We’re here, we’re here. Chapter 18 of Yun Zhong Ge marks the end of volume 1 of this rich, nuanced, and densely plotted novel. There are two more volumes to go, but we’ve come a long way since we met the girl in the green woven skirt riding a snow white camel in the desert. I may find Yun Ge somewhat annoyingly idealistic and perky, but I appreciate that she’s still young and is always growing and learning from her experiences. She never stays stagnant, and instead she faces the hard truths in life and soldiers on. I’m sorry this chapter is going to end on a ridiculously tense cliffhanger, but this is why we love it, no?
I love how this chapter finally explained things from Meng Jue’s point of view, and it hurts to realize that he’s going to go with his heart but unbeknownst to him, it’s already too late. I think its hilarious the amount of coincidences that happens on the road between Chang An and Wen Quan Palace to lead to the events that are about to unfurl. Are the Heavens leaning towards Meng Jue or Liu Fu Ling? I think neither at this point, as both men are about to find and lose Yun Ge at the same time.
Chapter 18: Inferno
Outside of Chang An, in the Lu Mountains, the Wen Quan Palace (Hot Springs Palace) was built by Qin Shi Huang. Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che, Liu Fu Ling’s dad) also added to it. Since Liu Fu Ling ascended the throne, he did not spend any more money on Wen Quan Palace, but the splendor of the yesteryears still permeated every nook and cranny of this Palace.
At the eve of the Crown Prince Wei revolt, when Emperor Wu of Han was poisoned, he chose to come here to recover.
Because the situation was such a mess at that time, plus Liu Che’s personality had turned highly suspicious of everyone, from the Queen on down to the Princes and the court officials, he trusted no one. Thus he did not allow any guard from the Palace or Chang An to enter Wen Quan Palace. At the Palace, all the Emperor’s guards are his most trusted eunuchs.
Because of the dictates of the previous Emperor, and with Liu Fu Ling’s tacit consent, Yu An spent the last ten years diligently building up the second strongest armed forces outside of the Imperial Army, and now they were silently and stealthily sprinkled all around the Lu Mountains.
The hot springs were all inside the Palace, and all around the hot springs there were engraved carvings of lilies used to accessorize and to prevent slipping. Steps lead into the hot springs and the hot steam blanketed the entire room.
Liu Fu Ling was sitting in the hot spring just up to his shoulder, leaning back against the jade pillow as if he was asleep. He didn’t like people close to him, so only Yu An can stand outside the curtains.
An eunuch came inside and bowed to Yu An, who spoke quietly to him before the eunuch departed. Yu An couldn’t see what the situation was inside the curtain, so he didn’t know if he ought to disturb the Emperor, so he stood there clenching his hands.
Liu Fu Ling, without opening his eyes, asked “What is it?”
Yu An quickly answered “Your majesty, I am useless. That day I checked out every woman in Gan Quan Palace and to this day, I cannot find the woman singing. But I was just told something new. Remember the chef who cooked for you once, Zhu Gong Zhi? The chef was at Gan Quan Palace that day, but I had the chef kicked out. I just learned from the Princess’s eunuch Fu Su that, despite the Elegant Chef being named Zhu Gong Zhi (Gentleman Zhu), the chef is in fact a girl.”
Liu Fu Ling slowly opened his eyes “What is her name?”
“Because Fu Su was not one of the Princess’s trusted eunuchs, and all the eunuchs in the Princess’s estate are now dead, so we don’t know what her real name is. But since Zhu Gong Zhi is the chef at Qi Li Xiang in Chang An, I’ve already sent someone to investigate. We’ll find out no later than tomorrow night.”
Liu Fu Ling thought back to eating Zhu Gong Zhi’s food that day, and then the singing in Gan Quan Palace, and he suddenly stood up from the hot spring. He quickly wiped himself and dressed “Yu An, go prepare a carriage. We’re immediately returning to Chang An and going directly to Qi Li Xiang.”
Yu An kneeled and bowed “Didn’t Your majesty come to Wen Quan Palace to meet Meng Jue? Despite only meeting once, my impression of him was very memorable. I hear he’s close to Huo Cheng Jun, and that Huo Guang thinks very highly of him and treats him like a son. I don’t know why he suddenly asked for a meeting with Your majesty, but I think something is brewing there. Why don’t you wait to meet him before returning to Chang An?”
Liu Fu Ling fixed his robe and walked out “When is he coming?” Yu An replied “He will try to leave Chang An tonight, so he’ll arrive in the middle of the night, or maybe tomorrow at dawn. But if he arrives in the middle of the night, he won’t bother Your majesty, so the earliest he’ll come see you is tomorrow morning.”
Liu Fu Ling thought about it “We’re heading back to Chang An through the night. If he arrives, tell him to wait for me, and I’ll see him tomorrow night at the latest.” Yu An realized how out of character Liu Fu Ling’s behavior was but the timing would work out so he said yes and went to prepare the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Liu Fu Ling leaned against the cushion and closed his eyes, as if he was sleeping. But his heart was unsettled. He was afraid to think about Zhu Gong Zhi being the person he was waiting for. All those years, he waited in Chang An, just silently waiting. This is the first time he’s taken the initiative and dared to reach for what he wanted……what he wanted but fate might not be willing to give him.
The wisest decision was to wait to get confirmation. If it was correct, he could make the move. If not, then he can only remain waiting. He rushed down the mountain so quickly that likely people spying on him would see his move. But he was silent and waiting for too long. He was afraid of missing this chance, he was so afraid of what might happen if he let this chance pass him by.
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.
When he headed down the mountain, there was no wind. But the wind started to pick up, so strong that a person felt like he was being carried away.
Yu An was very unsettled and dared to say “Your majesty, it’s very windy tonight and not good for travel. Let’s go back! The latest tomorrow night we’ll receive news, Your majesty need not make this journey yourself.”
