[Feb 5][Yitian Dulong Ji][The Eye of the Beholder]

[lilacfield.livejournal.com]

Title: The Eye of the Beholder
Day/Theme: Feb 5/midnight market
Series: Yitian Dulong Ji
Characters: Yang Xiao, Yang Buhui
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Yitian Dulong Ji belongs to Jin Yong, et al.


"My mother used to have to make up excuses and lies whenever she wanted to see me," Buhui said, turning over the empty cup in her hands. The moonlight had given it a sheen she found only slightly distracting. "But no one seemed to think she had committed a terrible sin. No one but that old bitch. My mother worshiped her, and what did she do? Killed my mother, that's what." Her fingers trembled and she put the cup down, afraid it would break.

Yang Xiao poured himself a generous amount of wine. "But she had committed a sin, you know."

"No! How could you say that? She - "

"According to the upright and righteous, she had," he continued. "She was betrothed to one man and gave birth to another man's child. Is that a sin? Oh, yes. The woman always gets blamed." He tossed down the wine, pretending not to notice her ragged intake of breath. "I forced her against her will, and has that worked in her favor? Naturally, no. You know what they'd say? They'd say that if she had truly wanted to escape from me, she would have. She didn't, and that's how it became her fault, too."

A string of explosions burst overhead, followed by blinding colors that turned the night into day. The people around them stopped walking and chattered excitedly, pointing at the sky, where the fireworks were just beginning to bloom. The brilliant shapes hung in the air for a moment, then dissolved in slow, almost lazy showers.

Buhui stared at the teapot. "Once she took me to a festival like this. It had to be one that was held at night, you see, so that nobody we knew would be able to notice us. I loved it, especially the fireworks and the street vendors." She smiled hesitantly at him, as though this confession was not something he would care to hear. "Thank you for taking me out. I know you don't like leaving the house just for fun."

He waved a dismissive hand. "The next time they have events like this, you could go on your own, or with a servant. How about that?"

"That'd be lovely, yes."

"And no more melancholy thoughts about your mother. As for the old bitch, one day we should settle the score with her. Would you like that?"

"Of course."

"Good." He reached across the table to pat her hand briefly. "Your mother might not approve. But you're my daughter now."