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三嫁咸鱼 San Jia Xian Yu (Thrice Married To A Salted Fish) Audio Drama S1 Theme Song: Relentless Longing Pervades My Dreams 《相思续续入梦来》 Xiāngsī Xùxù Rùmènglái (English Translation)

English translation of Relentless Longing Pervades My Dreams 《相思续续入梦来》 Xiāngsī Xùxù Rùmènglái, the lyrics of the theme song from the audio drama for 三嫁咸鱼 San Jia Xian Yu (Thrice Married To A Salted Fish) by Bi Ka Bi.

Chinese/Pinyin/English lyrics available under the cut.

P.S. The above link is the CV version, which I have translated (demarcated according to character). The below is the original:

All credits to the song can be found in the above two links. I own nothing but the translation in italics text.

Relentless Longing Pervades My Dreams

《相思续续入梦来》

[陆晚丞Lu Wancheng (马正阳 Ma Zhengyang)]

他乡异梦里 tā xiāng yì mèng lǐ           In a strange dream in a foreign land,

兜转恰逢知己 dōu zhuǎn qià féng zhī jǐ I had a chance encounter with a bosom friend.

飞光苦昼短 fēi guāng kǔ zhòu duǎn Time flies at lightspeed, each day feeling painfully short,

举杯邀春风共饮 jǔ bēi yāo chūn fēng gòng yǐn Yet I raise a toast, inviting the spring breeze for a drink.

不求浮华名 bù qiú fú huá míng Never seeking transient objects like fame,

凌云意气 líng yún yì qì Lofty as the clouds my spirit became.

长愿一生清闲凡庸 cháng yuàn yī shēng qīng xián fán yōng I’ve only ever wished to lead an unbounded and unassuming life;

平安顺意 píng ān shùn yì To be safe and sound, and for everything to go well.

[林清羽 Lin Qingyu (陈张太康Chenzhang Taikang)]

朔风不解意 shuò fēng bù jiě yì The northern winds fail to interpret the meaning

旌旗掩埋归期 jīng qí yǎn mái guī qī Of the banner-buried date of your returning. [1]

故里锦书来 gù lǐ jǐn shū lái A letter has come from my hometown—

谁落笔山有木兮 shuí luò bǐ shān yǒu mù xī Who is this, who conceals his affections behind descriptions of mountains and trees?

观江山风雨 guān jiāng shān fēng yǔ Gazing at the windstorms brewing on the mountain and the lake, [2]

为他入局 wéi tā rù jú I enter the arena for his sake.

一朝结发 yī zhāo jié fā Thus came the day we tied the knot with one another;

生生世世两不疑 shēng shēng shì shì liǎng bù yí In every life and in every world, we shall never doubt the other.

[Chorus, together]

明月可知 míng yuè kě zhī Does the radiant moon understand

此间情人相思 又几许 cǐ jiān qíng rén xiāng sī yòu jī xǔ The extent of lovers’ longing in the mortal realm here?

寄我缱绻心绪 jì wǒ qiǎn quǎn xīn xù I make my affectionate thoughts to him clear:

不远千里 随君去 bù yuǎn qiān lǐ suí jūn qù “If it’s to follow you, even a journey of a thousand Li would be near.”

去年此时此景 qù nián cǐ shí cǐ jǐng It had also been this scenery that year—

万籁俱寂 白雪红嫁衣 wàn lài jù jì bái xuě hóng jià yī Clad in red wedding robes, I stood there in the snow, utterly quiet and unmoving.

怎抵一眼 生死别离 zěn dǐ yī yǎn shēng sǐ bié lí How quickly death takes lovers to the moment of their parting.

[林清羽 Lin Qingyu (陈张太康Chenzhang Taikang)]

重返旧梦里 zhòng fǎn jiù mèng lǐ Returning to an old dream in my slumber,

恍然初见相遇 huǎng rán chū jiàn xiāng yù We meet again, once more a first encounter.

再执子之手仍如赤子般执迷  zài zhí zǐ zhī shǒu réng rú chì zǐ bān zhí mí I hold your hand again, still obsessed with you like those subjects are with the nation.

[陆晚丞Lu Wancheng (马正阳 Ma Zhengyang)]

若爱人安于世间一隅 ruò ài rén ān yú shì jiān yī yú If my love lives on in a corner of the world, safe and sound,

为一人 为苍生 wéi yī rén wéi cāng sheng It no longer matters

又何需分清 yòu hé xū fēn qīng Whether it’s for one man or for the masses that my efforts count.

[Chorus, together]

明月可知 míng yuè kě zhī Does the radiant moon understand

此间情人相思 又几许 cǐ jiān qíng rén xiāng sī yòu jī xǔ The extent of lovers’ longing in the mortal realm here?

寄我缱绻心绪 jì wǒ qiǎn quǎn xīn xù I make my affectionate thoughts to him clear:

不远千里 随君去 bù yuǎn qiān lǐ suí jūn qù “If it’s to follow you, even a journey of a thousand Li would be near.”

去年此时此景 qù nián cǐ shí cǐ jǐng It had also been this scenery that year—

万籁俱寂 白雪红嫁衣 wàn lài jù jì bái xuě hóng jià yī Clad in red wedding robes, I stood there in the snow, utterly quiet and unmoving.

怎抵一眼 生死别离 zěn dǐ yī yǎn shēng sǐ bié lí How quickly death takes lovers to the moment of their parting.

[林清羽 Lin Qingyu (陈张太康Chenzhang Taikang)]

山海可知 shān hǎi kě zhī Do the mountains and the seas understand

此间情人别离 又几许 cǐ jiān qíng rén bié lí yòu jī xǔ The extent of lovers’ parting in the mortal realm here?

[陆晚丞Lu Wancheng (马正阳 Ma Zhengyang)]

遥望西北天际 yáo wàng xī běi tiān jì I gaze up at the sky’s northwestern end

烛火燃尽 到天明 zhú huǒ rán jìn   dào tiān míng While the candle burns on till the morning sky is clear.

[Together]

来年旧地重游 lái nián jiù dì zhòng yóu Next year, we shall wander these weathered lands once again.

灯火如昼 凤箫声动里dēnghuǒrúzhòu fèngxiāo shēngdòng lǐ Lanterns light the night up into day while the sounds of the phoenix flute reverberate 祝酒陈愿 此生不离 zhù jiǔ chén yuàn cǐ shēng bù lí As we raise a toast to celebrate a lifelong continuance for our string of fate.

-----------

Translation notes:

[1] This refers to war banners/flags. I chose the less precise term ‘banner’ for alliterative effect. [2]  ‘The windstorms brewing (i.e., raining) on the mountains and lakes’ -- a metaphor for changes happening in a society. ‘Lake’ was unpluralized for rhyming. [3] Many liberties were taken in the translation of this song, especially to make the lyrics rhyme. (I really wanted to do so because the song itself is really lyrical and rhythmic. But I am 0% trained in poetry, so forgive the cringe ^_^") Please let me know if you have any comments, criticism or alternative readings. Thank you! ^^

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君有疾否 Jun You Ji Fou Audio Drama S2 Theme Song: Another Heart of Snow Upon The World 《还来天地一襟雪》 Huán Lái Tiāndì Yì Jīn Xuě (English Translation)

English translation of Another Heart of Snow Upon The World 《还来天地一襟雪》 Huán Lái Tiāndì Yì Jīn Xuě, the lyrics of the theme song from the audio drama for Jun You Ji Fou / Art Thou Ailing?, based on the novel of the same name by Ru Si Wo Wen. on Miss Evan.

Chinese/Pinyin/English lyrics available under the cut.

Another Heart of Snow Upon The World 《还来天地一襟雪》

(lyrics: 易者连消醉清酒; music: 李一桑; performed by 易言)

❄️

暮雨惊春 桃枝折来， 一记风花债 月明似你 守得云开， 皎然入我怀 mù yǔ jīng chūn   táo zhī zhē lái ， yī jì fēng huā zhài yuè míng sì nǐ   shǒu dé yún kāi ， jiǎo rán rù wǒ huái

In spring, the evening rain arrives unprecedented, breaking the branches of the peach blossom tree,  A romantic debt as rowdy as flying flowers. [1]  Just like you, the moon shines as it waits for the clouds to dissipate [2]  In order to enter my embrace clean and bright. 

一盏琴风摧不开 城东落雪城西白 去岁同赏咫尺烟火， 今朝吹梅至窗外

yī zhǎn qín fēng cuī bù kāi chéng dōng luò xuě chéng xī bái qù suì tóng shǎng zhǐ chǐ yān huǒ ， jīn zhāo chuī méi zhì chuāng wài

But the reverberations in the air from the zither’s strum fails to disperse the clouds.  The snow falls onto the east of the city, turning the west white.  Last year, we admired the fireworks at a proximity well within our reach;  Today, all that’s outside the window are the plum blossoms carried by the breeze. 

[❄️ chorus ]  玉杯掷在前 东风不卷帘 梨花落剑 也似摇尽雪 剑光无情 扬血飞溅；半是纷念、半是诀别

yù bēi zhì zài qián   dōng fēng bù juàn lián lí huā luò jiàn   yě sì yáo jìn xuě jiàn guāng wú qíng   yáng xuè fēi jiàn ； bàn shì fēn niàn 、 bàn shì jué bié

I fling the jade wine cup forth, and the curtains remain unfazed amidst the eastern winds [3].   The pear blossoms cascade onto the sword, as if to brush the snowflakes off the blade.   The sword gleams ruthlessly as it sends blood flying—half an expression of profuse pining, half a final farewell. 

