V5C1

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001

As a child of the Mo family, one cannot have no worth at all.

In the Mo family, the more one was worth, the better they would live; for the family head, only the girls that were skillful, smooth and slick in socializing that could cause trouble, were worth paying attention to for him.

Mo Jing Yu[1] grew a refined appearance that was not at all inferior to his eldest sister’s delicacy.

He previously had the honour of going along with the family head to enter to palace and see the one that was recognized by the capital as the number one beauty, that at the time the budding beauty[2] was most beautiful, was then sent to serve the Emperor who was already at the age of knowing his own destiny[3]– his eldest sister.

The title of being the number one beauty was one that was fully deserved. The brows were as beautiful as the spring hilltops, and the pair of pupils were as bright as the autumn waters[4], arousing people that their hearts would itch, and let people be of no sudden surprise that the king had not attended morning courts since.

The young Mo Jing Yu thought- if he was the king, and met with this kind of eldest sister, don’t mention not attending morning courts- one would take over the country just for the beauty’s one smile. To let the other person send oneself just a small hint of affection, even if one were to die, it would be worth it.

So to speak, to die under the peonies, even if one were to become a ghost, it would admirable[5].

After seeing his eldest sister, the family head took him to the back mountains. Once girls of the Mo family reached a certain age, they would come here to settle on their own personal hidden guard, and have them become their own helping hand in the future; to of no surprise to Mo Jing Yu, he long already guessed what the family head brought him here for- because the Mo family’s male children did not have their own hidden guard by their sides.

Other than boys that were to be sent to nobles as playthings.

The Mo family’s next appointed head had already been long settled on. As for the remaining boys, if not treated as practice for the hidden guards, they were then were sent out. And for Mo Jing Yu whose appearance was gentle and pretty, was especially one of the highest grade.

As a child of the Mo family, it was never up to him to choose.

The young little dumpling went back and forth in a mass of black clothing, and in the end chose a youth that seemed to be the best looking but also appeared particularly simple and modest in speaking. A pair of chubby, short hands enclosed around the other person’s neck, and stared at Mo Qi, “Head, I want this person.”

“Since little Fishy[6] has decided, then grant them a name.”

The youth’s age did not look to be old. With one look, one could tell the elegant appearance could not be from the children of the Mo family, and could not see where this person was chosen from; the body of the other person had long been dyed in an air of bloodiness due to long periods of fighting close quarters, but Mo Jing Yu did not feel the smell was a bit unpleasant. Once he hugged the other person, he was not willing to let go, “Mo Li[7]. From now on, you will follow my surname. You will be called Mo Li, alright?”

“Mo Li shall obey.”

The hidden guards that leave this back mountain will already have a place to belong, and will no longer have to hide themselves from one place to another, afraid every night that there would be one day where someone would assassinate them. Mo Jing Yu that was being carried saw that Mo Li was still staring in the direction of the back mountain, unhappily turned his head in another direction, and stared at him, “Mo Li, hereafter, you don’t need to worry about not being able to eat a full meal or dressing warm enough. I will treat you properly.”

“Yes, Master.”

The other person’s look of extreme respect had made Mo Jing Yu a bit unsatisfied, but the warmth that touched him had also made him a bit comfortable. Nestled in Mo Li’s embrace, he could not help but rub against him a little bit.

“Mo Li, do you still remember things from the past?”

“I don’t remember clearly, only that at that time the village was on fire, after I(sub.) escaped, I was taken by someone to the back mountain.”

“What of your parent’s appearance?”

“It’s already been too distant. I don’t remember their features clearly.”

Mo Jing Yu let out a long sigh. A small hand grasped Mo Li’s pinky, just enough to fill out completely, “What a coincidence, I too don’t remember Mother’s appearance.”

After his mother gave birth to him, she let go and passed away. Previously, there would be sisters that mocked how his features were extremely like those of his mother. As for a father…… He only had a family head, never a father.

Children who had chosen a hidden guard would start to have their own little courtyard. Unlike other sisters’ courtyards, Mo Jing Yu’s little courtyard was strangely desolate. Other than the servant girls that would clean up and send meals every day, it was only him and Mo Li.

He did not like to see outsiders, he only liked to hold onto Mo Li. Because Mo Jing Yu knew- only he completely belonged to him.

In this ice-cold Mo family, he only had this one person left.

Every night, the little dumpling would always love to use the blankets to wrap himself like a chrysalis, and have his eyes open up wide. He knew Mo Li was by his side, but he would always lightly call out the other person’s name, “Mo Li.”

When number of times increased, Mo Li just directly kept watch inside the room, within reach of Mo Jing Yu’s line of sight.

“Mo Li, do you know why I gave you such a name?”

