Author: Vanilla Muse

Posted in Let Me Shoulder this Blame!

Let Me Shoulder this Blame! 96

Posted on by Vanilla Muse

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Chapter 96

Su Shi coughed twice, and suppressed the coppery scent in his throat. He pushed himself up using the ground for support, took off his helmet, and hung it on the crook of his elbow.

Although the defense level was good, the paladin’s exclusive helmet really hindered communication. The scene in front of him was divided into strips by the gridding of the helmet guard. Even blinking one’s eyes created the effect of shutters closing. It was impossible to exchange gazes with another person.

He didn’t want to wait until the moment of farewell to see the person in front of him unobstructed.

As his eyes fell on the familiar and delicate face, Esmond’s eye sockets suddenly became hot. He subconsciously wanted to speak, but he pressed his lips together tightly, lowered his gaze in silence, and raised his hand to wipe the blood on his lips.

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

The paladin should belong in the light completely. He tried everything possible, but he was unable to crack the illusion the pope had created. In the eyes of the masses, he was still a Fallen, a demonized sinful person.

There was a faint pain in his chest. The cardinal’s entire body was practically trembling faintly. It took a long while for him to speak in a suppressed voice: “Ivan, I’m sorry…”

If the illusion was not broken, he could not put up any resistance. Burning with the dark flames of sin, even if it could withstand the pope’s attacks, it would be a defilement to God.

The paladin did not answer. He only groped for Esmond’s hand, and gave it a silent squeeze. Then he stood up and turned to the pope.

The moment he saw him, the pope’s eyes flashed with malicious light. But due to the people’s gazes, he had to show a benevolent and gentle expression.

“Loyal paladin, we know that some of you have been deceived by him. You still have a chance to repent, and get back on the right path.”

The people only knew that there was an innocent paladin, but there shouldn’t be a way for them to know what that paladin looked like.

The pope made up his mind to not acknowledge the identity of the other party, and his tone was compassionate and tolerant.

He was originally a hundred percent certain of the outcome, as his gaze fell upon the paladin who was still standing erect, and he was preparing to strike the other one into a Fallen and kill both of them together, but then there was suddenly an exclamation from the crowd.

“It’s him! It’s Ivan!”

“It’s the paladin pardoned by the oracle, it must be him!”

“That’s right, it’s him, I remember his face! He really is alive!”

The paladin stood proudly in the arena, holding a helmet firmly in his hand. His pure and handsome face was heroic, and his eyes were clear and steady.

He looked exactly the same as the stone statue that was restored by holy fire in the plaza.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

The people were exhausted physically and mentally by the eternal night, and were eagerly looking forward to the appearance of the paladin. Now that they finally laid eyes on him, the cheers went up and down, quickly diluting the tragic atmosphere that the pope had previously created.

The pope’s gaze narrowed as incredulity blossomed in his eyes.

The scene came to a deadlock. The ecstatic waves from the crowd gradually tapered off. The people have calmed down and finally realized the strangeness of the situation.

The paladin who was pardoned by the oracle, not only did not stand on the side of the pope, but desperately saved the cardinal who was said to be depraved and had demonized, and was now confronting the pope to protect him.

Such a weird situation caused the people on the sidelines to fall into a dead silence for a long while.

“Seeing your actions makes me doubt the authenticity of the oracle, Ivan.”

The pope did not know about the stone statue yet, but he could already vaguely feel the sudden turn of the situation. He narrowed his eyes to look at the paladin. His tone was faintly chilling.

“In the most ancient of books, it has been recorded that if a sinful person submits to a demon, he can escape the punishment of the brand, become a traitor to God, and become a servant of darkness forever.”

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“Your current position really makes us wonder—perhaps the two of you are in cahoots with each other, and you painstakingly created the façade of an oracle and this punishment of eternal night to deceive the eyes of the innocent…”

The pope spoke of the ever-dark sky, and his words were strongly persuasive.

The people’s thoughts faltered for a moment. The eagerness with which they looked at the paladin cooled, and there was even vague doubt and hostility starting to rise.

Su Shi was accustomed to this kind of gaze, and even felt faintly relieved. He was planning to wait for an opportunity to self-destruct with the opponent, but Esmond was already struggling to stand up. He staggered forward. His voice was hoarse but firm.

“I have never fallen, nor have I betrayed my faith. All this is an illusion, and I am willing to prove it with my honor, blood, and my life…”

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Posted in Didn’t Love You Enough

Didn’t Love You Enough 33

Posted on by Vanilla Muse

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Chapter 33 – Husband

Xuan Yuan Han Cheng pulled Lin Jia Bao into the main hall of the palace, and together they paid their respects to the empress.

The empress watched the crown prince holding Lin Jia Bao’s hand and gave pause, and then said casually, “Cheng Er, you two have come.”

“Mother Empress, er’chen has brought Jia Bao to come paid respects to you. Thank you for bestowing Jia Bao to er’chen. Er’chen likes him very much.” Xuan Yuan Han Cheng gave his sincere thanks.

“Jia Bao?” The empress looked at the crown prince questioningly.

“An Zhu’s real name is Lin Jia Bao. It sounds good. Jia Bao, Jia Bao, the treasure in the family*.” Xuan Yuan Han Cheng said proudly.

[*T/N: This sentence has a better cadence in Chinese: “Jia Bao, Jia Bao, jia li de bao.”]

The empress smiled when she heard it. “It’s a good name. Come closer and let me have a careful look.”

Lin Jia Bao looked at His Royal Highness and saw the crown prince giving him an encouraging smile, so he walked in front of the empress.

