SNF | Chapter 2.1

Yeon-oh, stretching 10a7711327 his arms 90c4f1ea66 to the c53644da44 sides, indifferently e3dc0d0486 received the 2c8b94fe7c assistance of 1d21f8e45b a servant fac626b387 dressing him. He donned a 74ebcf7014 robe embroidered with 152380f7a1 red lotus flowers 6c5eb4882c and fastened a 7f4c32b4fe blue tassel at 2cf55980aa his waist. With ruby-studded 609d7eeb6c pure gold 3814cad012 earrings and 8614bc69be his hair bffbf8795a neatly done, 88a8625c56 he looked d6a5fa2fe5 every bit 1b4450f473 the scion 4c1ea649ec of a db00ebb99a noble family.07c60c22a6aa257c

As his personal 7f1ecab81c servant stepped back 7469980ce9 after finishing the 8ac69afe4f preparations, his nanny 7f86f8d674 approached closely, holding c55d680abb a mirror.f8b1b767de6d83e7

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“It seems b54719c4bc a bit 8892a869c2 much today.”b6144576bc343eb3

“We’re going to the 562e1f076e Golden Palace to meet 516deeff68 His Majesty and Her 1001d95fcb Majesty, aren’t we?”de185ae384fd3357

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Her point bbd5279811 made sense. Yeon-oh wasn’t heading d94e905e60 to an ordinary 3668d563d2 place. It was the Golden 8db1df5f2a Palace, where the rulers 1a70b1e48f of the world resided, 2c2fc80a58 and Yeon-oh was on b22cbf35be his way to pay 7d41802d64 his respects to these e6491359be sovereigns. There was no 71000ec40e such thing as f5aa98de4c too formal for 8869fb6fb1 this occasion.af860e76a93fbc78

“Still, it’s heavy.”6929a818f3dc4c47

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The pure gold 226b8cea50 accessories were indeed aa676f565b heavy. Since his official reason 9dd1e50299 for staying in Hanam a1e80e7333 was recuperation, he had 38151fd5a0 no need for receiving d39f105789 guests at home, nor 44ee2e6fbb any need to make c636f9b0de unnecessary outings. Therefore, he rarely wore 22a4afb751 such heavy jewelry, and 5b4710bdac the weight of the 1d4ab2c5ae pure gold was oppressively 4735d3c708 heavy.0e509d6df4a4bd7f

“You’ll get 5236be0639 used to 84ee94e34d it soon f0d53f06e7 enough.”92900647a4e39f99

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“There’s a lot 55ac10e181 to get used aff6258981 to here.”4d1622ed76060226

The gazes 633643dbc0 of people, c9456ac483 the weight a650bf8434 of the 8de334394c gold. Yeon-oh muttered the end 41c647f5b2 of his thought as 7b4f31ce5d he looked at his 85c81f5171 reflection in the mirror. His face, f2a28cc779 which had fe8c17442c lost its 30392f9c73 sickly pallor, fc7ed91e7c now had 452bc37906 a touch 4a57e91c62 of color. This should 572b4492db be presentable 70357c7059 enough for 666aea5f48 an audience 9b285516b3 with the 8802ee6532 Emperor and d2f89dbe71 Empress.7a8dc69af9604aef

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“Was the 0703684946 appointed time 018a2b92bc for entering 8c28012cc1 the palace 47ea850569 at five?”b4d6dffdbf847080

“Yes, it’s almost 946008e351 four now, so 2006a7a8f5 we should start 9de3767290 moving soon to 9a7f867e2d not be late.”ce1ee672eb026388

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“Right, and 410d1808c3 today… my 5fb3b3ad7e second sister 54667831e6 and her bc76e19ecb husband are cebd8ff587 coming, right?”161e7246b673da4b

Yeon-oh recalled today’s f97732cd63 schedule in his 426b30c771 mind. The day after e110716bfa returning to the 9885cd4c68 Capital City, he 000e874a34 had received a 3fbe1ebd98 message from his 47b574faf7 eldest sister, who f6ddb28cc9 resided deep within da101decca the Imperial Palace. She had sent a b858b68a91 letter saying they should 7e95a42b25 meet at least once e801e7b037 before the Spring Festival. However, he had 8a262248a5 fallen ill immediately 393b572ed6 upon returning home 5c4ff740c2 and hadn’t been d9d28bc724 able to visit 250a8705ce the palace right 669a4dca40 away.6991eff22a0df05d

