In the gardens of the Bai Mansion in West City, continuous rows of white cherry blossoms merged into clouds, looking from afar like a realm of immortals or a drift upon the heavens. A crisp breeze swept past, sending oval white cherry petals drifting down to scatter across the courtyard, carrying a delicate fragrance of stamens. The petals brushed against plain silk sleeves, landed on the crowns and hat brims of passersby, and gathered thickly upon dewy, verdant grass, as though they had drifted into the hearts of those watching from afar.
The doors and windows stood wide open. On the sandalwood steps before the entrance sat a lonely figure. His right hand reached out, casually picking up a half-full white jade wine cup from the wooden steps, while his left hand held a white jade goblet to the rim of the cup. With a slight tilt of his right hand, clear wine spilled over the brim, and he threw back his head to drain it in a single draught. After finishing three or four cups this way, he finally showed signs of stopping.
A few cherry petals were blown into the goblet by the clear, cool breeze, landing steadily upon the sparkling wine, gently dampening and floating on the surface. Bai Molian showed not the slightest sign of disgust; he split his mouth in a gentle, self-mocking smile, and boldly downed the wine in the goblet as well.
Chapter 81