Chapter 24 She was unwilling, and unable, to take two...
As the sun set, layers of clouds painted the sky with a golden hue, creating a hazy, shimmering glow. The surface of Lotus Lake was bathed in a golden light, occasionally a fish leaping out, splashing water before quickly returning to stillness. Huiyin sat in the main hall, gazing blankly at Lotus Lake.
He Jiaying stayed at Linshui Pavilion as usual, but this time she didn't play with her maids. Instead, they gathered together to talk about the big event that happened in the city that day.
Whispering voices reached Huiyin's ears: "If you ask me, it's all because of that Xiao woman's lack of virtue. She herself comes from a humble background, and she was fortunate enough to be abandoned by Pinglang, yet she still did such a despicable thing."
"That's right. I heard that she seduced Su Xiaolangjun, and they found a lot of Su Xiaolangjun's personal belongings in her room."
"I've heard that Xiao has more than one lover; she has several."
He Jiaying leaned her head back, her face scrunched up: "I've met Xiao Shi a few times, and she doesn't seem like that kind of person."
The maidservant chuckled and chimed in, "Young lady, you can only know a person's face, not their heart. Everyone outside is saying that it was Lady Xiao who seduced Young Master Su, and they're making it sound so convincing."
What are you talking about?
He Jiaying turned around and saw that Huiyin, who had been by the wooden window, was now standing behind them. The maids all prostrated themselves in greeting when they saw Huiyin.
He Jiaying noticed that Huiyin's complexion was off, so she stood up and asked, "Are you alright? You look terrible. Are you sick?"
Huiyin repeated her question, "What were you talking about just now?"
"Don't you know? Something big happened on West Street yesterday, it's about Pingzhen, the one you asked me about last time..."
Huiyin interrupted her, "I know about this. I'm asking if you're telling me about Xiao's seduction of Su Xin?"
Asang, who was kneeling, continued, "Reporting to Madam Song, the whole town is buzzing with the news that Xiao seduced Su Xin. Not only that, she also had affairs with other men. Everyone is saying that she should be drowned."
Huiyin staggered two steps, and He Jiaying quickly stepped forward to support her. She touched Huiyin's hands and found that they were covered in cold sweat. She said anxiously, "Why are you covered in cold sweat? Why don't you go and fetch a doctor?"
"Come back." Huiyin called to Asang, who was about to leave the house, and shook her head. "It's nothing, I'll be fine after a nap."
Huiyin turned and went upstairs, then slowly knelt down behind the door. She had clearly instructed those common women to shift the blame onto Su Xin and try to exonerate Xiao Shi from the situation.
However, she overlooked the fact that women are always at a disadvantage in matters between men and women, especially with the accusation of adultery and the Su family's determination to clear Su Xin's name. Even if Xiao was innocent, she could not escape the rumors and the Su family's framing.
She seemed to have made a mistake, harming an innocent woman for her own selfish desires. Huiyin hugged herself, staring blankly at the high-hanging sun.
Yan Niang knocked on the door from outside, "Huiyin, what's wrong?"
She wiped away her tears and tried to calm her voice: "I'm fine, I just want to be alone for a while."
Huiyin heard Yan Niang give a soft reply. She heard the rustling of clothes outside the room. Yan Niang was kneeling behind the door, comforting her in a low voice: "Huiyin, this is her fate, it's not your fault."
"But she'll die...she'll die..."
Huiyin murmured, "I really have no other choice. I didn't mean to."
Yan Niang pounded on the door anxiously, her voice choked with sobs: "Even if it wasn't you, this couldn't have been kept secret for long. Blame Su Xin, it's all his fault! He's not human... Huiyin, don't cry."
Through her teary eyes, Huiyin seemed to see a small grave mound on the mountain, the memorial tablets enshrined in Jixiang Temple, and Jingchuan smiling broadly at her. She forcefully wiped away her tears, clenching her teeth. In this life, one cannot be worthy of everyone.
Yan Niang waited for a long time but did not hear any sound from inside the house. Just as she was about to pry open the door, Huiyin opened the door and stood in front of her with red eyes. She handed her a bamboo slip with many seal characters engraved on it. Yan Niang could only vaguely recognize the words "Su Xin" and "stepmother".
