Foramoment,shesimplystaredattheflame,thehrewit。
Firecaughtonthehangingcloth。
Suyuanturnedaway。
Anotherflamespreadacrossthehall。
Thenanother。
Thedrytimberbegantocrackassmokerolledthroughthegreathall。
Suyuanwalkedthroughthechaos,tearsstillstreamingdownherface。
Sheknockedoveranotherburningbrazier。
Flamesclimbedthewoodenpillars。
ThebahathadoncerepreseheYounissbegantodisappearbehindfire。
Shelaughedthroughhertears。
“Burn。”
Hervoicetrembled。
“Burhing。”
Sheslowlywalkedtotheentrance。Behihepalacewasbeginningtodisappearintoflames。Thespreadeverywhereandthenightskyturnede。Suyuanstoodaloneinthecourtyard,watgtheplacethathadbeenherhomebeeswallowedbyfire。
Foralongtime,shesaidnothing。
Thensheslowlyloweredherselfontothecoldground。
Herhandstrembled。
Hershouldersshook。
Shestaredattheburningpalatilhereyesblurred。
“Ididit,Mother。”
Hervoicewasbarelymorethanawhisper。
“Icamebackforyou。”
Shewipedhertears,butthemoreshewiped,themorefell。"
“Ididntfetmother,Ijusttletgo。”
Theflamesrosehigher。
Suyuanfinallystoppedfightingthetears。
Shesimplysatthere。
Smallbehtheenormousburningpalace。
Andforthefirsttimesincehermotherdied,sheallowedherselftogrieve