Book 2: Xi Wang

Foreword:  This is also based on my recurrent dream since childhood. 

 

1

Memories at the Prison Cell

In the year 1643, the palace guards captivated and taken before the jury, Princess Soo kyung wife of the Prince. Though she was weak and recently gave birth to her firstborn child. She was interrogated and called traitor for infiltrating royal information towards the Joseon Dynasty. Though she was innocent, she was brought to trial and will face execution by the end of the week.

Neither family member nor friends were not allowed to visit her. Inside the prison cell she was tortured and forced to admit that she was the informant. Soo kyung hands were tied around a wooden pillar at the center of the torture chamber. She wore white dress with a lot of torn at the back. She was bleeding profusely, she received ten lashes at her back each morning.

“If I were you, I will admit that I am part of the rebel group of the Joseon kingdom.” The Minister of Defense, Gang, said in a disgust tone. The minister wore the official attire for government official in the Ming dynasty.

“I ha---ve sta---ted bef---ore…… I am n---o pa----rt of a…ny r---ebbelll….a..rm…y…” Soo kyung replied in a weak voice.

“Hmmm…liar….!” Minister Gang exclaimed while he slapped Princess Soo kyung face several times.

The prison guards who witnessed how the Princess was tortured took pity on her. Two prison guards brought her from the torture chamber towards her prison cell.

“Forgive us your highness for this.” One of the two prison guards told her as she was locked again in her cell.

As the prison guards left her, she leaned on the wall and reminisce the past where she was almost taken to prison but was saved by a young man around her age as well. The young man may not be able to talk but was brave enough to help her escape.

The house was burning both of her parents were there. They were attacked by the royal army of Ming dynasty. Though her mother was from Guangzhou and her father was a noble family of Joseon dynasty. They were still persecuted for fear that interracial marriage between Ming and Joseon would be a bad omen that it would disrupt the flow of chi.

So for those residing in the borders of China and Mt. Baekdu were brutally attacked and killed. The Joseon dynasty were unable to foresee the massacre which would about to unfold. She was in her younger teens of a tender age of fourteen, busy looking for herbs that would cure the sickness of her ailing mother. Her hanbok was made out of silk, signage of a noble birth. Her hair was properly braided at the back with a jaded butterfly hair pin at the top of the head. When she heard from afar the loud sound of the gong which indicated an attack. She hurriedly went down the mountains but found that there house was already under attacked and fire was about to burn their house. She tried to get inside of their house but flames were everywhere.

“My la---dy Soo kyung hide quick.” An old house maid called her and grabbed her left hand as they escaped. The house maid which called her wore a hanbok simpler than Lady Soo kyung. The skirts was heavy green and the upper robe was light green.

“My parents…. Miss Park, where are they?” Lady Soo kyung asked as she grasped for air.

“My lady run fast…..” Miss Park just answered.

While they were running two imperial Chinese soldiers caught them, they stopped for a while. Miss Park hid Soo kyung at her back and she looked for a place to run. Few blocks away from them was a narrow road which would lead in the mountains.

“My lady, you must be brave and run fast….my lady.” Miss Park recounted as they move backwards towards the narrow road. As they move backwards, the two imperial soldiers were moving forward to get them.

“Where do you think you are going?” shouted the tallest soldier.

“Look like we found a noble child here together with her servant.” shouted the smaller soldier.

“My lady, I will not allow them to get you. I swear with my life.” Miss Park whispered as she looked at Soo kyung signaling that they should run.

When they ran the two soldiers ran after them. Since they were from the border, so they had an advantage.  Lady Soo kyung ran first followed by Miss Park, they ran towards the upper part of the northern mountain. And after reaching the top, they hid for a while in a cave.

“Miss Park, who are they?” Lady Soo kyung asked she felt terrified and move closer to Miss Park.

“They are the imperial soldiers of Ming, my lady.” Miss Park replied as she looked around for signs of soldiers in the area.

“Where are my parents? Mother is sick and I failed to give her the herbs.” Lady Soo kyung asked as she sobbed.

“From now on my lady, you must be brave. It is just you and me now.” Miss Park said as she comforted Lady Soo kyung while she cried.  She tore one piece of her white undergarment dress to cover the wound in the knee which Lady Soo kyung got while running away from the imperial Ming soldiers. She told Lady Soo kyung not to cry so that the soldiers would not hear them.  They spent the night inside the cave. Before the breaking of the dawn, they went and leave. Before they could cross the river via the boat. They were discovered by the soldiers and attacked them.

“My lady, be quick, get on the boat. Quick!” Miss Park shouted as they were now running toward the boat.

One of the imperial soldiers hit Miss Park with an arrow at her back causing for her to slow down.

“Miss Park you are hit.” Lady Soo kyung noticed while they were running.

“Do not mind me, my lady, save yourself. Quick get on the boat.” Miss Park recounted as she helped Lady Soo kyung get on the boat.

“Give me your hand Miss Park and I wil---l”

“My la----dy save yourself and be strong. Here take this……” she handed the jaded necklace. 

“Your mother, Madame Huifang wanted you to have this.” As she was giving the necklace, spill of blood came out of her mouth.

“But Miss Park come with me….. give me your hand…. Miss Park…..” Lady Soo kyung was crying but Miss Park just pushing the boat away from the riverside.

“Be brave my lady….. be brave….. do not forget us……” Miss Park’s last words before they got separated. One of the Ming soldier manage to grab Miss Park and stab her at her back. Lady Soo kyung witnessed how her favorite handmaiden were killed. The Ming dynasty archer wanted to hit her with another arrow but one of the soldier stopped the archer from hitting her with another set of arrow.

Everything she love the most were nowhere out of sight. She lost her family, her hand maiden and now she must bear this life alone. She stared at the wilderness thinking what would happen to her next.

“Where would I go now? Why this thing happened to me?” she asked her these questions as she allowed the boat to be drifted away by the water.

2

The Savior

One prison guard gave Princess Soo kyung her meal for dinner. “Excuse me, your highness, here is your meal.” He handed the food. But Princess Soo kyung refused to eat.

“Please, eat your food, you need to gain your strength for another trial tomorrow.” Begged the prison guard.

“Fo---od, I ---- I don’----t nee---d… it…..” Princess Soo kyung answered in a weak voice. She already suffered so many things in her life.  With each blow she received every morning, it made her eyesight difficult to see.

“Please…your highness…eat…please……” the prison guard beg of her.

“Wh..y woul---d I eat…… if you …… sen---ten---ce…… m---e…. to de---ath…..”

As the prison guard would utter another word, another prison guard came and pat the shoulder of the first one and said “Do not persuade her anymore to eat….”

The first soldier then said “We will go ahead my lady.” The two soldiers left her.

The two soldiers talked to each other and Princess Soo kyung heard the word ‘save.’

She closed her eyes once again, she dreamt of the day she was saved along the by the river.

“Hmmmmm…hmmmmm….” A young man in his teens trying to wake her up.

“Who are you……? Where am I..?” Lady Soo kyung asked the man before she fell into water as she was startled by the man.

When she got up from the water, the young man just looked at her and smiled. The young man was dressed in a finest clothe that seemed to be a noble child. He wore a black hat. His eyes were more squint than the eyes of Soo kyung. He had an angelic face, prominent cheek bone which bear his sweet smile. The young man had dark colored eyes which gave a depth to his personality. He was one year ahead than her.

“Hey, why are you laughing?” She demanded as her eyebrows were about to cross paths.

The man just bow down his head and said nothing. Lady Soo kyung face were amazed to see the man was not saying anything and just making gestures as a way of communication.

The man grabbed the paper and pen and wrote his name. His name was ‘Chen.’ He now wrote in the paper the questions “Who are you? May I know you’re name?”

Lady Soo kyung replied “Are you deaf-mute?” But Chen only stared at her.

Lady Soo kyung waved her hand in front of Chen’s face. Chen gave her a notion that he could see her clearly but cannot talk.

He wrote again on his paper, “I am asking you, who are you? I can see of course but cannot talk.”

Lady Soo kyung paused for a while since she was reading the words written by Chen.

“I am Soo kyung.” As she told her name Ming soldiers passed by. When she saw that they were coming, she pushed Chen and said “you trick me.” She quickly hid in the bushes, since she was injured it was hard for her to run.

Chen saw she was limping as she hid in the bushes. One soldier came and asked him what he was doing in the riverside. He wrote in the paper, “I am exploring the river.”

The soldier then replied “Young master, you have to go back inside the house. We heard that there are some refugees that might come here in the border. It is best that you will go home.”

Chen wrote “It is alright. I know this place. Kindly give me a clean coat, it is cold in here.”

The soldier then said “Coat young master? But it is still day time, it is not yet cold.” Then the soldier saw the boat. “What is this boat doing here? There was no boat here before.” The soldier tried to look around but Chen ordered the soldier to go away and give him his coat. Chen quickly pushed the boat away from the riverside.

When the soldier came back, he had the coat which Chen asked him to bring. He was amazed that the boat was nowhere to be found.

Chen wrote “Boat? What boat? There is no boat in sight?” Chen just grabbed the coat and put it around him. And made a gesture for the soldier to return to his designated post or else he will tell it to his grandfather, General Yeoh.

The soldier went back to his post. When the soldier was away, Chen approached Soo kyung hiding in the bushes and gave her the coat. Chen wrote “You are not from here. Where are you from?”

Soo kyung contemplated for a while if she would answer the question or not.

“You don’t have to know.” Soo kyung just bow down her head and walk after Chen. Chen led the way to their house, he made sure that no soldier would see them, especially Soo kyung.

He hid Soo kyung inside his bedroom. His room had a larger space, once you open the door, the initial portion would be the receiving area. Once you passed through it, there was another room with no door. His room was like a lofty style. Chen saw that Soo kyung was looking around his room. There were vases placed on top of each hanging cabinet. In his main bed chamber, his bed was at the center and at the sides were books.

“You seem to enjoy reading, you have a wide variety of books.” Soo kyung said while checking all the books of Chen.

Chen wrote in the paper which he carried wherever he went too, “Definitely, since I cannot play outside and I have no friends.”

Soo kyung came near him and observed Chen’s face. “You seem odd. You can write and hear but cannot speak, why?” she asked in bewilderment.

Chen wrote again “It is a long story and I don’t want to remember.” As he wrote this, he recalled how his mother was killed in front of him. He cannot contain the terror the night his mother was murdered.  

Chen hid Soo kyung near his bed and made a gesture that she should be still and be quiet. Chen rang his bell to call an attendant. When the attendant came in, Chen ordered hot green tea and five pieces mantao. The attendant followed Chen’s request and came back couple of minutes later.

The attendant left the green tea and mantao at the receiving area. As soon as the attendant left, Chen locked his room and approached Soo kyung. Seeing the food, Soo kyung ate it all. Chen ate only few and he was happy for the first time that he had a friend.

Chen wrote on his paper “You are from the border, isn’t?”

Soo kyung stared at Chen sharply and with suspicion. Chen wrote again “I did not mean any harm. Your dress is different from us. Your hairstyle is also not the same with the girls here.”

Soo kyung then observed her dress and hair. She then realized that Chen was right she’s not from here. “What place is this?” She asked in a low tone and she’s careful about the words she would say.

Chen wrote “This is in the northeastern province of China.”

Upon reading the word ‘China’, she stood up and recalled the soldiers who attacked her hometown.

Chen got worried, he too stood up and made a gesture that his calming down Soo kyung. Soo kyung then tried to open the door but Chen stopped her.

“Do not come near me…… back off…..” she warned as her heart beat was beating fast. She remembered everything from the burning of their village and the death of Miss Park.

Chen had no choice but to calm her down, he hit Soo kyung at the shoulder and she fainted. Chen learned the art of chi blocking from his grandfather, General Yeoh.

Chen carried Soo kyung on his bed. He played the flute during spare time. He got some money and headed towards the market. He bought some hair ornaments for women and pink to yellow fabrics as well. His attendant wondered why he bought materials for women.

“Young master, tell me the truth are you going to use it?” the attendant asked in confusion.

Chen was shocked and wrote “What! How dare you to ask me that?”

“Forgive me, young master, since this is the first time you went out in the market and buy clothes and other stuffs that are for women.” His attendant explained in an apologetic manner.

“This is for a friend, a token for her.” Chen wrote again. He made a gesture to his attendant that he should carried all the things they bought in the market. Upon arriving home, he ordered his female attendant to make a beautiful dress from the two fabrics which he bought and kept it a secret to his grandfather.

             Soo kyung woke up and amazed that she was sleeping on Chen’s bed, while he was staring at her.

            “A--re you watch--ing me asleep? H---ow did I got on…to your be—d?” She asked while scratching her head.

         Chen nodded that he was watching her sleep. On a piece of paper, he wrote “I went out to  buy you some clothes. All female attendants here are old. So you don’t have same size of body.”

         Soo kyung looked at her chest and arms, then gave Chen an expression if he was referring to her physique.

        Chen made a gesture that Soo kyung misunderstood him and move away from her. Then a female attendant knocked. Chen reminded Soo kyung to be quiet. The latter followed Chen’s advised.

       The old female attendant came in, she held in her hands the clothes she made from the fabric bought by Chen. She asked the young master about the dress, “Young master, I would like to ask, why did you bought a dress for a woman?” the attendant smiled in an intriguing manner.

         Chen wrote “It is for a friend Ms. Ling, I am very happy that finally I have one.” The female attendant looked at Chen in amazement. Her face seemed that she’s curious who the female friend was. She just nodded and lower down her head as she left.

          Chen brought the dress and hair ornament to Soo kyung. When Soo kyung saw it, she asked “Why are you giving me that dress and that hair ornament? I have my own dress.”

         Chen wrote “They will notice that you are not from here. You are a refugee from Joseon.”

Soo kyung hated the word ‘refugee’. “I am not a refugee, I have a home….”she said in regret “not until the Ming soldiers attacked us and burn everything.” She continued.

          Chen stared at her for a minute. He wrote “Apology if my fellow countrymen committed a crime against your countrymen.” He saw the jade necklace of Soo kyung.

         “Do not touch it, this is from my mom. This is all I have left.” Soo kyung held the necklace in her hands in a guarded behavior.

