Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Falling off a cliff
Liang Hanzhang returned to her bedroom, changed her clothes, and prepared to go see the child. She heard from the maid that the prince had returned home early in the morning.
It is expected that he would be like usual, holding the child in his arms and reading the classics and historical books whenever he has free time. According to his words, he hopes that under such daily influence, Zhou'er can grow up to be an outstanding child.
Liang Hanzhang tried hard to ignore the virtuous king's distracting words, trying not to believe them, not to care, to ignore them. If the crown prince wanted to marry the crown princess, if the empress and empress wanted her life, what could she do? What else could she do but endure it?
Could she resist the imperial power?
She could only deceive herself and pretend that nothing had happened. She buried these words deep in her heart, trying to treat it as just a nightmare. Now that she had woken up, these fears had also passed away like the tide, like a breeze blowing across the water.
The wind passed without leaving a trace.
Because she went to the wing room to visit her child, she didn't want a large crowd to scare the child, so she left Mingyue Yuhu and went alone.
When he reached the door, he could faintly hear the prince's voice. In addition, there was another familiar shrill voice. Liang Hanzhang recognized it as that of Li Fu, the general manager of Da T.
I wondered if the Crown Prince and the steward were discussing something important. Would it be inappropriate for me to rush in? Should I wait at the door?
After hesitating for a moment, he decided to wait outside. From the room, a man's mellow voice could be heard from time to time, like the gurgling of a mountain stream, the clear sound made people feel relaxed and happy.
Liang Hanzhang couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The prince wasn't just handsome, he also had such a pleasant voice. Even though she had heard this familiar voice a million times before, she couldn't help but feel a slight tingling in her ears when she heard it again.
Especially on that small bed, he lay on her body, his usually clear eyes filled with lust, beads of sweat slid down his slender neck and disappeared under his explosive waist and abdomen.
Inside the bed curtains, a rich fragrance lingered, and Liang Hanzhang was drowned in the overwhelming wave. From time to time, the prince would hold her earlobe in his mouth, and his rough voice half coaxed and half seduced:
"Mrs. Zhang, call me 'Qinqin'." This is a term of endearment used by the ladies of ordinary houses to address their masters, often with a flirtatious and playful meaning.
Liang Hanzhang was thin-skinned, her face flushed bright red, her almond-shaped eyes blurred, and she was too embarrassed to cry out. The man didn't meet her expectations, but she didn't get angry. His strong arms were across his sides, and his movements became more and more rapid.
Thinking about these secrets in bed, Liang Hanzhang felt half shy and half happy.
There were intermittent sounds coming from the side room. Even if Liang Hanzhang didn't want to listen, those words still came into his ears through the window. Liang Hanzhang didn't know what the two were talking about, but he clearly heard the key words "Empress" and "poisoned wine". After a moment, the prince's helpless voice of compromise was finally heard: "Okay, let's do as mother says."
The latter part was even clearer: "I hope that Zhang Niang won't blame me in the future." Li Fu did not answer. The room was silent for a moment, with only the clear sound of the baby's babbling.
After listening to this, Liang Hanzhang realized what she had heard belatedly. She felt as if someone had poured a basin of cold water on her head, and her limbs were numb from the shock.
What were Li Fu and the Crown Prince discussing? Why did the Crown Prince sigh helplessly and hope that he wouldn't blame him in the future?
Within a day, everyone's reactions were strange, and Liang Hanzhang couldn't understand or figure it out. What was going on?
Yes, poisoned wine. Li Fu mentioned poisoned wine just now. Combined with the prince's remarks and the wise king's reminder to himself today, the emperor and empress have long been unable to tolerate her. So now they have persuaded the prince to give her poisoned wine?
What about the prince? Has he already agreed, was he forced to do so by the emperor and empress's power, or does he not care about her at all?
Did he ever resist? He was the crown prince of the current dynasty and had been exercising regent power for a long time, holding most of the power in the court. As a crown prince, did he still need to listen to the words of the emperor and empress and order the death of her, the mother of the emperor's eldest grandson?
Yes, he wanted to marry, and he wanted to make room for his wife who had not yet married. Zhou'er was his own blood, and he could not bear to do anything to the child. But this annoying concubine was an indelible stain on Changsun's body. She was of low status and not worthy of the noble prince. However, the prince could ease the relationship between him and the emperor and empress by sacrificing her life.
