LONGZE RECOMPENSE DOOMED LOVERS
Long ago in
ancient times, there lived a very ealthy merchant named Kenzo, who was frugal,
hardhearted and ambitious. He had a beautiful daughter named Beatrice, with
long, cascading, golden blond hair and eyes with the color of brilliant blue
skies. Her happy and contented life,
unfortunately, had ended abruptly, when her birth mother had passed away quite suddenly
from a mysterious affliction, when Beatrice was only nine years old. Her father
had remarried soon after to a wealthy shrew widow Tuziko, with a sizeable dowry,
and a lifelong stipend (income) of thousand cash per year.
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| 01-TUZIKO |
Tuziko, also
had from her previous husband, two facetious (flippant), ordinary looking
daughters, Seson and Flaret. They were three and five years older than Beatrice;
always pampered (cossetted, indulged) by their mother, they constantly berated poor
Beatrice at every chance they got. Beatrice
was barely tolerated by her malicious stepmother that never missed a chance to criticize,
demean, complain and, often in secret perpetually torment her stepdaughter
Beatrice, whom she saw as nothing more than a worthless bother.
Left mostly alone, Beatrice often ventured far
into the woods, to pick wildflowers but sometimes walked along the remote strip
of pebbled sandy shores of the mighty Lake Taho. Once she’d come across a
distraught little white snake trapped in a jagged hole, a trapper’s contraption
from the looks of it, suffering presumably for several days. Beatrice knew that
when the trapper returned, little helpless creature would be instantly claimed,
then sold to a local eatery, that specialized in water snake soup. She observed
the poor thing, still trying to breakout, but failing at each attempt to
extricate his slender body, out of this clever contraption. Beatrice’s heart
ached seeing his wretched, weakened state, for he looked to be so miserable and
weak and would perish before long. Beatrice summoning her courage, for she
actually feared snakes despite size, as all through her life she’d heard of
terrible accounts, hair-raising stories about sea serpents, and reached out to gently
release the poor thing out of this deadly trap. She had always saved then ministered
help to any found injured (hurt, maimed) creatures, regardless of potential danger
to herself, and she knew she could nurture him more aptly back in her room; so without
delay, she wrapped the little white snake in a cloth, took it home and secretly
for many days cared and gingerly tended to his injuries. To her surprise, when
she found that he preferred human food, she began concealing bit portions of
her meagre meals, to indulge him later on at night. When the creature looked to be
semi-recovered, she took it back to the shoreline and set it free. She with
melancholy eyes watched the little white snake slither away from the cloth and
slide into the water, to disappear quickly under the gently undulating (rolling)
waves of the deep lake Taho.
“I shall miss you, Precious Wan!” She somberly whimpered using the name she had given him, for even in that short a time, she had grown quite accustomed to the little snake’s presence, moreover, overcoming her fear, had actually grown quite fond of him. Tears glistening (brimming) in her eyes, she had then turned and walked away, resisting looking back, therefore, missing the fact the little white snake (Precious Wan) had just then jutted his head out of the water to watch her retrace her steps back to her home. That night returning to her lonely, sparsely furnished, drab room, she had read a little then went to sleep; in her troubled slumber she had dreamt of Precious Wan (wan meaning white) who’d glowed in strange, luminous light and instantly transformed into a human form, a most attractive, handsome young boy. She heard him speak, using strange vernacular (dialect, lingo), caught the name Longze and something urgent, something she could not rightly understand.
He then bashfully smiled, a smile transforming his already handsome features into something more exquisite that simply took her breath, and as she stood frozen, transfixed in wonder (admiration) of him, he hesitantly drew near and reverently planted a tender kiss, that tickled and excited her senses, on her left cheek. Upon waking she blushed, and her fingers reflexively (automatically, instinctively) reached out and touched the spot on her cheek, remembering the shy, tender kiss of his lips that had so delighted her. Subsequent days and weeks had quickly passed without any variance; and on those occasions when she took respite from her onerous chores to catch her breath, she often found herself thinking of Precious Wan.
Years passed
quickly and by now she had grown into her mid teens. By then things had gotten
worse at home, aside from neglect and barrage of open hostility, now that they
were more grown up and Beatrice who was gentle and kind, possessed brilliance
of mind, had a (curvy) shapely body and in face was stunningly beautiful (gorgeous)- consequently, a strong,
unequivocal jealousy had taken root in the black hearts of her step-mother and
step-sisters.
