Imperial Guards (Tang dynasty)
appointment; assignment; promotion
sigh (of grief, disappointment, etc.); grieving; lamenting; deploring
in succession; one by one
to tear off; to strip off; to rip off; to rob (someone) of (clothes); to divest (someone) of (powers, rank, etc.)
nightclothes; nightwear; sleepwear; pyjamas; pajamas; nightgown
close to the wall; alongside the wall
sleep; sleeping; inactivity; death
His Majesty the Emperor; the present emperor; the reigning emperor
disliking; hating; tendency; smack (of); distinction; discrimination
the late emperor; preceding emperor
long (time that has passed); old (story)
(a) step; one step; level; stage; small degree; small amount
to take (a resource, e.g. time or money); to hang; to come into view; to arrive; to come under (a contract, a tax); to start (engines, motors); to attend
peace (of mind); tranquility; tranquillity; serenity
to pose as; to (successfully) impersonate; to pretend to be; to (completely) become; to (fully) turn into
thought; consideration; thinking
to turn toward; to look (up, down, etc.); to face (e.g. east) (of a building, window, etc.); to look out on; to point (of an arrow, compass needle, etc.); to be suited to
lively; vigorous; sprightly; animated; vivid
my goodness!; good lord!; holy cow!
to break; to be broken; to be folded; to give in; to back down; to turn (a corner)
fleeting; transient; short-lived; empty (dream, etc.); mere (hope); faint (possibility)
one arm; one's right-hand man; one's right hand
to snap; to break (under pressure)
distance; range; difference (e.g. in opinion); gap; metric
weak; feeble; delicate; frail; helpless
half asleep and half awake; trance; dream and reality
to impose (a tax, fine, etc.); to levy; to assign (a task, duty, etc.); to give; to set
nothing but; none other than
to take (someone) away; to carry off; to abduct; to kidnap
evil; wickedness; (role of) the villain (in theatre, etc.); the bad guy
den; haunt; hangout; nest; lair
to take (someone) out (for a walk, to lunch, etc.); to entice out; to lure away
to protect; to guard; to defend; to keep (i.e. a promise); to abide (by the rules); to observe
incoherent; vague; silly; foolish
life; lifetime; career; for life; all one's life; throughout one's life
creation of heaven and earth
conduct; behavior; behaviour; being pregnant
leader; guide; mentor; coach
wise ruler; enlightened monarch; benevolent lord
to struggle in the water; to be drowning; to sink below the surface and become unable to breathe; to indulge in; to lose one's head over something; to be addicted