Liu Fu Ling did not open his eyes and said “You can go back.” Yu An immediately replied “Your servant I wouldn’t dare” and retreated to keep guard as they continued on their way.
………………………………..
One black horse, a body covered in a black cloak, Yun Ge rode like the wind. The sharp gusts cut into her face, but the pain only made her happier. It’s been too long since she rode with such wild abandon. Too bad her mount wasn’t Ling Dang, or a Blood Sweat Horse, then she could really enjoy riding unfettered.
Her daddy and mom might not be home. Sometimes when they traveled, it wasn’t odd for them not to come home for two or three years. Second Brother was probably off somewhere journeying. Thank god her lazy Third Brother would be at home. Thinking of Third Brother, she only felt warmth. She even missed Third Brother’s coldness towards her, always acting like he couldn’t be bothered with her.
No wonder people said a girl’s home is her maiden family. When a girl was happy, she wouldn’t miss her family. But when she was sad, the first place she wanted to go was back home.
She once believed that the person who loved her would treat her like his most precious treasure. No matter how others saw her, in his eyes she would be the smartest, the cutest, the prettiest, irreplaceable. She could not be exchanged for a thousand taels of gold in this world. But now she realized that was just a childish dream of a young romantic girl.
People are too complicated, people have too many desires and wants. Perhaps a thousand taels of gold was not enough to be exchanged, but then a million taels of gold might be enough. Or maybe a thousand and one taels of gold is all that it takes to give it up.
Yun Ge felt her eyes fill with tears but she didn’t want to cry another drop for him. She screamed loudly in the wind and the sharp wind hurt her throat so much the pain caused her to swallow her tears.
When she arrived here, Chang An was the capital city of the Han dynasty. The world’s most glamorous city, the most majestic city, and the place she’s been longing to visit since she was a child. Chang An represented her dream, it represented the happiness she thought was always hers.
But now, she never wanted to think about this place again. She wanted to forget everything that happened here.
Yun Ge urged her horse faster….faster so that she can leave all of this behind…..leave it all far far behind…………..
……………………………………………
A black horse.
The best way to conceal a black clothed person on a dark black night.
With the face covered, the only thing visible is a pair of eyes.
Even though he knew that rushing to Lu Mountain in the middle of the night he still might not see Liu Fu Ling, but he still needed to decrease the time spent on the road to avoid being detected. Thank god tonight the wind was big so there was few people on the road. Because of the cutting wind, they could also openly cover their faces when traveling.
His delay tactic was almost at a breaking point. Soon Huo Guang would start to be suspicious.
Liu Fu Ling was his only hope now. Since Liu Fu Ling agreed to secretly meet with him, he must know what he wants to say, and will probably agree.
Even though the death of his entire family wasn’t directly caused by Liu Fu Ling, but he always resisted working together with Liu Fu Ling. All he did was work towards his own goals, and watch and judge Liu Fu Ling from afar. He never expected life would push him to this point. Just like he never knew that the Liu Bing Yi he hated since childhood would one day be someone he could discuss things with.
If this happened some time ago, everything would be so simple. He would definitely choose the path that best benefitted him – he would choose to marry Huo Cheng Jun.
Huo Cheng Jun was different than Huo Lian Er. She knew what she wanted and had the power to fight for it. Huo Cheng Jun’s personality was best suited to help him achieve everything he wanted in Chang An.
What remaining use Yun Ge had to him, when compared to Huo Cheng Jun, was negligible.
When he first came to Chang An years ago, he was a simple man without money or connections. Xiao He promised to help him, but as an Infante Duke he was prohibited from using his wealth for anything in Chang An. Plus Xiao He’s power and connections was limited in Chang An. All his plans needed Uncle Feng’s money and connections. But Uncle Feng was greatly influenced by his adoptive father and stayed far away from politics. He would never agree to help him.
Except for Yun Ge. The daughter of the woman his adoptive father loved his entire life. Only she could change things. His adoptive father was like a god in the heart of Uncle Feng, and he was his adoptive father’s only heir. Yun Ge, plus his last name of Meng, could turn everything impossible into something possible.
The reality confirmed what he long suspected. Uncle Feng was enraged that day but when he saw the Gold Silver Flower pin in Yun Ge’s hair, nothing else mattered anymore. What was important was seeing a young man with the last name Meng holding the hand of the girl wearing the Gold Silver Flower hair pin. It finally resolved the sadness in Uncle Feng’s heart about what did not happen long ago.
Now Uncle Feng has handed him all his businesses in the Han dynasty. Even though his other three uncles haven’t handed him the Xi Yu businesses, but compared to the power presented by aligning with the Huo family, those other businesses no longer mattered.
He tried over and over again to convince himself. He even embraced Huo Cheng Jun, even tried to kiss her. He tried to convince himself that “it’s just a woman, if he closed his eyes they are all the same, and Huo Cheng Jun’s looks are comparable to Yun Ge.”
But it wasn’t the same. His mind told him it was the same, but his heart said that it wasn’t the same.
His mind shouted “the same, the same” as he leaned down to kiss Huo Cheng Jun. But his heart clearly told him “not the same, not the same”. And in the last second, right as he was about to kiss Huo Cheng Jun, he pushed her away.
Faced with Huo Cheng Jun’s shocked and incredulous expression, he just smiled and told her that he was overstepping his bounds and dare not do this. But his heart knew that it was because of Yun Ge. He could not let her slip through his hands. It was his little Yun Ge!
When he was at his lowest point, dirty, hopeless, and pathetic, it was Yun Ge who reached out to hold his hand without flinching.
It was Yun Ge who smiled back at him when he derided her.
It was the rich girl that he believed himself to hate for many years, but during those years he remembered every word she said to him, every smile, her green woven skirt, her name.
