Autumn wind, moonlit shadows, cold water flowing through emptiness.
A thousand night-market lamps shone upon azure clouds; beneath tall towers, red-sleeved women and visitors thronged.
On first arriving in Guangling, one need not gaze into the distance, only look down into the streets.
Fleeting light and passing shadows, and the bustle was upon one in an instant.
Pavilions, terraces, and towers set one another aglow, capturing all the charm of late autumn.
Everywhere spoke of Guangling's beauty, intoxicating the eyes of travelers.
Outside lay bustle; inside lay tranquility.
One could admire white clouds and emerald peaks framed like a painting, or seek a home for the heart amid the bustle.
Look, and savor its wonders; breathe, and delight in its fragrance.
Bamboo pole in hand, Li Ping'an led Old Ox through the light and shadows.
Though he could not admire its beauty, he could still experience its many flavors.
Old Ox mooed, describing the sights of Guangling Prefecture to Li Ping'an.
The man and the ox walked very slowly.
Moonlight filled the street, illuminating the bluestone pavement until it gleamed like snow.
Pedestrians thronged like threads in a loom, some standing, others on horseback.
They left faint shadows on the ground.
Old Ox described the clothing of the women on the street to Li Ping'an.
It was far more revealing than in the Capital City, and they were dressed like flowers on swaying branches.
They swayed this way and that along the street, crowding together.
It made the whole street resemble a multicolored river.
Li Ping'an could not help saying, "Old Ox, don't just describe what the women look like."
Old Ox nudged Li Ping'an, as though saying that it was time he found himself a partner.
As they walked, the people around them grew much fewer.
Who knew