Opportunity

Qing Yang's heartbeat was beating fast, as fast as a horse running while chasing an animal that didn't want to lose its prey by the hunter, she felt the speed of her heartbeat as if it wanted to burst out of her chest cavity due to disbelief at what was written on the parchment in her hand.

She thought that being disrespectful towards the emperor would make the emperor make even more stringent rules, but the opposite happened. And she never thought that a wish that seemed like she would never get but now that desire she got although still uncertain but at least there is a opportunity. This is a challenge for her to prove herself that she can also get what other women have not been able to achieve so far.

Again, she was so happy that her eyes subconsciously watered because her vision was blurry and she was afraid of seeing the wrong thing, so she read once again the contents of the parchment.

'Shu Qing Yang, in appreciation of your passion and efforts in winning the dragon boat race. The dragon team won and took first place. For that as the only woman in the team and because of your bravery, the Emperor has blessed you as a scholar contestant which will be held in conjunction with the mooncake festival at the yellow palace.'

Still in disbelief what she felt, she's clutched the parchment to her chest. Her eyes were closed, tears running down her cold cheeks because the night breeze when she accompanied the emperor on the coast of the eastern sea was still felt.

'Father, I can finally go to school, I can become a scholar and prove to the emperor that women can also be students like other men' she murmured inwardly.

Her mind recalled the moment when she was a child, when her parents were still alive.

That morning the sky was clear, the fresh air was blowing lightly, caressing her little face which was red from having just finished rinsing her face with water and drying it with a small cloth prepared by her mother. Birds chirping in the trees. Natural music that she always listens to every morning, adds to the joy in the morning.

"Are you done Qing Yang?" asked her mother, who was standing behind her.

She gasped at the sound of her mother's voice because her attention to the sound of chirping birds was immediately disturbed. "Y-already mother" the answer stammered.

"Good, let's hurry because your father is waiting in front the house" her mother said while taking a small cloth from her hand. She stepped away from her mother, but her mother's voice sounded again behind her. "Don't forget to bring your lunch, I have prepared it, it's on the dining table" shouted her mother because she had already walked into the house.

"Okay mom" her voice was heard far inside the house by her mother. She sighed and shook her head with a small smile. Proud of her daughter that have grown smarter and obedient to her dan her husband.

In front of the house, she saw her father standing at the door waiting for her. Walking over to him, accepting her father's hand, the two of them walked away.

She accompanied her father to the forest looking for medicinal plants. The road they were on was steep and bushes grew to cover the path they wanted to walk. She walked very carefully because she didn't want to fall and hurt herself and become a burden to her father later. In addition to looking for medicinal plants, he still must carry her on his father's back.

She walked in front of her father. Sometimes her father would hold her hand when she wanted to climb a large boulder. And let go of her hand when the road is not dangerous.

Cheerfully she continued walking into the forest with her father. Every now and then she would glance at her father, holding her father's hand excitedly swinging it back and forth while smiling cheerfully. And her father replied with a smile too. They continued walking until they reached the middle of the forest.

Suddenly Qing Yang shouted. "Father, over there!" her hands pointing to one place, eyes sparkling and lips smiling broadly.

Her father looked where she was pointing and his face smiled widely then he lowered his body to level his face with Qing Yang's, caressing her cheeks which seconds later turned pink. "You're just getting smarter Qing Yang" her father's eyes looked into her eyes, proud of himself. He stood up, took her hand, and walked in the direction she was pointing at.

"You want to pluck it?" her father asked, his face looking down. Qing Yang replied by nodding her head, enthusiastic.

She approached the plant, her tiny hands clamped onto the plant and pulled it by the roots. She then turned to face her father while extending her hands holding the plant up, her face was very happy.

Her father smiled a little girl, he turned around with his back facing her, then he lowered his body so that the pot that he had carried on his back during the trip could be reached by her, and she gently placed the plant into the pot.

The two were busy looking for medicinal plants, an hour later the pot on her father's back was full. "Qing Yang, let's rest here," said her father to a boulder that was not too big but enough for the two of them to sit down, rest.

After sitting down, Qing Yang grabbed her bag which she had also been carrying on her back all this time. Putting it on her feet that cross with each other, untying the knot which revealed that the contents were lunch for the two of them, which her mother had prepared.

She took a bread sticking it out to her father "Here, dad" she smiled with her lips tightly shut.

Her father took the bread from her hand with a small smile. And they enjoyed lunch accompanied by the whispering sound of the branches gurgling in the wind.

In the middle of enjoying lunch, suddenly a scream was heard and then a thud was heard. The two spontaneously glanced towards the source of the sound on the right side of them sitting.

What was before them was a young man, his attire was simple yet elegant but not cheap either. Handsome face, unfortunately currently the face looks contorted in pain. His body fell forward in a position like a horse. He slowly turned around to sit up, raising both his hands. His brows furrowed at the sight of his injured palms. There were red spots on the clothes around his knees. It was clear, that blood had soaked his light blue clothes.