13 1.11 AuYeung LaiSan - Finally Awake

I awoke in a familiar bedroom, it wasn't as big or as glamorous as MeiMei's, but it had a familiar warmth to it.

I was lying in a four poster bed but just rounded post, nothing fancy. My bones ached as I tried to raise my head to look around. Having struggled to just prop myself on my left elbow, it was a full ten minutes before I could ease myself up to a sitting position. My body was stiff. I looked down at my body and I knew for sure, this time I was not in the Princess' body because I saw the curves of a blossoming woman protruding from the cotton white robe I was wearing.

In the opposite corner of the bed was two walls lined with windows, which allowed in quite a bit of light. Underneath the windows, was a desk which both seemed to serve as a makeup/accessory counter and a writing desk because it had both a bejeweled box and comb/brush set and an ink pad and feather brushes on top of it. Across the way was a boudoir and a closet, very simply decorated, a floral carving displayed on the doors. Closest to me was a small round table with four round stools tucked underneath. It occupied the area in between the bed and the door. It is quite a bit of furniture for this moderate sized room but in no way was it cramped. There was still about a yard of room between each piece of furniture. The room felt warm and cozy, the same feeling I had when I touched my body that day with MeiMei.

Just as I was about to ease myself out of bed to see myself in the mirror, the doors swung open.

A young girl, dressed like a maid walked in carrying a bowl on a tray. Seeing that I was sitting up, she screamed and quickly dropped the tray and bowl on the round table. She ran over to me and at the same time yelled for others to come help.

When she reached me, she grabbed me by the shoulder supporting me and said, "Young Miss, you have been sleeping for over a week, please be careful!"

"What?" I asked.

My eyes widened as I try to comprehend how time passed so quickly. Then I remembered that an hour in the spiritual world is half a month here in the mortal realm. So the time that I spent in the Fate Palace, was over a week here in the mortal realm.

Then suddenly, more people came rushing in. Another maid and an older woman with a beautiful face full of worry, rushed over and held my hands. "Thank goodness you have awaken," she said with a happy smile. "I was so worried that you would never wake up. So many doctors had come to check and even the Royal Imperial Physician did not know what was wrong."

More people came rushing in and all with happy smiles as they saw me.

Along with Mrs. AuYeung, there was also Mr. AuYeung and seven young couples. The younger men stood near the door just beaming, as the females entered further into the room and some even took a seat at the round table. Mr. AuYeung, who came all the way to my side, said with a beaming smile, "Oh, precious daughter you are finally awake."

I smiled back but as a soul that just re-entered into a grown woman's body, my memories were a bit lacking. All of the sudden my eyes got a bit blurry and my head a bit fuzzy, so I closed my eyes for a moment. Then like thunder, waves of memories, sounds, voices it all comes back to this body. It is so much information that I held my head and rubbed my temples for a bit.

"Are you feeling alright?" the madam asked in a bit of panic.

Then with clarity I say, "Yes, I am fine grandma," and gave her a bright smile. When I saw her smile back again, I turned to my parents, who were on my left side. My father had his arms around my mother and was trying to comfort my mom, saying things like, "Don't be so easy to cry. It is a joyous event that our daughter has awakened. It seems you are still the same as when you were young, so silly and still so adorable…" as he continued to dab her face with a handkerchief.

I decided to interrupt this touching moment before it got even more cringe worthy by asking the questions that were now burning in my mind, "Dad, has it really been more than a week? No wonder my body is so stiff. What had happened during the time I was sleeping?"

"You were training one moment and then the next, you fainted and we could not wake you," my mom said as she comes over to sit on the bed next to me.

"Mom even asked the Empress to dispatch an Imperial Physician every couple of days to come check on you," my third brother said.

"But no one knew what was wrong with you," my second brother finished the statement.

"Yes, I was about to get a prince to kiss you, to see if that would wake you," quipped my seventh brother.

My brothers all boisterously laughed as their wives all timidly chuckled behind their handkerchiefs. My mom said in a serious tone, "Don't talk nonsense. Now that she is awake, it is all good, all good!" As she wipes another tear away.

"Mom, don't cry. I am sorry I made you worry."

"Silly girl, it is just tears of joy," as she leans in and bearhugs me.

Mom lets go and glares at my older brother, when she heard him teasingly mention the events of the past week. He said, "Oh, yes Sis! The day that you had fallen ill, the DongAn family had come to ask for your hand in marriage. But since you had fallen ill, dad had not agreed. You missed your chance. He has now gone back to the South."

"Oh yeah, I heard that the young Princess was quite taken by the General when they met here, that day. Couldn't keep her eyes off of him. She had even went as far as asking the Emperor to bestow an engagement," my second sister in-law added.

"Oh, but I heard from the vegetable seller that the Royal Star Gazer has said it is not an auspicious match, so it did not happen. BUT it hasn't deterred her," my oldest sister-in-law chimed in.

"Yeah, I heard from the clerk at the tea house she even tried to go with him to the southern border by disguising herself as a commoner and was probably going to stow away on the convoy. It seemed like she was really smitten by the General," my second sister in-law continued the story.

