Chapter 2 — Phuong Hoa Van Thien

6 “In the phoenix clan, you are still just a baby bird.” - he smiled slightly, then suddenly changed the subject - "Do you want to go to the Western Buddhist country? I heard that there is very delicious Bodhi fruit there." I was immediately enticed, my eyes bright: "I want it!" The Western Buddha country was covered in a piece of golden light, and in the air there was a sound of breaking sound as if it were nothing. When we arrived, we happened to encounter Bodhisattvas chanting sutras in unison. “The Emperor came at just the right time.” – Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva held the vase in his hand, smiled slightly and nodded – “This little donor is…” “My little phoenix.” - The Emperor responded very naturally, even holding me up above his head - "Take her out to expand her knowledge." I noticed that when he uttered the words 'mine', several Bodhisattvas glanced at each other, their eyes carrying some profound meaning. "I heard that the true body of the Phoenix is incomparably beautiful," - Manjushri Bodhisattva gently spoke - "isn't it possible that today we will be able to admire it?" I raised my eyes to look at the Emperor. He just nodded very slightly. So I turned around and transformed back into my original form - a small phoenix with bright red and gold feathers, a long tail shining with light, and under the Buddha's light it was even more brilliant and dazzling. The Bodhisattvas simultaneously praised. After transforming back into human form, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva suddenly said: "Have you ever been to Mirror Duyen Son? There is a Tam Sinh Mirror there, which can reflect past lives and past lives." My eyes lit up: "Really? Emperor, can we go see?" The Emperor's expression paused for a moment, but in the end he nodded: "If you want, then let's go." Mirror Duyen Son is covered in fog all year round. On the top of the mountain is a giant bronze mirror, the mirror frame is engraved with complex runes. "I heard that just by standing in front of the mirror, you can see your past lives, along with..." - I eagerly ran forward, then suddenly confused, "with what?" “Together with your destined person.” – The Emperor slowly continued. I couldn't wait anymore, so I immediately stood in front of the mirror. 7 The mirror surface was initially quiet as usual, gradually rippled with waves, then appeared a little elf with transparent wings, dancing in the middle of a brilliant flower garden. “Is this my past life?” – I approached in surprise, my eyes shining – “So adorable!” “So you were a little elf in your past life.” – The Emperor gently stroked my hair. “What about… that certain person… my destined person?” The image changed, only a blurry mist was seen, human silhouettes appeared and appeared, but no matter what, the face could not be seen clearly. “That's strange, why can't you see clearly?” – I tiptoed, almost sticking my face in the mirror. Behind me came the low voice of the Emperor: "Because the time has not yet come..." I looked back and suddenly noticed that his expression was different. In the mirror, his silhouette and the mist briefly overlapped each other, strangely and incomprehensibly. “Your Majesty, what do you see?” – I asked curiously. He suddenly reached out and pulled me away from the mirror: "Let's go home." Going down the mountain, he remained silent. I secretly observed his profile and saw his eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if he was pondering something important. “Isn't the Emperor happy?” – I gently pulled his sleeve. He stopped walking, raised his hand to tuck the tangled hair on my cheek behind my ear: "No. Just thinking... where to find your refuge next." “Actually… I can't even find it Star." – I blurted out, “Having the Emperor is enough. But… I also want to meet you once.” 8 The human world is warmer and warmer than Heaven, and carries with it a distinct smell of fire and smoke. I lie down on the Emperor's cloud head, my nose sniffling continuously. “Gourd candy! Baked potatoes! Emperor, can you smell it? It's so fragrant!” The Emperor helplessly pressed down on the wiggling little hand: "Let's find your mother first." Following the aura, we stopped in front of a splendid mansion, the sign on the gate had three words: 'Phoenix Residence'. In front of the door were two handsome young guards standing guard. The corner of the Emperor's mouth twitched slightly: "This style... is indeed your mother's." As soon as he entered the yard, laughter rang like a silver bell. Passing through the hallway, the scene before his eyes made the Emperor's face instantly turn black like the bottom of a pot. My body leans against a soft tower covered with brocade, on either side are two handsome men. One person offered grapes to his mouth, the other person massaged his feet. There were five or six handsome men around with different styles, some strumming the guitar, some pouring wine, some waving fans. “My… my