Reviews

Crimes and punishments

Of course the sister assumes JinZhao has changed her mind and interested in Ye Xian. If she could see these two interact she would know that they are frenemies not lovers. The foster charm and referral was an excellent notion. That got the father willing to withdraw any idea of marriage. This also resulted in a mass unveiling of who knew what when. The mom’s banishment punishment should have been executed. But at least she was again soundly beaten. The dad’s cowardice is eye rolling worthy. The big downside is the mom has completely collapsed. He is staying by her side but so what? It’s not like he is going to bring any real comfort. 😝 the sis visits the nanny and gives it to her straight. She is done with their ridiculous grudges and plotting.The mom tries to sow some discord about the zither. I think it was taken and put up because she did not play well. 😝 I love her character. She is the voice of reason for all of them. This time, she listens to what the nanny says. She tells her mom that it is in her best interest to humbly apologize and turn over the ledgers and tallies for running the house. It was difficult to let go with that iron grip she had.😂🤣 JinZhao is finally having a real chat with her mom and that has been long overdo. She asks her mom frankly why do they have to take the hit for the nanny? The mom feels it will break ties with her husband which I think would be the best thing for her.😝 I have no idea what planet she’s from to tell her daughter that reason is not part of marriage. Jinchao needs to go back to gma and get away from all these people except the sister. Those two should form the family alliance that will make the next generation of their family. The Chen household is not peaceful. The mom wanted a congratulatory banquet for her son and nephew. Lord Chen squashes those plans and nephew puts it in correct political view. Lord Chen gets dismissed and mom changes plans to a small gathering in their back courtyard. YanWen proceeds to want every scholar that failed the exam to be invited. He is an arrogant ass and Lord Chen had reason to hope he never became an official. XuanQing is too candid with a touch of preachy that sometimes does not work in his favor. He needs to get his head out of books for a bit and interact more with people. Jinchao and her mother have been invited, but I’m not sure by whom. The mom wants to ignore for both of them and JinZhao is not there to say anything. The concubine gets her daughter allowed to accompany JinZhao and then is a nonstop chatterbox of proper etiquette for the Chen visit. 🙄 Ye Xian gets the notion to have the crown prince show up at the Chen’s party. One sis will be happy. YanWen killed the servant for refusing to get all the students who failed. He tried to explain why but there was no voice of reason. Apparently barely passing exam bro thinks servants or lesser peer lives matter. When confronted about killing their brother he did not deny it but just said he was eight. He was given the option to remove himself from studies or be taken to prosecutor office. He went from quiet to indignant to loud and maniacal. There is no way this guy should have access to power. The indulgent mom raised a sadistic psychopath. I am still not getting how a child was XuanQing’s father but hopefully that will get explained. Lord Chen has a migraine from his encounter and Ye Xian and crown prince show up. The ‘cousins’ want to have some fun at the party. A game of riddles is started and Ye Xian and JinZhao want to beat each other. I want the sis to win.😂 the mom’s choice for hostess let Lord Chen know that XuanQing needed a prize for a game. Chen chose the pure and innocent carvings from JinChao’s gift as his nephew’s game prize. JinZhao is rather surprised. The plan Chen has is going to happen even with crown prince there. Curious how game is going to go. There is confusion how the dead brother is the ‘father’ of XuanQing when he was a young child when killed. This was best explained in comments where they said XuanQing was adopted into the family to carry on the bloodline of the child that was killed. He is not blood relation to Chen family and why YanWen treated him with such contempt. XuanQing is not his fan either because he sees him as the one that murdered his ‘father’.

