Chapter 6 (2/2)
“But?”
“Minister Wen is the best friend of Minister Fan Li You can say things to him that are not appropriate for us to say Why don’t you try to talk some sense into him?”
Wen Zhong was baffled, “Sense? What’s wrong with Minister Fan Li?”
“Minister Fan Li fell love with that little shepherdess Everyhe leaves with her and don’t return until after sundown He won’t per hient affairs”
Wen Zhong laughed and thought, “When Brother Fan Li was living in the kingdom of Chu, everyone called his like other people”
At that tirassland and telling A’qing the story of the Goddess Consort Xiang A’qing was sitting close by his side and listened to hiht eyese never left his face Suddenly she said, “Consort Xiang is really that beautiful?”
Fan Li said, “Her eyes are clearer and brighter than the water in this mountain stream…”
A’qing said, “Does she have fish in her eyes?”
Fan Li continued, “Her skin is like the clouds, but fairer”
A’qing said, “Are there birds flying in those clouds?”
Fan Li continued obliviously, “Her lips are softer than the petal of this flower and redder Her lips are moist, evenstands next to the river, the beauty of her reflection made all the riverside floilt in sha her reflection When her white hand is dipped into the river, it was so soft that it could almost melt into the water…”
A’qing said, “You saw her, didn’t you How else can you describe her so clearly?”
Fan Li said, “I saw her I saw her very, very clearly”
Of course, he was referring to Xi shi+, not the Goddess Consort Xiang
He looked at the north His eyes looked beyond a wide, roaring river Is the beauty in the royal palace of Wu Is she with King Fuchai? Is she thinking about me?
A’qing said, “Fan Li! Your beard is strange, can I touch it?”
Fan Li thought, “Is she weeping, or laughing?”
A’qing said, “Fan Li, you have two strands of white beard, just like oats”
Fan Li thought, “When we’re separated, she wept on my shoulder Her tear soaked half of led with hers on that robe”
A’qing said, “Fan Li Can I pull out one of your beard? I will pull gently You won’t feel a thing”
Fan Li thought, “She said she loved riding in a boat and float with the currents After I take her back, I will not be a courtin rivers and lakes, for the rest of my life”
Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain on his chin A’qing pulled out a strand of his beard She laughed prettily Suddenly the laugh was cut off and she said, “You’re here again!”