Misfortune has reached the Forbidden City. A curse takes hold of the life of An, the Emperor's wife and beloved Empress of the kingdom. Time is running out, but there is still hope. A sage of questionable origin declared that the only salvation lies in the feather of the legendary Fenghuang; the real challenge is to find it within a limited period. Yun, the youngest son of the Qing dynasty, decides to embark on this risky mission, armed with nothing more than an ancient riddle as a clue. With the unexpected, and perhaps not-so-welcome help of Wu Siu, a girl from a small and remote village, he hopes to rescue his mother before it's too late. However, there will be a secret hidden behind this whole predicament. An ancient war between mythical creatures will reignite after thousands of years. The Fenghuang and the Dragon are about to rise from the ashes. Will they manage to rekindle their love after their legendary tragedies?
"My dear pupils, today we will talk about our protective and sacred beings. Our people have grown under the care of many spirits that watch over us at all times. That's why China feels blessed every time we visit the temples and pray to these magnanimous beings of light. Young Shun, could you start the reading?"
The boy cleared his throat, stood up, and began to read the scriptures.
"Fenghuang... the legendary and sacred bird par excellence for the people of China. It is said that this mythical creature represents the unity of all peoples since ancient times. It also has the reputation of bringing good luck to anyone who believes in it, which is why many people have placed its image in the great temples and also on the altars of their homes to seek protection. It is also a custom to use jade pendants with the image of the Fenghuang for protection while away from home."
"That's all, Prince Shun. Now it's your turn to continue the reading, Prince Jin," said the Laoshi* of the three young rulers of the Forbidden City.
"But of course..."
"Wait, wait, please, Laoshi. Let it be my turn, okay?" Yun intervened, raising his hand insistently.
"Young prince, you have to wait for your turn. Things can't always be the way you want," he gently lectured. "That's not what Father tells me when I ask for something," Yun pouted.
"Ugh... all right, go ahead," the Laoshi conceded, resigned. It was always the same with the youngest of the Qing.
"You're spoiled child and capricious, brother," Shun huffed, the eldest of the three.
"Shut up and listen to the reading," Yun retorted and cleared his throat. "It is also said that since ancient times, the Fenghuang is the protector of the Empress, being her amulet of good luck at all times."
"Very well, that's enough, Yun. Now it's Jin's turn." The Laoshi interrupted the reading.
"But I've only just started!" Yun protested.
"You know that when you take your brothers' turn, I shorten your time," he warned, looking at the young boy with authority, signaling him to pass the book to his brother.
"It's not fair." Grudgingly, he handed over the book and crossed his arms.
"Continue, Jin, please. We're listening," the Laoshi clasped his hands together, paying attention to the prince.
"Okay," Prince Jin smiled and continued the reading. "The significance of the Fenghuang is entirely positive for the Chinese people and represents honesty and loyalty, especially when its image is present in a household. Additionally, its spirit is only present when the ruler is just and there is no corruption involved. It is said that the Fenghuang possesses the five colors of the elements, which are..."
The young prince stopped paying attention to the reading and looked towards the large window as the gentle breeze swayed the cream-colored curtains in the study hall. Suddenly, a colorful flash faster than lightning passed before his eyes, filling his soul with curiosity instantly.
Yun turned to look at his brother Jin, who was engrossed in his reading turn. Then he glanced at Shun, who, like a good student, was taking notes in his notebook, and the Laoshi was simply observing the one who was supposed to be reading at that moment. He was truly proud of his royal pupils.
Without a second thought, the youngest prince quietly got up from the table to go unnoticed, tiptoed out of the room, avoiding a few guards and servants by hiding behind furniture, vases, and ornate columns of the palace. Those were the advantages of being small, but it didn't spare him from feeling the fear he knew as disobedience.
In a dash, he put on his sandals, which were right in front of the door leading outside, next to his brothers', and headed towards the backyard garden where he had seen that strange flash. He wandered around but, unfortunately, saw nothing. Perhaps his eyes played a trick on him, and it was indeed just lightning. Disappointed, he slowly made his way back inside the palace.
