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Father Emperor

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Greetings, Your Majesty.

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Xiao Ning

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You are a commoner

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How dare you trespass into the forbidden palace grounds?

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I brought Xiao Ning here.

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He has a plan for governing the country to present to Father Emperor.

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Your Highness

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The harem must not interfere in state affairs.

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This was set by the Grand Emperor

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as a rule personally.

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I am not the one proposing the policy.

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When have I ever interfered in state affairs?

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This...

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Xiao Ning

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Minister Han said that you

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harbor intentions to destabilize the state of Dajing

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and personally requested an edict against you from me.

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Do you admit your guilt?

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I am but a commoner

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How could I bear such a heavy accusation from the Prime Minister?

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Xiao Ning

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Everyone knows you wish to become the imperial son-in-law.

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It is because you interfered

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that the marriage alliance with Beicang was delayed.

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If war were to break out,

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could you bear the responsibility for the downfall of the court and country?

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Prime Minister Han, your words are mistaken.

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A nation's strength lies in its own prosperity.

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If we fear external invasion

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and casually sacrifice the princess's happiness,

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then what is the purpose of the countless men of Dajing

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who have received the nation's favor?

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Are you implying

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that the men of Dajing are all cowards?

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Nonsense!

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Your Majesty

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This old minister has no such intention.

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Moreover,

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I already have a good plan

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to ensure that Beicang will not go to war with Dajing.

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With all the civil and military officials present,

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none would dare make such a bold claim.

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You are but a commoner,

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do not speak such nonsense here.

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Your Majesty

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Beicang is remote and relies on a nomadic lifestyle.

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Every conflict with Dajing

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has been due to a lack of food.

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Now, commerce thrives in Dajing.

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If we can expand trade to the north and west,

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Beicang will naturally benefit as well.

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Then there will be no more disputes with Dajing.

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Your Majesty,

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This must absolutely not be done.

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Xiao Ning's method

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will transfer our nation's interests to Beicang.

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This is an act of betraying the country, Your Majesty.

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Prime Minister Han, if you don't understand business, then don't speak.

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My way of doing business

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is to use Beicang as a transit hub

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to trade with various tribes.

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All they do is transport goods.

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It's just bartering.

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This method is excellent.

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Your Majesty,

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Xiao Ning is merely a merchant.

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Chasing profit is a petty pursuit.

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Your Majesty must not trust him lightly.

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The pillars of our nation should be us noble families.

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Your Majesty,

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If the noble families prosper, the nation prospers, Your Majesty.

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You noble families seize land and act as kings.

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You withhold taxes from the court.

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To me,

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you deceive your superiors and mislead your subordinates.

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You disrupt the order of the court.

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To the people,

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you act tyrannically, inciting the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people.

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How do you have the face

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to utter the nonsense that the nation prospers with the noble families?

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Your Majesty,

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If Your Majesty insists on trusting Xiao Ning,

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this old minister is willing to resign to show his resolve.

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Please be vigilant, Your Majesty.

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Please be vigilant, Your Majesty.

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Your Majesty,

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Your Majesty actually trusts

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a merchant who only seeks profit so much.

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I'm afraid this will tarnish your reputation in the history books.

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Are you trying to threaten me by resigning from your posts?

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Your Majesty,

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All the ministers here are the pillars of our court.

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If we lose them,

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I'm afraid our nation's stability

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will be at risk, Your Majesty.

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Please reconsider, Your Majesty.

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Your Majesty,

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the scholars you personally selected,

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nearly a hundred talented men from humble backgrounds,

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have all been settled in the Yuxian Pavilion.

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With just one word from you,

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these power-hungry officials

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can immediately be replaced by those scholars

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from humble origins.

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The national policies submitted a few days ago

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were all drafted by those scholars.

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To answer Your Majesty,

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that is indeed the case.

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Very good.

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Xiao Ning,

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you've done well with this newspaper.

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You've actually recruited for me

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so many talented pillars of the state.

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Are there really nearly a hundred scholars from humble backgrounds?

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How could this be...

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Weren't you all going to resign?

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Hurry up and take off your official hats.

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Let those scholars from humble backgrounds take your place.

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Go on, take them off, take them off.

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Are you all still willing

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to serve our nation?

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Your Majesty,

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we are willing.

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Minister Han,

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you have served the court for many years.

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It's time for you to retire and enjoy your old age at home.

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Your Majesty,

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This old minister still has some strength left.

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I am willing to serve Your Majesty.

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That won't be necessary.

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The actions of Chancellor Han

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have too many matters that need to be investigated.

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Return to your residence and await the imperial decree.

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Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?

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I have served the Great Realm for decades,

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working hard without complaint,

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dedicating myself wholeheartedly.

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I have never broken the law, Your Majesty.

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Still pretending?

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All those things you've done—

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corruption, abuse of power, forming factions for personal gain—

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they couldn't even fit in a single book.

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Ignorant child!

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How dare a mere commoner accuse this old minister?

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This is pure slander!

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Slander!

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It's not slander.

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Your Majesty,

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I, a humble woman, have here

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evidence of the Han family's factionalism and self-serving actions,

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as well as proof of their crimes against human life.

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Madam

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Why are you helping Xiao Ning frame me?

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I am the one who has truly protected you all your life.

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I am not your wife.

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You—

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Han Wuguo

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You secretly killed my father and brother for your own gain.

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Did you really think I didn't know?

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You—

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You—

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You wretch!

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I'll kill you!

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I'll kill you!

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Protect His Majesty!

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I'll kill you!

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Take Han Wuguo to the Dali Temple for strict interrogation.

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I will give justice to the whole world.

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Yes.

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Ignorant child!

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I'll kill you!

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Your Majesty is wise.

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Your Majesty is wise.

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Thank you, Young Master Xiao, for founding the newspaper.

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Only then do I have the chance to realize my ambitions.

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I am deeply grateful to Young Master Xiao for his great kindness.

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It's what I should do.

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Thank you, Young Master Xiao.

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That's right.

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Those noble families

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have oppressed ordinary people like us

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for so many years.

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Now that the Han family has been raided,

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the noble families have collapsed.

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Young Master Xiao has given us a new lease on life.

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Young Master Xiao,

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there's no need for that.

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Young Master Xiao!

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Something's wrong!

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My lady has gotten into trouble!

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Your lady is in trouble?

193
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Why are you looking for me?

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Han Hongzhi,

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you're already wanted by the authorities.

196
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And you still dare to do such things?

197
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Why don't you hurry to the Court of Justice and turn yourself in?

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Turn myself in?

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Young lady

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You really are naive.

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You've endured for years in the Han family.

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Just to see us make fools of ourselves, right?

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How could I let you get your way?

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Look at how naive and alluring you are.

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What are you trying to do?

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Don't touch me.

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Young lady

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My father hasn't been able to perform in bed for a long time.

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I guess

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he's never truly favored you, has he?

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It's fine.

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Today

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I'll let you experience it for real.

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Let go of me.

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Let go.

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Don't touch me.

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Let go.