Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第176/246页)

undproofandnohemusicwasheardoutside.Shewasstunnedbywhatsheybeforehereyes.Outsidethewindows,wherethereshouldhavebeenpicturesquemountainsandke,letelydifferentsery.Theskieswerelightpinkandthewavesweredarkpink.Thecrestmooninthepinkskieshadastrangelookingsingleevileye,whichwaslookingattheGiantMountainacrosstheke.Aferociousandgrotesquebeastwassquattedthere.Itwasthefnifitgoldpaowcoatedwithiron,lookinglikeafierce,threateningmorikingfearintotheheartsofthebeholders.“Thatgirlisreallytoomuch!Shehasgedcharmingseryintosuawfulndscape.Butlookingatitagainclosely,itdoesseemtoreflectmodernartandhassomeaftertaste.Sincesheisn’there,let’sgosomewhereelse.”

    TheroomtheycametobelooLotus.Whentheywentin,theyweregreetedbyidyllieofrusticlife,pletelydifferentfromthegrandeur,luxuryaravagahepace.Thefurnitureinandpractical,withnosuperfluouscarvingsags.Shebroughtherspinningwheelbathestrawhutbythekeainaeroftheroom.Outsideherwindow,afewstrawhutsdottedanendlessfieldofgreenrice,swayinginthespringbreezeuhewarmsunshiussatwbythewindow.WhenshesawQueenAishaandRomiein,sheimmediatelystoodupandbowedlowiing.QueenAishawalkeduptoherholdingoutherhandssaying,

    “Pleasedon''''tstandonceremony.Thatwouldbeliketreatinguslikeoutsiders!”Thethreeofthemsataroundthesquaretable,QueenAishasaid,

    “Iheardyougotholdofsomedeliciousesetea.Wouldyoumakeussomesowejoyit?”

    “Ofcourse,yourmajesty”saidLotusandstooduptoprepareit.Sheputthekettleonthefiretoboindsprinkledsometealeavesintothreecups.Wheercametoaboil,shepouredsomeintothecupsbeforeputtilebathefire.Thenshepouredthewateroutofthecups.Thiswascalledteawashing.Whelestartedboilingagain,shepouredwaterintotheteacupsasedtimeandservedthemtuests.QueenAishatookuphercup,removedthecoveraheteabeforetakingasip.Thedelicate,refreshingfragraaueinhermouth.“Acupofteaearlyinthemisreallyararetreat”shesaid.Thethreeofthemofthemsippedtheirteaandchatted.

    “Isaohingwhenwecamein”saidQueenAishatoLotus.“Whatwereyoudoing?”

    “Nothingspecial”Lotusrepliedsmiling.“Thepeoplehavebeenbusythesestfewdaysdiggingironoresandwoe,sotheyhadnotimetodotheireverydaychores.Iwasjusthelpingthemmendtheirfishis.”

    “Whyisn’tDornainherroomsoearlyinthem”askedQueenAisha.“Doyouknowwhereshewent?”

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    “Lastnight,IheardDornaandDeannatalkingaboutmeetingwithVictoria.TheyalsomentionedaboutaskingWhiteFairytogotoo.”

    “Victoria?”askedRomicuriously.“WhoisVictoria?Idon’tthinkIhaveheardofahatheKingdombefore.”QueenAishawentontotellRomialboutVictoria.Romiwasgreatlysurprised.Havingfiheirtea,QueenAishastoodupsaying,““Wewon’ttakeupanymoreofyourtimesothatyougobacktoyourwork.IwilltakeRomitoseesomeothersister’sroom”awoofthemleft.

    TheroomtheyinteovisitbelooWhiteFairy.Standingbeforethedoor,QueenAishasaid,

    “Shemaynotbein,butIdon’tthinkshewouldmindifwegoinandhavealook.”Pushihedoortheyenteredcloudlikewarmsteamandwalkedintoaroomwithbountiful,multi-coloredflowersbloomingineveryer.Romiquicklyclosedthedoorlestthetemperatureandhumiditywereaffected.Theroomwassunny,butalsoveryhumidwithwarmstea