Chapter 22 Carrying her on my shoulders

On a path not far from Yangzhou, storyteller Gong Fei limped to a rock and sat down. He took out his pipe from his waist and was about to light it when a guard escorting him kicked his wrist.

"Old man, who gave you permission to leisurely smoke your pipe?"

The pipe slipped from his hand and hit the rock.

Overnight, Gong Fei, looking much older, rubbed his aching wrist, his pride undiminished, and questioned, "I'm going into seclusion, not a prisoner. Why can't I smoke a pipe?"

The guard scoffed, "Retirement? That's a favor bestowed upon you by His Highness the Crown Prince. Do you really think you can just go and enjoy yourself? Let me tell you the truth, we're heading straight for the capital."

Another guard, not wanting to miss out on the excitement, added, "The capital, the Grand Secretary's residence."

Gong Fei realized something was wrong, and even his cheekbones trembled involuntarily. If he were handed over to the Dong family, he would have no chance of survival!

"Do you dare disobey His Highness the Crown Prince's orders?"

"Go and complain to Vice Commissioner Zheng."

The officer surnamed Zheng was one of the guards who escorted the Crown Prince on his southern tour. Gong Fei had heard of him and knew that he had risen from an unknown soldier to a fourth-rank bodyguard in just six months.

I thought he was a remarkable person, but it turns out he's just an opportunistic scoundrel who rose to power by currying favor with the powerful.

Hahahaha.

"why are you laughing?"

"I laugh at the cold-heartedness of the world, and how petty people hold power!"

"Old man, are you tired of living?"

The guard beckoned, summoning the others to surround the old man.

Anyway, the old man is going to die soon, and His Highness the Crown Prince won't care about a down-on-his-luck storyteller. He probably won't ask about it afterward.

Without any hesitation, the group punched and kicked the old man.

In the dark, gloomy forest path, the old man's teeth bled, and he lost the strength to howl. He lay blankly on the ground, his gaze gradually fading.

How is this any different from that of prisoners exiled to harsh, cold lands?

They were bullied by everyone.

The destitute old man thought of the wise and virtuous Empress Yide. He couldn't help but wonder if the rumors were true if he really would fall into the hands of Empress Dong.

It was Empress Dong who caused Empress Yide to have a premature birth.

Only those who feel guilty are afraid of dissenting voices.

The old man was too weak to think, and was repeatedly punched and kicked until his skin and bones were about to fall apart.

Suddenly, a strange sound shot into the sky.

The guards instinctively looked up.

"How could there be a signal arrow?"

"Someone is passing a coded message."

The group became more alert, turned their backs to the old man, and surveyed the woods.

On a dark and windy night, what's more terrifying than encountering a wild beast is that they are in the open while their adversaries are in the shadows.

But who would dare to lay a hand on a guard?

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed by, like a tiger pouncing on a beast, instantly knocking down a guard.

The others looked at their unconscious companion on the ground, trembling with fear, and had no choice but to be on high alert.

However, the shadows increased in number, overlapping and weaving, moving as fast as flashing swords.

In the blink of an eye, several guards collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Gong Fei struggled to open his eyes, and in his grounded vision, he saw a slender, beautiful hand picking up a pipe from the grass.

A row of men in black appeared behind the owner of the hand. They were of different shapes and sizes; some had their hands on their hips and carried knives, some were hunched over and leaned on canes, and some were as burly as oxen. They were bathed in the bright glow of the moonlight.

The lush vegetation forms a painting, and the figures, like mountain gods emerging from an ink painting, rekindle hope in a storyteller filled with deep emotion during a moment of despair.

The story in his heart may still be written and continued.

The man who picked up the pipe stepped forward, wearing a dark cloak and a hood that covered his face, revealing only a sliver of his chin.

He helped the old man up, returned the pipe to him, struck a flint, and lit the pipe for him, wisps of white smoke rising gently.

The smell of tobacco wafts through the air.

After the man left, Gong Fei couldn't help but ask the hunched man who remained, "May I ask your honorable name, benefactor?"

The middle-aged, hunched man draped a cloak over the old man and chuckled, "Our young master does good deeds anonymously."

After seeing Gong Fei off to a carriage, the hunchbacked man kicked the unconscious guard and then looked at the burly man beside him. "You've been in Yangzhou for a while now. Do you know the way to Jiangning? This is the first time the young master has sent us on a mission. We can't afford to make any mistakes."