Even though the prince still had some sympathy for him, he couldn't resist the temptation of these conditions. Liang Hanzhang thought about it all, and suddenly his head felt numb. A fear emanating from his bones truly overwhelmed him.
He didn't dare confront the Crown Prince directly; after all, he had already compromised. His voice was so resolute because he had already prepared himself mentally. Poor me, I was really going to turn into a pile of dirt and leave this world forever!
Liang Hanzhang suddenly felt so much hatred. He hated the Crown Prince, the Empress, and the virtuous King. He hated the Crown Prince's cold heart. He had just been sitting beside him, holding his child, and saying some sweet words to him, but in the blink of an eye, he had abandoned him and no longer cared about him!
As for the Empress, she had always been kind and gentle whenever she entered the palace, but now, she had turned her back on him, unleashing inexplicable emotions on him. She had also served the imperial family well, having given birth to the Emperor's eldest grandson, the bloodline of the dynasty, their beloved grandson. Yet, now, the Empress was ordering the death of their beloved grandson's mother.
What kind of cold-hearted person can do such a thing!
And there is the virtuous king. If he had not deceived her for so long, she would not have entered the Eastern Palace for him and stayed with Yan Guang. After Yan Guang's downfall, she could have secretly escaped, lived her life with her own abilities, chosen a satisfactory husband, and given birth to a son and a daughter for him, and never entered this damn Eastern Palace again.
They tricked her into coming in, and then just let her go if they wanted to, or kill her if they wanted to. They had no psychological burden at all.
She hated him so much, hated him so much, hated that man who had gone back on his word, and hated him even more for abandoning her and marrying someone else! The royal family had sentenced her to death in a few words, but for the sake of her child, she couldn't escape.
Yes, there is also the child. If she dies, will the prince feel guilty and make amends to Zhou'er?
If she were still alive, she would be an eyesore. If she died, perhaps she could even win a little pity from those in power. If she could show this pity to her child, wouldn't Zhou'er's future life be easier?
Now she no longer hopes that her child can ascend to that position. It is definitely impossible. She is of humble status. Only the daughters of noble families and the children born to the prince are qualified to be the heirs to the country.
As for her child, it would be good enough if he could just behave himself as a prince and have his own fiefdom!
Liang Hanzhang thought the Crown Prince was cold-hearted, but then he realized that this was the real him. He had been the Crown Prince for years, and his temperament wasn't as gentle and amiable as he appeared. He only cared about his own bloodline. Furthermore, she had deceived the Crown Prince so many times, repeatedly challenging his dignity as a man. Perhaps the Crown Prince already hated her!
But she was still unaware of it and just thought that the prince was worried about some trivial matters. Unexpectedly, he didn't want to pay attention to her at all.
Liang Hanzhang pondered a great deal while outside, and for a moment, she felt the road ahead was bleak and gloomy. Should she accept her fate? What should she do? In this vast sea of people, she couldn't find anyone she could talk to.
Liang Yuan did not go in after all. She stood outside for a long time, so long that the child in the prince's arms could no longer hold on and fell asleep again. Only then did she tiptoe away.
When the prince returned to his chambers, he saw Liang Yuan, her chin resting on one hand, lost in thought, gazing out the window. The beauty's frown, her gesture a tender gesture, like Xi Shi holding her heart, could stir a man's deepest pity for the weak. But beyond that pity, the prince also felt an inexplicable surge of jealousy.
That's right, jealousy.
She behaved like this only after she met her "brother". What was she thinking at this moment? Was she still thinking about her so-called brother? Was she behaving like this because she was worried about her brother?
Even though her mind clearly told her that nothing would happen between them, she was already a concubine of the Crown Prince's mansion, had given birth to the Emperor's eldest grandson, had made contributions to the country, and was recorded in the imperial jade records. In this life, apart from him, there was no chance for Liang Yuan to be entangled with other men.
However, reason cannot overcome emotions. The prince knows better than anyone that Liangyuan and that brother have been friends for more than ten years. For Liangyuan, her relationship with that brother is deep-rooted. They are family members or lovers who have been together for many years and love each other.
