Jade Calamity

  After bidding farewell to my sister-in-law, I was confident and excitedly took the sedan chair to the Yiyuan Hall. My mood was great, and the scenery along the way, with its lake views and mountain colors, was especially beautiful and moving, full of the charm of spring.

  Just as I got off the sedan chair, I saw Li Chang running towards me, personally helping me up the stairs: "Fortunately, Your Majesty has arrived! The Emperor is having a tantrum and has driven all of us out. Please, Your Majesty, go and persuade him, it would be a great blessing for us servants." I saw that he was worried and unlike his usual self. I thought to myself that Li Chang had served the Emperor for many years, was used to seeing all sorts of scenes in the palace, and was usually calm and composed. For him to be so flustered, something big must have happened.

  Then, with a smile, she said: "Although the palace doesn't know what happened, I will definitely go to persuade the emperor. Li Gonggong can rest assured." I lowered my voice and asked: "But what exactly happened to make the emperor so angry?"

  Li Chang's gaze fell as he looked down at the steps, his voice extremely soft as he said, "It seems to be because of a memorial from the King of Yunnan."

  My heart suddenly tightened, my footsteps slightly stagnated, and I almost thought that something had happened to my brother. However, I quickly changed my mind, if it were my brother's misfortune, Xuan Ling would certainly send someone to comfort the King of Yunnan and mobilize troops to be prepared for any situation, how could he still have the leisure to rage in the imperial study? Thinking this way, I also felt a little more at ease, and asked: "Do you know what the memorial said?"

  Li Changwei's expression changed slightly, and he immediately said: "It seems to be a memorial requesting an imperial edict."

  I slightly frowned, feeling disgusted in my heart. The King of Ru Nan was indeed too greedy and ungrateful. Just a month ago, I had conferred his son and daughter as the Crown Prince and Imperial Princess, and their honors had already reached an unparalleled peak. Now, he came to ask for another conferment. If there were to be another reward, it would only be possible to let his youngest son inherit the throne or marry off his daughter early to become a princess.

  However, upon further consideration, it's also not suitable. If he doesn't want to seal it, he can simply return the memorial and bestow gold, jade, brocade, and silk instead. Besides, Xuan Ling has never been a person with a violent temper.

  Just then, a loud "crash" sound of jade falling to the ground and shattering came from inside the palace, followed by the rustling sound of fragments rolling down. After a long time, there was only an eerie silence in the palace.

  I stared at Li Chang, and I was also very puzzled in my heart, not knowing why Xuan Ling was so angry. Li Chang's face was anxious, and he whispered: "Now it's probably only the princess who can still go in and persuade him a few words."

  I nodded, stretched out my hand to push open the crimson purple gate of the golden and silver inlaid hall. The side hall was deep and vast, in the silence, only the light and shadow were intertwined, falling on the flat golden bricks, casting a profound and shallow mystery.

  On the case, a small censer made of golden filigree with nine peaches was burning his usual dragon's saliva incense. The faint smoke rose slowly and spread into the depths of the hall, making it even more quiet and fragrant. He sat on a large chair carved with coiled dragons and flowers, and the light smoke brushed across his face, as if his anger had solidified at his brow, like a dark cloud that refused to disperse.

  I crept closer, not daring to ask anything rashly, nor was it easy to say something. I just picked up the censer on the desk and placed it under the windowsill, opened the small window near the woods behind the temple, and let in the warm spring breeze that gently poured in.

  His voice was tired after anger, and he said vaguely: "How did you come?"

  "I said softly: 'Yes, I'm here.'"

  At that time, the sky had already turned late, and the warm sunset light shone through the hollowed-out auspicious carved flower pattern of "Six Harmonies in Spring", filling the room with a reddish glow. When the wind blew over the forest behind the hall, the leaves would make a soft rustling sound, like a gentle rain pattering on the eaves.

  I took two fresh mint leaves and a chrysanthemum from the silver plate and put them in a celadon tea cup, poured in boiling water to infuse, then added some cooled honey water, placed it before him, and gently said: "Your Majesty, please have some tea, it can calm your spirit, soothe your nerves, and clear the liver fire." After speaking, I didn't mention anything else, but took out a small golden box, dipped my fingers in mint oil, and slowly massaged his temples.

