vicissitudes, the way that the world or a person prospers one day and declines the next

dotting the i's and crossing the t's

successive series of questions and responses

Jade Emperor

(botany) the seed of blackberry lily (Iris domestica), notable for being jet-black / a Japanese sweet made with 求肥 (gyūhi) wrapped in red bean paste, and sprinkled with white sugar

Jade Emperor

(Japanese mythology) daughter of 海神 (Watatsumi), younger sister and daughter-in-law of 豊玉姫 (Toyotamabime), aunt and wife of 鸕鷀草葺不合 (Ugaya Fukiaezu), mother of Emperor Jinmu

excuse me; may I come in?

a kunoichi (female ninja) / Synonym of 女 (onna, “woman”)

a handful