旧事忽已远 挂梦长安街  灯火初上 轻吻你眉眼  而今独上无情殿 烧作庭燎照夜 

jiù shì hū yǐ yuǎn   guà mèng cháng ān jiē dēng huǒ chū shàng   qīng wěn nǐ méi yǎn ér jīn dú shàng wú qíng diàn   shāo zuò tíng liáo zhào yè

Matters of the past suddenly grow distant, as if lingering dreams set in the streets of Chang'an.   The lanterns light up as I gently kiss your eyes and brows [4].  I now head into the unsympathetic hall alone, burning up to become the palace candlelight illuminating the night [5].

❄️ music ❄️

朱砂缀笔 纸上晕开，  本也如红埃  车尘马足 锦绣华盖，  明朝登孤台 

zhū shā zhuì bǐ   zhǐ shàng yùn kāi ， běn yě rú hóng āi chē chén mǎ zú   jǐn xiù huá gài ， míng zhāo dēng gū tái

Brushstrokes of cinnabar swirl across the paper,   As if red dust roused by the happenings in the mortal world [6].   The horsecarriages hustle around (bearing) exquisitely-sewn imperial canopies [7a].  Tomorrow, (the emperor) will ascend the lonesome platform [7b].  

愿入青史为尘埃  我作阶下白玉台  待到百战浩荡赴死，  万里青山共你埋 

yuàn rù qīng shǐ wéi chén āi wǒ zuò jiē xià bái yù tái dài dào bǎi zhàn hào dàng fù sǐ ， wàn lǐ qīng shān gòng nǐ mái

Willing to enter the annals of history for the sake of this mortal realm,   I thus become the white-jade platform [8] beneath the stairway (to the emperor’s platform).  I will endure hundred battles before falling to my heroic demise,   And be buried beside you in the verdant mountains ten thousand Li [9] away. 

[❄️ chorus ] 生离隔梦也  相思十二卷  卷卷合页 不曾过你眼  庭雪无声 扬花满阶；处处留迹、处处不见 

shēng lí gé mèng yě   xiāng sī shí èr juàn juàn juàn hé yè   bù zēng guò nǐ yǎn tíng xuě wú shēng   yáng huā mǎn jiē ； chǔ chǔ liú jì 、 chǔ chǔ bù jiàn

Within our lifelong separation, what stands between us is but a dream; my lovesickness for you spans twelve scrolls,  (Yet) I close them page by page, such that they never cross your sight.   Snow falls silently in the courtyard, while blossoms litter the steps—traces left everywhere that disappear into thin air. 

旧事入我眠 挂梦长安街  火树银光 飞落你眼睫  灯底悠然第三愿，逐风许至天边 

jiù shì rù wǒ mián   guà mèng cháng ān jiē huǒ shù yín guāng   fēi luò nǐ yǎn jié dēng dǐ yōu rán dì sān yuàn ， zhú fēng xǔ zhì tiān biān

Matters of the past enter my slumber, as if lingering dreams set in the streets of Chang'an .  Specks of light from the city decked in the glow of numerous lanterns [10a] cascade onto your eyelashes.  My third wish rests at the bottom of the lantern, chasing the winds in order to bring my prayers towards Heaven [10b]. 

万人拜帝颜 取笔试金笺  落棋旧地 悠然寻水烟  去日遗舟 来年望尽——  半江生莲、半江情弦 

wàn rén bài dì yán   qǔ bǐ shì jīn jiān luò qí jiù dì   yōu rán xún shuǐ yān qù rì yí zhōu   lái nián wàng jìn —— bàn jiāng shēng lián 、 bàn jiāng qíng xián

Ten thousand citizens bow to the emperor, entering the examinations with brushes in hand, seeking golden edicts [11].  I play chess on familiar grounds while leisurely indulging in smoke from the waterpipe.   As if to desert the past and gaze instead at the future, I abandon ship—— The river brims half with fresh lotuses [12], and half with the strings of love. 

月明千秋悬 万古照堂前  年岁温柔 新添哪一阙  俯仰山河杯酒间，这卷与你共写 

yuè míng qiān qiū xuán   wàn gǔ zhào táng qián nián suì wēn róu   xīn tiān nǎ yī què fǔ yǎng shān hé bēi jiǔ jiān ， zhè juàn yǔ nǐ gòng xiě

The moon’s gleam persists throughout millennia, withstanding the test of time to keep the imperial halls bright.   We will welcome the arrival of a peaceful era, where countless beginnings remain to be built [12].   We shall write this scroll together, accompanied by cups of wine as we gaze upon the mountains and the rivers. 

---Translation notes---

[1] 风花债: feng hua zhai lit. 'wind flower debt (debt of flowers in the wind)'. I have interpreted this as an elaboration of / a play on 风流债 (feng liu zhai; romantic debt, dissent left remaining from a past romantic relationship).  

[2] Clouds dissipating for the moonlight to enter: Possible reference to Ch. 31, which mentions that the fog around Su Shiyu dissipates around a certain someone. 

[3] Flinging the jade wine cup: Possible reference to Ch. 83, where Su Shiyu flings a wine cup. ‘Eastern winds’ can metaphorically mean ‘positive change in the situation’ 

[4] 眉眼: mei yan, lit. eyes and brows, sometimes used to describe a person's appearance overall. The former interpretation was taken for this case because it refers to a specific location on the person on which a kiss is placed. 

[5] 庭燎: ting liao, a specific type of torch used in the palace. 

[6] 红埃: hong ai, lit. 'red dust'. A similar reference exists in the novel: "十丈红尘无声”. ‘Red dust’ refers to the happenings of the mortal world, based on the idea of movements on earth stirring the red soil and causing the particles to float up into the air. 

[7] 华盖: hua gai, the canopy of the carriages used to carry important people (usually the emperor) in. Following this line, 'the emperor' being the one that ascends is an inference as the sentence's subject was elided in the raw. This inference was supported by how the lonesome platform (孤台 gu tai) likely refers to the emperor's platform. 

[8] Su Shiyu is associated with white jade in the novel. This could possibly be interpreted as him being willing to be a stepping stone for whoever he pledges allegiance to. 

[9] 1 Li = 1 'Chinese mile' = 0.310686 miles = 0.5km. 

[10] 火树银光: hua shu yin guang, a possible variant of 火树银花 (hua shu yin hua), which refers to the scene featuring the lighting of numerous festive lanterns during Shangyuan Festival (this actually happened in the novel as an iconic scene of sorts, in Ch. 80). 'Third wish' is another clear reference to Ch. 80. 

[11]  金笺 : paper used for writing important documents, like edicts. ‘Seeking a golden edict’ may be inferred to be ‘seeking promotion to become an official’. 

[12] Lotus: Chu Mingyun is associated with the red lotus in the novel, seen visually from the sleeves on his robes, and seen symbolically from Su Shiyu’s house’s pond. 

[13] 阙: Que. Gate tower used at entrances of tombs, shrines, temples or palaces. Many liberties were taken in this interpretation (I read it as a metaphor for 'beginning'). 

Credits

出品：惊弦怀声工作室 制作人：易者连消醉清酒 作词：易者连消醉清酒 作曲：李一桑 编曲：水墨流苏 演唱/修音：易言 和声编唱：汝袖 混音：鹿马Lmua 海报设计：五声 题字：以语为镜

[wholemantou]

"At the time of writing, tens of thousands of published danmei works have ‘disappeared’ from Jinjiang, and many new danmei works have difficulty passing Jinjiang’s ever-tightening censorship. [...] Pressed by platform restrictions and online reporting mechanisms, more and more danmei creators have to retreat to private QQ chat groups or WeChat groups to circulate their works. And these groups are also under constant censorship. One direct consequence of this imposed clandestineness is that danmei writings become more fragmented, and it is unlikely that any new talent will be seen to rise to fame. This colossal setback, however, does not mean the end of danmei. Numerous danmei writers are still eager to create and share, even though they might only have a dozen readers. Readers are also supporting their favourite writers through thoughtful reviews, cash bonuses and gifts. It is precisely this endless love, enthusiasm and creativity from fans that convince us that Chinese danmei is—and will remain—alive, regardless of oppression and censorship. With a little more space and time, the genre will bloom again in the future."

-‘OPENING THE DOOR TO A NEW WORLD’: Danmei and the Gender Revolution in China, by Ling Yang and Yanrui Xu

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三嫁咸鱼 (San Jia Xian Yu / Thrice Married to Salted Fish) Audio Drama S2 Theme Song: Three Wishes 《三愿》 Sanyuan - Lyrics (English Translation)

Posted in celebration of Lin Qingyu's birthday (11th day of the 3rd lunar month)! English translation of Three Wishes 《三愿》 Sanyuan, the lyrics of the insert song from 三嫁咸鱼 (San Jia Xian Yu / Thrice Married to Salted Fish), the audio drama on Miss Evan based on the novel of the same name by 比卡比 Bi Ka Bi.

Chinese/Pinyin/English lyrics available under the cut.

(Credits: 广播剧 《三嫁咸鱼》 第二季 by 边江工作室 on Miss Evan FM. It is accessible via the hyperlink for the audio track above. I own nothing but the translation of the lyrics and the translation notes.)