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OMG IM WORRIED FOR SEOJUNG

At the start we see seojung getting saved by teacher Kim and being told that she has a 70% recovery chance at most for her right wrist, and 5 years later, to get recognition dongju treated a vip patient that had less than a 5% chance of recovery so he could recognition since during the same time dongju joined the surgical team, the director do yun wan’s son, do in beom, joined as well and got way more recognition, so dongju wanted to prove himself with skills but failed and got transferred to a hospital in the middle of nowhere called doldam hospital. As dongju was drinking at a bar to help with how he was feeling, a man next to him was chocking, but dongju thought he went into cardiac arrest and got a defibrillator, but teacher Kim came in and stopped dongju and dongju got pissed and bet his life that the man would die if he didn’t use a defibrillator, so teacher Kim proved him wrong by helping the chocking man, and as teacher Kim and dongju made a deal, teacher Kim was about to cut his hand off instead of killing him, but then since dongju was so scared he ran away from the bar and went back to doldam hospital only to remember he lost it at the bar, so he had to wait at the hospital’s waiting room until his old hospital could confirm it for him the next day, and after they did dongju was changing his clothes in the staff room only for seojung to walk in for work, and so they asked each other questions but they both gave vague questions. Afterwards an emergency patient came in, and we find out seojung was a resident planning to get double qualified for cardiovascular surgery, and dongju was telling the staff to transport since such an old hospital wouldn’t be able to treat the patient if they don’t have decent supplies, but teacher Kim proved dongju wrong by treating the patient in the emergency room instead of a sterile environment such as the operating room or a hybrid room. Later on, seojung starts having shaky hands due to her past wrist fracture and takes an overdose of medication by accident to get rid of it, and gets hallucinations of dr moon and how he died, and picks a scalpel and cut her wrist, even though myeong sim and dongju tried to stop her. And now in the operating room, dongju came in since he wanted to help treat seojung, and so he had to do a risky operation for the first time since the cut seojung did was small but deep.

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Up & down episode

This episode was all over the place with multiple story tracks riding roller coasters. For the FL & ML, the latter starts off the episode making a HUGE mistake by reverting to his stupid arrogant, "I know what's best for you and I am dismissive of your concerns and choices", mode that he rolled with way back as a teacher - you know, the attitude that lead to a huge trauma-fest for 3 of his students. This failure rightfully disappoints and infuriates Yoo Hey Jeong. Then later, when she reaches out to him for help dealing with her step-mom's case, he's simply not available (innocently, but nevertheless) and so she ends up turning to Dr. Eyebrows for help. The FL and Dr Eyebrows end up just being in the same room a few times. This seems like the show is building up the latter's case to be a romantic 3rd leg of a triangle, though he's so weird and bizarre it's hard to take that serious. So this is the main Lead relationship heading towards a low-point ... but then the ML redeems himself by going ahead and searching for and eventually finding Granny's case files. He finally is able to bring it to her in a romantic fashion and after some dancing in the rain silliness they kiss and their relationship is back on an upward trajectory. At the same time, Jin Seo U is growing in frustration because from her viewpoint, she keeps seeing Dr Eyebrows interacting with Hye Jeong and being attentive to the latter and less and less available to Seo U. She turns emotionally to the patient who she's become friendly to, in search of some sort of emotional connection because she has none with anybody else ... and then all of a sudden that patient dies from cardiac arrest right in Seo U's hands, despite everything she tries to save her. The scene is extremely emotional for her and closes with Dr. Eyebrows rushing in to hug her. Oh - and then there it the re-introduction of Yoo Hye Jeong's father and step-family to her life! Her step-mom still seems like a witch and YHJ is reluctant to do surgery on her. But she brings a new half-sister into the show - who seems nice. I hope they can be good sisters to each other, despite all the family history.

