809 The World in Heaven (1/2)

After eating mutton giblets soup, Ning Que had quite a bit of wine during supper. He walked out of the Chao Mansion and into the cold wind, sobering up instantly. He felt dissatisfied, and even a little annoyed.

The horse carriage had already left for the funeral parlor. Ning Que made the driver leave, and walked into the grounds, hobbling on his crutch through the snow. He could see Mo Shanshan writing through the window.

The candlelight was just as before and the woman was just as beautiful. He stood outside the window silently for a long while before knocking on the door and entering. However, he did not know what to say.

Ning Que wanted to drink with Mo Shanshan, but only realized that it was late into the night when he entered her room. He did not know what to say, and just asked, ”How is Cat Girl?”

”She's getting married...” Mo Shanshan was about to pour him some tea. She looked at his expression and could not resist smiling. She said, ”I want to drink some wine, do you want some?”

The two drank aged wine from the Great River Kingdom and snacked on some dishes and vegetable porridge.

Mo Shanshan asked, ”You seem worried.”

Ning Que put down his cup and rubbed his brows. He said, ”Is it that obvious?”

Mo Shanshan smiled and said, ”Why else would you look for me so late into the night?”

After a moment of silence, Ning Que told her everything that happened that night. However, he did not mention the sinister things that he had gotten Chen VII to arrange. He lamented, ”Five years ago, I met Hua Shanyue for the first time at the Northern Mountain Road when I escorted Li Yu back to Chang'an. I did not like him then, and I still don't. However, I would never expect that he would rather give up his life to save Li Yu. Love is something that baffles people.”

”Love...”

Mo Shanshan turned her wine cup and looked at Ning Que silently before saying, ”...is something that is hard to understand.”

Ning Que was slightly flustered under her gaze. He reached out to pick up fried anchovies, but the fish slid down from his chopsticks.

He placed the chopsticks on the table and changed the topic, ”I'm a little worried because of what had happened in the world. Many died on the snowy street that day, but they died quickly and cleanly. Many will live tonight, but their living makes me uncomfortable. Second Uncle Chao told me that if I should ask for Heaven's Way, then I should not be bothered by the things of the world. But if these things come and bother us, then we should cut them like how the Abbey Dean was cut. However, it is easier said than done.”

Mo Shanshan tucked her hair behind her ears and said, ”Everyone would be troubled by these choices on the cultivation path. Ihave once faced the same trouble only to realize later that I am a very greedy person. I want to know Heaven's Way, and I also want to interfere with the matters of the world. I also want to think about love.”

he looked up at Ning Que and said, ”Back then at the Tile Mountain, I wanted to ask Master Qishan something, but did not manage to. I thought I had already understood then. But after returning to the Great River, I sat by the Ink Lake and looked at the reflections in the water. I looked at the drifting clouds in the blue sky and discovered that my understanding was just an escape. I still had not accepted it, and that was me being greedy. I once told you by the red walls in the snow that I liked you, and I still do.”

After a long silence, he said, ”I like you too.”

Then, he looked at the bamboos outside the snowy window and thought of that long night when he had bellowed at Heaven and Earth by the snow lake. He said, ”That day when she ran away, I managed to get her back because she had not run far. This time, she ran away to the skies. It is too far and she can't come back, so I can't do anything.”

This statement did not seem to have anything to do with their conversation. But Mo Shanshan understood his intentions. Her long lashes fluttered slightly, but her expression was devoid of any hurt, and there was only calmness on her pale face.

”I like you and you like me. That's good.”

She looked at Ning Que and said, ”I might have been greedy before, but I may probably not be now. I won't feel sad because of this, since it's probably Heaven's will.”

She poured a cup of wine and pushed it in front of Ning Que.

Then, she turned around to look at the night sky outside of the window. She smiled slightly and said, ”Who let her be the Heavens?”

Ning Que looked at her beautiful face and drank the wine in his cup as a toast.

It was getting colder in Chang'an as it grew colder in winter. The days inched forward, unstoppable. And the 18th year of Tianqi silently came to an end.