When i woke up, i find myself in a wooden hut. There is a fire place at the center of the hut. A child is playing by the fire, he hear me groan. "Mother!! Mother!! He is awake!!" He run outside screaming and soon some people appear. However my head hurts and i feel dizzy for trying to get up. In the end, i fall asleep.
By the time i wake up, i think it's the next day. A man is working his net by the fire, he look at me. "Hey young man, you are awake? Want some water?" He put a bowl of water by my lips. I drink it down in a hurry and got chock. "What happen? Why am i here?"
"We found you floating on a log. You nearly go out into the sea! Thanks to heaven for your luck that we spotted you. By the way, do you know who are you?"
"I can't ... I don't know... don't seems to remember."
"Ah don't worry! Usually this happens. You just need time to rest. Just rest here. When you remember, you can go your way."
The man sit down by the fire and work on his net again. I push myself up and look around. "Mister where am i?"
"This is a fishing village. We called it the Hui village. We live by the river near to the sea. We make a living by fishing. Lucky for you that the battlefield is far from here."
"Battlefield? There is a .."
"Ya you know. When the country wants another piece of land. Soldiers are sent out to fight. Who loose? We the common folks! We don't care about all these political fights but it comes down to us too. Soldiers are also make up of our children. We don't like to see death. It's bad enough to make a living when it's a hard life, you know. But what those nobles know? Nothing! They just sit around and point their fingers!" The old man sigh and continue fixing his net. I sit there looking at him and wonder why do i feel so guilty about it.
"Can i ask, what i am wearing when you rescued me?"
He got up and dig his box "Should be somewhere around here. Wait, I have to ask my woman. She is the one keeping things. She will be back before the sun goes down. I will bring it later." I nod my head and say my gratitude.
That evening, his wife brings the clothes that are found on me. There is nothing on it that tells me who am i. There is no accessories as well. Maybe this is good sign to not remember anything from now. A chance to have a new life.
After five days i got up and help to weave the fishing net. Life here is indeed quiet and peaceful. Funny enough, i always get up before the sun rises. In so, i join the fishermen to go out fishing. I find it rather joyful to get the whole net full of fishes.
Nearly a year past, some strangers comes into the Hui village. They are all dress in black with silver lining. I was cleaning up myself after selling those fishes in the market when they come walking into my small yard. I stand there and wonder are they here for a fight. My fist is prepared. Suddenly these men bow down and chime "Your highness!" I look around including behind me. "Who are you calling your highness?!" They look at each other and continue to bow their head.
"I am asking you a question!"
"You are our highness! You are the second Prince Xian Wen! Our soldiers have been looking for you everywhere, your highness! We will inform the dowager!"
I look at these man suspiciously. I cannot believe them, why am i a prince in this state and condition? I can't believe it.
The next day, the village people are buzzing with excitement. My saviour's family cannot understand what is happening too. Basically those men follow me around and help in my fishing in the lake and selling in the market. They are sort of useful. I even order them to built and clear the walk path for the villagers. In the morning, they wake up around the same time as i do. We did some simple exercise to loosen up the muscles before we go out to the lake to fish. Sometime in the night, we drink but they maintain not to get drunk. For me, i drink to have a dream. A dream of a girl. She calls me Wen ger ger however later in the dream she starts to run away from me. No matter how much i try to catch up, she is far away from me.