  He slowly took a sip of tea, his expression slightly calmer, before asking: "Why didn't you ask me why I was angry?"

  I smiled and said, "Your Majesty was just angry a moment ago. When your anger subsides a bit, you will naturally tell me when the time comes. If I keep asking, it will only make Your Majesty angrier."

  He turned his hand over and stroked mine, pointing to a yellow silk-faced memorial on the desk: "Take a look for yourself." His voice was full of hatred: "Xuanji is so bold!"

  I took his words and picked up the memorial, and after reading it, I couldn't help but be shocked.

  The memorial actually requested that the deceased birth mother, Yu E Lady, be posthumously honored as Yu Gui Empress and reburied in the imperial mausoleum of the previous emperor.

  All imperial consorts who had given birth to sons or daughters could be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort after the death of the previous emperor, and enjoy wealth and honor. They were also granted titles to proclaim their virtuous deeds. The mother of King of Ru'nan was a lady of the first rank from the previous emperor, although she died early, her posthumous title was still reasonable.

  There's just something in between.

  When the previous emperor was on the throne, Yu E's brother, Marquis of Boling, plotted a rebellion. Yu E was deeply implicated and died in despair without favor. It wasn't until she was dying that the previous emperor went to visit her, but Yu E spoke words of resentment towards him and hatred towards Consort Shu. In a fit of anger, the previous emperor forbade Yu E from being buried with the empresses and did not grant her any posthumous title, instead burying her according to the rites of a Guipin alongside Empress Dowager Zhaohe who had murdered his mother.

  Due to the lack of a posthumous title for the previous emperor, and considering that Yu E's wife was also the sister of a guilty minister. As the successor to the throne, Xuan Ling would naturally not grant Yu E's wife the title of Empress Dowager either.

  I folded the memorial, and my face changed color as I said: "If Your Majesty really follows the words of the King of Yunnan to posthumously confer the title of Yu Guifei on Yu E's wife as Yu Gui Taifei, where will the face of the previous emperor be placed? How will Your Majesty deal with it?"

  Xuan Ling slapped the corner of the table heavily and said, "You unfilial son! You clearly want to put me in a position of unfilial piety, and you don't even care about your father's dignity!"

  I saw him like this, shocked and furious, hastily flipping over his hand, the desk was made of extremely hard red wood, the corner of the desk was intricately carved with complex curves, Xuan Ling's palm instantly turned a blood-red color.

  I felt a slight pang in my heart, and hastily grasped his hand, saying: "Your Majesty, calm down. There's no need to be so angry over him; not only will it harm your own body, but it's also not worth it."

  Xuan Ling Dao said: "Is this something that can be tolerated? What cannot be tolerated?! Even if I, the Emperor, were willing to be an unfilial son, how could the Empress Dowager possibly agree?"

  I thought for a moment and said, "This posthumous title of 'Yu Gui Tai Fei' is really not suitable. The four titles of Gui, Shu, Xian, and De are each only held by one person. The birth mother of Qinghe King, Shu Gui Tai Fei, is still alive, if we truly bestow this title and make her a 'Gui Tai Fei', then Qinghe King will also be in an awkward position. This would also hurt the fraternal bond." Seeing Xuan Ling deep in thought, I continued, "Qi Shan King Xuan Xun was the eldest son of the previous emperor and is currently the most noble title holder in the palace as the son of Empress Qin Ren Tai Fei. Empress Qin Ren has not even been granted the title of Shu Tai Fei or Xian/De Tai Fei, I'm afraid Qi Shan King will also be displeased."

  I spoke bluntly, but if it's as the King of Ru Nan reported, then there must be discord in the hearts of all the kings and the empresses of the rear palace. The front court and the rear palace will both become unstable.

  How could Xuan Ling not understand and remain unmoved when it concerns his own interests?

  Xuan Ling didn't say a word, but the blue veins on his forehead bulged and throbbed with rage, and he smiled coldly: "If I agree to it, I will lose the hearts of the people in the front court and the back palace; if I don't agree, he will definitely harbor resentment in his heart, and all the efforts and arrangements made earlier will be in vain."

  He saw through it so clearly, and I was silent for a long time, only saying: "If he rises to arms at this moment, how much chance of victory does the Emperor have?"