"Take advantage of the chaos and stuff the whole place into the Zheng family's tavern in the East Market. We don't need to worry about the rest."
The Su family used rumors and gossip, and so could she. Others might not know the Su family's secrets, but Huiyin knew better than anyone else that Su Xin had been a womanizer since childhood, and this wasn't the first time he'd made this mistake.
Two years ago, Su Wenyi took a new concubine. Su Xin, coveting her beauty, forced his stepmother to commit adultery with her. The woman, of fierce character, could not bear the humiliation and committed suicide. Although Su Wenyi was furious, he had to cover for his youngest son and clean up the mess. With this precedent, let's see how they still have the nerve to say that the blame lies entirely with Xiao Fen'er.
She didn't even need to take action herself; she only needed to inform the Zheng family. The Prince of Wu and the Marquis of Pingyang had long wanted to remove the Crown Prince and weaken his power. They would never let go of this great opportunity and would definitely keep a close eye on the Su family.
An adultery case can't get to Su Xin, but what about the power struggle between the two parties? She wants to drag the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wu into this mess. Then, she'll see how Su Wenyi defies the world to protect his beloved youngest son.
Huiyin didn't care how Pei Yu would react after he found out about this. Perhaps he would kick her out of the manor. No, since the Crown Prince was involved, he might kill her directly.
She couldn't care less about all that; it shouldn't have been Xiao Shi who died, it should have been Su Xin.
——
As dawn broke in the east, the night quietly receded. A cool morning breeze swept through the treetops, shaking off a few drops of remaining dew. Several rough-looking servants, sleeves rolled up and hems of their linen skirts tucked into their brown sashes, lightly swept the fallen leaves in front of the waterside pavilion courtyard with long bamboo brooms.
Asang, holding a damp cloth, lay on the ground wiping the floor of the main room, while Aheng raised a long broom to sweep away the cobwebs on the pillars.
Yan Niang sat outside the main room on the first floor, an unfinished handkerchief resting on her lap, gazing at the wooden window on the second floor with a hint of worry in her heart. Usually, Huiyin would have gotten up by this time, but what was wrong with her today? She hadn't made a sound.
Remembering Huiyin's tearful eyes from yesterday, she couldn't help but feel worried and got up to go upstairs to check. The doors and windows on the second floor were tightly closed, and the room was silent. Yanniang went up and gently knocked on the door, calling out, "Huiyin, Huiyin."
Yan Niang increased her force and pounded on the door, but there was still no response from inside. She grew anxious and quickly called for someone to pry the door open. Yan Niang stepped over the curtain and hurried into the inner room, where Huiyin was lying on the bed, fast asleep.
She leaned closer and noticed that Huiyin's breathing was hot and her forehead was covered in fine sweat. When she touched her, she found that Huiyin was burning hot. She quickly told Asang to boil water and sent the fast-moving Aheng to fetch the physician.
After being given medicine and rubbed all day, Huiyin finally woke up around noon. When she woke up, her throat felt dry, her head was dizzy, and her stomach was painful with hunger.
Yan Niang helped Huiyin sit up, placed the cooked porridge on a small wooden table, and served Huiyin her meal.
"What time is it?"
Yan Niang, mixing the sauce, replied, "It's noon. I was so scared this morning. You had a high fever and couldn't take your medicine."
Huiyin coughed twice, covering her mouth, and looked at the bright sun outside. It was already April, and all things were being reborn.
"How's the situation outside?"
Yan Niang sighed: "It's a huge uproar. I heard that many censors in the court today submitted memorials to the emperor, demanding that Su Xinhe and... Xiao Shi be executed on charges of adultery."
"What about the common people?"
Yan Niang continued, "The Zheng family has made their move. In just one night, everyone is cursing Su Xin, saying he's not human, that he coveted and forced other men's wives, and that he didn't even spare his stepmother. He's a beast reincarnated."
After finishing her meal, Huiyin swallowed the bitter medicine. Her lips were pale, and despite the bright sunshine, she felt cold even wrapped in blankets.
Huiyin thought that she was really sick, and quite seriously so.
"Huiyin, do you think this can work?" Yan Niang asked cautiously.
Huiyin shook her head. To be honest, she wasn't sure either. Things had come to this point, involving the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince, and the Prince of Wu. It all depended on His Majesty's decision.
