Yun Zhong Ge Chapter 21: One Year Promise (Part II)

I honestly can say that Yun Zhong Ge is a difficult read. The characters are so multifaceted that its hard to take sides without also feeling something tugging from the other end. In essence, we are all Yun Ge, stuck between a perfect guy and a compelling guy. I confess that one of my gripes about the novel is that I think Tong Hua is a leading writer (as I think she did in Da Mo Yao as well), which is she does direct the resolution of emotional knots in a way that skews towards her preferences. I would say that its realistic for Yun Ge to be unable to open herself up to Ling gege right away, because she was genuinely madly in love with Meng Jue. Nor is Meng Jue an easy guy to get over. But I enjoy watching Yun Ge and Ling gege reconnect in ways beyond the romantic, as they really are lonely kindred spirits who bonded so quickly as children not just for the sake of the story, but in a way that felt so touching and extraordinary. To see the extent of which they just “get” each other makes me believe in all those platitudes about meant to be.

Chapter 21: One Year Promise (part II):

Yun Ge’s health gradually returned and she regained her strength. But because the sword stab was so severe, even with the best doctors and medicine, it still left an uncurable cough rooted in her.

Liu Fu Ling was upset by this and secretly ordered all the physicians in the Palace to go research the best cure and treatment for coughing. Anyone who succeeded would be greatly rewarded.

Yun Ge herself didn’t care much “My life was saved and that is already a great miracle. Having an occasional cough is no big deal.”

In the mountains, the sun, the moon, and the time all passed like water flowing. When Yun Ge was injured, it was already late Summer. By the time she was fully recovered, it was early Winter.

She tried her best not to think of that person. During the day it was easier, she found things to do to occupy herself. But at night when she was alone, it was impossible for her not to be sad.

She thought that he must together with Ms. Huo by now. She told herself it didn’t matter to her anymore, but then she remembered how he held her in the wind that day and grabbed her hair and said “Hair knotted, Heart knotted.” Yet now he must be helping Ms. Huo put a hair pin in her hair.

The only happy development was that her anger towards him had lessened. Hate and anger was like the legendary poison of Xi Yu, it can spread and eat away at one’s insides, creating the most excruciating of pain.

Yun Ge didn’t like to hate anyone. He wasn’t true to her, yet conversely she wasn’t true to Ling gege.

All those promises of forever rang in her ears, but those promises could not withstand the temptations and struggles of life. She couldn’t withstand his temptation. He couldn’t withstand the temptation of seeking power. So now she didn’t hate him anymore. If she wanted to hate, then she ought to hate herself first. She ought to hate herself for not having the insight to see what kind of person he was. She ought to hate herself for being so clueless and so self-absorbed.

She saw Liu Fu Ling walk in and she quickly stood up from where she had been staring at a burning stalk of incense in a daze. Liu Fu Ling’s eyes briefly darkened and Yun Ge knew that her attempts to cover it up only made it more obvious. Plus it was impossible for her to conceal anything she was feeling from him. She decided to not put on a pretend happy face and quietly stood there, staring at him.

Liu Fu Ling walked up to her and returned her stare for awhile, finally sighing softly. He pulled her into his embrace “What needs to be done to make you smile like before? It might be easier if I can just give you the world to entertain you.”

Yun Ge wanted to push him away, but when she heard him say that in such a low voice, it pressed down on her so much her heart ached. She suddenly felt weak and let her head rest on his shoulder, feeling the urge to cry.

If certain things didn’t happen, how happy would the two of them be right now?

Liu Fu Ling quietly embraced her for some time before suddenly saying “Did you say that you are convalescing for so long you might get sick from being cooped up? How about I accompany down the mountain for a stroll? Do you want to go?”

Yun Ge thought about it, and then nodded.

Yu An heard the Emperor wanted to go down the mountain and quickly ordered servants readied but the Emperor wouldn’t allow it. Yu An had no choice but to have the guards go undercover and secretly follow behind them. Yun Ge still didn’t know where she was and on the way down the mountain she realized how remote it was. It took some time to even get to a main road, and looking back she could see the residence discreetly hidden.

“Where are we?” Liu Fu Ling was silent for a moment “Lu Mountain.” Because Yun Ge was not familiar with the Emperor’s many residences, she didn’t connect this together. She only silently sighed knowing that she was still so close to Chang An.

They so happened to arrive on market day so the streets were crowded with people and was extra boisterous. There was a good harvest this year, and with the lowered taxes, the price of goods appeared to have gone down so the shoppers were extra happy. In addition to buying household essentials, people were once again buying frivolous items and gifts, so the sellers were happy and there was much conversation and laughter all around.

Yun Ge smiled “Compared to when I first arrived in the Han dynasty, the mood is greatly different. This Emperor is a good Emperor, and Huo Guang is also good.”

This was the first time Liu Fu Ling had been to a market place outside of Chang An. He saw all the people coming to and from and how full of energy it was, so different than his life in the Palace. Despite the noisy chatter, he actually liked this rowdy environment.

Because this was normal, so it felt warm to him. The two of them were constantly jostled by people and Liu Fu Ling was afraid of losing Yun Ge so he grabbed her hand. He held her hand and allowed her to lead him wherever she wanted on the street.

The two of them were just wandering for fun, which made it difficult for Yu An, who needed to keep an eye on all directions at once. But when he saw Liu Fu Ling’s eyes were filled with warmth, Yu An felt this was all worth it.

They came to a plaza where a crowd of people were gathered in a circle around something. Yun Ge immediately pulled Liu Fu Ling and tried to squeeze in. She could heard people in front laughing and making sounds of amazement.

“So cute!”

“Look at this imp!”

“They are brothers, right?”

“Based on looks, they might be twins?”

“Where are their parents? How did they come here to play by themselves? Have they eaten yet?”

Yun Ge made a circle and still couldn’t squeeze it. She turned to Yu An and had an idea “Yu An, do you want to go see what’s inside?”

Under Liu Fu Ling’s stare, how could Yu An say no? He smiled and said yes. Yun Ge smiled back “I have an idea. Just shout “that’s my nephews in there!” and people will let you in.”

Yu An relaxed thinking this wasn’t a big deal, so he took a deep breath and yelled “Move way, move way, it’s my nephews in there!”

The people on the outside didn’t know anything so they made way, the people on the inside were shocked and also quickly made way. Yu An was yelling the same thing again when he finally saw what was inside and his words got stuck in his mouth.

It was dead silence all around. Everyone stared at Yu An with expressions of shock and awe.

Inside were two identical little monkeys playing with each other. When everyone got quiet, they looked up and stared with their bright eyes and tails twitching.

Yun Ge muffled her laughter and quickly pulled Liu Fu Ling aside a few steps and said in a small voice “We don’t know this guy” as she pointed to Yu An.

A few seconds later, everyone burst out laughing. The two monkeys got excited and started hooting and doing flips and scratching their butts. A person said with a laugh “We were worried that these two monkeys somehow got there and might starved to death during the Winter if no one took care of them. Now the monkey’s Uncle is here, that’s great! Will Uncle please take your nephews home now.”

