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Chapter 2: The Strange Day
It was the day after Da Quian’s friends had come over for the evening meal, and Da Quian was still asleep. But I wasn’t. I was lying down in my bed, thinking about what I could do with my life rather than waste it with Da Quian. I was afraid that I would never get out of this place.
“Mei!” Obviously, Lord Da Quian had awaken.
I ran downstairs to him and his extremely thunderous mouth.
But he was still in his bedroom, and he told me I was not allowed in his quarters.
“Yes, my Lord?” I inquired, careful not to step in.
“Ah, Da Mei, come in!” he said; had he lost his mind?
“Yes, my Lord?”
“I want you to paint me a picture,” he said. “A picture of a cherry tree.”
“But Lord Da Quian!” I objected. “I do not paint very well.”
“I didn’t say it had to be a good picture.” He smiled. He was never as carefree and easy on me as this.
“Yes, my Lord,” I said, bowing my head. “I will do as you command.”
“Call me Da Quian,” he said. “Mei, I am sorry for my behavior yesterday. It was wrong.” His mood had changed from what seemed like he had lost his mind to a very solemn and serious mood.
“You are forgiven.”
He smiled, then laid his head back and closed his eyes. I walked out of his room, surprised and confused. He had never apologized before.
I went upstairs to the room where he kept the paint, brushes, and scrolls to paint on.
I took hold of five colors: green for grass, brown for the trunk, red and white to mix for the cherry blossoms, and blue for the sky.
I then grasped a scroll and two brushes, one thick and one thinner to do details.
I went to my quarters and sat down on one of the seats he had gotten me. And then I began painting.
The grass had begun to look more like grass than a multitude of green lines. I dipped the brush in water to get rid of the green. And then I painted the trunk of the tree. I cleaned the brown off of the brush. I mixed red and white to make the soft pink color of a cherry blossom next. The sky, with clouds, finishes the painting Lord Da Quian asked for.
It took two long hours, but as I look at the painting, it makes me feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. It has made me feel as if I am worth something.
“Mistress Da Mei?” asked one of my Lord’s servants.
“Yes, Shu Lan, it is I,” I respond. “What is the matter?”
“Nothing, Mistress, but Lord Da Quian has instructed you to get ready,” he replied. “And then he wants you to show him the painting if it is ready.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes, Mistress.”
“Well, then, thank you,” I said, and he bowed humbly. “I will be down in a moment.”
I washed myself and then put on my kimono. It was grass green and was decorated with cherry blossoms that were sewn into the silk.
“Mei!” called Da Quian. “Are you dressed yet, my dear?”
My dear? He was treating me like a queen. But I didn’t understand it at all.
I walked to the dining area, with the painting in my hand.
“Lord Da Quian,” I said, bowing humbly. “I have brought you the painting you requested.”
He took it from my hand and observed it closely. “Did you forget to tell me that you did not know how to paint?” he asked angrily.
“But my Lord! You said it did not have to be good.”
“Ha! Do you think you could fool me with your lies?”
“I am not lying, Lord Da Quian,” I insisted. “I would not lie to you.”
“Perhaps you would!”
“No, my Lord, I would not! Especially about a simple painting such as this!”
At this, Da Quian’s hand raised high, and before I could think, it struck my cheek. Hard.
“Insolence is not accepted!”
“My Lord, why did you strike me?” I choked and coughed and sputtered, and tears came streaming down the cheek that he had struck so
hard.
“Shut up!” he demanded. “I will have no more talk!”
“I will have no more mistreatment!” I said, not being able to think before I spoke. And again, his hand met my other cheek with great force.
I could not take it anymore. I ran to my quarters and locked the door with speed that I never thought I possessed.
“Mei, you get back here this instant!” he yelled, but I was not going to turn around. It was like being a pig led to slaughter willingly.
I sat down on my bed, thinking about what I could do. Escape from here was not an option. How could I make a living? How could I get enough money to put anything on the table? An unmarried woman was practically worthless.
How I longed to go back to my home! No rule of the Wu dynasty, and a peaceful living.
“What am I going to do?” I said, crying and burying my face in the sheet that was on the bed. “I cannot get out of this place! This…this…horrible, wretched place!”
And there I sat, sad and confused, hoping that some idea would just come into my brain, but I knew that the chances of that happening were slim.
“Mei!” thundered my Lord angrily. “Open the door this instant!”
I mustered up the courage to stand up to him. “No.” I fought back my tears. “You will only hurt me further!”
After a while, I finally heard footsteps. He had left. I opened the door slightly, peaking out. He was gone.
I let out a sigh of relief and closed the door back up.
All over a ridiculous painting, my pale cheeks had taken on a dark purplish blue color.
And, I don't think that second coma is needed.
