The Princess and Ming-huá

Chapter 4

Ming-huá's parents had completed the work with the Architect as far as restoration of the old mansion was concerned. They were preparing to go back to Singapore but decided to take a final look at the mansion before they departed.

They wanted to walk around the grounds and make some final inspections. Ming-huá excused herself and went straight into the house and up to the first floor. She tried the door into the room to the right hand side of the hall. Again it was locked. Rather than force it, Ming-huá knocked quietly, just tapping the panel above the door handle. To her surprise, she heard the key turn and she entered the room. It was again in its pristine condition. Painted and clean. Curtains hanging on the windows.

When she entered the room on this occasion, she looked behind the door to see if there was a key in the lock. There was none. This puzzled her. She could only surmise that whoever unlocked the door took the key with them. But the key hole was blocked!

She looked around before approaching the curtains covering the doors at the end of the room. Again she tapped gently and again she heard the key turn. The room was exactly as she had left it the first time. The alter table, the tea table and the two ornate chairs were just as she had left the day before.

Ming-huá sat on the chair on her left and closed her eyes. She then felt a presence. She turned her head to the left and opened her eyes. Sure enough, Hang Li Poh was seated in the other chair. She looked just a stunningly beautiful as the first occasion Ming-huá saw her. Her costume dress was different but just as beautiful in the eyes of sixteen year old Ming-huá.

Ming-huá was about to speak when Hang Li Poh put the finger to her lips, indicating Ming-huá should be silent. Li Poh then said in a low voice.

"Your parents are approaching and will come up the stairs. You must go but you will return at a later date. We will meet again then. I will depart now and I will leave you something to cherish on this table. Now I hear your parents. Go!"

Ming-huá looked toward the double opening doors and when she turned back, Li Poh had vanished. She looked at the table and there was a gold chain necklace with a Jade stone set in a golden clasp attached to the chain. She picked it up and hurried from the room. As she entered the outer room, it had again transformed into an untidy mess. She glanced over her shoulder and the doors were again a closet. Her mother entered the room. She glanced around before she spoke,

"Were you talking to yourself again? What are you doing here in this room again?"

"Mum, can I have this room for myself, please? I want this room in particular, just for myself."

"We will see. Your father and I have decided that we will only restore the ground floor first. We will restore the stair case and the landing but not the rooms up here immediately. You can have this room someday, if you are not like your brothers and sisters and move away from home."

"Terima kasih Mummy. I just love this room the most of all."

Puzzled at the way her daughter was acting, she looked directly at Ming-huá but said nothing.