Character Index
Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: The new Lord Liang and Kayla's former retainer.
Liang Shen: Minister of Justice and Hu Qing's older half-brother. The former Lord of the Liang clan.
Ke Yongqian: Hu Qing's retainer, formerly served Kayla alongside Hu Qing.
Sir Yang: An elderly eunuch who serves the Empress Dowager loyally.
Imperial Princess: Wenyuan's mother and the Emperor's full-blooded sister.
Xiang Daozong/Qu Boyong: The Lord of the Xiang clan, he was involved in the death of the Grand Duke.
Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince and one of the main contenders for the throne. The one Kayla's choosing to support.
Zhou Xianchun: The Seventh Prince and a contender for the throne. His attitude towards Kayla has taken a turn for the worse after he realized that Kayla has made use of him without any real intention of supporting him for the throne.
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Hu Qing stared down his brother’s accountant–his accountant now, to be exact, though it certainly didn’t feel like it. Servants were carefully shuffling away from the corridor, moving out of the line of fire.
“Give me the keys,” Hu Qing said slowly, with the patience of someone facing down a petulant toddler.
“I cannot, my lord,” the accountant replied in the same tone, saying the title a little mockingly. “The records room has restricted access.”
“Yeah, and? The keys are to remain in the hands of the head of household,” Hu Qing said, losing his patience by the second. “Which is me, in case I have to remind you again. Have you hit your head recently, by the way? Any dizziness? Bleariness of the eyes?”
“Thank you for your concern, I have experienced no such symptoms,” the accountant replied. “But I need the elders’ permission to give you the keys, my position is much too low to bear the responsibility. Please take it up with them first.”
“Yeah? Then go ask them!” Hu Qing snapped.
“Why don’t you go ask them yourself? I’m busy enough as it is,” the accountant shot back.
Hu Qing stared at the accountant for a moment. The man was a member of a side branch of the Liang clan, and had served the household for decades.
The disdain coming from the man in ripples was new to him. In Hu Qing's memory, the accountant had always seemed decent, if not a little strict. But now, it felt like the older man had become a whole different person.
“You're not busy enough, evidently, if you have the spare time to be so obstinate,” Hu Qing snapped. “I have every right to add my mother to the family registry! Who the hell gave you the guts to act like this?!”
“Rather than wasting breath on this matter, perhaps you should think more carefully about how to use your time as a lord,” the accountant said, withholding a mocking smirk. Hu Qing narrowed his eyes.
“The hell you trying to say?”
“Lord Zhao’s losing favor with the palace, it’s only a matter of time before he falls from grace completely,” the accountant replied, malicious glee in his voice. “And after that, what’s keeping you in the seat of Lord? Any excuse is good enough to drag you off, and you’ve hardly done yourself any favors with your behavior. My advice? Enjoy your position while you can and stop trying to meddle where you don’t belong.”
Hu Qing weighed the pros and cons of backhanding the man across the face. On the plus side, it would be incredibly satisfying. On the negative side, it would only worsen the mood within the household.
Like I care. He was a millisecond away from starting a fistfight with an elderly person when a timely message on his communication device intervened.
Hu Qing glanced at it with a frown before giving the accountant a murderous glare. The icy killing intent sent the old man backing away uneasily, painting instant regret across his face.
“You're pretty lucky, old man,” Hu Qing said in a low voice. “Don't think this is over. I’ll deal with you when I get back.”
He turned around and started down the corridor.
“Yongqian!” Hu Qing barked. Ke Yongqian landed from the roof with a thud before the accountant, who let out a startled squeak. Ke Yongqian fixed him with an unsettling stare before falling into step behind Hu Qing.
“Where to?” Ke Yongqian asked.
“The Zhao household,” Hu Qing replied.
Ke Yongqian scrunched up his face in confusion. “What? Why did he call you over? It’s the middle of the day."
“He didn’t call me, I’m just going over,” Hu Qing said.
Ke Yongqian gave him a strange look. “Alright then, if that's what you want. But are you sure you don’t want me to teach that old man a lesson? He’s going way too far. Who the fuck does he even think he is?”
Hu Qing snorted. “What are you going to do? Stab an old geezer with one foot in the grave already? No thanks. I’ll make him flee this house even without laying a finger on him.”
Ke Yongqian cackled maliciously.
Hu Qing got on the carriage, forcing himself to stay inside rather than flipping out the window halfway as they headed to the Zhao household. Zhao Wenyuan had only sent an update, not a request or a summons, but Hu Qing felt an inexplicable sense of urgency.
