Chapter 25 (1/2)

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Wine For Comfort

The guard who stopped them was about to step forward when he was elbowed by the head guard next to him. After a pause, he realised something and let the procession pa.s.s without another word.

There were many oirans here who were both rich and beautiful. A tiny complaint by anyone of them would be enough to ruin these puny guards.

Upon leaving the western gate of the city, one kilometre south was the graveyard. It was currently winter and the place was scattered with ancient trees and vines. The sudden arrival of this crowd of beauties added some life to this deathly place.

Li Chengfeng led everyone in the burial of Liu Zhixi. She was laid to rest at her grave. When the first shovel of soil was scattered on her coffin, everyone's eyes reddened. Many covered their faces to wipe their tears.

When the burial was over, Liu Sumei instructed her servant to bring a guzheng over. Facing the newly set tombstone, she said, “Sister Zhixi, we were all too afraid to collect your body and bring you to your final resting place. I hope you'll forgive us, will you?”

Liu Sumei plucked the strings lightly and spoke in a gentle voice, “Zhixi, we have been helpless and could not help you investigate the case. I'm sorry your truth has not been found. All we can do is be with you on the last step of your journey, I hope you can forgive us. Here is a song for you.”

Liu Sumei and Liu Zhixi had always been rivals in terms of beauty and talent. Their rivalry was famous across Cheng'an City, yet upon Liu Zhixi's untimely death, all Liu Sumei felt was emptiness and inexplicable sorrow. She played the guzheng gracefully and sang 'Hairpin Phoenix'.

The world is fickle, its people are cruel, twilight shower bids fragile blossoms adieu.

The dawn breeze blows, my tearstains dry. I wish I could write my feelings to you but all I do is mutter to myself as I lean on the railings. It is tough, tough, tough!

To each their own, today is not what yesterday was, my sickly soul sways like the ropes of a swing.

The cold horn sounds as the night comes to its end. I hold back my tears and feign a smile, for I am terrified if they ask.

[T/L Note: I've done my best to translate this, but you should look up Hairpin Phoenix (钗头凤·世情薄), a poem by Tang Wan. Such a sad, dramatic, emotionally complicated poem. I love it.]

When her song ended, all the girls were sobbing hard.

Li Chengfeng held a cup of wine high up and came to the front of the grave. Patting Liu Sumei's shoulder, he said, “Please excuse me, Sumei, I'd like to have a few words with Miss Zhixi.”

She got up, bowed, then carried her guzheng to stand aside. Her song had immersed the crowd into a deep melancholy. They all looked at Li Chengfeng as if waiting for him to recite an earth-shatteringly sad poem.

However, his first sentence was something too unpoetic. “Miss Zhixi, I know you didn't like me.”

The girls looked at each other, slightly disappointed but no one looked down on him anymore.

He continued, “I know, Miss Zhixi. A soul as pure as jade will never like a pile of dirty bones like me.”

The girls sighed, thinking: if only Miss Zhixi could see this today. Would she change her mind? Would she stop liking all the filthy rich men and fall for this poor hopeless romantic?

They held their breaths and focused to listen to Li Chengfeng's words. “The first time I met you, you were on stage and I was watching just in front. All though we were only a few metres apart, you were a celebrity and I was the sc.u.m of society. I felt like you were high up in the heavens while I was left in the dust. People say that I, Li Chengfeng, am a reckless, empty flirt but no one knows how careful and nervous I was in front of you.”