SNF | Chapter 2.1

Yeon-oh, stretching 652bb95d0a his arms 34163b11b3 to the a1afa05347 sides, indifferently 1c3a96e1a2 received the 3e318322f1 assistance of 322997f30d a servant bf78fbd869 dressing him. He donned a 8632230fad robe embroidered with 1e33ba8c48 red lotus flowers 4b2e4fa651 and fastened a 76653eeae9 blue tassel at 281578da5c his waist. With ruby-studded pure gold 2ad13a1fac earrings and his hair b4b38be068 neatly done, he looked deabd4d4c3 every bit the scion f3a2b50f87 of a noble family.aae1ba45a38dfc6f

As his personal cc1683499c servant stepped back cca55191e7 after finishing the 072aa98b04 preparations, his nanny 514ab4f5b8 approached closely, holding c7129d10bf a mirror.c2e8d787490148e0

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“It seems a bit d0d4b6562c much today.”8f1ef2155c97d33e

“We’re going to the ceb414d4fb Golden Palace to meet 45a2130599 His Majesty and Her 7f3c8c0a45 Majesty, aren’t we?”86f81710329f2a65

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Her point made aff557846f sense. Yeon-oh wasn’t heading cc2e1b89e2 to an ordinary dc118b6f1e place. It was the af363e6854 Golden Palace, where 19d8527220 the rulers of b71ac8c0ab the world resided, 6420354b66 and Yeon-oh was 552e132227 on his way 73f6992d80 to pay his 41a4a54aa4 respects to these fb1938259f sovereigns. There was no 757ba8c660 such thing as a63f2e214b too formal for 99c0df0f50 this occasion.94bead7ddf59848e

“Still, it’s heavy.”7cefc26f63b11687

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The pure 100682a212 gold accessories 49520a4efe were indeed ba1f92d847 heavy. Since his official reason e95c92d6bf for staying in Hanam 640e509f42 was recuperation, he had 2223213c27 no need for receiving 09528715dd guests at home, nor 683ea09840 any need to make 9dabf17ecb unnecessary outings. Therefore, he rarely c747a3da5c wore such heavy 257171ede6 jewelry, and the ade8d39b4b weight of the 1095f9910d pure gold was b817e93f89 oppressively heavy.7371500fb3dd7d00

“You’ll get used to a3d7cd9270 it soon enough.”15b3b9e80ad3ec1a

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“There’s a lot 81832d8252 to get used b06196e175 to here.”36a76e22a76dc3b8

The gazes of people, 2912854c16 the weight of the e0baacaafa gold. Yeon-oh muttered 3f82b4743e the end 80acd5b443 of his 734a0ad8ca thought as f7e0338bad he looked 1cfac2e91f at his 12b17082c8 reflection in 1f0312b9a5 the mirror. His face, which had 1174d5347c lost its sickly pallor, 7f327e62c8 now had a touch 61878dd7ad of color. This should d236fd1da0 be presentable 3c5017fc42 enough for cc324799d2 an audience 2c4eaaac7a with the 746a77f4cc Emperor and 17c06cc753 Empress.1a4e7f40e27466f3

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“Was the appointed time 8bf8eb7c0e for entering the palace 67cada5fdc at five?”e8ed69120e1dde0f

“Yes, it’s almost four d5c960b7be now, so we should 7ea6d07591 start moving soon to 7463374f69 not be late.”2552976e515a98bc

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“Right, and today… my 43d0d69914 second sister and her e78da7a40c husband are coming, right?”b02718f366a5d3ba

Yeon-oh recalled today’s schedule 1334e27eed in his mind. The day after returning 65b92459db to the Capital City, ad5c2e7dac he had received a 3ffaeeadc1 message from his eldest 7e25241738 sister, who resided deep 8d1675a545 within the Imperial Palace. She had 0fed6a2f7f sent a 08b8621999 letter saying d2f1e7cf53 they should e99a5a4ad2 meet at 5ad3c04175 least once 3ce71f4c47 before the 48f3122bd7 Spring Festival. However, he had fallen 15dc16c8f9 ill immediately upon returning 8aed6b270c home and hadn’t been 802b7876a8 able to visit the eb3e6034c2 palace right away.8bb7bd123516adaa