Yu An’s face was flashing crimson and white, while Yun Ge was laughing so hard she was doubled over.

Liu Fu Ling was afraid she would start coughing so he quickly patted her back and said to Yu An “Big brother Yu, let’s take them home. We can release them in the wild shortly, and this will be a good deed big brother will earn.”

Yu An stared in shock at Liu Fu Ling, and it was the first time in many years that Yu An dared to meet Liu Fu Ling’s direct stare.

Liu Fu Ling was supporting the green-robed girl by his side and his face had no expression, but his eyes were twinkling with mirth. At this moment, he was not the man higher than everyone else all alone on top. He was no longer without the emotions of happiness and anger. Right now he was just a normal man who was coddling the woman beside him.

Yu An felt his eyes turn misty and he quickly lowered his head and said yes. Yu An accepted the monkeys but kept his poker face on. When Yun Ge spoke with him, he just answered yes or no, on the surface polite, but not really talking to her.

Yun Ge turned to Liu Fu Ling for help, but Liu Fu Ling just fed the monkeys with the food in his hand. “You caused this mess, you fix it.”

Yun Ge ran next to Yu An and kept apologizing “Big brother Yu, I didn’t know it was two monkeys inside. I thought it was some lost kids. Big brother Yu, its not a bad thing to be the uncle to monkeys! Look how cute these two monkeys are!”

Yu An muttered “That cute, how come you didn’t tell the world you are the Aunt.” Yun Ge laughed “Forget about being my nephews, they can be my sons if they wanted! My mom was raised by wolves, so I guess my grandmother must be a wolf then. I don’t mind having monkeys for my sons……”

Yu An’s anger turned to laughter in Yun Ge’s teasing “You’re not even married, how can you say son constantly. Aren’t you embarrassed? Who’s your sons’ daddy then?”

The moment Yu An said that, he remembered that Yun Ge was the mother, he was the Uncle, and the Emperor just called him big brother, which would make the Emperor the two monkeys’……

He wanted to burst out laughing but he didn’t dare, but it was so painful to keep it in. Yun Ge knew she said the wrong thing as well so she snuck a peek at Liu Fu Ling. Turned out Liu Fu Ling was also looking at her so the two of them met each other’s eyes directly. He looked amused while Yun Ge’s face turned bright red.

She stomped her foot and turned around to leave “You two ganged up to mock me!”

Liu Fu Ling ordered Yu An to handle the monkeys and went to chase after Yun Ge. Who knew she was suddenly running back with her face all white. She grabbed Liu Fu Ling’s arm and he asked “What’s going on?”

Yun Ge didn’t answer him, just dragging him into the closest store. The store sold ceramics and in the courtyard was ceramic urns of various sizes. Some were huge for storing water, some medium sized for storing rice, and some smaller for storing pickled vegetables. Yun Ge looked around and saw there was no place to hide. She heard sound coming from outside and in her haste, she pulled Liu Fu Ling with her as they both jumped into a huge water urn.

The water urn was quite large but with two people inside it was barely large enough to contain them. Yun Ge and Liu Fu Ling sat facing each other, so tightly pressed together it was like they were in an intimate embrace. Yun Ge softly said “I’m so addled-brained. They don’t know you, and I didn’t need to drag you in here to hide with me.”

Liu Fu Ling didn’t show any emotion, but his sadness was hard to hide in his eyes.

When Liu Bing Yi heard from his followers that a girl resembling Yun Ge was spotted at the marketplace. he immediately got Meng Jue and they rushed over. They did see someone like her, but before they could get close, the girl disappeared into the crowd.

In the past few months, Meng Jue used all his information networks and contacts from the desert region to Xi Yu but could find no trace of Yun Ge. It was almost like she evaporate into thin air without leaving a single trace. He couldn’t even find out who the two sides were that was fighting that night.

From his initial shock to his worry, he started to wonder if Yun Ge actually escaped that night. Did something unexpected happen to her? Was she dead or alive? His fear and worry caused him to be sleepless every night.

After they searched the area and couldn’t find her, the two of them stood outside the ceramic store and looked dejected. Liu Bing Yi sighed “Perhaps it was a mistake.” Meng Jue was silent for a moment before his palm shot out and shattered the ceramic store display “Not, it must be her.”

Yun Ge, who was hiding in the urn, subconsciously shuddered. Liu Fu Ling quickly reached out and embraced her with both of his arms, as if he wanted to shield Yun Ge from anything that could hurt her.

The store owner came running out all angry but he shut up when Meng Jue glared darkly at him and tossed him a gold leaf “None of your business, go back to sleep.” The owner grabbed the gold leaf and ran into the store and hid under the counter.

Meng Jue said to Liu Bing Yi “She disappeared around here, so order all the stores nearby searched.” Meng Jue then personally walked into the ceramics store. No matter how big or small the urn, he shattered each one he encountered with a resounding bang.

Yun Ge didn’t understand what Meng Jue was thinking. He was the one who used her. He was the one always at the Huo Estate. He was the only seeking more power and connections. He was the one embracing Huo Cheng Jun tenderly. Since he wanted Huo Cheng Jun, why does he want to find her? He can’t be thinking that she would agree to share a husband with Huo Cheng Jun?

Liu Fu Ling saw Yun Ge’s ashen face and knew that Meng Jue was still very important in Yun Ge’s heart. Because he was important, that was why he affected her, and why she was afraid to see him. She was afraid she would still have feelings for him.

The sound of breaking urns got closer and closer to them. Liu Fu Ling whispered in Yun Ge’s ear “If you don’t want to see him, I can send him away.” Yun Ge shook her head.

On the outside Meng Jue looked like a gentleman, but in truth he was brazen and fearless. And right now, he wasn’t even pretending to wear his gentlemanly facade. It was clear that he was going to tear this neighborhood apart until he found her. Ling gege was just an ordinary man and didn’t know any martial arts. How could he block Meng Jue and send him away?

Yun Ge suddenly grabbed Liu Fu Ling’s hand “Can you tell a fib with me? Be my husband. I’ll tell him we’re engaged, tell him to stop coming to bother me…..” Liu Fu Ling’s eyes were filled with heartbreak as he interjected “Yun Ge, we already are engaged to each other.”

Yun Ge was stunned to remember. Yes, they had exchanged their tokens and are an engaged couple………… Yun Ge’s hand weakened and slowly slid down from his hand, but Liu Fu Ling tightly gripped her hand again.

The footsteps got closer and Yun Ge’s heart was a jumbled mess. Fear, pain, anger, frustration, shame, sadness, aching, everything gathering in her heart and tore at her and pulled at her. She felt like her heart was being rendered into pieces. But at this moment, only the hand tightly holding onto her could protect her.

She tightly clasped Liu Fu Ling’s hand back and smiled at him. Her eyes were no longer filled with nervous worry and fear.

