Though Hase-Hime's stepmother ill-treated her, the girl was patient and obeyed her stepmother's words and never gave any trouble. So Princess Terute had no cause for complaint against her.
Hase-Hime was a very diligent student and her favourite subjects were music and poetry. She would practice for hours every day.
Her father taught her the art of Koto, which was the Japanese harp. Her father also taught her the art of writing letters and verses.
At the age of twelve princess Hase-Hime could play the instrument beautifully.
During the Festival of Cherry Flowers, there was a great festivity in the court and the emperor ordered Princess Hase-Hime and Princess Terute to perform before him.
The emperor sat on a raised dais so that the subjects could not see the emperor's face, but he could look at all of them.
Though Hase-Hime was very young, she was a skilled musician.
On this occasion, she played well too.
Princess Terute was a lazy woman and never took the trouble to practice daily. She broke down in her accompanying instrument and had to request one of the court Ladies to take her place.
This was a great disgrace. However, princess Terute failed to understand the reason for her failure and she grew jealous of her step-daughter.
To make things worse for princess Terute, the emperor was impressed with Princess Hase-Hime’s talent and gave many beautiful gifts to the little princess for playing so well at the Festival of Cherry Flowers.
It so happened that after some time, Princess Terute had a son of her own.
However, instead of loving the boy, all princess Terute could think of was if Hase-Hime had not been there her son would have all the love of the father.
Princess Terute did not learn to control her thoughts and soon she decided to take her stepdaughter's life.
It so happened that she ordered some poison and poisoned the sweet wine which had come to the palace.
She put this poisoned wine in a bottle and in a similar bottle she poured some good wine as well.
Hase-Hime was playing with her little brother at that time. She was telling the little boy wonderful stories about the toy Warriors and heroes that they were playing with. They were both enjoying themselves, when princess Terute came to their chambers.
Adapted from Japanese Folk Tales
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