marina_bonomi | Ming Li and the Charmed Phoenix part 11 (Reply)

I was planning to post this tomorrow, but it's likely I'll be out the whole day, so...here is the last instalment.

Ming Li regretted being unable to describe that journey for the rest of his life.Most of the time the wind forced him to keep his eyes closed, as for the rest, the ground went so fast under him it made him dizzy.As an old man, when they asked him to talk about that flight, he used to say: “ A bird cannot tell a fish what it’s like to fly, and even less can a fish which has flown and come back to water”.

That same evening, with the first stars, they arrived at Meihuang cave-palace. At least. the Dragon said that was the gate, Ming li saw just a caved in grotto: grass, climbing weeds and young bushes started to carpet the mound of earth and rocks.

“It would be better if you announce yourself”, said the Dragon King, back in human shape, “ I doubt the gate would open for me”, and he stepped back.

“ The scholar Ming Li” said the young man, solemnly; “ and the Lord of Dongting Lake” he added, curious to know what would happen, following for once the urge that brings some to kick anthills open.

The cave in disappeared, revealing the mouth of the cave and four burly, armed gibbons which escorted them in, after making sure the Dragon King had nothing dangerous with him. When they entered the hall, the phoenix-princess’court was already gathered, Meihuang dominated the room and stared at the new-comers, defensive.

“ I wasn’t expecting you to come back in such company, Ming Li; what does this mean?” she asked, while the feathers on her head rose threatheningly. Her clear voice was as cold as a mountain stream.

“ If I may be allowed to speak, Your Highness", said the Dragon King of Dongting Lake, showing great respect.
At her nod he went on “This young gentleman beat me with great intelligence, and he had me thinking over what happened; I have decided to come with him to be present at the end of what I had started…and to offer my deepest regret”, he ended with a deep bow.
This side of the Dragon’s character was clearly new to Meihuang, and, according to Ming Li, who watched in silence, did not displease her in the least.
After considering the King’s words for a while, the phoenix answered:

“ If you come in friendship you are welcome, Sire, but my hospitality would no doubt be more adequate if I and my people could be back in our own shapes at last”.

“ You are right, Lady, forgive me” he said, and to Ming Li, he added:

“ To you, my young friend…”

While all the birds came down from crannies and pillars, to alight on the ground, the scholar took the small purse from his sleeve, opened it and threw the pollen in the air. Immediately a silvery mist filled the cave. It looked like golden dust floated in it, congealing and floating apart again, until it solified in human figures which became clearer and clearer as the mist disappeared.

When the air was clear again, in the great hall, instead of apes and birds there where dignitaries resplendent in their ceremonial clothes and beautiful, jewel-decked ladies dressed in rainbow hues.

“ How could we ever repay our debt to you?” asked Meihuang’s enchanting voice.

The princess moved closer…a vision out of the Nine Songs, charming and distant like the Weaver, she wore green and gold, and a silver-and-emerald phoenix crowned her hair. Ming Li, suddenly shy, lowered his eyes.

“ Do not speak of debts, I pray you, what I did had to be done, and I found help on the road…”

“ Allow me to give you some poor gifts to show you my gratitude; with them you will always have my goodwill”.

Even though she was speaking to Ming Li, Meihua was glancing at the Dragon King of Dongting Lake, with the whole art of a lady trying to attract a gentleman’s attention without seeming to; the dragon seemed totally unaware of her manouvers, but a slight smile, half amused, half ironic belied him.

The princess went on:

“What I gave you for your journey will be yours forever: horse, sword, bag and purse. And if you should ever be in need of help, we will know it, and act.”

Ming Li bowed deeply, while he was rising he heard the Dragon King’s deep voice:

“ I too owe you a debt, young man, ask me whatever you wish and it will be granted, on a Dragon’s word! “

“One thing I wish of you, Sire: my village lacks water, often in summer the river dries up and then the fields die, since there is barely water enough for men and beasts. You are the most powerful lord of waters…”

“ Thanks to you, your village will never lack water again, I will send one of my younger brothers there, he is steady and dependable, you will need to fear neither draught nor flood.

But since you have asked for your people and not for yourself I wish to give you even more gifts: when you arrive home you will find some works there selected from my personal library, you have not seen it yet, I believe would like it.

The gate of my palace will always be open for you, I hope you will come to visit me, every now and then…”

And so it was.

After some time Ming Li was the guest of honour at the Dragon King’s wedding to Meihuang.

The young man had a brilliant career, he became First Minister of the empire and a renowned collector of ancient books, the Emperor honoured his ancestors bestowing on them posthumous titles and the house of his birth in Seven Springs Village (the young dragon had brought his family with him), it is still kept as a revered monument.

There is no trace, though, of Ming Li’s tomb …one day, in his old age, the scholar left on his grey mare, with an old raven on his shoulder…never to be seen again.