He couldn’t quite put his finger on exactly what it was, but like the night that Wenyuan had commissioned a plaque and an empty-coffin funeral, there was a strange weight to the message. Wenyuan was only going to an audience with the Emperor, but Hu Qing had a strange feeling that it would be pivotal somehow.
If he’s going in the afternoon, he’s definitely in the study right now.
Hu Qing was on the mark. A servant led him in, even though Hu Qing knew the household from every angle. It was different now–he was a Lord and a guest, not Zhao Wenyuan’s favorite retainer who sauntered about with impunity.
“My lord, Lord Liang is here to see you,” the servant announced after knocking on the door.
Zhao Wenyuan opened the door, a look of pleased surprise on his face. The servant took his cue and left as Wenyuan let Hu Qing inside.
“It’s good to see you, Hu Qing. Did something happen?” Wenyuan asked.
Hu Qing shrugged. “No. Just checking in,” he said simply. It wasn’t as though he could explain the strange feeling he had. “Good luck for your meeting with the Emperor. Be careful in the palace and try not to get poisoned again.”
“Of course,” Wenyuan replied, smiling broadly. "I'll give it my best, but no promises. Is everything alright in the Liang household?”
“Yeah, nothing I can’t handle,” Hu Qing said dismissively. “What about you? Will you be alright? The Empress Dowager isn’t easy to deal with, do you think she might try to mess with your meeting?”
Wenyuan let out a soft sigh. “I hope not. But it’s possible she’ll stir up a fuss, given that she had her eunuch act so rudely in the middle of the street.” He turned towards Hu Qing, a strange smile on his face. “But I don’t call it quits easily.”
Hu Qing watched as Wenyuan opened his desk drawer and took out a pendant, holding it up to the light carefully as though it was extremely precious. Hu Qing looked at the pendant and then at Wenyuan inquisitively.
“Your timing's actually pretty perfect. I wanted to give this to you sooner or later, but this is probably the best time,” Wenyuan said breezily.
Wenyuan reached over, holding out his hand expectantly. Hu Qing gave him a puzzled look, but obediently extended his arm. Wenyuan placed the pendant in the offered palm, reaching out to fold Hu Qing’s fingers over it. The weight in Hu Qing's chest grew heavier.
“What is this?” Hu Qing asked.
“A gift,” Wenyuan replied. “It doubles as a good luck charm.”
Hu Qing held up the pendant to take a closer look, a look of surprise on his face as he saw it was made of high-quality red jade.
“This must be expensive,“ Hu Qing said in astonishment. ”Is it really alright for you to give this to me? You’re not exactly in a good spot right now.”
“It’s not from the Zhao clan’s coffers, it’s from my mother’s dowry,” Wenyuan explained.
Hu Qing glanced at Wenyuan with a tinge of concern. “Even more so then.”
“It’s not like you to take this so seriously,“ Wenyuan said. “I wanted you to have this while I can still give it to you. There’s always a chance the palace will take back what I inherited from my mother.”
Hu Qing’s gaze grew somber. “Would they do that to you?”
“I doubt Uncle would, but the question is whether he’d be willing to stop grandmother if she put her mind to it. I’ll guess I’ll find out soon,” Wenyuan replied. “In any case, please accept it. Think of it as a gift from a friend, if you will.”
Wenyuan’s words were spoken lightly, but they only increased Hu Qing's unease. Hu Qing looked at the pendant a moment longer before he put it on.
“I’ll take it,” he said decisively. “Thank you.”
Wenyuan’s smile widened.
“You're welcome. Alright then, I’m heading off now.” Wenyuan gave him a pat on the shoulder.
“Good luck." Hu Qing patted the back of Wenyuan's hand in return. With one last wave, Wenyuan turned and left for the palace.
Hu Qing stared after Wenyuan’s disappearing figure for a moment before leaving as well, reaching for the pendant around his neck as he walked.
“A good luck charm…” Hu Qing muttered, frowning as his fingers closed around the jade. He let out a sigh, startling Ke Yongqian who had come forward to join him.
“My lord?” Ke Yongqian asked in befuddlement, warily taking in Hu Qing's uncharacteristic pensiveness
“Let’s go,” Hu Qing replied.
The two of them left the Zhao household in silence, their carriage leaving in the direction opposite to Wenyuan's.