  His eyes flashed with a sharp light, and then dimmed: "I have 1.5 million troops in my hands, 1 million scattered at various passes, and 500,000 gathered to guard the capital." He paused, "The King of Yuzhou has more than 5 million elite soldiers, stationed at key passes and strongholds across the country."

  I shuddered and said: "Then how long will it take for Your Majesty to make arrangements and replace him with his own military power?"

  He said, "If in the next six months there is someone I trust who knows the movements of the Ministry of War and the names and positions of each person in the Yu Nan Wang faction, and orders the local generals to take control of the 500,000 elite soldiers of the Yu Nan Wang, then within a year I can capture them all." He smiled wryly: "But he is pressing forward step by step, I'm afraid that here I still cannot grasp his intentions, he has already begun to mobilize troops."

  He also has so much helplessness and endurance. As a palace woman, I am often confined to these four red walls, and I don't know much about court politics, nor can I interfere too much. Those trivial matters of state affairs, unless they concern my own interests or those of my family, I dare not take the risk to inquire about them. My interactions with Xuan Ling have always been limited to those leisurely moments in the palace, and only revolve around romantic feelings.

  Suddenly enlightened, I felt a little heartache and helplessness. In this palace, he had his own helplessness, and I had mine. Emperors, generals, consorts, and concubines, which one was not living in their own helplessness, each with their own constraints.

  I involuntarily leaned down softly and quietly knelt on his knees. The dark-colored satin robe on him was full of embroidered dragons, those golden threads were not soft, and the cheeks were slightly itchy. I said in a low voice: "So for the long-term plan, Your Majesty can only endure."

  His body trembled slightly, so lightly that if not for being on his knees, it would have been almost imperceptible. He looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh: "Xuan Xuan, am I, this emperor, too incompetent?!"

  A surge of bitter thoughts suddenly rose in his heart, and he looked up and said steadily: "Emperor Jingdi Liu Qi had to kill Chu Xing for the sake of pacifying the Seven Kingdoms; Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu endured the pain of killing his own brother, even at the beginning of his reign, he could not stabilize the court politics. He could only seal Guo's daughter as empress, but not his beloved Yin Lihua. However, they were able to pacify the world and create a prosperous era. A great man can be humble and accommodating. Your Majesty endures temporary pain for the sake of the court's eternal prosperity, it is not cowardice, but self-restraint for the sake of governance."

  His hand gently patted on my shoulder blade and sighed: "Xuan Xuan, your words always make me feel comfortable."

  I shook my head: "Your concubine is not comforting Your Majesty, but speaking the truth."

  His voice was faint but had a hint of harshness, in the dark palace it sounded almost like a rough blade, "Not bad. I indeed need to endure." He smiled indifferently: "But how can I continue to endure?"

  I grasped his hand tightly, suppressing the turmoil of resentment and anger in my heart. I raised my face, steadied my expression and tone, and spoke softly but firmly, "Please, Your Majesty, follow the words of the King of Yunnan and posthumously confer the title of Empress upon Madame Yu E, and relocate her tomb to the imperial cemetery."

  He was quite shocked, and with a push of his hand, he accidentally knocked over the teacup beside him. All that could be heard was a "crash" as it shattered into powder, but he seemed not to have noticed, and instead grasped my arm tightly and asked: "You also say this?" I had just begun to speak when I heard an imperial guard outside asking cautiously: "Your Majesty——"

  I immediately stood up and shouted loudly: "Nothing, just accidentally broke a teacup, let's clean it up later." Turning back to see him approaching, I hastily said: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Please don't come over here, you might get hurt by the broken porcelain." As I spoke, I quickly squatted down and swept away the shards of the teacup.

  I knelt on the ground, staring at him with unblinking eyes, and clearly said: "Please have the emperor posthumously confer the title of Xian Tai Fei on Yu E Fu Ren, add a title to her, and move her tomb into the imperial mausoleum. At the same time, promote the titles of all the tai feis in the palace, and give them respectful treatment. Especially, let Qi Shan Wang's mother Qin Ren Tai Fei be called Shu Tai Fei, and Ping Yang Wang's foster mother Zhuang He Tai Fei be called De Tai Fei, and have them stand alongside Yu E Fu Ren. Also, confer a title on the empress dowager to show the emperor's filial piety."

