Chapter 1

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I’m back! Enjoy the series.

Author: Feng He You Yue (风荷游月), Translated by: San Guniang

Day 0 – She was the Most Stunning and Breath-Taking Beauty

The day was cold. The snow fell heavily like goose feather, like balls of cotton wool, and continued for more than three days.

A layer of thick ice solidified on the lake surface. The colorful world was covered with endless whiteness. The glistening frost made the world looked like fairyland. Under the ice, the water was clear, the light and shadow were set in movement. A koi tail which connected to a beauty body swung slowly and twisted nimbly.

(TN: Picture of the snowy world)

On the shore, a maid-servant hurriedly walked past. No one paid attention to the movement in the lake.

When the winter solstice came, Fourth Prince, who unlikely came during winter, was coming for the first time to stay in this small villa, which made all servants caught unprepared. The mountain villa was quiet and secluded. Other people were not allowed to go inside. The only few servants lived there rarely visited the inner courtyard. Thus it was left without anybody to care for it.

The water of the lake was extended from the springs of the mountain behind the villa. The upstream did not freeze. The water was gurgled while flowing sluggishly. The koi swam to a block of Taihu stone (1) and circled around it. Seeing a pale achromatic light flashed through, a damp small head emerged from under the water. A pair of slender white hands climbed up the stone wall and leaned her body out of the water. Satin black hair draped over her shoulders or scattered at her back, and wrapped the slim and delicate upper part of her body. Among the snow-covered scenery, she was the most stunning and breath-taking beauty.

(TN: Picture of Taihu stone)

The surface of the water undulated behind and swept layer upon layer of ripples away, shortly followed by a long and dazzling arc. The thin tail fin flapped the water for a glimpse. Surely it would scare any bystanders who saw, so she just hid there and did not dare to be found.

Following the white arms to the top was a small face as fine as a jade, as white as pear blossom, and adorned by winter day. More than half of her body was shrunk in the water. Her smooth shoulders and neck were partly hidden. Droplets of water hung on her eyelashes. Her pair of dark eyes were bright and beautiful and full of smiling expression.

***

Rarely had chance to come out, Miao Miao propped her chin with one hand on the stone. Her gaze surveyed the courtyard in front of her, and mumbled to herself: “Has he come back?”

The gentle and beautiful sweet voice was like warblers hoot transmitted on valley air, adding a lot of vitality to this hazy snow-covered scenery.

She stayed to see for a moment. Her mind was filled with that man’s elegant and gentle appearance. After some time, she couldn’t help but lift her cherry lips. It had been four months since he left last time. Had he been doing well recently? Was he able to sleep well at night? Couldn’t he go to the lakeside to see the nightscape?

Miao Miao leaned her upper body on the thick and broad stone. Her delicate cheek stuck on the ice-cold stone surface. Her mind had drifted far away…… I really want to see him. Even though can’t speak, just look from a far is good.

Unfortunately, it can only be her extravagant hope. Wei Ling had said that letting others see their looks would surely arouse confusion. They would be captured and abused…… Miao Miao deeply sighed. Her pretty little face was filled with depression. Definitely she did not dare to appear on the pavilion in the middle of the lake and show her true appearance, so she just hid distantly behind the courtyard.

She had lived in Fourth Prince’s villa for 10 years and never left. Wei Ling had long ago traveled all over the country and went to many rivers and lakes. She often returned to laugh at her lack of knowledge and experience. However, Miao Miao was willing to endure the hardship. She wanted to stay in the pavilion inside the courtyard and wait for the chance to meet that man. Even though separated by clear water, it was enough to make her delighted.

The snowflakes fell gently from above the sky and covered her hair completely not long after. A layer of snow covered her back. It was thin like a luoshan(2) made from cicada’s wings and outlined her slender waist.

Miao Miao was lost in thought when suddenly the corner of her eyes caught two people’s shadow. She immediately withdrew behind the big stone. Splash of water splattered everywhere. Miao Miao’s heart pumped for fear that her existence would be discovered. Fortunately, those two were occupied with another thing and did not pay attention to the surroundings. They deliberately muttered in low voice.