           Chen replied in a letter “I am a man. I am not interested with necklace and besides, we are the only young teens here.” Chen pushed the clothes towards Soo kyung.

           He also wrote “I find it odd, you are not from here but you can read Chinese characters.”

            Soo kyung replied “Ahhh, well…my mother is from Guangzhou.”

          In the evening, the male attendants brought Chen’s dinner. “Young master, your dinner is ready.”

          He advised again Soo kyung to hide and be quiet. He opened the door, the attendants left the food on top of his table. Soo kyung observed the whole scene. Chen looked at her too. Chen wrote to bring hot green tea again before bedtime. The attendants agreed and left. He closed the door once more.

        He signaled Soo kyung that it was alright to come out and join him for dinner. He and Soo kyung ate the hot beef noodle soup with mantao and green tea. The two new friends shared laughter. For once, Chen knew the feeling of having someone your own age and spending time with them.

3

Friends for Life

           Morning again, Soo kyung was taken at the tortured chamber to receive ten lashes, while the prison guards whipped her back, she heard other guards talking and the word ‘friend’ was mentioned. She closed her eyes while she grasp for air to breath while receiving her punishment.

          Chen told Soo kyung to change her name for safety measures. “If I would change my name, what would it be then? You know I am not from here….”she asked for an advised.

         Chen wrote “How about Fei. Just like you fresh fragrance.” Soo kyung nodded. She wore the pink dress with white collar which Chen bought for her. Half of her hair was pulled up backwards with hair ornaments. Chen loved to see Soo kyung long black hair.

       Unexpectedly, General Yeoh came inside Chen’s room without a warning. He caught the two friends chatting. She was amazed to see the General and was a bit uneasy. The two friends greeted General Yeoh.

        “Chen who is this girl!?” General Yeoh demanded. He was wearing his silver armor with a symbol of tiger. A long and heavy sword at his left side. He looked around to see the different reactions of the attendants’ faces.

        Even the house attendants were shocked to see that there was a woman inside Chen’s room. They lower down their heads since they were afraid of the General.

        Chen wrote “It is not what you are thinking Grandpa. She is Fei, my friend.”

        “Chen a female companion should not be inside a male’s room.” General Yeoh shook his head. “What is she doing here? Where is she from?” The General asked further.

          His grandson wrote “She is already an orphan, Grandpa. Let her stay here, please. I have no one to talk too.”

            General Yeoh examined Fei from head to toe. He ordered the house attendants to leave them at once and tell no one about it. The house attendants agreed.

         “You are not someone from here, aren’t you?” General asked Soo kyung now her name was Fei.

         Fei paused for a while if she would answer it or not. Chen made a motion to answer it but his Grandfather did not allow it. “Is she lost her tongue as well?”

       Chen then frowned and looked away. His Grandfather felt sorry upon saying ‘lost her tongue.’

       “My name is Soo kyung, I am from the border. The soldiers attacked our village and killed my parents.”

     General Yeoh’s face was shocked when he heard that she was from the border. When he looked at her once more. “You don’t seem that you are from Joseon.” He saw the jade necklace as well.  “That necklace looks familiar, where did you get that?”

      “This jade necklace is from my mother. She was from Guangzhou.” Soo kyung explained.

      “So you seem to be refugee and an orphan now.” As soon as the General stood, Chen got in between of him and Soo kyung. He made a gesture that she will not allow that his new friend will be taken away from her.

     “Chen what is the matter, dear boy?” General Yeoh asked while calming down his grandson.

      “I am not going to take her. If she really is your friend, she can stay here. But she should have her own room.” General Yeoh said while brushing his long gray mustache.

      Chen hugged his grandfather. On a piece of paper he wrote “Thank you Grandpa.”

      The General touched his grandson’s head. “Aside from that, do not tell to any one that she is from the border. Is there someone knew about her?”

      Chen wrote “No one grandpa. She’s here in my room for about two weeks now.”

      “Two weeks? My dear boy………wha----t ….on earth are you thin----king?”

       Fei just kept quiet the whole time. Chen was the one answering for her. Chen wrote “I must protect my friend from the imperial soldiers, grandpa.”

       General Yeoh regretfully gave a facial reaction of empathy. Though he and his soldiers had no part in the attack in the border between China and Joseon.  He decided by means of keeping her, it could repay whatever the Ming dynasty had committed. He assured his grandson about it.

4

Return to the Palace

       The following morning would be the fourth day of her punishment. The prison guards brought her again in the torture chamber. She was very weak indeed. The guards carried her inside. On their way in the torture chamber, she could smell her impending death. The soldiers lay her down in the floor.

      They took pity on her, the prison guard who was standing near her said, “Your highness just bear with the pain a bit more.” He pressed Soo kyung’s wound at her back in order to bleed it. Soo kyung’s face displayed unbearable pain.

      “Wu give me the whip quick.” Said the first guard as he made a hand signal for the whip.

      “Why do you need it?” said Wu

       “I will fill the whip with her blood as a proof that we whip her back.” Defended Yu

        “I know you pity her as well but the other guards might tell this to Minister Gang.” Wu said as he was looking outside the torture chamber to see if any guard might saw their scheme.

        “Just hand me the whip.” Yu demanded. Wu gave him the whip and fill it with Soo kyung’s blood.

        “Now what Yu? The other soldiers should hear the sound of the whip and her screams.”

        Yu thought for a moment and said “Wu try to hit the floor and the wooden pillar. Your highness just scream whenever Wu hit something.”

        Hearing the plan of Yu, Wu and Soo kyung cooperated. Afterwards, Wu and Yu carried Soo kyung back to her cell. No prison guard suspected their scheme.

        “Yu, I hope what we did will not reach the ears of the palace.” Wu said in a whisper to Yu.

           Hearing the word ‘palace’, Soo kyung remember the day they went to the palace……

           Years passed by, the two grew and became close friends. One winter, Chen and Fei were collecting herbs for the medicinal supplies for the whole Sheng province, since it was winter season, majority of the population suffered from flu. Chen wore thick coat made from a tiger’s skin, gloves and hat that was made from cow’s skin. Soo kyung wore a hat made from tiger’s skin, thick gloves and coat made from cow’s kin. Soo kyung picked the herbs and Chen carried the basket.

           Upon arriving, they were welcomed by the attendants. Yunlong took the basket from Chen and made his way towards the clinics and hand them the herbs.

            General Yeoh called Chen and Fei to his quarters. They kneel down before General Yeoh while drinking hot green tea. General Yeoh handed the imperial letter to Chen.

            “Chen my dear boy, your father, the Emperor Yue, sent this for you.”

            Chen opened the scroll and read it. He then looked at his grandfather with an expression of he do not wish to leave his side.

             “Chen, you are the second line to the throne. It is your birthright to be there.”

             Chen made a gesture that he was contradicting the idea of returning to the palace.

             General Yeoh held his hand high. “Chen, I am not here forev……” his grandfather was not yet done talking when he stormed out of the room. “Che---n……chen….”

              Fei stood and bow down before the general “I’ll talk to him, General.”

             “Chen……Chen…. Wait up…….” Fei chased Chen out in the snow. She caught up with Chen. “What’s wr----ong with yo----u? Your grandfather is saying some….” Chen moved away from her.  She grabbed Chen’s arms and “Listen first…….. you are a prince and you have to be at your father’s side. He missed you.”

              Chen frowned and walked away. He neither touched his dinner nor talk to someone even Fei. He was now almost a full grown man of twenty one. He had the same face and built like the Emperor Yue.

                When the winter was over, he and Fei together with some attendants and soldiers from the northeast embarked on a journey at the capital in Peking. Their stuffs were boarded on the carriage. Fei was riding the horse while Chen was boarded inside the sedan. He was dressed nicely in a manner that only the royal bloods could afford to wear.

                Inside the sedan, he remembered how his grandfather begged him to return to the palace. “Che----n, I beg of you my dear boy…return to the palace……”

                 The young prince still refused……

                 “Chen, as a prince….it is your duty to safeguard the sovereignty of the countr…..y”

                 He still refused to face nor listen to his grandpa. His grandpa running out of patience held him tight in the arms and forcefully turned Chen’s face to his.

                   “Listen to me carefully…..always remember this. Your presence in the capital will safeguard our hometown. Though our armies are far greater than the armies of the empire, it is best that you are there, our lives would be at stake if you will not show your face there!”

                     Chen then cried…..so as his grandfather……

                   “The day I lost your mother, is one of the saddest day of life. So be brave.”

                  “Gr---an…d ….p--- a  n---o…..” Chen said after so many years of not talking.

                  “Che----n did you just call m---e?”

                    Chen nodded…..

                    “Oh dear ……. Thanks to the heaven they heard my prayer…..”

                      Both the grandfather and the grandson hugged each other so tight.

                     “Is there anybody knows that you could speak?”

                       Chen replied ‘no’ with gesture.

                      “Good…. Don’t let anyone know that you can somehow speak….. it is for your own good.. understand me……hu.?”

                       His grandson nodded in agreement.

               “Be like a plum blossom that can withstand the bitterness and coldness whatever life may give.”

                     Fei recalled while riding her horse that she was summoned by the General before they left the following morning.

                     “Fei, you will accompany Chen at the capital…..guide and protect him.”

                     “As you pleased General.” She said while bowing her head.

                     “Take the opportunity to find out the truth about ‘the attack on your village’. I have a strong feeling that the people responsible for it are lurking in the capital’s shadow.”

                    “Huh? General you believe that they are …..”

                    General Yeoh raised his right hand….. “just be careful and guard Chen for me….”

                   The general stood outside the main gate of Sheng province for a very long time.

                  “General, sir, it is getting cold….. Master Chen’s entourage is nowhere in sight….”

                  General Chen raised his right hand, so Yunlong stopped from talking ……  His face cannot fathom that he was losing his grandson. He already lost his wife and daughter and now he was about to lose his only precious grandchild. He shed a tear and looked up the sky for guidance.

                 Once in the capital, they saw the place was far different from their province. In the capital there were a lot of traders, people walking along the streets, beggars, noisy environment and the city was polluted.  He gazed at the streets, the painful memory of the past came into his mind again. He could smell blood and the frightful night his mother, the second wife, Lady Li was stabbed to death.

              “Chen.. I mean your grace, is there something bothering you?” Fei asked as she leaned over the window of the sedan at the right side.

              Chen made a gesture that he was alright and closed the window.

              At the palace, they were receive by the other servants but the Emperor was not present. Chen was not surprised nor happy to see the palace. He hated the place as this place was the graveyard of his mother brutally killed. He could still smell the blood of his mother scattered on the floor.

               Fei, on the other hand, marveled at the grandeur of the palace. Everything was made perfectly. There were tall pillars in each part of the palace and sculpted dragons and phoenix into each pillar. There were plenty of servants in the palace and all of them were wearing the same outfit; simple yellow laced triple robe and half of their hair was pulled up backward and a flowery hairpin on top.

                Chen cleared his voice and Fei submitted to the call of her Prince. By the time the main door opened, he and Chen walked into the walls which changed their lives.

5

Meeting the Emperor

             On the fifth day that she was imprisoned and tortured the prison guards spare her for one day. It was pretty obvious that her body cannot withstand another blow.  Yu and Wu were about to bring Soo kyung to the tortured chamber but her face presented unbearable pain. So they left after checking on her. Once their shift was over, the night prison guards came and as they passed by Soo kyung’s prison cell they uttered the word ‘emperor.’

           Soo kyung remembered clearly how she met the emperor that day.

           After four days in the capital, finally the Emperor presented himself.  He wore a golden robe with an embroidery of phoenix and his crown which had small white circular jades connected to the tip of the crown in the front and back. The Emperor’s palace servants were at his back.

            Fei and Chen were at the center and knelt before the Emperor.

           “Finally you are here! After years of staying in the northeastern border.”

             Prince Chen nodded.

            “Oh yes, I still remember you cannot still talk.”

             When Prince Chen asked for the paper and pen from Fei, the Emperor just said “no need for that, by means of your gesture, I know you understood me clearly.”

             Prince Chen bow down his head with a bit of insult felt inside his heart. Fei cannot do anything for the Prince at that moment.  They saw how the imperial court made fun of the young prince due to his disability.

            As a friend, Fei was able to see how cold the Emperor was. Now she knew why Chen do not wish to be in the palace ground. 

            After they were dismissed by the Emperor, they had a tour by themselves within the palace.

            Prince Chen wrote “There are new infrastructure here. Look over there the fences are  already repainted.” Fei followed where the Prince pointed the new and renovated quarters.  She was in awe while staring and comparing each part of the palace. She admired the ingenuity of the state of the art of the Ming dynasty.

        While they were looking around, there were ten women who were dragged inside a room across the hallway of the west wing palace. At first the young prince ignored it, but he glanced for a second time to see those women were wearing the same dress Fei wore the day he rescued her.

        When Fei was about to face him, he blocked the path and covered Fei’s face with his white fan with tiger and dragon designs. He made a gesture that Fei should fan him since he felt the Sun’s heat and he was perspiring. 

      “Gosh, you perspired immediately while I am not.” She sneered at the prince due to his insistent command.

       The Prince made a signal that Fei should be the one to lead the way. As Fei followed the command, Prince Chen looked back at the direction of the Joseon women if they were still insight. He cannot allow those information would reach the ears of Fei.

      “I must protect her.” He said to himself. 

       When the moon replaced the sun Fei went out of Prince Chen’s bedchamber to fetch the latter a hot green tea. On her way back to Chen’s chamber, a tall lean man with white complexion as Chen with sharp eyes and an expression that he should not be trusted. The man blocked Fei’s way, she then moved from right then to her left but the man still blocked her path. 

        “Excuse me sir, but you seem … to block my way….”she said in a nice tone but a bit annoyed.

        The man said no word, he teased her, blocked and pushed her away which resulted from letting go of the tea set and spilling of the hot tea on to the floor.

        The man then mocked her and even kicked her at her ribs when she knelt down and tried to clean the spill.

       “Ouch, you are hurting me…. Who are you anyway?” she retorted.

