Post by tln on Apr 27, 2007 12:03:20 GMT -5
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER 10
Ten years later . . . .
“Your Majesties, please enter,” said Sai Man’s personal eunuch, Hoi Cung Cung, as he bowed in respect to the Emperor, Empress, the little Prince and Princess.
Sai Man and Sik Sik came to pay their respects to Sai Man’s Wu Tien Mun Master at the Wu Tien Mun School of Martial Arts he had built ten years ago. Sai Man had erected the School of Martial Arts as he promised to Kong Fung years ago after Wu Tien Mun was destroyed. Although he had not heard from Kong Fung since their fateful encounter and bloody fight that day, he was hopeful one day Kong Fung would return. No one had any news of Kong Fung even though flyers of Kong Fung were posted in towns everywhere.
Neither was there news of his sister Lok Wan. When he retuned to the Imperial Palace after the encounter with Kong Fung, Sai Man did not take the necessary time to rest or recuperate. He was involved soon after in daily court activities, briefings and deciding matters for his country. He came to visit Lok Wan in her royal quarters the day after, but found the quarters empty except for the servants. He had inquired of his royal sister’s whereabouts, but the servants did not know. This was not unusual as Sai Man knew his sister went wherever she pleased and the servants did not dare to question. He went to Lok Wan’s bedroom, opened the door and entered. He looked around a little and his attention turned to a letter on Lok Wan’s boudoir addressed to him.
Sai Man recalled reading the letter and after finishing it, released the letter and it fluttered from his hands to the floor. Lok Wan had left. Indefinitely. Lok Wan had written to say goodbye and to let him know that she could not stay knowing that Kong Fung and her Yi Gor were fighting. No matter who won, she knew it would not be a happy ending. She also briefly mentioned how happy life was before with her three brothers and how she missed her Tai Wong Hing and Sam Wong Hing. She hoped one day she would forgive her Yi Gor. She ended the letter by hoping that one day her Yi Gor will see an old lady who just might be her waving to him.
Sai Man had immediately ordered his Ministers and Generals to find his royal sister. Posters and flyers of Lok Wan were plastered on every street and in every major town. Lok Wan’s and Kong Fung’s posters were posted side-by-side. Sai Man had shut himself away for days after reading Lok Wan’s letter. Sik Sik was the only person Sai Man wanted to see, and even then, she was unable to console him initially. She knew he needed time on his own and just took care of him without saying much unless he needed her. Sik Sik supported him as she, herself, silently went through her grieving period for Kong Fung and Lok Wan. Sai Man recognized Sik Sik’s quiet strength and loved her more and more each day.
Sai Man took Sik Sik’s right hand and held it tightly within his left hand as they entered Wu Tien Mun, accompanied by their two children, Hoi Cung Cung and Sik Sik’s personal maid, Seung Yi. When Sai Man and Sik Sik made their annual visit to Wu Tien Mun to pay respects, it was always without fanfare. The personal assistants came with them and only four highly skilled martial arts-trained bodyguards came along to protect them. They brought the Prince and Princess, his younger sister of two years, because they often spoke of Kong Suk Suk and the children wanted to come along to pay their respects too. They hoped one day to meet Kong Suk Suk, whom their parents honored and thought of so often. Seung Yi immediately came to retrieve incense, lit them, and gave three incense sticks each to the Emperor and Empress. After they paid their respects, Sai Man took Sik Sik around the school to ensure all was to her satisfaction before they left to return to the Imperial Palace. The children followed closely behind.
Sik Sik visited Wu Tien Mun more often than once a year. Every month, she and Seung Yi personally attended to Wu Tien Mun’s alter, ancestral hall and what was built as Kong Fung’s, the Master of Wu Tien Mun, bedroom. Even though there was a small team of servants and caretakers regularly living at Wu Tien Mun, Sik Sik wanted to ensure proper care and attention to these details. Sai Man was in total support, except he had one condition. When Sik Sik came to town, he wanted Sik Sik to always bring the four bodyguards with her. Sik Sik acquiesced and the four bodyguards were always with Sik Sik.
