Out in the garden, the young men had found many places for their amusement. With no respite from rain, some were setting up places to compete in their archery skills in sprawling gardens, shaded under cover of tents. While some in a quiet little pavilion standing tall beside a pond, sat discussing today’s event. There were some twelve of them - dressed quite peculiarly from the rest that had come to the Weijia. For one, none of them had taken off their fur lined cloaks, or even made themselves comfortable by taking off their weapons - their swords clung to their waist, sheathed inside their silver covers at all times. A round cap, furlined at rims, covered their head and their hair braided in a single braid hung low down to their hips.
The day was so murky, its pitty-patty showers and soft breezy caresses constantly chilling their faces. For a few, nothing flickered past to entangle their somber gazes; the weather could hardly save their small talks. How could the melancholic murkiness of a wet, sullen day be any good for any auspicious word? How could the nostalgic air that seeks solitary reprieve be a nice thing to observe upon, especially in the midst of that medley of jubilation that surrounded them? The occasion was such that no proper sentiment could be translated into words. As such, many of them lingered outside in the pavilion, forming their own small group.
The moss covered marble pillars of the pavilion, the pathway leading into shrubbery full garden and leaning willows, a pond spread close-by at the feet of pavilion and ripples that formed therein at each falling raindrop...many eyes took it in and raised a warm cup of tea to their lips.
“I say - it's not all that bad. This jinghai. If it weren’t for Wei Yize’s coming of age ceremony being so out of proportion, we could have enjoyed this trip a lot. For one, imagine if it was just a random gathering - this place could have made a perfect place to read some poetry.” Someone observed and a general hum of agreement followed. He stood beside the stone steps descending down into the pond, his boots almost touching the water, but he seemed unfazed whether they remained unwet or not.
When others followed his gaze, they saw the green pond, with blooming purple lilies and white lotuses. Each droplet of rain pierced the water like needles, and endless round ripples merged- and then emerged like echoes from the bottom. The mist rising from the dark buildings surrounding the pond at faraway opposite shore, seemed to be rolling over the water surface. It was a beautiful moment to remain silent.
“Most definitely -yes. This rain, as bothersome as it is, seems to be made just for this place. Just this scene - how poignant is that? I should have brought my brush and ink.” Someone couldn't help but sigh.
“Yeah, you’re right. Damn, we forgot so many supplies back at school!”
As if finding a small opening, a few of them started talking. There was much to be dwelt upon - all the popular news or one related to academic discussions, or which angry teacher was the worst and which sword style suited them best at that moment. Perhaps owing to the fact that some embarrassment of a sudden meeting had wafted away, the air heated up and the topics were skillfully maneuvered towards more colorful alleys.
What else could substitute such perennial topics as swords and warriors, but maidens and their beauty, their virtuosity, and their characters? And so they talked about that. Did someone hear anything new from the scholar who released that pamphlet called ‘Most influential beauties of the land’? Was there a mention of the capital city, and its several newly acclaimed accomplished women?Was there someone in it who was completely a surprise? Were they in a relationship, engaged or married?
“They always lie - over there in these books from the capital! You know the capital people rarely acknowledge other beauties who don't come from there. They will have you believe that the rest of Dajin is just full of one eyed maiden, all made of bulging noses and flesh bursting out if they could. It is their selling point at this point- call everyone ugly enough and, then highlighting the local maiden’s to make everyone more enthusiastic to buy it. What do you say happens when someone actually falls into their illusion? Does such an idiot even exist?”
“The world is so large that you cannot definitely say there aren’t. But, I guess at least the ones written by outsiders are better. Now all of them share the same titles for beauties. And you cannot deny why they would do that - it definitely adds to their credibility. The name did great justice to beauty Wei, the title White lotus certainly suits her.” A young man with his crimson cloak covering his broad shoulder nudged closely towards the pillar, leaning backwards for support. Luo Chen stood beside his friend - a tall young man draped in a silver, white fur lined cloak. “There is some strange innocence in her eyes - I cannot clearly explain what. But when we met today, she felt like that pristine bloom gently cradling morning dew in her heart.”