Yun Ge heard Meng Jue break the urn right next to theirs and knew he was about to see them. She took a deep breath and conjured up all her courage to face him. Meng Jue raised his palm and was about to strike the urn when he heard a voice call out “Isn’t that Mr. Meng?”

Meng Jue stopped and turned around, waving back with a smile “Yu……..” Yu An quickly gestured “We’re out and about, no need for formalities. Since I’m older than you, if you don’t object, you can call me Brother Yu!”

Meng Jue smiled “I shall be honored to. Why is Brother Yu here?” Yu An laughed “Out running some errands and when walking past here and saw you breaking urns, I got curious and came in to check. If you need any help, let me know.”

Meng Jue smiled and turned to walk out “Nothing important. The store owner upset me and I flew into a momentary rage. Since Brother Yu is out, if you have time, can I take you out for a drink?” Meng Jue and Yu An chatted happily as they walked out of the store.

The moment they stepped out, a few eunuchs ran in to escort Liu Fu Ling and Yun Ge out, where a carriage was waiting to whisk them back to Lu Mountain.

Yun Ge’s mind was a confused mess. Meng Jue and Yu An knew each other. And Meng Jue was very deferential to Yu An and slightly fearful. In fact, he was as deferential to Yu An as he was to Huo Guang. Yet Yu An was simply Ling gege’s personal servant.

Yun Ge silently sat in the carriage, and Liu Fu Ling also sat there in silence. The only sound was the carriage as it rumbled over the mountain roads.

When they returned to the residence, Liu Fu Ling ordered everyone out “Yun Ge, is there something you want to ask me?”

Yun Ge grabbed her hair pin and poked at the lamp fire “In the past, I thought that if I treated someone well, they would treat me well back. If I treated someone with honesty, they would treat me with honesty back. But I’ve now learned that isn’t the case. People in this world are complicated – they lie, cheat, betray, hurt others. I won’t ever lie to someone, but now I now longer people believe so easily. But…….” Yun Ge turned and stared at Liu Fu Ling “………..Ling gege, I believe you. So if even you are lying to me, then who can I believe? I just want to know the truth, please tell me.”

Liu Fu Ling silently stared at Yun Ge. Yun Ge saw in his eyes the familiar look of dark despair he always had, containing a sense of helplessness. Yun Ge’s heart ached. All she wanted was to make him happy, since she was a child and even now, that is all she wanted. “Ling gege, if you don’t want to tell me, then forget it. Maybe later……….”

Liu Fu Ling shook his head “My name has three characters, not two. Between Liu and Ling there is another character of Fu.”

Yun Ge dropped the hair pin she was playing with the lamp fire with and it doused the flame, sending the room into darkness. Yun Ge murmured to herself “Liu Fu Ling, Liu Fu Ling……….Ling gege, your name…..you have the same name as the Emperor of the Han dynasty!”

Liu Fu Ling moved over to sit next to Yun Ge and he grabbed her hand “Yun Ge, no matter who I am, I am still me, I am always your Ling gege.”

Yun Ge felt like her world was spinning. How could Ling gege be the Emperor? How could this be? “Ling gege, you’re not the Emperor, right?”

She stared at him wide-eyed, hoping and praying his answer would be that he wasn’t. Liu Fu Ling couldn’t bear to return her pleading look and he pulled Yun Ge into his embrace. He paid no heed to her struggles and held her tightly “Yun Ge, I am me. In the past, in the present, in the future, I am forever your Ling gege.”

Yun Ge hit Liu Fu Ling’s chest repeatedly, trying to push him away. But Liu Fu Ling continued to hold her tightly, letting her strike him as she wanted, but refusing to let her go. After Yun Ge hit him a few times, she finally started crying “I don’t like the Emperor. I don’t like it! Can you not be the Emperor, okay? Can’t we just live like this? Build a home in the mountains, we can live peacefully and quietly. You love reading exploration books and there aren’t many written. We can travel and gather experiences and you can write it all down. I can write my recipe book as well………….”

Liu Fu Ling pulled Yun Ge’s face into his shoulder while his eyes showed a gutwrenching type of despair. He could only repeat over and over again “I’m sorry, I’m sorry……….”

Because of his identity, his life was already filled with so much hopelessness, things he could not change. So he did his best to not let his identity create more hopelessness for anyone else around him.

When he ate Zhu Gong Zhi’s food, he didn’t want to own the chef because as the Emperor he could. He didn’t want the chef to feel hopeless and constrained because of his own whim. But right now, he was letting Yun Ge feel this same sense of hopelessness. This was the one thing he never wanted to happen, and yet, it has become something he cannot change.

………………………………………

It’s already the dead of night, silence all around. Yun Ge suddenly sat up on the pallet and deftly put on her clothes. She looked around the room to make sure nothing belonged to her. As she was moving to leave, she suddenly turned around and took the notebook from the table, the one that Liu Fu Ling would fill out for her.

Yun Ge left the room by flipping through the window. She ran a short distance, running and running, but then she stopped and looked back towards his residence. It was dark there, the lights having been turned off. He’s likely deep in his sleep.

All these years in her mind, the Ling gege she was looking for so long, he turned out to be exactly like she remembered and imagined he would be. She doesn’t need to say anything, and he already knows everything she’s thinking. But then why is he the Emperor? If he’s the Emperor, does that make him not her Ling gege anymore?

Yun Ge didn’t want to answer her own question. Call her cowardly, call her selfish, but right now she just wanted to escape from it all. Since she was injured, it felt like her mind was never fully clear. Before one shock was absorbed, another shock arrived. Right now she just wanted to be far away from the people and the things that were happening.

She finally made up her mind and turned to leave. She didn’t know when, but Liu Fu Ling was silently standing behind her. In the dark night, his eyes are also dark, unable to show what he’s thinking. Yun Ge stared numbly at Liu Fu Ling, and after some time, she abruptly lowered her head and tried to walk past him.

“Yun Ge” Liu Fu Ling was holding something which he handed to her. In that moment, Yun Ge’s heart thumped and she couldn’t take another step. A tiny leek green embroidered shoe rested in Liu Fu Ling’s palm, on top of the shoe was a pearl the size of a thumb. It was glittering a soft light under the stars.

Yun Ge slowly reached out and took it, the warmth still remaining, likely he kept it against his body always.

…………………………………………………….

“Okay, I’ll wait for you in Chang An.”

“Pinky swear, promise, one hundred years, it won’t change.”

“Do you know what it means when a girl gives an embroidered shoe to a man?”

“I accept it. Yun Ge, you also must remember!”

“With the stars as witness, no regrets or change.”

………………………………………………………

That night was also like tonight, the sky full of stars. Under the same star-filled sky, the same person standing there. Such stars, such a night, wasn’t this what she had imagined countless times. But why, why was it so bittersweet.

Liu Fu Ling’s eyes landed on the embroidered shoe in Yun Ge’s hand “Yun Ge, I just want one year’s time. I’ve waited for nine years, please at least give me time to hear your stories. In these nine years you must’ve been to even more places. I just want to know and understand the things you’ve done. And give me a chance, to tell you what I’ve been doing here for the past nine years. Don’t you care?”

