Aimless journey
1510 Words
The Chinese population could not escape their discontent after learning about the catastrophe that had just begun in the Qing dynasty. An, the beloved wife of Emperor Heng and Empress adored by all in the Forbidden City, had fallen victim to a strange illness.
The woman suffered from vomiting, spasms, and pains in all her joints, in addition to fevers so high that no healing method seemed to bring them down. The oppressive feeling in her chest made it seem like her heart would stop at any moment.
The ruler had made a public announcement to the entire kingdom, offering a substantial reward to anyone who could find an immediate cure for such a cruel and painful affliction. Healers came from all over China, offering potions and concoctions that turned out to be nothing but deceptions to the Emperor and his three sons, only adding to the sorrow and desolation in the Qing dynasty.
Days passed, and An's condition worsened; no one could find a solution. When the Emperor had almost given up hope, an old man appeared out of nowhere, requesting an audience with him. He claimed to be the wisest among the wise and said he had the solution that Heng and his sons desperately sought: the healing of their beloved wife and mother of their children.
The hunched man bowed respectfully and requested permission to burn incense and use a "magical" crystal in front of the ailing woman. With doubts lingering in his mind, Heng agreed. Anything was better than doing nothing for An, and he realized just how desperate he was at that point.
"My lord, thank you for allowing the magic of wisdom to work. A being as malevolent as hell itself has cast a curse upon your family, and your wife was the main victim."
"How is that possible? Everyone who knows me knows I have no enemies," Heng claimed indignantly.
"I second that assertion; everything here leaves room for doubt," Shun, the eldest son and future successor of Heng, dared to speak up.
"My lords, perhaps someone did it secretly, someone with dark intentions. But what matters now is that there is only one cure for the terrible affliction plaguing your wife," he said, bowing again.
Neither the Emperor, his advisors, nor the three sons fully believed the man's words.
"I have never heard of your existence, nor has my council, and now you come boasting of a wisdom you have not demonstrated to anyone. Prove your honor!" Heng demanded, as Shun, Jin, and Yun nodded in silence.
"My lord, what I tell you is not a falsehood. You will frequently seek my wisdom in the future; just let me tell you that it is genuine and effective. Here is the solution," he extended a thin scroll to the Emperor.
Heng took the scroll immediately and read it in silence, raising his gaze with bewilderment and disapproval in his expression.
"The feather of the Fenghuang? But that creature is a legend; no one has concrete evidence that it can physically appear," Heng covered his face with his hand.
The three brothers listened and looked at each other. Soon, they began to whisper, engaged in a silent discussion.
"You must believe me, please," the man pleaded. "As the Fenghuang hides from crowds and disturbances, only a valiant and daring soul can bring back its feather. The curse will be lifted, but it must be done before the sunset of the day after tomorrow, or your lady... will not see the light of a new day."
"Father! I request permission to make a proposal," Yun spoke up before the entire council.
"Speak, my son," Heng said with heaviness in his voice.
"We had a brief dialogue, and considering that Shun and Jin have more obligations here with you, I offer myself to seek the Fenghuang and pluck as many feathers as needed to save Mother," Yun offered with conviction.
"No, my son, you cannot expose yourself. The price could be your life or, worse yet, your soul may end up entirely belonging to dark forces. I will send one of my strongest and trained ninjas for this mission."
"I feel that I have never done enough for Mother or for you. I need to prove that I am a worthy son of the Qing dynasty!" he exclaimed firmly, head held high.
Princes Shun and Jin nodded with some fear at their brother's words and turned to look at the elderly man, who flashed a soft and raspy smile.
"Well, the boy is courageous," the old man said with a grin.
Heng did not expect this situation to become even more complicated, but after meditating for a while in the sanctuary, he returned and, with a heavy heart, gave his approval for Yun to undertake such a risky mission.
"Sir, you won't regret it. You've made a wise decision," the man said with satisfaction, bowing once more.
"I will remain skeptical until I see my son and wife safe and sound. Until then, you will not leave here, and you will be guarded by soldiers at all times until what you say comes to pass," Heng declared, and two burly guards escorted the elderly man away.
Heng remained silent, watching as his youngest son prepared a light pack and the necessary equipment. When he was ready, holding the scroll in his hand, he approached him.
"Father, I won't fail you. You know I can take care of myself, and I will bring the feather no matter the cost," Yun said, placing a hand over his heart.
The heartbroken Emperor gave his blessing to Yun, and then Shun and Jin did the same. The determined young man set out on his journey in a four-horse carriage. Heng knelt in front of his wife, with Shun and Jin by his side, praying for a long time.
As soon as Yun left through the grand gate and crossed the bridge marking the exit of the palace, he felt his heart pounding with fear and excitement because he had never ventured so far from that place before. Not even the royal guards realized that the carriage carried the youngest prince of the Forbidden City, setting out on a seemingly impossible mission for most people.
For a moment, Yun looked back as the palace receded, and he ventured into the unknown, but he quickly composed himself not to be recognized, at least until he left the city.
"Two sunsets," he sighed with his chin resting on his hand. "By all the heavens, it's so little time."
Not much time had passed since Yun set out on his journey. He was calm because he dressed as a servant and chose one of the humblest carriages to avoid recognition. While traveling through the town, he read the riddle.
"Its head is like the sky, its eyes shine like the sun.
Its back is like the moon, and its wings like the wind.
On its feet, fertile land can be seen,
and the power of the planets resides in its tail.
If the help of the Fenghuang is desired,
one's heart may hold the answer."
"Gosh! This is puzzling. Perhaps I should search for elements related to it, maybe I should go to a secluded mountain, recite the riddle, and invoke the Fenghuang to make it appear. Yes... that's what I'll do," he mused, not entirely confident in his plan, but it was a start.
He decided to go to the outskirts of the Forbidden City, to a place with abundant nature, to find objects related to the Fenghuang.
For hours, he traveled dusty roads, passing through two different towns, gathering feathers of various types and sizes and soil from rice fields, but he still needed much more.
Yun did not know how far he had gone until he found no more villages. When he checked his map, he realized he had arrived in an extremely secluded area. Fear gripped him; he had never imagined going so far from civilization.
His horses needed rest and food, so he stopped by a river to allow them to drink and graze while he continued searching for similarities with the legendary creature.
He soon noticed that something or someone was in the river. Could it be a human or an animal? He would have to approach cautiously to find out.
"Wow, this river is deep enough for someone to submerge in," he analyzed, with his nerves on edge.
"Who goes there?" he said threateningly.
Yun took a few steps back and touched the hilt of his sharp dagger, which he kept at his waist.
A person's head started emerging from the water, but their gender and age were not discernible. All of Yun's senses were on high alert.
Suddenly, the young man realized it was a girl with tanned skin and light brown hair, and in a matter of seconds, she had an arrow aimed at him.
"This woman is going to kill me," Yun thought, feeling that his end might be within reach of that arrow.
- Writer
