The Princess and Ming-huá

Chapter 5

The family returned to Singapore. Ming-huá settled back into her routine of school and her Silat discipline of martial arts training. Despite the regular routine, the strange occurrences in Melaka were ever present in her mind. If she spoke about meeting Hang Li Poh, people would think her crazy. She could not speak of Li Poh for fear of being struck dumb.

Ming-huá frequented the library, reading all she could find written about Hang Li Poh.

After a history lesson, she approached her teacher, Ms Lim,

"Ms Lim, was Princess Hand Li Poh a real princess or just a legend?"

"Interesting question, Ming-huá. Much has been written but with no firm conclusion. While the Princess is firmly entrenched in Malay history, there is no mention of her in the Ming Dynasty Cornicles. So, Ming-huá, you have to decide for yourself based on the evidence available." Ms Lim replied.

"Oh, similar to Hang Tuah, the legendary warrior who lived in Melaka during the reign of in the 15th century?" Inquired Ming-huá.

"That is so, Ming-huá, but the evidence supporting Hang Tuah has a better foundation. Why the interest?" asked Ms Lim.

"Oh, nothing really. Just an interest. My parents have bought a house in Melaka and I was reading the history of the place."

With school finished for the day Ming-huá walked to the bus station with her friends. They were all chatting and turning their iPhones on. All logged onto their Facebook account. All continued to chatter and some giggled at the posts. Ming-huá stopped in the tracks and gave an audible gasp. Her friend Chun Wah looked at her and inquired,

"Are you ok, Ming-huá?

"Oh, ... oh, yes, all good" She replied, but Chun Wah knew something was distressing her.

Ming-huá and Chun Wah caught different busses. Ming-huá's bus came and she boarded and went to a vacant seat. She slumped into it and again opened her Facebook account. She stared at it intently.

The short message read,

"Please visit again soon. There are things that need to be done"

Ming-huá was afraid and mystified. She thought to herself,

"How could a spirit of a 500 year old Princess have access to her Facebook account?"

She was also concerned because, even at her age, her mother could monitor her account. This was the agreement while she was still at school.

Ming-huá wrote a quick message back,

"Please be careful what you write as my mother can view my messages."

A message came straight back.

"Ming-huá, this message is invisible to all but you. No one can see it, only you."

Ming-huá was beginning to become very afraid. How could this be happening to her? Who could she turn to when Hang Li Poh threatened her to be struck dumb if she told anyone?

Because of her Christian upbringing and education, she believed evil spirits and daemons could be cast out in the name of Jesus. Was Hung Li Poh a daemon or evil spirit invading her life?

She felt that her life was beginning to develop into a nightmare.