"His highness the second prince really appeared at the most opportune time. Before the flower could fully bloom in the spring, it was plucked off. Alas! What can one do but raise a toast to a missed fate." Yu Mingyang turned to catch the fleeting expression of loss reflected on his friend's face.
"Nothing unusual to me.” Someone quipped up from the other side of the pavilion. “In fact, I had long expected something of this sort. With such caliber as he has, nothing short would have suited the status of either of them. Or why do you think people swear by the ‘White Lotus of the Western Mountains’? Not even the ‘Peony of the imperial city’ so celebrated could ever match her in her grace. And I heard - the beauty in the capital - is a childhood friend of his highness. Despite being so well learned, she was never betrothed to him, why do you think that is?"
“You talk of Miss Wei, I assume, when you all call her the white lotus. I still don’t understand, what is this about those titles? Who keeps a record of these, and who even decided to come up with that?” A boy sitting with his ankles in the nearby pond with the soft shower wetting his cloak's rims looked up at his friends standing beside him, some of whom immediately rolled their eyes at him and took a sip of their warm tea. “Come on! Don’t tell me it's common knowledge. How could it be unknown to me if it were so popular - or a common knowledge so to speak- as you claim? All day long, there is someone calling Miss Wei the “white lotus” and there just happens to be another one – I don’t recall the lady’s name but it goes something like, “the orchid of lone mountains” and whatnot. Although they sound poetic, who has so much time in their hands to dwell on these things? It exasperates me. That is such a confusing way to remember someone, if you ask me.”
“Not someone like you, at least. All day long, all I see you doing is nothing but plowing through those texts. You don’t go to assemblies, never attend an informal meeting - how would you know what is common knowledge or not? Fine, good for you - you are a good scholar! But please don’t expect others to be the same as you, alright? Normal people read normal things and people like you -? They read stuff in which not even a simile, nor metaphor comes even once, forget allusions to aesthetics and sentiments-do they even write of those? So, don’t talk as you know what poetic expressions even mean, brother. You don’t know anything of the sort. How could you know what "the white lotus of the western mountains” means? Don’t pretend or you will only embarrass yourself, An Jin. We know what stuff you are made of.” A few of them burst out laughing.
“I do actually come across such expressions more often than you would guess. My books that you call dry are not that dry actually - they have a different sort of beauty. No, but in all seriousness brother Mo. There must be a book you all refer to - right? A kind that names these beauties in such a high handed manner? Because if it was spontaneous, you wouldn’t all just come together to think of the same title, would you? Let’s just say it happens in one case, but what about other such titles? It cannot be true for all! No way is that possible. That can only mean that you are hiding that book from me. Why –? Because you are ashamed of it! Tell me, have I deduced this problem correctly?” In his anticipation to know the effect of his speech, An Jin dragged out his wet ankles and started dragging his friend to sit down over the carpet, his arms reaching over his shoulder in a half-embrace.
“Ah! You are such a pain!” Sui Mo exclaimed as he tried to wrestle his body away from his grip. “It's not like you can bully me into confessing something so untrue - okay?”
“No, I am not. And this is not bullying - I just know you are definitely doing something behind my back. Tell me which book is it in?” An Jin continued to drag his friend down, till they were sitting down over a thick carpet. A spread of platters full of desserts and small tea-cups and their refills stood together held in porcelain jars. Another brazier burned closeby .
“You are! Now, An Jin, let's stop here. Okay, I confess. We did hide it from you in the beginning. And no, there is nothing shameful about it! We just thought you wouldn’t be interested in these things so it didn’t matter whether you knew of it or not. We just didn’t want you to report us wasting our time in such activities to teacher Li. You can be a passive tattle-tale at times you know. Especially when you start chattering about things you like - or as in this case, dislike.”
“I do not! Don’t hide things from me - I really never go telling all your secrets to everyone, you know. When we go back to Imperial Academy together, you can show it to me there. I don’t think you have brought that book with you, have you?”
