Chapter 6: Funerals and Sunset Dreams

Then. Lan Yue came over and said, "Fourth master. Thirteen masters. Fourteenth Master. The hour is coming. Please three masters. Let the minions cover the coffin...... "Lan Yue, this kid. From after I left. I've been crying all the time. Now the eyes are swollen like peaches.

The fourth master always looked at me. He said, "Go and get all the tools. This king is hands-on. Those minions. No one is allowed to touch my 'jade' ice ......"

"Yes."

"'Jade' ice. Wait a minute. The fourth brother will take you home...... "The fourth master leaned over. Imprinted a 'kiss' on my lips and his tears dripped down my face. It was as if it burned my floating soul.

The thirteenth and fourteenth masters both stepped forward. Look at my face. The Thirteenth Master tried to make himself smile and said to me, "'Jade' ice. It was Brother Thirteen who brought you back. Now. The thirteenth brother will send you to the fourth brother.' Jade's ice. Do you know. The thirteenth brother used to think about it. Someday. I'm going to give you a marriage......"

The Fourteenth Master said to me on the side, "Sister. You can go with confidence. No matter what the battle turns into. Since then. I won't fight with my fourth brother again."

Kangxi forty-nine years of the twenty-eighth month of the month. Snow in Beijing. It's been four days now......

My coffin. He was nailed by the hands of the three brothers. They followed the funeral procession. Escorted me on my last journey.

The fourth master suddenly asked the thirteenth master: "Yinxiang. Did you bring a flute?"

The thirteenth master stretched out his hand and 'touched'. Then he asked, "Bring it." What's wrong?"

"Do you remember the song 'Jade' Bing sang? That is, forty-seven years when he went out on patrol. The song she sang the first time we drank on the prairie. The weather was fine that day. Starry sky. The first line of the song she sang. It just so happens that there are stars too." The fourth master remembered the 'jade' ice at that time. Once again, his eyes filled with tears.

Fourth Master. You remember that song.

Brother Thirteen nodded. Take out the flute. While walking. While blowing that tune. His eyes were blurred with tears. The fourth master closed his eyes gently. The corners of his mouth hooked up a bleak smile. I'd love to ask him. Did you see me dancing under the stars and around the campfire again......

I sang along to the tune: "There are twin stars in the sky. That's the eye in my dream. There is a morning mist in the mountains. That's your tenderness last night. I'm going to board. Climb to the top of the mountain. Go in search of the figure in the fog. I'm going to step on. Ride on the steed. Go after the distant stars. There's a big tree in the sky. That's the green bud in my heart. There is a high mountain in the distance. That's your big heart. I'm under a tree. Picking under the trees. Go weave a beautiful vision. I'm down the hill. Grazing under the mountain. Go follow in your footsteps. Singing floating in the sky. Telling of endless love. A light rising in the sky. Brightens up the journey of a lifetime. I'm willing to ride with you. Galloping in the depths of the steppe. I would like to fly with you. Wander in the valley of the blue sky."

I remember when I was singing. The fourth master sat under the starry sky and looked at my eyes. Why. Why...... I should have seen it at that time. The tenderness in that eye. Why ignore the gaze that follows me. I've spent so much time 'squandering'. Is there still a chance to make up for it. Fourth Master...... Will you wait for me......

The fourth master suddenly walked to the coffin. Wave away a palace man carrying a coffin. Lifted the coffin with his own hands. The fourteenth master walked to the other side of the fourth master. Did the same thing. I don't know when. The Tenth Master, who had not been noticed, also walked over and lifted the coffin. The thirteenth brother blew a song. He also walked over to carry the coffin.

It's still early. The air was heavy and silent. The Thirteenth Master suddenly opened his mouth and sang the song that 'Jade' Bing had sung in the 'Mongolian' language: "Hong Yan. on the sky. Pairs are lined up. JIANG Shui Chang. Autumn grass yellow. The sound of the piano on the grassland is sad. Swan goose. To the south. Fly over the reeds and 'swing'. Where are the geese going? In my heart is the hometown of the north. The sky is vast. Where are the geese going? In my heart is the hometown of the north. Swan goose. North Return. Take my thoughts with you. Singing far away. The piano trembles. The prairie is warm in spring. Swan goose. To the sky. How far away is the sky. Drink dry. Fill it up again. If you don't get drunk tonight, you won't pay it back. Drink dry. Fill it up again. If you don't get drunk tonight, you won't return."

Sing it all over again. The Fourteenth Master also sang a second time. They just sang the song all the way. Put my coffin. Sent to the resting place.

The fourth, tenth, thirteenth, and fourteenth masters personally sent the 'jade' ice into the tomb. Close the 'door' of the tomb and walk out. Lan Yue handed the fourth master a jar of bamboo leaf green. The fourth master tore open the seal. Take a sip. Hand it to the Tenth Master. The tenth master handed it to the thirteenth master again. The thirteenth master handed it to the fourteenth master again. At last. This wine jar is back in the hands of the fourth master. He took the rest of the wine in the jar. and scattered them all on the ground. Keep your head up. Shouting to the sky: "'Jade' ice. Wait for me."

Fourth Master. Wait for me......

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"Jiya." Sister-in-law Kikige waved her hand in front of the felt bag and called me.

I let out a long sigh. A smile bloomed on his face. shouted at her: "Sister-in-law. I'm back."

The sheep are put back in the fold. The horses are tied to the side. Washed his hands and helped Sister-in-law Qiqige cook. The three of us sat down in the felt bag. Brother Chao Getu suddenly said to Sister-in-law Qiqige: "Qiqige. Go get the wine. The horse's 'milk' wine that is going back to the pot."

"Okay."

"Why does Big Brother suddenly want to drink today."

Brother Chao Getu didn't answer me. Until Sister-in-law Kikige brought the wine. After pouring three silver bowls. Brother Chao Getu took the bowl and said, "The first time I met you. It was a year ago. Exactly one year ago today. A few months ago. You met us again on the steppe. This is our fate. Today. Even if it's a celebration. Celebrate our fate."

I didn't expect that. The couple still remembered. It was the first time I met on this day last year.

Last year's day......

Last year's day......

Last year today. I'm still with the fourth master. He rode a horse. Hold me in your arms. We snuggled up to each other. Enjoy the sunshine, blue sky, grass and wild flowers. It's as if we're going to 'elope' to a distant and peaceful future.

Sister-in-law Kikige patted me on the shoulder and said, "Jiya. It was a 'spring' day when you came. It's the height of summer.' Flowers' are blooming. The grass has grown to its tallest level. The cattle and sheep are strong. You should be smiling too......"

I was stunned for a moment. Then nodded solemnly and said, "I will. I'll laugh a lot."

Sister-in-law Qiqige nodded with a smile and said, "Then we will rest assured. Come on, come on. It's such a good day to sing a song. Chao Getu. You come, you come."

Brother Chao Getu smiled and said, "Okay. I'll sing it."

"The golden cup is full of yo. Mellow 'milk' wine. Race Sunset Swing Race. Friends. Get together and have a toast. Race Sunset Swing Race."

Sister-in-law Kikige then sang another song: "The gold and silver cups are filled with wine. Hands raised above the head. Fried rice, 'milk', tea, hand-chopped 'meat'. Friends, friends, please try it. This wine is mellow. This wine is thick. Let's be heart-to-heart. The friendship lasts. Spend 'spring' and autumn together in this rich grassland."

That night. The three of us sang and drank. The last song. It is the eldest brother and sister-in-law singing "Noengiya". There is a faint sadness in the lyrics. Let me get tipsy. On such a beautiful night. I couldn't sleep for a long time......