His three uncles would occasionally mention Yun Ge’s Sky Mountain snow camel named Ling Dang.
Every time it was because he “accidentally” mentioned something which lead to the passing discussion. So each time he perfectly timed his “accidentally” mentioning something.
He tracked the steps of the Sky Mountain snow camel, he tried desperately to find out any information about this girl he loathed.
He found out that she went to the Mu Lake with Ling Dang. She went to the Kong Que River. He learned that Ling Dang accompanied her to the Du Ku Se Mountains, to Tibet, a trip that took three years where all traces were lost of her.
She was so free, living every moment enjoying life.
All the while he diligently studying, practicing martial arts, learning medicine, learning poison, learning the zither, learning to run businesses with his three uncles. During this time, he was keeping an ear on what was happening in the Han dynasty.
He did not waste a single moment of his life.
He worked hard to learn everything, sleeping for only two hours a night. He read books as he was eating. Even in his sleep he was thinking of how to emulate his adoptive father’s every elegant gesture. He used his adoptive father’s perfection to cover up his own aura of rage and pain. He wanted everyone who saw him to have no suspicion. He wanted everyone who once looked down on him to feel ashamed when they compared themselves to him.
He didn’t know if the truth was that he was unconsciously trying to make himself as perfect as possible for when he saw the girl in green again.
Time passed him by as the leaves fell time and again. He quietly waited for his chance to seek revenge. He patiently planned everything. Perhaps…..in his heart, in a place he refused to acknowledge existed, he was also patiently waiting for her to return.
He was waiting for her return and to be reunited with her, and their reunion would be perfect.
He did it! He appeared before her looking impossibly perfect, and this time it was she who was dressed like a beggar. But she didn’t notice him, she didn’t react to him.
She didn’t recognize him?!?
Of course she didn’t recognize him!
Did he mind? Was he fine with her not recognizing him?
He inwardly mocked her idiocy, scoffed at her fake kindness, hated how she didn’t care about anything. But he was not surprised about anything with regards to her.
In those eight years, in the deepest recesses of his heart, he already knew what kind of person she was.
…………
Time and ties binded them. Things happened before he even realized it, and he could no longer rationally erase her from his heart.
In the many times he gazed at her from afar, keeping track of her whereabouts, in the long eight years of his paying attention to her, he had grown accustomed to her in his life.
So right now he can only act like a fool. Instead of staying warm and comfortable in Chang An, he was rushing through the bitter cold wind. Instead of walking a wide safe path, he was choosing to walk a rickety suspension bridge.
…………………………………………………
This huge wind storm was not suitable for traveling, so along the way Meng Jue didn’t see a single person.
Meng Jue thought he could just travel directly to Lu Mountain. But then he saw a carriage coming towards him, surrounded by guards.
Traveling on such a night, it must be something of vital importance.
Meng Jue was wary and he slowed his horse, moving to the side of the road. Behind him, Liu Yue (June) and Ba Yue (August) also followed and moved aside.
Perhaps it was because of the cold wind, or for other reasons, everyone in that procession was also wearing black cloaks and had their faces covered up, just like Meng Jue and his group.
The guards around the carriage put their hands on their swords as they spotted the three people on the side of the road.
Liu Yue and Ba Yue also tensed and readied themselves. Thankfully the two sides passed each other without incident, and both sides let out a sigh of relief.
Which was when suddenly another group of masked men emerged and attacked the carriage. The carriage was immediately surrounded. Liu Yue and Ba Yue immediately flanked Meng Jue to protect him. They saw the flash of the sword and suddenly all hell broke loose.
This trip, all the eunuchs are martial arts masters. It’s the secret guards that the former Emperor had been training. Despite being outnumbered, Yu An was not afraid. He loudly called out “Kill them ALL!”
Meng Jue knew there was a misunderstanding, especially because the real assassins emerged from the woods right behind him. No matter how you look at it, it would appear that his group was also part of the same group of assassins. It was chaos all around and there was no way to explain. Now that the other side gave the order to kill all, he could do nothing except defend himself. Thus Meng Jue’s group unexpectedly got in the middle of the battle between two sides.
All the eunuchs had been trained since youth to be the best fighters. Not just in martial arts, but also in killing people and torturing people.
The assassins were also good fighters. But who knew they would be faced with a group of eunuchs who had been isolated in Wen Quan Palace training their entire lives. They did nothing except train to protect the Emperor. Because they never got a chance to fight, they were itching to finally unleash their skills now. So everyone of the eunuch guards were even more deadly and vicious than the assassins.
The assassins could not match up and quickly they started to fall under the swords of the eunuchs. And the way they died was also quite painful and vicious.
Liu Fu Ling heard the fighting outside diminish and he rapped on the side of the carriage “Interrogate them.”
Yu An stomped on the ground in frustration at himself. He was so angry earlier he made a mistake. He quickly shouted “Leave some alive.” But in that moment, the only three people alive were Meng Jue’s group of three people.
Yu An immediately flew forward and attacked Meng Jue.
Yu An was trained by the best eunuchs in the Palace since he was three years old, all so that one day he could serve the Crown Prince. He was quite talented, thus Liu Che picked him amongst thousands of eunuchs. Over the years, Yu An’s martial arts could be considered the best in the world.
Meng Jue may have been taught by martial arts masters, but he started learning it when he was older. When he fought against normal people, he was quite good. But faced with a martial arts expert like Yu An, he was completely out-matched.
Liu Yue and Ba Yue were already injured. But the eunuchs around them started playing cat-and-mouse games with them. Not killing them but toying with them, slashing across their bodies in cuts that were not too deep nor too shallow.
Meng Jue kept saying “There’s been a misunderstanding”, but Yu An just wanted to capture him alive and didn’t even care to listen.