"Yan Niang, I want to see her." Huiyin got up and stood up. Her steps were unsteady, and she only managed to stay upright because Yan Niang supported her.
Yan Niang looked disapproving and advised, "How can you go out like this? Can you wait a couple of days until you're better?"
Huiyin shook her head sadly, feeling as if a heavy stone was pressing on her heart, making it hard to breathe: "I can't wait any longer, or I'll never see you again."
She should go see Xiao Fen'er; she should tell Xiao Fen'er everything and reveal the truth. That way, if Xiao Fen'er wants to hate, she won't hate the wrong person.
Yan Niang paused, lowered her head to wipe away her tears, and stopped trying to dissuade Huiyin. She helped her get ready and accompanied her to West Street to see Xiao Fen'er.
The carriage stopped at the West Market and couldn't move. The usually quiet streets were now packed with people. At the entrance of Pingjia Alley stood a square-faced woman dressed in ramie cloth, but she was extremely quick-witted, spewing out one nasty curse after another, continuing to rant for the entire duration of an incense stick without interruption.
Huiyin was quite far away, and could only vaguely hear a few highly insulting words: "□□", "□□", "lowly servant".
Even as an outsider, she couldn't stand it, let alone Xiao Fen'er, who was directly involved. Without a doubt, this was someone sent by the Su family to stir up trouble.
Huiyin beckoned a child who was watching the commotion, patted his head, stuffed a handful of five-zhu coins into his hand, and instructed him, "Go buy a gong, and while you're banging it, shout that the Imperial Guards are here. Use the rest of the money to buy candy."
The boy gazed at the woman before him. She wore a white veil that obscured her face, and the faint fragrance emanating from her was even more pleasant than the scents in the spice shops.
He nodded obediently, took the five-zhu coin, and ran off to the general store to buy a gong. He then used the remaining money to buy a string of candied hawthorns, and put the rest of the money in his pocket to take home and buy meat pies for his mother.
He was biting into a sweet and sour candied hawthorn, banging his gong on the ground with deafening force, and shouting with all his might, "The Imperial Guards are coming! Run!"
"Thump—"
"The Imperial Guards are coming! Run!"
The crowd that had been gathered dispersed in a few breaths; some went shopping, some ate, and some went home. As for the square-faced woman who had been shouting, she had vanished the moment she heard the first shout.
Once the crowd had dispersed, Huiyin slowly approached the alley. The Ping family's house was tightly shut, and the area in front of it was filthy and messy, with scratches, pebbles, rotten vegetable leaves, and even spilled sap that emitted a foul stench.
Yan Niang helped Huiyin to the Ping family's door. Huiyin calmed herself down and stepped forward to knock. However, her hand hovered an inch in front of the wooden door, unable to knock.
Huiyin withdrew her hand. She was afraid. She didn't know how to face Xiao Fen'er or how to tell her the truth.
She turned to leave this place that made her heart pound.
Just then, a loud crash came from inside the Ping family's house. Huiyin turned around abruptly and frantically called out to Yanniang, "Mother Fu, kick down the door!"
Yan Niang exclaimed "Hey!" and kicked open the already dilapidated wooden door of the Ping Mansion. The door collapsed with a thud, and Huiyin, lifting her skirt, ran into the courtyard. She pushed open the wooden door of the main house and saw a woman in a plain white dress hanging from the roof beam, her skirt swaying gently like a fluttering butterfly.
She gripped the silk ribbon around her neck tightly with both hands, her face ashen as she struggled in agony.
Huiyin felt her blood rush to her head and rushed forward to hug Xiao Fen'er's swaying body, lifting her up with all her might. Seeing this, Yan Niang hurriedly found the scissors in the embroidery basket, climbed onto the stacked low table, and forcefully slit the white silk.
The sudden impact caused the three of them to fall to the ground, with Huiyin at the bottom and Xiao Fen'er landing on top of her, groaning in pain.
She didn't have time to check the throbbing pain in her waist, and rushed to look at Xiao Fen'er's face. Fortunately, she was rescued in time, and Xiao Fen'er was fine except for some purplish marks on her neck.
Yan Niang fell onto the low couch, which was covered with a thick mattress, so the leather wasn't even scratched. She saw Huiyin and Xiao Fen'er lying together, so she quickly got up and ran over to help Huiyin lift Xiao Fen'er onto the low couch. Only then could the two of them see Xiao Fen'er's face clearly.