Sik Sik was not a stranger to the Wu Tien Mun School of Martial Arts. She had conveyed to Sai Man her wish to help the people of the town at least one day a month by providing food to local destitute townspeople. Sai Man had beamed at the idea. He was so proud that his wife was always thinking of the welfare of the people. She was beautiful inside and out. And Sik Sik grew more beautiful to him each day. She was his one and only wife.
He whole-heartedly supported Sik Sik’s idea. So every month since Wu Tien Mun was built, local townspeople saw their Empress assist in the food lines to feed the poor in the main courtyard of Wu Tien Mun. Sik Sik also had grains and different seeds available for those who needed a jumpstart or lost their crops and had to start over in the fields. Seung Yi was always by her Mistress’ side and a regular companion. She and all the Wu Tien Mun servants and caretakers gaily prepared for the monthly event, working hard alongside the four bodyguards who even chipped in to help serve food or socialize with the local townspeople.
The people loved the Emperor and Empress. Far and wide, the people spoke of their Emperor and Empress lovingly. Sik Sik had not only initiated charity work at Wu Tien Mun, but soon after the success there, she had suggested to Sai Man to institute such charities at every province to support the local villages of his far-reaching empire. Together Sik Sik and Sai Man had put together the framework for charity throughout the country that, with a little government funding, was self-sustaining in the long-run. Sai Man allotted money for the construction of a building in each province. In the interim, he assigned the Ministers of the Imperial Court to set aside a percentage of revenue from each province’s taxes to hire laborers and purchase seeds, grains, and livestock. They were to grow and harvest food to be used to feed the neediest in each province. By doing this, jobs were created, food was available and the local people benefited. Crops and livestock were abundant so it was sold locally to other villagers; sufficient revenue was generated to pay off the administrative costs and continue the charity work. Some wealthy landowners and families in the provinces saw the examples set by their Emperor and Empress and even contributed money and time to the charities. Among daily security and other daily status reports, the Ministers provided monthly reports of the network of charities in their provinces to the Emperor and Empress. They were proud when the Emperor complimented and rewarded them on their work.
The benevolence and graciousness of their Emperor and Empress reached the farthest corner of the country. It was a time of peace and abundance.
CHAPTER 11
Two years later . . . .
Sik Sik was taking a break from providing medical attention to one of the ailing patients by socializing with another villager. It was the monthly charity event and the courtyard in Wu Tien Mun was packed. There were food lines and people were standing in the lines waiting for their meal to be served as others sat eating. Sik Sik was listening to the older woman proudly share her story about her 5-year old grandson’s latest escapade on the farm. He seemed a handful for his poor grandmother, who loved him dearly. Sik Sik laughed at the older woman’s story. Those near in proximity to Sik Sik, heard her crisp and genuine laughter. They smiled as they saw their beautiful Empress enjoying the day with them.
Suddenly Sik Sik’s attention was diverted as she did not see her two children anywhere. They were nowhere in sight. No matter what she was doing, she kept an eye on her two children at all times. Sai Man even assigned each a dedicated bodyguard highly trained in martial arts to protect them at all times, although they were instructed to not be obtrusive. She and Sai Man had only begun to allow them to accompany her to Wu Tien Mun the last two months for the charity work because they were older and she and Sai Man wanted their children to be exposed to social causes. They carefully taught their children that being born in privilege carried many responsibilities. They were giving their children the chance to interface with the common people so they would understand and start thinking about their royal duties to their country.
“Ah Kwan, do you see Prince Wing Fung and Princess Ching Wan?” Sik Sik asked her bodyguard. She had excused herself from the older woman and looked around anxiously. Her bodyguard, Ah Kwan, keen on his Mistress’ moods and regardless of what he is doing, always had a watchful eye on her and had quickly come to the Empress’ side. When he was hired to protect the Royal Family, he did so dutifully, but without emotion. After 12 of years of service to the Royal Family, he came to love each and everyone of them dearly. They treated him respectfully and even promoted him to the title of the lead royal bodyguard. He saw the Royal Family as the model family and was honored to protect them. He and the other three bodyguards felt the same way towards the Royal Family. They would willingly sacrifice their lives for the Emperor, Empress and the Prince and Princess.
