Blind Princess

第三章

Caihong brushed Dongmei's long hair as she fidgeted with a bamboo brush. Sometimes when Caihong was tending to Dongmei, Dongmei liked to pretend she could write. If Dongmei could remember a word, she would ask for a piece of rice paper and write it as Caihong led her hand. 

Putting Dongmei's hair into a hanfu ponytail, Caihong stood and bowed to the princess. "What would you like to do today, Dongmei-da jie?" she took Dongmei's hand and walked out of the room.

Dongmei smiled as the warm sunlight hit her face. "The training arena. I want to practice with my sword." Caihong nodded and took Dongmei's arm. A couple of servants passed them, bowing low as the princess passed them. 

"Dongmei Gongzhu." They chorused before straightening and going on their way. 

Dongmei sighed as Caihong opened the gate for the training arena. "I wish I could see what those people looked like. The only person I can remember is Grandpa Li. But even now, he might look different. I haven't heard him in so long, ever since he was called to work somewhere else for the emperor." Dongmei took a sword and was led to the middle of the arena. 

"Thank you, Caihong-jie." Dongmei smiled before drawing her sword and starting. Caihong watched in fascination as the princess effortlessly danced with the sword. It seemed that she wasn't even blind. If Dongmei hadn't been wearing a blindfold, Caihong would have thought she wasn't blind. 

When Dongmei stopped, Caihong ran over and grasped her arm. "That was amazing, Dongmei-da jie! I never knew you could do that. It was like watching a master painter at work." Dongmei smiled at that, sheathing her sword.

"Really? I've never shown anyone my sword fighting." Dongmei blushed slightly, "I'm glad you enjoyed it." Caihong led Dongmei out of the training arena, bringing her through the water gardens.

"I know you don't enjoy the gardens, but I had an idea. Dongmei-da jie, your hearing is better than most. You're blind, which is one of the reasons you don't like gardens because you can't see the flowers growing and the fish swimming. But, what if you use your hearing to enjoy the gardens?" Dongmei frowned. "Here, let me explain further."

"A garden is a place of peace and tranquility. There are no loud noises in the garden, just the occasional clinking of porcelain or a game piece being put down. But only the absence of people is gone. You can still hear the water running, or the flowers moving in the wind. With your hearing, you could also hear the dragonflies, fish, and the drip of water. Seeing these is not the only way to enjoy a garden."

Caihong led Dongmei to a little plaza and sat down with the princess, "Just focus on the sounds for a while." Dongmei took a deep breath and listened. Just as Caihong said, she could hear the sounds of dragonflies, the swish the fish tails made, the ripples in the water, the lilies rustling in the wind, and sometimes, it seemed like she could hear the wind itself.

Her mind painted a picture of the place. Not with things and memories, but with colors of her past. She could see what color the wind was, or the water. She could tell what the feeling of the flowers was just by listening. 

"It's beautiful..." Tears fell past Dongmei's blindfold.