"Stop rambling."

The burly man flicked his whip and rode off, heading straight for Jiangning that very night. According to the young master, Mr. Gong was too old to travel such a long distance; he should be settled in a place with a climate similar to Yangzhou to live out his remaining years in peace.

The hunchbacked man gazed into the distance for a while, then bent down and tucked a piece of paper into the lapel of one of the guards.

The next day, before dawn, a note hidden in the guard's clothes appeared in the hands of Crown Prince Wei Xichen.

Wei Xichen sat at the tea table by the window of the post station, dressed in a snow-white inner robe with a brocade outer robe draped over his shoulders. His face showed some displeasure, but he returned to normal when the clerk surnamed Zheng was brought in.

"Tell me about it."

His tone was calm, showing no anger.

Zheng Qianshi knelt down with a thud, his head only three copper coins away from Wei Xichen's raised left foot. He trembled with panic, his voice slurred, "Your Highness, I...I wanted to...I..."

"She's trying to please my mother."

".......yes."

"So, disobeying me means..."

Fu Zhongcai, standing by the window, frowned, his eyes filled with deep wrinkles. This Zheng Qianshi must have a death wish to overstep His Highness's orders!

How did such an idiot get recommended by the Ministry of War?

Fu Zhongcai secretly glanced at the note in the Crown Prince's hand. It was blank and unsigned, with only a drawing of a carriage. The other party's intention was to take Gong Fei away, a veiled provocation.

Who is the prime suspect?

On the surface, it is Princess Cui Shihan of Huaijin County, but would Cui Shihan really dare to openly steal the prize?

Are there any other people?

Fu Zhong racked his brains, then suddenly thought of someone, and a strange look appeared on his old face.

The Third Prince, Wei Yangwan, was accustomed to using symbols to communicate with his confidants in code, and he loved to oppose the Crown Prince.

Could it be the Third Prince?

Wei Xichen's ears were ringing from Zheng Qianshi's nausea, and he found it extremely noisy. He glanced sideways, his eyes flashing with a sharp edge.

A person who is usually gentle and kind can send chills down your spine with just a slight hint of solemnity, even without getting angry.

Those in high positions command respect without needing to be angry.

Zheng Qianshi kowtowed and begged for mercy, but knowing he had made a fool of himself and fearing for his life, he had no choice but to resort to his trump card.

"Your Highness, please show leniency for the sake of the Princess!"

After he finished speaking, everyone except Wei Xichen was dumbfounded.

Wei Xichen smiled faintly and asked, "You've even brought out your imperial aunt; this backer certainly carries weight."

"Your Highness, spare my life..."

Princess Chang's heart was with the Crown Prince, and Zheng Qianshi hoped that the Crown Prince might show him leniency out of consideration for his aunt.

But the next moment, his heart froze.

Wei Xichen waved his hand, signaling his trusted guards to drag the person out.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, spare my life! Your Highness!!"

Knowing the princess's philandering ways, Wei Xichen could see through the subtle signs and understood the sordid dealings without needing Zheng Qianshi's detailed confession.

When the deputy commander of the guards came in to report that Zheng Qianshi had passed away, his calm expression remained unchanged.

“The others should also be dealt with, as a warning to others.”

He spoke of it casually.

As for who intercepted the deal, was it Cui Shihan, Wei Yangwan, or someone else?

Wei Xichen fell into deep thought.

The other party's provocation was not blind arrogance, but rather seemed to be an attempt to see through his suspicious nature and use the painting to arouse his suspicion.

Although Cui Shihan is young, she is a valuable asset cultivated by the Cui family. She usually pretends to be weak while actually being cunning, and she does have the mind and strategy to do so. However, if she only wanted to save Gong Fei, she did not need to provoke him and cause suspicion and trouble.

The third brother, Wei Yangwan, would never expose himself through painting.

Who else could it be?

As expected, they had grasped his fatal flaw: his suspicious nature.

Wei Xichen smiled, rubbing his forehead, and shrugged slightly, making Fu Zhongcai's hair stand on end.

I have never seen His Highness the Crown Prince smile in such a sinister way.

"Does Your Highness wish to conduct a thorough investigation?"

