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墨書 Inktalez
Sima Rui quietly enjoyed this rare moment of warmth, a warmth that belonged to her. Even though the distance between their hearts was vast, the closeness they shared at this moment was enough to satisfy her. She would willingly do more for him.
Drunken laughter accompanied you through three thousand gatherings, without speaking of parting sorrows. Isn't that so?
Since that day, it seemed as if everything had subtly changed. However, this subtle change brought joy to Sima Rui. Although her expression remained indifferent and aloof, at least she had begun to smile genuinely. Even if that smile was as faint as a distant cloud in the sky, it was still a smile that came from the heart. Every time he saw her involuntarily lift the corners of her mouth, Sima Rui would embrace her with overwhelming joy. Because in those moments, she was alive and vibrant, not just a puppet or an emotionless being.
And she said nothing, only gazed at him with smiling eyes.
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When Thomas accidentally entered this palace, which appeared unremarkable on the outside but was like another world within, he felt a twinge of unease in his heart, yet curiosity compelled him to step inside.
Frostfall Palace. His limited knowledge of Chinese allowed him to barely understand the name of this palace.
As he walked deeper inside, blossoms were as splendid as those in Penglai Wonderland, with exquisite craftsmanship everywhere. It seemed both man-made and naturally beautiful. Delicate and elegant, it was truly one of a kind. Unlike the rigid grandeur of other palaces, this place resembled a celestial abode; everything here was unparalleled. He had never seen such a strange place before.
The further he ventured inside, the more he felt an odd sensation, as if the inhabitants here were not mere mortals but Nine Heavens Fairies. After traveling through many places in Central Plains, he had always been curious about what the legendary Nine Heavens Goddess looked like—what kind of celestial beauty could sway nations.
There is an ancient poem in China that says: "In the north there is Beauty, unparalleled and independent. A single glance can topple a city; another glance can topple a nation. Do you not know how cities and nations fall? Such Beauty is hard to come by!"
He had traveled through numerous countries and had longed to truly understand the essence of these words.
He walked along the lakeside where the water was calm and clear, creating a harmonious scene. Suddenly, he noticed a cluster of dark red flowers around a corner. Driven by curiosity, he continued forward. What greeted him was an almost suffocating sea of stunning red; upon closer inspection, he realized these were roses he had seen in another country before. To his surprise, they also grew here—these thorny flowers were extraordinarily beautiful.
Then he faintly heard a melodious laugh. Following the sound, he was instantly mesmerized. It felt as if his soul had left his body and couldn't find its way back.
Before him stood a woman dressed in an unusual outfit—a white silk gown adorned with large black lace petals resembling Black Lotus flowers at the hem. The upper part was a black fitted vest similar to something he had seen in Western countries. Her age was indiscernible; amidst swirling red petals, she danced gracefully with an enchanting smile. Her movements were as elegant as a butterfly's—something he had never witnessed before. She appeared light as a swallow; this woman resembled a lost fairy or flower goddess—the embodiment of his imagined Nine Heavens Goddess—unbelievably beautiful.
He held his breath, fearing that even a single exhale might disturb the enchanting woman lost in her dance.
He had seen the beauty of the world—its grandeur, its elegance without flamboyance, its delicate grace, its beauty seen through a veil of mist, its unparalleled charm... Yet at this moment, he could find no words to describe her allure.
Suddenly, the woman seemed to sense something. She turned her head quietly, and with a fleeting glance, Thomas stood frozen in place, forgetting his words and the situation he was in.
Her otherworldly beauty had now turned cold and indifferent, the innocent joy from moments before completely vanished.
She looked at him with a frosty gaze, and then her melodious voice flowed like a gentle stream: "Who are you? Why have you intruded into my palace?"
Thomas watched as her expression darkened, her eyes filled with indifference. He wanted to explain but found his limited knowledge of Chinese inadequate. Under her sharp gaze, he felt flustered and lost for words, stammering, "You... hello, I... I am Thomas."
Upon hearing his strange intonation, the woman's expression faltered for a moment. Then she regarded him with some surprise, taking in his foreign appearance. Thomas looked at her as her expression shifted in an odd manner.
Thinking she hadn’t understood him, he racked his brain for familiar phrases to convey his meaning. He appeared anxious, like a restless monkey on the verge of pulling at his own cheeks.
Just as he was at a loss for what to do, the woman glanced at him again and said lightly, "Your name is Thomas. What an unimaginative name."
Thomas was taken aback. He was not stunned by her ability to understand him; rather—
She had just repeated that sentence in two different languages. He was not deaf; he recognized that she had spoken not in Chinese but in a language similar to that of India—his homeland's tongue. Though there were some differences, it was indeed very similar. There was also another language he recognized from his travels—a language from a prosperous country on the other side of the world. He had heard it before and learned some simple phrases for communication; even his name Thomas had originated from that country.
And here she was—a woman from the palace—calmly and fluently speaking those languages.
He gazed at this beautiful woman with a complex expression, genuinely doubting whether he was dreaming; everything happening now felt unreal.
Seeing him silent, she smiled faintly and said, "You are indeed Indian. Are you an envoy?" She recalled that historically there hadn't been any envoys sent yet; a hint of confusion crossed her mind.
He shook his head and replied, "I am a traveler, wandering from place to place. I passed through your country and came to visit your noble emperor to express my respect upon the introduction of some officials." He spoke politely and courteously.
"Traveler?" The word made her pause slightly, her expression momentarily resembling that of a bewildered child. Finally, she asked, "Which countries have you been to?"
Seeing her interest, Thomas immediately perked up and began to recount his experiences from his travels. Throughout this process, she listened quietly and calmly, her expression neutral. However, Thomas could tell she was engaged in listening, which encouraged him to speak with even more enthusiasm. Yet, he also noticed a subtle change in her demeanor; as she listened, her expression would occasionally brighten with a faint smile, only to shift to sadness, revealing a hint of self-mockery in her gaze.
He lost track of time as he spoke, only realizing after a while that it had indeed flown by in the blink of an eye. Suddenly recalling the official's warning not to wander around since the emperor was in session and they would have to wait outside for a long time, he felt impatience creeping in after several hours. He had made an excuse to explore the palace, never expecting to stumble upon this unique woman who was so different from others in the country.
A small thrill of joy filled him. When he had nearly finished sharing his stories, the woman suddenly broke into a gentle smile and murmured, "I didn't realize there were so many differences from what I know."
Thomas looked at her expression, as if she had visited those places herself, and asked, "Have you been to those places?" But that seemed impossible; she was a delicate woman who should be confined to her home according to the customs of this country. How could she have traveled to those places? Even if she could leave home, it was unlikely for a woman to have explored so many locations. Given her age, she seemed quite young—how could that be…
However, he soon realized he was mistaken when the woman smiled lightly and breezily replied, "Long ago—so long that I've almost forgotten—I visited those places. But when I went there, it was very different from your experiences."
Thomas wanted to ask more questions, but the woman suddenly fell silent. Considering that it must be getting late and that the official who had introduced him might be worried by now, he stood up to say goodbye.
The woman's face showed no signs of longing or reluctance; it remained calm and serene. Yet for some reason, even as he reached the door, Thomas couldn't help but speak earnestly to her: "If you yearn for the outside world, why not choose to be brave and go? I will be staying in this country for quite some time; if you wish, you can contact me at Relay Station."
Clearly taken aback by his words, the woman stood frozen in the courtyard, her figure solitary as the wind tousled her long black hair. She stood there quietly as if captured in a perfect painting that would never fade away.
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