She was about eighteen or nineteen years old, and very beautiful. She had an oval face, slender eyebrows, and her eyes were slightly red at the corners, filled with tears. Her nose was delicate and straight, and her lips were so pale that they were almost indistinguishable from her complexion.
Seeing her clutching her stomach in pain, Huiyin worried that she had bumped into something, so she got up, poured a cup of tea, and fed it to her. She looked around the room; a light blue silk quilt was laid on the couch against the north wall, and several plain-colored robes and nightgowns hung on the paulownia wood clothes rack to the side.
Hanging prominently in the room was a plain silk painting of a beautiful woman, the brushstrokes vibrant and the rendering extraordinary. Her features were strikingly similar to those of Xiao Fen'er, who had fallen to the ground.
The painter must have been deeply moved. The beauty in the painting has captivating eyes and a captivating gaze. This painting is even more beautiful than Xiao Fen'er herself.
Xiao Fen'er felt much better after drinking the tea, and only then did she have time to observe the two people who had barged into her home.
Both women wore veils to conceal their identities. The one who poured water was clearly a young woman with slender fingers, delicate skin, and silk fabric that was smooth and soft. Her hem was embroidered with peony and vine patterns, indicating that she came from a wealthy family.
The short, stout man was quite strong, with calloused hands, and he showed great care for the young woman; he must be her servant.
Xiao Fen'er clutched her neck and asked with difficulty, "Who are you? Why did you break into my home? And why are you trying to save me?"
After she asked the question, the young woman removed the veil and gazed at her. Beneath the veil was an exceptionally beautiful face, with arched eyebrows and long eyelashes that trembled like small fans. Her beauty was so striking that one dared not raise their voice to disturb her, lest they startle her cool and aloof aura.
The woman moved her lips, took two steps forward, knelt beside her, lowered her head, and said, "My name is Song Huiyin. I... am the one who plotted to expose your affair with Su Xin... and the one who ruined you to this state."
After the woman finished speaking, Xiao Fen'er clasped her hands together in front of her chest and kowtowed deeply. Her tears fell onto the wooden board, leaving deep watermarks.
Xiao Fen'er asked tremblingly, "Song Huiyin, I know you, but... why?"
Huiyin straightened up, large tears streaming down her face, her chest aching and sore: "For revenge, my younger brother fell off a cliff because of Su Xin, his fate unknown. So I secretly followed Su Xin, learned of your affair, and plotted to expose it, wanting to ruin his reputation. I'm so sorry..."
“No need to say anything more,” Xiao Fen’er interrupted Huiyin, revealing a miserable smile. She closed her eyes in pain, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t resent you. I’m grateful to you. Thank you for freeing me.”
Xiao Fen'er slowly stood up and walked to the painting of the beautiful woman in the room. Her expression was tender and nostalgic. She gently touched the painting and murmured to herself, "I wish to be with you forever, until the end of time."
But the next moment, her expression suddenly changed. She tore the painting of the beautiful woman to shreds with a ferocious look, threw it on the ground and trampled on it, as if the painting were her enemy.
Xiao Fen'er looked back at Huiyin, her eyes filled with deathly stillness: "This painting was painted for me by Xunlang the year we got married. He said he hoped that he could see me whenever I was not around, so he hung this painting in the most conspicuous place in the room."
Xiao Fen'er's face crumpled up, and she cried out helplessly, her body trembling: "But later, I was pressed under this painting and humiliated by Su Xin!"
She spoke helplessly, "Everyone is insulting me, calling me a slut, a slut, but I'm not! I'm not! I love my husband very much, and I want to spend my whole life with him!"
“Some people questioned me, asking why I didn’t fight back or even die when I was insulted. Others said why I didn’t immediately commit suicide to preserve my reputation after being insulted. They said it was all my fault. But… was it really my fault?”
Huiyin couldn't help but step forward and hug Xiao Fen'er, who was crying uncontrollably, stroking her thin back to comfort her: "It's not your fault! They're the ones who are wrong. Xiao Fen'er, you did nothing wrong, and you shouldn't have died!"
