Chapter 20 (2/2)

Fu Shen sighed “I heard the Flying Dragon Guard presided over this case's investigation Shouldn't you be clearer thansouts to lie in so said person to be ‘an acco a tyrant' Yan Xiaohan could strangle him with his bare hands, but Fu Shen doesn't see his collar as he continued to speak “I don't want to lie to you, Brother Yan, so I'll just tell you this I really don't know much about Court matters, but I do know that a vassal Prince is someone the Emperor sees as a threat”

“I know you sti–“

“I also know that my uncle wouldn't speak on the behalf of a turncoat official” Fu Shen's sights fell upon those slender, swaying orchids ” ‘Gentlerass [3]; within the wilderness, there's likely ten blades for every orchid' {4} Of all the officials in Court, only he stood up to speak for the Prince of An”

“I've explained it to you so thoroughly, yet you're continuing to not get it,” Yan Xiaohan said coldly

“It's not that I don't get it It's that so way”

“Watch your tongue”

“What is it that I can't say? What is that can I shouldn't dare say?!” Fu Shen leveled his gaze at hi property, exter evidence to set the! He just is!”

Yan Xiaohan swiftly flipped around and covered his ry, rapid breaths One above and one below, their eyes met, their breaths were audible, and they could see their own reflections in the other's pupils

“Let what you've said today rot in your stoet anyone else – I'll send you to the royal prison myself Reainst his pal his knee to try and push him off

Yan Xiaohan ed straight to the top of the sky “Get offon my wound! Ow!”

Yan Xiaohan realized that he really didn't have a way to handle Fu Shen: say that he's intelligent, and he'll alwaysmoeous

—A temper like this is a real prick in the hand

However, even if he's being so ainst societal norms, Yan Xiaohan only hopes that he can hide that well and not be forced to change, nor does he want to treat him like this

With that kind of reassess of Fu Shen's state ofthe Jin faot up fro fervor fro to his head had passed, and he had cal that he had been somewhat unreasonably brazen

He wasn't really an inherently radical person; it'sis different than others', and he's young and naive, generally being a bit arrogant and unaware of the difficulties of the world as a result He hasn't yet e

Yan Xiaohan was first to stand up, speaking without turning his head “Let's go”

He hadn't taken the first step when there was sudden tightness at his wrist Looking down, he found that Fu Shen was tugging at his sleeve yet wasn't daring to look at hi

Ah He's finally recovered fro out of histhis funny, yet he betrayed no trace of emotion “What?” he asked placidly

“I… spoke improperly just then and , face cold

“I know my mistake It was my fault,” Fu Shen said earnestly “If you want to beat and scold and punish h” Yan Xiaohan's voice was frosty “How could this Yan fellow get the gall to beat or scold Young Master Fu? You aren't wrong Our group of treacherous flatterers is”

Fu Shen's head drooped lower and lower, really having regrets This was also the first tiize to so it, which was not what he anticipated

“I never regarded you as being treacherous, it's just…”

It's just what?

It's just that people going separate paths cannot unite, just that he fir was falsely accused, just that ‘a noble man cultivates the dao to establish virtue, not to trap others in distress and alter rity' {5}

He wasn't able to say rip on Yan Xiaohan's sleeve “I' hand was abruptly caught, resting on a dry and slightly cool palm

Yan Xiaohan crouched before hi, scolding, and punishment, and knew to listen to his senior? You made me mad, I say a feords to you, and you can't stand it? Is your apology so insincere? Hot hot, his s to the point he further dared not lift his head to look at hi extraordinarily evil This is a proper Young Master of a rich and respected faot injured and fell off a cliff, and has experienced the constant suffering of not eating veryup bullied like this was too wicked

Fu Shen didn't knohat he should say, so he could only repeat himself “I'm sorry”

“Where's the sincerity?” Yan Xiaohan said after a click of his tongue

He used his free hand to raise Fu Shen's chin,hi out any na the one before, and looking at the nehat should you call inal intention was the have Fu Shen call his hard for hirasp the wrong– after half a day of silence, the other tie?” [4]

Being called that by him irip on Fu Shen's hand subconsciously closed

A clean breeze blew past, wafting the orchids' fragrance over them

“You… I…”

Yan Xiaohan actually staround, swiped earth and foliage off his body for hio”

Fu Shen still hadn't turned the corner yet “Is this… okay?”

“It's okay,Master” Yan Xiaohan bowed his head to watch hiht hook of his lips “Call ive up the darkness and turn towards the light for you”

The author says: Quotes:

{1} Han Yu‘s Grasping the Hidden Orchid

{2} Zhang Jiuling‘s Thoughts (Part I)

{3} Making use of Lu Meng‘s Maxijian‘s Record of the Secluded Fragrance Pavilion

{5} Fas of Confucius – In Distress

The translator says: My heart… I's in pinyin, but I willbro' just doesn't have the sa to it

[1] A bit lost in translation; 朋友 = friend, while 小朋友 = child (a ‘small friend')

[2] 慎刑司 – Careful Punish (零陵香), orchid-like grass (蕙草), or lysirass (燕草)I cannot find an English source on it for the life ofat least 10 different names

[4] Cutesy appellation for an older brother, as opposed to the typically used synonyege~