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How to bypass lecherous Liu

The concubine is complaining she is drafted to make arrangements for JinZhao’s marriage contract. She thinks her daughter should be considered. The nanny fills her in that he is a letch and womanizer. Even the concubine thinks it’s mean to saddle JinZhao to him. But she’s not that smart and easily persuaded to go along with it. They are trying to persuade her mom to agree but fortunately she sends her own person to investigate. JinZhao demands her gma is informed and get a say. When daddy Gu puffs out his chest declaring it’s the parents that get the say not grandparents. She rebuts him nicely that gma did not approve of his marriage but they went through with it anyways so why didn’t he listen to his parents’ decision?😂🤣 She argues so well without sounding like a petulant child. She debates directly and throws their poor logic back at them. I am enjoying her character immensely. I am tired of daddy Gu blaming the mom for pampering her daughter when she’s had no actual contact with her at all. 😝 He is mirroring the cousin’s argument that if JinZhao was noticed by too many….who would let their son marry her.😂🙄 But I wonder if he even thinks for a second how his petty fights with JinZhao might effect his other daughter? JinZhao’s sister wants assurance she is not dismissing Liu because of YeXian. JinZhao’s face.😂 Like what are you talking about? There is definitely no interest there. I think she will get more assist knowing there is no interest in the guy she likes. But daddy Gu’s insistence of a marriage so soon in that family definitely has JinZhao wondering why. Nanny Zhou shows up with a witch squad forbidding her to leave the premises until arrangements are made. She acts well because I really want her booted out of the house. 😝 But she is the brains of the outfit of the concubine branch so I am most likely stuck with her antics for the duration.😝 while sis helps her sneak out nanny Zhou is paying off the matchmaker to give a fake report to JinZhao’s mom.😡Luo has the girls at a tea house where they can observe how the scholars act about examination results. He is going to check out the Liu family while they observe the son. He wants to tell her gma the news but wasn’t sure since she’s been ill. JinZhao revisits the conversation she heard about the dangers to her gma and decides to wait before sending news. Luo pours the girls tea and points out the groom candidate on the neighboring balcony. The scholar stakeout has begun. The Liu son is a young version of her dad. He is shamelessly ogling girls and thinks it’s his right to do so. The one that stands out to JinZhao is Chen XuanQing. He’s a bit preachy here but the bottom line is he thinks girls should be respected and that Liu should demonstrate more character. He even said he knew he did not pass but came at his mom’s insistence. What a loser.😝 When XuanQing headed to the scholar area JinZhao got up to share a sweet smile of luck. The last on the passing list was XuanQing’s uncle YanWen who apparently was responsible for killing XuanQing’s dad. First he pushes him off a bridge and then while he was trying to crawl out of the water, YanWen loosened his handgrip so he fell back in. Chen XuanQing was top scholar. 😁🥳 While he was processing his servant cheered for him and all eyes were now on him. He turns to give JinZhao a bow.😁🥰 Chen is concerned for both family members. He doesn’t think YanWen should have passed and worries how he will be as an official. For XuanQing he fears he has painted a target on his back. The axle breaks on his carriage and he runs into JinZhao. She is eating a pastry and had just selected the finest for to send to Chen home to congratulate the exam takers. Whe Lord Chen eyes her pastry and she offers him one, he said that was enough. She was disappointed that it was because if the axle and not her that he was there. So she changed her order to regular pastries and no rush to arrive, just quietly with the guests. Daddy Gu is a wretch of a person. He knows exactly what type of person the Liu son is and thinks the marriage will be easier to secure because he is most likely to be the one that never passes. He already has had a mistress for a year.😝 He is not even looking for advancement. Daddy Gu is simply hoping to pass by having a connection to Liu family. It is nauseating to hear.🙄 JinZhao gets a response and she is given a local contact if she needs help. Other than that, JinZhao will have to deal with this herself. She has no faith in her mom because she sees her as weak and powerless. She has no plans of marrying into the Liu family. It’s just figuring out a way to get out of it. She tells her servant that there are two that can help her. The scene goes to Ye Xian sparring where he is testing his poison needles. When the spar partner says lucky he had a protective vest, Ye Xian says Need to add more poison.😂🤣 when thinking about who to test them on, JinZhao comes to mind.😂 He is called to see his father and overhears his parents talking. He stops a servant from making his appearance known to them. His father is lamenting his slight build and lack of horsemanship. He has a very tunnel visioned view of what the perfect son should be and that is a replica of himself. Ye Xian fights more like an assassin rather than a soldier. He uses stealth and poisons to make up for his small size. He finally shuts the dad up by announcing his presence. His father sees his unique weapons as gadgets unworthy of a true martial artist. It is no wonder Ye Xian is cold and jaded. It is his protective shield from family. He is greeted with becoming the crown prince’s companion and heading for the palace. He is not particularly enthused with this new job. Jinchao sends to letters to find the spy that’s been tailing them as well as get help. Lord Chen gets the first and his colleague laughs that she thinks XuanQing can be of any help. What they further discuss is Huang’s cover being blown. They prove it by lack of seal on letter. Chen admires her cleverness and audacity. She does not hesitate to take an opportunity and use it for all it’s worth. His friend comments on how happy he is talking about her, which gives him a moment of reflection. The letter to Ye Xian can’t reach him in the palace. And even if it should since he is crown Prince’s companion his day off won’t be for thirty days. At the palace Ye Xian is bored watching the prince study endlessly. They are given a few minutes break and the Prince calls for his white Pekingese named frost. His antics are fun enough that even Ye Xian smiles.😂 He bribes the dog with a bit of honey and things calm down. He is the hero of the room sharing this secret.😂 JinZhao’s letter actually makes it to him and he is intrigued by her problem and amused she threatens him. JinZhao is his breath of fresh air. The prince makes a game of throwing gold leaves in a coaster. When Ye Xian does it the servants are rewarded silver bits. While everybody scrambling for the treasure Chen is in the house and they scramble to look like studious students. He notices right off the silver bit and the gig is up. When the prince is punished with three strikes Ye Xian offers to take the punishment for him. Then he is told what the prince is really being disciplined for deceiving himself and others. Ye Xian finds himself not qualified to take the punishment because he was guilty of not counseling the prince. His punishment was 30 strikes on the hand. The administrator performing the punishment felt badly and the Prince’s winces said he felt bad. Their hero was being punished for their actions because he was too new to think like Chen yet. Chen is discussing the punishments and he is checking the Prince early before he becomes unmanageable and Ye Xian’s punishment will let him leave the palace to help JinZhao. Maid and JinZhao are talking about ms Liu and their opinion is not good. They are interrupted by Ye Xian showing up. He wants served tea and JinZhao places it on the table beside him rather than in his hand.😂🤣 He questions her about her willingness to make scenes because it is making her lose face. He will hopefully help her figure things out and still be marriage material. I also hope this doesn’t drive a wedge between her and her sister. It is hard to tell how she will accept her crush working with JinZhao unless she is let into the loop. This will hopefully help Ye Xian not have time to focus on his hand.

