Character Index
Steward Liu: Wei Guang's steward, a loyal man whose kindly exterior masks unknown depths.
Xiang Daozong/Qu Boyong: The son of General Xiang and the Princess of Chu, he was reinstated with Kayla's interference after the death of the Grand Duke.
Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and the former teacher of the Emperor. He is also Kayla's godfather and mentor, but stabbed her in the back after the Grand Duke's death, albeit having done based on his usual idea of what constitutes as good intentions.
Zhao Mingfang: A member of the Zhao clan who repeatedly tried to sabotage Kayla but failed to gain much benefit or attention from his attempts. He was killed along with his younger brother and brother-in-law on Kayla's orders after he offered to testify against Kayla.
Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, a charismatic and confident leader.
Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: The rightful heir to the Liang clan and Kayla's friend/right-hand man. He resolved to retake his birthright after realizing the extent of his family's neglect.
Yan'er: A young prostitute with a fiery personality. She is an excellent haggler and saved Hu Qing's life when he was on the run from the Grand Duke's assassins for a hefty sum of money. Due to her involvement in a highly sensitive matter, she has been kept under protection at one of Kayla's safe houses.
Housekeeper Li/Matron Li: A senior female servant in the Zhao household with a hatred for the Grand Duke and affection for Wenyuan.
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Kayla entered the Wei household with a confident stride as she led Xiang Daozong into Wei Guang’s sitting room, looking so at home in the space that no one could tell that there was any bad blood between her and her godfather.
“Your Grace, please pardon my rudeness, but my lord wishes to speak with you privately for a moment,” the steward said quietly, leaning forward to speak into her ear.
“Of course, thank you for letting me know.” Kayla turned towards Xiang Daozong and gave him a smile. “Hold on for a moment, cousin.”
Xiang Daozong gave her a look that suggested he was less than pleased with the arrangement, but obediently sat down and settled in to wait.
“No need to walk me over, I know where it is,” Kayla said kindly. The steward bowed and stepped aside without protest. Kayla approached Wei Guang’s office, taking a deep breath to ready herself for what was to come.
Alright, bitch. Here we go.
“Wenyuan humbly greets Your Grace,” Kayla bowed her head slightly as she entered the room. She straightened her back to give Wei Guang a bright smile. “Godfather, I’ve returned.”
A strange expression flickered over Wei Guang’s face before it settled into a smile that matched her own. “Wenyuan, I’m so glad to see you again. Are you well?”
“More than well, thanks to your blessings,” Kayla replied, voicing the meaningful words as though they were only common platitudes. “And you, godfather? Has everything been alright in my absence?”
Wei Guang went along with Kayla’s approach, conversing lightheartedly as they did before the arrest. Kayla was struck by how similar it felt to dealing with the Empress Dowager. The only difference was how much control she had over the other party.
Kayla gave him a brief rundown of what had happened, leaving out the matter of Zhao Mingfang and the Empress Dowager’s warning. She didn’t bring up Wei Guang’s betrayal, instead continuing amiably as though nothing had happened. If Wei Guang was surprised by that, he didn’t show it.
“In any case, I wanted to thank you for taking care of my people while I was gone, and also let you know about my safe release and the plans for the wedding as soon as possible,” Kayla finished.
“There’s no need to thank me. Rather, I should apologize for not being of more help. At least you made it out safely, and now you even have a wedding on the way,” Wei Guang replied.
Both of them went along with the act even though they knew exactly what had happened. Between Wei Guang’s betrayal and Kayla messing up his plans with Xiang Daozong, the civility of the conversation was almost laughable. The tense nervousness that had filled Kayla during her talk with the Empress Dowager did not surface. Rather, Kayla was almost enjoying the process of forcing Wei Guang to play along.
“I hope that the imprisonment was not too hard on you?” Wei Guang asked.
“Not at all, godfather,” Kayla said with certainty.
“And the Zhao clan, are they showing any unruliness?” The pointed question bounced off her like a toy arrow.
“No, thank the heavens for that,” Kayla gave him a cheerful smile. “I really must apologize for bringing Xiang Daozong over on such short notice, but I thought that it would be for the best if we took care of this sooner rather than later.”
“An excellent choice,” Wei Guang replied. “You intend to bring him into your protection?”
“Well, that's not quite what I'm planning. I have a presumptuous request, would you kindly hear me out?”
Wei Guang didn’t look particularly surprised. “Please go ahead.”