Meng Jue’s arrogance was riled and he decided not to explain anymore, just calming down to fight Yu An. His tactics were learned from the Xi Yu assassins and each move was calculated to kill, or at least critically maim.
Because Yu An wanted to capture him alive, and didn’t want to harm him, his actions slowed and became more deliberate. But even though he couldn’t defeat Meng Jue right away, it was only a matter of time before Meng Jue was captured. The other eunuchs guarded the carriage and laughed at the fight where the victor was already clearly determined.
Suddenly there came a sharp scent carried in the wind and a thick fog appeared in the woods. Yu An thought it was another assassin and immediately went back to protect Liu Fu Ling.
Because of the unending court intrigues and battles, all eunuchs carried various poisons and antidotes at all times. It could be used to kill, to save someone, and if need be, to commit suicide with.
Yu An was not afraid of poison since he had ingested various poisons before and was no immune to it all. But for some reason no one was immune to this weird fog and everyone was coughing madly. Their eyes was watering and felt this sharp pain. But it didn’t appear to be poison since everyone still had their strength.
In the fog, everyone’s sword thrusts was off. Meng Jue startled and then he was laughing even as he was coughing. Someone who used spices as a weapon, in this entire world there could be no one else other than his Yun Ge. Since it wasn’t poison, the eunuchs couldn’t deal with it immediately. In truth, the only antidote was to wash their faces and rinse their mouths.
Yu An was afraid of someone else attacking so he could only cough and guard the carriage, watching as a few eunuchs continued to fight with Meng Jue.
Yun Ge, covering her face with a wet cloth, crawled next to Meng Jue in the fog. She tossed something at the eunuchs and screamed “Deadly Five Poison Powder!” The eunuchs immediately jumped back to avoid the powder. Yun Ge grabbed Meng Jue and started to run, with Liu Yue and Ba Yue following behind them.
The eunuchs finally saw that it was just random cooking spices tossed at them. They realized whatever poison couldn’t contain these ingredients. They felt even further enraged to be thus fooled and quickly followed chase.
Yun Ge had started a fire so Meng Jue tossed something in it. Suddenly another gust of white smoke wafted up and it was a fragrant scent instead of the sharp scent of peppers. Meng Jue turned around and called out “Stop chasing us since this time it really is poison. And my poison isn’t just any ordinary poison. Even if you have the antidote, you’ll still be weakened by it.”
The chasing eunuchs tried not to breath but their footsteps became shaky. Just like Meng Jue said, they felt weakened by the smoke.
Yun Ge pointed to the horses left by the other assassins. Meng Jue went to get the horses but Yun Ge remained standing in place. After Meng Jue got on the horse, still Yun Ge didn’t move towards him. He turned his horse around and reached out his hand to pull Yun Ge up on his horse.
Yun Ge stared at Meng Jue but made no move to take his hand.
Yun Ge’s face was normally as clear as the mountain spring and as happy as a wide valley. But right now all that remained was pain and agony in her eyes, with unshed tears. Meng Jue was stunned and he called out “Yun Ge?”
Liu Yue and Ba Yue saw the eunuchs were almost caught up to them and cried out “Gong Zhi!”
“Yun Ge?” Meng Jue cried out again and tried to get his horse closer to her. He leaned down to forcefully pull her on his horse. But Yun Ge jumped away from his reach, and in Meng Jue’s completely disbelieving eyes, she turned her face away from him decisively and then hit his horse on the rump. The horse bolted with Meng Jue, and Liu Yue and Ba Yue immediately followed suit on their horses.
The fire started by Yun Ge was blown by the wind so that all around the woods, there was trees and bushes which caught fire. Thus the horses were spooked and Meng Jue could not control his horse. He could only hunch down to keep from being thrown. He turned around and stared at Yun Ge with eyes filled with complete shock and disbelief. But Yun Ge didn’t even look once at him.
The sky, it was pitch black. But on the ground, the red flames danced. The wind howled around him and the shocked horses raced away from the flames. Meng Jue could only watch as the lone figure slowly disappeared from his view.
Yun Ge grabbed another horse and was getting ready to get on and leave. A eunuch suddenly appeared and saw that everyone had escaped. He was so furious he forget Yu An’s order to capture someone alive. His sword shot out towards Yun Ge.
The moment Yun Ge was about to swing on the horse, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her back. She lowered her head and stared disbelievingly at her chest. She didn’t know how there could be a sword coming out of her chest. And where did the wetness in her hands come from?
She saw only blackness before her eyes as her hand slid down weakly from the horse, and her body collapsed on the ground.
The horse reared up and whined pitifully, but could not rouse its owner. Under the fire light, her form became a lonely shadow against the pitch black sky.
[End of volume 1]
Thank u! Ooo Meng guys why u guys always late in the matter of love 🙁
Thanks Koala!!!!!! I’ve been dying to read the next chapter after reading 17 in the morning… You are too good!
OMG! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR UPDATING!! I’M SOOO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER! I CAN’T WAIT!! It’s getting SO MUCH BETTER!!! ^_^
<3<3<3<3<3 How many times and in how many ways can I say thank you? <3 You're the best!
One of the things I like about this novel compared to DMY is that you get to see things from each person's perspective. In DMY there were so many times where I wish I knew/could hear what the other characters were thinking and feeling…..instead of just having to judge everything from JY's point of view. Maybe that's why the characters in YZG feel richer and deeper to me….because I can hear their voices and understand things from their POV.
::picking jaw off floor::
I knew he loved her and perhaps had always loved her but ….wow. Just wow.
Omg. I cannot wait for the next chapter!!!!! She’ll get to see liu fu ling soon!!!! So excited :). Thank you so much. Such an intense chapter. I just love meng jue’s shock. He’s so calculating that it is scary. I just can’t wait for her to meet Liu fu ling..haha Roy qui in koala dramaworld. 🙂
But I knew that he always loved her from the beginning but he chose a different Path over her :(.
