The Hidden Lover

April 16, 1403 -- My mother and I had just moved to the docks. I was immediately in love with our new home, it was surrounded by cherry blossom trees which I was promised would bloom each spring. Every morning, I woke up and could smell freshly caught fish, and I could hear the sailors yelling at one another. It was my fourteenth birthday, and my mother promised that she would surprise me with the greatest gift in the world. When I got up that morning I saw the cherry blossom trees, I heard the sailors calling to each other while unloading fish. One smell was different though, it was the smell of rice with fresh fish and herbal tea with sugar. Sugar was rare in China, at least where I lived. As I walked on the cold, dirt brick floor I couldn’t hold my excitement. In the kitchen I saw my mother wearing her good silk, with a pattern of blue and purple hummingbirds.

“Happy Birthday Na.” my mother screamed. If I didn’t tell you earlier, my name is Na Ying.

“I know this seems rude, but what is my gift?” I wondered.

“Well, I was going to tell you later today, but since you asked, Na, I have arranged for you to get married to a young man named Gao Yan.” my mother said with confidence.

My mothers face lit up with joy as she told me this news, rambling on about Gao. Motionless, I did not listen to a word she said, for I did not want to get married to a strange man. When I was finally able to move, I faked a smile and hugged her while I tried holding my tears back.

“You will marry Gao Yan in two years, once you are sixteen!” my mother said with excitement. I heard a knock at the door. As I walked toward the door I was nervous and scared, thinking it was my future husband. Opening the door, my hands felt cold, luckily though, it was not Gao Yang, it was my best friend, Zhi Fa, like my mother, her mother was a noble.

I welcomed her in and told her I needed to talk to her. “Well, me first” she said, “Happy birthday. Here you go, it’s your gift.” When I looked at the present in the blue cloth I saw it was a porcelain cup with the word fire and wind on it; that’s how Zhi thought of us, fire and wind. I thanked her and told her of the arranged marriage with Gao Yang, and I explained to her my fears.

It is now July 2, 1405. In the two years that passed, Zhi’s mother had died, I have turned 16 and was about to get married in a week to a man I have not met. “Ahhh!” I woke up screaming. I didn’t quite know why I screamed, but I knew it had to do with Gao.

“Zhi, what happened last night?” I asked

”You don’t remember, you started panicking about your marriage when your mother told you it will be another year until you meet Gao.” Zhi replied.

“ Another year! Why?” I exclaimed

“He is going on the Ming voyage.” Zhi said quietly.

My mind was racing. “Zhi, what is the Ming Voyage?” I asked nervously

“The Ming voyage is a trip to different countries to find treasures and trade with others.” Zhi replied. “Zheng He is going to travel all the way from China to Southeast Asia and then on to India.”

“Who is Zheng He?” I asked

“Zheng He is the man who is going to lead the Ming Voyage.” Zhi answered.

“But, I needed to meet him this week! Zhi, I have been waiting 2 years! I have cried thinking of how he could be. The least I ask for is closure of how he will be as a husband. What am I going to do now?”

I asked. I could feel the cold sweat on face and hands, that feeling that I can’t breath when I’m scared or nervous.

“You could sneak on to the boat!” Zhi yelled.

“Zhi, what are you thinking? I can't do that, it’s illegal! I could get executed.” I yelled .

“Do you have any better thoughts?” I questioned.

I was worried, and thought about it for a second. It would be easy to sneak on to the ship, there are 28,000 people who will be traveling. With all the hassle of getting ready for the journey, no one would notice me. Without thinking of the worst, I said that I was going to sneak on to the boat. With only a few days to prepare I brought what I thought I would need: some warm clothes, I brought my good hemp so it wouldn’t draw any attention, for the time I boarded I would wear my fathers old clothes made out of cotton, a journal with hemp waste paper that was soaked and washed, and some food that won’t go bad for a while like raw rice and potatoes. The ale or tea should be on the ship and when everybody is asleep, I would go and drink enough for the next day. Today my heart was pounding and I was having second thoughts about getting on the boat. I was hidden behind a tree, the wind started to pick up and sailors started boarding. The smell of salt was relaxing me, it helped me get the courage to sneak on to the ship.

“Last call for sailors!” the captain roared.

I walked in the crowd of tall men. When I got on the boat I immediately snuck to the storage cellar. In there, there was one light and fully stocked pantry of food. I would live there for the next year.

It has been three months and I have not seen my fiance. I have seen Southeast Asia, though it was the place we first stopped at where we traded silk and spices for gold. Each night, I was surprised that I was able to sneak ale. Four months later, during a storm the ship kept rocking back and fourth. When the storm passed I went to the cellar and fell asleep. I didn’t mind the hard floor anymore, and I was excited. Zheng He said that we were going to India. It would take another 3 weeks and that would be our last adventure. I fell asleep thinking of India, I was sad to be leaving this wonderful life. 3 weeks later we arrived at India the smell of spices flew across the air and it seemed as if the beautiful silk clothing had millions of colors. I followed the men and heard others talking about a road they will create. It would be called the silk road, where people could trade valuables. All the men stopped and they were talking to a man. After an hour, the men from China gave the people from India a barrel of silk for delicious spices. The journey was long to get back home, but when I did, I remembered that I still didn’t know anything about my husband. Knowing that I didn’t meet him I thought it was fate I didn’t get married to Gao, instead I traveled the world and I never was happier when I saw all the wonderful cultures, people, and their rituals. My life finally felt complete and I never regretted anything.