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The beating of Nanny Zhou and paying the ultimate price

With a direct challenge the nanny had to walk the concubine through it. This was a disaster and the concubine almost set herself on fire. While they argued it came to light that JinZhao had visited and was rejected. Not only that but the nanny had assaulted her. Here JinZhao learns her mother was never informed. To cover his ass the dad has the nanny get 20 lashes. This was found funny by staff because she had always been untouchable because she had the concubine’s favor. In her defense she knew if the legitimate daughter returned the daughter of the concubine would no longer be the pampered only child she had been. In a way I can’t fault her for that. I am also still trying to figure out why the mom did not contact her daughter. Even sickly, a servant could have written for her to correspond back and forth with her distant daughter. If she was forbidden, the dad definitely lost the opportunity to fake having his daughter cared for tho distantly. 😝The nanny claimed JinZhao was cunning and ruthless not claiming her mentoring the child to be that way. The scene shifts to the prison where Lord Chen gets a chat with his friend. It is a heart wrenching scene because he knows Nie has a family, but considered the sacrifice worth it. The courage and support from his friend is a reminder that sometimes the ultimate sacrifice is the crucible that creates a better life for the loved ones left behind. Your heart breaks as he laughs and smiles at his fate knowing his efforts were successful. 😭❤️ There is a meeting of those for the reforms and it is decided the next course of action was to take care of minister Lin. The scene shifts to Lin’s Wife’s bday celebration where daddy Gu has forced JinZhao’s attendance. There JinZhao overhears a conversation of all the trials her gma is enduring. She is worried because she thought Lord Chen would protect her family. When she sees him there she takes the opportunity to plead for her family and asked to return to her gma. As he explains the cost of the reforms they are interrupted by the young lord. He has pretty accurately laid out the plan to get rid of the right arm minister Lin, leaving Chen wondering how close he and JinZhao are. Chen has asked Lin to resign and referred to a shady land deal and a false charge of digging up dirt on his opponent. Lin made the mistake of sending his servant to see if the guy sold him out or not. The young lord warns JinZhao that almost the entire Gu family are in Fan’s council. She admitted that she only recently learned this and why she wants to return. He is rather gobsmacked by that and the scene shifts to the party. The news is out and one colleague has already made an excuse to depart. Daddy Gu can’t slink out with him but he tries to impress with his great care of his daughter. JinZhao rebuts every remark and the young lord fills in more for her. He finally gives up and splutters out the door with the young lord sitting at the table completely amused. Chen also grins and admires her shrewdness in getting him away from the party and out of trouble. Lin revealed his crimes by sending the servant. Now the landowner is being investigated. Lin is forced to admit to the lesser of his crimes so that the emperor cannot decide to keep him in court even if he tries to resign. Lin and Chen exchange parting shots and Chen wishes him a good day as the guards arrive to arrest Lin. JinZhao gets the news and she is surprised at the speed Chen moves and replays his words to her. She decided to write a letter to her gma with double intent— to let Chen know she was loyal and to check up on her gma. As expected the letter was intercepted and Chen understood her intentions. But this means she will continue to be followed and tested to see if she was as committed as Ji family. Liu is to replace Lin and daddy Gu sees his son as the perfect match for JinZhao. Even the concubine recognized she had saved her dad by getting him out but he contributed it to lucky circumstance. He is such a weasel and not even a smart one.😝 The episode ends with another smug grin thinking he can gain access to Liu and rid himself of JinZhao in one marriage. This story continues at a good pace and quite well done.