I think this chapter shows that he was willing to choose her that’s why he was going to see Liu Fu Ling to give evidence against Huo family so he could survive and live with Yun Ge.
OMG UR FREAKIN KIDDING ME lOl
omg i think imma cry, cry, and cry some more. 🙁
Ms. Koala, you must reaaaallly love ling ge ge and want to start volume two soon. 2 chapters in one day!?!! Love you!
Poor Meng Jue ; ( I guess Yun Ge saving him… now she owes him nothing. Not her life, not her heart.
Liu Fu Ling is gonna go ballistic when he sees his “assassin”.
i’d be surprise if he didnt execute all his guards after this. ^^”
GOOD GRIEF!!!!!!! I read that whole chapter without blinking once! Excellent cliffhanger!
Thanks, Koala for volume one. As always, your translations are very much appreciated! I can’t wait to see where volume two takes us……..
Speechless. What an ending to volume 1, brilliant writing. Whew, you’re awesome Ms. K! Thank you for your hard work. Going back to re-read this chapter (again!).
Thanks Koala, we really appreciate your hard work, especially this extremely speedy new chapter. I really enjoyed your translation of Vol. 1 and can only begin to imagine all the time and space bending you must have done. I’m very grateful and really admire your dedication and skill. Thanks again, you really are an amazing person…I mean koala <3
Thank you for this chapter. What a cliffhanger! LOL my jaw dropped and was like..what!??? noooooooo! it can’t end here! I want to read more! 😛 Now, I’ll just wait patiently for the next chapter to come out. 🙂
I can’t believe we are at the end of volume 1!!!!!!!! Such a tragic turning point…. I’d have to admit, despite such a deceptive start, the love that Meng Jue had for YunGe was true. He chose her over power… over his own beliefs and life goals. Once Ling Ge comes in the picture, the chances he had with her… are no more… gone. Had Ling Ge not exist, maybe, just maybe, but nope! Whereas I could see JinYu giving Meng Jiu the chance had he gotten her in time, I can’t see YunGe giving Meng Jue a chance. Like always, it’s so hard to love and hate Meng Jue completely… complex is the perfect word to describe him.
Anyways, can’t wait to the see this journey unfold… especially in the next volume now that Liu Fu Ling is back in YunGe’s life. He is, afterall, the one she had first come to find, afterall. Gosh, isn’t such parallel with DMY, though? JinYu came to ChangAn hoping to find HQB first, but instead was found by Meng Jiu and fell in love with him… only to be heartbroken and gain a second chance at love with HQB. Same here in YZG, Yun Ge came to ChangAn to find Liu Fu Ling, but was found by Meng Jue first and fell in love with him… only to be heartbroken and gain a second chance at love with Liu Fu Ling. However, unlike DMY, YZG is just more complex…
Like always, thank you so much for the wonderful translation. You make my day! 😀
Omo , omo !!! Yun ge and Ling gege are going to meet soon ! what a cliffhanger ….
and my guess was correct …Meng Jue has chosen Yun ge , but was too late 🙁
Can’t wait for the vol. 2 !!!!!
Thank you , koala san ! you’re the best ! ^^
GOSH!!!!!!!!! I am dying to read the next volume. THanks a lot!!!
Aaaaahhh I don’t know the story. What a cliffhanger. Is there an audiobook link somewhere? Please?
The quality isn’t as good as DMY because it skips a fair bit here & there.If you are desperate you can give it a try:)
http://www.ting95.com/yousheng/799.html
http://www.ting95.com/yousheng/799.html
OMG does any know which chapter is it I am supposed to listen to? It’s not following according to Ms Koala’s chapter 18. I am looking for Chapter 19 right? I think Google translated it. It is Play address 1 : potatoes and then there is the cloud double song double version.
Sigh, guess I have to wait as I think I am listening to spoilers 🙁
I am going to faint because of too much excitement and anticipation! Hope Ms Koala will continue and translate volume 2. I cant wait for LFL to meet with YG. Ooohhh I cant imagine how both will react when they meet each other. Orgasmic!!!
Surprised to find another chapter this morning, Ms Koala! And was reading it right away on my way to office. I was half way through when arrived and was at lost on what to do in office except I NEED TO FINISH THIS CHAPTER before i can do anything else 🙂
Thank you so much. Wow 2 chapters back to back. I just want to let you know that I appreciate your translation very much. It’s been such a long time since I got so hooked on a book like this and it is driving me crazy not to be able to finish it in one sitting 🙂
that was a twist.. i did not anticipate the ‘assassination attempt’ to unfold this way. pls ms. koala dont leave us hanging.. we could barely breath now… btw, thank you for churning out this chapter so fast.. ur hard work is much appreciated.
Meng Jue was undone by his own deception…so I still don’t feel sorry for him. My heart only feels for Yun Ge.
i love the fact that yun ge is so decisive and once she had made up her mind about something…that was the end of it. although she didnt want to let meng jue go, she would never share him with another woman, she didnt even entertain the idea of it. the fact that he also decieved her from beginning is so unforgivable regardless of his circumstances. i would have cut him some slack but he took too long to make up his mind. if YG crawl back to him right away, i dont think i would have liked her too much. i agreed with another’s comment that she would never have given MJ another chance even if he found her in time. such a strong willed girl is very rare during her times. This is why her character is so appealing to me! hopefully she will remain strong will in the next two volumes. it would suck big time if she changed and become submissive. again u r awsome and thanks for such wonderful translation.
