2. The Colorless Garden

The first rays of the sun touched the earth like the spring could never have made it better. Yin Yan City was peacefully nestled between the mountains of the Mianyang Mountains. The construction sites around the houses had almost disappeared and the construction work was as good as complete. After a cold winter, the first warm weeks came and in some places spring flowers were sprouting between rocks.

The spring came much earlier this year than last year. But that could only be fine with a person who was sneaking through the private rooms of the palace corridors. He stopped in front of a door and opened it as quietly as possible. Then he tiptoed across the room, where there was a large bed on the wall. One half was empty, but a sleeping figure lay on the other site.

The person who crept in smiled at this sight. He had got up very early that morning, always careful not to wake her up. Now after a while, he had come back and slipped over to the sleeping woman in the bed. He held his breath as he looked at the peahen. She was beautiful. Even when she was sleeping and he couldn't see her silver eyes. He leaned down gently and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Then he left the room quickly and quietly.

As soon as the door was closed the peahen began to blink and opened her eyes. With a comfortable moan, she turned on her other side and felt beside her. But the other side of the bed was empty.

She raised her head in surprise. The one who usually lay next to her every morning was no longer there. Instead, a piece of paper adorned the pillow.

Reluctantly, she took it and read: "I'm waiting for you in the south courtyard."

Still a bit sleepy, she rubbed her head and seemed to be a little confused. Otherwise he would never allow her to go into the south courtyard. But despite her doubts, she still trusted that he was serious and got out of the bed.

After putting on a fresh robe, she left the room and went down the corridors until she came to one of the many exits of the palace, which led into the south courtyard.

She screwed up her eyes when the bright morning light blinded her a little. As always, her world consisted of black and white colors only. Sometimes she cursed her color blindness, but other things in life balanced out that mistake.

As she walked down a gravel path, she kept looking around. He wanted to wait here for her, but where?

Her gaze fell forward. Otherwise, she was never allowed to come here. She hadn't asked him why. If he didn't want to say something, she never pushed him more.

She craned her neck. From here the path ran to a free area that had consisted of stone slabs months earlier. But now there was something completely different. She narrowed her eyes again to see it better.

A crunch behind her made her sit up and took notice. She was startled when two wings covered her eyes from behind.

But when she heard a gentle "good morning" and he snuggled against her back, she quickly calmed down.

"Good morning," she breathed back with a smile and clasped his wings on her face.

Then he turned her around and both looked at each other.

"Why so mysterious?" Yin-Yu asked and stroked the white lord's wings, which still held her at the waist.

Shen smiled. "Just wait. Close your eyes."

She did it. She trusted him blindly. Then he took her wing, turned her around again and led her down the path. She did her best not to be tempted to blink. He shouldn't be disappointed by her.

After a while he stopped, and she did the same.

He released her.

She persisted.

"Open them."

With tension, she opened her eyes and had to hold her wings over her beak.

They stood in a neat little square. All around stood stone sculptures of peacocks, finely cut trees in all sorts of shapes and between them either ornate gravel, which made beautiful patterns scattered in waves on the ground, or plants that had no flowers, it was still too cold for that, but even theirs leaves had wondrous patterns. A little further away there was a small bridge over an artificially created river and a small pond.

She was so caught up in the gaze that she barely felt his wings on her shoulders and he massaged them gently.

"Happy wedding day."

She turned to him. She still wasn't able to make a sound.

Smiling, Lord Shen came closer with his face. "Did you really think I'd forget our wedding day?"

"No, no," she said quickly. "I just didn't expect such a wonderful gift."

She let her gaze wander again as Shen waved his wing around. "The stones have no colors. Everyone should see everything as you can see it. Nobody should feel superior to you."

He pointed to a group of plants. "Even the flowers are special. As soon as they bloom, it is not the color that decides, but their shape. But you won't be able to admire them until summer. And in winter you can continue to enjoy the architecture of the sculptures and stone decorations."

Yin-Yu couldn't help but fall on his neck. The lord winced when he felt tears on his neck. She hugged him tightly.

The lord did not ask her to say "thank you", but she breathed it out from the bottom of her heart. "Thank you."

It was a while before they left the garden and returned to the palace. As soon as they arrived at one of the large halls, others were waiting for them there, too.

Yin-Yu was not particularly surprised when her children Xia and Sheng came up to her and gave her a warm hug.

"Congratulations!," they congratulated.

"Thank you," her mother replied with overcome by joy.

When they broke away from their hugs, the siblings came closer to their father. But with a somewhat reserved gesture.

"You too, father," Xia began. "We wish you all the best."

She bowed, while Sheng emulated her deeds. The white lord returned the bow and put his wings on each wing of them. It was still a little difficult for him to consider them as his children. He had only met them one year ago and were still like strangers to him at times. Still, he tried very hard to lock them into his heart.

"Many thanks," he said.

Actually, he hadn't intended to look so formal, but he just couldn't bring himself to hug them in front of others.

But the two siblings did not take offense that and stepped aside to give the other the opportunity to congratulate the couple, although there were not many. More precisely, only two, which consisted of Soothsayer and her great-nephew Ling.

Ling started and bowed respectfully. "I wish you a contented and happy life in this kingdom."

The married couple smiled gratefully, only Yin-Yu said a word. "Thank you very much for your loyal service."

Then the old goat came up to them and took a wing in each of them. "I wish you all the best for the future."

Shen raised his eyebrows. "Future?"

"It's just a saying," Ling added quickly.

His great-aunt nodded gratefully to him. But that doesn't necessarily calm Shen. It wasn't lost on him how tight she had squeezed his wing when she uttered these words.

"Is anything…?"

But the goat just smiled at him.

"Just make the best of your life," she added hastily, and let go of them. "I think you have a lot to talk about today."

"Why so?" Yin-Yu wanted to know.

"Well," Shen began. "Because today is a special day for us, we will spend the whole day alone together."

"Alone?"

"Except tonight. There will be a nice firework display to crown the day."

He took her wings in his and looked at her as if he was expecting something from her. "And?"

She looked at him questioningly. "What?"

Now the peacock seemed confused and inclined his head. "Well, I thought ... what do you have ... planned for today?"

Suddenly, she giggled and took his face. "Did you think I'd forget to give you something for our wedding day?"

Shen narrowed his eyes skeptically. "Well… not necessarily. I just thought…"

She leaned over and whispered something in his ear. "I'll show you tonight."

He looked at her in surprise. "Tonight? Why not now?"

Yin-Yu looked at the floor in embarrassment. "Well, it's very ... private."

Shen raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, okay, but haven't we done that before very often?"

She smiled. "It's a special gift."

The lord had to see that there was no point in asking any further. "Okay."

Then he took her by the wing and led her away from the others. "We take breakfast in our room and dinner for us alone in the evening."

They snuggled together. The others looked after them with glee. Only Ling was the only one who noticed how his great-aunt looked worriedly after the couple. His astonishment increased when he watched how she shook her head gently.

It was just a dream.