Chapter 1 Preface: History Of Fenghuang

"My dear pupils, today we will talk about our protective and sacred beings. Our people have grown under the care of many spirits that watch over us at all times. That's why China feels blessed every time we visit the temples and pray to these magnanimous beings of light. Young Shun, could you start the reading?"

The boy cleared his throat, stood up, and began to read the scriptures.

"Fenghuang... the legendary and sacred bird par excellence for the people of China. It is said that this mythical creature represents the unity of all peoples since ancient times. It also has the reputation of bringing good luck to anyone who believes in it, which is why many people have placed its image in the great temples and also on the altars of their homes to seek protection. It is also a custom to use jade pendants with the image of the Fenghuang for protection while away from home."

"That's all, Prince Shun. Now it's your turn to continue the reading, Prince Jin," said the Laoshi* of the three young rulers of the Forbidden City.

"But of course..."

"Wait, wait, please, Laoshi. Let it be my turn, okay?" Yun intervened, raising his hand insistently.

"Young prince, you have to wait for your turn. Things can't always be the way you want," he gently lectured. "That's not what Father tells me when I ask for something," Yun pouted.

"Ugh... all right, go ahead," the Laoshi conceded, resigned. It was always the same with the youngest of the Qing.

"You're spoiled child and capricious, brother," Shun huffed, the eldest of the three.

"Shut up and listen to the reading," Yun retorted and cleared his throat. "It is also said that since ancient times, the Fenghuang is the protector of the Empress, being her amulet of good luck at all times."

"Very well, that's enough, Yun. Now it's Jin's turn." The Laoshi interrupted the reading.

"But I've only just started!" Yun protested.

"You know that when you take your brothers' turn, I shorten your time," he warned, looking at the young boy with authority, signaling him to pass the book to his brother.

"It's not fair." Grudgingly, he handed over the book and crossed his arms.

"Continue, Jin, please. We're listening," the Laoshi clasped his hands together, paying attention to the prince.

"Okay," Prince Jin smiled and continued the reading. "The significance of the Fenghuang is entirely positive for the Chinese people and represents honesty and loyalty, especially when its image is present in a household. Additionally, its spirit is only present when the ruler is just and there is no corruption involved. It is said that the Fenghuang possesses the five colors of the elements, which are..."

The young prince stopped paying attention to the reading and looked towards the large window as the gentle breeze swayed the cream-colored curtains in the study hall. Suddenly, a colorful flash faster than lightning passed before his eyes, filling his soul with curiosity instantly.

Yun turned to look at his brother Jin, who was engrossed in his reading turn. Then he glanced at Shun, who, like a good student, was taking notes in his notebook, and the Laoshi was simply observing the one who was supposed to be reading at that moment. He was truly proud of his royal pupils.

Without a second thought, the youngest prince quietly got up from the table to go unnoticed, tiptoed out of the room, avoiding a few guards and servants by hiding behind furniture, vases, and ornate columns of the palace. Those were the advantages of being small, but it didn't spare him from feeling the fear he knew as disobedience.

In a dash, he put on his sandals, which were right in front of the door leading outside, next to his brothers', and headed towards the backyard garden where he had seen that strange flash. He wandered around but, unfortunately, saw nothing. Perhaps his eyes played a trick on him, and it was indeed just lightning. Disappointed, he slowly made his way back inside the palace.

He was almost at the main door when he saw it again, shimmering with a warm and gentle light from above, precisely from the crown of that pink tree, as ancient as it was beautiful. Without a second thought, Yun ran towards that cherry tree, which, to the child, was as tall as the sky. He looked up, and a hint of vertigo filled his senses. He swallowed hard, but no discomfort would stop him from reaching that shimmer that seemed to be calling him.

He climbed as best as he could and spotted the luminous aura at the top of the tree or... perhaps even higher. Every now and then, he looked down; there was no way he could move forward. This was beginning to frustrate him greatly. He didn't intend to stay at the foot of the tree; the need for discovery was greater than he could imagine because in a matter of minutes, he had already climbed halfway up the tree. Yun felt that with each step, he was getting closer. Something told him that he was very close to finding out what that light was that seemed to call him.

"Why did you suddenly leave the class, young prince?" The Laoshi looked down at him with a challenging gaze.

"It's just that... you wouldn't believe what..."

"Just come down now, or the Emperor will be angry with me if he sees you out here instead of in class," the Laoshi scolded the little prince, and he immediately climbed down, feeling like he had missed something exciting. "Let's go inside." The Laoshi gave him a gentle push to encourage him to enter the palace. "The reading is not over yet, and it's your turn to continue, just as you wanted."

Meanwhile, high in the cherry tree, one of the oldest trees in the palace, a bird with red feathers and a long, colorful tail watched as the little prince entered his home, and its feathers sparkled again in the light of the evening.

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Glossary:

Laoshi: teacher or tutor.

Fenghuang: Chinese phoenix bird.