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Flipping the court’s request and returning to capital

The hair pinning finally happens. The setting is beautiful. JinZhao and costume are absolutely stunning. The children’s choir and released doves add to ambiance. The looks of admiration from the 4 gents acquainted with her speaks volumes. I don’t think there was a person present that did not want to smack the smug face off the father as JinZhao bowed to respect her Gma’s wishes. She didn’t bother looking at the gift because it wasn’t from him anyways. The concubine presenting her mother’s gift was beyond tasteless. JinZhao finds a way to verbally put her in her place and amuse the noble who laughs and comments. The father is going to retaliate when JinZhao is more than happy to tell him who the noble is. Of course he turns into a simpering sycophant begging forgiveness. She reminds him that his superior Lord Chen is also present and could bring him up on charges. He knows he’s been an absentee father and those actions have now become a chargeable offense, thus his presence there. She is officially introduced to the noble who taunts her by making her call him uncle. JinZhao then decides to request a gift to get even. He hands her an encased dagger but with the point towards her. He then explains himself and hands her the handle. As she examines the blade he cautions her that the blade is poisoned. She assures him that’s not an issue and taunts him with it. Gma and Lord Chen note more bodies as assassinations continue. She is told to exercise her own judgment about whether to keep JinZhao there or send to the capital with her father. But no matter her choice, Tongzhou was going to be the first location for land equalization no matter what. Failure was not an option. Chen then reads a note with a name and location and he rides fast to the gate. While he is talking to a colleague he learns his friend Nie Fengming is with the protesters at the emperor’s court. Not only was he with them, but he directly antagonized the emperor causing him to decree that the entire nation would be land equalized within the year. The friend shrewdly flipped the court and paved the way for Chen’s tax land reform. The downside is he has sacrificed himself to make this happen. Gma lovingly bullied JinZhao into returning with her father to look after her ill mother. She is requesting this as a personal favor and JinZhao can’t refuse her tho desperately wants to. She resigns herself to the trip and comforts herself that since she has borne the blame of ruining his career, she may as well go home and actually do it. There is a touching farewell and she is off for the capital. She runs into the noble who uses a mini crossbow to scare the horse. She is forced to use her poisoned dagger to stop it. When her guard reaches the scene she is ready to toss all the blame at the noble but her cousin discovers needles put in the horse so that it would be crazed and bolt in agony to throw them over a cliff. It was suspected that this tactic was used to pressure Ji family for their stance on the land equalization reform. Even the noble was surprised at this degree of cruelty to assassinate an enemy. There is a fun scene at her father’s gate where he bows to her😂🤣 The noble is amused and plays her game for a bit but warns her to not make every Gu an enemy and that it was not so easy to win his favor. Here I think he chose to recompense her for the horse and let her ride back with him. The concubine’s daughter likes him and whether or not true, she believes he is kind to her. JinZhao is sorry her fun ended so soon and she is officially ‘home’ at the Gu house. The daughter wants to know how she knows the noble and JinZhao’s mother enters. JinZhao addressed her as ma’am and would not make physical contact. I can’t blame her. The dad has poisoned an easy reunion for them. I am not sure if she will be able to understand or forgive her mother, that remains to be seen. The dad is capitalizing on a bday celebration to prove to his colleagues he is not guilty of child abandonment. JinZhao’s attitude says quite bluntly—good luck with that.😂 The maid makes it look like the concubine injured herself decocting the wife’s meds personally. The maid stirs up by mentioning the ride home in the noble’s carriage and the dad berates her mom for her miscreant daughter. JinZhao overhears the maid saying how she should be put in her place and to know who’s in charge. JinZhao’s maid thrusts the doors open and JinZhao gives the servant a direct challenge when the episode ends. The story continues to be well paced and the cast meshes smoothly. I was unfamiliar with the hair pinning ceremony and the entire thing was so beautifully done. The segue from family to politics is smoothly done and the characters are introduced and interact well. 👏🏻