“Do you really want to do this? If by any chance the steward found out……”

The other girl quickly interrupted her, “Don’t think so much. Who ask this yatou to be unlucky, cannot blame us!”

Only let her bathed in the wind and snow with single garment and she had died this morning! It was really bad luck. Unhappiness crossed the face of the servant girl wearing green coat and shirt. She put the dead little girl on the lake shore, “Even though the steward found out, it will be regarded as suicide by jumping to the lake…… After all, whoever did that kind of thing would be ashamed to keep on living.”

She spit in disdain as if contaminated by bad luck things. She worked with the other servant girl to push the little girl into the lake. The sound of something heavy falling to the water broke the silence brought by the snow and soon the tranquil returned.

Miao Miao was shocked while listening all along. With great difficulty, she waited until the two girls left. She pondered whether she should dive and took the victim girl out of the bottom of the lake. The opposite side’s body had been stiff and cold and had stopped breathing for long time. The lips were frozen to dark purple and both eyes were tightly pressed.

Miao Miao had never coped with such scenes. She shook her little hand and patted the girl on the cheek, “You, are you still alive……”

No response. She tried again and checked the other girl’s breath, but no life. Miao Miao was so scared that her whole body trembled. She did not know what to do, but in a split second her crystal clear eyes widened in bewilderment.

Listening to their dialog, it seemed that they killed this girl…… She should not die. Miao Miao strived to calm her emotional state. She reached her arms to the other girl’s armpits and pulled her to another hidden place behind the water stone. After making sure no one found this place, she re-submerged to the lake. For a glimpse, her beautiful fishtail became evident and the scales glimmered like gems.

***

After around burning an incense stick, Miao Miao revealed her head again. She glanced around to look for the little girl’s figure, a single delight was shown in her eyes, and she swam to that place. She turned back and called out, “Wei Ling, quickly come here.”

A refined young man followed closely. He looked displeased, “What do you do meddling in other people’s business?”

Miao Miao glanced back and simply laughed, “Unexpectedly I saw someone die.”

Wei Ling was awakened from his dream by her, so he was a bit impatient. This year he rarely followed the fish migration and stayed here to accompany Miao Miao, which made Miao Miao quite overwhelmed. They grew up together from childhood. Wei Ling was much smarter than her and knew many weird things. In her mind, Miao Miao felt that Wei Ling surely had a way to save that poor little girl.

Unfortunately, after examining the opposite side, he expressionlessly withdrew his hand, “She have died for too long, it’s hopeless.”

After hearing what he said, Miao Miao lowered her eyelid in regret. Even though she had not known her, she really felt pity for her bitter experience. When she was pondering whether she should find a place to bury her, Miao Miao suddenly turned her head and her eyes shined, “When you returned last time, I remember you brought a medicine that can bring someone back from death. That one can be used, right?”

Wei Ling was stifled. His expression abruptly changed, “Cannot.”

When he returned from East China Sea last time, he got a very rare thing and couldn’t help to show off in front of Miao Miao. That medicine indeed could bring someone back from death, but with someone else’s soul as the price. To put it plainly, it was soul possession. He did not want to let Miao Miao to reach this kind of level, the point of turmoil of humankind. It had nothing to do with her.

Unable to resist Miao Miao constant pestering, Wei Ling used this thing to persuade her, “Even though alive, but not the original one. Moreover, who is willing to abandon one’s original identity and use other person’s body?”

Cold wind hit the lake and curled up wave of snowflakes. Bone-chilling air invaded and continuously encircled their human body.

As if entranced, Miao Miao lowered her eyes. After quite a while she uttered in low voice: “I am willing……”

Wei Ling looked at her in amazement and frowned soon after. His voice was colder than the weather, “What foolish thing did you say?”

That words just now almost drowned Miao Miao’s entire strength. It was the most resounding voice struggling out from the bottom of her heart…… Her desperate heart generated hope, which grew fast like wild grass during spring days. Once such a thought existed, it was impossible to get rid of it no matter what.