        Prince Chen heard her screams and made his way on to the hallway where Fei was. To his surprise it was his eldest brother. Prince Dao was not as good looking like Prince Chen. Prince Dao was four years senior then Prince Chen. He was the son of the late Empress Mei, the first wife of Emperor Yue. He came to Fei’s defense. When his brother Dao laughed at Fei and said “Why slave girl are you hurt? Ha…ha ….” Before he pushed Fei towards the wall, Prince Chen pushed him away making him out of balance and almost fell onto the floor.

       “Oh no.. Prince Dao……prin----ce…” said Lu, a palace servant assigned to assist Prince Dao.

      He passed by Fei and Prince Chen, did not dared to say any word about the incident. He helped Dao got up.

       “Huh…. This deaf-mute…who could have imagined that thi---s ….. can be of gallant knight……”

        Though he can hardly speak, he made a gesture that he will definitely attack if provoked. By this time, the five palace guards who were doing their rounds came to stop the brawl of the brothers, both heir to the throne.

        That night, the supposed brawl of the brothers came into the knowledge of the Emperor. Their father sought an audience with him inside his bedchamber, Fei and Lu were there too.

       “What is this madness?! You  di----stur…b the peacefulness of the night!”

        The two brothers sneered in front of their father.

         “This lame boy here..” Prince Dao pointed out his brother “dared to push me … so I fought back….father…..” he gave a sarcastic gazed at Fei and Chen.

          “Fei and Lu both of you are there, tell me what happened?”

          “Si----re…..sir….e…….” Lui could not utter a word, Prince Dao was sneering at him.

          The Emperor then asked Fei since Lu could not provide any information. Then he saw that Fei’s right middle, ring and pointer fingers were bleeding. He also saw that Fei’s dress was dampened and there was a sign of skin redness on the girl’s neck and chest.

         “You se—e… your gra----ce…… he blocked and mocked me…….”

         “Ho----w dare yo---u to desc----ribe as a liar!.... You are nothing but a slave…..”  Prince Dao screamed as Fei was delivering her statement.

           The Emperor was stunned at his Prince Dao’s imprudent behavior. “Enough! I say….. you are in front of me and still you dared to show your ill-mann…er! I will le--t ….this incident passed but next ti---me who ev------er abused some –one, that perso---n will stay at the prison cell…..” shouted by the king.

           Prince Dao left the room followed by Lu, the Emperor just gave a deep sighed. He looked at his youngest son with a deep love of a father. But his feelings for his son should not be shown, he knew the danger it imposed if seen by the court.

           “It is getting late…. The two of you should be going now…..”

           Fei and Chen bowed down before the king and bade good night.

           “If your hand is still bleeding, you can ask the palace doctor to cure your wounds.”

           “Gratitude my king, but this is just a scratch, I can manage…..” Fei then lower down her head as she and Chen left the room.

           The Emperor may be cold towards his youngest son but he saw how his dear Chen stared and cared for Fei.

            “My dearest Chen, forgive me if I failed you as a father……” he said to himself as the light in his room succumbed to the darkness of the night.

             Months passed by, Prince Chen was able to learn the things that a Prince should know. In his everyday lessons, Fei was also there to assist him, since he cannot talk. There were times he wanted to speak but he remembered his grandfather’s words ‘not to let them know you can talk.’

           The Emperor had his eyes on Prince Chen and Fei as the two were very close. He knew what he must do.

          

6

A Friend and A Lover

        It would be her second to the last stayed at the prison cell. Soo kyung over heard the conversation of the other prison guards that the future king of Joseon, Eunhyuk made his way to the capital.

       When she heard the name ‘Eunhyuk’, she recalled her childhood friend and how the turn of events made them decide who they wanted to be.

        Months passed by, though the dynasty was starting to crumble inside, the Emperor still managed to improve his ties with Joseon. He called his sons and the imperial court to listen to his announcements.

       All ministers and generals filled the palace courts and lined up at the sides of the throne. The two princes stood beside their father. The messenger handed the letter from the Emperor of Joseon.

       The Emperor unsealed the letter and read it out loud “The Joseon dynasty accepted and still recognized the sovereignty of Ming. Due to this we will held a friendly match in the games of martial arts, archery and soccer.” The king announced while facing his subordinates with his chin held high.

      The ambience in the court was fueled with hidden agendas and though the dynasty was already weak, the Emperor wanted to conceal the fact that the empire was about loose its’ grandeur.

       The empire was fully prepared about the coming of the future king of Joseon. For the first time in months, Prince Chen and Fei went out in disguise, they wanted to see how the life outside of the palace looked like.

       In the streets they saw the busy markets and there were a lot of people waiting in the streets to have a better view of the Joseon prince.

      “Here take a look..” Fei pointed out where the flock of people went through. “There are so many onlookers over that area..Pr---……”

         His majesty that stared at her and made a sign not to mention the word ‘prince.’ 

        “Apology, Chen….”she bowed down her head…

         When the parade begun, they joined the other onlookers, the first who appeared in the parade were the royal guards of Joseon, followed by the entourage of Prince Eunhyuk.

            When Chen was about to look at Fei, she just disappeared in his sight. He looked around, then he saw Fei at the corner of a fabric store crying.

            Chen came, touched her shoulders and saw Fei crying. He gave an expression of he cared about her and wanted to know she cried.

             “No….nothing…… I…. just did not expect that I will see him like this….”

              Chen looked at the parade and he had an idea that it was the Prince. He then made a gesture that they should be heading back to the palace. Fei followed while weeping her tears.  on their on the palace gate, they passed by through an restaurant the male owner was scolding a young boy somewhere around eight years of age.

             “Hey you … you are so lazy….. move quickly……..”shouted the male owner.

             The eight year old boy just followed the instructions of his angry master. He was a slave from Joseon. He wore torn hanbok and cannot hardly speak Mandarin. Fei saw the boy and wanted to help but Chen made him stop. She tried to approach but Chen just pulled her away inside the palace gate.

            “Why… are you stopping me……?? Cannot you see…. He needs help…..”

            Chen made a gesture that she could not do it, in their position they were in now, they should be mindful of their actions.

             Suddenly, some newly arrived concubines were dragged into the hall of west wing palace. The west wing palace was the chamber area of Prince Dao.

             “D---o yo—u see that?” asked Fei

             Chen did not moved. Fei followed quietly in bewilderment where those girls would be taken. Chen came next. Fei was about to approach the palace guards who dragged those Joseon women into the west wing. Chen pulled her shoulder and hid in a corner. The palace guards leaned over but they no one.

              Fei broke away from Chen “Where are they taking those Joseon girls?”

               Chen did not made any gesture and just turned his eyes somewhere else.

                “Chen, you knew something….tell me…..why and where are they taking them?”

                Chen pointed out that they were in the west wing, suddenly Dao came. They hid in the bushes and overheard Dao’s conversation with Minister Gang.

                “Your majesty the fresh concubine women from Joseon are ready and they are rare beauty.”

                 “Ohhhhh… they be better be good……. I like the scent of fresh women…..ohhhh” Dao was thrilled upon knowing that there were new concubines as a tribune from Joseon.

                 Fei could not be believed what she heard, her fellow countrymen were like a toy in the eyes of the Chinese.

                 Chen’s fears finally came true. He could not hide the truth from Fei anymore. When the area was clear, they left immediately the west wing and went to east wing, the chamber of Chen.

                 “Is this why you did not allow me to go around the palace without you!”

                Chen did not move nor hide his guilt.

             Fei touched Chen’s shoulder and shook it… “tell me why……you lied to me…. I thought you are better than them……” she stormed out of the east wing and left Chen alone. When she was about to go out of the palace gate, she bumped to someone.

               “Ooopppsss, apology .. I am  n---ot loo---king where I  am…”

               “So----o kyu----ng…. y—ou a—re  alive? I---s th---at rea---l--ly you……?” Prince Eunhyuk asked as he was cannot believe that his friend was alive.

                Fei stared at the Prince and did not moved a muscle. The two friends stared each other for a while. Chen was hiding in a pillar few steps away from Fei and Eunhyuk. For the first time, Chen felt a bit uneasy and pain in his heart. He felt that he was about to lose someone again.

              The Emperor came and saw that the two stared at each other. The hand servant of the Emperor cleared his throat that to give respect to his majesty.

               Fei and Prince Eunhyuk lower down their head in front of the king.

              “It is Joseon’s honor to pay tribute to you, your highness.” exclaimed Prince Eunhyuk

              The Emperor lower down his head as well to acknowledge the future king of Joseon.

              “Fei, kindly do the honor to tour Prince Eunhyuk around…..”

               Before the king was able to finish, Prince Chen came and greeted his father and the guest.

                 “Prince Eunhyuk this is Prince Chen, my second son. He would be your guide while you are here. If you have any concerns you could approach Chen and Fei.” His majesty’s words before he headed back to the imperial court.

                 As he left, Prince Chen and Fei remembered the instructions of the king during the gathering in the court. Since they were both from Sheng province, they could understood Hangul.

              Prince Chen and Fei heeded to the instructions of the king. Prince Eunhyuk was accompanied by his trustworthy royal guard as they toured around the palace and the city. All throughout, Prince Eunhyuk was gazing at Fei, he knew she was the friend whom he lost during the attack at the northern border.

          Prince Chen saw that Prince Eunhyuk was looking at Fei, out of his uneasiness, he made Fei do all the jobs.

          “The cit---y wa…..s bigger than I th--ought…..”Prince Eunhyuk said and it was translated by Fei.

            Prince Chen smiled as he pushed Fei away from Prince Eunhyuk. The Joseon Prince observed the uneasiness behavior of Prince Chen towards him.

            “The rumors are true that Prince Chen cannot speak.” Prince Eunhyuk said as he was teasing the Prince Chen in Hangul while they were inside the inn and taking some time off.

              Prince Chen heard and understood what the imprudent Joseon prince said. He grabbed a paper and pen and wrote “Having a disability is not a basis for mocking jeers. Be wary of your words, coz you cannot tell when and how you will lose your tongue.”

            Prince Eunhyuk and his royal guard, Heong ki saw it. Both the master and servant were surprised that Prince Chen understood Hangul.

           Fei came in carrying the ordered beef wanton noodle soup and some refreshments. When she came, Prince Chen hid the paper and the other two gentlemen did not utter a single word. She observed that the atmosphere changed the three men did not stared and the guests did not further asked any questions about the city. Prince Dao still looked at Fei as if he knew her so dearly.

          Upon leaving the inn, they saw the eight year old boy from Joseon working as slave.

           “Yo---u get … up lazy boy…… assist the customers……”shouted the male owner

           “Mo---ya?” said the eight year old boy…

            Fei, Prince Eunhyuk and Heong ki reacted badly to what they seen. The owner did not just shouted at the poor boy but also hit the boy several times at the back.

         Prince Eunhyuk bowed down his head in dismay what happened to their royal subjects in the hands of the Ming. In Joseon they were treated nicely since Joseon was their home. But in Ming, they were treated like a scavengers.

          Prince Chen had seen enough cruelty of his countrymen towards their slaves. When the male owner about to hit the poor boy with a stick in the head Prince Chen blocked it and twist the left arm towards the owner’s back. All those who had seen it were surprised. It was a sudden attacked and no one from them able to read the mind of Prince Chen.

           “Let go of me…let go of me…..”the male owner shouted without realizing that it was Prince Chen. When he gazed at his attacker, he was startled.

              “Your grace, forgive m----e….  for---give…… me…..”the male owner apologized by means of bowing his head several times.

               Fei approached Prince Chen and the eight year old boy.

               “Prince Chen… ar—e you alrigh---….” Fei was not able to say what she wanted to say. Prince Chen made a gesture that the eight year old boy should be well taken care of by his master.

                The owner kept on giving honorific actions for the Prince.

                Prince Eunhyuk and Heong ki were speechless, somehow they felt ashamed of themselves since they were incapable of defending their citizens. Prince Chen passed by them as if they do not existed. Fei came along and asked the prince and his royal guard to get inside the palace for safety.

               In the meantime, Minister Gang and Prince Dao, thought of away on how they could pressure the future king of Joseon to support their cause.

               “The future king of Joseon, seems to be unyielding…” Prince Dao exclaimed as he was watching Prince Chen, Fei, Prince Eunhyuk and Heong ki made their way inside the palace from the balcony of the west wing.

                 “Do not give unnecessary thoughts my prince….”Minister Gang said in a sneering laughter as he grabbed a pigeon from the cage. “It will yield once the other wing is broken….”with this he broke the left wing of the poor pigeon just to demonstrate what he meant.

                  The minister and the prince shared a devilish laughter.

                  At night, during the ceremony, Fei sneaked out and made her way to the town. She was careful not to be seen by the others. Prince Chen searched for her but to no avail. He was not permitted to leave the celebration for the Joseon prince.

                 At the inn, she saw the eight year old boy tidying the place. The owner was not around.

                “Hey, are you alright?” she said in Hangul.

                  The boy was about to cry, Fei moved his right pointer finger into her lips, “shshshsh…”

                  The boy asked to be freed and he cannot withstand anymore the cruelty. He wished to be back at Joseon.

                   “I want to be back to my home…..”then cried…

                    Fei remembered as well the horror she encountered, “Do not cry anymore, you must be brave….”as she wiped the tears of the child.

                    The owner caught them and scolded her.

                    “What is the meaning of this?.....” Then he was amazed that it was the girl with the prince earlier in the afternoon.

                     “I came here to free the boy…….” She said in full confidence that the owner would release the boy.

                        “N—o yo---u can—not…….. I bought him with 8 pieces of silv-----er coi--ns ……..”

                         “Here is the ten pieces of silver coins….. release the boy now!” she demanded while she handed the pouch with money.

                        The owner was surprised to see the ten pieces of silver coins… “Oh … yes …yes.. you may take him with you…..”

                         The eight year old boy gladly went with Fei as they made their way to the palace.

                         “How can you speak Hangul?” asked the boy as he was staring at Fei.

                           Fei could not admit that she was from Mt. Baekdu admitting so will threaten their safety.

                            “I was from the border at Sheng province, so I was able to learn few words from your place.” The past memories lingered on. 

                            “You seem you are a Joseon woman to me.”

                            “No----- no…. it seems like it but I am not…”

                            “What is your name boy?”

                            “My name is Min-hook.”

                            “I am Fei.”