“As you know, I was involved in the reinstatement of Xiang Daozong, but it was more an act of necessity than because I wanted to add him onto the playing board,” Kayla said. “Given that I previously experienced difficulties reining him in, I would like to rely on your expertise, that is, to entrust him to your care.”
“I started my career as a teacher, of course I’m always happy to mentor the younger generation,” Wei Guang replied. “I’d gladly do so for Xiang Daozong on your request.”
“Yes, but when it’s not just guidance and mentorship that I’m hoping for,” Kayla said. “I was hoping that you could help me keep him in line–that is, to prevent him from becoming a threat.” To me.
Wei Guang’s face flashed with surprise before it settled into sharp interest.
“You would use my hand to hold him down.”
“With your blessings, of course. How you do it is none of my business. So long as the results are optimal, then both of us will benefit as a result.”
“You’re asking me to take an enormous risk for you,” Wei Guang pointed out.
“A gesture of sincerity,” Kayla corrected him.
Wei Guang evidently understood the underlying request–all the avoidance and talking around Wei Guang's betrayal had been leading up to this, a move that bound him to her on the basis of shared complicity. She wanted a partnership on equal terms, rather than the hierarchical bond of mentor and mentee, godfather and godson.
“Quite a costly gesture you ask for, Wenyuan. Purposefully sabotaging a noble's career is a serious matter, as you surely know. If you want a gesture of sincerity, then look no further. I already demonstrated mine–though I suppose the credit should actually go to the Third Prince, since it was his men who carried it out,” Wei Guang said.
He’s testing me to see if I know what he’s talking about, Kayla realized. This old bastard is trying to get a feel on the state of my intelligence network, isn’t he?
To her chagrin, Kayla really didn’t know what Wei Guang was talking about.
“And may I ask what you’re referring to?” Kayla asked.
“The Grand Duke’s assassins,” Wei Guang said in a gentle tone.
Fuck. Kayla hadn’t shared the names, much less the details of how they would be dealt with, but Wei Guang had evidently gotten his hands on the information regardless. It was infuriating but unavoidable. Kayla had been working out of his house after all, it was unthinkable that she could completely avoid his eyes.
“Yes? What about them?” Kayla asked.
“I understand that you let them go after giving them some hush money and severance pay. You must have wished to win their cooperation with virtue, but letting them walk away is showing the kindness of a woman,” Wei Guang said. “You meant well, but it leaves too many loose ends. I took the liberty of wrapping it up for you through the Third Prince’s hand.”
“By that you mean?” Kayla prodded, already knowing the answer.
“I had them silenced,” Wei Guang replied.
“You–”
Wei Guang cut her off before she could say anything.
“I advised the Third Prince to bury the bodies somewhere they would not be noticed,” Wei Guang explained. “With no corpses and no records of their presence in the capital, it is as though they had never existed at all. You have no need to worry about them any longer.”
It was as much a threat and a warning as it was an assurance. Kayla sucked in a sharp breath. To Wei Guang’s surprise, she took the news in stride with a small smile.
“If that’s the case, I really must thank you for your consideration,” Kayla said. “But that’s separate from this, wouldn’t you say so? The assassins are a family matter, while this is a matter of the neutral faction. Let’s not get them mixed up.”
Wei Guang’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Is that so? But I had assumed that the matter of the Grand Duke–the matter of your position was of great importance to the neutral faction and the dynasty’s future, and acted accordingly.”
You want to hold that over my head? Like hell I’m going to stand for that. Kayla shifted to be more comfortable in her seat.
“I’m grateful that you would think that way. I also acted to solidify the interests of the neutral faction, but I know that my actions invited others to cast doubt upon my virtue. That’s exactly why I made a demonstration of goodwill by restoring Qu Boyong to his position as Xiang Daozong. Now I’m asking you to do the same,” Kayla explained. “Let’s not go in circles here, godfather. We agree on who the most suitable candidate to the throne is, but we both know that he won’t be named the heir until the clans are culled. If we want him to succeed, then we need to work together effectively. But for that to happen, we need to form a basis of trust.”
“Of course I understand that. Why else do you think I made you my godson?” Wei Guang replied.
“That’s not enough for me,” Kayla shot back. “And I think that if it were enough for you, I would’ve gotten a little warning before the Bureau tossed me into a cell. Now don’t misunderstand, I’m not holding a grudge here. But I have a responsibility to the people who support me, and I can’t fulfill that if you involve me in your schemes without my knowing. That’s why I’m asking this of you.”
“And if I were to refuse? Would you simply discard our alliance?” Wei Guang asked.
