Chapter Text
"Ah," said the mother-in-law as they had dim sum at their dining table. "Since Snow White the Barbarian became a best seller in our realm, have you considered writing another novel based on a fairy tale?"
Mo Beijun frowned. "I had not." Then it came to him, another story that irritated him because the lead character did not spill blood. "Perhaps I shall write about Cinderella."
Shang Qinghua's mouth fell open. Oh, no, another one, he thought.
"Your husband is astonished," the mother-in-law said. "That is a good sign."
***
"He wants to write about Cinderella," said Shang Qinghua to Li Na, their nanny, as Mo Meixiang took her afternoon nap in the stroller and Mo Jin was busy swinging on the monkey bars.
"Cinderella? It's that one with the evil stepsisters and going to the ball?"
"Yes."
"How is he going to manage that? Snow White actually travels into the dangerous forest, meets dwarves, and faces death multiple times. Cinderella stays at home as far as I know."
***
Mo Beijun walked over to Shang Qinghua with a thick sheaf of paper. "I think I have figured out how to write this story. Let me read it to you."
"If you like . . ." squeaked Shang Qinghua.
Mo Beijun sat next to him and began reading.
"Once there was an King who had two wives, Princess Xiaoping and Princess Taiping.
"Princess Xiaoping gained prominence by giving birth to his first child, a daughter. She gained in rank and became the one who managed the harem. Due to this rise, she banished Princess Taiping to the cold palace. She did not know that Princess Taiping was pregnant with the King's daughter.
"Inside the cold palace, Princess Taiping decided to keep her pregnancy secret but sent her most trusted maid to the Queen Dowager to beg for help. The Queen Dowager asked her most trusted servants to keep both her daughter-in-law and grandchild alive by sending coal and food and other supplies. She did not want any grandchild of hers to die and found Princess Xiaoping to be personally distasteful.
Li Na had peeked into the room then decided she wanted nothing of what was going on. However, Shang Qinghua had seen her and decided he did not want to be the only person hearing this so he began waving at her and Mo Beijun turned and motioned for her to join them. With shoulders slumped, she sat next to Shang Qinghua.
"However, one day, the Cold Palace where Princess Taiping was imprisoned burst into flames and the intensity of the heat kept would-be rescuers away. Out of the flames ran a maid with a wrapped bundle in her arms. She screamed, 'This is Princess Taiping's daughter. Her father is the King. Her name is Ye Xian . . '. The maid collapsed . . ."
"This reminds me of historical dramas," said Li Na, referring to various dramas based on many imperial dynasties pf China.
Shang Qinghua thought, Perhaps, it won't totally go off the rails.
Mo Beijun nodded. "I am reminded of the bedtime stories that my mother would tell of her childhood and stories her own mother would tell. They are a part of my family history." He then continued his story.
"And the child screamed. It wasn't a wail. It was a scream of rage that cut above the roar of the flames. Thus began the blood stained path of the girl who rose from the ashes . . ."
Li Na closed her eyes and took a breath.
She is inhaling the story, thought Mo Beijun.
Ok, I was wrong, thought Shang Qinghua.
Qinghua is understanding the true despair of the heroine. His face perfectly reflects her feelings, thought Mo Beijun.
Li Na remembered what Shang Qinghua had done last time. "How about we get to the ball?"
"You don't want to hear about how she was bullied with poisoned mop water that made her feel as if her hands and arms were on fire or the assassination attempt involving tainted buns that make one vomit blood or the battle where Ye Xian and her half-sister used cursed dolls to try to inflict injuries on each other?"
"I'm interested in her getting ready for the ball, said Shang Qinghua. He paused then said, "Is there a ball?"
"Not in the usual sense. It is three days of fighting where the winner becomes the wife of the crown prince of a different kingdom." Mo Beijun took a thick sheaf of paper and put it aside. "Lets jump to her preparation to become a worthy participant."
Li Na noticed that there was still an even thicker sheaf of paper still remaining. "I will get us all some tea and make us some snacks." She stood up and began moving towards the kitchen.
"There are some cookies in the jar," said Mo Beijun.
"Oh, it's not a problem . . ." she said. "I'll work on the treats right after I make tea."
Shang Qinghua narrowed his eyes at her as she retreated.
"Do not worry," said Mo Beijun. "There will be plenty for her to hear after she is done." Mo Beijun then said:
"The Queen Dowager realized that Ye Xian would be killed and remain lacking in powers if she did not go elsewhere. She wove a shroud for herself then using magic needle and thread, she embroidered a maze like pattern, which was really a spell that would keep pursuers from finding Ye Xian. Just before she finished it, she managed to smuggle her out of the palace then put in the final few stitches to complete her spell. She informed her son that she wanted to buried with this and this was NOT to be messed with or stolen or else her animated corpse would claw her way out of her grave and scratch him to death. No matter how favored a wife was, desecrating the grave of the king's mother was a crime punished by a slow tortuous death."
"That's really clever of her," said Shang Qinghua sincerely. I can't recall off the top of my head anybody ever using embroidery that way in a story. Ah, if only the rest of his story was along this line of cleverness.
"She had chosen embroidery as the amount of stitching and the design helped keep the spell stable and long-lasting. The concentration and intent soaked into all parts of fabric," explained Mo Beijun. "My mother is a master of this art."
Aaaaaahhhh! thought Shang Qinghua as his mother-in-law had often given him embroidered goods.
"She has often stitched good luck and good health charms into her gifts to you."
"That is so sweet of her." Aaaaaaahhhh, thought Shang Qinghua.
Mo Beijun then sighed. "Ah, my throat is dry."
It was then that Li Na came in with two tea cups and a tea pot, poured them each a cup of tea, put down the kettle on a coaster, then swiftly ran back into the kitchen.