“Your Royal Highness, I will check. Please stay here near Seung Yi and Ah Choi,” Ah Kwan requested in a calm voice so as not to alarm the Empress. He waved Ah Choi, another bodyguard, over to protect the Empress.
As Ah Kwan was set to leave, an area in the corner of the courtyard sort of cleared up and Sik Sik could see her two children. Ah Kwan also saw the two royal children. Ah Kwan started to walk towards the royal children when Sik Sik stopped him by putting her right hand on his left arm. Ah Kwan slightly bowed in respect.
Prince Wing Fung and Princess Ching Wan were looking up and chatting animatedly with a tall gentleman and a slender woman. Prince Wing Fung was tall for his age, a solid build and flashed an incredibly attractive smile like his father. Princess Ching Wan, though still a young girl, already showed features that will break many men’s hearts in the future. Sik Sik saw the two dedicated bodyguards to her children standing nearby watching the interaction. She knew the bodyguards, Ah Sing and Ah Lung, were comfortable with the two strangers talking with the royal children so she was not as worried.
The tall gentleman’s stature seemed oddly familiar to Sik Sik. She could not see his face because he was wearing a straw hat which covered his entire face. The slender woman was bending down to listen to Princess Ching Wan. Sik Sik could not see the slender woman’s face, but her profile was visible and very familiar. At one time, the slender woman even gave Princess Ching Wan something which Sik Sik did not recognize. Princess Ching Wan smiled brightly and held it to her chest. The tall gentleman and slender woman were so familiar. Sik Sik’s brows furrowed. She sensed as though she knew them. Then Sik Sik gasped. The world seemed to dim and she blacked out.
CHAPTER 10
Ten years later . . . .
“Your Majesties, please enter,” said Sai Man’s personal eunuch, Hoi Cung Cung, as he bowed in respect to the Emperor, Empress, the little Prince and Princess.
Sai Man and Sik Sik came to pay their respects to Sai Man’s Wu Tien Mun Master at the Wu Tien Mun School of Martial Arts he had built ten years ago. Sai Man had erected the School of Martial Arts as he promised to Kong Fung years ago after Wu Tien Mun was destroyed. Although he had not heard from Kong Fung since their fateful encounter and bloody fight that day, he was hopeful one day Kong Fung would return. No one had any news of Kong Fung even though flyers of Kong Fung were posted in towns everywhere.
Neither was there news of his sister Lok Wan. When he retuned to the Imperial Palace after the encounter with Kong Fung, Sai Man did not take the necessary time to rest or recuperate. He was involved soon after in daily court activities, briefings and deciding matters for his country. He came to visit Lok Wan in her royal quarters the day after, but found the quarters empty except for the servants. He had inquired of his royal sister’s whereabouts, but the servants did not know. This was not unusual as Sai Man knew his sister went wherever she pleased and the servants did not dare to question. He went to Lok Wan’s bedroom, opened the door and entered. He looked around a little and his attention turned to a letter on Lok Wan’s boudoir addressed to him.
Sai Man recalled reading the letter and after finishing it, released the letter and it fluttered from his hands to the floor. Lok Wan had left. Indefinitely. Lok Wan had written to say goodbye and to let him know that she could not stay knowing that Kong Fung and her Yi Gor were fighting. No matter who won, she knew it would not be a happy ending. She also briefly mentioned how happy life was before with her three brothers and how she missed her Tai Wong Hing and Sam Wong Hing. She hoped one day she would forgive her Yi Gor. She ended the letter by hoping that one day her Yi Gor will see an old lady who just might be her waving to him.
