Chapter 561 (1/2)
Chapter 561
Chapter 561: The Inconspicuous Yet Colorful Leaf
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
A black, horse-drawn carriage drove steadily deep within Mountain Wa .
The mountain path imbedded with green rocks was at first very smooth and gentle, but due to the erosion of the mud between the rocks by the rain and the wind, several gaps that were as wide as a finger gradually formed . Though the carriage was light as a feather, the pa.s.sengers still experienced a rocky ride as the stainless-steel made carriage wheels rode across these gaps . Naturally, it was difficult for everyone in the carriage to fall asleep .
Sangsang leaned onto the carriage windows as she sat on the cotton-padded mattress . Her eyelashes gently covering her eyes . Though she was sick and weak, there was still a slight flush on her pale-looking cheeks . The drops of perspiration on the peak of her nose made her seem somewhat excited .
Mo Shanshan sat on the soft cus.h.i.+on opposite her and stared silently at her . Her spa.r.s.e but long eyelashes sat atop bright eyes which blinked slightly . She appeared somewhat curious, with a hint of admiration .
Sangsang got anxious from her staring and said softly, ”Could you not stare at me like that?”
Mo Shanshan snapped back to reality and calmly said, ”Now that the match is done, many people are waiting beside the Wu Yue stream just to get a glimpse at you . Their stares will be much more intense than mine . If not for the thick carriage walls their stares could have burnt holes through it . Moreover, you have got to get used to such stares . ”
Sangsang opened her eyes and looked at her as she curiously asked, ”Did many people . . . stare at me just now?”
Mo Shanshan nodded .
”Very few people have looked at me with such intensive stares . In fact, no one ever has . ”
Sangsang began with a soft voice but it was not clear what struck her mind at that time as she gazed outside the window . The autumn breeze raised the green curtains, revealing the scenery of Wa Mountain to the pa.s.sengers in the carriage . This brought with it some feeling of clarity and helplessness .
”I have never been beautiful . Ning Que said that in the two years after he found me, I could not get any taller no matter what I ate, be it meat soup or rice soup . I was like a small mouse in his embrace . ”
She gazed at the scenery outside the carriage as she continued: ”Though later I managed to survive due to his care, I still could not get any prettier . I am skinny, small and stuck with a dark complexion . Even my hair is messy . It's shapeless, and it's slightly bronze in color, like an autumn cabbage left to rot in the mud . I don't even look any better wearing new clothes during the new year season . ”
”Ning Que has made fun of me before . He said no one would ever discover me even if he discards me into the vegetable fields or into the coal mines . And he is right . I am always that unimpressive little handmaiden no one ever notices . ”
Sangsang said, ”Once, when I was young, I had to drag 17 catty of mutton thigh home from the butcher store in the City of Wei . No one thought of helping me . It wasn't because the people in the City of Wei weren't helpful, but it was because no one even noticed me . It was the same after we arrived in Chang'an . During our stay at the Old Brush Pen Shop for two years, the uncle who was selling the hot and sour sliced noodle soup at the entrance of Lin 47th Street would sometimes forget who I was even though I purchased noodle soup from him almost every single morning . ”
She turned around, looked at Mo Shanshan and smiled . Her smile was very genuine . Her two dazzling white front teeth seemed to have brightened the dark carriage . She said, ”Ning Que is born to be better looking than me . His mouth is also sweeter than mine . Thus, it's easy for him to win over others' favor . Regardless of whether the person is General Ma from City of Wei, Aunt Jian, or even the Headmaster . ”
She then added, ”When I was with him, everyone only looked at him; but that's fine . I am used to standing behind him, and I don't really like being stared at anyway . ”
Mo Shanshan looked at the little lady, who was peacefully and naturally recounting her past experiences, and realized that she could not calm herself down . Not knowing what should be said, she remained silent .
She recalled the time when she left Chang'an as she gazed at the faraway Old Brush Pen Shop when her carriage drove past the entrance of Lin 47th Street . At that time, Ning Que was sitting opposite Sangsang while they had their meal . They did not speak much . Yet every movement or stare had hidden a natural and harmonious agreement between both the master and the handmaiden .
With mixed feelings, Mo Shanshan thought: even if you are the most inconspicuous little handmaiden in the world, and even if no one will ever notice your presence, Ning Que and you will only have eyes for each other . At least Ning Que will always look at you .
”At least in Ning Que's heart, you are the prettiest . ”
She said .