The empress saw that Lin Jia Bao was indeed someone with a pleasant appearance, and a clean and pure personality. His jade green outfit highlighted his flourishing youthfulness. Compared to how Lin Jia Bao looked when he was wearing the palace attendant uniform, he looked even better now.

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“Indeed, an agreeable child.” As the empress spoke, she took hold of Lin Jia Baos hand and abruptly rolled up his sleeve. She saw the dazzling red dot… Although the empress already knew what she would see, she still could not help feeling disappointed.

Xuan Yuan Han Cheng stepped forward to put Lin Jia Bao in his arms and smiled at the empress. “What are you doing, Mother Empress? Lin Jia Bao is still young…”

A little embarrassed, the empress said, “It’s my fault. Zhou momo.” The empress motioned to Zhou momo, who was standing to the side, to come forward and give a reward to Lin Jia Bao.

Then to Lin Jia Bao, she said, “This is a meeting gift* for you. No matter what, you have now entered the crown prince’s East Palace, been marked down on the royal family’s jade document, and now you are the crown prince’s person. From now on, you must serve the crown prince well. The crown prince dotes on you this much, you cannot rely on that favor and become spoiled, you have to follow the rules inflexibly, and you cannot cause the crown prince to lose face.”

[*T/N: 见面礼 jian mian li – gift given to somebody when meeting them for the first time. Obviously, it’s not their very first meeting, but it’s their first meeting after Lin Jia Bao’s status change.]

“Yes.” Lin Jia Bao accepted the reward properly, in accordance with customs.

The empress was very satisfied with Lin Jia Bao’s well-behaved manners.

“Cheng Er, it’s already noon. Eat lunch here with your mother.” The empress said to the crown prince.

“No thanks, Mother Empress. Er’chen has to drink medicinal soup first before eating, so I won’t be accompanying Mother Empress at lunch.” Xuan Yuan Han Cheng said to the empress.

“Then quickly go back and take the medicine. Don’t delay.” The empress believed him.

“Er’chen will withdraw now. In the future, er’chen will often bring Jia Bao over here to accompany you.” Xuan Yuan Han Cheng pulled Lin Jia Bao along with him to give salute and leave.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

Xuan Yuan Han Cheng and Lin Jia Bao sat together on the sedan chair. Lin Jia Bao looked at His Royal Highness, wanting to say something, but then hesitated.

“En… Darling, what do you want to say?” Xuan Yuan Han Cheng asked him.

“Your Royal Highness… you just said you had to take medicine. Are you sick?” Lin Jia Bao asked with concern.

“Yeah, I have an internal injury…” Xuan Yuan Han Cheng said while watching Lin Jia Bao’s reaction.

Lin Jia Bao’s eyes widened when he heard the crown prince’s answer. He asked anxiously, “What kind of internal injury? Is it a serious injury?”

“Ha ha, I lied to you, little fool! If we eat lunch at my Mother Empress’s place, you can only stand there and serve.” Xuan Yuan Han Cheng was very content with Lin Jia Bao’s anxiousness towards his injury.

“Your Royal Highness, you are so kind to me! Thank you, Your Royal Highness!”

So it was for his sake. When Lin Jia Bao heard this, he thought that the crown prince was being really good to him.

“Baby, how about you don’t address me as Your Royal Highness? It’s too unfamiliar*. Think about it, we’re so intimate already.” Xuan Yuan Han Cheng blew hot air against the side of Lin Jia Bao’s ear. He watched as Lin Jia Bao’s face gradually reddened. “How about you call me Han Cheng?”

[*T/N: 生疏 sheng shu – unfamiliar, as in their relationship does not feel close or intimate]

Lin Jia Bao avoided the hot air he blew towards him. “Directly calling the name of Your Royal Highness, this is not in line with the rules…”

Xuan Yuan Han Cheng refused to let him go. “Then how about you call me husband? Just when it’s the two of us, all right? Han Cheng or husband, you must choose one.”

Lin Jia Bao thought about it. He could not directly call the crown prince by his name, but the palace regulations did not say anything about not calling him husband, add on to that was a little bit of his own selfishness. Lin Jia Bao looked around and whispered in the ear of the crown prince, “Husband…”

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

Xuan Yuan Han Cheng was over the moon when he heard this and burst out into laughter. “My precious baby, say it a few more times.”

Lin Jia Bao was so shy he couldn’t speak, but after Xuan Yuan Han Cheng’s constant urging, he whispered ‘husband’ a few more times, making Xuan Yuan Han Cheng happy to the extreme.

This was Xuan Yuan Han Cheng’s precious baby. Just a bit of love and protection was enough to make him depend on you with his whole heart, and view you as the most important person.

Xuan Yuan Han Cheng did not know what kind of fortune he managed to accumulate in his two lifetimes, to make the heavens give him a second chance to properly cherish his darling. He vowed that in this lifetime he definitely would not turn his back on his treasure.

Laughter accompanied the crown prince and Lin xiaoshi all the way, and news of Lin Jia Bao fully experiencing the crown prince’s favor spread through the entire harem in a flash.

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Posted in Male Lead 2 and Male Lead 3 Happy Ending!

ML 2 and ML 3 Happy Ending! 22

Posted on by Vanilla Muse

T/N: Some of you may have seen my Status Update in the side bar, but for those who didn’t, this update is late because I got really sick. But I’m all better now, so I will be making up the missed updates over the weekend. Fighting!

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Chapter 22 – Battle With the Male Lead

Duan Shu Tong: The company has recently developed a new product. I feel that the previous packaging is not suitable. You are in design. Can you help me think about it?

