This chapter was translated for only. And only for those people who don’t mind reading unprofessional translation that was being translated FREELY using the translator’s and editor’s own free times. So rude & ent.i.tled people aren’t welcome to read this translation!!! So GO AWAY….
By Qian Lu
Chapter 66
Shuang Tian Bie Yuan Courtyard (Part 2)
From a far away, near the plum forest, a trace of fiery figure was standing in the wind, it made Murong Shu Qing stop from walking into the plum forest. The sleeves of the clothing were swirling layer upon layer of the plum flowers. The person’s loose black and long hair was dancing freely with the wind, as if it was a dazzling dark satin. This person seemed to unite the aura from the heaven & earth, and made people not dare to watch intently. Standing at that place, for a thousand years, and was just wondering at that plum forest, had never left the place. However, that red color was the pinnacle of pretty and flirtatious, and was not so compatible with this person’s distinct, spirited, n.o.ble and proud characters.
Exactly because of this kind of contradiction views that made Murong Shu Qing quietly and calmly stand by the side of the plum forest, she did not even walked for one step either. If she walked in, it would just break this ‘proud and beautiful picture’.
The red figure that was facing the wind, did not turn around because of her arrival, nor did the person make her to leave. The person was still proudly standing in the wind, did not move nor saying anything, and there was only the slightly cold north wind that was upsurging that trace of gorgeous red clothing from time to time.
The setting sun was gradually leaning to the west, it showed Murong Shu Qing that it was already the evening time. Kneading her somewhat stiffed neck, she was actually standing and looking at that plum forest for almost one shichen (2 hrs), and did not even move at all, looking at the person’s shadow. Murong Shu Qing suddenly wanted to know what kind of an appearance that person had, that the person had this beautiful, lofty and unyielding characters, as if it was a quiet winter. Was this person the reason why Qi Rui did not allow her to go into the Bai Su Feng Lin forest?
Raising her head to show her calm and light smile, finally, even though Murong Shu Qing had not stepped into that red dress person’s world, she turned around to step on the dead leaves that were falling from the plum forest. Listening to the sound of the dead leaves that were under her feet and the tangling of the cool breeze, she could lightly smell the soil that was mixed with the forest air, Murong Shu Qing was strolling and departing from there.
Murong Shu Qing was strolling and appreciating the scenery all the way, when she returned back to Jing Shui Ya Xu, the sky was already dark. Entering the courtyard, she saw that the small courtyard was already tidied up. Originally, the courtyard was filed with chrysanthemum flowers, all over the vicinity of the courtyard and forming a crescent shape moon, the other empty s.p.a.ce seemed to be out of place and needed a change. One could not say that the original appearance was not good, but the courtyard had been arranged by Lu Yi according to her liking now. Inside the courtyard’s small front hall, there were a soft couch and several low tables, the tea sets and many books.
Murong Shu Qing lightly smiled and shook her head, this girl, really wanted to spoil her.
Looking that Murong Shu Qing had entered the small courtyard for a good while, but she had not come in, Lu Yi came out to welcome her. Helping her to untie the robe, she supported her to enter the room, smilingly said: “Miss, you have returned, you can eat now.”
Inside the room, there was only Jing Shui who was just about to arrange the bowls and chopsticks, Murong Shu Qing was looking one glance at the surrounding, but she did not see Qi Rui’s figure.
Murong Shu Qing asked: “Where is elder brother?”
Lu Yi was holding the brocade robe, folding it properly and putting it aside, while she answered: “Young Master asked the young servant boy to inform us that he can not accompany you to eat tonight.”
Today was the first day that she was at the Shang Tian Bie Yuan, Qi Rui was really attached with Jing Shui also, it was reasonable to say that he could not easily go out. What kind of matter would make him hurriedly go like this?
When Murong Shu Qing lowered her eyebrows to ponder over it, Yan Yu’s black figure was already outside the door now, and walked into the room very quickly, his expression was still grave and stern and he was standing in front of Murong Shu Qing.
Murong Shu Qing raised her head and asked: “Yan Yu, what is wrong?” Ordinarily, Yan Yu would not appear unless she asked him to, could something happened?
Yan Yu’s tone was cold, but he was still tranquil when he answered: “The scout’s report, Cang Yue and Dong Yu officially started the war about 30 li (1 li = 500 meter) outside of Lin Feng Guan border yesterday evening. It was Dong Yu’s small victory during yesterday’s battle.”
“The army provisions have been delivered?” Even though she knew that this war could not be avoided, but she did not expect that it would be so quick like this. But the two armies that were fighting, the army provisions would be delivered in advance, but she had not received any news that the Imperial court had delivered the provisions. So hearing the news now that they had already started the war, it would still make her feel surprise.
“Not yet, the Imperial court just deployed a three months worth of the army’s provisions yesterday, to be delivered outside of Lin Feng Guan border.”
