Yan Zhen stepped into the courtyard. He had spent the past few days recuperating in his room and was finally feeling better. Remembering that he had not yet thanked Cheng Ziyao for saving his life, he intended to visit the other’s courtyard to express his gratitude. But after only a few steps, the scene before him made his chest tighten sharply, causing him to stop in his tracks. Staring at the two people leaning against each other under the plum tree, his mind instantly went blank.
Among the clusters of plum trees, Yan Qing and Cheng Ziyao, seemingly intimate, leaned against a tree trunk. Their green and silver robes interlaced, and though their expressions could not be seen, their entwined hair danced in the wind with a captivating grace. Petals of pale pink snow plum blossoms drifted around them, adding to the already beautiful and picturesque scene an extra touch of poetic charm.
Yan Qing slightly turned his head, a captivating smile playing on his lips at whatever Cheng Ziyao had just said. Seeing Yan Zhen, Qi Mingyue made no move to hide it, but instead raised an eyebrow and asked lightly, “ Dage
大哥
dàgē
Literally means ‘eldest brother’ but can also be used respectfully or affectionately to address an older male.
1 , has come to see Ziyao? May I ask what the important matter is?”
dàgē
Literally means ‘eldest brother’ but can also be used respectfully or affectionately to address an older male.
Never before had Yan Zhen felt such anger. He suppressed the confusing emotions in his heart, his hands clenching tightly. The two before him so perfectly suited, and Cheng Ziyao was a man of unmatched bearing, yet why was it that seeing them together stirred such a strange feeling within him? Though they were both men, he was by no means narrow-minded. Relations between men had long been commonplace, so as long as it did not involve keeping male concubines, he would never scorn or disdain it. And yet, why was it that at the sight before him, his chest felt so…… so unbearably tight?!
Shaken by the sudden surge of emotions, Yan Zhen found himself unable to speak to the two of them.
Qi Mingyue lightly adjusted the hair by his ear and stepped away from Yan Qing, then walked over to where Yan Zhen stood. With a faint smile, he said, “What brings the Young Master of Yunhao Manor to me? Or have you been thinking of Yan Qing, and came to see him? You two have not seen each other in quite some time, you must have much to talk about. It seems Ziyao was actually inconsiderate, having Yan Qing come stay with me, leaving you brothers with no chance to reminisce.”
“If Yan Qing is willing to accompany Young Lord Cheng, then let him do so. It is better than him selling his body in the brothel.” Yan Zhen coldly retorted, his face, so similar to Yan Qing’s, now full of indifference. Saying these mocking words, he flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.
Seeing his anger, Qi Mingyue lowered his eyes, hiding the cunning within, and suddenly grabbed Yan Zhen by the hand. “Why is the Young Master of Yunhao Manor in such a hurry to leave?”
Yan Zhen’s clear, watery eyes betrayed a flicker of panic, yet his expression remained calm, tinged with a barely perceptible coldness. Hearing this question, Yan Zhen involuntarily glanced at Yan Qing. There, in the green robe, Yan Qing stood amid the wilted snow plum blossoms, eyes fixed on him. Within them shone the same repressed bitterness and searing, inescapable passion Yan Zhen had glimpsed a few times before, the kind that makes one want to flee.
Please read The Elegant Dancing Years Chapter 74 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
Yan Zhen averted his gaze once more, never daring to probe Yan Qing’s meaning. This time was no different, yet thinking of what he had just seen, his chest felt suddenly hollow, as if something within him was slowly breaking out. Suppressing his unresolved emotions, Yan Zhen shook his head and said to Qi Mingyue, “Thank you Young Lord Cheng for saving me. Yan Zhen is here merely to express his gratitude, nothing more. The manor is swamped with pressing affairs, so Yan Zhen cannot stay longer. Please, Young Lord, allow Yan Zhen to take his leave.”Seeing Yan Zhen like that, Qi Mingyue smiled contentedly and let go of the other’s hand. Then, he picked a fallen plum blossom from his sleeve and twirled it between his fingers. “While it blooms on the branch, one barely notices it. Yet once it falls, it feels like it’s a pity. Don’t you agree, Young Master?” Tossing the pale pink petal to the ground, Qi Mingyue added a seeming displeasure in his tone, as he said to Yan Zhen, “No need to call me Young Lord Cheng anymore. Yan Qing and I share a deep bond, so just call me Ziyao from now on.”