Pei Ruo Wei: Packaging for what kind of product?

She did not know that Duan Shu Tong worked in the Spring and Autumn Hall. To be honest, she did not have an in-depth understanding of the Duan family company, and very few people knew about the Spring and Autumn Hall’s existence.

Duan Shu Tong: Skincare product.

Pei Ruo Wei: The design would have to hinge on the product’s effects.

Duan Shu Tong: I’ll send you a sample and a manual. Help me out. The designers here can’t do what I want. If it continues to delay like this, then the new product will also be delayed.

This was all just nonsense of course, but it was fine as long as it worked.

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Pei Ruo Wei was not a person who was good at rejecting others. He described his circumstances to be so desperate; perhaps he might even be able to get a hold of her current address.

After a while, Pei Ruo Wei replied: No need to send it over. It just so happens that I don’t have anything planned. Give me the specific address and I will go take a look.

Duan Shu Tong breathed a sigh of relief. This way was also fine. He was afraid that she might take things too hard and do something irreversible. She needed to stay away from all familiar people and things that might trigger her.

Duan Shu Tong: Thank you so much! The address is the Spring and Autumn Hall, Shan Quan County, Lin Nan Province.

Pei Ruo Wei paused for a while before replying: Okay, I will drop by tomorrow afternoon.

With her promise, Duan Shu Tong felt reassured.

Who would have thought that the plan could not keep up with change?

At noon the next day, Duan Shu Tong had just finished eating his lunch when he received a call for help from Pei Ruo Wei.

He rushed to the address that Pei Ruo Wei gave him. It turned out that Pei Ruo Wei was actually living in Shan Quan County. She had rented a room temporarily. The building was old and the exterior walls were mottled.

Duan Shu Tong came to the front door of the building and saw a luxury car.

The chauffeur in the luxury car was rather familiar looking. Duan Shu Tong met eyes with the driver, and under the shocked gaze of the driver, he went up the staircase.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

It was only after his figure disappeared did the driver think to give Li Xiao a call, but by then it was too late.

Li Xiao, who was blocking Pei Ruo Wei’s door, had just picked up his phone when a human silhouette appeared at the top of the stairs.

The person was dressed simply, in jeans and white sneakers that were scrubbed clean.

Stepping on the dirty corridor floor, there was a feeling of blasphemy.

After seeing the person’s face clearly, Li Xiao’s expression changed. He started to frown and shout right away: “Duan Shu Tong, you are really shameless!”

[T/N: Speak for yourself, brat.]

Duan Shu Tong looked Li Xiao over from top to bottom. He saw his suit and leather shoes and couldn’t help asking: “Aren’t you hot?”

Li Xiao: Ha?

Duan Shu Tong did not wait for him to continue to flare up and continued on: “If you have anything to say, let’s say it downstairs. It’s too hot here.”

Li Xiao indeed felt hot. He followed behind Duan Shu Tong and said hatefully: “You and Xi Duan are really shameless. You guys deceived Ruo Wei and brought her to this kind of place. You think I can’t find it?”

Duan Shu Tong couldn’t help looking back at him. This man looked extremely handsome, his eyebrows were full of vigor, he was really attractive, but there were a lot of impurities in his mind.

“By seniority, you should call President Xi uncle. According to family hierarchy, he is considered an older generation than you. Addressing somebody directly by name without any honorific titles, is this President Li’s so-called upbringing?”

Li Xiao almost didn’t catch his breath. Why didn’t he find Duan Shu Tong to be so chatty* before?

[*T/N: The word used here is 侃, which can mean several different things according to the dictionary I’m using: upright and honest / cheerful / to chat idly / to boast / to talk smoothly. I doubt LX would consider DST upright and honest or cheerful, so chatty seemed to be the best bet here.]

“Miss Pei has already broken up with you, yet you’re still continuously hounding her. You even blocked her door. If you had gone a step further, wouldn’t that be illegally breaking into another person’s residence?”

Li Xiao: “…What bullshit are you spewing! I am not hounding her, she’s my woman, what’s wrong with me coming to pick her up?”

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

Duan Shu Tong’s foot slipped and he nearly rolled down the stairs. God, what “my woman?”

He waited until they safely left the passageway before he continued to speak: “Are there a lot of girls that like you?”

Li Xiao was stumped for a moment. Where they battling in charm? He promptly replied: Of course!”

There was conceit in his eyes.

He knew that in the eyes of others, the heir to the Li family was much more popular than the playboy of the Duan family.

On this one point, Duan Shu Tong could never compete against him.

Duan Shu Tong wasn’t trying to compare with him. He said bluntly: “There are so many girls that like you, if each of them wanted to have you, and everyday a group of people blocked your front door, would you be willing?”

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T/N: Can someone explain “小号 xiao hao” in relation to the Internet and blogging to me?

Posted in This Alpha's Pheromones Are Exploding

This Alpha’s Pheromones 22

Posted on by Vanilla Muse

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Chapter 22

Unexpectedly, the other party would ridicule from this angle. Qiu Jin immediately sneered: “You’re actually telling me that? Your scent is so strong, can’t you smell it?”

Ji Shenxiao: “Impossible. No one can smell my pheromones.”

Qiu Jin subconsciously felt that this was a lie, but in the next moment he suddenly remembered that Ji Shenxiao seemed to have a strange problem, and would only have estrus with Xiang Xi.

But he did indeed smell it just now.

Ji Shenxiao’s pheromones were very faint, and they were so biting cold that it seemed like it could douse the heat of the most enthusiastic and fiery omega.