问谁与同行 长风千里灵犀 风雨同舟济 从来冷眼看 尘世里 世人庸碌奔忙 千百种执迷 wèn sheí yǔ tóng xíng cháng fēng qiān lǐ líng xī fēng yǔ tóng zhōu jì cóng lái lěng yǎn kàn   chén shì lǐ   shì rén yōng lù bēn máng   qiān bǎi zhǒng zhí mí

Who will walk with me, Sharing the same thoughts even thousands of Li [1] apart, (As if) in the same boat amidst the winds and the rains? Always gazing coldly upon the people who busy themselves over their numerous mortal obsessions.

若称为知己 知情知意知我偏凉薄冷情 从来不信命 任因果报应 却因他动容 悄然改写命局 ruò chēng wéi zhī jǐ zhī qíng zhī yì zhī wǒ piān liáng báo lěng qíng cóng lái bù xìn mìng   rèn yīn guǒ bào yīng què yīn tā dòng róng   qiǎo rán gǎi xiě mìng jú

Since he’s the person who knows me best, He sees through my feelings and thoughts, and thus knows my natural apathy. I’ve never been one to believe in fate, instead letting karma take its course, But it’s because I’ve been moved by him that my fateful ending has been quietly rewritten.

如何云淡风轻 日月朝夕 红线暗牵系 举杯相约重逢 莫再违期 rú hé yún dàn fēng qīng   rì yuè zhāo xī hóng xiàn àn qiān xì jǔ bēi xiāng yuē zhòng féng   mò zài wéi qī

How do we live freely throughout our days? The red thread of fate secretly ties itself to us. We raise a toast, promising to reunite without wasting a moment more.

[chorus]

愿与君如梁上燕 岁岁年 长相见         隔世霜雪落 寄我意 送君前 辟如生死爱欲 如刻骨云烟 随朝暮尽散 又随朝暮还复来 庭院桃花已开 yuàn yǔ jūn rú liáng shàng yàn   suì suì nián   cháng xiāng jiàn          gé shì shuāng xuě luò   jì wǒ yì   sòng jūn qián bì rú shēng sǐ ài yù rú kè gǔ yún yān suí zhāo mù jìn sàn   yòu suí zhāo mù huán fù lái tíng yuàn táo huā yǐ kāi