“No, of course not! How can you even think of that-!?”
“And he has successfully derailed our conversation. Just like always.” Luo Chen whispered to his companion, snickering at others' antics. They too were now sitting over the carpet, leaning against the pavilion marble pillars.
After some while, he himself couldn’t help but discuss something different. “Second prince’s entourage hasn’t arrived yet. Something must have happened to them. They would have reached before the ceremony began, but there is no sign. It's already noon - what do you think might have happened to them? I don’t think any of us has even received a letter of some sort?”
“There was a landslide in Shijiazhuang, I think. It's a small town some miles away. I heard my old man talk about that on the way here. If anything, he must have gone there first to survey the disaster struck area. He will arrive here, if he has time. Of course, official duties are more important than a brother-in-law’s coming of age ceremony. I still think this Wei house has made too much out of a personal ceremony - even my sister’s wedding wasn’t this elaborate and mind you, she was marrying the newly titled number one scholar of that year. I just don’t know why our teacher’s thought of sending all of us here first, though?” Yu Mingyang whispered. Although the others around the two seemed to be engrossed in their own conversations, many ears were listening to them. A few even stopped their own conversations, lowered their voices to hear some more.
“Ha -! Look at who’s talking? As if brother - as if that could ever be true. You brother, know more than that. I know you. You cannot lie still till you have got your hands around those juicy details, or some nice gossip before you let anything rest. You don’t seem restless to me, right now. It can only be that your old man slipped something more in his drunken stupor last night, did he not?” Luo Chen’s guffaw followed his words.
“Fine! I will tell you then. It's not that big of a secret, alright -?” Yu Mingyang bent down and took up a piece of dessert, completely unperturbed at being seen through. “There just happens to be a plan for us in store. Are you happy now? Indeed there is - no, I kid you not when I say this. But the plans are not for here. We are to catch up with another entourage, and join them in the exploration of the ‘Mysterious Mountains’ of Jinghai down south. For whatever reasons, we are to tag along them. I only know this much. You know my old man seems to talk a lot when he is drunk, but actually, he will never say more than he really can let others know. Even if I make him drunk like a drowning horse, he will still not talk of those official secrets with me!” Yu Mingyang explained nonchalantly.
“At least you do know something.” Luo Chen tilted his head distractedly, while he drank some more warm tea to drive away the chills. “It’s a funny business, ha. Our grandfathers won’t talk, our fathers are silent. But they all treat us like some porcelain dolls, always fussing about something or the other. I haven’t talked to my father so much in eighteen years of my life as I did these past three months! And that says a lot about them, doesn’t it?”
For some while, they both stayed silent.
“It stinks of mystery. I don’t like it. But what were we talking about? That ‘White lotus’ thingy, An Jin?” Here Luo Chen raised his voice to an eavesdropping An Jin, taking him aback. Although a little startled, An Jin raised his drooping head doggedly and met Luo Chen eyes as if to affirm while rubbing his nose in embarrassment.
“As you guessed, it is indeed a book. ‘Three thousand blossoms’ - is what it's called and is kind of a long running series. Definitely a classic, mind you. The author has been running it for five decades now, and has remained anonymous for all this time. So, you know it's old. Even my father used to secretly read them, when he was our age - maybe your father’s might have done too? My mother would always become angry whenever anyone recalled a certain young maiden’s title, you can guess why.” He chuckled a little and then continued, “It came out in a recent volume, the ‘White Lotus’ thing. Dajin, Daxia, Qi, Jing, Xia, Wu, Samhan, Oserthim… every known nation on our Tianxin continent, and their countless beauties were put together and then each ranked in a single list of some hundred people. They called it their special edition - if I am recalling it right. So the competition was brutal. You can just imagine its reach among young people and popularity, especially with maiden’s- many will die just to see their names coming up in there for even once in their life. Someone tried to dig a little deeper into who the author was, but to his surprise found nothing - so, he went and wrote an article for the weekly pamphlet for scholars. So, now some people think it’s a complete organization to be able to reach out into so many places, while others hold the opinion that the author must be a well-connected adventurer. But it’s really funny to guess what their original purpose can be – if they are a powerful organization that is, you know? That's like hitting an egg with a sledgehammer - completely disproportionate. What can you do by recounting names of beauties of a certain place and of a certain period, make a marriage brochure out of them? If someone does have so many resources at hand, why don’t they use it for something else?”