It would have been fine if that brother was dead, but he wasn't dead and appeared in front of him in one piece. Moreover, he was his brother from the same mother. This made the prince feel even more disgusted.
The prince knew that although Li Xuan and he were friendly and respectful to each other on the surface, in fact, Li Xuan had always been secretly comparing himself with him and was resentful about him becoming the prince.
Anything he had, Li Xuan would also take a piece of it. Now that the past was over, he did not want to pursue it. But Li Xuan, unexpectedly, even wanted to take his body.
This was his consort, listed in the imperial jade discs, the crown prince's consort. Li Xuan and Zhang Niang had been together for so many years without him even knowing.
What’s hateful is that the prince has no right to comment on the relationship between the two.
Yes, he himself was just an intervening figure. He had no name or status, could not fight against time, and could not intervene between the two.
The reason Liang Yuan gave birth to his child was simply because she didn't know who that so-called brother was at first. Now that she knew, could she still stay by his side?
Was she in a daze now because she was regretting not being able to be a pair of mandarin ducks with her brother, but only being able to stay by the prince's side?
is that so?
In an instant, an unknown anger surged in the prince's heart, and jealousy burned fiercely. He no longer had any reason to think. He only knew that he could not leave this woman, and he would never leave her in this lifetime.
He wouldn't allow her to leave him and go back to that man. Liang Hanzhang's body was engraved with her own unique mark, and she could only belong to him!
He even had some crazy thoughts, thinking that Liang Yuan should be locked up in the Eastern Palace and never show her again. All she could think of, see, and touch was him. Now that she was in his tent, there was no reason for her to leave midway!
After a moment, his out-of-control expression subsided, and his tall and straight figure stood not far away, majestic and imposing, and he became the wise crown prince that all officials praised.
At night, the two of them had their own thoughts, but they tacitly did not ask each other questions. They undressed and went to bed in silence.
…
Even though the eldest grandson's mother's status was not prominent, she was the only grandson of the emperor and the only son of the crown prince. Naturally, the more grand the hundred-day banquet for the eldest grandson was, the better.
The prince is now twenty-three years old. At an age when his peers have children around their knees, he has just barely got a child of this descent. He is so afraid of breaking it if he holds it in his hands, and afraid of melting it if he holds it in his mouth.
The fact that the child was not in very good health further fueled the Crown Prince's deep love for his son. Regarding the Emperor's eldest grandson's hundred-day banquet, the Crown Prince personally took care of everything to show his appreciation for his eldest son.
After just a few days of this, he suddenly received an invitation from the eldest princess's mansion, saying that they wanted to invite Liangyuan to go out of the city for an outing in the suburbs.
It was now the end of spring, and summer would arrive soon. The prince felt sorry for her, as she had been cooped up at home during her confinement. Now, he finally had the chance to go out with Luo Hua, and since two girls of similar age could have a private conversation, he agreed without hesitation.
Liang Hanzhang had been depressed for several days, with no one to share her sorrow with. She thought that going out with the princess would help her relieve her mood. After all, the emperor and empress could not tolerate her. It was like a knife hanging around her neck all the time, and she didn't know when the blade would fall.
In this mood, life is naturally difficult.
Princess Changping personally came to the Eastern Palace to pick her up. She then went into the mansion to see her nephew, kissing and hugging him for a while before finally leaving with Liang Hanzhang. Sitting in the carriage, Liang Hanzhang asked, "Why did the princess suddenly think of inviting me to go out of the capital to enjoy the flowers?"
Princess Changping sighed, feeling bored: "I have nothing to do in the princess's mansion every day, and you are the only close friend I get along with. I thought you should have a good rest since you just came out of confinement, but yesterday you went to the palace to visit my mother, and my mother said that the peach blossoms in the east suburbs are in full bloom, so she asked me to invite you to go out and relax together."
When Liang Hanzhang heard that it was the Queen who brought up this matter, and recalled the words of the Emperor and the Queen that they would not spare her life, she was shocked: Could it be that this trip was actually a Hongmen Banquet, and the Queen could not help but take action against her?
What about the prince? Does he know that today's event was arranged by the queen? If he knew, was there a trace of heartache and reluctance in his eyes when he watched me leave?
When she recalled that she had told the prince that the princess had invited her and she wanted to go out for a trip, the prince's expression was somewhat happy, with a smile on his face. He touched her head and said, "Go, the children and I will wait for you at home."
