Peacock flying southeast

Author: Xu Fei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Jiao Zhongqing, a minor official in Lujiang County, married Liu Lanzhi from the Yuanyang Collection. The two were as close as fish to water and got along exceptionally well. However, Jiao Zhongqing's mother constantly forced Liu Lanzhi to weave and expressed frequent dissatisfaction. Over the course of two or three years, Liu Lanzhi endured immense hardship and humiliation. Eventually, due to irreconcilable conflicts between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Liu Lanzhi was sent back to her family.
Jiao Zhongqing deeply loved Liu Lanzhi and repeatedly pleaded with his mother not to dismiss her. However, his mother cited Liu Lanzhi's independent actions and infertility as reasons to refuse his son's pleas. Jiao Zhongqing and Liu Lanzhi made an agreement: he would soon find a way to bring her back home and renew their bond, allowing her to stay with her family temporarily. Both vowed never to marry again.
Liu Lanzhi was an excellent konghou player. By chance, Wang Ruiqi, the third son of the county magistrate of Juchen County, heard her beautiful music and developed a strong fondness for her. Upon learning that Liu Lanzhi had been sent back home, Wang Ruiqi went to Yuanyang Collection to propose marriage. However, he was robbed and injured on the way.
In Lujiang County, the Xu Prefect had a son who was foolish by nature. The prefect ordered someone to propose to Liu Lanzhi's family in Yuanyang Collection. Under her brother's coercion, Liu Lanzhi accepted the marriage proposal, though all she could think of was death. She intended to take her own life to demonstrate her loyalty to Jiao Zhongqing.
Qin Luofu, a companion who often helped Liu Lanzhi, was deeply favored by Jiao Zhongqing's mother. The mother planned to dismiss Liu Lanzhi and marry Luofu, but Jiao Zhongqing showed no interest in Luofu's beauty. He remained unwavering in his love for Liu Lanzhi. On their wedding night, Liu Lanzhi drowned herself in a lake. Upon learning of this, Jiao Zhongqing also hanged himself before marrying Luofu. With their lives, the two fulfilled their lifelong wish to be together in death.