“Of course.” Wei Xichen’s fleeting gloom did not leave a trace on his face. “But we must investigate secretly and not alert them.”

"promise."

Fu Zhong then remembered something else, "The Empress's Summer Solstice Banquet has invited the wives of the Commanders of the Three Departments of Jiangning. Would Your Highness like to attend?"

"No, thank you."

**

As the Beginning of Summer approaches, the lush green locust trees along the roadside are adorned with new attire, the weeping willows along the riverbank form curtains reflecting the lotus pond, the jasmine flowers are about to bloom and their fragrance fills the courtyard, and the beaded curtains flutter in the gentle breeze.

Jiang Yinyue, dressed in a light jacket, was in a great mood as she basked in the morning sunlight, but her face turned cold when she received an invitation.

Yan Zhuyi invited her to the Summer Solstice Banquet.

The inner palace held banquets for spring, minor heat, mid-autumn, and winter solstice, all presided over by the Empress. If a Crown Princess was established in the Eastern Palace, the banquets could also be handled by her, according to custom. Jiang Yinyue had attended countless palace banquets, large and small, since childhood.

Yan Zhuyi held the Summer Solstice Banquet simply because she had been controlled by Empress Dong for a long time and wanted to take advantage of her return to her hometown to enjoy a moment of glory.

At this time of year, literati often hold banquets involving floating wine cups on a winding stream, and Wei Qin has already received several invitations.

After all, everyone wanted to see the runner-up's performance.

What was Yan Zhuyi's intention in inviting her arch-rival? It couldn't be because she admired her knowledge or character.

Jiang Yinyue amused herself, and leisurely leaned back on the recliner in the back courtyard, taking a bite of the sweet and juicy peach.

My mother-in-law bought it at the market early this morning.

"Please refuse for me."

The maidservant Dujuan, who was serving nearby, responded and went to the Yan residence to deliver the message.

After waiting for half a day in front of the Yan residence, Du Juan finally met the steward in charge of the matter.

Naturally, he didn't receive a friendly reception.

After the side gate of the mansion slammed shut, Du Juan spat and muttered, "Look down on people like that."

As she was about to turn back, she saw several highly respected owners of jade and jewelry shops in Yangzhou arrive together, and were welcomed in through the main gate by the steward of the Yan family.

**

"Eastern pearl?"

"Yes, Consort Liangdi wants to give each of the wives of the Three Commanders a pearl from the East." Dujuan reported everything she had heard to Jiang Yinyue, who had just woken up from her afternoon nap.

Jiang Yinyue thanked her for her hard work, gave her a tip, and watched as Du Juan left the room happily.

Pearls from the East are incredibly precious, and those that are large, round, and translucent are extremely rare.

No wonder the managers of the Yangzhou jade shops were summoned to the Yan residence.

It seems that Yan Zhuyi intentionally sought to cultivate relationships with those three ladies.

She's certainly generous; she's amassed quite a fortune while working for the Crown Prince.

Jiang Yinyue didn't pay attention to the commotion over there; she just felt it was ironic that someone who had taken credit for her work was doing so well.

**

Later that afternoon, Jiang Yinyue, who was sunbathing with Wei Ying in the courtyard, heard the neighing of the scraggly horse Zhuodian.

The Wei family's house was small, and the stable was located in a corner of the backyard. She walked over with her hands on her hips and asked teasingly, "What's up today?"

Zhu Dian raised its long neck as if venting its dissatisfaction.

What are they dissatisfied with?

As Jiang Yinyue was pondering, she suddenly heard a series of barks outside the door, which prompted the guard dogs of the neighbors to bark in turn.

It was incredibly noisy.

Jiang Yinyue realized something and quickly walked to the front of the house. After taking a deep breath, she opened the door and saw a pure white hunting dog squatting in front of the door wagging its tail. The moment it saw Jiang Yinyue, it whimpered and rushed over.

Wei Ying exclaimed in alarm, "Sister-in-law, be careful!"

Jiang Yinyue hugged the hunting dog that had raised its two front paws, her confusion dispelled by her sorrow. If there was one thing she cared about in the Eastern Palace, it was this hunting dog that she had taken in as a puppy.

"Qibao".

"Woof! Woof woof!"

