Chapter 6 (2/2)

Yan Xiaohan's lips showed a hint of what could be a sentle while also see like he was about to enjoy a on Guard Royal Inspector Envoy, this official's every ong's words just now render this situation rather difficult for inally all false bravado and bluster in the first place Now seeing Yan Xiaohan's smile, the eunuch immediately re the Flying Dragon Guard Royal Inspector Envoy His face changed drareat effort for him to calm down and yield the way: “If this is the case, Sir Yan may do as he wishes”

The very confused General Wei was pulled by hi desk Yan Xiaohan casually picked up a few rando his voice to whisper: “Take a trip to the Marquis of Jing Ning's residence inpassed around outside Tell Fu Shen heearly No matter what happens, herashly and recklessly”

The fla heart were stoked, but seeing how Yan Xiaohan had a serious expression that did not see, he hurriedly nodded: ”Sir, please rest assured, you may leave it to me”

No matter how just confident and assured Yan Xiaohan made himself out to be in his words, he couldn't actuallyHe could only temporarily drop this messy affair and rush towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation

The Pen-holding Eunuch12 Tian Tong had never been on agreeable teron Guard This little eunuch shared his shi+fu's sa to disclose any information As a result, only when Yan Xiaohan entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation did he discover that besides the Yuantai E was also inside the hall

“This insignificant minister pays respect to Your Majesty, as well as to Your Royal Highness the crown prince”

”My beloved subject, you may rise”

The Yuantai E and majestic aura The cast of his face showed a hint of plump fullness in his cheeks, and two deep lines of wrinkles ran down the sides of his nose, above his slightly thin lips These features caether for an overall stern, dictatorial, and ruthless appearance This e towards the serious side given his usual reserved and taciturn nature But at this ood mood—there was even the hint of a sloo the diplonificantly more kindly and amiable

It looked like whatever happened was not bad news Yan Xiaohan's heart settled down slightly He quietly thought that perhaps the successive chain of shady tricks and plots in the past few days hadflustered and frightened at the slightest things

The crown prince's expressionless face was stretched taut as he stood to the side in attendance Yan Xiaohan could sense his gaze falling on hi inquiry akin to a threading needle

“The crown prince may return to the East Palace” The Yuantai Emperor expressed his desire to have Yan Xiaohan stay for a one-on-one talk Upon thinking it over, he gave the crown prince a rare sentence of encouragement: “You handled thereceived this praise, the crown prince's prier so reluctant to give up his spot He retracted his gaze towards Yan Xiaohan and even s for leave to withdraw

That smile seemed to contain some form of ridicule and pity, which caused an ominous premonition to suddenly rise in Yan Xiaohan's heart

Footnotes (doing research into these phrases with historical origins is surprisingly fun, though it takes a lot of time):

1 This sentence uses three antiquated Chinese euphemisms for homosexuality, all with somewhat historical references

A) 断袖 ”Cutsleeve” is a reference to Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty, who cherished hisXian soDong Xian in his ar” is a reference to another historical figure, the Lord of Long Yang as favored by King Anxi of the State of Wei during the Warring States period According to one legend, Lord Long Yang was out fishi+ng with King Anxi when he caught a fish and then began to weep When King Anxi asked hi expressed his worries that just like hoould discard the fish upon catching a bigger one, King Anxi would discard hi Anxi reassured him and declared he would execute anyone who mentioned any other beauties to hiendary figure Mizi Xia, as favored by Duke Ling of Wei In one story, Mizi Xia bit into a peach and found it sweet, so he offered the other half of the peach to the Duke (Later on when the Duke lost interest in him and accused him of a crier framed in a romantic way RIP)

2 庙号 lit ”Teiven to an emperor after his death, when his spirit tablet is erected in the i) or 祖 (zǔ), which mean “ancestor”

3 贵君: 贵 = ”noble” just like in the title of noble Consort, while 君 can entleman to lord to ruler

4 There were a total of nine ranks of officials, which are theher” 正 and ”lower” 从 For exaher 1st-Rank”] would include the highest three civil official posts of 太师 [Grand Preceptor], 太傅 [Grand Tutor], and 太保 [Grand Guardian] Sadly I still can't give very good approxih a “3rd rank official” is since it tended to change between dynasties, but overall it's pretty up there

5 赐婚 lit ”gift/grant/bestow/confer + ifting” someone a bride This could be a reward for e, or it could even be both of the above And of course, there are very feould dare refuse a ”gift” from the emperor

6 耳目闭塞 lit ”Ears stuffed and eyes shut”

7 Yeah I probably co to continue happening Pretty much all of these names are actual historical names for troops in the 禁军 [lit ”forbidden arround that ht explain the names better:

金吾 doesn't olden crohich refers to the Three-Legged Sun Crow of japanese and Chinese ical Chinese bird said to be red in color 仪 = ”ceremonies, rites” 九门 is literally ”Nine Gates/Doors” 骁骑 literallylike ”valiant/well-trained cavalry” 豹韬: 豹 = ”leopard, panther” while 韬 = ”bow case/scabbard” or ”y” This was apparently an actual historical i Dynasty

Now for the Northern Office…

羽林 lit ”feather + forest” The name doesn't appear to make much sense, but apparently it's pronounced the saht have been a e” 神武 = ”Divine Martial” You ht recall that back in Chapter 3, it was eneral of the Left Divine Martial Aruess that means he's the commander of that unit in particular, but he also has unofficial power over the entire iuard

8 二婶 is “second + aunt”, butto the wife of his father's younger brother In particular, the 二 “second” ieneration while this aunt is the wife of the second son

9 表姐 specifically means an older fe water gets stuck between their teeth” is used to describe an extre) is how eunuchs in the imperial palace are addressed, similar to how the wo)

12 秉笔太监: 秉笔 can mean either ”hold the pen” or ”write” Essentially, this eunuch surnamed Tian is a very close confidant of the emperor, since he is allowed to write for the e + Heart/Mind + Hall/Palace” is an actual hall that still exists within the Chinese imperial palace