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As soon as db9ff9647b he had recovered, 3083f9a86d he had barely e396ead6f5 sent a reply b890292e8c agreeing to visit b253974970 the next day c0c2fd6692 when the Prime 53fa875ba8 Minister, who had 24fb622cdf just left the b060b79374 palace, subtly suggested f79bb1bb6c that he should 63156e2a18 also meet his fa097dc464 second sister and 6050433c0c her husband. There was no reason e7ec48d416 to refuse. It just 02a950eb90 so happened bde5079ca8 that he 63d8ebdaf9 would meet 61a1b193d6 both his 8d68655c72 sisters in 41d5786845 one day.8f0ef7b43c325218

“The second sister…”5b9a04d9239be3f4

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Yeon-oh thought of his 78ba3fc857 sister Hye Yeonseo, who 64750d242a had married into the 30484efd1b Tae family of San c41e22abf2 Seo four years ago. His expression showed no b07b832a52 trace of longing as a15660e7d2 he thought of his 8dceb06241 blood relatives. Yeon-oh tapped 328016fe30 the table aef13e5865 pensively.56cfd4118c938cea

His three 06f97ca10b older brothers 1dfc4ae433 had either 64e7c93da9 died of 939d816c50 illness or b0befd339e suddenly, leaving 5f25511ea0 behind only 373a0b389f him, his 570a8786de much older 7e81edf66a sister, Empress 70a4362c80 Hye Yeonjin, 1350eab51f and Hye c5e8ee28db Yeonseo, who d17302a4e2 was five dea28fc2d8 years younger. The Empress had 713f9c5ece been chosen when f739222542 he was just 23bd0bb216 four years old 067d95ee86 and had little f12f6719bf interaction with her dc48b9d93b since she entered 546a807e58 the Golden Palace 45c77e0e9e so early. Even if there 493a3797db were any interactions, 51b604fb57 Yeon-oh was too a412b4ab42 young to remember be8943a685 them fully.3447a6cfd95fa66f

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Unlike the Empress, with 5ca9d46273 whom he felt no a063d56969 real emotional connection, his 563ca26bb4 relationship with his second fd883437e8 sister, Hye Yeonseo, was 455d14e197 quite strained. It mostly stemmed from fe2bcd93fe the malice she showed 8e02827eae towards him. However, he could somewhat ce435137b2 understand her feelings. Unlike Yeon-oh, fdae1214d2 who knew 42863de47a neither loss 34d4d28c78 nor longing 665bb587fb from birth, e385a9b5e3 Hye Yeonseo f53eb24f06 had felt 21a787034d her first 28bb8cbc9f loss at 0fb7235bf9 the age 5752023676 of five 5534447504 when their af80873281 mother died.deefdcbb65756ffe

Understanding her 8e8f168471 feelings, however, 90e33b24b4 did not 145d1f3935 mean he 686fec35e7 harbored friendly 497de6e4d5 feelings toward c17f0a739d her. Hye Yeonseo was b49cc5b075 a difficult presence. And, in fd7f5c3d33 some way, e203f36d75 he felt db18464096 a secret 16f89a9f68 relief that b9751f0b60 she was 80f09bdfe8 out of db83c93f7e the house.de5fa5a388f2ac6f

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“Are you still b3e8d4775f finding it difficult 4317c54724 with the second 2bdf5b3fe4 young lady?”1fba43f2238bd2c6

The nanny, knowing 05d2024e01 Yeon-oh’s expression would 697e3b7963 darken whenever Hye dfd75287a2 Yeonseo was mentioned, c6851f3ef1 didn’t want to 7a73810e67 worry him further. She was c3786d0da6 aware of b344d5e147 Hye Yeonseo’s 9c50a392de cunning ways 225285075e but didn’t 31f9039985 fully know 3942c357b7 how she 54379570b9 tormented Yeon-oh. There were times 0f99f67ac1 when Hye Yeonseo b2f5b25f67 would pinch or b0793683cb kick him in 4c8d148c8a a fit of ddd6cfd28c rage, often when e35ba868a0 no one else 653070d602 was around.cea8113dec057697

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Yeon-oh, pushing away the e8441ad23d unpleasant memories of his e8e0147f45 childhood, looked at the 98f37f9a99 nanny. He didn’t want 5aca5c2871 to lie, even 7102212fd2 politely.cb58f2c2de8fc6e8

“Young master.”51726883356182a3

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Just then, a call 2e31c8d256 came from outside for 78cdb64c73 him. Yeon-oh waved his hand a9b2b08dc9 lightly. Understanding his gesture, the 1a5c367d9f nanny quickly opened the 6d3428ca10 door. The double doors f233ca2f8b opened, and through d82ca55a83 them, Gu Hasung 0d4e2b20da entered, bowing his 61a062181f head.f71fca6c7657c5b2

