SHAN AND THE GOLDEN BOX

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ISBN- 978-1-913961-44-2

© Press Dionysus 2024

Cover design: S.Deniz Akıncı & Özlem Meriç Akıncı (Shirisa Saya)

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Copyright © 2024 by PRESS DIONYSUS.

SHAN

AND

THE GOLDEN BOX

Sophie Auguste

I dedicate this book to Danielle Ojoga, my mother, whose presence is dearly missed in every passing moment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sophie Auguste, originally from Belgium, completed her studies in Modern Languages in London. She has experience teaching English and French to various age groups.

Recognising her interests and passions in health and psychology, she pursued a career in homeopathy and later expanded her knowledge and skills to become a therapist. Her commitment to these fields shows her dedication to helping others achieve mental and physical well-being.

‘Shan and the Golden Box’ is her first novel.

CONTENTS

A most unusual meeting

The tale of Master Ho

Monday at the palace

Princess Ting

Song Taizu’s bride-to-be

The following Monday at the palace

Song Taizu’s secret plan

Princess Ting’s worries

Shan in disguise

Master Hui’s special mission

Tragedy strikes in the palace

Master Hui’s Journal

Shan’s letters

Master Hui goes back to China

The Masters are Debating

At Harissa Primary School

At Aarush’s

School Trip to the Temple

At Jeevan’s

The Masters Draw Up a Plan

On the Way to Shimla

At the Buddhist monastery

Another Letter from Shan

Let the Truth Be Told

Rebellion at the monastery

Monk Power

On the way to Shimla town

The Boarding School

The Headmaster

In the Coming Dusk

Breakfast at the School

In the Garden by the Pool

Anya

A Surprise Guest

Friday in the Temple

A Dark Figure

At 3 am in the Temple

No one Will Sleep Tonight

In the Conference Room

Revelations

Decision Time

Home Sweet Home

It’s Time to Celebrate!

A most unusual meeting

The minibus was raising a lot of dust on the dirt road leading to Master Huddyn’s bungalow. The driver slammed on the brakes and the nine old men travelling on board nearly fell off their seats. They got off, single file, each wearing an ankle length brown tunic of coarse fabric, and leather sandals. Long white hair cascaded down their backs, and fluffy beards reached their navels.

They paid the driver and started to walk. A few bungalows were scattered on either side of the path.

It’s here, it’s here, Master Alfonso said, jumping up and down, I recognise the house; this one is Master Huddyn’s. The windowsills of the bungalow that stood in front of them were laden with blue poppies and marigolds.

All right, Master Afonso, Master Ho bristled, calm down or you’ll make my blood pressure go up.

The Italian master froze on the spot. That Chinese master might be a herbalist and yoga teacher like all of them, but he was the biggest killjoy in the whole wide world.

Go on, then, my friend, Master Kosta from Greece said, knock on the door. He’s expecting us.

Master Ho knocked three times tentatively.

Louder, Master Ho, louder, or he will hear nothing. The Greek master stepped in, banging on the door with a strong fist, and soon the door opened to reveal the Indian master. Master Huddyn smiled warmly at his guests. Do come in, my friends. I was just putting the tea to brew, green tea and cherry blossom, my favourite. The Greek master made a face, for the only hot drink he drank was Greek coffee. However, this time, he’d have to compromise.

Master Huddyn led them through his immaculate living room, white walls, white sofa, and into the garden. Let’s sit here in the Indian late morning sun, my dear friends. I’ll fetch the tea.

The old men sat cross-legged on the grass in a full moon shaped circle.

I’m starving, said Master Olivier from Québec, I had to skip breakfast, you see, Master Stéphane. He was talking to the Belgian master.

Skipping breakfast is very bad for our health, Master Stéphane nodded, especially at our age.

Well… I’m only 72, Master Stéphane. I’m not that old!

72? Oh, you must be one of our youngest masters. I’m 85 springs but I am very fit for my age, very fit.

Must be the Belgian waffles? Or the chocolate?

The chocolate. Definitely. Dark chocolate contains a lot of iron. Iron makes you strong.