“How can you be sure that they actually don't do something on the side? They might as well be running a secret alliance somewhere, funded by the sales of these books. What if what you think is a silly project of searching about a maiden's name and qualifications, assigning them a title – they are, in fact, doing something underhanded in secret and just pushing this book out to make money to support their actual cause?” An Jin interrupted. “There are so many things that someone of their caliber can actually do. Don’t you find it strange that people still haven’t found their real purpose in all these years? Or who the author actually is?”
“Or,” Sui Mo interrupted suddenly, “you are over-reading into it. They can just be a few merchants who travel all around and hear of ‘beauties’ from the people they come in contact with. And it does sell, doesn’t it? People of all kinds buy into the fuss, and purchase the book. Just think about the profits. Many merchants will go to the farthest point of Samhan if needed, if they could be sure that something of that sort sells and sells fast. Let’s not let our imaginations run wild, shall we?”
“A good point.” Luo Chen said. “But let’s talk about something else. We have been in Jinghai for some days now, almost a fortnight. Apart from seeing the actual ‘White Lotus’ and making an acquaintance with her, have you found something interesting? Heard any strange tales-?”
“What do you have in your mind? Like something other than soggy legs, weather-beaten bodies and continuous rain? If there was anything that could succinctly describe being here in Jinghai, these are the right words, I tell you. I have never been to a land as wet as this place in my life!” Yu Mingyang retorted.
"What about murder? Will that be too macabre of a topic for present?” A boy joined them.
“Definitely, but who cares. If it's between us, and no words go about, why not? Let’s talk about that.” Luo Chen replied looking at the few faces that had come closer together. They were all from the same academy, Imperial academy - and there was no outsider at the moment. Although some of them had only come to Jinghai for the first time in their lives – there were still many who were originally from this place. The speaker, Ji Si, seemed to have had something to do with Jinghai, either his father or grandfather was in the local Yamen.
“I heard, there was a maid found dead in her ladyship’s courtyard. I don’t know if it’s true. It was all the rage of town a few days ago.”
“Which ladyship?” An Jin perked up. “Amazing. A murder. Go on, tell us who was murdered? Who is this lady you speak of?”
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
“Who else? That white lotus, of course. The one by whose purity everyone swears by. Who would have thought that such an event would come out from the backyard of such an accomplished woman?” Before Ji Si could reply, he was interrupted by another gravelly voice.
An Jin looked up at the slowly rising head of the speaker. He wasn’t familiar with this person, Song Muchen. He was from another group, quite different from his own small circle of friends – at least their group had never been as well renowned or popular, as the one in which Song Muchen belonged to. If he remembered correctly, many of the Second Prince’s closest confidantes were in that group. Many people seemed to be coming closer once they saw who was speaking. They walked around and then sat in close proximity, as if quite interested in the talk.
“A maid got murdered. A waiting maid who had accompanied the lady Wei growing up. What happened- how do I know? Heard some rumors that some secrets were spilled? What was it about – nothing that will see the light of the day in my opinion. But a washerwoman seemed to have been dragged to the Yamen a few days ago. She was yelling about how her sister-in-law was innocent and she had only talked of something when she was drunk; maybe it was the same case.” Ji Si continued to explain the events.