The extremely cold male lead only lusts after the protagonist. This was indeed a very touching character design.

Moreover, looking at Ji Shenxiao’s stature and physique, he was definitely someone with a great appetite. The more he repressed himself in the present, the more impetuous he would be in the future.

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Perceiving Qiu Jin’s gaze on him, Ji Shenxiao’s voice went down a few octaves: “What are you laughing at?”

Qiu Jin suddenly realized: “Ah, I know, is it only Xiang Xi who can [smell your pheromones]?”

Ji Shenxiao frowned: “What does this have to do with Xiang Xi?”

At this moment, Xiang Xi walked out while yawning. He had only just stuck out one foot, but he could already feel the suppressed pheromones, and he immediately withdrew. He spoke with disdain: “What the hell? Spreading such concentrated pheromones so early in the morning, did you just come back from a heat?”

Originally he had only wanted to attack Qiu Jin, but he didn’t expect to see two sweaty alphas as soon as he looked up. In a flash, his body went rigid.

He had always respected and feared Ji Shenxiao. Now he was dripping cold sweat from fear after speaking such wild nonsense. He almost couldn’t maintain his surface calmness.

To make matters worse, Qiu Jin wiped his face and snorted: “We were just waiting for you.”

Xiang Xi: “…”

F*ck.

“I’m sorry, I was wrong, you… you guys continue.” Xiang Xi immediately retracted behind the door and climbed upstairs in a hurry.

In the small garden, the pheromones of the two alphas that had just finished exercising were entangled together. The radio operator was wearing headphones, and the gasping sounds of the two alphas were transmitted to their ears through the headset. Several staff members blushed heavily.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

This was really terrible.

Qiu Jin had rested enough and he was not interested in voice dubbing for pornography. He pulled the radio microphone out of his clothes: “I’m going to take a bath first.”

Ji Shenxiao raised his head abruptly, and finally realized Qiu Jin’s intentions for giving him the microphone.

The look in his eyes gradually became dangerous and his voice lowered a notch: “You deliberately set me up?”

“How could I?” Qiu Jin gave him a sloppy smile, “I’ve been panting all morning, and President Ji has only contributed for a few minutes?”

Ji Shenxiao: “…”

His deep gaze fell on the staff behind him. The radio operator was so scared that he did not dare to speak out, and he immediately recited the core socialist values a hundred times in silence.

In the big steel room, the editor looked at the scene before him, and he was practically vibrating with excitement.

“If we broadcast this episode, our ratings will definitely explode.”

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

‘’What fart! We are “Four Seasons Food,” not “Four Seasons Color*!”” The director’s eyebrows went up. Then he thought about it and said, “There’s no need to add any weird sound effects or captions to the running part, let the audience imagine it, they can see it. For the part after they come back, starting from when Xiang Xi came out, cut off everything, and compile a 15r special edition of the material that cannot be put in the main film.”

[*T/N: 色 (se) “color” is shortened from 色情 (se qing) which means “pornography / sex”]

“All right!”

Ever since coming back, Ji Shenxiao’s expression did not get any better. He usually felt good both physically and mentally after exercising, but for some reason, he now felt a little irritable.

Was it because of Qiu Jin’s provocation?

But that was just a harmless joke. Normally he would never care about it.

Then what exactly was the cause?

Ji Shenxiao went upstairs to take a bath, but when he pushed opened the door there was already the sound of splashing water in the bathroom. The sweat-soaked black t-shirt and shorts were thrown on a chair, exuding a strong pheromone smell.

Ji Shenxiao frowned and turned away without hesitation.

Conversely, the further and further away he got from the bathroom, the heat in his heart got hotter and hotter. It seems like the pheromones that have always been suppressed have finally found a way to leak out.

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The author has something to say:

Ji Shenxiao: Wanting a mile after getting an inch.

Qiu Jin: Where did I get an inch?

Ji Shenxiao: You didn’t get an inch, you got 6 inches.

Qiu Jin: ???

After a long time, Qiu Jin finally found out what was 6 inches on Ji Shenxiao’s body… orz

Posted in Recap

The Sword and The Brocade Ep 11

Posted on by Vanilla Muse

Episode 11

Shiyi can’t find any clues in the main Xu manor and wants to go to the Xu villa to check the old fabrics there. Serendipitously, Danyang meets a fortune teller who tells her to stay away from people born in the year of the ox during her pregnancy. [This smells like Lianfang’s doing again.] Shiyi – born in the year of the ox – happily agrees to go to the villa. 

After finding a clue, Shiyi goes out to meet Master Jian to consult her expertise. The head maid of the villa assigns two bodyguards to go with Shiyi. When Shiyi leaves Xianling Pavilion, the two guards are gone. An old woman tricks Shiyi and Dongqing away to a quiet place, and they are kidnapped.

This was all Lianfang’s plan to discredit Shiyi, because once a woman spends a night outside unaccounted for, people will assume she’s been defiled or is a loose woman.

[I think Amber really shone in this scene. She is restricted by her status in society, but she keeps calm and firm, and seeks help for Shiyi in a way that would be most beneficial to Shiyi. Master Jian and Shiyi’s older brother, Luo Zhenxing, were also MVPs. Zhenxing wanted to alert the authorities to find his little sister as quickly as possible because he’s genuinely concerned for her safety. Doing this however will alert everyone that Shiyi has been kidnapped and thus put her chastity into question. But he is ready to take care of her for life if the Xu family doesn’t want her anymore. Master Jian is aware that this is exactly what the kidnappers want to happen. Once Shiyi’s chastity is called into question, her status in the Xu family will become shaky and her days will be like living hell, so she cautions them not to go to the authorities just yet.]

