1.17 AuYeung LaiSan - Spring Festival

I sat there dumbfounded. I didn't think the thing that was troubling her would be something like that.

I had listened intently, but my thoughts on this were more focused on whether she still had feelings for him or carried hope that he would return, but she did not definitely say.

When she turned to me and said I could speak now, I wasn't sure what to say. So all I said was, "Okay, thank you for telling me."

I looked at her expression and once again her smile was ladened with sadness. But before I could say more, she stood up and got back on the horse and said, "Let's go back."

She started riding away even before I was able to register what was happening.

I quickly whistled for the soldiers to follow her. I got up on my horse, took one last view of the setting sun before heading back myself.

I took a slower pace, giving myself some time to process all that she had said and how I also felt about her predicament. Maybe find another time to properly speak with her about it.

When I reached the stables she had already dismounted and was silently brushing the mare with a little bit of water to cool her down.

I jumped off the horse landing beside her and she turned to look at me slightly before turning back to the mare.

"Back there, I am sorry my response was not very good. I was a bit overwhelmed with information and didn't know what to say," I explained to her.

"It's okay, I wouldn't think anyone can truly accept that information" she forced a smile.

"Don't do that," I angrily said, "I don't need you to smile at me when you don't want to smile."

"Oh, sorry." She didn't even look at me as she said that.

I was somehow angry with her response. I turned her around with a bit more force than I expected and the brush in her hand flew to the ground.

"I don't need you to be sorry. What happened to you was not your fault and to be tricked like that was not your fault. It's not a big deal." I was almost yelling at her, I didn't understand where this anger was coming from.

"But it is a big deal to me!" she screamed back. "I trusted him, I thought he was sincere. I was ready to spend the rest of my life with him. I believed that he would be the only one that would believe my innocence, because he was there. Even when he missed his appointment, I continued to trust him and I waited. So stupid!" She cried into her hands hiding her face and then as if all strength left her legs, she dropped to the ground and she continued to weep.

I just stood there watching her, I didn't know what to do. I felt I had done something wrong, maybe I was too harsh on her. So I just stood there letting her cry out all her frustration. When the sniffles became soft, I squatted next to her and handed her my handkerchief. "Do you feel a bit better now," I asked.

She angrily pushed away my hand and she pulled out her own handkerchief, blew her nose and wiped her tears.

I didn't move. I didn't know what to say but, "I believe you."

I guess somewhere along the way she felt her handkerchief was too wet. She peaked up at me and she yanked my handkerchief out of my hand. I didn't miss a beat and said, "You're welcome."

She glared at me from behind the handkerchief, when suddenly her eyes became mischievous, and I moved a bit trying to stand. Before I could steady my movement, she pushed me hard and I toppled over onto the dirt ground. Right behind the mare and her tail swooshed me twice.

As I was trying to get the horse hair out of my face. She had gotten up and was neatly folding the handkerchief and stuffing them in her side pouch. she then turned back to me and said, "Now I feel better, thank you."

I got up, and patted myself down and replied, "I'm glad."

She smiled,but the sadness in her eyes still lingered as she said, "Well, I am glad you know my secret, now that I have nothing more to hide, I feel lighter", she said as her gaze was focused away from me.

She started patting herself off and looked around a bit checking that the outfit was not too dirty. Then shyly said, "I better go get changed."

"Um, I'll wait for you back at the carriage", I responded.

By the time we set off again, it was already dark. After a short ride in the carriage, we got to the docks and boarded the boat my mother had booked for us. A river runs along the mountains and splits into streams, one of which flows through the city and into BeiGao.

Mother really spared no expense, it was a fine boat. It had an interior room that could fit a table and cushion seating for four and a separate room behind the seating area,I believed held the kitchen. The windows were all open along the room, so that we could enjoy the night view and the festival that was happening, in celebration of Spring.

Wishing talismans adorned the blooming trees and believers were releasing candle lit paper lotus floats on the shore, a calm breeze swayed them gently along. The chirping of the crickets provided the melody of the night. The moon shines full and was mirrored in the calm waters of the canal providing a bright night view of the city.