I wish for us to be like swallows on the beam—inseparable all the years round. As snowflakes descend in the gap between our worlds, I convey my feelings as I send you off. Like love and desire in life and death, (You are) as transient as a passing cloud etched into (my) bones, Dissipating as the sun sets, only to re-emerge as the sun rises again [2]; In the yard, the peach blossoms have bloomed.

~~~

若称为知己 知情知意知我相思无绝期 从来不信命 任因果报应 却因他祈愿 来世姻缘再续 ruò chēng wéi zhī jǐ zhī qíng zhī yì zhī wǒ xiāng sī wú jué qī cóng lái bù xìn mìng   rèn yīn guǒ bào yīng què yīn tā qí yuàn   lái shì yīn yuán zài xù

Since he’s the person who knows me best, He sees through my feelings and thoughts, and thus knows my eternal longing. I’ve never been one to believe in fate, instead letting karma take its course, But for him, I make a wish for our marital ties to flow onto our next lifetime.

如何云淡风轻 日月朝夕 红线暗牵系 举杯相约重逢 莫再违期 rú hé yún dàn fēng qīng   rì yuè zhāo xī hóng xiàn àn qiān xì jǔ bēi xiāng yuē zhòng féng   mò zài wéi qī

How do we live freely throughout our days? The red thread of fate secretly ties itself to us. We raise a toast, promising to reunite without wasting a moment more.

[chorus]

愿与君如梁上燕 岁岁年 长相见         隔世霜雪落 寄我意 送君前 辟如生死爱欲 如刻骨云烟 随朝暮尽散 又随朝暮还复来 庭院桃花已开 yuàn yǔ jūn rú liáng shàng yàn   suì suì nián   cháng xiāng jiàn          gé shì shuāng xuě luò   jì wǒ yì   sòng jūn qián bì rú shēng sǐ ài yù rú kè gǔ yún yān suí zhāo mù jìn sàn   yòu suí zhāo mù huán fù lái tíng yuàn táo huā yǐ kāi

I wish for us to be like swallows on the beam—inseparable all the years round. As snowflakes descend in the gap between our worlds, I convey my feelings as I send you off. Like love and desire in life and death, (You are) as transient as a passing cloud etched into (my) bones, Dissipating as the sun sets, only to re-emerge as the sun rises again. In the yard, the peach blossoms have bloomed.

[chorus, key change]

愿君千岁身常健 执手白发红颜 士为知己容 常相看两不厌 yuàn jūn qiān suì shēn cháng jiàn zhí shǒu bái fā hóng yán shì wéi zhī jǐ róng cháng xiāng kàn liǎng bù yàn

I wish you a thousand years of constant health; May you be white-haired and rosy-cheeked as you hold my hand. Being true gentlemen who look our best for our love [3], We shall never tire of facing one another.

任凭日月如箭 轮转过尘缘 随你登高殿 或随你天涯仗剑 寻得一隅桃源 回身看盛世河清海晏 rèn píng rì yuè rú jiàn lún zhuǎn guò chén yuán suí nǐ dēng gāo diàn   huò suí nǐ tiān yá zhàng jiàn xún dé yī yú táo yuán huí shēn kàn shèng shì hé qīng hǎi yàn

Even if the days and the months fly by like arrows, Sending us on our way along the cycle of our mortal lifetimes, I will go with you, be it to ascend the high heavens or to chase the ends of the earth wielding swords. We shall find our paradise in a corner of this world, And gaze back on the world thriving with seas rich and rivers clear.

-----------------------------♪♪♪------------------------------

Translation notes:

[1] 1 Li = 0.5km = 0.311 miles.

[2] I’ve presumed that these lines are in Qingyu’s perspective, with a possible Buddhist basis in describing Jiang Xing (i.e., all versions of him) as ‘love and desire in life and death’, since desires (e.g., for one’s lover) are thought to be transient mortal needs. This is expounded further in the next line: ‘You are as transient as a passing cloud etched into (my) bones’. The ‘passing cloud’ bit was inferred from 云烟 (cloud smoke), which could be used to metaphorically mean ‘transient entity’ (as smoke disappears rapidly). It was inferred on the basis of the SJXY plot where JX always visits for a short time in each of his instantiations/lifetimes, yet leaves the deepest impression on Qingyu (as if to ‘etch’ himself ‘into his bones’).

[3] This line seems to be a play on a famous idiom 士为知己者死，女为悦己者容, translated as “true gentlemen sacrifice their lives for his confidants, just like how women beautify themselves to please their love”. In the song, it’s subverted as 士为知己容 “true gentlemen beautify themselves for their love”, which then makes sense in view of the next sentence, “we’ll never grow weary of (looking at) each other”. Perhaps this could be a somewhat humorous way of saying “we will delight each other with our presence” (metaphorized from “we will beautify ourselves for each other”).

[4] This translation involves subjective interpretation and liberties taken in terms of wording. Criticisms/alternative readings welcome anytime! Thank you for reading. <3

[wholemantou]

君有疾否 Jun You Ji Fou Audio Drama S2 Insert Song: No Man's Land 《无人洲》 Wú Rén Zhōu - Lyrics (English Translation)

English translation of No Man's Land 《无人洲》 Wú Rén Zhōu, the lyrics of the insert song from the audio drama for Jun You Ji Fou / Art Thou Ailing?, based on the novel of the same name by Ru Si Wo Wen. on Miss Evan.

Chinese/Pinyin/English lyrics available under the cut.

Version by original singer (Babystop_山竹):

Version by voice actor (Ma Zhengyang):

(Credits: 君有疾否广播剧 by 惊弦怀声工作室 on Miss Evan FM. Full credits are accessible via either of the two hyperlinks for the audio tracks above. I own nothing but the translation of the lyrics and the translation notes.)

No Man's Land 《无人洲》 Wú Rén Zhōu

城中雪满缀上 了枝头 你只怜取凝望 眼前酒 而我发梦 只想同你共白首 In the city, the tree branches are blanketed in fallen snow. You care only to gaze at the wine before you, While I dream only of spending my ripe old years beside you. ♪

揉碎 闲言纷纷册 一同 成落俗谈说 我亦 低叹曾拥过 浸雪又似淬火 Ripping apart the idle sayings created by wagging tongues, We, as the objects of the vulgar gossip, descend as dust together. I, too, softly lament that I’ve once embraced you, Drenching myself in snow while quenching myself in fire.

一雪 东风不知恶 须得 我作薄情客 剑挑 此曲淋漓歌 无梦也似梦过 A single snowstorm cleans the eastern wind of evil [1]; It forces upon me the role of the evildoer. The sword chooses the song from which saturated droplets cascade. Although I do not dream, I still feel as if I have.

[chorus] 城中雪满缀上 了枝头 你只怜取凝望 眼前酒 而我发梦 只想同你共白首 In the city, the tree branches are blanketed in fallen snow. You care only to gaze at the wine before you, While I dream only of spending my ripe old years beside you.

梨落如雪惊散 一庭愁 怒王侯斥贵胄 无端弦上扣 剑光凌厉 温柔拂雪你肩头 The courtyard descends into despair as the pear blossoms scatter like snowflakes. My enraged reproach of the royals and nobility are as if arrows from the bowstring I draw without rationality [2]. The sword gleams glaringly as the falling snow lands on your shoulders.

挂剑 浩荡征九州 为你 肝胆唇下剖 怎忍 金台帝前叩 谁人岂��无咎? I hang my sword up [3], conquering the Nine Provinces [4]. For you, I would slice open my liver, lips and gall, coming clean about it all [5]; But for the emperor, I wouldn’t bear to kowtow on the golden stage [6]. Does any human exist who hasn’t committed a single sin? [7]

今夜 相思若可求 何必 纵酒飞雪楼 若你 拥帝长荣后 肯为我白骨收 Should lovesickness ask for me tonight, I need not drown my sorrows in a tower amidst flying snow, As long as you are willing to collect my bones [8a] After the emperor grants you his eternal glory. [8b]

[chorus] 城中雪满缀上 了枝头 你只怜取凝望 眼前酒 而我发梦 只想同你共白首 In the city, the tree branches are blanketed in fallen snow. You care only to gaze at the wine before you, While I dream only of spending my ripe old years beside you.

将你囚于心上 无人洲 那里尚长安游 灯火不曾休 琼楼撞酒 今朝不必识春秋 I imprison you in my heart—the no man’s land. You still wander Chang’an, where the lanterns never dim. The jade tower accosts the wine; today, we need not acquaint ourselves with history. [9]

醉眼望去云台 翻了酒 车马易走唯独 你难留 玉阶无声，相思更在第几楼? My inebriated eyes gaze towards the terrace of clouds, and the wine has been spilt. As the horsecarriages travel to and fro at my disposal, you’re the only one I struggle with keeping behind. On which floor along the silent jade stairways does lovesickness reside?

将你囚于心上 无人洲 那里尚长安游 灯火不曾休 月色盈头 独你世间第一流 I still imprison you in my heart—the no man’s land. You still wander Chang’an, where lanterns never dim. It’s the night of the full moon, and you are the best across the lands. [10]

-----------------------------♪♪♪------------------------------

Translation notes:

[1] 一雪 东风不知恶 (literally, ‘a single snow(flake); the northern wind knows no evil’) – This phrase may be a parallel of the idiom, 一雪前耻, which means ‘a single snow (wipes you of) previous shames/sins’. In the translation, the literal meaning was combined with the meaning that might be implied here by the aforementioned parallelism.

[2] 无端弦上扣 ‘unreasonably pulling the strings taut’ – This might be a metaphor meaning ‘selfishly increasing the tension amongst the masses and the imperial city’ and/or ‘selfishly putting everyone in danger’. Putting it vaguely to prevent potential plot spoilers, similar things do happen in the story, likewise instigated by ‘kings and dukes’’.

[3] 挂剑 (lit. ‘hang sword’) – An act of remembrance/promise for a deceased companion. Again putting it somewhat vaguely to prevent spoilers, this line might be related to Chu Mingyun’s backstory.

[4] Nine Provinces – The division of nine territories/regions and islands used during the Xia and Shang dynasties.

[5] 肝胆唇下剖 (lit. ‘cutting the liver, gall and lips’)  – This line might be a variant of 剖肝沥胆 (lit. ‘to cut the liver and drain the gall’), which means to be open and honest, i.e., ‘to bare one’s heart’. I tried to express both the literal and metaphorical meaning while adding a little of rhyming here.

[6] Golden stage – The arena designated by the emperor (hence ‘golden’) for recruiting talented subjects. It may be thought of as symbolic of the emperor and his inherent position above the other members of the imperial court and the masses, especially given the idea that the stage is a heightened platform.) An possible alternative reading of this line is something like ‘I can’t bear to let you kowtow before the emperor on the golden stage’ (e.g., baiwu-jinji, 2023). Quite torn between the two readings, but ultimately went with ‘I can’t bear to kowtow before the emperor on the golden stage’ because it adheres to Chu Mingyun’s stance towards the emperor in the novel, and also because Chu Mingyun’s attitude towards Su Shiyu’s allegiance to the emperor does not seem to be heartache/pity.

[7] 无咎 – lit. ‘making no mistakes’. This phrase may have originated from the I Ching (Book of Changes).

[8] Lines 8a and 8b in the translation have been switched in terms of positioning to facilitate the sentence’s flow in English. (E.g., 8a should actually be the last line of the stanza, and 8b the second last.)

[9] 春秋 – Literally, ‘spring autumn’; figuratively, this may be interpreted as a metaphor for ‘year’, as well as ‘past years / history’. [10] ‘Night of the full moon’ and ‘best across the lands’ – possible references to Chapter 33. The moon reference is reminiscent of the setting of Chapter 33, while the compliment-like phrase is reminiscent of a comment Chu Mingyun makes regarding Su Shiyu in that chapter: 江南第一，远不如你 (‘not even the best in Jiangnan can remotely hold a candle to you’).

Reference list for translation notes:

Baiwu-jinji. (2023). Jun You Ji Fou (君有疾否) appreciation/audio drama songs translation post. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://tumblr.com/baiwu-jinji/707210504122318848/…

司马迁 [Sima Qian] (c. 91 BC). 史记 [Shiji; Records of the Grand Historian].

Exact author unknown. (c. 9th cent. BC). 易经 [I Ching / Yijing; Book of Changes].

[wholemantou]

The Sins of Lord Pei 裴公罪

Chapter 1. Prologue – Execution

In this world, everyone is destined to be an inmate of some kind of prison.

Some are oblivious to the imprisonment their entire lives; some are aware of their captivity from the start, but seek no remedy.

There’re even some who build such prisons with their own hands, laying the bricks and tiles tightly, leaving no gaps. They have never thought of occupying the place themselves and only intended to watch over the nefarious deeds of others; but after a lifetime of sins, they find themselves the only ones in deep dark cells behind iron bars.

