V4C1

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These titles are only going to get longer. Help. _:(´ཀ`」 ∠):

001

As one who is able to bring the country peace, favourable winds and suitable rain, towards the Guo Shi[1] who was up above in the tall towers in the imperial palace[*], all the citizens worshipped him- that they respected him more compared to others and even the imperial family. Having relied on the Guo Shi to deal with the successive few years of various natural and man made disasters, pulling back the raging waves, the already indulgent[2] and muddleheaded monarch was happy to let himself be a monarch in name only.

Furthermore, the Guo Shi had already promised to let him become an Emperor for a lifetime and let him securely be in possession of this country. Being able to maintain his own royal powers without having to spare any energy, how could he not be happy about it?

As Zhou approached the new year, the Emperor gained a prince, and the Guo Shi took him in as his disciple, thus calling him Zhou Jun Yan[3]. There was also a little lord from the General’s residence named Xu Hao Ran from before that was also taken on, who became his second disciple.

As for the Guo Shi’s eldest disciple, other than just rumours, the outside realm had never heard anything else of him.

Faced with the two little beansprouts in front of him, Chu Ze Yao bore an extremely terrible facial colour, but after recalling Master’s warning, he simply threw down a book on rudimentary martial arts, coldly snorted, then leisurely left by himself[4].

Once they were unable to see the other person’s back, Zhou Jun Yan came over toward the front, and threw out his tongue, “Big Brother Hao Ran, Eldest Brother[5] is so terrifying.”

The small and young face of the youth bore steadiness, but still carried fear. After he retreated a step back, he slightly bent his body, as to avoid being taller than the person in front of him, “Your Highness, that won’t do. You are the prince- you should not call this subject big brother.”

Zhou Jun Yan cast aside a smile, unbothered, and extended his hand to hold Xu Hao Ran’s hand, with his face pretending to be ferocious and cruel, “Look, I’m holding your hand right now- as the one in a lower position, you’ve offended the superior. Shouldn’t you have your own hand chopped off to atone for your crime then?”

When Xu Hao Ran took a look at Zhou Jun Yan, he was a bit dumbfounded. He wanted to retract his hand but was also afraid using too much strength would hurt the other person. When he heard the other person say this, a sliver of grievance surfaced on his face, “Your Highness, clearly you were the one to first grab onto this subject.”

“That’s right, that’s because I like you.” The immature smile directly pierced into the heart, and the youth appeared like a small sun radiating light, generously sprinkling about his own warmth, “Who I like the very very very most is Brother Hao Ran. There are no strangers within the tower- you don’t need to distinguish us as monarch and subject; within the tower, you are my senior brother.”

Even though, your Highness, the one you clearly like the very very most, is Master……

The youth’s heart had ached slightly, as though being steeped in a jar of sour fruits, but he knew he should not. The little Highness could like whoever he wanted, and furthermore, with a person as good-looking and strong as Master, who wouldn’t like that kind of person?

The little Highness would often say he liked him, but once the Master appeared, that youth’s pair of brightly lit eyes would only stare at the other person and would no longer look at anyone else. Xu Hao Ran thought, perhaps when the little Highness turned lonely, then he would think of himself.

The role of monarch and subject had already given him a clear understanding, but every time he saw the little Highness’ eyes look upon someone else, or express a hint of affection towards others, his heart would not be happy. But at these times, the little Highness would always notice his abnormal state, intimately pull on his hand, and think of ways to make himself happy.

And in an instant, the originally gloomy mood would be warmed up by this kind of gentle little Highness.

Xu Hao Ran had also previously asked the little Highness, why he would be so nice to him. The Xu family had always been the Emperor’s most loyal subjects- to say it a not-so-nice way, they were lap dogs. The family teachings of how when the monarch wanted the subject to die, the subject must die, had already been deeply engraved in their bones. Even if he wasn’t nice to him, the little Highness that was destined to be the future monarch of the country, would still obtain his loyalty.

At that time, the little Highness would tell himself with a smile, “Of course, it’s because I like Brother Hao Ran.”

But after hearing it so many times, Xu Hao Ran would then feel, the like that the little Highness speaks of, coming from the little Highness’ own mouth, did not seem to be all that important.

The little Highness had a lot of people he liked- he liked Master, liked the Emperor, liked the Empress, and also liked many many people that were nice to him. As for him, he was only his future second-to-none[6] loyal lap dog was all.

Perhaps he seemed to be pitiful? And only wanted to hand to him a little bit of happiness as charity?