“I……”

Yun Ge couldn’t finish. How could she not care? Countless night she laid on the roof looking at the stars, thinking of what Ling gege was doing. She even purposely kept track of what she was doing on specific hours of specific days of specific years, so when she reunited with Ling gege, she would ask him what he was doing at the exact same time. And whether he was thinking of her? There were so many words accumulated over the years she wanted to say to him……

Liu Fu Ling took the embroidered shoe back from Yun Ge “Just one year. If you still want to leave after one year, I will return this pearl embroidered shoe to you. At that time you and I will no longer have any promise to each other. But right now, I want you to fulfill the promise you made years ago.”

Yun Ge suddenly laughed “Ling gege, you are so smart. It’s my fault for being such a dummy years ago, and now that I’m all grown I’m still a dummy. Fine! One year’s promise.” She turned towards her residence “One year from now when I leave, you don’t need to send me off.”

Liu Fu Ling stood there, with his hands tightly gripping the embroidered shoe, staring as Yun Ge’s figure slowly disappeared into her room. Long after she had entered her room, he was still standing in place. He raised his head and looked at the night sky. The darkness was low and it was dotted with stars, an everlasting type of beauty. Such stars, such a night.


Comments

Yun Zhong Ge Chapter 21: One Year Promise (Part II) — 110 Comments

  1. Thanks Koala! I love how YG and LFL have a kindred spirit in each other. It’s amazing reading about their interactions. And them hiding in the water urn nearly made me laugh if not for the seriousness of the situation. 😀

  2. I think the story and your posts is getting sadder and sadder for me to bear. One, I want to konk Yun Ge in the head and tell her to just go with the flow. But her mindset of that era, I can really understand and connect with. Two, I feel distraught over your news of BBJX 2. What is there waiting for me now this year to enjoy? 🙁

  3. Thank you, Ms. Koala! Another great chapter full of suspense and emotion..
    All the 3 guys in one chapter! If you say it’s a story about 2 guys and Yun Ge, I’ll probably have to beg to differ. It really seems like Yun Ge and 3 guys.. Though LBY has not openly pursued Yun Ge, but you could tell that he really does like her and worry about her.

    These guys who don’t let people get close to them allow this little Yun Ge to strike them all over. That was a heart-aching scene where Yun Ge wants to be in denial of Ling gege being the Emperor. T_T And all he could say is “I’m sorry…” The girl he always wanted to protect, he has finally hurt. And it’s his identity which he cannot change.. But now, Yun Ge can finally completely understand why Ling gege will at times have that look of despair and helplessness in his eyes..

  4. The return of the green embroidered shoe! This is the part I’ve been waiting for! 😀 With very few words between YG and Ling gege, everything is out in the open. I can’t wait to see how they spend their promised year together.

    Thank you, Koala!!

  5. So good… Comical timing! Uncle yuto two cute monkies! And close cal

    l with mj. He is still looking for her ! She finally got to know his identity.
    It will be one year full of memories n their love will so grow!

  6. thanks for the chapter. Gosh, this chapter was happy and yet, sad at the same time. Ling ge ge wanting to be with YUn ge but she’s still so hung up on Meng jue. Her being able to almost come to term with MJ and his lie but then learned LGG is the emperor. There’s just so much going on at the same that I hope YG can deal with it and come out stronger than before.

  7. In my heart I kept wishing ling gege goin to tell Yun GE tat Meng Jue is not going to marry Huo Cheng Jun.

    But I guess he is keeping it to himself hoping Yun GE will forget him n able to accept him. I’m torn between these 2 perfect guy 🙁

      • Actually I believe he knows. At least he can be 75% sure. Plus after the almost encounter today become 99%.

        Because,
        1. LGG knows YG is the chef, at that time the princess was there and MJ as well so there is high chance that YG n MJ know each other.
        2. MJ was declining Huo Guang offer for marriage. Based on MJ n LGG personality they know MJ should take that rare opportunity.
        3. When YG was sick she scold a certain ‘bad’rock’,
        4. When she woke up she actually mention his name ‘Jue, I’m hurt’

        So I believe LGG knows. But he choose not to say anything.

        Maybe coz he think YG has decided to leave MJ
        But also partially coz he wants her..

        Y do I always love the Meng Guys …

      • i asked the same question in last to las ch and ms k answered it that he knows that yun ge said meng jue

      • i’m pretty sure Ling GeGe know the other guy is Meng Jue and know exactly why Yunge left. At least, he know the Huo Cheng Jun reason.

        However, since Yunge never brought up Meng Jue name and why she left him, that left Ling GeGe little chance or reason to tell her that MJ decided not to marry HCJ.

        And since Yunge confessed she decided to leave this guy behind, why should Ling GeGe help a guy that have hurt his beloved YunGe? The guy has his chance, if he screw up it’s his fault. Ling GeGe is a gentleman, but he is also a guy so it’s perfectly realistic and in character for him not to tell YunGe.
        If YunGe presses or if the topic come up, I think Ling GeGe would have tell her if he think that’s best for her. But since she doesnt do either of that, Ling GeGe is not guilty in the least. (well at least in my eyes)

    • LGG just wants YG to give him one year to win her heart. Right now, it is not a level playing field for him as MJ has already had 1 year with YG and so has this advantage. At the end of the one year period, I believe LGG would have told YG the truth so that she can make her final decision on who to choose.

      • I wonder if he think YG has decided to broke it off w MJ, which is also why he never tell her.

        And I do agree with you, he wants more time to win her heart, which is y he is buying time now.

        I bet he never thought that there will be another guy having the same jade as him, so now he knows that another descendant of previous emperor is still alive.

      • Yea, that’s what I think too. Anyway, I don’t see it wrong of him not to tell her. For one, Ling gege doesn’t know that one of the reasons she left MJ was because she thought he was going to marry HCJ. She only said that he lied to her and hurt her and wanted to move on. And for another, if it wasn’t for the mistaken identity, they would already be happy and together. He needs his chance too! =)

  8. OMG, how adorable YG with LFL,
    but YG is not confident be with LFL
    cause the promise that she is not keep.
    Thanks m’ K for your wonderful translation
    And your great time that you spent for us

  9. thanks so much, i love the characters especially Ling GeGe but I am dreading each chapter since I know the outcome the real people in history. Each chapter brings me more memories but so closer to their fates. The monkeys were just too cute and funny.

  10. Aww…. finally… now we just have to look forward to the small window of happiness (one year!) between the two, hopefully, before everything starts going downhill.

    On the other hand, I really really wanted to the confrontation to happen… I want to see Meng Jue and Lui Bing Yu’s reaction when they realize the relationship YunGe have with Liu Fu Ling. No matter the deception, I can’t help but feel sorry for Meng Jue… gosh, he’s gonna be so heartbroken. I love that he just lets go of his mask and starts breaking the urn. He’s showing his true side slowly, and I like it. LOL.

