Chapter 12 (1/2)
CHAPTER TWELVE
Why Not Get Drunk?
Peach blossom planted and exposed in heaven, is not [like] the typical flowers found on earth.[1]
Summer is soon here, the chilly air has already left, and the morning sun warmly s.h.i.+nes upon the people. Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ has been awakened from her dreams, mumbling her curses: “They don’t even think to let people have a nice sleep, coming earlier day by day.”
Walking to the front, Xiao Ya Zi hears this and looks back, grinning as he says: “Ever since the gentlemen upstairs started staying here, our place has been getting busier day by day.”
Instantly sending him a sharp glare, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ scolds: “Who told you to speak?” Inside, she was overcome with confusion, the night five days ago, after that exceptionally beautiful “young man” came in, the rest inn has indeed been getting busier and busier by the day, that esteemed guest whose name is unknown, spent the first two days with refined scholars of Qu Zhou, drinking tea and discussing literary, then after the two days, stopped doing so, the people who were interested also came in swarms, towards such a trend, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ does not like it and is indeed shocked, a sense of unease quietly enveloping her heart.
She has read countless people, yet she just cannot guess the ident.i.ty of this esteemed guest at all, but from looking at the person’s behaviour these past two days, she senses that the matter is not actually as simple as drinking tea and discussing literary, as for what exactly the key to this is, at the moment, she cannot really explain it herself.
“Madam, they’re here.” Xiao Ya Zi’s flippantly cheeky voice shocks her awake, looking over the lobby, even her head was starting to hurt, could it be that all the scholars in the world has gathered in this rest in?
Discreetly sounding a cry, she pulls on an over exaggerated smile, greeting the ma.s.ses of black headed people below: “Gentlemen, why has everyone gotten up so early today?”
The majority of the scholars within the lobby, raises their heads, upon seeing someone slowly make their way down from upstairs, a tall and thin person of scholarly appearance, rises and returns the gesture, “Madam, has the gentleman woke up yet?”
Within the big lobby, not one person knows what the unfamiliar guest is called, amongst them, there were also those that have not even seen “his” face before, although they know that the person can very possibly be a lady, they still follow the attendants addressing of “gentleman”, hence the word “gentleman” becoming “his” exclusive addressment.
A professional smile hung on her face as Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ answers: “The gentleman’s hour of rising, you should all know already, no matter how much earlier you wait, it is no use, it is better if you all come back in an hours count.” She lightly waves her hand, advising them to return home, unfortunately, the people in the lobby showed not a single response, not one person had any thoughts of leaving.
Lightly sighing, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ turns back and shouts towards Xiao Ya Zi: “Quickly go prepare breakfast for everyone, or else in a while, they wouldn’t have the strength to hold a ‘literary meeting’.” Thinking that it is no use speaking to these blockheads anymore, even her hospitableness to serve the customers has completely disappeared without a trace, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ turns around and heads upstairs.
Walking down the hallway, she reaches the semi-layer that the esteemed guest is staying in, halting her steps, she quietly thinks to herself for a moment, and then leisurely walks over, as she has expected, she sees the maids Ru Qing, Ru Ming heading towards the floral hall with an incense burner, presumably in preparation for receiving the guests in a while, she takes three steps forwards, calling out to Ru Qing: “Maid Qing, has your master gotten up?” (Note: The floral hall is the Chinese equivalent of drawing room – a room aside from the main living room where guests can be received and entertained)
Hearing her voice, the two maids turns towards her, seeing that it is Fiery Xi s.h.i.+, they both reveal a sweet smile, probably because Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ is open and direct by nature, Ru Qing, Ru Ming have gotten familiar with her in such a short time, Ru Qing greets first: “Gentleman is already up, in the floral hall.” Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ hurries forward, approaching the two maids, the three of them chatting and laughing, as they head towards the floral hall.
At the floral hall, one can see the eight brawny men expressionlessly guarding every corner of the floral hall, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ is no longer bewildered by this scene, she had long realised, the esteemed guest is never left alone, if not the two maids then there are the eight personal bodyguards, creating a sense of being heavily guarded.
“Is it San Niang there?” A voice as fragile as jade sounds, ringing out from behind the curtains, her tone neither hurried nor delayed, smoothly carrying a rhythm, a feeling like that of each syllable rippling through one’s heart.
