The Tale of Bleeding Hearts

Mei was a wealthy maiden who enjoyed the scent of flowers. She would travel with her father everywhere in Yao Min Quei and for every place she went, Mei would visit the gardens to admire the beautiful colors and entrancing aroma. One morning as the sun rose, she went down to enjoy the garden of her palace after a night of rain. As she wandered into the gardens alone, she became overcome by a fragrance she never knew before. Following the beckoning smell, she found herself in the company of a beautiful maiden. “Who are you,” Mei asked.

The beautiful maiden’s peach skin shyly hid behind her snow-white hair. She was otherworldly, much like a deity or some other Yaoguai tending to the garden or perhaps left over from the rain. The Yaoguai spoke, “They call me Shufen. What shall I call you?”

For a moment she forgot her name. “Mei,” She replied. “Do you visit this garden often?”

“I visit all the flowers of Yao Min Quei. I see you at these many places. Do you love these flowers?” Shufen asked.

“I have always loved them. The scent, the soft petals, the colors and their beauty lure me.”

“Then you may see me many times after this,” Shufen predicted.

For years, Mei and Shufen spoke with each other while alone in the gardens. Over time, the two fell madly in love. Mei’s father, however, began looking for suitors to take his daughter as a bride.

One day, a wealthy animal collector brought Mei two exotic bunnies as a gift for her hand. Mei politely declined and the man went home heartbroken. Mei’s father met with his daughter in the garden. “Why did you not take the animal collector as a husband?”

Mei had a quick tongue and so responded, “I would not want to care for animals the rest of my life.”

The next week, a wealthy shoemaker came to the palace and offered the finest slippers as a gift for her hand. Mei politely declined and the man went home heartbroken. Again, her father was angry and stormed into the garden. “Why did you not take the shoemaker as a husband?”

Mei had another quick-tongued response. “I do not want to live in a palace that smells like feet.”

The next week, a wealthy jeweler brought the rarest and most beautiful earrings to Mei as a gift for her hand. Mei politely declined and the man went home heartbroken. “Why did you not take the jeweler as a husband?” Her father demanded as they stood in the garden.

This time, Mei had no excuse. “Father,” She confessed. “I am already in love with someone.”

“Who is he?” Mei’s father demanded.

“She is a spirit in the garden,” Mei explained. “As much as I wish to bring you happiness and honor, I cannot marry. My heart belongs to Shufen.”

“Shufen,” Her father bellowed. “You would tarnish our family name and our heritage for the sake of a Yaoguai?”

“I would for love, father. There is no price too high to pay for the sake of love.”

“Then you will pay with your life.” Overcome by shame and dishonor from his daughter, the lord took a dagger and stabbed her through the heart. Her blood spilled and soaked the roots of the trees and the soil. Mei awoke as a spirit and at last ran into the arms of Shufen. In his act of honor over love, he assured that Mei and Shufen would exist as lovers for an eternity. They were married before the spirits and among the plants that brought them together. As a gift, Shufen used Mei’s spilled blood to grow the flowers that are now known as Bleeding Hearts.