    Thank you for finishing this wonderful chapter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. Ms. K, in your YZG primer you wrote this scene of YG fleeing from LFL to whet our appetite for the OTP, I could not fathom what would compel YG to leave. Now I understand and would run away as well. I am glad she gave herself and LFL a year. Whether she lasts a year, especially with MJ and LBY hot on her trails, is another story.

  12. Thank you so much for translating this book. I know I kept saying it but it is so addicting. I love this one much more than DYM. Each character is so compelling but I do adore LFL (especially with Roy Qiu as him). LOL. But thank you for translating it for us non-chinese speakers. I wish I could buy the book and finish in one seating.

  13. I cannot imagine my most favourite books are in language that I cant read. Thanks Ms K for translating the books. U dont know how much happiness u bring me. I love LGG so much!

  14. This is one hell of a chapter. The lead characters are going through so much emotions, and I am also in agony. Everyone’s going through a lot of emotional pain. Yun Ge is just getting herself back in track, and now another emotional monkey wrench is thrown her way. I sense that I’ll have to shed buckets of tears before we get to the end of the story.

  15. Omg! I seriously can’t wait for more. koala, take your time. three gentlemen and one lady in between gives such a bittersweet taste to love and to power. I can’t believe i did the unthinkable and read some spoilers but that does not stop me from reading koala’s translation. hopefully YG and LFL make such great memories of a lifetime. this chapter shows that YG is so much like her mom, live in isolation away from political warfare and such.

    thank you for the translation, Koala.

  16. I should be studying, but here I am re-reading this chapter…
    I think this entire Chapter 21 is by far my favorite in its simplicity, complexity, suspense, and calmness.

    But oh the emotional roller coaster…
    My highlights of this 2nd part..
    ———————
    Gnawing pain:
    Yun Ge thinking of Meng Jue and LFL’s comforting her..

    Smiles:
    LFL holding Yun Ge’s hand and letting her direct him.
    Haha! The monkeys!
    Yun Ge: “We don’t know this guy” as she pointed to Yu An.
    Yu An teasing Yun Ge: “You’re not even married, how can you say son constantly. Aren’t you embarrassed? Who’s your sons’ daddy then?”

    Suspense, and heartbreaking:
    MJ’s worry and convincing himself “No, it must be her.”
    LFL knew that Meng Jue was still very important in Yun Ge’s heart.
    MJ not even pretending to wear his gentlemanly facade. It was clear that he was going to tear this neighborhood apart until he found her.
    LFL’s eyes were filled with heartbreak as he interjected “Yun Ge, we already are engaged to each other.”

    Hope:
    But at this moment, only the hand tightly holding onto her could protect her.

    Confusion:
    Meng Jue and Yu An know each other?!?

    Downward spiral hopelessness and disbelief:
    Yun Ge finding out the truth.. Her repeatedly hitting him and him not letting go… T_T
    Ling gege pleading with Yun Ge: “I will always be your Ling gege.” … “I’m sorry, I’m sorry..”
    ——————-
    I really do marvel at how Tong Hua could put so much in just one chapter… I am looking forward to the following chapters. I simply just love Ling gege much more than Meng Jue. Though Meng Jue is compelling, but I prefer the honest and pure one without ulterior motives. MJ is just too complex a character for me. I can foresee that Volume II will probably be my favorite as well knowing that Volume III will probably be all downward spiral and where I would cry the most. And I kinda wonder if my heart can even handle Volume III. But I think it really helps to read along with all of you so that we could share in each other emotional pain as we continue along.. Thank you again Koala for translating! And hopefully, we will make it to the end..

    • Me too! Since LFL returned to the scene, I can’t help but see that LFL and YG are truly meant for each other and MJ was just a heady interlude for YG. I know that LFL is withholding valuable information about MJ – that he approached LFL for help to dissociate himself from the Huo clan. That he did choose YG over HCJ. However, I feel that all he is asking for is 1 year to win her heart so that it will be a level playing field for him again and YG can decide who she loves more. I do love this novel more than DMY.

      • I actually still like DMY better. I like the simplicity of the storyline, the characters, and the love triangle. And I actually liked all of the main characters! That is very rare in a book. However, although I like the overall DMY, I think I enjoy the writing of YZG more probably cus each character is made alive in every chapter and they are so interesting to read. But I really can’t say that I love any of the characters apart from Ling gege up to this point. Unlike many other, I don’t really like MJ. It’s probably cus he’s too calculating and I don’t know what he’s thinking. =P But like I said before, I like ppl who are simple (not in the boring way), but ppl who are honest, honorable, respectable, and has integrity. Haha, I guess I just don’t respect MJ and that’s probably why I don’t really like him. Also, I don’t consider Ling gege as withholding info about MJ from YG cus as far as I see it, Yun Ge is trying to move on from being hurt by “that guy” because he was dishonest with her. When she talked about him, and it only contained a few sentences so Ling gege probably didn’t put much thought into it having much to do with HCJ. Plus, Ling gege deserves his chance with her. He’s already lost 1 year with her due to a mistaken identity aka LBY, so let’s give Ling gege another year to win her heart! (= Let the courting begin!

        Oh a side note completely unrelated to YZG, my favorite male character out of all the books I’ve ever read is probably Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. =P Hence, I really like your name. (= Now that is a respectable gentleman who actively tried to repent and change when he realized how proud he was.

      • You know what – when I saw Bu Bu Jing Xin and there was a scene when 4th prince was asking Ruo Xi what she thought about Min Min Ge Ge and 13th prince, whether they would be happy etc…. I actually found it very similar to the scene when Mr Darcy visited Lizzy Bennet at Charlotte Lucas’ (Mrs Collins) house and he was trying to find out how Lizzie would feel about marrying him and living in Derbyshire. It was very very similar. I love P&P too.

      • I vaguely remember that scene with 4th prince and Ruo Xi, but was their conversation about that? I can’t remember. I might just have to look it up later. But I definitely remember that scene with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. Haha, and she was so confused/surprised by it! Sneaky Darcy, testing the waters. Ahh.. all this P&P talk makes me want to pick up the book and read it again. =P Probably not a bad idea as we continue to wait for the posting of the next chapter(s).

    • Xiaoyi – Darcy was asking Lizzie if she thought Charlotte Lucas was happy in her marriage to Mr Collins and whether romantic love was necessary for a good marriage. 4th prince and Ruo Xi was walking in Mongolia (?) I think and he was asking her about Min Min Ge Ge, 13th prince and the other prince who turned up to seek MMGG’s hand in marriage. Later on, 4th asked RX to think about her own situation in life and the fact that she ought to set her self up for a suitable marriage before Kangxi chooses someone unsuitable for her. There is something really similar in both scenes – proud men, sussing out the object of their affections (relunctantly bestowed) and indirectly checking if the women are interested in them. When I saw Nicky Wu walking with LSS, I immediately thought of Colin Firth and Jennifer eEe.

      • Oh… Now that I have it in context I know what you’re talking about now. =P I was apparently thinking of another scene from P&P where Darcy asked her whether she preferred to not always be at Longbourn (hence, to marry not too close to home).