Fiery Xi s.h.i.+’s birth name is San Niang, just that it has been many years since people called her that, to hear it right now, it actually feels as though she is in a dream, hurriedly replying: “Gentleman, it is I.” Walking up to the curtains, she stops at a spot five steps away, these past five days, “gentleman’ would always be separated behind the curtains when meeting the guests, and would never let anyone come within a five step radius, five steps, thus became the strict rule.
“San Niang is no outsider.” The figure behind the curtains lightly says, upon hearing this, the two maids immediately steps forward, rolling up the curtains.
Directly facing the one behind the curtains, San Niang could not supress sighing in praise, the person’s peerless elegance, even as a woman, she cannot compare to such, laughingly saying: “Gentleman, you have gotten up so early today.”
Looking at Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ in admiration, the corners of Gui Wan’s lips hooks up into a beautiful curve, she had not seen such straightforward att.i.tude for a long time, and especially likes it, “San Niang has also gotten up really early.”
“Those scholars have been coming earlier by the days, I too have no choice,” Having said that, she quietly observes the “gentleman’s” att.i.tude, unexpectedly, the opposition only smiles indifferently, showing no clear indications at all.
Not knowing whether to call it disappointment or whether other emotions are rising inside of her, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ sounds a sigh, when suddenly, she smells a faint and clear, flower-like fragrance, turning her head towards it, on the other side of the curtain, a flask of wine rests on the table, as someone who has excessively loved wine her entire lifetime, she hastily asks without restraint: “Gentleman, what wine is this? So fragrant.”
“Plum blossom wine.”
“Plum blossom wine? So it was brewed with plum blossoms, no wonder the fragrance is so faint and clear.” Full of praises, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ happily says this.
Hands casually stoking the neck of the wine flask, Gui Wan silently sinks into her thoughts for a moment, seeming to have recalled something, “Since San Niang is so fond of it, go ahead and take it.” Gently giving the wine a push towards her, allowing Ru Ming to pa.s.s it to Fiery Xi s.h.i.+.
Fireworks sounding inside of her, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ murmurs: “This wouldn’t be right, is this not taking away someone’s goods?” Suddenly raising her head again, saying: “Gentleman has yet to eat breakfast, and you’re drinking wine?”
“Not drinking, smelling.” Lazily explaining, Gui Wan smiles as she watches Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ take one big mouthful of wine.
Mouth filled with aroma, she smacks her lips together in satisfaction, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ quips: “Can you get full from smelling?”
“That is not it, I originally thought that smelling it will be able to get me three points drunk, who would have known that I am still so wide awake.” Half-jokingly answering her question, Gui Wan lightly raises her brows, a look of innocence immediately revealed.
Slightly stunned, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ loudly laughs, “Gentleman must be joking, only by drinking the entire flask, do you have the possibility of getting drunk.”
Gui Wan also laughs along, three points of frivolousness revealed between her brows, “San Niang you’re already drunk……” Spoken in a sighing tone, making Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ shocked.
Composing herself, she once again looks over the person in front, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ seriously asks: “Is Gentleman afraid of getting drunk?”
“I am,” Gui Wan sits up straight, her eyes deep and bottomless, “This thing called wine, is it not something that can only be savoured when half drunk, half sober?”
“If you have not been completely drunk, how could you know that the feeling of being completely drunk is not any better than being half drunk? Has Gentleman never heard before, this thing called wine is a thing that dispels grief? If not drunk, how is one to dispel grief?”
Hearing those words, Gui Wan reveals a look of confusion, lightly repeating Fiery Xi s.h.i.+’s words once again, seemingly hit with realisation, seemingly hit with regret……thinking for a while, she suddenly brightens up again, that resonant voice even more penetrating as she lightly laments: “What limits the affection of slightly cold weather and drizzling rain holds, unable to prevent the pa.s.sing of spring. What harm is there in getting drunk for one’s lord, only afraid when sobered up, the heartbreak that follows……” [1]
Holding the half-filled flask of wine, unable to bring herself to drink it, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ quietly stares at the “gentleman”, only feeling that her every move blends in with her carefree beauty, her every syllable, every tone, is able to touch people’s hearts, like a light breeze beckoning people to dance along with her, intoxicated by her, just now, the slightly sad feelings she portrayed, clearly travels across in this moment, affecting Fiery Xi s.h.i.+’s own feelings, discreetly pulling herself together, she laughingly says: “Gentleman has such refined interests.”