“Ah -! I was there! I was just in the opposite restaurant pavilion facing the Yamen. But I thought they were dragging a mad woman to do away with her, she didn’t look right. I even heard someone swear that she was just a lunatic.” An Jin recalled. “I searched a little deeper into it – because I have seen mad people, and she struck me in particular. I don’t know how, or why. But I went around and heard a little. Guess what? Her whole family had suddenly committed suicide. It was said that they were all very heartbroken by the sudden sinking of their small business – the woman’s father-in-law was a tofu seller – with no one in the family left to support them, they could only seek death to avoid poverty. It will not take a genius to see that there was something fishy going on behind the scenes. Song Muchen, you seem to know more than that right?”
“I don’t know, unfortunately.” Song Muchen spoke languidly, drawing out his words in slow, clipped tone. His eyes though seemed to have dulled, unfocused as if chained in a reverie. He turned his head to look at An Jin who had addressed him and replied. “Only that the maid in waiting, was of lowly birth. No one cares if she died an unjust death, even I or any of us sitting here. I mention it because she was maid to her ladyship – the eternally pure, ‘White Lotus of the western mountains’ and we people usually don’t associate such an accomplished lady to deal with their subordinates in such a high-handed manner. That's it.”
“No, you definitely know something more. Is it a hidden secret that none of us can know of?” someone prodded stubbornly. “Come on – have some faith in us, brother Song. We won’t spread rumors. What we hear will always remain in our hearts. Promise.”
An Jin agreed wholeheartedly. He was nodding his head while looking at the youths, now all gathered together in a small corner.
“I don't know if it will help satiate your curiosity, but someone spoke of how the maid was found gossiping about a certain person here right? That is correct information actually.” Here he lowered his voice, taking in a white jade cup from the serving platters and filling it with some hot tea. After he had taken his time, seeing the growing anticipation in the eyes of his audience, he began in his nonchalant tone. “There used to be a daughter of Lord Wei, something Hua, some kind of flower was in her name. Quite like lady white lotus. Beautiful. Skilled in four arts and could even talk down the scholars who taught her in the Clan school – an accomplished scholar of his time, himself. Never heard of her elsewhere, I doubt any of you even know of her. I heard she was more beautiful than the purest of the snow, had hands that could paint worlds so mesmerizing the world wondered at its sublimity. The Duke of Weizhou seems to have collected some of her works before – but again, no word about such an accomplished woman elsewhere.”
Song Muchen stood up from his position and walked up to the nearby balustrade, he seemed to be gazing at the rippling waters of the pond. He had left the others pondering over this strange person they had just heard of. Perhaps even a bit about his strange state of mind. As many, if not all, had seen his disturbed expression. The company descended into silence.
“Tales, I say, some made up story resounding in the market among commoners. It has that crass element in it." Another voice barged in finally.
“How could such a famous person remain unknown? It's almost like a fairytale, an apsara descending from heaven and then vanishing. Like, think about it! Even a fairy leaves behind a legend about her, after she is no more in this world. How come, we have never heard of this person? And she wasn’t that far away from our generation either.” With his lips taut in an unbelieving smirk, Yu Mingyang picked up the kettle and began to pour himself a serving of tea. He nudged at Luo Chen who seemed to be deeply thinking of something.
“Yes, it's too far-fetched. She must have a name in the “Three thousand blossoms” at least? Did she?” Luo Chen agreed wholeheartedly and looked at the standing figure nearby.
“No, she definitely doesn’t. I sent my servant to look into that. He said, there was no title in that generation from Jinghai or Dajin. ‘White Lotus’ seems to be the only earned title in years that came from Jinghai. And don’t talk of being obscure -You heard me talk of her description from the commoners. She was anything but an obscure character. This amnesia regarding this daughter of Weijia seems rather a characteristic of the nobles and affluent people. The commoners talk a lot. And this makes it still stranger– that a maid who had accompanied her for so long would be silenced just for talking about a dead woman, about whom many other mouths can speak at random all over the place and whenever they want to.” Song Muchen walked up to his friend and sat beside him. His friend extended a cup of tea and pushed it into his hands, while asking - “You seem sure - that, that is the reason she was killed for?”
