The Enchanted Pavilion's Secret

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the serene waters of Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace. It was a perfect evening for romance, and Li Wei, a young historian, had arranged a candlelit picnic with his girlfriend, Mei Lin, to celebrate their one-year anniversary. Little did they know, their night would be anything but ordinary.

As they strolled through the lush gardens, the whispers of the past seemed to weave through the air, carrying the echoes of forgotten lovers and dynastic rulers. They reached the Enchanted Pavilion, a structure draped in legend and mystery. According to local tales, the pavilion was haunted by the ghost of a beautiful concubine who met a tragic end at the hands of her jealous ruler.

Li Wei, a die-hard lover of Chinese history, was fascinated by the story. "Let's go inside," he said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. Mei Lin hesitated, but Li's enthusiasm was infectious, and they pushed open the creaky gate.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old wood and history. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and paintings, each telling a story of love and loss. Mei Lin, who was more the practical type, began to feel a strange sense of unease. "Why don't we just sit on the bench outside?" she suggested, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Li Wei, however, was undeterred. "It's just a story, Mei Lin. The pavilion is harmless." He took her hand and led her deeper into the pavilion. The air grew cooler, and the silence was oppressive. Mei Lin felt as though they had stepped into another world, a world where the boundaries between the living and the dead were blurred.

As they wandered through the pavilion, Li Wei noticed a series of delicate porcelain dolls placed in a corner. He approached them, his eyes wide with wonder. "These are beautiful," he whispered, picking one up. As his fingers brushed against the delicate porcelain, the doll's eyes seemed to open, locking onto Li Wei with a chilling gaze.

Mei Lin's heart raced. "Li Wei, put it down!" she hissed, her voice trembling. But it was too late. The doll's eyes continued to follow him, and a chill ran down his spine. "What's happening?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Suddenly, the pavilion was filled with a ghostly wind, and the temperature dropped dramatically. Mei Lin's breath came in short, gasping pants. The porcelain dolls began to move, their limbs bending and twisting in a fluid, eerie dance.

Li Wei, realizing the gravity of the situation, dropped the doll and grabbed Mei Lin's hand. "We need to get out of here!" he shouted. They raced toward the exit, but the pavilion seemed to close in around them. The walls moved, and the air was thick with the sound of whispering voices.

Just as they reached the gate, a figure appeared in the doorway, a ghostly vision of a woman in traditional Chinese attire. Her eyes were hollow, and her lips moved silently, as though she were trying to convey a message. Li Wei and Mei Lin could see her, but the others in the pavilion seemed oblivious to her presence.

"Run!" Mei Lin shouted, pulling Li Wei toward the exit. They burst out of the pavilion, gasping for breath, and collapsed on the bench outside. The wind died down, and the pavilion returned to its peaceful state, as though nothing had happened.

For days, Li Wei and Mei Lin couldn't shake the haunting images from their minds. They spoke to local villagers, who confirmed their story about the haunted pavilion. But something else had happened that night; something that neither of them could explain.

As they walked through the Summer Palace again, Li Wei noticed the porcelain doll in the pavilion. This time, he reached out and touched it. To his shock, the doll's eyes opened, and a warm, loving smile spread across its porcelain face. In that moment, Li Wei knew that the spirit of the concubine had finally found peace.

And so, the legend of the Enchanted Pavilion lived on, a reminder that some secrets are best left untold, and some loves are too powerful to be forgotten.