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Kayla felt a strange calm settling over her as she followed an eunuch through the Outer Palace. Rather than the study, she had ended up being led to a space that even favored consorts rarely had access to, the Emperor's personal quarters. Despite the Empress Dowager's displeasure, the Emperor was far from reticent in his permissiveness towards Kayla–if anything, it seemed to have reached new heights.
“Announcing the arrival of Lord Zhao!” The eunuch leading her raised his voice as they reached the entrance. He turned and bowed his head slightly towards her.
“Please go ahead, my lord,” he said politely.
Kayla quietly thanked him and headed in, stepping into the spacious room. It was empty of any outsiders, leaving only Kayla and the Emperor.
“Zhao Wenyuan humbly greets His Majesty the Emperor,” Kayla greeted him, kneeling and bowing her head to the ground.
“No need for such formalities, Wenyuan. Come over here,” the Emperor called to her. He was half-reclining on a couch in the inner room, making him seem more affable and approachable than usual.
Something about the scene was nostalgic–she was almost certain Wenyuan had seen something similar as a child.
“Uncle,” Kayla greeted him again, more casually this time.
“Sit down,” the Emperor patted the smaller couch right next to him. Kayla complied obediently.
“It’s been a while since you’ve come here, hasn’t it?” The Emperor asked. “Last time you were in here, you were small enough for me to lift with one arm, but look at you now!”
“It really has been a long time,” Kayla replied. “My memory of it isn’t as clear as I’d like it to be, but I remember being in this room with you.”
“You were barely five years old then,” the Emperor reminisced. “Your mother had taken you with her to see Mother, but you somehow managed to wander off by yourself and make it all the way here completely undetected–heavens know how that happened! We ended up having to rearrange palace security.”
Kayla went along with the Emperor’s trip down memory lane. “If I remember correctly, weren’t you on the couch when I came in?”
“Indeed!” The Emperor gave her a pleased smile. “I was just waking from a nap when I heard a soft pattering on the ground. I thought it was a eunuch, but when I looked around, there was no one there. And then I looked down, and there you were, sitting on the floor and staring up at me. Your mother was furious, of course, but what a sight!” He laughed, tilting his head back. Kayla chuckled along obligingly.
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Thank god, he’s in a good mood.
“It almost feels like a lifetime ago,” Kayla said.
“It certainly does. Back then…” the Emperor trailed off, shaking his head. “The place remains the same but the people have gone. But I digress. Tell me, Wenyuan, what did you want to speak about?”
Kayla steeled herself and took a deep breath. “It’s about…it’s…” Kayla took another deep breath, feigning discomfort at broaching the subject.
“The bill to the Treasury, no?” The Emperor helpfully supplied. Kayla’s shoulders tensed slightly.
“Yes,” she replied meekly, awkwardly stumbling through her request. “Two weeks is…Getting together that much cash so quickly is…I’m afraid I’m too incapable to accomplish it.”
Kayla flushed with embarrassment, avoiding catching the Emperor’s perturbed gaze. “Uncle, can I please have some more time to pay off the bill? Or-or, can I forfeit my clan estates in kind?”
“You don’t have enough money?” The Emperor asked. “I thought the Zhao clan’s finances were more than sufficient to make up for the sum.”
Kayla had to quash a smidgen of confusion. Does he really not know? Or is he just mixing the mud to avoid getting involved?
“The Grand Duke was of a slippery and traitorous nature and never allowed me any knowledge of how he managed his funds,” she explained, allowing some resentment to slip into her tone. “I have some clue of where he might have funneled them, but…it will take much too long. I can get together about 4 million silver before I go to the border. Please just give me more time to handle the rest of it.”
“I understand, Wenyuan. In truth, this was never my intention,” the Emperor replied. “But your grandmother…well, she was rather insistent that the Zhao clan’s debts will weigh against your reputation, and will furthermore diminish your standing in the eyes of your in-laws. Her words ring true, but there is no meaning to it if it leaves you bankrupt. I can speak to her on your behalf, but perhaps the best solution is to talk with her yourself.”
“But Grandmother does not wish to speak with me,” Kayla said quietly. “She had her eunuch turn me away yesterday and hasn’t replied to any of my requests for a meeting.”
“Yes, I’ve heard about that. Sir Yang was much too rude, wasn’t he? In his old age, he’s forgotten his place. I’ll have him reprimanded,” the Emperor replied, still evading an actual solution.
Once it comes to the Empress Dowager’s plans, the Emperor always takes a step back. Looks like I’ll have to push this through myself then.
“I do not mind, Uncle. It is just that…grandmother is displeased with me, and I don’t know how to fix it,” Kayla said, turning an imploring look on the Emperor. “How should I make amends? Please give me your advice, Uncle.”