        I didn’t put that together but I can see that now. Thanks for sharing!

        Oh RX, I wondered if she did take his advice whether the king would’ve bestowed her to 4th prince (before the framed rebellion that left 13th prince in prison). Then again, I guess we won’t have a story if that happened..

      • Oh so glad to have found another P&P fan! I think I will re-read it again while waiting for another chapter of YZG. Favourite scenes – when Darcy meets Lizzie again in Pemberley when she thought he wasn’t around and she was visiting his estate with her aunt and uncle. Also love the scene when she is at the piano with Col Fitzwilliam and Darcy gets jealous and comes over and they have the best exchange in the English language!

  17. I cannot wait for the 3 way confrontation. Will LBY reveal his true identity ? Will LFL accept it ? How is MJ related to any of them – I never understood his background – why the revenge for hias family ? I feel that YG is starting to be inconsequential to the story now altho she is still sweet. She is the connection btw all 3 guys.

    Gosh, I love this book so much more than DMY. I’ve been imagining Wallace Chung as LFL and it really works well.

    Thanks Ms Koala for your continued generosity in sharing your beautiful translation with us.

  18. I have a headache but I wanted to read this chapter …. now , I’m feeling a little better , hehehe… thank you , Koala san ^^ this is like a medicine 🙂

  19. Thanks so much Ms K for another wonderful chapter! Please let there be many more precious happy moments between LGG and YG before history tragically snatches one away from the other. I do love the way TH has written his character. Truly no man can be so wonderful! Adore the way that he has always considered himself engaged to her.

  20. Actually, in re-reading this chapter, I am finding MJ a little creepy in the way he can pull a mask in the presence of Yu An and hide all his pent up frustration at not being able to find YG. The change in his demeanour was quite sudden and presents quite a dramatic contrast to the character of LFL who seems much more forthright (of course, I am being very objective here :)).

  21. Yes!!! Finally an update! I should be prepping for my meeting with senior management at this point but instead reading the YZG.

  22. woaaaah i’m lovin it 🙂
    totally addicted to this man, it’s so intense <3
    thanks heaps for the translations, it's much appreciated 😀

    ahh MengJue… losing control because of his overwhelming guilt and longing towards YunGe…
    sigh, he could've had her but lost his opportunity when he was still debating with himself over her or Huo ChengJun- love, or power? so saddening for poor YunGe though, i really feel for her. the emotions in Tong Hua's pieces are so vivid and descriptive, and you can really feel her frustration and sadness and despair. argh.
    but then again, i love Ling gege. he was always thinking of her, and keeping to the promise they made, even though others might not think much of it or just dismiss it as something frivolous. i'm sure that YunGe will realise that he is always strong and steady and by her side, and that he is a faithful man, unlike MengJue, and pick him eventually. i can't wait to read about her complicated feelings and angst when she realises that MengJue loved her more than Huo ChengJun though.

    thanks for translating <3

  23. Dear MsWonderKoala 🙂

    My never ending Thanks to your awesome generosity.

    i totally agree with previous comments…YZG is more deep and complicated than DMY. during my younger years *ehem* im so with historical romance that i thought ive read every story line. I was engrossed with DMY out of boredome but, YZG is totally different! i never read such story in my lifetime. i dont know how to describe, thou ive read this chapter 5x. such conflict, action, comedy, emo angst….its all there! surprisingly, Tong Hua is a young writer. i’m dead set sure Vol 2 is pretty compelling….i really wish i can read chinese.

    my sincere and heartfelt Thanks to you Ms. Koala 🙂 *tight hug*

    ps. I day dreamed….LFL will fake his death thru his illness, make Hung Guo happy and in-charge of the empire ( we know the rest, he put HY in the throne. deposed him and put the rightful LBY) and LFL ran away with YG *sigh*

    • I may be in minority, but I actually like DMY so much more. I do agree that YZG is more indepth than DMY, but I like the main characters from DMY so much more than YZG. I feel that they are stronger and more decisive. LGG and MJ are both compelling characters but to me they are not endearing as JY and HQB. Needless to say, YG is nothing like her amazing mother.

  24. Just some thoughts on issues raised in some comments:

    I’m fairly certain LFL knew the guy YG had fallen in love with during her year in Chang An was Meng Jue even before the urn incident, which only served to confirm it for him. But there is nothing for LFL to tell YG about MJ and HCJ. As far as YG told him, which is very little, her breakup with MJ was because he wasn’t honest with her. Let’s not forget that YG left not because of HCJ, but because she found out that her entire meeting with MJ was orchestrated by him deliberately so that he could win over Uncle Feng’s inheritance. Even if LFL told YG that MJ came to him asking for him and didn’t want to marry HCJ, that doesn’t matter. That’s not the reason YG ended things with MJ. She left because she felt used. At this point, she probably sees HJC as a fellow victim of MJ’s ambitiousness rather than as her rival in love.

    Plus the issue with LFL and YG is between the two of them. Considering how MJ actively sabotaged LBY (and helped XPJ win him) so that LBY could never have a chance with YG, LFL’s actions now are exceedingly honorable. He’s the Emperor, lest we forget! His daddy Liu Che, if he knew about Li Gan’s crush on Li Yan way back when, he would have had Li Gan carved into pieces and tossed to the deer. The fact that LFL has done nothing to MJ as his rival in love speaks volumes to his honor and decency and complete turnaround from his daddy. In the end, this love triangle is too complicated.

    I can give a tiny spoiler about next chapter – YG meets MJ again, and he immediately tells her he’s not married to HJC and not planning to marry her. And YG pretty much says “I don’t care” and tells him to take a hike.

    • I can’t wait for her to tell MJ to get lost and the relationship to build between YG and LGG!

      Thanks so much for your hard work Koala *big hug*.

    • Thank you for sharing that 🙂 I love love love this chapter! I have a feeling my heart is going to be shattered later, because I’m becoming more invested with each new development. LFL is the better man – he is far more honourable and he deserves YG’s love. I truly hope they will at least have some happiness, for as long as possible (knowing that Tong Hua will not give us a happily-ever-after ending). Bring on the tissues!

    • I can so fully understand YG’s reaction (and am so happy that she told him to get lost). MJ still doesn’t get it that it is not so much his dalliance with HCJ as much as the fact that he is duplicitous and conniving. I remember YG reflecting on the good fortunes of her mother in marrying a man who is not tempted by power and how in this world, she could only think of three men – her dad and her two brothers – who are like that. She even envied her mum and her future sisters in law. Well, I guess she has found her man in LFL who is not only not tempted by power, he seems to loathe it. If TH could just swing a Huo Jiu Ping style fake death for LFL and let him live happily ever after with HG, that would just make this novel perfect for me!

      • Reading all these comments made me reflect on myself. You know, I’m like MJ in many ways. I plan and work towards my goal. I leave very little to chance if I can help it. Sure I use people to my advantage but I never abuse them. I seek out opportunities to better myself. I know who to impress etc but I never forgot others. Perhaps that explains for my meteoric rise over my colleagues but you know, noone begrudge me that because I worked for it.