Xiao Fen'er shook her head and said softly, "I can't live. I'm pregnant with Su Xin's child. Even if Xun Lang doesn't despise me or blame me, I can't be selfish. He has a bright future ahead of him and can't let me be shamed and unable to hold his head up for the rest of his life."
Huiyin said urgently, "If he hadn't failed to protect you, how could you have been forced by Su Xin? If he had taken you back to Pingfu, how could Su Xin have offended you? Now that the matter has come to light, he can't give you justice, but he wants to force you to die. What kind of logic is that!"
Xiao Fen'er looked at Huiyin and laughed, but it was a laugh that was more bitter than crying. "You don't understand. I'm willing to die for him. Besides, the Su family, the Ping family, and even the Empress Dowager and His Majesty won't let me go. If I don't die today, I'll die tomorrow."
Huiyin felt utterly powerless. Yes, things had come to this point; anyone could survive except Xiao Fen'er. This world could not allow her to live.
She took two steps back and fell to the ground. She was the one who caused all of this; she was the one who personally drove Xiao Fen'er to a dead end. Now she's even pretending to come over. How ridiculous!
Yan Niang helped Huiyin up after she fell, looking at her with concern. She pitied Xiao Fen'er's plight, but people have varying degrees of closeness and distance, and even the ten fingers are of different lengths. To Yan Niang, Huiyin was the most important person.
Xiao Fen'er slowly approached the master and servant, squatted down in front of them, and asked softly, "Huiyin, may I call you that?"
Huiyin nodded. Xiao Fen'er smiled and said with relief, "Huiyin, you're right. I was fortunate enough to hear you play 'Naoge'. I hope you can be as brave and forward-looking as that piece of music."
Xiao Fen'er, with tears streaming down her face and a smile on her face, saw the two of them to the door. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks and stood frozen in place.
Huiyin followed her gaze and saw a handsome young man standing silently outside the house. He had heard so much, and his face was covered in tears.
Huiyin guessed his identity: Pingzhen, Xiao Fen'er's husband.
Xiao Fen'er trembled all over, weakly supporting herself on the door frame, tears rolling down her cheeks: "How much did you hear?"
“All of them,” Hiramoto replied.
Xiao Fen'er looked up, took a deep breath, and asked with difficulty, "Have you bought the abortion pills?"
"Does it matter whether you buy it or not? Didn't you want to commit suicide behind my back?" Pingzhen's tone was extremely cold, which did not match his gentle appearance. He picked up the medicine bag in his hand and threw it at Xiao Fen'er's feet.
He stepped past the three people and entered the house without flinching. He strode over the silk painting that Xiao Fen'er had torn to shreds on the ground. He pulled a curved dagger from the bottom of a wooden cabinet, threw the scabbard to the ground, and held up the gleaming blade, staring at Xiao Fen'er.
"If you die, I will immediately commit suicide with you."
Xiao Fen'er dared not step forward. She shook her head helplessly and looked at Pingzhen pleadingly, "Xun Lang... please don't do this... I beg you."
Pingzhen remained unmoved, holding the blade to his neck, and continued, "Or, I may go before you."
"No!" Xiao Fen'er pleaded desperately, kneeling on the ground, clutching her chest and gazing at Ping Zhen from afar.
Unable to bear it any longer, Huiyin stepped forward to help Xiao Fen'er up and coldly questioned Pingzhen: "What's the use of threatening her? Doesn't she want to live?"
Pingzhen kicked over the table in front of him, smashing the bamboo slips and ceramic bowls on it into a mess. He pointed at Huiyin and roared, "Shut up! How dare you say that? If it weren't for you, how could this have happened!"
His expression was crazed, his handsome face contorted in pain. Yan Niang, worried that he might hurt Hui Yin in his anger, stood behind Hui Yin and watched Ping Zhen warily.
“
"You're right," Huiyin straightened up, ignoring Yanniang's attempts to stop her, and walked calmly to Pingzhen, saying, "I'm right here. Go ahead and seek revenge."
Yan Niang was horrified and hurriedly tried to pull Hui Yin away. If she had known it would turn out like this, she would never have let Hui Yin do such a thing.
Huiyin shook her head at Yanniang, "It's my fault, I admit it." She turned to look at Pingzhen, her gaze calm, "Do it."
Pingzhen's chest heaved as he gripped the blade in his hand and slowly walked towards Huiyin. It was this woman who had ruined his Fen'er.