  As soon as the words fell, Xuan Ling's face was already showing joy, and his grip on my arm was even tighter. He pulled me up excitedly and said: "Not bad. Since he wants to posthumously honor his birth mother, I will take this opportunity to bestow honorary titles upon each of the imperial consorts in the name of praying for their health and well-being as the Empress Dowager. Their ranks will be even higher than that of his birth mother, so there won't be any objections from either the previous or current palace."

  I smiled and replied, "It's not just that. This way, the officials won't have anything to discuss, and all of you imperial consorts and princes will also feel grateful for the emperor's kindness and work together in harmony to be loyal to the emperor." I thought for a moment and then said, "But what about the birth mother of the six kings, Shu Gui Imperial Consort? She has already become a nun. How should we arrange for her? If we just set her aside without conferring a title, it might not look good on the face of the six kings either."

  Xuan Ling didn't think so, and casually flicked his sleeve: "Lao Liu wouldn't mind these things."

  I smiled and advised: "Although the six kings may not mind, some petty people will speculate that Your Majesty is slighting the six kings. This would be unfortunate. At a time when brothers should be united in heart, an unintentional matter might be perceived as intentional; it's better if Your Majesty also has a mind for the six kings."

  Xuan Ling's mood was very good, and he said: "What's difficult about this? Shu Gui Taifei has already become a nun, and it's not suitable to add any more honors. I'll just respectfully call Shu Gui Taifei 'Chong Jing Yuan Shi' from afar."

  I smiled: "Then there's nothing wrong with that."

  Xuan Ling hummed softly in his nose and said coldly, "Nowadays, pursuing the title of Yu E's wife is just a temporary measure, and it has to be done. If we can subdue the King of Yu Nan in the future, I will immediately issue an edict to follow the example of Empress Zhao Xian, only giving her the title of Taifei, but not allowing her spirit tablet to enter the Temple of Heaven for worship, nor allowing her coffin to be buried in the imperial mausoleum, and not granting her a posthumous title. If not, it will be difficult to dispel today's hatred!"

  I just listened to him, silently. The King of Ru'nan had only one intention, which was to seek honor for his mother, but he didn't know that honor and shame can change in the blink of an eye. A moment's glory would lead to endless humiliation later on. Therefore, I also didn't respond, just saying: "It is only proper to report to the Empress Dowager and inform the Empress about the matter of honoring the Grand Consort as the mistress of the inner palace."

  "This is natural."

  I whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty, as long as we proceed in an orderly manner, we can naturally grasp their situation. As for my brother's affair, I have some plans, please weigh and decide, Your Majesty."

  He smiled and said: "This is very good. You are indeed worthy of being my 'Flower of Interpretation', to have come up with such an idea."

  I smiled and said: "Your Majesty works hard for the world, I don't understand court politics, so I can only pay attention to these small things."

  He laughed heartily: "A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step. How can you know that the small matters I have considered for me are not great matters?"

  The sky was dark, and the last ray of sunset had been replaced by moonlight. The wind was quiet, carrying the cool and gentle fragrance of jasmine flowers, blowing gently against my temples.

  I stood up, blew the fire starter, and lit the giant candles in the temple one by one. The temple used gold-plated hard wax candles, with nine branches on each candle holder, hundreds of them, without a single wisp of smoke or wax smell, so as not to ruin the pure fragrance of the incense burning in the temple. The flames gradually brightened, and the temple was as bright as daylight.

  I stood by the nearest candle holder, blowing out the fire. My thoughts were turning over and over in my mind, and finally I steeled myself, gritted my teeth again, and with great difficulty, held back my breath. My voice was as calm as ice-cold spring water, and I said quietly: "Please, Your Majesty, once again grant your benevolence, and restore Consort Muyong to the position of Imperial Noble Consort."

  Xuan Ling was taken aback, his original joyful expression suddenly retracted, and he walked up to me and said: "If I restore her position, how can I justify it to you? How can I silence the gossip of the crowd?"

  Her face stiffened for a moment, almost unable to hold back her anger - if she put Mu Rong Shi Lan aside like this, although not favored, but still living in luxury, how could it be fair to me? If so, I'd rather restore her as the princess. A woman like that would only make mistakes when she's complacent and relaxed. Moreover, only by restoring her position can the Mu Rong clan truly feel at ease.