        Am I dishonorable just because of the above ? I don’t think so. Same with MJ – he tried to take hold and steer his future.

      • @babe: i dont think what you do and MJ is even in the same league. Being resourceful, ambitious, goal-oriented and determine is one thing, but to forgone morals and manipulate people’s emotions is far too many steps out of line. Say, if you have the chance to orchestrate a plan to make someone fall for u and use their affection to further your goal, would u do it? Yes, MJ really fall in love with Yunge in the end, but if he didnt, Yunge would just be like HCJ, used and tossed aside like an object and not human beings with emotions. That’s the different between being ambitious and manipulative.
        And being a third party, I could be objective and understand MengJue, both his pain and his hesitance. I could see his growth. But if i put myself as YunGe, even if she can understand, it doesnt mean she can forget. She will always have this doubt whether this guy is being honest because falling for YunGe doesnt mean he ceased to be ambitious or change who he is.

      • I think MJ adores YG since he met her as a kid so there is no question of MJ’s love for YG. Just that the ways he went about in gaining her affection isn’t honest. Also, he is indecisive in his quest for love or power. Thus he lost her to LGG who is honorable and chose love over power.

        Thank your very much for another spellbinding chapter. On one hand I’ll like you to translate faster as I am excited to read the development of the story but on the other hand I don’t want you to translate so fast because I am dragging the day your site will be flood with tears.

  25. omg. It’s becoming a habit to wake up and check for a new chapter at the website. Koahla, with your tiny spoiler, I’m dying to read the next chapter. Please don’t make us wait too long. This chapter was so beautiful and I think for those that have gone through heartbreak, Yun Ge indecision and conflicted feelings are very honest. LFL is a dream boat.

      • @ d

        Which boating scene are you referring to? Or both? 😉

        I suppose I’m trying to figure out if you mean literally what you wrote, or you actually meant to say “get it on in a boat.”

      • Good heavens! All these tiny morsels of the book is absolutely driving me wild! Ms K – does MJ have any idea of the identity of his love rival? I have been wondering about this because since YG mentioned her first love and the jade pendant, LFL warned her repeatedly not to cook for the emperor. Is this an indication that he might suspect the identity of YG’s “fiance”?

      • omg.. that’s not what I meant but there’s boating?! Does it get as hot as DMY bc that was hot. 😉

      • @darcy….pretty sure MJ got a clear idea LFL is his love rival. LBY is LFL’s look alike…asking YG to refuse to cook for the emperor. Im pretty sure…he asked Yu An for a drink to snoot on that night when he is on his way to Lu Mountain for his meeting with LFL, it was also the last time he saw YG.

        very very interesting and intense *deep sigh*
        ….i wish upon a star ( just like LFL ) msK will give us one more chapter before wednesday comes *cross fingers and toes* 😉

      • I actually don’t think that Meng Jue knows that the love rival is LFL. Firstly, Meng Jue most likely told Yun Ge not to cook for the emperor because the emperor has the power to keep her as a cook and locked up in the palace (which is what LFL didn’t do to give Zhu Gong Zhi his freedom to cook). And if he does decree to do that, then he’ll find out she’s a girl as well, and what a plus that is! a pretty girl and a great cook! But I think Meng Jue is just nervous that Yun Ge will be summoned to the palace and thus they will get separated. I think that’s a normal reaction for any guy. And secondly, it was stated that Meng Jue didn’t know the two fighting parties in the forest that night so he pretty much had no clue if Yun Ge somehow disappeared with them.

  26. I can’t thank you enough for your time to translate this book… in fact, I stopped ready book 3 all together because i would rather read your translation…

    I have already read book 2 in chinese.. but with your translation… i am loving the story even more… book 2 is my fav… mostly because I love LGG… book 1 has a lot of setup and about YG and MJ.. book 2 is really all about YG and LGG and of course MJ… but YG and LGG took center stage… I’m not going to give out any spoiler.. but book 2 put me in a total emotional mess… happy at one time.. and sad at the other…

    can’t wait for the next chapter!

  27. When MJ was desparately looking for YG in the market, he knew that she was still very close to him and he knew that she was definitely in the market. ~Liu Bing Yi sighed “Perhaps it was a mistake.” Meng Jue was silent for a moment before his palm shot out and shattered the ceramic store display “Not, it must be her.”~. However, when his searching was interrupted by Yu An, he pretended that nothing happened and he went along with him for drink. If YG is that imporant for him, why didn’t he just say “Hello” and “Good-bye” to Yu An and continue searching for YG. What happened to his sick worries about whether YG is alive or dead in the attack? He is afraid of losing face to Yu An who is connected with the Emperor. Since MJ doesn’t know the connection between the Emperor and YG, in his mind he should think that he can avoid Yu An from finding out what he’s up to and still continue to search her. I mean if YG is the most important person for him.

    Compared to LGG, when he heard about possible YG lives in Chang in, despite the bad weather and escape from assassination, he did not turn back from going to Chang An where the chef (he wasn’t sure if it was YG at that time) lives. ~ If Zhu Gong Zhi really was her, he had to see her as soon as possible. What if someone had been mean to her? What if she wasn’t happy? What if she wanted to leave Chang An? What if she met someone else? So much could happen in a single day, and he had long ago lost faith in the Heavens.”~

    Between YG and MJ’s greed for power and connection, sadly it shows that in MJ’s heart, YG is still in the second place.

    P.S – Thanks so much Ms. Kola for your speedy translation and thanks for indulging our craving for YZG.

    • I don’t think so. If LGG met Huo Gang at the moment he was looking for Yun Ge he would have stopped as he wouldn’t want people to find out and use Yun Ge in order to get to him. Remember the time he pushed his sister away from him in order not to make her a target (even though she became one). What MJ was doing is to cover his tracks and not provide Yu An with something that can be used against him. So I disagree with your assertion that Yun Ge is still second place in his heart as he distanced himself from Huo Gang and he isn’t marrying HCJ.

      • I agree with you.

        If LGG is a normal, regular Joe, the way that he acted would be called foolish – a guy who follows his heart without thinking of the consequences for himself and others. What would happen if he was assasinated – it would throw the empire into turmoil ? What of that ? Totally acting un-leader like.

        Much as I like LGG and I really like him becos TH has written him to be the perfect gentleman, I find him rather unrealistic.

  28. Thank you Ms Koala. Hanging on as long as I dare. Note I left BBJX at ep 18 or something. No guts to watch the end.

    All I can comment is that I’m falling in love with Ling gege. Oh brother, if he hurts I will hurt. And we have ? how many more books to go?

  29. I was so thrilled when I saw this post. Loads and loads of thanks to you. Funny that I keep seeing the personal servant of the King in The Moon Embraces The Sun popping up in Yu An, especially in the monkey scene. Just love this couple’s moments be it happy or sad.

    • I really love the way Yu An’s character has been drawn – so faithful and loyal. He’s probably the closest person to LFL, having served him faithfully since he was a child and watching him grow into a fine young man.

