Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery Butterfly tPyZyPflyiBntmdqTyMwSzMrCrzpjl

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Xiao Bao was shocked. The youth before him was the same one who had ambushed him and Huai En in the cave. Back then, the cave was dimly lit, and he was highly tense. If he hadn’t seen him again, he wouldn’t have remembered what he looked like.RHYrBYuSzNmTdarwDaJBqodytfelwH

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Initially, Zong Zheng Shao Yu instinctively disliked anyone close to Su Yin. If he felt threatened, it was even worse. This person clearly had a very close relationship with Su Yin. Xiao Bao, wrapped up like a dumpling and much thinner than before, was unrecognizable at first. But the longer he looked, the more familiar he became, especially with the startled expression in Xiao Bao’s eyes.rbIMkPIruQzgsLfDHpaUEucNKhIrjw

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Zong Zheng Shao Yu’s previously innocent and adorable demeanor vanished, replaced by a menacing aura. His eyes radiated a maliciousness that frightened Xiao Bao.dcEmInexuQtLsBqBmESGbhNvcnyANC

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Pointing at him, Zong Zheng Shao Yu shouted angrily, “You’re the insolent commoner from the cave! Wretched peasant! I let you escape back then, but today I will kill you!” As he spoke, he leaped up, drawing his sword in midair, aiming directly at Xiao Bao’s forehead.ThFnLBQGGyuVpiAsjXLiNKFwGeMhwF

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Xiao Bao was paralyzed with fear. The youth was incredibly fast, leaving him no time to react.gWpzdnclbintsPPnjEumuHWKhFtWTv

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With a clang of metal, Su Yin, exuding a fierce aura, blocked the sword with a brass scabbard he grabbed from the table, forcing Zong Zheng Shao Yu back a step.rZoKXIjyquZiwBfiwupGhgNczapjNZ

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“Who allowed you to cause trouble here?” Su Yin said coldly.NIBsIsLEefUVphCaRrCrOEuXkQkGML

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Zong Zheng Shao Yu’s face flushed red with anger, his eyes burning with intense jealousy and fury. He screamed and charged again with his sword, “I must kill him today! I’ll slice him into pieces!”WYYFSpaclGqkdDzoikZZLhqHTIVrYZ

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Xiao Bao, overwhelmed by Zong Zheng Shao Yu’s murderous intent, retreated repeatedly. He thought, this youth is truly vicious. When he was this age, he had been unreasonable, but never murderous.yrIKHDGHjEoElrArPoSIVgKUtzhzzX

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Su Yin shielded Xiao Bao, using the brass scabbard to fend off Zong Zheng Shao Yu.YCxCnwszwhYSusrxhONGGdzUMAqFxS

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Blinded by rage, Zong Zheng Shao Yu considered it a capital offense to insult him. The fact that Su Yin was defending this person only fueled his desire to kill. Sadly, despite his talent and rapid progress in martial arts, his skills were still no match for Su Yin. After only a few moves, Su Yin disarmed him with a hand strike and twisted his arm behind his back.bqoSKzHZORgTxnmFvWnXnhORpizlGt

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Red-eyed with fury, Zong Zheng Shao Yu shouted, “Su Yin! Let me go! How dare you treat me like this!”NZjztCSbvzGDYdwtjctsjOxeaCGRUL

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Watching the struggling youth, Su Yin felt a headache coming on. He knew Zong Zheng Shao Yu almost as well as he knew himself.ljXbUnpsubfvmUkJVqlwSVvVwJeAvc

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From a young age, Su Yin recognized that Zong Zheng Shao Yu was not a kind-hearted person. Raised by his mother with a set of sinister imperial tactics, he had been surrounded by assassination attempts for as long as he could remember. Extremely narrow-minded, he retaliated against any slight to an extreme degree. His strong desire for control made any association with him highly dangerous.HTryHBFdYvUHytGZMwEkqWvzQBgxLH

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But he was the Crown Prince, and although his grandfather’s influence had reached a point where he was almost unchallenged, the Emperor had been eyeing it ever since his ascension but was unable to act, thus creating a mutual restraint. Unless absolutely necessary, Su Yin couldn’t afford to offend him.DnBWdDjKNLRiMqZnkAigJupcfrpJBh