The time is the end of the eighteenth year of Yuanguang (1).

It happened to be the downfall and imprisonment of Pei Jun, the villainous minister of the imperial court, along with his lackeys who had dominated the court for years. This shocking and spectacular show where the wise emperor rooted out evil court officials had only just ended on New Year’s Eve, and not all the accomplices outside the court had been brought to justice yet. But inside the court, servants were already busy covering the palace in decor of auspicious red.

Suede lanterns embroidered with golden threads were hung on the eaves of palaces. Where their dim yellow light was cast, the glaringly visible traces of blood across the corridors began to look fainter in the eyes of palace servants.

People in the palace had only one urgent business in mind, and that was preparing for the New Year.

The night sky was high and black, the wintry stars shone cold and bright. Although the hall was half empty where the dinner banquet at Feihua Palace was held, music mingling with songs and laughter drifted unmistakably across the entire royal city. At the banquet, officials who narrowly survived the turmoil raised their cups of imperial brew with lingering fear in their hearts, and toasted the young emperor on the high throne behind beaded curtains. Nobles who tried to please the emperor by guessing lantern riddles (2) sat around tables, and exchanged greetings wearing solemn and haughty expressions on their faces.

“Is the Princess Consort Rui not here today?” A low voice came from the womenfolk.

Someone glanced from afar at the half-empty table before the emperor, covered her mouth and laughed: “I heard that Prince Rui has his eyes on a servant girl again and is about to take her as a concubine. One day he’s marrying a concubine, another day he’d be running after an escort – heaven knows how his wife manages to stay at home unperturbed.”

“Where else would she stay?” someone else joined in on the fun, “her own family’s deep in hell already, her younger brother will soon be beheaded. What prospect could she have in her husband’s family? How would she have the nerve to come here today?”

“We should’ve been moved to that table if she’s not coming.” Another one chimed in, dabbing her lips with a perfumed handkerchief that oozed extravagance, “Prince Jin is at the border most of the time, so that seat has been empty for a few years now. Tsk, what a shame to waste a whole table of fine dishes, now that not many are left to enjoy it.”

“The world was turned upside down, yet here you are thinking about food.” The women who spoke earlier giggled, making this one push away the flowery porcelain bowl in front of her, and glared at them with her pretty eyes: “Never mind, I’m not going to eat then. This yanwo (3) is tasteless, leave it.”

“My my,” someone looked at behind the beaded curtains and stopped smiling, “look, even the emperor is done with the meal, he’s leaving.”

Even as she spoke, the hubbub all around paused, and all the royals and nobles stood up. When the head eunuch Hu Li drawled out “the emperor is departing –”, they all kneeled down with their families and subordinates and chanted their respects to the emperor.

The next moment, the beaded curtains before the high throne were drawn up, and servants crowded around the young emperor to help him down the stairs. When minor officials and young ladies who attended the banquet for the first time had found the courage to turn around and look into the night beyond the palace doors, they could only see a bright yellow silhouette, thin and forlorn, slowly stepping into the imperial carriage.

The north wind was harsh and cold, carrying over the sound of a faint cough.

This was when the snow began to fall in the night.

In the depth of the imperial prison, Pei Jun woke up from a disorienting dream in the cold. Breathing feebly, he dimly heard someone calling him from outside the cell, and opened his eyes.

The oil lamp outside the cell was dim, and the straw mat underneath him was damp and gave off a foul stench. He lay there sideways, feeling the whole world turning upside down in his eyes, and only managed to distinguish with great and repeated effort –

Outside the cell was his old friend Cao Luan in a black coat. Cao was leaning forward and clenching the iron bars; he fixed his eyes on Pei Jun, looking anxious and distraught. His lips were opening and closing:

“Ziyu, wake up Ziyu (4), I’m old Cao... (5)”

“Listen to me, I’ve found a way for you...”

Pei Jun knew that even among the all-powerful dignitaries in the capital, Cao Luan could be counted as one of the most capable. If it weren’t the case, someone with no ranks and no connections would never be able to walk into the heavily guarded imperial prison under such circumstances, let alone visit a death row prisoner about to be executed by the personal order of the emperor.

Pei Jun was over thirty years old now; as a man of the world and a well-connected politician, he had experienced all the pleasures and temptations that his station could offer and never lacked for fine meals or company in high society. However, he had long been certain that should his fall from grace place him in dire situations –  such as the one he was in now –  the only one who could and would come to see him had to be old Cao, who had been his friend since his youth.

There was no lamp in the cell and all was dark. Cao Luan couldn’t see anything clearly, only a vague human shape in iron chains moving slightly with difficulty. As he seemed to get up, Cao hurriedly said:

“Listen, Ziyu. Tomorrow morning when they replace your meals, someone will come to get you out of here.”

“Disguise yourself and leave the palace, travel west by water and find Meng Guangqiu, who I told you about...”

“The brutal purge at the court was such a catastrophe that nobody involved could emerge unscathed, not even the Xiao and Mei families. Your wealth was confiscated, your properties lost, your allies and followers scattered, so you must start over. Meng has already arranged for you to change your name...”

“The luxurious and enviable life you once had in the capital, your high position and the high wages that came with it – all of it is now dust and ashes. I know how much you must hate, but you need to put it aside for now. In a few years, when all of this blows over, if you want to you could totally find another –”

Clank!

A sudden clash of iron chains rang out. A horrifying bloodied hand reached out between the bars and suddenly clenched Cao Luan’s fingers.

Startled, Cao Luan stopped speaking, and heard a low and hoarse whispery voice after a moment of silence in the cell:

“...It doesn’t...matter.”

Once the centre of power, now stripped of all titles. Various factions proceeded to stab him in the back and sent him to prison. There he was poisoned and became mute, and his mouth was covered with bloody sores. Uttering these few words alone was unspeakably difficult. Hearing him speak, Cao Lun teared up. Before he could try to persuade Pei Jun again, Pei Jun spoke with difficulty:

“It doesn’t matter...”

His bloodied hand, which slowly loosened its grip on Cao Luan, was covered by wounds, blood, and sores. When he opened his hand, a ghastly pierce wound that ran through his palm was revealed; the blood wasn’t dried yet but had already blackened.

Cao Luan felt a sharp sting in his eyes. When he raised his head again with a frown, he was finally able to make out the ravaged face covered by whip marks behind the iron bars and the man’s blood-stained prison garments.

Pei Jun grinned at him through the bars. For a moment, it almost seemed like he still was that mischievous boy who used to come to Cao Luan to stir up trouble, but the fine lines that appeared at the corners of his eyes when he smiled betrayed all the hardships for the past twenty years.

In a mere twenty years, this body of his had been worn down by the world. Now that he was in prison, his legs that once marched to the sand-swept battlefield were broken, his hands that once composed imperial edicts at the Hanlin Academy (6) were ruined, and even his mouth that once made eloquent arguments at the golden throne room – so persuasive that it made what’s wrong seem right – couldn’t even make a mumble now.

– How was he supposed to leave?

What would be the point of waiting for another few years?

Silently, Pei Jun covered the back of Cao Luan’s hand with his own blood-stained hand and patted it tremblingly.

After a long while, he patted it again as if telling Cao to take care, and uttered a final word with all his strength:

“... go.”

Cao Luan’s grip on the iron bars suddenly grew weak. He staggered to his feet, and only had time to glance into the cell one more time with reddened eyes. As he closed his eyes in pain and regret, the palace attendant who led the way signalled him to leave:

“Master Cao, it’s time. Come this way.”

Outside the imperial prison, the icy wind cut like a blade, and snow fell like tears from the night sky. Walking in the endless snow, Cao Luan flexed his hands helplessly. He looked down at his trembling fingers in the swaying shadows under the moon, and all he saw was blood from the prison cell.

The night deepened. Between the buildings of the inner palace in the imperial city, major court officials passed in a single file.

The old man in front donning a sable coat and tucking his hands in the muff was Cai Yan, the chief minister of the cabinet. There was a gloomy look in his eyes under his grey eyebrows as he walked without a word. Behind him was his third son Cai Lan, who had just been appointed the head of the Ministry of Personnel. Cai Lan on the other hand had cheery good looks, and walked with a spring in his steps. The other ministers behind them followed closely – they were all disciples and followers of the Cai family. This effectively ended the power division at court where officials were split into two factions; from now on no followers of the Pei family were left.

They arrived at Chongning palace shortly, where the young emperor Jiang Zhan resided. The officials waited outside the palace and requested an audience with the emperor to pay respect to him, seeing that the emperor felt ill and left the banquet early. However the eunuch outside the palace said that the emperor was fine, and that he instructed the ministers not to worry without saying much else.

Hearing this, the officials looked at each other, knowing that they wouldn’t get an audience, kowtowed and took their leave.

Cai Yan and his son were again at the head of the file leaving the palace. They brushed shoulders with a group of attendants entering the palace.

As if sensing something, Cai Yan halted his steps and looked back. The attendants were escorting someone coming from outside the palace. They surrounded him closely and ushered him to Chongning Palace.

Can Lan saw it too and wondered: “Father, isn’t that man –”

Cai Yan coughed in a low voice, and stopped his son from speaking with a solemn look. When he looked back again at the tall figure that disappeared inside the palace, it suddenly dawned on him what was going on. He sighed with a pitying note in his voice: “All his life he’d been a mad dog, how could he’ve known that he’d been bitten to death by one of his own...Poor Master Pei.”

Cai Lan had long been accustomed to his father’s discretion in public. He made a fist-and-palm gesture obediently behind his father, and said: “That guy Pei Jun sabotaged so many of our connections in the past ten years, not to mention that he dared to share power with you and rode roughshod over everyone else. It only serves him right to die. Now that we doubled down and rooted him out, the cabinet is finally cleansed of his influence and we don’t need to worry about anyone else. Anyway he’ll be executed tomorrow. Father, you won’t have to lose sleep over this in the future.”