                            “You are still a Joseon girl for me, though your name is Chinese.”

                             When they were about to pass the west wing, she heard the palace servants talking.

                             “Have you heard….. that one soldier from Joseon got an unknown injury?”said the first guard.

                              “Oh really….. how?” asked the second guard.

               “It was said that while they were in the quarters, the archer from Joseon suddenly knocked out unconsciously but a man wearing black clothes.” Said the third guard.

                “Oh no…. what will happen now to Eunhyuk?” she told to herself.

                   “Min-hook be still they might here us.”

             The boy nodded and they made their way into the east wing. The darkness served as their camouflage as they passed through the hall till they reached Fei’s quarters.

              Her room was simpler and smaller than the Prince Chen’s bedchamber. The room had a single medium sized cabinet at the side of the room, a bed just across the bedroom door at the center was a round wooden table with two chairs.  She hid Min-hook at her room for a while as she tried to talk to Prince Eunhyuk.

             That night, Prince Eunhyuk was accompanied by Heong ki at the training ground. As she went out of her room, Prince Chen saw her and followed her. Fei saw Prince Eunhyuk practicing archery for the impending friendly tournament tomorrow.

             “Your majesty, it is almost dark. You must rest now.” Heong ki said while he lower down his head.

             “Are you saying that because you care or just mocking me?” Prince Eunhyuk said as he tried his thirtieth desperate means to hit the target. Though he was tired but he needed his guts to win. The prince wore his blue hanbok hunting attire with a blue ribbon on his forehead with an emblem of dragon.

            Out in the open there was a strange arrow that hit suddenly the target. They looked back and saw Fei. His majesty was surprised, he knew that skill, he knew the person who might do it.

           “Hyuk……… your majesty……” she said while she was sobbing to see her childhood friend.

          “How dare you call his majesty……”interrupted by Heong ki as he was about to draw his sword. His majesty stopped him.

          “So----o ky-----u---ng…………” he was already crying…..

          Heong ki gazed at the prince and to Fei, “can it be……….”

           “Hyuk…….”

          The two friends locked each other’s eyes. Their tears were not enough to express how much they missed each other’s company.

          Unknown to them, Prince Chen was there watching them. He too was crying since he cannot describe the stabbing pain he felt inside, his heart.

         Fei bowed down to the prince and the two friends made an agreement. After which, she went back to her room. As she was about to open the door, she heard a voice.

        “Your majesty, the foods are so delicious……..”Min-hook said as he was joyfully enjoying his meals. Though the boy spoke in Hangul, the prince could understood it.

         Prince Chen was drinking tea while watching the boy eat.

          “Your maje----sty….. it i---s  alre---ady pas---t you---r bed---time…..” she said while she knelt before his grace.

          Prince Chen stood and pat the head of the boy as he bade good bye. He then handed a note to Fei which he wrote, “Do not keep any secrets to me. I almost face danger a while ago.” Then he left with sadness on his face.

        “Danger?Wha—t danger?”

         “Eonni…. a while a---go, wh---en y—ou le---ft … the---re wer---e guards which ca----me he----re….. but…..  his majesty ……. came… so th—e gua—rds did not en—ter th—e room…..”

          “Then what else happened when I am not around?”

          “He ordered food….. he saw me hungry……” Min-hook said while he was about to finish his meals.

          “He is an amazing man.. you…know…… he may not speak but he can understood Hangul..” he said in an admiring voice.

         Morning came, everyone in the palace and the townspeople were all busy. Everyone wanted to enter the dome where the friendly match will be held. At the center of the dome, there was the open ground for martial arts and archery. Across the main entrance would be the bleachers for the royals, noble families and the Joseon guests.

       The first part of the friendly match was martial arts. Red fighting attire for the Ming and blue fighting attire for Joseon. 

       “Say…. Prince Eunhyuk…… we heard that there was an untoward incident happened……” Minister Gang tried to tease Prince Eunhyuk but the latter just answered.

      “Unfortunate or not, Minister Gang …. the tournament must continue…..” he gave a mocking smile at Minister Gang.

        The minister and just sneered, “too much will give you nothing.” He said to himself.

        Ming won on the martial arts round and the next game would be soccer. The Joseon team

 won at soccer. The last round would be archery. Prince Chen had an idea where Fei might be. He heard the whole conversation last night.

       There was a mystery person who came in for Joseon. The person wore a brown red fighting

robe and black boots. The face was covered by a mask and on the forehead was a ribbon with an emblem of a dragon. The onlookers were quite intrigued as to who the person might be.

        The competition begun, the archery team of Ming was losing in the Joseon’s team. In every hit of the mystery person was target indeed. Before the tournament was over, Minister Gang stood announced in the audience, “Since you exhibit an excellence in archery …. Your last challenge was to hit an apple on top of the Ming soldier’s head.” He said in a furious voice, he could not believe that there plan failed. 

         Prince Chen and Prince Eunhyuk grew furious as well…. “Fei would be in danger if they found out.” They said to themselves.

         The mystery archer felt a sudden strike of uneasiness. The archer knew she had to succeed for a greater cause.

         “With pleasure your grace…..” She agreed.

          One palace guard was made as a target, all the audience were nervous of what will happen if the mystery person hit the head by accident the poor guard.

          With a palpitating heart, she breath in and aim for the target…… it was a nice target. Everyone shouted “Hooray!!!” The archer and Prince Eunhyuk looked at each other’s eyes as if their minds were communicating.

        When the Joseon team was declared winner in the archery division, Prince Dao stood this time and dared to find out who was the mystery person. Because of the interference they could not launched their scheme.

        ‘Since Joseon won both in archery and soccer, we would like to see the face of the mystery person.” He said in sarcastic manner.

     As the wicked prince announced it, all the audiences cheered as they want to know the identity of the archer.

       Both the princes were surprised and feared the mystery person’s identity would be revealed.

        Suddenly, the fire crackers lit up from the tower of the palace. The sky was filled with various colors which formed so different shapes in the clouds.

     All off the court even the Emperor were surprised how the firecrackers suddenly exploded without permission.

    “Firecrackers at this time?” said the Minister of Finance

  “It should be at the evening right?” said the Minister of Health

         Prince Eunhyuk and Prince Chen were relieved as the identity was hidden.

        Prince Chen then recalled how he instructed his royal guard Ur to light up the firecrackers if the identity was about to be revealed.

        Ur lit up the firecrackers us to hide the identity which could endanger them. He did his job, he made sure that no one recognized him. He left immediately upon lighting up the first fire crackers.

        The mystery person ran after the attention of the audience was drawn to the firecrackers. She was careful not to be seen by the Ming soldiers. The archer made her in an old cottage somewhere in the woods.

        The abandoned cottage was an old one surrounded by bamboos. She was patting by the time she got there.

        “Fei is that you?” as Min-hook slowly opened the door. He was wearing the new set of clothes given by Prince Chen last night.

          “Yes, I am alright. So you do not need to worry.”

           They went inside to change clothes. But when she and Min-hook went out, two soldiers of the Ming followed her.

     “You are Fei….. right?” asked the first  Ming soldier.

     “Min-hook hide quick.” As she aid this, the memories from her past started to unfold. She recalled how her village was burned to ashes, the death of her parents and her handmaiden.

         The two soldiers decided to attack as per the command of Prince Dao. She fought back. The first soldier drew his sword and about to stab her but she maneuvered to the right side of the attacker. Using her right knee she hit the stomach. The second soldier came in and she ran toward the wooden wall of the house, kicked the wall in order for her to make a high jump and kicked the second attacker.

      Fei was an archer and not a martial artists. “I have to find a way to defeat them or else….” She told herself.

    The attackers managed to stand and attacked her before she was able to grab her bow and arrow. The first soldier kicked her at her ribs.  But she was able to defend herself as she punched the abdomen. She used the bow as her defense and used the force of the wind to hit the face of the second soldier.

   “Ouch!!!! You witch…. You will pa----y ..” shouted the second soldier

      Though she was hurt, she managed to fight and be still. The first soldier attacked with his sword and she managed again to block it but the second soldier hit her back making her fell in to her knees.

      When she was half beaten by the soldiers, Prince Chen came. He attacked using his fan and hit the neck of the first soldier in a single blow. The second soldier was about to attack but he refrained when he saw Prince Chen. He tried to escape but Prince Eunhyuk stabbed him with a sword. 

      The first soldier tried his best to attack Prince Chen. The sword of the soldier got into the fan of the prince and the prince turned it outward in a flash making the solider dropped the sword. His majesty twisted the neck of the first soldier, resulting to the immediate death.

     “Eonni…….” Min-hook came out and saw Fei half beaten.

    Prince Chen held Fei in his arms with so much care in his eyes. Prince Eunhyuk felt jealous as he was unable to protect Fei first.

     “Is she all right?” asked Prince Eunhyuk

     Prince Chen nodded. He felt the apical pulse of Fei and she was breathing and her heart was still beating.

    “Your majesty….. are you all right?” asked Ur while he lower down his head.

     Prince Chen nodded and made a gesture to dispose the body properly and leave no sign. Ur and Heong ki disposed the body.

     “I hope she lives…….”Prince Eunhyuk stated with pity on his eyes. “I could not forgive myself if there something wrong happened to her...”

     Prince Chen tried to speak …. “Sh-----e  i--s  a figh----ter sh---e w—ill ma---ke   i---t…..”

Prince Eunhyuk, Heongki, Min-hook and Ur were surprised when Prince Chen spoke.

    “Fina------lly you----r ma---jes---ty …… you c---an sp---eak….” Ur sobbed.

     “Is Eonni would be all right?” Min-hook said to Prince Eunhyuk.

      “She is safe now.” Assured by Prince Eunhyuk

      “Eonni said after the tournament, I will be giving home…..”Min-hook said with an innocent face.

       “Ah….. well……” Prince Eunhyuk was speechless..

       “Of course you are coming home and the rest of the ……” Heong ki answered on behalf of his prince.

     Prince Eunhyuk stared at Heong ki and gave an eye signal to be quiet.

     Upon hearing it, Prince Chen concluded his idea was right. Fei will replace the injured soldier in order for Prince Eunhyuk to take Min-hook and the rest of the children back at Joseon.

    “The re----st?” asked Ur a she looked at Prince Chen.

    The two princes suddenly gazed each other with green in their eyes.

    Before sunset, Prince Eunhyuk sought an audience with the Emperor. The Emperor welcomed him with warmth.

     “Your highness…. as Joseon’s team won twice at the tournament…. I would like to exchange our winnings for the freedom of the Joseon slave children and women who were made as concubines. ” He said in a humble voice while he knelt down before the king.

     The Emperor sat on his throne and was quite surprised in the revelation of the prince….  

     “All right, I will let you take the children and women but Joseon should extend its’ hand for Ming at all costs.” The Emperor stated as he drank his wine.

       “Ming can be sure of that your highness…..” he lower down his head as he bade farewell.

        The following morning, they began their journey back home together with the rest of the children and women. Many locals protested since they would lose manpower. But the Emperor approved the request of the prince.

        Prince Eunhyuk remembered very well as what he and Prince Chen talked about.

         “Soo kyung will also come with us…….” Stated Prince Eunhyuk

           Prince Chen stood with pride and said “Who are you to say that?” as he moved towards the Prince Eunhyuk.

             “She is a child of Jos----eon………”

              “She is also a daughter of Ming…… therefore she will stay………”

           Both their royal guards stood by their masters’ sides and prepared for an attack.

              “You insolent…….” shouted Prince Eunhyuk

              “Huh? You call me ‘insolent’? May I remind you, you are on my ground……….” Prince Chen replied as he would not let anyone take her from him.

            The prince of Joseon, froze as he cannot believed that the once ‘deaf-mute’ prince now had a sharp tongue.

              “Su—rpri----sed?...... There are times that a tiger must roar in order for him to be heard…”  

           They were stunned when the Prince said it so.

            “Joseon women are also a paid tribune for Ming. Since your country won, use it as a bribe to gain all the women and children of Joseon…..”

        Prince Eunhyuk was speechless, what the young Ming prince said was true.

         “Your highness…..” Heong ki said as he planned to attack to Prince Chen.

         The Joseon prince touched his guard’s shoulder and shook his head. All throughout the conversation, Min-hook was watching the adults and felt a bit sad that his Eonni cannot come with them.

          “Min-hook bade goodbye for now to Eonni……” said Prince Eunhyuk in Hangul.

          “We are not going to wait for her until she wakes up?” the young boy said in an innocent and caring words.

            “I am afraid she can’t be with us.” answered Prince Eunhyuk

             “I will miss her….. she saved my life……”

              “ Your majesty it is time….. the palace might search for us.” Heong ki said.

              “Wait a moment…..” Min-hook came close to Prince Chen, “Prince Chen…” he made a gesture that he wanted to hug the prince. Prince Chen then hugged him.

                “So long Prince Chen, Eonni and Ur…” the boy bowed down and waved goodbye to those who helped him.

             Meanwhile in the palace, Minister Gang, Prince Dao and Minister Zhou of Defense held a secret meeting at the quarters of Minister Zhou.

              “I am just curious Prince Dao, I have not seen Prince Chen and Fei last night and today.” Minister Gang said as he was drinking tea.

             “Huh? So wha—t about my disable brother?” Prince Dao said in annoying voice.

             “It also a mystery to me… Prince Eunhyuk left the capital early and during the explosion of firecrackers they disappeared for a while.”  Minister Zhou said while scratching his head.

            “Is there any news regarding the two soldiers who followed the archer.” Minister Zhou asked.

           “No news yet… who might it be…… very mysterious….. “ Prince Dao gave a second thought about it.

          Then there was a knock on the door….

          “Excuse me, your grace…..  we heard the ne--ws…… Prince Chen eloped…..” reported Xian, the trustworthy body guard of Prince Dao. He was the same age with the prince and with a more muscle physique than Prince Dao.

          “Wha----at……!” the three of them shouted in bewilderment.

         “Where did you hear---d that?” asked Prince Dao.

          “From Ur, your highness. He was received by the Emperor and he reported what Prince Chen did.”

         “What does the majesty said, have you heard of it?” Minister Gang inquired.

          “The Emperor was surprised and he asked who would be the woman whom Prince Chen eloped with.”