He called him Young Master, yet addressed Yan Qing by name. This deep bond, how deep was it? Yan Zhen couldn’t help but speculate wildly, every instinct telling him that something was profoundly amiss.
Leaving the unresponsive Yan Zhen behind, Qi Mingyue walked over to Yan Qing and whispered something to him. Then, with a faint smile on his face, he stepped out of the courtyard with unhurried grace.
After walking a few steps, Qi Mingyue turned around and saw Yan Zhen standing lost in thought, staring at the fallen plum petals at his feet as he faced Yan Qing. Their similar profiles were striking, yet their expressions could not have been more different. The once elegant, serene man no longer bore that calm warmth of their first meeting. Appearing to be struggling with some unresolved confusion, his brows were slightly furrowed, still deep in thought. Meanwhile, Yan Qing still wore a seductive smile, his lips bewitching as ever, yet his fiery gaze remained fixed on Yan Zhen, ensnaring the other completely.
A few snow plum petals settled on the light blue robe, then drifted on the breeze to the green robe of the other. The two stood in the wind, silent. Their faces alike, yet one was elegantly refined, the other full of captivating charm. So similar, and yet so different. What could possibly come of such a pair? A hint of anticipation flickered in Qi Mingyue’s eyes as he brushed the remaining fallen petals from his robe and, smiling, walked away.
***
Although it was winter, the weather was not too cold, showing signs of warming, indicating that spring was not far off. The winter flowers in the rear court were blooming in full glory. Standing outside the ambulatory
回廊
huíláng
Something like this, I think:
2 , she lifted her face to the afternoon sun, yet the shadows and fears in her heart remained undispersed.
huíláng
Something like this, I think:
Her heart fluttering with unease, she turned and hid in the shadows. She had never met the messenger during the day, and now she was very worried. Not only because of the fear of being seen, but also that those above might already know something…… Biting her lip unconsciously, she cast her gaze downward, and saw that her shadow twisted strangely in the sunlight. Then, a dark shape flickered past, sending a sudden chill across her vision.
“Number Nine, you failed.”
It was neither an accusation nor a question. The voice, low and hoarse, showed no rise or fall, carrying not the slightest trace of humanity, as though it came from a puppet.
Please read The Elegant Dancing Years Chapter 74 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
Hearing this, her body stiffened, making her not even have the courage to raise her head. “Reporting to the Night Messenger, it…… it must be that something went wrong with the Gu poison.” She replied quickly, lowering her head and standing still, not daring to make the slightest move.“Not possible.” Just two brief words, nothing more. But the cold aura emanating from the person became even more pronounced, causing her to tremble slightly. She had always feared him, not only because the Night Messenger was an envoy sent from above, but also because of the inhuman aura that made her feel like she was facing a ghost. It made her unable to control the chill rising in her heart.
Fear rose like a surging tide. She took two steps back, still trying to defend herself. “I…… I don’t know why this happened. I followed orders and administered the Gu poison. I don’t know why he……”
“Number Nine, you are courting death.” The few words came out flatly, without a trace of fluctuation, yet they made her immediately frightened. Could it be that her secret actions had already been discovered by those above?
Her feet moved slightly. How could she not know the consequences of defying the ones from above? Thinking of the scenes she had witnessed before, she could no longer control her fear and turned to leave. Even if the Night Messenger took her life now, it would be better than going back for punishment.
Before her leaping figure could go far, a cold hand pressed already against the back of her neck, tightening gradually. A dizziness enveloped her, and the pain in her throat had already become barely noticeable. Thinking that perhaps she could find relief at this moment, a complex feeling arose in her heart. If she hadn’t defied the ones from above, how could she have ended up like this? But if she hadn’t done so, that person would have died by her own hand…… It was all because of that Cheng Ziyao. If Cheng Ziyao hadn’t caused such a commotion, the ones from above might never have noticed. If Cheng Ziyao hadn’t saved that person, he would have stayed in an eternal sleep, and she could have stayed by his side, day after day……
She widened her eyes, staring at the pale blue sky. A strange sound escaped her throat, her eyes full of unwillingness…… Yan Zhen…… Yan Zhen gege…… he was hers……
Just then, a voice came from the bushes nearby. “I was just wandering around and never expected to catch such a good show. I hope Ziyao is not interrupting?”
