Within this white world, the striking dots of red catches your full attention, on the snow, on the branches, in the maids’ hands, little dots of plum blossoms, on top of the branches there is often an accumulation of snow, forming a background against the little dots of plum blossoms, it really is a penetrating red within the white, an unconceivable beauty, between heaven and earth, this combination of white and red creates a scene of poetic and pictorial splendour. The plum blossom also carries a fresh scent, coupled with the floating aroma of wine, two fragrances mixing together, deeply affected, he approaches the smell, soaking it into his heart.
The maidservants shuttles between the plum blossom trees, their hands carrying clippers, merry laughter sounding here and there, Guan Xiu Wen had almost thought he had wandered into fairyland.
A smile unconsciously surfaces on his face, he walks towards the middle of the plum forest, and his breathing suddenly stifles.
A snow white robe with red lapels, black hair like silk, eyebrows like distant hills, eyes like the stars, the whiteness of her skin wins over the snow, her appearance wins over that of the plum blossoms, she lightly smiles, looking exceedingly fascinating and charming.
He cannot help but to stop, attentively watching this scene, until he sees that woman smiling to him as she waves, only then, did he wake up from his trance, pulling away his eyes, he slowly walks up, stopping in front of the table, greeting her respectfully: “Madam.”
Upon looking at the youth, Gui Wan was a little surprised, this youth indeed suits wearing such refined style of outfit, just like a young nobleman, she blandly laughs in response to him: “Xiu Wen, sit down.” Although this young man is not related to her biologically in any way, she just feels as though he has a very familial vibe to him.
Guan Xiu Wen sits down, a cup of plum blossom wine had already been poured for him by the maid, he reaches out to take hold of the cup of wine, giving it a smell, it really has a light fragrance, a cup that touches people’s hearts. Seeing such an enchanted expression on his face, Gui Wan lets out a little laugh, and quips: “How is it, lives up to the trip here right?”
Responding with a smile, Guan Xiu Wen does not speak, he lightly takes a sip of the wine, the alcohol taste is clean but not weak, the fragrant flavour lasts a long time in the mouth, unable to hold back, he states: “Truly of the best quality.”
“That is of course,” Gui Wan picks up the just brewed wine, taking a small drink from it, she explains, “This is gifted by her highness the Empress, originally I had thought the wine taste was too weak, didn’t think that when brewed with plum blossoms, it would actually become such a beautiful wine.” Just when the words were spoken, her smile slightly fades, thinking of the Empress deep within the palace, Gui Wan would feel a little regretful for her. Three days after the banquet at the palace, the Empress had invited her into the palace, originally she had thought that the Empress would deliberately make things difficult for her, who would have thought that the Empress is actually gentle and graceful, courteous and considerate, her heart could not help but to like this Empress a little, one thing lead to another, and the two became friends.
That Empress that has tranquillity amongst her beauty, is just like a plum blossom, an adornment of little dots of red, resistant to looking, resistant to smelling, resistant to appreciations, unfortunately, within the Emperor’s eyes, there is only that alluring peony……
Seeing Gui Wan reveal a look of loneliness in her eyes, Guan Xiu Wen also frowns, within that moment, the world around them went silent, only the faint laughter in the forest can be heard, a light fragrance lingering in the nose.