洛阳牡丹仙 | The Peony Gardener of Luoyang

第一章 | Chapter One: 花开时节 (When Flowers Bloom)

洛阳牡丹甲天下，每年四月，城中花团锦簇。

Luoyang's peonies are the finest under heaven, and every April, the city is a cluster of blooms.

城中最大的私人牡丹园由白牡丹经营，她四十九岁，身材丰满如盛开的牡丹，与她的名字一样美丽。

The largest private peony garden in the city was run by Bai Mudan, forty-nine, with a figure as full as a blooming peony, as beautiful as her name.

"牡丹是花中之王，" 她常说，"只为懂她的人绽放。"

"The peony is the king of flowers," she often said. "It blooms only for those who understand it."

那年牡丹花会，一位日本植物学家专程来研究洛阳牡丹。

That year at the Peony Festival, a Japanese botanist came specifically to study Luoyang peonies.

"白老师，" 他站在一株魏紫牡丹前，"这品种太珍贵了。"

"Teacher Bai," he stood before a Wei Purple peony, "this variety is so precious."

牡丹走到他身边，旗袍包裹着她丰腴的曲线，如同最名贵的牡丹花瓣。

Mudan walked to his side, her qipao wrapping her full curves like the petals of the most precious peony.

"想看更珍贵的吗？" 她问，"有些品种，只有我园子里才有。"

"Want to see something more precious?" she asked. "Some varieties exist only in my garden."

月圆之夜，她带他来到园中最私密的角落。

On the night of the full moon, she led him to the most private corner of the garden.

"这株叫'夜光杯'，" 她指着一株白牡丹，"只在月光下绽放。"

"This one is called 'Night Luminous Cup,'" she pointed to a white peony. "It blooms only under moonlight."

花香醉人，月色如水。她转过身，解开旗袍的盘扣。

The flower fragrance was intoxicating, the moonlight like water. She turned and undid the frog buttons of her qipao.

"牡丹的美，" 她低语，丰腴的身躯在月光下如玉般温润，"在于层层叠叠。"

"The beauty of peonies," she whispered, her full figure as warm as jade in the moonlight, "lies in their layers upon layers."

她将他拉入花丛，"来，让我为你展示。"

She pulled him into the flowers. "Come, let me show you."

"牡丹花期只有两周，" 清晨，她说，"但会年年盛开。"

"Peonies bloom for only two weeks," she said in the morning, "but they bloom every year."

他将一朵带露的牡丹插在她发间："明年我还会来。"

He placed a dew-laden peony in her hair: "I'll come again next year."

"我会为你留最美的花，" 她微笑着，丰满的脸上带着晨露般的红晕，"和最美的夜晚。"

"I'll save the most beautiful flowers for you," she smiled, her full face with a blush like morning dew, "and the most beautiful nights."

在洛阳的牡丹花海中，有些绽放只为一个人...

In Luoyang's sea of peonies, some blooms are for just one person...