to take the lead; to lead a group; to be in the vanguard
proceeding to the capital
charm; incantation; spell; curse
not worrying about one's reputation or appearance; not caring what others think
restlessly; nervously; uneasily; in a fidget
gloomy (e.g. mood); depressing; irritating; troublesome; heavy (weather); cloudy
political maneuvering; politicking; political machinations
to shut out; to bar; to lock out; to exclude
arrangement; preparations; search (by police)
to send out; to forward; to show (a person) out
to fail; to blunder; to mess up; to be dismissed; to be fired
at one's feet; underfoot; gait; pace; most recent; current
(present) head of a family
to establish; to formulate
at the very beginning of one's speech; the first thing (one) says after opening the mouth
to save face; to keep face; to not lose face
briskly; smartly; promptly; clearly; lucidly
to discern (e.g. right from wrong); to discriminate; to distinguish; to know (manners, one's place, etc.); to understand; to bear in mind
to pave the way; to put in motion; to put on the road (to)
to cross over (e.g. mountain); to go across; to get over (e.g. hardship); to pass time (e.g. a winter); to surpass; to be better than; to move house
madly in love; completely charmed (by); from the heart; entirely; (arch.) bottom of one's heart
optimism; taking an optimistic view
almost every day; almost daily
intelligence gathering; information gathering
to polish up (on); to refine; to hone; to polish (by rubbing)
three persons; three parties
split; division; break up
government service; the bureaucracy
betrayer; traitor; turncoat; informer
activity (of a person, organization, animal, volcano, etc.); action; movie (esp. during the silent movie period)
to be suitable; to be appropriate; to match
true character; true form; true colors (colours); consciousness; one's senses
restlessly; aimlessly; to loiter; to drift; to be restless; to fuss
to be crowded with people; to be bustling with; to prosper; to flourish; to do thriving business
imperial decree; imperial edict