1.19 AuYeung LaiSan - Lantern Riddle

I looked outside the window and finally noticed a familiar landscape. This was the garden before MeiMei's palace.

We passed the garden and reached a long wide cobblestone paved clearing. A tall stone pillar gateway with the characters Fortune Pavilion etched on the top. The sedan chair stopped and the palace maid asked that I exit and walk inside to enjoy the festivities. She bid me farewell.

Lanterns were everywhere, illuminating the area so that it even seemed like the sun had not yet set. My head was on a swivel as on each side of the road were tables. Each offering different types of treats, snacks you would expect to see outside the Palace walls. As I walked further, the more extravagant the treats became, some I had never even heard of or ever dreamed to taste. At the very end was the most elaborate lantern guessing game I had ever seen. There seemed to be a lantern made to resemble every known creature in the world, rabbits and snakes and tigers and bears, even legendary ones like, dragons and phoenixes.

Guests gather around and choose a lantern. The higher the lantern the harder the riddle. Usually in the form of a four phrase poem, the riddle alludes to a single Chinese character. If you are able to guess correctly, you would get a prize.

I walked closer and listened to some of the riddles and silently chuckled at the guesses that were spouted. I continued on until I was able to reach the proprietor and ask for the Phoenix lantern on the very top. I heard gasp as the proprietor reached for the lantern.

There were whispers and those that doubt a young lady would be able to guess one of the highest riddles.

I read the riddle, then whispered to the proprietor the answer. He flipped the cards that corresponded to the lantern and gasped.

With a big smile he said, "Young lady you are correct. You can choose any prize and also take the Phoenix lantern home as well."

There were gasps everywhere and even a couple of young ladies and young childes came to ask to see the riddle. So I showed them, all seemed perplexed. Not wanting to embarrass them and cause trouble for myself, I excused myself and walked away from the crowd towards the bridge. Not far away, I heard a young childe boasting that he also understood the poem and that it wasn't so hard.

I smiled and slightly shook my head but kept on walking away. I reached the man-made stream, the area seems to be made especially for this festival. It is tradition to make a prayer tonight. Those who wanted, could buy a paper water lily float, to make a wish. I was never superstitious, but given what I have experienced in the last few days, I have to believe. Especially now since I have a deadline. I bought a float and made a wish, while I was about to set it in the stream, I heard a familiar voice.

"I never thought of you as one to seek out attention but it seems everyone is talking about you tonight."

I raised my head and there was the Crown Prince again but at least this time MeiMei was here too.

I ignored his comment and set the float in the water. Then hastily ran up to the bridge to greet MeiMei.

I first bowed to the Crown Prince and gave MeiMei a big hug. "MeiMei I have missed you so much. Is your punishment over yet? I am so sorry, you got into so much trouble because of me. Here, this is for you, I got it especially for you." As I handed her the Phoenix lantern.

"I love it. Thank you. I was so worried about you. I had heard that Mother Empress wanted to meet you and I was afraid she would give you a hard time about what happened."

"Don't worry, you see I am fine."

"I had even asked my brother to send a carriage to get you. In hopes that you could bypass the gate and maybe avoid meeting with Mother Empress, at least for tonight. But he said you jumped off before the driver could stop you. I don't believe him. What happened?"

"No, the Crown Prince speaks the truth. I was so anxious to see you that I got off the carriage and started waiting in line."

I hugged MeiMei again, taking the chance to glare at the Crown Prince again. He just opened his fan and smiled back at me.

"Oh LaiSan, you are so silly." She pushed me to arms length, "I am just happy that you are okay and finally here. Let's go! I want to try everything."

MeiMei was excited. So we linked arms and once again we walked back to all the food tables, chatting, laughing and tasting all the wonderful sweets. Maybe after we had gotten halfway did MeiMei remember her brother. She turned to search for him, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Where has he gone to now?" MeiMei said a bit exasperated.

"It's okay, let him enjoy on his own."

I really was not in the mood to entertain His Highness tonight, so it is better if we don't find him.

"Yeah, he would only be in our way," MeiMei agreed.

We spent the rest of the night just chatting and eating all the treats we wanted. By the end we found a quiet bench to sit and just enjoy the full moon. We sat in silence, I was admiring the moon and deep in my own thoughts about my task ahead.

My body started to ache, only then realizing that we must have been here for awhile. I turned to MeiMei to see if she was ready to go back to her Palace, only to find that she was already asleep. I gently laid her head on my lap and just continued to stare at the moon.