At every important function, or party, meanwhile, Beatrice despite her plain attire, always drew unwarranted attention, outshining and without fail always steeling the limelight from the other elder siblings, who were instead clad in fancy brocades and were bedecked in jewels. Eligible young men always buzzed around Beatrice like bees drawn to a rare flower; choosing her company instead of her insufferable (obnoxious), not at all good looking, gussied up (decked out), haughty (snooty, condescending) stepsisters. Thinking Seson and Flaret were perfect, Tuziko blamed her stepdaughter for this typical rejection however, and to remedy this perceived inacceptable wrong, Beatrice was punished from then on by being excluded from every function and her bedding and stuff was relocated, for her to reside in one of the back rooms, near the servants’ quarters. There, mostly sequestered (quarantined) indoors, Beatrice was essentially rendered invisible.
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| 05- MERCHANT KENZO |
Kenzo did not object to this, being always too pre-occupied to bother with family affairs, he had left the entire business of proper upbringing of their teen children, as well, the running of the household to his competent wife, and concentrated his efforts instead, more on myriad business ventures and amassing abundant wealth.
The opulent,
insatiable (greedy) merchant Kenzo, one day came to procure in his employ as
his secretary, a seemingly ordinary youth, a taciturn (reticent, reserved,
aloof) scholar who was actually a brilliant inventor and most capable, studious
academic, named Nevets. He had come to them on a tumultuous, windswept day
looking for employment and though he had no valid credentials, qualifying (measuring
up) in the interview and satisfactorily passing Kenzo’s strict scrutiny, Nevets
had been quickly hired then set to resolve most arduous (taxing, challenging) trade
(commerce, marketing) matters.
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| 06-NEVETS- |
On his third day of employment, while Nevets was diligently attending to his master’s accounts, a chance encounter with the beautiful maiden Beatrice caused an unusual, intense stirring sensation in his chest. As he was handsome and seemed both sensitive and had dignified decorum, she was also quite taken with him. Both being pure and utterly innocent, they set these strange feelings, never before experienced, aside. Two days later, on their second coincidental encounter, however, when within that isolated setting (spot) they had the occasion to converse a little, furthermore, when their hand accidentally brushed sending lightening jolts in both, the spark that had previously ignited in in their heart and mind, the irresistible draw, then became undeniable and not easily ignored. Subsequently, they had sought each other’s company and after a week of covert, vernacular exchange of hopes and ideas, finding they had much in common- though they would never outwardly admit it- their friendship had blossomed into something much more: perhaps a deeper fondness, then unequivocally intense adoration, infatuation or, love!
Then came
the time, when Kenzo, Teziko, Seson and Flaret planned to be away most of the
night, attending an elaborate function at the Governor’s mansion (having
purposely left out Beatrice), for the
Governor’s only son Lukon was actually seeking to find his future mate among
the most eligible daughters of key prominent families, in that region (district,
area).
As
consequence, all day long a hectic preparation had ensued, turning everything
upside down and engaging (having) all the servants franticly rushing to and for-
tending and trying to fulfill Teziko, Seson and Flaret’s every inordinate (unreasonable)
needs. Finally, just before dusk, they were finally all readied for the big
function; they stood before tall mirrors admiring their image, all decked out
in fineries, excessively encrusted with glittering jewels, from head to toe. Next,
they all, Kenzo, Teziko, Seson and Flaret, climbed into the rich carriage of
the state, reserved for such occasions, and took up their respective seats.
Beatrice
impassively watched from the window of her room, the crested carriage driven by
a pair of grooms, hauled by four magnificent horses, now leaving the iron gate.
She took in a deep breath and shrugged, then quickly fetched her shawl and quietly
went out of her room. Most of the servants, panting heavily, had collapsed into
chairs out of sheer exhaustion, so none noticed, or paid any particular heed to
her stealth advance through the hallways. Her steps quickly led her out the
back door and to the rendezvous point in the woods, where at dusk she would
meet Nevets clandestinely.
He was already there, impatiently waiting for her. When he turned and saw her, looking so radiantly beautiful, his breath caught and he remained speechless for a time. After only an awkward momentary hesitation, however, they rushed into each other’s embrace and then, for the first time ever, kissed; the kiss was tentative and gentle at first, but then it grew more intense and with deep sense of urgency. Eventually, when Nevets and Beatrice drew apart, their breath then steadied and seated comfortably underneath the canopy of the ancient tree, they then gazing into each other’s eyes, professed their love for each other. Nevets, furthermore, raptly and earnestly uttered his wow of fidelity to Beatrice.
Later still,
Nevets rising to his feet and looking up, watched for a time the gently swaying
branches and then, he softly uttered his apology to the ancient tree for what
he was about to do. Next, he withdrew a small penknife from his pocket, and with
some difficulty but persevering, he carved their initials onto the trunk, to permanently
venerate (commemorate), this moment where which they had declared, eternal love
for each other.
