Or to Push a Duck into a River
Yu Ziyuan watched as the ribbons of steam rising from her cup of tea fluttered weakly in the light breeze coming off the river. Though it was late summer, the lotuses were still in bloom, a carpet of pink over their murky wet domain. In the distance she could see her son and ward sparring on the training field, her daughter off to the side, watching and waiting for them to finish to offer them tea as well. The pastries served with Ziyuan’s tea were made specially by Yanli and generously brought to her by her handmaidens before they retreated to allow the Madame space to relax. It truly was a picturesque scene though it filled her with a sense of melancholy. She remembered, as a girl in Meishan Yu, watching an elderly couple with their grandchild; the grandparents swiftly lifted and lowered the toddler repeatedly as they recited a cute, rhythmic chant. The youngster squealed with unrestrained laughter as he delightedly begged to go again. She had been truly fascinated by the game, even going as far as to recite and memorize the chant under her breath. Sadly, she never used her knowledge of it when her children were young, and now, they were already old enough to go on night hunts.
As she contemplated this lost opportunity, she noticed a male mandarin duck swim close to her pavilion, a perfect lotus blossom in his beak. She watched him from the corner of his eye swim up and valiantly hop up onto the pier, before waddling up to her. She spared him a glance, a soft smile creeping a little into the corner of her mouth.
“Hello Husband,” she greeted softly.
The duck bowed to her before presenting its courting gift, the flower, which she took and placed upon the tea tray. The duck preened slightly at her acceptance. As a thought occurred to her, she turned a speculative eye upon him again. The duck watched her adoringly, patiently waiting for her to speak. Action decided, she gave her husband only a warning to remain still.
Carefully cupping his seemingly fragile body in her steady hands, she raised the docile duck to eye level. Then, after a surreptitious glance around to make sure no one was looking, she quickly and very quietly sang, “Jugaogao, jugaogao, jugaojugaojugaogao,” while lifting and dropping her hands, her husband gently cradled within, following the beat of the chant.
Satisfied, she placed her husband down, his feathers still fluffed in shock, and swept away to join her maids. It was time for her to lead the disciples in training. Behind her, Fengmian reverted into human form, face bright red, and frozen for the next several hours. Though, for the rest of the day, he could be seen with a permanent joyful expression. It didn’t even diminish when, later, Ziyuan pushed him off the pier for attempting to bring the incident up.