Miao Miao nervously looked up and eagerly faced Wei Ling, “I want to become human, Wei Ling, I want……”

Not waiting for her to finish saying, Wei Ling coldly interrupted, “No.”

Too angry, his palm on the stone surface clenched into a fist. The figure of a man appeared in his mind. That man should not appear in her life. There was no possibility between them, but this foolish yatou set her whole heart on him and in the end stubbornly insisted.

Miao Miao’s eyes which were brimming with hope gradually dimmed. She gave miserable look to him. Drops of water slid from her forehead to the curve of her delicate chin and fell into the water. It looked like desperate tears. Translucent snowflakes dripped on her long and delicate eyelashes, which slowly melted after blink by blink. She was the most beautiful picture within the magnificent landscape, unreasonably pretty and unreasonably fragile.

Wei Ling’s heart was suffocated and ached. His tone was full of hardship when he broke the silent atmosphere: “Is it for him?”

He knew perfectly well that her answer was yes, but he still wanted to hear personally from her mouth. Wei Ling bitterly raised his lips, why did he ask?

Jolted, Miao Miao slowly nodded, “Yes.”

In the past, whenever she mentioned this matter in front of Wei Ling, she would be reprimanded ruthlessly by him for being carried away by her delusional thinking…… Therefore, Miao Miao was afraid to let him know the truth. However, she couldn’t think of another excuse and with hesitation she honestly admitted it.

She stealthily looked at Wei Ling, thinking on how to make him agree. She admitted that her request was excessive, but, but she really wanted to get close to that person……

Her little hand gently pried open his clenched fist and hooked on his fingers like a child. Her expectant eyes watched attentively at him, “Please, Wei Ling.”

Wei Ling closed his eyes and lifted his hand to knead the space between his eyebrows, which blocked his deep gaze, “The medicine can only last for 90 days. After 90 days, it will be difficult to preserve the dead body. You must return before that.”

So…… He agreed?

At once, Miao Miao showed pleasant surprise. She embraced his neck in astonishment. Her eyes and her crescent moon brows glistened brilliantly, “I know you are the best!”

Ninety days were fine. She did not have any desire. She just wanted to talk several words with him.

In the past, her identity blocked her to approach him. With great difficulty the opportunity now came. She was ecstatic with joy. Miao Miao narrowed her eyes in happiness. A curve appeared on her lips. The thought of being able to speak with him face-to-face filled her heart with satisfaction. It was delusional just a moment ago, but now it became real…… It was really, really great.

Her delicate and soft body pressed up against Wei Ling’s chest. She only wore a layer of thin luoshan. Wei Ling could almost feel her petite mounds…… Uneasiness immediately floated on his face: “Remember to protect yourself properly. I cannot be with you all the time like before.”

Miao Miao delightfully agreed and sincerely whispered: “Thank you, Wei Ling.”

Wei Ling looked at her head and raised his hand to rub her hair.

If you enjoy the story, please read at sanguniang dot wordpress dot com

Glossary:

Taihu stone is a kind of limestone produced at the foot of Dongting Mountain (洞庭山) in Suzhou, which is close to Lake Tai. Due to long-term surging by water, this kind of stone is featured by pores and holes. These stones are very popular in gardening.

Luoshan is a traditional Han Chinese jacket or upper outer garment which dress is buttoned up with silk fabric material.

TN: I’m back! It has been three months since I finished Empress with No Virtue. Actually I struggled to choose what my next project. I was tempted with many novels which I know I can not take them all. But, well I want to translate fantasy story this time. So I chose this. By the way, for the next chapters, I will post MTL version first and after few hours I will post the proper translation. I’m sad that the translation I spent many hours to do is easily stolen by other sites. Some sites even translate again to another languages. I know I don’t own this novel, but I also don’t ask for any payment or donation from you to be able to read my work. So I think it’s only fair for me to do this far. Hope you all don’t mind. Cheers!

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