          “That foo---ooll….. he is not only a deaf mute but he is also dragging this family into shame!!!!” Prince Dao shouted in anger as he threw some plates on to the floor.

        “Who could it be then?” Minister Zhou inquired as he was curious who would be the stupid girl who went out with the prince.

        “Is Fei at the palace too?” last question of Minister Gang

         “No, Minister, it is only Ur who is still here. There are no sign of Fei and Prince Chen.”

        “Our prince….. calm yourself….. this might be a chance to make our plans possible.” Minister Gang said in a sinister face.

        “Yes, Minister you are right. Strike while the cat is not around……” Minister Zhou shared as he burst into laughter. 

        Prince Dao agreed and the three of them cheered as long as their laughter would last.

       Meanwhile in the Sheng province, Yunlong was hurriedly went to the training camp of the soldiers to inform General Yeoh about his grandson.

       “Gen-----e----ral………” he said as he was patting and searching for words.

        “Yes Yunlong… is there any problem?” General Yeoh asked as he looked at Yunlong.

         “ Gen-e---ra---l…… yo---ur grand….son…….” Yunlong said while stuttering.

          “Yunlong! Stop that stuttering, you know I cannot stand it.”

           “He eloped General!”

            “Elo---ped who?”

            “Prince Chen…… we received a news from the palace……” Yunlong replied as he lower down his head and closed his eyes. Since he was afraid of what would be the reaction of his master.

            “With whom……..?” General Yeoh said before he fainted.

            “Gen--eral….” Shouted all the soldiers who had seen their master collapsed.

7

Union and Promises

            The night before her execution, she was helplessly lying on the floor of her prison cell. She was almost half-dead. Then she felt something wiped her sweaty face with blood. Soo kyung, though she cannot hardly opened her eyes, she tried to see who it could be.

           “So---o kyung…..” her husband’s face was in tears as he called out her name.

           “This is only a dream……”Soo kyung said in a weak low voice.

           “Ple----ase opened up you----r eyes…….. it is me…… I am real………” the prince said as he begged.

            “My prin----ce……”though physically weak, she moved with all her strength towards the spaces between the cell to touch her husband’s hand.

              “So----o kyung……….. my wi---fe….”

              With her last strength she held the hand of her husband and said “I hav---e wai---ted for this……to he---ar yo----ur voice once more……….. prom-----ise me you will survi------ve this and look after him until he is old eno---ugh to mar---ry……..”

            “We w---ill grow o—ld Soo…….. we promis—ed that … ri—ght?”

      She shook her head slowly while sobbing in regret. She knew in her heart that this moment will come.

        “Bo---th yo-----u and I kn---ow tha----t it ……. wi---llll……..be ov----er…..”

        “Sooo….do no---t say that………..Sooooo……”

        “Hush…., my lo----ve……… D--o yo---u sti—ll … rem—em—be---er wh—at you  said bef---ore….yo—u wan---t to run—away and elope…….? Let us do---it now…….sha---ll we?......”

        “Sooooo!!!!! Wa---ke  up………!”

         He touched her apical pulse, the heart beat is getting weaker. The prison guards who had witnessed it were all in tears.

        The prince cried hard and recalled what his wife meant by running away and the ‘elope.’

         When Ur went back to the palace to report before the Emperor the elopement of Prince Chen and Fei. The whole court was intrigued and disapprove it.

           “Your highness, as a prince he should think of his actions………” said Minister Zhou.

          “I agree to that majesty, he should be punished! He stained the name of the royal family because of his lack of judgment….” motioned by Minister Gang.

         The whole court was fueled with selfish ambition. They knew that without Prince Chen they could destroy the king and the Sheng province.

          The king stood and declared “If choosing the one you love is a crime then, Minister Zhou, tell me is it a crime that you choose to wed your wife?”

           “Huh…. My king……” Minister Zhou replied while stuttering, he was surprised that the Emperor knew something about his married life.

          “Your wife, Lady Liu, was not a noble birthright isn’t it?” Dared the Emperor as he gave a sharp eyesight towards Minister Zhou.

           “Prince Dao, I heard you are one of those who felt ashamed by the actions of your brother. Am I right?” he leaned to his eldest son with conviction.

            “My king,….father……..”

             “If it is a disgrace, so are you!”

 “Your grace……”shouted the whole court

 “You have brought concubines and five wives into your chamber and you failed to give an heir to the throne………! So tell me now……is it not a sign of a disgraceful act?!” blurted out the Emperor.

           The court was silenced. They were surprised that the Emperor even though appeared to be weak, knew the things that were going on inside the palace walls.

           In the meantime, Prince Chen took Fei in a Buddhist temple to recapitulate. They stayed

there for a week. Fei was sleeping in a mattress mat, the room was quite small and simple. He stayed by her side day and night.

            

            “Where am I?” Fei asked upon waking up.

           

            “ I ha—ve ta—ken you here…..” Prince Chen answered as he was happy to see that she was better now.

          

              “M---y pr—ince yo—ca---n tal—k  no---w?” asked Fei in bewilderment.

          

               “I am af—raid yes……”

          

                “My prince… I am so happy for you…..” she embraced Prince Chen so tight. The prince embraced her too. She was very happy for him. Though it was the first time she held him tight, it was her wish to hold him like this. She finally felt the warmth embrace of the man she loved since childhood. Prince Chen felt the same way.

              “Finally Buddha heard my prayers…..” she wept while saying this.

              

               “Do not cry…… Actually, I began to speak when I thought I will lose you too.” Prince Chen said as he recalled the day he saw her half beaten.  “I am here, they cannot harm you.”

                The prince then kissed her in the forehead and told her to change clothes.

               

                 “Here are your new clothes. I will leave you first and prepare your breakfast.” He left with a smile on his face.

 

                   She changed her dress and before she went out of the room she heard a man’s voice having a conversation with the prince.

                “Prince Chen, we heard the townspeople and the palace knew that you eloped. Nobody suspected that you are here.” The chief monk said.

                 “I see. No need to worry we leave today.” The prince assured the chief monk.

                 “Fei here is your food.” He said as he entered the room and gave Fei the food.

          

                 “Is that true?” she asked

                 

                  “Wha—t do you mean by what is tru—e?”

                

                   “That you eloped with someone……” Fei replied in a jealousy voice

                    

                    “You heard us? Hahahaha….”

        

                    “If you runaway with someone spent time with her rather than with me………..”

           Prince Chen poked Fei’s face. “I just did with her.”

              Fei stared at the Prince in his eyes and she saw her reflection in the deep dark eyes of Chen. She looked away but Chen stared her even more.

 

           She pushed the prince away as her face turned to red. The prince moved away and gave a wonderful smile that the heavens could die for to see.

          “Hey sleeping princess! Your food …. Take it……..” he made a gesture that the food should be taken from his hands.

            Fei walked away and went into her room. As she closed the door “My heart cannot stop from beating….. oh my…….”

           Then she heard a knock on the door. “Who is it?” she said.

         

           “It is me Chen….who else do you expect……?”

         

            “Oh my…..what am I going to do?..... Oh room come and eat me now……oh wait……”she said in a hysterical mode. She could not believe that her secret for so many years now had been revealed in a single glance of morning. She even slapped herself for being so lady-like in admitting her feelings.

            “He---y what take yo—u so long….. my hands are tired now……” claimed the prince.

           She opened the door, the prince gave her a warmth smile while his eyes seemed to disappear in his face.

             

          “Huh?......” she could only grasped her breath as she was driven away by the prince’s smile.

          “You-r fo-od…..”

         

          “Oh ye---ah….. I wi---ll ta---ke it no---w…..” she slowly took the tray from the prince’s hands but then her hand and his hand entangled for a while as they looked into each other’s eyes even more.

         “The food will get cold……let us not wait for the birds to chirp…before the humans eat…….” recalled the monk as he passed by while smiling at the two.

           Fei took the tray and ate it inside the room with a gleeful smile. She recalled how she and Chen hugged each other early in the morning and her secret was revealed.

          “May I know the reason why you are smiling alone?” Chen asked as he entered the room unknowingly.

            “Huh.. how did yo---u ge….t in?” she demanded

           

            “You left the door open.. so I came in….” he smiled gently

     

             “Oh well… the fo—od tastes gre—at….” She said while she tried to move away from the prince.

              “If you are done then we can get going now…..”

              “Oh yes your grace….”she said while giving respect to the prince

               Right after she finished her meal, they bade good bye to the monks who welcomed them in their abode. They journeyed back to the palace.

     

         “Fei….. if given by chance would you runaway with me?” he asked while he looked at her

          “Why did you ask such a thing?” she then looked at Chen’s eyes

          

         “No nothing….forget that I ask you about it… let us go….”

         “I would go anywhere with you …. If that is what you like……”

          They held each other’s hands but it was cut short when Ur called them. He paid a respect to Prince Chen. He noticed that the two held each other’s hands.

        “Good day my prince! I am here to inform you that the king, your father, want to see you.”

         “Does he knows where I am?”

         “No my grace……but he is furious who is the girl you eloped with.”

        He held Fei’s hand and said “All right then.. I will introduce her to him…”

  

        “Your grandfather also heard about it and he cannot believe it either…”

        “No need to worry, I will deal with it……”

        “But sir---e”

   

         Not before long, Prince Eunhyuk appeared. He disguised himself as a local just to pass through the borders unnoticed.

        “Soo……” he said in a longing voice.

      

        “Hyuk….” she said in a missing tone as she met her friend again.

        Prince Chen gave a green stare at Prince Eunhyuk. He felt a sudden stab at his heart.

       

        “You may talk to your friend…..”he moved away and let go of Fei’s hand. “Come Ur let us leave them….hmp..”

          Ur followed the Prince and Fei ran towards her friend.  They talked briefly as she chooses her own path.

          “Good thing you are better now.” Prince Eunhyuk said as he pat the shoulder of Fei.

       

          “Yes Prince, it is all because of Prince Chen.” She humbly replied.

   

          Prince Eunhyuk moved the gaze of his eyes towards the sky and said “You can come with me. Back to Joseon, where you belong.”

          As he said this Prince Chen and Ur were listening behind the tree. “Do not come with him I beg you….”he said to himself.

         “Excuse me, my prince are you talking to me?” Ur asked as he pointed out to himself.

          “I am not talking to you.” He said snobbishly.

           Back to the old friends… “I appreciate your kindness but I -----“

           “Wha---t…?”

           “But this is my home now. I have nowhere to go in Joseon…..” she said in a melancholic voice a she remembered how her childhood had been in Mt. Baekdu.

           “Is it because of him that you wanted to stay here?” Prince Eunhyuk replied in regretful face.

            “Uhm.. yes, Prince Eunhyuk….. I love Chen…..” she said out loud.

            “You are old enough, you know what you are doing. Be safe always.” Prince Eynhyuk said while he held back his emotions. He could not believe that for the second time he would lose his friend.

          “Prince …..”she tried to follow him

          “No….you do not have to say any word…..just go to him …..”he said as his tears fell down from his eyes.

          Fei ran back towards Prince Chen. The prince appeared behind the tree and thee two held hands.

         “I chose to be with you.” She said while she clang to Chen’s arms.

         The prince kissed him in the lips and embraced her. Prince Chen led the way as he held Fei’s hand, he would not let that this moment would be taken from him.

         

         Back in the palace, he was received by his father. The whole court heard the news that the Emperor sought an audience with his youngest son.

         “Is that true you runaway with someone?” the King asked calmly but with conviction.

          “Yes, your majesty I just did.” Those were the first words he said to his father.

         “M---y  so---n, yo—u co—uld sp-eak no---w……?” asked the Emperor as he was stunned and moved closer to his son.

         "Father……..” the father and son hugged each other…

         “I n—ev—er… thought that this moment will come….” Said the king as he cried..

          “When did it all start…?”

          “It is a long story, my king……” the prince refused to say anymore

         “Oh…. Probably because of that girl…. Who is she?”

         “Father, I wish for Fei’s hand in marriage.”

        “Fe—i?! Th-e wom—an who is with you always?” asked the king as he thought deeply.

         “Definitely your grace….” He said in a pleading voice…

         The Emperor knew that his son and the woman were very close. That marriage could also saved his son from the treachery eyes of the court. He knew if his son married a non – noble woman it could deprived him by his title and so as the union could be a camouflage for his son’s safety.

       “As you wish.. you can have her as your bride….”

        The prince was surprised to his father’s approval but it was with a condition that he agreed anyway.

        The palace celebrated the wedding of Prince Chen and Fei. The whole country was decorated in red light lamps and ribbon. All walks of life were invited and cheered for the newlyweds. The sound of the tambourines and drums could be heard from every corner of the street. In every corner of the town, the smell of freshly cooked steamed buns, dimsum and wanton noodles could quench your hunger.

       Needless to say, there were some who were not convinced about the wedding.

      

      “I suspect something is wrong…” said Minister Gang

   

       “I agree Minister…. The Emperor approved the wedding though the woman has no background.” Said Minister Zhou exclaimed a he was drinking his wine.

       “No background…. Minister Zhou clarify what you mean?” demanded Prince Dao

        “I heard my prince that the girl was an orphan and she was took in by the household of General Yeoh out of pity.”

         “Hmmmm…. Seems unclear to me her life story…. ” said Minister Gang as he thought about it deeply.

           “Orphan or not orphan, I will found out who is this girl…..she is a trash in our family….” Prince Dao grinned.

          Back in the wedding, General Yeoh congratulated the couple…. “I hope the two of you would last,” he said in a cheery mood.

         “Grandfather, aren’t you mad about it?” asked Prince Chen

        

          “Why would I? When the two of you are still kids, I knew the two of you would end up as a couple.”

            “General Yeoh….thank you…..”

           “Ah… this lady… from now on call me Grandpa……not General…… my grandson’s wife is my granddaughter.”

         At the end of the celebration, the couple shared their first night together. The moment they took their robes off, the wife lay down in the bed naked then her husband followed her. They stared for a moment and gently kissed each other in the lips. His hands ran through the belly of his wife reaching for the breasts. She slightly moved away from him but her husband pulled her closer and widely separated her legs. Her hands ran through at the back of her husband until she lovingly touched his face. They could not feel the coldness of the night. They could only feel the warmth of their bodies.