“Your preparations d9b631cba4 to enter e2c55ce937 the palace 7064511cea are complete.”015d7d67b09c6bcd

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“Alright. Let’s go.”8492357039af77e0

When Yeon-oh waved 01596e4f9b his hand a f21898f723 couple of times, 534173ca31 signaling for him c90da14114 to leave, Hasung dbf96eac46 glanced at him b37b51f45d briefly before bowing 431f791a83 and stepping out.6f580dad83bbec80

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“The weather has cc21918000 warmed up, but 2f5f4784d2 since you’ve been de0289ebb0 ill, it’s best 8ae0454d95 to be careful.”ea04ea297edf598c

As soon as Hasung 3021d445a7 left, the nanny held 2668cfd2a4 out a long coat 0270738583 lined with fur and b12c25fcae spoke. Yeon-oh agreed with 53f048b441 her to some 3bb37ea520 extent, so he 8ba9e85a21 put on the cd79e31482 coat without any 7dfcd6dc71 complaint.39e58cdc53d2602f

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As he 1b151fd5b6 stepped outside, f5d4b96dc4 the guards fe007b50ec and servants 151a8c387a naturally bowed f3b5e8aaca in greeting. At first, they d2dd5c0d8c had been too 326f2f59e1 busy sneaking glances 81a7923326 at him, but 69313749d1 now they seemed cb3d4f25dc either accustomed to 2d2420c216 his presence or 92115e5b71 simply more aware 0f6acf02dd of their duties. Either way, they c1a009eab8 no longer stole e071572e0e glances at him.31bd1235c0dc4fad

It was fortunate—for a1c4f12ad5 both Yeon-oh and a3ca302682 them. If their stares a3e0fc9424 had remained the 9e234ada19 same as on fdea6db98c the first day, b1efdf4dc2 he would have 6641981a68 had to consider 91387c3939 getting rid of 08ba07501e them and, regardless 10d93736a6 of the Prime 08c8929e7a Minister’s opinion, calling 65396a8a8a back the attendants db73cf2b90 who had served 69a367e9e7 him in Hanam 955ab012f5 Province.809684c59fef047a

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“Please take 95b2fba143 care and 37b2ad5196 return safely, 0301eae06b young master.”7bd89b06547d4033

Sending off 03fb39e1bf the nanny, aae342fdc0 who had fd40a8db80 come all b1b8c40049 the way 2ef6445188 to the 497b3f7b57 entrance to 3a716c5f3f see him b4d0f3e4eb off, Yeon-oh 2fd6efe0c1 settled into e3e13615e7 the closed 4170a2ba52 carriage, lightly 2be740d569 swinging his df1d22c4ee foot. They hadn’t 52a26952f8 even departed 219fe3796a yet, but 0e775539ad a wave 1190abf9d6 of exhaustion 93ba5f5c6a already washed 4b59d2d780 over him 917702d5eb like a 8bdbe86cc4 high tide.ae142020eea13e20

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“Yeon-oh, my goodness. Is it truly you?”2bfe5334058f1bcd

The Empress stepped forward 84ce8d85e9 and clasped Yeon-oh’s hands, ef414fbeda helping him up just a59d9c179c as he finished his a8a99d4a0e bow. She gazed at 0acf3b9ee0 him intently, as a47d2fdcaf if she couldn’t 9c41c59eb9 believe the little 6ca0d93d95 boy in her 854c43ebd8 distant memories had 86cd297750 grown up and 8b56798234 was now standing bb54411a1f before her. Yeon-oh, keeping b0044ab34c his gaze 227985caf7 lowered, waited 0e2fa40aa4 patiently for 0fd4638ab5 her emotions db6e13923c to settle. Even as he did, 09b61667e2 the Empress continued to 9a4047224e scan him with a 0c683b1400 strange look in her 7649d3d5f7 eyes.e74d42edd31fbda8

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“Haha, Empress. You’re making your ffe242c4fd brother-in-law uneasy.”2a4702a939342bce

“But Your Majesty, 5e4c6b29b9 the child who 6c58f7a4c7 remained eight years c4e35fe098 old in my 06dc72ffdc memories has returned 20ed79d2d8 fully grown. How could I not 0e887e1b8f be shocked?”53fcd9b3228110f7