Hehe.. I had the page opened on my phone and didn’t even realized there was already another chapter up in one day! Thank you Koala! You are really kind to us which no words could express. =)
Only in a book where a person who has been pierced through the chest with a sword in the woods w/o a hospital will be able to survive. Liu Fu Ling must have the best doctors on his way back to Chang An too! But wow, this was an amazing and suspenseful chapter. Liu Fu Ling’s decision, Meng Jue’s decision, and Yun Ge’s decision. It is really all about timing. Really, talk about what is meant to be and meant not to be. Now I finally have my struggle with Meng Jue seemingly hating Yun Ge in the beginning (because he threw the shoe on the floor and cursed the heavens), but when he shows up again he obviously likes her question answered. It was because he thought about her so much (wanting to hate her), she just imprinted in his heart! Haha, it was that simple. I felt kinda cheated. =P Nice read to end the night. (=
Million Likes
OMGGGG… awesomenesss
Thank you Ms K “)
I am so sad that Yun Ge is deadly injured. She was so brave in rescuing Meng Jue. It is so like her to protect others and sacrifice herself.
Ms K, I’m sure you’ve seen this a thousand times before & here’s one more…
THANK YOUuuuu!!!!
Ah, what a cliffhanger. I’m probably in the minority here but I am still on Meng Jue’s side and I have a feeling I will always be ’till the very end. Sigh. I guess I am digging my own path to heartbreak central from here on out.
I think about the boy that he once was and all the pain that he endured, Meng Jue probably didn’t even think that he is deserving of happiness. And so instead of working towards being happy, he focused all his energies on getting revenge and power so that he will never be put in the same position that he was before – poor, hungry, and powerless.
On the other hand, Ling Gege has all the power and wealth in the world, but is so lonely and isolated. So when he met Yun Ge and had a taste of what it is to have someone that he can really talk to, a glimpse of happiness, he knew that that was what he wanted and he will wait for it no matter what.
Both men had such tragic childhoods that shaped what they wanted the most in life. Its just too bad that Meng Jue had to learn the hard way, that ultimately the reason why he wanted power and status was to impress the rich girl with the green skirt. *tears*
I’m totally w you here girl…
I’m going for another heartbreak *sigh* just like in DMY. My hero never get the girl =(
And im actually sympathizing with MengJue a lot, coz I feel he is more confused than anything else, what he thought he want, is actually not what he wants. And what he thought he hate, is does not hate at all..
I feel that he is not waiting and considering wealth vs beauty. It is actually more heart vs brain. He has always bent on revenge and power so he cant comprehend the fact that his heart goes opposite direction. That his heart has been cheating him all along… poor thing.
And I actually think he is very different with meng jiu. Meng jiu was hesitating because despite knowing exactly what he feels, he choose the noble-idiot path. While Meng Jue actually does not know what to do at the moment and trying to figure out what is his next step. For once in his life time he is hesitating and I actually appreciate the fact that he took time to explore both front, simply because he is a very determined person! If he is going to make a decision he is going the make sure he is 100% in it =)
Haizz, why heavens so cruel to him =(
I am joining you in digging my own path to heartbreak hotel as I also can’t help but still ship Yun Ge-Meng Jue. Heartbreak, here I come. I like that Meng Jue is such a compilcated person and nothing is easy for him and he is the main character of the show.
Omg guys, I hate to say this but things will get more cruel for him from now on. Tong Hua is being a very evil stepmother towards dear Meng Jue, wait till book 3 more of his past reveal. I cried like a baby for him and actually hated YG for how she treated him.
OMG, Shiku, say it ain’t so ! My heart really goes out to Meng Jue because I think I can understand his struggle. Booo-hoooo-hooooo!!!
I wish Tong Hua would give guys with a sad past a chance. It’s so unfair, their life is one vicious-circle they can never get out of.
I hate it but I need some spoilers to prepare myself for the heartbreak.
Meng Jueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee………………………. 🙁
Darn, I meant “OMG, Snowiie !”
omo omo omo!!! such a cliffhanger….itchin for vol 2. so, it was not MJ who asked for YG hands for marriage to her parents. it was a chance encounter at Chang An….how sweet *sigh* all his life waiting for her….just as ling gege’s waiting for her. i think MJ tops all the otp (?) or lead man with too much angst inside. whew! what a trio!
thanks tons msWonderK *xoxoxoxoxo*
hey does anyone know where i can read the book online? thanks!!
WOUAAH!!! Thank you so much!!!! I was waiting for this chapter so badly and you were so quick, it’s amazing!! But now the wait for the NEXT book is gonna be EXCRUTIATING!!! haaaaaa!! hahah! Thank you so much for bringing us this amazing story!!!
I can’t believe it’s happening!!!!!!! WHY!?!?! I loved Lu Fu Ling back then but now there was Meng Jue and his love for her !! WHY!!! Why are you late again?!?! Making the same mistake as your adoptive father !?!? :((((! It’s gonna be a life of regret for you now!! SO heartbreaking!!!!! :'(!!!! I guess we will have Liu Fu Ling and YG’s meeting next!! Looking forward to that!! 🙂
Thanks! This is great! Will read later!
Thanks a gazillion Ms Koala! Can’t wait for vol 2!!!
omgomgomgomgomg!!! after the goodness of TK2H now this?!!!
what can we do to help you post volume 2 faster???
I really applaud Yun Ge for saving Meng Jue despite for hurting her so badly. This really proves her character in addition to all the previous scenes where she showered other people with kindness – caring about others more than herself in certain situation. I enjoyed a little snippet of Meng Jue’s though and I deeply touched by it. I feel bad for him since he unknowingly lost his only chance with Yun Ge, but that is life, one miss chance is the regret of a lifetime. Thank you for the rapid update on the chapter. I know its a selfish request, but I hope there is a update soon. I am dying to read the next chapter because that ought to be the reunion between Liu Fu Ling and Yun Ge. Thank you once again !
