书斋小说网

第 16 章（第1页）

Chapter16—TheFirstSnow

Thefirstsnowcamebeforedawn，bythetimeSuyuanopenedhereyes，theworldoutsidetheOrchidCourtyardhadalreadyturnedwhite。SheknewsomethingwaswrongbeforeAyaosaidaword。Theroomwastooquiet。Suyuanpushedherselfupfromthebed，stilledihinbla。Hereyeswentimmediatelytohermother。

“Mother?”

Shuranlaypeacefullybehthecoversandforonebriefmoment，Suyuanthoughtshewassleepingbuttheicedthatherchestwasnolongerrising。Shestoodtherewithoutmoving。“Mother…”

NannyZhangloweredherhead。Suyuanwalkedtothebedandsatbesideher。ShereachedforShuran’shand。Itwascold。Shehelditbetweenbothofhers，asthoughwarmthalonecouldbringitback。“Mymotherhasalwaysbeencold，”shewhispered。Hervoicedidnotbreak。Suyuanhuggedhermotherscoldbodyandafterawhilesheloweredhermothershandcarefully。

“Letmetakecareofher。”

Hermotherhaddied，andYounishadnotevenstoppedlongenoughtonotice。

Suyuanturnedaway。"Helpme，"shesaid。Tarkanwasthefirsttostepforward。

Khasarfollowedwithoutaskingwhatsheinteodo。Theycarriedwoodtothecourtyard。NoonefromtheKhanshouseholdcametostopthem，noonecametoclaimShuranandnoonecametosaygoodbye。Whehingwasready，Suyuanstoodbesidehermothersbody。Thewoodcrackledbehthepalewintersky。SnowsettledquietlyonSuyuansshouldersandinherhairasshestoodbeforetheflames。Shewatchedhermothersbodydisappearbehindthecurtainoffire。Shedidnotlookaway，notevenonannyZhangstoodbesideher，gsilentlywhileAyaocoveredhermouthwithbothhands，uobearthesight。

SuyuanlookedatShuranforthelasttime，sherememberedhermothersfinalwords。

“LeaveYounis，dontcarrymyhatredandliveahappylife。Suyuanremaiill，sherememberedhermothershandsfeedingherbroth。Sherememberedbeingtoldthatshewashermotherstreasurebutnowtherewasnothioprotect。Theflamesburnedforalongtime。Whentheyfinallydieddown，thesnowhadcoveredthegroundaroundthem。Suyuawithtremblinghands，shegatheredhermothersashesonehandfulatatime。Shewasterriblycareful，shedidnotwanttoleaveevenalittleofherbehind。Whenthelastashhadbeencollected，Suyuanplaceditinsideasmallceramicjar。Sheclosedthelidherselfforseveralmoments，shesimplyhelditagainstherchest。Thensheloweredhereyes。“Mother，”shesaidsoftly，“youwaoreturntoXian。”Herfiightenedaroundthejar。“Iwilltakeyouthere。”

NannyZhanglookedatherthroughtears。“Suyuan…”

Suyuanstoodthere，thegriefwasstillthere。Itwouldprobablyremainfortherestofherlife。Butbehit，somethingelsehadsettledintoplace。ShelookedtowardtheKhanspalathedistaheplacewasstillstandingandthebannersstillflew。Peoplewerestilleating，laughing，drinking，preparingforanotherseasonasifnothinghadhappened。Suyuansexpressiondidnotge，hermotherhadspentyearsenduringthisplace。

Shewouldnot。

“Ivedecided，”shesaid。

Ayaolookedather。

“Decidedwhat?”

Suyuanlookeddownatthejarinherarms。

“Theweddingwillstillhappen。”

Hervoicewasquiet。