are three copper coins, the colours antique, under sheets of writing paper. Covered in dust, they seem to be calling out to me voicelessly.

[Chapter 1: Exam Results]

At 4pm on a Friday afternoon, the math teacher wraps up her final point and closes the lesson plan.

The black board is decorated with the homework for the weekend. The teacher pushes up her spectacles. There is a big stack of exam papers on the table. “Last week’s exam scripts have been marked. Come and take them when I call your name.”

“This time round, most of you have improved. Only one student did not pass.” She takes up the exam script at the very top, flips it open, her eyes sweeping across the last row of the classroom, stopping at the seat at the very corner.

“Shaw.”

Hearing his own name being read, Shaw unwillingly stuffs the interesting comics underneath the table, taking his time to stand up. At the same time, the whole class cannot help but turn around and look at him evenly.

Sensing the surprised and teasing looks in their eyes, Shaw instead raises his head high and walks forward, stuffing a hand into his pocket with a devil-may-care attitude.

Taking the exam script from the teacher, Shaw stands in place, flipping through the script to look at the questions he got wrong.

Well, he did get more questions wrong than expected…

But math itself as a subject is annoying. It’s fine if he doesn’t do well.

He folds the exam script, folds it again, and again, before stuffing it into his pocket, turning around to return to his seat.

The teacher’s eyes unhappily trail behind Shaw, before she once again talks in a serious tone. “This time, everyone has to have their parents sign the exam script. I’ll check them on Monday afternoon.”

Shaw raises his eyebrows in mild disdain. It’s just a signature after all.

The old man copies the calligraphy of the Tang and Song dynasties so perfectly that even experts cannot tell. A mere signature wouldn’t be difficult.

He retrieves the stack of comics from underneath the table and puts them into his bag. With sufficient preparation for the end of school, he waits for the end-of-class bell to sound.

[Chapter 2: After School]

Entering June, the cicadas grow increasingly chirpier.

Over 60 years old, the antique shop shopkeeper sits on a rocking chair, fanning himself while checking Shaw’s homework. The prescription of his reading glasses is too shallow, and he has to squint. “The way you write this… Why does it look like a dog crawling. It’s so crooked.”

Shaw takes an eraser to erase a sentence he has copied wrongly. He cleans it till there is not a trace of it left. In an elevated volume, he answers, “It doesn’t matter if the words look ugly as long as I didn’t write it wrongly.”

While saying this, he feels through his pockets and takes out two exam scripts. “My teacher says this one needs a signature.”

Taking the script from him, the shopkeeper laughs until he rocks back and forth. “Kid, it’s fine if you don’t score well, but your luck couldn’t be any worse. Even if you take wild guesses, you couldn’t have gotten such low marks.”

He sits upright, sighing a few times. He folds up his fan and takes out a ball-point pen from his front pocket. With a practiced motion, he signs them.

He sighs deeply. “Shaw, since I’m not your parent, I shouldn’t be teaching you anything.”

Shaw had just closed his pencil box with a “pa”. Hearing his mentor sigh, he takes out his exercise books from his bag again, before returning to a state of studying. “All right, all right, I know what you’re going to say…”

“I won’t talk about big life lessons. Your school teacher would have talked about it more than I have. From today onwards, apart from the homework your teacher has given you, you are to write two pages worth of math questions, and copy a short essay every day. Only after you’re done will I teach you my craft.” He stands up, holding a tea cup and walking towards Shaw. “Whether you agree or not, give me an exact answer.”

Shaw doesn’t make a sound but merely furrows his eyebrows.

The shopkeeper laughs. “Just look at your capabilities - even a math question can stump you. If you can’t handle this small difficulty, how can you think of yielding something big?”

“I’ve never found math difficult. I simply don’t like math.” Shaw sets aside his exercise paper and takes out a brand new sheet. “Next time, I’ll let you sign an exam script that has 100 marks.”

“Wow, look who’s ambitious.”

“Hmph, this is nothing.”

[Chapter 3: After School]

There is only one class on Wednesday afternoon. After school, Shaw carries his bag and runs towards the shop.

Once he enters, he sees his mentor eating some kind of medicine – small white and yellow pills in his palm.

“Why are you here at this time? Oh it’s… I forgot, it’s Wednesday today.” The shopkeeper talks while he turns around to walk into the kitchen. “Put down your bag and wash your hands. I bought a big watermelon!”

