tallest building

Chapter 173 Bloody Pear Blossom
Before the Lunar New Year, Wen Mingqian went up the mountain for the last time to offer incense to the Princess.

Because the eldest princess enjoyed playing chess with her, Wen Mingqian always came in person.

This was also the coldest time of the year, so Sang Er prepared her hand warmer early and carried several plum blossom charcoal cakes with her.

Halfway there, snow began to fall, and the cold intensified.

"Madam Wen has arrived. Please sit down and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up." Aunt Cuizhen's thin body was wrapped in a large cotton robe, making her look even more forlorn.

She was about the same age as the princess, but looked much older, with white hair at her temples.

"Thank you, Aunt," Wen Mingqian quickly accepted the tea with both hands. "How has Your Highness been lately?"

“His Highness was thinking of you yesterday,” Cuizhen said, barely smiling, but with a very gentle demeanor. “He said that because of your fragrance this year, the days seem to pass faster than usual.”

Life on the mountain is long and monotonous, and everyone needs to find something to do to pass the time.

After Wen Mingqian finished his cup of tea, Yu Hu came out and said, "Madam Wen, His Highness invites you in."

Wen Mingqian stood up, but Cuizhen gently called out to her, "Your Highness has had some wine, so you should be careful what you say."

Wen Mingqian nodded gratefully. As she walked in, she smelled a faint aroma of wine. She was not good at tasting wine and did not know what kind it was, but she could tell that the wine had a delicate sweet fragrance.

"Do you drink alcohol?" The princess's cheeks were slightly flushed, but her eyes were brighter than usual, making her look younger.

"This humble woman is not a strong drinker and dares not be disrespectful in front of Your Highness," Wen Mingqian said as she knelt down to pay her respects to the princess.

"It's good that you can't drink. Everyone says you can drown your sorrows in alcohol, but throughout the ages, has anyone ever truly been able to use alcohol to relieve their grief?" The princess smiled. "It's just like burying your head in the sand, trying to catch a sparrow with your eyes closed, deceiving yourself."

“From the time I can remember, the most common thing I’ve heard is that life is short and the days are many. It seems that there are always too many unsatisfactory things in life, so it’s no wonder that people want to find a moment of peace in drunkenness,” Wen Mingqian said.

"Have you ever tried to drown your sorrows in alcohol?" the princess asked, looking at her.

"Yes, it has happened," Wen Mingqian said truthfully, "and more than once."

"Here, take this cup of wine." The princess didn't ask her why she was troubled, but only said, "Try this wine and see how it tastes."

Wen Mingqian thanked him and took a sip of wine.

"This wine has a rich and intense aroma, but it tastes so spicy and bitter when you swallow it," Wen Mingqian said with difficulty. "I really can't drink a second sip."

"This is Blood Pear Blossom, brewed with the first snow of the desert and the blood of warhorses," the princess said with a smile. "It's a wine used by soldiers on the battlefield to commemorate the dead; it cannot be brewed lightly, nor can it be drunk lightly..."

“No wonder, this wine is the most loyal, sincere, and passionate wine in the world. It’s just that this wine is too heavy,” Wen Mingqian said, her eyes welling up with tears, “This humble woman’s body is really finding it hard to bear…”

"Do you really think so?" the eldest princess asked.

“This is just my humble opinion,” Wen Mingqian said. “I hope Your Highness will forgive my ignorance.”

"Utmost loyalty and sincerity, utmost affection and true nature..." The eldest princess murmured eight words, lost in thought.

Wen Mingqian noticed that the Princess was unusually downcast today, so she naturally couldn't ask any questions. She simply greeted her as usual, saying, "With the end of the year approaching, I specially prepared some extra spices to offer to Your Highness. It's just a small token of my respect."

"Is it snow cliff pine resin again?" the princess asked, her eyes glazed with drunkenness.

“We have this, and some others,” Wen Mingqian said. “Your Highness may use them if you like them, or you may give them to others if you are not satisfied.”

“This incense is too cold,” the princess suddenly shivered. “It’s so cold that you can never get close to it, it’s ethereal and elusive, it makes you feel lost.”

This was originally her favorite scent, but she rejected it after getting drunk.

Wen Mingqian lowered her head and remained silent. She knew that the Princess was in a bad mood, and if she couldn't say something that touched the Princess's heart, it was better to keep quiet. "Can you play the zither?" the Princess suddenly asked.

"I learned some when I was young, but I haven't played it for many years and I've become rusty," Wen Mingqian said.

"It's alright, play me a tune," the princess sighed. "It's too cold; I can't even stretch out my hands."

The eldest princess loved playing the zither, but now she only wanted to listen to others play.

Wen Mingqian did not refuse again. She washed her hands and lit a stick of incense, a warm fragrance that she always carried with her, which had a calming and soothing effect.

In the past, the eldest princess never used warm incense, but Wen Mingqian felt that warm incense was the most suitable for the current situation.

The music flowed gently, like snowflakes drifting outside the window, softly murmuring, as if weeping and lamenting.

The princess slowly closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep amidst the fragrant aroma and gentle music.

She had a beautiful dream, so beautiful that she forgot all her worries and troubles.

In her dream, she was as light as a kite, her only bond held in that person's hand.

"Brother Qingshen, when will you take me to the borderlands?"

"You are a girl, and a princess at that, why did you go to such a desolate and remote place?"

"Why can't I? If you can go, so can I."

"No, no, it's too harsh and too dangerous there."

"I'm not afraid as long as you're with me."

"Then wait until I drive the barbarians to the northern deserts, and there are no more border troubles, then I'll ride horses with you through the Yin Mountains, okay?"

"You promised me, you can't go back on your word!"

"I will never break my promise!"

"I'm waiting for you, I'll always be waiting for you."

"I will definitely come back and keep my promise to you."

……

Wen Mingqian played three pieces in a row until Aunt Cuizhen gently walked in and gestured for her to stop.

Wen Mingqian quietly got up, trying not to make a sound.

Aunt Cuizhen carefully covered the princess with a blanket, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a silk handkerchief, and then gestured for Wen Mingqian to go out with her.

Once outside, Wen Mingqian let out a long sigh of relief: "Aunt, it's getting late, I should go down the mountain. If Your Highness needs anything, please send someone down the mountain to let me know."

"It's snowing so heavily, don't go down the mountain. Besides, what if His Highness wakes up and looks for you?" Cuizhen thought for a moment and said, "There are plenty of houses here, why don't you stay here for the night!"

Wen Mingqian thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll follow Aunt's arrangements."

That night, Wen Mingqian and Sang Er stayed on the mountain. The house was spacious, and fortunately, there was enough charcoal.

"Mother, why do you think the Princess lives here? Listen to the wind, it sounds like wild beasts howling." Sang Er was puzzled. "Spring and summer are alright, but how unbearable must the winter be!"

"I'm not sure either, but I'm sure Her Highness has her reasons," Wen Mingqian said. "Bring the blankets over here and let them warm up over the charcoal fire. Let's go to sleep early!"