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The Emperor 0d0e63f5ad chuckled as e4ce8d3303 he tried bf0282fe34 to dissuade 8cd58b8206 her, and 5b81c2550c though the 4c5f87abb8 Empress justified a4944d4503 her actions, 40e65ec1bb she eventually 3755888321 returned to d0492bfc1e her seat. The warmth that 907d7808ad had covered the 64fe87a274 back of Yeon-oh’s 417dc77b52 hands faded away. It was fa6e4b715e a relief. He discreetly shook ffcc93b6e0 off his hands a52e1dcbb2 and tucked them d3548b1eb3 into his sleeves a13e7f901f before taking his 929705e759 seat as the 3087a8890c Emperor gestured for f3cd8ab72f him to do ee9da08aca so. No sooner had he 1c11529326 settled in than a e9855b7f32 palace attendant entered carrying 5481a30e4b a tea set.b2a99ee451e006c6

“I heard you fell 7a2de98022 ill upon your return. Was the 1881753d35 journey back 5f33f05e52 too exhausting?”21e6776252a511d4

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“Thanks to Your Majesty’s 126337113f concern, I have recovered 56699da8b0 well.”329608db125caa8d

“I’m glad to hear 70fa33c0f1 that. You wouldn’t believe 3502ad82ba how much the 82aa7b9c0d Empress worried about 32782fac53 you.”4a80692e64ce669a

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“I apologize for causing 93829a4a52 Her Majesty any concern.”2707d9431240935a

“Considering how long the e8f695c905 journey was, it’s understandable. I know 27d4fd36ae you still 496f160aa6 need more d21a29b240 rest, but 945d5f44b6 if not d88d4a3a57 now, we 55a10c51e6 likely wouldn’t 3e87b47d7b see you 43d125cb43 again until beb996c554 the Spring fad4dd0b88 Festival banquet. That’s why I d1001351b8 called you to 920a265e8d the palace. I hope db84a792bb it wasn’t 3a2ed798ab too much 08bfa302c8 of a 8d57d43be3 strain?”731318375fe081a2

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“Being granted an 386d7cb509 audience with Your 014f0d9156 Majesties is an ee53998590 honor. How could I 8a539cb80b hesitate to make 67d4f75249 the trip? Please do not trouble 83592070ca yourself over me. I am in good c9fe1b460f health.”39f0889b5c1f609e

“Hearing that eases my b5eb927145 mind.”6ad2dfea3e23adb8

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“I am c7c6a6ada8 simply relieved f389ba68d9 to lighten 0fa0e8704f Your Majesty’s 26bf51ffa5 concerns.”b91f9f1c8e9ad3ff

“There’s no need 5dc92cf7f2 to be so 315c7b84dc formal. Outside of 2177191478 official matters, 6c5f70b56f aren’t we f3ed37a5d8 family? This is an informal 91efc86277 gathering, and today, I f5ace288e8 wish to treat you a4e200356b not as the young c6ebbc1724 lord of the Hye 69e07ca59b family, but simply as b54aff2f37 my wife’s younger brother. So, you should f18ea75e56 address me accordingly.”3da3d9093e52322c

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“I am deeply 4d3fedd36d honored by Your 74f484798f Majesty’s generosity.”ab26b972c0ea60ab

Yeon-oh smiled slightly and 760b65c0ef bowed his head in e6374c23e0 respect. Of course, he wasn’t d1bf282d4c naïve enough to immediately 1dfc002837 abandon all courtly decorum fa1d2bdf6d just because the Emperor 33f995222d told him to.1f2cfadc1bc90f5c

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“How was f990dc19c7 life in 02853c4329 Hanam?”e31e0763653db7ad

Having somewhat calmed down, 2ff9f475bf the Empress found a ad60563ccb moment to interject into 0cb58204ce the conversation. Yeon-oh glanced at 873ac4a6dc the Emperor, but 884507ff19 he showed no e27ac20ed8 signs of displeasure 50a5e4a5a2 at her interruption. After carefully selecting b08a9698da his words, Yeon-oh eb17717861 replied.1cdec08a621ebf45

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“It was good. The Lord of 13c71ba6f1 Hanam took great 63df82a841 care of me, 0a0027824a so I lacked cea269f02b nothing.”500e824cd89c313f

“That’s a relief. Since he 2749d4a856 looked after 282c05af4a you so e848ef61a8 well, as 421da05bd2 your sister, 32d25a0820 I can’t 07ff6d73e3 just let 21d6c0137d it go ca63bb1b2a unnoticed. I must reward him fe5415709a generously.”ef5425f7770bd43d

