Beauty in disarray

Author: Duo Duo Wu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: She drew the fate destined to be that of a royal—“Emperor’s Swallow,” yet within a few days, she was married to the Prime Minister. She possessed a beauty that could captivate the realm and a virtue of gentleness and piety, but her husband was only deeply in love with the emperor’s favored concubine. On their wedding night, he confessed to her, filled with remorse: “Except for love, I can give you anything.” She remained calm and composed, merely smiling faintly before resuming her leisurely life. Though the court was deep and secluded, her life was far from monotonous. Within the palace, she discerned the future scholar-officials; in the back alleys, she rescued the prince of the Nu tribe; she tumbled down a mountain cliff with the current general; and she outwitted the emperor in the inner chambers. Every man she encountered was conquered by her beauty and wisdom. They believed she was worth living for, dying for, and even abandoning the world for. Of course, they also fought for the world for her. Again and again, in confrontations and battles, they did all to get closer to her, to witness her radiant smile. The realm was thrown into chaos because of this beauty; but who would make this beauty smile enchantingly next?