"Okay stop," father demanded. "I have told all of you that the facts were not so. The Crown Prince was there on official business that day and had brought the Princess with him. A clerk had spilled a dish of food on her accidentally and so she borrowed some commoners clothing to change into. That was all, now stop spreading rumors," father calmly yet commandingly explained.

"Okay, stop it, all of you! Your sister has just woken up, don't trouble her with such trivial matters. Our LaiSan doesn't have to marry the General, she can marry any eligible bachelor she wants," mom said adamantly. "Actually, I don't mind if she never married and just stayed with the family."

Everyone chuckled at my mother who is now doting on me as if I was a little child. Wiping my face and trying to smooth out my bed head hairdo.

Giving a fake cough and trying to keep composure my father said, "Okay, all of you go back to your own courtyard and to your children. Let your sister rest."

My brothers and all their wives all disperse but promised to come by again tomorrow. After they had left, Mom kissed my forehead and helped grandma up, as they both left the room together. But not before telling me that I should eat light for the next few days. Dad was the last to leave, he came over and held my hand and said, "Don't worry, everyone has their own destiny."

I'm quite confused by why he said that but I responded, "Okay, Dad." And I gave him a big smile and a hug before he left.

After all of them left, my maid, Jo-yi helped me get up, take a bath, and changed my clothes. After a simple but satisfying meal of congee and pickles, I asked Jo-yi to prepare a bit, because I wanted to go for a walk.

Jo-yi was reluctant because she figured that my legs should still be weak from days of just lying in bed, but I insisted. So she asked one of the other maids to follow along and they would be in charge of bringing along a stool so I that I could sit down wherever I needed.

I stepped out into the courtyard and the garden was just as amazing as I recalled it to be. A road paved in diamond shaped stone parted the field of pink and yellow blooming flowers partially shaded by lush green willow trees that line the edge of the garden. Further into the distance you can see the path led to the edge of a small man-made pond and on its edge, peach trees with pink blooms adorning its branches. A stone bridge over the pond connects my courtyard to that of my grandmother's. I headed towards one of the stone benches that overlooked the pond and maybe I'll even feed the colorful koi.

Jo-yi, was correct, I am too weak. Every ten steps or so, I needed to sit down, so it took forever to just get to the stone bench. By the time I did, it was already late afternoon and the sun was starting to set as it cast a deep golden light on the pond. I sat there on the stone bench absentmindedly, feeding the koi that has now gathered at the water's edge near my feet. The sound of water splashing as they clamored for food was somehow drowned out by the beauty of the late afternoon.

The Spring breeze felt absolutely wonderful, as the warmth from the day blows past my face, the scent of the blossoms surrounds me. I just sat there and took it all in for awhile.

Soon though, my thoughts were troubled again by the task I had ahead. I was also troubled by the stories that my brothers had just mentioned about the Princess. I truly had troubled her, even as to affect her reputation. Not even the made up story from the Crown Prince, provided any repreve. I wondered what had happened the night after my soul left MeiMei's body? I heard her conversation with dad, but after MeiMei fell asleep I traveled to Fate Palace. Who knew that a week would go by just like that!

I made a mental note to question my brothers further about what had happened after MeiMei left our home. Maybe at least help me understand what MeiMei had done for me. I really do owe her a lot in this lifetime.

I remembered that after I left MeiMei's body, I had heard father say that the General will be back again in three months time. I need to use this time to prepare for that day. This time I cannot miss the engagement.

My body was so weak, I needed to train it little by little so that when he returns I could provide him with a proper impression.

In the palace, that evening...

An-yi slowly walked over to the Princess' side, where she was kneeling in front of the Buddha statues in the temple. Just as she had done since she was brought back from Imperial Tutor's residence, about a week ago. The Princess was punished to spend one incense worth of time each day at the temple to reflect and to copy the scriptures for two weeks.

An-yi whispered in my ear, "This servant just heard on the streets that a physician has been called for Miss AuYeung because she had awakened."

I was about to scream in excitement when a hand came over my mouth and muffled my voice. "Shhhh….," was all I heard.

Still in that position, we both turned and looked over at the sleeping monk, whose job it was to lead me in reciting the scriptures while I wrote them.

With a sigh, An-yi let go of her hand, and immediately knelt and in a soft voice said, "I apologize Princess for my inappropriate manners just now."

"I place no blame on you. You were just helping me. Hurry up and rise. I was so happy to hear the news that I almost forgot where I was."

An-yi raised her head and said, "Thank you Princess." Hesitantly, An-yi continued, "I also heard that since the General left Zhong City, five days ago, the rumors were getting more and more outrageous. They are even saying that you and the General were going to elope."

"Oh, what a mess. I never thought it would get this out of hand."

"Yes, even with the Crown Prince and the General both collaborating on the explanation, the citizens are just being more and more outrageous," An-yi said

"Well, it doesn't matter. Now that the General has left and LaiSan is awake, maybe it will finally fizzle. Oh, I have so much I want to talk to LaiSan about, but I cannot leave the palace again for the rest of the month. Uh!"

"Princess, you could always write her a letter."

"Yes! I'll do that once I return tonight. Now back to writing this. If I don't finish and have it submitted to Mother Empress before dinner, it would add another week to my punishment."