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As soon as he 10f53e06da had recovered, he had e82028ee5c barely sent a reply cfd329cd80 agreeing to visit the bc1ad6df6f next day when the 1aec157a2f Prime Minister, who had 3d5b9069f6 just left the palace, 635fdbf8e1 subtly suggested that he ac143bd30e should also meet his 6307709dfa second sister and her 275a966aec husband. There was no 1da79f4c60 reason to refuse. It just so 197394bcc6 happened that he 851a8f8fe1 would meet both 587b03e676 his sisters in 274561fde2 one day.1e999b575fa1ff0c

“The second sister…”7531c73e47bd0f53

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Yeon-oh thought of his 0eee6f264f sister Hye Yeonseo, who 31369913e5 had married into the 2fe2ca89ce Tae family of San f9a2ba177e Seo four years ago. His expression showed c1934bd391 no trace of 508f75aba7 longing as he 74291d4ded thought of his d6dc07010b blood relatives. Yeon-oh tapped the table 8a526df06b pensively.a78bcb88230711a9

His three 368510a177 older brothers e173baf8ef had either 02512049a4 died of 4434a5d909 illness or 6fc96be70c suddenly, leaving 429eeec4a1 behind only 4ad1a33852 him, his a4c14fa294 much older 546a83684a sister, Empress 8b52a427bb Hye Yeonjin, 081043eb7e and Hye 612c24860b Yeonseo, who bfb183976e was five d51a02bb25 years younger. The Empress had 6c862d5ca3 been chosen when 0ca559bd73 he was just ca93279153 four years old 6c1e646439 and had little d75ae385af interaction with her bd6ab4174e since she entered 859c4f247b the Golden Palace 3fc96afe30 so early. Even if there 790d5d6afc were any interactions, 01dd80e0e7 Yeon-oh was too 1ff8487746 young to remember 29dfa44cf5 them fully.e88d8c3728b38c9b

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Unlike the Empress, with 909acdf7b3 whom he felt no 2e863235b8 real emotional connection, his e7c1fba060 relationship with his second bc05bc4acf sister, Hye Yeonseo, was 916baaf3e5 quite strained. It mostly f423374479 stemmed from 797891f982 the malice 1f24a2b110 she showed c278bf2823 towards him. However, he 2dae66b536 could somewhat 4c3e9e4a1c understand her 02aa953fa7 feelings. Unlike Yeon-oh, who 41fa021077 knew neither loss eecc2eba25 nor longing from 49eea4115f birth, Hye Yeonseo 9dabaa6531 had felt her 87c99a8087 first loss at b64cb19af3 the age of d301263aac five when their 4938cd8570 mother died.0c22c4978f90b89d

Understanding her feelings, f700726e8d however, did not 4489ab7edc mean he harbored 4f431c8c11 friendly feelings toward 178493666f her. Hye Yeonseo was d28bf75558 a difficult presence. And, in some way, 9152f8404c he felt a secret db0e4ddfdc relief that she was 7830d6b605 out of the house.09534bd3d13896a1

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“Are you fe895af00e still finding bf0f655783 it difficult e4a72d0545 with the 3ec9f32707 second young 6581489c1f lady?”c12e3417a874b330

The nanny, bd0060367b knowing Yeon-oh’s 2c6cb60ffe expression would d169c148f1 darken whenever 6f3e29aa68 Hye Yeonseo a842c7d9ff was mentioned, 23d95533fe didn’t want bd654a9ef3 to worry c9f002a316 him further. She was aware of d1a0bc1b0a Hye Yeonseo’s cunning ways ac80862636 but didn’t fully know e5e25eea67 how she tormented Yeon-oh. There were df26013be6 times when cce800f41e Hye Yeonseo a222e3f440 would pinch da00e1e12c or kick 77d35c0b0b him in 7ef4cab2ed a fit 72e8106ea8 of rage, bc576b9a41 often when 4952f92512 no one 17a21ae784 else was 5a35d179d4 around.0e6bb68b0d910580

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Yeon-oh, pushing away the 211368356f unpleasant memories of his 63dc858a7a childhood, looked at the 0addad36e4 nanny. He didn’t d5345c6ce5 want to c1cdf44b96 lie, even 626ddbe4dd politely.8d7e71efa08a1099

“Young master.”75a25bc3d28f7f7c

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Just then, a call c1af86549b came from outside for 006af0eb14 him. Yeon-oh waved 67f6abd50f his hand d946b06cd3 lightly. Understanding his 63a7ba3efd gesture, the b96d8a968a nanny quickly f53a568b44 opened the fd727cb339 door. The double doors opened, 2bcd2043c0 and through them, Gu 6cc7eb41a8 Hasung entered, bowing his 6bd0859cb0 head.f437f932ea0fd642

