V5C2

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002

With the promise made to Mo Jing Yu to go by, again and again, Mo Li passed through the seas of blood and mountains of corpses. Every time the body was filled with wounds, what he looked forward to most was returning to the courtyard that belonged to him and the little Master, and listening to the other person’s prattles of concern.

So that Mo Li’s body of wounds could quickly get better, the little dumpling even got rid of his own habits of constantly hugging the other person. He would steep his fingers in the ointment, gently smear it over the wound, and then while blowing on it, he would say to him, ” Mo Li pain pain go away.”

The immature voice incited him so much that he would want to shed tears for a bit.

This was his most finest treasure.

Within the blink of an eye, the little dumpling grew up. Whoever saw him would give a word of praise, and say that compared to the number one beauty, he could only be more superior and not be any inferior[1]. For outsiders, this was seen as a compliment, but for Mo Jing Yu, it was instead a charm to hasten ones’ death. The more beautiful he was, the more Mo Qi would pay close attention to him. And for him, this was a extremely unfavourable situation. When Mo Jing Yu began to smoothly socialize among the children of nobility and influential officials, those people would see him as as something within reach[2]; but he knew, these people were not enough to enter Mo Qi’s eyes.

What that person wanted, was this country.

There were rumours that what the Sahada (萨哈达) tribe’s Khan loved most were young boys(youths) with refined skin and delicate flesh[3], the best being one where it would redden with a single squeeze, the type whose eyes would water with mist.

Because of this, Mo Qi had the wet nurse that had once instructed his eldest sister before come and teach him. Thanks to these people’s instruction, Mo Jing Yu had not learned any other skills, and instead learned plenty of low-grade[4] things, such as provoking with shady techniques.

The little dumpling would always love to pester his own hidden guard to teach himself some martial arts, but on the second day, he would shamelessly lie back down on the bed, and not get up at all; as it had already been a few years, the Mo Jing Yu that had already become a big dumpling still only had the skills of a three-legged cat[5], and could not even fly over even a short wall.

Faced with the impatient[6] Mo Li, he would always sweetly smile, “No problem. I have a’Li to protect me, no?”

With this smile, it would have the other person coaxed to the point of being unable to tell which direction was where, and would be even more enthusiastic towards the usual training that was the same as before.

At the time Mo Jing Yu reached a mature age[7], for the union of peace, the Sahada’s newest Khan had personally come forth as a display of good faith. Through the means of pillow talk[8], his eldest sister had conveyed to the Emperor to have the matter of diplomatic envoy welcomed, and all the authority regarding it go under Mo Qi’s responsibility.

Naturally, if the diplomatic foreign envoy that clearly should have been arranged to be at the post house[9] were to live with the Mo family, no one would dare obstruct.

The courtyard that the Khan Nai Man Jin lived in was only a few meters distance from Mo Jing Yu’s small courtyard. He and Mo Li understood the intentions of the family head, but even if he didn’t want to go, the other person used the poison in Mo Li’s body as a means to threaten him.

The face that looked to be expressionless finally seemed to have an appearance of being troubled. Mo Jing Yu withstood being scared, gave Mo Li a lively wink, then pinched his cheeks with his hands, “It’s alright, it’s not like I’m immediately being sent there. We’ll first look into the enemy’s rumours, then we’ll think of a plan.”

This was the first time Mo Li dared to make an disrespectful move[10] by gripping his wrists. The youth’s pupils carried fear. He tightly pursed his mouth, and after a good while, only let out three words,

“Do not go.”

The strength on the wrists could be said to be gentle, but no matter what Mo Jing Yu did, he had no way of breaking away from his hands, and could only stand on his tiptoes and peck the side of Mo Li’s lips, then take advantage while the other person was stunned to break loose. He covered the other person’s eyes, and kissed his lips like a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water. The gentle sensation had made him unable to hold back and extend the tip of his tongue out to probe [for more].

“I’ll just go for a bit and come back. If there is something, I will call for you.” When he saw the youth already completely reddened his ears, Mo Jing Yu was in a bit of a cheerful mood, and laughed brightly, “I’ll go and test out the other party. If we can become friends, then that would be the best. But if it is not possible, then we can always think of a way to deal with and cure you of the poison in your body, no?”

“If you pass away before me, then you will be a damned liar. Even if it’s one dual-hour[11] less, one minute less, then it won’t be considered as a lifetime.”

The young boy’s soft words that were as though spoken to a lover had made the youth waver for a moment before letting the other person leave, but maintained his battle stance at that moment.

This was the first time Mo Jing Yu saw an outsider.

It was unlike how he imagined. Although the man in front was comparatively taller and bigger than Mo Li, it was not as exaggerated as the rumours said. Nai Man Jin’s physique seemed just as strong as a military officer- a little bit taller than Mo Li, the handsome face was unlike the charm of those players. The profile was very pronounced. In the deep eye sockets laid deep green eyes that could be said was like adding flowers to embroidery[12].

“You are not afraid of me?”

The other person’s use of the Central Plain’s language was very fluent. Mo Jing Yu was a bit astonished, but following his words, he shook his head, “You have a face that makes people unafraid.”

Once this was said, he could feel his sweat coming out from his own palms.