Sai Man had immediately ordered his Ministers and Generals to find his royal sister. Posters and flyers of Lok Wan were plastered on every street and in every major town. Lok Wan’s and Kong Fung’s posters were posted side-by-side. Sai Man had shut himself away for days after reading Lok Wan’s letter. Sik Sik was the only person Sai Man wanted to see, and even then, she was unable to console him initially. She knew he needed time on his own and just took care of him without saying much unless he needed her. Sik Sik supported him as she, herself, silently went through her grieving period for Kong Fung and Lok Wan. Sai Man recognized Sik Sik’s quiet strength and loved her more and more each day.
Sai Man took Sik Sik’s right hand and held it tightly within his left hand as they entered Wu Tien Mun, accompanied by their two children, Hoi Cung Cung and Sik Sik’s personal maid, Seung Yi. When Sai Man and Sik Sik made their annual visit to Wu Tien Mun to pay respects, it was always without fanfare. The personal assistants came with them and only four highly skilled martial arts-trained bodyguards came along to protect them. They brought the Prince and Princess, his younger sister of two years, because they often spoke of Kong Suk Suk and the children wanted to come along to pay their respects too. They hoped one day to meet Kong Suk Suk, whom their parents honored and thought of so often. Seung Yi immediately came to retrieve incense, lit them, and gave three incense sticks each to the Emperor and Empress. After they paid their respects, Sai Man took Sik Sik around the school to ensure all was to her satisfaction before they left to return to the Imperial Palace. The children followed closely behind.
Sik Sik visited Wu Tien Mun more often than once a year. Every month, she and Seung Yi personally attended to Wu Tien Mun’s alter, ancestral hall and what was built as Kong Fung’s, the Master of Wu Tien Mun, bedroom. Even though there was a small team of servants and caretakers regularly living at Wu Tien Mun, Sik Sik wanted to ensure proper care and attention to these details. Sai Man was in total support, except he had one condition. When Sik Sik came to town, he wanted Sik Sik to always bring the four bodyguards with her. Sik Sik acquiesced and the four bodyguards were always with Sik Sik.
Sik Sik was not a stranger to the Wu Tien Mun School of Martial Arts. She had conveyed to Sai Man her wish to help the people of the town at least one day a month by providing food to local destitute townspeople. Sai Man had beamed at the idea. He was so proud that his wife was always thinking of the welfare of the people. She was beautiful inside and out. And Sik Sik grew more beautiful to him each day. She was his one and only wife.
He whole-heartedly supported Sik Sik’s idea. So every month since Wu Tien Mun was built, local townspeople saw their Empress assist in the food lines to feed the poor in the main courtyard of Wu Tien Mun. Sik Sik also had grains and different seeds available for those who needed a jumpstart or lost their crops and had to start over in the fields. Seung Yi was always by her Mistress’ side and a regular companion. She and all the Wu Tien Mun servants and caretakers gaily prepared for the monthly event, working hard alongside the four bodyguards who even chipped in to help serve food or socialize with the local townspeople.
The people loved the Emperor and Empress. Far and wide, the people spoke of their Emperor and Empress lovingly. Sik Sik had not only initiated charity work at Wu Tien Mun, but soon after the success there, she had suggested to Sai Man to institute such charities at every province to support the local villages of his far-reaching empire. Together Sik Sik and Sai Man had put together the framework for charity throughout the country that, with a little government funding, was self-sustaining in the long-run. Sai Man allotted money for the construction of a building in each province. In the interim, he assigned the Ministers of the Imperial Court to set aside a percentage of revenue from each province’s taxes to hire laborers and purchase seeds, grains, and livestock. They were to grow and harvest food to be used to feed the neediest in each province. By doing this, jobs were created, food was available and the local people benefited. Crops and livestock were abundant so it was sold locally to other villagers; sufficient revenue was generated to pay off the administrative costs and continue the charity work. Some wealthy landowners and families in the provinces saw the examples set by their Emperor and Empress and even contributed money and time to the charities. Among daily security and other daily status reports, the Ministers provided monthly reports of the network of charities in their provinces to the Emperor and Empress. They were proud when the Emperor complimented and rewarded them on their work.