Cai Yan held out a hand to flick off the snow on the muff, and glanced at Cai Lan with some deep meaning in his eyes: “I’m afraid that you’re too short-sighted to look beyond your own nose. You don’t seem to see that a catastrophe is descending upon us.”

Cai Lan was puzzled. He saw his father look up at the stars with worried eyes:

“All nine stars in the Coiled Thong (7) are shining brightly, a prophecy of many soon to be imprisoned. The court used to be controlled half by the Pei family and half by the Cai family, now that Pei is gone and justice has been served, wherefore this sign of mass incarceration?”

Cai Yan turned around to look at the flickering light in the Chongning Palace, and spoke in a flat tone: “To serve the emperor is like accompanying a tiger; the tiger lies hidden in wait and attacks abruptly, as unpredictable as the emperor. The emperor may have given us leave to destroy Pei Jun for the present, who’s to say he won’t wipe out our family in the name of rehabilitating Pei Jun in the future? For this reason, we’re also standing beneath the execution knife even as we prosper... Peifeng (8), since you’ve made yourself known to the emperor, you must stay alert. Not only should you serve the emperor with great care, but you need to keep the survival of your family in mind.”

Cai Lan looked smug: “Don’t worry father, the emperor has shown me great favour. He’ll never give the Cai family a hard time.”

Seeing his son’s expression, Cai Yan curled his lips, but retorted mercilessly: “Back in the days when Pei Jun had no idea he’d come to this, he must have thought the same as you do.”

Astounded, Cai Lan halted his steps, and heard his father’s haunting voice float back to him: “Pei Ziyu was in power for a decade. Although he’s a helpless prisoner now and his fortune is worse than yours a hundredfold, he used to tutor the emperor and preside over the court in the emperor’s stead; his glory, prestige, and renown was more than yours ten thousandfold. Even historians would have to pay him special attention when they record all the villainous officials of past dynasties. But not matter how favoured a minister is, he’s still a subject of the emperor. Once the emperor turns his heart against you and the troubles begin – one day you were still a favourite, another day you’d be a corpse!”

Cai Yan stopped suddenly to look back, and caught an expected sign of panic in his son’s astonished looks. He squinted his sharp eyes and instructed his son intently:

“In the future, Mufeng, always remember how Pei Jun meets his death.”

Snow drifted outside Chongning Palace, but inside the golden lamps held bright candles, and a charcoal fire kept the hall warm.

A young man of small stature kneeled in the hall, his short eyebrows knitted in a frown. Not daring to move, he had been prostrating on the floor for almost an hour.

Low coughs came intermittently from behind the purple mesh screen. When servants carrying the plates served up the medicinal soup, Jiang Zhan, sitting on the throne decorated with golden dragons, only sent them away with a wave of his sleeve. He huddled by the animal-head copper stove, his lowered eyes glimpsed at the screen. In the suffocating silence of the room, he slowly placed his stiff fingers close to the searing stove and watched his finger tips turn red in the heat. Then he spoke suddenly: “We remember that you’ve studied under your master for many years.”

The person down the hall immediately kowtowed with tremors down his spine: “To answer your majesty, it...it’s been twelve years.”

Jiang Zhan nodded slowly, and as if speaking to himself, he muttered with a frown: “Huh, it’s been twelve years already...” He turned his hand over the stove and watched the red-hot coal in the furnace, his clear voice lightened up a little: “It took quite some trouble this time to send the Pei faction to prison. It couldn’t have be done without you, we must give you a reward. What do you want?”

After the person down the hall heard this, his hands resting on the carved floor tiles began to tremble. His voice had an insuppressible note of exhilaration: “This comm...commoner  only wish to devote my entire life to serving your majesty and the country. I dare...dare not have other vain desires.”

Jiang Zhan appeared amused by his words and chuckled. He withdrew his hand and held up the teacup on the table, and said mildly: “That was a nice and sensible thing to say, you really are your master’s good student.” He glanced at the eunuch by the screen and continued: “It’s cold, sorry to trouble you to come here and pay respects. Have some hot tea first.”

Hearing this, the eunuch beckoned to the palace maid down the hall, and quickly a cup of tea was served.

The person outside the screen expressed his thanks profusely, and hastily took two sips while kneeling there. In an instant, the tea warmed his stomach and his heart, and made him feel that the desolation and suffering of his betrayal for so many years was finally handsomely rewarded. As he looked at the beautiful teacup in his hands, he seemed to have a vision in the misty vapours rising from the tea, a vision where he rose to a high position at court and basked in glory. Upon such thoughts, it was as if the tea burned his stomach even more hotly, sending thrills throughout his whole body.

Just then, he heard a sigh on the other side of the screen: “Alas, like your master often told me in the past, your small-mindedness is incorrigible. Looks like it’s indeed true.”

Before the person beyond the screen could say a word, he suddenly felt a hot wave of crushing pain in his stomach. In an instant everything went black, he spat out some blood, fell back with a thud, and stopped breathing.

On this side of the mesh screen, Jiang Zhan was still warming his hands silently with lowered eyes. Attendants from the side palace rushed in and carried away the corpse silently. In a flash, even the blood on the floor was wiped clean.

Another person was promptly brought in, and the eunuch announced: “Your majesty, he’s here.”

Jiang Zhan raised his eyes, and through the screen, he faintly saw a dark human shape coming in and kneeling down. He said lazily: “Rise.”

The person down the hall kowtowed: “thank you, your majesty”, and rose slowly.

Jiang Zhan withdrew his hands by the stove, propped up his head and leaned on the armrest. he watched the man with some interest: “You are a busy man indeed. We sent someone to your residence three times, and you were never there. I heard that you’ve been having drinks with the surveillance commissioner Cui Lin lately?”

The figure immediately froze, but calmed himself and said: “...To answer your majesty, this commoner first met master Cui while my station in life was still lowly, we’re just old friends.”

Jiang Zhan nodded, and sighed with some pity, “My condolences then. Servants told me just now that master Cui passed away from chest pain this morning. No wonder I didn’t see him at the banquet.”

The figure shook violently. Jiang Zhan continued: “Speaking of, his in-laws from the Meng family in Hexi must be coming to the capital to offer their condolences, I heard that they're your old friends too?”

There immediately came a thump from down the hall, and the eunuch hurried to help him up.

The sight made Jiang Zhan grin, he curled his lips like an amused child: “Never mind, I won’t question you about your private affairs. I asked you to come here only because it occurred to me, you made a great contribution to overthrowing the Pei faction. I just wanted to ask what reward you have in mind.”

He watched the dark swaying figure on the screen being helped up by the eunuch, and the figure’s voice answered, dry and trembling: “This commoner...only wish that my family are alive and well, other wishes...I dare not make, I hope your majesty...grant my request.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhan stopped his hand holding the cup, and his smile gradually faded. After a long while, he spoke slowly: “He’s right. You on the other hand is a really smart person.”

In the long deafening silence that ensued, the man down the hall saw a bright yellow shape behind the screen swaying as if waving his hand. Only then was he dragged out by the eunuch.

Jiang Zhan put down the cup on the desk. His eyes swept across treasures of gold and jade in the splendid palace, and as they landed on a petite golden rooster paperweight, the cold indifference in his heart gradually turned to dismal hatred.

He raised his hand and swept the paperweight off the desk. The sharp pain in his palm disrupted his breaths, making him cough violently again.

In the panicked cries of the servants calling for the doctor, the gaunt young emperor collapsed in the chair behind him. He covered his lips with a golden sleeve as the cough went on and on until it almost seemed to tear his body apart. His eyes grew red and he removed his sleeve, only to find it stained with red.

In the dead of night, the banquet finally wrapped up in Feihua palace. Court officials and royals bid each other farewell in the snow.

Tang Yuming, heir to the Ningwu Marquess, drunkenly stumbled out of the palace and called behind him: “Siqi! Qian Siqi! Come lend your master a hand!”

The disciple with a scarred face came to his senses and went ahead to help.

“Where were you? I was going to have you toast master Cai but couldn’t find you...” Tang Yuming scolded the disciple with a slur. But since he was busy venting his feelings, he didn’t really expect an answer. Having followed Tang for years, the disciple knew this very well. He quietly wiped off his tears and said nothing. Tang Yuming then clamoured and yelled that he wanted to catch up to the Cai family walking in front, so the disciple silently helped him over. They were soon lost in the din of the crowd flattering each other.

Ten steps away from them, the Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Library Zhang Ling and his son led a group of people out of the palace, and kept a distance from them. Their numbers were few, but they didn’t hurry to catch up with the others.

“Be careful, father.”

Zhang Ling was cautiously helped down the stairs by his son Zhang San. His hand circled back to message himself in the back, and he raised his head to see the black clouds covering the moon and stars after the great snow. Looking away, he sighed heavily: “The weather’s about to get even worse. Let’s go back.”

“Yes.” Zhang San reminded him with lowered eyes: “Be careful with your words, father.”

The same snow drifted across all the neighbourhoods of the capital, carpeting the cold hard ground in a layer of icy white.

At Prince Rui’s mansion in the eastern part of the city, the nine-year-old little prince dodged the spoonful of soup his mother fed him. he scampered to the window and laughed happily: “Mother, the snow is so heavy! Can I make a snowman tomorrow morning?”

But the boy’s smiley face only made the Princess Consort sink into a fit of heartaches. She put down the porcelain bowl and couldn’t hold back any longer. She covered her face and wept, her thin and frail wrist exposed from under her sleeves was covered by alarming blue marks.

 The day was so cold. The nineteenth year of Yuanguang arrived quietly tonight. But this empire ruled by the Jiang family, which had stood for over three hundred years, was now teetering on the edge of collapse.