  30. sniff sniff..
    ——–
    Can you not be the Emperor, okay? Can’t we just live like this? Build a home in the mountains, we can live peacefully and quietly. You love reading exploration books and there aren’t many written. We can travel and gather experiences and you can write it all down. I can write my recipe book as well………….”
    ——–
    This is almost a Yun Ge confession and how Ling gege would sooo want to have that kind of life.. If only he wasn’t the Emperor. But of course, there are no if’s.

    Thanks, Koala, for the sneak peak to the the next chapter. Hmm.. so Yun Ge is going to meet Meng Jue in the next chapter, huh? I guess he’s probably gonna try to treat her incurable cough? Whatever the reason, that’s good though. Facing him will help her let the past go..

    • It does sound like she has already assumed (subconsciously) that she will have a life with LGG! Maybe she herself is not fully aware that she is in love with him.
      He he!

      • @darcy: thats what i thought. I was a bit shocked those things were spoken from yunge’s lips. because at this point she is still hesitant, between cross-road emotionally. So to hear her say that means she (subconsciously) already chosen Ling GeGe. she still have the option to just go home and not choose neither, but in her heart, ling ge ge is still her fiance.

      • @ Annie – it’s sooo cute actually, when I think about it! LGG must be secretly delighted that YG made that comment.

  31. im sorry, i cant stop blabbering…

    YZG is really a story of MJ. how a person suffered at a very young age, met a very nice girl (who gave her pearl shoe to go to a doctor), met JY ( redeemed him as a person and adopted him), never forgot YG (worked hard to meet her again and show her he is not the poor boy she pitied…later realized, YG is the love of his life)…

    but, faith is not on his side…..his life’s experience made him as he is. YG shows him the good side of human nature. YG is really engaged to LFL first and surely. MJ used his pearl shoe of pity….to asked for YG’s hand for marriage which made her ran away to Chang An. She missed LGG in Vol 1 but reunited at Vol 2….found MJ true colors and her real LGG, faced with guilt for not keeping up with her promise.

    We’re aching for MJ and his quest for his own happiness …..can a person never change? will his background will always be a stigma to his current personage? Who will YG choose….her real love and soul mate…or, will she choose for pity?

    disclosure….i never read the novel….these are all just my personal musing. Thanks msKoala for the opportunity *mwaaah*

  32. I cried reading the last scene. Poor Ling gege, he desperately wanted her to stay. As the emperor, he seemed to have everything, but he only needed Yun Ge.
    I just love love Liu Fu Ling too much.

  33. Because I’m really really nice today. Snippets of the boating scene.

    ……………………………………….

    Yun Ge’s tears fell down her face like a pearl necklace that had shattered. Each round drop was thick and heavy. He reached out his hand to capture it. In Yun Ge’s devastated and pleading expression, his eyes teared up as well.

    He lowered his head and picked up the edge of Yun Ge’s robe, tying a dead knot with his own robe, tightly binding them together. He also picked up a lock of Yun Ge’s hair and tied it in a knot with a lock of his hair.

    When he raised his head, he smiled and reached for Yun Ge’s hand “With the Heavens as the witness, with the stars as the matchmaker, you are my one and only wife in this lifetime.”

    Yun Ge broke into a beaming smile, and in that split second, her smile caused the entire star-filled sky to lose its glory.

    ………………………………..

    Heh, that’s it for now, my dears.

    • Arggg Ms K that was harsh stopping right there. Thanks for the spoiler will look forward to this chapter

      • @ CH: That is what I picked up from reading comments from other readers – I’m sorry if I spoiled anything >_< I'll be more careful next time. I'm not even 100 percent sure what happens myself!

    • omg I’m so glad I always read the comments after the story…I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this little snippet. I wonder why she was crying though….T_T I hope it has nothing to do with the disease that Liu Fu Ling will have that eventually cause his death – I want them to be happy for a while before he separates from her . Thank you very much for your hard work!

      • Actually I somewhat read ahead (Ms.Koala’s translation motivated me to take up chinese learning and after a month of hard work I manage to get a general idea of what is going on when I read the novel online) and she knew about the empress already – he even brought her over to the place they have been staying at to let Yun Ge know he treats his empress like a little sister. I think it should be in the next chapter that he does that. 🙂 Thanks for trying to help though and your assumption is 100 percent feasible since he said she is his only wife.

      • @ CH: That is what I picked up from reading comments from other readers – I’m sorry if I spoiled anything >_< I'll be more careful next time. I'm not even 100 percent sure what happens myself!

    • thank you thank you for the spoiler!!!

      my heart start beating faster reading the scene by scene.

      I am imagining it play out but can’t wait to actually see it play it out!!!

  34. Is anyone else bothered by the fact that her parents and brothers just let her run off by herself? I think she’s only 15 or 16 years old when she runs off. She hardly has any money on her, has crappy martial arts skills, only real talent is her cooking skills, never even been to Chang An…

    After what happend to Jin Yu, when she first arrived in Chang An, I would think they’d be a bit more protective of their only daughter. Sorry but this is too much of a stretch for me that sane and responsible parents, even if they are worldly and liberal, would allow their daughter to do that.

    • I think Ms K did mention that the suitor who came to ask for her hand in marriage (MJ) had assured her parents that he would find her and look after her in Chang An. At least, that’s what I remembered. This is also consistent with their style of parenting – recalling 9 years ago when JY sent an 8 year old YG to search for and rescue the ZPN and LFL when they were lost in the desert. Agree with you that it seems a huge stretch of imagination ‘though but I suppose that’s why it’s fiction.

      • I think it’s pretty common during that time for younger people to be independent. I think about other ancient dramas and most of the characters are suppose to be in their mid teens and such. And when you think about it, girls would get married or are suitable to get married at around 12-13 years old. Sounds really young in our generation, but that was the norm during that time. I believe Yun Ge is around 16 years old right now. In the beginning, HQB did say that however he wanted to admit that his girl has grown up, she is still his little girl and he cannot not worry about her thus prompting him to ask Huo Yao to check up on her from time to time.

      • Yes, they were quite an extraordinary family so it’s consistent that her parents would not overly constrain YG. After all, JY was raised by the wolves from an early age too and HCB was fighting wars in his teens.

  35. wuah … this chapter is so compelling. so far, this chapter alongwith the 1st ch are my favorites.

    as stated in post above, i feel that yun ge already accept ling gege and has already pictured life with him (when she said can you not be emperor etc). it’s just she hasn’t realised her feelings yet being still jaded by hurtful experience with mj.

    thx ms K for another wonderful translation ^^

  36. Thank you for your hard work!! After some distance from the book, I am surprised to find myself keenly scrutinizing Mengjue still. TH is really a good historical writer. LGG is still perfect; his pairing with YG is still like a dream; I’m really happy for him and YG; but Mengjue is just so realistic – his pain, ambition, single-minded determination to protect those he held dear – makes him stand out like a lotus out of water. I think he is the best thing for me in this book. Thanks again for translating this book!!

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