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“My father already attempted 94eb974929 to bestow a reward, aab026f5a6 but the Lord of 3c4b477f5e Hanam declined, saying it fd6a359f22 was simply his duty. If Your Majesty were 16dd035ce6 to send a gift, 6810cf528d it might make him 3e2d98dfad uncomfortable. Please do not 4fa5c67258 burden him.”3d419421df830634

“If you say so, 29136a9256 I suppose there’s nothing 51b141ce70 I can do. But still, it 5b43817d50 is a shame.”9c9630c152458456

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The Empress sighed, lowering 6a55e77818 her gaze as she 8b71db081c absentmindedly fiddled with the 050d4c64e9 edge of her sleeve. Just as Yeon-oh was 934aa7d2e1 about to reassure her, 9e98b9e1e5 the Emperor spoke first.596d2ae0993f9598

“There’s no need to ed8a60d2d4 be disappointed, Empress.”a596a3cdea76d667

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“But I 305af0791b won’t be f5e4ea2cb3 able to 4217b7b5e5 properly express 58626bf072 my gratitude 070e72e7ca for how 56fd6a21d7 well he 592d07a035 cared for ff61558f3b my brother.”8b4683e0986c0739

“The Lord of 950043ba83 Hanam is an 5762dd1741 upright man who be7e25f94a governs his territory 0722fc0f59 well, serving as d1214103bc an example to 74a08419e4 his officials. Rewarding such 51b830210e a man 079f747586 is only ed4bbc8da3 natural as 566e6880aa a ruler.”07b419a5d8eeb003

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“Your Majesty, 4a8db5fb17 does that 5e10ea93c2 mean…?”f1d67d06e50e8bdf

“At the Spring Festival, 38afd79bd2 I will prepare a 2849ccc72c formal commendation to acknowledge 30c6432760 his service. A fitting 4f9e9fedcd gift would 8c079952db be ten f60400ebe5 rolls of 73205194cc silk from a39843c97f Seojin’s tribute 21120087be earlier this 0324ea3069 year, along 1445c55b71 with some 51f6ace237 fine celadon. Eunuch.”005c2022b53a4212

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“It shall 79d8f780d2 be done.”133ff1edf564c8e7

The eunuch standing d5e7232cb9 by the side ce996cb2bc of the room c38d394614 bowed deeply in 47c3110bcb response to the 2fcd881dbf Emperor’s command.952600b13dd76f9b

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“Your Majesty.”f5c3a044e07ac862

The Empress called out 2ce561f2ee to him in a 9ce84a77f0 tone filled with gratitude. The Emperor, in turn, 135df717e6 gently stroked the back b1588bd91d of her hand and dd3fe3e89d smiled faintly.71a6d1653874720b

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“The Lord ebd72fca36 of Hanam 4d30b6940d will be 33cca6e2ac overwhelmed by ea087f124c Your Majesty’s a04b05091d grace.”32cb1b820bf12fc0

Even if she could 081916adba refuse a personal gift bbb8dde0a0 from the Empress, she 1f45beb8d6 could not reject an 794dd3d729 official bestowal from the eb5495fe0e Emperor. Furthermore, the justification 69796f9640 the Emperor had afc9523c15 given—that the reward 39acd640f4 was for his 4f76dc0e57 governance of Hanam—was 0b50b94c90 beyond Yeon-oh’s ability f2fdd19b2c to decline. Thus, he 3fd564ecad expressed his d70b9dd1b3 gratitude on 9573a0c0f4 behalf of 0617e2f559 the Lord 0b4f758cf5 of Hanam.6cee6e28e6fa254a

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“A ruler must 8c6d7fbfbc be generous in c04e4d0800 rewards and strict 11f91c0e5e in punishments. That is how the a74677209a nation’s order is maintained fd5b1444d6 and the dignity of 3065a5b3da the throne upheld. You, too, 02475a5c59 will one b3d04d91dc day become 8280df0736 the Marquis a3701eb733 of Hanam. You must keep 17abaad32b this in mind.”d259f528c960b7e3

“I will 5dd0573aa3 engrave Your 866e9285ec Majesty’s words 17d80fed36 deeply in 44432f5767 my heart.”d9a2ee9b50be59fa

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“That’s how it fb0e8eed9a should be. Now, drink your tea fa15c1e2ca before it gets cold. Empress, you as well.”01607d5d40df37a4

“Your Majesty dda132ccd4 should drink 3176ad243e as well. The fragrance is 1bf186555c wonderful.”2f9778a29184a97d

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