Drought and famine broke out in the north, but the imperial court had no attention to spare for those who were starving and dying or the bandits that terrorised the roads. In Jiangdong, people were unjustly sentenced to death, but the imperial court was too busy with its own affairs to deal with the corrupt officials there who sucked the people dry. Just then the Pei Jun case occurred, which somehow inspired all the crooked and idling court officials to work together with unwarranted diligence to stamp out evil. Everyone however slightly involved was immediately imprisoned and interrogated, and everywhere people were thrown into a state of intense fear and panic. Bloody purges and brutal tortures followed one after another in the capital. All of this leading up to sentencing and executions only took half a month.

East of the river, riots were constantly breaking out across the region; outside Shuoyang Pass, tens of thousands of refugees were fleeing the famine in the wild. All over the country, vile officials persecuted common soldiers, while greedy soldiers oppressed the people; famished fathers lost their children, and freezing children buried their parents. Terrified and helpless, the common people cried and begged, but the imperial court was utterly unmoved. In sorrow and despair, the people almost began to hope for signs of the invasion and demise of their country.

For them, the night was pitch black, and would remain so regardless of the death of one court official; just as the dark clouds that covered the moon wouldn’t disperse because of a sudden gust of wind.

But none of this prevented the bright morning sun from rising the next day.

In the dazzling sunlight, the iron gate of the imperial prison clanged wide open. Blinded by the light, Pei Jun could only hear the ringing of iron chains around him. Dragging his broken legs, Pei Jun was carried out of the prison and thrown into a prison cart. Then he heard the warden chanting in a high-pitched voice:

“– Traitor Pei Jun! Deceitful and disobedient to the emperor, usurper of the throne! Your grave offences amount to a total number of ninety-six! Upon consultation with the three judicial ministries and authorisation of the emperor, you are hereby sentenced to public decapitation, the execution is to take place immediately!”

Notes: 

(1) Yuanguang is the reign title of the emperor.

(2) Guessing lantern riddles is a popular entertainment during Lunar New Year and is still practiced to this day in China.

(3) Yanwo, literally meaning “swallow’s nest,” are edible bird nests created from solidified saliva by edible-nest swiftlets. Yanwo has been a delicacy in Chinese cuisine for over 400 years and is believed to have great health benefits. Yanwo often fetches exorbitantly high prices because of its rarity.

(4) Ziyu is Pei Jun’s courtesy name.

(5) When people refer to themselves or others as “old + last name,” it is to signify a casual closeness between friends, it doesn’t mean actual old age.

(6) The Hanlin Academy was an elite academic and administrative institution of higher learning founded in the 8th century during the Tang Dynasty. Scholars at the academy performed secretarial and literary tasks such as drafting imperial edicts, compiling classics, composing historical records, tutoring members of the royal family, and serving as examiners of the imperial examinations.

(7) The Coiled Thong (guan suo) is an asterism in the constellation Corona Borealis. In ancient China, it symbolises being constrained or imprisoned.

(8) Peifeng is Cai Lan’s courtesy name.

[wholemantou]

君有疾否 Jun You Ji Fou Audio Drama S2 Insert Song: 《没错》 'Indeed' - Lyrics (English Translation)

English translation of 《没错》 'Indeed', the insert song from the second season of the Jun You Ji Fou (君有疾否) / Art Thou Ailing?audio drama on Miss Evan, based on the novel of the same name by Ru Si Wo Wen.

Chinese/Pinyin/English lyrics + audio link (free to listen) available under the cut!

Image credits to the original artist for the Jun You Ji Fou audio drama (S2) on Miss Evan.

The original song can be listened to publicly for free at its source at Miss Evan (click the hyperlink or the video above). Original Chinese lyrics by 易者连消醉清酒 (composition by @白蔓_ and arrangement by @水墨流苏R), English lyrics translation by @wholemantou.

Full copyright attributions can be found in the above link. Translation notes are found after the lyrics. Indeed (没错 Méi Cuò) Performed by Chen Zhang Taikang and Ma Zhengyang (originally sung by 亡海Aries)

♫ [陈张太康 (苏世誉)]: [Chen Zhang Taikang (as Su Shiyu)]: 没错，席卷过荒野的不止是呜咽的风还有你眼中比满城飞灯更浓烈的火这缕，秋风行了方便趁着 漫天晚霞落 窥见你眼底，燃不尽的热 Indeed, it isn’t just the whimpering wind that's engulfing the wilderness, But also the fire in your eyes, more intense than the lanterns throughout the city skies. When it's time for this wisp of wind in autumn to go, We'll readily ride on the evening’s undying afterglow. I take a glance into your eyes; in them, an inextinguishable heat burns on.

可眼中 何曾映出我 爱是迂回曲折、是无弦之歌 是死在痛欲中享乐 But since when have I ever been reflected in these eyes? Love is an endless cycle of suffering; a song strummed without a string; It is death while taking pleasure in the pains of desire.

(chorus)

是唇齿难舍， 我何来有错？ 满座宾客见证这离合 情本吝啬，是你好心施舍 Not bearing to part, like a pair of lips and teeth, Could I be said to have sinned, then? The guests in the room have witnessed both our separation and our reunion. Love has never been easy to part with, but you were so kind as to give it all away. 是耳畔余热， 我何来有错？ 枕边人却不是知我者 可那又、那又如何 The residual heat lingers on my ears. Could I be said to have sinned, then? The companion beside my pillow is not companion to my thoughts. But so what, then—so what? ♫ [马正阳 (楚明允)]: [Ma Zhengyang (as Chu Mingyun)]: 没错，我想我哪幸有这般璀璨绚烂色 只因你满腔热忱喜欢才觉得我鲜活 没错，其实我只是那血色 风干沥尽了 千山万色里，最旧的那抹 Indeed, I hadn’t believed that I could have the honour of such a brilliant, vivid scene. It had only been thanks to your passionate fancy that I’d ever felt able to thrive. Indeed, I am merely the colour of blood dried up from the wind. The oldest smear across multitudes of mountainous sceneries. [1] 你本也 不必有承诺 爱是惊心动魄、是求之不得 是死在痛欲中享乐 In the first place, you’ve never needed to make any promises. Love is a fire that shocks the heart and shakes the soul; a wish deemed unattainable; It is death while taking pleasure in the pains of desire.

(chorus) 是唇齿难舍， 我何来有错？ 满座宾客见证这离合 情本吝啬，是你好心施舍

Not bearing to part, like a pair of lips and teeth, Could I be said to have sinned, then? The guests in the room have witnessed both our separation and our reunion. Love has never been easy to part with, but you were so kind as to give it all away.

靠爱你过活， 我十恶不赦 天下人人尽知我疯魔 可那又、那又如何 To live is to love you; In doing so, I commit the Ten Abominations [2] The whole world knows that I’ve gone insane in my infatuations. But so what, then—so what?

(chorus, duet):

是爱欲纠葛， 我何来有错？ 只这一吻月光都失落 我低声问，动情在哪一刻

I entangle myself (with you) in desire and love [3] Could I be said to have sinned, then? A single kiss was enough to summon the cascading moonlight. [4] I softly ask myself—at which moment had I fallen (for you)?

我从来没错， 又十恶不赦 天下人人尽知我执着 可那又、那又如何 I have never sinned, Yet I’ve committed the Ten Abominations. The whole world knows that I’ve become fully obsessed. But so what, then—so what? -----------------♫♫------------------- Translation notes: [1] “The oldest smear across multitudes of mountainous sceneries”: possible reference to the JJWXC summary – 你眸中有山川河流，胜过我行经路过的一切不朽。“There are mountains and rivers in your eyes, and they trump all the evergreen existences that have passed me by.” As this line seems to be in Su Shiyu’s perspective (based on a few lines in a few chapters, e.g., chapter 55), it makes sense that Chu Mingyun is the one saying that he’s “the oldest smear across (i.e., of) mountain sceneries” in this line.

[2] Ten Abominations (十惡): traditional Chinese law dictates 10 offences to be most abominable and uncivilised—rebellion, sedition, treason, parricide, depravity, great irreverence (disrespect for the royal family), being unfilial, family discord (harming one’s family), petty treason, and incest.

[3] Entanglement is a likely motif in the novel. E.g., Chapter 55, Chu Mingyun to Su Shiyu: "我要和你纠缠一辈子" ("I want to entangle/entwine myself with you forever").

[4] “A single kiss is enough to summon the cascading moonlight”: Probably a reference to the pavilion scene of Chapter 42.

[wholemantou]

(Edit: I'd initially only placed some of my own input in the tags, but I decided that I should at least attempt to say something...)

Thank you so much for your kind words, especially regarding a translation that I really still find so much to improve on (though admittedly won’t devote much time to doing so at least for the time being, because of real-life commitments, as well as the fact that I will be removing it very soon to support the official English release anyway).

More importantly, I think you've captured the gist of the novel beautifully in your review (and I noticed you've read it within just 3 days, too). Parts where the novel may have been prone to misunderstanding were thoughtfully appreciated, and I completely agree with the parts of the novel you celebrated. It's one of my favourite novels, and I'm really relieved to see that those things didn't get lost in my translation...

If anyone's seeing this, I'm seconding notnun's recommendation of this novel -- not my TL (anyway it's probably not going to be up for much longer), but the official English translation by Rosmei, or the official Chinese physical copy by XIRON aka Mo Tie 磨铁 (Volume 1 | Volume 2) if you can read Chinese (or even the Thai release if you're Thai...if it's still available for sale?). You could also consider listening to the audio drama on Miss Evan -- the voice actors (mainly YangKang but also the rest of them) + BGM + post-production (not to mention the art) were exquisite in my opinion! Those will definitely be fantastic ways to support the author, who has been putting up their stories for free on JJWXC. ♡

Jun You Ji Fou (君有疾否) | Ru Si Wo Wen (如似我闻)

A.K.A. Art Thou Ailing?

Links: Novelupdates | half-eaten mantou (Chrysanthemum Garden)

Tags: Historical, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Yaoi

Chapters: 92

Read on: 03/23/2025 to 03/26/2025

This novel captivated me for the entire length!! Mantou did such a good job translating this and you can feel their care in every decision made while translating. I very much enjoyed this novel, and its one I will definitely come back to read again.

Upon realization that he knew practically nothing about his political opponent, the Imperial Censor Su Shiyu, after an incident, the Imperial Marshal Chu Mingyun quickly brainstormed ways to gain information without suspicion. Investigating Su Shiyu without alarming those he shouldn't normally wouldn't be easy- but he had a plan. All he needed was for Su Shiyu to listen to him.

Imperial Marshal Chu thus sets his plan into motion and declares his undying love to the Imperial Censor Su in the palace after work, within earshot of other officials.

Su Shiyu: .... Are you ill?

Chu Mingyun: Yes, with lovesickness.

They can't trust each other, but can't help but fall in love with the other. Their trajectories and stances are complete opposite and from the start they're doomed to a bitter ending.

Su Shiyu is the minister who is always gentle, always smiles, and does not hesitate to enact the law-even on his own relatives. He projects the image of being heartless- but who can truly have a heart of stone? He cannot waver because he already has in the past, and that cost him dearly. I loved the push and pull between them... The heartbreak Su Shiyu feels every time he struggles with his ideals versus his growing love for Chu Mingyun, and deciding to lock all his feelings and reactions deep in his heart where no one will see. I love him.