Shaw knows the old man has high blood pressure, some heart issues… He doesn’t have a concept of these things, but knows that it isn’t something good.

Without a sound, he puts his bag down and takes out his exercise books and practice questions.

“Don’t rush to do your homework, come eat some watermelon first.” The shopkeeper puts half a watermelon into Shaw’s arms and guides him to the outside of the store, bringing two small stools over for them to sit.

The watermelon, which was just taken out of the fridge, glistens with water droplets. The red flesh has a spoon stuck in it. Shaw scoops a big chunk from the middle. It’s very sweet.

The shopkeeper is also holding half a watermelon, but eats very slowly. Noticing Shaw staring at him, he sighs and shakes his head. “I’m old, so I can’t just eat these cold things…”

While saying this, he looks towards the drawer inside the store. “Your mentor is 62 this year.”

“When people become old, they love to talk about reason. They don’t want you to walk the crooked path they have because it’s a waste of time. You’re still young, so you think you have a lot of time to spare, so you don’t notice. I want to teach you that this is wrong. You need to spend the time of walking down a crooked path to do other things.”

After saying this, he points towards the whole street lined with antique shops. “You can’t just look at these. Learning calligraphy and painting today, and tomorrow jade, and thinking you’re living a serious life. Spending months and years to take care of this palm-sized shop – You can’t live like this. You are my disciple, and I will teach you all my skills. But apart from this, you still have to learn other things. Whatever you can learn, learn it all, and learn it well.

“You have to look at the big world, craft a career, aim higher, be more forward looking…”

He looks at Shaw affectionately. “Put in more effort, learn all my skills, and then get out of here!”

Shaw turns towards the watermelon and lets out a glum “humph”. “You’re old, but I’m still young. I still can’t differentiate plus minus multiply and divide. You’re old so you should be the one putting in more effort to live for a long time, so I can take my time to learn all these things.”

It’s summer, so the night comes late. The clock already signals the time as 6pm, but the light has not yet dispersed.

Shaw puts a brush back into the drawer, takes off his gloves and wipes the sweat off his forehead. “Old man, I’m hungry. Why not let me join you for dinner?”

In the kitchen, the shopkeeper is washing vegetables. He takes out a small box from the fridge, pulls back the curtains and returns to the shop.

“I didn’t cook your portion, but you can eat this if you’re hungry.” He removes the cover of the small paper box, and Shaw’s eyes widen.

“What, you think I wouldn’t remember your birthday?” The shopkeeper retrieves a cake from the paper box, and removes the plastic surrounding it. “Once you’re done eating, go home quickly!”

Shaw takes a spoon, muttering in a small voice, “It doesn’t matter if I go home late anyway.”

“Today is different. A child’s birthday is the same day as a mother’s suffering… But you’re too young and still can’t understand this. On other days it’s fine, but today is different…” The shopkeeper holds up his tea cup and goes to the counter.

[Note: The actual phrase is: “儿子生日母亲的苦日”, which doesn’t have a direct English translation. The meaning is that the day a child is born is also the day the mother suffers in childbirth to bring him into the world]

“I don’t know why adults don’t have an issue with you hanging out here all the time. But I can tell that you wear clean clothes every day, and that your shoes are polished. These are because of your parents. Let this old man add one line of reason – if you’re angry with your parents, you’ll regret it eventually.”

Shaw lowers his head, biting the spoon and says evasively, “No one’s angry with them.”

“You don’t call this being angry? It’s not that I’m picking on you, but boys should manage their tempers better. If you’re unhappy, you have to say it straight out, don’t just keep it boiling in your heart without a sound and then wait for someone to come coddle you. With your personality, in future, you’ll become a person who never speaks from the heart. Even when you’re with someone you like, you’d put on a front – That wouldn’t be good.”

“Old man, what are you thinking all day long?” Shaw retorts, not bothering to clean his mouth which has been dirtied with cream. “I will never have someone I like. I play soccer with a few guys in class, and they spend the entire day talking about who they like. It’s so annoying.”

The shopkeeper laughs at how Shaw says this with an air of righteousness. “Which is why I say you’re still young.”

Shaw digs into his cake and lets out a “hmph”. “I’m not young. I just haven’t grown taller.”

The shopkeeper sips his tea. “Guys do take longer to grow. Maybe you’ll be taller than me in two years.”