“This subordinate does not know.” An ordered[8] response as always.

The little dumpling pursed his mouth and smiled. The look of a slight bashfulness had finally carried a bit of of a child’s innocence. In that one moment, it unexpectedly stunned Mo Li from looking, and his heart softened into a complete mess.

“Don’t leave(Mo Li), don’t leave. Because I only have you left, I hope you don’t leave me for a lifetime.”

“This subordinate won’t.” The old-fashioned and dull youth still had the little dumpling holding his own little pinky. His ears reddened brightly, but his eyes were yet especially serious, “As Master has given this subordinate a name, this subordinate will offer up his loyalty. In this lifetime, Mo Li will only be only Master’s Mo Li.”

Mo Jing Yu smiled until his eyes curved, with two cute little dimples hanging onto his cheeks, nice and plump, that it would make people feel their hearts soften to the extreme, “Mo Li, wait until I grow up. Then, we will leave this place.”

“I don’t want to be like this and get sent to other people just to be their plaything, and even more so don’t want retire under another person.” Mo Jing Yu pursed his lips, and the hand that was grasping the little pinky could not hold back from tightening, ” I want to leave the Mo family. Leave here, far, far away, and distance myself away from this twisted and abnormal system.”

“How about you? Will you always be with me?”

The inside of that pair of eyes that was as calm as dead waters had finally had waves stirred in it, and the little pinky that was being held had slightly moved. Mo Jing Yu could clearly see Mo Li’s eyes carry a sliver of light, “I am willing to follow Master all my life.”

The little dumpling was happy with this. He sat up in the next moment, and used his own pinky finger to hook it with his own hidden guard’s pinky. The soft and delicate hand and the hand stained with years of scars had formed a contrast, but he did not mind the rough tactile sensation at all.

“With a hook and a hang, promise not to change. If one lies, they will swallow down a hundred needles.”

The thumb followed up the pinky hooking by upturning and adjoining together[9]. The light sensation of the thumbs in contact made Mo Li’s eyelashes move a bit. His mouth also slightly stretched out, but in the end was still tightly shut.

Under the bright and clear moonlight, the two children whose years added together were still of a minor age, made a vow that was as hard to step through as a wide chasm, firmly remembered it in their hearts, and later, on account of this goal, continuously worked hard together.

The little dumpling that received the promise was quite happy, and stood on top of the bed and hugged Mo Li’s neck, as though like the very beginning. He borrowed the moonlight to look at Mo Li’s eyes, with his pair of eyes lit like the bright moon set onto his eyes, “You must properly train. This way, in the future, you will then be able to take me and fly up high, and leave this place far, far away.”

Due to excitement, it revealed an immature air of a child that would be inconsistent in the normal day, making Mo Li’s tense body relieve a bit. He lightly nodded his head, and the corners of his mouth subconsciously raised up.

“En.”

When all was said and done, Master was still a child after all.

[1] 莫景瑜- Jing Yu essentially means ‘scenery(景) [akin to] fine jade (瑜)’. Considering naming conventions, the name is fairly feminine in nature. The last name(莫), when not a surname, means ‘do not’. Throughout this arc, there are many instances of this being used (instead of the more common 不要，别，没有 etc.). Just one of the many things that cannot be communicated through due to translating.

[2] 豆蔻年华- Used to describe a maiden of thirteen years old, of marriageable age.

[3] 知命之年- Kong’zi refers to this as the age of fifty.

[4] 眉黛春山秀,一双瞳仁剪秋水 >>> 眉黛春山秀, 横波剪秋水 One of the more common comparisons when describing beautiful brows and eyes that can be found throughout many works (I think there were at least 2 examples before this arc within this work itself where I’ve already described someone’s eyes as autumn waters). This is only one of the many, many, MANY ways to write the expression, but the idea is still the same. Brows = mountains/hilltops in spring, eyes = autumn waters

[5] 牡丹花下死，做鬼也风流- Essentially, if one were to die for/in front of a woman, one would be content dying.

[6] 小鱼儿- Nickname for Mo Jing Yu. The ‘Yu’ is of the same pronunciation as the one for fish(鱼). I may forget and end up using little Yu’er instead of Fishy from time to time.

[7] 莫离- Literally. Do not leave [me].

[8] 一板一眼- Methodically, to the rhythm and beat. Or, in regular sequence.

[9] Picture reference- https://gss3.bdstatic.com/7Po3dSag_xI4khGkpoWK1HF6hhy/baike/c0%3Dbaike116%2C5%2C5%2C116%2C38/sign=e6945ae7287f9e2f6438155a7e598241/09fa513d269759ee7a7288cabdfb43166d22df95.jpg

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