“Yesterday?” Murong Shu Qing slightly knitted her elegant eyebrows, it seemed that the Imperial court did not foresee that Cang Yue would take the initiative to attack either. Lightly dropping her head, Murong Shu Qing sighed and said: “I understood. Tell Cang Su to pay close attention to Cang Yue’s movements, especially that Cang Yue’s commander in chief, You Xiao!” This commander in chief showed up strangely, n.o.body had ever heard about this person before, but he was actually the country’s commander in chief. She asked Shen Xiao Yun investigate about him for one month, unexpectedly, he still could not get any information, this person appeared to show up out of thin air. She was afraid that this person was the biggest variable for this war.
“Yes!” When Yan Yu saw that Murong Shu Qing raised her hand to lightly wave at him, he slightly bowed and rapidly left the room.
Three months! The Imperial court only gave three months time to Xuanyuan Yi, if they could resolve this within the shortest time possible, that was certainly the best solution, based on Xuanyuan Yi’s strategy and military skills, he should be able to achieve this. But Murong Shu Qing felt that Cang Yue’s action was especially unusual this time, so people were not able to guess what they would do next, her mind was somewhat not peaceful.
If the war could not be ended within three months, the army provisions would be a key problem, the state treasury could not be completed used up either. So if the war continued for half a year, the Imperial court would turn towards the people for the provisions. The Murong’s family would bear the brunt, so she would start to plan for this.
Miss had to be worried about those trifling affairs again, Miss would have to worry about the Murong’s family business everyday, and she had to worry about the war now. At this time, she seemed to somewhat understood what Miss was saying, "sometimes not knowing was also a happy thing", the previous Miss did not understand anything, so she could only feel happy and comfortable, live carefree and without worries. Now…. sighing, and feeling sorry for her health, Lu Yi picked up a bowl of soup, and carried it to Murong Shu Qing’s front, she sighed and said: “Miss, you should eat some food now, it will be cold.”
Recovered, she looked at Lu Yi who was anxiously looking at her, knowing that this girl was anxious for her, she raised a happy smile, and took the hot soup that was on Lu Yi’s hand. Coming to the front dining table, she smilingly said to Lu Yi and Jing Shui: “Alright, you guys are also hungry, sit down and eat.”
The two people were looking one glance at each other, and calmly sat down to accompany eating with Murong Shu Qing. Looking at them who bowed their heads and did not speak, and only engrossed in adding the dishes, Murong Shu Qing helplessly put down the bowl that was already piled as high as a mountain, she sighed and said: “Do you guys want to make me eat nonstop until tomorrow?”
The two people suddenly raised their heads to look at Murong Shu Qing whose bowl was already piled up and who showed her grieving expression, they could not help but to laugh out loud. The three people were laughing noisily, and they finished eating their meals quickly.
Lu Yi hurriedly cleaned up, and Jing Shui withdrew from Murong Shu Qing’s room, she knew that even though Miss was chatting and laughing with them from time to time, that was because she did not want them to worry. Her heart was still actually pondering over that meddlesome thing, but they could not understand it either. Since she could not help Miss, but at the very least, she would not disturb her.
Today was already several days later?! Murong Shu Qing could not remember it clearly either, that was still the unyielding, cold, beautiful trace of red figure in front of her. It was already a habit of her to wait for two shichen (4 hrs) at this plum forest everyday in the afternoon, but she could only quietly look at that picturesque person and the scenery that were in front of her. Moreover, that trace of red shadow was always showing her back for her for the entire time, alone, looking at the sky, standing for a day. The person would also drink wine and paint, but had never turned around to come over.
With the wide red robe, and the always loose long hair, made Murong Shu Qing unable to distinguish whether or not the person was a male or female, but this did not influence her decision to admire that person. The red dress person should also know Murong Shu Qing’s arrival, but he seemed to not care about it.
One person had never entered the plum forest, and never disturbed, the other was continuing in his own way, proud, aloof and solitary. One person was by the side of the fig tree, while the other person was standing proudly under the plum tree. Two kinds of bearings, but each staying at one side.
The sun was quickly setting again, she took the thick brocade robe that Lu Yi had especially prepared for her. Today seemed to be colder, the leaves of the fig tree by her side, were falling down from time to time. Comparing to the plum forest that was across from her, and was colder and more unyielding, this fig tree forest seemed to be somewhat desolate. But Murong Shu Qing just liked the long vitality of the fig tree which leaves were falling and then the full and new fig tree would come out. Stretching her waist, Murong Shu Qing who was always standing, just about planning to leave, but she saw the red dress person’s back who seemed to already complete his painting. He was different than any average person, who would linger and appreciate it for a long time after painting it, or would alter or inscribe it. But, he would put away his brush, and not look at that painting anymore that he drew for the whole afternoon. Casually leaning by the side of the low table, he tasted the tea and appreciated the scenery, as if he had never drawn anything.
Looking at his graceful writing, free and unconstrained use in the brush, Murong Shu Qing guessed that he should draw the plum flower. For her own ridiculous thought and antic.i.p.ation, Murong Shu Qing moved forward and entered the plum forest that she had been watching for several days, only for the reason beside that picture scroll, where two cups of steam green tea were placed on!
Sian’s notes:
Another mysterious person?