That was up until when the Emperor found evidence of the Xu family committing treason by communicating with the enemy, and used it as an excuse to search and confiscate their possessions. That time, he should have been beheaded- as a prisoner, he had knelt on the ground. However, the little Highness went in front of him and opposed the Emperor. Up in the courts, they could only hear the other person’s still tender, immature voice, but did not have even a little bit of inclination of withdrawing, ” On the accordance of feelings, the relationship as apprentice brothers Xu Hao Ran and I have had for the ten few years.”

“On the accord of reason, that Xu Hao Ran had always been at my side, that the loyalty that the dear Guo Shi taught had long been engraved in the other person’s bones. Xu family’s treason is not related to him in the slightest- why don’t Father pardon the other party, as a way to display the Emperor’s magnificent kindness.”

“I am willing to use my life to vouch- Xu Hao Ran will be loyal only to the imperial family’s bloodline for life, and would even be willing to pledge on the honour of the Crown Prince. If there is any insincerity, I will be the first to have him beheaded.”

The Emperor had successfully been persuaded- with the inclusion of being the disciple of the Guo Shi, ultimately, the title he held was all taken, unable to hold any of the glory of a family of rank.

Afterwards, Xu Hao Ran asked Zhou Jun Yan- even though he would normally be extremely afraid of the eldest apprentice brother, why was he willing to step in front of him and receive the Emperor’s fury at that time? The youth had a face of terror, but his fingers would gently apply medicine on his wounds, “I am afraid, but I’ve always hid behind Brother Hao Ran’s back in the past- if I was unable to save Brother Hao Ran at that time, then I can only directly face those things in the future, and there would be no one to share the burden for me any more.”

“Furthermore, I also want to protect Brother Hao Ran once too.”

Xu Hao Ran looked at the little Highness’ hair whorl, and discovered what the other person said up in the courts was not right- after this, he feared he would not become the imperial family’s most loyal subject, but would only follow his little Highness. The only Emperor in his heart, was only the little Highness.

From today onward, he would only be the little Highness’ most loyal subject.

“Does the little Highness like subject(me)?”

Zhou Jun Yan quietly thought for a moment, and revealed a smile, “Of course. Because, other than Father and Mother, Brother Hao Ran is the one who treats me the best.”

Is that so? But why is it that the person you like, is still Master.

A big hand by the name of jealousy tightly squeezed Xu Hao Ran’s heart, that he even bore a little hate towards his Master. He knew this was not right, but he was still jealous of his Master- jealous of those people that were well liked by the little Highness.

Because, he only had the little Highness left.

That day, Xu Hao Ran went down on one knee in front of Zhou Jun Yan, and looked on at this immature face that was still unable to hide its elegant features on the youth, and slightly lowered his own head. It was the one and only time in his memories when he was willing to lower his head, “This subject Xu Hao Ran will vow- I will be loyal to your Highness for a lifetime, and if I go back on it, there will no peaceful end for me.”

“Your Highness, I will become your most sharpest blade, and cut down all the thorns on the path for you.”

That day, the little Highness was truly good-looking. With a face full of smiles, he slightly raising his head, with the little arrogant face that truly made him lovable.

“I’ll allow for it.”

[1] 国师- a position appointed by the Emperor to a particular elite Buddhist monk who is also learned in ethics, often acting as an advisor and teacher to the Emperor, and does divination from time to time as guidance. I’ve looked around and found some translation of it as a national teacher but since there isn’t an equivalent position that can let you immediately understand what it is, I’m just opting to stick with the pinyin. Plus a national teacher would make one think back to the grand tutor and national teacher ≠ grand tutor.

[*] Personal note- can either be read as ‘one at the very top within the palace (imagining the palace as a tall tower)’ or ‘the superior being (above the towers) who lives within the imperial palace.

[2] Literally, indulge in sex and booze.

[3] Jun Yan means a steadily fine steed.

[4] The ‘Yao’ character of Ze Yao’s name (遥) very much happens to be the same character used in ‘leisurely wandering off'(逍遥自在)- now the question is, is the Yao in his name suppose to mean ‘far away/distant’ (遥远) or ‘at leisure’ (逍遥)?

[5] Much like in the previous arc, instead of ‘eldest senior brother apprentice’, I’ll just stick to eldest brother. Keep in mind he’s not actually calling him his big brother. Same in regards to Xu Hao Ran being called senior brother apprentice/senior brother.

[6] 不二- in this context, the sentence can be interpreted as- he is loyal to no other, or his loyalty is not lower than any other. 二 (two) is often used in context of saying the person in reference is second-rate, simple-minded etc etc (clearly not the best in terms of ability), hence the sentence can be interpreted as, not only is he loyal but he is very useful and smart.

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