Recap by Vanilla Muse. Please read this on vmnovels (dot) com

Lingyi returns from a long trip away and finds out that Shiyi was sent to the villa because of some superstitious fortune telling. He is incensed and insists on bringing her back right away. Lianfang pretends to be concerned about Shiyi, but she is secretly stirring up shit again. She tells them that Shiyi is with her maternal family, because she is too picky about the conditions of the villa. She accompanies Lingyi to the Luo manor in order to force them to admit that Shiyi is missing. Madame Luo saw through her schemes right away. [I dislike both Lianfang and Madame Luo, but it sure was satisfying to see Madame Luo put Lianfang in her place.]

Posted in Recap

The Sword and The Brocade Ep 1-10

Posted on by Vanilla Muse

Episodes 1-10

The show opens up with a rainy sky. Luo Shiyi (the FL) and her biological mother, Madame Lu, are kneeling outside in the rain. Madame Luo (the main wife of the Luo household) is sitting indoors enjoying her tea and admiring her jewels while Madame Lu begs her to forgive Shiyi for breaking Yuanniang’s hairpin. (Yuanniang is Madame Luo’s biological daughter.) Because Shiyi is stubborn and won’t apologize she gets beaten.

Fast forward to the present. Through dialogue, we learn that Shiyi and her mother were sent away to live in Yuhang, and now they’re being summoned back to the capital. With them in the carriage is Dongqing (a maid that Shiyi treats like a sister).

At the same time, Xu Lingyi (the ML) is laying a trap to catch two fugitives. 

Shiyi’s group goes into an inn, and Shiyi gets taken hostage by the two fugitives. Shiyi ends up falling in the river. Lingyi and a man in white ends up saving Shiyi. Lingyi gets hurt in the process but keeps mum about it. 

Shiyi wakes up and thanks the man in white, whose name is Lin Shixian. He seems taken with her at first sight. [2nd male lead, here we go.]

On the way back to the Luo manor, Shiyi drops by Xianling Pavilion to visit Master Jian, the one who taught Shiyi how to embroider. There’s a man, Wang Yu, causing trouble and Shiyi drives him away with her clever tongue.

Arriving at the Luo manor, Shiyi greets her father and Madame Luo along with her older sisters, Erniang and Wuniang.

[Honestly, these people are naming their daughters too lazily! They’re just called by numbers! Shiyi means “eleven.” She’s also addressed as Shiyiniang sometimes. Niang is just a suffix that means “young lady.” Her sisters Er and Wu are “two” and “five.” The previously mentioned Yuanniang, her Yuan just means “first.” It’s one thing to nickname your kids with numbers – rather common back in the day – but just naming them by numbers… Wow… Now I’m wondering what happened to all the other numbers in between, like three, four, six, seven, etc, and is Shiyi the youngest daughter.]

Recap by Vanilla Muse. Please read this on vmnovels (dot) com

Turns out the father, Old Master Luo, is having troubles with his work at court. His teacher – the one he depends on at court – has retired, so there’s no one to help him get reinstated. [Why did he lose his position in the first place? No idea. The show doesn’t say.] So now he’s trying to wed two of his daughters to powerful families: the Xu family and Wang family.

Yuanniang – the current main wife of the Xu family – is dying. So she and her mother, Madame Luo, are looking to have one of her younger sisters take her place as the main wife in order to look after her son, Xu Zhun. (They call him Zhun-ge in the show. Ge mean’s “brother.”) They want someone who is smart, but who they can also control. They’re deciding between Shiyi and Erniang. Madame Luo likes Erniang better, but Yuanniang ends up choosing Shiyi.

Wuniang’s marriage is already decided. She’s marrying a commoner, but he’s a nice person, so she’s happy with the match.

Erniang wants the marriage with the Xu family, because Wang Yu of the Wang family has a bad reputation and is known for being a womanizer. So when her marriage to the Wang family is set, she pretends to be Shiyi and goes out to seduce Wang Yu with her looks. She succeeds and he demands to change his marriage partner to Shiyi.

Shiyi doesn’t care, because she’s plotting to escape back to Yuhang with her mother and Dongqing. She manages to hitch a ride with Lin Shixian on his boat. They set up a date and time, and will be meeting in front of Ci’an Temple. 

In the Xu manor, drama is being stirred. Qiao Lianfang is a young girl that Madame Xu has watched growing up, so Madame Xu is incredibly fond of her. Madame Xu is secretly hoping that she will become Lingyi’s main wife after Yuanniang dies. Yuanniang won’t allow this, because this would put her son at a disadvantage, so she sets up a trap and gets Lianfang to come into the Xu family as a concubine instead. Lingyi doesn’t like her and neglects her, much to Madame Xu’s chagrin.

On the day that Shiyi is supposed to meet Lin Shixiang in front of Ci’an Temple, she is delayed because Madame Wang (Wang Yu’s mother) wants to meet her, since his son suddenly insisted on marrying her. When she finally gets to Ci’an Temple, she finds that her mother has been killed and the murderer is at large.

Recap by Vanilla Muse. Please read this on vmnovels (dot) com

Madame Luo takes this chance to try to break Shiyi’s spirit and make her an obedient puppet, but Master Jian visits and talks Shiyi out of her depressive spiral. Shiyi picks herself back up and decides to investigate her mother’s death herself. Old Master Luo and Madame Luo wanted to close the case a.s.a.p. because they’re afraid it would mess with his chances at court.