Now, he rarely calls himself "lonely" in front of Liang Yuan. The two of them get along more like an ordinary couple in the market. The husband loves the wife, and the couple is in harmony. It's just like a couple in heaven.
However, Liang Hanzhang knew in her heart that all of this was just a superficial illusion. The prince had already given up on her. She heard it with her own ears.
At this point, everyone wants to kill her and vent their inexplicable anger on her. No one can save her, and she can only save herself.
Knowing that there might be accidents during this spring outing, Liang Hanzhang couldn't help but sweat in his heart.
The princess recalled the haggard face of her mother when she entered the palace. She understood that her mother was blaming all the mistakes made by the wise king in forcing him to abdicate on her brother, and was even not very happy about the eldest grandson. Seeing that the eldest grandson was almost a hundred days old, the emperor and empress didn't even care what the child looked like.
Princess Changping: "My mother favors my younger brother. Now that he has been stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner, she can't help but feel depressed and unfair in her actions. Don't worry, after we get through this period, when my mother has recovered from her sorrow, she will naturally love and pamper Zhou'er even more."
Liang Hanzhang smiled, indicating that she understood. But inwardly, she was complaining: Doting on her? She was lucky her child was still alive and well.
Although the current emperor's harem consists solely of the Empress, her three children all share the same father and mother. The imperial family is simple, but wherever there are people, there are power struggles, especially since these individuals are at the pinnacle of dynastic power.
In the future, there will probably be more and more cases of sisters fighting against each other and brothers quarreling with each other.
But these inner thoughts could never be shared with Princess Changping. The carriage rumbled over the bluestone slabs, gradually exiting the city gate and heading towards the eastern suburbs. Along the way, peach blossoms blossomed, willows grew green, butterflies danced, insects chirped, and orioles sang freely, creating a scene of beautiful springtime.
But Liang Hanzhang had no time to pay attention to these things. Her mind was full of thoughts that the emperor and empress would not be able to help but take action against her. How else could she save herself except waiting to die?
Does Princess Changping know about this? Is she also one of the accomplices?
However, no matter which side Princess Changping stands on, it will not change the final outcome. The princess will not disobey the emperor and empress for her, after all, they are the princess's biological parents.
Moreover, even the Crown Prince had agreed to this matter. This man had clearly stated his stance on whether Liang Hanzhang's life should be spared. No matter how close the princess and he were, there was no way she would bypass the Crown Prince and interfere in her brother's family affairs.
Liang Hanzhang was so distracted that she was even a little crazy. She even felt that Princess Changping looked at her with pity and compassion, but also with a condescending look as if it had nothing to do with her.
It seems that the princess really knew about it, and it was the Queen who sent her to kill her, so that the mother of the emperor's eldest grandson could have a decent death that she could explain to the outside world. She was the Queen's accomplice.
The carriage gradually ascended the mountain. The so-called Eastern Suburbs referred to a peach orchard atop a hilltop near the capital. Before they disembarked, attendants had already prepared everything at the Qinxiang Pavilion, a nearby flower viewing area. Within a few hundred meters, attendants guarded the area, forbidding outsiders from entering. Inside the pavilion, a silk curtain had been erected, and the seats were covered in fox fur felt, looking clean and comfortable.
There were also several palace maids cooking tea and snacks on the stone table in the pavilion. Wisps of green smoke rose up and gradually drifted away into the distance. In a moment, no trace was left.
Liang Hanzhang felt like she was just that wisp of smoke. After she died, no one would remember her. Even her newly born child would call another woman "mother." She was like smoke, dispersing, her traces in the world gradually erased over time.
I really can't accept this. Why do these people in power hold the power of life and death and can dispose of my life at will? Is it just because they are the rulers and mothers of a country?
Princess Changping held Liang Hanzhang's hand and strolled through the sea of flowers not far away. Peach blossoms bloom in early spring, and Dongjiao is located on the top of a mountain. The temperature is low, and the peach blossoms on the mountain are just beginning to bloom when the flowers elsewhere have withered.
As the poem says: The flowers of April on earth are gone, and the peach blossoms in the mountain temple are in full bloom.