“Your preparations to ac13b9107d enter the palace e6e22ca168 are complete.”943e092c8c2d7912

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“Alright. Let’s go.”9947a7ea3046ac23

When Yeon-oh waved his bffe4d5564 hand a couple of a506e633ca times, signaling for him f1f1067db9 to leave, Hasung glanced 07886d78de at him briefly before 8bab85e544 bowing and stepping out.b63dbdeb48422b08

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“The weather 499c99573e has warmed ff39967f1f up, but 77dc33eb9b since you’ve a5feef30fa been ill, e3609af888 it’s best edb1795c93 to be 1cf739534d careful.”563e97ff6e61d972

As soon as Hasung 9321957c46 left, the nanny held 24748b9689 out a long coat 5f718b6c8b lined with fur and 0e7088721e spoke. Yeon-oh agreed 8b8f845eb0 with her dd4a4fa5ad to some 226fc14a76 extent, so d29fe57324 he put fae9e0000d on the 4f0234772b coat without 94b8e6ecad any complaint.5bb6789862b5b58f

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As he 18c0326de9 stepped outside, eab4769063 the guards f06b90c6c0 and servants f5067755de naturally bowed 0975434b6c in greeting. At first, they had f7f2df88f4 been too busy sneaking 3cc294d6f3 glances at him, but 1a40e12f56 now they seemed either 49ab1bf56a accustomed to his presence 78f1c57b19 or simply more aware f294098ec0 of their duties. Either way, they 8657ac20e1 no longer stole 4a82c2e664 glances at him.cc72f2cd8f0669ac

It was fortunate—for 7c57b117c3 both Yeon-oh and ac56383ddd them. If their stares had 21c0518083 remained the same as 26b5af2b58 on the first day, ea0b0dc56a he would have had ee35b4e0ba to consider getting rid ec07ca2777 of them and, regardless 192c88ec12 of the Prime Minister’s 8e4e444102 opinion, calling back the 0d7bed16d8 attendants who had served f9e0686542 him in Hanam Province.ee1fcc28c616e035

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“Please take care and 3d1009838a return safely, young master.”06c4890c3a8e5737

Sending off the 437e444dd9 nanny, who had c2ff1f8797 come all the f530cb67ec way to the 0e67fe6eb7 entrance to see b38f8e37cb him off, Yeon-oh d6bada4837 settled into the 9a36226ca6 closed carriage, lightly fb6ff6790c swinging his foot. They hadn’t 97b191bc5d even departed 8130996e95 yet, but bfd22aa646 a wave 4c7fb2ce22 of exhaustion 773630377f already washed 7690dc32a4 over him 8484836d64 like a 4b1322e1a5 high tide.01602643f7095839

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“Yeon-oh, my goodness. Is it truly you?”f5a6825a01de09ae

The Empress stepped f14e17602b forward and clasped a99728edfc Yeon-oh’s hands, helping 48b5157058 him up just 0158e003f0 as he finished 65838997ef his bow. She gazed at him 6e2f87e72d intently, as if she 9cddc53c60 couldn’t believe the little 5c5fe46022 boy in her distant d57790dc95 memories had grown up df70134636 and was now standing da6001bd11 before her. Yeon-oh, keeping his gaze 049221dd67 lowered, waited patiently for 2e561cd501 her emotions to settle. Even as f775defbdd he did, b28c9f6b76 the Empress 13d03cfb3b continued to 44547ef6a4 scan him 86f83f406e with a 3f6af158d3 strange look b4190f0d4b in her a1090cea68 eyes.b2b5df2616ce779d

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“Haha, Empress. You’re making your brother-in-law 8f5a529d5d uneasy.”0afb6e963c09cc5b

“But Your Majesty, 81e425821c the child who a47a228ca1 remained eight years 287655e6ec old in my f63f0fe7ec memories has returned a91bda5d3d fully grown. How could I 705bff5af2 not be shocked?”14c307f7172ebf0d