         “A---m I hu---rti--ng you?” Prince Chen said as he was sweating all over.

          “N---o… huh….. huh…clo---ser ……de---eep---er… huh…” Fei replied as she grasped for air.

         At the middle of the night they paused for a while to catch their breath.

        “Chen… you know what …”

        “Yes, what is it?” then he kissed his wife in the forehead.

        

         “There was an old lady who approached all of a sudden. She held my hands like this..”she narrated how she met the strange old lady in the market while trying to save Min-sook.

         

          “Then what does she told you?”

        

           “That I have already lived before and now I found the one. If this life may not be in favor for us, we will meet again.”

           “I do not personally believe in superstition Fei. We make our own destiny.”

   

           “You are probably right, Chen….”as she moved closer and felt Chen’s warmth heartbeat.

          Before the breaking of the dawn, they kissed again as his manhood entered his spouse’s body.

        For unknown cause, General Yeoh was found dead in his chamber. He was laying on the floor and there was spillage of tea just beside his body.

8

Ambush and Prison

      The following morning, prison guards entered her prison cell to take her before the jury. Prince Chen was nowhere to be found. Though she’s weak, she tried to stand but she fell down.

      “Your highness we will carry you instead…..” Yu exclaimed as he held the hand of Soo kyung.

      “Why would you hold her hand?!..... She is a criminal….drag her out….!” The chief guard shouted.

        Yu and Wu could not do anything but to subdue to the command of their head chief. They dragged Princess Soo kyung out of the cell and into the execution site.

       From faraway the beating of the drums could be heard. All the townspeople went to the site to witness the beheading of the Princess. Some falsely condemn her but some gave a pity look at the Princess. Along the way she saw young children played around and pregnant women who seemed to expect to give birth few months from now.

     She suddenly recalled the months where she was also dragged out from their house when she was fourth months pregnant to her first born child. 

      “My ba--by…. M---y pre-ci-ous ……child….” She murmured as she was placed in a wooden carriage suited for prisoners.

      One frightful morning, while Prince Chen was composing a poem in the tranquility of the day. Princess Fei was tending her newly blossomed roses. The armed palace guards under the decree of his brother, Emperor Dao. Raided their household. Ur came in running to warn the couple.

     “Your highness…..”shouted Ur “the palace guards are here and armed…….”

      Then they heard their servants screamed as they ran for their lives. Fei came close to her husband. Prince Chen then stood and protected his then pregnant wife.

     The head of the palace guard, Xian came in. He was as old as Emperor Dao. He was a loyal guard and he would not allow disdain the name of his king.

     “Arrest Princess Fei!” ordered Xian

   

        “Who the hell you think you are to demand!” blurted Prince Chen as he and Ur prepared to fight back.

      “Emperor Dao, gave his command.” Xian bowed down before Prince Chen

      “Is there any decree as to which you are here to arrest my wife!” Prince Chen stated as he drew his sword.

      The palace soldiers even Xian could not answer the Prince. So he gave a notion to the other guards that they should attack.

        “Fei come near me….” he stated as Fei moved closer to her husband. As she moved closer they moved backwards. Ur moved forward to defend his masters.

    

       The fight began when the imperial soldiers drew their swords and attacked Prince Chen’s household. Though they were outnumbered, they fought valiantly. The couple then ran along the hallway into the library.

       “Stay here.  Do no—t open the door not until I told you so…….”his last words before leaving his wife.

       “Do not leave us here…..please…..”she pleaded as she grabbed her husband’s left elbow.

       He bent over her and handed her a dagger with a tiger design handle. “Here take this to protect yourself and our unborn child.” He said while touching his wife’s belly then he left. He was determined to protect his family. Though unsure if he would survive or not, he went anyway.

   

       Imperial soldiers saw and attacked him. One soldier supposed to stab him with a sword but he was fast. Prince Chen was able to steal the sword and slashed the body of his opponent. Then one soldier came and missed to hit him with a sword. Prince Chen then pressed the blade against the deck of the hallway and maneuvered sideways up and kicked the second soldier on the head and stabbed him at the neck. Then the third soldier came and kicked the Prince at the abdomen. The prince walked backwards and dropped the swords. When the third soldier about to hit him again, he stood up quickly and got his white fan and hit with heavy blow the third soldier on the neck and using his right knee to hit the sternum, causing the latter to collapse.

        Xian saw Prince Chen in the hallway and made his way to attack his highness. Ur saw him too. Ur ran fast towards his master gut he was too late. Xian arrived first. He faced the unbreakable prince. Ur by then, was attacked by numerous soldiers and he fought each of them with bravery.

        “I have waited for this, my prince.” Xian said with a sharp deceiving voice as he moved forward while sword was preparing to attack. He gave an eye signal to a soldier at the back of the Prince. Prince Chen moved slightly backwards and he too felt the energy of his another opponent at his back.

       “Think of a way to get out of this….”he told to himself.

    

        “Yahh…..”shouted Xian, as he pointed his sword to Prince Chen.

        Prince Chen moved sideways to block it. He bent at his back when he felt the one attacker would be at his back. Prince Chen’s left hand grabbed the right hand of Xian which held the sword in order hit the other attacker at the chest. Prince Chen held his fan at his right hand and  hit the attacker at the neck and knee, making the soldier vulnerable to Xian’s blade.

 

       Xian could not believe that the Prince was very quick. Prince Chen then kicked him at his chest so hard that he could not breathe for a second.

   

       “He is very quick and he knows his moves very well.” he said to himself as he was grasping for air.

 

       Then a bunch of soldiers came to kill Prince Chen along the stairs of the hallway. The prince removed his royal red coat and used it as his weapon. He kept his white fan at his belt. He moved his red coat in circles blocking the soldiers’ paths. Then he kicked the nearest soldier to the left knee and jumped sideways to hit the nearest soldier in the head. Prince Chen’s attacked made the soldiers fell down the stairs in a domino effect. Xian saw everything. He immediately admired Prince Chen’s martial arts abilities.

      “The Prince is so good. Though he is alone, he could defend himself.” He was said to himself.

       When another soldier tried to stab the Prince at the back, there was an arrow flew in the air and hit the chest of the soldier. Prince Chen looked for the person who did it. It was his wife. The couple smiled at each other.

    

     Xian noticed the location of the pregnant Princess, “Let us see how good you are this time.” He said while he stood to get her

    

       Then five to ten soldiers attacked the Prince from the back to the front. The pregnant princess struck her arrows at those who dared to attack Chen from behind. Ur came to defend the prince from the attackers when someone shouted.

     “Go on…..and kill them….”shouted Xian.

      Both Prince Chen and Ur stopped and looked at the back of the hallway. They were surprised to see Fei as Xian’s hostage. Xian used the dagger which Prince Chen gave to Fei. He placed the dagger at the Princess’s throat.

  “Fei……no…” Prince Chen called out to his wife.

   “Princesss…”shouted Ur

    “I like this moment….hahaha… Where is your bravery now my grace?” Xian mocked the Prince.

     “Chen……” Fei called her husband.

      “Drop your weapons……tell it to your guards or else your wife pay!” he challenged the Prince.

     Though it hurt his pride, he called his guards to drop their weapons. “Your majesty…..no…..” Ur said to the Prince.

    “He got my family and I cannot gamble that.” He explained

     The couple stared at each other. He knew once the imperial taken her it would be mean their lives were over.

     Xian took the pregnant princess at the palace. Inside the palace, she was sought to meet the new Emperor Dao. At his court all the ministers and even eunuchs were present. From the doors of the court she could smell her death.

   “Your majesty, Princess Fei arrives.” shouted Lo.

     Princess Fei was escorted by Xian and two guards. She was forcedly knelt down in the presence of the whole court. 

    “Well…well.. look what we have here.” Emperor Dao sneered while he stood from his throne.

    “Why have you taken me here?” she demanded an explanation.

     “Hmm..” Minister Gang cleared his throat. “With this reason we found evidences that you are not a native here.”

    Princess Fei’s eyes opened wide. “Wha—t do yo—u mean….?”

   “You know it very wel…..Soo kyung…….your blood disrupts the flow of chi…”Minister Zhou exclaimed.

     She could not believe that they found out their secret. “Where did you have that idea? It is rubbish.”

     “We have an informant and he brought this…”Emperor Dao presented Fei’s jaded necklace.

    From that moment on, she recalled that she lost the necklace after the wedding. She tried to avoid to gaze at it but the wicked Emperor grabbed her chin.

   “I command you to look at the necklace! Spy!” Emperor Dao shouted.

   Minister Gang approached the Emperor and said “Your highness control your temper.”

  

   At that moment on, she recalled the tallest soldier who burned their village and killed handmaiden Miss Park.

   “Yo--u are th—ere…aren’t you?!” she exclaimed as she remembered that frightful morning.

    “Huh, I do not know what you muttering at.” Minister Gang denied as he directed the Emperor to sit at his throne.

   “You are the soldier who burnt my village and killed my parents so as my handmaiden Miss Park!” she pointed at the Minister Gang.

   The whole court where surprised and they recalled that there was an attack before with baseless evidence.

   “Silence everyone…..”Minister Zhou tried to calm down the court.

  Fei looked at him and he also looked at Fei. She then recalled that the smaller soldier who was with Minister Gang was none other than Minister Zhou.

   “You are also there…..Minister Zhou!” she pointed out.

   “Huh……”Minister Zhou was speechless.

    Minister Gang rushed in and slapped her in the face. “Guards take this woman in the prison!”

   “You cannot hid your schemes for so long………”she said as she was taken to the prison.

     Inside the prison, she was heavenly guarded. The walls had so many cracks and the bars were all made from wood. The inside of her cell had so many hay scattered on the floor. She suddenly felt abdominal pain. When she touched her belly it was wet.

   “Blo----od……no…….my ba—by… help…...”she shouted.

    The prison guards Wu and Yu came and called out the Imperial Doctor. “Your highness, hold on… we will call the physician.” Yu exclaimed.

    “Calm yourself…your majesty……”Wu said as Yu left to call the physician. Then the physician came together with his two nurses couple of minutes later.

    “Your highness..” he bowed down as a respect and he checked the pulse. “Give me a small chair or any blocks that you can find.” The doctor said.

   The rest of the guards did what the head doctor said. “Stay still your majesty.”

    “My bab…y” she said as she seemed to faint.

    “Do not sleep Princess, we will not know if you will manage to wake up.” the doctor explained.

    Wu then help out, “Princess wake up…….”

     Then the other prison guard came and brought with him a small chair. “Head doctor is this chair is good enough? This is what we found here.”

     “Yes, it can be of use. Thank you.”

 

       The doctor came near the princess and told her “Princess kindly raised your two legs so as to stop the bleeding…princess….?” The princess lost her consciousness.

       “My dear boy, who are you again?”

 

        “I am Wu, head doctor.”

         “Wu raise the legs of the princess and placed it on top of the chair.” The head physician then ordered the two nurses to prepare the medicine indicated for preventing blood lose. The two nurses went out and prepare the medicine.

       The news broke out to the palace that the Princess was pregnant. The Emperor was inside his throne room when he heard the news.

     

      “Your majesty free the princess, since it was forbidden to imprison a pregnant woman.” Lo explained.

      The Emperor was thinking deeply. He knew that if there would bad happen to her, he would be put to blame by the society. “Call Xian this instance.” Lo left as he called out Xian.

        Xian came in, “you call for me….”

        “How did you bring her here without telling me that she is pregnant?”

 

         “Forgive me my leash, but I do not know either that she is pregnant.”

 

          Then Lo came in, “your majesty… your brother…….Prince Chen stormed at the prison cell with his armies………ooh no………” he nervously stated the commotion took place at the prison.

          “What!!!!!” the Emperor stood in shock. “What are you waiting for.. arrest him!”

          “Your majesty, I am afraid we cannot do that……” Lo said as he was terrified with the reaction of the king.

          “Your majesty, Sheng province has thousands of armies more than the capital possess……”

           “I agree to that your majesty…. aside from the armies they have, your brother is very skillful in martial arts.” Xian supported Lo’s words.

           In his madness he drew his sword and almost hit the neck of Xian. “Are you telling me that I should seat at my throne and do nothing?!”

         “Your majesty.. calm down… I am begging you…….” Lo exclaimed as he pleaded for the life of Xian. “Think about it sire…if the child survives, it could be the last hope of Ming…..”

         Hurt by the words of Lo, he then now pointed the sword at Lo. “Your words…….”

          Minister Gang came and stopped his royal highness. “Control yourself majesty….Lo is right…”

          “Whattaa…? Are you blaming me now for not producing my own heirs…..!” his face turned to red due to hatred.

          “Sire….let us be prank….Ming is weak….if we drive your brother to his madness it would be the last of us.” Minister Gang tried to persuade the Emperor to allow these things to pass.

           “The old man is already dead and my brother is here. They should be loyal to me!”

 

           “Sire……Sheng province since the beginning of Ming is loyal to the family of General Yeoh. Though the General is dead, they looked at your brother as their new leader.” Xian explained.

            His majesty dropped the sword in his anger. Minister Gang approached him and said “Let them win this time.”

             “You have a part of this, Minister. You should have made sure before that none of the borders will exist! You know what I mean.” The Emperor sneered as he left the room.

            Lo and Xian where surprised to hear what the Emperor said. “Could it be……”they both said to their selves. 

          In the meantime, Prince Chen’s face had a spilled of blood as he stormed inside the prison to rescue his wife. The prison guards where motionless when they saw the angered Prince.

          “Your majesty…..”the head doctor and his nurses called out the prince as they were afraid of their lives.

          “How i-s my wife? Wait why is she bleeding….?” Prince Chen exclaimed.

         “Calm down my prince……it is due to her body’s reaction in this events….”

          “Che----n…….” Fei called out her husband as she heard the voice.

         “Fei….” He dropped the sword and held her in his arms.

         “Wh---at happ—ened… your face w-ith blood….my dear…..”

         “Nothing to worry about… we will go home now…..where you are safe….”

          “His majesty … it would be better if you will not let her see the ‘surroundings’…….”the head physician reminded the Prince.

           “I understand…” he carried his wife and did not allow her to look,” close your eyes my love….”