“Kind of. I cannot imagine what else could be the reason. All the related people are dead - except that mad woman. Then the direct link is still with the backyard of Eldest miss Wei. If not killed by her personally - the decision to silence the maid must have come from inside the manor. But why do that? It's all hushed up - like pretty much all the cases of big families.”
“But like you said, brother Song, it doesn't make sense. Killing someone just to keep an open secret?” Someone in the crowd reiterated.
“It might be a common secret that everyone agreed to not talk about – a taboo. Something ignominious would have happened for that to occur, but it's not like our old men don’t put restrictions on people, all the time.” Unknowingly it was Sui Mo who came a little closer to the truth. “Just don’t let men and women in noble houses talk about it. Then it eventually becomes a dark spot, with no common memory. What does it matter that common people know of this or not - in a generation or two, they too will forget all about it. Imagine if we hadn’t heard of this…maiden here, who of us would be even interested in searching her stories up in the midst of commoners and what they thought of her? Who would have let us know of her existence to begin with? It's definitely taboo.”
“Is that what you think? But apart from that, that woman’s disappearance, doesn’t that make you wonder? About what kind of disaster she might have caused to become a taboo? I wonder.” Song Muchen, sitting beside the shadowed youth, drawled as he twirled the porcelain cup in his hands while leaning half-heartedly against the pavilion wall. He had left behind the tea, and taken several gulps of alcohol. His head was swimming by now. “I cannot help but wonder.”
There was something in that strange pronouncement that everyone suddenly ceased to talk about and seemed to collectively gaze at Song Muchen. His strangely unfocused eyes, his weird smile or the strange way the light seemed to fall on his pale face – the gray of the foreground seemed to seize him in its hold and steal away all emotions.
All of them had been sitting down on the carpet spread against the marbled floor of the pavilion, many silver platters full of porcelain cups and kettles holding mellowest wines and best of the tea in them ladled there, accompanied by flower shaped pastries put in small servings. A vine of white button rose swept towards the eaves of the pavilion roof, overarching with the bougainvillea's – a breathtaking mix of white and red.
"Where must she be? Where must she..." He sighed in a sing-song manner. 'Lie dead,' he completed the sentence in his heart while thinking, 'as she deserved.' Perhaps amongst the weeds, unknown, forever haunting a mound of forgetfulness. Just like in people’s memories, forever sealed – until someone brought it out to enrich a stale conversation over dinner tables.
There was something strange in Song Muchen’s eyes that was forbidding them from dwelling further into that topic. A few of them even rose up and walked away to escape the depressing atmosphere. Of the few who stayed, many refused to take part in the conversation while others simply began to pick up pastries, or pour tea and wine.
AnJin exchanged a glance with Sui Mo. Yu Mingyang, although refrained from reaching out to Luo Chen, they both were frozen in their places and just kept nibbling at the small piece of cake for a long time. Everyone seemed to have realized that the beauty might as well have aroused a very personal recollection in this young master Song Muchen’s mind.
"Ceased to exist. Poof! Disappeared."
Seeing no one ready to talk, Song Muchen animatedly swung the empty cup, his eyes crinkled with amusement. "As if the world had never known a person like her. Don’t you find it interesting? Just like the son of the Rong’s called Rong Chen? You might have never heard that Minister of Royal Affairs, old Master Rong, had such a son, have you? Someone who died a shameful death under his horse’s hoof –! Puch! Isn’t that hilarious! A good horseman who had spent fifteen years on the battlefield - he died under his beloved horse’s steps, his head smashed to pieces, his hands pulled off –! A promising warrior fell off the horse and fell so steeply that there was left none of his ashes, nor a memory to recall in people’s mind! Just like we never heard of a Cuihua from Weijia, we might never hear of a third young Master Rong. Can you believe it? The eldest Master Rong - Rong Shiwei swore that he would have Wei Houyu's head to appease the soul of his dead brother. Such empty words had never been spoken in the history of the world! What do you say, my friend? Indeed, it's a taboo - like many forgotten people, they too have been forgotten. Or how else could these hypocrites tear into the profit, without minding the shame."