Xiao Fen'er pleaded desperately, "Xun Lang, please don't!"
Pingzhen's arm veins bulged as he suddenly raised his hand and swung his knife at Huiyin. Yanniang cried out and rushed forward to stop him.
Huiyin stood still, neither dodging nor closing her eyes, watching the blade slice through the air.
The next instant, the crisp sound of the dagger hitting the ground rang out. Pingzhen gave a bitter smile, walked past Huiyin and Yanniang, and hugged Xiao Fen'er, who was kneeling on the ground, and cried out in pain.
"I'm sorry, Fen'er... She's right, I'm the one who ruined you. If I hadn't insisted on not returning to the Ping family, how would Su Xin have found an opportunity? I'm the one who ruined you!"
Pingzhen held Xiao Fen'er tightly in his arms, his eyes blurry with tears. He was a useless man, unable even to protect his wife. Yesterday, the Ping family and the Empress Dowager in the palace had issued a death order, demanding that he force Xiao Fen'er to her death.
He could not, nor did he want to, yet he was powerless to do so.
"I'm a useless piece of trash, I can't protect you."
Xiao Fen'er cupped Pingzhen's face, gently wiping away his tears, and comforted him, "It's not your fault, Xunlang. You've already done so much for me. If I hadn't met you, I would have had my brother sell me to a local gentry as a concubine long ago. I have no regrets about meeting you."
Pingzhen buried his head in Xiao Fen'er's shoulder and cried like a child. The Empress Dowager would never allow Fen'er to live in order to protect the reputation of the Ping family. The decree to order her death was coming soon. How could he protect Fen'er?
Pingzhen raised her head, wiped away her tears, and smiled: "Fen'er, you go first. Your husband promises you, he will be there soon."
Tears streamed down Xiao Fen'er's face as she shook her head repeatedly, "No, you must live well, your future is bright..."
“What’s the point of being one of the Three Dukes without you!” Pingzhen interrupted Xiao Fen’er, saying in an unquestionable tone, “Let’s go to the underworld together, and maybe we can be husband and wife again in the next life.”
Xiao Fen'er's sobs stopped abruptly, and she could no longer speak, burying her head in Pingzhen's arms and weeping softly.
Yan Niang couldn't bear to watch this scene, so she turned away and wiped her tears. Hui Yin had been facing away from the two of them the whole time, silently weeping as she stared at the dagger lying on the ground. She couldn't bear to use two innocent lives to pave the way for revenge.
In life, there are things we can and cannot do. If we disregard human life and lose all conscience, how are we different from beasts?
"There's a way for you to live, are you willing?" Huiyin wiped away her tears, turned around and looked at the two people embracing on the ground and said.
Pingzhen's face lit up with delight: "What road?"
"You'll need to give up your noble birth, your promising future, and your wealth and status. From now on, you'll have to live in anonymity in the countryside. Are you willing?"
Pingzhen shouted, "I'm willing! I'd even die if it meant saving Fen'er's life."
"Alright! Pingzhen, you must remember what I'm about to say. Now pack up your belongings, take Xiao Fen'er to the black market to buy fake household registrations and a guide, and then find a traveling merchant to transport you out of the city."
"Remember, you must not reveal your whereabouts or identities to anyone, including any objects that could identify you. After leaving the city, take Xiao Fen'er along back roads and find a rural place to wait a few years until things have calmed down before moving to the capital."
Pingzhen looked delighted and nodded repeatedly, then got up to search through the valuables in the house.
Huiyin took off the jade hairpin, pearl earrings, and all the remaining money that Yanniang was carrying, and stuffed them into Xiao Fen'er's hand.
Looking at the woman whose life had been ruined because of her, she carefully instructed her: "Take these, don't give them to Pingzhen. Remember, never place all your hopes on a man. If something happens, protecting yourself is the most important thing."
Xiao Fen'er took the things, nodding with tears in her eyes, "And what about you? Your grudge?"
Huiyin smiled at her and comforted her, "Don't worry, there will always be a chance."
After seeing the two off hand in hand, Huiyin led Yanniang toward Jixiang Temple. This time, she was not there to pay respects to her parents, but to pray to the gods and Buddhas to bless this innocent woman with peace and good fortune.
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