Thanks a million!!! Sooooo exciting, what a cliffhanger!
wow soo fast i jus read the 17 ch las night..
Thanks…..
Thanks Ms K. What a fantastic end to Vol 1! While I thoroughly enjoyed getting into Meng Jue’s head and seeing things from his perspective all these years, I find myself reflecting more on Ling Ge Ge’s actions at the start of the chapter. The fact that he normally distances himself from everyone and is suspicious of others makes his actions all the more poignant. Even Yu An is shocked that the emperor could throw all caution to the wind and risk his own safety to follow up on such a tenuous lead to find Yun Ge. This is similar to him jumping out of the carriage to chase the song. Makes me think back to the first chapter when the two children met and formed such a close bond. Can’;t wait to read Volume 2.
We owe you a huge debt of thanks to Ms K for bringing this story to us!
Eh??????? YZG has 3 volumes?
Also want to add that I do like Yun Ge as a heroine. She may be young but she is nobody’s fool and knows when to leave with dignity. She is not a victim and always takes action fearlessly to secure her goals – be it to avoid an unhappy marriage to a stranger or to save a friend in need or to be the one to put an end a relationship that was not working out. Even though she is obviously hurt by Meng Jue, there is no malice in her. She even has the presence of mind to save him with no thought for her own safety. I hope she keeps her feisty nature in the next two volumes and does not degenerate to a weepy and weak damsel in distress.
From reading these last 2 chapters, I really like Meng Jue. We get to see where he’s coming from– poor, rejected and determined to succeed. As a child, his self-perception and feelings of shame (to be poor) overrode other rational thoughts. He couldn’t decipher his feelings for Yun Ge, and those feelings evolved over time too. I wonder if it ever crossed his mind to confess the whole set-up to her. Probably not? He grows up to like her, but I wonder if he ever realizes that deception and using people are both wrong.
We see where Meng Jue’s coming from, and I think that’s another life lesson– that if we could ever know someone else’s story, we would empathize with them and give them greater grace.
ms Koala, thank you so much for the translation 🙂
finally, ling ge ge will meet his yun ge (this is what i’ve been waiting for since the beginning).
call me heartless but i only feel a fleeting pity for meng jue. i’d say in terms of sincerety, he could not be compared to jiu ye in DMY. Jiu Ye’s only fault is that he feels that he’s not good enough for Yu Er due to his handicap and because of that he let chance pass him by.
I agree with you!!
meng jue could not be compared to jiu ye in DMY.
his love not pure for YG. meng jue didn’t realize that if you hate to much it can make you love to much
i wish this novel would have been written from MJ’s point of view, that way we could understand him more clearly. i wish more novels would be written from a male character’s perspective.
I think Yun Ge and Meng Jue were doomed to hit this breaking point no matter what. It doesn’t matter if Meng Jue chose Yun Ge now, or he chose Yun Ge from the beginning and was never tempted by Huo Cheng Jun’s power (which we know not to be the case), or whether he genuinely loves her (he does, he really does, and his love was hard earned and really tested his convictions in life).
Let’s say they get married, and they go home to see daddy and mom. Boom, Yun Ge will know immediately that Meng Jue was the guy who asked for her hand. So how could their meeting in Chang An have been a coincidence? She might be idealistic and guileless, but she’s not stupid. It would have caused her to ask questions, and when she ran into Uncle Ho at some point, she would find out the whole truth. Plus Third Brother can’t stand Meng Jue, he’s bound to say something.
At which point, Yun Ge could be pretty devastated about how Meng Jue planned everything. He could tell her about the shoe, and maybe she’ll believe that he does (and always did) love her, but he also used her to achieve his goals. That’s a tough nut to swallow.
And Meng Jue doesn’t have the luxury of being the only one in Yun Ge’s life, and chasing her down to explain it all. She was in love with some else first and he only got a chance because she thought that possibility had ended. Yun Ge doesn’t care that Meng Jue is human and is tempted by power and has the need to seek revenge. She can accept him like that. She cannot accept that he would use her, even if that use was also coupled with love. How do you separate the two? Ever?
Maybe if they had enough time, Yun Ge can let go of the pain of feeling used and the betrayal of her trust in Meng Jue. But sadly, they don’t have the luxury of time to sort it all out.
You have hit the nail on the dote!
Deception is deception irregardless whether it has been dressed up or down…
How sad for MJ… 🙁
MJ did asked YG hands for marriage….thanks for the confirmation msK….im really dead curious 🙂
First I’d like to thank you, Koala unnie. You spoiled me rotten with the rapid translation. Although having read the novel once (and my knowledge of old language is not so very good 🙁 haiz…), it was a delight to read it again in English through your beautiful translation.