Shiyi finds out that the Xu family were at Ci’an Temple that day, so she decides to marry in and continue her investigation from the inside. She finds out what Erniang did, and counters by sending her self portrait to Wang Yu.

Wang Yu sees the portrait and storms into the Luo manor. He drags Erniang out and kisses her in front of everyone, thus sealing their marriage.

Yuanniang dies. Before she breathed her last, she made Shiyi promise to look after Xu Zhun, and told her to be careful of the Xu family because her illness was strange. One year later, Shiyi marries into the Xu family. Shiyi is nervous about the wedding night, but they end up not consummating the marriage, to her relief.

Recap by Vanilla Muse. Please read this on vmnovels (dot) com

We’re introduced to other members of the Xu family. There is Xiang Yizhen (widow to Lingyi’s older 2nd brother). There is Xu Lingkuan (Lingyi’s younger brother) and his wife Princess Danyang (who looks down on Shiyi for being the daughter of a concubine). Concubines Qin and Wen are looking to see which way the wind blows. Lianfang a.k.a. Concubine Qiao is instigated by the people around her (her servants and her mother), so she views Shiyi as her nemesis and the obstacle to her happiness with Lingyi.

Amber is a maid assigned by Madame Luo to Shiyi’s side to keep tabs on her, but Shiyi accepts her into the fold, and Amber is grateful for Shiyi’s trust.

Shiyi begins investigating by finding an excuse to look at everyone’s embroidery skills.

Madame Xu prompts Lingyi to spend more time with his concubines. He tries, and this ends up reiterating just how much he doesn’t connect with any of them.

Lianfang tries to instigate trouble with some brocade. She takes the share that is meant for the main wife and hires someone to make nice clothing out of it. Lingyi warns her not to be greedy for what is not hers and tells her never to wear that piece of clothing again. [Lmao, she had that coming.]

Posted in Recap

The Sword and The Brocade – Characters

Posted on by Vanilla Muse

Xu Family & Peripheral

Xu Lingyi – ML, 4th son of the family

Luo Shiyi – FL, main wife to ML

Yuanniang – ML’s previous main wife, FL’s older half sister, deceased 

Xu Lingkuan – ML’s younger brother, 5th son of the family

Princess Danyang – Lingkuan’s wife

Concubine Qin – was a servant that Madame Xu made into ML’s concubine

Concubine Wen – ML’s concubine, merchant family

Concubine Tong – ML’s concubine, deceased, was Yuanniang’s maid, tried to seduce ML

Qiao Lianfang – ML’s concubine

Xiuyuan – Lianfang’s personal maid

Mrs. Zhang – Lianfang’s nanny

Madame Xu – ML’s mother

Xiang Yizhen – ML’s 2nd sister-in-law, widow wife to Xu Ling’an

Xu Ling’an – ML’s older brother, 2nd son of the family, deceased

Fengqing / Xu Sijie – Xu Lingkuan’s illegitimate son from before his marriage

Yuemei – Fengqing’s mother

Marquis Dingnan – Princess Danyang’s father

Fu Linbo – a general, ML’s subordinate

Zhao Ying – ML’s subordinate

Xu Zhun – Yuanniang’s son

Xu Yu – Concubine Wen’s son

Mrs. Liu – head maid in charge of the Xu villa, bribed by Lianfang to harm FL

Steward Bai – helpful to ML and the Xu family

 

Luo Family & Peripheral

Madame Lu – FL’s biological mother, a concubine

Madame Luo – FL’s non-biological mother, the main wife

Old Master Luo – FL’s biological father

Luo Zhenxing – FL’s older half brother, nice guy

Erniang – FL’s older half sister, bitchy 

Wang Yu – Erniang’s husband, womanizer, abusive

Wuniang – FL’s older half sister, nice

Amber – maid that Madame Luo assigned to keep tabs on FL

Dongqing – FL’s personal maid

 

Ou Family

Marquis Jingyuan

Ou Lixing – son

Lin Shixian / Ou Yanxing – illegitimate son

 

Other

Master Jian – FL’s embroidery teacher, works at Xianling Pavilion

Posted in Recap

The Sword and The Brocade (2021)

Posted on by Vanilla Muse

Summary

Set during the Ming Dynasty, the story revolves around the romance between General Xu Ling Yi and the concubine’s daughter Shi Yi Niang, that starts from an arranged marriage. Despite being born with a low status, Shi Yi Niang is extremely assertive and believes that a woman’s vision should not be limited to the household. She hopes to rely on her embroidery skills as a ticket to freedom. However, the once esteemed Luo family is in a state of decline. Hoping to save the clan through a marriage alliance, Shi Yi Niang is selected to become the wife of Yongping Duke and great General Xu Ling Yi. Things were not easy for her due to the Xu family’s biases towards her. Nonetheless, she manages to win over their trust through her optimism and sincerity. Xu Ling Yi also becomes attracted to her various beautiful qualities such that husband and wife manage to find love after marriage.

Through Xu Ling Yi’s support, Shi Yi Niang opens Xian Ling Pavillion to have her own embroidery workshop. Meanwhile, Xu Ling Yi experiences many setbacks as he tries to protect his homeland and improve the livelihood of the people by supporting the lifting of a maritime ban. As they face a crisis that could spell the end for the Xu family, Xu Ling Yi and Shi Yi Niang continue to support each other through thick and thin.