Perhaps Princess Changping simply couldn't find anyone to get along with, but today, having finally invited Liang Hanzhang along, she couldn't stop talking, pouring out a stream of words like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube. Liang Hanzhang, fearing for his life, didn't pay much attention to what the princess said.
She couldn't help but wonder how much the princess had gone to such lengths to lower her guard. Liang Hanzhang frowned. She had never usually noticed the princess being so talkative. It was true that one could only judge a person by their appearance. Now that they were on different sides, it was hard to tell who was right and who was wrong.
After wandering in the peach forest for nearly half a quarter of an hour, a maid came to announce that the tea was ready and invited the princess and the queen to come over and taste it. Liang Hanzhang didn't want to go over, as she didn't know what else might have been added to the tea, so she just waited for her to drink it.
The two of them sat down at the stone table, and a maid placed a white jade teacup, intricately carved with patterns, before the two nobles. Liang Hanzhang didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt the maid pause for a moment as she placed the cup before her. Then, feigning indifference, she used a small spoon to skim off the foam on the tea, poured the tea into the teapot, and finally served it to the two nobles.
Liang Hanzhang guessed that the secret lay in the teacup. She and the princess had used the same pot of tea, which meant it wasn't poisonous. The real poison must have been in the teacup itself.
After thinking it through, she carefully raised her hand and covered it with her wide sleeves. When no one around her noticed, she secretly poured tea on her sleeves.
Fortunately, she was wearing dark colors today, so pouring a cup of tea on her sleeve would not be noticeable. When she put down the teacup, Princess Changping also drank it all in one gulp.
After a short wait, a palace maid brought in snacks. These snacks looked like they were made in the palace's imperial kitchen, and they were exquisitely crafted, with lifelike carvings on them.
The tea just now could be poured away secretly, but she didn't know what to do with the pastries. Liang Hanzhang was a little distressed. Could it be that the emperor and empress thought she was too difficult to kill, so they poisoned food again and again?
She suddenly felt bored, extremely bored. She knew that the princess sitting opposite her wanted to kill her. Even if this was not her intention, the princess was also an accomplice, wasn't she?
She simply broke some broken jars and said, "I ate a lot of food in the East Palace, and my stomach is full, so I can't use these." Princess Changping didn't care, but was a little disappointed: "Okay, I also want to share with you some new snacks made by the imperial kitchen. I tried them yesterday and they tasted good. We have similar tastes, and I'm sure Zhang Niang will like them too."
Liang Hanzhang forced a smile: "Thank you for your kindness, Princess. It's just that I really can't eat anymore. I hope Princess will forgive me."
Princess Changping waved her hand generously, "If Madam Zhang can't finish it, there's no need to force her." But the palace maid who had been waiting nearby without saying a word suddenly spoke up, "Empress Liangyuan, this is a new dessert this year. Even the Empress hasn't had a chance to taste it, and you've already sent it to Liangyuan. Does Liangyuan really want to let the Empress down?"
The palace maids specifically mentioned the Empress, and the meaning was self-evident.
Liang Hanzhang pretended to be distressed and said, "I want to try it too, but I really don't have an appetite today. How about I take a few pieces back home and try them when I'm hungry? Is that okay?"
The maid mumbled, "This dessert won't taste good when it's cold." Liang Hanzhang was about to say something else to evade the question, but Princess Changping lost her patience and angrily rebuked him, "You shameless servant! You're even more arrogant than your master, making decisions for her. If you don't, how about giving you the title of princess?"
The palace maid was so frightened that she fell to her knees and kowtowed for mercy.
Princess Changping snorted coldly.
Liang Hanzhang looked at the princess, feeling somewhat surprised. If the princess was the queen's accomplice, she should be speaking up for the young maid. Why was she getting angry instead? Or was this gesture just a show for her?
The two sat for a while longer, then Liang Hanzhang pleaded a stomachache and a desire to return home to rest. Princess Changping, though reluctant to leave the beautiful scenery outside, was horrified to see Liang Hanzhang's pale, earthy complexion and dripping sweat. Without further ado, she ordered her servants to return home.
Because Liang Yuan was feeling unwell and needed a larger place to lie down, the princess gave her the carriage and went out to ride a horse. Liang Hanzhang sat in the carriage, carefully lifted a corner of the curtain, and observed the surrounding terrain.