Qi Bao was too excited, wagging its tail incessantly and whimpering, but it didn't forget its other owner. It quickly ran back to Wei Xichen to show its affection, and then snuggled into Jiang Yinyue's arms, repeating the same actions over and over. The fourteen-year-old dog was as happy as a playful puppy.

Jiang Yinyue ruffled Qibao's hair and gave the man who brought it a cold look. "What does Your Highness mean?"

Should we return Qibao to her?

That would be great.

“A gentleman helps others achieve their goals. If Your Highness considers yourself a gentleman, then…”

The woman's words caused the man, who had been unconsciously smiling, to freeze in mid-air.

Fu Zhongcai, who was standing to the side, wished he could cover his ears. What a little brat! He dared to mock His Highness the Crown Prince to his face.

"I'll stay here with you for now," Wei Xichen said gently.

"Stay means stay, but what does 'first' mean?"

Things have changed, and even the most arrogant little girl would no longer put on her thorns in front of him. Wei Xichen even felt a sense of estrangement. "Qi Bao misses you."

Qi Bao's whimpering still lingered in her ears. Jiang Yinyue didn't want it to get too excited, after all, it was already quite old, so she didn't intend to continue the confrontation with Wei Xichen, which caused Qi Bao, who didn't understand human relationships, to continue to be excited.

"Alright, alright."

She gently soothed Qi Bao's emotions, her warm smile deeply touching Wei Xichen's eyes.

Wei Xichen suddenly wanted to do her a favor, just to preserve her smile at this moment.

But a coughing sound came from not far away.

Wei Ying reacted to Qi Bao's hair.

Miao Die explained softly, "Miss is sensitive to all furry living things..."

“It’s alright!” Wei Ying interrupted Miao Die.

Jiang Yinyue listened carefully. She looked at Qi Bao, who was full of expectation, with a troubled expression, picked it up and walked out of the house. She didn't know what she talked about with Wei Xichen, but when she came back, the back alley was empty and Qi Bao was nowhere to be seen.

Wei Ying called out "Sister-in-law" with a guilty expression.

Jiang Yinyue smiled faintly and gently comforted her, saying it was alright.

When Wei Qin returned in the evening, he heard his sister mention Qi Bao and felt her guilt. He comforted her, saying, "You are weak. If Qi Bao causes an allergic reaction, then it will be your sister-in-law who feels guilty."

Wei Ying nodded vigorously when she heard that this made sense.

As Wei Qin watched his sister's departing figure, he knew that the girl was sensitive and insecure, which was why she apologized beforehand and took the blame upon herself.

What a big deal, why have you been agonizing over it for so long?

Looking at Jiang Yinyue, she was not affected by Qi Bao at all. She was concerned about her, but she knew how to prioritize. Wei Ying's health was more important, and she didn't necessarily have to live under the same roof with Qi Bao.

"Is Ying'er blaming herself?" Jiang Yinyue said, somewhat amused. "If Ying'er recovers well, I plan to take her out more often in the future, to enjoy the spring scenery and travel around the mountains and rivers."

The vast天地 (heaven and earth), the essence of the sun and moon, open the door of the heart.

Wei Ying had been holed up in a corner for too long, feeling depressed and increasingly timid and pessimistic.

Yesterday, my mother-in-law mentioned that she was worried about her daughter's marriage.

Both of Wei's daughters were of marriageable age, and several families who sent matchmakers were interested in Wei Huan. This delighted Madam Zhang, who stopped scolding her daughters and spent several days discussing with her husband which family was more suitable. In contrast, Wei Ying was constantly ill with illness and would be considered a burden no matter which family she married into. Madam Gu considered that if all else failed, they would find a husband for her daughter…

Jiang Yinyue planned to add a few more loads of dowry for Wei Ying, making it sixty-four loads in total, as a token of her goodwill. However, if Wei Ying accepted the marriage proposal, that would be a different matter.

Let's adapt to the situation.

"Perhaps Ying'er needs a husband with a pure yang body to harmonize yin and yang."

Upon hearing about the harmony of Yin and Yang, Wei Qin, who was sipping tea to moisten his throat, paused slightly and asked, "Where did you learn that?"

Jiang Xiaoniangzi only dared to chat about these things with her husband after closing the door. She mysteriously pulled out a thick stack of storybooks, saying, "I learned this from here."