Master Huddyn reappeared pushing a trolley with the jasmine tea in a fuchsia teapot and ten assorted ceramic cups. There was no food in sight.

Our younger masters are going to help you, Master Ho declared sententiously.

A few masters sprang to their feet: Master Olivier and Master Kosta, Master Boris from Russia, and Master François from France. The other ones well into their nineties remained put.

You wouldn’t happen to have some snacks to go with the tea? asked Master Theo from Benin. He had the roundest figure of them all and was as tall as a tree.

No, Master. Regular meals and no snacking, that’s the key to a long and healthy life.

The ceramic cups were filled with jasmine tea and laid on the grass next to each master. When each cup had been filled and the youngest masters sat once more on the grass cross-legged, the Chinese master stood up.

My dear friends and colleagues, I have a long tale to tell you. This tale is about a Chinese woman whose life and fate were most unusual. This tale has been kept secret by my predecessors for a hundred years! It has fallen upon me, my dear friends, to recount this tale today, because she decided that her story should be revealed now, on this very day of this very year.

The tale of Master Ho

The Chinese master sat down. He gazed at his colleagues to make sure he had their full attention. He then began gravely, "Once upon a time, in the Forbidden city, lived the future emperor of China ‘Song Taizu’. He was almost seventeen when his father, his Imperial Majesty Wuwang, died. He never knew his mother because, tragically, she died after giving birth to him. His heartbroken father never married again, and Song Taizu remained an only child.

Before he was to be proclaimed the new emperor, Song Taizu received a visit from several tailors. The one favoured by him was to make the finest robe for the enthronement ceremony. One of the tailors came with his daughter, Shan. She was the same age as the future emperor. Shan was thin and elegant with a pale complexion and coal black hair. Out of respect for the future emperor, she always had to keep her eyes down in his presence. Song Taizu became instantly captivated by the sweet triangular face with a cherry-like mouth. Her forehead was shadowed by a thick fringe, and she had two long plaits falling on either side of her small bosom.

Song Taizu was expected to choose, with the help of his advisors, which tailor to appoint. Shan’s duty was to carry the different costumes that her father would proudly exhibit to the soon-to-be Chinese emperor. Song Taizu decided very quickly which tailor he wanted, but he took a very long time to decide on the garment.

As Shan was bringing one of the costumes closer to him, she looked at him for a tiny second, breaking the rule! And their eyes met. From then on, the future emperor of China fell madly in love with the tailor’s daughter and she with him. He appointed the tailor to be his private tailor in the hope he would meet Shan each time a fitting would be required.

***

After the ceremony, Song Taizu became the new emperor of China. He and his court lived in the Forbidden City, where no one was allowed to enter or leave, without special permission, signed by the grand councillor or by the emperor himself. So, here was Song Taizu, a seventeen-year-old, the new Chinese emperor, in love with a tailor’s daughter and not allowed to go as he pleased to visit the girl he loved. He decided to find out exactly what the rights and duties of the emperor of China were regarding marriage.

The emperor of China will marry a princess from one of our regions, pontificated his tutor.

And, what if, Honourable Cheng, the emperor of China falls in love with a normal sort of girl who lives in town? asked the young emperor.

The emperor of China is on no account allowed to marry such a girl.

Song Taizu sighed deeply. But his love for Shan was strong.

What happens to the emperor of China if he decides to go against the rule and marry the girl he likes?

The emperor of China will no longer be the emperor of China, Your Majesty. He will be expelled from the Forbidden City and left to fend for himself. He will always carry a great shame with him wherever his steps take him.

***

Another year went by and Song Taizu made a bold decision. He decided to go and visit Shan in secret. He longed for her to look at him without fear and to embrace her and whisper words of love in her ears. He chose one of the days he had fewer public duties and no lessons with his tutor. He disguised himself as one of the guards and, equipped with a pass signed by the emperor - by him! - he mounted one of the imperial horses and left the Forbidden City. He reached the girl’s house, dismounted, and knocked on the door. The tailor opened.

Your daughter’s presence will be requested next Monday at the palace for embroidery work, by order of the emperor. I am to meet her today and instruct her privately on what her duties will be.

The tailor, speechless, let the guard in.

"Could you leave