“Two years is way too long,” the plastic spoon dangles from Shaw’s mouth. “The best thing would be to wake up one day and suddenly be taller. Mm… I want to grow to this height. No.”

He stands on a chair, using his hands to gesture until he is satisfied. “At least here.”

The shopkeeper responds with a sweeping gaze, “That’s 180cm though.”

“180cm is very good.” Shaw sits back on the chair contentedly. “I’ll make a wish to grow to 180cm.”

[Chapter 5: Fate]

The shopkeeper looks at the clock on the wall, and slowly puts down his teacup.

“Since it’s your birthday, I’ll read your fortune.” He pulls open the drawer and takes out three old copper coins.

Shaw finishes up the last bite of cake and throws the packaging into a bin. “You’ve already read my fortune many times and the results are always the same. Yet you’re doing it again?”

The shopkeeper looks slightly down, but his voice remains calm. “I have nothing else to do anyway.”

The first throw, one heads and two tails.

The second throw, one heads and two tails.

The third throw, two heads and one tails.

…It’s really not much different from the last reading.

The shopkeeper shakes his head, his hand ready for the fourth throw. The copper coins fall on the table with a jingle, and a combination which has never been seen before appears – all three are negative.

“Wow, there’s a change!” The shopkeeper says in a higher pitch than usual.

In the middle of downing his drink, Shaw almost falls off his chair at the shopkeeper’s sudden outburst.

The jingles from the copper coins continue. The final two throws are no longer the same ones as before.

Shaw looks at the coins. “What does this mean?”

“It means that in the future, you will definitely not always be alone.” The shopkeeper rubs Shaw’s head with a bright smile on his face. “I was always worried about what would happen to you, with such a stubborn personality, if I weren’t around anymore…”

“Of course I wouldn’t always be alone. I’m not alone now.”

Shaw puts the three copper coins in his hands, looking like he doesn’t take the reading to heart – He has his family, pretty good friends, a few friends from the neighbouring class who buy tidbits with him. His life will continue this way.

Even though it’s a little boring, but he wouldn’t be alone.

“Also, old man, you won’t have any problems, and will definitely live for a very long time.”

Shaw speaks, and softly repeats the sentence, “You will definitely live for a very long time.”

The dusk has begun to settle outside. The shopkeeper holds the copper coins between his fingers, and gently sighs. “That’s why I say you’re still young.”

[Chapter 6: Birthday Present]

After packing his bag, Shaw looks at the clock on the wall – he should reach home by 7pm, just in time for dinner.

“You’re leaving already? You don’t want your birthday gift?”

The shopkeeper appears from behind the counter, tossing his gaze to the cupboard. “It’s been there for a whole day and you still haven’t found it yet.”

Usually displaying antiques, the drawer now has within it a box wrapped in colourful paper. Shaw curiously walks over and rips off the packaging, revealing a small wooden box.

A dark brown Rosewood bracelet rests in his hand.

In his eyes, this is something only an adult can have.

At his age, he would have received books, stationery, toys or models – none of which he likes.

He is always treated like a child, but he has grown up since a long time ago.

“This bracelet isn’t something expensive, it isn’t that much of an antique, but it is made of quality Rosewood.”

“If you’re bored, you can play with this, and learn to manage your temperament. You’re still young, so it’s fine if you’re still impatient and stubborn. But if you continue with this little attitude of yours, you’d lose out eventually.”

“In this line of work, you need to have patience. One, only when you manage your emotions would you remain focused. Two, good things come to those who wait.”

“The change in your life is also something you will have to wait for.”

These words completely fly over Shaw’s head. He puts the bracelet onto this wrist, coils it around multiple times until it can stay on.

“In future, no matter what you face, you have to be calm, and be patient.” The shopkeeper gently taps Shaw’s head, and frowns. “Have you committed all this to memory?”

Shaw rubs his head, his eyes still trained on his present, completely engrossed with it. “Ahh – yes I remember, I remember!”

“What do you remember?”

“Remember… that I have to hurry home for dinner!” Shaw turns around and grabs his bag, disappearing out of the shop. Before that, he raises the hand that dons the bracelet and waves.

The stars flicker, and the light is reflected in Shaw’s eyes. His eyes are smiling.

#mlqc cn #mlqc #mlqc shaw #love and producer #mlqc spoilers

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