“No. I’m not that picky. But that means my alliance with the Third Prince’s faction would be established separately from yours. And if there are conflicting interests, I wouldn’t hold back,” Kayla said firmly.
Wei Guang’s face pulled into a smile. “You seem quite confident that you would have the upper hand.”
“I am. It’s true that you’re a veteran official with access to the Emperor’s ear, but between the two of us, who has the brighter future? And who does the Emperor favor more? The Third Prince knows the Emperor too well to assume that the person the Emperor owes more will be the one he sides with,” Kayla said, trying to feel as confident as she sounded. She was a little surprised that she did so with ease..
He needs you as much as you need him. He needs you even more than you need him, Kayla assured herself. Old man doesn’t want to be rendered obsolete? Then he’s gotta keep up with the times. I’m not the one who needs to be worried–he is.
“With the way you describe it, my years of accumulated experience with navigating the court and the Emperor’s tempers seem to have not a single point of value,” Wei Guang said, sounding more amused than aggrieved.
“I apologize for speaking rudely.” Kayla bowed her head slightly.
“But I suppose that may very well be the case soon, especially after you are married. The Khagan’s son-in-law and the Marquis of Zhao…indeed, you would be elevated to new heights,” Wei Guang went on. “Each step certainly takes you higher, doesn’t it?”
“High places are not resistant to the cold,” Kayla said. “Not to mention that they also make for harder falls. But if I had your support, I could make the most of it to benefit the dynasty. Even if the Third Prince becomes the heir, there are still countless issues to deal with–the natural disasters, the invasions, the dynasty is not prepared to withstand these tribulations with the way it is now. But if we join hands, then perhaps we can do something about that.”
From the pleased look on Wei Guang’s face, he had been waiting for that exact assurance to make use of in the future.
If he thinks he can hold my words over my head then he’s welcome to try, Kayla thought with a zing of prideful defiance. He's the one who built his entire platform on the good of the dynasty. And how did that play out?
“Well said, Wenyuan. If you have such noble intentions, then one could hardly refuse your request,” Wei Guang said.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Damn straight you can’t.
“Xiang Daozong and his men will be under my watch–you may hold me accountable for any of their actions,” Wei Guang promised. “May we have a fruitful and long-lasting alliance.”
Kayla gave him a genuine smile, satisfaction blooming in her chest.
“I’m sure that we will. Thank you, godfather,” Kayla replied, deciding to keep hammering while she was at it. “I have one more request, a very small one.”
Wei Guang let out a small chuckle at that. “You’re taking a foot when you’ve gained an inch, aren’t you? Very well, go ahead. What do you need?”
“There’s a girl, a former prostitute called Yan’er. She saved Hu Qing when he was ambushed by the Grand Duke’s assassins and I bought out her contract. But I need a way to keep her out of the palace’s hands, and she wouldn’t be safe if she’s in close proximity with me. Could I entrust her care to you?”
“Another eyewitness?”
“Hu Qing’s benefactor, and mine as well,” Kayla corrected him. “Should you agree to take the girl, her safety is non-negotiable, but I’ll leave the rest entirely in your hands.”
Wei Guang nodded as though he had been waiting to agree. “I accept. You’ll have no need to worry for her health or prospects,” he promised.
“I’m very grateful. It is a great honor for me to join hands with someone that shares the same ambition and paths, especially when that person is as esteemed as you, godfather. May our alliance endure unscathed through wind and rain,” Kayla said.
“Heavens be willing,” Wei Guang replied.
“Then I’ll call Xiang Daozong in.”
Wei Guang’s eyes bore into her face. “Please do so.”
Kayla bowed her head slightly and went over to the sitting room.
“The Imperial Edict Bearer will meet you now,” Kayla said.
Xiang Daozong stood up, straightening his robes with a look of grim determination on his face.
“Relax, cousin. I put in a good word for you. He’s willing to support you,” Kayla said softly.
Xiang Daozong gave her a grateful look before stepping into the study after her. Kayla watched as the two exchanged greetings, Xiang Daozong on his absolute best behavior as Wei Guang gently inquired about his years as Qu Boyong and how he was settling into his new position. She jumped in with a few words here and there, but mostly stayed out of the conversation, letting the play go on undirected.
“Wenyuan here has explained your situation to me, and I must say that it is praiseworthy to have ambition,” Wei Guang said in a kindly tone. “Wenyuan and I would be happy to support you in your future endeavors in court.”
Xiang Daozong’s eyes widened slightly. “Thank you very much, Your Grace!”