I bought it from a nearby bookstore.

Wei Qin used to avoid reading storybooks, but since spending so much time with Jiang Yinyue, the literature in his mind has unconsciously begun to outline the contours of romance and poetry.

What are the outlines of "wind, flowers, snow, and moon"?

They are all found in storybooks, each one different from the last.

He flipped to the top volume of a stack of storybooks, reading ten lines at a glance, seemingly casual, yet the scene of the author writing appeared in his mind.

His thin lips, which were usually reluctant to smile, twitched almost imperceptibly.

The young lady and the scholar.

His slender fingers continued to glide across the paper, and through the author's pen, he saw a bizarre love story between a poor scholar and a woman from a wealthy family.

Jiang Yinyue stood by the table, her gaze following the man's fingertips. She didn't realize that Wei Qin was reading seriously; he was flipping through the pages far too quickly.

But as the story unfolded, the woman, who had initially been calm and had a clear conscience, began to breathe heavily. On a page where Wei Qin had paused for too long, she almost gasped.

I didn't expect him to spend so long looking through it.

The scholar, trapped in the cave, gazed at the sleeping girl, her clothes soaked by the rain. His obsidian eyes deepened. He reached out, his trembling fingers touching her rosy cheek, lightly, then firmly, his restraint fading until he could no longer control himself. He leaned closer, inhaling the fragrance of orchids—the scent emanating from her. He softly called her "Miss," but received no response…

"Stop reading it, you don't like it anyway."

Jiang Yinyue slammed the book shut, not caring whether she had pinched Wei Qin's fingers, and forcefully interrupted the "scholar's" deep reading.

She bought a stack of storybooks: princesses and beggars, dancers and ministers, cooks and wealthy merchants, grooms and widows, palace ladies and guards—none of them would have made her so embarrassed.

The young lady and the scholar, just like her and Wei Qin, made her feel like she was trying to cover something up.

It wasn't that she felt guilty; it was just that it was too timely. But Wei Qin's words made her wish she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

"What did you learn from this book about how to get along with scholars?"

Wei Qin pulled his fingers out of the book, but those fingers seemed to touch Jiang Yinyue's heart, causing ripples to spread across the water, and peach petals to fall with the ripples.

Jiang Yinyue was stunned, unable to believe that Wei Qin would say such a thing, especially in such a serious tone.

How does he manage to make sarcastic remarks without batting an eye?

"Who wants to learn how to get along with others from storybooks?"

It was her loose tongue, talking about the harmony of yin and yang, and even showing off her storybook, that led to this self-inflicted disaster. Who can she blame...? Jiang Xiaoniang walked away angrily, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Wei Qin open the book again, precisely flipping to the passage that had just ended.

She turned back with a pained expression, wanting to close the book again, but she couldn't, as Wei Qin grabbed it first.

The man's deep voice read the words on the screen at a leisurely pace. Although his face was expressionless, every word he uttered seemed to be provoking the blushing young woman.

Give it back to me.

Jiang Yinyue tried to grab it on tiptoe, but the difference in height meant that even on tiptoe, it was useless, and her body tilted and leaned into Wei Qin's arms.

It's stuck on tightly.

Wei Qin promptly raised the topic of storytelling.

In a fit of anger, Jiang Yinyue stomped on the embroidered stool, determined to take back the despicable book about the young lady and the scholar. She hadn't learned from the experience in the storybook; the young lady in the book was far more flirtatious than her, frequently engaging in intimate acts with the scholar, unable to control her desires.

No, we can't let Wei Qin read that page.

She leaned forward, almost lunging at Wei Qin, determined to get him back.

However, due to excessive excitement, he lost his balance and fell forward uncontrollably.

It's over.

She instinctively closed her eyes to endure the pain of falling, but the expected pain did not come; instead, Wei Qin carried her on his shoulder.

"ah!"

Wei Qin caught her as well, and the woman's supple body clung to him like vines.

"Put me down."

Wei Qin lifted her to sit on the table, rolled up the storybook, gently tapped her forehead, and then let go.

The storybook fell into Jiang Yinyue's arms, and she immediately put it away and carried it behind her back. "I've read all the more explicit ones than this one."

"Um."

You don't believe me?

"You can recite it to me."

"......"