         “Che—n they know now our secret that I am…..”

         “Hush now, do not say anything…. I would not let them harm you.”

 

      The couple when out of the palace escorted by Chen’s armies. Ur stood by the side of his master though he was slightly injured in the arms.

        “Oh Lord, watch over this kingdom….”the head doctor said as he watched the couple left the place.

       

      

9

Execution and Regret

     On the way to the plaza, she heard a voice of an old woman escorted by her servants. She searched for the old woman. At last she saw the old lady, it was her Chinese maternal grandmother. She tearfully and regretfully looked at her. Her grandmother wanted to approach her but she made a gesture not too. She saw some mothers carried their children with them.

    “My poor baby…….Ang.” she said in a weak low voice. She remembered the day her husband brought her home.

     “My dear… I am afraid for our baby…”she said while crying.

    “Do not be afraid. You and our baby will be safe.” Chen assured his wife as he kissed her in her lips.

      He noticed the red bruises on her face, “Who hit you?!”

     “It was the same man who attacked my village and killed everyone. The man is Minister Gang.”

      “Minister Gang…. He will pay for this….”

       “They have my jaded necklace given to me by my mother.”

     “Do not say anything more. Take a rest.”

     When Fei was already resting. He met Ur in his room, “How is your wounds, my old friend?”

      “My prince, it is nothing. Do not mind me…”

       “Nice to hear, I came here to ask you a favor.”

     

        “Say it and consider it done.”

         He left Prince Chen’s residence unnoticed. He made his way towards the house of Minister Gang and Minister Zhou. He recalled their conversation.

         “I want you to investigate the movements of Minister Gang and Minister Zhou. Find out how they became culprit in the attacks in the border seven years ago.”

        “Yes your majesty.”

  “Lastly, find out how did they became Ministers and who promoted them.”

  “As you wish, my prince.”

    For the next months, Fei was placed in a house arrest. Though they have thousands of armies they cannot left the capital. If they left there would be a war.

  “Prince Chen, the palace doctor is here.” Yunlong informed Prince Chen as he stayed at his wife’s bed side.

                                                          

   “Honey… the doctor is here….” He said to Yunlong, “Tell him to come in.”

    “As you wish….”

     The doctor came in, though he was old he was still good as a young doctor.  “Good day Prince and Princess.” He bowed down. He checked the vital signs of the princess and the unborn child.

    “So how are they?”

    “Be patient a bit sire…” he gently said to the nervous prince. “They are good. Your wife is fighting and so is your son.”

   “A son….how ……?”

   “If the belly is sharp it is an indication of a boy. If the belly is round it is a girl.” The doctor said with a smile.

  “Thank you for the information doctor. Yunlong could lead you the way out.”

   “Lastly your grace, let her eat vegetables especially the green ones. It aids in blood circulation.”

   “Thank you once again.”

   Yunlong now showed the way out to the Doctor. “Doctor, May I ask why the palace seemed afraid that they have a pregnant prisoner. Just curious.”

      The gentle doctor smiled and said “Oh I see, you are not from here. The old folks believe that if there is a pregnant prisoner, it could bring forth destruction in the dynasty.”

     “But it is just hear say right?”

    

    “Hearsay or not, that is the belief. Since the misery of the pregnant mother can be the vengeance of her child. After all, a tiger is more fearsome than a phoenix.”

     “Oh yeah... A tiger is fearso---me……” Yunlong could not speak as he was surprised by what it means.

       “So long….” Bid the gentle doctor as he walked away from the gates of Prince Chen’s residence.

       Then Yunlong realized “the tiger is fears---ome than a….. could it be ……”

       Months went by and it is now time for her to give birth. By the end of winter she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The baby boy’s cries heard in all corner of the house.

      “Our baby is so tiny…”exclaimed Fei as she wrapped the tiny baby in a white cloth.

      “He is so cute…..he roar like a tiger, tiger of Sheng province.” retorted the Prince as he looked at his son with gusto. Then he looked at the sky, he wondered where Ur was.

    After a week of giving birth, in the second week of spring. Imperial palace guards came to take the Princess away. He was supposed to defend his wife.

   “Honey… it is alright…..”she tried to get up from the bed and wrapped herself in a white robe.

    “Wait.. where are you going?” he stopped his wife, “you are just given birth…..we have armies….”

     “My love…..though it pains me….. I will subdue to their commands….”

     “No, I will not let you…..they will kill you, have you forgotten that you are…..”

       With that, she kissed her spouse in the lips. “I am willing to be the bait. Crash down who needs to be punished with our armies. No more life to be sacrificed.” Her parting words.

      “How about us? Ang is still a baby, he needs a mother.” Prince Chen said as he embraced his wife before leaving their bedroom.

      Ang cried when he felt that his mother left his side. Yunlong cannot put the baby to quiet so Fei held her son for the last time. “Ang, be good always and do not give your father any troubles.” She handed Ang to Chen and left while crying.

    “Sir….e” Yunlong exclaimed as he could not believe that turn of events turned out like this.

  

      

      Back in the plaza, Emperor Dao, Minister Gang, Minister Zhou and the rest of the court where present. It was Minister Gang who presided the execution.

      “You woman….any last words?” Minister Gang said in a mocking gesture.

       “I……I …… a----m in----noce…..nt…….”she said in a weak voice.

       “You still think you are innocent….insolent fool!”

         “I ….. am no----t a trai—tor li—ke yo---u! Yo—u kil---led inn-o—cent—t peo—ple just to get what you wa—nt… you burn--ed my vill…age…and ki—ll-ed my fami—ly….” Princess Soo kyung tried to get up although her body was weak.

       The townspeople heard about it and where shocked. They began to talk among themselves.

       “Silence……..silence I say…” shouted Minister Gang in rage.

       “W--e a--re th-e mi--x chil---dren o-f Chi---na an---d Jose--on poss---ess n--o ha--rm.” She said while her eyes were about to lose sights.

       “Silence her now! If anyone of you will help this woman, you will be punished as well.” announced Emperor Dao in madness.

      The executioner was swayed his sword from right to left before beheading the Princess Soo kyung. The crowd became quiet and trying to catch their breath. Unknown to them, was Prince Eunhyuk and Heongki they were dressed up like a local of Ming to save Soo kyung.

     “Soo… wait for me…..”as soon as he said it, the drum rolls begun. It was the drum roll of death.

        Her grandmother, Madame Fang could not do or say anything. She cried with regret. She had been silent for so many years from the death of her only child, Huifang now to the execution of her granddaughter.

  

       “Madame kindly composed yourself they might see you like this.” said Jia the youngest servant with her.

      “Jia is right Madame, if they noticed they might harm you.” Ju supported Jia’s statement.

       Madame Fang stared at them “You two, you do not know what you are talking about. Indeed, I survive all these years and maintained our family’s richness but with a price.” then she cried even more.

       The house maids cold not do anything but watch their mistress’ granddaughter to be killed.

When the executioner about to behead Princess Soo kyung and before Prince Eunhyuk could launch an attack. There was a strange arrow hit the back of Soo kyung which caused her death. All who witnessed it in the plaza where shocked. Even the executioner was also hit in the arms by another strange arrow.

      The Emperor received a missed shot of an arrow. The townspeople screamed and ran resulting in chaos. Prince Eunhyuk and Heongki searched for the responsible archer. They looked around for any suspicious man. Prince Eunhyuk heard a strange sound coming from the roof of an old abandoned house. He look around and saw someone wearing a red cloak and ran at the corner of the empty narrowed street.

    He chased the mystery person but cannot find the whereabouts. But then he was surprised to see that the person he was chasing would be found at that house.

        

         

           

            

           

 

10

Revelations

      Within the day of chaotic execution of Soo kyung (Fei), Prince Chen claimed the body of his wife. Though some believe it could be the prince or somebody else, without a proof so they could not arrest the prince.

        “I am here to take the body of my wife.” he demanded the guards as he gave them a tiger look.

        “As you pleased your highness.” Wu and Lu gave the body of Soo kyung to Prince Chen.

        Upon receiving the dead body of his wife. He wept and do not care if they would see him cry like a young boy once more. The guards were moved as they saw him gently touched his spouse’s face. He carried her in his arms.

       “Fei let us go home you are safe now.” He said to the lifeless body of his one true love.

       On their way home, he was surprised to see Prince Eunhyuk with Heongki in disguise.

       “Though you dressed like us. I know you.” He said while he held to Soo kyung’s body.

       Prince Eunhyuk was controlling the tears in his eyes but cannot deny it. “So you have her body.”

        “As you can see, yes, you are not blind right?” Chen said as he composed himself in front of Eunhyuk.

         “This man…..” Heongki retorted as he does not like the way Prince Chen talked to his prince.

           Prince Eunhyuk gave a signal to Heongki not to do any foolishness. “May I hold my friend’s hand for one last time.” He begged the prince as he was about to cry.

         Prince Chen gave a gesture that he may touch her hand but not for too long. Prince Eunhyuk touched the hand of Soo kyung, “My dear friend, forgive me if Joseon could not protect for the second time.”

        Prince Chen kept his tears and said, “If you are done paying your respect. I wish to go now.”

      Prince Eunhyuk agreed and bowed down for two times and he saw that the red black cloak of Prince Chen matched the same cloak of the mystery person he was chasing earlier.

        Both the two men bade farewell. He and Heongki quietly followed Prince Chen. Prince Chen knew that he was being followed.

        “I have nothing to lose. I already lost everything I hold dear.” He said to himself.

        “My prince why are we following him?” Heongki asked as they spied on Prince Chen.

        “Be quiet. I want to make sure my intuition is correct.” He replied as they were hiding at the walls of the houses they passed by.

       To his amazement, Prince Chen reached the alley and went inside his zenith where Ur was waiting for him at the gates.

       “No way…..I could not believe he did it…..” he uttered surprisingly as he cannot speak.

       “Did what your highness?” then Heongki remembered that Prince Eunhyuk was chasing someone in the alley.  “Sire is it him?”

         “I’m afraid so.” He could not say or do anything. Quarreling with someone could not bring a life back. “It is better on this way.”

        “What are we going to do now, go back home?” he said as he offered to help his prince to get up.

         “Yes. Let us go home.” He agreed and left the capital with a regret. A regret that for the second time, he was not able to protect a friend.

         He recalled their good old days together. Climbing the hills of Mt. Baekdu and called out the gods for guidance and how does his friend taught him to appreciate life. He viewed the palace life as a prison and becoming a king would mean that he should give up his dreams.

     “Hyuk, we will live only once, so appreciate everything.” Soo kyung said as she felt the cold winds.

     “I am not like you. You are a daughter of a noble and you can still have an ordinary life.” He said in sadness.

     “Come on, smile. If you feel bad, your face will become like this.” She played with her face making it as a grumpy face as she kept on folding her skin.

     Then they played around the hills and vowing that they would be friends for life. 

      Remembering those days when they were young made him cried once more. And they stopped by the hill as they crossed the border between China and Joseon.

     “Prince…” Heongki called his master as a comfort.

     “Allow me to mourn my deceased friend. She is the closest one I have.” He wept for as long as he wanted. Seeing the vast horizon of Mt. Baekdu made him even more realize that his friend already passed away. “You are free from this harsh society Soo…..”

       As he mourned for his friend so as the husband. Prince Chen upon entering his house knew that his wife would not be with him to comfort him. Once inside their bedroom, he laid the lifeless body of Fei at their bed. He touched her face as if his wife would respond. Then he recalled what he did. He went out of the house unnoticed and carried with him his wife’s bow and arrow. He waited for the proper moment to shoot the arrow. Once the executioner began swaying the sword he pulled the arrow and pierced his wife.

        Ur came in with a basin of water and wash cloth and left. Prince Chen wiped the wounds of her wife. As he touched the back of his wife, he saw the open wound came from the arrow he shot at her. He cried even more and called his wife. “Forgive me……….Fei….forgive me………”

         Yunlong heard it as well and he tried to call Prince Chen but Ur forbade him. “What are you doing Ur? He needs us.”

        “Do not cause even more sadness. One shot of arrow is enough to kill a heart.” Ur exclaimed as he presented his melancholy at the loss of a friend. He recalled how Fei taught him to be brave as he was a coward during their youths.

       “You are crying as well?” Yunlong said as he was about to cry.

       “Each of us felt a loss, Yunlong. I will never forget how she taught me to believe in myself when everyone doubted me.”

      “I am an old single man but through her I thought I have a daughter.”

    After cleaning his wife’s wound he called Ur inside their chamber. Ur went in and they talked about their next move.

      “Is there a report regarding my task given to you?” Prince Chen said as he was sobbing while holding the hand of his wife.

       “Yes your grace. The northern tribes are activated, they will join our cause.” Ur answered as he was deeply regret that he wasn’t there to defend a friend.

        “Good. We will carry out the plan. You may now leave.”

      Ur left the room and carefully guarded the bedchamber of his master. Prince Chen recalled how Ur reported what he uncovered in the past four months.

    “Sire, what happened seven years ago in the border was all planned.”

    “Planned by who? Tell me?”

   “By Minister Gang, Minister Zhou and the late Empress Mei, my prince.”

     Prince Chen was stunned and could not believe of what he heard. “Any idea when and how they planned the attack.” Prince Chen asked Ur but the latter seemed hesitant to tell.

   “Have you lost your tongue so suddenly?” he grew impatient.

 “They planned it a year before they attacked the borders at Mt. Baekdu. Their plan was first heard by the late Lady Li Yeoh. Your mother, my prince.”

     Prince Chen fell down from his seat. He then remembered the night his mother was killed. His mother hid him in a safe tunnel just behind her bed. He was hidden there that’s why he was unable to see the man who killed her.

       “My prince…..” Yunlong shouted as he held the crying prince in his arms.

      “How did you know that Ur?” Yunlong asked as he was comforting the orphaned prince.

       “I found Minister Zhou’s diaries. He might look for this by now.” Ur handed the two old diaries of the Minister.

       “Sire, I also found out that Minister Gang was the one who stab your mother in the chest.”

       “Oh dear, heavens, have mercy…” Yunlong murmured as he recalled what the late general used to say ‘the enemies are lurking in the shadows.’