The clear and melodious voice carried a hint of casual mockery. The man in white and silver robes approached with a leisurely, unconcerned air, seemingly oblivious to everything in front of him, his tone slightly teasing. “Miss Ya’er…… it seems you are having quite a hard time. Perhaps Ziyao can be of help?” He had only wanted to see what was wrong with Su Ya’er, but unexpectedly stumbled upon such an interesting scene. It seemed that his luck was quite good.
He cast a quick, appraising glance at the masked figure in gray robes. Qi Mingyue kept his smile, though a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes. That aura, that sense of something not of this world, it is so familiar. His eyes darkened, he concealed the expression within them, and stepped forward a few paces, giving a slight nod toward the eerie man. “One should be more compassionate towards a lady. This behavior is truly improper, your excellency.”
Her body hit the ground, and Su Ya’er coughed and gasped for breath, her vision still shrouded in darkness, not yet recovered. Just moments ago, the sudden sound of Cheng Ziyao’s voice had startled her. At that moment, what she thought of was not her own safety, but what would come next…… If Brother Yan Zhen were to find out that she was the one who had planted the Gu poison… Straining to lift her gaze toward the Night Messenger, she knew that anyone who had seen him was destined only for death.
Like a puppet, the man in gray robes threw Su Ya’er aside. Facing the oncoming Qi Mingyue, without the slightest warning he struck out with a palm, its force so fierce it made Qi Mingyue frown slightly. Yet his body drifted lightly several feet away with the force of the strike, narrowly avoiding it. Behind him, the plum tree exploded with a heavy crash, scattering a skyful of pale pink petals that swirled and danced in the wind, forming a scene of almost poetic beauty.
Please read The Elegant Dancing Years Chapter 74 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
The three stood still, as fallen petals continued to drift through the air. Amidst the tranquility, there was a tension that contrasted sharply with the poetic scene. Sensing the killing intent, Qi Mingyue's lips curved slightly, revealing a hint of coldness. Then, he reached down and untied a strand of silk hanging from his waist.“Kill him! He knows my identity! From now on, Number Nine will obey all orders from above, I beg the Night Messenger to give me one more chance! Let me stay here!” Her hoarse voice trembled with urgency and fear. For some reason, she was extremely afraid of Cheng Ziyao. Thinking of how he had easily removed the Gu poison, along with those eyes that seemed to see through everything, filled her heart with boundless dread. If her identity were exposed, she would lose everything.
“Tsk tsk, a young lady should not be so heartless.” Qi Mingyue shook his head as if in regret, not a trace of tension on his face, and his tone full of ridicule. At his fingertips, the strand of silk had already been lifted. Among the swirling snow petals, the translucent silk caught the sunlight, glimmering with iridescent hues, creating a dreamlike scene with the snow plum petals filling the sky. Su Ya’er stared blankly ahead, only to see the Night Messenger’s figure flicker and vanish from where he stood. Yet the surreptitious killing intent did not fade. When he appeared again, he was already suspended in mid-air!
Qi Mingyue did not move from where he stood. Seeing the other vanish, he remained unperturbed, instead locking onto the unique aura in the air. When the man suddenly reappeared, already within arm’s reach, Qi Mingyue let out a cold snort. At a mere thought, the Ni Hu
旎狐
Nǐ Hú
This weapon was first mentioned in chapter 26, and was translated as Yi Hu in earlier chapters, but I will change it to Ni Hu for accuracy.
3 was already coiling around him, soft as silk, yet slicing through the air with a sharp hiss. Flecks of cold light flickered, mirroring the Ni Hu chill, moonlike killing intent in his eyes and, with a flick of his fingers, the Ni Hu lashed out, winding toward the man.
Nǐ Hú
This weapon was first mentioned in chapter 26, and was translated as Yi Hu in earlier chapters, but I will change it to Ni Hu for accuracy.
The sharp, hissing cry carried a bone-deep chill, its fierce momentum causing the man to pause in mid-air, his body momentarily frozen. In that single moment, several bloody wounds had already appeared on the man’s arm, the torn flesh revealing crimson red, the metallic scent of blood spreading through the air, mingling with the cold fragrance of snow plum blossoms.
Knowing that man’s skill was not ordinary, yet only leaving such marks on the opponent’s body with his attack, Qi Mingyue showed a slight dissatisfied smirk. The coldness in his eyes grew stronger, and just as he was about to strike again, a white figure darted up from behind.
Translation Notes
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