As the celebration started to die down, I started to wonder how I was to get the Princess back to her Palace. Also how I was going to get myself home. Would it be appropriate if I stayed at MeiMei's tonight? Really where are those maids that followed her around all the time? I haven't seen anyone pass this area in awhile, can't even ask for help.

Just as I was about to wake MeiMei since I couldn't carry her back to her Palace. I once again heard a familiar voice.

"So this is where you are?" It was one of the young childe that had asked me about the riddle earlier on.

"Young lady, I never even got your name? My surname is …"

I interrupted, "Mister before we get acquainted, could you do me a favor and go get a couple of Palace maids for me?"

I assumed he was a bit startled by my rudeness, but then when he came to his senses, he studied my situation a bit more then said, "Oh, yes. Sure." And he turned and walked back towards the way he came. Not too long, he returned with An-yi and two eunuchs with a sedan chair.

An-yi helped the Princess sit tightly in the sedan before greeting me and wishing me a good night before she walked away with the Princess.

I now had to figure out my own predicament and find my way home. So I turned to the childe and thanked him. But as I was about to excuse myself, he asked, "So now we can get acquainted? My surname is Feng and my name is Hai Nan."

"Nice to meet you. My surname is AuYeung and my given name is LaiSan."

"It is nice to meet Lady AuYeung. I was quite impressed that you guessed the riddle so quickly at the festival. It took me a while before I could figure it out. Was the answer the character for Dream?" he asked.

I smiled, "Yes, Mr Feng. I am sorry to cut this short but it is quite late, I must make my way home. It was nice to meet you." I curtsied and said, "Good night."

"Would you mind if I accompanied you to the main gate? When I went to look for the maid, I also arranged for two sedans to wait for us at the entrance. It would be easy to find you a carriage on the main road."

"Thank you, but I don't want to bother you. After all we just met and it may not be very appropriate. I can make my own way home," trying hard to sound confident but really I don't know what I will do.

"But…"

Suddenly, a voice from the darkness, "Yes, Miss AuYeung already has a carriage waiting for her."

As he drew closer, stepping under the lantern, I saw the Crown Prince.

As Mr. Feng saw the Crown Prince, he bowed and greeted him. I did the same.

The Crown Prince drew closer and stood by my side.

Mr Feng suddenly seems disturbed, "Well, I can see that Miss AuYeung is in good hands. Then I shall take my leave. Good evening Crown Prince. Good evening Miss AuYeung." Mr. Feng turned and left.

"What would you have done if I did not show up?" the Prince mused.

"I would have found a way." Trying to sound confident as I turned from him to walk towards the entrance.

"Really? Oh by the way where is MeiMei?"

"Oh, An-yi came and took her back to her Palace. Oh to think about it, how did Mr. Feng know to find An-yi?"

"Oh, he should know, because he was to be MeiMei's future husband."

"What? I didn't know MeiMei was already betrothed! Then what was all the fuss and rumors about marrying the General?"

"How did you know about that? You were unconscious at the time?" he asked.

"Well...well I heard the rumors from my sister in-laws."

"Oh. Yes, MeiMei was betrothed not long after she was born. Feng HaiNan is the son of the great Imperial Physician Feng of BeiGao. At this young age he has already mastered all his father's medical skills and he himself has earned the title of General of Martial Arts through the Imperial Selections. He is quite the young man." The Prince turned and looked towards the distance.

He continued after a moment of silence, "But, two years ago he came to ask for a termination of the engagement. Stating that he had met and agreed to marry a young lady near the border. Father Emperor of course was angered and wanted to behead him. Mother Empress begged Father Emperor to reconsider, because Imperial Physician Feng had coincidentally saved Mother Empress when she was young. She pleaded that she had not yet showed her gratitude to Physician Feng and that she will forever be indebted if we take his son's life. So, instead Father Emperor has basically imprisoned him in this Palace since then. He works in the Imperial Physician's Pavilion as a Junior Physician. Up to now, MeiMei does not know that she is betrothed."

"Why doesn't anyone tell her, so she can help set the poor guy free?" I questioned.

"Because Father Emperor had decreed that no one is to tell her. First, afraid that she can not take the trauma of the rejection and second to secure her reputation. It would be an embarrassment to the royal family if this was known."

"Oh gosh, really? Then why did you tell me? Now I have to keep this huge secret from MeiMei!"

"Haha! Yes, you can now share in this burden."

"Oh, you are incorrigible, so infuriating," I huffed.

"I shall take that as a compliment, he said, obviously amused by my frustration. "Now that you have heard the story. It is time to get you home."

"Yes, let's."