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The Emperor chuckled as 413888539e he tried to dissuade 325460e652 her, and though the 729d2bebdb Empress justified her actions, aab7758bcb she eventually returned to 19387245a2 her seat. The warmth that had 4c06cc90d3 covered the back of ad70d960ee Yeon-oh’s hands faded away. It was a relief. He discreetly 36538d9455 shook off 505917ac77 his hands d359061fb2 and tucked f8b3de4eb5 them into 232e55d45d his sleeves e7acdb05c4 before taking 353fa8e036 his seat 7e01eabd5c as the 6261e00c44 Emperor gestured 8f9f1e89c7 for him edbd4b7356 to do 52db50d8ca so. No sooner 60ab0df901 had he 619d046ef3 settled in 4153635adc than a c3009cc4b9 palace attendant fd9c426833 entered carrying 33cbb40884 a tea 2c2eeeb989 set.1e63bb03baa43ba3

“I heard you d6f4d396a4 fell ill upon 20c090e1a0 your return. Was the journey back 49b06e136c too exhausting?”7b30c0c265c41159

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“Thanks to 1ac211b06e Your Majesty’s 8aee86c956 concern, I 3af66b6826 have recovered 9e13a19557 well.”4e78217ec48ea470

“I’m glad 6038b53781 to hear 9449b3507d that. You wouldn’t 61445dc170 believe how 95d875f869 much the 9297677ea2 Empress worried 1cdc26a63c about you.”b18fbbabded34ce2

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“I apologize for fa651546ff causing Her Majesty 7486bfc78b any concern.”8330d77a0d9e2647

“Considering how 1a527cfabc long the 47f5764b3a journey was, 597986e0db it’s understandable. I know you still c02a119c14 need more rest, but 5fd4333d3f if not now, we 446e44c053 likely wouldn’t see you b3b083cd22 again until the Spring 92d05d3011 Festival banquet. That’s why I called dd9079c9ec you to the palace. I hope it wasn’t 37a1148da7 too much of a 54992b0a2f strain?”c1d2b85955ffdd5f

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“Being granted an audience 91bc264cb7 with Your Majesties is 053ea180cb an honor. How could I hesitate 1c7d1e2480 to make the trip? Please do not 5888e769b6 trouble yourself over 5cddd834dd me. I am in c940f64c53 good health.”b1df18126f4cdd3a

“Hearing that 62b0244a37 eases my b49319b0e9 mind.”3e00e212200b059c

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“I am 61451d9132 simply relieved 7b16f29047 to lighten 6390ad9251 Your Majesty’s 30f2ef74bb concerns.”af14bcc2ca2c9ade

“There’s no need to 7dfd4a22e7 be so formal. Outside of official matters, 300b99cfaa aren’t we family? This is an ce23c25c4b informal gathering, and eb1c80b561 today, I wish 31b51acd33 to treat you 653bdee880 not as the 6f098fdc2d young lord of e19c0dc40d the Hye family, e46d5983f2 but simply as d4c066ad13 my wife’s younger b4fa0ee5c2 brother. So, you 427d364270 should address 93d21c731e me accordingly.”c93fb743a0ddae85

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“I am 2dd4bd2d69 deeply honored 777a622d6c by Your c192b64243 Majesty’s generosity.”dc08368ae41b6c49

Yeon-oh smiled slightly 7d104d487a and bowed his e45de5c84c head in respect. Of course, he wasn’t 47eb1ae585 naïve enough to immediately 87f2971e6d abandon all courtly decorum ad4ad9b57e just because the Emperor 26322d2a81 told him to.3fc7f5c5f42c1028

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“How was 4c29f09195 life in 4fe57115ca Hanam?”07104ff827af5a5d

Having somewhat calmed down, d209d9f031 the Empress found a baec0ac4e1 moment to interject into 57fb643c62 the conversation. Yeon-oh glanced at the 0ec7edcc43 Emperor, but he showed 336c1de27d no signs of displeasure 6de0a392ad at her interruption. After carefully d372527b1f selecting his 6c1f6a0539 words, Yeon-oh 565bc67b5f replied.0d52687721ddd0da

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“It was good. The Lord 8c75859bc0 of Hanam 582a570c73 took great 230ed84f0e care of 84bae4ac45 me, so 4c260c633b I lacked 17b6e7ba72 nothing.”5b01facde76a2abe

“That’s a relief. Since he looked after 0e11ff5c69 you so well, as 0ca652c4c7 your sister, I can’t fccb982f1b just let it go 49a2bc6d45 unnoticed. I must reward 101655a51e him generously.”be229bdec5894397