This time, it was Nai Man Jin’s turn to feel surprised, but he also felt this small fellow’s answer was quite interesting. The bright laughter was a bit deafening, “The colour of my eyes, in the tribe, is seen as inauspicious.”

Mo Jing Yu directly looked into Nai Man Jin’s eyes. He tightly gripped his own hands, and took a gamble, “But you still became the Khan.”

“Little fellow, what’s your name.”

When he let out a breath, he knew he bet right. Mo Jing Yu slightly loosened up his own hand, and spoke every word and phrase clearly, “Mo Jing Yu. Mo Qi wants to have me sent to you as a plaything, but I don’t want to.”

Nai Man Jin looked at him up and down. While his eyes did not have any intentions of taking him lightly, Mo Jing Yu nevertheless felt a bit uncomfortable. After a while, the other person opened his mouth, “If not to be a plaything, then perhaps you are wanting to be my queen[13] instead?”

While Mo Jing Yu had not had his guard up, in an instant, Nai Man Jin pulled him into his arms. After a sound was let out subconsciously, in the next moment, Mo Li slammed opened the door, and tightly pursed his lips while looking at him who was being embraced by someone, “Let go of Master.”

“This is your lap dog?”

This way of disrespectful way of addressing Mo Li had made Mo Jing Yu knit his brows. He had wanted to push the other person away, but the other person’s strength had firmly confined him in that it hurt, unable to move even one little bit, “He is my hidden guard, not a lap dog as you say.”

“Is there a difference?”

The sound of a blade unsheathing fell, and Mo Jing Yu felt a feeling of moistness on his face. Then, he saw Nai Man Jin’s face left with a bloody scar.

“Mo Li, back down!”

“I……”

Mo Jing Yu had felt his tone of speech was a bit not right. After the quick heartbeat slowed back down, and his tone had become much more gentle, “Mo Li, stand by the door. I’m alright.”

Finally, Mo Li very unwillingly stood guard by the entrance.

Due to the closeness, he could very clearly see the coldness in Nai Man Jin’s eyes. After a deep breath, Mo Jing Yu slightly raised his head upwards, and with an attitude of pretending to be fearless, “My hidden guard was certainly not in the right, but Khan, your actions at that time were also improper. I hope you will be magnanimous and not bother about this with him.”

“On what basis?”

“On the basis of Mo Qi’s ambitions.” With great effort, Mo Jing Yu slowed down the speed of his speech, and did not let too quick of his words expose his flustered heart at that moment, “On the basis that I can work together with you.”

“You recently came into position. Due to you eye colour, I’m afraid there are still many people who still refuse to accept you.”

“But what if, at this moment, Mo Qi has his heart set on the Sahada tribe then?”

“Do you have any assurance in being able to fight back my dynasty’s soldiers?”

[1] 有过之而无不及- Under comparison, one can only surpass it and nothing else.

[2] 囊中之物- Something within one’s bag- or, something that did not require much effort to obtain/is within reach. Similar to the English expression of having something ‘in the bag’.

[3] 细皮嫩肉- Indications of one taking good care of one’s body. Think, as smooth as a baby’s bottom.

[4] 下三滥- also can be written as ‘下三烂’. In ancient times, the first term is used to refer to three of the nine lowest professions- robbery(盗), thievery(窃), and prostitution(娼). The second term originates from milling flour- the first rotation (烂) will produce something comparatively coarse/crude. The second rotation grinds out the best parts, and is furthermore the most. The flour that comes out after the second rotation is referred to as the ‘下三烂’ (rotten), the worst, which is then later used to refer to people. Modern times use above term to refer to places that offer services of washing feet, beauty salons and bathing centres.

[5] 三脚猫- Imperfect, non-refined. Modern day usage refers to it as more of a jack of all trades, master of none.

[6] 恨铁不成钢- (I feel like I’ve already translated this before but apparently not???? Will edit back with which chapter I’ve explained it in if I can find it). Literally, hate that iron could not turn to steel. Hate that one cannot live up to the expectations set.

[7]舞象之时 >> 舞象之年. Ancient term to refer when boys are around the age of 15-20. The term in more literary sense refers to when one reaches an age where they are able to enter the military/perform a ‘dance’/display use of weaponry.

[8] 吹枕头风- Conversations of incitement/seduction the wife or mistress would have on the pillow, to intervene with the man’s work/affairs.

[9] 驿站- A place in ancient times that supplied officials that delivered military information an area for resting, eating, and changing out horses in the middle of their trips.

[10] 以下犯上- Make a discourteous move (as the one in the lower position) to one in a higher position. Antonym to 毕恭毕敬 (being extremely respectful)

[11] In ancient times, the division of time is traditionally divided into 12 periods (each with its own name based on the 12 Earthly branches) , which in modern time is in 2-hour divisions (时辰). There is simply no exact English equivalent that sounds as elegant, as time is divided into 24 hours, with no other names for different divisions.

[12] 锦上添花- Add brilliance to one’s splendor. Or, add to something that is already beautiful.

[13] 阏氏- Unlike the usual term 皇后 (Empress), 阏氏 is used as a term for the Xiong Nu/the Hun’s queen. Another interpretation (or rather, in the Hun’s language) is that it bears the meaning of (the main) wife. This is probably the correct one but considering the other party is the Khan, both interpretations are acceptable.

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