Wei Qin's cheeks trembled slightly, a contradiction between a smile and his perpetually stern demeanor, which was ultimately suppressed by the long-standing resentment in his heart.

He stopped teasing her, fearing he wouldn't be able to appease her if he continued, so he could only go along with her and tell her to be more assertive.

With the dark sky as a mirror, the night clouds as a curtain, the vines as a bed, and the coral as a pillow, Wei Xichen, sleeping alone, wandered in his dream and came to a house with a thriving household. He went beyond etiquette and went in without knocking. In a full-length mirror, he saw the curtains swaying and a coral pillow falling onto a vine bed.

He stepped forward to pick it up, intending to help the host put it back in the tent, but saw Jiang Yinyue lying on the bed with her hair disheveled.

The woman's disheveled hair was far from dignified, yet she looked incredibly pitiful.

Luo Ru was pushed up to her waist, revealing her snow-white, flat abdomen.

The hand that was pushing her clothes upwards pinched the woman's waist and kneaded it forcefully.

A melodious, soft moan drifted from inside the tent.

Wei Xichen stood frozen by the bedside, watching Wei Qin prostrate on Jiang Yinyue's body in such an improper manner.

He angrily stepped forward, grabbed Wei Qin's left shoulder, and tried to pull him up, but instead pulled on the curtains that had fallen from his own rattan bed.

The hazy, chaotic consciousness began to return.

The man slowly opened his eyes, remaining silent in the thick darkness of the night.

Even the most self-controlled person cannot control their dreams, yet dreams arise from the heart.

Feeling stifled in the tent, Wei Xichen lifted the curtain and stood up. He glanced unintentionally at the reflection in the full-length bronze mirror, and saw not himself, but a woman with disheveled black hair.

He closed his eyes slightly, sat back on the edge of the bed, ran his large hands through his dark hair, feeling helpless about the absurd dream and the man and woman in it.

This shouldn't be the case.

It is illogical.

His strict self-discipline since childhood left him somewhat confused.

But as a gentle breeze entered through the window, the discomfort caused by the dream gradually dissipated. He pushed open the door to let in some fresh air, leaned against the railing of the veranda, and his jade-like face was tinged with color.

A faint hint of melancholy.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Updated! Thank you for your patience and support! [heart emoji] The next chapter will still be updated at 11 PM tonight, but I'll adjust it to earlier in the future. [confetti emoji]

Check out these pre-orders, everyone! If you like them, add them to your favorites first! [kissing emoji]

Pre-order for the ancient romance novel "Bo Mei Li":

The Cui and Gu families have always been at odds; the heads of the families vie for power in the imperial court, while the mistresses compete with each other in public.

Even their children's weddings are a competition of who has the most glamorous wedding.

On the day that Cui's daughter got married, Gu's eldest son also got married.

The two marriages were the talk of the town.

As a light rain fell at night, Cui Hanyu, in the flickering candlelight of the wedding candles, clearly saw the groom's face.

The man was exceptionally handsome and refined, with a striking presence, which differed somewhat from the average appearance he described in their correspondence.

Perhaps he was being too modest.

Without thinking much, Cui Hanyu was pushed into the bridal chamber by the man.

The crying and wailing started at midnight. Cui Hanyu trembled with fright and hid in the man's arms, but then she heard her maid shout, "Miss, you've made a mistake! You've married the wrong person!"

Cui Hanyu pushed the man away and asked in surprise, "Who are you...?"

"Gu Tingju".

Cui Hanyu was struck dumb. She had been cursing the Gu family with her father for many years, but she never expected to fall into a wolf's den!

Since the rice was already cooked, the two families had no choice but to shake hands and make peace.

Fortunately, Gu Tingju was gentle and refined, quite different from the rumored cunning and mature man.

The Gu family has had only one son for three generations and urgently needs to continue the family line. Annoyed by her mother-in-law's nagging, Cui Hanyu pulled Gu Tingju into the bedroom...

In Cui Hanyu's eyes, Gu Tingju was elegant and gentle. She often regretted her unwarranted criticism of him over the years, until she learned that this ill-fated marriage was orchestrated by Gu Tingju, and that even her fiancé and his fiancée were from the Gu family.

Only then did Cui Hanyu realize what cunning and maturity truly meant.

The male protagonist had been planning this for a long time.

.