The benevolence and graciousness of their Emperor and Empress reached the farthest corner of the country. It was a time of peace and abundance.
CHAPTER 11
Two years later . . . .
Sik Sik was taking a break from providing medical attention to one of the ailing patients by socializing with another villager. It was the monthly charity event and the courtyard in Wu Tien Mun was packed. There were food lines and people were standing in the lines waiting for their meal to be served as others sat eating. Sik Sik was listening to the older woman proudly share her story about her 5-year old grandson’s latest escapade on the farm. He seemed a handful for his poor grandmother, who loved him dearly. Sik Sik laughed at the older woman’s story. Those near in proximity to Sik Sik, heard her crisp and genuine laughter. They smiled as they saw their beautiful Empress enjoying the day with them.
Suddenly Sik Sik’s attention was diverted as she did not see her two children anywhere. They were nowhere in sight. No matter what she was doing, she kept an eye on her two children at all times. Sai Man even assigned each a dedicated bodyguard highly trained in martial arts to protect them at all times, although they were instructed to not be obtrusive. She and Sai Man had only begun to allow them to accompany her to Wu Tien Mun the last two months for the charity work because they were older and she and Sai Man wanted their children to be exposed to social causes. They carefully taught their children that being born in privilege carried many responsibilities. They were giving their children the chance to interface with the common people so they would understand and start thinking about their royal duties to their country.
“Ah Kwan, do you see Prince Wing Fung and Princess Ching Wan?” Sik Sik asked her bodyguard. She had excused herself from the older woman and looked around anxiously. Her bodyguard, Ah Kwan, keen on his Mistress’ moods and regardless of what he is doing, always had a watchful eye on her and had quickly come to the Empress’ side. When he was hired to protect the Royal Family, he did so dutifully, but without emotion. After 12 of years of service to the Royal Family, he came to love each and everyone of them dearly. They treated him respectfully and even promoted him to the title of the lead royal bodyguard. He saw the Royal Family as the model family and was honored to protect them. He and the other three bodyguards felt the same way towards the Royal Family. They would willingly sacrifice their lives for the Emperor, Empress and the Prince and Princess.
“Your Royal Highness, I will check. Please stay here near Seung Yi and Ah Choi,” Ah Kwan requested in a calm voice so as not to alarm the Empress. He waved Ah Choi, another bodyguard, over to protect the Empress.
As Ah Kwan was set to leave, an area in the corner of the courtyard sort of cleared up and Sik Sik could see her two children. Ah Kwan also saw the two royal children. Ah Kwan started to walk towards the royal children when Sik Sik stopped him by putting her right hand on his left arm. Ah Kwan slightly bowed in respect.
Prince Wing Fung and Princess Ching Wan were looking up and chatting animatedly with a tall gentleman and a slender woman. Prince Wing Fung was tall for his age, a solid build and flashed an incredibly attractive smile like his father. Princess Ching Wan, though still a young girl, already showed features that will break many men’s hearts in the future. Sik Sik saw the two dedicated bodyguards to her children standing nearby watching the interaction. She knew the bodyguards, Ah Sing and Ah Lung, were comfortable with the two strangers talking with the royal children so she was not as worried.
The tall gentleman’s stature seemed oddly familiar to Sik Sik. She could not see his face because he was wearing a straw hat which covered his entire face. The slender woman was bending down to listen to Princess Ching Wan. Sik Sik could not see the slender woman’s face, but her profile was visible and very familiar. At one time, the slender woman even gave Princess Ching Wan something which Sik Sik did not recognize. Princess Ching Wan smiled brightly and held it to her chest. The tall gentleman and slender woman were so familiar. Sik Sik’s brows furrowed. She sensed as though she knew them. Then Sik Sik gasped. The world seemed to dim and she blacked out.