Kayla smiled politely, holding back the urge to let it grow wider. She felt a rush of satisfaction pump through her veins, turning into something vaguely akin to glee as it pulsed beneath her skin. Things were going almost exactly how she hoped they would. Kayla felt more in control and confident than she had in many years, since long before she had come to this world. Even her greatest success so far, the Grand Duke's death, had been laced with nervousness and unease, but that finally seemed to be behind her.
For a moment, Kayla was consumed by the feeling. It thrummed at her temples with an eagerness that made her instinctively lower her eyes from Wei Guang’s face.
Take it easy, Kayla hastily chided herself. Don’t get overeager just because a few things worked out. She hastily got her expression under control.
“I’m deeply grateful that you’re willing to extend your graciousness to my cousin,” Kayla said, making it sound as sincere as she could manage. “This really means a lot to me, godfather.”
“It’s only what I should do,” Wei Guang replied. As kind as his voice was, Kayla instinctively felt that he had sensed something.
“This one is deeply grateful!” Xiang Daozong said earnestly.
“No need for such niceties, I’m more than happy to do this for you,” Wei Guang said.
The conversation dwindled down quickly after that, and Wei Guang sent both of them off with ample well wishes.
“Thank you, Wenyuan,” Xiang Daozong said quietly as they exited the Wei household. "I was doubtful before, but you really helped me."
“There’s no need to thank me,” Kayla patted him on the shoulder. “Let’s do our best together, shall we?”
Xiang Daozong nodded in response.
This must be what they mean by being sold by someone and helping them count the money, Kayla thought to herself as she got into the carriage. She didn’t even feel bad about the whole thing. Xiang Daozong was better off like this, even if he didn’t know it yet.
“Both the matter of Xiang Daozong and of Yan’er are taken care of,” Kayla said, glancing up as Hu Qing slipped into the moving carriage from the window. “She’ll be safe under Wei Guang.”
“Congratulations, my lord,” Hu Qing said cheerfully. “It’s good that things are finally starting to work out as you wish, perhaps your luck is getting better!”
“I hope it will last,” Kayla replied. “There was one small problem though, Wei Guang claims that the Grand Duke’s assassins that we bought out and sent away were killed by the Third Prince’s people. Have the guys look into which of the Third Prince’s men could have killed the assassins, and figure out where they buried the bodies. Be discreet–very discreet. If it’s too dangerous, then take it slow. We can’t get caught looking into this matter.”
“Sure, that won’t be too difficult,” Hu Qing agreed. “Are you worried he will use it against you at a later time?”
“It’s a possibility, and I don’t want to leave it that way. But more importantly, if we have that information, then we have another card in our hands. It becomes a crime that ties us to each other rather than something they can wield over my head,” Kayla explained.
“I’ll move as quickly as possible,” Hu Qing promised. The carriage stopped at the main gate of the Zhao household. The horseman didn’t seem particularly surprised that there was now an additional person in the carriage from when they had departed, bowing politely as Kayla and Hu Qing headed into the Inner Quarters.
“My lord, Sir Hu,” Housekeeper Li greeted her from where she was waiting outside Kayla’s study with a row of serving girls behind her. Kayla recognized them as the girls who used to serve Wenyuan.
“Housekeeper Li, is everything well?” Kayla asked.
“Yes, my lord. I wanted to assign these servants to attend to your needs, if that would suit your preferences?” Housekeeper Li said.
“Thank you, but there’s no need for that. I prefer to be left alone. Just assign someone reliable to prepare my robes and deliver my meals,” Kayla said. “Speaking of, the princess will have her own servants, but we also need some well-behaved and skilled employees who can serve her, preferably ones of good character. Could you kindly see to it that we are sufficiently prepared?”
“Of course, my lord. Then we will take our leave,” Housekeeper Li replied, bowing her head slightly. The girls behind her all bowed their heads at a sharper angle than Housekeeper Li before quietly leaving.
“The treatment is as different from before as the sky is from the earth,” Hu Qing muttered as he followed Kayla into the study, closing the door behind him. “At least they’ll respect you properly now that you’re Lord.”
“It’s only human nature to react like this, but I’m not sure how I feel about it. By all means, it should be gratifying, but I suppose only the person drinking the water can say for sure whether it’s warm or cold,” Kayla replied. “At least this will certainly make things easier for us–you no longer have to sneak in and out like a thief.”
“I actually liked doing that,” Hu Qing remarked.