Chu Mingyun is ruthless, overbearing, but charming. He has been gathering military power for years, slowly building up his men's loyalty to him- not the Emperor. He sees that the current Emperor will only lead the country to ruin, and is reaching forward to rectify it.

He is the one who started pursuing Su Shiyu first intending to make it easier for him to gather information on him, but fell even harder for him completely unaware. His bursts of dependency coupled with his threats to completely monopolize Su Shiyu after both had already fallen hopelessly in love with each other.. Su Shiyu allowing it while also unable to reciprocate.... Whew. It was almost agonizing seeing the two of them tear at each other in subtle and overt ways as the plot came to a head....

And I swear almost every character introduced after the first arc or so felt doomed. In a good way! It didn't feel like the author was introducing characters to kill them off- each person was deliberate and had their own interconnections with the main protagonists... Which made it hard to see some of them get swept up in the plot and killed. I really like how the author slowly reveals the real mastermind- the readers get to be as similarly frustrated as Su Shiyu and Chu Mingyan while they investigate and connect the dots left by the evidence behind. And there was a good balance between the politics, the war, and the feelings and tension between our two ministers 🥺

In short, I've gained a new novel I love, two characters I adore and 100% teared up at the end of the novel with the historical account of the dynasty. I will definitely read the author's other works! Mantou is working on a second of their novels and I definitely will await the completed notification in the CG discord 👀

How was the translation? Excellent. Half-eaten mantou is an excellent translator, clarifying the many poems included in the text and pointing out when they had to translate things more liberally. I really appreciate the transparency and love Mantou has put into completing it. There were very few typos and missed words in the text. The inclusion of official art of a few of the scenes in the novel were also great 🥺

Would I recommend this novel? Yes! Its not as dense as some historical novels and like I said has a good balance of everything.

Would I reread this novel? Absoluuutely. 100%

Trigger warnings: Suicide, Poison, Sexual harassment*, Using "retarded" in the medical diagnosis sense, Gore, Child abandonment, Domestic Violence (mention), Torture, Drugs (Aphrodisiac), Child death

*Done with a purpose, disguised as him taking advantage of Su Shiyu. Past the first pat-down Su Shiyu acquiesces to Chu Mingyun's actions and its not unconsensual. Su Shiyu would simply Not Let Him if he didn't want to be there.

Thank you for reading my review, once again no readmore this time !! 💜💜💜

[wholemantou]

the lotus flower

In this post I want to briefly talk about the dual symbolisms of lotus flower in Jun You Ji Fou (the novel I’m reading recently). For people who aren’t familiar with the novel, read it for the Chinese culture trivia if you like, there won’t be too much spoilers :)

One of the most recognizable traits of Chu Mingyun’s appearance is the blood red lotus flower pattern on his clothes. The crimson lotus is beautiful and striking, just like Chu Mingyun, but in Buddhism it’s also associated with hell – one of the strata of hell is so cold that people’s skin would turn blood red and crack open like the lotus flower, hence the name “Red Lotus Hell” (红莲地狱). Chu Mingyun is indeed like a vicious ghost that climbed out of hell for revenge – all his life decisions are defined by his childhood trauma; his entire character is like a bleeding wound. In the words of the novel:

他说他其实是孤魂野鬼，因为有执念才没死干净，苍梧山上灵气充足，他修行完就要去吃人了！

“He said he was in fact a lone ghost in the wild that didn’t dissipate only because he had unfinished business in this world. Cangwu Mountain is rich with spiritual energy, and he’ll be off to devour people after he completes his cultivation here!”

But at the same time, the lotus flower is consistently used as a symbol of love between Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu in the story. The Chinese character for “lotus”, 莲 (lian), is the homophone of 怜 (lian), which means “love, pity, fondness” (coincidentally, it’s the same “lian” in TGCF’s Xie Lian). And the Chinese phrase for “lotus seed”, 莲子, is the homophone of 怜子, which is an archaic and literary way of saying “I love you.”

Keep reading

[wholemantou]

Jun You Ji Fou (君有疾否) appreciation/audio drama songs translation post

A while ago someone reblogged a post I wrote on the danmei novel Jun You Ji Fou and asked if I like the novel and could talk more about it, but I was too busy to reply and I think they’ve deleted the reblog, which makes me sad :/ But anyway I do like the novel, it’s an engaging and emotional read. I like how the main characters Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu, while both being ambitious politicians at the top of their game with a cold, ruthless, and calculating side, are really such hopeless romantics at heart. Su Shiyu loves Chu Mingyun silently and hopelessly without expecting anything in return, and Chu Mingyun thought that if only Su Shiyu had truly loved him, politics be damned and nothing else would really matter.

Jun You Ji Fou has a really good audio drama adaptation, and fans like to joke about the audio drama being a musical because there’re a lot of beautiful songs and soundtracks in it. I’ve translated two below, please enjoy:

Keep reading

[wholemantou]

Bruh I was kind of taking it as a joke at first, but these two really do be acting like a pair of exes who never fully got over each other💀

[wholemantou]

[Image description: 6 stills from the anime “Natsume’s Book of Friends” featuring the characters Natori Shuuichi and Matoba Seiji as teenagers with tumblr text posts edited in.

Image 1: Natori scowls as he watches Matoba walk away from him and Takuma at his first meeting of exorcists. The text post is by tumblr user LibraryTicketss and reads "I believe in annoyed at first sight"

Image 2: Natori and Matoba stand facing each other in front of a pond lined with trees. Natori, who is blond, is wearing a black jacket, while Matoba, who has black hair, has on a light gray hoodie. Text post by guccigarantine reads "is he… you know…. your narrative foil?"

Image 3: Natori stands outside glaring up at Matoba, who's sitting in an upper-story windowsill offscreen. Text post by clouiis reads "what is a rival if not a crush ur mad about having"

Image 4: Natori walks away as Matoba stands in the distant background staring out at the river with his back to Natori. Text post by yarrayora reads "characters dynamic that's like 'they weren't in a relationship but they're definitely exes now'"

Image 5: Matoba laughs and waves his hand as Natori glowers. An anonymous ask placed over Natori reads "request for you to not be a bitch" and the answer by tswift, placed over Matoba, reads "request denied"

Image 6: Matoba smiles blithely as Natori exclaims in offense over something he just said. Text post by forbiddnfruits reads "sorry i called you a fucking idiot i was trying to flirt"

/end ID]

teen natori shuuichi: *has lots of inconvenient emotions* i am going to create a me that is so good at hiding his emotions. better than everyone else even. i'm going to get so good at it that i become famous specifically for being good at it. and then we'll see who's laughing

natsuyuu characters as text posts 3/?

[wholemantou]

I'm sure he felt he couldn't force her to bear the burdens he did, but he couldn't abandon his family.

[wholemantou]

十二時辰⏰12 shichen (24 hours)

✏️Traditional timekeeping system in China is called "干支Ganzhi," developed by the observers of Jupiter thousands of years ago and also underlying the Chinese zodiac.

The system divides a day into 12 even parts each one of which is called a "時辰shichen" and represented by a Chinese character, and designated one animal to represent each period according to each animal's special time. If you will ever run into an old Chinese sundial, instead of ancient Roman numbers, you will find the 12 characters carved on its surface around the rim.（pic 2）

Zi Shi子時 🐭：Rats are foraging. Zi Shi starts from 11 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m. It not only means the last moment of a day, but also refers to the beginning of a new day. Zi Shi is with Chinese zodiac Rat sign as rats are usually active for foraging at midnight.

Chou Shi丑時🐮：Oxes are chewing the cud. Chou Shi is from 1 to 3 a.m. It is the dark period before dawn, and the oxes begin to chew the cud at this time. Therefore, the Chou Shi belongs to zodiac Ox.

Yin Shi 寅時🐯：Tigers are active to capture prey. Yin Shi refers 3 to 5 a.m. upon the dawn moment. Tigers wake up and capture prey at this point, so this time period is given the Tiger sign.

Mao Shi卯時🐰：Jade Rabbit is working with herbal medicines. The 2-hour period between 5 and 7 a.m. is Mao Shi. Although the sun is rising up, the moon can still be seen in the sky. In Chinese fairy tale, Jade Rabbit inside the Moon Palace is still working with herbal medicines. In this case, Mao Shi is related with zodiac Rabbit.

Chen Shi辰時🐲：Dragons are going to bring rainwater. During Chen Shi from 7 to 9 a.m., the sunlight is getting brighter and temperature is getting higher, the mythical creature dragons are about to bring rainwater to people, and this gives Chen Shi the zodiac Dragon.

Si Shi巳時🐍：Snakes are leaving their holes. Snake acquires Si Shi - 9 - 11 a.m., as they usually leave their holes for absorbing power from the warm sunshine in this comfortable time.

Wu Shi午時🐎：Horses are energetic. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. is Wu Shi. Horses is on behalf of Wu Shi as they are still sthenic while the others are tired and taking noon break.

Wei Shi未時🐑：Sheep are pasturing.

Sheep zodiac possesses 1 to 3 p.m. named Wei Shi. The heat is going to disappear in the early afternoon, and it is a good time for goats to pasture.

Shen Shi申時🐒：Monkeys are crowing. Shen Shi is three to five o’clock in the afternoon. Monkeys are active and begin to crow by this time. Hence, the Chinese zodiac hour Shen Shi is with Monkey sign.

You Shi酉時🐓：Roosters are returning to dens. 5 to 7 p.m. represents the moment of night falls. It belongs to Rooster among the twelve Chinese zodiac signs as roosters always go back to their homes from 17:00 to 19:00.

Xu Shi戌時🐶：Dogs are on guard.

From 7 to 9 p.m. of Xu Shi in the evening, it’s dark outside, and dogs start to do their job of gate guarding.

Hai Shi亥時🐷：Pigs are sleeping.

Hai Shi is the ending hour from 9 to 11 p.m in a day. All is quiet and pigs are in a deep sleep, so they have Hai Shi.

📷刘顺儿妞

#时辰 #時辰 #shichen #hours #干支 #zodiac #chinesecalendar #chinesezodiac #fengshui #astrology #astronomy #time #art #culture #日晷 #sundrum #history #traditional #characters #漢字 #mandarin #chinesestyle #learnchinese

[wholemantou]

i need to read more academic articles to make my yaoi more insane

[wholemantou]

The journal Popular Communication just released their special issue "Queer Women's Fandoms." It contains one article about TGCF fandom and one about Chinese baihe fandom, read the issue here

[wholemantou]

hi internet...！

(internet: echoes back)

just relocating here for now / for good, because there've been problems with commenting on posts and sending asks over at @halfmantou that the tumblr staff haven't gotten back to me for a very long time, and i wonder if they ever will...

...that being said, it's a peaceful feeling to start off on a fresh slate in a quiet place, so depending on how it goes, i might stay here.

⟡