Such is the
capriciousness of fate, for this clandestine meeting and the breach of conduct,
the kiss, had been quietly observed by a disgruntled servant and was relayed soon
after, the subsequent day, in fervent (ardent), full detail to master Kenzo. A
jealous manservant (butler) who’d always stealthily coveted Beatrice’s
affections but never had succeeded despite all his attempts to woo her, was the
very culprit who had sought to destroy her bliss, and, to have his reckoning (vengeance,
retribution) day.
If he
could not have her; then none should have her, not certainly this upstart
scholar!
Kenzo, highly
incensed, had rushed at once to confront the scholar Nevets; finding him and ignoring
Nevets’ words, moreover, uttering threats with murder registering in his pupils
Kenzo dismissed Nevets on
the spot and banished him from the state. Kenzo, while had ashamedly in all
that time utilized the scholar’s ability and benefited greatly, still was
prejudiced against all academicians and furthermore, regarded them all as idealistic
fools; they were deemed hence, a most unworthy candidate to be his son-in-law.
Besides which, he had more profitable avenues for dispensing his property,
which he saw his daughter as one. In an
angry reprimand Kenzo next had unleashed his fury on his daughter; when his
voice became coarse from all that bellowing (yelling) and uttered threats, he gave
orders to have her virtually imprisoned within the confines of her room and all
her activities from then on to be continually monitored by the two guards selected
from his squadron (unit) of twenty armed
guards- which he retained for the standard security of the State.
Beatrice
spent the subsequent days engulfed in a miasma of hopelessness and anger; and, often
in utter frustration she shed copious tears.
While
Beatrice withered away in her room, Kenzo and his wife Teziko, meanwhile, had already
directed their attention to a much more important matter. There was much to do,
bribes to be considered, palms to be greased, gifts to be allocated to key
members of Governor’s family, for Seson had won the jackpot, so to speak. She
was among the final five finalists, that were being consider for matrimony to
the Governor’s son Lukon.
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| 08- LUKON |
Subsequent weeks, within that chaotic atmosphere, few paid any heed to Beatrice, and so the severe restrictions were gradually eased, and she was permitted now the infrequent leisurely walks in the gardens or by the water’s edge. The love-struck Beatrice, however, could not forget the handsome Nevets she’d fallen in love with, and, with longing heart, her thoughts often reverted to the happier times they both had shared. Sometimes she would sit beneath the ancient tree that had once been a place of joy and quietly weep. Months went by but Beatrice still longed to see her handsome, young Nevets. In the interim, Kenzo and Teziko succeeded in their aim and with all the pomp and ceremony, happily married their daughter Seson to the governor’s son Lukon.
Kenzo and
Teziko’s attention next was directed on their other most promising daughter
Flaret and ensuing months they preened her and paraded Flaret like a peacock at
subsequent, numerous functions (occasions, parties) to, as well find a suitable
match for her and to have her settled down most profitably, to another opulent
candidate. This warranted more funds to
aptly fill the coffers (that had been seriously depleted because of Seson), in
anticipation of Flaret’s future nuptial expenditures.
Beatrice, meanwhile,
out of sight and mind, albeit temporarily, was virtually forgotten. She spent
many solitary walks into the woods and along the shoreline of the lake Taho.
Sometimes she would wistfully look at the lake and wonder how the white little
snake “Precious Wan”, which of course was now grown up, had all this while fared.
Then one day
her eyes caught sight of a shell fitted with sails containing a poem, and a
bead which Beatrice had given to Nevets. It had floated to the water’s
edge. Beatrice’s heart jumped for joy as
hope sprung anew, for she grasped (realized) from this find, that her lover had
not forsaken her.
Her elation
was short lived, and joy turned to consternation, however, when that evening
she was summoned by her father’s study and curtly informed of her (planned) upcoming
betrothal to the Duke Takin, a very powerful, warrior Duke that resided at (far
off) border province Keanfu.
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| DUKE TAKIN |
Worse still, the Duke Takin was twenty-five years her senior and was renowned for his malice. Her heart sank in despair when it was announced to her that her future husband would be arriving in a few days time, bearing gifts of rare items and jewels to consolidate (solidify) the deal. The wedding was expected to take place soon after, for the duke had acquired a new land in adjacent territory and was anxious to develop it; meanwhile, he would be taking along for the ride, his new bride. As it were, duke Takin did not care about the matrimonial event as he’d gone through it five times prior already, this being his sixth time, not by any means the last. Kenzo, on the other hand urgently needed the funds to meet the anticipated expenditures, for the befittingly ostentatious, upcoming nuptial ceremonies planned for Flaret.
