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墨書 Inktalez
As Gu Yi wandered through the Spring Pavilion, he surveyed the people and architecture around him. The building's style was as gaudy as its name suggested, with bright red and purple decorations that gave him the impression of a nouveau riche establishment. Even the private room named Little Lotus Pond was drenched in a garish pink, featuring the classic red and green combination that made Gu feel increasingly irritated.
Adding to his discomfort were the drunken patrons nearby, shouting and laughing. Among them were young men in their twenties and thirties, as well as older gentlemen in their forties and fifties. Although the women of Spring Pavilion were youthful and delicate, the clientele varied widely. One could never tell what lay beneath the surface of those who frequented such places.
"Little Beauty, look how well His Majesty dotes on me," one voice called out.
At those words, Gu couldn't help but furrow his brow, suddenly reminded of something he had heard from Gu Yan. If he recalled correctly, Chu Liange had been implicated in a scandal involving the central minister's household, leading to the execution of all male members of his family while the women were taken to the Imperial Music Bureau.
Chu Liange must have been around his age at that time. Lost in thought, Gu stood on the staircase, gazing at Lou Dong's lively chatter, momentarily dazed.
He couldn't fathom how a woman his age could endure such humiliation and disaster. The stark reality of Cigarette Paper and Ru Ming lay before him; Chu Liange had been sent directly from the Imperial Music Bureau to Spring Pavilion, where she encountered Gu Yan.
That year had brought misfortune for some while others found luck in it. Gu Na pondered whether what he was currently experiencing was fortunate or unfortunate. He suspected it leaned more toward the latter.
Objectively speaking, Spring Pavilion was a place for revelry. Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts, jolting him from his stupor.
Following the sound, he turned to see an unusual woman standing on the staircase beside him, blocking her path.
Different—no, not just different; Gu repeated this to himself twice—first in surprise and then to confirm his astonishment.
But what exactly was different?
Unlike any other woman in Spring Pavilion or anyone he had ever met, she possessed an air of nobility and elegance that reminded him of Yang Yan but lacked her ostentation. She wasn't as lavishly adorned as Chu Liange nor did she exude the innocent charm of Mu Yu; instead, she embodied a complex grace that set her apart entirely.
I don't deny that ethereal quality, like a fairy untouched by the mundane world. Yet there is a struggle, much like a lotus growing in a muddy swamp, cold and distant. A hint of tension between her brows reveals the inner turmoil of the woman before Gu.
The questioning tone and the glimmer of hope in her eyes made Gu feel that this woman was surely seeking someone different from other men, someone who could truly understand her.
He realized he did not know her name.
Though he was momentarily captivated, he quickly regained his composure and maintained his rationality. He did not reveal his true name but instead concocted a pseudonym.
Han Yu, with "Han" meaning "contain" and "Yu" meaning "feather." After stating his name, Han Yu continued, "I did not answer her question."
It was inevitable to feel a bit out of place in such an environment for the first time. He wondered why she assumed he had come seeking pleasure. Gu Xiao chuckled; he certainly did not believe that simply encountering a woman from the Spring Pavilion would allow her to see through his thoughts.
In his eyes, there was no desire or restlessness.
But what could I see in his eyes?
Gu Zhi felt no emotional fluctuations; it was as if he were staring into stagnant water. More accurately, it resembled a muddy pit, obscuring any glimpse of his true thoughts.
Because he saw nothing, he concluded that I had come seeking pleasure. My eyes held no sorrow, no joy, no suffering, no laughter—nothing at all. How could someone who frequented such places bury their desires deep within? Almost everyone who came here openly displayed their innermost cravings without a second thought.
At that moment, I should have...
Gu approached Han Yu, gently wrapping his leg around her delicate waist. With the other leg, he caressed her cheek, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Yet his eyes remained half-open, revealing nothing at all.
In that kind of place, I don't deny it. The kind of person I am should be there, Han Yu said as he blocked Gu's advancing leg with his own, then shifted the leg that was wrapped around her waist.
So what kind of person should be in such a place?
"Whether it's high-ranking officials, talented individuals from the rivers and lakes, or those who can't appreciate beauty like me, it has nothing to do with it," Han Yu mocked, noting how Gu never revealed any genuine feelings. That place could very well be the only one in the capital that attracts all the officials and nobles. Twenty years ago, on the night when the famous Chu Liange gathered everyone, nearly all the officials of the time attended. The looks and expressions of those people when they arrived at that place were nothing like mine.
Hearing Han Yu's words, Gu Yi was taken aback and then stifled a laugh. "How would I know about events from twenty years ago? Who knows if those rumors are true or just exaggerated tales?"
"Perhaps you simply don't understand romance," he continued. "Why belittle others?"
Then he said, "I don't deny it. You should let me understand Yi Dong and see if he knows what I mean by romance."
His younger brother probably hasn't even matured yet, right?
I want to see if he's grown up yet.
The two exchanged glances and suddenly burst into laughter before turning away. Although their conversation was brief under the bright moonlight, it left a deep impression.
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