Second, I want to share my POV with the fellow readers. I read comments saying that Meng Jue’s decision to choose Yun Ge comes too late, just like his adopted father. I see it differently. His decision was calculated and carefully timed with a lots of thoughts and heart, since it deals with his lifetime of work and dedication, his life and death, and the future of himself and his partner, whoever that may be. When he is telling Yun Ge about his taste bud, I think he has made his decision. Further on was just his tactics to delay Huo Guang’s actions and to plant his defend chess pieces. The thing is what he plans can’t compare to what Heavens plans. And Yun Ge found out a step too early. Given that it’s totally his fault not being honest w/ the girl who is the only light in his life, I don’t think Yun Ge loves him deeply enough. When you love someone deeply and know about what they went through, you would try to understand their heart, their motives, and what they want in life. The past I think is so important; it plays one part of forming the person one is today. [Gene and Environment, what you are born w/ and what you went through made you who you are, according to my psych teacher, and I totally agree!] I think Yun Ge is so innocent (again it’s not her fault, she was raised to be that way) to think that the boy who went through poverty and loss would grow up to be a fine adult w/ no particular wants or needs. This, I like her mother more. Yu Er loved Jiu Ye and tried in her own ways (although it causes more trouble than not) to work and take the burdens off his shoulders. I just think that she should have give him a chance to explain himself and gather more information before she makes a decision. But I can’t blame her, she is too young, too innocent, too rash. Running away from home, running away from Chang An, etc. If she could just gather more information instead of having so worked up w/ emotions… And it was mentioned that when she made a decision, that’s it. It seems tough but it’s not wise. One should reserve the right to change their mind and be flexible. 🙂
Third, a thought came to me. almost all the messed up ones seems to carry a sentiment from their parents. Think of what Li Yan and Meng Jue’s parents tell them when they passed: revenge. One revenge with the literal meaning of the word, one revenge as a cryptic meaning to survive and live on instead. Lesson learned, when you are to pass painfully by some cruel measures:
1. Leave a traight forward, non-cryptic message to your children
2. And the message should be to live as happy as they can be
^__^
Thanks Ms Koala for your wonderful translations! 🙂 I have enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoy reading the fervent comments about the story. Sigh Tong Hua really knows how to write a beautiful yet “fiery” fitting ending for part 1 of Yun Zhong Ge.
It seems like many people are rooting for Meng Jue & Yun Ge to end up together in the book. And Ling Gege hasn’t even appeared before Yun Ge yet! Like I have mentioned before, Yun & Ling are the OTP of Yun Zhong Ge. His sole motivation and concern in life is Yun Ge; without her his life in the palace is pretty zombiefied. Yun Ge’s purpose in Chang An was also to find and reunite with her Ling Gege & there is no doubt these two were always in each other’s hearts and minds since they met in the desert 9 years ago. When they were finally reunited in book 2, Liu Fu Ling treated Yun Ge like a precious gem and could always read her thoughts (He was already waiting for her as she tried to run away from Wen Quan Palace). Plus Ling Gege being a diehard romantic with the glass house (so beautiful yet so sad!!) pretty much sealed the deal for Yun Ge. Their love which started innocently during their childhood continued to blossom over time and both only come to realise it after the trials and tribulations that they went through in book 2.
Meng Jue’s purpose in Chang An however was not entirely to chase after Yun Ge, he was also after the wealth of opportunity and prestige that the capital city had. His pursuit of power and wealth was not to impress Yun Ge and her parents but more so for revenge (as mentioned above) and simply for others to look up to him. Meng Jue knew that Yun Ge would never be impress with materialistic pursuits as evident during their childhood encounter when he appeared to her as a beggar. This was also the reason why he liked her in the first place. Nonetheless, he was still drawn to to power and wanted to make a name for himself in Chang An which was a catalyst for driving Yun Ge further away from him. The fact that he was torn between “beauty” & “empire” in the previous chapter gave Yun Ge an inkling that his choice may not end up to be her as she had nothing to offer him. She did not know that he chose her as she had already witnessed him & Huo Cheng Jun together which “confirmed” her worst fears and broke her heart. She was dealt a further blow when she came to realised that their “chance” encounter and his actions were motivated by his desire to use her to pacify his Uncle Feng to hand over his businesses to Meng Jue. When Meng Jue finally realises that money and power isn’t what he desires the most but Yun Ge is, it is already too late (He only realises this in book 3 & not 2 by the way when he told Yun Ge that he is willing to give it all up to be with her). I am quite curious about the real ending that Tong Hua had intended for him & will be watching Yu Ma Ma’s dramedy (my first!) to find out. Meng Jue may be flawed (tempted by greed and power like most of the men in Yun Zhong Ge: Huo Guang, Liu Xun, Shang Guans… only Liu Fu Ling remains untempted till the end which is why I choose him haha) but he does display loyalty to his brothers and friends. He wholeheartedly helps Da Gong Zi in his pursuits and Liu Fu Ling. Also his undying love for Yun Ge also made him one of my fav Tong Hua characters .
Thanks for that sy! Appreciate you taking the time to share your insights (with some hints on what will occur in the coming volumes). I do love the character of Liu Fu Ling, especially as his is incorruptible by power (having been born into it).
I’ve been reading several chapters ahead, and I’m like wooooow. Is there really a guy like Liu Fu Ling, or is this just pure fantasy? Someone who would remember and wait for a girl for 9 years and hold onto a promise. Someone who could have a harem and his heart’s desire, yet would choose to wait for that one woman.
I think he is incapable of loving anyone else but Yun Ge. She represented his lost childhood and all that is good, innocent and precious that was ripped from his life when he was a child. Power has no mystique for him as he was born into it and it gave him misery. Yun Ge represented hope for him for an ideal world.
OMG you weren’t kidding about it being an evil cliffhanger.
Well the only thing that’s keeping me sane is that I know she survives and is going to see her ling gege!!!!! *squeal*
Oh the Meng men… why are you all fated for the same end in love?
Although both have suffered so much in their early lives that I really can’t blame them for being so. Both HQB and LFL came into a more privileged lifestyle that stuff like love becomes more important to them because it’s not complicated.
Jiu Ye and Meng Jue have so much inner turmoil and pain that they think power is the answer to everything (not so much Jiu Ye I guess but still).
Mrs. Koala!!! I can’t believe you’ve already translated 2 full novels! I can’t wait for the second novel of this…. *giddy*
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS AND INTRODUCING ME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD THAT IS TONG HUA’S CHINESE PERIOD NOVELS. (see what I did there? I read your review of the modern novel she did, SHIT, and I was appalled…)
Thank you….I loved this chapter. It was a breath of fresh air to finally hear Meng Jue’s thoughts and know how he felt about Yun Ge.
thank you so much for ur translations. 😀
i really enjoy reading them.
i was wondering if you are going to be translating the new edited ending or the first one, because i heard that she has rewritten the ending for this novel??