Then came
the dreaded day when the duke Takin arrived by boat with extravagant,
ostentatious (flamboyant, grandiose) display of his wealth, bearing chests of
rare items and, one small box of rare, priceless jewels, as gifts, to lay claim
to his (contrastingly lowly in stature) young, compliant, beautiful, intended
(planned) bride to be.
On the eve
of Beatrice’s anticipated wedding to the duke, when at a feast given in his
honor, all grew sleepy from the continually replenished celebratory wine in
their cups, Nevets, disguised as a servant, had slipped into the main hall,
unnoticed. Nevets abided (stood) in the shadows till small hours and when Kenzo,
the Duke and quests all became totally inebriated, the disguised Nevets, then
easily passed through to the interior garden.
Earlier, Nevets
had sent a message to Beatrice via her trusted, personal maid, in order to
arrange a clandestine meeting by the small fountain. Beatrice therefore had also fled through the
hushed rooms, carrying the casket of jewels. Now in the inner gardens, as Nevets
drew near, he saw his beautiful Beatrice sitting by the fountain. His heart thumping wildly, he at once rushed
to embrace her; they were so much in love that no words needed to be spoken out
loud. They would brave all dangers, not wanting to face the future apart. They
would elope and get married or die trying.
Her father
Kenzo, the Duke, and the invited guests even some of the servants and guards
had consumed so much wine that the couple almost made it through to safety. But
unfortunately, just as they had reached the outer gate, her father Kenzo, prior
seeking fresh air to clear his head, already there, about to relive himself (urinate,
wee), therefore, spotting and recognizing his daughter and Nevets despite their
disguises, shouted his alarm, causing the loving couple to be vehemently chased
over the land and then on the lake.
It took the
lovers, nevertheless, a harrowing effort and sheer luck, to make good their
escape. Nevets and Beatrice having raced
across the bridge to an awaiting boat had sailed away, though still fervidly (ardently,
vigorously) pursued; fortunately, just then a thick miasma (fog, haze) had suddenly
manifested over the shoreline and the vast lake and therefore, aided them to eventually
outrun the duke’s ship.
The duke Takin
was outraged by this turn of events and after uttering threats, he demanded
satisfaction from merchant Kenzo for his failing in his inadequate discipline
of Beatrice and the disdainful security of his state that had allowed this disgrace
(humiliation) to transpire. Kenzo was beside himself with fear and worry; in
the end, he tried to pacify duke Takin, and going against the wishes of his
wife Teziko, he proposed a resolution where which he would bestow his other
more precious daughter Flaret’s hand in marriage to him, in Beatrice’s stead
(lieu).
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| 10 A - FLARET |
The duke appeared hesitant at first, but in the end, not wishing to leave empty handed, he conceded to this replacement.
Nevets and Beatrice,
meanwhile, had eventually reached a far-off small island and took refuge there;
the retired official Marko whose island this was, loathed (hated, detested) the
duke and ceasing this chance of retribution (revenge, payback), he eagerly welcomed
the lovers into his home. He was willing to harbour the refugees for however
long it was necessary, or at least, until the danger had abated. After a
private ceremony with Marko’s blessings, the lovers officially became husband
and wife. For a period Nevets and Beatrice
lived happily with Nevets earning his keep as the new tutor to Marko's only son
who was about twelve years in age. When
the Duke Takin discovered their whereabouts however, Nevets and Beatrice, not
wishing to bring least harm to Marko’s family, secretly took flight once again.
Properly disguised, they secured a passage in a merchant ship that was about to
depart. After an arduous, long trip, they disembarked (went ashore, arrived in
port) at a remote small island, sparsely populated with a three separate indigenous
(ethnic, local) group, totalling less then two hundred, that lived in separate
shacks (huts, cabins) within three villages, located at walking distance from
each other, on the island. They were agrarian (farming) communities, with
strange vernacular and alien customs, each village had a chieftain and a small
group of elders that kept order, but more importantly, they kept to themselves.
Remoteness of the island, furthermore, afforded
Nevets and Beatrice the anonymity and security they’d sought. Selling the
reminder of the jewels, they purchased a small portion of land on the island,
away from any settlement, alongside a creek, and then built a lovely pavilion
on it. Nevets tilled the surrounding fields until it blossomed with every kind
of fruit and vegetable. So successful were his agricultural ventures, Nevets
wrote a book about how to cultivate the land and published it under an assumed
name. Over time Nevets became renowned for his brilliant work and this,
unfortunately, came to the attention of the vindictive Duke Takin. Guessing who the author was and still hungry
for vengeance, he immediately dispatched armed guards to the island to capture
and kill the lovers.