He was almost at the main door when he saw it again, shimmering with a warm and gentle light from above, precisely from the crown of that pink tree, as ancient as it was beautiful. Without a second thought, Yun ran towards that cherry tree, which, to the child, was as tall as the sky. He looked up, and a hint of vertigo filled his senses. He swallowed hard, but no discomfort would stop him from reaching that shimmer that seemed to be calling him.
He climbed as best as he could and spotted the luminous aura at the top of the tree or... perhaps even higher. Every now and then, he looked down; there was no way he could move forward. This was beginning to frustrate him greatly. He didn't intend to stay at the foot of the tree; the need for discovery was greater than he could imagine because in a matter of minutes, he had already climbed halfway up the tree. Yun felt that with each step, he was getting closer. Something told him that he was very close to finding out what that light was that seemed to call him.
"Why did you suddenly leave the class, young prince?" The Laoshi looked down at him with a challenging gaze.
"It's just that... you wouldn't believe what..."
"Just come down now, or the Emperor will be angry with me if he sees you out here instead of in class," the Laoshi scolded the little prince, and he immediately climbed down, feeling like he had missed something exciting. "Let's go inside." The Laoshi gave him a gentle push to encourage him to enter the palace. "The reading is not over yet, and it's your turn to continue, just as you wanted."
Meanwhile, high in the cherry tree, one of the oldest trees in the palace, a bird with red feathers and a long, colorful tail watched as the little prince entered his home, and its feathers sparkled again in the light of the evening.
-----------------
Glossary:
Laoshi: teacher or tutor.
Fenghuang: Chinese phoenix bird.
Chapter 1 Preface: History Of Fenghuang
16/08/2023
Chapter 2 Aimless journey
16/08/2023
Chapter 3 When all is lost
16/08/2023
Chapter 4 You are not alone
16/08/2023
Chapter 5 Melancholic memories
16/08/2023
Chapter 6 Danger in the forest I
16/08/2023
Chapter 7 Danger in the forest II
16/08/2023
Chapter 8 Internal conflicts
16/08/2023
Chapter 9 Gratitude to the Universe
16/08/2023
Chapter 10 Cohabitation
16/08/2023
Chapter 11 In dreams
16/08/2023
Chapter 12 Against the dictates of the soul
18/08/2023
Chapter 13 Gray day in Forbidden City
18/08/2023
Chapter 14 Parental conspiracy
18/08/2023
Chapter 15 Devastating battle
18/08/2023
Chapter 16 The Yumai Village's Assassin
20/08/2023
Chapter 17 Friends or foes
21/08/2023
Chapter 18 Desperate move
21/08/2023
Chapter 19 When failure strikes
22/08/2023
Chapter 20 The Qing's Wrath
24/08/2023
Chapter 21 Escaping the Enemy
29/08/2023
Chapter 22 Battle and Lust
29/08/2023
Chapter 23 Draconian transformation
31/08/2023
Chapter 24 The monument's power
04/09/2023
Chapter 25 Crimson armors
05/09/2023
Chapter 26 Victory of defeat
05/09/2023
Chapter 27 At the mercy of the fate
05/09/2023
Chapter 28 Mourning and Disappointment
10/09/2023
Chapter 29 Unexpected proposal
22/09/2023
Chapter 30 Painful news
22/09/2023
Chapter 31 When hope fades
26/09/2023
Chapter 32 Anxious Wait
28/09/2023
Chapter 33 Premonitions
28/09/2023
Chapter 34 Not all hope is lost
06/10/2023
Chapter 35 Return to the City
06/10/2023
Chapter 36 Cornered and with no options
26/10/2023
Chapter 37 When fear vanishes
26/10/2023
Chapter 38 Prince Jin's Dilemma
26/10/2023
Chapter 39 Back home
26/10/2023
Chapter 40 Analyzing Feelings
26/10/2023
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