The Harmony of The Willow and The phoenix

High in the heavens, the moon softly illuminated the vast metropolis below with her silvery light. The evening was calm, the aroma of jasmine wafting over the courtyard of a little house nestled away in the middle of the busy metropolis from just the tiniest whispers of the breeze.

Sitting cross-legged at a wooden table in this peaceful retreat, a young lady called **Mei Ling** deftly moved her thin fingers over the exquisite silk material before her. Her exacting stitches, which spoke to the years of experience and patience she had developed under her mother's careful eye, were: the stitching was an art, a subtle statement of her spirit, her innermost ideas spun into every thread, not just a hobby.

But Mei Ling's ideas were not at all the complex patterns she was producing. Her thoughts turned to the future her family had already decided upon for her. Ever pragmatic and inflexible in her views, her mother had long before discussed the value of marriage-of a partnership that would improve their position. Every time her mother spoke of the possibility of a marriage that promised to guarantee their position among the elite, Mei Ling felt the weight of her fate already decided for her.

The needle briefly hung in the air before Mei Ling gently threaded it once again through the silk. She exhaled gently, staring blankly as the moon's light accentuated her exquisite features. Her existence seemed to her like prison she had yet to leave, constrained by her family's expectations.

Though Mei Ling was not aware of the busy streets and the excitement they carried, the sounds of the nightlife of the city trickled in from far away. Tonight was not any typical evening. Her route would alter tonight.

- --

The season's event, the **Grand Imperial Gala,** celebrated riches, power, and reputation. Every great family, every powerful merchant, and every well-known official in the city would be there, their attendance mirroring their position in the view of the emperor and his court. That evening was one of relationships created and futures guaranteed. Mei Ling's mother had insisted on her attendance even if it would just allow her to see the elite from a distance.

"You must be present, Mei Ling," her mother had exclaimed angrily earlier that day, her eyes keen as she gave her daughter a silk outfit meant to help her fit in among the elite. "You are not to let chances pass by. Tonight you will show yourself as a lady of importance. You are such.

Knowing what her mother expected of her, Mei Ling had not questioned her orders. Deep down, however, her heart sank at the idea of a life governed by necessity instead of passion.

Mei Ling found herself before a big mirror as the evening approached, her reflection a picture of serene elegance. Her hair was put in a complex updo with tiny pins that shined just barely in the candlelight. The silk outfit hung to her shape, its complex patterns reflecting the little means of her family. if within she was still the same Mei Ling, yearning more, even if she looked every bit like the noblewoman she was grooming.

Now happy with the look of her daughter, her mother nodded favorably. You resemble a real daughter of our home. Mei Ling, tonight keep your cool. You are standing for your family as much as yourself.

"Yes, Mother," Mei Ling said gently; however, the weight of those words seemed more than usual.

Laughter and music permeated the air as they reached the great hall. The marble flooring shone in the warm glow of lanterns, and the aroma of incense blended with the richness of food and smell. Nobles and dignitaries shook hands, their voices soaring in a symphony of luxury and might. Small among the grandeur, Mei Ling felt like a shadow among the titans, hardly more than that.

She then came across **Chen Wei**.

Standing next to a marble pillar, he looked far out over the assembly. His stance was one of serene power; his noble qualities were sharp. Wearing robes of intense red, the color of his family's reputation, he radiated impenetrable grace. His demeanor seemed detached, as if he were a man limited by his birthright, his destiny already etched on stone. His eyes strayed across the room, but for a few seconds it appeared to stop before landing on her.

Mehling's heart pounded. Her pulse racing, she turned away fast. Though she had never seen him before, something about him seemed quite familiar. She seemed to have seen the first thread of a fate she could not escape.

- --

Mei Ling found herself slinking among the throng as the evening drew on, her gait erratic. She felt cut off from the world around her even though she recognized the significance of tonight. Every smile, every courteous conversation seemed like a mask she was obliged to wear, every phrase a well-chosen act.

Not long thereafter, destiny stepped in. She bumped into a visitor in a moment of embarrassment, splattering tea on a beautifully embroidered silk tablecloth. The room became still, all eyes fixed on her.

Mei Ling hesitated, embarrassed by her face. "Forgive me, my Lord." She sank fast on her knees, her hands shaking as she bowed profoundly. "I was at fault. I did not intend to."

Her quiet but firm voice was cut off. "Young lady, there is no need for such a show."

Startled to see **Chen Wei** before her, she glanced up. Though keen and cutting, his eyes revealed a flutter of something unsaid-maybe curiosity? She discovered she was immobilized and unable to talk when he slowly got her moving.

Mei Ling, you are the embroiderer; are you not? His voice was both soft and forceful as he asked.

Surprised he knew her name, she said, "Yes, my lord." In circles like this, she had never been particularly important.

"There is no need to apologize," he remarked, momentarily glancing at her face. Actually, maybe you could show me your work elsewhere. I have heard really a lot about your ability.

Though her heart raced, Mei Ling found it difficult to know why. His presence had a particular warmth, a peculiar honesty that seemed counter to the distanced look he carried so successfully. The cacophony of the gala vanished for a time, and the planet appeared to shrink to just the two of them.

But the cry of her mother from across the room broke the enchantment just as fast.

Mei Ling! Come right here just now!

Mei Ling turned and dashed away, her heart still beating, a last, quick glimpse at **Chen Wei**. She was unable to define what had just happened-what it meant or why she had been pulled to him. She understood only that her existence had been spun with the first thread of something more than herself. She could not get rid of the sensation that she would never be the same, even if she did not fully grasp it.