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The hair pinning ceremony that included flames and imperial edict

The story starts with an angry girl (Gu Jin Zhao) hearing her father make demands of her grandmother concerning gifts for her hair pinning ceremony. When she reached her limit of hearing his snideness, she stomps off, grabs a lantern from a passerby and torches the storeroom holding the gifts. There is a deal being made to bribe the dad, but all she remembers is being turned away and choked by a servant. She wants nothing to do with him and has no regrets of the destruction she’s caused. The one she took the lantern from stops to see who set the fire and what was set ablaze and then continues on his way. The next day she is told the ceremony will still take place and her father must be invited. She and her cousin (Ji Yao)have a bickering sibling like relationship and during their antics down the hallway they meet up with Lord Chen. She does not recognize him as the lantern bearer from previous night but he recognizes her. She boldly studies him and when Yao moves her along Lord Chen gives a glance back at her. Yao warns that politics are perilous with much intrigue, assassinations and discord. Lord Chen would be dangerous to know because most of the court wanted him dead. His tax land reform was far from being popular. She decides to bury her sorrows in wine on a boat when she becomes an accidental witness to a political revolt where the crown prince and guard were assassinated. She is shocked and falls into the water where she is rescued. She finds herself at home and is told Chen XuanQing rescued her. He departs shortly after the matriarchs come on the scene. The Gma and Yao know what happened on the hill and have taken care of it. Lord Chen is the rescuer but he is having XuanQing take the credit and sending warming wine as a recuperating gift. Jin Zhao is wanting nothing to do with anything that will recognize her father. When XuanQing arrives with the wine, she matches with an antique ink stone; the perfect gift for a scholar. He has a story memorized to tell her of why he was there, but it doesn’t ring true because he can’t even look at her while he is speaking. He is very glad to move along as quickly as possible. JinZhao runs into Lord Chen again and studies him. I am pretty sure she thinks he is actually her rescuer. He diverts her attention to the lantern rather than the rescue to misdirect her. He has a chat with the gma who pleads for JinZhao to be spared. He doesn’t directly respond to this request but says she is to be moved to the capital which was not wonderful news to the gma. He is then seen in a chamber guarded by mutes where 1500 documents are gathered with intel on all the court members. This is how they knew the crown prince was against their cause and corrupt. Chen learns he has been given a seneschal position and he is going to use JinZhao’s hair pinning ceremony to have it made public and initiate the tax land reform. A Gu cousin with the Marquis heir talks the bored noble into checking out the celebration and see what his cousin looks like and he agrees. While the guests are getting assembled to go in, the imperial edict arrives and Lord Chen gets his promotion. JinZhao is put out that he takes over her celebration and says so. The young noble is amused and will come back to see celebration with the cousin, while Lord Chen is most curious about why he is there. Not only has the father arrived but he has come with concubine in tow rather than her mother. JinZhao decides to return Lord Chen’s favor by having him be made witness to an altercation with her father. This lets her tell her dad off without repercussions. She bumps into the noble who wants to rebuke her for not acknowledging him. She told him if Lord Chen couldn’t make her flinch, there was no way she was bowing to him.😂🤣 He is both annoyed and intrigued. The actual hair pinning is finally getting started when the episode ends. The costumes are gorgeous and the filming beautifully done. The cast interactions are spot on and the pacing is good. This was a very nice intro to story.

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