If she guessed correctly, if the Queen wanted to kill her, she would definitely have to create an accidental death. So until now, this conspiracy has not truly ended. The only place where she could create an accidental death is in this carriage.
Liang Hanzhang had just observed the terrain of the peach forest. The peach forest was located not far from the mountain temple, backed by a steep mountain stream. The mountain stream was lush with vegetation and rarely visited. He didn't know if he would have any chance of survival if the carriage fell from there.
But, whether it was true or not, she had to fight to the death. Since the Emperor and Empress wanted her dead, and the Crown Prince wanted her dead, she might as well just "die" as everyone wished. At least without this annoying mother, His Highness would be more kind to Zhou'er out of guilt.
Liang Hanzhang asked for nothing else but that the child she had given birth to with so much effort could grow up healthy and live a carefree life. This was her greatest wish in life.
I hope the prince won't disappoint her too much.
Liang Hanzhang saw the right moment and her expression suddenly became fierce. Before the coachman came over, she nimbly moved forward and thrust the sharp hairpin on her head into the horse's buttocks.
The horse was suddenly stimulated, neighing and yelling, jumping up on its front paws, and running wildly towards the cliff on the other side of the peach forest like crazy.
The sound of the wind was whistling in his ears. Liang Hanzhang looked at the ponytail dancing in the wind, and suddenly, a faint smile appeared on his face.
The horse suddenly spooked, something no one had anticipated. Princess Changping was still trying to figure out which of the attendants' horses was best, trying to find one that caught her eye. She stopped beside a brown stallion and was about to grab the reins to mount when she heard a sharp neigh. The carriage then sped through the peach grove, and a sudden strong wind blew.
The people below were horrified by the scene and were in complete chaos. Princess Changping screamed, "Zhang Niang!" and instinctively rushed over to use her body to stop the horse from rushing towards the cliff.
But at the critical moment, those maids were frightened and fled in all directions. The messy footsteps were chaotic. Even if Princess Changping wanted to rush over, she was blocked by the maids.
Seeing the carriage getting closer and closer to the cliff, Princess Changping shouted, "Go and save them!"
But the guards who usually obeyed his orders now stood still as if their feet had taken root.
"You, you guys! Are you going to rebel?" Princess Changping was so angry that her eyes were swollen and her muscles were throbbing. She looked like a ghost and screamed miserably.
As soon as she finished speaking, the carriage had already reached the end. The horse seemed to have no consciousness and took big strides forward. In an instant, the carriage fell off the cliff. There was no other sound in the air except the neighing of the brown horse.
Everything is gone.
Princess Changping watched helplessly as the carriage carrying Liang Yuan careened off the cliff. Her consciousness was a little confused, and she stood there in a daze, her face drained of its initial color. In disbelief, she whispered, "What on earth is going on?"
The voice was still a little trembling.
The guard saluted and said: "We are acting on the orders of the Empress."
"The Empress? Queen Mother, her decree?"
Princess Changping stared with eyes wide open, her face full of disbelief. She thought there was something wrong with her ears, or maybe there was something wrong with her comprehension ability, because she couldn't understand the guard's reply.
What does it mean to be the Empress's decree? Mother, you want to kill Liang Yuan? Liang Yuan, who just gave birth to the emperor's eldest grandson?
Princess Changping felt that this joke was a bit too much.
Princess Changping didn't want to believe it, and she didn't dare to. She lashed out at the guard with her whip: "You bastard! When did the Empress issue such an imperial decree? I'm afraid you're plotting to murder Liangyuan and trying to frame the Empress!"
"Tell me! Who ordered you to do this?"
"If you don't tell me, I'll have you dragged away and fed to the dogs!"
Suddenly realizing that the most important thing now was to go down and rescue him. Li Luohua refused to believe that Liang Hanzhang was dead, and continued to shout, "Go, go down and rescue him! If you can rescue him safely, I will forgive you!"
As she was about to rush to the edge of the cliff, the maid who was arranging the stone table next to her stopped the princess and said, "Princess, there is no need to bother. I have smeared poison on the rim of Liangyuan's teacup. If Liangyuan is not killed by the fall, I am afraid that the poison will take effect and kill her too."
After hearing this, Princess Changping seemed to have heard some shocking bad news. She collapsed to the ground, speechless, like a wooden figure.
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