In reply, the shadowed youth, his friend, chuckled and raised his hands to get a cup of wine for himself. He had very pretty eyes, which were now glinting in the mist.“Calm down Muchen - it’s not like it's the first time. So many people…have been buried like this, it's difficult to keep count.”
There was nothing but silence in the gathering. Everyone was too embarrassed to continue in this all too personal talk. All of them could see that a pain nerve had struck Song Muchen's heart.
“Interesting…observations. Taboo- that word does strike a cord. I cannot help but recall our history.” An Jin tried to say but halted. “But yes, you, brother Song were quite right when you talked of this specific…attitude. Who cares what happens later when the victim was but a servant? The reason it would have been popular among the commoners is quite within this reason – they don’t differentiate in classes as much as we do. For them, perhaps the lady in waiting for a daughter from Wei house was as noble as any noble can ever be! They talk of us a lot, just like they talk of every strange thing happening, or of fairy tales. But for us – who dwell on the decorum, the righteousness of our motives, a small servant losing her life is no news – how strange is that? What is news is that she had been attached to someone, who did eventually with her class and rank, make a mere servant memorable for everyone. I don’t condone murder, as I don’t condone the hierarchy that we so deliberately emphasize in Dajin. Our ancients didn’t live like this – another forgotten piece of memory that now feels very close to the term ‘taboo’. When and how we forgot those traditions would be a very enlightening topic of study. If the murder happened in a certain backyard, or it happens to have long implications for our society, then it should be brought forth to light, like any case of a commoner attempting murder would have been. Our forefathers didn’t envision the justice to be served only to a few, but does everyone here even know of this? That the great ‘moral code of Dajin people’ doesn’t stem from nobility, but was given by a great farmer - who would have never condoned the hierarchy we support today. Did any of you know that?”
“I don’t agree with that observation. How could our forefathers not understand order and structure? Hierarchy is a natural order - our inclination. Any society will be in chaos if they do not have the precept and order to follow.” Yu Mingyang said.
“You are correct - order and structure is important for a peaceful country. But imagine, a land where the men were warriors and females were the mothers of warriors - and everyone could gain respect after contributing something to the country. The land was for those who tilled and gave others food, the sword belonged to the blacksmith - till he parted with it on his own terms. As a swordsman, we cannot imagine not owning it. But our forefathers never owned a sword, they borrowed. That is why ‘The Sandstorm’ will always be Lu Ming, not the actual swordsman, Huang You!”
“If that is the state - it is no wonder we call it the black ages. That kind of society can only be endless war and strife, where no one knows his boundaries or his duty to fate and destiny. You talk a lot but what you talk about is a dream of many swordsmen, but a commoner cannot live a day in that ruleless world. True, our ancients never had the classes like we do now– no one was nobler than the other. But they had distinctions in the family –didn’t they? When Nuwa set out to make humans, though the soul was noble for all, some of the humans were truly born of humble soil while others of a finer kind! And they were given different roles. Heaven is for us all– commoners and nobles alike, but the roles we, nobles are born to are different from that of a commoner.” Yu Mingyang replied. He looked up at the silent master Song Muchen and the rest who, following the example of An Jin, began to withdraw into closer circles of two or three, each discussing their own things.
“But Nuwa was no goddess of our ancestors! Another piece of information not many in Dajin seem to know of! It might have been for those in Daxia, but Dajin always believed in a Mother goddess - the one who created the Moon goddess who we adore!” An Jin replied heatedly. “The seven-day churning of the ocean in mother goddess’s womb that became the amniotic fluid, out of which sprang out Tianxin, and other continents or the forging of souls in the water of Star filled River, or adorning OUR soul with flesh of Soulless Soil – where do you see our ancestors differentiating amongst themselves? We were all born from the same river, our bodies from the same soil!”
“Stop quoting something that our scholars no longer believe in! What are you even reading, An Jin. Are you sure it's not some heathenish account of Nuwa’s creation?”
