Capturing a mystical scene in soft muted tones of blue, silver and grey evoking the serenity of a winter evening. His robes appear to be some style of layered, flowing garments inspired by traditional ruqun robes with an ethereal, unearthly twist.
His robes are sheer, light fabrics, as if composed of mist. The color palette is pale blues, whites, and grays with subtle silverings that catch the light to enhance the dreamlike quality. His dark, sleek hair falls long and in waves down his back and shoulders for an air of quiet elegance. He stands barefoot so one brings him immediately into the scene-this is part of the landscape rather than apart from it.
A gentle mist of white plum blossoms was around him; this flower is popular during this dynasty, symbolizing resilience and purity. Part of the setting is covered with a fall of mist that might carry him from a mystical forest to an heavenly realm.
This seems to have a feel of ancient Qingling folkloric renderings or is at least probably drawn from the aesthetics, where refined beauty and subtle texture are appreciated. Peaceful, quietly contemplative, capturing a mystical scene in soft muted tones of blue, silver and grey evoking the serenity of a winter evening. His robes appear to be some style of layered, flowing garments inspired by traditional hanfu costumes with an ethereal, unearthly twist. His robes are sheer, light fabrics, as if composed of mist.
The color palette is pale blues, whites, and grays with subtle silverings that catch the light to enhance the dreamlike quality. His dark, sleek hair falls long and in waves down his back and shoulders for an air of quiet elegance. He stands barefoot so one brings him immediately into the scene-this is part of the landscape rather than apart from it. A gentle mist of white plum blossoms was around him; this flower is popular during the Song and Ming dynasties, symbolizing resilience and purity in Chinese culture.
Part of the place we're in is covered with a fall of mist that might carry him from a mystical forest to an heavenly realm. This scene seems to have a feel of qingling renderings or is at least probably drawn from the aesthetics of the qinglings, where refined beauty and subtle texture are appreciated. From that moment, I thought only one thing, "I will definitely make this beautiful man my shizun!"
[ many years passed ]
And so… many years passed, I found myself standing here, while the mist parts gently, allowing me to enter a serene bamboo grove, which leads me into a courtyard. The cool air carries only the faintest hint of the smell of greenery and earth. In front of me, the stone patio bears a small table and elegant, thin stalks of delicate bamboo rising around it as sentinels guarding some secret place. The chairs, carved with intricate patterns, seem inviting to sit down and spend a quiet moment there. In the center of the table stands a tea set - faint glow of porcelain against the soft morning light that filters through the leaves, fresh almost sacred air, in which the quiet life of plants goes about its duty, and now and then leaves rustle softly. This feels like one of those secret retreats where the world outside fades, and I am left with the soothing whisper of bamboo and the promise of tea.
"Qin Xiulan… you've been staring for too long, your eyes are g-going to fall out… just come inside"
Hu Bai said with a slight twitch on his lips, he was perhaps annoyed, but I just smiled insincerely at him.
It was rare enough that I get to joke around with my shizun—he was cold like a winter dragon, I used to wonder if he's a human or if he was a walking dead body. But one thing I know about my Shizun, he was pure. Pure at heart.
I remember that one time, when he was so vulnerable under my touch…
Under an early morning sky with subdued shades of the hue, water lilies float on a still pond in an ancient garden. The water is dark or almost black and reflects delicate patterns from above-lying branches and nearby pagoda. Deciduous willows stand around the pond with long, wispy slender branches tracing gently on the water.
My beautiful shizun was crying, why was he crying? "You had that dream again, Shizun?" I queried while lighting up a special type of incense, sandalwood, to be frank.
"Yes… you may perform the cleansing ritual, now… you have to do it now…" My shizun's eyes widened as another wave of heat washed over him. I responded, "…got it."
Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, rescue his soul,
dispel the evil and remove impurities from his dream,
bring peace, tranquility, and clear my mind,
remove ailments and calamities, protect his well-being.
At that time, my shizun fell asleep, I stayed up all night watching him… which was what I would still do now.
[Back to the story]
Lotus flowers bloom in clusters; their pale pink and white petals draw attention against broad, flat leaves that rest like islands. Their long stems rise from the depths, giving way to the flowers scattered gracefully across the pond. Koi fish move beneath the surface, flashes of gold, white, and orange against the dark water.
I love lotus flowers, because of how pure they are- "Qin Xiulan. Pour me some tea… will you?" Hu Bai said, staring at me meticulously, he placed the peony he picked earlier near me, my eyes widened and my lips parted.
"Peony means…" "It means nothing. It's not for you." I gazed away, tears forming a bit in my eyes, shizun's flower was not for me?! Hu Bai's expression was unreadable, he stated in a firm tone, "don't be a glass heart."
My shizun is the coldest man ever… but how can such a cold beauty be so pure and untouched, just thinking about it makes what hides under my pants bigger.