“You can continue, if you want, but I don’t see why you would,” Kayla replied. “Anyways, here’s to hoping that things will continue to go well while I deal with the princes. Heavens know that I’ve had my fair share of bad luck.”
“May the heavens be generous for this pitiful Minister,” Hu Qing said lightly. “I’ll let you get some rest then.”
“Sure, good night.” She watched as Hu Qing gave a grin before flipping out the window.
He’s really going to have to stop doing that when he’s reinstated. Then again, a lot about Hu Qing’s lifestyle would have to change, what was the harm of indulging him a little while longer?
Silence filled the room, broken only by the rustling on scrolls on Kayla’s desk. It didn’t take long for unease to settle in. Wenyuan had never felt safe in the Zhao household, and Kayla certainly hadn’t either–the night of the Grand Duke’s death was the safest she had ever been, and now she was using the dead man’s rooms.
A hollow feeling replaced the gratification she had experienced earlier, numbing her thoughts with its slow but steady advance.
Within moments, it had transformed into an icy coldness that clogged her lungs and sent a sharp twisting sensation through her stomach. The feeling wasn’t so much fear as it was dread-inducing anxiety. Kayla took a deep breath and forced herself to count the seconds as she let it out slowly, flickers of disbelief surfacing amidst the waves of stress.
Seriously? Now I’m getting anxious? Now? Kayla’s ridicule didn’t take away the painful knot in her stomach that was sending pangs into her chest, even if it cleared her head a little.
Come on, Kayla, this is ridiculous. In retrospect, the whole thing was a little ridiculous, both the little power high she’d experienced when things worked out with Wei Guang and whatever this newest bout of anxiety was.
What do I even have to worry about? Tao Qian’s right on the roof. I’m out of jail. Things are actually going well. I’m safer than I’ve been in months, and I’m the one to thank for it. That’s a win, isn’t it?
She briefly wished Wenyuan was there before quashing the thought, but another one sprung up unbidden.
The only person who could understand me and he chose to kill himself rather than stay. Kayla immediately felt worse for thinking that way. Wenyuan was better off in the cycle of reincarnation or the afterlife rather than being trapped inside his own body while Kayla arranged the murder of his adopted grandfather, someone Wenyuan had actually cared about once.
Kayla took another deep breath, drawing it out slowly as she inhaled and exhaled. The irrational fear faded after a while longer, but left Kayla feeling drained. She glanced down at the scrolls for a moment before giving in and calling it a night.
Despite her exhaustion, it took a while longer before she finally fell into a restless sleep.
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It was long past midnight, but there was still a light on in Wei Guang’s study.
“Is something the matter, my lord?” Steward Liu asked, sitting patiently next to Wei Guang’s dusk.
“No, not particularly,” Wei Guang replied.
“Is it the Minister?” Steward Liu asked knowingly.
“Indeed. He’s a man full of surprises–every time I think my expectations are correct, he proves me wrong. He certainly deals well with crises, but it’s not enough to see how a man endures difficulties, it is just as important to see how they act when they experience success. How many dutiful men lose themselves to corruption or degeneracy after a promotion, despite being virtuous for all their lives?” Wei Guang said thoughtfully.
“Then in your opinion, where does Minister Zhao fall?” The steward let the question hang in the air, watching his master’s expression carefully.
“We shall see,” Wei Guang said with finality. “I’ll continue backing him. He makes for a sharp blade, one that is sure to slice through any obstacles once unsheathed–but blades that are too sharp also break easily.”
“Hopefully that won’t be the case for Minister Zhao,” Steward Liu offered jovially.
“It’s easy to become a great man, but it’s hard to die as one,” Wei Guang sighed. “The heavens have unfathomable plans for us all.”
He turned to Steward Liu. “I wanted to ask a favor of you, though it’s really more of a favor for Wenyuan.”
“As long as it is within my abilities, I’ll happily see it done,” Steward Liu replied.
“Wenyuan has an eyewitness that he wishes to keep from the palace. He has chosen to entrust her to me–a form of insurance for both of us, I suppose, and I wanted to ask if you would take her as your goddaughter. Her background is not ideal, she was a prostitute until very recently, but Wenyuan’s taken care of the records and the girl is rather young. She could still make a good match in due time,” Wei Guang said.
“How young?” Steward Liu asked.
“Fifteen, I believe.”
“Then it’ll be easy enough to remake her image before she’s past marriageable age. I’d be happy to accept, but I would like to double-check the records myself to ensure no loose ends turn up later,” Steward Liu said.
“Of course,” Wei Guang said with a smile. “Thank you for taking care of this for me.”