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Even though his immediate reaction was to kill when Shao Yu pointed the sword at Xiao Bao, he softened his tone, “Shao Yu, Xiao Bao and I have been friends for many years. It’s quite rude to meet him with swords drawn.”DMpsMEkvTjyaHiXFtGYBDKJqymrjjx

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Zong Zheng Shao Yu shuddered, seemingly unable to resist Su Yin’s soft stance. Hesitating, his body gradually relaxed, but then he bristled again as if recalling something, “He was in the cave with a man… he likes men! Brother, if you keep him by your side, who knows what he’s thinking about you!”UgqHhGDppPYoTfGusnZpTZcFRnvYqA

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This statement made both of them extremely embarrassed, especially Xiao Bao, who felt a pang of bitterness. Was he supposed to explain that he originally didn’t like men?eAlRqBEEBrdsAzKnoNVwRmrMIWCplY

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Su Yin sighed, “Shao Yu, don’t let your imagination run wild. Regardless of any past conflicts between you and Xiao Bao, if you are staying here, you must follow my rules. Otherwise, I’ll arrange another place for you to stay. But if you dare harm Xiao Bao, don’t blame me for being unkind. Do you understand?” The last sentence was a threat. Zong Zheng Shao Yu, though resentful and wishing to cut Xiao Bao into pieces, knew he couldn’t act out now, so he nodded grudgingly.oArWlzRQMmbOXcnyhMdLLVwACiqGUk

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Su Yin then let him go, aware that Shao Yu was not someone who would let things go easily. To prevent him from causing trouble for Xiao Bao, Su Yin planned to arrange for Shao Yu to stay in a guest room far from Xiao Bao.nDpTyKsCFCdrusvEVIrJSVZHCdXawc

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But Shao Yu insisted on sharing a room with Su Yin.KQdMAPTcrbHZEMaKdhZmlJrRnaFtrg

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When Zong Zheng Shao Yu barged into the inner chamber and discovered that Su Yin and Xiao Bao were staying together, he caused another commotion.ifJtgCrzkQGVwPyvbAltDYUrWsXfqE

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Su Yin had to explain that he was staying in the adjoining servant’s room.UZVYlfuNdtQdPxzHBBYXjHkVxfthCO

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Originally, Zhao Cai stayed there. Su Yin had moved there to keep a closer watch on Xiao Bao in case he had a sudden relapse. The servant’s room was quite basic, and since winter was not yet over, it couldn’t be renovated. Many of Su Yin’s belongings were in Xiao Bao’s bedroom, making it appear as if they were sharing the room.vUztMFTRSZRQfqShYCoetGJnvzaSPk

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Hearing this, Zong Zheng Shao Yu glared daggers at Xiao Bao, who was so frightened that he turned away.SmEfLUfHDXapuBxLPVTgATEfUHePqs

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Even Xiao Bao, with his limited experience, could see Zong Zheng Shao Yu’s feelings for Su Yin. Having seen many people who admired Su Yin, Xiao Bao knew it wasn’t rare, but it was the first time he saw such blatant affection from a man.NqfCUccJJXfDkWhHXdiSlwjtyOUOJH

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Moreover, someone like Su Yin, usually so assertive, had to compromise. Shao Yu must indeed be an extraordinary person.IAXNhBlCPeQDAkgDpzaGZeRvCrnDss

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Shao Yu’s insistence on staying with Su Yin caused such a disturbance that Zhao Cai, Jin Bao, and Que Siming all came to see what was happening. Frustrated, Su Yin felt like kicking him out, but eventually, he had no choice but to compromise.IogajScjhYpQZhNzHBeqlDIbpUHdJB

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The servant’s room was too small for two people, so Su Yin moved to the nearest guest room while Zhao Cai moved back.ASEwbWTzsWwtJcRQkmOiCvoSIRqCXK

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Only later did Xiao Bao learn from Su Yin that this youth was actually the Crown Prince. No wonder he was so domineering. Xiao Bao was shocked, recalling the terrifying ambush in the cave, from affection to swordplay in an instant. Despite his fear, he had wanted to protect the other person, not realizing it was all a ploy. The struggles within the Zong Zheng royal family had dragged the Jin family into their feud.DDTsljQWUUwkFNTZmcCCermnfmXmlm

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