  Thinking of this, my heart is still sour and melancholic, with tears in my eyes. To promote Yu E to the position of Empress at Xuan Ling's insistence was already difficult for me. And now, to restore Hua Fei to her former position, isn't that even more difficult and forced?

  Endurance is all that's needed. Like a taut bowstring, it allows the arrow to fly fast, accurate and ruthless. The words I used to comfort Xuan Ling just now were also meant to comfort myself.

  Under the strong pressure, the choked and indignant voice whispered: "The heart of King Runan is to posthumously title Yu E as Empress Dowager, and the heart of the Murong clan is to restore Huafeng's position. Even if King Runan has no intention of usurping the throne, he cannot tolerate the instigation of his subordinates, who all want to be founding meritorious officials. If Your Majesty is willing to appease Empress Huafeng, it would mean gaining more support from the Murong family and increasing the chances of victory."

  He couldn't bear to look at me and said, "Xuan Xuan, I... am wronging you like this."

  I slowly knelt down and said, "Your concubine is not afraid of humiliation. For the emperor, your concubine will endure and tolerate Empress Hua, without causing any conflict." Tears finally fell from my eyes, for him, but also for myself.

  To appease the Murong clan, he will eventually restore Murong Shilan's position. At the very least, it would be to reinstate her as the Imperial Consort, and if circumstances dictate, it is not impossible that she might even be reappointed as "Lady". Rather than this, I would rather give her the position of Imperial Consort, let Xuan Ling feel more helplessness, coercion, and endurance because of me when granting her rewards; as well as, his feelings of guilt and heartache towards me. The more such emotions there are, the more stable my position will be, and the more love I will receive.

  I let out a sorrowful smile. When did I become so calculating and selfish, so cold-blooded? Even I myself can't bear to recall or think about it.

  Xuan Ling remained silent for a long time, and after a while, he softly said, "Alright."

  The wind outside the palace had a somewhat melancholic tone, Xuan Ling's voice was just low and heavy, as if he had lost something precious. The candlelight flickered, making his expression blurry. He said: "I remembered what you said earlier about Emperor Guangwu of Han, who reluctantly made Guo Shi, whom he didn't love, the empress for the sake of stability in the court, but let his beloved Yin Lihua serve as a concubine to Empress Guo. Today, I am like Emperor Guangwu, forced to favor a woman I don't like."

  I shook my head: "How can I be compared to Empress Yin? I just read history books, later the family of Emperor Guangwu's empress Guo plotted against him, Emperor Guangwu deposed Empress Guo and established Empress Yin Lihua as his new empress, it was finally as he wished." I looked at Xuan Ling: "Your Majesty's achievements will certainly not be inferior to those of Emperor Guangwu."

  He held me tightly and suddenly said: "Xuan Xuan, do you know why I didn't visit you often after your miscarriage?"

  He suddenly said a word, and suddenly hooked up my heart's sour memory. On that day, I heard the words behind the Yuanyuan Temple, and it was always lingering in my mind. I turned my head and said: "I thought it was the concubine's nature to be stubborn, and after losing her child, she offended the emperor with a sad heart."

  His chin rested on my neck, a bit hard and painful. "Although you are stubborn, it's not entirely for this reason." His voice was a bit disjointed, just holding me tightly: "Do you know why Consort Murong doesn't have any children?" I was shocked in my heart, and my body struggled a bit, but he continued to speak, as if it wasn't his own voice, with a dazed and suppressed pain: "The 'Xuan Yi Xiang' in her palace, is the only thing I rewarded her with - there's a hint of musk in it, smelling too much of it will prevent one from having children."

  I knew the reason behind it, but when he suddenly told me in person, I was even more astonished.

  I knew the general idea of such a truth, but actually facing this bloody truth and hearing him tell me about it, even though it was someone I hated, still felt unbearable to imagine and recall.

  I bowed my head and said with a sigh: "Your Majesty, you have told me too much."

  He just refused to let go, saying: "You listen to me. You knelt in her palace for half a time and had a miscarriage, I am uneasy in my heart, fearing that you also smelled the 'Welcome Fragrance'. Every time I see you with tears on your face thinking of the child and resenting Empress Hua, my unease grows heavier, you blame Empress Hua and I think you are blaming me. Is it blaming me for harming our child?"