Duke Takin's
soldiers came upon Nevets as he was working his fields and slew him.
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| 10- PICKNICKING IN THE FIELDS |
Beatrice, was carrying his lunch (midday-meal) in a covered basket, as they often picnicked in the fields; when she stumbled instead upon his corpse, determined to be with Nevets in death as she had been in life, she retrieved the knife from her basket that would have been used for slicing the bread, and plunged it deep into her heart. Thus, they both perished.
The small
white snake, “Precious Wan”, who was in fact The Dragon Longze, a long time ago
had violated a sacred Law of Heaven and was duly punished for half a century by
being stripped of some of his powers. Longze, in that period was reincarnated as
mortal in various forms. He had,
nevertheless, persevered through these ruthless, evil ordeals and torments, endured
myriad trials and tribulations, felt most anguished pain, experienced innumerable
deep loss and lived though unbearable sorrows. He had with stoicism (fortitude,
grit) survived all these and, just at the cusp (brink, end) of his sentence, on
that terrible afternoon in the form of a little white snake he had yet again faced,
imminent, ignoble end. Fortunately for him, however, he was rescued by Beatrice
and since then, in addition to his eternal gratitude, he had carried a special
fondness for this rare, compassionate mortal being.
Once his punishment
had ended and his immortal state restored, he had since then quietly dwelled (resided)
at the bottom of the lake Taho. Nevertheless, having never forgotten her
kindness and the debt of gratitude he owed her, he had from time to time, through
his magic mirror, keenly observed his once benefactor Beatrice, watching her
grow up and turn into an enchanting beauty. Unfortunately, her fated life being
precarious (turbulent) and grave, he’d with sadness overwhelming him, observed
her unjust suffering and many misfortunes. He’d naturally wished to appeal her
case in Heavenly court, but was deterred from his aim each time by the caring, friendly Gods and immortals- for he was actually well
liked, despite his rebel nature or perhaps because of it- who’d reminded him of Supreme God’s stringent (inflexible, rigid) stand
when it came to Celestial (Cosmic) Laws and the non-interference clause (article,
law) pertaining to the destiny of myriad mortal beings.
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| 11- DRAGON LONGZE WATCHES |
Once, however, observing the lover’s desperate flight, he’d dared to act recklessly, and assisted their escape from the clutches of death, by manifesting the miasma; it was a small-scale help, hoping as he did, it would go unnoticed by Heaven. And luckily for him it had.
Though, his
unruly nature often gnawed at him to interfere and set things right by them, his
own precarious position, being on probation had curtailed him thus far, from another
serious breach (violation) of Heavenly Law.
On that faithful
day though, having witnessed Nevets and Beatrice’s plight and ultimately, their
tragic demise, moreover, their undying love and devotion towards each other to the
very end, he could no longer stand idly by and do nothing.
One more
violation, he’d been
warned, and he would be imprisoned in a cave for all eternity.
Regardless
of the consequence, the infuriated Longze, yet again braving the terrible wrath
of Heaven, contravened; and this time, because his success depended on speed,
before he could be stopped, moving at lightening speed, he’d intentionally violated
(breached, disobeyed) another most sacrosanct (sacred, inviolate) Divine law:
Longze in his mighty Dragon form, soared upwards
from the churning, foamy waters of the deep lake, to shot through the sky stopping
only when he reached the moon’s surface. There, he snuck into the palace of the
Moon Goddess and swiftly stole the little porcelain bottle containing two magic
elixirs. He removed the cap of the small bottle, tilted the mouth and dropped
the two pearly pills into his palm.
Back on earth
and in his human form, squatting beside each of the corpses, tilting their head
back, Beatrice first and then Nevets’s, one after the other, he pried (forced) open
their mouth and then fed them the immortal elixir pills, making sure it went down
their throat.
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| 12- LONGZE REVIVES THEN TRANSFORMS THE LOVERS INTO MANDARIN DUCKS |
Next, he blew his cool breath encapsulating Nevets and Beatrice in luminous miasma, at which point, the two corpses instantly transformed into colourful, immortal Mandarin Ducks. He reverted to his dragon form, gently picked them up, cradling them within his clows and flew over the mighty lake Taho, then at some distant, secluded safe spot, he gently released the grip and deposited them onto the water. The two Mandarin Ducks can still be seen today, always together, playfully circling each other and happily riding the gentle undulating waves of the Taho lake.
The End.
NOTE: What
befell Lonze? Here’s a hint: Check the earlier post about LONGZE.
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| 13- lONGZE IS PUNISHED |
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