He let out a sigh and shook his head. “It is not as though you did anything wrong, it’s merely a matter of standpoint,” he said. “In my eyes, a man should use his youth as a whetting-stone to sharpen his abilities and cultivate his character. Otherwise, if he is too unyielding, he will break, and if he is too soft, then he will become useless. On the other hand, your grandmother advocates for restraint. She fears that if you wish to move quickly then you will fail to arrive at your goal, and if you focus on small gains then you will fail to attain a greater achievement.”
The Emperor glanced at Kayla, his voice softening at her attentive expression.
“I’m confident in your abilities, but your grandmother needs to be reassured that you won’t lose your way,” he explained.
So it’s still up to me to negotiate. Fine then, next step.
Kayla lowered her head, letting an uncomfortable expression flicker over her face.
“Thank you for imparting your wisdom,” she said heavily. “But…”
Kayla cut herself off and bowed her head. “I’m grateful for your advice, Uncle.”
“What’s wrong? You’re worried about being reprimanded?” The Emperor asked lightly.
“No, not at all,” Kayla replied.
“Then what’s the matter? Come on now, don’t be so reticent,” the Emperor said.
Kayla hesitated warily, starting and stopping herself before forcing out the words.
“I think that Grandmother is displeased because of my godfather,” Kayla blurted the words out in a rush.
The Emperor frowned, shifting to sit more upright in his seat. “What do you mean?”
Old-timers and elite officials knew full well of the Empress Dowager’s enmity with Wei Guang. It was something that was understood but left unsaid. But now that the Empress Dowager had given Kayla the perfect ammunition, the old woman could hardly blame Kayla for breaking the powdery illusion of peace.
“Sir Yang gave me this scroll, and I don’t know what to make of it,” Kayla said, retrieving the scroll from the Empress Dowager and handing it to the Emperor. He opened the document with a small frown. His face darkened further as he took in its contents. Kayla could sense his anger mounting, and carefully leaned forward to fan the flames.
“I-I don’t understand what to make of this,” Kayla said warily. “I know that grandmother is concerned for my sake, but with this…I do not know how I should assure her.”
The Emperor closed the scroll, letting out an angry huff through his nose. He turned sharp eyes on Kayla, scrutinizing her look of sincere confusion and unease for a long moment, before the anger in his gaze faded to weariness. He tossed the scroll aside with a sigh, leaning back onto the couch with a disgruntled look. Kayla glanced at it nervously as it rolled away, timidly turning back to the Emperor.
“Uncle, the Imperial Edict Bearer is my godfather, but–”
“Your Grandmother is just confused,” the Emperor cut her off. “This has nothing to do with your godfather.”
Contrary to the Empress Dowager’s interests, the Wei Guang-Wenyuan alliance was crucial to the Emperor. Wei Guang made up the prestige and Wenyuan made up the bloodline, and put together, the two of them held more of the Emperor’s trust than half the court combined.
It's no wonder the Empress Dowager wants me to fight with Wei Guang. Without him, my actions will come under much more scrutiny, and I would be all the more under the palace's thumb, a good little puppet just the way she wants. But she didn't expect me to take this straight to the Emperor now, did she?
“I…understand, Uncle,” Kayla said, sounding a little uncertain.
The Emperor clapped a hand on Kayla’s knee.
“Listen to me, Wenyuan. Wei Guang is a trustworthy official and an excellent mentor. Your grandmother has misunderstood out of excessive worry for you, I’ll make sure to explain things to her properly. That’s all there is. This matter ends here, do you understand?” He said authoritatively.
Kayla nodded, a confused but trusting look on her face. The Emperor relaxed slightly.
“As for the bill to the Treasury, I’ll talk it out with your grandmother. Just pay what you can, and I’ll pay whatever you cannot,” the Emperor said.
“Thank you, Uncle, but I must pay the debt that my clan owes to the country. All of this belongs to the Treasury and to the taxpayers, how can I forfeit my dues? I’ll pay all of it back no matter what, even if I have to use the money that my mother left me in her dowry, I just need some more time,” Kayla hastily replied.
The Emperor let out a soft chuckle at her earnestness. “You have better things to focus on, Wenyuan. Don’t waste your time and energy on this.”
