The Hidden Secret
Chan Oi Yan Michelle, Group 4: Fiction, Belilios Public School
he ball of fire is burning up high in the sky and sweat is flowing down my cheek like raindrops; I sit on
a mossy bumpy rock stairs, staring absent-mindedly at the scrawl ‘You’re not a true man until you get
to the Great Wall!’ in the corner.
A few days ago near the famous Great Wall, someone found a golden hair pin, which has a
phoenix on the head of a long fine pin that has meticulous craving on it. Later the hair pin turned out to
be made during the period of Warring States (
戰國時代
),
so the entire team of archaeologists goes there in high
spirits, hoping to find some praiseworthy and valuable antiques.
However, after all the hard works and sweating, all I found were pieces of pottery bowls that had a mark-
ing ‘Made in China’ printed at the bottom. I’m starting to lose the passion I have in archaeology and doubt the
decision of being an archaeologist with all these frustration and disappointment.
All of a sudden, a flash of dazzle in the bushes down the slope caught my eyes. A sense of mystery rush to
my heart, I follow down the narrow rocky path cautiously, the rocks are wavering under my feet, and the birds
are chirping loudly, creating echo between the trees. My legs are trembling violently; I grab the strong coarse
branch for support and reach to the bushes.
Under emerald leaves, a bronze box with a golden dragon that emerges on the top reveals, glimmering in
the shadow of the lofty trees. I tried to open it, but it seems to be locked. There’s a dent in shape of a bird, im-
mediately I think of the hair pin and put it into the dent. A tickling sound is heard, and under curiosity, I open
the lid.
Instead of sumptuous jewelries and jades, a large pile of wrinkled paper that has turned yellow is lying in
the box. I take out fragile papers carefully in gloves, as if they would turn into ashes in a blink of time. Words
were neatly written on the papers and are tightly packed together. I bring out the glasses and started reading
it……
******************************************************
Dear people who have found this,
It might be your luck to unearth this letter, to discover the secrets behind the story that we are all familiar
with. And now, I guess it is time for the secrets to be revealed.
I was the daughter of the minister of Empire Qi (
齊國
),
I was raised in a wealthy and well-educated family,
I was highbred and beloved. Every day, I was waited on by dozens of maids, life seemed to be so wonderful and
blessed. Until that day came, the day that I would always remember…
“
Knee down!” screamed the palace eunuch in a high-pitched voice, “Emperor’s edict: Daughter of the
minister, Meng Jiang Lian, fifteen year-old, shall replace the Princess of Qing Lian to marry to the crowned
prince of Empire Qin (
秦國
)
to maintain the peace between the two countries”
How could I marry to the place of barbarians! I cried and begged my father, but I knew there’s no use be-
cause that would be revolting the Emperor’s demand. Before I went into the sedan chair, father grabbed my
hands and choked in tears, “This is your fate, daughter, your scarification will save millions of lives!”
As the sedan chair pounded up and down swiftly, my heart beat along with it. I lifted up the curtain and
realized that we were passing the Great Wall. The sky was dark and rumbling, the air smelled muddy and drizzle
was blown by the soft wind into my face. People in worn-out clothes were repairing the fifth part of the Great
Wall; men in different age were carrying the bulky stones, their faces were covered in slurry and they were as
skinny as beanpoles, staring at me in hungry eyes.
I panicked and put down the curtain forthwith, my hands became icy cold and my fingers twisted with the
pale pink handkerchief. I closed my eyes; I couldn’t imagine what was going to happen to me.
Finally, I arrived at the house of the crowned prince and was being informed that the Emperor would
summon me to the palace the next day. I looked around me, almost everything in the room shone; the pattern on
the girders was emerged with fine lines of metallic gold, the sewing on the pillows and the blanket was in the
colour of goldenrod, even the cakes were decorated with gold dust.
But then I thought of the unbearable scene at the Great Wall, my body shuddered with fear, and it stirred
up something in my gut. No! I couldn’t stay in this place, this was a deception, and I would be the one who de-
termine my own destiny! So I messed up all the things in the room, ruined every breath-taking decoration and
spoiled the flamboyance, just to mislead the others that I was being abducted.
When the sky was slowly engulfed by the lonesome darkness, I held my breath and crept to the doorway.
Through the huge gate, I could see the Great Wall, it’s no longer as frightening as it was in day-time, and in-
T