“I’m glad to be of help,” Steward Liu replied. “And what about Lord Xiang? Is any action required?”
Wei Guang’s eyes narrowed slightly as he gave a sharp smile. “No, not for the time being. Wenyuan’s tied my hands on that. Xiang Daozong’s the binding agreement of our alliance.”
Steward Liu gave a small nod, easily piecing together that the agreement was in Wenyuan’s favor. Wei Guang didn’t seem particularly upset about that.
“The new waves of the Yangtze push the old waves forward,” Steward Liu said lightly. “It’s good that he learns quickly, is it not?”
“The sun and moon pass on by, the years do not wait for me,” Wei Guang lamented. “But this old man has yet to die, not without making due preparations first.”
He gave Steward Liu a reassuring nod. “We shall see,” he promised.
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Cultural Notes
以德服人/Winning someone over with virtue: An Ancient Chinese proverb stemming from Confucius' teachings.
妇人之仁/A woman's kindness/mercy: An Ancient Chinese proverb usually used in a derogatory and derisive fashion, meaning that someone is acting in a short-sighted or emotional way that will create more problems for later on. It's based in misogynist ideas that then served as justifications for further restricting women's access to education and power, though it has also been successfully turned on its head in some persuasive writings or debates.
公事公办/Taking care of public matters by the rule: An Chinese saying meaning to separate the personal and professional, and to stick to your professional responsibilities when there are conflicting interests. For example, a judge whose nephew goes on a bender and smashes in a bunch of car windows might still choose to sentence his relative by the law rather than finding ways to show leniency.
一无是处/Without a single benefit: A Chinese saying meaning that someone is without any talents/virtues/abilities.
步步高升/Rising higher with each step: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to experience continuous success, rising higher with each one. Often used in well wishes for aspiring professionals.
高处不胜寒/High places are not resistant to the cold: A line from a poem by the famous Song Dynasty poet Su Shi. It is often used to mean that the powerful are lonely, or that those who excel and stand out (whether in talent or virtue) are destined to be lonely since few people can keep up with them.
得寸进尺/Gain an inch move forward a foot: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that someone is being shameless when it comes to a gain or concession by pressing for more. For example, a kid asks his mom for a spoon of ice cream but then asks for an entire cone once his mom agrees to the first condition.
志同道合/Ambitions are the same and paths are overlapping: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that two or more people share the same ambitions and are able to work together or move towards the same goal.
被人卖了还帮着数钱/Sold by someone and still counting money for them: A Chinese saying meaning that someone was conned/screwed over and didn't even realize it, sometimes even helping to screw themselves over out of foolishness or naivete.
天壤之别/Difference between the sky and earth: An Ancient Chinese proverb, equivalent to "A world of difference."
人之常情/Only human to feel this way: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that a reaction is understandable, even if it is immoral or unwise.
如人饮水冷暖自知/Like someone drinking water, the warmth or cold is known only to the self: An Ancient Chinese saying meaning that only the person in the situation could truly understand what it feels like, especially when it comes to something that looks good from an outside perspective but may in fact hide many difficulties.
利剑出鞘/Sharp sword is unsheathed: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to the literal or metaphorical drawing of a sharp blade from its sheath. This often implies that once the sword is unsheathed, it must draw blood. In metaphorical uses, it can describe a talented person who is only moved to a high position when the time is right, or a skilled person who is deployed to manage a precarious situation.
刚易折/The unyielding breaks easily: An Ancient Chinese quote from a Taoist classic, it is the equivalent of "that which does not bend must break". In the context of a blade, a sword that cuts easily may also break easily, just like an official who is too successful in investigating his peers also invites attacks upon himself.
创业易守成难/It's easy to build but hard to maintain: A quote by one of the major contributors to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, Fang Xuanling. He used it to warn the Emperor that establishing the dynasty was the easy part, while making it prosper and keeping it afloat would be the difficult part.
天命难测/Heavenly fate is difficult to predict: An Ancient Chinese proverb.
长江后浪推前浪/The later waves of the Yangtze push the older ones: A Chinese saying meaning that the younger generation will overtake the older generation, or alternatively, that the younger generation will push the older generation to work harder/do better, just as their successors will do to them. Usually used in the context of "Damn, these kids are going to put us out of a living", or with a note of pride to compliment a younger person.
日月逝矣岁不我与/The sun and moon pass on by, the years do not wait for me: An Ancient Chinese quote by Confucius, it refers to and laments the fleeting nature of time.