Chapter 9 — Shining Pearl

Passing by the small market south of the city, we saw nine rows of nine products on the stalls. Children gathered in a circle, chirping and trying to solve the problem. Among them was a young lady who couldn't solve the problem and was so anxious that she blushed. Someone next to me laughed at her stupid girl. Her eyes immediately turned red. I stop walking. Wen Zhi Dao also stopped. I walked over and picked up the nine-chain lock to look at it. "The hidden latch is stuck." The little girl raised her head to look at me. "Sister, am I not stupid?" I squatted down and gently pulled the hidden latch out. "Not stupid." "It's broken, no one can solve it." Her eyes widened. I returned the nine pieces to the stall owner and told him to exchange them for a good one. The little girl received the new bracelet and seriously tried it on for a long time. Even though I still can't solve it, I don't cry anymore. She said: "I'll go home and slowly solve it." I smiled. "Okay." On the way back to the palace, On Tri Dao still didn't say anything. I asked him: "What are you thinking about?" He said: "Thinking about the birthday party that year." "If I didn't say anything at that time, what would you do?" I looked at the sunset in the distance. "Maybe return to the palace, then think of a way to retreat from the Fifth Prince's path." "If you can't retreat?" He asked. I thought for a moment. "Then toughen up." He grabbed my hand. "Fortunately, I opened my mouth." I laughed. "On Tri Dao, why did you open your mouth then?" He thought seriously for a long time. "Because he saw her put down the broken bracelet." "Isn't this very rare?" "A lot of people who hold a broken thing will try to hold it up to solve it, hold it until their hand hurts, and refuse to admit that the thing is broken." He said. "She put it down. very fast." "I feel like you're smart." I looked at him. "That's all?" He said in a low voice: "I also felt that when she put down, it was a bit sad." "Wanted to give you good things." The wind blew through the long street, carrying with it the sweet scent of roasted chestnuts. I suddenly felt my eye sockets heat up. At the birthday party that year, I thought I could only avoid the old path. It turns out that someone sees the sadness when we put down the broken bracelet. Someone was willing to give me a new one. After returning to Wen Palace, I hung the nine-lot necklace that the Empress Dowager awarded me by the study window. It has been fixed. The wind blew, the silver rings gently collided with each other, the sound was small but clear. I leaned by the window and looked for a long time. Wen Tri Dao put on my coat from behind. "Cold?" I shook my head. "Not cold." "Cold hand." He held my hand. For many years now, he has always been like that. Doesn't know how to say exciting words. I only know that when I look at old things in ecstasy, they take my place, take my hand, and confirm with me again and again that the broken thing has been repaired, and the thing that can't be opened can be put down. I raised my head to look at him. "On Tri Dao." "Um?" "In the future, if I encounter a broken bracelet again, I will still put it down." He said: "Okay." "I'll put it away for you." "Can't fix it?" He looked at me, his voice gentle. "If you want to fix it, fix it." "If you don't want to fix it, throw it away." The nine rings by the window rang softly. Like a dream
The old dream has finally been resolved. I leaned on his shoulder, watching the night gradually fall. The bracelet that once besieged me in that life was no longer in my hand. In this life, I don't need to rush to the point where my ears turn red, nor do I need to pretend to be innocent and cute for anyone. The thing is broken, we can say it's broken. The road is wrong, we can turn around. But people who truly understand me won't laugh at me for not being able to solve it. He will raise his hand for me to look at the hidden latch, then tell me: It's good to put it down.