Shortlisted
The Azalea of Hope
Wendy Ko, G
he Warring states period had just ended; Qin had just demolished the Zhao kingdom. A tremendous
famine broke out in the capital. Amidst the ruins was a piece of land blooming with azalea. They were
planted by two families, the Ma’s and the Tang’s. Ma’s daughter Jade and Tang’s son Ray were lovers.
They swore to hold on to each other until the last moment. Jade loved the azalea and she refused to
leave home. Food became scarce, people fled. One day Jade was so starved she nearly fainted when she was
pruning the azalea. Seeing this Ray insisted that they should leave to seek for food. Jade brought a pot of azalea
with her.
roup 2: Fiction, Pui Kiu College
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They went into the forest. Ray helped Jade settle under a canopy so he could hunt for food; however, neither
a trace of grasshopper nor ant could be found. Realising he had drifted too far from Jade, Ray began his trip
back.
‘
Jade!” He called softly. But there was no response except for the soft pound of fallen leaves. “Jade!” He
called out in a panic. He sprinted towards the place where he last saw her. Jade was leaning her head on a rotten
trunk, scarlet mushrooms scattered around her skirt. Jade’s lips and cheeks, once as pink and perfect as a
summer morning, were now paler than ever.
“
Hang on Jade!” Ray croaked, fighting back his tears. Jade’s eyes, deep as the sea, were filled with tears.
“
The immortal pill,” exclaimed Ray. “The legend of the immortal pill! Jade, quick, I shall go to the capital!”
The Immortal Pill was made especially for Emperor Qin. To prevent people from stealing the pill, they
made a lot of forgeries. Ray was determined to steal it. He was confident their everlasting love would touch the
gods and lead them to the correct pill.
Ray entered the gates of Qin’s palace disguised as a chemist and convinced the guards that he was to
examine the pills. As he entered the brightly lit room, Ray immediately smelt a scent so overwhelming that he
nearly fainted. Inside the chest was the Immortal Pill, with the distinct smell of daffodils, divided into halves.
Soldiers were nearing, and Ray could only grasp half of the pill and flee. Ray returned to Jade; together they
reached a path that led to the ruins of the Zhao Kingdom when poor Jade collapsed from exhaustion. Her eyes
turned from grey to coal black. Ray stroked her silky dark hair that was as shiny as chestnuts, he soothed her
with loving words. Her eyes sunken; her body frail. Tears rolled down Ray’s cheeks, he could hear the tapping
footsteps of the soldiers, “Go!” Jade whispered, with her remaining strength, and closed her eyes. Ray saw that
there was no point in staying near her, and hid in a nearby village, carrying the pot of azalea.
Jade and Ray’s love had touched the gods; the gods sent a fairy to save Jade. When Jade recovered
consciousness, she saw a maiden gazing at her, the fairy fed her a pill, which would allow her to fall into a deep
sleep for two thousand years, and then she would wake and be rescued. The fairy told Ray to take the pill if he
wanted to see his lover again.
* * *
Ray had already lived for a hundred years; the azalea lost the glamour it once had, Ray found no meaning in
his life without his lover, and seeing the Great Wall cover Jade’s body made him feel worse. Now he couldn’t
even bury her body, Ray felt despondent; he was adamant that he was going to end his life. It was just then
when the gods sent a fairy to deliver a message:
Sun rises, sun sets,
From where the mighty emperor rests,
His Army will rise from the ash,
Revelations lie in the glare.
Ray was perplexed; this was already the Han Dynasty and Qin’s Army would never appear again! He
searched across the country, but there wasn’t any sign of Qin’s Army. He was about to give up hope and was
digging himself a grave when something pricked him sharp. He dug deeper and discovered it was a spear, not an
ordinary spear but one made of clay! Ray’s curiosity made him dig deeper and deeper, his clothes were dirty,
and he was exhausted, but he kept digging, and soon he saw a warrior figure. The azalea blossomed. Ray finally
realised that he shouldn’t lose faith in pursuing love. What he saw before his eyes was Qin’s Army reborn - the
Terracotta Army. Suddenly, a bright blue light shot out of the pit, “This must be it,” he thought, “The Blue
Diamond Eye of his Majesty’s Horse.”
Carefully Ray plucked the diamond out, and on the horse’s socket a riddle was delicately carved: