*****
Her skin is so delicate, so clear like a crystal, and when she smiles, the whole world glances with awe. She's a princess, admired not only by many royals but by almost all of the common folks. But because she loved someone, not in her ranks, a commoner, she was dethroned as a princess. Although it happened, they lived happily together with their only son away from the palace.
"You're always daydreaming Fu Hao! It's not like those stories in the book you have read are true, it's just a tale."
"I know Liu Chen but I can't help imagining the whole story as if they were real."
"It's strange for you to understand what was written in the book. How come you knew how to read?" She gave me a smirked look. "We commoners don't have any privilege of learning how to write and read." She continued while cleaning off the dust on their floor.
"That's a secret no one should know and that includes you." I jumped off my feet and headed to the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the lake."
"Maybe I wouldn't go." She said in a disheartened voice.
"Maybe I should tell you the answer if you'll come, and maybe I can teach you also some basic words." Without hesitation, she agreed with excitement and bid me goodbye.
*************
We lived in an era where education is limited to those people with higher ranks, thus, the lowest standing in the community, or shall I say, the commoners like me don't have the right to learn those things. Fortunately, there's someone I met before when I was ten who taught me everything and gave me this book I'm holding. Of course, I knew that he was the son of a higher rank; but he was so good to me until the time he departed. I never saw him again.
My late father and mother were the servants of Master Zhao, the justice minister of Emperor Wang. Master Zhao adopted me and raised me as his daughter, for he doesn't have one. I wandered a lot to different places searching for more books, but I didn't get any chance. As a rule, said, books are just for higher ranks, for no commoner can afford to buy one, and if they can, it is with no use. I wonder how much fun I could feel if I saw many books with different stories. Even though I'm just a commoner, my wills in life are my precious gift. It gives me the courage and desire to search for more knowledge. I don't want to be a servant like my parents, not that I am ashamed of being called one, but I just want to have more than I expect. I want to be a scholar. I want to gain more knowledge, and reading different kinds of books, it's a start for my dreams to come true. I know it's impossible in this era where people are divided according to their ranks and privileges, but I want to change it. My father once told me I'm foolish. In my twenty years of existence, I should have been marrying someone now, but I chose not. No one wants to have me, why, because they think I'm different, and with that difference, I'm not capable of being a wife. I don't believe it, but that's fine; at least I'm free.
"Fu Hao, there you are. I've been looking for you for hours, Liu Chen said you we're there in their house not so long."
"Oh Liang, wipe your brows, will you kid? It's like you've been running the whole day. What do you want from me this time? Make sure it'll be worth my time; expect me to hit you if it's not."
"Oh yes, oh yes, it is. You asked me about the clothes; I can now give you one." He tittered when he saw me smiling, showing off his big front teeth like a rat. "But you have to be careful; no servants alone without guards can enter that place to clean it, but you can if you have a royal friend (which is impossible), you can never enter even a single step."
"Oh, I hate royals so much." I blurted it out without thinking, grabbing the clothes he had. Saying those words is against the law and it can lead me to be put in a dungeon, and locked up for a week.
"You're so careless Fu Hao, careful of your words also." He commanded me with a worried face.
"I can go this evening. I just need time to practice with my fake identity."
"Alright then, make sure to read me a story as promised when you come back."
*************
I wore servant clothes while practicing some actions as a servant does. I almost panicked when entering the gate unnoticed by the guards. Maybe they were all sleeping, I thought. I walked steadily without even closing it to avoid making a noise entrance, and directly headed to the room where Liang said the library should be. I can tell that this household is so prosperous just by seeing all of its embellishments and vessels. I grabbed one of the doors and opened it with great care, but it was just one of the spare rooms. I went to grab another one but a hand in my arms stopped me. I almost stumbled to the touch and the book hidden in my chest fell. I knelt to grab it without looking at the person in front of me, but instead I grabbed the hand of that person. With a trembled body I looked up and saw a man. He wore a mandarin square even at the night. So he is a civil official of the first rank, I thought. We locked eyes and I saw something in him that I saw before. And as I remembered the rules, I immediately bowed down to him with all respect.
"Where did you get this?" He asked, pulling out his hand from me and grabbing my book.
"I-I, I'm sorry...." I stuttered while bowing my head. "It's mine master."
"Who gave you this?"
"Wang Rin, master. He gave me that book when we were little." He lifted my face with his right hand and smiled at me. I don't know why.
"Fu Hao?" I nodded in disbelief, why does he know my name? Without my consent, he suddenly held my hands gently, without a word.
"I am longing for this moment to come. I wanted to see you again and I'm happy for this moment." I didn't recognize him, so it took me a minute to grasp his words. I pulled my hands out of his and looked at his face closely with approval. The guards noticed the gate was open and signaled an alarm. I panicked while searching for a possible exit, but he grabbed my hand again, and off we ran avoiding all of them. This time it felt good holding his hand. All the memories with him, flashbacks in my mind, lifted my spirit as if I were floating in the clouds. "I wished it will never end", I thought as we headed away from his household and away from the guards safe and sound.