“You won’t believe that this is a tale that all our people believe in - all the commoners in fact. Only we nobles and people who read, and maybe a handful from the commoners as well, take Nuwa’s creation of us as the truth! And completely forget that there is another story - older and much nearer to our forefathers own beliefs.”
“Let’s save this discussion for later, shall we? I am going out with Luo Chen. Those in the gardens are having some amazing games. Care to join us?” While rising on his feet, Yu Mingyang looked at his companion not wanting to get too deep in such uncomfortable conversation.
“You go. I will join later along with Sui Mo.” Though An Jin looked disappointed, he didn’t hold Yu Mingyang back.
“We will wait for you then.”
With that An Jin too stood up, joining Sui Mo who had his feet dangling in the cold water, his pants raised up to his knees. He was looking lazily at the rippling water, the nodding heads of blooming lotuses and some of their pods. A shy fish broke the surface and jumped.
An Jin sat beside him, then similarly immersed his ankles into the water. They didn’t talk. But An Jin saw this friend giving furtive glances at the two chatting lads in the back. Master Song seemed to have regained his earlier bearing. Or some of that.
“I forgot.” It was Sui Mo who opened up this time, although his voice was almost inaudible. “I had a nanny from Jinghai. Growing up, she would talk a lot about this place. There was this major, major thing that happened here in Jinghai in the past that even my nanny had to be sent back. No one talked about it. It was something akin to a taboo – I actually eavesdropped on my mothers and her maid’s conversation, but I forgot what it was all about. I was furious they had done that to my mama and was so angry that I hid in her room and one thing led to another, but I remembered hearing a strange tale in there. I wouldn’t have recalled it if it wasn’t brother Song acting all so weird. Song Muchen's aunt… was once engaged with the erstwhile third son of the Rong's who was crazy for beauty, Wei CuiHua, the youngest sister of Master Houyu. The strange thing is that - someone kidnapped Wei CuiHua. She had never been found since. A bloody tale of love that left everyone dead, I remember my mother talking. Don’t guess me wrong, I didn’t know the names of course, not many things were clear when I first heard them as a kid – but later when I turned fifteen, I secretly met with my nanny to know how she was doing or why she had left. She was good, had earned enough money to settle down – my parents, you know, are not that hard-hearted on their subordinates. She had no qualms in sharing what had caused her termination, you know. It was there I finally chained my memories of childhood to actual, real names and events.”
“Yes…it really doesn’t sound like something our parents would be ready to talk of. It cannot all be far from the truth. I did actually know of a family feud between the Songs and the Rong’s of Jinghai. It’s quite common knowledge in the capital.”
A cautionary tale. But for someone who had someone close linked to that story -? They both whispered amongst themselves, seldom looking at the man who was engrossed in his wine cup, Song Muchen.
"The auspicious time has arrived; the ceremony is going to start. Do you want to meet with Wei Yize before he begins the ceremony? I think some of you haven't gifted him yet. Let's go, I’ll show you the way." Rong Yichen, who was a well-known figure in the Imperial Academy, stood a few steps outside the pavilion. At this moment, he bent his head to lean in while facing his friends and inviting them out, unaware of the little incident that had soured everyone’s mood.
"Yes, the auspicious time." Song Muchen spoke with sarcasm filling his eyes, but still didn't move. Rong Yichen gave him a puzzled glance, but no one came forward to explain.
"We should go."
Somebody finally spoke and rose up taking the lead.
Soon the others filed into the well-lit Hall.
The congratulations rang one after another. Laughter melted into cheers and toasts of wine. The elders had left the aisle for the youngsters to have more fun. Soon the garden was separated into two portions and the rhythmic files of maids and servants began from the inner chambers arranging colorful delights that tasted as heavenly as they appeared to be.
Mesmerizing dishes and charming laughter of men and maiden, mingled in the air. The banquet wasn't silent till late night, when the house once more descended in its gloomy appearance. As if the merrymaking had been but a part of the silent mourning that was still enduring on.