Tonight the canal was lined with night hawkers selling all assortment of sweet and savory treats. My favorite was always the sesame dumplings, a mochi like pastry filled with ground up sesame seeds and sugar. The combination of the soft mochi shell with the savory, sweet filling always provided a sense of comfort and brought about happy memories of when my siblings and I walked these night fairs together.

"PuiHa, would you like any of the snacks from the shore." I asked.

"Yes, I wonder if they sell tang hulu?" she said excitedly.

"What are you, three?" I mused.

"What?" she said defensively. Then started to happily explain, "Tanghulu are delicious, a stick of tangy sweetness. Tangy red hawberries, coated with a cane sugar hard shell and all skewered on a long bamboo stick, for eating on the go. She started strong, her voice loud and spirited but the last words were almost inaudible.

I smiled, it was becoming a more common sight, her true bubbly nature popping out behind the learned demure facade.

I used my internal strength, qing-gong to safely go from the boat to shore. Purchased some snacks and quickly ran to catch up with the boat that was slowly maneuvering down the canal and once again used qing-gong to land lightly back on the boat.

"Wow! You know qing-gong?" PuiHa said excitedly.

I smiled back at her and led her into the inner dining area. As I laid out the snacks I had bought, I answered her question.

"Yes, it was the first thing my master had me learn. As you know qinggong, allows a martial artist to have the ability to move swiftly and lightly with superhuman speed, and perform gravity-defying moves. At a very young age, my master had me wear weights on my arms and legs. He added to the weights every few months as I got used to it and was able to practice my routine with ease. By the time I was able to take them off at the age of sixteen years old, I was able to use qing-gong."

I sat down on one side of the table and she sat opposite me. I looked up from the snacks as I finished unpacking them and she was already eyeing the tang hulu. So I reached for one and handed it to her. She took it without reservation, immediately pulling one off the bamboo skewer and popping it in her mouth.

One tang hulu is about the size of a large grape, and with it's hard candy shell, one usually does not take the whole thing in one bite but rather suck on it, on the stick.

I watched as she tried to move it around her mouth, so that she could avoid that awkward chipmunk look. After a few attempts, she raised a hand to block her mouth, but I could see from her eyes she was not having much luck biting into it. So she continued to suck on it, making a very unladylike sucking sound.

I had to look down, so that she would not see me holding in my laughter. I tried to calm down by picking up a treat and taking a bite but my shoulders started to shake.

When I heard her say a very muffled, "Hey"

I couldn't hold it in any longer and I bursted out laughing.

I guess she spit out the tang hulu,cause I heard her say clearly, "That was a lot harder than I remembered them." Her cheeks were as red as the tang hulu.

I composed myself and smiled at her. "Why don't you try this one", pointing at the sesame sugar dumplings.

She picked one up with her delicate fingers and I couldn't stop watching as she raised it to her full pink lips. Taking a tiny bite, the sesame mixture started spilling out. I saw her lips slightly puckered as she sucked the filling out of the dumpling, not letting a single drop escape her lips. She swallows the sweet, savory elixir and then licks her lips of the powdered sugar that transferred from the shell, before popping the dumpling shell into her mouth. As she was chewing the mochi shell, she looked over at me and caught me staring. She quickly looked away.

I also did the same, I felt heat on my cheeks and a flutter in my heart, a feeling I had never had before.

We sat in silence for a bit and finally I remembered that the servants were in the room with us, as the maid came to fill our tea cups.

I stood and went over to the window, hoping the cool night air would help, still my heart and it did.

After a bit, I heard her get up as well and with her footsteps, once again my heart fluttered. I looked over at her as she approached, and time seemingly slowed as I watched her every move, every gesture. She seemed to glow and brighten the lanterned lit room.

With a big gust of wind, the boat suddenly swayed and she lost her balance. Without a thought, my body moved to catch her. As I held her, my heart raced but I still had the common sense to quickly let go as she steadied her step.

"I am okay. Thank you", as if anticipating my question.

I moved back to the window and stared outside. She moved to the next window and also did the same.

We watched as the paper lotus lamps started to sink, one by one the candles flickered out. It was a peaceful sight, as the wishes and prayers carried in these lamps are received.

Meanwhile in Central City a similar festival was taking place.