Blog 3 — Monkey

Dear Diary,

as I was looking for a man to marry, my eyes landed on a handsome man with diamond skin, silky hair and beautiful eyes. The idea of marrying him pleased me uncommonly, so I hit him with my embroidered ball as a sign that he was to be my husband.

The next minute, we heard a twittering of flutes and reed-organs. My parents came hurrying down from the hall, calling upon all the guests and visitors to join the wedding ceremony. A banquet was prepared and the whole thing passed in merry-making and drinking. Then my husband and I entered the bridal chamber. We were officially married!

Because of our marriage, my husband was made the Governor of Chiang-Chou. Everything felt perfect and everyone was happy. That was until we were crossing the Hung River to our new home where we were met by two ferrymen called Liu and Li.

Liu and Li seemed odd and suspicious, but I thought I was just thinking funny because of my pregnancy. To this day, the biggest mistake I have ever made was not trusting my instincts at that moment, because it resulted in my husband and his servants getting slaughtered right in front of my eyes. I have never been so terrified and heart-broken in my entire life. The image of my husband getting slaughtered still haunts me to this day.

Not only was my husband slaughtered right in front of me, but afterwards I was forced to come with Lui, otherwise he would have slaughtered me as he did to my husband and his servants. He even began impersonating my husband! I was so unbelievably disgusted by his presence that I could neither eat or sleep. Although my disgust was beyond words, I had no other option than to be with him because of my unborn child.

Many months later, a great lassitude seized me together with a sharp pain in my belly. I fell on the floor and gave birth to my son then and there. At that moment, a mysterious voice, that startled me a little, whispered into my ear, telling me that my son will one day be famous throughout the world! This voice also informed me that if Liu saw my child, he will certainly try to harm him, therefore, I must guard him with all my might. One thing that shocked me the most was when the mysterious voice told me that my husband is in the Dragon King’s care and that my son, husband and I would one day be reunited. I have never felt so happy and relieved in my entire life than when I heard that!

As soon as that monster, Liu, came back and saw my child, he ordered it to be slain. I knew that I had to do whatever I could to prevent that. I told him that it was too late in the day, but promised to throw him into the river early in the morning. Fortunately, he was again called away on urgent business the next day, so I knew that he would not be with me when I let my child go.

Before abandoning my son, I began praying and hoping for a miracle that may save my child. I then began questioning that if I reunited with him one day, how would I be able to recognize him? I then bit my finger and wrote a letter with my blood. I also thought of a heart-wrenching solution. I cut off part of his toe so that I can recognize him in the future. I then wrapped him in an inner garment and when no one was looking, I put him on the river where he began floating. The sound of his crying shattered my heart into a million pieces, but I knew that I did was must be done in order to protect him. And if you don’t know what happened with my son and I, keep on reading…