***Adapted from the novel “The Concubine-born Daughter’s Strategies” (庶女攻略) by Zhi Zhi (吱吱).

Native Title: 锦心似玉
Also Known As: Brocade Heart Like Jade, Story Of An Illegitimate Daughter, Jin Xin Si Yu, Brilliant Heart Like Jade, Lady Shiyi
Director: Wen De Guang
Screenwriter: Cheng Ting Yu
Genres: Historical, Mystery, Romance, Drama
Tags: Arranged Marriage, Smart Female Lead, Older Man/Younger Woman, Embroidery, Adapted From A Novel, Slow Burn Romance, Strong Female Lead, Kind-hearted Female Lead, Harem, Ming Dynasty

Characters List

Episode Recaps

Episodes 1-10

Episode 11 | Episode 12 | Episode 13 | Episode 14 | Episode 15

Episode 16 | Episode 17 | Episode 18 | Episode 19 | Episode 20

Episode 21 | Episode 22 | Episode 23 | Episode 24 | Episode 25

Episode 26 | Episode 27 | Episode 28 | Episode 29 | Episode 30

Episode 31 | Episode 32 | Episode 33 | Episode 34 | Episode 35

Episode 36 | Episode 37 | Episode 38 | Episode 39 | Episode 40

Episode 41 | Episode 42 | Episode 43 | Episode 44 | Episode 45

Posted in Quickly Wear the Face of the Devil

FOD: Xue Zi Xuan 12.3

Posted on by Vanilla Muse

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Chapter 12.3 – Eternal Love

After their passionate coupling, Xue Zi Xuan hurriedly carried the boy, whose waist was sore and legs were weak, into the bathroom to clean up. Then he bought some anti-diarrheal medicine and antipyretic, and they rushed to the Golden Hall.

Zhou Yun Sheng lazily did not want to move. Xue Zi Xuan had to half drag and half carry him to the lounge.

When Xue Jing Yi saw Zhou Yun Sheng’s moist eyes and swollen red lips, she itched to throw herself on him and tear him to shreds.

“What’s wrong with Xiao Yi?” In order to have a chance to talk to her brother, Xue Jing Yi had to pretend to be concerned.

Xue Zi Xuan ignored her, kissed the boy’s reddish cheeks, and said: “It’s all my fault. I forgot to clean you up last night. Later, if you get dizzy or if your stomach feels uncomfortable, don’t try to act tough. We’ll immediately withdraw from the competition.”

“Not withdrawing. I said that I would definitely win the championship.” Zhou Yun Sheng wanted to see what would happen to the villain system after breaking the trajectory of fate.

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

“Okay. Win the championship. You’re the best.” Xue Zi Xuan agreed with a smile. He reluctantly parted from the teen when a staff member called the participants over to draw lots.

“Take the championship? You?” Xue Jing Yi showed a vicious expression as soon as her brother left.

Zhou Yun Sheng was too lazy to bother with her. He drew a number and then walked away on wobbly legs. Both of them were lucky. One drew the number five and the other drew the number six.

Most of the contestants who entered the finals were of extraordinary talent. The first few performances were very exciting, with frequent applause from the audience, and someone even shouted loudly “encore!”

When Xue Jing Yi stepped onto the stage, the audience cheered. It was evident that they had high hopes for her. Even Olsen turned his head and said to his disciple: “Your sister is good. Her performance is full of passion. She has thoroughly inherited your style.”

Xue Zi Xuan gave a noncommittal “en” sound. He clapped his hands slowly. His attitude was neither lukewarm nor cold. He only revealed a shocked expression when the host announced the piece that Xue Jing Yi wanted to play.

He never expected that her choice would turn out to be “To Palochev.” In his previous life, Xiao Yi had perfectly interpreted “To Palochev” and smoothly entered the semi-finals with this score.

Throughout the history of classical music, this score was known as the “devil’s music.” It was composed of continuous inconsistent chords, and the entire piece stayed at the climax from beginning to end, without a soothing transition. It took a lot of energy and emotion to play it perfectly. Its melody was very strange, ugly even. And the tearing emotional collision would drive the performer and the audience into madness.

Support the translator. Read this on vmnovels (dot) com

Many well-known pianists have tried to challenge this music score, and without exception, they all ended in failure, because the strong love and hatred incorporated in the piece made it possess a destructive magic.

As far as Xue Zi Xuan knew, in his previous life, the only person who could perform this piece perfectly was Xiao Yi. But right now, Xue Jing Yi was choosing this song irresponsibly. Could her fragile heart bear it?

However, Xue Jing Yi’s performance surprised Xue Zi Xuan and shocked the collective audience. She struck the piano keys frantically. She hit a few wrong notes, but the intense love and hatred of her music pierced through everyone’s heart.

She understood the true meaning of this music score. This was a song of vengeance. The composer wanted to take revenge on the death god and the profane world that took away his lover. Therefore, she fully understood the resentment of wanting to tear the world into pieces, and the madness that denoted one’s willingness to fling oneself into hell in order to retrieve one’s beloved.

She struck the piano keys one after another. Because of how forcefully she was playing the piano, her hair came loose and became a complete mess, obstructing her face from view. Through the gaps in the curtain of her hair, people could see the spite gleaming in her eyes, making her look like a devil.

When the song ended, the place was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

It was Olsen who stood up and applauded first. Then the audience returned to their senses and responded with thunderous applause.

“The devil’s music should be played by the devil. You have completely assimilated with this score and won me over. I give you full marks.” Olsen commented excitedly. Then he finally looked at his disciple and teased, “Sean, what do you think? Can your sister inherit your mantle?”

[T/N: Reminder, Sean is Xue Zi Xuan’s English name.]

