Dayafterdaywentpeacefullyby，likethepagesofthebook．flippedbyAisha’sslenderfingers，soundinglikesmallpebblesdroppedintocalm，unruffledwaters.InthewideexpaheskiesinKingDimitri’smysteriousKingdom,dayandnightsucceededeachothertranquilly，itssilencebrokenoccasionallybythefppingofwings．Thus，timepassedpeacefullywithdaysandnightsoverppingseamlesslyintoeachother．Fortimewasalwaysatotalinseparableunit，artificiallysegmentedbyhumansintmentsoflightandshadeportionscyearsanddecadesdowntotheinfinitesimalmorselsdesignatingtheresidueoftime,whoisperhapswearyoftheofficiousinterferenankind．Havihesamereadingposturefortoolongatime,Aishafelttired．Sheputherbookdownonthedesk，andwithherrighthandsupphercheek,gazedatthewideexpanseofskies,whileherlefthandlooseheknotatthenapeofherneck，lettiandluscioushaircascadedownhershoulders．Hergradelegantmovementsandmannerswereperhapsthefruitofherliteraryexcellehegentlespringbreezeblewindawdlinglyfromthewindow，rubbingherbodywithoutrestraint，andsoftlyrufflingthepagesofthebookonthedeskasifsideringstealingtheknowledgeofhumancivilization，butthenabandoningtheideawithdisdain，ughinglyflewoutoftheotherwindow．Aishapickedupthebookidlingonthedeskandsedthroughitquickly．Dayswentby，pagebypage，flippedoverbyherhand．
EversinceAmaliabluothemysteriousKingdom，sheseemedtohavetakenafancytothepotknowierofthisparadiseohwasherownson．Thebeautieswerecarefultopreservesecrecy，afraidthatoruthwasout，shewouldhavetoleaveandurn．andtheirbelovedmaster’sferventwishtosupporthismotherinstyleinheroldagewouldetonaught．Dayswentbywhileshadowandlight，dawnandduskinterged．Amaliawouldlivefordaysinthepadthendisappearfordaysoonooneknewwhere．Shecameaasshepleased，andwouldacointerference．Whileinthepace，shedidnotliketostayindoors．Shewouldputherbroomhorizontallyuheportidsleeponit．Sometimessheusedittosweepthepacegrounds．Thebeautiestriedtodissuadeherfromdoingsuualbor,telliherewerelotsofpacemaidstodothework，butshepersisteddoggedly．Iheyletherdoasshepleasedfearingshewouldleavealtogetherifshefeltherfreedomthreatened,hamperedorcurtailedinanyway．
ThegentleAsiangirlLotusputherdewypeainthesilvervaseonthewindowsilndbeganprepariusseed，swallowpe．Disdaingmoderials,shepreferredcookingtheinal,away,singasmallearthenstoveouttotheverandahshelightedafewpiecesofcharcoal，fanningitwithasmallfan．Theacypotoverthesmallfme，knowingAmaliawouldpreferfoodcookedtheoldfashionedway．Sufferingfromaseverehahism，shewouldappreciatesomeyinherdiet，andthisdainty，nutritiouspewouldsuithertoaT．Thebeautifulbodyincasedinluscious,silkenskiinanarcasshestoopedgracefullytocoaxtherelutfmes，exposingacurvaceousfigure．Herskinwassmootherthansilk,butwhereasthefisilkteocrease，Lotus’glowingglossyskinwouldnotwrinkle,remainingsofterandsmootherthanevernomatterhowshebentorstooped．
AsLotusfahefire，shethoughtofAmalia．Tomostpeople，herwordsandaightbepeculiar，butstrangeandetricthoughshebe，therewasnothingofthewicked，evilwitchabouther．DuriayintheKingdom，shehadcreatedastrangebondofaffewiththebeautieswhomshelovedlikedaughtersofherown;areatedherlikeabenevolentelder．Whenevershereturnedfromherwanderings，shewalethemwithnewsorstoriesshehadgatheredahemspellboundwithfasatingtalesoffar-offpces，someofwhichhappenedhundredsofyearsago．RaisinghereyestothepeainthesilvervaseLotus’mindwaheteststoryAmaliahadtoldthemaboutatalkingbuffalo,anevilyoungmonkwhoabusedtheimprecations,andadazzlinglybeautifulyoungwidowandhersadfate,allofwhichhappenedinaforestofpeas．ShealsothoughtofAngelica’sshortpoem：
"Atasideghepearesembledanoldmonkreverentlypraying，
Heremaihereonthewindowsill,sereneandquiet,deeplythinking，
Suddenlyawhiffofgentlebreeze,asofttrembletothepetalsbring，
Ablinkofhiseyeisinitselfabrightshaft.”
Inthegoldenmsun,Lotusseemedtoseethepeachforest,theimprecation-tingbigbuffalo，theevilyoungTaoistmonkandtheunfortunateyoungwidow.Uheinflueheimprecations,thepeainhervaseflewoutofthewindowbatotheforestandwasseennomore．Lotuswokewithastartfromherreverie．Shelookedaround．Thegoldensunshinewasbrightaseverandthedewypeawasstillinthesilvervasebythewindow．Herrgealmondeyesframedbylongeyeshesblinkedinpuzzlement．Coulditbethatthemindstillretainedfragmentsofmemoriesofthepastinations?Bewilderedandbemused，shecamebacktotherealworldandsawthatthepeooveerkingandreadyforption．
AfloatingwhitecloudhappeoenterastreakoflightsmokeintheblueskiesofthemysteriousKingdom．Thecloudintroducedherselftohimsaying，
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