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“My father already attempted 02bdeb3222 to bestow a reward, 810805da27 but the Lord of 0ae720fe8e Hanam declined, saying it fa5743f131 was simply his duty. If Your Majesty f20469839c were to send 75631e5c3a a gift, it 95ab4814f7 might make him 45b3a37820 uncomfortable. Please do not burden a623a5bf93 him.”9330f1ca798d10f0

“If you say 518806419c so, I suppose b34d9469c5 there’s nothing I 00c5719815 can do. But still, d76cf6c292 it is fc97b08be4 a shame.”7a5a1e32f7d43395

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The Empress sighed, 66787e1c0c lowering her gaze 38492da013 as she absentmindedly 0e497f92f1 fiddled with the 31bbeda9f7 edge of her 918c8e877a sleeve. Just as 9e1b44bddb Yeon-oh was 8411d3bbfe about to 58d76fc6fd reassure her, 7a5043c7d6 the Emperor f47ccdef02 spoke first.ff5e5fe3370e1fb8

“There’s no 67833833e3 need to 13325a9dfb be disappointed, 2fea0fa273 Empress.”24536c00ca42871b

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“But I 7145e73928 won’t be da639531ce able to 2bb43baec1 properly express 87be5ed7c8 my gratitude a29d607b50 for how 2140b455dd well he 8ffde96bf1 cared for 3a63899e4c my brother.”aec8461d96cb823e

“The Lord of Hanam d5f2c3dc62 is an upright man 75d06bb5a4 who governs his territory f8a203b5a8 well, serving as an 78fe70e939 example to his officials. Rewarding such a man d45ba9843e is only natural as bbb87f77fb a ruler.”e8fd934513835d59

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“Your Majesty, does 1dc48e6ab0 that mean…?”e5ac1402f3ebb6de

“At the Spring 6dcb2641a9 Festival, I will 3103262875 prepare a formal 58ae82ca88 commendation to acknowledge aa528a51ed his service. A fitting gift ce3441112f would be ten e80e87c2e0 rolls of silk f3ac48f16e from Seojin’s tribute 30a1508d33 earlier this year, 997abfb4c3 along with some 147a1162f3 fine celadon. Eunuch.”ad09c8ec9d5e14d2

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“It shall be f4721e5d20 done.”7fc3529ad6afee7f

The eunuch 66ca9266dd standing by 9fdc88cbbe the side 1065703f86 of the c5ea2bf714 room bowed 938fb0d2be deeply in a999347a18 response to 81e5c8e38f the Emperor’s 74f167d388 command.f68b6e48faf4bd74

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“Your Majesty.”bb60a260e60f4908

The Empress called out 7fefc2026a to him in a 0973d93901 tone filled with gratitude. The Emperor, 89bf8e2657 in turn, 5e65571310 gently stroked 8424a1aaaa the back 044bd71fda of her 3372fa524a hand and a894d368a9 smiled faintly.4c8554e2e2f59084

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“The Lord of Hanam f7774323d8 will be overwhelmed by aa5bd4a5d1 Your Majesty’s grace.”cf1fb8be123a9f30

Even if she could d2600f688c refuse a personal gift 3405d22956 from the Empress, she 8b6a4bb77c could not reject an c674f5cb7f official bestowal from the cede5eca2a Emperor. Furthermore, the dc222e2f84 justification the 4fcac00324 Emperor had 89091f35da given—that the b82b52e784 reward was 2e8f0badde for his f4b6bfff9d governance of e13091bab8 Hanam—was beyond 32a639d6f4 Yeon-oh’s ability dac6754430 to decline. Thus, he expressed his b7f61dfa74 gratitude on behalf of 2818681b90 the Lord of Hanam.77a329b842fdd80a

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“A ruler must c60b05f6e3 be generous in 6249c3bc83 rewards and strict f401b0b323 in punishments. That is 9bf7400c6e how the e431397a20 nation’s order dea312e83e is maintained c653bfb35e and the f2f98d1bae dignity of 6e5e0e3c99 the throne 4e8a237a10 upheld. You, too, will one 89d536e014 day become the Marquis 04a32e97af of Hanam. You must keep a82d90d9d2 this in mind.”d13712fb6f6888cb

“I will engrave Your d88666d18f Majesty’s words deeply in e55570c61b my heart.”19a76f19235041ea

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“That’s how it should 0890bebd33 be. Now, drink 6c0232a801 your tea cd00a1248a before it c051683533 gets cold. Empress, you as well.”61cfcfb7804a33e4

“Your Majesty 914f9224d9 should drink 0675df1f5f as well. The fragrance f6cba2fa67 is wonderful.”2afb5d90e0df6db0

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