Xue Zi Xuan did not applaud. He spoke lightly into the microphone that was shoved towards him: “She is indeed the devil.”

The audience laughed. They thought that Sean’s words was an agreement in disguise, but only three people there knew that his words did not have any complimentary meaning. It was a statement.

Xue Jing Yi was indeed a devil.

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Posted in The Big Landlord

The Big Landlord 119.1

Posted on by Vanilla Muse

T/N: There’s a note from the author, Yin Ya, at the beginning of this chapter. Looks like there was a discrepancy in the story? So the author changed the placement of the characters, and now Zhong Yue is in Ali Xiang with them.

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Message from the author:

[Yin Ya is here to celebrate the New Year with everyone. I wish you all a Happy New Year, and I wish you all the best. P.S.: The Ge Qian An that was mentioned earlier was left behind in Jun Zi City, so it was changed to Zhong Yue.]

–

Chapter 119.1 – Mayor Xu Wei Ye

“Zhong Yue? Why are you here?”

A look of unexpected surprised colored Shao Fei’s face as soon he saw the valiant, formidable-looking, and dashing woman jump down from her horse. That was because there was no mention of this in the letter, so he did not know that the person coming would be Zhong Yue.

An Zi Ran left Ge Qian An behind in Jun Zi City to help Fu Yuan Fan, so Zhong Yue replaced him in accompanying An Zi Ran and Fu Wu Tian here. Zhong Yue looked even more agile than usual in her purple clothes. During the journey here, she performed her duties with utter loyalty.

Zhong Yue glanced at him coldly and said, “Only you can come, and I can’t come?”

Translations are by vmnovels [dot] com, if you’re reading this anywhere else, then it was stolen.

Shao Fei scratched his head. “Of course not. I just wondered why Qian An didn’t come. He usually follows close behind the wang fei.”

Ever since An Zi Ran married into the Imperial Fu Palace, it was as if Ge Qian An had became his personal guard. Wherever he went, Ge Qian An’s shadow would be nearby, so it gave Shao Fei the impression that if the wang fei was there then Ge Qian An would be there too.

“He stayed behind in Jun Zi City to help,” Zhong Yue said concisely and comprehensively, and then she didn’t pay attention to him anymore. She gave a nod to Guan Su on the side and then left.

Guan Su guided the group to the place where they were staying.

“This is where all of you are living?”

An Zi Ran looked at the dilapidated thatched cottage in front of him with surprise. Only homeless beggars would live in this kind of place. But what really surprised him was that even someone as smart as Guan Su did not have any means to deal with Xu Wei Ye. It would seem that this Xu Wei Ye was indeed a troublesome character.

Guan Su knew that living here was a disgrace to his image, but there wasn’t an iota of embarrassment on his face. He just shrugged and said: “That Xu Wei Ye really treats Ali Xiang as if it were his. He ganged up with many of the villagers to target us. Having a hut like this to live in is already not bad.”

Support the translator. Read this on vmnovels (dot) com

Moreover, he didn’t bring that many people with him. It was not good for him to start a conflict. Besides, he had to borrow land from Ali Xiang to plant the cottonseeds. If the conflicts intensified, it would be difficult to guarantee that Xu Wei Ye would not do something sinister to the cotton.

When he first arrived in Ali Xiang, he had sent people to investigate this Xu Wei Ye, and he found that this person was notorious for his misdeeds. Once, there were farmers who rebelled against him, and as a result, the crops in the field were destroyed overnight. Similar things happened one after another, so he could only temporarily hold back and suffer.

“Do you want the wang ye and wang fei to live here too?” Zhong Yue looked at Guan Su with contempt. And he was supposed to be the most intelligent person in the army. Looks like this title should be given to someone else.

Guan Su laughed and said nothing.

Shao Fei failed to comprehend the meaning of their conversation. He gripped his hair in distress. “Of course the wang ye and wang fei cannot live here, but where are we going to find a house to live in?”

“There is no need for us to go looking anymore.”

Guan Su looked meaningfully at the two people standing together. No matter how much nerve Xu Wei Ye had, he could be not completely unbridled in front of the real owner of Ali Xiang. Genuinely smart people understood that great plans could be ruined by just a touch of impatience.

As a man, how could Fu Wu Tian wrong his wang fei by making him stay in such a dilapidated cottage? So he immediately decided to go look for Xu Wei Ye.

Xu Wei Ye was like the “regional mafia boss” of Ali Xiang. They could not possibly hide their arrival from him. He received news of their arrival as soon as they stepped foot into Ali Xiang. But he did not know that the two people in the horse carriage were the proper masters of Ali Xiang.

Translations by Vanilla Muse.

Compared to the thatched cottage where Guan Su and his men were staying, Xu Wei Ye’s place of residence was like a mansion. The house’s floor area surpassed a thousand square meters. The whole family, old and young, all lived there. In front of the door were even two carved lion statues. Above the front door was a great signboard with the words “Xu Manor” written on it. It was especially lofty.

However, how could the little mayor of a township afford such a big house?

From the looks of the house, it could be seen that Xu Wei Ye has clearly embezzled a lot in recent years, and he also boldly changed Xu House to Xu Manor.

The reason was that generally only the main houses of nobles and bureaucrats qualified for the word “manor.”

[T/N: In case you’re wondering the word being used here is “府 fu” and I’ve been translating it as “palace” in relation to FWT’s place of residence, which is a “王府 wang fu” or “imperial palace.” However, big houses of rich people or officials can also use “府 fu,” and in those cases I translate it as “manor,” but in Chinese it is the same word with different situational meanings.]

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