Kayla shook her head adamantly. “It is thanks to Uncle’s favor and protection that I have reached my current position, even if it were the entirety of my assets, I would not hesitate to return it to the Treasury. My own regret is that my assets are not enough to cover the sum. After all you’ve done for me, how can I be so shameless as to sit back and let you handle the mess that my grandfather created? It is my duty to remove obstacles for your sake, not to create more of them for you. Please allow me to take responsibility for this, and I promise to see it through to the end!”
The Emperor’s eyes crinkled in a pleased smile. “What encouraging enthusiasm! That’s the resolve that a young man like you should have. Very well then, I’ll allow you to handle this. Take however long you need, there’s no need to trundle out all four million silver right away either. Just go at your own pace.”
“Thank you, Uncle!” Kayla bowed her head.
Nice! Mission fucking accomplished!
Sure, the Empress Dowager would be pissed, but Kayla couldn't bring herself to really care.
“You’ve grown into such a reliable man, Wenyuan. Your mother would be pleased.” The Emperor gave Kayla a fond look, moving from his half-reclined position to sit upright. “You’re capable of shouldering more responsibilities now, it’s time you took a step up in court. What do you say that I raise your title from Marquis to Duke? Additionally, the seat of Director is still empty at the Imperial Investigation Bureau. I’d like to dual-appoint you as Minister and Director both.”
The unexpected news startled Kayla more so than it excited her.
“Pardon?” Kayla asked in surprise.
“I originally intended to wait a little longer, but you’ve exceeded all of my expectations with your achievements. Why don’t we officiate it before your wedding?”
Wait, what? Why? This is too good to be true. He’s already agreed to hold back the Empress Dowager for me and to push back the payment deadline, why is he going even further? If things are too far out of the ordinary, there must be something wrong. What am I missing here?
Rising in official and noble rank was the dream of countless people across the country, but the invisible price tag on the advancement left Kayla uneasy at her good fortune.
“Thank you, Uncle, but I am unworthy of such great benevolence,” Kayla hastily replied.
“If I’m giving to you, then just accept it,” the Emperor ordered.
“Uncle, I’m truly grateful, but I’m afraid of being unable to fulfill the responsibility,” Kayla protested.
“Wenyuan, what I hope to see from you is not the ability to perfectly navigate every challenge, but the willingness to charge at any obstacle,” the Emperor replied. “I already know that you are cautious and know greater restraint than most men your age, now what I need to see is your indomitable spirit. Great challenges lie ahead, the country does not become peaceful and idyllic overnight because the Grand Duke has died. His faction is still at large, not just at court, but among merchants and scholars as well, its roots tangled and knotted throughout the country. Moreover, his death has sparked the ambitions of countless men like him–they’re all stirred up now and can barely wait to take action. At court, in the provinces, and even in the military, a chaotic struggle is only one breath away from breaking out. Now, more so than ever, I need you to be the mainstay amidst the current. Can you do that for me?”
No wonder I was so successful with Xiang Daozong and Hu Qing, the Emperor wanted me to fatten up my support.
Kayla’s mind spun at the speed of a drunk-driving motorcyclist as she analyzed the situation.
He wants to up the ante. He’s going to start attacking before they can get their bearings!
It was a good call–wait too long and they would lose their chance entirely. But the Emperor was essentially asking her to pick a fight with everyone at once. Even if she won, she would have made enough enemies to wrap around the globe if they lined up single-file.
I'm already viewed as a threat by the Empress Dowager and Xianchun, not to mention the rest of the court. But now the military as well? I thought he was leaving that to Kuang. Sure, the Emperor will protect me, but what about the next Emperor? If it’s Xianchun, then I die no matter what, sure, but even Kuang might not protect me if I garner such widespread anger. The entirety of the country’s elite will be clamoring for him to kill me–what the hell would stop him from using my head to buy the security of his throne?
Then again, Kayla didn’t think she had much of a choice. A sudden rush of adrenaline flooded her veins.
The Emperor’s already said it to this extent, how the hell can I refuse?
Kayla got up from her seat and knelt solemnly. “I will do everything within my power to fulfill your expectations!”
Fuck it, if I can’t refuse, I might as well make the most of it! I was going to piss them off anyways, it’s only a matter of speed and scale, Kayla grit her teeth. But to hell with it if I won’t be doing it my way.
The Emperor grabbed her arm and pulled her back up.
“Wenyuan, I knew I could rely on you!” He clapped a hand on her shoulder, eyes beaming with pride.
Kayla gave the Emperor a smile, her heart pounding against her rib cage.
The Emperor let out a booming laugh, patting her shoulder. “Then it’s decided! I’ll see to it that everything is prepared for you properly–just sit tight and wait for the official announcement.”