As though she did not hear those words, Gui Wan laments: “I originally thought everyone is drunk, only I alone am sober, didn’t think that, it is actually everyone who is sober, I alone am drunk ah……” Such tender voice faintly disperses in the air, not minding if anyone hears, upon raising her head, she sees Fiery Xi s.h.i.+’s puzzled expression, Gui Wan could not help but to laugh, laughing prettily without restraint, she diverts to another topic: “San Niang, can you tell me, what are the rumours circulating around town lately?”
Suddenly snapped back to reality, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ was secretly amazed, this “gentleman” has many changes in expression, suddenly angry, suddenly laughing, suddenly displeased, suddenly worried, her thoughts makes it hard for others to read, hearing her question, she slowly starts speaking, recently there has been certain ballads circulating around town, singing of a beauty bringing disaster to the country, the monarch loves beauty, does not love the country.
Listening to Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ describe in detail the sudden increase of rumours outside these days, Gui Wan’s thoughts were half in the light, half in the shade, seemingly smiling yet seemingly not smiling, unable to make out whether it is joy or sorrow, content or worries……
Standing at the counter of the rest inn, managing the accounts whilst sending her regards to the leaving customers, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+’s thoughts spins, her mind continuously playing back this morning’s conversation in the floral hall, she just gets the feeling that that “gentleman” is deeply unpredictable, whilst still conversing, she asked the “gentleman”, whether she thinks those ballads are right or wrong, the “gentleman” sounds a faint laugh, asking back, what worldly matters are definitely right or definitely wrong, everyone is only showcasing their abilities.
Is it the case of everyone showing their abilities? Smiling as she shakes her head, personally thinking that she has been confused by the “gentleman”, because of her one phrase, she herself has been in a restless all day today.
Raising her head, the customers have pretty much all left, stretching her lazy waist, she walks out from the behind the counter, Fiery Xi s.h.i.+ was just about to shout out to the dozing Xiao Ya Zi to close the business, when she glances outside to see a few horses and a horse carriage stop outside the rest inn, looks like there are yet another group of customers, restoring her smile, she stands at the doors, waiting to serve the customers.
Dismounting from the horse, getting off the carriage, there are actually six people who has come, smiling deeper, she thinks to herself, these past two days, the rest inn practically seems to have won a fortune, watching as the people approaches, her smile stiffens, the six people are dressed strangely, is very different to the Celestial Empire, they are clearly Nu people, the Celestial Empire has always shared a hostile relations.h.i.+p with the Nu, her rest inn have never served Nu people before, walking upfront, she blocks their path, smiling as she says: “Everybody, our rest inn has already ran out of room.”
Suddenly realising that amongst the six people, there is a bright and beautiful woman, brilliantly smiling to her, without the chance to let that smile sink in, her shoulder is. .h.i.t with pain, and her vision turns black as she involuntarily sinks down……
“Mo Na, tone down your actions, careful no one finds out.” The voice comes from the mouth of a young man, with a built taller and stronger than that of the Celestial Empire, further showing his extraordinary looks and mightiness, a pair of eagle-like eyes reveals sharpness, carrying a domineering air and imposing manner by nature.
“Your highness can rest a.s.sured, there is practically no one in this big lobby right now, we won’t be found out.” The woman called Mo Na charmingly smiles, further showing her incomparably bright looks, remarkably touching.
Giving her a nod that practically could not be seen, he looks upstairs with complex feelings, it is upstairs, where “he” is staying right, the one who saved him under the moonlight and also the one who planned to harm him, the one who he cannot indulge his feeling for, the one who has left him absolutely captivated and also the one who makes him gnash his teeth in hatred……
The dozing Xiao Ya Zi in the rest inn, has yet to grow aware, six strangers have broken into the rest inn.
Only the two lanterns hung at the entrance, is unceasingly swaying in the wind, the light scattering, light and dark overlapping, making the moonlight in the darkness set off an extremely unusual eeriness……
The fifth day…..is it already the fifth day?
Finger lightly tapping on the wine flask, rhythmically, slowly, feeling an icy coolness at the tip of her fingers, Gui Wan finds it pleasantly soothing, the smell of clear and light fragrance lingers in her nose, gradually blurring her sober tenacity, looking a bit like she is in a trance, she looks at the wine flask, prettily smiling as she sighs, could it be that she is drunk?
The one who clearly said would rush there and rush back when leaving, has still yet to show up……unable to tell whether it is disappointment or melancholy inside of her, she still smiles ever so freely, just that she feels faintly stuffy inside, inadvertently entangled……