       “What else have you found?” Prince Chen asked as he was trying to calm down.

       “They planned to attack the borders in order for them to pressure Joseon to pay more tribunes and as well to acquire power. They thought killing your mother would sway your grandfather to join their cause.”

      “But they failed, since the general is hard headed.” Yunlong recounted as how the general almost declared war with the capital.

     “I also found out sire, that late Empress Mei committed suicide when the Emperor Yue found out what she did. That is the agreement they had.”

     “Father knew all along who are those killers.  And yet he did nothing.”

    “Your father kept silent to make sure you are alive.”

     “What do you mean I am alive….. Because of them I lost a mother.”

     “Here sire a letter from your father before he died.” Prince Chen received the letter and read it.

     “Where did you get that?” Yunlong inquired as Ur was able to retrieve a lot of facts.

      “That letter was in possession of Minister Zhou.”

       “My prince, can it be they are also behind the death of your father and the general?” Yunlong asked Prince Chen as he also looked at Ur.

        “They will pay. Liars will pay.”

        The following morning, they held a simple funeral pyre in the yard, since the late princess was branded traitor. Royal funeral was forbidden to perform. Princess Fei’s ashes were placed inside a small jar with a tiger being hit by a skillful girl archer while trying to rescue a boy.

     The Buddhist priest ask Yunlong why the jar had that design. Yunlong then narrated the events occurred before hand.

     “The archer in the painting was the late Princess Fei. She and Prince Chen used to gather herbs for the community, since majority of us suffered from flu.” Yunlong said while crying.

     “Apology, I did not mean to make you sad even more…”exclaimed the apologetic Buddhist.

     “No, it is alright….then Prince Chen was suddenly attacked by a tiger and Fei then struck the animal in the neck with an arrow…..” Yunlong recounted as he watched the black smoke from the pyre.

    Prince Chen held in his hands their clothes made out of the tiger’s skin. He watched the pyre with tears in his eyes as he recollect the cold breeze of the morning that Fei rescued him from the clutches of the big cat.

    Ur carried the newborn Ang in his arms. As the infant cried so loud, he too felt that his mother would not be there to caress him anymore.

11

Tiger’s Roar  

       When 1700 came, China faced a new dynasty, the Ching. Though he and his son was the rightful heir to the throne. He turned his back at the throne which caused the death of his family. First, his mother, second his grandfather and the last his wife. Chen as what he wanted him to call, dressed ordinarily so as his son Ang.

      “Master are you sure you want to turn back to everything matters to you?” Yunlong asked Chen since starting a life elsewhere would be different.

      “I am sure, Yunlong. There is nothing left of us here. It is a fresh start for my son, Ang.” Chen replied as he was playing with his one year old child.

     Upon passing by the market he saw some merchants selling knives and herbal medicines. He then recalled what happened a year ago.

     At the beginning of summer, Minister Gang planned ahead his vacation at Formosa. On the way to the ferry. Minister Gang was under attack. Arrows were flying in the sky as if it was rain. It diminished the escort armies of Minister Gang.

    “Minister we are under attacked take cover.” shouted the soldier beside Minister Gang.

    “What…who dared to do this to me….!” he demanded

    “I am, Minister Gang.” Prince Chen appeared and so his legions.

   Minister’s troops were taken aback. They were surrounded it was between life and death.

   “You are seeking your own death, my prince.” Minister said to the prince.

   “I will make sure you are the one who is dead after this.” He shouted their swords met.

      Prince Chen recalled how his mother was killed and in each attacked he made, it was a sure hit into the Minister’s body. Minister Gang tried to stab Prince Chen but the Prince managed to bend down and stabbed the Minister at the heart. Seeing their Minister dead, the remaining soldiers surrendered.

      Nearing the end of summer, Minister Zhou stayed at his house fearing that he would be the next target. He thought he was safe but he was wrong. From the moment he requested hot green tea from a servant and it was delivered to him by another male servant. The moment he drank the tea, he choked. 

       “What is the taste Minister Zhou?” the servant said while mocking him.

        “What…..who are you?” Minister Zhou demanded as he was finding it hard to breathe.

         Prince Chen revealed himself. “Surprise to see me, Minister?”

         “Ho---w d---id ………yo---u…..”

          “How did I came here? So simple Minister. I came in….I have the power since I am a prince.”

         “Yo—u can---not….. go…… my gu---ards………”

         “Say it again, Minister Zhou…… your what?” he mockingly stared at Minister Zhou as the latter cannot breathe anymore.

       Then loud screams heard inside the house of Minister Zhou. “Heard that Minister?! Those are my guards.” Prince Chen said with pride. “But no need to worry, I will let you see how your house will turn to ash. Like what you did at the borders.”

       Prince Chen brought outside the ailing Minister and said “Watch carefully Minister as your house greets the fire. By the way Minister the tea that you drunk, is the same tea you used to kill my grandfather.”

      Minister Zhou recounted the manner he killed the general at the eve of the Prince wedding to Fei,  he poisoned the tea drunk by General Yeoh. 

       “Sire, here are the whole surviving family members of Minister Zhou.” reported by one soldier.

       “Gather them all here.” Prince ordered as he looked at Minister Zhou.

        “Minister Zhou committed a serious crime against the state as a punishment all of you will be stripped from your titles and be an ordinary man. Dared to fight back and you will be killed.”

        Minister Zhou’s eldest son protested and he tried to stab Prince Chen but Ur got in the way and killed the eldest son.

      “Minister how does it feel now that one of your loved ones died in front of you while you cannot do anything?” Prince Chen sneered and Minister Zhou could only repent.

       “Now you know what it feels like to be outnumbered and a victim at the same time.” Prince Chen added as he did not shown any mercy to all who oppressed his family.

      The surviving family members where sent to Joseon as tribute of Prince Chen to the damages which Ming committed, Emperor Eunhyuk was expecting it.

      That night, Minister Zhou witnessed as his house was eaten by fire and so was he.

       Before they reached, the ship, Chen then saw Ur, the newly proclaimed Emperor of Ching. Ur escorted the former prince to bid goodbye.

       Chen recalled how did they threw his wicked brother off the throne. When they managed to overrun Minister Gang, they plotted to drive his brother insane. Since Ur and him were same body built. Prince Chen ordered Yunlong to make a similar royal dress like the dress worn by Emperor Yue the night he died.

        In his father’s last letter. It was the handwritten in blood mixed with a black ink. It seemed that the late king wrote a letter for his youngest son to warn him of the snakes inside the palace. But it was intercepted by Minister Zhuo.

       Each night, Emperor Dao screamed for he saw their father’s ghost.  The candles would suddenly put off by themselves. Then he would saw a human image running and walking back and forth. The supposed human image had the same robe like their father’s robe the night it was killed.

      “Guards……Lu………Xian……….”when his palace guards came in, there was nothing in the room but Emperor Dao.

     “Your highness, there is no one here.”

    “Search the room, he might be here… somewhere..” he said in a frightful voice.

     Nearing the start of winter, when his brother was almost insane. One night, he appeared in front of his brother while he was asleep. His brother then felt a presence in the room.

    “Wh----at…… father……. You are here……” Emperor Dao shouted in fear.

     Emperor Yue’s ghost nodded.

     “It cannot be……I killed you ………… a dead man can---not be here ……it cannot be…….”

      Xian and Lu came in heard Emperor Dao that he killed his father for the throne. They tried to calm down Emperor Dao but the latter cannot be stopped.

     The mad emperor ran towards the palace guards and announced that he killed their father. Prince Chen and Ur entered the palace hall as they were summoned by the eunuchs. When Dao saw his brother, he did not recognized him.

     “Father….I already killed you……….”

     Prince Chen watched his brother gone insane and while Xian and Lu tried to calm Dao. Chen stabbed his brother.

     Witnessing the death of Dao, Xian attacked Prince Chen but was blocked by Ur. Ur then stabbed Xian at the chest.

      When the palace guards tried to attack Prince Chen, less than half of Sheng province armies barged in the palace walls. Though it was less than half the palace knew they were still out-numbered and surrendered.

       “For those who will oppose this new era of leadership will face death. If you value your life you have to obey.”

       The following morning, the rest of the concubines and wives of Dao were also sent to Joseon as a tribute to the damages caused by Ming.

       When the rest of the palace officials learned it they oppose but Emperor Chen declared “It is time that Ming would pay for the damages it incur to Joseon for so many years. We have taken so much from them and now it is time to return it.”

      Emperor Chen materialized what he and his father, Emperor Yue agreed before his wedding.

    “Here my son, take this scroll which has an imperial phoenix seal.”

    “What is this, father? Why are you entrusting this to me?” Prince Chen held the scroll in his hands with curiosity.

     “That is my royal decree to you. I am already old Chen. I may not be here to protect you.” Emperor Yue said in a warmth loving voice towards his youngest son.

   “Father, your health is quite good. Do not say anything that may bother you.”

    “Chen….”then Emperor Yue coughed so hard, indicating that his health was weakening, “that decree would be your shield. If your brother misruled this land. You may struck him with a tiger’s claw together with its allies.” Emperor Yue’s parting words to his son five days before he died.

       Before winter ends, he lower down the taxes paid by those ordinary men. Emperor Chen then established the borders of China from the north, south, west and east. He reduced the power of ministers and no power for eunuchs. For he experienced, what power could do those who possessed it.

       Though his reign was short, he was loved by the people. The gentle doctor then recounted what he meant by ‘tiger is more fearsome than phoenix.’ “The tiger is Prince Chen, Ming saw how the tiger roar. Even the phoenix was subdued by the tiger. May the heavens watch us.”

12

New Life

    “Master are we going to bring all these herbs with us? Yunlong asked as he was counting every bundles of it.

     “Of course we are going to bring it with us.” Chen replied as he was playing with Ang.

      “By the way master, where did you get all of these?” Yunlong asked again.

      “It was given to me by Madame Fang before she passed away.”

       “Madame….madame…. Fang? Oh yeah, Princess……”he was stopped by Ur.

        Ur now was the new Emperor of China. He was dressed in finest robes and the crown suits him well.

       Chen recalled how he first met Madame Fang while holding the jaded necklace. It was Ur who managed to find Fei’s grandmother.

        When Prince Chen ordered Ur to return to the palace and deliver the message that he ‘eloped’ with someone. During those days, Ur mingled from place to place and inquired where to get precious jewelries and herbs. The townspeople led him to Madame Fang.

        “I can lead you to her.” Ju a fine lady, though a servant of Madame Fang, she had a fine behavior like a noble.

        “Oh really, that is so nice of you.” Ur replied as his face turned to red.

       Upon meeting Madame Fang, he knew immediately that it was Fei’s grandmother since they were look alike. When they were alone, he asked if Madame Fang knew another jaded necklace like the one she wore.

        “How di—d yo—u kno—w abo—ut it?”

         “Well Madame, your only granddaughter is with me.”

       “Where is she if she is with you? Or you are just a hoax?” the old woman exclaimed.

     “I will bring her to you once she is well. She got an injury and resting.”

      “I don’t rely on words. I prefer actions.” The old woman said.

       After a week, Fei and Chen visited the old woman. “What place is this?” she asked as the place was different from what the capital looks like. “The lifestyle here looks simpler than the capital. It reminds me of the border and Sheng province.”

      “This is Guangzhou. The birth place of your mother.” When Prince Chen said it, Fei’s eyes lit up.

     Ju came and welcomed them in. Upon entering the garden, her grandmother was there. Madame Fang was already old but still her eyes and memory were sharp.

       “What is your name?” Madame Fang asked as she could see her youth from Fei’s face.

      “Fei, Madame Fang.”

       “Your tone seems like you are not from here. You are someone from the border. Tell me your name.” she asked once more.

       “My real name is Soo kyung, daughter of Huifang and Min-ho.” Then she presented the jaded necklace.

      Madame Fang saw it and brought out her jaded necklace as well. The orphan was no longer an orphan when she met her last kin.

     Upon the death of Fei, Madame Fang, left all her properties and richness to Prince Chen. Now that Chen wanted to start a new life elsewhere, he will use those richness to embark their journey across the shore.

    Chen recounted as well how he was able to retrieve the jaded necklace of Fei. On the night, his brother went lunatic, while trying to escape in a secret passage door from behind Dao’s bed.

    “Huh? Green necklace….”he approached the cabinet just beside the bed of Dao.

     “This is Fei’s jaded necklace……” he then took the necklace and hid it in his robe and went off.

     Before they boarded the ship, Empress Ju came and bade farewell to Chen. She and Emperor Ur were secret lovers ever since Ur was tasked to look for Madame Fang. Emperor Ur asked Chen what would be the name of his son.  

     “His name is Wang… Xi Wang.” Chen replied as he bade goodbye to an old friend. He looked at the surroundings first.

      “Too much painful memories here…”Chen said as he now looked away.

      “There are good memories as well. You have us.” Emperor Ur replied as they hugged each other for one last time.

     They boarded the ship and wave farewell to the townspeople. “Are you still crying Yunlong?”

      “Master Chen, I cannot control my tears…….” Yunlong exclaimed as he was crying.

      “By the way Master, where are we going?” he added.

       “In the Pearl of the Orient, heard it was a good place to start over.” He answered with a smile full of hope in his face.

      “My son what is it?” Chen asked Wang, who was pointing out in the sky.

      Chen saw that Wang was pointing out the bird who flew in the sky. “Ah that is a bird, Wang.”

       “Yunlong where is Fei’s urn?”

      “Here sire…..” Yunlong handed the urn and Chen gave Wang first to Yunlong.

       Chen held the urn and said “I found you in this life time so find me in the next life.” As their boat was tossed back and forth by the waves. He recalled how he and Fei met eight to nine years ago.

          “Hmmmmm.....”young Chen hummed as he was trying to wake up a young woman refugee from the border sleeping on a small boat.

          “Wh-o are you? Whe-re am I?” asked the young woman who was one year older than him.

        The boy then wrote on a paper ‘My name is Chen. What is your name?’

        The young woman replied “My name is Soo kyung…are you deaf-mute?....”

        It was the first day they met. She felt she knew him before but cannot remember when. Soo kyung saw how Chen’s smile could cheer up a lonely life in a second.

        That smile made her chose to be with the boy until the end.