“Thank you, Uncle! I’m truly grateful for this chance that you have given me,” Kayla bowed her head. “As your subject and as your nephew, it is my duty to take on any burden for your sake. I am your blade to wield.”
The Emperor let out another peal of laughter, the sound reverberating off the walls. Kayla smiled along, her veins filling with icy determination.
If he wants me to be his blade, fine. I’m happy to oblige. But you can't blame me if I use the court as a whetting stone now, can you?
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Cultural Notes
不好对付/Not easy to deal with: A Chinese saying, often used in more colloquial contexts as a warning that someone or some group is a difficult opponent.
动手脚/Move [one's] hands and feet: A Chinese saying meaning to interfere, sabotage, or otherwise mess with someone or something.
物是人非/Objects remain but people are gone: An Ancient Chinese proverb that laments the impermanence of the world and the fragility of human life and/or connections. Often used as a lament for a place of nostalgia, especially if the people you once visited the place with are no longer alive/able to join you.
和稀泥/Mix the mud: A Chinese saying that means to try to smooth things over, often by blurring right or wrong, or by giving vague answers. Typically used in reference to someone who is the referee or mediator in a conflict between two other parties.
老奸巨猾/Traitorous and slippery old [man]: An Ancient Chinese proverb in reference to an older person who is experienced and extremely devious/tricky to deal with. Typically used in a derogatory fashion and occasionally in a joking manner.
太刚则折，太柔则废/Too unyielding, one will break; Too soft, and one will become useless: An Ancient Chinese quote from the 资治通鉴/Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance. The writing itself didn't exist until the Song dynasty, but similar quotes (if not phrased so succinctly) were already existent. This quote warns against extremity in either direction, whether in terms of governance or personal bearing.
欲速则不达, 见小利则大事不成/if you wish to move quickly then you will fail to arrive at your goal, and if you focus on small gains then you will fail to attain a greater achievement: An Ancient Chinese quote from the pre-Qin classic The Analects, it warns that excessive haste often leads to mistakes and failure, and excessive greed, especially the inability to let go of small gains to focus on a bigger goal, will keep you from achieving greater accomplishments.
粉饰太平/Powder-adorned peace: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to cover up the problems and pretend that everything's fine.
别逞能/Don't force/overextend yourself: A Chinese phrase that usually has the connotation "Don't force yourself too hard just to save face/keep up appearances".
斟酌/Deliberate/Pour out wine to drink: A Chinese phrase that originally meant to pour out wine to drink, but eventually took on the meaning of careful deliberation, likely due to the prevalence of contemplative drinking. It should also be noted that most wine in Ancient China did not have a high alcoholic content, with scholars believing it was only around 10%, so most wine wouldn't impair judgment as much as one might think, especially if you're taking your time.
事出反常必有妖/If things are too far out of the ordinary, there must be something wrong: A Chinese saying that warns that unusually good fortune might not be a good thing.
我给你，你就拿着/If I give it to you, then just hold on to it: A Chinese saying that you hear most often around Lunar New Year, when older relatives are stuffing money into their favored nieces and nephews' pockets. Usually, the child/youngster would pretend to protest (similar to the Western saying "Oh you shouldn't have!), to be greeted with this line (If I tell you to take it then just take it/some variation upon this), which is usually the end of that.
百折不挠/Indomitable despite hundreds of difficulties: An Ancient Chinese proverb stemming from the Han Dynasty.
中流砥柱/Mainstay in the current: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to someone who is very reliable and can hold their ground no matter how turbulent the situation is, serving as a pillar of the state/family/organization. Originates from a giant rock in the Yellow River that has withstood the rushing waters for centuries. Legend has it that this has been around since the time of mythical Emperor 大禹/Da Yu, the first ruler to be successful at flood control.
盘根错节/Roots [are] tangled and knotted: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning that something is very complicated and deeply rooted, usually in reference to a network of people (usually with sinister connotations).
一触即发/One touch [could] set [them] off: An Ancient Chinese proverb referring to a tense situation in which anything could start an outburst of violence, chaos, or other form of conflict.
养肥了/Fatten up: A Chinese saying that usually refers to either consumers (such as via unscrupulous business practices in which prices are suddenly hiked after a lot of people have bought into it or have already started paying in installments) or in terms of building up power/factions.
都说到这份儿上了/Since you've said it to this extent: A Chinese saying that means you're accepting because the other person's words have made it so that you will lose face or moral standing if you refuse. It can also be used for friendly or joking interactions.