  I couldn't bear it anymore, my heart felt like it was being clawed and torn apart, throbbing with pain. Tears fell silently, I grasped his collar tightly, crying so hard that I couldn't speak.

  His tone was as heavy as a snow-covered forest: "Do you think I am not a good father?"

  I shook my head mournfully: "No..." After a long while, I forced myself to speak: "A king must have the determination of a king..."

  He patted my back and said sorrowfully, "I also have things I cannot do. The Empress cannot have children. If she gives birth to a prince, the King of Yunnan and the Murong clan will support this child as emperor, and I will not even have a place to live in peace. But as you said, I also cannot not favor her to appease the people's hearts. I resorted to this inferior plan, but did not think that it would innocently implicate you."

  I suddenly remembered something and opened my eyes in surprise: "Then what about Empress Hua's miscarriage back then?..."

  He nodded slowly: "Duanyi was wrongly accused of being a virtuous wife back then."

  I shed tears: "This matter must be kept secret, but why did the emperor want to tell me?"

  His eyes had a faint glimmer of tears: "I am the ruler, and I am also a father. I killed my own child, how can I not feel pain?!" He tilted his head to one side, "So many of my children were unable to be saved, perhaps it is the heavens' retribution?"

  My words remind me of the day I lost my child, and the Queen's words: "Your Majesty... do you know whether it is true or not?"

  "He sighed heavily, 'It is. The medicine was personally prepared by Yi Xiu.' His sigh was as heavy as a boulder weighing on my heart, and he said, 'As the Emperor, I too have many things that are beyond my control and cannot be done. Do you understand?'"

  I weep, but what's the use of weeping again? My child is gone and can never come back to life. The reality is terrifying, slowly unfolding before my eyes, and this is just a corner of the vast and dark shadow of palace life. Even if Consort Hua is cruel and ruthless, she is also pitiful.

  I suppressed the acid churning in my stomach, he is the king, what he wants is the world. Emperor Taizong of Tang still had the Xuanwu Gate Incident, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang also forced his own aunt Princess Taiping and three biological sons to death. I steeled myself, poisoned the tip of my tongue, and said: "Can't help but kill."

  As soon as the words came out, my knees felt a little weak. What could I say, what could I refute? The early death of Empress Hua's child, he knew, the empress knew, and probably the empress dowager was also aware of it. Could I have any objections? Besides, it was such a long time ago.

  And yet my hands may also be stained with blood.

  As soon as I stepped into this palace gate, I was no longer the Zhen Huan who had been spoiled and willful.

  I am not a kind and simple woman. I drove Qin Fangyi and Li Gui Bin to madness, and also ordered the execution of Yu Shi. How could I be innocent and guiltless? I, like every other person in the palace who is still alive and thriving, am living on the blood of others.

  But towards Xuan Ling's resentment, it will only tear me apart, force me, and push me to a point where I have nowhere to go, nor any way to retreat.

  He said: "Huan Huan, if I don't tell you, this child's death will be a knot in the heart between me and you."

  He was also helpless, what could I do? The knot in my heart after losing my child was slightly untied by his honest words, and I could only forgive. Forgive his helplessness and inevitability. Tears streaming down my face, I said: "If it weren't for you, King Nan and Murong, the Emperor wouldn't have been like this; and if it weren't for Empress Hua's arrogance and cruelty, neither would we, nor our unborn child." I paused for a moment, then continued: "If there is a chance in the future, please let the Emperor give me justice."

  He changed color and said solemnly: "I will definitely do it."

  I nodded vigorously, both physically and mentally exhausted. I reached out and hugged him, tears in my eyes: "Fourth Brother!"

  Calling him like this is sincere. It's been a long, long time since I've sincerely called out to him, his expression changed with surprise and delight, he lowered his head to kiss me, the scorching heat between his lips was familiar and intimate, vaguely reminiscent of the past, yet clearly present today, at this moment.

  He was candid in a way that was so rare, startling and yet soothing, bridging the gap between us and deepening our understanding of each other's circumstances.

  A sigh escaped from the bottom of my heart, and I quietly closed my eyes.

  The bright moon is like frost, and I also tightly hugged him, warmly responding to his slightly rough passion. This moment of understanding and knowing each other is enough to sustain our mutual progress and mutual protection through many days.

  Note: (1) "Zongzi": means "young child", in ancient language it is a scolding word when angry.