dear?” – my voice trembled. The beauty on the tower heard it, immediately raised her head, her red and golden phoenix eyes glittered, then suddenly jumped up: "My child!" She flew like the wind, but when she was about three steps away from the Emperor, she stopped and forced a smile: "Ah ha ha... The Emperor is here too..." The Emperor's face was darker than coal. The lady's eyes glanced back and forth between me and him, suddenly flashing with an expression of sudden awakening: "My child, you and the Emperor... ran away together?" “Phew—” Blue veins appeared on 9 Emperor's forehead: “What nonsense are you talking about! It was your daughter who said she missed you, so I specifically sent her to find her." My mother patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief: "Threatened me to death, I thought the Emperor was looking for me to settle the debt from thirty years ago." She pulled me to her side and squeezed my cheeks: "Good child, why are you still so small? The Emperor won't let you eat enough? “You ate a lot!” – I retorted, "You still consider Lao Quan's fairy pills as candy to chew!" The Emperor coughed softly: "Since I've found you, let her stay with you for a while." The lady's smile suddenly stopped: "Ah? This..." The Emperor just glanced, his mother immediately stood straight: "No problem! Absolutely no problem!” “The Emperor… is about to leave?” – I suddenly felt that the gourd candy in my mouth was no longer sweet. He bent down, reached my eye level, and took out a ring encrusted with stars from his sleeve: "There are a few small things in here, when you get bored you can take them out and play with them." I received it and discovered that it was a small world, filled with heavenly treasures and strange treasures, even richer than the treasures of Heaven I had ever seen. “And this.” - His fingertips lightly touched my eyebrow, a golden light entered my body - "If there is danger, I will immediately know." Next to her, the mother whispered softly: "Isn't this just stuffing half of the Heavenly Court for her..." The Emperor stood up straight, looked at me for the last time, suddenly bent down and hugged me. In his arms, it was as warm as jade, with a faint scent of sandalwood. “You must listen.” – he whispered in my ear, then turned into a golden light and disappeared into the horizon. I touched the ring that still had some warmth, and my eyes suddenly welled up a layer of bitterness. "Tsk tsk..." - the lady shook her head, leaned closer to me and smiled with her eyes - "Son, are you the most difficult person to deal with in the three worlds?" “Come on, come on.” - she stretched out her arms to hug my shoulder - "Don't show that abandoned little puppy look. Let's go, take care of yourself and lead your child to develop what is called a true free life!" She turned around and waved at the group of male pets behind her: "Disperse everyone! Today my daughter is the oldest!" 10 In an instant, one hundred and thirty years have passed. I squatted on the tiled roof of the new house in Thanh Khe town, counting the number of days my mother left home again - seventeen days and three hours. “Are you running away again?” – I munched on pastries stolen from the market, watching the last remaining sunset among the mountains in the distance. This time she left a note, telling her to go to Nam Hai to find a pearl that can sing. Under the eaves, the neighbor's aunt's voice was heard mumbling: "Whose daughter would climb onto the roof like that! There's no way..." I stuck out my tongue and made a ghost face, then somersaulted around and landed on the ground. What mother said is right, the human world really has many rules. Compared to when I first came to earth one hundred and thirty years ago, I have become much more restrained - at least I will no longer blatantly sprout a phoenix tail in the middle of the street to scare children. Upon entering the house, I kicked several brocade bags scattered on the ground. They were all "small toys" that the Emperor gave to them in the past, but now they are more than half gone. Mother once exchanged alcohol, gambled, and even bought a horse that was said to have unicorn blood—the next day it knocked her straight into the river. "Son, if the Emperor gives it to you, just use it. If you don't use it, it's a waste." – she said that every time, then stuffed candy into my mouth to block my objections. I bent down to pick up a brocade bag embroidered with crystal patterns. In the past, it once contained a jewel that summoned the water of Thien Ha, now only a few grains of sand remain. One hundred and thirty years —— enough for a little phoenix to grow up, and enough for memories to fade. Once, I cried and wanted to go to Heaven to find the Emperor. Finally, my mother couldn't bear it anymore, so fifty years ago she took me to Nam Thien Mon. The heavenly general guarding the gate said: The Emperor has gone on an expedition to the foreign region, and the return date has not been set yet.